Dollar Store Stone Candle Sconces

Hi!
  I love this new thing.  I used the tutorial found here.

I bought everything I  needed piecemail throughout the week.  Budgeting all these crafts is a difficult task!  Figure 5-8 bucks for some of them and it really adds up when you're working with $20/week total play money.  Sidenote here, I love Dave Ramsey.  Love him.  Budgeting has never been so fun and rewarding.
So anyway!  Back to the crafting!  I bought some clear tacky glue from Wally World and had my wonderful hubster cut blocks (7"x5.5" and 3.5"x5.5") out of the old shelving we used to have up under the TV.  I used the same spray paint I used for the lamp to transform the white laminated particle board into a pretty bronze.  I have a towel I use to spray paint on.  I really love the little circles and squares left white after spraying around the base of something.  The lines are so crisp and clean!
I attached the pieces with L-brackets and put picture hanger saw tooth thingies on the back (SO technical here!)  Hubby and I watched an episode of Breaking Bad while I glued on the dollar store rocks mosaic-style.  I let them dry overnight and couldn't wait this morning to hot glue the little dollar store candle holders on them.  They are too cute!  I wanted to put one on either side of the doorway from the kitchen to the living room, but in the interest of brevity and not wanting to move the large mirror on the other side of the doorway, I just arrange them around the photo frames.

Lit up:

I am in love!  I am going to make more of these.  Total cost for BOTH (everything except the paint and wood) was $5, candles included!

A Cake and a Flop

Yesterday I made something...unusual.  I found some great ideas off CraftGawker and Pintrest that I wanted to try out, so I chose a lamp that I really liked but didn't fit our style anywhere:

And decided to alter it.  I bought 1/2 yard of cream and brown fabric and cut them into 2" strips.  I like to fold the fabric over and over so I don't have to cut straight for very long to make each strip.  They ended up looking like this:

I cut off the beads from the top of the lamp, then I started sewing down the middle of each strip to create a ruffle.  9 stitch tension and 4 (longest) stitch length.  This went really fast.  Then I hot glued the stitched part to the lamp, starting at the bottom and alternating colors.  This is where I think I went wrong, for it ended up looking like something from the 70's traveled forward in time and threw up on the lamp:

And lit up it looks like this:

The colors are meh.  I am very dissatisfied.  I wish I had randomized the colors, bought two more colors, and instead of doing straight lines, let them meander all over the lamp.  I did fray the edges of the fabric strips to try giving it a little more appeal, but it's just ugly and I'm feeling down about it.


The bright point is the cake I made for a very special little boy in my life who turned 1!  His Mama and Daddy decided on a balloons/rainbow theme and pretty much left the design to me.  I wanted it to be special, so I made the inside a rainbow and didn't tell anyone until it was cut.  The little smash cake was rainbow inside too!  It was fun and looked like this:

The inside looked like this:

To achieve the look, I made up a batch of White Almond Sour Cream cake (WASC on Cakecentral.com) that was 1400 or so grams in weight.  I put 200g into each of 7 bowls and mixed in a LOT of color.  I wanted it to be very vibrant.

I put 100g of each color into 2-8" rounds.  I measured these by using the tare function on my awesome digital scale.  I let it settle naturally between each color so it spread well and more evenly.  Next time, I am going to coat the entire pan with the red and use more red than any other color so it shows up more, and go less and less as I get closer to the center.  Does that make sense?  Anyway, after I shaved the top to make it level, it looked like this:

I was so happy with how pretty and loud the colors came out.  Yay!  Happy Birthday little buddy!

Updo on an Ugly Lamp

Today I went by Wally World and grabbed some paint sample strips and bronze/brass spray paint so I could re-do one of our living room lamps.  I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.  I might scrap the whole project and make a ruffle lamp instead.
The lamp looked like this

And now it looks like this

And sometimes it looks like this:

The shade was just a really fugly old smoker's home yellow trapezoid.  To make the four panels I used, I used spray adhesive to adhere the paint samples onto printer paper, then traced the right size and cut four.  I used spray adhesive to put the panels onto the lamp shade, and that was a nightmare.  Next time I'm just doing hot glue.  I love hot glue.  So anyway, after the debacle of the spray adhesive, I glued on ribbons onto the corner seams.  I do like it, but I don't think my hubby is going to be too hip on it.  We'll see.
*Update* When I wrote out this blog post, I didn't know if I really loved it.  Since coming home to a dark house and being able to see it lit up in person, I'm stoked about it and so is the Hubster.  It stays.  It's just so stinking quirky and artsy!

