*Closed* Tutorial Thursday: Mario Stocking and Giveaway!

Can you believe it? It's less than a week til Christmas! December has just flown by.

Here's what we're going to be making today!

I don't even have a tree up yet (haven't decided if I feel its worth it when I'm going to be moving 5 days after Christmas.), but I really wanted to make/do something Christmassy before December ended.

Tutorial Tuesday/Monday: Portal Lemon-ade Wall Display

I could not wait til Tuesday to post this, I was too excited!

The Portal series has a very special place in my heart. When I first played through it I was super inspired. It helped that a friend made me play one right before two came out so I got a giant dose of Portal goodness all at once. I must have crafted mostly Portal themed things for about 2 months.

The other day (during the week of many craft fails) I was racking my brains for an idea for a shadow box, because I have two sitting around collecting dust, and I suddenly heard the echo of Cave Johnson in my head.

“When life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don’t want your damn lemons, what the hell am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life’s manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am? I’m the man who’s gonna burn your house down! With the lemons! I’m gonna get my engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down!”

I knew what I must do. I needed to make life take back it's lemons.

Nature Photos

Since I've been trying to get better at photography, so the pictures on this blog will be better, I've been practicing a lot. One of my favorite things to do is just go outside and shoot what I find, or wait til I see something out a window that grabs my attention and I grab my camera.

Cwafty Update #3

Let me start off by saying I hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving. I know I had a good one, even if it was a day late. I also hope none of you were harmed in a freak Black Friday accident!

Its been a while since I've done one of these! But this one is a biggie, you guys need to know quite a bit!

Cwafty Reviews: A Little Whimsey for Me + A Coupon For You

**This company is no longer in business**

Today was supposed to be a tutorial day but my Whimseybox arrived! Well technically it arrived yesterday literally a minute before I had to walk out the door to work. I went my whole shift feeling this anxious, excited energy and I could not wait any longer! Now the unboxing.

Also, all of the opinons here are my own and I was not compensated in any way for this review.You guys get a small perk though! If you follow the link below you get $5 off your first box.

Bonus Tutorial Saturday: Paper Cut Pop Art

This is a remake of the tutorial that wasn't up to par last week. It turned out much better this time. I really wanted to make something colorful for my walls/desk (because I have no walls,  only windows). Something colorful, something cwafty, something bright, something that really popped!

I came up with a way to make striking pop art that is only as difficult as you want it to be!

A Very Merry Un-Birthday! Good Shopping, Good Food, Good Friends!

I was super selfish this year and celebrated my birthday the whole weekend(hence the title, since technically I only celebrated one birthday and two un-birthdays. I hope you can understand my Wonderlandian logic.) 

I went shopping with a friend and found some great stuff to add to my fall wardrobe! I was surprised cause on a good shopping trip I find one thing, maybe two that I am in love with but on this magical day I snagged two sweaters, three dresses, and a coat. All for under $40!

Tutorial Tuesday: Studded Sweater Collar

I had a great birthday weekend!  But I'm going to do a post about that later. Today I combined two things that are big in the DIY community. Studding things, and adding collars to tops!

 Neither of which I have tried before, but have wanted to give a shot. I'm all about killing two birds with one stone.

Oh before I forget! I also wanted to say thanks to everyone who participated in my giveaway! The winner has claimed her prize and it left on its way to her today. There will definitely be more to come, and if you guys have any ideas for stuff you would like to see given away let me know!

Cwafty Fails: No Tutorial Tuesday

In spite of the fact that I managed to turn around last week's technopocalypse, this week I had a craft-tastophe and did not have the time or energy to bounce back.

To apologize, I give you this picture of the Marble.

Basically, I had an idea. A wonderful idea for some colorful Pop Art that I could visualize perfectly in my mind! I started right away and everything seemed to be going well; I got some great pictures, my lighting was nice, and the individual parts of the project looked awesome! When it was all finished though...it was rough, lets call it rough. There was no way I was going to put that crappy thing on my blog, not when I'm finally making steps in the right direction.

I hope you will forgive me for missing this week and understand my desire for quality v. quantity. I am going to try to redo it and maybe post it for next week. Who knows, it's my birthday this weekend and I have the next two days off so maybe I'll even finish two tutorials and do a double next week to make it up to you!

Til Next Time,

RaCh

Tutorial Tuesday: Gold Leaf Headband

Fall has fallen! The weather has been wonderful here and I was inspired by all the leaves in my backyard to make today's project. A gold leaf headband!

