Friday Frida Favs: Thank You Frida Swap Giveaway

Congratulation to mydarlingplanner, from Instagram, for winning Bee Creative Swap's Frida Pin Giveaway! 

The next giveaway will be the Thank You Frida Swap Giveaway. It will be held throughout the whole Viva La Frida Swap. This giveaway is open to Frida swap participants ONLY. This is another perk for joining the swap, as well as receiving discounts from six Etsy sellers from my "My Frida Wish List on Etsy 2017" post.  This giveaway is very easy to enter, since it's stuff that is already expected of you as a Viva La Frida Swap participant. To enter you must submit all your check-ins on time, without Emily or I having to contact you because you are running behind.

Below are the Instagram check-in dates:

April 15th: Mosaic Photo Check-In (due tomorrow)

May 1st: Material Check-In

May 15th: Sneak Peak Check-In

June 1st: Sneak Peak Check-In

June 15th: A photo of your boxed up items, shipping receipt, or other proof of shipment

Don't forget to use the #vivalafridaswap2017 when posting your check-ins on Instagram.

Even being one day late posting your check-ins will unfortunately disqualify you from the giveaway. This giveaway is our way of saying, "Thank you" for making our job as swap hosts a little easier. 

I have collected two Frida inspired items for this giveaway and I hope to include a little something made by yours truly. Currently, the giveaway prizes include the second Frida Kahlo pin donated by Badges by Ryan and a Viva La Vida Frida vinyl sticker from Mis Nopales Art. Both items are from Etsy sellers. I purchased the Frida sticker from Kick Stater to help with Mis Nopales Art's Frida campaign. I'm a big supporter of helping fellow artists.

I love seeing the Frida Kahlo themed mosaics posted on Instagram so far. Click here to see the mosaics posted. Of course, my favorite part will be seeing the wonderful crafts created that are inspired by Frida Kahlo.

I hope we have many entries for the Thank You Frida Swap Giveaway. Don't forget, your first check-in is due tomorrow. Good luck and happy crafting!
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Friday Frida Favs: Frida Kahlo Perler Beads

Have you heard of perler beads, seen projects done with them, or used them yourself?

What are perler beads you ask?

The Beginner's Guide to Perler Beads, says "Pearler beads (as know as Hama beads or Nabbi beads) are plastic fusible beads. These colorful beads are usually arranged on plastic pegboards to form patterns and then fused together with a clothes iron. They can also be strung into necklaces, woven into keychains, or even assembled into three-dimensional decors."

I tried a small pearler bead kit a few years ago, but didn't really get into them until I did a Disney Pixar craft swap last year and a huge woodland critter kit for my daughter's advent calendar for Christmas. 

The process of using pearler beads reminds me a lot of cross stitching. In cross stitching you use thread to make little x's to make a pattern. The same concept applies to using pearler beads except you're using beads. If you make a mistake, you can easily move the beads around. Something I like about using perler beads. However, once you iron your pattern, there's no turning back. The only thing I don't like about using perler beads is that with any slight pump the beads come off the pegboard. Since they move so easily, I've learned to take lots of close-up pictures while using perler beads. That way if they come off the pegboard, I can look back to the photos to see were they belong. 

On Wednesday, while looking for a card in my cards/stationary tote in the garage, I found the remaining perler beads from the Disney pixar project. Perler beads can be quite addicting. I spent the last hours of Wednesday night and welcomed Thursday (I was up til 2:30 am) designing my own Frida Kahlo, watermelon, cactus, a pink sacred heart (as a type this, I'm realizing I need to add a flame at the top of the heart), a paint palette, and a paint brush. 

(source) 

On Thursday, while my daughter napped, I searched for Frida Kahlo perler beads on Pinterest for inspiration and I started adjusting my Frida Kahlo pattern around. Frida's head wasn't square anymore. I gave it a more rounded shape.

Instead of Frida's unibrow being completely straight, I curved it by moving the middle black perler bead down.

