New Halloween to share

Hey ya’ll just wanted to pop In and share these super fun Halloween goodies I’ll be taking to my show in 2 weeks 

Can you handle it? The best part is they easily make a cute vignette for any room in your house 🎃

Stay tuned for more previews 

xo 

Craft Show signage - TUTORIAL

Nothing like waiting until the last minute for making things for my craft show.

So last year I wanted to make a magnet board that would fit on my table so we went shopping and  we bought all these pieces at Lowe’s.

The circular piece is in the building section - it’s used for making side tables - then one 2 x 4 and a hinge and a hook. The one thing we couldn’t find was the right sized metal sheeting to cover this circle. I tried buying that roll of stickable magnet but that wasn’t the right size either so it sat unused all year. 

So since it can stand up I thought I would make a sign for my craft show booth. I painted the circle with chalkboard paint - and then added some painted elements around the outer part - I did that so there would be permanent color on the piece. 

For rest of the sign I used chalk. Mostly because I wasn’t sure about my writing but once it was done I had wished I used paint...the main reason I wanted to use chalk was because I wanted to be able to add different Holiday emblems for each show I was participating in...all in all - I’m in love! 

Let me know what you think 

Happy Hump Day 

T

NEW Photo Mailers

Most crafters can make something out of anything. Which is where this idea came from.

Awhile back I made this mini folded album out of a 6 x 12 sheet of paper...I had tried to make a fun velcro closure and used the stickie kind. Well it never really adhered - it was meant to easily open and close and when it kept sticking well I gave up. The paper was cute and the paper was fun but I hadn't figured out how to keep it closed.

That was last year. Fast forward to recently...like a month ago. I had sheets of 6 x 12 paper from other paper bag albums and wanted to try making one of those albums again - well guess what I figured it all out. 

Here are the NEW version of the old idea I had. 

I used left over papers from the Echo Park Bundle of Joy kit and made what I am now calling

PHOTO MAILERS

Here is the MAILER opened up once

Here is the mailer opened up twice.

I added more cardstock for the photo mats and used some die cuts & stickers from the kit to add the accents and embellish the inside photo mats.

Oh and how incredible easy was it to figure out this closure. Sometimes we crafters make things super hard - when the easiest way is usually the BEST way. 

Extra paper folded around the closed mailer to make a simple slip on and off belly band.

EASY!!!!!

Part of the reason for making these small photo mailers is that I like to have small priced items at my craft show - for people or even kids who don't have much to spend but still love giving handmade gifts. I have found selling at craft shows over the years that you should always have lots of different but similar items at varied price ranges to accommodate all your buyers. Just  a TIP!

Thanks for stopping by. 

this is my busy craft prep season so forgive the in and out of posting here on the old blog.

Ciao Tina

Quick Update

Every time I have a craft show coming up I become totally closed off and focused on making and getting things done. Here are some of the new things I have been working on

My funny little gnomes - I cant get enough of them....making them for every holiday... I sold all of my St. Patrick's Day Gnomes and have a smaller version for Easter - that I'll share later...

Here is a shot of my Valentines Day Gnomes and some fun string art 

Here are some of the new albums I made

Hello Kitty

Here is another motivational chip board album filled with sweet uplifting sayings

Some new string art - which I love.

My most favorite new design is this sweet little GNOME - I am in LOVE with GNOMES maybe even a small obsession.

A new cruise ship album out of some fun new chipboard shaped pieces

another super fun shamrock string art piece...

Also I got a little side tracked by a visit from these 2 - my oldest son and his baby girl came to visit and well that just threw me out of my crafting zone. But totally worth it...this is a photo of all my kids and grandbaby!

and in case you were wondering what I show I was prepping for  - here it is!!!

Please stop by and visit me please.

Happy Crafting 

xo

Changing things up

I have self diagnosed myself for years and have always claimed to have ADHD when it comes to crafting. Take for instance,

I rarely make 2 of anything. I make things that are similar but unless it is an ornament, or some magnets - I usually only make one. Why you may ask?

Because I get bored - I mean why would I take the time or energy to make 2 of something. Sometimes when it comes to making albums I simply don't have enough stuff from the same line to make more then one album.

But I bet that bit is slightly exaggerated too since my stash of used paper kits is growing by the minute.

See I am rambling again...Back to the original idea behind this post...

This photo down below is of my most recent craft show booth set-up

This is how I set my space up or somewhat similar to this. Let me be clear I usually do large shows - once or twice a year and I add some stuff and take some others out...But I have never really felt that my space flowed well.

Most vendors have 1 table and a backdrop

I guess I always feel that I have to display it all and make space and use props to make sure I can display it all.

Which equals a busy and jumbled space -

I am participating in a new to me show this weekend and well I have to pack up my own car at the end since my husband will be at a dodger game with the kids. SO I have to be able to carry things and lift them - that's usually my husbands job (frown) So that big wooden thing in the back with the wings is staying home. I am only taking one 8 foot table

Leaving my mannequin LOLA at home and some other props...

