DIY « Paper Jewels

Costuming a la Project Runway (sort of!) Shosuro Jim-en by Kankywompous

Now you know how I love seeing artistic creativity, especially when it’s original work, and especially when it’s budget-friendly. This is fabric creativity, not paper, but it’s right up my alley all the same.

The artist is Kankywompous – see her work here. Her project – that reminds me of Project Runway – was to create a Japanese kimono outfit (kimono, obi and haori) for a small contest on the following Saturday. To find the fabrics, do the cutting and sewing of all the pieces from Wednesday to Friday (night) – and oh yeah, there was a “real” job during that time too – I’m applauding!

And check out the result!

and

See the detail:

And they won first place! The artist mentioned, “I started cutting and sewing about 11am Wed and stopped at about 10pm that night with both the Kimono and Obi finished at that point.

The Haori I had less time to work with, as I had work in the morning, so after I got back on Thurs, I started the cutting and sewing of the jacket. The Haori is lined with the same print as the outer layer, but in a brighter color to add a nice pop.

At the event, which is part of a two day CCG Event for Legend of the Five rings, it placed 1st in the costume contest (out of four placings).”

You have to admire that kind of creative rush (and can I add, I absolutely love that lining!)

DIY – Make a Gift Bow – with Recycled Paper :-)

You know it’s fun to give presents, and it’s very nice when they’re all prettied up to make the gift even more special. And now I’ve found a way to make those fancy bows I used to buy. And to make them out of recycled paper – so (1) you don’t have to spend money on them, and (2) you can make them out of practically any paper so they can be as fun or colorful or unusual as you want to make them.

And it’s easy! Take a look at the results:

Make your own gift bows from recycled paper!

Now I can’t take credit for this – I found instructions at How About Orange Blog.

The blogger is Jessica Jones, and she gives full pics and instructions and even admits she just grabbed what she had on hand – in other words, you can do the same thing and adapt as needed. She’s got lots of other good ideas over there – go read, you’ll see how easy it is.

No more having the money to either buy the present or the wrapping/bows 🙂 Now you can find cool mag pics – fashion mag? Harley catalog? Phone book? (She used that one!)

Easy. Cheap. Recycling-and-reusing. Fun. And did I mention easy? This is of the good!

Falling in Love with Color – Do It Yourself Jewelry :-)

There’ve been tons of studies on how color affects us, and I’m no expert on any of them. What I do know is that color makes us happy, gives us a smile, and is a great way to add a little boost to our spirits (especially right now when it’s still so cold!)

So I’m specially happy to be able to offer some lovely vintage jewels in yummy colors in my Artfire jewelry supplies shop and also in my Etsy shop. Like these pretty jewels:

and

They feel like Spring to me – and that’s of the good 🙂

Wall Art – Vinyl Stickers for Grown Ups

Okay, you want to spruce up your place, and you want it to be (1) easy, (2) affordable, (3) great looking, and did I mention (4) easy?

You really should check out the vinyl wall art – stickers for grownups! at Savvy Gal Designs on Etsy.

Like this fabulous graphic:

These are great for renters – easy to apply *and* to take down.

Personalize your space! Not only can you apply them vertically or horizontally, you can choose your own color. Go for it!

Vintage Dress Patterns

I’ve been sewing for (cough mumble) years, and I was jazzed to find a great online source of great vintage sewing patterns. Like this one:

The seller is Glamourstitch on Etsy. She has bunches of fab vintage patterns, some easy, some not so much.

By the way, check out the accessories on the pattern illustration – LOVE the shoes! Which just reminds me – if you have access to some really old magazines, or patterns, or whatever – they can be a great source of fashion inspiration 🙂

This is just one more (great) way to reuse and recycle – rescuing and using something that has been neglected for decades. And you’re doing it yourself (if you’re the one sewing) and you’re making something TRULY unique. How cool is that!

Chain Maille Tutorial and it’s FANTASTIC

Okay, I totally fell off the edge of the world for a while there, and I am super later with this rec than I meant to be. (And am apologizing big time for that.) But it’s totally worth waiting for.

I was fortunate enough to be a sponsor for several Totally Tutorial projects through my jewelry supplies shop on Etsy. And I am blown away by the excellence of the tutorials submitted to me.

Sample of Chain Maille created and photographed by Clair

Case in point: this is probably the best tutorial for Chain Maille I have ever seen. I have some skill making jewelry, but maille has always eluded me – and this tutorial made me WANT to try it. The artist and author Clair (of the wonderful Obstinate Pursuit blog) has given us a delightful, witty, comprehensible tutorial on how to Maille.

Check it out and let me – and her! – know how totally irresistible it is! And send her some congrats, too – she did a great job in creation *and* explanation!

PS Check out the Totally Tutorial Blog too – lots and lots of goodies there!

Totally Tutorials – this is going to be fun!

Would you like to win FREE jewelry supplies – create a jewelry tutorial – and get your name out there? Keep reading!

