Urban Debris Artlog

The Power of Words

Cappyberra - I wanted one of these as a pet when I was a kid

...and now I think I need a stuffed one.

 

 

Spring Green

6 Free St. Patrick's Day Creations

Clover Stamp

Cut the end off a large potato and on the cut end draw the outline of a clover leaf. Using a knife carve away the excess potato down about an inch until only the shamrock remains.  Use the potato like a stamp with an ink pad or thinned paint. Decorate paper or cards with these stamps for St. Patrick's Day.

Sparkly Lucky ShamRock Pins

Printable card kit

Aluminum Hat and Shamrocks

Luscious Lime Angel Squares

 

Recycled Soda Can Four Leaf Clover

Freebie

Pink good day stationary! Download Rectangle_01.jpg

Nest with Chicks

Transform fuzzy yellow pom-poms into charming chicks, then display your brand-new brood in a cozy yarn nest set in the crook of a cut branch. Via link

MATERIALS:

2 small bowls
Plastic wrap
Concentrated liquid laundry starch
Lightweight fuzzy yarn, cut into 3-foot lengths
Tweezers
Black seed beads
Tacky glue
2-inch yellow pom-poms
Orange felt
Scissors Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

1. Cover a small bowl in plastic wrap. Fill a second bowl with liquid starch, then dip in a length of yarn. Wind the wet yarn in a random crisscross pattern around the wrapped bowl's exterior. Repeat this with more yarn until you've covered the bowl's bottom and partway up the sides.

2. Let the nest dry in a warm spot overnight (or as long as it takes for it to dry completely). Once it's dry, peel it away from the bowl. Peel off the plastic if it stuck.

3. To make each chick, use tweezers to dip bead eyes into a dab of glue and then affix them to a pom-pom. For a beak, fold the felt, then snip a triangle from the fold. Run a line of glue along the outside of the crease. Press the beak in place. Arrange the chicks in the nest.

Beautiful Craft Rooms

I am trying to rearrange my craft area. If I had a room it would be so wonderful, but alas! So, I have been perusing images on the web for some kind of help, ideas to grab. Here are some ideas, which of course belong to the original posters.

Craft Room from Tara Anderson http://www.flickr.com/photos/taraanderson/sets/72157594479484839/

Soule Mama http://soulemama.typepad.com/soulemama/2007/05/come_on_in.html via Craft

Linda Permann http://www.adornmag.com/blog/?p=616

Thread wrapped nest (to store tidbits?) from Country Home.

 

Tracie Claireborne http://www.madcropper.com/tracie-claibornes-scrapbook-room/

Animated Paper Art

Check out this animated image from sweetgifs.com

via ffffound

Things are getting Valen-tiny

So here are a couple of vintage valentine images for you:

 

If you make something, do post a comment and show us!

You spin me right round....altered spinner with free collage sheet

I just love old game boards and pieces. Dominoes, Mah Jong, Scrabble tiles, and other game pieces have become extremely popular for art use. There are lots of old pieces to be had on etsy or other auction sites. Look at these wooden houses from an old "Monopoly" game.

There are also cool old game spinners already assembled that can be used in your art and assemblages.

There are some interesting and amazing artists who use old games in their artwork, like Wendy Cook, Lou McCulloch

Want to try an Altered spinner?

Materials List

Free collage sheet (if desired) Download spinners3.jpg

Large brad

Ring bead

Pony bead

Cardstock base

Spinner pointer, heavy cardstock or thin plastic (note - if you puchase a spinner uou do not need the two beads. The spinner comes with gromments to assemble it.

papers, assemblage items, odd letters, and decorative materials, as desired

Create!

1. Use desired decorative materials to create wonderful design on the cardstock base. If you use the attached free collage sheet, cut out, glue to cardstock. I like to cover these with beeswax to give it a rich look.

2. Place the ring bead over the center of the spinner fields.

3. Place a pony bead on the ring bead. (Note: The pony bead will rest in the center of the ring bead, but not go into the ring bead hole all the way.)

4. Place the pointer over the pony bead so that it rests on the ring bead.

5. Secure the spinner assembly to the cardstock base with a brass brad. Push the brad through the bead holes, then through the cardstock base. Open the brad tabs under the base to secure spinner into position.

