project upcycle

Isn't this a cute wrap sweater? I made it from an oversized sweater following along Betz White's fabulous online class at Craftsy.com.

The tutorial was clear and easy to follow. I'm not much of a sewer but I even managed to do the cute lettuce-edged sleeves...didn't they turn out great? There wasn't very much sewing involved and it all came together rather quickly.

I had planned to use a cozily shrunken cashmere sweater but there were two problems...one is that a moth got there first and the second is that it was too small to really work. This sweater was a wool/silk blend turtleneck style. You can transform any sweater but I think cashmere would be especially snuggly.

Go check out all of Betz's Project Upcycle class offerings and fashion your own upcycled clothes. And as a special incentive, you'll get $10 off the class price using this link.

Here's a cute outtake from our little photo shoot...

dem bones

Does this look like a bowlful of bones to you?

or a bowlful of mess?

We're going to a Halloween party after school tomorrow at a classmate's house and we're bringing these as a treat. They are stick pretzels with a marshmallow stuck on each end and then dipped in white chocolate. I found the recipe here.

Maybe they didn't turn out so great but we had a blast making them (and eating the mess ups!)

 

 

We were thinking about making these next but I don't know...those chocolate melts make a mess!

baggage, check!

This project is a part of Eileen Hull's super fun Sizzix Fresh Vintage Hop!

Welcome, Hoppers!

I had never really used a Sizzix Big Shot before but boy, oh boy, is this thing fun to use! It cuts through all sorts of things, including felt, matboard and chipboard! Maybe you guys already know about this, but, to me, this opens a whole new world of possibilities...

These tiny suitcases are fabulously fun to make...I just covered the matboard front and back with decorative paper (using spray adhesive) and ran it through the machine.

This is what it came out looking like...

Scored and cut...all you do to assemble is attach brads and glue in two places. Easy peasey!

I especially love the cupcake suitcase...



Now I think these boxes would be perfect for surprising someone with a travel gift...a trip to NY, etc. Wouldn't that be fabulous?

But I also think it would be fun to outfit these tiny suitcases with craft supplies to give as gifts to friends at a crafting weekend...

Something like this? Isn't that fun?

I found these tiny crayon and watercolor sets at World Market a couple of years ago in with their stocking stuffers. You can get tiny wooden spools from craft stores...just wind a bit of floss or baker's twine on. Add vintage treasures like a tiny doll, charms, etc. Tiny folded scissors come in handy when you're crafting on the go. 

You should go and see all the fabulous things people are making with Eileen's fun Sizzix dies...including more suitcases today! Click on the blinkie on my sidebar or visit Eileen's blog to "hop" along!

p.s. I'm still working on the Christmas issue...it's the home stretch and I'm so excited about how it's looking! Check back here next week for the release!

point of view

We just got back from a great trip to North Carolina. Rich and Alfredo tagged along with me for Jenn's super fabulous "Once Upon A Dream" event. It was beyond words...so magical and wonderful. I'll tell you more about it soon.

Alfredo took this sweet photo of us...I just think it's so adorable, don't you?

Back to work for me...I'm working like crazy getting the Christmas issue together. It's nearly there so keep checking back here for more news. (p.s. It's looking so wonderful! You're not going to believe your eyes!)

Telley wins!

I plumb forgot to announce the winner of last week's Matthew Mead Jelly Jar giveaway...Telley, sweet thing, it's you!

Shoot me an email with your address and I'll forward it to Matthew Mead HQ!

little boys

Little boys love to watch big boys work.

Our neighbor is getting a new roof and evidently there is nothing in the world more exciting than watching the workers climb all over the roof.

It's beginning to look a lot like:

Matthew Mead's new Holiday issue is available! I'm so happy that I was able to be a part of it.

Check out this cool video preview of the issue:



You can order your copy of the special edition pre-release of the magazine by clicking here. And as a special gift to my readers, Matthew is giving away a set of 6 of these sweet jelly glasses.

All you have to do is link to the preview video above in your blog, facebook, or twitter and then leave a comment below with your link. Drawing will be held this Friday...good luck!