catch my drip.

since making the change purses, i'm feelingmore confident on my sewing machine. so i thought i'd try my hand at another sewing project. this time i made a set of 6 coasters. i love coasters because they are functional art. i have a few sets in my own house and i am the only person that lives here. I don't often use them to catch my drips, but rather to accesorize a room with color or holiday cheer.

spare change.

with the economy taking a dive, we could all use a little help in making our dollar go the extra mile. as i prepared to host an upcoming christmas party i wanted to give a little something cute and creative to my guests but i don't have a lot to spend. i am by no means a seamstress, but for a few days i became a sewing machine to create a variety of carrying cases for that spare change they've got lying around. by making them myself, i was able to save some extra dough to put into the baking!

sunday morning find.

on weekend mornings i love to wake up, make a pot of coffee and cinnamon rolls to eat in bed while reading my latest issue of real simple magazine. this morning i found a fabby idea for winter home decor. here's my spin on the idea which for the wreath, ribbon and letter, cost only $5.50. (the silver letter alone in real simple's version was $18.) not only is it festive, but thrifty and matches my home. a sure wreath to keep up all season long.

going postal.

while its not even thanksgiving yet, christmas is coming...

one of my favorite things to do every year at work is to design the christmas card. this year we are going postal with a 4x10 graphical postcard.

head banger.

i am always on the search for the perfect fitting headband. some are too tight, some leave big gaps, and others just give me a headache. i crafted together a headband just my size with a .50 cent plastic headband found in the bridal section of a craft store, a 5 inch wide piece of fabric and hot glue. by leaving the ties loose a the end, i can tie it so it fits around my head, but because its fixed to the plastic headpiece it doesn't slide around my head like a normal fabric head tie. its working for now...

knock it off.

i went to chicago this past weekend & found the scarf on the top left in a higher priced store for $98. i really like it, but i don't have $98 to spend on just 1 scarf. instead, i bought a $12 scarf (bottom left), found some elastic thread, & sewed it so that the fabric would pucker. voila- a knock off! my first one turned out ok, but i'd like to try it again on a solid color & at the cheaper price, i can have about 8! (or i can have 1 scarf, 2 pairs of jeans and a snack wrap.)

recycle this.

if you're like me, you get your magazine subscription in the mail, read it cover to cover, and instead of putting it in the recycle bin or tossing it upon completion, you keep it. mine are piled up in volumes in baskets, on bookshelves, behind chairs and on my nightstand. for some reason i have a hard time parting with them...but finally i found a reason to reuse after reading!

often i find on my magazine pages brightly colored photos and vibrant graphic patterns, really small works of art crammed into $3.50 worth of enjoyment. i've decided to cut those designs out and craft them into my own note to mail.

baby boom.

all of my friends are having babies! As the single, non-parenting friend, i have extra time on my hands. while they are all gestating, birthing and rearing their children, i like to cut, paste, and tie together little crafty creations to help welcome their new bundles. here is a card, diaper cake, and shower decoration i put together for my friend karen and her new baby girl.

cheap and easy.

i needed a cheap and easy way to add a splash of color to a boring blank wall in my room. for a quick solution i painted a 12x12 frame to match woodwork in the room and placed a 12x12 colorful sheet of scrap-booking paper in the frame. not only is it a quick way to add style to a room, but its easily and inexpensively interchangeable.

inspired.

back in the day i was inspired to craft and create a lot more often than i do now, and i'm not sure why...maybe i just get busier and have more responsibilities as i get older and forget to do the things i love. as i've been leafing through stuff i did years ago i found a few pieces that have inspired me to craft on...