Click image for larger view.

Crafty patterns round up!

http://www.snapandscrap.net/blog/?p=500 Make a banner

http://www.curbly.com/DIY-Maven/posts/3105-Make-a-Wreath-Out-of-Recycled-Sweaters Recycled sweater wreath

http://crafts.kaboose.com/pincushion.html  Easy pin cushions
http://www.purlbee.com/very-easy-pincushions/

http://reprodepot.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-ornaments.html Holiday ornament

http://thelongestyear.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/02/the_tote_former.html Sweater tote

http://blog.betzwhite.com/2007/12/peas-please.html Felted peas in a pod

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.0e0eb51a2e6b5ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=caf32e912b11f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default Sweater stocking

Got Buttons?

Button wreaths
You can hang these and keep them up all year.

via http://yourheartout.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/wreath.jpg

Inspiration

http://flickr.com/photos/littlebirds/309647808/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61965501@N00/307619314/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenpaws/198164868/
one for christmas http://www.flickr.com/photos/7897294@N08/2096797818/
not just round http://www.flickr.com/photos/23264080@N00/452871884/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlewaif/2052761443/

How-to adapted via all things christmas http://www.allthingschristmas.com/crafts/buttonwreath.html

Materials:

- Assorted buttons
- Cardboard
- styroforam wreath
- Multi purpose cement glue or hot glue
-newspaper tp protect surface

Instructions:

Spread newspaper

Use cement glue or hot glue to arrange buttons on the wreath. Cover the front or all around. Overlap and add lots of buttons.

Once glue has dried,cattach ribbon and use as an ormanment or decoration.

Recycle newspaper!

Calendars - some free, some fun, some inspire!

Cookie Sheet Calendar

Printable from Miss Mary http://www.missmary.com/downloads/calendars/07november.pdf

Altered Cutting Board: Supplies Used: Scraps of patterned papers for the date squares; On the main cutting board, I used Crate Paper patterned paper, EK Success polka dot patterned paper, Heidi Swapp number chipboard, 7 Gypsies ribbon with words, Bazzill and Prima flowers and small white hooks.

Free Advent Class from Artchix http://www.artchixstudio.com/create/classroom/class_adventcalendar.htm

Hope Sees a Start Memorial Project

In the last year, two members of the bay area arts community lost their daughters to (unrelated) illnesses. To honor their memory, ZNE is raising money to install a mosaic at the Oakland Zoo which will serve as a permanent memorial to Stevie and Brianna. ZNE members have been donating pieces of their art/craft to be sold or auctioned off to raise the funds needed for the memorial. Donations are welcome - check the Hope Sees A Star blog for details if you’d like to donate something.

This project has its own blog, www.hopeseesastar.com where you can read all the details.

To find out more about ZNE, check out the new ning site: http://zneiscrafty.ning.com/

Get this widget!

Creative Challenges!

Tghis is a list of blogs that have art challenges of all kinds. The first on I participated in was Beautiful Sunday. VERY inspiring!

• Self Portrait Tuesday
• Inspire Me Thursday
• Mixed Media Memoirs
• Fiber Friday
• Studio Friday
• Beautiful Sunday
• Creative Collage
• Art Words
• Life's Little Lessons

Tutorial Round Up

Exploding Box Class from Glitter Adventure
http://glitteradventure.blogspot.com/2006/11/exploding-box-class.html
Pressed Botanicals from CHC Online
http://www.canadianhomeandcountry.com/decor/diy_pressed_botan.shtml
Rabbit and Carrott Stuffies from kwoozy's corner
http://www.canadianhomeandcountry.com/decor/diy_pressed_botan.shtml
Lots of ATC Tutes
http://www.quietfiredesign.com/Swaps/ATCtechswap/index.htm
Vintage Paint Woorks has several of Tutorials...
http://www.vintagepaintworks.com/basics_101.html
As does Split Coast Stampers...
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/
And Artchix
http://www.artchixstudio.com/create/classroom/classroomindex.htm