Paper and Felt Wreath

I wanted (needed?  Maybe) something to put in the upstairs bathroom.  It's in shades of blue grey, so I wanted something that could pop but that would at the same time look fancy schmancy.  I took a few ideas I'd found on the interwebs here, here and here and smooshed them together using stuff I had lying around the house.  The result was too cute!

It's pretty small (about 8" diameter in all) for wall art, but I am thinking this is my prototype and I'm going to make a collection of these for the large wall space available in the bathroom.  I might put a mirror in the center of the largest one...I'm just not sure.  Maybe a mirror in all of them.
Anyway, that's the craft for today.  I did have a craft that didn't come out.  I tried making a re-useable swiffer cloth but it was too small to fit.  I had to make another craft, I couldn't end the day in disappointment.

Most Supreme Awesome Kid Craft Evar.

Today I did a few little things, but the one I'm the most excited about is this shirt my kiddo painted for me.

He's 4.  He did great, huh?  He was so proud.  And he knows how to make his Mama happy when he dresses himself in the notebook shirt I made him...3 days now he wants to wear it.  I let him wear it in the house after the first day, but I don't have the heart to tell him he can't wear it yet.

We do crafty stuff together pretty often.  Today I asked him what he wanted to do, and he said a shirt.  So I asked who it would be for...he said "You!"  I asked what he wanted to put on it, and he said "Daddy loves Alesha".  OMG.  Seriously too cute, this kid is.  I drew the outline on freezer paper and asked if it was right (it was), cut out the letters, and ironed it on.  Then I let him paint to his heart's content.  I was highly suspicious of the outcome, but I really love this!  The shirt he painted was an old shirt with paint smears on it from painting my kitchen anyway.
I think we are going to be making a lot of these in the near future.  How cool.  The possibilities are endless.  Christmas presents actually painted by him next year that are wearable and cute?!  That he will get a kick out of doing?  My dear, I hope I have a crafting buddy in the making.  He was THRILLED when I pulled off the freezer paper to reveal words. Seeing him get that same kick out of this that I do was inspiring.

I started a craft today using toilet paper rolls.  I found 7 of them and a paper towel roll, cut them into 1" sections, and hot glued them together.  As I *ahem* procure more empty rolls, I am going to add to this.  Once I'm happy with the outcome, I think I will spray paint it some good color for my living room.  We got this cool new wall art for Christmas from my In-Laws and it's starting to make me feel inspired.  I want to do more.
I am not at all sure what I am going to do next, but one thing is certain:  I've decided I love being a crafty person.  There's a huge satisfaction for me in creating.  Combine that with the infinite ideas presented by the internet and I'm hooked for life.

Christmas Crafting and Channeling my Inner Martha

I use Stumbleupon a lot for finding crafts.  I use it the way people use Pintrest, which I have never really gotten keen on.  I just keep folders and bookmarks to delineate the different types of crafts.
So, let's just get to it, eh?

Bacon Vodka in the making!

Label I made for the Bacon Vodka, using an old
Seagram's bottle.

Coffee Cup Cozies.  LOVE these!

The bacon vodka sounds gross, right?  It even looked gross while it was extracting pure bacon awesomeness into the alcohol.  It took 3 weeks, but when it was suitable to be imbibed, boy howdy was I happy!  It makes awesome Bloody Marys and I even used it for a bacon chocolatini!  The bottle was an up-cycled Seagram's 7 container.  I used a homemade Mod Podge to seal on the front and back labels.  The back label is completely customized for my brother-in-law.  I put all the makings for Bloody Marys into a basket for his gift.  It was SO fun.

Another style of Cozy.

