Showing posts with label paper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paper. Show all posts

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Paper Craft Saturday

Today I finally put the finishing touches on a paper craft I started a month or more ago. I wish I had some nice name to call this craft, but everything I can think of is way too cheesy, and the original name on the DIYideas website is ‘freewheelin art’. Blurg. Naming fail. Here are some of the craptastic names I thought of: paper craft circles, circular paper fans, paper wheels, ummm, you get the idea. Lame names.
Anyway, lets not judge this book by its cover, shall we? After all, the actual product is pretty cute.IMG_4810 As I was saying (ahem, typing), I started these wheels a while ago… The only problem was I didn’t create anything for them to properly hang on. They were just precariously balanced on push pins, not a good plan. They are hung over our bed and one too many times (actually, just once would have been too many) one of these plopped down on my face in the middle of the night. Now, they are only made of paper and they are round, so there are no sharp edges to gouge my eyes nor are they heavy and nose crushing, still, a definite nuisance.
However, they are now (finally) equipped with little black ribbons from which to hang. IMG_4798 Simple and, hopefully, effective. 
These fans (or wheels or what-have-you) were really easy to make. I constructed them one evening while watching a movie. The materials you need are: craft paper (double sided is better), crafting glue, paper cutter, clothes pins, a large book (or weight), scissors, and ribbon (or string, or fishing line, or floss even). IMG_4804Here are my 7 all stacked like some bizarre wedding cake. A bit challenging to get them to balance. Perhaps, these could not only be wall decorations, but also children’s stacking toys! ha.
The hardest part for me was consistently getting my folds even.  And, by hardest, I mean impossible. None of my folds were even (might have something to do with my movie watching multi-tasking); therefore, when I glued together the sides they didn’t quite line up. Oh well, a little trim with the scissors on the offending edge and voila. Even.
Here are the instructions and DIY image.PinwheelArtFINAL24 Well, here is my current installation. I’m still playing around with the composition. I’m not super jazzed about it as is, but that is probably because I remember really liking how they were arranged previously (when they were attacking me in my sleep). The push pins are all still in the same spots (luckily, they did not attack. Now that would have been some gouging action), so I just need to keep playing around with which one is where. IMG_4808IMG_4809  Today was actually lovely outside. Unfortunately, I ran out of my allergy pills about a week or so ago and hay fever came a knocking in full force today (which, finally prompted me to actually drive the 5 minutes to Walgreens and pick up some new ones). But, anywho, I was not up for much yard work wise. Some of the neighbors planted another 4 trees this morning (now only 3 to go!). Bill and I also went shopping at the mega home warehouses. We hit up Home Depot first, because we had a 7 month old gift card that needed to get used… Then we headed over to Lowe’s (a whopping 1/2 mile away from our first destination). I don’t know why, but I really prefer Lowe’s to Home Depot. It might just be that I am more familiar with the layout so I can actually find what I am looking for within 10 minutes, it also might be that their indoor gardening section is superior… We pretty much exclusively bought stuff for outside (wheel barrow, shovel, new gardening gloves, plants, and a ton of seed packs). Hopefully by next weekend my allergy meds will be in full operational force and we can get outside and get some more work done. Bill did do some yard work today (what with his lack of allergies). He mowed the lawn and added mulch to our new trees.
Tomorrow looks like it is going to be pretty busy. We have breakfast with friends, an opera matinee (Bill’s first, my second- hope it’s good!), and we both have some work to do (as in our actual paying jobs, not working around the house). Who knows, we might squeeze in a project or two. There is a certain gift that is almost ready to be installed…. Oh, the suspense!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pretty Origami Lotus

Best part? It is seriously easy. So easy even I could do it. Now that is really saying something because I suck at folding paper. I have never made a paper airplane that could actually fly (or was symmetrical) and have consistently failed at making paper cranes and other supposedly easy origami crafts.

ss_101354172See, isn’t it pretty? This is one the folks at Better Homes & Gardens made. I first came across the paper flower in a magazine last summer, it included a link with the directions on how to make it. All you need is pretty paper, a paper cutter (or good old fashioned scissors), a rubber band, yarn, and frame (I used crafting glue to affix the flower to the frame). Anyway, I knew right away I HAD to make it… and it only took me 6 months to actually do so. I even bought the frames to house the flowers last fall at Ikea. I was prepared and ready, finally the day came to actually make them.

IMG_6284-2

In the magazine spread they had the hanging in triplicate in a bedroom. So… uh… I did the same. Not very original on my part, I know. IMG_6279-1I did vary slightly from their directions. Obviously, I chose to pair mine with a kitty, which makes anything look better. I didn’t  like how big their yarn heart was, so I just tied one knot instead. I also left my leaves upside down so they looked all green (instead of seeing the other side of the paper). I  made the flowers a bit smaller, so they could fit in my frames. I would, however, also be interested in creating one on a much lager scale. Hmmm…

IMG_6283-1I used a color scheme of a pinky-purple, light blue, pale yellow, and green. I used a darker more neutral toned purple paper for the background. From a distance it blends a bit, but up close I think it is nice and subtle. These were really quick and easy to make and they are a nice addition to our guest bedroom. Need proof? Here is one last picture (with a kitty) to convince you.

IMG_6282-1

 

P.S. Please ignore my crappy Venetian blinds. They will be gone soon. I hope.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Thanks be Given


I realize it is now February, therefore, this post is not-so-timely... but, what the hey, I'm going to post it anyway. Side-note: Did you know I'm a poet and I didn't even know it? Okay, enough with the cheese and on with the patronizing.
Everyone should send 'thank you' cards. Everyone. They are nice to get. And, if nothing else they let the person know you received the gift (if it was sent by mail). If you choose not to send an actual card, please, I beg you; DO NOT send an e-card. They are horrible things that are the bane of my inbox. If you insist on going the virtual route a simple email would suffice. Anywho, homemade cards are far and away the best option. Even simple ones are far superior to the store bought variety (and, of course, in a completely different league than the aforementioned dreaded e-cards... Can they even really be considered a card? This blogger says, "No.").
I whipped up my holiday 'thank you' cards in less than 10 minutes. True, I didn't have ton to create, nor are they very thrilling and awe inspiring, but they get the job done. The real key is having the proper supplies: craft paper, a handy-dandy paper cutter, a cute hole-punch, and craft tape. Here is a shoddy picture of the cards. 


I assure you, they were at least slightly better looking in person. And, most importantly, they were used to communicate thanks to those folks who gave me gifts. I have even subjected my students to multiple card making assignments. When I assigned Thank You cards after winter break, one lone student (out of 25) asked, "What if your parents already have you write Thank Yous?" To which I say, "Well done, one set of parents, well done."