tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62940416513807215672024-02-20T07:17:21.808-08:00this and thatA random blog for craft reviews, new projects and pretty much everyday stuff that I want to share with the world.nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-40100024326945915952012-06-17T07:08:00.001-07:002012-06-17T07:15:07.268-07:00Grannies and groaning.First off, welcome and hi to all those who are my partners for the follow my blog on swap-bot. I hope you all like what you see and enjoy my blog.<br />
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Sometimes it is just so darn cold here that I hardly feel like doing anything, let alone crafting but sometimes I just have to. Remember that online journalling class I wrote about? Well, it has been tons of fun and has pushed me right out of my comfort zone into the world of mixed media. Lesson one was basically about background techniques, which is a really great thing if you happen to have a journal with blank pages like mine. My favorite technique was a paint method where you sweep the paint across your page with a credit card. The page I made not only thrilled me but actually gave me an idea about the direction I want to go in concerning my journal. I have decided to make my journal an inspirational one, filled with quotes and cute sayings. Here is the page.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2UbgrWvOROJ-g88ziL6BlcAjMGgzghKq6XjN66FcoPRqf_zG9rA8drrDZYYRpBQnSu6JqlM7-vTPkzpCdpPxjnVyAcj-raBPLtUbDPSQD4GLaPCQjbn1jxe1oiyAzcnJMXfc3PSBXsE/s1600/proper+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2UbgrWvOROJ-g88ziL6BlcAjMGgzghKq6XjN66FcoPRqf_zG9rA8drrDZYYRpBQnSu6JqlM7-vTPkzpCdpPxjnVyAcj-raBPLtUbDPSQD4GLaPCQjbn1jxe1oiyAzcnJMXfc3PSBXsE/s320/proper+ice+cream.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't this just remind you of swirly ice-cream?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A project I have been working on is another blog. There is just so much I want to do and am too cold or uninspired to get around to so I have made a blog of pictures and free patterns, all for the love of granny squares. They are so easy and there is so much you can do with them that I could not help myself, not to mention the cornucopia of drool-licious pics on pinterest. You can read <a href="http://nasreensquared.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nasreens granny goodness over at Nasreen squared</a> and if you have any questions or looking for pattern ideas or comments about what you would like to see then don't hesitate to drop me a message or leave a comment.<br />
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Onto more personal stuff, my friend had a baby a week ago and at the beginning of her pregnancy I had promised her a baby blanket. I started on a very ambitious project and got overwhelmed quite early on in the process. I shoved my work to the back of my yarn closet and forgot about it. The baby boy is now here and I have yet to produce a blanket.... YIKES! Okay, I just had to calm down and tell myself that I could do this. Grabbing the biggest hook I could find and all the loose balls of yarn in shades of blue, I got down to work. Three days later I am happy to say that I have almost completed a baby afghan and it looks really good. I ran out of yarn and since I started on Friday night I have to wait till the weekend is over to continue but there will be pics when it is done. It is basically 6 big-ish granny squares joined and then crocheted around, easy enough but still a job and a half. All things are possible though and my nickname is not McGuyver for nothing.<br />
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Hopefully by next post I will have a completed baby afghan, more inspirational journal pages and more of my crafty waffling but for now ... Ciao!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-46904738476446513602012-05-17T04:10:00.000-07:002012-05-17T05:53:18.573-07:00Supplies and Stash<br />
<h4>
Home made washi tape! </h4>
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You might remember in my last blog how I mentioned signing up for an online creative journalling class, well this week I got the class materials list. The class is given by a lady in America and most of the class supplies are things that are readily available over seas, this however is no qualm for a crafty gal like myself after all <i>"necessity is the mother of all invention".</i><br />
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The one item that had troubled me was washi tape. I have being drooling over these little beauties for some time now and while I have heard that they are available in South Africa (although I have yet to come across them personally) the price for them is quite high, something like R50 per roll.While I do not mind spending money on drool-licious products, R50 for a roll of tape is just too much for anybody, no matter how crafty you are. So, now I have to find a way to improvise and get as close to the actual product as possible. I have seen some online tutorials that seem a bit messy and/or fussy and the result does not turn out quite how I like it. I had an epiphany this morning while writing to a friend of mine and it seemed quite a plausible idea.<br />
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I scoured my house for anything tissue or tissue-like and came up with a few bits that I had lying about. I had some tissue paper from a box of boots that the shoes were wrapped in, some origami cut-offs and a fancy paper napkin that I bought ages ago because I liked the print. First I tried the tissue paper. I laid it out as neat and wrinkle-free as I could get it and taped down some double sided tape, cut around the tape ( leaving about a centimeter of paper to make a pull tab) and cut around it as close to the double sided tape as I could and "Hey presto", instant washi tape that looks amazing. Second project was the napkin. I had to do this a few times over because I had to go through all the layers or white napkin under it but ended up with some very funky washi tape and the origami paper looked good too but a bit too bulky for my liking as I think the thinner the paper, the more authentic your washi tape. I also tried some magazine wording and distressed it with some ink. The final result is really pretty and as close enough to the real thing as I would have liked.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOW1qK58f01zgaKw4Qp8CXW7p6egVG1Gx67OtCSqXeCgMvji9p28NCT-L4Q614yf08u_0_Tb0YZRG1VyWmqTj-UYRRVCFoL5zVxIJhflQ6De5gozEmKUzT8KDy7a8caT_ei2RyIVLo2s/s1600/washi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOW1qK58f01zgaKw4Qp8CXW7p6egVG1Gx67OtCSqXeCgMvji9p28NCT-L4Q614yf08u_0_Tb0YZRG1VyWmqTj-UYRRVCFoL5zVxIJhflQ6De5gozEmKUzT8KDy7a8caT_ei2RyIVLo2s/s320/washi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tiger print is the napkin and the red/pink is the tissue paper</td></tr>
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I am totally in my element with the whole washi making experience and cannot wait to make some more. This project is cheap, quick, mess free and the results are great. Best of all, you get to choose the print you like. While I suppose you could use just about any material you like, I think the lighter the paper the better. Just think about all the washi tape you could make with the tissue paper in gift bags, used wrapping paper, I suppose even aluminum foil could work, the possibilities are endless. I would not however suggest using newspaper as the print might come off. If your tissue paper is a little wrinkled then just smooth it out against the tape, a little wrinkling adds character and gives it that 'home-made' feel because as my art teacher always said, " If you want perfect then buy it from a shop".<br />
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I know that I am probably not the first person to think of this but I do think it is a pretty cool idea and a frugal way to make use of paper that would have probably been binned so till next time ... Ciao!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-1915099263670141362012-05-04T05:36:00.000-07:002012-05-04T05:36:26.031-07:00Shopping sprees and savingsWinter is definitely upon us in the Southern hemisphere. I am delighted as I have always been a very Wintry type person. I love piling on tons of clothes, making mugs of soup or hot chocolate and snuggling up in my room with some cross stitching, crochet pattern or even just a good book. I would have done well as a bear because hibernating is like second nature to me, not to mention bulking up for the Winter ...pass the oreos please!<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I love a warm Summer day as much as the next person but my philosophy has always been that it is easier to keep warm in Winter than it is to keep cool in Summer. I am literally a walking hot water bottle 365 days of the year and if has to be below zero for me to start shivering, which means I swelter in Summer. Winter also gives me an excuse to stay inside and craft which is were my passion lies<br />
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Shopping splurge</h4>
Anywhoo, enough about the weather and more onto crafting, I went on a shopping excursion recently and blew a very big part of my budget on crafting supplies. I should have left most of my money at home (or at least some as I am almost broke for the next two weeks) when I visited <a href="http://www.scrapbookfactoryshop.co.za/" target="_blank">the Scrapbook factory shop</a>. I was there for an hour but could have stayed 3 more and would still not have seen everything. It has still not registered yet that I have blown such a large amount on my supplies because each item was a) so reasonably priced, b) on special or c) items I will get a lot of use out of like ink stamps and paper punches.<br />
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Online creative journalling class </h4>
I have however <i>sort </i>of balanced my financial splurge out by joining an <b>free </b>online class via <a href="http://creativepassionclasses.com/" target="_blank">Creative passions</a>. It is a free class about creative journalling. I am so excited that I could pee... almost. You have to register with them and then enroll in a class and then there are 4 lessons which you will receive via email. I have never done this type of thing before but am intrigued to say the least. I will keep you posted on my progress.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">crochet cuteness</span></h3>
I came across an awesome free pdf. pattern for a My little Pony doll, which I am delighted to say thrilled me to no end. It was pure nostalgia at its best for me. You can find the free download <a href="http://terriko.dreamwidth.org/97937.html" target="_blank">here.</a> The pattern is really easy to follow and I cannot wait to make the whole set. I even woke up this morning with ponies on my mind and though about doing a really tiny pony with crochet cotton and a tiny hook.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH7tX0TPRclEHvrxdp1HV9AR8z7QluH3ePRmGAa2646Vbv010Xyt5vrTfPzZMH4W6MVPoiIiIZANd5Vp8EdZJuk4xW8jpr4UHDcPHgE9Jidv-dA14oRHjDGaTX1_SW95Q-XpsvSJNtLI/s1600/DSCI0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH7tX0TPRclEHvrxdp1HV9AR8z7QluH3ePRmGAa2646Vbv010Xyt5vrTfPzZMH4W6MVPoiIiIZANd5Vp8EdZJuk4xW8jpr4UHDcPHgE9Jidv-dA14oRHjDGaTX1_SW95Q-XpsvSJNtLI/s320/DSCI0118.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is rainbow Dash. So easy to make and cute to look at.</td></tr>
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<h4>
Teeny Tinies</h4>
I was super chuffed this week when my dolls house bureau (see last post for tutorial) was featured on a website that I joined a while ago. <a href="http://www.icklebits.co.uk/" target="_blank">Icklebits</a> is an online community dedicated to the love of miniatures, it has over 900 free tutorials and almost 500 articles. The owner of the site is Donna and she is really sweet and helpful and I love the way the site is very interactive and even has a points system. I have not been working on an actual room in the house but have plans for a ice cream shop diorama and also. I have been expanding my dolls house office but the piece that I am most proud of was my little tray that I made. I have seen so many websites that show you how to make a simple tray out of a cabochon backing but have not been able to come across one in my travels. I was so down the other day that I got out my tools and made my own tray, which in my opinion is even better than the ones I have seen, if I don't say so myself. Here is the before and after.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0JgRselpIbw5UrS8EulO_EfYN2eQhooaPoCdSJopuAlKHf5San_2AqPOL021KhPOi-GimxIeE_6NdKuEb7p9DUjTKfnpYlEmB7-cEFDQyDfoJ6NDTchVGGShyNfv74DShdwDmhG2uR4/s1600/DSCI0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0JgRselpIbw5UrS8EulO_EfYN2eQhooaPoCdSJopuAlKHf5San_2AqPOL021KhPOi-GimxIeE_6NdKuEb7p9DUjTKfnpYlEmB7-cEFDQyDfoJ6NDTchVGGShyNfv74DShdwDmhG2uR4/s320/DSCI0121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are actually really small and the handle was made using a one hole punch.</td></tr>
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Today seems like one of those where I have plans to get everything done and lists for lists and yet I still cannot hit the "Go" button but I suppose there comes a time when you procrastinate no more and that time is now for me so I will love ya and leave ya and hopefully by my next post I will have tons to share with you, so for now.... Ciao.<br />
<br />nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-59361122589975058912012-04-19T11:03:00.000-07:002012-04-19T11:03:10.029-07:00Dolls House bureau tutorial, matchbox style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VK950smIEMUt3Z7HjtBzi6yghD9SZp1H00NNM_SgAx9rTQ7FOo-JA-ZVoix6aodOLMbj8HNwkkAId2EJIp9_8iUTp6uL9jbm2ub3AQm35_cvC8apgjfvCInO0AdH1vEInZ7UDCuxmMo/s1600/brown+bureau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VK950smIEMUt3Z7HjtBzi6yghD9SZp1H00NNM_SgAx9rTQ7FOo-JA-ZVoix6aodOLMbj8HNwkkAId2EJIp9_8iUTp6uL9jbm2ub3AQm35_cvC8apgjfvCInO0AdH1vEInZ7UDCuxmMo/s400/brown+bureau.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Today I will breaking away from my normal style to show you how to make this adorable little dolls house bureau made from items which are really easy to come by. It is so simple to make and once you know how you can make all different styles of cupboards, you do not have to follow my layout exactly but the technique is important. Please first read through the tutorial before attempting it just so that you make sure what is expected. Measure twice, cut once.<br />
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I made this little bureau a few days ago and it came out exactly how I wanted but the second one did not go as well although I think that the charm lies in the imperfections. My teacher in junior school always said " if you want perfect, go to the shops and buy one" and this has always stuck with me, specially when I start noticing little mistakes in my work.<br />
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Enough Rambling and more working.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>As a side note I would like to add that although I like working with different glues and cutters, you may use whatever you like. I prefer a box cutter for bigger pieces that need straight edges and a scissors for smaller work. I also prefer clear contact glue for quick drying pieces which is a bit expensive so I swap to regular white craft glue for paper and pieces that do not have to be perfect.<br />
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For this piece I have also broken it down into 3 parts which are the structure, finishing, and legs and handles.<br />
<span style="color: #444444;"> the structure:</span><br />
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<h3><span style="color: #444444;">1. The structure</span></h3><h4><span style="color: #444444;">Materials needed: </span></h4><ul><li><span style="color: #444444;">glue ( I used paper glue and clear gel glue)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">box cutter</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">scissors</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">4 matchboxes ( you may use more or less)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">corrugated cardboard ( basically I cut up an old packing box</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">2 pieces of 4.2x 6 pieces of decorative paper </span>(or any size you like that will be sufficient to cover your piece.)</li>
