My photos are gone...

So, I don't know what happened here. All my photos are missing. No worries. I will try to replace them. Blogs just aren't as nice without pretty pictures! Here is one to keep your spirits up while I do some renovations!

As you can see, I've been busy. Here are some birthday cards using Paper dolls from old McCalls catalogs. Below that is a cute DIY notebook using a paper bag from The House That Lars Built blog. Below that is a cute napkin I embroidered, followed by a bowl I got for >$1 at a yard sale and sprayed it gold. My great grandmother LOVED to spray paint things gold - rocks, figurines, plastic fruit. It was fun to reenact the myth of Atalanta and the golden apples. Enjoy them while I sort this mess out.

Mother's/Aunt's Day

Hello again Lovelies! More hand-made loveliness ahead as Mother's Day hit my house. This was the kitty-cat-inspired Mother's Day card I made for my mother. I swear, it's nothing more than a cardboard card, a sharpie, and some colored pencils. My mom is the tabby cat and I'm the white one with spots.

 Here is the back, let me explain the joke set-up. My brother (orange-cat because his hair was orange when he was born) rarely unplugs himself from his new, shiny laptop and it's internet. My mother jokes (well, half-jokes) that she wants the router unplugged for Mother's Day and we laugh evily at the thought of my brother panicking because the internet suddenly went out. Hee hee. So, here is the kitty-cat version of that.

 It's also my Aunt's birthday so I embroidered this card to look like dandelions being blown. Get it? Wishes for her birthday lol.


A-----nyway, I wanted to share these cute cards to you and inspire you to create some of your own if someone special to you has an important date coming up. Nothing says "I luv u" like a hand-made card.

Ciao!
-L

My Inspiration "Bored"

Periodically, I drop by the bookstore to see if any magazines or books or knick-knacks peak my interest. The number of inspirational items at this immense resource has dropped at a disheartening rate over the past 3 months. Today, for example, I leafed through a few past favorite magazines, only to find them and their articles blasé, unappealing, and unrealistic. Yes, that $2,000 purse is quite lovely, however, I will never use it. Some of the outfits would look great if I was a performer or celebrity but here in my hometown I would be mistaken for a hooker or a desperate middle schooler in those particular outfits.

Ironically, I took home a traditionally male-audience magazine about music and menswear. Go figure. In my bedroom, I have a board where I pin up things that inspire me. Here it is at the moment:

[starting clockwise from the top: the My Melody watch I got as a gift from a very generous 6-year-old, A printing-press-printed valentine that I stamped and colored at an art studio open house, a little black cat I drew, Eddie Redmayne and a red glitter heart sticker, a 60s Brigette Bardot inspired look, this month's NYLON and Glamour, the new CD from Action Item (a boyband that ranks somewhere between The Wanted and The Monkees), a cologne ad starring Alexander Skarsgård, and two ads for Juicy Couture's new fragrance.]

I'm probably going to rip out a lot of the Adam Levine photo-spread and after photo-copying some pictures for a gal pal, pin a few of them up there. His tattoos are amazing, it helps that the canvas is so handsome. ha ha.

I need a photo of Matthew Belamy and Brandon Flowers to complete my sexy artist tri-force. And Brandon Boyd, so I guess it's a quartet. What a heavenly quartet that would be.

Speaking of heavenly, I let my flowerchild out yesterday and braided a flower wreath.

But getting back to my lack of inspiration, I think getting older has made me harder and more realistic. I try to do good, I know I can't change the world by myself, but I can change my community. I miss all the fun things my friends and I would do in the name of "ART". We've spray-painted messages of love on bridges and abandoned walls, we've braided flower crowns for each other and made up fairytales, we drove two hours just to eat at our favorite resteraunt, went to get ice cream and 2 in the morning, and even snuck into "restricted areas" just so we'd havethe best few of the sunset. I blame age. I'm putting an end to this monotony, tomorrow I begin plans to revolt against age and be a bohemian again.

Good night Lovelies,
Wish me luck! - LL
 



My Father is 50 years young Today!

Hello Lovelies! I wanted to show you all the card I made for my dad's birthday. It's only cardboard, paper, string, and glue! I cut out tiny diamond shapes for the flags and folded them over the string. After glueing the points together, I secured the banner to the card. My markers are missing so I hade to improvise with the highlightes and sharpies in the des drawer. I hope I find my markers but I'm so excited to give my dad a hand-made card this year!

Stay Lovely! <3

Birthday cards

I was commisioned by my parents to come up with something clever so they can present my brother with something concrete for his birthday. They got him flying lessons and wanted something that resembled a Willy Wonka Golden ticket to reflect it. So I scooted on down to the craft store and picked up a piece of gold foil cardstock ($1.99) and an oil-based marker ($3.99).