The coffee cozies were frustrating at first to figure out how to sew, but after the first few ones, I got better.  As with most things.  I love using these and I keep one on me at all times.  It makes me feel so trendy and cute...both things I seem to be lacking in day to day existence.
The tile coasters were time consuming but very gratifying.  I used Mod Podge to seal the pictures on, and sprayed them with resin to keep them sealed tight.  They are great because it's simple to customize them perfectly for whomever you wish!
The jewelry satchels seemed to confuse everyone until I explained to them.  You know when you go somewhere for a few days and you want to bring your necklaces, so you toss them in a ziplock or just into a smaller pouch in your suitcase, and they get all tangled and it's a total pain to separate them?  Well, these satchels have 8 pockets inside that are the perfect size for your necklace.  One necklace or bracelet into each, toss some earrings or whatever into the center, and tie it up tight.  No tangles, no mess, and it's TOO stinking cute!  Well, at least I think it is!
Oh, the freezer paper stencil shirts!  I am totally in love with these.  Freezer paper is CHEAP, and you can cut a stencil and iron it into place wherever you want.  I made the Steal Your Face shirt for my hubby using bleach spray instead of paint.  You can tell I goofed a little, but he doesn't mind.  I made a few other shirts for him in this manner but I haven't taken pictures yet.  Maybe next post, I will.  I love customizing clothing.
The Angry Birds were my favorite gift this year.  Stinkie loved them.  I made them during his naps and at nighttime.  Total cost?  Maybe $10.  Maybe.  And I'm totally mom of the year now.  He is getting to be a really good aim, practicing in the morning and night on knocking Pig off his dresser with his Birds.  THEY ARE SO ANGRY!!  I was giggling the whole time I made them.

Yeah, my kiddo is too cute.

I made some other things that I didn't get pictures of.  I made a set of candlestick holders out of candy canes and ribbon (and of course, hot glue).  I made a few scarves that never got pictures taken of them.  I think I am now fascinated by felt flowers.  I am having such a superb time with it all!  I also made my husband an applique'd handprint canvas for the wall, with our three handprints.  He seriously thought it was so precious that he nearly cried.
Yesterday I made a little crazy paper toy thingy (I know, right?  So graphic, you can almost see it), a notebook paper lined t-shirt for The Boy using painter's tape and paint, and a Yoda snowflake.  I really need to take pictures of this stuff.  Today I didn't craft anything.
I have a cake this weekend for a first birthday for the cutest little dude.  YAY!
Till next time, internet warriors.

Grateful Dead album cover tile coasters.

Emotions tile coasters.  Love, Anger, Joy, and Grief.

African animals coasters

Jewelry Travel Satchel.  See the little pockets?

Jewelry satchel all closed up.

Freezer paper stencil/bleach t-shirt for my hubby!

Laptop bag for myself...I had to make something for me!

One of my t-shirt scarves.  I made several.  I love them.

No-Sew Tutu for a Little in my life!

Felt Angry Birds for my kiddo.  He loves them, and they are
good for working on aim!

Wastebasket made out of magazines and hot glue.

Sandwich/snack holders made out of old milk jugs.

I'm back!

The holidays are simply craft crazy for me.  I had a wonderful time this year, though it did mean that I slacked off on making cakes.  There are a couple there, but really I just focused on making special things for all the special people in my life.  Here is a brief photo catalog of what I've been up to.  Please excuse the quality of the photos - they say that the new iPod touches take the best pictures...bah!
I'll post the cakes in this entry, and the awesome craftiness that is my Christmas presents in another post.

Sesame Street Cake for Cartwheels and Coffee

Van Gogh Starry Night cake.  Painted fondant.

The spread at my kiddo's 4th birthday!

Super Mario Cake for my son's 4th.

The Little Mermaid cake, made with my super cool new fairie mold!

Chewbacca - my first 3d face

Other side of Chewbacca - Darth Vader, in buttercream.

173rd Airborne pin re-creation for my Father-In-Law
 and my first use of the airbrush.

Thomas the Train cake for Cartwheels and Coffee.

Baby Shower Present cake.

