My crafting this month has been all about practicing Christmas gifts that I’m may be making. There were a number of failed experiments (perhaps I should do one post dedicated to dud projects – though I never take pics of those – in future I will) but I’m OK with how these turned out.
Project 1:
I saw some mosaic starter kits in the craft shop and they all ranged from R25 to R35. I was looking for one with a square base (I’m all about the straight lines) but they were out of stock so I bought one that contained a heart base and another one with a cross base. I thought the starter kits were really good value for money – they contained a latex glove and the glue and the grout as well as a little gadget with which to spread the grout.
I’m relatively happy (for my first attempt) at how they came out. I guess this is something that I need to practice some more. Need to get those gaps smaller I think and the edges a bit tidier? I was considering buying a few small mirrors or picture frames so I can mosaic the border and give these as gifts to the women in my life. I can see how this can become addictive but I did find it rather time-consuming and I could not get those gaps any smaller no matter what I did. Maybe because it was the first time that I’d done this? The jury is out on this one and I will think some more about whether I’m going to go ahead and do this again.
Project 2:
Last month I bought half a meter of the cheapest fabric at the knitting shop. I was in there to buy wool and bamboo needles (as usual) and bought the fabric with the intention of using it to cover a notebook. Last week (on Tuesday I think) I attempted to cover the book. It didn’t work out so well. The fabric was too thin and the glue was rather obvious underneath it.
In my head I was already planning to camouflage it with some of that felt material that I have. Btw…have I mentioned that working with felt is my new favourite thing? Anyway, on Wednesday evening I was fighting with my DH and went to bed in a huff. After about an hour he woke me up with a surprise. A PERFECTLY covered notebook with FELT material! He even added a bookmark for me!
Don’t you think that he is just so clever?
Anyway. After I saw this, MY BRAIN WORKED OVERTIME and on Thursday I went back to my knitting shop during lunch time (I’m thinking that this is my next favourite happy place after the beach) to get more Felt so I could do these:
I just LOVE these, firstly because they are easy and don’t take long to complete, secondly because they are very cheap to make (those little hardcover books that I used here cost me R7.99 at PnP – if I make them as gifts I’ll get an unlined hardcover notebook), and thirdly because this could actually appeal to ANY person, regardless of their age. It could work for Teens and Tweens and little kids AND adults. I’m currently practicing some embroidery because I’m even considering adding initials or something similar.
Project 3:
I went to the PO to fetch my package from Marcia that contained Washi Tape and I am SOLD on the stuff. Seriously. I have all these ideas in my head about how I can use it.
I made some fridge magnets using clothes pegs and WASHI TAPE. I had previously bookmarked this craft (have tried to pin it but it doesn’t work) and it was inspired by this post.
I could not find those magnets that they refer to in that post so I took one of those magnetic book marks that they sell at the Crazy Stores and trimmed the edges so I could glue them onto my pegs.
See the completed fridge magnet.
This was an easy peasy craft which took all of 7 minutes to complete. WILL make more of these.
Am linking this post to Marcia for her October crafts linky. If you have recently made something (ANYTHING) please link up there too?
Julia!!!!!!
You are making me smile SO BIG!
I love your crafts and look! you’re working in all these different mediums (a word I saw on a real art blog)
Speak to Cat about the mosaic – she’s a genius – I have a lovely cross that she MADE me!!!! Which is still leaning against my dining room wall but December….. this house will come together.
I love your mosaics SO MUCH!
Your felt notebooks are also gorgeous. On one of them you can make a little cupcake for a girl (I have a felt cupcake pin – that’s why I’m thinking of it).
And the washi tape peg magnets? Be still my beating heart!
SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!
Have just finished my Sept photo organising……………… it still counts in Oct because most of it happened before 12
Your comment has just made my morning. Thank You!
I love your mosaics! And the notebooks look really cool! Whenever my hubby and I fight he doesn’t do any craft things for me, he just gives me the silent treatment…
LOL…thanks Lea. I also usually get the silent treatment. This was the first time he crafted something for me!
