(no subject)

[maggiezine.livejournal.com]

speaking of record bowls, look what I happened to find on the internet. Of course, I think the homemade ones are much cooler looking.
record bowls

there are also a lot of other things there that can be made easily (for ideas), I guess they think people are too lazy to do it themselves!

Someone here must also make these!
I live in texas so it doesn't get cold enough for mittens.

A necklace and a story!

[leopardwolf.livejournal.com]

Hi all. I just wanted to give a little update, a lot of thanks, and share some crafty pictures with you all. A necklace is made, and there's a story to go with it!

I just had this itch feeling that said "Go to Hobby Lobby today!!" I'm glad I did. While there and getting jewelry supplies a woman who looked puzzled and lost turned and asked if I made jewelry. She explained she was looking for supplies to make her daughter jewelry to match her prom dress. She was at a loss though as she'd never done this before. Mom and I pointed out supplies she'd need and as she realized more and more just how much she'd need for the one work setting, she seemed to be bogged down.

I knew that she'd end up buying way more than she'd need and then unless she decided to do more in the future, would have no use for it. I considered that I already had a lot of the supplies and tools and knowhow. So I offered to make it for her free of charge if she'd pay for the supplies. She beamed so brightly and gladly agreed. She explained that for the necklace and earring set they saw in Dillard's they'd be paying well over $100, and I know how expensive the prom dress alone probably was.

Total cost of the supplies was about $30, and we bought out all the stones of one type that were in stock on the shelf. Better to have too many and be able to return the extras than not have enough at all. So now I'll put that together and begin final organizing of jewelry packs. I plan to try and arrange them by prices and put little marks by them to show what areas are what. I'm just happy I could help the woman. She seems very nice. And even neater is that she works at the hospital next door to the one mom works at! I thought she looked really familiar too! And she said the same about us, hehe. So even though we'd never met we sorta knew each other.


Anyway, here it is! Step by step process, or as best as I could take the pictures while working.


( See the necklace and earrings! )

In other news for those of you who responded to that post I made about the no-pay person, that's been settled. In my eyes anyway. I IMed her the other evening and told her how it was. Anyone really interested in seeing what I said, drop me a line and I'll share. But thank you all for your concerns and your thoughts. Confirming the information about money orders was very helpful. I'd also like to thank the people who suggested what I should do to repair this ceramic candle holder. That's one of the next projects on my list! And thank you to the people who offered what information they could on the possibility of pressing orchids. I didn't get to use these flowers, but maybe next time. =)

decorating a burned CD

[invaderstitch.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if you can paint a cd with acrylics and have it still be listenable? I looked in the faqs in the cd decoration thread, but the acrylic paint thing, although asked, was never answered. I really don't want to mess this CD up, so I thought I'd ask before I grabbed my paints and went to town. Help!
Thanks in advance.

t-shirt into a dress?

[icecreamsnow.livejournal.com]

i have this great xl pixies shirt, and i was thinking about making it into a dress. i have in mind what i want somewhat, kind of like these dresses i saw in urban outfitters a while back made out of t-shirts. any ideas/tips before i get going?

Sticker Swap

[electragiselle.livejournal.com]

X posted in electragiselle, glamourbombs, and craftgrrl

I'd like to do a sticker swap. What I need is the name and addresses of 14 people to swap stickers with (there would be 15 total, counting me). Here is how it would work. I would start the swap by sending 1 sheet or 20 individual stickers everyone plus the names and addresses of the 14 other people; they would in turn send 1 sheet or 20 individual stickers to everyone on the list. Thus, everyone would get 14 sheets of stickers. This will only work and be fun if EVERYONE on the list send stickers to EVERYONE on their list within a timely manner. So, if you are interested email me at electragizel@hotmail.com

Sewing Genie Review!

[mockingbirdgirl.livejournal.com]

the moment we've been waiting for, ladies... my roommate's Sewing Genie arrived in the mail yesterday. I'm using it right now to repair some things. There've been many requests for information. I will give you a pro/con list.

