Repurposed Stuffed Sweater Animal

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So I decided to try my hand at the pretty common (at least at craft fairs) repurposed sweater animal.  I made this one for my friends' baby girl's first Christmas.  I used a reclaimed angora sweater so it is extremely soft and cuddly.  I stuffed it with fleece scraps that I bought at SCRAP and made the design from felt that I also got from SCRAP.  I didn't want to use buttons because she might chew them off and choke on them.  I very securely sewed the felt to the sweater and there you have it, a one-of-a-kind stuffed animal that was healthy for the environment.

Hearts, Bece

Merry X-mas (almost)

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Hello.
So I went out and got a Christmas tree this last Friday and decorated it that night because my brother and his wife and my nephew were coming to check out my new pad.  Anyway, I am proud to say that 90 percent of the decorations for the tree are handmade including the angel, Cobber.

Last year I got the great idea of taking the thumbnails that you get when you have pictures developed and framing them with glitter and a bottle cap to make a very memorable and personal ornament.  This year I made a few more bottle cap ornaments only I filled them with trashy treasure and all that glitters.  I also decided that shrink art would make a wonderful ornament as well and so I made a few of those.
Here are some pictures for you:

My nephew who is four also made one for the tree.  It's a portrait of myself and Brandon.

Anyway, I want to wish everyone the most wonderful holiday season!

Craft Fair

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Well, as you know I participated in SCRAP's Holiday Bazaar this past weekend.  It was fun and I met lot's of new people.  It was not a real profitable endeavor, but there is always something to be learned from these types of things.  So I will leave it at that and say that I love SCRAP!

 Oh, and I got to sit next to that awesome goose!

The Plastic Age.

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So it just occurred to me that there are these different eras, ages if you will, and we assign them designations such as the stone age, bronze age, etc.  I have come to the conclusion that with the invention of the new Boeing airplane being made out of some sort of plastic that we can definitely call this era the bronze age.  Plastic is everywhere.  It's in so much of what we use that we don't even realize it.  Sure there is a lot of awareness right now about the plastic grocery bags and the plastic in the ocean, but have you ever thought of how much is made of plastic?

That being said, I love to work with plastic.  Last year I made 15 or so fused plastic wallets, and I sold them at craft fairs or gave them as gifts.  They are a pretty popular item.  This year I have perfected the wallet a bit more and I have added a new plastic line, which are my flower barrettes.  I love this new craft.  They are so unique and beautiful.

Anyway, you can check out my wares this weekend because I have a booth at SCRAP's Holiday Bazaar.  So get a jump on your holiday shopping and come join in on the fun.
I hope to see you~

Oh, and I will be playing with The Amazing Maelstrom on Sunday at 3.

Shrinky Dink Outcome

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My Shrinky Dinks

Here are a few pictures of the final product.  The tracing idea worked really well. 

So making shrinky dinks is really easy.  You can make them with any number 6 plastic, which is usually the clear clamshell container.  You cut the shape you want, sand down any surface you are going to draw on.  You need to sand in multiple directions for good results, and then you can draw on the plastic with sharpies, colored pencils or even a regular lead pencil (see eyeball above and dragon below).  Punch a hole in the plastic with a hole punch or if you want a larger hole punch three holes in it, kind of like a triangle.  You then place them on a tray and put them in the toaster oven.  The oven should be set to about 275 Fahrenheit.  You watch the plastic until it stops undulating and then remove it from the oven.  This should take about 15 seconds.  You place it on a flat surface to cool down and it is finished!  So easy.

Here are photos of the awesome shrinky dinks that my party goers made:

Day of the Dead Shrinky Dinks

Pin It Now! For today's SCRAP birthday party I am hosting the project will be shrinky dinks.  Here are some images that I am going to try out.  I will let you know how they turned out and how to make your own a bit later.

Happy Halloween~

10/10/10 Save the Date

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Today is my friends' wedding so I made them some refrigerator bottle caps for their special day.

Best wishes~

Bottle Caps

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Last Christmas I got the great idea of making bottle cap ornaments, which I plan to do this year.  In the meantime I am taking the ornament to everyday life.  I am making magnets and pins and in a week or two I will start making ornaments again.  Here are some photos of the process and what I have created thus far.

 

This one I made had a slight flaw so it is adorning my refrigerator; too bad.

I love bottle caps!

Splendoporium's Bicycle Themed Art Reception

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Hello, friends.

I just wanted to let everyone know about Splendo's art reception October 1st.  It is a bike themed art show, Hurray!  And at 7:30 the Amazing Maelstrom, which is myself on musical saw and Evan Stuckless on accordion, will be playing a few tunes for you all.

Hope to see you there~

SCRAP Birthday Parties

Pin It Now! I host birthday parties at SCRAP almost every weekend.  The age ranges vary, but the creations are all pretty cool and the kids always have a great time.  This last Sunday a birthday party of girls made SCRAPpy bracelets and here are a couple of the more daring ones.  Actually, all of the girls made great bracelets and they all made more than one.  The party was a hit.

If you haven't heard about SCRAP before I will briefly tell you what it is all about.  I will also include their link so you can check it out for yourself.
SCRAP is a non-profit organization and its main focus is on reuse, specifically reuse of creative materials.  If you are an artist or a crafter or a little person that loves to create it is a great place to go and find unique inexpensive materials for your projects.
I hope you check it out if you haven't already.
www.scrapaction.org

Outlet Cover

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Happy Autumnal Equinox!

I just wanted to share what I made last night on the full moon.  I moved into a house that has been remodeled at least once.  This house was built in the late 1800s and then was turned into a triplex sometime in the 1930s so there are a lot of little quirky things about it, which I love.  For one thing the attic, which is my craft room is just creepy cool! and the gas stove is vintage and I love that, too.  So one of the things I noticed around my new house are these plate covers that must have been outlets at one time, but are no longer in use.  Since I am a fan of decorating light switch covers I thought why let this little blank space made of plastic go to waste.  Why not add an image from a Carnation mother and daughter cookbook circa 1960 sometime to this cover and dress up the dining room a little bit.  Well, that is exactly what I did and now I am sharing this with you in hopes to inspire you to art-it-up whatever it may be.

Hearts, Bece

Necktie Neckerchief

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A few months ago I came up with this stylish new way to wear a funky reclaimed necktie.  I had made a few of these for gifts, but I now have posted one of them in my Etsy store!  The one that I was working on in the photo I actually messed up on.  Those darn snaps.  I think I will need to work on a couple more to perfect the method of making these, but I love how they look and I plan to make a lot more.  They serve a nice neck warmers, too, in those chilly months that are just around the corner.

where to put the snap?

Repurposed Wine Bottle

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So here is a craft that I am getting back to.  I made a bunch two winters ago and then I stopped, but I made this one for my friend's birthday and now I am back.  I have made two more since and have more lined up.  I just need to gather up some more spray paint, which I will probably round up some partial cans donated to SCRAP or I will get some partial bottle from the ReStore.  My friend says you have to buy 15 cans, but I am sure I can use them up.

Hello.

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My name is Bece.  I have never had a blog before so bear with me.
With this blog I hope to share and inspire others with items I am working on and different ideas that I have.  Everything that I craft is made out of reused, recycled and repurposed items.  Please post comments.  I love to hear from people.  Together we can make beautiful creations and save the world!