Indie Craft Documentary

This documentary is a project spurred by Faythe Levin and Micaela O'Herlihy, who are traveling through states collecting footage of craft fairs, galleries, boutiques, conducting interviews with important people in the craft community and mostly, focusing on the artists and crafters themselves. They have a limited budget and could use all the help they can get to see their work come to fruition. You can donate to them directly through their support page, or check out their etsy shop, filled with goods donated from the likes of Art School Dropout, tru-che, If'n Books and others- all proceeds will go directly to funding the film. Find out more about the documentary here.

available now at
www.indiecraftmovie.etsy.com

Start out Inspired in 2007

A few inspiry, bloggy sites you might not have seen for the New Year. For more, see my Blogroll

• mein herzblut onmydesk (Linzie Hunter)
• art for housewives
• XT Moveis (Graça Paz)
• bird in the hand(Lisa Congdon)
• port2port
• Poppalina
• lifever
• Bombolo
• Camilla Engman
• Claire Basler
• Lucio Diodati
• licht:adicto
• Karamulis
• Planet Sark
• Keri Smith
• Penelope Cullaghan
• Niki de Saint Phalle
• A Ervilha Cor de Rosa

Blog Round Up

A round up of lovlies from Blogs I read:

Advent Wreath http://ihanne.wordpress.com/2006/12/17/3th-sunday-in-advent

Buy Yourself Something http://alteredvisions.typepad.com/altered_visions/

Cocoa in a jar from Sunset http://www.sunset.com/sunset/Premium/Food/2004/12-Dec/CocoaJar1204/CocoaJar1204.html via Paper Flower Girl http://paper-flower-girl.blogspot.com/2006/12/hot-chocolate.html

PEPPERMINT STICK COCOA
Layer 1 cup powdered milk, 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy. Makes 1 quart mix or 12 servings hot cocoa. Per serving: 172 cal., 17% (29 cal.) from fat; 3.7 g protein; 3.2 g fat (1.9 g sat.); 37 g carbo (2.6 g fiber); 1 mg chol.

Owl Ornament http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2006/12/its-hoot.html

More Christmas joys!

 

and a Christmas freebie download from personalscrapbooking.com:

Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow!

We had a snowstorm last week :-)

Station-arty

There are so may wonderful stationary designers on the web. I love hand printed, gocco, letterpress, and indie stationary. I have gathered a few of my faves for your viewing pleasure :-)

Sleeping company: Korean character style stationary. Written in korean, but lots to see. http://www.barunson.co.kr/character/print/Letter.asp?CHARNO=16

Here's some Advice pad from WishingFish - this is fun! http://www.wishingfish.com/advicepad.html

Fortune Kooky - the kootie catcher with design flairfrom If'n Books+Marks http://www.ifnbooks.com/cat_funstuff.html
See also the accordian kit http://www.ifnbooks.com/cat_accordionkit.html

Mongo Village - *PRINTABLES!* PDF files with soft asian designs - ebvies, papers, etc. http://www.mongovillage.net/paper/


English Stamp Company http://cachalot.jp/zakka/e-stamp/e-stamp.html
Goshdarnit Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=25219
Redshoehorse http://www.redhorseshoe.com/redhorseshoe.html?whichPage=palm.swf

Corners

Here are a few shots from around my house

little shelf

mess on the desk

deer shrine

supplies

filing cabinet

Cone Fetish

I love those little Christmas Cones that were used to hold candy and small gifts. They were quite popular in Victorian England. I am making a crop of cones for Christmas:

Materials needed:

Purse template from Draggin' Ink
1-2 pieces of cardstock or prepared foil paper (see instructions below)
24" of cording, ribbon, raffia or twisted paper tissue paper
double stick tape or glue (tacky glue is great!)
scissors
pencil (for tracing)

Optional

holiday stickers or paper punches, brass fasteners aluminum foil, Mylar, sticky back paper, miniature ornament

Prepare the foil paper as follows: use enough aluminum foil or Mylar to cover the sticky back paper. Apply the sticky back paper carefully to foil or Mylar. Using a brayer or your thumb start at one edge and work your way to the other edge of the paper smoothing the paper along the way.

Single cone: marking notches, trace and cut out the basic pattern. DO NOT score the piece. Line up the edge with the tab to the first marked notch. Secure with double stick tape or tacky glue (hold in place with paper clips if necessary). Decorate if desired. With equal spacing, make four small holes 2" from the top. Run the cording, ribbon, etc., thru the holes, tying the ends together on the inside. Use tissue paper to line the inside of the cone, bringing the corners together and tying with ribbon.

