Upcycling/Recycling Crafts

This Week in the Studio: Frustrations with Starting a New Business

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Happy Monday!

Today I am sharing my weekly studio vlog and it was a bit of a challenge. Most of the week went well as I was able to get some studio clean up done and I also set up my new writing binder for a new story I am working on. I have signed up for a Self-Publishing course and I am really excited for it. To prepare I began with getting my current work in progress. I write all new stories by hand first in a notebook. My first edit comes when I type it into my computer. There is something about writing hand to paper that just connects me to the story in a way the keys don’t. It’s a fun way to get to know my characters and their world.

I set up a binder which is a new system for me, that is going to hold all my story information. Characters, worlds, plot, chapters that sort of thing. In addition to the one I am writing there are several others waiting to be edited so they can be self-published. I would love to have a book ready by the end of the year to publish-even it’s just all the editing is done.

When I first saw the class I was really excited and signed up for the waiting list. I have been following the author for a while and I really love her approach to career and this course feels in alignment with my own career goals. I’ll be sure to keep you posted as to how it’s all going.

The other goal I had this week was to print the sticker sheets I have been creating and add them to my shop. Theoretically this was going to be easy. The hard part of conception and creating the art was over right? I was so wrong.

I have been wanting to turn my art into stickers forever and I have tried over the years and basically ended up really, really unhappy with my cutting machines.

I finally thought I had it all worked out and then the machine (my newest one) was giving me issues. I managed to solve those issues only to have my printer give me problems. In the end, I have re-designed my stickers and I have one sheet available for purchase-woohoo!!! I am very hopeful that I will have the rest of the stickers done and ready for purchase by the end of the week.

To celebrate the sticker sheets are shipping for free so yay! You can purchase a sheet here if, like me, you love your coffee too 🙂

I will also share a secret little item that, for now, only you my faithful blog readers will know about. I have a new journal for sale in my shop too! If you have been following along in my Make a Journal Series this is the journal I make and this Friday the last of the videos will go live. I will also promote this journal for sale so if you would like to pick it up before then you can find it here.

So that was what was going on this week in the studio. I have lots of new projects in the works and I am hoping to have some new dollhouse content up if I could just decide on the upstairs flooring. I still think I want full carpeting but I am really not sure. I will keep you posted.

I hope your summer is going well. My oldest two have been enjoying camp for the past few weeks and I have been playing chauffeur. Looking forward to next week when the schedule quiets down for a few before another week of camp.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

 

 

 

 

Video: Making a Simple Writing Journal Using Cardboard

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I have another journal for you today.

I know it might seem silly making all these journals but it is so much fun isn’t it? I had planned to share something different with you and will plan that post and video for Wednesday, but I was really inspired to make this journal.

I have been walking a journey of faith and that journey has lead me to studying the Bible and I wanted to create a journal to hold Bible verses that are really speaking to me at the moment. A place where I can quickly reference ones that I might need at any given moment.

When I was in 7th Grade our teacher assigned us a project of collecting quotes over the course of several months. We were able to design the notebook and then fill it up with quotes that we loved. I still have mine! This practice has stayed with me my whole life and I have several journals filled with my favorite quotes. It seemed fitting to make one specifically for the Bible verses that are speaking to me at whatever phase of life I am currently in.

I tried to keep the materials for this project simple: cardboard (I used a cereal box), double sided tape, scrapbook paper, some canvas fabric (you could use an old cotton tshirt or bedding or duct tape or masking tape), some paint and some Fabric Tac glue. For the paper I used regular copy paper.

I hope you enjoy the process. If you make a journal please do share I would love to hear and you are also a collector of quotes please comment with your favorite quote below.

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

Video: Let’s Make a Cardboard Journal

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Today I have a fun upcycling project for you.

I don’t know about you but I love taking things that would have been recycling or trash and turning them into something fun, useful and pretty at the same time.

Years ago my mind was blown when I watched a video that showed me I could make a journal from a cereal box. I am totally in love with the idea of making something from every day items around the house.

Today I am using a similar package to make a very simple journal. I cut it to size (in my case just under 6×6″) I add some gesso, paint and a bit of collage and bind it all together with some ribbon using a 3-hole pamphlet stitch.

It’s a great project to do if you have limited supplies, time or maybe an overabundance of cardboard you would like to use up. These would make really sweet valentine gifts for kids to give their friends or maybe add some photo memories and give them to a loved one.

I hope you enjoy today’s video. If you follow along and make one yourself please do comment below-I would love to hear!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

 

Video: Rainbow Collage Glue Book-My New Journal Play #1

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I love collage, have I mentioned that before?


Collage heals me like nothing else. The act of cutting paper, gluing it down with either a glue stick or my collage paste is just so much fun.

I was reading a blog post by iHanna where she was sharing her plays in her rainbow glue book and I decided to give it a shot. It seemed like a fun way to utilize junk mail or catalogs as well as miscellaneous ephemera I have.

I am using a standard composition notebook that I picked up from The Dollar Tree and I am setting it up with the following sections: pink, white/cream, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, teal, purple and rainbow. The notebook has 100 pages so I am doing 10 pages for each color/section although rainbow seemed to work out to be 9 pages so I am guessing I miscounted somewhere along the line which is fine with me.

I decided that I wasn’t going to be too critical of my photo choices. If something felt pink I used it on my pink page even if it had some other colors too. I want this to be fun so I am not going to be fussy about my choices.

I also thought it would be fun to record my play session and share it with you. So if you would like a little creative time why not join me? You can get out your own supplies or maybe just pour a cup of your favorite beverage and have a little relax time watching me cut and glue? Either way I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you like to make glue books? If so please share what kinds you make.

Music by Joystock – https://www.joystock.org

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

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DIY Glassine Envelopes Using a Cereal Bag

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Hello and how are you? I really hope this post finds you feeling well and perhaps enjoying some well deserved solo time-just you and your creativity.

Or perhaps you aren’t able to have a creative play are just gathering inspiration for later. Either way I really hope you enjoy your time here on my site and find a little inspiration while you are here.

You might like to check out my creative podcasts while you are here

Alright so let’s get started!

This project is really simple and what I love about it is that it is reusing something that would typically only have one use-cereal bags!

I have always kept our cereal boxes to use in various projects-typically making journals or mini vision boards of some kind. This time I am also making use of the inner bag that holds the cereal-and it was really a quick-and fun project!

I didn’t take many photos of the project as I was working since it was my first time doing this and I was figuring it out as I went but I did get it on video. Hopefully it’s all clear enough but do feel free to comment below should you have any questions-I’m happy to answer!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

I’m taking part in Handmade Monday