How do you bring some special excitement to a craft project and paint yourself into a productive corner with a public boast? Make yourself a challenge and plaster your FB page with a poster for it!
And so I give you the second annual Craftorama!
In October 2010 I made this event up for myself, making 10 crafts in 10 days and posting the pictures on facebook for friends as I went. For 2011 I cranked it up and aimed for 11 crafts in 11 days (in the 11th month).
The rules I set for myself are simple.
1. Each day complete a craft project and by the end of the day post a picture.
2. No repeats during the 11 consecutive days.
The goal is to make time for crafts, try some new things, and have fun!
Day 1 - String Art
I was recently dazzled by some typographical string art I saw online and wanted to try something similar. My friend Stephen found me a good piece of spare wood on his farm, I wanted something weathered but in good shape.
I chose the word RECLAIM and the green colours to play up the repurposed nature of the wood in the message. I used graph paper to plan the letters and nail placement. Tie the embroidery thread to the first nail and start winding it, join all possible nails within the letter shape and reinforce the outline of each letter. Finished it off with some coarse string to hang it.
Day 2 - Crayon Spectacular
My most unique craft, inspired by pictures I found on the net. Take a white canvas (also looks good painted black), buy three or four boxes of crayons, and glue them points down along the top with regular white craft glue. Take a hair dryer on high heat (hotter the better) and hold it in front of a section of crayons until they suddenly melt/drip/spray. Repeat.
Day 3 - Cross Stitch Yoda
This is only my second cross stitch ever and I think there will be many many more to come. I've already been enjoying the 'Subversive Cross Stitch' site for a while now.
Once I got my stitches tidier I was rolling. Except that I was a fool to tackle this seemingly simple project in a single day. Who knew cross stitch is soooo time consuming? Not me. This took ten hours. Thankfully it was a vacation day.
I love the design (found online) and the result. Yoda rocks. I'm also happy with how the simple framing works. This is going to hang in my office.
Day 4 - Fimo Monster Magnets
My friend Cat is a magician with the fimo (modelling clay that you work to make soft, form, and then bake to harden). I've tried it once before and would love to do more.
This day I didn't have much time so I kept it fairly simple. Bright coloured monsters with big eyes now hang out on my fridge. Peel and stick magnets on their backs.
Day 5 - Vintage Book Cover Clock
I love crafts with books. This was a fun simple project and I think the camp value is delicious.
Day 6 - Felted Snow Citizen
Oh felting, I still love you greatly. And I love social activism. This soft fluffy white citizen is bringing the spirit of the occupy movement to the holidays with a classic cardboard sign. I heart this.
Day 7 - Leather Letter Punch Bookmarks
In my search for 11 crafts I wanted to take on in this great adventure I spent some time wandering around Michael's craft store. No surprise there. One fun thing I picked up on a whim was a small metal letter punch tool and some strips of soft leather to try it on.
The tool is fun and I am obsessed with letter/text based crafts at present. The results were too subtle though, the letters actually show better in this picture than they do in person. I'm wondering if I should use a harder leather. More to explore here for sure.
Day 8 - Origami Wreaths
Oh how I love the Japanese Paper Store on Queen street. I want everything in it and I want more ways to use the incredible variety of papers.
I've done a little origami but have no great skill or patience for it. These simple wreath ornaments are made with a few paper folds and no glue and I think the result is brilliant. I plan to make lots for the holidays, and am thinking of stringing a series of them on a line for a garland.
Both the shiny holiday paper and the more sophisticated japanese papers turned out great results.
Each wreath takes eight pieces of paper, making the combination possibilities endless.
I highly recommend this project for non-crafters and kids 5 and up.
Day 9 - Snowglobes
I've always wanted to try making my own snowglobe and now I have. The first is a tribute to the gay penguins at the Toronto Zoo being temporarily separated and pressured to mate with female penguins to reproduce. I bought the penguins at a toy store, used a glass, glitter for snow, and a piece of grey hard plastic for the bottom. Baby oil works slightly better than water so that the glitter snow falls more slowly.
The second is, of course, a stormtrooper in a mason jar. The height of the toy trooper works perfectly in the jar, and I dream of more super heroes meeting my glue gun in the future.
Day 10 - Shrink Plastic Buttons
I just scratched the surface of potential for shrinkydink or shrink plastic with this one. Permanent ink markers work, and pencil crayons are great, the colour intensifies after baking. Cut the plastic sheet and decorate, then bake. The plastic will shrink to one third the original size (shrinking your design along with it), become thicker, and harden. Punch holes before baking circular designs to create cute buttons for yet more craft projects!
Day 11 - Recycled Painting
Find an old framed painting, stick on letters, paint over the letters, peel them up to let the original shine through your message.
Yes, my letter positioning was a bit sloppy. Oh well, I'm not so straight myself.
Bigger letters would let more of the picture show through, I think to better effect. Still, I'm fond of this piece and it's already hanging on my wall.
"Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life." You said it Picasso.
Farewell Craftorama 2011, you were a lot of work, and a lot of joy. I am left a little tired and totally inspired.