One of the hats I wear is proprietor of Weekend Jewelry1 on Etsy – you already know I sell my extra supplies there, and some lovely vintage glass jewels, vintage chain, and other goodies that I find in my travels. Like these:

vintage glass octagon jewels in brass settings...at Weekendjewelry1 on Etsy

vintage patina brass fine curb chain...at Weekendjewelry1 on Etsy

and

golden mother of pearl claws or spikes, by the strand...at Weekendjewelry1 on Etsy

antiqued brass and amethyst glass cabochon pendant...at Weekendjewelry1 on Etsy

I just learned that a charming lady on Etsy has started a blog that is all tutorials – Totally Tutorials Blogspot. Her blog is full of techniques we can learn, and new goodies we can make ourselves!

Now this is a generous and lovely idea anyway, and then she came up with one even nicer – she’s asked some shops at Etsy if they’d supply goodies to make the creations in the tutorials. So – an artist gets to play with new (free!) supplies, AND teach us how she made her creation! And of course, the vendor gets credit too.

If you have a skill you’d like to share, and you’ve always wanted to make a tutorial and get your name out there – this is your chance! Go to Totally Tutorials to learn more about the tutorials. Or read this post to learn how you can win 🙂

Of course I couldn’t resist. Weekend Jewelry1 on Etsy is going to contribute FREE supplies to three winning artists!

How To Win!

There will be three, count ’em, three lucky winners!

You have a week to apply – all three winners will be chosen Thursday night, August 13, 2009. The only requirements for winning are that you make jewelry, can take clear photos of your work and create a tutorial, and that you have a blog or site (such as Craftster) where you can post the tutorial.

To be eligible, please post a comment on my blog here, or send me a convo through my Etsy shop telling me you want to be a Tutorial winner! Tell me what goodies you would like to win. You can select any supplies I have, up to a $12.00 retail value!

Please also include a link to the site where you will post your tutorial.

One note – if I’m almost out of something, I may ask you to make another selection. Or, if the winner before you selected exactly the same components, I’ll ask you to choose other pieces.

You don’t even have to pay for shipping. And yes, international artists are eligible!

I’ll contact the winners late Thursday night on August 13, 2009. If I don’t hear back from you by Saturday, August 15, I’ll pick another winner. So if you’re not going to be reachable, please tell me AHEAD OF TIME so I know why I haven’t heard back from you.

Please make your jewelry – and your tutorial – as soon as possible after receiving your supplies (no more than a couple of weeks, please). Post the tutorial, and include a link to my shop in the tutorial, letting people know where you got your supplies!

Send me the link to your new tutorial, so I can link to it from my shop – and show off the creation made with my supplies. 🙂

Please also send the link to Totally Tutorials Blogspot so she can post it too!

I think that’s it. Remember, there will be three winners – at no charge, even for the shipping. It’ll be easy peasy – and fun – and a cool way to get your name out there!

Still have questions? Visit Totally Tutorials Blogspot or my Weekend Jewelry Etsy shop and ask!

Reuse Rethink Recycle – Wall Art II (or is it 3?)

Talk about Do It Yourself – and original art ideas – and using low cost items to make a fabulous decorating statement! This is such a great inspiration!

It’s also made with paper coffee filters. Now that’s what I call DIY with style.

Giving credit where it’s due: this is from The Haystack Needle, and believe me there are tons more good ideas there.

Check this out!
Wall Art using coffee filters - reuse, rethink, recycle

I think it’s lovely – of course you can run with that idea and try all sorts of shapes and configurations… and it IS rethinking, it is low cost, it is truly DIY….. just a super idea!

Etsy Mini – my vintage jewels on Etsy

Thought I’d give a little peek at some of the yummy jewels (and brass, and pendants, and findings) I have in my Weekendjewelry1 Etsy Shop:

CD Jewel Cases as Art – Recycled – Paper too :-)

Now this combines several of my passions – paper (natch), recycling and even more important RE-USING… also art, making your home comfortable and attractive, DIY-ness…. lots of good stuff.

This article from Sunset.com shows an example of re-using old CD jewel cases as “frames” for your art:

Used in multiples, they make a great graphic statement. And you can use a common theme – pics of your friends? landscapes? alien bugs? you name it – or all images in blue, for example. Truly it can be tailored to exactly what you like, or what you want to say.

And of course the graphics you use can be recycled, too. Gorgeous flower pics taken from old magazines? old pattern images?

How about cutouts from your kids’ drawings? Talk about a special, personal, and way fun decoration for your kitchen or alcove? I love that idea 🙂

Paper Jewels

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Costuming a la Project Runway (sort of!) Shosuro Jim-en by Kankywompous

DIY – Make a Gift Bow – with Recycled Paper :-)

Falling in Love with Color – Do It Yourself Jewelry :-)

Wall Art – Vinyl Stickers for Grown Ups

Vintage Dress Patterns

Chain Maille Tutorial and it’s FANTASTIC

Totally Tutorials – this is going to be fun!

Reuse Rethink Recycle – Wall Art II (or is it 3?)

Etsy Mini – my vintage jewels on Etsy

CD Jewel Cases as Art – Recycled – Paper too :-)

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