<li>a metal ruler, cutting mat and a pencil for marking</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypoYSSbhNe5kpU8oFO3cXnc5nA0aG_zPCR7q_FIMStriWLHBCBU8Gl0hF1oFksp5KqkBmx0hTEZbqsm2-8cBLHSdY37ekxN9x278lOPh3pA7hSeR141uNhoe6Yt2Jjp6NjBP1YuvGgV0/s1600/tute+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypoYSSbhNe5kpU8oFO3cXnc5nA0aG_zPCR7q_FIMStriWLHBCBU8Gl0hF1oFksp5KqkBmx0hTEZbqsm2-8cBLHSdY37ekxN9x278lOPh3pA7hSeR141uNhoe6Yt2Jjp6NjBP1YuvGgV0/s320/tute+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Step 1: glue your 4 boxes together. Set aside and allow to dry<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXBlxcD46rGj_fv4U5_9pmYSQFX-7Ec05sleuR_nqW9hJPMtk8uDuVCz8WQhZpvHpaORdUyrcFmHf0C2yZXlJNiNbe4UEv0Nx4Gs2BCDctrPf1utcGHNRBaBGWpttuz6ifSB9IXRfyN4/s1600/tute+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXBlxcD46rGj_fv4U5_9pmYSQFX-7Ec05sleuR_nqW9hJPMtk8uDuVCz8WQhZpvHpaORdUyrcFmHf0C2yZXlJNiNbe4UEv0Nx4Gs2BCDctrPf1utcGHNRBaBGWpttuz6ifSB9IXRfyN4/s320/tute+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Step 2: Trim your corrugated card on the edges with the box cutter so that you have a nice clean edge all the way around. Here is a view of the card with a clean edge.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHawg_DAg8T1IqQ4lt6Z-tbb80UXd3DQKDkSwAWeLD2TIF1w7AbVeT3om5rQFH5QGwq9vmCZorMmWNkVt-iMJccRiYDB8n7F30gfuG3iYg7IJTTgG29J-NsvIyRiaMo-VDm2rMTCzTBs/s1600/tute+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHawg_DAg8T1IqQ4lt6Z-tbb80UXd3DQKDkSwAWeLD2TIF1w7AbVeT3om5rQFH5QGwq9vmCZorMmWNkVt-iMJccRiYDB8n7F30gfuG3iYg7IJTTgG29J-NsvIyRiaMo-VDm2rMTCzTBs/s320/tute+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Step 3: cut your card stock into four pieces. As matchbox sizes vary from each country it is best to measure them before cutting. The four pieces should be cut into two pieces making up the top and underside of the desk and the other pieces should be the sides of your desk.Just make sure your desk over laps the matchboxes by 1/4" on both dies of the top and bottom of the desk. My pieces measured as follows:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz39kc9GyFtJ_jaSnBkzcHeoZgUMQ8Ko3EQHznvlocitV5VS0kDOv_zcaqFIfcHI7dR_duH6SzpIcfIcQ3C5zijKxH1fQbZElpW2at6AzARq-vTZXBXok59aagXJ5alIC3LTqT56bgwb4/s1600/tute+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz39kc9GyFtJ_jaSnBkzcHeoZgUMQ8Ko3EQHznvlocitV5VS0kDOv_zcaqFIfcHI7dR_duH6SzpIcfIcQ3C5zijKxH1fQbZElpW2at6AzARq-vTZXBXok59aagXJ5alIC3LTqT56bgwb4/s320/tute+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two big pieces were 3.5"x2" and the smaller ones were 2"x1.5"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Step 4: Take your two large pieces and lay them on 1 piece of the patterned paper and cut down the centre<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIY8gNL4aMrq4bS5jLxtOo8HMKR7enFz0xqZzG5-cBfiJkkAPe6jFMb2LQfHrUYzEnb4AcVDaUP5OxtEOdr5Y0H9PFwujGE8SeD_xjIrdF-j52P_gQUXR7-ijjHmxgrplMj_EbjZEo7Y/s1600/tute+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIY8gNL4aMrq4bS5jLxtOo8HMKR7enFz0xqZzG5-cBfiJkkAPe6jFMb2LQfHrUYzEnb4AcVDaUP5OxtEOdr5Y0H9PFwujGE8SeD_xjIrdF-j52P_gQUXR7-ijjHmxgrplMj_EbjZEo7Y/s320/tute+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbuVZugjWI02uaEWUEU-yBVZq4TFkOujb178tkLuA91aXHUAn9vCsrGDnW6KNNfNDoc7WeDfZOFTWXTud3IJyuVpXwiPG-87QqCZAdIs3vCxaS6wA0bFqX5nKBA5fxBPnTziE0JBvp0E/s1600/tute+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbuVZugjWI02uaEWUEU-yBVZq4TFkOujb178tkLuA91aXHUAn9vCsrGDnW6KNNfNDoc7WeDfZOFTWXTud3IJyuVpXwiPG-87QqCZAdIs3vCxaS6wA0bFqX5nKBA5fxBPnTziE0JBvp0E/s320/tute+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Step 5: This part might be a bit tricky but please bear with me. Take one of the larger pieces of card and one piece of the patterned paper. Place the card in the center of the paper. Lift one corner slightly and make a crease where the paper and card meet. Once you have a crease then remove the card and fold across the crease. You could score it but I don't have a tool for that so I just fold it over and fold it the other way. Make sure your fold is neat and clear.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrYGE5fB-jsGLrRoqMxNNPtB-zBSVG9kBWJGmo_FAWEJrLZTR6gAj8cr7zY0IcznJDviYFrKMOoFJ9z5hE2V9oCdsXA7V3NVVjb5_PQMQUGPXlzpz1Nb3rX88U-LBo5qRmn9330l6n-Y/s1600/tute+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrYGE5fB-jsGLrRoqMxNNPtB-zBSVG9kBWJGmo_FAWEJrLZTR6gAj8cr7zY0IcznJDviYFrKMOoFJ9z5hE2V9oCdsXA7V3NVVjb5_PQMQUGPXlzpz1Nb3rX88U-LBo5qRmn9330l6n-Y/s320/tute+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Step 6. measure about a 1/8th of an inch and make another fold just above the fold you have completed. The second fold should be closer to the edge and not on the other side<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_C9bkRRtkxRC0_XGfhUM9w2-iO9089Z2znbJHBDztfR2HPPQKs-qcClSfyG6gNXNUQ7e7-gnyNf8GeJhFOo0H6mDJlBusrz7Oa6JeieNjosScIOS59Fg8dAiQTLrOQzArYGSa5mnyU4/s1600/tute+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_C9bkRRtkxRC0_XGfhUM9w2-iO9089Z2znbJHBDztfR2HPPQKs-qcClSfyG6gNXNUQ7e7-gnyNf8GeJhFOo0H6mDJlBusrz7Oa6JeieNjosScIOS59Fg8dAiQTLrOQzArYGSa5mnyU4/s320/tute+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crease should fold neatly over the edge of the cardboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now place your piece of cardboard in the center of the same paper and repeat this step so that you have neat double folds all the way around the card board. Using a pencil, mark out the smaller boxes made by the folds. Measure the folds closet to the interior.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfkLEoAAyL9uaqnujvAnIL38pR1v0em6tTzeM752JF5sNgQwkN4A1QbtrbO-en8dvbARrbAscKmLPFbbpEnBnd6ho0L9Y_YQ67V8pKIgFEK1wt_VD_rJTYPy1zk98D-UrQvHG1jG_31U/s1600/tute+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfkLEoAAyL9uaqnujvAnIL38pR1v0em6tTzeM752JF5sNgQwkN4A1QbtrbO-en8dvbARrbAscKmLPFbbpEnBnd6ho0L9Y_YQ67V8pKIgFEK1wt_VD_rJTYPy1zk98D-UrQvHG1jG_31U/s320/tute+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxQ54gl9TuVWdHntklVwwLO4xx_HN-93ATkSxQa3ohedapijVnYVzeivt9kdIWui9okKPdLYJG5N1baCZpfNTtuAXWkBOwwJKXz2IQIRS8ZJQuUP7nkuEdzT3gIbhHF5aJQdiNxrL_v4/s1600/tute+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxQ54gl9TuVWdHntklVwwLO4xx_HN-93ATkSxQa3ohedapijVnYVzeivt9kdIWui9okKPdLYJG5N1baCZpfNTtuAXWkBOwwJKXz2IQIRS8ZJQuUP7nkuEdzT3gIbhHF5aJQdiNxrL_v4/s320/tute+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how it should look when folded.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Step 7. Cut away the parts that were marked in pencil, making sure to cut very neatly. This is how it should look<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnUexaNqsuIto5sU1XtEc5NIUeCdqEiAkHqbojlJpDK358-J6Sn2um_oC0BhIHYLb3lOfyWiSp1vC61qPrtHO48jVG8Df_OBTBiYo33RjcD6Seu1oh-uu7vBwM_RBdqMiOhlaakwAfGE/s1600/tute+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnUexaNqsuIto5sU1XtEc5NIUeCdqEiAkHqbojlJpDK358-J6Sn2um_oC0BhIHYLb3lOfyWiSp1vC61qPrtHO48jVG8Df_OBTBiYo33RjcD6Seu1oh-uu7vBwM_RBdqMiOhlaakwAfGE/s320/tute+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Step 8. Using some white liquid paper glue ( like the ones we used in primary school) I glued the top of the cardboard into the center of the paper. Then one by one, lining up the surrounding tabs, I glued them all down.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Px1pwqikIA2AuwyFGjckABbddcPoTJpmS6yp2Ff3L5LnPjGaZmPrYThAlBExStx3SQeFs_Le7HGnosS1fViCAZh6RVzfrI3nuHnHAuEdNcwhM9cdyW8PgvVChq6mZVekEEg9D3941TM/s1600/tute+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Px1pwqikIA2AuwyFGjckABbddcPoTJpmS6yp2Ff3L5LnPjGaZmPrYThAlBExStx3SQeFs_Le7HGnosS1fViCAZh6RVzfrI3nuHnHAuEdNcwhM9cdyW8PgvVChq6mZVekEEg9D3941TM/s320/tute+14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeeU3z8r-1WuZuncvzOIzypxZMUwt-QnXSohfQXTNa-rpbYNKJhxyiQjHRAO7VZaXz1KWcMVvjTmgRnCr8LhdbH3hyphenhyphenZh6PwUA-pGPW46jz3nyay5Be_Dn6LECZMw3rkKJYUmTEFiLUpI/s1600/tute+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeeU3z8r-1WuZuncvzOIzypxZMUwt-QnXSohfQXTNa-rpbYNKJhxyiQjHRAO7VZaXz1KWcMVvjTmgRnCr8LhdbH3hyphenhyphenZh6PwUA-pGPW46jz3nyay5Be_Dn6LECZMw3rkKJYUmTEFiLUpI/s320/tute+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Step 9. I did the same with the other piece of board which measured the same and then with the smaller pieces. I now have 4 covered pieces of cardboard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccCwHn6g9USJF2eFbR6kl2Vx6R7KEp3Es_wiotw5e2T5WEWYcWeNp28un3F-Pam10KNO-u8TK-JubukUwq9c6mqIv1a8OTdx3Lqt6NkF-VfjAZrOTuLfui9Y64Cb1XFXU7upinw1tH8A/s1600/tute+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccCwHn6g9USJF2eFbR6kl2Vx6R7KEp3Es_wiotw5e2T5WEWYcWeNp28un3F-Pam10KNO-u8TK-JubukUwq9c6mqIv1a8OTdx3Lqt6NkF-VfjAZrOTuLfui9Y64Cb1XFXU7upinw1tH8A/s320/tute+19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are the four sides.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Step 10: Glue all pieces into place around the box making sure to spread glue evenly and gluing corners as well. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROnZo7Wn1gsI8cRpA19tfqmitKbLwht_ggHOpEW7Hq9KrZ4EYNROdLDdmJ35e7f46agM9bsKHO0xU4JJ7ryeQeaO2Y7EfD_g-3_KqW3LQBFrobiSCYFpLfbnd0TLzJ2ymHk6crH3pfNQ/s1600/tute+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROnZo7Wn1gsI8cRpA19tfqmitKbLwht_ggHOpEW7Hq9KrZ4EYNROdLDdmJ35e7f46agM9bsKHO0xU4JJ7ryeQeaO2Y7EfD_g-3_KqW3LQBFrobiSCYFpLfbnd0TLzJ2ymHk6crH3pfNQ/s320/tute+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember that when you glue the top and bottom piece to have about 1/4 inch visible</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNee5wetXjk4aj73FoOoc67dkNGD3r4szASQYH0VoRB1LRQNck7sq4lR0fsSmtvjXyF0fPNJFQ6gDUyLgrVEQYid9c2A8x8SOcrzIxmy7bnq4VrF0ZTfB6Hw6F4X4lkSRGgMamPSSwuE/s1600/tute+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNee5wetXjk4aj73FoOoc67dkNGD3r4szASQYH0VoRB1LRQNck7sq4lR0fsSmtvjXyF0fPNJFQ6gDUyLgrVEQYid9c2A8x8SOcrzIxmy7bnq4VrF0ZTfB6Hw6F4X4lkSRGgMamPSSwuE/s320/tute+22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is where my measurement was off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
I notice that one side always comes out nicer on each piece so I chose which side of each board I want showing and marked that with an arrow drawn in pencil to remind myself. It is now time to assemble.<br />
<br />
<i>I noticed that when I measured my four sides that I had it a bit long on the sides so I took an extra piece of card and folded a strip of the paper over and glued on the bottom.I tried to turn a mistake into a design element and I like how it looked so it became a happy mistake.</i><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WOXsjEt_PLXGQ8lctxjKWzZuotinSUO_BQP9XqWzlWBFE1vMM6M0FmRU1CfT4etYzZ5C1LknLe1CCgFLq0mh5kCGCzRlbhegqmzhg3dNDITLCrh-PJyGCKtJ3DjuSJmylgH1rSI4p1g/s1600/tute+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WOXsjEt_PLXGQ8lctxjKWzZuotinSUO_BQP9XqWzlWBFE1vMM6M0FmRU1CfT4etYzZ5C1LknLe1CCgFLq0mh5kCGCzRlbhegqmzhg3dNDITLCrh-PJyGCKtJ3DjuSJmylgH1rSI4p1g/s320/tute+18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My extra piece for the bottom</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsda6m3WgRW22aNNQnGvCf1DXv85DNs5204SghUPMJDSDXgZSwrWWZXdjXd147neiw2LKvvvpyxPryMBciLKB_UQ6IAFYaeiRP-yIonQ5hQpCzZyv6cD1mDLEDzfgZsD3joa0K_BYWcik/s1600/tute+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsda6m3WgRW22aNNQnGvCf1DXv85DNs5204SghUPMJDSDXgZSwrWWZXdjXd147neiw2LKvvvpyxPryMBciLKB_UQ6IAFYaeiRP-yIonQ5hQpCzZyv6cD1mDLEDzfgZsD3joa0K_BYWcik/s320/tute+24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">extra piece glued on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now you should have your structure complete. In the next part we will be decorating the drawers and sealing out little bureau.<br />
<br />
This is how it should look when you are done<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgHzC2nBMTA-k2B-ptHH3fbEhxCzYo2LL8dwVLpwODhMof4VWUjU553wSNcTaj-3Q916ifWgc1yjGlRZnEev-vruIJkqd3FDbgRVsXLi25rt8FYMQP06TPx0YF5nq5NAKlJK4A6Va2hs/s1600/tute+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgHzC2nBMTA-k2B-ptHH3fbEhxCzYo2LL8dwVLpwODhMof4VWUjU553wSNcTaj-3Q916ifWgc1yjGlRZnEev-vruIJkqd3FDbgRVsXLi25rt8FYMQP06TPx0YF5nq5NAKlJK4A6Va2hs/s320/tute+26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<h3>2. Sealing the structure and drawers.</h3>This step is quite easy and can be done on the same day as finishing the structure.<br />
<h4>Materials needed.</h4><ul><li>Modge podge</li>
<li>craft paint, preferably a neutral colour to contrast with the patterned paper. Gold or silver is also a good choice.</li>
<li>a paint brush</li>
<li>left over patterned paper</li>
<li>scissors</li>
<li>glue ( I just used regular craft for this step)</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ts2ShXhGpASMEjaIlcfHAeZ075Hy28okNR_IOL_WLufUeosZ7xyC1ifFVs1HrcZL2wdaoMKA5qk2epbOEr8exrt8iILMnFFpT_MXLspfyayMLbDFNBeNzkQ-JGkzxtZAOXwASWkWx7A/s1600/tute+2.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ts2ShXhGpASMEjaIlcfHAeZ075Hy28okNR_IOL_WLufUeosZ7xyC1ifFVs1HrcZL2wdaoMKA5qk2epbOEr8exrt8iILMnFFpT_MXLspfyayMLbDFNBeNzkQ-JGkzxtZAOXwASWkWx7A/s320/tute+2.1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Step 1: Remove all the little drawers. With your neutral craft paint and a small paintbrush, lightly paint the card from the matchboxes which is showing. No need to paint inside the boxes, just the outer edge. Leave aside to dry<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QYZLSRcYi2cS9F7PACj7MMsQAYxCMC49LqzKB8jXZANOr0Q4RNTyhIoaf2rWB5Rn2naDdPt-NqSS9JSkMzvBcmpYpZ4r6fmfpl-IiJwtDv718IcWfCqC8EWGJgDj39yu-0zWlAV07fs/s1600/tute+2.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QYZLSRcYi2cS9F7PACj7MMsQAYxCMC49LqzKB8jXZANOr0Q4RNTyhIoaf2rWB5Rn2naDdPt-NqSS9JSkMzvBcmpYpZ4r6fmfpl-IiJwtDv718IcWfCqC8EWGJgDj39yu-0zWlAV07fs/s320/tute+2.3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Step 2. Paint the front of the drawers with the same paint. Once again, no need to paint the whole drawer unless you really want but is easier to pull the drawer out if it is not painted.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuA_Xw-x0nXuBi5NIvHEbiOlwXmoUPsk9doaDkFNENTYVSYlVmLF-f5GlBGMDXbnxpupnRkeVwvOZhjvf6b7NSwSyXvSB168kPVdB_CDYJ6vxqR1X0Z-l9Covo1CFhdwYj-jOf-WNNEY/s1600/tute+2.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuA_Xw-x0nXuBi5NIvHEbiOlwXmoUPsk9doaDkFNENTYVSYlVmLF-f5GlBGMDXbnxpupnRkeVwvOZhjvf6b7NSwSyXvSB168kPVdB_CDYJ6vxqR1X0Z-l9Covo1CFhdwYj-jOf-WNNEY/s320/tute+2.4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">front of the box painted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO0inO8P7GDf8TYK53r0V7muXz9anJmhyphenhyphenGNF5VeoWlkLkvkSEs1NSi6wYv5JrLBh5BwWqMIiHIJE5ZwlQS1I7pPsRYEbIQY3I485pUqU81n1UQfC5V8fRJqmM6-Ku5JHNuleydd2bMQ8/s1600/tute+2.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO0inO8P7GDf8TYK53r0V7muXz9anJmhyphenhyphenGNF5VeoWlkLkvkSEs1NSi6wYv5JrLBh5BwWqMIiHIJE5ZwlQS1I7pPsRYEbIQY3I485pUqU81n1UQfC5V8fRJqmM6-Ku5JHNuleydd2bMQ8/s320/tute+2.5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from the side</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Step 3. Take the piece of patterned paper that was left over from the structure and measure it to fit on the front on the drawer, make it slightly smaller than the drawer so that it fits on the front and still leaves space around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t8LXncKrT-ONaMCZA2oJw80Jw845PqTM1YXdXOYkWtzEvjdSjwOKYvjtqa_oNCYvsBzCMt2vjYzFmjFwEGTqZrQtLEeEt1VcUE5ZDoaWmfZLVMnBvyh2U2An_Sha_JIsNy3wBecMpKY/s1600/tute+2.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t8LXncKrT-ONaMCZA2oJw80Jw845PqTM1YXdXOYkWtzEvjdSjwOKYvjtqa_oNCYvsBzCMt2vjYzFmjFwEGTqZrQtLEeEt1VcUE5ZDoaWmfZLVMnBvyh2U2An_Sha_JIsNy3wBecMpKY/s320/tute+2.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">measured the paper with a pencil on the back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxqRAoEcpXDlFevmcnd1gFvgW4kh8cOuahaYuXC82euP53bRmrKeiHNTVk0U6S1x118dPtX0e3LZ47iWRoT5pYN3pGH9yKfaWNbQJ7dq9-hhTRwTIZtHEogL2t122G0cdiR9ZVHO-wgI/s1600/tute.+2.6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxqRAoEcpXDlFevmcnd1gFvgW4kh8cOuahaYuXC82euP53bRmrKeiHNTVk0U6S1x118dPtX0e3LZ47iWRoT5pYN3pGH9yKfaWNbQJ7dq9-hhTRwTIZtHEogL2t122G0cdiR9ZVHO-wgI/s320/tute.+2.6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here they are cut out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Step 4: Glue the strips of paper in the center of the drawer faces, making sure that the paint has dried before gluing anything down<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aKqjEgBB6Xg6MMusEVXJgZPoaheAFdrJPH9PHILl_Dzw3mplrzHx0WUGKqSjYBMiblz1JlCc6BXZ9l71Yq0UCN60iEq9UztFByd6Lcl03Ui4DTQApgq4MJ1f7lrG1kY8KuJr7KuiTck/s1600/tute+2.6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aKqjEgBB6Xg6MMusEVXJgZPoaheAFdrJPH9PHILl_Dzw3mplrzHx0WUGKqSjYBMiblz1JlCc6BXZ9l71Yq0UCN60iEq9UztFByd6Lcl03Ui4DTQApgq4MJ1f7lrG1kY8KuJr7KuiTck/s320/tute+2.6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Step 5: Paint one layer of modge podge over the entire structure and the front of the drawers. Basically this step is to protect our little desk, you may skip it if you like but since we where working with paper, I think this step is vital to ensure our work is protected. I also add a layer of clear varnish over the top of the desk to give it a nice shine.<br />
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This step is now complete and your bureau should look something like this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTle5x1rzx71o87ZJR0Y4sX_22UegSgn-8SMqILUvX2vdsBXVbhi-9nynzreBpBSHjWB7jPKNt56bjUWNuBo6xnHfp237QaMtFkRYueeGb_zQDsIZ2NWSMNqcXOvjtEOR6LAb8kM4j1ec/s1600/ab+done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTle5x1rzx71o87ZJR0Y4sX_22UegSgn-8SMqILUvX2vdsBXVbhi-9nynzreBpBSHjWB7jPKNt56bjUWNuBo6xnHfp237QaMtFkRYueeGb_zQDsIZ2NWSMNqcXOvjtEOR6LAb8kM4j1ec/s320/ab+done.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little wonky but cute none the less.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><br />
At this point you can choose to use big glass beads for legs and handles by using a hot glue gun to glue them on or you could follow my last step which involves a little patience and some paper-quilling techniques.<br />
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You could also line your little drawers with some cut out felt to make the inside more attractive.<br />
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<i><b>PLease note:</b></i><br />
<h2>3. Handles and legs.</h2>This part can be a bit tricky since it involves very small pieces and making sure they are just right but the finish is well worth it in the end.<br />
<h4>Materials needed</h4><ul><li>regular white craft glue</li>
<li>scissors</li>
<li>one hole punch, or two hole, whichever you have on hand</li>
<li>some paper ( if you have any patterned paper left over from the structure then you can use that)</li>
<li>hot glue gun ( or regular clear glue if you are making this with kids or do not have a glue gun)</li>
<li>paint, the same colour you used from the drawers is best.</li>
<li>modge podge</li>
<li>4 tooth picks</li>
</ul>Step 1: cut your paper in strips that measure 2"x 0.5" , you will need 8.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-envK0AkLb8ndFfTfbaAxzLhAXgO0MvOiBCWpCaQXlwutsW8es5Sk7N_4ZDc6Vo-uDwDs-BGbLjepDyqdKHOWy4tNwciOA4UNN0SJH8QuUHQzb1scGU6QEPxeK0yAFvkeX-ZfTh4BbMw/s1600/tute+3.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-envK0AkLb8ndFfTfbaAxzLhAXgO0MvOiBCWpCaQXlwutsW8es5Sk7N_4ZDc6Vo-uDwDs-BGbLjepDyqdKHOWy4tNwciOA4UNN0SJH8QuUHQzb1scGU6QEPxeK0yAFvkeX-ZfTh4BbMw/s320/tute+3.1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>step 2: take your toothpick and one strip of paper. Wrap the paper around the toothpick and add a bit of glue to the end of the strip. Roll between your fingers until you have thin tube of paper. If the top is uneven then when you slide it off the toothpick you can just push it all into shape with your finger. Roll between your fingers until the glue is set.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAtNU2CFKTBov9UuadhaLzXvaizzpOSobWuOzS2pnRXJdofPOQt-uN1As8MT3sa-2w5UiBdkfm-8lYVP8izikjOzUiMEPowMlbZhZOALOADlF0IZJOTd-oUbgC4KGr77WC3DBBogZh4k/s1600/tute+3.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAtNU2CFKTBov9UuadhaLzXvaizzpOSobWuOzS2pnRXJdofPOQt-uN1As8MT3sa-2w5UiBdkfm-8lYVP8izikjOzUiMEPowMlbZhZOALOADlF0IZJOTd-oUbgC4KGr77WC3DBBogZh4k/s320/tute+3.3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOlnm5XKbvsoqd1FRQKiyELI9gUrxOur3LFBA1FCbIlPq7fMFpy6_JJtqnuJD6WdsmxipZbpRh1fukzTfMY6PtVW4KxkRyC1nLF0GGbgEKvdZGnaWSh79osyKL_0Ab3dsvfWLN1uhhK0/s1600/tute+3.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOlnm5XKbvsoqd1FRQKiyELI9gUrxOur3LFBA1FCbIlPq7fMFpy6_JJtqnuJD6WdsmxipZbpRh1fukzTfMY6PtVW4KxkRyC1nLF0GGbgEKvdZGnaWSh79osyKL_0Ab3dsvfWLN1uhhK0/s320/tute+3.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUkYDP872ur_7cpVPHD3Az5c_Ho36_-FJZaUzfx_Km1nedxQcQpiFn4OgzN97weFZg8de3MWkAnjrK6Np3P059pcj9oeOI-53gn2F0iuaTSUHJ0yaUZaEXzjfriqoVpOeGdECJk_ryp4/s1600/tute+3.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUkYDP872ur_7cpVPHD3Az5c_Ho36_-FJZaUzfx_Km1nedxQcQpiFn4OgzN97weFZg8de3MWkAnjrK6Np3P059pcj9oeOI-53gn2F0iuaTSUHJ0yaUZaEXzjfriqoVpOeGdECJk_ryp4/s320/tute+3.4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Step 3: reapeat this with all the strips of paper until you have 8 little tubes<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskFWFx6gZAQDvxkYQM46B1XII_f8E20ezXg15y08wIv6z8r7XwjZEIuXf-QwggVGgknWdRzrdgd8znuHvvokaFYPm51_NC9r86u3AOC2Q1fb-V8Xg2xXsOQDtkXabPLrEwHs3t2w_jdw/s1600/tute+3.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskFWFx6gZAQDvxkYQM46B1XII_f8E20ezXg15y08wIv6z8r7XwjZEIuXf-QwggVGgknWdRzrdgd8znuHvvokaFYPm51_NC9r86u3AOC2Q1fb-V8Xg2xXsOQDtkXabPLrEwHs3t2w_jdw/s320/tute+3.5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Step 4 : Set four tubes aside for the legs and take the other four for the drawer handles. Punch out 4 little hole punhes in some think cardstock for the handles. Then glue them to the top of the four tubes. I then placed them on the toothpicks and in the middle of some left over corrugated cardboard.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmyE11CvcnPHYtRrFfiv1xBql-EsqWH8HGk644wikAxBWXtlsAyBC54moOfrCsSiBQpH9zY79rwXqNs1KuNM_5kxh5qUUJs5NXhxIHXGs-fXzci0QPgf0x2ho5bFoqI6kKOMACZJ2Q2Q/s1600/tute+3.6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmyE11CvcnPHYtRrFfiv1xBql-EsqWH8HGk644wikAxBWXtlsAyBC54moOfrCsSiBQpH9zY79rwXqNs1KuNM_5kxh5qUUJs5NXhxIHXGs-fXzci0QPgf0x2ho5bFoqI6kKOMACZJ2Q2Q/s320/tute+3.6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON-CuIgazKYILENyd42EqYh0hkxG_j66RGc65Fw9E3i2CyBNE_ssFrhndroqe6Qq6Zds_42FDWDY1KlNw2ipFvt61vH5wNHgLjomuwVJBD8rEbF8stdMn3YwpFcFQGpr1_LtKSRDnh9w/s1600/tute.3.7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON-CuIgazKYILENyd42EqYh0hkxG_j66RGc65Fw9E3i2CyBNE_ssFrhndroqe6Qq6Zds_42FDWDY1KlNw2ipFvt61vH5wNHgLjomuwVJBD8rEbF8stdMn3YwpFcFQGpr1_LtKSRDnh9w/s320/tute.3.7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLv5e-vZigBxHa_RSW_aih2F71mSopGOd6UuGgHw6mdIBmTjEVUlg-vHYJvabixNiOn94s72wlBk7jUu3a5FU8M6x0LD0tSW5Q8gCr8waatvcTG1aYaTg_qp-ruJns_jAvgyQjTfxFSU/s1600/tute+3.8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLv5e-vZigBxHa_RSW_aih2F71mSopGOd6UuGgHw6mdIBmTjEVUlg-vHYJvabixNiOn94s72wlBk7jUu3a5FU8M6x0LD0tSW5Q8gCr8waatvcTG1aYaTg_qp-ruJns_jAvgyQjTfxFSU/s320/tute+3.8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Step 5: Paint the 4 handles with the paint. I had to do 2 coats but you can judge for yourself how many you think you need. Allow to dry thoroughly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVnwdZpQ2d8Xmuw34Kgg87Oi7ehjg0WkiPGp-hT3ybm7WB9q9YDIYmv-Ou8hIR7qZpvQRSBdYGPwmcMVh-D4RuZBDle4_P2LAR2Wl7igkcczWa4vrg4Y3MQOn7Pw1r6DcDGZGJZ7r5UY/s1600/tute+3.9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVnwdZpQ2d8Xmuw34Kgg87Oi7ehjg0WkiPGp-hT3ybm7WB9q9YDIYmv-Ou8hIR7qZpvQRSBdYGPwmcMVh-D4RuZBDle4_P2LAR2Wl7igkcczWa4vrg4Y3MQOn7Pw1r6DcDGZGJZ7r5UY/s320/tute+3.9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Step 7: Using a hot glue gun (or regular glue if you don't have a glue gun) glue down the handles onto your drawers. Glue the legs to the bottom of the desk.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGyfW8Dzk_X9idPEoSXeUZc6BuiR7gUny8tmeFgk5ICpKPzkrsPL5bpRC3MIGLNHbhIikyjgEhGOLUoXfWWnrzGbhAwmfMsuLhPHvCkE3mAFm50FTG0eAWzv8SFHdXk3yZ43SAaWWRyU/s1600/tute+3.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGyfW8Dzk_X9idPEoSXeUZc6BuiR7gUny8tmeFgk5ICpKPzkrsPL5bpRC3MIGLNHbhIikyjgEhGOLUoXfWWnrzGbhAwmfMsuLhPHvCkE3mAFm50FTG0eAWzv8SFHdXk3yZ43SAaWWRyU/s320/tute+3.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU1puuvPq80mIxkDWQSVUZ_mb4Ru0NMwqDUEy2pO_RVhMW1CGrS_G38ErXNKTW3Gf6Mmy6oObgdqS0KG0dsAo0aVi1fd8e99RGitIQ_Rbxhdy7mE-D-O3URPxf0XDf7rrIBOsl4Cjfik/s1600/tute+3.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU1puuvPq80mIxkDWQSVUZ_mb4Ru0NMwqDUEy2pO_RVhMW1CGrS_G38ErXNKTW3Gf6Mmy6oObgdqS0KG0dsAo0aVi1fd8e99RGitIQ_Rbxhdy7mE-D-O3URPxf0XDf7rrIBOsl4Cjfik/s320/tute+3.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Step 5. You can now paint the legs and another layer of modge podge, if you like. You are now done and ready to dispaly in your dolls house.<br />