I changed the flowers in Frida's hair numerous times and decided that I liked Frida with bight pink checks instead of peach colored checks. 

While taking progress pictures, I learned to take photographs from a distance because you get a better feel of how the pattern will look like once fused together.

Now, I just have to add flames to the pink sacred heart and iron the Frida inspired perler bead patterns, that I designed. Hopefully, I can find a square or long rectangular frame to display them in.

Tomorrow is the last day to sign up from the Viva La Frida swap, click here to sign up, and the Frida Kahlo pin giveaway. As a perk for signing up, you'll receive discounts from Etsy shops that sell Frida Kahlo inspired items. For more Frida inspiration, check out Emily's blog by clicking here.

Friday Frida Favs: Frida Kahlo Enamel Pins

I become obsessed with Frida Kahlo enamel pins last year, when I purchased one for my Viva La Frida swap partner and myself. Since then, I have decided to collect a Frida Kahlo enamel pin for each year Emily and I host a Viva La Frida swap, in honor of that year's swap. While searching through Instagram using the #fridakahlo and on Etsy, I found lots of Frida Kahlo enamel pins designed by many talented artists.

One of those talented Etsy artists is Ryan, from Badges by Ryan. I featured his Frida Kahlo enamel pin on my first Friday Frida Favs post for this year, "My Frida Wish List on Etsy 2017." Ryan is a very generous person who has donated one of his awesome Frida Kahlo pins for Bee Creative Swaps to giveaway.

To enter you must:
- Be a Viva La Frida Swap participant (click here to sign up).
- Follow Bee Creative Swaps Instagram account
- Like the Frida Kahlo Pin Giveaway post on Instagram.

Extra Entries:
- Leave a comment on Bee Creative Swaps Instagram with your favorite Frida enamel pin from the ones featured below.
- Post your mosaic up early using the #vivalafridaswap2017

Contest closes April 1st.

Below are some my favorite Frida Kahlo enamel pins. Don't forget to choose your favorite Frida pin for an extra giveaway entry.

@mexicosnart

Badges By Ryan

Visit our Frida Kahlo pin giveaway provider and show his Etsy shop some love!

Sketch Inc.

 

BRK House

The Happy Skull Studio

Craftsylvaniaa

Wild Ship

The Found Retail:

Frida Sunglasses / Dress

La Petite Melissa

Product Your Magic:

Wonder Frida / Frida & Diego 

Georgia Perry

AxelHoney

Which is your favorite Frida Kahlo enamel pin? Share your thoughts with us here, for a chance to win a Frida Kahlo pin. Wouldn't it be great to win and have a Frida Kahlo pin to remember your participation in this year's Viva La Frida Swap!?! 

Can't get enough Frida this Friday; stop by Emily's blog, The Morose Bee, for another dose of Friday Frida Favs. 

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Friday Frida Favs: Frida Kahlo Gift to Emily

To celebrate the success of Emily and my first Viva La Frida Swap in 2016, through Bee Creative Swaps, I made Emily a Frida Kahlo skull embroidery hoop, a pair of spool earrings, and I purchased a Diego and Frida t-shirt from Etsy. I had been wanting to make Emily the embroidery hoop for some time and this was the perfect occasion to finally get off my butt and get it done. Plus, during this time my daughter was in bed by 6:30 pm and I had some time to sit outside, relax, and embroider before the sun went down. 

I love Day of the Dead and Mexican themed fabric and I own a decent stash of Day of the Dead skull fabric. This particular Day of the Dead fabric is one of my favorite and I have used it for many projects. I embroidered the skull to look like Frida with flowers in her hair, her unibrow, and wearing her hand shaped earrings that we a gift from Picasso. I decided to add the hand with the banner because I had seen this in one of Frida’s paintings. I embroidered, “Viva La Frida” on the banner which is also the name of our Frida swap. Below are some progress pictures I took while making the Frida embroidery hoop.

