good morning! i was pleasantly surprised to wake up and find one of amy karol’s tutorials on making snack bags over on poppytalk! after perusing around a bit, i decided to share another one of her tutorials with you. :)

this tutorial is amy karol’s take on making homemade envelopes- lazy style!  author of angry chicken and accomplished book writer (one of my favorites- bend the rules sewing!), her world can keep you busy for hours.  i absolutely love her video tutorials- her voice is so soothing and her sense of humor will keep you laughing the whole way through.  she’s definitely my kind of gal, not following the rules, using what you got and getting it done! i hope you enjoy this, and don’t miss her tutorial on making easy snack bags with no velcro for back to school- they are cute, practical and easy!

amy karol elsewhere :: {shop} {blog} {site}

(note: once you click play, you’ll have to then click ‘watch on youtube’)

wrap up: {amy karol} {craft} {diy} {envelopes} {snack bag} {the angry chicken}

{valentine’s plate}

you know i always talk about my next creative endeavor? well, i can assure you, this will be it!  welcome to the world of porcelain paint pens, friends!

{tea for two and fine}

it always amazes me when i find a new craft, it’s like how did i survive without knowing this? you can purchase porcelain paint pens from any craft store (like michaels or a.c. moore) and get to creating your own pottery in no time. draw on your design, bake it in your conventional oven at 300°f for 30 minutes and you’re done!  (i also read that it’s good practice to place your piece in the oven at room temp, let them preheat together, then cool off together before removing).

{diy painted porcelain}

and the best part is? you don’t even have to be an artist! all you have to do is doodle, write, scribble, or play.  i love projects that allow you to turn thrifted, boring or inexpensive pieces into personalized art- and this one definitely qualifies.

{busybeeson}

{porcelain decoration tutorial}

think about all the possibilities- plates, bowls, mugs, subway tiles, coasters, pitchers… i have a set of plain ‘ol porcelain plates just waiting to be doodled on!

wrap up: {art} {craft} {customize} {diy} {doodle} {paint pen} {porcelain} {project}

when i saw these paint chip leaves on skinny laminx, i definitely had a, “why didn’t i think of that?” moment.  i keep a stack of pretty paint chip cards in my sewing room for inspiration, and they are just asking to be cut up into pretty flowers, leaves and city silhouettes!

so to leave you for the weekend, i’ve compiled a list of some fun paint chip projects.  head to the hardware store and have some fun!

• - make a pendant paint chip banner
• - paint chip art from geninne’s art blog
• - paint chip notepads
• - make a paint chip table
• - paint chip mosaic tutorial
• - paint chip wreath
• - paint chip card holders

have any other diy ideas? hope you have a sunny weekend! love, bonnie

wrap up: {craft} {diy} {paint chips} {project}

just in case you missed it, my diy chalkboard garden pots were featured on design*sponge yesterday!  it’s such an easy peasy, fun project, and it uses the same technique for custom color chalkboard paint that we used for our pantry door. budget friendly and finished in less than an hour, this project is an easy way to pretty up your home, patio or garden!

materials:

- terra cotta gardening pots (unglazed)
-1 cup flat latex paint in your desired color
- 2 tbs unsanded tile grout for each cup of paint (avail. at your local hardware store)
- sponge brush
- tape
- paper
- exacto knife (or scissors)
- chalk
- label template

instructions:

1. download the label template and cut each shape out into rectangles that will fit onto your pot (you can increase or decrease the label size for varying pot sizes).

2. using an exacto knife or scissors, cut the templates out from the inside to create your stencil.  tape the stencil to your garden pot along the outside edges.

3. in a cup or bowl, mix one cup flat latex paint with 2 tbs unsanded tile grout, then stir well until all of the clumps dissolve.

4. dip the sponge brush into your ‘chalkboard’ paint and begin painting inside you stencil using brush strokes from the outside in.  fill in the stencil, being careful not to get paint under the edges of the paper.  let paint dry (about 15 minutes) and apply a second coat.

5. once the second coat is dry (another 15 minutes) remove the tape and stencil to reveal your chalkboard design!

6. once fully cured ’season’ your chalkboard by rubbing the entire area with a piece of chalk and wipe clean with a damp cloth.  now you’re ready to write away!

wrap up: {chalkboard} {craft} {custom color} {diy} {garden} {paint} {patio} {pot} {project}

sometimes, being a craftster can can mean being lonely.  many of us work out of our home and sell solely online, so it can be hard to even see the light of day!  often times family members or other professionals simply don’t understand crafting, let alone leaving the workforce to pursue it full time.  the good news is, there are many of us who do understand!  with craft communities and forums popping up all over the place, it’s easy to find like-minded supportive people, doing the same thing you are.  today, i’m going to share some of my favorites with you!

