Completed Projects: Owl Wall Hook

I have two friends, Ms. Thayer and her sister Tawnya, who are into the owl craze. Every time I see owl tutorials or objects I think of them and how I can make them something owl related for their birthdays. Last year when a Hobby Lobby opened near town, I found these cool carved owl knobs and I knew I could use them for an owl project for my owl friend fans.

I came up with the idea to put the owl knob in a round piece of wood and make it look like it was perch in a tree. This idea was floating in my head for a long time. With Tawnya’s birthday this month I was finally able to bring the owl wall hook idea to life. My handy fireman and his new collection of tools helped me drill a hole in the wood for the knob to go in. We were both very happy with the outcome. I know Tawnya will love it. The again it is an owl.

I’ve never been a big owl fan but my friends and swap partners loving these nocturnal creatures and I’ve found myself making many owl themed projects and discovering that they’re pretty cool after all. Click here, here, here and here to see my other owl projects.

Grab A Prop & Frida-style Yourself

The homemade Frida photo booth was a big hit with everyone at my “Celebrate Life Frida Kahlo Syle” birthday party. I showed you how we made the backdrop with flowers made of tissue paper. The props, mustaches, unibrows and thought bubbles on a stick, were made by friend Debbie and owner of Snow Buddies Ink on Etsy. The props were inspired by Frida’s signature unibrow and mustache. Frida didn’t have a very noticeable mustache like the ones made but I knew the kids would love them. I laminated the thought bubbles that way my guests could write on them as many times as they wanted with a dry marker. Another popular prop used was the sombrero I borrow from my work friend, Ms. Thayer.

Each guests had their photo taken with my mini Polaroid camera. Their pictures were hung by the fireplace, like a garland of happy, silly, and pretend to be drunken guests. The fireplace was decorated with Frida and Day of the Dead items. Most were gifts from family and friends throughout the years. Can you tell my guests’ enjoyed the photo booth? I can’t wait to scrapbook my mini Polaroid pictures and send out thank you cards to all my guests with a copy of their mini pictures.

Girl Power Fabric

This is my first fabric entry on Spoonflower. Spoonflower is a website where you can buy fabric or design your own fabric. With International Women’s Day being this month, Spoonflower held a contest where you had to create a design inspired by girl power.

My design has bold fun colors with a black background. I spelled out, “Girl Power” in all caps and the O in Power is a sun with the words, “I am” in it. All around the girl power saying are flowers. In each flower is a word that describes positive things about girls. I am confident, I am important, I am happy…

I titled my fabric, “I Am Girl Power.” Honestly, I don’t think my fabric will win first place but it’s worth a try. There are some pretty cool girl power fabric entries. I even have my eyes on some I would like to buy. The more fabric I design the better I’ll get. I feel kind of rusty. I would like however to be in the top ten. This is where you come in. Click here and click on Vote For Your Favorites. You can vote for as many girl power fabric designs as you’ll like and I would greatly appreciate it if you include my entry as well. If I’m in the top ten I’ll have a giveaway and the prize will be something I make with the fabric I designed.

Leave me a comment if you vote for me; I would love to know.

The Flowers in Frida’s Hair

Bee Creative Swaps’ first swap was titled, “Artist Swap” where we made an art piece inspired by the artist our partner chose. My swap partner was Emily, co-founder of Bee Creative Swaps and blog owner of The Morose Bee, and her artist of choice was Frida Kahlo! Lucky me right? As a bow for Emily’s swap package, I made a tissue paper flower inspired by the flowers in Frida’s hair. I loved the way it turned out and had to include tissue paper flowers in my “Celebrate Life Frida Style” birthday party.

With the help of my friends, Amanda and Christi, we were able to make 23 beautiful tissue paper flowers of different colors. Click here for the flower tutorial. Thank you Amanda and Christi! The majority of the flowers were made out of recycled tissue paper I had been saving from the holidays and birthdays. Let’s admit it, we crafters are slight hoarders.

I was fascinated by the outcome of the flowers and the making process that I ended up staying up very late one night making more to use as garland. However, these were solid color and fluffed all the way around. Click here for tutorial used.

On the morning of my fiesta (party), Amanda came by to help me hang my decorations. My papel picado banner made of plastic was purchased at Amols.com and hung on my front porch. My Catrina on my front door held my flower garland. Amanda also helped me hang the rest of the tissue paper flowers with clear packing tape on one of the walls in my house, you notice when you first walk in. This wall became the photo backdrop for my guests. From all the decorations at my party, the photo backdrop still remains up.

Frida Kahlo Altar

To honor my favorite artist Frida Kahlo I made her an altar at my “Celebrate Life Frida Kahlo style” birthday party, which covered my dinning room table. My altar which is more like a shrine celebrates the life of Frida Kahlo, her pain, her love for Mexico, the flowers in her hair, the artist who expressed herself in her paintings. Many of the pieces making up my altar come from Mexico which my mom purchased for me during one of her visits, the books on Frida’s life come from the library, and the Mexican blanket everything lays on came from a thrift store (blankets are always on my list when thrifting). Most of the items on the altar are displayed in my home year round.

“There have been two great accidents in my life. One was the trolley, and the other was Diego. Diego was by far the worst.” – Frida Kahlo

“I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.”

- Frida Kahlo

“I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.” – Frida Kahlo

“Painting completed my life.” – Frida Kahlo

“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.” – Frida Kahlo

“I love you more than my own skin.” – Frida Kahlo

“I hope the exit is joyful and I hope never to return.” – Frida Kahlo

“I paint flowers so they will not die.” – Frida Kahlo

I’ve learned from Frida that life is raw, uncensored, and we must learn to live it to the fullest! On that note, I leave you with my favorite Frida quote…

 “At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.” 

 Nicely said Frida!