In 2016, Emily was sewing a lot. She was making dolls, quilts, etc. The girl was on a roll. I thought the spool earrings were the perfect extra gift to send her. I made them in her favorite color, purple.

The Diego and Frida t-shirt was actually purchased from one of the Etsy sellers I had figured on “My Frida Wish List on Etsy” blog post in 2016. You can check out this year Frida Wish List on Etsy by clicking here. The seller is Mis Noples Art. I own a Diego and Frida t-shirt just like this one but in a darker shade and I wanted Emily to have one too. 

I always like to include a letter with packages I send, especially swap packages. I usually tell the recipient to open the letter last since in it I describe why I made or purchased what they received from me. Emily and I are a team. We work together to run Bee Creative Swaps. I consider us the two Fridas this is why I drew a doodle of two Fridas on the envelope I sent her. 

This Frida inspired package is the perfect example of what you can send your swap partner if you sign up for our Viva La Frida Swap. It has a mixture of handmade and purchased Frida goodies. I made the hoop inspired by Frida and purchased an item that helped support a small independent business, which we highly recommend when you plan to purchase Frida inspired items. However, you can send your partner a package that includes all handmade goodies or just purchased Frida Kahlo inspired goodies because Emily and I know life can get crazy at times and you may not have time to create something.

If you would like to see what other Viva La Frida Swap participants sent/received last year, check out our Instagram account here or our Bee Creative Swap Facebook page here. Better yet, if you want to join us in this years Viva La Frida swap click here to sign up. 

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Viva La Frida Craft Swap: The Exchange

I was thrilled when I got paired up with Jessica, from Jess My Shop, for Bee Creative Swaps' first Viva La Frida Craft Swap. Why? Because she a pro-crocheter and well... I'm not. Secretly, I was hoping for a crochet doll. And, my wish came true! The day my package from Jessica arrived I had no idea it was waiting on my front porch. Lily and I had gone to a birthday party that evening and we weren't home when the package arrived. Jessica sent me a message on Instagram asking me if I had received it, since it said on the tracking records that it arrived at its destination. When I opened my front door, the package was waiting for me. I opened it right away.

This is what I responded to Jessica when I opened it:
"OMG! I love her!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hopefully, my daughter won't steal it from me. Yes, you should be proud. You did an awesome job making her!"

What made the crochet doll even more special is that she looks like Lily's Frida handprint with the pink flowers in her hair and the blue earrings. Currently, my Frida doll or "Fiya" as Lily calls her is displayed on my fireplace.

This is what I sent Jessica a few days later after I received my package. I decorated her package.

This is what I included inside.
1. The Frida Kahlo shadow box inspired by Frida and La Casa Azul. You can see my progress pictures on how I made the box here.
2. A Frida Kahlo enamel pin by Mexiconsart
3. A flower made out of tissue paper, made to match the flowers on the enamel pin.

This is what Jessica wrote on Instagram about what she received:
"Yay! I received a lovely swap item from my #vivalafrida craft swap!! I can't wait to rock my pin and put up my lovely shadow box!! Truly all of these items are wonderful!! She painted everything by land! Thank you @creativitylizette for a great swap!!"

This was an awesome swap exchange! It has been wonderful seeing what the other swappers have received. Artists working with different art mediums and inspired by one artists! To see what Emily made for her swap partner, check out her blog here!

Frida Kahlo Shadow Box Progress Pictures

Today is a very special day; it's Frida Kahlo's birthday!! Happy Happy 109th Birthday Frida Kahlo! Today, we celebrate your birthday the way Emily and I intended to, with artwork and purchased goods currently being transported to your fans by mail and people opening gifts that you inspired. Viva La Frida Craft Swap was our birthday gift to you! You hold a very special place in our hearts and hope to make Viva La Frida Craft Swap a tradition. Today, I will have a trago/drink in your honor and I will toast and say loudly, "Viva La Frida!"