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<i>*Please note that I have left the back open on purpose. This function is so that you can push the drawers open from the back. The little handles are cute but might be fragile </i> <i>after too much pulling on them. You may cover the back with a piece of cardstock but I prefer not to.</i><br />
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So after a full day of preparing this tutorial I am finally done. The bureau is really cheap, easy and looks great when completed. I really do hope you give it a go and I would love to see a picture if you ever get around to making one so please feel free to message me. On another note, if there is any step that confuses you of if you need a little more clarification please feel free to contact me or leave a message anytime.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFGiomLCTmsEd8I_l1WrfUSifTmTfETGTVgSxCEaefSpaHqtmaBb_PuPOD-e35naKSLd2YL63qL5FARIyGAPMkwR12J-F-GlsaLD8p_Qrw-hxFGaZN5l5vd_zgmhX-P-FDfdip6S5ngI/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFGiomLCTmsEd8I_l1WrfUSifTmTfETGTVgSxCEaefSpaHqtmaBb_PuPOD-e35naKSLd2YL63qL5FARIyGAPMkwR12J-F-GlsaLD8p_Qrw-hxFGaZN5l5vd_zgmhX-P-FDfdip6S5ngI/s320/finished.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-87483238212156350802012-04-04T05:58:00.000-07:002012-04-04T05:58:50.306-07:00Stamps and Shears.<h3>Buyers remorse and how to deal with it.</h3>I have made two purchases lately that have left me feeling kind of winded at the till and have wondering why I do this to myself. I did what I always do when things weigh heavily on my mind and that is to discuss the issue with my voice of reason, in this case it was my best friend ,Valentine. We came to the conclusion that each person has their own ideal about where and what they spend their money on. <br />
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For example, hubby dearest moans and whinges whenever it comes to buying food for the house and yet the last time I Spring cleaned the wardrobe I counted forty tee-shirts.Note, I said tee-shirts and not including polo's, long sleeve or football jerseys, just plain tee-shirts. I also have a friend who will eat out every night and yet when it comes to buying simple items like shampoo, she will really cause a stink. Funny as it is I think each person has a limit on some things but not others. What is my poison of choice? Simple, craft supplies! I can spend R100 on a set of acrylic stamps and have blown large amounts on scrap booking paper and yet when it comes to the wardrobe I could not be bothered. I have never been a 'label' person and couldn't care less if my shirts came from the bargain bin or discount shop.<br />
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Just for the record, I am not condemning anyone for where or how they choose to spend their money , I am merely pondering the difference between peoples preferences. Now to address my purchases that keep me up at night wondering how I could be so frivilous.<br />
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Case one is a set of acrylic stamps. I have been eying them for ages and have always picked them up in the craft store and put them back down. They have been in the craft store for ages due to the fact that most sane people cannot shell out that much for so little. For my foreign friends I will try to explain that R100 in South Africa could be dinner for four ( eating in that is), a new pair of shoes or even buying lunch at work for a week. On the plus side, the stamp set that I bought is interchangeable and when played around with, you get about 40 different combination's so in a way that is practical.... almost.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VDTHc-3Qt4X0v2HLQZX-t81d2wDhO0a73mzEQ4X1m6NcL4ioWhF2sVMj9XTApixoEGWEAA2Jko89p_yS54yLG2YQec9eljw51PHXF7QiGdxxIjtDE5_BepUcbb2ZYb1NJwvQoTnvdpg/s1600/poison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VDTHc-3Qt4X0v2HLQZX-t81d2wDhO0a73mzEQ4X1m6NcL4ioWhF2sVMj9XTApixoEGWEAA2Jko89p_yS54yLG2YQec9eljw51PHXF7QiGdxxIjtDE5_BepUcbb2ZYb1NJwvQoTnvdpg/s320/poison.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stamps in question</td></tr>
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The second case is the case of the pinking shears. I have been on the lookout for ages or these shears and yesterday I found a pair that I still feel guilty about buying. They are wonderful scissors and are a sort of multi-tasker when you think that you can use them for paper work as well as for material or felt. I love them to bits, although I have not had the chance to use them yet...... they just look so darn cute in my sewing kit. For R135 I knew I was not going to find them again and they are really durable so I will get a lot of use out of them.<br />
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So, how do I overcome the looming buyers remorse? Well the only thing I can think of is to get as much out of these things as I can. I have organized two swaps via swap-bot where we stamp 10 images on cards and send them to our partners and since we each have two partners then I should receive 40 images in return for both swaps combined. For those of you who are not on the bot I suppose a crafty meet up with some friends could do and then you just stamp as many images with your friends stamps.<br />
As for the scissors, well I will have to get back to you on that one as I have not even given them a test drive yet.<br />
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so while I go stamp my little heart out and work on my third Mimi Kirchener doll with the shears, i bid you farewell and till next time... Ciao!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-89920705630043284912012-03-28T05:55:00.000-07:002012-03-28T05:55:03.988-07:00Pics and Progress.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
It has been a long time since I last blogged and so much has happened, but the progress on crafting has not halted. I have been trying out some new craft sand rediscovering old ones.<br />
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I have been bitten by the Smash bug. Don't know what Smash is? Well it is basically journalling, but to a higher degree. Let me take you back to where I started journalling. I always thought journalling was like keeping a diary and writing down your thoughts and ideas, which did not appeal to me since I am more inspired by the visual. I always got diaries as a child and started out with good intentions and journalling every day, then maybe twice a week and then every other week until it got shoved into the back of my closet, to go where old toys go to rest. Well, when I started high school it was a requirement to have a diary to diarize my homework and school events. My friends and I got into the habit of filling our diaries with every sort of a thing a young teenage girl collects. Sweet wrappers, notes passed during class, magazine articles, song lyrics, stickers and all other types of things were fodder for our diaries. Our diaries were our most prized possessions and by the end of the school year they were so stuffed that we could not even close them. I am actually guilty of still owning two of my high school diaries.<br />
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So imagine my surprise when the Smash company came out with journals that are filled with patterned pages, that inspire you to decorate, journal and add items to. They come in many varieties and have their own product line of journalling goodies. As wonderful as they are, sadly I do not own a credit card and there is no way of me ever owning one so , when push comes to shove, I do what I do best...improvise. Armed with enough inspiration to journal the whole of cape Town, I headed off to China Town, where everyone knows is the place to find the next best thing to anything. I found a journal there that was ideal, and for R15, you cannot go wrong.It is a plain, spiral bound journal with yellowish pages (never fear, I have a plan to cover those) and four different colored card pockets to divide it. The cover is plain cardboard with a clear plastic cover which is great because I can decorate the cover how I like and still have it protected by the transparent plastic. I set to work, covering the yellowy pages with note paper and digging out all the things to add to my journal. It is growing by the day and looking great. <br />
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This is a cheap enough hobby as it basically consists of gluing items in which you want to preserve and a little imagination to make it look appealing. Think birthday cards, ticket stubs, photos, recipes and so much more. You can see photos of my faux Smash journal via my flickr photo's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasreen13/">here.</a><br />
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Another craft I have been working on are my "Mimi Kirchner" dolls and you can find the pattern and tutorials <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/hand-sewn-felt-dolls/"> by clicking here</a>. They are so easy to make and I love these little dolls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4jkO4z4gtVkTe6wgjKtUI60AnpmvNZBqKYbvGV5oToTHqIEae7QmDrIjgAmocrzxm6oMrcWgSyfdI-SOud2M2GZWQxJLhkoQkLev2sMznHcXYMR73WwtMc29pU3HfbyS_k8Qo1yxims/s1600/dolly+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4jkO4z4gtVkTe6wgjKtUI60AnpmvNZBqKYbvGV5oToTHqIEae7QmDrIjgAmocrzxm6oMrcWgSyfdI-SOud2M2GZWQxJLhkoQkLev2sMznHcXYMR73WwtMc29pU3HfbyS_k8Qo1yxims/s320/dolly+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citronella, named after the colors I chose for her.<br />
She was my first doll that I made. I love the face and little pearls </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAiL8XDjYPvyCjmZHajbM19XWInRCmmSfaaXnzZ_N0Ny6xBClelB4LPsifdaBWcSvZLFoRWqZZfl6CmzUQZZ8gV6cGPrepYvRr8s54tCKa6EWw8djKtPEqm7ojVkbU-mEEUELkcLw40E/s1600/dolly+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAiL8XDjYPvyCjmZHajbM19XWInRCmmSfaaXnzZ_N0Ny6xBClelB4LPsifdaBWcSvZLFoRWqZZfl6CmzUQZZ8gV6cGPrepYvRr8s54tCKa6EWw8djKtPEqm7ojVkbU-mEEUELkcLw40E/s320/dolly+7.jpg" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citronella and Rose, my second doll.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Photo's are a bit dark due to my camera phone.These dolls are super easy to make and I can usually complete one in a day alone. They are super soft and if you have felt, thread and stuffing then you don't really need to buy anything else. They are great for kiddies but are also a bit delicate so I recommend them for little girls but not toddlers.<br />
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I have also been working on my dolls house and was quite inspired by a shop on etsy. I have added quite a bit to the house and an additional room which is now a sewing room.<br />
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</div> Here is the little dolls house. The sewing room is on the left and I keep adding things to it and has grown quite a bit since this photo.<br />
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Here is a little sofa and armchair I made using a super easy tutorial. All you need is cardboard, ( or an old box, the kind with the corrugation in the middle) glue and scraps of material, I used perler beads under the chairs for some lift. Material with a small print or plain usually works better.<a href="http://www.letsbuildadollhouse.com/lbdhbuild%20a%20sofa.htm"> Try it for yourself by clicking here.</a> I have worked on loads of other little projects including, mini baskets, dolls clothing and accessories that can also view via my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasreen13/" target="_blank">flickr photo's</a>. The next project that I have in mind is a <a href="http://1inchminisbykris.blogspot.com/2012/03/doll-house-roll-top-bread-box-tutorial.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+1InchMinis+%281+Inch+Minis%29" target="_blank">miniature bread bin.</a><br />
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I would love to stay and chat but crafting calls and like any avid crafter, I have to answer, so till next time... Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-17751621077289424762011-11-10T13:21:00.000-08:002011-11-10T13:25:44.070-08:00Pics and PostsSo much to share and such little blog space. I was thinking of hosting a photo party with all the things I have been up to since my last post. I will try to break from the norm and have less waffling and more projects.<br />
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Firstly, I will start with this cutie. It is a little armchair and the pattern was given to me by a friend on swap-bot. The author of this pattern is amazing and she has an even more amazing shop on etsy, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/amieggs?page=3">amieggs</a>. You can find her over at <a href="http://blog.amieggs.com/">http://blog.amieggs.com</a> and get prepared for a dose of cuteness. I was amazed at how easy the pattern was to follow and I assure you, there will be more to come.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiYwr2c-Lfg6dZa_7Hvo6o42SvSe-S_Ae-6mkb4dPVfSXG-gZWvr3oU3ShEGeNC0jrcni3zjhse_spLAJmVWu2ChEUPVwMjeq6PrianOWvrpPiUIe6zk7aPSLB38Dz3L6RL-Rdd3IsaM/s320/chair.jpg" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too cute huh?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Next project was for a swap on Swap-bot. I had to make something for my partner in the theme of swap-bot so I chose the colours which are white, orange and blue. I really liked how it came out and so I made one for myself using my favorite colours pink and green. The pattern is out of my head and I was not intending it to look star shaped but I actually like the look. I will be making more of these as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoeKhAhApFRexWK1CHqy62joIC3pZcbLqVKRL0eaBKhdv9NoUk0ZuVnd78sb9K3tlyQjGCBcGZuD_30J31Ja2099m5zTzX9pO5BiEzpi67oZY5TIEXtuPi5T00d-_WX4RzX-wfLCzeh0/s1600/star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoeKhAhApFRexWK1CHqy62joIC3pZcbLqVKRL0eaBKhdv9NoUk0ZuVnd78sb9K3tlyQjGCBcGZuD_30J31Ja2099m5zTzX9pO5BiEzpi67oZY5TIEXtuPi5T00d-_WX4RzX-wfLCzeh0/s320/star.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One for my partner...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMRyf_EQXtD0DW3ypI3VdDIRCO7tIVrgtQfYydhS3bfncq4P2DBKYt47BAfyQlYqWjhmgQHiBxCxcK0Wmyu8phHDMYTSAC1YWW_5VfK9NjnXW5u0LpaWCA4p_IF7KFI9nkmASCMFaXSs/s1600/star+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMRyf_EQXtD0DW3ypI3VdDIRCO7tIVrgtQfYydhS3bfncq4P2DBKYt47BAfyQlYqWjhmgQHiBxCxcK0Wmyu8phHDMYTSAC1YWW_5VfK9NjnXW5u0LpaWCA4p_IF7KFI9nkmASCMFaXSs/s320/star+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and one for me.</td></tr>
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Another project I am working on is a beaded belt. When I was requested to make one I thought to myself "No problem, a few beads on a string. Easy". Well apparently what I had in mind and what they had in mind was two different things and for someone who is not crafty it seems simple enough but when I saw an example of what they wanted I was taken aback. I knew straight away how it was done and what was needed. It is a loom weaving with multiple colours and a pattern that takes some patience. So, instead of sitting around thinking how I am going to get it done, I scrounged for my loom (dusted it off), rummaged out my black perle cotton and rounded up all the beads I could find that suited this project. Before you could say "GO" I was on it. I threaded my loom a few times until I got the tension I needed and without thinking about it I set off. I still have quite a bit to do but I have also gotten off to a good start. I think knowing it is going to someone who really needs it makes the whole thing enjoyable. So far so good and I think this belt might be my defining point in my crafting life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXs7K6rais4BuChWGwMdLlYcUqR_Jd_F-WshnVy43dhpAOAmC_ztaOEoD_WnKGYrRkKlZ0-w6TOxfilJkiJkE0E7nEf-r98df0pF4IDBKEdYkt1fqlmKpy7coRvCsoE6QTs9cCJ2AGk4/s1600/progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXs7K6rais4BuChWGwMdLlYcUqR_Jd_F-WshnVy43dhpAOAmC_ztaOEoD_WnKGYrRkKlZ0-w6TOxfilJkiJkE0E7nEf-r98df0pF4IDBKEdYkt1fqlmKpy7coRvCsoE6QTs9cCJ2AGk4/s320/progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went from this...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sutiMTKLDapSpEx7vQQ-RgTumgs0AoRWL8KCwzKnkT5BahcLrOpFA3u3Wg5Q_82EIunO0KeSfwIT_4Km0uaaojHk-eHa6SgGL7aR1-m3km4mb7uvsXPL1tDoX8D9FvvIyJtbPHkb1DI/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sutiMTKLDapSpEx7vQQ-RgTumgs0AoRWL8KCwzKnkT5BahcLrOpFA3u3Wg5Q_82EIunO0KeSfwIT_4Km0uaaojHk-eHa6SgGL7aR1-m3km4mb7uvsXPL1tDoX8D9FvvIyJtbPHkb1DI/s320/final.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...to this in a few hours. Still have tons more to go though.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Another project I had on the go in October was the Santa's shoebox and it was amazing. This was an initiative where you signed up to get a gift for a needy child at Christmas. Now I don't celebrate Christmas and try to stay away from the festivities but I am all about kids so my box was not Christmas themed. You get to choose the gender, age and location (from a list of care facilities) and then you fill the box with the child's gender and age in mind. What I really liked was that there were certain items that had to be in the box such as toothpaste,toothbrush, soap, washcloth, something educational, clothing, sweets and then whatever else you wanted. I naturally chose a girl and went wild with the gifts. Everything was pink from the soap dish to the toothbrush to the pajamas. Zanda was a 5 year old girl from the townships and knowing that I helped make her day a little more special, well I get teary eyed thinking about it and just wish I could have seen her face. Even hubby contributed a few things like lip gloss and a purse. This is an amazing charity and I will be doing it again next year for sure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT54aR-xXDqi9r8Z4W_x05YBe5tMcNTqtO3-MlLZI5R2ZXkukaRwMK6zPvU0TTMkZ5FawFF8aqgGZZT5tizyI4Y2hgodN3Zc8Js-LkvN2yTKnBRr3ofJ2ZdPFJtnqWZfvB6AFajY51i0I/s1600/pressie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT54aR-xXDqi9r8Z4W_x05YBe5tMcNTqtO3-MlLZI5R2ZXkukaRwMK6zPvU0TTMkZ5FawFF8aqgGZZT5tizyI4Y2hgodN3Zc8Js-LkvN2yTKnBRr3ofJ2ZdPFJtnqWZfvB6AFajY51i0I/s320/pressie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forgot to add that I am a first class gift wrapper and I made that bow all by myself.</td></tr>
