Saturday, February 28, 2009

and the winner is.....


Thanks to everyone who entered. This was really fun for me to see some comments from new people and to hear what you are working on. I hope to do more giveaways in the future.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

wanna make some thing about it

Hey folks,

Only one more day to enter the Project Planning Journal Giveaway. Enter here.

Friday, February 20, 2009

PonyBoy Press Giveaway!

Hello Everyone,

It is a Friday early evening and all is quiet in internet land. I just decided that this would be a good time to do my very first giveaway!

What you will win is this lovely Project Planner Journal. These planning journals give you a space to draw your idea and a space to write about it. Very handy and a good way to keep up on all your crafty and decor ideas.


In order to win this handmade (bound with embroidery thread and gocco printed) Make Something Project Planner, all you have to do is leave a comment here and tell me about a project that has been on your to do list for a while. You don't need to divulge any trade secrets, just a general idea of a project you have been meaning to do for a while. My personal list keeps growing and growing!

The winner will be picked at random next Saturday, Feb 28th. You have till Friday, Feb 27th, at midnight to enter. Feel free to pass on the giveaway by letting your friends know.

Yay, I am excited about this. Looking forward to hearing your comments.

{edit: If you are leaving an anonymous message, please make sure to leave your name and email address}

Saturday, February 14, 2009

valentines banner


I decided this year that I wanted to make a flag banner for Valentines Day. Although my significant other is not that big on the day, I thought he would like the decoration of the house since we would be dining at home. Plus I can then use it other years.

A woman I work with told me a couple years ago that she decorated the house for Valentines Day every year and I was very amused. I thought it was a neat thing to do (she doesn't do it now that her kids are in college), but it did seem odd to me. It wasn't like we ignored it in my family, but we never had decorations. This year I decided that decorating might be a good way to make the day festive without spending lots of money.


I got a pendant template on some website and used it in photoshop. I used the same template and copied 2 on one page. I cut them with extra space at the top and folded them over. I then taped them and strung with small vintage white ric rac.

I got this unopened package of vintage Valentines on Etsy. I can't bear to open it. I love it all together. I am guessing eventually I will open it up, but for now I will just display it as is.


I guess the display isn't as valentiney as I imagined. I really don't own much stuff in this color scheme. Maybe the mister will bring me some flowers to add to the display.

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

felted love letter and musings about magazines



















It might be a little late to get something like this together for Valentines Day, but I had to share it with you all. The project is from LucyKate Crafts and there is a full tutorial here. I just love this and am very excited to try it sometime. A letter + felt + sewing = the perfect combination!

I saw this because I went on to the Craft Magazine site today. They just announced that they are ceasing production on Craft Magazine. I am not a huge fan of craft magazines, only because I have so many projects already on my to-do list that a magazine full of them only overloads my brain. Also, I am not a follow the instructions kind of person. However, I am sad to see it go and sad about the many many magazines that have called it quits in the last year.

It makes me sad. Magazines are one of those simple inexpensive pleasures in life. I have always loved a good magazine. As a teenager I dreamed of being an editor of Seventeen or something like that. As a twenty-something I dreamed of starting a magazine about life for renters like the short-lived Seventies magazine Apartment Living Magazine (I still think this is a good idea - tips on dealing with landlords, small spaces, simple repairs, etc).

By making zines I got a little closer to being a magazine editor and by creating graphics and content for the web site at my day job I am also doing work similar to what I dreamed of.....but still...nothing is as satisfying as a glossy colorful gorgeous magazine.

Here is hoping that that some will survive. It will be interesting to see what comes out of it. Maybe more expensive magazines with little advertising and certainly more available on websites......I think I may go subscribe to some magazines right now. I hope I pick the ones that won't quit next week!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

made in japan

I got this great package a couple days ago from Popdrome Service. They are a collective of three zinesters making zines and crafts in Tokyo. The zines are all in Japanese. It is a shame I can't read them, but they look great! We did a trade because I totally fell in love with their little Riot Lady stuffie pins. I love the Make Zines Not War ones, too, of course. Everything I got is great and, of course, it was really fun to get a package from Japan!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

make your place

There is a new book out from Microcosm Publishing that is based on several zines. It is called Make Your Place - Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills.

First off, it is adorable. I mean, really, the cover could not have been designed better to make me want it and the illustrations inside are so great. This book charms you into taking it home and you are only better off for giving in.

Make Your Place is filled with how-to help for things like making your own cleaning supplies, getting rid of bugs, gardening and making salves and other ointments. It would be a great gift for a young adult first out on their own or anyone who wants to do it all themselves.

The book claims that is help for people who want to live more simply, well....I guess that would depend on what you mean by simple. Getting all these ingredients that I have never had the need for and mixing up buckets of homemade cleansers isn't really more simple then picking something up at the store - but I am guessing it would be more rewarding in a few different ways.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Valentine freebie from me to you- Valentine Match Boxes

I have spent most of the day today working on my first freebie. I got the idea to this a couple weeks ago and it pretty much turned out just as I planned, which is good, since I spent all day on it.


Make some Valentines match boxes for a unique and inexpensive gift. You can get a pack of 10 boxes for a couple bucks. Look for them in the grocery store where the charcoal is or sometimes they are near the utility cords.


I have included enough for 7 match books. I printed these on 44 lb matte presentation paper. The paper doesn't need to be that thick, but that was the best quality paper I had on hand.

If you wanna make your own designs, the size you need is about 1.4375 x 2.089. You could also decorate them by hand instead of making the decorations on the computer.


You can download the free pdf from here. I hope you all like them. Happy February! Let me know if you make them. I am excited about my first freebie. Also, there are some more picture of them on Flickr.

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