See the gallery of cones here: http://urbandebris.typepad.com/photos/cones/

New Needle felting - Robin Kinglsey

Click Here to View the New Designs New Needle Felting goodies.  Beginner Kits that are quick and easy to felt while you get the hang of the technique.

Beginner Needle Felting Acorn & Oaks Pin Cushion The new Needle Felted Appliqué Pin Cushion is just in time for the season.  Needle Felt the Acorns, Oak Leaves and Bittersweet Berries on a wool pin cushion base.  Enjoy this quick to complete pin cushion as an autumn decoration in your sewing studio

New Needle Felting Book

Indygo Junction's Needle Felting:
22 Stylish Projects for Home & Fashion
The projects you see below are some of the 22 beautiful designs featured in the book!

 

Some of My Flickr Favs

Squirrely Needle Felt from Bird Brain

Bird Brain has a new needle felt patten that is nutty and squirrely :-). Needle Felt a great Harvest pair – a little gray squirrel with a HUGE acorn to stash for the winter! Wool roving and your felting needle make them. Squirrel’s Harvest There is also a free needle punch pumpkin pattern here http://www.birdbraindesigns.net/FreeDesign.aspx

 

Project Page Round-Up

Here are some super project pages I have found on the web. Many of these have more than one project on their site, but these are my absolute faves. I have only included those with clear instructions, and especially those with illustrations!

Since the spooky day is coming get started on a Puffy Crochet Pumpkin http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=40 from Craftbits. So your pumpin will not be loney, stay on Craftbits and follow the pattern to make a pinky striped Sock Monkey http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1104 After making a monket, have a nice cup of tea and knit a HOurse Cozy for your teapot http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1482. While yoy are still in a fall mood, create a Wool Pumkin Swing Bag, found on the BH&G site http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?sssdmh=dm1.210663&storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/APQ_WoolSwingBag_07092004.xml Moving on to other days of celebration, try crocheting this Small Stocking from Calming Seas http://www.calmingseas.com/smallstocking.htm

For something different, Card-i-gami offers a free try at their patterns with an instructional video and Daisy pattern on the site http://www.cardigami.com/FREE.html. Martha has Flowers made from embroidery floss http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel173446&catid=cat21425&navLevel=3 and on Craftster there are Crochet Beads http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=88350.0;topicseen ; a stuffed moose http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=22916.0; and Cat toys so cute you will want them for yourself http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=63399.0

Needle Felting - Cool Tools!

I love this new Needlefelting Tool from Indygo Junction

There are other tools, nice patterns and roving wool, too. I especially like the Wild & Wooly Sweater Bags - IJ752 and the Needle Felted Flowers - IJ750

Lots of inspiration and a good basic explanation of how the tool works.

Super Flickr Photos - Inspirational!

Allisonbee http://www.flickr.com/photos/allisonbee59/page2/

Artnahpro http://www.flickr.com/photos/92943860@N00/

Collagegirl http://www.flickr.com/photos/collagegirl/

Fngsmith http://www.flickr.com/photos/fngsmith/sets/

Pip814 http://www.flickr.com/photos/pilarisa321/

Shelly  stamps http://www.flickr.com/photos/80288889@N00/

Venusthemuse http://www.flickr.com/photos/venusthemuse/

weewiddlesparrow http://www.flickr.com/photos/54074249@N00/

New Jan 1, 2006

GregZ'sArt http://www.flickr.com/photos/97806467@N00/

homespunireland http://www.flickr.com/photos/homespunireland/sets/1497368/

Jolineieweenie http://www.flickr.com/photos/joleensartisticendeavors/

cheves http://www.flickr.com/photos/32049011@N00/sets/749966/

slyybnny - http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherb/

From Dec 17

Ticky Tacky  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlmiller/

Things tagged "ephemera"  http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ephemera/

micasadearte's photos    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosieposie/

melissamh's photos   http://www.flickr.com/photos/73019323@N00/

morningk's photos   http://www.flickr.com/photos/28941270@N00/

rex huxley  http://www.flickr.com/photos/rehuxley/