Today's tutorial had to be made twice, the first one was a video tutorial but due to technological apocalypses that one is not useable so here is a photo one!

The good news is because I had to make the project twice I have two headbands so I'm giving one away to one of you! Learn more after the tutorial.

Tutorial Tuesday: Pin Cushion Thimble Necklace

Sadly, I think my Halloween posts are over. I don't even have time to think about the wonder that is the 31st until November 1st. I can't wait for next year though!

Today we are going to be making something I have wanted for a really long time.

 I saw the necklace that inspired this one a few years ago and I'm not sure if its the same one, but there are similar ones on shanalogic.com. That one is a little pricey though and I remember the one I originally loved being maybe even more. This DIY one was pretty cheap since I had everything but the wool. Heres how you can make one too!

Celebrating Halloween Part 2

My favorite blog, which I've been following for about 2 years is Dinosaur Dracula (formerly X-Entertainment). It is from that beautiful sanctuary of internet magic that I got the idea for the centerpiece of my new Halloween traditions.  Here's the link to Matt's post.

The Halloween Mood Table

"The idea is to give your home at least one small area where Halloween reigns supreme"

Celebrating Halloween Part #1

As I've mentioned before, Halloween is my favorite holiday! I've only not been Trick-or-Treating on Halloween for 2 years. Both of those years I just marathoned horror movies with some friends and got sick from eating candy and pumpkin flavored things all night. It wasn't enough of a celebration for me though, it didn't feel like Halloween.

This year I vowed would be different! I may not be able to do what I used to do on the best holiday of the year, but I could learn to celebrate in a new way!

Always a good step in trying to feel more autumn-y.

Tutorial Tuesday: Bloody Ax Necklace

I'm back! A little refreshed, but also with some new stress. Alas so is life, oh well, we persevere!

Anyway, today is a quick tutorial for a necklace that takes about 5-10 minutes. I was at Hobby Lobby the other day and had to be bodily dragged away from the Fairy Tale brand jewelry section. I loved pretty much everything there. I'm also not being paid to say that or anything.  I ended up leaving with only four or five items, so I did well.

I picked up this beauty and knew I had to give it a makeover to make it the perfect halloween accessory.

Here is a link to whats available from the collection online if you wanna check it out.

Whos that Pokemon?

So, I think my next post won't be until next Tuesday. I'm taking a small vacation from the blog to use what little time I will not be working or sleeping this week to play the new Pokemon X game for the 3DS.

Cwafty Cookbook: Flaky Caramel Apple Pie

Sorry for the late post again guys, and it's not the finished bag either. Not having a fixed schedule at work makes getting these posts up on a schedule more difficult then I thought. Especially because work is kicking my butt big time since we are understaffed. I think we just hired someone with experience yesterday though, so maybe that might give me a third day off a week...maybe.

Anyway, today I decided to do some baking. I was really craving some apple pie but I wanted to add a twist and make it something fun and very seasonal. This is my own, home-made recipe for Flaky Caramel Apple Pie.

A Year of Art Journaling

Sorry for the late post, work has been kicking my butt lately.

During my childhood I had always been one of those people who collected numerous cute journals and diaries and notebooks with the intent to use them to chronicle my every idea, thought, and feeling. I could never keep up with it though.

When I got into high school I learned about Art Journaling but had no idea where to start and got caught up with school and friends and life so I forgot about it and once again never got around to it.

 

Tutorial Tuesday: LSP Sweatshirt

I'm lucky I got anything done after the emotional pain I have been suffering due to the finale of breaking bad, but I am trying to stay strong! So, next week part two of the messenger bag tutorial should be ready, but this week I bring you the first of many Halloween-themed posts for this month a lumptastic Lumpy Space Princess Sweatshirt!

This Deluxe LSP plushie was handmade by me and can be found in my shop when it reopens!

Cwafty Reviews: It's a Weird day

First of all, in my update yesterday I mentioned my rearranging of my office and thought I would show it off! I love reorganizing/rearranging things. Feels fresh.

The kitties were excited to re-explore my office.

So I'm trying something new today here on the blog. A book review!

Cwafty Update #2

I made some art!

So yesterday I got up at like 5am on my day off and was actually well rested and ready to tackle the day! It was wonderful.

Tutorial Tuesday: Re-Fashioned Tank Top

I was grabbing some groceries at a certain giant chain department store the other day when I walked past a clearance bin and this funky fabric caught my attention. I pulled it out of the bin and discovered it was a large tank top with this crazy gold lamé-ish (more like gold paint) thunderbolt pattern on it. 

