Our very own "Indiana Jones"

Weather permitting, Dyllan loves to dress up as one of his favorite characters, "Indiana Jones"when we visit Disneyland or other outings.... He has seen most of the first movie, closes his eyes for the scary parts, and plays Indiana Jones Lego wii. He got the satchel, hat and a whip (in the bag) for Christmas.

He has the gun from another kit, brown pants at home, Mommy's old brown corduroy jacket and we are on the look out for a beige button down shirt.


He likes to write his adventures and thoughts in a journal just like Indy. I especially treasure his first grade spelling. :)

Pretty Pretty Princess Crown!

Here is a Crown I made for the little girl next door!
She is 9 years old and said she loved purple.

Doesn't she look lovely in her Pretty Pretty Princess Crown?

With a Magical wand, of course!

Happy Birthday Princess!

Tape Roll "Cuff"

This weeks tutorial is something I've been wanting to make for a long time.
I go through quite a bit of packaging tape in my crafts as well as mailing stuff. When the tape is done and gone, I'm left with the empty roll which is amazingly sturdy and perfect for a Cuff, don't you agree?

To get started, you will need the following.....
1. One empty tape roll. Make sure it fits on your wrist and is not too big.

2. The tackiest glue you have. I used, Aleene's fast grab tacky hold as it works for just about anything.
3. Assorted fabric, soft felt and ribbon scraps.
4. Thread and needle.
5. Buttons and gold leaf pen (optional)
6. Scissors and a ball point pen
7. Tape measure

Begin by marking a line on your tape roll, This will be your start point for measuring and gluing.

Starting at the line, wrap the tape measure all the way around the roll. This roll was just a little over 10" so jotted down on a scrap paper 10 1/2", just to be safe.

For the width across, I made it 2"

Now, I'm what you call a "lazy" crafter. If what I need is not with in immediate reach and I'm all comfortable where I "sit", I make do with what I have. :)
I used the tape measure to mark two rows on the soft felt with the ball point pen.
(by the way...I am not a perfectionist when it comes to anything in the studio. - One being, perfect lacks personalty, & two...perfect does not look handmade.)- That's just my thing.

Cut your felt. I would have liked to use my pinking shears but they were downstairs and I was upstairs, cozy in my chair.

On a normal day this glue is thick. Because it was cold in my house (being winter and all) it was extra thick and tough to squeeze out.

Only apply glue to half of the inside of the roll first. Then spread with your finger evenly. Don't worry the glue is non toxic and peels off your finger nicely when dry...evoking grade school/glue memories... :)

loosely roll your felt strip and begin adhering in to the inside of the tape roll, pressing down and aligning the edges evenly. Apply more glue as needed.

Set aside to dry.

With your other strip of felt, begin by sewing your fabric scraps. You may do this by machine of it pleases you, but it's really a easy hand sewing craft and quick too! Try not to plan the design to much or it will take forever to make. Some of my best works are created with out a "plan". it's more fun that way!

Add some trim here and there. I get this beautiful ruffly red lace at walmart in the fabric section.

Start sorting through your buttons for colors to compliment your cuff. Can you tell I Love buttons? I used to sort them by color, but that took up too much room and I was always forgetting where I put the pink, or the green or...SO I just combined them all in one big bucket.

Let me tell you...it is so therapeutic to immerse my hands in the bucket and just sift and sift finding just the right buttons here and there.

The best part in making the cuff is adding these little extra's.



Now time to adhere to the outside of the cuff. Same way as the inside, but with more glue because the outside of the cuff is a little bit more raw and the glue is quickly absorbed. I also concentrated extra glue towards the edges.

Spread the glue evenly, then carefully adhere the cuff. Go slow because the glue is very unforgiving.

Press down and smooth out any bumps. You can finish off the edges with a gold leaf pen like I did here, or do your own thing...glitter glue, more ribbon trim, or leave blank.

I also accented some of the buttons with the gold leaf pen for a vintage inspired look.



My giveaway for this weeks tutorial will be all the supplies you'll need to make a cuff of your own. If you win you'll receive:

1. A empty tape roll
2. Assorted fabric and ribbon trim
3. Buttons to match
4. One hand made pin cushion.

On the 1st Tuesday of the following month a winner will be randomly drawn via # generator.
The winner will receive ALL 4 projects made from the previous month.
To increase your chances of winning, feel free to post about my tutorial on your blog,twitter,or FB page. Just send me the link so I can verify.

Comment here and then visit the other tutorials for February.
Butterfly Banner, Artist Trading Cards, T-shirt Tote

Thanks for coming by and good luck!

I'm so Lucky

I'm so Lucky to have a child that embraces and welcomes my artistic passion to "alter" his clothes! Even the holes in his jeans...what can I say...I like Unique clothes and I'm frugal. :)

- Susan Link

About once a month I like to show off other artist work. This months feature is Susan Link. You can see her interview post here. The premise of this once a month post is to help promote someones hobby as well as introduce you, my readers to new things and amazing people.
The following are examples of what else can be found in Susan's shop!
Wooden jewelry...
Steampink inspired hair clips....
ACEO's - Art cards for sale...
Colorful Hair Falls...

If you would like to featured on my blog...send me your etsy shop link. If approved, you'll be asked to send me a item that represents your shop for a blog giveaway.

Spring!

Please come soon!
My garden is waiting.


~ Michelle Cummings

"M"

I made this for myself at CHA at the TEN Second Studio booth!
I really love working with their tools and Molds.
Just something else to add to my "wish" list! :)

Party Store "Butterfly Banner"

I know this tutorial is a day late...(Tuesday was full of unforeseen surprises!)

For this banner you will need the following....

1. Clear nylon fishing twine
2. The smallest hole pinch you have, or use a paper piercer.
3. Scissors
4. Clear tape (not shown as it was a after thought) :)
5. 1 package of wall decoration butterfly's. (found at the party story)

Begin by laying out your butterfly's in the order you want them as a banner. The package I found at party city, had assorted sizes and vibrant colors. The butterfly image is also on both sides.
Use your hole punch or piercer to punch a hole about 1/2" from the tip of the wing inwards.
Measure your banner distance and then 1/2 more of the distance before cutting the nylon. Leaving some room to hang the banner. Begin with the nylon by knotting it to the first butterfly.

For the little butterfly's, you can just continue the nylon across the butterfly to the next hole for a secure knot.
For the larger butterfly's, they will twist on the nylon as shown below.
To stabilize your butterfly, you will need to attach the nylon as you did with the previous butterfly's, then cut a extra piece (longer than the length of the butterfly) of nylon, tie it to each of the butterfly holes and with your tape, pull that nylon down behind the butterfly and tape to the back of each wing. (sounds like a lot, but will fix that annoying twist)
Then finish off the butterfly with a pinch in the center of the body.
Pretty!
This weeks giveaway will be these two beautiful butterfly's to get you started on your banner!
On the 1st Tuesday of the following month a winner will be randomly drawn via # generator.
The winner will receive ALL 4 projects made from the previous month.
To increase your chances of winning, feel free to post about my tutorial on your blog,twitter,or FB page. Just send me the link so I can verify.

Also visit week 2, Artist Trading Cards
and week 1 , T-shirt Tote

Thanks for coming by, and good luck!

(Also, in the case that you are the winner picked, please make sure I can reach you, as posted here.)