I had such a wonderful time doing all of these.  My new doll/girl/faerie mold has been most fun.  The Starry Night cake was an incredibly freeing experience.  I have always loved that painting, so to try to re-create it was fascinating.  I did get a new airbrush from my wonderful hubby.  My first attempts to use it are very... unpolished looking.  There is definitely a learning curve!  I did use it to to a pearlized look on the Baby Shower cake, and that was easy.  The Mario birthday party was SO much fun to put together, I think it deserves its own post.  I used the checkerboard cake pans my Mom sent me, so the insides are blue and red.  Too fun.  I was most disappointed in the Darth Vader cake.  I kept messing with it and eventually just made myself stop touching it.  I couldn't even find a Darth Vader cake done in BC online  though.  They are all made with fondant, and with good reason!  What a pain in the rear!  Chewbacca's expression made me chuckle.  The birthday boy asked his mama if it was real...he thought I had lopped off Chewie's head and served it up!  He did get over that though in time to let everyone know Chewie was just cake and stuck his fingers right in!
A whole lot of typing.  I hope I haven't bored you!  Next time I sit down to type another novel, it probably won't even have anything to do with cakes at all.  I've started to realize I have an inner Martha Stewart that is dying to come out.  Today alone I have made two crafts.  I may have to join C.A...Crafters Anonymous.  Till next time, toodles!

My cakes are now in Photobucket!

Hi! I lost my home computer a while back and now I have to use my iPod to post. It is very wonky and difficult to use, so for the time being, I am going to simply upload my cakes onto Photobucket. Here is the mobile site.  Here is the PC site.
Thanks everyone and have long days and pleasant nights!

American Girl and Calla Wedding Cakes!

It's getting late and I'm rushed to get this post written, so I'm sorry for my brevity.

The first cake here is an American Girl cake.  It's yellow cake with vanilla buttercream frosting and filling, and gumpaste and fondant topper and fondant diamonds.  The "pearl" necklace is non-pariels, painstakingly put in place one by one.  It was a fun cake and I loved making it!  The photo is a little blurry, but the bag says "American Girl" on it.

This cake was for my husband's Godmother's wedding last weekend.  It is Deep Chocolate and Yellow Almond cake with vanilla buttercream filling and marshmallow fondant.  The flowers are all hand made, about 40 of them, out of gumpaste.  Getting the dark blue color was difficult, so after making the flowers, I used Wilton spray to get them a more vibrant shade of blue.  For the berry colored flowers I painted over a more matte color after the flowers were formed.  The stenciling was done with matching buttercream.  This was my first attempt at stenciling and I was pleased with the outcome.  The wedding was beautiful and the cake was delicious.  The bride said of the cake: "That was the best cake I've ever put in my mouth!"  What a wonderful day.  Congratulations, April!

Thomas the Train!

Here's another cake I made for Cartwheels and Coffee.  Stinkie was dying to put the train on the cake...so I LET HIM!  He was so careful and did such a great job, don't you think?
The cake is Chocolate Sour Cream cake, a new recipe that I am in love with that bakes up like a dream and tastes lovely.  The filling and frosting are vanilla buttercream, with fondant accents.  Everything is edible except the Happy Birthday sign and the Thomas, which I got on sale at Walmart for $3!  It's not the regular Thomas train for the tracks, though.  It's...wait for it....MEGA BLOCKS!  It comes apart into 5 pieces.  Stinkie loved it but I wouldn't let him play with it.  I hope James has the best birthday ever!  The party is tomorrow morning.
  This was my first time doing a spiral carving on a cake, so it was a little nerve-wracking.  Thankfully, I had to carve out enough cake so there was a lot of "leftovers" to snack on!  The technique ended up being pretty simple and I didn't have too stressful a time with it.

The hardest part of this, believe it or not, was the mountains.  The funnest part was the clouds.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMES!

I haven't posted in a while!

I'm pretty pooped out from dancing all night last night at a FABULOUS wedding, so this is going to be brief.  I took a cake hiatus to prepare myself for this coming month.
Last night I did my second wedding cake...well, it was kind of my first since this was the first one I was paid for.  It was SO stressful but I did like that it came out looking like the picture the bride provided and that the tablecloth I made fit so well!

Hm.  Let's see, did I make any cakes since the Father's Day cake?  YES!  I made a cake for my Father-in-Law's birthday.  It was a fun little cake and it was completely custom.
I don't know that I can go into all the details that made this cake perfect for him, but I'll tell you what it is.  It's him sitting in his LaZboy with his headphones on, knitting a new car.  Around him are three of his grandchildren (he is raising the two girls with my Mother-in-Law) causing mayhem.  He is smiling.  It's like cracking a code...but MIL LOVED it and FIL saved the topper!  Here he is...see the resemblance?