New Blog

As my tag line says..."ADHD of blogs; never focusing on one subject for very long.  I started a new blog dedicated to crafty things I make or ideas of what I would like to make or my version of what everyone else is making....on and on and on.  This blog is for my creative side.

On The Fly Projects. 

Photo Collage Decoupage

Creating a Photo Collage on Paper Mache Letters

1.  Select the photos you want to use and either scan them or upload them to your computer.  I use Picasa 3 to lay the pictures out in a collage form so that when I print them I can get different sized photos plus I can print more pictures on less paper.  You can download Picasa 3 for free.  It's a really nice photo organizer and editor.

2.  Once the photos are selected and ready to print, have them printed on a laser printer (a toner printer).  If you don't have one, places like Office Depot and Kinkos have them.  If you use an ink jet printer, the colors will bleed and fade.  I just download my photos to a flash drive and take it to Office Depot and they will print them out for you.  It cost me $1.81 to print these photos. ( I had them laid out in collage format on three 8.5 x 11 sheets.)

3.  Purchase a pre-made paper mache letter or design object.  I got mine at JoAnn Fabrics. 

4.  Begin to tear or cut apart your photos.  You can be more contemporary and straight cut all of your pictures or do like I did and tear them out for a more vintage look.  If you tear them, tear the paper toward you.  This will create a subtle white frayed edge.  One of the photos I tore out, then crumpled the paper into a ball and then straightened it back out.  That creates a vintage look to the photo like it was a treasured photo that had been carried around and looked at a lot. 

5.  You can dry arrange your photos on your letter to make sure everything will fit.  I don't usually do that because I am impatient and what to start gluing.  I am kind of a random and impulsive crafter, but if you want to do it right and don't want to have to run out and print more photos you probably should do this.  Or....print extra photos and just wing it like I did!

6.  You may want to paint the letter with acrylic paint first in a color of your choice.  That way if you want to leave spaces between the photos, the color will show through.  Again I was impatient and I painted in a few places after I glued the photos.  It worked, but not the best way to do it.

7.  I use Mod Podge as the glue and sealer.  You can use white glue I guess, but I have never tried it.  I like the Mod Podge because it dries fast and it comes in matte and gloss finishes.  There are a bunch of different formulas of Mod Podge but I just use the basic cheapest one.

8.  Brush the glue onto the letter where you want to put the picture and then place the photo and rub out the air bubbles.  You have limited time to reposition the photo because the Mod Podge dries pretty fast.  I use a bone folder  to smooth out the air bubbles, but you can use your finger or even the side of a smooth pen.  If you need to you can add a little Mod Podge here and there to get it to stick.

9.  When all of your photos are on, let it dry completely (about 15 mins.).  If you want an antique look, you can brush on an antiquing medium and wipe it off, or even use a little brown acrylic paint diluted with water and brush that on an wipe it off.  First test you antiquing technique on a place that may not show to make sure you will like the results.

10.  After all of your photos are on and it is how you want it to be when it's finished, it's time to layer on the Mod Podge.  3 layers would be the minimum.  I usually use 5 or more.  The picture of the "V" that I did doesn't have any layers added to it yet.  You could just do 1 layer if you like that look.  Just make sure it dries completely before adding the next layer.  The Mod Podge goes on white and then turns clear when dry.  If you don't let it dry between layers it may have a milky appearance.

The instructions sound like a lot of work, but it really isn't.  I just tried to be detailed so you wouldn't make the mistakes that I already have.

Have fun!  This would make a great last minute Christmas gift.

Crochet Subculture

The craft show I exhibited at was a success. I made over $200! $200 will buy a lot of yarn. It was fun having everyone ooh and aah over my stuff. Sometimes people's reactions surprise me. Crochet seems so simple to me and they make me feel like some kind of yarn god. I guess it's like anything else, the more you do it the easier it is. People who have never crocheted are amazed. People who do crochet act not impressed and are sometimes even rude. I call them crochet snobs. Crochet snobs are different from crochet Nazis. Nazis want to be important so they share their designs, but they want control over who makes them. Then you have the snobs that think they can do better than everyone else; or even if they can't they try to make it seem so. I used to be a selfish crocheter. Everything I made I wanted to keep. I couldn't bear parting with things or even selling things. I could never charge what the items are worth based on the time involved. No one would buy them. I have pretty much come to terms with my selfishness. Mainly since most of the things I make now are for babies. If I don't sell or give away the baby items, I will have to rent a storage space to keep them. Still, however; if I make something like an adult size sweater, I keep it for myself. Anything that takes a long time stays with me. I could keep a small village warm for the winter with the amount of shawls, ponchos and sweaters I have made that are stuffed in a storage box under my bed.

I like making items for babies because they are soooooo cute and tiny. They generally don't take a long time to make relative to making something for an adult of the same pattern. Also, people tend to keep handmade items that their babies wore as heirlooms or keepsakes. The chance of a next generation wearing one of my crochet creations is likely. I like that idea. I guess that makes me somewhat of a crochet narcissist.

$$$$$

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it..(come on sing with me) I'm about to lose control and I think I like it! I sold my wood lathe today!!!! The guy already picked it up and he wasn't even a psychotic killer. Just in case I had my hand gun stashed in the barn.
When the guy first called me this morning, I thought it might be another weirdo. He asked if I still had the lathe and when I said yes, he went all girly on me and was so excited he couldn't say a complete sentence. "Praise the Lord!" He yells. I really don't think we need to get the Lord involved, it's only a lathe. I could picture Bryan putting someone up to this to prank me. The fact that he was 40 minutes late didn't help my confidence either. He finally showed up (he was lost). He was for real. He was just a really nice over the top kind of guy. You'd of thought that he died and went to heaven when he saw the lathe.
After he left, I realized that I get that guy. He was excited like I get excited when I go to an auction or walk into a craft store. In his mind he just got the best deal ever. Oh my GOSH...he's the male version of me! No wonder I liked him.