Magical Christmas Lanterns DIY

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I came across this tutorial on Pinterest and I wanted to share the link because they look so cool.  I am definitely going to make one of these...perhaps too late for Christmas, but I will pick another theme or perhaps an every day magic.

Here's the link:
http://adventure-in-a-box.com/magical-christmas-lanterns/

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!!

Paul the Samurai Shrinking Dinks!

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Warren with his Paul the Samurai shrinky dink!

When my family was visiting for Thanksgiving, I pulled out the shrinky dink project because my 8-year-old nephew loves making them.  This year I taught him that you can trace images and they turn out really cool. 

Brandon showed him all of his Tick comics and Warren devoured them, so needless to say the things he wanted to trace were of The Tick.  He made a shrinky dink of The Tick, however, his shrinky dink of Paul the Samurai was pretty amazing, plus it seemed as though he really like Paul since he seemed to know everything about him and was quoting him while tracing...so cute :)

I got a couple of action shots.  Brandon and myself were preppy the No. 6 plastic so that Warren could keep on making them till his heart was content.

Day of the Dead Party Pics

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Well, the party was a success. Everyone who came really enjoyed themselves.  There were quite a few calaveras and lot's of contributions to the shrine and the food was divine.

Carye Bye has this little tin that she keeps her Grandmother's mementos in, so amazing and such a great idea.
We had a sugar skull decorating station, an area in front of the shrine for people to write names of dead loved ones or messages and then add it to the shrine.

And of course we had a photo booth area, which was a lot of fun!

This picture is of Sarah, myself and Judy, the fab three that walked the Camino last summer.  We met Judy and her daughter Bea along The Way and it turns out they live 15 blocks or so away from me!

And here's a picture of the fabulous four Catrinas who hosted the party!  Diana is Luigi and she cooked the amazing food.  She's from Mexico City.
Meghan is always a fabulous host and she made that amazing floral headpiece, and agreed to have the party at her house.
Sarah created the shrine and the bunting and made a super delicious seviche.
And then myself.  I did make that mustache that I am holding for a photo booth prop.

I hope everyone had a beautiful Day of the Dead and had some inspirational, tender, loving conversations with their dearly passed loved ones!

Portland Oregon Art Cars!

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I came upon this fabulous art car today, super cool!
And this is my new neighbor's art car:

I parked directly in front of her car the previous evening because I thought it would look awesome, and I think it does.  What do you think?

Here's a photo of my 2014 art car progress...it was year three.  It just keeps getting better!

Day of the Dead Party Decor

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Day of the Dead is November 1st and myself and a couple of friends are hosting a dinner gathering.  Needless to say, we need to start with the party decor so myself and my good crafting buddy, Sarah, got to it today.
Sarah made this super cool shrine!

She also made this cool bunting out of doilies that we spray painted and then strung up:

I was pretty much a paper flower making factory and consultant for the shrine :)

This party is going to be very colorful and a lot of fun!

New Project Idea and Smashing Bottle Caps!

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I am working on a new project.  It involves smashing bottle caps and recycled plastic shrinky dinks.  It's pretty much the best of both worlds!  This was the first time I had attempted smashing bottle caps and now I can see why my good friend, Christopher Reitmaier (who I have blogged about before because he's amazing), loves working with them.  It's highly addictive.

My new project needs a little tweaking, but I am very excited about it!

So Christopher was in town this past spring for a bit and he and I got together for lunch one afternoon.  He had been traveling around Europe for a year or so and mentioned he had gone to Russia.  I commented on how I like Soviet era items and he said he would make me a bottle cap medallion with a Soviet coin on it!
When I got it, I loved it, of course, but I couldn't help but notice it was missing the iconic Soviet red and so I decided to do a little collaboration while I was working on this new project of smashed caps and plastic. 
I added the red border cap and I painted some red around the CCCP coin.  I really like it.  I added a magnet and now it's on my fridge....
It's not the first time we have collaborated.  I think we're pretty good at it. :)

Thanks, Christopher!!!

Amazing Portland Art Bike

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Check out the amazing art tall bike I spotted today!

I love the parasols!

It's like a tall bike with training wheels*

Whimsical Victorian Cat Light Switch Covers

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Dapper Dan and Sweet Suzy

It was so much fun creating these today.  I love them so much I named them.  They are heading straight to SCRAP...I'm just saying.

Art Car 2014

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Hello!  I have finally started adding some more decor to my work-in-progress art car. 
My friend told me if you draw with the oil pens, then it is supposed to be permanent, unlike the Sharpie drawing I did two summers ago:

It's a finer tipped pen, so it doesn't show up that well in the pic.  I will have to get close ups the next time.
I have added a few more beads, too:

I can't wait to keep working...summer's not over yet!

Vintage Tea Kettle Planter

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I found this super cool copper kettle at a thrift store. It was missing its lid.  However, I thought it might make an amazing planter, and it does.  Just poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage and you have a very unique planter.
This is currently for sale at my vintage space at Red Fox on SE 46th and Woodstock in Portland, Oregon.  I am vendor #20 so come on in and check it out in person.

Super Amazing Free Rikka Zimmerman Spa Week!

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Okay, this isn't really a "crafty" thing, but I guarantee that once you open up your energy channels you will create effortlessly, which is pretty sweet and crafty related so please check this out, plus it's free.  You'll love it and it's nice to treat ourselves once in a while:
http://bit.ly/RikkaSpaWeek

Rearranging, organizing and cleaning!

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I figured out why I haven't been crafting much.  My craft room was in total disarray.  I usually clean it up early summer, but last summer I walked across Spain and it just got neglected, however, I kept acquiring cool new stuff.  Not a good combination. 
This past weekend I spent three days going through everything, rearranging the space and organizing so that I know where things are and I am sooooo happy!

Now I am ready to start crafting on long lost projects and have crafting parties with my crafty peeps.  Hooray!

My Art Car and Art Bicycle as One!

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Isn't this a hilarious scene?  I wonder what passersby thought?

They probably wondered if it was safe :)

Spring Colors!

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I had a wonderful crafting day yesterday.  I love crafting in the rainy/sunny/hailing spring weather.  It gives me a cozy feeling. 
Well, I am working on what I am usually up to -- light switch plates and zipper pull earrings -- but I have some fabulous new spring colors that I will take into SCRAP next week so be on the lookout~

Decorated Light Switch Covers Revisited

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This is one of my go-to craft projects, partly because I sell them at SCRAP's ReBoutique.  Recently I was in SCRAP and they were selling baggies full of origami paper.  The papers were really pretty and I thought it would definitely add some design to the boring white light switch plates.  I was right and now I need to get back to SCRAP and see if they have more of that paper...too cool.

Repurposed Tea Cups

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A few years ago I received an aloe farm as a gift.  I am kidding.  I received one aloe plant that had sent up about 20 shoots over the past two years, but I totally love it.  It has made me come up with some unique planter ideas. 
Here are a few examples:

Vintage Tea Cup Planters

 My favorite is the tea kettle.  I found it at a thrift store.  It was missing the lid and I knew instantly what to use it for.

Use mugs that are broken or a tea kettle!