Our "New" Calendar

I'm pretty cheap. I hate the thought of buying a calendar each year. Last year we actually got one for free, a nice big one that was suppose to be a desk calendar that I punched holes into and hung on our door.

The calendar is in the upper right corner of the photo.

Normally what I do with the calendar pages once the month is over is I give it to Emma for paper to color on. 

Not sure when or why, but eventually it dawned on me; the back of the pages are the perfect size for next years calendar!

So, this is how we did our latest batch (because I didn't take photos of the first batch). 

Materials Needed

Old calendar pages that are blank on the back (not in the photo)

Writing implements (pencil, pen, markers, colored pencils, etc)

Ruler (if you want straight lines)

Tape

Stencils

Cheat sheet with the months of the year and days of the week

Step 1

Use a bright window to trace the squares from the original side onto the back side of the paper. 

You can tape the page to the window if it's easier. We used pencil so that we didn't Sharpie the window.

Ready for art work!

Step 2.

Cover the page with stencils, doodles, and whatever else you want. 

Step 3. 

Add dates, go over the outline of the calendar with marker (if you want) and presto-chango!

We are now ready for December. 

A quick note: On our last batch of calendar remakes we did, we covered the pages with paint before adding the lines and dates. While they look cool, it was hard to see the dates or anything else we may have written on the calendar (such as appointments). This time around we are going minimal and so far we like it better. 

What do you do with past years calendars?

Latest Obsession- Felted Mini Horses

I have been enjoying making these lovely little ponies. I am finally getting the hang of making them, so a tutorial will be coming soon.

Anyway, here are the little equines that I have made so far. They are for sale, so if your interested, send me an e-mail at kaotickrafter@hotmail.com.

*all names are courtesy of my 7 year old daughter*

All mini horses are about 1/4 of a hand high (if your not a giant dork like me, that's 1" measured to the back, about 2" from hoof to ear tip) and about 2 1/4" long. Some of the horses are made from recycled wool sweaters, others are made from a mix of wool/rayon felt. When possible, I stuff these little guys (and girls) with wool roving. Others are stuffed with poly-fill. I hope to find a source of local wool roving, but until then, I'll be using the poly-fill.

Witchcraft 

Coco Swirl

Carrot Swirl

Mints

The Roundup (photo by Emma)

I can also custom make them in just about any color, so let me know if you want one (or an entire herd!). To see the color selection I am working with, check this out. 

Have a great day!

Altered Tags

I have been doing a lot of sketching in my altered journal lately, which means of course I've been doing my altering elsewhere.

Altered Tags -Dream, Live, Love- KaoticKrafter

Altered Tag -Be Yourself- KaoticKrafter

What have you created lately?

Kitchen Menu Board- Tutorial

So, for those that may have read my post where I complained wrote about meal planning, here is the tutorial for how I made my menu board.

Kitchen Menu Board by KaoticKrafter

Materials needed:
Cardboard (mine is about 30"x17")
Glue (we just used Elmer's cause it's what we had)
Paper (old book pages, wrapping paper- think recycling bin stuff)
Paint (acrylic craft paint, wall paint, etc.)
Longer sewing pins
Packing tape

Tools needed:
Cutting tool (scissors, knife, etc.)
Measuring tool (ruler, tape measure, etc.)
Sharpie
Old gift card
Needle nose pliers

Process:

Step 1- Decide how large you want your tags to be. Mine are about 2"x4". I wanted them big for a few reasons- easier to see, easier for me to write on, I already had a template for the tags. Cut out and hole punch a bunch (I think I started with 30+)

Step 2- Once you know how big your tags will be, figure out the size of your board. I decided I wanted 5 "meals" per day (Breakfast, Lunch, Supper, Side 1, Side 2 -or- Supper, Side 1, Side 2, Snack, Condiment/staple, etc.) My board ended being about 30" tall by 17" wide. Each meal/side is 2.5"x4" with the space for the day of the week about 4"x4.5".

Step 3- Measure and cut your cardboard.

Step 4- Glue a couple of layers of paper over your cardboard. We used old book pages from novels and a dictionary. To spread the glue, we used old gift cards.
You might want to allow the glue to dry before continuing. (We didn't cause we are impatient like that)

Step 5- Add a layer of paint, using the old gift card (or a paint brush) to spread the paint. If you are happy, let it all dry.

If your like me, you can add a few more layers

I added a layer of pages from an old cookbook, then did a thin coat of blue over it all. I wasn't super excited about it, so I added a coat of green (wall paint sample) over it all.

After that I was happy with it. I let it dry for 2 days ('cause we were busy and couldn't work on it). 

Step 6- I had pages hanging over the edges. I decided to curve them over the edges and tape them on the back. Feel free to trim the pages, or use ribbon to make a pretty boarder. You could probably even put it in a picture frame if you wanted. 

Step 7- Measure and draw your "grid". Start with a pencil then go over it with a sharpie- or if your really brave, just go at it with the sharpie. 

Step 8- Using your tags, draw a circle in each spot so you know where to stick the pins. (see picture for step 6) 

Step 9- Working one row at a time, stick a pin (the longer ones work better) through the center of the circle, leaving enough of the pin sticking out so that you can hang a tag on it. When you get to the end of the row, carefully flip the board over. (Watch out for the pins!) 