Stunning Stunning Stunning Jules! I’ve done mosaic and also couldn’t get the tiles to stop moving even with glue. Not sure what the trick is but please share when you find out. I might finish one of my started mosaic projects. Is Washi tape sticky on the back?
Ah thank you so much! That is a huge compliment coming from you – you are after all the queen of crafting! I’m going to play around more with the Mosaic to see how to get those tiles to stop moving. And yes, washi tape is sticky at the back. It’s basically masking tape and is very popular with the Japanese. See here for more info on it: http://www.cutetape.com/shop/japanese-washi-masking-tape.html
and here:
http://stamping.craftgossip.com/inspiration-and-trend-washi-tape/2011/03/04/
These are all so lovely – I got that mosaic kit for Christmas last year – love it
mmm maybe I must post some of the stuff I have done
Thank you! Yes. Post and link up!
You’re so clever – and I love that you’re not sticking to one thing, but branching out in different mediums. You rock Miss Craftalot!
I am so behind in anything crafty. Seriously. Need to find my craft mojo but flip it’s buried deep beneath my children’s school/extra-mural needs right now. Roll on end of Term. Seriously.
Love the books – seriously right up there on the cute factor!
Awww….thank you so much. You know what? If I need to find my mojo I just start by doing something small. Seriously. Just do something that won’t take you more than 10 minutes. Even if it means taking some silly, fun pics and doing something simple with them. Those notebooks didn’t take too long. Neither did those fridge magnets. And actually, your baking and cake decorating is a craft as well so you haven’t exactly lost your mojo!
OH I love that you try everything and your felt stuff has seriously inspired me to try something like that. And I think your DH is incredibly sweet – gosh, who can not forgive after he did that!
Ok, the mosaics. Yours look great for a start.The kits are very cute, but it is incredibly hard to make the tiles fit if you do not have a tile cutter. I actually cut some tiles to start with and then custom cut the filler pieces. They cost anything from R90 (ok, but not great) to R160 (better value for money) at craft shops and you can replace the blades if they go blunt. Do not buy a tile clipper – you can do that later. One can cut quite accurately with the cutter.
Glue – I prefer to use tile glue or tile flex and not the usual wood glue that comes in the kits (something like Ponal) – that dries quicker. If you do use the woodglue, do not spread too thick. First let your glue dry – preferably over night, and then grout the next day. That way the tiles won’t move.
Grouting: Grout to be mixed to the consistency of toothpaste works best. Spread grout over whole project and leave for about 10 to 20 minutes. Remove excess with those 3m sponges with the sponge and green scrub side and a damp sponge, not wet. You do not want to wash out the grout. About 3 hours later (or overnight), clean the rest of the grout off the tiles.
I think I will show off my latest mosaic project today and link to Marcia
Thank you soooooo much for this comment. I’m pretty sure there is a tile cutter somewhere at home with my DH’s tools. Must look for it and play a bit. I used the glue in the kit which I must admit was quite rubbish. When I did the 2nd mosaic I did contemplate using a different glue but I didn’t. Those instructions in the kit said to let the glue set for one hour which I did. I now see that it is better to grout the next day – this is probably why the tiles kept moving! I’m going definitely to try this again using your tips. And yes, make those notebooks. So easy and as cheap OR as expensive as you want it to be. So many possibilities with the notebooks. Can’t wait to see your mosaic. You are VERY PROFESSIONAL with this kind of stuff!
I must link up my mosaics cross that I did…it came out so beautifully. I started doing another mosaic project last summer but have yet to finish it. I am so jolly impressed with you working moms that find the time to craft! I must get off my butt (and off the pc!!) and get my hands sticky again!
Ooh, I love the felt covered books. One of my crafts for Christmas was a covered hard cover book, I used upholstery material and that worked just fine.
Thanks for that suggestion! Maybe I will try that. I used normal cotton fabric and it didn’t work. The glue that I used seeped right through.
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