Today is Staci's 40th Birthday!! I always look forward to my friends birthdays because I get to celebrate with them. I don't know who has more fun, them or me! Staci's birthday helped get me out of a place where I did not feel creative. I recently re-organized my scrapbook/craft room. Between felting, crochet flowers, fabrics/sewing, scrapbooking and painting I have A LOT of supplies! Although I love all my stuff, it get's overwhelming and organization is key to my creativity. During this re-organization, I was feeling overwhelmed and not creative at all. Realizing Staci's birthday was approaching was all I needed to get creative again. I am not done with my craft room re-organization but I shifted gears and created some birthday gifts.
I love Sweetwater fabrics and their blog. I am a member of their monthly label crew which corresponds to a monthly kit purchased at their Etsy store. I put together the kit for February, you can see their blog here. This is my first quilt style bag that I have created. Most of Staci's birthday gifts will fit inside.
The next project was inspired by my craft room re-organization. I love decorative pins and realized I have acquired an extensive collection. I wanted to display them rather than just be in a box. Recently, I went to Pier 1 and found these little appetizer dishes. I saw something else, I saw pin cushions! I took these dishes with me to Joann's and found styrofoam balls that fit inside. I cut the styrofoam ball in half, covered it in fabric and lace....now, I have a pin cushion to display my pins. Since Staci loves pins as well, I decided to give her one of these (along with the pins).
Staci also got me started on Estate Sales so it's appropriate I would make one of her gifts from a find. Sometimes, on Friday mornings I will go to an estate sale that is near my home. About two weeks ago, I found a package of these tart tins for $1.00 at an estate sale. Again, inspired by my room re-organization, I created another type of pin cushion.
I am also a fan of Jenni Bowlin and recently saw a post on one of her blogs. Using tart tins, she created a box with a vintage wood thread spool. I also found many of these wood thread spools at the estate sale several weeks ago. Of course, that inspired my own version...I placed a little fun ring I found at Pier 1 for Staci inside this little "box".
Recently, I discovered Maya Road makes these large size bottle caps. I think this one is about 3 inches. You can see a post by Maya Road here. Using paper from DCWV, The Mademoiselle Stack, I created this magnet for Staci. I played with silver German glass glitter...I need to figure out a way to keep the glitter from traveling. I hoped to keep the glitter to the edge, but as you can see, it did not stay there.
And, of course, I needed to make a birthday card. So, I played with vintage style paper, crepe paper, rhinestones, tattered angels mist and more German glass glitter.
Lastly, over the weekend, I played with a new technique for satin flowers. I learned this technique from 217 Creations . This time, I attached many layers of diecut satin flowers (used sizzix) with a brad and then used my heat gun to melt the satin petals/layers to create this melted satin vintage flower. I am attaching one of these experimental flowers to Staci's other gift (did not fit into the fabric gift bag).
Staci and I had plans for a birthday lunch today but she called, literally as I was working on my blog post, to reschedule our plans for Wednesday. Her daughter is home sick today. Carli, hope you feel better soon. I will drop off her birthday gifts this afternoon. So, Staci, thanks for inspiring me to get creative.
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