the first craft mafia was founded by 9 crafty gals in austin, tx.  now there are groups located in over 30 cities and new ones being started all the time!  craft mafia is a community of indie biz owners in the handmade market out to serve other entrepreneurs by meeting together and empowering each other’s craft.  they offer resources and advice through their website and even give you the opportunity to start your very own craft mafia in your town!

craft sanity is a unique blog and podcast site for the craft community where you can tune in to hear your favorite artists interviewed and latest books reviewed.  the site is dedicated to all the crafty souls out there, so you’re sure to  feel right at home!

crafster is a nationally renowned online community where people can share hip diy projects and get involved with the crafting movement.  it’s the largest online community indie crafts and is regarded by many as one of the cornerstones of the recent renaissance in crafting known as the “indie craft movement.”

get crafty is an online forum where you can create an account, post pics, share your blog and discuss topics with other crafsters in a forum setting.  with plenty of articles on projects, a diy guide and stories from around the community- you’ll be busy for hours!

supernaturale is an indie site dedicated to the diy culture in all its glorious forms. from simple afternoon home improvement projects to radical lifestyle choices- everyone is welcome.  they celebrate ingenuity, creativity and the handmade and with an online magazine, a bbs and group blog called glimmer, they’re a bursting community ready for you to join!

the switchboards is a place for indie business women to get together and talk ‘shop’ in a creative, supportive atmosphere.  founded in 2004, they’ve done a lot to publicize creative women in business through using forums, product displays, mutual link sharing and joint advertising.

whip up is a community of artists, crafsters and makers who share ideas in a central space. it’s about experimentation, innovation, self expression and the sharing of information and ideas.  take time to create and let them support you in moving life into the slow lane to better enjoy the experience of it.

cafe handmade is where the craft community can come together, discuss topics, share their blog, shop, join groups and even attend a virtual craft show! with tons going on and lots of ways to get plugged in, you’ll find a spot for you in no time.

what are your favorite ways to get involved?

wrap up: {biz} {community} {craft} {culture} {etsy} {forums} {indie} {shop help} {support}

for summer parties, birthdays, craft booths or decor- i thought this tutorial for printed paper garlands would be perfect for sprucing up a room or get together. with a couple of old books and some ordinary supplies, you’ll have dainty, vintage library feel in no time!

wrap up: {craft} {decor} {dy} {garland} {paper} {project} {special occasion} {tutorial}

isn’t this beautiful?  you won’t believe what it’s made of- old t-shirts! the fab tricia at oh so crafty cut up one of her old t-shirts for the ruffles and used one of her husband’s old dress shirts for the front and back of the pillow.  the pillow closes in the back by buttoning and unbuttoning the dress shirt!  you can find step by step instructions on oh so crafty and be snuggled up with this fancy t-shirt pillow in no time.

wrap up: {craft} {diy} {pillow} {project} {recycle} {reuse} {t-shirt} {upcycle}

now that your craft room is organized and your creativity is nourished, let’s talk about some tips on how to streamline your production and be most effective at your craft!

vintage samsonite suitcase

sometimes i find myself walking from one end of the room to another to gather different supplies, not being able to find something, or just taking a haphazard approach to my craft production.  instead, i want to try to envision my process as a big production factory and figure out which things they would streamline.  would they cut out all the appliques in one sitting? outsource an item that would save me money?  hire extra hands?

4 corning pyrex cups

first, figure out your craft from the inside out.  the first time i make something, it usually takes me forever and i make numerous mistakes.  but, by the 10th one i’ve made, i’ve usually figured out better approaches to take, how to save on materials, and in what order i should do the steps.  it’s not until you really learn your craft that you’ll be able to start streamlining it.

fabric moth ornaments

crafting in batches. if you’re making one item at a time, break it down to see what the quickest method to make it will be.  can you do 3 steps in one area of your room before you move to the next?  if you’re making 10 (or 100) at a time, it will most likely save you time to set up a production line and work on all 10 items at once.

club chair

time yourself. grab a clock and time the different approaches you take to production over the next week or so.  which method saved you the most time?

mason jar votive

organize, organize, organize! think through your materials and supplies and keep them in sequential steps throughout your room, or have them all conveniently located in one place.

bubbly basil wobbly bowls

get help. do you find yourself using most of your time printing postage and packaging goods? cleaning your room?  consider hiring help for tasks that take away from your production (and creativity).  here’s a great article by megan aumen on how hiring can boost your sales.

a  day at the museum

minimize. are you making every part of your product, when in fact you could outsource some parts to save yourself time and money?  even something as simple as business cards are worth consideration for outsourcing if handcrafting them is taking up too much of your time.

box-0-trix

set goals. once you’ve determined your most efficient production method, set quotas for yourself.  it will help you stay on task, focused and extra-efficient.

how do you remain most efficient?

wrap up: {batch} {craft} {efficient} {etsy} {production} {shop help} {streamline}