Monday, April 28, 2008

Nugget Tin

Well I am alive and well...I guess the accident curse HAS been broken. Well at least I hope it is. So this is another adorable item I made...during my down time. I am pretty hooked on these origami flowers! They are so much fun and something I can do in front of the TV.





So I made this tin using a wonderful pad of My Mind's Eye Paper, Wild Asparagus Collection. I have a HUGE stack of this (thank god) and with my little paper fetish I hope I may never get through the WHOLE stack.


I know it gets a little boring seeing the same colors and style. But I'll share a little secret...with you...I try to use up the paper that I start. I used to try and 'file' the scraps but found that was taking longer to do than just using them up! So I make the major items...then find uses for the progressively smaller scraps. The smallest scraps are used in my paper bead bracelets and I've even started using my punches to punch away...then store each shape in a box ready for accenting!


Here is another picture with the tin open.


Again these tins are just simple and fun to make! And paired with a card...or perhaps a piece of jewelry they make an even nicer gift! One of the things that makes blog reading so much fun for me are the ideas everyone comes up with and how they gift their items. I try to be a thoughtful person but often I am stumped as to what would be appropriate to give or embarrassed if I hand some one something. Especially if it isn't their style. And I really do believe in Random Acts of Kindness...one of my favorite memories was sitting in the Milan train station waiting for my train to Parma when a gorgeous Italian guy comes up, says 'Ciao Bella' and hands me a flower! Well it was like 15 years ago and that memory STILL makes me smile!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

More Drama...

Okay if you don't hear from me for a while...well I might be dead. This past weekend, the sprained foot gave way and I fell down a flight of stairs so now I have a bruised tail bone...which of course I can't do anything about! So now sitting IS hard...but I have managed to get a few things done!


Here is a little teaser...

Thanks for looking and hoping this is the end of my mishaps!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

So my little drama...

I have recently gotten into geocaching and it is a spectacular way to get in shape...hiking while treasure hunting definitely fun! However as I was coming out of the forest I tripped on a root...and badly sprained my foot.

Initially I thought I had broken my foot but now I am reduced to hobbling around with a cane...and let me tell you toddlers...KNOW you can't get them! But I am on the mend and should be right as rain...and I was able to craft a bit more this week as no one expected me to move much...hee, hee.

So despite my injury if you are looking to get outdoors this spring and enjoy the sunshine...check out geocaching.

Monday, April 14, 2008

More Origami...now its in a tin

I really like making coordinating things. I'm really not sure why, but a whole bunch of matching things soothes me...and it is easier to just work with the same paper until it is all used up rather than filing the scraps (or feeling guilty for throwing them out!!).

Anyway, I made another scrapbook in a tin...and reduced the origami flower to tiny. Easy to do, my trick for folding the flower is to make the first half hold (easy) then without opening it fold it in half again...this way you don't have to strain your eyes to see where you made the first crease. Then my second tip to make the 2nd fold (those edges are REALLY hard to see...or perhaps I need new glasses). Well I rarely have a straight edge...so instead of searching for another half hour...I use what is on hand...fingers. I place a finger nail edge on each corner and fold against them to start the fold. Then remove and fold crisply.




Well anyway, I hope you enjoyed my entirely cerebral instructions...I will try and take pictures (one handed of course)...of what I am talking about and post them later this week. Here is a close-up of the folded flower...3 petals (I prefer this flower to the full blown option).


Thanks for looking...and tomorrow I will have a story to tell you...on the good hand I will have plenty of time to craft!

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Another Hat...this one for Graduation

Here is another adorable thing to do with Nuggets! Isn't it precious! I plan to make these for my son's preschool graduation! I think they are just adorable.

The key is to use the brad to secure the black cardstock square and ribbon...then use a strong adhesive to glue the overlapping ends around the chocolate nugget!

My favorite adhesive is the Scotch Quick-Dry adhesive...it is super strong and as the name says quick to dry...it adheres paper to paper in seconds!