It is just lovely. I love it. Dropped the star a few times too. ^_^ Didn't crack. This clay rocks!
Friday, December 28, 2012
My Christmas Ornament for 2012
It is just lovely. I love it. Dropped the star a few times too. ^_^ Didn't crack. This clay rocks!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Recycle : Notebook Wire - Bracelet
NOTEBOOK WIRE FUN
I am making a bracelet from notebook wire, and some old purple crafting string.
Measure and cut the wire.
Now for the old crafting string.
Cobra knots all around.
Lovely purple bracelet. Arm candy for going out.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Recycle : Notebook Wire - Mini Tophat
NOTEBOOK WIRE FUN
So much wire. What do I do with it all? It is wonderful. I finished classes, and dumped old notes. I have so much wire now.
This stuff must be galvanized or something, because it does not rust. Look at it. It will be perfect for bracelet or jewelry making, sculptures, or my project today. LOL. I made a mini top hat.Not very hard. Directions courtesy of Threadbangers' lovely Corrine.
For my hat, I recycled some old t-shirt, and spam mail (you know those stock-paper advertisements). I used the notebook wire for the rim. Got one of my scrap ribbons and tied it on. I am gonna use this for one of my plushies, or maybe a future Alice in Wonderland costume.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Kumihimo Japanese Braiding
Quick History
Kumihimo is a name given to Japanese Braiding. This started as finger braiding, much like the knitting nancy. Then tools were developed to speed it along. This tools are stool or table like with holes in the center. They are called marudai and takadai. They can produce round, or flat braids quickly. Historically they were used by the Japanese samurai for functional purposes, much like para-cord to our army troops. They have also been used decoratively for jackets, and kimonos, and creating charms for special occasions.
Summary
Kumihimo is great. Simply it is rope or cord making. This is very ornate that the Japanese would make for special occasions, and for armor.
Links
http://www.weirdollsandcrafts.com/kumihimo/braiding-card.html
http://thegenieslamp.com/kumihimo/
http://www.kumihimo.nl/eng-begin.php
Lets get started
Beginners don't need much. You can checkout YouTube or Google to see all the wonderful stuff created from the cords you can make. You can start by buying a kit or just make your own beginner's kumihimo disc. I recommend making it.
You will need cardboard/foam, scissors, braiding materials, and creativity. You can use spools, and some kind of weight, like beads.
First cut your nice sturdy cardboard or foam into a circle or square. Then cut slits around. You can either decide to start off with 8 or 16 slits. (I think 16 looks better for a beginner, but 8 is easier to learn.) Then poke a hole in the middle.And to braid, you can use any type of thread. Yarn, embroidery thread, silk, recycle t-shirts, recycle plastic bags, or any thread like material you can knot and poke through the middle. For 4 strands, you will need to place one strand at 8, 2, 6, and 4 positions. Then you do the following:
2 to 5
6 to 2
5 to 6
8 to 5
4 to 8
5 to 4
repeat until you obtain desired length.
The cord will grow through the hole in the middle. It may help to put a weight in the middle, so you don't have to constantly pull it through. Spools also can help you keep the strand neat and free of knots.
There are many other braiding patterns. This is just one. You can look up other designs, or you can experiment on your own. I found a few places you can check out in the links.
Mine
After many trials and errors, I have perfected this Kumihimo braiding tool. Cardboard was too squeaky, or too flimsy. Paper was weak. The best cheap free way is leftover packing foam. LOL.
I just cut a circle out, cut the slits, and poke the hole. It is perfect because it does not damage thread, even this embroidery thread. I don't have to worry about string breaking. I just wish I can put more weight on the strands. Check it out. I am trying to finish a whole skein to use for bracelet making. I think the colors are beautiful.
This is 16 slits, for 8 strand braiding. My pattern is just grabbing one strand over 2 strands. Then grab the next, and go over 2 strands again.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Broken Scraps, Butterflies, and Arm Candy
I have been cleaning up lately. I threw away so many old notes. I have so much junk. I just went through a drawer with old jewelry. My god, old times. I haven't seen some of this stuff since middle school and high school.