I can't tell you how glad I am that I was gifted with a crafting scissor bouquet. Those are kind of expensive! After staring wistfully at the edging punches, I managed to swipe a cute floral stamp set on clearance ($2.99!!).

Once I got home, I was a crafting hurricane, Lemme show you Lovelies what I made:

So to the Left here is the certicate I created with the gold cardstock and pen. Nifty right?

And here to the Right, is the card nestled safely in it's deceptively simple envelope.

On a side note, here is my not-so-fancy but still kinda-clever card from me to my little bro, who is very into Minecraft (copyright Minecraft). After some totally not-suspicious research, I found out that Emeralds are the rarest element in the game right now. It helps that I also know what my little brother's favorite fastfood place is (Taco Bell) and I picked up a gift card to put inside. I know my camera blurred a bit so let me tell you that the outside of the card says "Happy Birthday to My Brother..." and inside of the card says "... a "rare" find". hee hee.

That's all for today my Lovelies. Hope this inspired you to make inexpensive but fun cards for your own loved ones!
-LL

New Band I Heart

So, like many twenty-something kids, I was scrolling through my ipod songs with a heavy sigh, I was growing bored of the same 107 songs. (I know, ONLY 107?). I rotated a few songs back in and rotated a few out so as not to get too sick of them. But 34 songs look kind of wimpy. So I reached out to my facebook-a-friend option and posted that I was looking for a new band to focus my musical frustration on. Of all persons, my Mother posted a music video on my wall. (I shouldn't be suprised that she'd find an awesome band, she is very good at that kind of thing.)

I can't tell you how much I Heart this song lately. Give it a listen, I think you will too!
-LL

Project: Fancy Matchboxes.

Here is a cute way to make that candle in your bathroom feel less awkward.

You will need:

• tiny matchboxes (I got mine at the drugstore in a pack of 10)
• ModgePodge
• a paintbrush
• decorative paper (I used Origami rice paper from Michael's craft store)
• scissors
• a ruler (and pencil)
• newspaper
• glitter, sequins, other small decorations (optional)
• painter's tape
• metallic spray paint (I used gold)

Step 1: Take the little match box drawer (and matches) out of the matchbox, if you paint the box as is, the little drawer can dry shut.

Step 2: Trace or measure the matchbox on the back of the decorative paper and carefully cut out the covers so each matchbox has one for each large side. Set them FAR away from the next steps.

Step 3:Cut the painter's tape in thin strips just larger than the strike line of the matches. Tape over the strike lines on each skinny side, letting excess tape hang off edge end.

Step 4: Spread out your newspapers somewhere outside or well-ventilated and paint the top and sides of the matchbox covers. Let dry.

Step 5: After they dry, flip them over and paint the other side. You should now have little metallic boxes.

Step 6: When the boxes are completely dry, CAREFULLY peel off the painter's tape. If it tears the strike line, don't stress, just go ahead and paint over that side with the metallic paint. Camouflage is awesome.

Step 7: Paint over one large side of the matchbox cover with the Modgepodge, then place the paper cut out on top and tap it into place with your finger. Once the corners are matched up, paint on a second layer of Modgepodge. Let dry.

Step 8: Repeat on other side.

Step 9: I used glitter glue to dot some of the flowers and give it some sparkles! Then I finished with another layer of Modgepodge.

All done! Now your friends may pretend they need to light that candle just so they can play with the matchbox!



Season of Love

Hello Lovelies!

While my special someone couldn't be with me on Valentine's Day, that's no reason to be gloomy! I hit up my favorite bohemian headquarters (Lowe Mill) and joined the lovely ladies at Green Pea Press (visit them) for their Valentine Printing Workshop where I got to print my valentines the old-fashioned way with a beautiful letterpress. Once the paper is set in the press, a giant wheel on the side is turned to roll ink down the set stamps and then the two sides press together and gracefully pull apart, revealing the design!

Cute, right?

They had a TON of stamps, crayons, cut outs, and ribbon to add some personal flair. My favorite toy was the Martha Stewart Edge Punch (in Arches, top center). It came with a nifty corner punch to complete the pattern around the entire card. While, they are pricey, I am definitely going to get a few for my own craft box!

 

My friends really enjoyed these. I enjoyed making them, it only took an hour or so before work and the workshop was only $5! 

 



 

40 Christmas greetings! (for under $20)

Hello my Lovelies!

For the past couple of years I have been disappointed with the bulk generic holiday cards. They are either very bland or rather expensive and you only get about 8 - 10 a pack. Last year I made my own cards with green cut-out trees, glitter, and plain white cards. I went a little bit extra this year and I'm quite pleased with the results.