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Lets see, what else have I been up to? Oh, How could I forget my Rocky Horror picture show entourage? Well here they are, the last 3 characters.<br />
Here is Columbia. She was my favorite of the four. That gold thread was a nightmare though but well worth it in the end. Each has a bit of razzle dazzle in them but she has the most.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9yGZgiFxipDDSUFNbVKzqQmqzz4Ypx5ziTYmKcufvmyX0NBSVirl7Sdl3sdoGC2e-Nftzw0ovRZoW26-qU2kTooCb7uGt1ZuH1BQ0DRHdO_rNX6OiyehUZQM1p8A6vATZeJ8_VO5L9Q/s1600/Columbia+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9yGZgiFxipDDSUFNbVKzqQmqzz4Ypx5ziTYmKcufvmyX0NBSVirl7Sdl3sdoGC2e-Nftzw0ovRZoW26-qU2kTooCb7uGt1ZuH1BQ0DRHdO_rNX6OiyehUZQM1p8A6vATZeJ8_VO5L9Q/s320/Columbia+hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love how Columbia turned out, specially her hat and pink pout </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0uqtTclvDC5xlBMGvzcW4EfzkEDLBDPxEKmCdZYp1tuZNTH6nql-bvC3G56cgF7ls6p4L-rjsMoiA3ubv2NPqoGUb5ZwMxBMyXcPz4RSIWv5lQdTqZlV1N4478i2kZtBPqB02hGRxJ0/s1600/columbia+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0uqtTclvDC5xlBMGvzcW4EfzkEDLBDPxEKmCdZYp1tuZNTH6nql-bvC3G56cgF7ls6p4L-rjsMoiA3ubv2NPqoGUb5ZwMxBMyXcPz4RSIWv5lQdTqZlV1N4478i2kZtBPqB02hGRxJ0/s320/columbia+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front view of Columbia</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Magenta. I loved how her hair looked and until I tied it up it was all over the place. I had the song 'She's so mean but I don't care" by Escape club stuck in my head all the time, in particular the words " She's so mean, but I don't care. I love her eyes and and her wild wild hair." Funny enough that is the only line of the song I know but I found it appropriate. Her hair is this fluffy, maroon, sparkly stuff that I had and never used.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpXZm1wqtwXCvZiWAslwQH6bf6GwCIGVhXMDXnKfM5yjBNFVEDjn3kbkZtqq8rJRPTeyyiN-U_PuXPuJ_nnwU0g6VtWA_6vLYAGTmwpzDi-r3Q2oJdoEhOxq0LyNhvCJMWfP4ohzI9Po/s1600/Magenta+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpXZm1wqtwXCvZiWAslwQH6bf6GwCIGVhXMDXnKfM5yjBNFVEDjn3kbkZtqq8rJRPTeyyiN-U_PuXPuJ_nnwU0g6VtWA_6vLYAGTmwpzDi-r3Q2oJdoEhOxq0LyNhvCJMWfP4ohzI9Po/s320/Magenta+face.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A much tamer Magenta with her hair tied.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNV6dgw9dutuTSdbROkfhObDqhrfsed3DLtyyFx6tIxTe34fos-eblM7oQTQ0olv7DU6aHLE0DcQ-UhGmIdudkJ_0umJOzmXbRZlj9b2ZJu-oK0ddKOUV3BG5v5PapyEaljTOqDNVpwg/s1600/Magenta+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNV6dgw9dutuTSdbROkfhObDqhrfsed3DLtyyFx6tIxTe34fos-eblM7oQTQ0olv7DU6aHLE0DcQ-UhGmIdudkJ_0umJOzmXbRZlj9b2ZJu-oK0ddKOUV3BG5v5PapyEaljTOqDNVpwg/s320/Magenta+full.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And one from the front.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Lastly was RiffRaff. I put making him off till the end because I had no idea how I was going to do his jacket and waistcoat. I made his head one day, the hair the next and his legs at the end. The day I packaged it I made his torso and it was not actually so bad. I decided to go simple and just took a deep breath and went with it. His face is really snarky and that was just ideal. His hair was kind of easy to do and not as much work as the others and all in all I think he turned out just right.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtKQg6_NtC8cuZ4wXzaPFPrPUzHPX1rljGFbzH2tZoIHCFbrvwv0sLoMY5Mgo04Mu8CU0R0Yds6MCF9z2L23amGi035XK78KvQiJl_h3TgnTT5rOGIo2oNi2gLPmgeXADPbuixIbu6S0/s1600/RiffRaff+face+also.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtKQg6_NtC8cuZ4wXzaPFPrPUzHPX1rljGFbzH2tZoIHCFbrvwv0sLoMY5Mgo04Mu8CU0R0Yds6MCF9z2L23amGi035XK78KvQiJl_h3TgnTT5rOGIo2oNi2gLPmgeXADPbuixIbu6S0/s320/RiffRaff+face+also.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snarky old RiffRaff</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7nFHpihffUFGWzjMZP6tyaLnLHbgzcWA-bta0OWf6vz6qq2Ryid3Q4RVzBBkYtECtLMAbJrvO5zdj_1YGv6cvqbODTxReAStgJkm5z2VLQrt2799Ay-7NzH5BOsNOxII_3E1F4EpRR4/s1600/Riffraff+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7nFHpihffUFGWzjMZP6tyaLnLHbgzcWA-bta0OWf6vz6qq2Ryid3Q4RVzBBkYtECtLMAbJrvO5zdj_1YGv6cvqbODTxReAStgJkm5z2VLQrt2799Ay-7NzH5BOsNOxII_3E1F4EpRR4/s320/Riffraff+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And from the front. The pic does not do him any justice as he looks better in real life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So that was my Rocky Horror picture collection. Individually, I am really not sure but as a unit they work well together. Making them was a really big job and I made one a week for four weeks. I know that sounds really long but I have real life to contend with as well. From my part time job running my husband's boutique to domestic goddess who makes her own bread to part time minder of the neighbors kids to entertaining guests, it is really quite a job juggling all of it and then I always have so many crafts on the go that I am working on so I think four weeks are kind of justified. I really do hope my friend likes them as they are a Christmas present for her daughter. Did I mention they are going to reside in White City, Oregon?<br />
<br />
Getting back to that domestic goddess part, I baked my first Red Velvet cake. Given I had never tasted red velvet cake, I think I did a really good job. I do however suggest that they be prepared as cupcakes instead as I had no idea how rich it was. My cake was a huge success and enjoyed by all. I will wait a while before I try the recipe again because of how rich it is but I really suggest it is a cake well worth it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeI6Vn5t6uAmBa1bPvSmSyhxKEivNsOKoYAZblXMY5Ph3ou7cRakE8rMuDhz1STVBvWBO9F8in8ITmejQVTfjclqxOOsgcrQJ-R-rW3od0OHQURfaVYov0_0h_KTGqZLbGomb_Pla0V4/s1600/Naked+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeI6Vn5t6uAmBa1bPvSmSyhxKEivNsOKoYAZblXMY5Ph3ou7cRakE8rMuDhz1STVBvWBO9F8in8ITmejQVTfjclqxOOsgcrQJ-R-rW3od0OHQURfaVYov0_0h_KTGqZLbGomb_Pla0V4/s320/Naked+Cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The naked cake</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMl1I0qKsZsWg1a2EiXo_KjpasCVDLvu245AVNxs1mUX5C04NRI2-Wy0Ydq9aTkxnbAqbmT3W5g5GvHkP254XUcEeABUZqRU2pRdjUzwMDwOP3M2vJLwMCcJV6-3jZAcmYf5n0nyELGk/s1600/mom+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMl1I0qKsZsWg1a2EiXo_KjpasCVDLvu245AVNxs1mUX5C04NRI2-Wy0Ydq9aTkxnbAqbmT3W5g5GvHkP254XUcEeABUZqRU2pRdjUzwMDwOP3M2vJLwMCcJV6-3jZAcmYf5n0nyELGk/s320/mom+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kind of dark photo but the only one I have of it cut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEkHRtXxKzMmMiZ56q8AxJZwVvsOqoD5hcXXArMyDHMx_Xl3TofWyPJIRE2uPeavvPywtTRS-i81EGcLP9GgEDIduRoxznIYGqphrzGLREmoGfZwVXPFGu5A_2JzErK9N04Qwr340xLY/s1600/mom+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEkHRtXxKzMmMiZ56q8AxJZwVvsOqoD5hcXXArMyDHMx_Xl3TofWyPJIRE2uPeavvPywtTRS-i81EGcLP9GgEDIduRoxznIYGqphrzGLREmoGfZwVXPFGu5A_2JzErK9N04Qwr340xLY/s320/mom+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and another of my dark photo's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So that concludes my adventure. Busy bee does not even come close to what I was and they should change it to busy N for me. Hopefully my next post will be my completed belt, homemade crystal lollies and a lot less stressful Nasreen. I am sure there are a lot more pics but I will have to save that for another blog adventure so while I get back to my crafting I will leave you with visions of sweet transvestites, humming Escape club and a hankering for cake, till later...Chow!<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_354863067"></span><span id="goog_354863068"></span>nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-5559266984399715382011-10-22T03:04:00.000-07:002011-10-22T03:04:01.482-07:00Dedication and DelusionsI had an epiphany a few years ago while having a conversation with a friend. It is amusing how we come to a point of self realization when evaluating someone else's situation. At the time she was telling me that she did not have any Friends. I asked her about myself and she said that I knew what I meant. In actual fact I really did because at some point of my teenage years I had the same problem. I think by growing up watching t.v shows like 'Beverly Hills 90210','Melrose place' and 'Friends' we all assumed that there was an amazing group of friend out there that were just waiting for us to join them and make their awesome circle complete. In actual fact we did not realize that we were already part of that group and we did not have the savvy to turn around and re-evaluate the friendships we already had or how much our friendship meant to other people. This made me think about myself a bit more clearly.<br />
<br />
You see, how this situation applies to myself is very simple. In my head, I am amazing at nearly everything, the problem being I just never applied myself to one certain thing. In my head I am an amazing poet, an author unlike any other, an aspiring artist and half a dozen other things. The problem, that I always told myself, is that I never nurtured any of these "talents" of mine. The source of this delusion goes back, way back to my school days. Every year on my school report there was certain to be one of two things:<br />
<br />
A) The fact that I talk way too much in class<br />
and<br />
B) I would do much better in school if I only applied myself better.<br />
<br />
While I knew A) was a fact and could never change since it was hereditary (passed down through the woman in my family.....wanna argue Mom?) I never did anything to change it for I knew where my destiny lay in this aspect. But when it comes to B), I was sort of always ashamed at this because I knew I could do so much better so in my head I built up this picture of a person who applied herself ( I sound like a glue stick) to everything and always tried her best. Now, in a way, thinking back to my earlier school days, I now know that some of my teachers where not the best and while I respect them for what they did, I think they took the fact too lightly that they were the ones responsible for molding us into who we will evidently become one day. I think the thing they should have done was to pin point the place where I could have applied myself, therefor given me a direction in life and not just a fantasy of being an appliable person ( I just made up that last part so bear with me on this)<br />
<br />
Now that you know my background and how I came to this point in my life, I will explain why my friend's situation applied to my life. Instead of musing over what I should have aspired to, I should think about what I can do. Instead of dreaming about being a poet or master artist I think I should evaluate the things that I am good at. Instead of these things, I think I have found something I love and while I do not hold it on the same level as poetry, I think that through my love of crochet and my search of inspiration and pushing the boundaries, I have unknowingly nurtured my love of manipulating yarn into tiny little works of art. A talent I have is that I can replicate a lot of patterns just by looking at them and making my own assumptions as to which stitch was used and how many to get it to look like the item I am viewing. While I never thought this to be something worthwhile, my friends have always admired this and while I love my friends dearly and know they would love anything I made, I never took their admiration too seriously until complete strangers started complimenting me on my work.<br />
<br />
I know I sound like I am tooting my own horn but for a person who has always known that she has not aspired to what she wanted or what people expected of her, I myself think it is a feat in it's own right and I am learning to like my new found appreciation for my work and looking forward to finding out what other traits I might excel in if I could only learn to look at them more as talents and not just hobbies. So till next time...Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-6355296967055150212011-10-08T10:11:00.000-07:002011-10-08T10:11:02.003-07:00It's astounding.If you read the heading of this post and said to yourself "time is fleeting" then congratulations, you have passed my test. If not then you need to go <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/">here</a> and do some homework and please return when you know how to do the timewarp and can at least name half the cast of The Rocky Horror picture show.<br />
<br />
For the die hard fans of Rocky horror picture show, it is with great pride that I introduce you to my first RHPS amigurumi and it could be no other than<br />
Dr. Frank-N-Furter.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKZhiVf42MpA43qTZK0Bs-xBXUwb0ZIymUp9JvxGDY5MAzwgftD7m3__sh4fUCybapJCNUWemoV-HUaONn3Gs8baRlqwff7W_E9pswQ3dRVzLjj4rXHGK6Nxt3YjdzoyoKkfiM_1MY3w/s1600/Doctor" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKZhiVf42MpA43qTZK0Bs-xBXUwb0ZIymUp9JvxGDY5MAzwgftD7m3__sh4fUCybapJCNUWemoV-HUaONn3Gs8baRlqwff7W_E9pswQ3dRVzLjj4rXHGK6Nxt3YjdzoyoKkfiM_1MY3w/s320/Doctor" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How sweet is my sweet transvestite?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
This project is right up my alley because it gives me an opportunity to use up some fun fur that I had bought but never used.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you something about fun fur before I continue. Do not let the name fool you. Sure it seems fun to use this yarn because of the wacky colours and odd ball idea of crocheting with fur but just wait until you drop a stitch and then all hell breaks loose. The only thing that you can really do to find your loop is to undo all your work and start over again. You buy the stuff because it is probably discounted to a third of the original price but once you take it home and get started, you soon realize why it was discounted in the first place. I have a few balls of yarn that were bordering on expensive and I saved for just the right pattern and when the time came, the yarn just did not want to do what I wanted it to so I end up with a all this beautiful yarn that really, I can't to a thing with. Luckily, this RHPS project is just the thing to use up my fury, glittery, sparkly and down right gaudy yarns that never amounted to much. Take the fun fur of Franky's hair for example. I have started so many projects with this yarn which just got tangled and frayed and ended up being trashed but on Franky, it is a match made in heaven.I have an aubergine mohairy yarn perfect for Magenta's hair and a uber sparkly colur for Columbia's hat and bodice.<br />
<br />
This project is so much fun that if I have enough time then I was toying with the idea of making a Rocky as well. For now though, Magenta is already in the making and hopefully it will not be long till I get to blog about her too. I have to go as my fingers are just itching to get back to my crocheting so for now....Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-40498106469075842292011-09-29T05:02:00.000-07:002011-09-29T05:02:18.936-07:00Dolls and desserts.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It has been really long since my last post and for that I apologize. I hate to use the expression but, life got in the way. I completed my fast of the holy month of Ramadan and just completed all the things that had accumulated during the month. I went from a woman with too much time on her hands to a woman with no time to do anything. As fun as it was, I am only now getting back into the swing of things. Here is what I have been up to since I last blogged.<br />
<br />
I made a Frida Kahlo doll for a very dear friend of mine and I really spent a lot of time on it. It was the first time that I tried to do an ami with a chin but I was pleasantly surprised and I had passed the test of a good job, when I am so impressed that it hurt to give away.<br />
Here is Frida<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRhpEJcJjikNGDX_3QvQ_oFA3xXZ7FTOJvvTGnUxVxDppeGKAHmLTxciDwaTmyTAQLp63uIvOpKhRqYiKOHFcQjddI0amoHLlP_jSdH7xo53WHqAaLRQFsjpYRrVzAjn47dSorIW4w6c/s1600/frida+front" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRhpEJcJjikNGDX_3QvQ_oFA3xXZ7FTOJvvTGnUxVxDppeGKAHmLTxciDwaTmyTAQLp63uIvOpKhRqYiKOHFcQjddI0amoHLlP_jSdH7xo53WHqAaLRQFsjpYRrVzAjn47dSorIW4w6c/s320/frida+front" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frida from the front</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ekt8Hxrdp9tPZ4OQU0bfAI7h-tlDt47h-cttwq3beg52z91d09799kO2M1V_A84A5ZcmD6PdGbSCWQ8KVVjt4-jGq45nwDsSPGCp-tm9buZwWH3wxZj8R8PCx8G5kGBL-Ij9jUb_KsQ/s1600/frida+face" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ekt8Hxrdp9tPZ4OQU0bfAI7h-tlDt47h-cttwq3beg52z91d09799kO2M1V_A84A5ZcmD6PdGbSCWQ8KVVjt4-jGq45nwDsSPGCp-tm9buZwWH3wxZj8R8PCx8G5kGBL-Ij9jUb_KsQ/s320/frida+face" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The face of Frida</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnMUhyphenhyphenfG5uv_V-fkkGdzACBe5CfvgP_JjVyfbjjSg_UBSrrMV48yIdGc5OfEloe2tF-lUkajUUUCb2OQardAt-b4eYjUGVcrir82CxpEksziOIDY57woyjrgLHjSovif3o2o27EFBb-I/s1600/frida+back" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnMUhyphenhyphenfG5uv_V-fkkGdzACBe5CfvgP_JjVyfbjjSg_UBSrrMV48yIdGc5OfEloe2tF-lUkajUUUCb2OQardAt-b4eYjUGVcrir82CxpEksziOIDY57woyjrgLHjSovif3o2o27EFBb-I/s320/frida+back" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frida from the back</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw11um6Xnyr0GgzQGwUiAbWB4LIlW0FYZhK9HYFAZ5dQvIAhn4vqz5I1tWSdh9KizXhA93P6eHJCjMX28wMafeAgDbfhnjF01cUX6Eb7wBReNNS9_XDcKjpXlCon5lQjeWk4YKOnMVlI/s1600/FridaKahlo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw11um6Xnyr0GgzQGwUiAbWB4LIlW0FYZhK9HYFAZ5dQvIAhn4vqz5I1tWSdh9KizXhA93P6eHJCjMX28wMafeAgDbfhnjF01cUX6Eb7wBReNNS9_XDcKjpXlCon5lQjeWk4YKOnMVlI/s320/FridaKahlo.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actual Frida Kahlo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Pretty cute huh? Well I was really happy with it. I just hope Lori loves her.<br />