This craft swap is by far one of my favorites because it has to do with Frida Kahlo. Also because I learned so much more about Frida and made a new friend through this swap, my swap partner Jessica. I had many ideas on what to make for Jessica but I settled on the shadow box idea because she didn't have a favorite Frida Kahlo quote. I wanted to incorporate as much of Frida Kahlo into the shadow box, included a quote that describe Frida perfectly, and use Jessica's favorite colors - teal and yellow. The shadow box became a small yet simple replica of Frida's Casa Azul.

I first sketched out my idea.

I painted the shadow box to match the colors of La Casa Azul. I actually painted two shadow boxes, one for Jessica and one for myself. The difference between the boxes is that Jessica's box is teal. I kept the red trim on both boxes. Both boxes were then sealed. The shadow box shown above is mine.

I went on Pinterest and found some Frida Kahlo coloring pages. I copied them and sized them in Photoshop. I printed them out and hand painted each portrait to match Frida's original paintings. This part was the most time consuming. After I was done, I didn't want to paint another leaf for a very long time. 

I've always wanted to paint a Frida peg doll. The peg doll's outfit is inspired by one of Frida's actual Mexican outfits displayed in a museum. I used embroidery thread for the braided hair and flower. Since, I didn't add the paint palette to the shadow box, I painted the Frida peg doll holding a paint brush and a paint palette. Painting the peg doll was my favorite part. Lily even played with her for a bit and kept calling her "Fida." Those are Lily's crayons in the picture. 

I glued the Frida peg doll inside the frame. I painted a piece of card stock yellow for the background. Not only is yellow one of Jessica's favorite colors but there is some brivant yellows and blues in Frida's kitchen in La Casa Azul. I cut three little frames, using shiny gold scrapbooking paper and an exacto-knife, for each hand painted portrait. I glued the frames on top of the portraits and used dimensional tape to tape them onto the yellow paper. I freehanded the quote on the paper using an oil base paint pen. I thought the quote written fit the feel of the shadow box perfectly since the subjects in the paintings are Frida and she is alone in the shadow box. 

I inserted the paper in the back of the shadow box and it was complete!

I absolutely love the way the shadow box turned out and look forward to one day finishing mine.  

A few Viva La Frida Craft Swap swapper have already received their swap gifts and I am thrilled to see all the wonderful work that has been created for this swap. And, that's not even all of it. It makes my heart happy (Frida, I hope it makes your heart happy too). To keep the Frida party going, head over to The Morose Bee for some more Frida Kahlo celebration! 

Friday Frida Favs: D.I.Y. Viva La Vida Watermelon Stamp

The Viva La Frida Craft Swap is almost coming to an end. There's a week left before swap packages need to be shipped. I actually received mine this week, which encouraged me to hurry up and ship my swap partner's package on Tuesday. Before I mailed out her package, I stamped the box with this homemade watermelon stamp, inspired by Frida Kahlo's Viva La Vida still life watermelon painting.  Watermelons are one of my favorite symbols that reminds me of Frida Kahlo and I wanted to include it as part of my swap gift.

Let's get stamping!

Supplies: Lid of an egg carton (also called Polystyrene), scissors, paper/box, ink pads, and pen (not pictured).

Step 1: Cut the flat part of the egg carton lid.

Step 2: Cut the inside of your watermelon shape. You can use a pen to draw the watermelon but I just went for it.

Step 3: From the piece you cut, cut an outer portion of it to make the skin for your watermelon.

Step 4: Press your cutout pieces onto your ink pads.

Step 5: Press the stamp onto your printing surface. If you like, you can use a pen to draw some watermelon seeds on the actual stamp. This causes an indention, and the drawn seeds will not get ink on them when you're stamping it.

Here's another stamp idea, using a cactus design. Draw your cactus shape on the egg carton lid with a pen, cut it out, indent small holes onto the cactus shape using your pen, then ink and stamp. Doddle flowers on it or even a Frida face. 

