Crafting on a cold winter night...

[acrylicdork.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone, Just thought I would show the stuff I made last night while I was snowed in with a mug of hot chocolate. :) I cant even express how much I loveeeeeeeee shrink paper.

( owl says whoooooo whooooooo )

Gift for quitting smoking?!

[foto-phreak.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if anyone has a good idea of something I could make my mom as kind of a stop smoking aid/inspiration..something? She has been a two-packs-a-day smoker for over 15 years now. She finally decided she was ready to quit this week. She was going to gradually go down on her own, smoking a pack, then less each week.

On the day she started, she got a call from her best friend who also recently stopped smoking. She had been hospitalized with pneumonia. During a routine scan for pneumonia, they found she had lung cancer.

My mom instantly threw away every pack. She's quitting with the patch now instead of weaning herself off the packs. I am really proud of her for finally doing it but I know it's going to be so hard. Even with her friend's own illness as a motivator, I fear it's not enough.

I know there are so many creative souls on here, so I was hoping some of you might have a suggestion of something I could give her to keep her motivated and inspired. My old motivations as a child was to threaten her with killing me by secondhand smoke or her being in an iron lung. That never worked :p

Your suggestions are MUCH appreciated!

About my mom: she's quite overweight and has problems with her knee/legs. So it's difficult for her to exercise. She works at home, is on the phone ALL DAY. She's extremely busy and doesn't have much time away from the computer...unless she's in the car.

***UPDATE****
I just wanted to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who posted a suggestion or support! There were a bunch of wonderful suggestions. In case other people are wanting to do the same thing, I've highlighted all your suggestions here:

advent calendar using these tips as motivators: http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benefits_Time_Table.html
advent calendar with a treat for each day or with compliments & postive facts
Calendar with each new day you tear off showing a healthier lung...from black to pink!
Join quitnet.com so she can track her statistics and get support
Take up knitting
Clean out the car, add scented satchets in her car and at her desk
Aromatherapy jars to open and sniff instead of reaching for a cigarette
sugar-free snacks/gum/mints around the house
A "pack of cigs" time capsule. Each rolled up paper *cig* has an inspriational future memory..such as "hold your grandchild, attend his/her graduation, see another sunset"...etc. Add drawings, poems, stories
Money box to collect $ that would've been spent on cigarettes. It can be used for a trip or something special later. Decorate it with the destination/goal
exercise
handmade book with inspirational sayings and reasons to quit. Pocket size..maybe a 52 reason deck of cards version
Get the word out and have blog-readers send her cards/letters/gifts to help keep her inspired
Locket necklace with scented oil
paint/redesign a space (office/home)
Glue pics of loved ones to the bottom of ashtrays
Something to keep hands busy while on the phone: doodle pad/pens, fidget toys, deck of quick stretches or exercises, cards and notes cheering on


I talked to my mom last night to find out what she's feeling and how her cravings are. We came up with several instances where she really needs something. She's already getting tired of the hard candies since she just wants to chew them. So I'm getting her licorice bites today. I'm also going to get a bunch of vanilla scented things as that is her favorite scent. And we decided on a hair tie she can wear around her wrist to fidget with while on the phone. She also wants a lanyard with a pen attached. The pen will be wrapped in foam so she can play with that and put it in her mouth when she gets the urge. I'm also going to try to figure out something that's not too hard that I can dip in different flavors ...a sort of candy stick that isn't really candy. That is something she wants while driving..since she can't keep her hands busy! I'm also going do make the advent calendar as suggested..using the quit smoking health benefit tips.

I may do more later. I've already talked to my niece and she's gonna write some poems and letters to help keep her motivated, too! Plus, she's going to teach her to knit so they can do that together during any down time.

Thanks again, everyone! I knew I'd find great suggestions here! :)

(no subject)

[gonebycontact.livejournal.com]

( random stuff )

Small (approx 1 inch) plastic cloth pins needed

[beautifulwolf.livejournal.com]

In the past I found 1 inch plastic cloth pins at a dollar store, and can't find them again. I've tried looking online, and in craft stores for suppliers, and am finding NONE. I really need more, for a current project.

They resembles these: http://www.bjcraftsupplies.com/miniatures/clothes-pins01.asp and the metal badge clips, but are made of plastic instead. The ones I have are approximately 1 inch long, and 1/4 inch wide, but exact size isn't needed (just around 1 inch)

So this isn't text only, I need them to put on the backs of my hand-made pins to make name tags

(no subject)

[cakesofbaby.livejournal.com]

Made this squid for my boyfriend for Valentines day. I think it came out pretty cute. I called him a squid the first time we cuddle and it sort of stuck. So much so that he now has a squid tattoo. So I thought this would be cute plus a little note -- "For the squid that stole my heart." OOOHHH so cheesy.

Deer Pocket Mirror and hand painted Birdhouse

[tiros.livejournal.com]

I got back to uni this week and instead of tidying my room and doing my project I've been crafting

( Deer, birds and cats )

(no subject)

[stolenmilkcrate.livejournal.com]

( Only torturing you with one image today )

My first time...

[raeofkay.livejournal.com]

This is my first entry-and also, my first attempt at making anything more than a scarf. I have been wanting to learn how to use a sewing machine for a while now, so on a trip to Oklahoma to visit family, I had my aunt teach me. I bought a sewing machine (brother), and it's really neat, and easier to use than I thought. So with the guidance of my aunt Karen, I made my first baby blanket/quilt, that is going to be a gift to a friend's little one on the way...

( The quilt )

Ooops another post..

[cakesofbaby.livejournal.com]

If you were going to make this bag, how would you go about it?
( A few more photos.. )

I have some really nice off-white bull denim that I think would work really well but I'm not sure about 1. Keeping the shape (Just buy some really heavy double-sided fusible stabilizer or something?) and 2. The handles (Cover some cording?). What are your ideas?

thrifted plates..madeover!

[the-pull.livejournal.com]

I was inspired by a post on craftser where the OP drew on thrifted teacups with a ceramic paint pen from Micheals. So yesterday I bought one ($4) and a few plates from a second hand shop (50 cents each) and I went through my sketch books for some simple drawings.... this project was so easy and satisfying and FUn.. I may make one hundred more.


( close ups )

Nightmare Before Christmas quilted t-shirt throw

[veggiechik.livejournal.com]

Here's the blanket I made for my friend for Christmas. I have very little sewing experience so I was actually very proud of the outcome.

( Holy Image Heavy! )

EDIT I added a craptastic photo of the backing fabric. I apologize that I added the entry in an exhausted state, so let me expand a bit: The NBC images are all t-shirts. The rest of the quilt is fabric, most of which was purchased around Halloween so it was cheaper (and readily available).

This was a Christmas gift for a friend of mine. Currently he won't use it as he fears the dogs will mess it up. :) He is trying to convince me to hang it on the wall instead.

the hardest thing about this ...

[bratzdollbron.livejournal.com]

.... darling calendar is keeping it a secret till Christmas.

( couple more  )

One down ... 12+ to go

Directions for this wood block calendar and much more
can be found at http://larkandlola.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much Heather!

:D

[dangrslyordnary.livejournal.com]

I love these earrings. I made these to sell, and I'm wearing an identical pair in my default image...hehe!



( Bigger pictures this way! )

Ladies, ladies...

[emiko.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Due to some issues over Christmas, I had to put all my gift crafting on hold... But I finally finished something! I'm just a few weeks behind, eheh...



( +4 More Pics~ )