Star Book

Have you ever signed up for something thinking it was going to be amazing and ended up being something that you found yourself dreading?  That is how I was feeling about my bookmaking class this week.  I was just feeling lazy and there were too many steps, too many pieces of paper to cut, and too many different things that were going wrong with my book…  until it started looking like a star!

Funny how your mood changes so quickly when something starts going your way J

I Give you- A Star BooK

After stitching the 7 large pieces together using waxed linen thread, and glued 14 small pocket inserts and glued the covers to the front and back pages. 

I ended up using scrapbook paper to glue around art board to make my covers and twine to tie the Star Book together.                               

Now im pumped about making my next book and filling this one with treasures from my travels!

Side Stripes

After gluing this little side table… I was frustrated because the slats of wood on the bottom shelf weren’t lining up right and it was noticeable that it was not one solid piece of wood.  Then I thought I could use that to my advantage and paint each piece a different color.

 Yippee!  Problem solved!

I painted the entire table white and then I placed masking tape along the edge of each slat creating a perfect straight edge to paint against. 

I used only colors I already had… which most of all are the wall colors of my house. 

The end result is a super cute striped side table that could go in literally any room of my house!

i.love.lamp.

This side table lamp was given to me by my friend Megan’s parents.  I can’t quite remember how they obtained it, but they knew that I could bring it back to life.  So it has been sitting unused in my room for months now.  I was trying to draw inspiration from somewhere… anywhere.  But it wasn’t until I saw vintage lamp redone that I knew it needed to be painted a bright color.

Inspiration:  Thanks to Jen over at The House of Wood

I was so carried away that I almost forgot to take a ‘before’ picture.  So here is the lamp with just a little green paint on it…

And here it is now!

After brushing on two full coats of Organic Garden and letting it dry, I sanded off the edges to give it some dimension and texture.  Now all I need is a lamp shade to finish it off! 

Hot Days. Cool Art.

When it starts getting hot outside, make Ice Paint!  This is a fun twist to regular water coloring painting for kids- and a lot more fun too!

{You will need: Popsicle sticks, an old ice cube tray, tempera or craft paint, water and a freezer.}

 Step 1:   Squirt a different color of paint into each cube… or double up.  If you want your paint to be bright and thick pour enough paint to cover the bottom of the cube.  If you want your paint to have more of a water color consistency just put a little dot in each.  There is no wrong ratio of paint to water.

 Step 2:    Add water to ALMOST fill the tray… doesn’t overflow otherwise your colors will run together!

Step 3:  Add a Popsicle stick to each cube. 

(I ran out so I just cut straws to put in each).   And stir the paint/ water mixture.

 Step 4:  Leave the sticks in and freeze- overnight is best!

Step 5:  Remove from freezer and gently twist the tray to loosen up your new paint cubes!  We took ours outside on a hot day and let the ice melt over our crayon drawings making a crayon resist! 

This project is great for little ones because you don’t have to worry about spilling the water cup, rinsing out brushes, or permanently mixing the colors in the watercolor tray.  They can use the sticks to scoot the paint across their paper and the summer heat does the rest!  Older ones can help you mix and there is very little clean up!

Love it!  Happy Saturday!

Paper Phase 1

So every Wednesday for the past three weeks, my roommate and I have been going to a bookmaking class in Nashville.  We are learning different bindings, stitches, and book layouts.  Even though I have taken a book arts class before I feel a little in over my head considering the first book we are making should end up looking like a star (if all goes accordingly). 

We got our supplies late and the teacher continues to assign us homework to catch us up for the next class.  So far we have bought our paper and begun to cut and fold the pieces of paper (there are 28 pages in all with 2 covers).  I wish I have more to show but this is as far as I have gotten:

The paper I am using in my ‘Star Book’ is from a 1976 Road Atlas, scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby, and Canson art paper that can be purchased at any art supply store.

We were able to work quickly and bind the first two layers of pages together tonight using waxed linen.

Check back next Wednesday to see the progress of my Star Book and the start of another one!

Lagoons, Licorice Sticks and Sun Rays

So a couple of weekends ago my mom and I decided to rent a booth at the Nashville Flea Market with only 5 days to prepare. {Insert the YIKES! here} So I went on a crafting and furniture flipping marathon that resulted in me painting till midnight every night and several colors of spray paint in my hair.  One of the many things that I worked on to sell at the Flea was this adorable toddler bed. 

The original finish was wood.  In one of my late night crafting adventures, I came up with this color palette, and was spray painting in my backyard with a flash light. 

Lagoon, Licorice Stick, and Sun Ray:

and here is how it turned out:

I am in love with this color combo so I can guarantee that you will be seeing it again on another project.  I will be posting for the rest of the month of makeovers that made it to the Flea!  Stay Tuned!

June Top 10

New 10 for June:

Sorry for the delay... I was living it up in Louisville with my favorite baby girl and best friends... so without further ado~

1. So You Think You Can Dance

The new season just started and I am already doing awkward leaps in my living room during the commercial breaks.  If you have never cared for reality TV, this show might change your mind.  SYTYCD is beautifully choreographed dancers in perfect movement, perfect costumes, set to the most perfect music.

2.  Tree houses

  Become a kid again and climb a tree!  Cheekwood in Nashville has recently built some pretty cool ones.

3.  Double Doozies

Yes please. Indulge. I know I did this weekend, and with the help of Kristan you can make your own.

4.  Flea Markets

I have always been a fan, but even more so now that I was on the other side of the flea this past weekend.  It was fun being a vendor and getting to tell people to stop taking pictures of my map desk if they weren't going to buy :)

5.  Fish Tail Braid

I'm still trying to master this one still... but I'm thinking I should maybe add the pastel to distract from my imperfect braiding.

6.  One Thousand Gifts 

This book was going to be my number 6.  But honestly I couldn't get through it.  If you have read it let me know... I need some advice on how or why I should keep reading it.

 7. Star Girl

quickly replaced One Thousand Gifts and quickly became one of the most interesting books I have read.  It should bring out the quirky qualities in all of us.

8.  Did I mention I'm lactose-intolerant?

 

9.  Abiella is officially a McConnell!!!

Check out the McConnell's journey of bringing home their daughter from Ghana, HERE.

10. Birthdays! 

Happy Birthday Mom and Courtney!  Let the celebrations begin!