I hope you enjoyed this cute, quick, and extremely easy stamp tutorial. It's a great way to add a little creative touch to the package you are sending. I personally think it makes the receiver more excited to open the package.

As this swap comes to a close, I am looking forward to seeing all the wonderful Frida inspired crafts made by the 20 ladies that signed up. I have already gotten a glimpse of a few, which makes me overjoyed!

For more Friday Frida Favs, head over to my Frida Kahlo loving sister's blog, The Morose Bee, for another dose of Frida Kahlo inspiration.

Happy FRIDAy!

Friday Frida Favs: Frida Book Review & GIVEAWAY

“Frida” by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Ana Juan was the first Frida Kahlo book I purchased. I got it to use it as a guest book for my Frida themed birthday party when I turned 31. When it arrived in the mail, I decided not to use it as a guest book. I couldn’t bare having the beautiful illustrations ruined by people’s writing. This book is not in Lily’s growing library. She does good with paperback books but sometimes she accidentally rips the pages. “Sorry, Sweetie! Not this one.”

Reading time after our morning walk/run. Lily loves Frida too!

My copy of “Frida” is in Spanish but also comes in English. The book begins with the birth of Frida. It mentions factual aspects of Frida’s life, her blue house, Coyoacan, Mexico (her birth place), the trolley accident, and much more. But most importantly it tells the reader how painting played a major role in her life. Diego is not mentioned in the story until the end, where a biography of Frida is included. 

The illustrations are handpainted with a mixture of color pencil, from what I can see. In the illustrations you’ll find very playful almost whimsical “imaginary” characters - a little red devil, a tiger like character, and one with an almost ghost like face, to describe a few. These characters interact with Frida’s real life environment and express the different emotions based on what is happening in Frida’s life. 

Lily counting how many Fridas she sees. 

Some of the illustrations are influenced by Frida’s actual work. There is one illustration of two little girls holding hands in the sky and they are both Frida. The illustration reminds me of Frida’s painting, “The Two Fridas.” In another, Frida, this time older after the trolley accident, is depicted wrapped in the branches of a tree. That one reminds me of her painting “The Dream” and “Roots/Raices.” The book’s text is placed in the open spaces among the illustrations or on banners, which is often seen in Frida’s paintings. On one page, a bird holds the banner in its mouth. 

What makes this book one of my favorites, other than the beautiful, sometimes very vibrant illustrations, is that it emphasizes on how art shaved Frida’s life. It helped her deal with all the pain and loneliness she so often felt. One of my favorite lines in the book is 

“Dibujar es como tener una amiga imaginaria. Esta presente cada vez que ella quiere. Le hace compania y le da fuerzas para no perder la esperanza.” 

Let me translate:
“Painting is like having an imaginary friend. She is present every time she needs her. She gives her company and the strength to not lose hope.”

I love this quote! What makes me realize how important it is is two reasons: One, in the beginning of the book before the quote above it given it says, “Frida has an imaginary friend named Frida” in Spanish of course. I have no idea if it is actually true. Two, my brain recalls one of Frida’s quotes: 

“I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to know better.”

That’s when I had an aha moment. When Frida was lonely she painted herself, the subject she knew best. She painted her imaginary friend, Frida. A friend whom could related to her, someone who knew her pain and suffering, and she could bring her to life just with a stroke of a brush. 

It is difficult not to love Frida. In a situation were many would give up and lose hope, she found a way to fight through it, to make something positive out of it and share it with the world. On that note, I would like to share/give a copy of this amazing book, “Frida” to one lucky winner. It will be a Spanish version, like my own.

Giveaway Rules
Leave a comment below about this book review or anything about Frida Kahlo.
For extra entries share this giveaway on your social media accounts and leave the link/s in the comments below. 
Contest ends next Friday, June 17. 
Winner will be announced Saturday, June 18. 
Good Luck!

Also, don't forget to check out The Morose Bee to see what she has going on for Friday Frida Favs.