<br />
Another project I was working on was a Christmas cake/pudding for a friend. This pattern is also out my head and while she had shown me a picture of what she wanted, I think that I got pretty close. It will be mailed off tomorrow, I am just waiting on confirmation of whether she wants eyes or not on this little ami.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEk6oGI9gFi1CDalbaboPLXGakfCMvZOpIe2RNCuL-OdUsfL31fzD4jRq3FNnahnqROuDwKDfYI5upINKEorCW2A6XNXShhGYbnkqnzpV6gA-LmfF20y-SAgkVFENPOz4mouNYrHxsM0/s1600/koek+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEk6oGI9gFi1CDalbaboPLXGakfCMvZOpIe2RNCuL-OdUsfL31fzD4jRq3FNnahnqROuDwKDfYI5upINKEorCW2A6XNXShhGYbnkqnzpV6gA-LmfF20y-SAgkVFENPOz4mouNYrHxsM0/s320/koek+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPxT3n4fhqwmebc7CTbHzLm9v8I3hs4m8kctGVAjfEi5uJ-ljp_Nt-_mGrEjWoa0nPxG_daFbVGXWxCKmkBIGxlxb_ntTNjjUaeXiyaPSQGEC2cMp42cdVl_wKabCY0Q1jniy1Z_SSEU/s1600/IMG00895-20110929-1337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPxT3n4fhqwmebc7CTbHzLm9v8I3hs4m8kctGVAjfEi5uJ-ljp_Nt-_mGrEjWoa0nPxG_daFbVGXWxCKmkBIGxlxb_ntTNjjUaeXiyaPSQGEC2cMp42cdVl_wKabCY0Q1jniy1Z_SSEU/s320/IMG00895-20110929-1337.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So what is my next project to be? Well, I am working on crocheting a little set and am hoping to blog about each one in a series. A friend of mine wants the cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show , namely Dr.Frankfurter, Columbia, Riff Raff and Magenta. I plan to make one a week for the next 4 weeks. I am getting started on the heads tonight and hopefully will get them all done by the end of October, fingers crossed. Now here is a little fun fact that you might not have known about me, I am a BIG 'ol prude. I blush very easily and tsk tsk at a lot of things. I have made the exception for this project as RHPS was a big favorite of mine as a teenager and possibly because I watched it so long ago that I probably cannot even remember what was so controversial about it and the main reason being that the soundtrack was just so awesome. Stay tuned to see how they work out.<br />
<br />
For those of you in the Cape Town area, I just want to let you all know that tomorrow is the night market at the Labia theater in the Gardens area. I will be there with my mompom to support a friend of mine who writes the awesome blog <a href="http://zoesemasekoek.com/2011/09/13/delicately-temperamental/">Zoesemasekoek</a>, check it out because she is really talented and really funny. Oh and I am dying to try some of her baked goods on sale.<br />
<br />
There is so much more going on and I could write forever so I have to cut myself off and love ya and leave. So for now... Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-74998665999811689572011-08-02T07:35:00.000-07:002011-08-02T07:35:16.542-07:00Felt and FastingI have not written for quite a while and for those of you who do not know, we have entered the holy month of Ramadan so things are a bit hectic as of late. My schedule is jam packed and every bit of time I get has to be utilized. Late nights and early morning leave very little time for crafting and just about everything else. I have however got some free time today to update my blog and let you all know what I have been up to.<br />
<br />
Firstly, without further ado I have announce the winner of the altered journal. The winner is.... (drum roll please)... Pippelotjie!<br />
Congratulations, you will be contacted shortly and once I have you colour choices than I can get started on your journal. Thank you to everyone who entered. My Ami will now be called Shirley. I am sure she will love that name.<br />
<br />
Good news, today I have reached 1000 views and I am so thankful to everyone who took the time out to stop by.<br />
<br />
I have received such great feedback on my tutorial and lo and behold people have commented on how easy it is to understand. That was my only hope and I am glad that I achieved it. Even my mom said that she found it really understandable so thanks mum, my number one fan, I love you to smithereens lol.<br />
<br />
As far as crafting, I have made quite some headway on my dolls house and I even got around to making an adorable kitchen sink. I wish I could have put together a tutorial for it because I love how it came out but it was a bit of an experiment so not even I knew how it would look.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYEO00zt87VHji_O6HLfy0JoCRikHxv0jUIpVfVacmB2_sQ454sNBbyE-8-6I6giM265S8occ9Iw6yi90j5fRc0jUiQNtcyxBjO7neXk1F-kHC9qLTHXtXCY4yMmvD5_rSN26ZSNytxc/s1600/IMG00833-20110802-1559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYEO00zt87VHji_O6HLfy0JoCRikHxv0jUIpVfVacmB2_sQ454sNBbyE-8-6I6giM265S8occ9Iw6yi90j5fRc0jUiQNtcyxBjO7neXk1F-kHC9qLTHXtXCY4yMmvD5_rSN26ZSNytxc/s320/IMG00833-20110802-1559.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute huh?I know the photo is a bit dark. It still needs taps too. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A friend of mine found <a href="http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/01/make-realistic-dollhouse-books/">this</a> great tutorial for miniature books and even though mine are not the same (for lack of podge which is still on my shopping list) I still think they are really cute<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkLfAjwyHYisnb1HwoxUNzLcYa8x2JVOmOaF4OTaxMJZj6icrzGIx-HfEQqdvDMYvnxbIVx8zEOqkqqlT3o90hlCyujOIUx87LVLgeLH1j0R4yM012dx3-btEr97u3_UpZzllxSdQC_U/s1600/IMG00837-20110802-1602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkLfAjwyHYisnb1HwoxUNzLcYa8x2JVOmOaF4OTaxMJZj6icrzGIx-HfEQqdvDMYvnxbIVx8zEOqkqqlT3o90hlCyujOIUx87LVLgeLH1j0R4yM012dx3-btEr97u3_UpZzllxSdQC_U/s320/IMG00837-20110802-1602.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miniature books.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
I also took some time out to make some adorable felt bottle cap pincushions and I must say that my sewing skills have gotten better. I was so inspired by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/upnorthcindy/">these</a> photos that I had to try my hand at making them. If you ever decide to go ahead and make some, I would love to see how they turn out and maybe share it here.<br />
<br />
As for my contribution well...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eDQSiyM4rh8kRNTT3izvLaESLo14q9ATYDJ84Q9iwiwzubUiQugg4Z5pBiO5hzOZMPBO2-CEVY84NdWirxt6s1bThhyphenhyphenbmHiiob56Plljjj-VD-gnM39O4O2EETFnqyMAJm9S2GWCgPY/s1600/IMG00830-20110802-1313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eDQSiyM4rh8kRNTT3izvLaESLo14q9ATYDJ84Q9iwiwzubUiQugg4Z5pBiO5hzOZMPBO2-CEVY84NdWirxt6s1bThhyphenhyphenbmHiiob56Plljjj-VD-gnM39O4O2EETFnqyMAJm9S2GWCgPY/s320/IMG00830-20110802-1313.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little coffee mug and a cupcake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFa97S-CJv22e6SjJqOjedUkEJXVkQ-lKC0xPEzr6LCGx6LRlEPQvxHH8gwbEFD7txOy-Xrv30WYd7vIKxjm9OPFxEz2EhprMxCNZulhwsmuABmRWNpNpar5ytnwfhyphenhyphenMv5mlOsVCaelY/s1600/IMG00831-20110802-1313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFa97S-CJv22e6SjJqOjedUkEJXVkQ-lKC0xPEzr6LCGx6LRlEPQvxHH8gwbEFD7txOy-Xrv30WYd7vIKxjm9OPFxEz2EhprMxCNZulhwsmuABmRWNpNpar5ytnwfhyphenhyphenMv5mlOsVCaelY/s320/IMG00831-20110802-1313.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 heart themed pincushions.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> So while I rush off to go do my ever growing to-do list, I wish you farewell and to all my muslim friends and fmily, I wish you well over Ramadan ...Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-71448574820488838212011-07-22T07:54:00.000-07:002011-07-22T07:54:20.979-07:00tutorials and tentionIn honour of (or to reach) my nearly 1000 page views I have decided to do a free tutorial on my ribbon woven altered journal. Please note this pattern is my original idea and I have perfected it through trial and error. You may use it as you wish but if you do re post or publish pictures of your own journal using these instructions, then please add a link to this original pattern on the blog, I would appreciate it.<br />
<br />
One thing you should know before getting started and that is you have to understand tension. Tension in most hand work projects is very important and is something that comes from patience and practice. If your tension is off it can make a big difference in the outcome of your work.In this tutorial I will try to tell you where your tension is most important and hopefully this will help you along. Another thing I suggest is to read though the tutorial first and then go back to follow the steps.<br />
<br />
You will need:<br />
<ul><li>One A5 journal ( you can make it bigger but for a project like this a smaller book is better.)</li>
<li> Double sided sticky tape</li>
<li>craft glue</li>
<li>a sharp pair of scissors</li>
<li>3 different colours of ribbon (you can use any amount but 1 colour will make it boring and 3 is an easy colour to start with.)</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-mP4lpzzplFBgPkPwfi58_AKB98QLzt-U9CFbM4I62UZygojGxLWoho5JvkKbE3wzanmrFdK_I3hPNdUpoCnogHWGC-aC4ssE04xRgnRc6_m0hzrPRl88eJohyphenhyphenxLnxoVOP94aJK5FYs/s1600/IMG00738-20110607-1056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-mP4lpzzplFBgPkPwfi58_AKB98QLzt-U9CFbM4I62UZygojGxLWoho5JvkKbE3wzanmrFdK_I3hPNdUpoCnogHWGC-aC4ssE04xRgnRc6_m0hzrPRl88eJohyphenhyphenxLnxoVOP94aJK5FYs/s320/IMG00738-20110607-1056.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are my tools, I used white as my base colour and <br />
pink and orange for the contrasting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>For my journals I like to choose at least one neutral colour and 2 bright to make the other colours stand out but you can use as many as you like, this is just my preference.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Step one:<br />
 <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OvCSy_yIfwUPIcFXUP8X49zueuQ08GbNS52G2_Sen-k9R15J3NSr3RJ4hT6_tJ7RIv6KLrP61qWeDtO17Rxvu67vdx-me-qy_jzBXL3dzjQgZ6zIziChBnUJ14Sm2vIlKyeiRYDzC9Y/s1600/IMG00739-20110607-1057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OvCSy_yIfwUPIcFXUP8X49zueuQ08GbNS52G2_Sen-k9R15J3NSr3RJ4hT6_tJ7RIv6KLrP61qWeDtO17Rxvu67vdx-me-qy_jzBXL3dzjQgZ6zIziChBnUJ14Sm2vIlKyeiRYDzC9Y/s320/IMG00739-20110607-1057.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the inside cover of the book, paste 3 strips of double sided tape.<br />
Make sure there are not any pages stuck to the cover. Do the same<br />
on the back cover of the book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Step two: <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6ejWKlTxlHXoyehM0a0WkKEHiVsXHrRxgYUDxqanVvBUqNkLgn15SetB7h-j4i7bB9GtED_0nZuSoZ4ZZ0Gp624OWvySYU2-D97GhRGBVv_M5nEzUOKznJGIZsyDlM5K31Dqpcz29ds/s1600/IMG00740-20110607-1057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6ejWKlTxlHXoyehM0a0WkKEHiVsXHrRxgYUDxqanVvBUqNkLgn15SetB7h-j4i7bB9GtED_0nZuSoZ4ZZ0Gp624OWvySYU2-D97GhRGBVv_M5nEzUOKznJGIZsyDlM5K31Dqpcz29ds/s320/IMG00740-20110607-1057.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put a strip of double sided tape down the spine of the book. <br />
Do not pull any of the backing off just yet<br />
<br />
<div align="left"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Step three: <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwAouY43URtKfTZVigQc33bUP1WYlxCmCJhAr-UOPq27mcMumYjfcMnNUrFSE5Q1ecN5YxbKUBhzpd71QYsmvmi7ceeIcBH2__udS5Vj2k3k9OPsmF0g4SsY7UvLfxDH383lSCvyzc4k/s1600/IMG00742-20110607-1058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwAouY43URtKfTZVigQc33bUP1WYlxCmCJhAr-UOPq27mcMumYjfcMnNUrFSE5Q1ecN5YxbKUBhzpd71QYsmvmi7ceeIcBH2__udS5Vj2k3k9OPsmF0g4SsY7UvLfxDH383lSCvyzc4k/s320/IMG00742-20110607-1058.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using your base colour, measure your ribbon to the length of the <br />
book from the top to the bottom leaving one inch extra <br />
on both ends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">step four:</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT04LnjJsWw7fbrKMz4u1D39sk_90MAOEgTfYm2l0FRW_dpGla18PX3_CaLYFKq_6Ypjpe0oRSJ3LxoOQtdyLcsraILJ_SLLBM5BhKIunEtBxZZsofxyBLgUx1AbNoIt4s53OacWSiNI/s1600/IMG00744-20110607-1058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT04LnjJsWw7fbrKMz4u1D39sk_90MAOEgTfYm2l0FRW_dpGla18PX3_CaLYFKq_6Ypjpe0oRSJ3LxoOQtdyLcsraILJ_SLLBM5BhKIunEtBxZZsofxyBLgUx1AbNoIt4s53OacWSiNI/s320/IMG00744-20110607-1058.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Layer the ribbon about 1 inch onto the top strip of double sided<br />
tape.Peel only as much tape as you need. Layer the ribbon next to <br />
each other, as close as you can, all the way across the top of <br />
the inside cover as close as possible</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCw0fvMiQRFrvqEySnnCdisLrr2J68_n5CKSNH0lYO-XICb2Lb44AWo6TvlbWUPMyP0RrYQ5xbcPtQVI-w-CYa_5LTJTsDXXqYBIiPnmI0nDF5oVDf8iwyR3S5QbQjn-BHW7ZfK6k9zE/s1600/IMG00745-20110607-1101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCw0fvMiQRFrvqEySnnCdisLrr2J68_n5CKSNH0lYO-XICb2Lb44AWo6TvlbWUPMyP0RrYQ5xbcPtQVI-w-CYa_5LTJTsDXXqYBIiPnmI0nDF5oVDf8iwyR3S5QbQjn-BHW7ZfK6k9zE/s320/IMG00745-20110607-1101.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how it should look when it is done.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Step Five:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtFDyetC8EWUW8dfqsVXY75vEGNyAzFRJAut8EiWhAPxf8-ihPAkPHDF3yJpbdzpMxYTaqdzgLVLd77F4MsiQXEBUGPVQQxRGLtkLwCMRTLfd4MkpSXanLNu0NfyyVoKrjF4YhgFxryM/s1600/IMG00747-20110607-1102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtFDyetC8EWUW8dfqsVXY75vEGNyAzFRJAut8EiWhAPxf8-ihPAkPHDF3yJpbdzpMxYTaqdzgLVLd77F4MsiQXEBUGPVQQxRGLtkLwCMRTLfd4MkpSXanLNu0NfyyVoKrjF4YhgFxryM/s320/IMG00747-20110607-1102.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now starting on the side of the journal, choose your first colour.<br />
Peel off a little of the tape and start layering your first colour. <br />
Measure it to the other side of the book , all the way <br />
around and cut it an inch longer</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrea7WiRnQaFYZF14Xfy4UwAHZXZoMo5nqSXQ7IhfIH5yJt-FaYvhhVly-SoVme8PaegKASgM1qkronbAaqUbWuZfc0gF7joEmStTHpzHt171vyHwzaneU3WkTLCv71mZpQInGyzbmF0/s1600/IMG00748-20110607-1106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrea7WiRnQaFYZF14Xfy4UwAHZXZoMo5nqSXQ7IhfIH5yJt-FaYvhhVly-SoVme8PaegKASgM1qkronbAaqUbWuZfc0gF7joEmStTHpzHt171vyHwzaneU3WkTLCv71mZpQInGyzbmF0/s320/IMG00748-20110607-1106.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With your next colour, keep layering all the way to the end.<br />
This is how it should look.only the inside of the front cover will<br />
be completed in this way. The inside of the back cover should be lined <br />
with just the white ribbon along the top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">step seven:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfnEubEslPHRNImtF3nm7mnY4IQt3QWETSNOdcwZw64JutjOsTCCojRVy58zqk7cNAhHb-b5mICmYaB8PPC0XtV53ki2bVYyrhi0RGTK_Z1KrYz6j0nALUFGAXUmgGr0EI9fXlr5H9eU/s1600/IMG00749-20110607-1108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfnEubEslPHRNImtF3nm7mnY4IQt3QWETSNOdcwZw64JutjOsTCCojRVy58zqk7cNAhHb-b5mICmYaB8PPC0XtV53ki2bVYyrhi0RGTK_Z1KrYz6j0nALUFGAXUmgGr0EI9fXlr5H9eU/s320/IMG00749-20110607-1108.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peel a little tape and layer about one inch of a new cut piece<br />
of tape over the last piece of ribbon,</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">step eight:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagZraRvhq5H2x0TJDgZaKfhy5VTN1E7fJeN721p0ntxJ0rS4e5BMQNdd3IAsRYb5p196hIj1aRImRVXna857DhwrbAtnYIsVDCLcC650nDwfXLE9vrK5DDoDlL89JHlIc25IWBa2j5OY/s1600/IMG00751-20110607-1108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagZraRvhq5H2x0TJDgZaKfhy5VTN1E7fJeN721p0ntxJ0rS4e5BMQNdd3IAsRYb5p196hIj1aRImRVXna857DhwrbAtnYIsVDCLcC650nDwfXLE9vrK5DDoDlL89JHlIc25IWBa2j5OY/s320/IMG00751-20110607-1108.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lay the book sideways which will be easier to work on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbdpI1_ezk1j-aqXmQ1U7QkfNS73u4C1klPNxjpgDwl61VUEZs0UT7nRtDBFXB6b3m9Q0CwaWFUnEuw5bz6eNFRdu8524bMMFmY6RD5dUlaymRq6gO66EMSIVFzIGXHjLkcTdqv8xd-0/s1600/IMG00750-20110607-1108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbdpI1_ezk1j-aqXmQ1U7QkfNS73u4C1klPNxjpgDwl61VUEZs0UT7nRtDBFXB6b3m9Q0CwaWFUnEuw5bz6eNFRdu8524bMMFmY6RD5dUlaymRq6gO66EMSIVFzIGXHjLkcTdqv8xd-0/s320/IMG00750-20110607-1108.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">to make it easier for you, leave the roll of tape inside the cover and <br />
this will slightly elevate the cover and help keep the tape on the<br />
inside from sticking to the pages.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">step: nine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0t5hMWfx1HX5b4h8y1yjPSSvv9cFRmy01RZpnh4DSOcqHn4YwmJ6KpQQb0J1S6fX0fwiet_yZSRs8lKdMH_hxdAOUpcnnI656c96efnSnWZLY_w9nEQUK9Fz4jsbl2gjnTj1lrt8tqs/s1600/IMG00752-20110607-1109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0t5hMWfx1HX5b4h8y1yjPSSvv9cFRmy01RZpnh4DSOcqHn4YwmJ6KpQQb0J1S6fX0fwiet_yZSRs8lKdMH_hxdAOUpcnnI656c96efnSnWZLY_w9nEQUK9Fz4jsbl2gjnTj1lrt8tqs/s320/IMG00752-20110607-1109.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">choosing one colour, gather up all the strands of that particular<br />
colour and pull them towards you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">step ten:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5mq3IkjRfRABHpqxXuBTe7F7-6ZAr3HMUDKKPYkY7XBPJGSd0cCnZWnUzG0FkqoCyZWz0_hICRU74i_1jxlOx0XWoM1YKxAPWYVo5BV5r1nL8BN372jFljX9SBuZtdBFPvnPhoCPsQM/s1600/IMG00753-20110607-1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5mq3IkjRfRABHpqxXuBTe7F7-6ZAr3HMUDKKPYkY7XBPJGSd0cCnZWnUzG0FkqoCyZWz0_hICRU74i_1jxlOx0XWoM1YKxAPWYVo5BV5r1nL8BN372jFljX9SBuZtdBFPvnPhoCPsQM/s320/IMG00753-20110607-1110.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pull one strand of the white ribbon down over the pink.Now<br />
is where your tension is important because you have to pull the white <br />
tight, keeping your finger on the top of the white ribbon on<br />
the inside cover. Peel a little of the backing from the tape and secure<br />
the white ribbon in place as close to the edge as possible without <br />
over lapping</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>step eleven:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaDXU4U4VKmksr76GWZeDlce1cbUz9uJ220LL3mQyOm6skFuglCGexTBCkcBD02vnuMZw1etSbqA76xcgZ-0nGYflq5HNh75LKzmuyJK8Tkmv3hAInbdw9PuclsSalrPn1Nb6U5eU2go/s1600/IMG00754-20110607-1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaDXU4U4VKmksr76GWZeDlce1cbUz9uJ220LL3mQyOm6skFuglCGexTBCkcBD02vnuMZw1etSbqA76xcgZ-0nGYflq5HNh75LKzmuyJK8Tkmv3hAInbdw9PuclsSalrPn1Nb6U5eU2go/s320/IMG00754-20110607-1110.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the next layer bring the next piece of white ribbon under the pink and<br />
over the orange ribbon, weaving all the way to the end and secure the<br />
piece on white ribbon onto the double sided tape. Remember to pull it <br />
tight and when you lay it down, lay it right next to the last white piece <br />