And there are 40 of them! Isn't that wonderful? And it only cost me about $20 (The materials cost under $18 but I still haven't bought the stamps yet). I used Reflections Assorted Box of Cards (Holiday styles) that I bought at the Michael's Art Supply Store. I used self-adhesive Michael's brand foam glitter stickers (reindeer and tree packets) and fished out the clear, red, and green jewel stickers from their 50 cents bins.  I had the best time mixing and matching all the Christmas-themed loveliness.

 It took a couple of hours of free time but now the recepients of my cards will have something sparkly and friendly to place on their fridge or mantle this season.

This wasn't a difficult project at all if you take your time and carefully distribute your materials so each card looks unique and hand-made. So, if you too are disapointed with the generic or unappealing cards available for purchase. Try this simple D.I.Y. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays my Lovelies!

-LL

 

Next Black Friday.

Okay, I'm making a plan NOW so next year I can have an escape plan for Black Friday. It wasn't really awful but it was a very, very long day that I really could have done without. Part-time work isn't very pleasant and Black Friday just makes it that much worse. So I've decided that next year, my post-Thanksgiving weekend will be much more pleasant!

This is a cute cabin available for rent on the mountain near my home. For a measly (okay, maybe not measly) $300 dollars, I can spend the night here Thursday, and wake up to chirpping birds and a light breeze on an otherwise awful day. If I pack my record player and some albums, I'll get to spend the day enjoying nature, serenity, and the soothing sound of vinyl. Then, I can go to sleep that night and wake up Saturday and return to a hopefully settled town.

It has a fireplace, a separate bathroom, and a kitchen so I can cook and shower and be at peace while everyone else scrambles around. Honestly? I've never enjoyed Black Friday, mostly because I am always working that day. Not next year, I hope.
 

Baking Binge

I've been on a hardcore baking binge for about a week. My first batch of sugar cookies were made with shortening- the tasted like doorstops. Not that I know what a doorstop tastes like -wouldn't they taste like metal? Continuing on- the first batch was awful and dry. The second batch was better but tough. Third bath - charming. I found these cute cookie cutters at a dollar item store last Christmas. One is an angel, but when they got done baking, they looked more like fairies.

Cute though, right?



Today I thought I'd try a cake. It's been baking for about 40 minutes, the middle is still wet so I'm worried. I don't want a damp in the middle cake but I don't want the outside burnt! I suppose I can cut the burnt parts off.

Ha, not bad. It was sooooo brown though! I'm worried it wont taste good.

Here it is all prettied up. (I tried real icing roses, but the icing was too warm andthe toothpicks too pointy.)

Ta Da!

I think next week I'll try Stained-glass jello.

St. Patrick's Day

To celebrate St. Patty's Day, I took a well-needed day trip to the cutest tea shop I have ever seen! The Funky Fairy is owned by Mrs. Sherri, she is super nice and sweet and awesome. We talked for hours about her store. She gave me the grand tour and let me prowl at my leisure! The very first thing you see is her display case of antique and vintage jewelry! SO sparkly. My magpie senses are still tingling! She has rows and rows of herbs and teas and spices she sells and soap made from goat's milk, honey, and oatmeal. Upstairs are tons of adorable antiques and a small office. In the back of the cottage is a greenhouse wear she makes gift baskets! There were so many different crafts and antiques for sale! She even talked about buying some of my couture matchboxes to sell. Outback looks like a fairy wonderland with boxes of herbs and vegetables and flowers and two of the friendliest dogs! But the prettiest place is up front at an upholstered garden table and chairs by the kitchen. I had a vegan green tea cupcake with lemon cream cheese icing (although I am not vegan, it was sooo tasty!) and sampled the "Blossoms of Health" tea, which I MUST buy when I return later this week. If you are ever in Killen, AL, you MUST must drop in and see her!

I have to admit my magpie disorder got the best of me and I purchased a jewelry set of a lovely cameo necklace and two cameo and rhinestone drops with vintage screw-back closures!

Pasta Girl Box

So I was bored and desperate to avoid finishing a paper for my class tomorrow (but I finished it anyway) and I went to the kitchen to make pasta. Opening the cabinet, I saw my nifty little plastic container for pasta and thought, 'A cute label would be nice'. So while my angel hair pasta boiled on the stove, I drew up this notecard with a (hungry-looking) spagetti-haired lovely. I used to draw things like this all the time in high-school (ah, free time was abundant there) and I've gotten back to doodling things like this. I may perfect the art a bit and make a couple dozen drawings and see if I can sell them at the art warehouse downtown.

I wish I had a laminator, I put clear tape on the back and stuck in on the inside of the container. It's still very cute. I may draw one up for my tea box. I have a couple already they have girls doing various girly things like getting ready for a date or taking a bubble bath (one is even waist deep in the hood of her automobile).