PROS:
very tight presser foot. Even for someone like me, straight seams are EASY as all get-out. if you sew with knits, this is a great feature, it does not give you the "lettuce-edge" look.
it can use only bobbins, and comes with lots of colors. this makes life simple.
way easier to thread than normal machines.
the coolest feature I've found so far is the on button. you push it hard enough, it starts sewing and doesn't stop until you push it again. the automatic speed is not too fast, not too slow. it's great.
no confusing switches and dials. it's simple.

CONS:
all it can do is straight stitch. there is no reverse, no changing of stitch length, no zigzag. but the stitch size is small and tight, practical for almost anything.
it's small. I have trouble seeing things around the needle, and not much fabric fits between the needle and the arm.
it's noisy.
sometimes the top bobbin flies off while you're sewing. luckily, it is simple to replace.
it takes some getting used to if you are comfortable with a regular machine, the bobbin and even the threader wheel are very different.
the stitch quality isn't the greatest, occasionally there are knots, doubling of thread, and uneven stitches. the overall look on the right side of the fabric is fine, but the back side is questionable.

VERDICT: it's well worth the money (so far, at least) if you don't have another machine. If you have the capability to purchase a "real" machine, choose that instead.

Sewing clothes

[hopemcg.livejournal.com]

Hi!

Do any of you sew clothes from patterns? I have some experience sewing from them, but I usually make pet beds and house things. I've never tried to make something that actually has to fit a body before. Anyway, I am making some pajama pants for someone who typically wears around a size 10. The pattern I have is from butterick and it say that a size 10 is supposed to have a 25 inch waist and 34.5 inch hips. That seems really small to me, so I measured her last night (31" waist, 40" hip) and she is more like a 16 or 18 on their chart! OK, so here's the question. Should I follow the measurements and cut her the large (despite how annoyed this makes the intended wearer) or should I go with the Medium (12-14) which is closer to what she always wears?

I was considering making myself some of these too. I typically wear like a 16 or 18. According to these measurements, I'm like a 22. *sigh*

Has anyone made a Butterick pattern? How true to size are things? Are they snug, loose? I would appreciate any help.

Hope

Stencils!!!

[kimry.livejournal.com]

I made some stencils inspired by a Mehndi book I have. I'm in the process of painting my room, and I wanted to decorate my blah closet doors. Feel free to print and use for anything personal! :) Go here.

(no subject)

[beau-desespoir.livejournal.com]

At work, it's common that something ceramic breaks, either by the hands of the customers or when being delivered to the store. Well, I was looking at some of these beautiful pieces that were smashed and it got my creative juices flowing. I was wondering if any of you have made mosaic stepstones? If so, could you provide me with a link or something so I may learn how? I did a search on them and I really didn't get many results back....

Also, if any of you have any other ideas of what to do with the broken glass, please let me know.

Thanks!

hullo...

[ceilingfan.livejournal.com]

i made the bag a long time ago...and i just found out that my camcorder has a digital camera in it...

anyways...and the dress...i bought it at a garage sale that my school had...this girl donated it...her mom bought some fabric for it...it's like velvetty...and she went to a tailor and got it made...it probably costs a hundred or more for the tailoring and the fitting...but i got it for a bargain...

( ta-da )

Paper bags (cross-posted)

[leopardwolf.livejournal.com]

I know this might sound a little silly, but I need some paper bags. Preferably white ones. Don't need anything too large. Just like something you'd get at the drugstore or petstore.

I was wondering if anyone has any idea if a place like Hobby Lobby would carry them and sell them? Or maybe Office Depot? Worst comes to worst I'll try asking the petstore if I can buy some of theirs! Or I'll do without.

(no subject)

[shelikespie.livejournal.com]

A ton of you have contacted me trying to buy the hot pink shirts with the woman logo on it.

What I'll do, is at the end up the week, see if our school has any left over.

If they do, I'll post.

x-posted

Dont waste any beads!!