I am anxious to see what my new space will look like and I can only hope that it is functional.

I will photograph it this weekend and share the photos next week.

Here's wishing you a creative outlook on something old

xo

p.s wish me luck.

This time of year

I get to feeling seriously Claustrophobic like the walls of my house are closing in on me. Why? You maybe wondering (if you could careless imma tell you anyway😃) I am busily preparing for my upcoming October show...I have been doing it every year for 4 years...I love doing it! But it's a lot of work. I mean I could do the easy thing and just keep making the same old stuff but I have the most amazing customers that keep visiting me year after year and well I want to give them something special and something really different each year so I go crazy a bit! 

So my living room is a disaster with all my junk putting the finishing touches on my goodies -here's some of what I have done so far...

I have Dia de Los muertos covered

Christmas

And some miscellaneous pointed canvases....

As you can see as a crafter who has some ADD I have various projects going at once which has me pulling out so many different mediums to use on these projects and well eventually it all starts to pile up and then the panic sets in. 

So now I'm off to clean up my living room - happy crafting!!!

xoT

Hello Fall

Good grief - a month later and life just whooshed by...It's that time of year...where I am spending all my time finishing up my hand crafted goods for the annual VILLAGE VENTURE. It is a real treat to participate in this show, it is the biggest show I have ever been a part of. This year there is expected to be 490 crafters/vendors...YIKES. Its an all day (1 day) affair and usually it is super hot - like 95' degrees hot - I am praying for cool weather and lots of new people.

I can always expect my usual clients - who I might add are the greatest peeps out there. They make me feel special when they hit my spot every year. What a compliment to know they came to me first. LOVE LOVE you guys.

I thought I would share some of the fun stuff I have been working on.

 

Here is proof of my CRAFTY MESS

 

Here are some fun shadow boxes I have made using vintage sewing habedashery

 

and the cutest little snowman face getting started.

 

I am super excited that I will have a bunch of my usual items pillows, jewelry & such but with a NEW twist on them all.

 

Here are some more fun shots of things I have made in the past month

 

I have been having lots of fun playing with paper clay and have created many cool characters this holiday season.

 

I will be back more regular after this show. But in the meantime I hope I will see you at this years VillageVenture in Claremont California - October 26th

 

Happy Crafting

 

Handmade table cloths

I have something to share with you today.  An idea I am sure you have heard of or seen before but something that came out of sheer necessity - Isn't that the mother of all inventions? I mean isn't it when you are the most desperate that you come up with the most amazing ideas.

 

 

 

Here is how my idea came about.

I do craft boutiques and was borrowing a friend of mines burlap table cloths for about the last year and 1/2 or so - when she asked for them back last Christmas I figured I need something just as cool - while burlap is inexpensive it doesn't come in the right width or length...so I looked around and didn't really like any of the other fabrics out there. then I remembered that I had heard people were using drop cloths for pillows and curtains...so I went to Home Depot to look for a drop cloth and they come in several sizes I bought 9 ft. by 12 ft which if cut in half you can cover (2) 6 foot tables with plenty of over hang on all 4 sides. I bought an extra 6ft by 9ft to make ruffles with

 

 

I gotta tell you that I thought drop cloths were a cream color almost like a canvas but this one was kind of grey-ish and really thick - kind of vintage & French in look. LOVE IT!

 

 

 

I know its hard to see the true color and texture here but its quite nice.

 

Here is the table cloth with ruffles in its true colors

 

Here is an up close look at the ruffles.

Can I just say that I think I should have thunk it through a bit better...

doesn't lay as nicely as I had hoped.

 

I love this material and I am just thinking up the projects I can do with this - maybe some shabby French pillows oh the ideas are endless and this was way cheap....

 

 

I am linking this up to the following parties this week:

 

MARKET YOURSELF MONDAY

CRAFT-O-MANIAC

FROM DREAM TO REALITY

MAKE IT PRETTY MONDAY

CRAFT-TASTIC MONDAY

sew cute Tuesday

handmade Tuesdays

one project at a time

show me what you got

too cute Tuesday

 

happy crafting

xo

tina 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scattered

I heard you were feeling a bit out of sorts lately. It might be the something in the air...it may be the flu...it may just be too much on your plate. But I wanted to let you know that you are not alone...I am feeling it too.

I am deep in Spring Boutique prep mode...I feel your scattered-ness. My brain is all over the place too...I am jumping from here to there to here...Here take a look at what I am dealing with...

 Bottle cap magnets

 

beautifully smelling sachets

 

jewelry

 

and my scrapbooks

 

 I think it is the time of year...SPRING...where we all feel hurried to clean up and straighten up - refreshing if you will. SO don't feel bad or alone...because we are all feeling it too.

It'll pass and life will calm down again...I promise

Here's wishing you a great week

 

xo

tina