Thursday, July 21, 2011

Evidence

I am in the process of cleaning, purging and packing for an across state move that we are making next week and came upon a cache of old pictures.  Attached is photographic evidence of the drug store plastic costumes of my childhood that was discussed in a previous post.  I couldn't help but to share!   My sister and I pose in our hopelessly generic costumes. I am the one crying. Apparently I didn't want to dress as...well, who knows what that's supposed to be...
 (sorry the image is blurry - Ah, the times before digital...)

I have recently discovered the joys of Stumbleupon and have bookmarked a number of nifty crafts to try out once we get settled in to our new home.  Until then, adieu!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

I've got skills...well, sorta...

Okay, for today's post I would like to share with you some examples of my present state of craftiness. This way the online world will have an idea of how I started out, what I am currently capable of doing, and how much (if any) progress I have made on my quest.

First off - Scrapbooking.  In the first scrapbook I did (my daughter's first year) I mainly relied on stickers (I LOVE stickers).  I didn't really feel comfortable doing any writing freehand because I didn't want there to be any mistakes (which there were anyways).  Then, after a while, and after some deep reflecting on my part, I decided that it wouldn't be a bad thing to have mommy's personal touch on my child's book of memories, mistakes and all.  With this realization, I started leaning towards more journaling and free-hand letters in my daughter's second year scrapbook.  Here are some pictures to show examples:














You will notice the progression of adding the journaling aspect. This is the end of the first year book.  Next is the first page of my daughter's second year book.


In this page I opted to use a stencil instead of stickers for the title.
More from the 2nd year:




Okay, now quickly a look at a few of my bows that I have made.  Somehow a few of the other's have gotten misplaced...don't know how that happens ;)

Okay, there you go.  Feedback, critiques, questions??? Let me hear it!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Where there's a will...

I have come to the belief that some people are born with the ability to "craft." I have also come to the belief that I was not born with said ability.  My mother was also not blessed with the crafting gene.  Birthdays are usually celebrated with a store bought cake and gift bags.  We were the kids on the block with the plastic Halloween costumes that you bought at the drug store.  You know the kind.  We never once won a costume contest at school...

I remember once as a teenager going to my grandmother (who somehow got the crafty gene) and asking her to teach me to sew.  We started simple, I wanted to make a plain a-line skirt.  After about an hour or three of  trying to get one seam sewn my grandmother deemed me unable to sew and finished the skirt for me.  

Surely though certain levels of craftiness can be learned, right???  That's what I aim to find out.  I have already tried my hand at a couple of crafts.  After the birth of my first child I wanted to have a scrapbook of her first year.  My sister volunteered to do it for me but I wanted it to have my own touch so I tried scrapbooking, and lo and behold I actually enjoyed it.  I'm not going to say I am particularly great at it...yet.  I will post some pictures of my efforts at another time.  I've also tried my hand at making a couple of hair bows.  They aren't totally disastrous but I don't think anyone would shell out any dough for them.

So, here's my list of things I am going to give an earnest attempt:
Sewing, cake decorating, bow making, photography, flower arrangements and anything else that comes to mind or is suggested to me.  I will keep you all posted...wish me luck!