without leaving any space. Secure it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEfQWlooyj9Yeo4S-TYghGwAkGe_O3I6enitPXsBj1roYFbqCB4YRk5iwiR1aXTUUrUsv5RSFw5odhRyRmUDVK3gZA-RWnO2THbie3gk-K7qSGTTUa-Tf0LkuMGC0ulpmbYyMAUE5TI0/s1600/IMG00755-20110607-1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEfQWlooyj9Yeo4S-TYghGwAkGe_O3I6enitPXsBj1roYFbqCB4YRk5iwiR1aXTUUrUsv5RSFw5odhRyRmUDVK3gZA-RWnO2THbie3gk-K7qSGTTUa-Tf0LkuMGC0ulpmbYyMAUE5TI0/s320/IMG00755-20110607-1110.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use your thumb to keep the ribbon in place while working.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53TQozQunLhQqjV0RYRDW7nOpqxNhmvpQP0idjnVp9xmndcS-gomE4f3ZjtY8Gk_c45z5UaUIidbY7DYDytopz8iqAvvVlRsPi_rSZ6aP9S5DsbyLd_LFqoqv1OZv_8jDHXaZrKbJQRM/s1600/IMG00758-20110607-1112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53TQozQunLhQqjV0RYRDW7nOpqxNhmvpQP0idjnVp9xmndcS-gomE4f3ZjtY8Gk_c45z5UaUIidbY7DYDytopz8iqAvvVlRsPi_rSZ6aP9S5DsbyLd_LFqoqv1OZv_8jDHXaZrKbJQRM/s320/IMG00758-20110607-1112.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how it should look by the second white ribbon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Step twelve:</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CqummUUEgn3aUyzqIykEu4J2CYYZX8AER6Prtqd9dimmns8ijNHrP8zGSQ7R91HWOLMlQtZcnLkhlFr1z3fAqgu0si_u1lCJb_iIyikk_0lL-W5f-f3RpSeMeFumBWKUBRiG337F_yo/s1600/IMG00759-20110607-1126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CqummUUEgn3aUyzqIykEu4J2CYYZX8AER6Prtqd9dimmns8ijNHrP8zGSQ7R91HWOLMlQtZcnLkhlFr1z3fAqgu0si_u1lCJb_iIyikk_0lL-W5f-f3RpSeMeFumBWKUBRiG337F_yo/s320/IMG00759-20110607-1126.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how it looks when you have finished the first side.<br />
Now we start on the spine of the book.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1JC32LBVHZNMZewdQDQqhkAplwQNFD0SPMACke3x5xdZ248EdQtrCfaT0dxZjkbdKiilkgzxKFPU8S9ZQfo16WBNbuEXCPd5Rmp84UoGvRuLlbZNyHGkJ7yVtTKUOi3E3QauNOTnoYU/s1600/IMG00760-20110607-1126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1JC32LBVHZNMZewdQDQqhkAplwQNFD0SPMACke3x5xdZ248EdQtrCfaT0dxZjkbdKiilkgzxKFPU8S9ZQfo16WBNbuEXCPd5Rmp84UoGvRuLlbZNyHGkJ7yVtTKUOi3E3QauNOTnoYU/s320/IMG00760-20110607-1126.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peel a little backing away from the tape on the spine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F9RtwyiGAdbDnSZhyWcvV9UlWVzE7aFiMigiElsOqnurE6qclIGZTkSj8QjcmAzQsQeNHKnqG0WVSK-u8hyphenhyphen3bUWxCQZHT5m-uY2pip3nOzKOwHhYPiwwQUk_V7Wpy2GQwfW-2hGg07o/s1600/IMG00762-20110607-1127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F9RtwyiGAdbDnSZhyWcvV9UlWVzE7aFiMigiElsOqnurE6qclIGZTkSj8QjcmAzQsQeNHKnqG0WVSK-u8hyphenhyphen3bUWxCQZHT5m-uY2pip3nOzKOwHhYPiwwQUk_V7Wpy2GQwfW-2hGg07o/s320/IMG00762-20110607-1127.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close the book and pull the first ribbon tight and layer over the spine<br />
of the book. Repeat this process all the way down the spine of the<br />
book, keeping your tension the same. If your white is overlapping onto the <br />
spine then just pull the pink ribbon tight while moving the <br />
'weave' into place with your thumb until everything is straight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO9_eoy2frUAyN57fEq6Eew7vbb3wDaUdY4xfI5yN4VgDJLmutLia6PxM-L8Y289mYcnATL4oMt3J_2kn-i3HwNdWyD90mcE-yG5XLgCZ88-QYJ6SmIjIF_KJUd2JkeNx4SX92ygbqs4/s1600/IMG00765-20110607-1130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO9_eoy2frUAyN57fEq6Eew7vbb3wDaUdY4xfI5yN4VgDJLmutLia6PxM-L8Y289mYcnATL4oMt3J_2kn-i3HwNdWyD90mcE-yG5XLgCZ88-QYJ6SmIjIF_KJUd2JkeNx4SX92ygbqs4/s320/IMG00765-20110607-1130.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a side view of the spine. There will be no white in the spine <br />
so try not to let any of the book show through.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Step thirteen:<br />
<br />
 <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpQzYJnbGTslZqmZGhr4m59ng8w-aA8qORXewRzZsbs-ojEjyDxqV3nt-X9BClnMLmkXwXMNfJdgNVeo7VkBnlC2EKNwecAb4fDUOz19ogs20-3mE_AeZRhJWkRLr-fBEaeVaesogSqk/s1600/IMG00768-20110607-1207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpQzYJnbGTslZqmZGhr4m59ng8w-aA8qORXewRzZsbs-ojEjyDxqV3nt-X9BClnMLmkXwXMNfJdgNVeo7VkBnlC2EKNwecAb4fDUOz19ogs20-3mE_AeZRhJWkRLr-fBEaeVaesogSqk/s320/IMG00768-20110607-1207.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weave the back cover, the same as the front. When you have<br />
put the last white ribbon in place then it is time to secure the colour<br />
ribbon. Pull the ribbon tight and close the book but leaving just enough space <br />
for your finger to fold colour ribbon over</td></tr>
</tbody></table>*TIP* remember at school when you had to cover your hardcover books and the paper or plastic was way too tight? Try avoiding the same problem here by closing the book slightly and then fold the ribbon onto the tape and secure, this way everything will be where it should.<br />
<br />
Step Fourteen: <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KsCg65ghmUjio-sWOlLiQbRvjfZcDzvps4AD3bT361bbQYD4744sHVXAtl4OtDQM5aaDvf0O8yFZesgYhKhkvid-uUyDrFOSPc-VKPX4LGfrUukvT8m-KZrlG-m1LHb0wHqvFF5UO6c/s1600/IMG00769-20110607-1209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KsCg65ghmUjio-sWOlLiQbRvjfZcDzvps4AD3bT361bbQYD4744sHVXAtl4OtDQM5aaDvf0O8yFZesgYhKhkvid-uUyDrFOSPc-VKPX4LGfrUukvT8m-KZrlG-m1LHb0wHqvFF5UO6c/s320/IMG00769-20110607-1209.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This part is optional. You can trim all the excess ribbon off and place a <br />
small piece of tape just in the center , along the edge of the inner cover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlQOsmbZK4pmmxA8VCpmG83tCEbxKHxMmt4HslYc_2fZ11Bcp372hvM2qn4oAyfL3oU0pzBuu68N6CjrGOEN7Gf7h7mp0NYUxiUWXa4O8MFEbAtJu896YFnqFFN08LSs-QdaYeJbkFCk/s1600/IMG00770-20110607-1210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlQOsmbZK4pmmxA8VCpmG83tCEbxKHxMmt4HslYc_2fZ11Bcp372hvM2qn4oAyfL3oU0pzBuu68N6CjrGOEN7Gf7h7mp0NYUxiUWXa4O8MFEbAtJu896YFnqFFN08LSs-QdaYeJbkFCk/s320/IMG00770-20110607-1210.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut a piece of ribbon long enough to tie the book and secure<br />
it to the piece of tape. Do the same on the other side. This will be used<br />
to tie the book closed although it can be left off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Step fifteen:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ9c0-vIIpV4Er6hJvtrXpVSJNKNA1LpMUjsiFi-7Bn7oBeAR1tEmcZJ7NH__fgW_vN1BwjHJkujsAX0YlhSfDaFXTgEKHXABI6fC__dTNdeV175h9o6_CvIT8aAxxjLiCqwjYLIogIY/s1600/IMG00771-20110607-1211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ9c0-vIIpV4Er6hJvtrXpVSJNKNA1LpMUjsiFi-7Bn7oBeAR1tEmcZJ7NH__fgW_vN1BwjHJkujsAX0YlhSfDaFXTgEKHXABI6fC__dTNdeV175h9o6_CvIT8aAxxjLiCqwjYLIogIY/s320/IMG00771-20110607-1211.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now using your craft glue, make a small layer of glue around the<br />
edge of the inside cover. I like to put two pieces of double<br />
sided tape in the center. Close the book and the glue will stick to the first page, <br />
concealing all the loose ends.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVmRbPJU3FlmtN4fgzBnzmgWILkWUhnqxeS1wSWA-u9gMgELVDoSegCL9VuHLXrqA1_jgMPDoc45XSVTnej9rCOF4SRkhc4PYaU-IUhVnVaBpFaXM1wI9OWQ4IRunwfws_OFzoS3EbAE/s1600/IMG00786-20110616-1649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVmRbPJU3FlmtN4fgzBnzmgWILkWUhnqxeS1wSWA-u9gMgELVDoSegCL9VuHLXrqA1_jgMPDoc45XSVTnej9rCOF4SRkhc4PYaU-IUhVnVaBpFaXM1wI9OWQ4IRunwfws_OFzoS3EbAE/s320/IMG00786-20110616-1649.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There you have it. If you followed the instructions properly then <br />
you should have a ribbon woven diary that resembles this one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e93Mce-SQiAJly4aELY93a4VMlfUr2HzeRcdqgw-zk7MgazwnA9pmlPa4Pj-KjkbiDpGLYmg7RJIyzuE6CTb5ie73S1y0hX53gFEHSxZBLdFB6T66710uI1VE66VsZyXpe_zEM_3OTw/s1600/IMG00828-20110722-0658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e93Mce-SQiAJly4aELY93a4VMlfUr2HzeRcdqgw-zk7MgazwnA9pmlPa4Pj-KjkbiDpGLYmg7RJIyzuE6CTb5ie73S1y0hX53gFEHSxZBLdFB6T66710uI1VE66VsZyXpe_zEM_3OTw/s320/IMG00828-20110722-0658.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or even this one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
I hope that I have made this easy to understand but please leave a comment if you need any asistance. Thank you for following so till next time...Chow!</div>nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-21728587017715699092011-07-04T05:51:00.000-07:002011-07-04T05:51:36.068-07:00miniatures and missions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Here is just a quick update before I start today's blog.<br />
<br />
<ul><li>I have 3 entries so far for the diary give away so chances are good,</li>
<li>I have a new blog focusing on my creative writing, I am still a little insecure but thought that I would mention it anyway,</li>
<li>I have started a new hobby which I will tell you about and I find it really exciting</li>
<li>Hippo's milk is pink (just seeing if you are paying attention, but it is true...apparently)</li>
<li>I am on round 3 of my recipe book round robin</li>
<li>I have started my own recipe book of sorts, just for personal use but it focuses on cakes and sweets. (photo's still to come!)</li>
<li>I have conquered the Turkish delight and made some which came out really well.</li>
</ul>I find myself at the door of a new journey, I have been standing outside for quite a while now but have decided to open it. Let me take you back to the beginning.<br />
<br />
There is an amazing website called <a href="http://www.about.com/">about.com</a> and it is a totally amazing site where you find a topic that you would like to know more about and then each week you get a e-newsletter about it. Well, when I first found out about it I signed up for loads of them. It is like a free class on whatever you like.I signed up for a miniature newsletter (the topic, not size of it) and each week I got my how-to for about a year.I read them, contemplated the projects and deleted it. I still get newsletters from them and am really glad when I see one sent to my email-box (?).<br />
<br />
Now getting back to present, do you remember the dolls house furniture I got a while back? Well something told me it was time I got back to it so I started getting busy. I assembled a dolls house out of empty cardboard boxes, very kindly donated by the stationary shop up the road, and got stuck in (to the project, not the box). I was amazed at how quickly it started taking shape. I did however promise myself 2 things. One, that I would not pay a lot of money for another project and want to recycle as much as possible and two, I would spend my time on it and not race through the project and finish it quickly like I always do. So far, mission accomplished.<br />
<br />
I am in the process of fitting the kitchen and it has been so much fun. I have made use of many cut up cardboard boxes, matchboxes, material that I have on hand, cleaning sponges ,some bits from my printers tray and my crochet skills. I would like to keep everything as authentic as possible so drawers open and cupboards close properly. I have made most of these pieces by trial and error and are my own ideas.<br />
<br />
S, let the foto party begin:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBhAQS7YQbQ8vH2pwfKX_1Mce6kzu0_-wPl_m65bkcJvNSaq5msma0Bhj8VCNFUGC4bYpT8A-GNQJPuO9DL4MnR0Hz2s6C_G1qpHQisLSYC-RonJmHXV3Dkuyac90EQKNCuqjsaAz8ws/s1600/IMG00812-20110703-1303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBhAQS7YQbQ8vH2pwfKX_1Mce6kzu0_-wPl_m65bkcJvNSaq5msma0Bhj8VCNFUGC4bYpT8A-GNQJPuO9DL4MnR0Hz2s6C_G1qpHQisLSYC-RonJmHXV3Dkuyac90EQKNCuqjsaAz8ws/s320/IMG00812-20110703-1303.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miniature perfume bottles, made using coloured glass beads.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPP-EFnZVFCA5s-99xliTI9S9Z5SbdAVq4PoZo781ApQpICUIy7aMoCeMpi391jN1KGH5fNBhrGi1KyZxfk0CPteS-yfeAxQWmsaJ-i2HrdKthW0B2oYhKGTbkGsGnyKhQIvkEAnwPN4/s1600/IMG00814-20110703-1304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPP-EFnZVFCA5s-99xliTI9S9Z5SbdAVq4PoZo781ApQpICUIy7aMoCeMpi391jN1KGH5fNBhrGi1KyZxfk0CPteS-yfeAxQWmsaJ-i2HrdKthW0B2oYhKGTbkGsGnyKhQIvkEAnwPN4/s320/IMG00814-20110703-1304.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miniature nail polish bottles, also made using glass beads</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdLibWoMbuDcuje3fzP7kYGUbVq_cuhvXVQ3lANCa9rZa5tr_e6EJ0rBiVcSi9-5DrqshFGLkmiYvaAYLt41LSBbqreY5kbQNl-hrkJGOqpX31pjHgDzQ6zyy0wHHdtoZYgNdhdo1xvk/s1600/IMG00815-20110703-1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdLibWoMbuDcuje3fzP7kYGUbVq_cuhvXVQ3lANCa9rZa5tr_e6EJ0rBiVcSi9-5DrqshFGLkmiYvaAYLt41LSBbqreY5kbQNl-hrkJGOqpX31pjHgDzQ6zyy0wHHdtoZYgNdhdo1xvk/s320/IMG00815-20110703-1305.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> See my little bottles? This is a kitchen cabinet with opening drawers and cupboard. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-PkUUoCiNSfPyyLCDaaYjOYyu_4JzeRP4XSriIiXpYRektT8MenYNznFFUCn7Bfjpxk2Ic9bkj4snizOwm9pn-rOykCqkqzOElNrS9rkSc0Wc8GLENpU3mLNJgjrVOBrN1FBGVFY-RY/s1600/IMG00816-20110703-1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-PkUUoCiNSfPyyLCDaaYjOYyu_4JzeRP4XSriIiXpYRektT8MenYNznFFUCn7Bfjpxk2Ic9bkj4snizOwm9pn-rOykCqkqzOElNrS9rkSc0Wc8GLENpU3mLNJgjrVOBrN1FBGVFY-RY/s320/IMG00816-20110703-1305.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Told you they open, bottle and glass bought from a store</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4aLU6PsqT69qeTuSJUCbsARjieLll2ers1fxGlkZ9rPnK167qW4BGzkriUms4Eim4SUF_DX2LbC9w_oA7kQdb88WNSSfhuVX6e4Lgn3Piat4OMJfzetDcnZ1Hnh8i6SegJBb8RydVKM/s1600/IMG00817-20110703-1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4aLU6PsqT69qeTuSJUCbsARjieLll2ers1fxGlkZ9rPnK167qW4BGzkriUms4Eim4SUF_DX2LbC9w_oA7kQdb88WNSSfhuVX6e4Lgn3Piat4OMJfzetDcnZ1Hnh8i6SegJBb8RydVKM/s320/IMG00817-20110703-1305.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kitchen in progress. My matching cabinet that also opens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQXfCIHWMWB1bawhe7Trzh4JPNlvYuwkabpS9PKmB9Ohmc_nAOFAcPHHNtx13FkN5rfRI3pBhVDbeR6IrZy_JMUiRGJMXforlAf1wmv-ljiHLF7PnpMvQ0Y873oqnwz8kLMzwfg12uXc/s1600/IMG00818-20110703-1306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQXfCIHWMWB1bawhe7Trzh4JPNlvYuwkabpS9PKmB9Ohmc_nAOFAcPHHNtx13FkN5rfRI3pBhVDbeR6IrZy_JMUiRGJMXforlAf1wmv-ljiHLF7PnpMvQ0Y873oqnwz8kLMzwfg12uXc/s320/IMG00818-20110703-1306.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedroom, still in progress.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw925zMg_BuLn6YI9KTStH1x5kCBEEzNtbmT29HXkjVTHwCvThCKJ1ZFcQ4navrbQGpI_IuD60VLleie7CzqZCHY-bRO_eJ08Q0v97TjVVEyJhao7LTm-gyB9FJov6XwIkkPp9OmeYk4w/s1600/IMG00819-20110703-1306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw925zMg_BuLn6YI9KTStH1x5kCBEEzNtbmT29HXkjVTHwCvThCKJ1ZFcQ4navrbQGpI_IuD60VLleie7CzqZCHY-bRO_eJ08Q0v97TjVVEyJhao7LTm-gyB9FJov6XwIkkPp9OmeYk4w/s320/IMG00819-20110703-1306.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room, yup, in progress too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8xwGx1cMERp9kJmLB4bjhRny2e66pS1u1XAB2xDJtSXQxcKPAayy8TWCsjreC1Ok2ZQKz7OmiH181ghjSd5r_HpGEzENEWQDDqzcKaKapk_LFyVhbgilnzeFkzkklGIUjRHzkj8Kg3o/s1600/IMG00820-20110703-1306+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8xwGx1cMERp9kJmLB4bjhRny2e66pS1u1XAB2xDJtSXQxcKPAayy8TWCsjreC1Ok2ZQKz7OmiH181ghjSd5r_HpGEzENEWQDDqzcKaKapk_LFyVhbgilnzeFkzkklGIUjRHzkj8Kg3o/s320/IMG00820-20110703-1306+-+Copy.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there you have it, the whole house, still playing with the idea of a laundry room, babies room and a bathroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc3jG31Abu1SRVw-kAM0vZTCgX7mT6uw1bJwju6Vs03PRHUeyZixNEUhNHu-skWb-BCxpeZUeRzI6zagwM6wU2x772r_GbGf22z_JnSaSWgS6xTk2PhXP0R1eR9s3_OpHt1y7Fq_Vknk/s1600/IMG00824-20110704-1333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc3jG31Abu1SRVw-kAM0vZTCgX7mT6uw1bJwju6Vs03PRHUeyZixNEUhNHu-skWb-BCxpeZUeRzI6zagwM6wU2x772r_GbGf22z_JnSaSWgS6xTk2PhXP0R1eR9s3_OpHt1y7Fq_Vknk/s320/IMG00824-20110704-1333.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bedroom closet, my first piece I made and I was very proud, but now I still have to clean it up a bit with paint.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F5gy-M-5aQ9RvknzUFjkPkhpnaoMIKaVGrexe9gOp_riDFEOeQa0sbw99WbXSpVwCbnfnWjsKSWIvKck9GEgARnTaGunTkMBg1G_l-HK_-aHQpVHFPAHGJEwfg5nvx0sk84o6cWc5uM/s1600/IMG00822-20110703-1309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F5gy-M-5aQ9RvknzUFjkPkhpnaoMIKaVGrexe9gOp_riDFEOeQa0sbw99WbXSpVwCbnfnWjsKSWIvKck9GEgARnTaGunTkMBg1G_l-HK_-aHQpVHFPAHGJEwfg5nvx0sk84o6cWc5uM/s320/IMG00822-20110703-1309.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a doll, still a bit crude but it was my first try, will make another soon.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I still have tons more to do and loads of ideas that I cannot wait to try.<br />
Oh, and I just want to mention that I know it is very crude and that the scale is completely off and that there are tons of mistakes but this is just a branch on the tree of my hobbies and that I am doing it purely for pleasure and once it is done I will probably move onto the next adventure and this will gather dust on the shelf of forgotten projects so I am going to enjoy it while I am still interested and who knows from there.<br />
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So this brings a close to today's blog rambling so please don't forget to vote in the previous blog entry and have fun in all that you do...Chow!<br />
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</tbody></table>nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-28181396386680647272011-06-22T03:55:00.000-07:002011-06-22T11:03:17.007-07:00Vote and win....again?Yes again! Here is another chance to win a customised diary. The diary in question will be the exact same diary as blogged about previously and with your favourite colours. All you have to do is name the amigurumi doll that I made in the last blog. Simple huh? Same rules and conditions apply only this time a winner will be picked at the end of July and posted within a week of confirmation with the winner. One of the stipulations is that you have to be a follower of this blog and the other is that you have to comment in the section below with the name of your choice. <br />
I forgot to take a pic of Aynsleys finished diary although I do have a pic of it while in progress. Just to let you all know that she has received her diary and is very pleased with it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjAQjMqKuob0hu0BS8qNuSzwmfoDFVQ1oei14wLCvM2Gdzc07anUjAs_fyotcggrqg40ngXnKn5f-CFA7xmRR2l4sBF327UN10juQhnY3hA4D0iNVHzn1_G_00kdEUx2kJwpqDKC9tbU/s1600/dolly+four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjAQjMqKuob0hu0BS8qNuSzwmfoDFVQ1oei14wLCvM2Gdzc07anUjAs_fyotcggrqg40ngXnKn5f-CFA7xmRR2l4sBF327UN10juQhnY3hA4D0iNVHzn1_G_00kdEUx2kJwpqDKC9tbU/s320/dolly+four.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the ami again looking very 'emo' in her punk pink wig and <br />
black skinnies with suspenders and white vest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aynsley diary while I was working on it. She chose pink,orange and white.<br />
Just imagine it without the ribbons on the side and that is how it looked.</td></tr>