Anyone remember these butterflies.
I have so many ribbons. LOL! I have more not shown.
I have an old cheap charm bracelet. And a broken chain of rhinestones. Look! I re-purposed it. I think it looks very fashionable, and very cute on me. New arm candy for free. Yay.
Of course this drove me into googling arm candy. Lots of DIY. So beautiful, and then I remember para-cord bracelets. They are so nice. They remind of of macrame or tatting. Found some rope like string and did a cobra braid on a piece of ribbon. I think this makes a cute bracelet. I just need to finish the ends.
I think you may enjoy this. My sweet mother got me this. We went to this jewelry store that does DIY bracelets. I picked the string color, crystals, and design. The gentlemen tied everything together. It is beautiful.
Anyone remember these butterflies.
I have an old cheap charm bracelet. And a broken chain of rhinestones. Look! I re-purposed it. I think it looks very fashionable, and very cute on me. New arm candy for free. Yay.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Art Journal
Sorry I was gone for a while.
But today I will be talking about Art Journaling.
If you are stressed out and need to meditate to calm down, art journaling is great. It gives you relief and allows you to be creative too.
To start you just need a medium to start your work of art.
* Use recycled paper. Bind any way you want.
* Use software on the computer.
* Use old books you will never read anymore and can't donate.
* Use cheap composition books, notebooks, or journals.
* Or you can even use the nice journals, and art books made for painting and such.
Then your tool, your imagination.
You can use anything to mark your paper with. You can be free and place anything anywhere. Just as long as you are happy with the image.
If inspiration is needed. Watch some youtube videos. There are many wonderful journals online you can watch.
But today I will be talking about Art Journaling.
If you are stressed out and need to meditate to calm down, art journaling is great. It gives you relief and allows you to be creative too.
To start you just need a medium to start your work of art.
* Use recycled paper. Bind any way you want.
* Use software on the computer.
* Use old books you will never read anymore and can't donate.
* Use cheap composition books, notebooks, or journals.
* Or you can even use the nice journals, and art books made for painting and such.
Then your tool, your imagination.
You can use anything to mark your paper with. You can be free and place anything anywhere. Just as long as you are happy with the image.
If inspiration is needed. Watch some youtube videos. There are many wonderful journals online you can watch.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Uses for Wax
Lately, I been obsess with wax. Wax have many uses. I even brought a kit and played with a few recycling methods. Some of this is really fun. First there are different type of wax and their properties. When you want to use wax for different projects. The wax consistency and price need to be kept in mind.
Wikipedia have a lovely list of waxes people can use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax#Uses_of_wax
The wax you usually find in stores or craft stores.
Paraffin-Basic candle wax, and can be use as a good hardener.
Beeswax-Natural wax, often used in balm.
Soy Wax-Soft wax
Jojoba-A bead of this wax can be used to color or scent.
Bayberry wax
Gel Wax
Petroleum Jelly
Candles
If you have any leftover wax, they can be melted down into new candles. If you have wax leftover in glass containers, a double broiler method can be used to remove this wax. Once the wax melted in the boiling pot, you can pour the wax through a raggy cloth, like an old cheese cloth or old hosiery. If you don't have any craft containers for melting wax, soda cans, and canned food cans can be used to hold the wax. Once the wax is filtered, melt the wax again in a boiling pot using the double broiler method with the tin can. Pour the melted wax in the desired container and stick a wick in. Wait til the wax cool and pour more wax in to cover the concave dent that is formed after cooling.
You can buy wicks, or you can use birthday candles. You can also make your own wicks by braiding thick string and socking it in wax.
Leftover wax can also be made into beautiful jars to place tea candles in. This method is base off of making a chocolate bowl. Fill a balloon with water and dip in candle wax a few times to built up a shell. Once the wax cooled, pop the balloon and cut the shell to the length you want. These gives off a lovely glow, but they may need to be place on a place or coaster to avoid wax dripping on the table or carpet.