[yyumeko.livejournal.com]

I bought a stash of plasticy beads recently. the shop was selling them in little packets with a few beads in each. One of them had 3 squarish beads abt 1/2 inch in width. 2 of the beads were a gorgeous iridenscent and slightly transparent blue which i have since made into a pair of earrings. The last bead was a real ugly white. It was the same size but a gross plastic opaque white color. I refused to throw it out and made it into a pendant. It still looked kinda gross so i stuck some nail tattoo decals and rub ons onto it. It was so much fun. Now i want more of these ugly beads hahaha.
I'm only showing one side of the pendant which is a clover leaf and the japanese words yumeko written on it. The other side has 4 bunnies.
( Click for the picture of the finished product )

on an unrelated note:
I've started a new journal at judyjudy where i intend to put all my crafty posts in. If you had added my personal journal yyumeko to your list for the crafty posts i usually have , please add judyjudy instead. [sorry i didnt add you but i dont add a lot of ppl to my personal journal usually and sometimes i dont even know u have added me] It will be chockful of pics of crafty things and a small insight into my life [pics of outings and general life updates/ nothing offensive] if anyone is interested.
If you're looking for a new lj friend then do add me and let me know! I'm hopeful to make loads of new friends who are into crafty things! Check out judyjudy for the usual sorta posts i make there.

(no subject)

[whostosay.livejournal.com]

anyone got some cool ideas to make a plain bookbag more interesting? I"m sure everyone has done something to their bags...what?

the craftgrrl riseth

[zindii.livejournal.com]

(back story: I have spent the last few months renovating the third floor of my house to make a bedroom for myself and dedicated project space, an idea which was inspired by a post here in craftgrrl about two years ago that asked us to fantasize about our 'perfect' creative space. In doing so much work to the house, I haven't done *anything* crafty in the last 6 months or so, which has driven me insane, but I have been able to take solace in the knowledge that once these rooms are done, I will never have to move a collage project off the table because its dinner time again.)

inspired today by this duvet cover



but dismayed by its $300 price tag, i recalled my friend's recent comment that getting the fabric to make a cool duvet cover would be much cheaper than the ones I have been attracted to lately (which seem to start at $150 and go one from there). In college I made a wonderful duvet cover from two queen size flat sheets. My problem now is wanting wild, fun, eclectic fabric which is all too scarce in New Hampshire (I don't think eclectic is in the vocabulary here).

then on the drive home today from visiting that duvet cover, i recalled someone posting here about finding silk blouses at thirft stores to use the fabirc for pillows or something along those lines...so I headed to Goodwill and( this is what happened... )

picture frame post?

[littlefatgirl.livejournal.com]

hello.

a while back someone posted a picture of a picture frame that was just a wire connected to two suction cups that attached to a window. i was wondering if someone could either help me find that post or show me the picture again? thanks!

i appreciate it. i was wanting to make one. :D

Body Art - Henna (Cross posted)

[leopardwolf.livejournal.com]

Alright, I'd like to share something with you all that is still on the artistic side, but more akin to body art. Just a way I express myself that is safe and all natural.

I have finished spotting myself and have a tad of henna left over. For those of you not familiar, henna is a natural based plant dye. Some cultures use it for body decoration, especially for weddings or certain rites of passage. In the United States it is also somewhat popular for dying hair.

Think of a time you might have eaten berries. Strawberries, blueberries, etc. Notice that the juices turned your skin colors? That's basically what henna does. The only difference is it lasts longer. It starts off as a soft orange and darkens to a chocolate-red/brown. Then it slowly fades over the course of about four weeks, depending on the condition of your skin and the area you apply it. Henna on the hands will fade faster because you constantly use your hands and wash them.

Anyway, on to the pictures! Keep in mind this is the paste you are seeing, hence the greenish color. I need to let it sit and set into my skin, and then it'll dry and flake off. When it does I'll be left with a soft orange hue that will slowly darken to a soft chocolate-red/brown. I'll take pics of that too!

( My spots!! )

Mwahaha, sure to draw some stares tomorrow! Maybe Thursday too, woot!