I had this oval gold frame which matched the gold that the new ones had in them and so I removed the glass, got out my scrapbook papers, flower embellishments, glue gun and sequins.


...and this is what I came up with! I even did some freehand drawing - really easy stuff but it made all the difference. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is really pretty on my bathroom wall next to the Anthropologie frames I purchased. Everything here I had in my craft room already, so it really didn't cost me anything to make this. Here are LOTS of close-ups! :)




Here are all my picture frames on the bathroom wall. The picture didn't come out as good as I wanted, but as soon as I finish redecorating, I'll post some more.
And the next project I did today was an attempt at an expensive slipcover I had seen in Ballard Designs catalog.
When I saw this parsons chair cover, I thought to myself "I have to have it for my craft room." I almost didn't care what it cost, but it really was too much - $130. I couldn't justify spending that for a chair that would only be left up in the craft room. Fortunatley, they had some plain slipcovers in their catalog for only $40 so I ordered one. It is a twill or maybe a white denim fabric and very nicely made. I figured I could do something to jazz it up a bit.
I picked up some of Martha Stewart's butterfly stickers at the craft store...
...enlarged them on my photocopier and printed them out on fabric transfer paper...
...cut them out and ironed them on the back of my slipcover.
Here are the before pictures of my slipcover:

and.... Ta Da! Here is the finished product. I LOVE my knock-off slipcover I made for less than $50!
Now I'm off to figure out how I can make those Limited Edition throw pillows on page 58 of their catalog that sell for $75!











On top of the dresser are crafts I've made, some jars with ribbons, and some suitcases with fancy trims.
























...printed out the inserts on my computer and put it all together.

I'll have them put together already, and let the kids paint them however they wish.

Here's how I made the pocket watch...


I painted the stripes on the preserver, handwrote "Titanic" and hot glued the rope around it and finally glued it to the back of the shadowbox.
...and used a permanent marker to make some faux nail heads on either end of the label. I was surprised at how much it looked like a real brass plate! Then I tied the knot with the nylon and hot glued it in place.
I test all my crafts on my own kids and my son can't wait to make these in our co-op classes!
Contrary to what it may seem like, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth! Between homeschooling and the co-op class I'm teaching, and all the other little things in life, my blog has been sorely neglected. BUT... some exciting news for me! I have been asked to serve on the staff of a new co-op that is starting up in April. I have been asked to be in charge of the Arts and Crafts Projects! I am soooo excited. It's different from our current co-op, in that we will be doing unit studies and basing all of the history, geography, literature, science and arts around the unit we are studying. AND... I won't be just picking out projects for one age group like I do now, it will be for all the age groups, from Kindergarten to 12th grade! Oh boy. I keep thinking "what have I done?" But then I feel like this is the most exciting thing for me right now. I couldn't be more thrilled. So, in addition to my current jewelery class with the 4th and 5th graders, I have been working on projects for our new co-op.



What a crazy time it has been since Christmas. I haven't had any time to keep up with my blog and have so many new bloggers that have posted that I need to go visit. I have been out of town, sick, starting school with the kids or getting ready for my co-op class which started yesterday. 


And, as a result, tomorrow, I will be cleaning up this:

I made two more birdcages last night. One is for my daughter. Since she loves tiny things, especially tiny birds, I put two sweet little birds on a swing in her birdcage.
She really liked it. I think it's so cute.

Here are some more closeups.