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Finally, I got it updated with pics.Good luck to everyone and I hope to see some good names.....Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-46115427053743876832011-06-16T08:12:00.000-07:002011-06-16T08:24:57.490-07:00Quick pics and post.Okay everyone, I am not in the mood for a long blog today and since it is a public holiday and the sun just reared its head I just want to do a quick update.<br />
First of all, I have decided that I will do another give-away soon so watch this space. Secondly, I have completed my little free spirit amigurumi and made her some outfits. The blog that features them ,<a href="http://byhookbyhand.blogspot.com/">By hook, By hand</a> is so amazing and I cannot get enough of it. The are so many free pattern for this ami's clothes that all the stress that came from making her has completely dissolved and I am revelling in the delight of this little wonder. See for yourself...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphxG6FCkNOXRDWI4o7MAbGQY0_MjDbG-wD85yqxNKNmivfd_lHkwtoX0a4dULHIWwx2HZT1H_NEfoN5kbe4K9PZ7YRHQGAFap94ijBn6wRuuk89u7JzT6fsTK9_j78xjALiHPnkfHVM8/s1600/dolly+three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphxG6FCkNOXRDWI4o7MAbGQY0_MjDbG-wD85yqxNKNmivfd_lHkwtoX0a4dULHIWwx2HZT1H_NEfoN5kbe4K9PZ7YRHQGAFap94ijBn6wRuuk89u7JzT6fsTK9_j78xjALiHPnkfHVM8/s320/dolly+three.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edwardian style dress that I modified a bit. Reminds me of Alice in wonderland.<br />
Oh,and darling little blue pumps to match.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for the beach in yellow hot pants and a whit vest.<br />
I love that she is poseable</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDuclP_GqzdzFtU-MlVq_BqTBwP1WJQ1nfUPZ5hqxHCvs902kH8Lmb-SGPcC0LqkPNcNYvhvQjr2pZ3l9L23Croqu89ZzJZU8vxx_P59X7hTd0HwKTK2tJWgOqIRy73rryB9c3oYsU-M/s1600/dolly+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDuclP_GqzdzFtU-MlVq_BqTBwP1WJQ1nfUPZ5hqxHCvs902kH8Lmb-SGPcC0LqkPNcNYvhvQjr2pZ3l9L23Croqu89ZzJZU8vxx_P59X7hTd0HwKTK2tJWgOqIRy73rryB9c3oYsU-M/s320/dolly+one.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blowing a kiss in her white vest and <span style="background-color: yellow;">aqua </span>skirt with pink and green ruffles<br />
and there are the pumps again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Isn't she adorable? It is so rewarding making something yourself and even better when it actually looks good, well to me anyway. I still want to make her some leggings and fur boots and maybe a funky pair of skinny jeans. Last but not least, I am working on another blog and hopefully it will get going soon but I will write about that another time. Maybe this blog was not as short as I thought it was going to be but by now you should know me. Maybe a bit lengthly but definitly worth it so till next time...Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-59180675797439893922011-06-12T09:40:00.000-07:002011-06-12T09:40:51.192-07:00Confessions and Creations.<strong>Sub heading: Better worried than evil!</strong><br />
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To better understand my sub heading I will have to delve a little into who I am. Okay, so far you know that I love to craft and I can out-talk almost anyone on any particular subject but let me introduce you to my 'little me'! As a child I was extremely empathetic and a tear was often shed over road kill, prejudices, sad movies and the like. I always bought the ugliest teddy so that he would know what it was like to be loved and on the rare occasion, performed a heart transplant or two on a stuffed creature. I remember as a child tucking all my toys into my bed and falling asleep on the floor because there was no space for me in the bed, true story. I never kept pets and tell people that I am not an 'animal person' but the truth be told, I cannot stand out living anything and am so scared of getting attached to a creature that might not stay around for as long as I do. I never quite out grew this and even though at times I feel like I have been desensitized and that I have seen it all, all it takes is a tug on the heart strings from a advert about human endurance or a heart-felt song to get the old water works running. <br />
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Now lets get to the matter at hand and you will hopefully see where I am going with this. Remember that free spirit amigurumi I was talking about? Well many a tear of frustration has been shed over this doll and it has taken every ounce of determination to see this thing through. Since the pattern is not a local one, some of the items needed to complete this project had to be substituted with something local. For example, our pipe cleaners are half the size of that required by the pattern and while I have no idea where to find a wooden dowel for the neck, a clothes peg has worked quite nicely. There is however one thing that for the life if me I could not substitute and that is the safety eyes. All I can find is 'googley' eyes and that is definitely not going to be the look I am going for. There was only one thing I could do and it is shameful to say the least. This is my confession and hopefully not one I will ever do again. I scoured the china shops for the most pathetic teddy I could find. Why pathetic? Well , maybe because no one would buy it and what I was about to do with it is far more humane than condemning him to a life in the bottom of a manky old box in the store, ridiculed by his more attractive comrades. So I finally found a very dilapidated bunny. I bought him for ten rand, took him to the shop and put him out of his misery. (please send your children out of the room as the next part is extremely unnerving) and cut his face off. There, I said it! I gouged out his eyes and transplanted them onto my amigurumi doll. I had no choice, I had to do it. Was it worth it? Yes, I suppose. Would I do it again? Not anytime soon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XADvvGWBM_ccMiHbtT3XQnp9rTkm_kaWI84_G35mXaVXoSbpQdNDnrYVd3BzUqWaeFc82yE1tUE0eQ_y7tAMeKEm9RB_en8E6x97Hv6LX_WUqhTYXAYH5Wi-WFqqiW20NzqtWzGY6Mc/s1600/IMG00776-20110612-1812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XADvvGWBM_ccMiHbtT3XQnp9rTkm_kaWI84_G35mXaVXoSbpQdNDnrYVd3BzUqWaeFc82yE1tUE0eQ_y7tAMeKEm9RB_en8E6x97Hv6LX_WUqhTYXAYH5Wi-WFqqiW20NzqtWzGY6Mc/s320/IMG00776-20110612-1812.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only made one shoe. I have to figure out my camera so that I<br />
can get better pics than my miserable camera on my phone.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little poser! The pipe cleaners are great at getting her 'poseable'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5-dJeCLA1kQLRtqRn-YBkDEqMi1EsPclgx8hZCNMpZ6SG8K9gizbKqa0DoeyCUV97QkSXiSi5nKRYL0yc26x4V_T3WOpf6SjC1wG53SXZgmU8k8sjfzFzdkzpC_WY7mE_4_7VMRDQBw/s1600/IMG00779-20110612-1814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5-dJeCLA1kQLRtqRn-YBkDEqMi1EsPclgx8hZCNMpZ6SG8K9gizbKqa0DoeyCUV97QkSXiSi5nKRYL0yc26x4V_T3WOpf6SjC1wG53SXZgmU8k8sjfzFzdkzpC_WY7mE_4_7VMRDQBw/s320/IMG00779-20110612-1814.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why so worried little ami? Maybe it is because you only have one shoe. <br />
Don't stress, it will get done and so will your hair.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So now my doll is almost complete and it really was worth all the heart ache and sweat. She really is a cutie and while she is a little 'off' in certain areas, I think she has loads of personality. I made eye lids for her and she had a terribly evil look on her face. I have to ability to turn any ami evil with my odd placement of eyebrows and eye lids. I took them off and replaced them with new ones, sewn at a different angle and now she has a more worried look ...but that I can live with. Her ears are off too and I am still contemplating adjusting them.<br />
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The awesome thing about this amigurumi doll (to add) is that I get to make loads of wigs for her in all different styles and colours. I am looking forward to that the most. Oh, and the the clothes making. I love making petite outfits for the dolls. <br />
For a more in depth tutorial, look no further, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29184580@N04/collections/72157621892764268/">here</a> is a complete step by step photo tutorial to help you with your intructions. I found this very helpful and she has loads of amazing pics of finished dolls and hopefully one day I can make a doll that looks half as good as hers.nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0Cape Town, South Africa-33.9248685 18.424055299999964-34.3691365 18.075444799999964 -33.4806005 18.772665799999963tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-11060160819173166972011-06-10T01:54:00.000-07:002011-06-10T04:55:56.347-07:00Slimming and slumpsHave you ever been in a slump? You know the kind, where it s so hard to motivate yourself that not even the yummiest shopping trip can put a smile on your mug. Well that is where I am at the moment, slumpish. I cannot blame it on my diet which is going swimmingly well by the way, and I definitely cannot blame it on lack of funds as it is my turn for the *goi goi (will explain this later) and a few extra days at work did not hurt either. I cannot blame it on the flu I have had for the past week since I am on a wonderful flu medicine and I cannot blame it on the broken computers (at work and home) because I have my trusty old laptop that looks as if it was dropped out of a ten foot story building window, with wires that can only resemble a 1950's horror film monster, because it dutifully clicks on every time I open it and races through the Internet with the enthusiasm of the road runner (.....beep beep). <br />
<br />
No, actually I cannot blame it on anything tangible. It is simply a state of mind that I am in where not much can cheer me up. The problem with being in a slump is that things build up. Projects build up, dishes build up, washing build up and swaps build up. I have decided to karate kick (or Tae bo kick which is more appropriate) this thing in the butt. I have decided to claim my life back form the 'slump monster' and get back on track. Firstly I am going to do the thing that I love the most, make a list. There is nothing more motivating than crossing things off of a list. Secondly I am going to draw up a calendar and mark all my swaps and make a timeline for when I am going to finish all of them.Thirdly I am going to spring clean my work room and make space for productivity which I am hoping is going to flow out of me like never before. I will sort out my correspondences and finish all my wips (works in progress). There is nothing more revitalizing than getting your affairs in order, taking control.<br />
<br />
Now that I have made my declaration of pro activity (...?) I will get into some craft stuff. I bought some uber delicious felt this week and have absolutely no idea what to do with it, any ideas? I am hoping that once I am in full control of things that I will be more inspired to create. I also have started a 'free spirited amigurumi' doll that strongly resembles a Blythe doll and you can find it <a href="http://byhookbyhand.blogspot.com/search/label/Free%20Spirit">here at this amazing blog</a> which offers free crochet and felt patterns for the most adorable dolls and their clothes. The swap that was mentioned in the previous installment was cancelled due to the postal strike in Canada and even though this has bummed me out completely, I am still going to make my ami. The ami that got the most votes was Belle and her rose so that is going to be interesting. I still have to contact Aynsley about which ami she chose but in the meantime her diary is completed and looking amazing. I want to post a picture but will wait till she gets it first so as not to ruin the surprise for her. The diary will be posted this afternoon. At least that is one thing that I can cross off my list.<br />
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So while I go kick some imaginary butt in Tae Bo and tackle some very real dishes, I will say good bye and leave you with the thought of maybe tackling some 'slump monsters' of your own or even creating a to-do list that puts life in a bit more perspective. So for now....Chow!<br />
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<em>*Goi goi is a xhosa word for money pool. There are 3 of us and each week we pool a certain amount of our wages together and each week we take alternate turns in claiming it.</em>nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-70236057200400748102011-06-05T09:38:00.000-07:002011-06-05T09:38:32.943-07:00And the winner is......E-blogger has been up to tricks lately and since it is not allowing new comments from some people I have decided to indirectly enter some into the competition via swap-bot. So just to recap, here are the entrants.<br />
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1) DonaaKay<br />
2) Anonymous (aka Toupti)<br />
3) Batmamma<br />
4) Marilize<br />
5) Principeta<br />
6) Aynsley<br />
7) CrazeyCatChick and last but definitely not least<br />
8) Gooseberry<br />
And the winner is .....................<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Number 6</span> .<br />
Congratulations Aynsley.You will be contacted shortly with the rest of the details. <br />
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I would like to thank everyone who participated in my draw and appreciate the support shown.Unfortunately there can only be one winner but I might host another give away soon and hopefully e-blogger will play nice next time. I have a screen shot of random.org's choice but since my computer was upgraded (or downgraded actually) today by our not-so-handy handy man, my microsoft office is missing in action and I cannot save the screen shot as a j.peg file so it is available as a e-mail upon request if necessary.nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-35869539516595588532011-05-30T07:23:00.000-07:002011-06-02T01:06:20.068-07:00Vote and win!I have a swap that I signed up for today and I am pretty nervous because the others who are in the swap are really good at what they do and even though there are only 4 of us, I really want to impress.<br />
I have been brainstorming all day and I have so many ideas bubbling inside me that I cannot pick one. I have decided to ask for help and have put up a poll to see what you think would be the best choice to knock the socks off my partner.<br />
<br />
The swap is for a fairytale character amigurumi and I really want to do a human (female) form as opposed to a monster or something ,I played with the idea of Mike or Sully from monsters inc. but I want more of a challenge.The swap is for the end of next month, although I was hoping to get started asap.<br />
These are my choices<br />
<ul><li>Thumbalina in a purse that is a drawstring purse that resembles a flower when closed (remember that she was tiny so the purse will make it more apparent as thumbalina)</li>
<li>Cinderella was another idea I was 'toying' with (get it? lol) and to make it a bit more like Cinderelli, I want to do outfits, one all raggedy and the other a ballgown and to top it all off, removable glass-ish slippers.</li>
<li>Ariel crossed my mind as well and was thinking about making her the human type but also I want to make a tail that she can just slide her legs into.</li>
<li>Alice and Dinah is a classic and will work up quite quickly since she is all the craze at the moment.</li>
<li>I also like the idea of Belle in her yellow dress and as a bonus I am not too shabby at making roses so I think that would be a nice accompaniment</li>
<li>Rapunzal is the newest characture to hit the big screen and since I have not watched 'Tangled' yet, I think the only thing I can add is hair.. alot of hair.</li>
<li>And lastly, I was playing with the idea of Mulan, Tinkerbell, Snow white, Jasmine, Aroura,Little red riding hood and some others.</li>
</ul>So now for the good part. Remember that Ribbon woven journal? It was in my last blog for those of you who just joined us. It is an A6, hand woven, ribbon journal that is lined and has 144 pages. Well, I am going to make one customized journal to one lucky follower and all you have to do is:<br />
<ul><li>sign up to follow my blog,</li>
<li>vote in the poll </li>
<li>and leave a comment for this post of what you think will make the best amigurumi. </li>
</ul>The winner will be drawn a week from today and if you are the winner then you will be contacted via the name you commented with. You will then be asked for your address and you favorite colours for the journal and it will be sent to your address. The winner will be chosen using www.random.org and the journal will be posted a week from the day they were chosen. The prize will be sent via regular post with a track and trace number. Good Luck to all of you.<br />
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<i>Disclaimer:</i><br />
<i> The comment of each player is just a suggestion and while the winning choice of amigurumi will be made, might not be the one I choose to send to my partner.The prize stated above will be sent to the winner and the trace number will be emailed to their address. I cannot be held responsible if you do not collect your prize or if the address you gave is incorrect.</i> <i>If the winner does not respond with their address for two weeks since being chosen then a new draw will take place</i>.<br />
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*edited to note*<br />
Please note that to qualify for the prize you will have to leave a comment as well as voting because your vote is annonymous.Thank you.nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-6948140337542490882011-05-22T08:10:00.000-07:002011-05-22T08:19:49.479-07:00Dreams of a diary.For the longest time I had this vision in my head of covering a diary with ribbon and I never saw it through because I thought that it might just be one of those things that seem like a great idea in your head but not so in practice. Yesterday I heard of two deaths and was thinking about what I would like to leave behind when my time comes and since I do not have any children, I decided that I would like to be remembered as a person who always loved to create and try new things and decided that this was as good a time as any to try something which I had only day-dreamed about. I sat down today with oodles of ribbon, a little blank A5 journal and some double sided tape. This is what I came up with (please do not pay any heed to the work table)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy1CGnItW5OV-SKJY54IJ7NtCuhObYJ5TXTv-xQxtij6RY0C38YTotkxOBOUQ5azLfccGQOMm9_OP0lbakrNGakmm5WnWtfBwkQuXwpY5hfP11NvIHSWykxW99kvfXKyz64zCcwzR4_4/s1600/book+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy1CGnItW5OV-SKJY54IJ7NtCuhObYJ5TXTv-xQxtij6RY0C38YTotkxOBOUQ5azLfccGQOMm9_OP0lbakrNGakmm5WnWtfBwkQuXwpY5hfP11NvIHSWykxW99kvfXKyz64zCcwzR4_4/s320/book+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diary from the back</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59xUwzG7cEsOxp9sqb_ICobR1IggfZnl3TZMw8y2ULzi7nf5z8DuCzRvOO9dRBNPHz_Kkb1wUHk6LpHoZ6CGIdtv72VAfsB1xIuNrMibYZxVfo0ILRe1JK_49-9G48Svfc7vUC3HRtf8/s1600/book+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59xUwzG7cEsOxp9sqb_ICobR1IggfZnl3TZMw8y2ULzi7nf5z8DuCzRvOO9dRBNPHz_Kkb1wUHk6LpHoZ6CGIdtv72VAfsB1xIuNrMibYZxVfo0ILRe1JK_49-9G48Svfc7vUC3HRtf8/s320/book+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">side view.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I cannot believe that I had never tried this before and even though it took quite a while to weave all the ribbon into something decent and a bit of a tedious job, the result in itself made it very worthwhile. The only thing that I would have done differently was to add a ribbon on either side to tie it closed but I will do this on my next attempt. I am thinking of offering a tutorial the next time I decide to make one of these, so that will be something to look out for.<br />
