Shrink-ly dink-ly

Remember making these?  We heated up the pan over and over during a sleepover one night and discovered something magical.  When the pan was hot, it caused the shrinky dinks to curl up.  *Mila* chose to make this one and coloured her edges with a nice blue Sharpie marker.  It looks like a melted, warped piece of glass.  I adore it.

What do you need?

Shrinky dink plastic (we picked up some at the dollar store) - be sure that it's shiny

Oven heated to 350F

Sharpie markers

A cool pan lined with tin foil  (or hot - for the warped effect)

Bake your plastic goodies for a few short minutes.  Watch carefully as they curl, shrink and don't let them burn.  P-U!

signed, the willow

Our first sewing project

I'll have you know that I broke 3 sewing machine needles making this damn beach bag!  Why exactly am I making a beach bag in January?  I don't know.  But I'm NOT going to Mexico.

signed, the willow

Our adventures in not sewing

This weekend *Mila* wanted to sew and do some crafts.  So we dove into a pile of give away tshirts to make some fabulous neck scarves.

Here's the pile:

And the designer.  Note the gloves?  She made those yesterday.  Also note the tipped over chair outside which no one dares to go out and pick up.

We began to cut strips of tshirts and stretch them out.

Our first few were ribbed t-shirts and were failures.  Our visiting friend Chewy was able to get a few new chew toys out of the deal.

Hilarity

Then we found an Old Navy stretch shirt.  Awesome!  If I had 3 more I'd make chair decor.

What kept you busy this weekend?


signed, the willow

Turtle Project

1. Print off your photo or picture on a laser printer. Inkjet won't do!

 2. Go to your neighbourhood art store and pick up some High Gloss Gel Medium.

 3. Use a palette knife to spread a thin, even layer of the gel medium on the image. Image side up, please.

 4. Wait for the gel to dry. It may take overnight and might require you to do some touching up.
5. When it's dry, spray the back of the image (paper side, not gel side) with some water from a lovely little water bottle like so.

6. Get ready to peel off the paper from the gel. You should be able to see the image has lifted onto the gel medium forming a "skin".  This is the mess you'll be left with!

7. Once you are done peeling all the paper off the back, you can paint your image from behind. *Mila* did a great job painting her turtle, the sand and it's special treat: a giant raspberry. Or is it a tiny turtle?

8. Let the paint dry and position your "skin" onto a canvas, t-shirt, jar, or even a chair! Adhere it to your item with some more gel medium.

Here's the canvas *Mila* chose.

9. Gluing it to the canvas with the gel medium.

10. Pose for a picture with your new art!

11. You may need to wait for the skin to dry again.

12. We chose to light it up with a battery packed twinkle light set from IKEA.

signed, the willow and *mila*



A little Noodle Bowl action for you!

I didn't do the greatest job on these, so I brought them home for our own use rather than sell them @ our store!

Happy Easter Everyone!  And in case you were wondering, yes I did find melted chocolate all over my clothes in the dryer.  Apparently that bunny hid some chocolate in there and then I turned the dryer on to warm up my nice white towels!  Shall I blame myself OR Mr. E. Bunny?

signed, the willow

My Mom Can Make Better Paper Things Than Your Mom

mom, issuing you another challenge! 

here is the link for you

eat drink chic

have fun

love, me

xxx

signed, the willow

Swing your hockey stick

Just a little pinata I whipped up in my spare time.

signed, the willow

A Jolasveinar Village

Inspired by *even cleveland's* rendition, I decided to try my hand at these little troll houses. These are six of the first batch I tried last night. I need a better hole punch and a husband who doesn't stand over top of me and direct me "Did you want to see a better way to do that?" OMG! This is a craft, there is no deadline. Then he wanted to know why I was making them. Like I need to justify my home decor for the holidays? (No wonder why I dreamt of his elaborate scheme to foil my decorating by hiring a TEAM of experts to re-do our mansion. Yes, mansion?!) It was somehow like living with two 4-year-olds. "Go watch Bugs Bunny, *Steve*! Oh, and it's a hair-washing night." These are the evil things that pour from my mouth when I've heard enough sass! Reminder: *Steve* lacks follicles on top.

If you would like to see where the Huldufolk live, well that's a WHOLE other story.

signed, the willow

Miss Willow, What do you do with your time?

Well, my special Internet friend, let me tell you what I do with my time. On an average Saturday morning, I sleep in until 6 am. That's right, I sleep in until 6. Here is the rest of my family with the exception of the dog.

They sleep in until 8:45 or later. The dog uses Saturdays as her excuse to sleep in and then stay up really late and insist on going out for a major bark-fest at midnight. Maybe that's not late for you, Internet friend, but it is for this sappy old willow.

Sometimes, I start to get inspired by a little Billy Goats Gruff and I start a little triptych for a boy, for a change.

Maybe I take a little glamour and glitter up some balsa wood. Loving this pink glittery snowflake. It is taking another dip in the vat of glitter this weekend!

On occasion, I cut and cut out stars or snowmen snowflakes and call it time well spent with scissors and paper.

I might daydream about painting this little puppy. Of course, it belongs to someone who is 4 and will take me down if I dare scribble a brushstroke on it.

What can I tie up with these loveys?

signed, the willow and her wasted time

The 10% Challenge

I went to the local nursery today (not the nursery school, the one with the plants) and found a silver wreath there for $159.99. I thought to myself that maybe I could make it for under $10, but then I picked up *Mila* from school and we dashed off to IKEA for our $15 purchase: 2 tubs of 48 ornaments and a 30 m roll of ribbon. I used up some left over styrofoam for the base and voila, a wreath for $15. Lots of hot glue helps.

Your challenge this week, make anything for under 10% of the cost of your inspiration. If you need help with the math, just let me know.

signed, the willow

I swear to GAWD, I cannot buy black tights

No matter how hard I try I cannot find the appropriate black tights for *Mila*. I bought one pair that was too small. Then I bought another, that I was pleasantly surprised with at first, that were made of bamboo - they ripped on the first wear and were beyond repair. Now I bought a two pack, sizes 4-7. The sizing was odd, but nonetheless, I thought "What a range! These will fit." Alas, they were made of steel and did not stretch! Help me! I need to find black tights that fit!

On another note, cute snowflake patterns to cut out: Marcel (the kid) and his Kid Craft Website!Blimey, this kid is making loads of cash from his website and blog.

signed, the willow

Halloween II

Polkadot pumpkin

*Mila* lost interest at this point with "scratchy face".

Her first carving experience - and purple painting of the pumpkin? What can I say, she's a 4-year-old girl. All must be purple in this world. Well, I did the carving and she drew the face. That's her little orange dude too. She painted him orange.

My "ARRRRGH MATEY" pirate pumpkin. He has an earring. It's a pirate, OKAY!?!?!?

And certainly, last but not least.....*STEVE* in my Brit Spears wig.

Had I known he was willing to do this, I would have punched up those eyebrows with a little magenta!

signed, the willow