Designing in Life

...And The Winners Are...

Drum roll please...

Congratulations Samantha and...

Connie!!!

Now I bet the rest of you think you're being kicked off the island, but not so fast.  I have something for all of you.  Anyone I'm seeing over my Thanksgiving driveathon, I will hand deliver something to you.  If everyone else (winners too) will please email your mailing address to: jmoncriefdesign@gmail.com, I will send you something.

Thanks for your notes, and congratulations Samantha and Connie.  Oh, and please send me a picture of something you've made with the paper.  I'll be sure to post it!

Paper Projects

I thought you might like to see just what you can do with printed paper since 2 of you will be getting some in the mail from me very soon.  Here is one of my favorites from Design Sponge.

I bet you have some votive candles tucked away that would fit right in the middle of these sweet lanterns.  They'd look great on your mantle, or window, or on your holiday table!

Here are a few other links for paper projects

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/10/14/diy-project-pinwheels/

http://creaturecomforts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/06/diy-cupcake-toppers-garland-with-repurposed-paper.html

http://rubberstamping.about.com/od/techniquesandtutorials/ss/Box.htm

Don't forget to check November 14th's post for details on a paper give-away!

Christmas Projects

Have you started any holiday projects yet?  I thought I'd share this one with you.

These mittens are cut from wool flannel doubled over, but any flannel will work.  I hand stitched them and added buttons, bells, rick rack and some fuzzy material.  You can decorate them any way you'd like.  I ran twine through the tops of the mittens (doubling over the flannel gives you space to do this at the top) and they'll hang across my fireplace.  Don't have a fireplace?  You can hang them over a doorway or window.  Here is a Download Mitten for you to use to trace the mittens.

Don't forget to look at yesterday's post for a give-away!

Something For You!

Are you a crafter?  Do you like to make your own cards or gift tags?  How about making your own small boxes for gifts?  Well, I have something for you.

Leave a note on any post from now until Saturday, November 21, and I'll put your name into a drawing. Two of you will receive  three of each of these designs.  They're on 65lb. paper, so you can make cards, or gift tags or small gift boxes (I can send you a link for a template).  Maybe you have some of your own ideas for how to use it – and if you win, I hope you'll send along a picture of how you have used it so I can post a picture.

So, I will post something every day (I promise!) from now until Saturday.  For each post (from today until next Saturday) that you leave a note, I'll add your name to the drawing.

Hope you'll have some fun ideas for the paper!

Spider Silk and Mole Cake

As you may or may not know, I work in a world of silk.  Almost all of the ties made here at Beau Ties are made from silk.  I read this article in the New York Times last week.  It was fascinating until I came to the pictures of the spiders that make the silk.  Ick!  I've expressed my dislike of arachnids before, but these just made my hair stand up.  Still, it is an interesting read about weaving with spider silk.  The 11-foot-long woven textile is quite beautiful.  Still, I'm not signing up for working with those spiders if the job becomes available.

As if the thought of pulling silk from spiders was not bad enough, I happen to come upon this cake.

Mole cake.  I can not imagine serving this guy up as dessert, although I suppose it would be fine to pull out when you're trying to get those last lingering guests out the door.  To see more of these, visit Cake Wrecks' blog.  Let me know if you decide to make one...I won't be visiting for a while!

Hurray for the Home Team

Yesterday Jim (my son-in-law) ran in the 16th Annual Newport Liberty Half Marathon.  It was a rainy day in Jersey City, so unfortunately his supporters were not on the scene to cheer him on.  I'm told he was happy with his finish time.

To celebrate this momentous event (it was his first half marathon) I decided his young supporters should have something of their own to mark the day.

I made the image in PhotoShop, flipped it so that it was a mirror image, printed it on transparency paper (made just for this sort of thing) and ironed it on.  Easy and fun.  Hope the little ones got to wear them for their dad!

Origami Cranes

The crane is the most popular bird in Chinese history and is a symbol of longevity. It was believed that if you made 1000 origami cranes, your wish would come true.  Because of this, you should learn to make an origami crane and add it to the top of the next birthday gift you give.  If you've never made anything from folding paper - and my guess is that you have because, well just about everyone has made a paper airplane  - now is the time to learn!

Here is a link for instructions on how to make one, or one thousand if you have the time.  And if you don't have the time or you're all thumbs, you can purchase some from MadebyJo at Etsy!

Recycling at its Best

I bet you have newspaper in your recycling bin.  Why not put it to good use and make this paper basket.

I'm not a big bow fan but go for it if you are.  This is from the CraftyStylish site.  Jess over at How About Orange made one also.  No bow and a bit smaller weave.  Doesn't look hard at all.  Maybe it would be a good little summer project with kids.  It would probably be a great project tonight because it's windy and rainy out there.  News from my Pennsylvania friend tells me we have her weather now.  Gee, thanks Mary!

Happy Weekend

I hope you all have plans to spend time with your families tomorrow.   Since I saw some of mine last weekend, Nick and I will have a nice day to ourselves tomorrow, although we have been invited to brunch with friends at Cafe Provence, in Brandon, VT.

Before signing off for the weekend, I'd like you to see something I learned to do.  It's a technique on making a photo look like etched glass.

Here is the picture I chose, and

here is what it looked like when I finished.  Yup, I'm pretty pleased with the outcome!

Ukranian Eggs

 

Beth made these Ukranian eggs in high school  I've seen instructions for them, and if I had the right tools, I could probably make some, but maybe not as good as these.  I've had them for many years – haven't broken any of them!  If you'd like to see a tutorial on how they are made, I saw one on the Makezine web site.  If you decide to take on the project, send me a picture and I'll post it for you.

And check this out:

Nick finished the drawers.  Isn't that a wonderful thing!!!

And if you're wondering what to have for dinner – especially if it's cold and snowy (like it has been here), how about a very basic chicken and rice with white beans.

And on that note, dinner is served!