<br />
The second project which I have been working on was a cute little box for my embroidery stash.<a href="http://lynnscrossstitchtutorials.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-make-covered-box-part-one.html#comment-form"> Lynn B's</a> offers a great free tutorial with excellent photo's and all credit is due to her for this stunning little 'stasher'. I followed the tutorial, pic for pic and was very happy with my box. I had never tried making something like this before but it was really easy to make and I was so surprised by how great it looks that I actually made another. The first box was not completely smooth sailing and all I can say is thank goodness for ribbon and glue, which hides many a number of sins. This was my first attempt:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVHY6vokh1XRrz5m7xOPMYqOzST8OVmATFXE-a95TzqFOwg2a-M3gzVfMTFbgj6zL2U8tfihbI9xriYeTbsWQkAD4SWeEPuV3r7U1dpKgEeqQU1UVtFAlU_8Kbev47mVIT-9SuN-m5Lo/s1600/box+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVHY6vokh1XRrz5m7xOPMYqOzST8OVmATFXE-a95TzqFOwg2a-M3gzVfMTFbgj6zL2U8tfihbI9xriYeTbsWQkAD4SWeEPuV3r7U1dpKgEeqQU1UVtFAlU_8Kbev47mVIT-9SuN-m5Lo/s320/box+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, I found a great project to use my little geisha cross stitch on. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffV9dweuviE5F3aKDDQyb1TGkXPPJk4sDqU409Thyxw4hqGJqVAWE4wT1G4osnlIsf_8UHgTCDYwjDbMnIlwlO6GoakVFILF7ZrSKrtaKoqhuzd2daNQDf0Ip2AcPeoEaVZg1eLyd_fM/s1600/box+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffV9dweuviE5F3aKDDQyb1TGkXPPJk4sDqU409Thyxw4hqGJqVAWE4wT1G4osnlIsf_8UHgTCDYwjDbMnIlwlO6GoakVFILF7ZrSKrtaKoqhuzd2daNQDf0Ip2AcPeoEaVZg1eLyd_fM/s320/box+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">side view of the box</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguipm6rcLrFFzUWxZNPzd7wfXECVYdUkIJJWc2WZQrm_5VryLtoPSBMVzXE_sVTJZtSC1KPCBzpBJniKUKgeqpXyn0LVs6B-wZ6N6tPBJqH4p9P1zNyvo9c8FY9IusZcWC4QbjqgV9okE/s1600/box+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguipm6rcLrFFzUWxZNPzd7wfXECVYdUkIJJWc2WZQrm_5VryLtoPSBMVzXE_sVTJZtSC1KPCBzpBJniKUKgeqpXyn0LVs6B-wZ6N6tPBJqH4p9P1zNyvo9c8FY9IusZcWC4QbjqgV9okE/s320/box+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of the box.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I must say that my second box was much better and I was able to avoid most of the mistakes I experienced with the first box. Unfortunately the second box was only a few hours old when it was given away to a friend who fell in love with it and I never even took a pic before I passed it on. I used plain pink for the inner box and a pink with white polka dots for the outer cover and lined it with felt and it was really neat and a bit simpler than the first. I will definitely be making another and was thinking of making some with African<a href="http://marwebber.typepad.com/durbana/2008/03/isishweshwe-thr.html"> 'shwe shwe'</a> material for a nice ethnic spin.<br />
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* <i>Lynn B if you are reading this , I hope I have done you proud and not made too many faux pa's. </i> <br />
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I hope you have been inspired to tackle a challenge that you have been contemplating or something which you have doubted will look right in practice, because I too did not think that I would be able to make either of the top 2 projects look half presentable and when push came to shove, I surprised myself and regret not trying it a long time ago. So, While I go get creative by making another box I will take the time to bid you<i> adeaux</i> and till next time...Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-32759785459954247142011-05-16T04:23:00.000-07:002011-05-16T04:23:27.276-07:00Beginning of a BookThe cross stitching Saga, from the makers of "AAArgh, I have to pull it all out" and the equally fetching sequel " I can't believe I have to pull it all out... Again!" This season do not miss the beginning of a new project, one woman, one mission and a whole lot of heart break. Coming now to a blogesphere near you.<br />
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A tad bit dramatic? yeah I know but cross stitching has really brought out the drama queen in me. There is very little that goes wrong that I cannot blame everything else for. Miscounted? blame the cat. Thread tangled? blame the bad lighting. Running out of thread? Husband has the t.v too loud. If the last one made you go "Huh?" then just trust me, it can be done.<br />
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I thought cross stitching was going to be a therapeutic way for me to relax and pass time but boy was I wrong. I have started a project that I had my heart set on from the get go, a masterpiece to define my creative stitching ability. A project that would cement my place in the stitching world as a feat worth proudly displaying. But so far all I have to show is a very wrinkled cotton canvas with three (out of twelve) unfinished shoes. Every time I hit I snag that is too big to compensate for I move on to the next aspect of the design. The only way I can see myself of not getting fed up and using my canvas as a floor wipe, and believe me I want to, is to keep myself busy with lots of small projects and that way when I tire of the one then I can just move onto the other. You can find a copy of the pattern that I am attempting at <a href="http://www.koolerdesign.com/">Koolerdesign.com </a> (which offers free patterns for you to download ). The pattern is by Barabara Baatz Hillman ( a personal favourite of mine, love anything and everything she creates) and is a vintage shoe design that was almost as if it was custom made to suit me because it is so very me. I got the purse pattern too but that is another project for another time.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolsHMC1nFzABRjzTjNcqHIdBJX4zEk7pL0OOjezD9e8AsZ9hGWF1Mz6Ioa2NfBKBmtdzuRGq37nz4SR8ObKGRxnf1r2v0TzdfTl9KxwSsz_pab4hV3jsYUBNMcRDLJLwwyc_BwppWUvg/s1600/AntiqueShoe_LRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolsHMC1nFzABRjzTjNcqHIdBJX4zEk7pL0OOjezD9e8AsZ9hGWF1Mz6Ioa2NfBKBmtdzuRGq37nz4SR8ObKGRxnf1r2v0TzdfTl9KxwSsz_pab4hV3jsYUBNMcRDLJLwwyc_BwppWUvg/s320/AntiqueShoe_LRG.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">isn't it just to die for? </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So my next project is lined up and a tad more ambitious than the first. I have my heart set on making a stitching book and since I have no pattern and am going of a tutorial (which you can find here <a href="http://www.violarium.com/index.php?main_page=extras&sivu=50">here at the wonderful violarium</a> along with the most stunning and inspiring picture gallery) with fabric that does not match that of the tutorials, I see myself with equal the amount of frustration as my first project. The only thing keeping me on track is my sense of the fact that I love a challenge and the part of me that has to see every project through (see my first blog entry for more on this) and the fact that I am announcing this project to the world via my blog kind of sets my projects in stone and is a sort of promise that I feel I must live up to.<br />
As for the little stitcher's book, I will keep you updated on the progress as I go along and try to make a decent looking project (no promises) that I can share with all of you. Join me for the ride and lets see where this goes...Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-35729890835861219072011-05-12T04:46:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:24:07.666-07:00Pin cushions and Pouches.I have been so inspired today that I had to just write it all down before I loose my momentum and what better place to share it than on my blog.<br />
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While scrolling through blogs and google pics, I started delving into pincushions and felt. I never knew I needed a pin cushion until I was sent one for a swap I had participated in and it was like a blessing I had never even considered. It makes sense though , and my mother will confirm this, that a pin cushion and Nasreen go together like icing and a cupcake. I cannot even try to count how many needles,scissors and pins I have lost over the years. Some where out there (probably on lost sock island) is a cave just overflowing with run-away sewing implements that I have lost. The answer to my lost needle/pin problem was answered by a new friend that I have made who designed and crafted a needle book and pin cushion jar (a modified baby food jar filled with sewing goodies and a pincushion crafted to the lid) specially for me. So now this sorted my needles perfectly, but what about my scissors?<br />
Well this was my solution:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYiiDa2ztCogSgeynLoiBwtfuEGyffI74CFS1aG5TROArhMU4avuKdQC97SXoB8iBWMhvEvlu4L27xzN-HaTL-QHfa8a0AU8T3hyhYPMMjIw_mIPYluzpcxDCTtoISMZKtNGr9qyTb-Q/s1600/scis+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYiiDa2ztCogSgeynLoiBwtfuEGyffI74CFS1aG5TROArhMU4avuKdQC97SXoB8iBWMhvEvlu4L27xzN-HaTL-QHfa8a0AU8T3hyhYPMMjIw_mIPYluzpcxDCTtoISMZKtNGr9qyTb-Q/s200/scis+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_9YhM0V6eAPssYHZDHWlt1DhBzaHJzmtI62C8QrFM4zh2vXyQB4ugX17uCBSoOOIhSaGEcx0q8GkM3vQTtRC4eLdflRxyDaVetboPqUuUaE2fJK0GjXQ0neJ68TZLApMCvZfoutCoFo/s1600/scis+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_9YhM0V6eAPssYHZDHWlt1DhBzaHJzmtI62C8QrFM4zh2vXyQB4ugX17uCBSoOOIhSaGEcx0q8GkM3vQTtRC4eLdflRxyDaVetboPqUuUaE2fJK0GjXQ0neJ68TZLApMCvZfoutCoFo/s200/scis+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HHiMSiozIkSt1LJj_gDTMMhP3kNxppxTNHXHolz1D8D85btou59eFLeGMXcRUQ15q68Vdq1jN_B40ZSh5_aFbaTVoUSrQRt2bJy-xxgoYjzAcT2Q75PehUBETHoD2IKW1mM2ZwPBDgs/s1600/scis+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HHiMSiozIkSt1LJj_gDTMMhP3kNxppxTNHXHolz1D8D85btou59eFLeGMXcRUQ15q68Vdq1jN_B40ZSh5_aFbaTVoUSrQRt2bJy-xxgoYjzAcT2Q75PehUBETHoD2IKW1mM2ZwPBDgs/s200/scis+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink embroidery scissors pouch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>For so long now I wanted a cute little pair on scissors but with my track record I knew that it I was going to spend money on something that was going to be declared MIA in a week or two. This adorable (if I may say so myself) pouch has solved my dilemma and become a treasured addition to my sewing stash. This is how I made it:<br />
I made a template by tracing around my scissors and cut 2 pieces of felt out, sewed around the edges and added a button and a cute heart on the front. I was so pleased with my project that my heart sank when I inserted my little scissors and they slipped through the stitching, a problem hastily solved by inserting a little stuffing in the bottom of the pouch. Voila, a uber cute little embroidery scissors pouch. It has been almost a month and I still have my shears, which is an endeavor worthy of a medal in my case.<br />
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Now that my scissors pouch has lost its original appeal and has just become an item of stash, today my creativity was re ignited with this little cutie.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdPslZ6l3mV-Uql8KNol6ZCQUzce5eHcIKMvar4Vh2YXBogciPEF53KV_bWokDfRRiTrzh8_t8kHrLDlKyorIwZx9fuMLUPnudgISkmgJoghJeICFg9wQtCLdVe3mIh2h9SHB5va4wW0/s320/pins.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">introducing my bottle cap pin cushion.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">All<span style="font-family: inherit;"> credit is due to JenSergrest who featured the tutorial for this project on www.craftstylish.com where you can find tons of free tutorials and how to's. Her pin cushions are much better than mine but since this was my first attempt, I am really impressed and when I have more time I will be making many more of these and embellish them a bit better.</span> Ideally I would love to make a little set with a matching scissors case, bottle top pin cushion and (dare I try to make) a needle book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Felt is such a notoriously blah material to use and many people shy away from it due to its rough texture and child-like quality but I promise you that it's uses are endless and a great material to use for fun projects. My haberdashery hardly sells any and the stuff they do have is stashed in a small corner of the shop that I usually have to dig out every time I shop there but it is worth it when you can churn out a little gem like the pin cushion or pouch. I implore you to give it a go and try something new, even if it only turns into a coaster, you will surprise yourself and how durable and easy it is to use plus with the colour intensity and funky tones, how could you not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">As I have waffled on quite a bit today I will love ya and perhaps leave ya with a little curiosity at how felt can work for you...Chow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><span class="name"><b><a href="http://www.craftstylish.com/profile/JenSegrest"></a></b></span><a href="http://www.craftstylish.com/profile/JenSegrest"><span class="name"><b></b></span></a>nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-5796958121280723722011-05-08T08:40:00.000-07:002011-05-08T08:40:10.508-07:00Blogs and Buddies. (part ten)So we have come to the end of Blogs and Buddies and I must say that it has been a great experience. I have learned so much and grown as a blogger, seen so many types of blogs and styles that I would have never thought of. so without further ado, I shall wrap up my little escapade with the last and final blog.<br />
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Unionvale Mom's spot by: Cariann<br />
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I like this blog from the get go because it sent me straight into my kitchen to munch on some left overs, the recipes are too good and really simple for a newbie-in-the-kitchen like me. The blog is not only about recipes because it offers nifty hints and tips, reviews and giveaways. How cool is that?<br />
Cariann is married and has two boys which she home schools. I have another friend who home schools her children and even thought the concept is a bit foreign to me, I applaud her in her efforts and really admire her for it. Funny how most of the home schooler's I have met are very crafty, I wonder if there is any connection there? That is probably something I will have to ask Cariann about and it won't be that hard to do as this blogger is very active in the social networking world with a link to her twitter and facebook accounts.<br />
Reading on in her blog, I came across some pics of her adorable kiddies which is nice because it really gives a feel to the blog where you get to know her.<br />
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This is another blog that I will be continuing to follow and I look forward to reading all her future adventures and endeavors. <br />
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http://unvlmom.blogspot.com/ is where you can find Cariann.<br />
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Thank you for taking this trip with me through all these exciting and new blogs and I look forward to sharing some new crafting ideas and attempts with you in future installments of 'This and That' but for now... Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-64499659922038007512011-05-04T11:01:00.000-07:002011-05-04T11:01:13.229-07:00Blogs and Buddies. (part nine)I have completed eight blogs so far and am on to my ninth blog. I always get a little sad when it comes to completing a task and for most of my adolescent life I have been famous for not finishing things. This has nothing to do with loosing momentum or laziness, it is just that finality is so...(for lack of a better word) final! To think that something you have put so much time and attention into will soon come to an end saddens me. As an adult I try my darndest not to live up to the reputation I had as a child, of always forgetting things, not completing projects and being scatter brained but it is only now, after 29 years that I realize my bad traits had good intentions and I am at peace with that scatter brained kid I was not so long ago. I have forgiven her for all her down falls and found that just because I was scatterbrained it only meant that there was so much other stuff that got my attention and just because I did not complete every thing I started , it was only because leaving a loose end some where meant picking it up at anytime.<br />
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So with that being said , lets get onto another blog<br />
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Day nine: 'The journey and musings of a single county gal by Mindy<br />
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I love the way the name kind of puts things in perspective for the reader.This blogger very cleverly uses her blog as a platform to give blog reviews, book reviews offer give-away's and pretty much just general musings (which are always my favourite part of blogs). I love the part of the blog where she asks and answers random questions about herself. these are fun and gives the reader a better sense of the writer. I lover her 'short and sweet' book reviews. This is another blog that I will definitely be following.<br />
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http://singlecountrychick.blogspot.com/ is where you will find Mindy.<br />
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Join me next time for my last and final (pause to wipe hypothetical tear) blog review for 'Blogs and buddies', but for now... Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294041651380721567.post-34112797193432554392011-05-01T12:00:00.000-07:002011-05-01T12:00:08.530-07:00Blogs and Buddies. (part eight)Hello again from the craft-crazy blogger who is taking some time out to review some of my fellow swapping buddies on swap-bot, even though the due date was a week ago.<br />
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Day eight: i heart things and things by Danie.<br />
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I love the way this blog pretty much sums itself up in the heading. Straight away I got a feel for the writer and a sense of what she is all about. I specially loved the "re: Danie" tab as this lead straight to her bio which is usually my favourite part about reading a new blog for the first time.<br />
Danie seems like a very fun person and a free spirit at that. Her blog is an online journal of just about everything that goes on in her life from her highs to her lows. I would also like to congratulate her on recently getting engaged and wish her all the best for her up-coming wedding.<br />
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visit Danie at http://beastybeast.blogspot.com/ <br />
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So for now I will love ya and leave ya ...Chow!nasreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13366391898951476574noreply@blogger.com0