Basic Lip Balm Recipe
Everyone buys chapstick. Some of the most popular ones contain methol, camphor, and phenol. Methol, and camphor are for pain and healing. Phenol is an exfoliant, and breaks down skin of badly chapped lips. Now adays people want more natural, or simple. This recipe gives you a good basic balm, that can be place in a chapstick or balm container. This balm will keep your lips moist, without unwanted, excess ingredients.
*Mix Bees' wax with lotion for chap stick or balm.
*Just Petroleum jelly works as wonderful chapstick substitute.
*You can add coloring for fun. Vitamin E, and vitamin A can be mixed in to help your skin.
Basic Lotion Stick
A lotion stick is basically a chapstick for your skin. This will resemble a bar of soap you can roll around in your hands, to moisten skin. Not only that but it can contain fragrance and become solid perfume.
Wax Sculpture
Lots of people carve wax. They carve models of figurines, rings, and many more. These wax models can also be place into modes to make a prototype of the object.
Wax is very easy to carve. Use leftover notebook wire to form into a carver. If the wax is very soft, wax can be carve using a pencil, or pen. If there is a spare dull butter knife, that can be use to carve the wax.
Wax Stamp
Now that I think about it, you can use wax for a stamp. Beside using wax to make a seal for scrap booking, or envelops, a stamp can be carve out of the candle, or block of wax. Just carve whatever design you want, ink it, and stamp. If you want different designs just remelt the wax, and let it cool in the can before popping it out for a new stamp. Of course make sure you use the appropriate ink or paint due to wax slick nature.
Wax Paper
I am pretty sure you can wax paper but I don't see how that can be helpful. It may be useful if you want to waterproof a special piece of paper.
OTHER
*Use wax and petroleum jelly to help with squeaky doors.
*Wax thread to help you thread it through the eye of the needle.
*You can use wax as a pencil. People use to draw on eggshells with the tip of a candle. After the egg is dyed, the shell that is cover in wax stays white.
*Beside candle wax, old crayons can be melted into cute little crayons for a lovely treat for children. Star molds make great crayons for Christmas, and Independence day. Ice cream, heart, and moon molds are great for birthdays. You can use any mold, but I prefer the shapes with points that will allow the children to color easier. I remember receiving these baseball player, french fries, etc crayons from fast food restaurants, and the round edges are not easy to use.
*Wax can also be used in fire starters. Boy scouts like to use old egg cartons filled with sawdust, newspapers, and cover in wax. Scouts cut out one egg and use it to start fires, or for grills and fireplaces. Also a petroleum soak cotton ball, and wax dipped pine cones are other fire starters.
*Use chapstick to keep eyebrows, mustache, and stray hairs in place.
*If you are hiking, or cold weather, use chapstick to help dry skin on your face, hands, and lips.
*For grease monkey, rub petroleum jelly on your hands and face to help remove grease easily.
*Horrible chapped hands with calluses heal faster when cover in petroleum jelly.
*Paraffin Wax Dip! These are wax tubs that are great for softening hands, and relieving arthritis. My mother have a wax tub she soak her hands in. The wax is warm and soothing. When the wax harden she just removes it and throws it back in the tub for next time. The wax was really soft at room temperature, and evaporates a little bit every time it was used.
Wikipedia have a lovely list of waxes people can use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax#Uses_of_wax
The wax you usually find in stores or craft stores.
Paraffin-Basic candle wax, and can be use as a good hardener.
Beeswax-Natural wax, often used in balm.
Soy Wax-Soft wax
Jojoba-A bead of this wax can be used to color or scent.
Bayberry wax
Gel Wax
Petroleum Jelly
Candles
If you have any leftover wax, they can be melted down into new candles. If you have wax leftover in glass containers, a double broiler method can be used to remove this wax. Once the wax melted in the boiling pot, you can pour the wax through a raggy cloth, like an old cheese cloth or old hosiery. If you don't have any craft containers for melting wax, soda cans, and canned food cans can be used to hold the wax. Once the wax is filtered, melt the wax again in a boiling pot using the double broiler method with the tin can. Pour the melted wax in the desired container and stick a wick in. Wait til the wax cool and pour more wax in to cover the concave dent that is formed after cooling.