It was only $3 and I felt like it looked really sad and a little awkward as a shirt and needed to be made into something else. I had 3 bucks in my pocket and decided I was the person for that job!

Art Adventure Time 1: A day at the beach...

...Well my kind of beach. For today's A.A.T. I packed up my batcat field bag with some Cliff granola bars, pita chips and water and headed to a local park. I started off my exploration by wandering around the park but ended up deciding it was boring and traveling farther on. I'm glad I did because I found a beach!

Look at that too-clear sky, It's pretty but could've used some clouds.

Shelf of Unfinished Projects: First Finshed Project

I finally got one! And by got one, I mean got one completed! Since I set an opening date for my store, September 20th, I have been making loads of plans for new products.

Shamefully though, I still have some prototype products that have been sitting on my unfinished shelf for 1+ years. This Jake the Dog plushie is one of those products.

Tutorial Tuesday: Comfy Camera Strap

This weeks project comes from necessity, and the fact that today's original project turned into a two-parter that I ended up pushing back for next week and the following. It's going to be a great one though! You should come back and check it out! Hint: Its stripey and has pockets.

 In preparation for my next A.A.T I decided I needed a camera strap so that I can go crazy climbing trees and enjoying nature without having to hold/worry about my camera constantly. When I took my photography class, my regular length camera strap bugged me so much. It's main problem in my opinion was the length and the fact that it cut uncomfortably into my neck, so I kept that in mind when making my new strap.

Cwafty Update #1

So I have decided after about five months of my shop being closed that I was finally at a point in my life where I could reopen. I've finally got this blog started, which has been my dream for almost 2 years. I'm not in school right now, so I don't have to worry about projects and orders contending. I'm basically trying to make a new start with my business.

 I've been working on getting all my ducks in a row on all fronts associated with Cwafty Creations, taking pictures, making headings, writing descriptions, etc.

Which brings me to the new header! Isn't it cute? It has a really nice handmade look to it! I think I might start hand-making all my headers. I don't know if you guys saw my original header, but do you like this one? If you did see the other one, is this one better? I'd love any feedback as my blog is still wobbling uncertainly on its little Bambi-like legs.

Anyway the re-opening date for my shop is September 20th and I hope you guys check it out! I am going to have a bunch of new products and it's a perfect time to start thinking about Christmas presents!

Til Next Time,

RaCh

Altered States of Mind: Photography Collection

So last year this time I started my first year of college.

One of the electives I was immediately attracted to was Photography 1. It was a black and white photo class so I got to start with the very basics. I learned all about depth of field, composition, exposure, shutter speed, aperture, etc. I was thrilled.  In the course we had to develop our own film and "print" our own photos with an enlarger.

Tutorial Tuesday: Clay Carousel

This week I finished re-reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and if you've never read it

1. I would recommend it highly.
2. It is all about immersion into this magical, wondrous, dream-like circus. It has whole designated chapters for describing different tents and attractions so vividly. Mrs. Morgenstern has a gift for evoking mental images.

Being creatively-inclined, I always get really inspired when I read this book, and that is what inspired today's tutorial!

Art Adventure Time: Come on grab your pens!

So I have decided to combine my love of adventure time and doing art to make a segment for my blog called Art Adventure Time! Creative and original right? Don't worry, I'll work on it.

Anyway the basic idea is I pack up a bag with supplies:

• Art Journal
• Pens/Pencils
• Random Assortment of Mediums (a few colored pencils, a marker, a piece of charcoal ) 
• Water Bottle
• Snack
• Camera

Tutorial Tuesday: Lace Infinity Scarf

A super-quick, cute, and cheap diy project! I thought this would be a great first tutorial for me. I hope you enjoy it.

I was inspired to make this scarf by looking at my plain outfit of a dark grey t-shirt and skinny jeans and thinking, "This just needs a little ...something." I went straight to my cwaft corner and rummaged around in my fabric drawers and found this beautiful pewter grey slightly metallic lace!

New Year's Resolution...8 months late

 Let's just say I procrastinated?

I have a problem. A crafting problem in particular. When I come up with a good idea I can't stop thinking about, I get really really psyched about it, get all the supplies for it and then dive right in to making it. Now, that doesn't sound too bad, but I feel like my creativity is a bad habit at times for a few reasons.

Hello World.exe

Hello Internet Friends! My name is RaChil. Yes capital letter in the middle and all. I have an odd family. You can call me RaCh. Anyway, I want to share my interesting, creative, busy busy busy life with you. To start us off let me introduce myself to you with some Fun Facts!