8.31.2010

Busy Bee

Can't believe it's been two weeks since I last was on here. I've been super busy between work and getting jewelry made for my etsy site. But I have a pretty good stock on etsy, so it's time to get some crafts done and on here. I'm starting to get my next project ready and in honor of Honeyfest that will be happening here in Montana in 2 weeks it's gonna be... well, bees. So stay tuned for that and in the mean time check out my etsy site!














8.18.2010

Pin Up Girl Cross Stitch

In one of my many phases of crafting, I decided to try cross stitch again. My mom taught me how to cross stitch when I was young, but a girl can only cross stitch so many hearts before it begins to lose it's fun. This is the problem I ran into when I decided to pick up the hoop again. There just aren't any good patterns out there. I don't want to spend my time making a cutesy animal wall hanging thank you very much. So I set out to make a pattern for something I wouldn't mind hanging on my wall and since I love everything pin up, I decided to start there. I had high hopes for these girls involving a cluster of antique cross stitch frames, some nautical stars, and Sailor Jerry style swallows. Unfortunately by the time I got these patterns done i was through with cross stitch and ready to move on to something new...oh well, maybe someday. So now I'm sharing my patterns with you in hopes that someone else won't have to stitch a fluffy bunny. Enjoy!



(I don't mind if you sell any item you've made with my patterns, but please don't sell the patterns themselves).




8.16.2010

Origami Flowers


It seems that the fall season is fast approaching (I don't know how this can be, summer has barely gotten started!). So in order to keep my denial of the coming cooler weather going I've decided to start this blog with a very colorful spring-like project. These origami flowers are fast to make once you get the hang of it so you too can keep the color alive during the dreary winter months. They can be made in any size and the color is up to you, just pick your paper! (I have found that origmai paper or any light weight paper works best for stemmed flowers. Scrapbooking paper gets bulky and too heavy for the stems to support). Let's get started...

Supplies:
5 sheets square origami paper (I used 3 in.)
18 gauge floral cloth wire
glue
needle nose pliers
wire cutters (my pliers had a cutter in them)

Step 1:
Fold paper in half; corner to corner

Step 2:
Fold bottom corners up to center top
(the black line will be where your fold is)

Step 3:
Fold sides in so they meet in the center

Step 4:
Flatten back out so that it looks like Step 1.
Open sides slightly and press in on bottom edge. Flatten to the front.

Step 5:
Fold over tops from step 4 to backside.

Step 6:
Fold sides in along existing crease. This will not meet in the middle.

Step 7:
Place small amount of glue on one side created in step 6.
Fold gently in half (with out creasing) so that two sides from step 6 are being glued together.
This forms one petal.

Repeat Steps 1-7 four more times so you have a total of 5 petals.

Step 8:

Take two petals and glue flat sides together.
Glue on remaining petals one at a time keeping flat sides together.

To add stem:
With wire cutters cut stem to desired length. With pliers bend over the tip of one side of the stem.
 
Put a small amount of glue on curled side of stem. Now insert stem straight side down through the center of the flower. Pull stem until curled side is inside the middle of the flower.

.
Let glue dry.
Now have fun and make as many as you'd like!