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...