Step 10- Starting closer to you and working away, use your pliers to grab the pin right next to the cardboard. (Not the best picture- I had already pulled the pin through when the kiddo snapped the photo)

Step 11-Pull the pin all the way through, then bend the pin slightly where the pliers are. 

Step 12- Push the pin back "out." You want the pin to be as flush with the back side of the cardboard as possible. 

Step 13- Once you get to the end of the row, take a strip of tape and cover the pins. Use your finger to carefully smooth the tape over the pins. 

Continue steps 9-13 till all of your rows are done. 

Label your days and name your columns however you wish! I have a feeling I will be changing them up here and there, so I just made column labels out of scrap paper and used double sided tape to secure them. I like to make some of our staples/condiments (think chicken stock, mayo and ketchup) as well as snacks/treats, so I think that's what the extra 2 columns will be for. Who knows, maybe I'll go crazy and actually plan breakfasts and lunches as well!

For my tags- I write the meal or side on the front, then the recipe location (cookbook, website, etc) on the back as well as the ingredient list.

 My hope is that this will streamline the meal planning/grocery list process.

Anyway, figure out the best where/how to hang your new menu board, and enjoy!

p.s. I have created a few tags with our tried and true favorites, but I plan to create the rest of the tags as we try new foods so that I don't waste time creating tags only to find out that no one likes the item on it. 

A Few New Pages

Now that I have a craft table...

How about we start there. Since moving here, my crafty mojo has been a bit off. I blame it on the fact that I didn't have a table to craft at.

For a while this is what I had to work with (and this is after moving it around a time or two).

The table was really low and I had to sit on Emma's step stool to work at the table. Not so cozy. 

I had thoughts that a round table would be nice, but I was too cheap to buy one. Even a used one. So, I looked around and decided I could make one using most of what I already had. So, a quick trip to home depot, about $5 in lumber and hardware later, and I have this:

Now, I can get my craft on. 

I made this journal from cardboard and pages from old books. I like to glue the old pages together to make them stronger, then paint over them. 

Anyway, here are some photos. 

Cover

Blank Pages

A mishmash of pages from all the books I have altered- dictionary, old novels, the kiddo's completed work books, etc. 

First Pages- To Do-

 -Be-

A Story

It feels so good to be creating again. I think it might become a daily habit. 

A Little Christmas Crafting

Hi!
  Been busy getting settled, but still trying to squeeze in some creative time. Here is what we have made recently.

Wreath using embroidery hoop, t-shirt, buttons, jingle bells, and hot glue.

Christmas ornament for a swap made using an old CD, old sheet music, scraps of fabric, glitter, wire, beads and hot glue.

Emma's snow people made using buttons, scraps of fabric, googly eyes, hot glue.

Paper and Glitter ornaments using old book paper, glitter, ribbon and hot glue. 

We both have been enjoying the hot glue gun lately, Emma even decided to use it on her own. She has done fantastic with it and has only gotten one hot glue burn. 

Here is a glimpse of the little one (who turns 7 tomorrow!) at work. 

Tracing while her painting dries. 

I hope you are finding time to be creative as this year draws to an end!

Happy Holidays!

An Awesome Weekend and A Workshop

To those of you that I met this weekend at the Nevada Lincoln Highway days, thank you for making this weekend super awesome!

I had so much fun talking to all the people that stopped by my booth. I didn't sell much, but I did get a lot of people interested in classes and workshops! I am so excited to get started teaching others to be resourceful and creative. That being said, here is a link to more specific information about my  upcoming Junk Journal workshop. For classes that are scheduled in the future, visit my calendar.

Thanks again for making my weekend rock and I look forward to meeting you again in one of my creative classes!

Teaching a Workshop!

I am super excited to be teaching my first workshop! I will be teaching people how to create a junk journal (and another example). Nothing to hard, but for some people (like me) it really helps to have someone explain (with visual aids) something like this.

Here are a few pictures. For more, check out the links above.

If you are interested in attending the workshop, here is the info:

Junk Journals Workshop

September 15th, 6:30-8:30p

1037 8th St, Nevada, IA

Cost: $10 per person (12+ only please)

- Do you have piles of neglected, but useful paper? Do you collect cool papers, but don't really know what to do with them? Are you a closet paper hoarder that needs a productive outlet for your "problem"? Stop by the Nevada Community resource Center and let Tina, a.k.a KaoticKrafter, show you how to turn those papers into a fun junk journal. You can use your junk journal for so many different purposes- leave it plain to just show off your interesting papers, use it as an actual journal and jot down your thoughts, turn it into a mini scrapbook or brag book, or come up with something entirely different!

Items provided- Binder rings, cover materials, cutting devices, plenty of paper, lots of odds and ends, paint, markers, pencils, stamps, and lots of ideas!

Items to bring (optional)- Papers that you would love to keep but have no idea how to use it, any pictures or other odds and ends that inspire you and that you would like to include.

Paper ideas- graph paper, copy paper printed on one side, ledger paper, receipts, recipes, old school notes, old dictionary pages, stationary, scrapbook paper, writing paper, watercolor paper, magazine pages, maps, atlas pages, comics, announcements, greeting cards, etc.  The papers do not have to be blank, or plain. Stains, writing, pictures, etc. are just fine.

To sign up, e-mail Tina at kaotickrafter@hotmail.com or visit her website at www.kaotickrafter.com

Class size is limited to 10 people and signups will end one week prior to the class start date (September 8^th). Don’t delay, sign up today!