You can buy wicks, or you can use birthday candles. You can also make your own wicks by braiding thick string and socking it in wax.
Leftover wax can also be made into beautiful jars to place tea candles in. This method is base off of making a chocolate bowl. Fill a balloon with water and dip in candle wax a few times to built up a shell. Once the wax cooled, pop the balloon and cut the shell to the length you want. These gives off a lovely glow, but they may need to be place on a place or coaster to avoid wax dripping on the table or carpet.
Basic Lip Balm Recipe
Everyone buys chapstick. Some of the most popular ones contain methol, camphor, and phenol. Methol, and camphor are for pain and healing. Phenol is an exfoliant, and breaks down skin of badly chapped lips. Now adays people want more natural, or simple. This recipe gives you a good basic balm, that can be place in a chapstick or balm container. This balm will keep your lips moist, without unwanted, excess ingredients.
*Mix Bees' wax with lotion for chap stick or balm.
*Just Petroleum jelly works as wonderful chapstick substitute.
*You can add coloring for fun. Vitamin E, and vitamin A can be mixed in to help your skin.
Basic Lotion Stick
A lotion stick is basically a chapstick for your skin. This will resemble a bar of soap you can roll around in your hands, to moisten skin. Not only that but it can contain fragrance and become solid perfume.
Wax Sculpture
Lots of people carve wax. They carve models of figurines, rings, and many more. These wax models can also be place into modes to make a prototype of the object.
Wax is very easy to carve. Use leftover notebook wire to form into a carver. If the wax is very soft, wax can be carve using a pencil, or pen. If there is a spare dull butter knife, that can be use to carve the wax.
Wax Stamp
Now that I think about it, you can use wax for a stamp. Beside using wax to make a seal for scrap booking, or envelops, a stamp can be carve out of the candle, or block of wax. Just carve whatever design you want, ink it, and stamp. If you want different designs just remelt the wax, and let it cool in the can before popping it out for a new stamp. Of course make sure you use the appropriate ink or paint due to wax slick nature.
Wax Paper
I am pretty sure you can wax paper but I don't see how that can be helpful. It may be useful if you want to waterproof a special piece of paper.
OTHER
*Use wax and petroleum jelly to help with squeaky doors.
*Wax thread to help you thread it through the eye of the needle.
*You can use wax as a pencil. People use to draw on eggshells with the tip of a candle. After the egg is dyed, the shell that is cover in wax stays white.
*Beside candle wax, old crayons can be melted into cute little crayons for a lovely treat for children. Star molds make great crayons for Christmas, and Independence day. Ice cream, heart, and moon molds are great for birthdays. You can use any mold, but I prefer the shapes with points that will allow the children to color easier. I remember receiving these baseball player, french fries, etc crayons from fast food restaurants, and the round edges are not easy to use.
*Wax can also be used in fire starters. Boy scouts like to use old egg cartons filled with sawdust, newspapers, and cover in wax. Scouts cut out one egg and use it to start fires, or for grills and fireplaces. Also a petroleum soak cotton ball, and wax dipped pine cones are other fire starters.
*Use chapstick to keep eyebrows, mustache, and stray hairs in place.
*If you are hiking, or cold weather, use chapstick to help dry skin on your face, hands, and lips.
*For grease monkey, rub petroleum jelly on your hands and face to help remove grease easily.
*Horrible chapped hands with calluses heal faster when cover in petroleum jelly.
*Paraffin Wax Dip! These are wax tubs that are great for softening hands, and relieving arthritis. My mother have a wax tub she soak her hands in. The wax is warm and soothing. When the wax harden she just removes it and throws it back in the tub for next time. The wax was really soft at room temperature, and evaporates a little bit every time it was used.
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