CiCi's Results: "Owl" Let You Figure It Out!

I do have a weird fascination with owls.  As I sit here blogging at my kitchen table, I count 5 owl items or images staring back at me... gulp... it might be an obsession!  Without a doubt, an owl's best feature is their eyes, however, staying up all night is a close second!
 
I can't crochet.  I'm not patient and I become incredibly frustrated when I try because it pisses me off that I can't do it.  Sewing, is a breeze!  Counted cross stitch was a piece of cake to learn and embroidery... the easiest of them all!  Crocheting is the stuff that taunts me in my nightmares!
 
Ironically, I do have a drawer full of yarn, because "one day I'm going to teach myself to crochet." Also, I pilfered some of it from Kayc when she was in her knitting phase.  Periodically I check out crochet books from the library and I happened upon a pattern for an owl garland and it looked like a good beginner project.
 

  

I grabbed my H hook, ball of yarn and sat down to crochet. Struggling through the first owl, it didn't turn out to bad, but the remaining two (just when I thought I was getting it) ended up not working right and are lopsided, but alas, they have found their purpose in life... as coasters.
 

 
In a bind and pissed off because crocheting was smarter than me, I did what every normal person does, I googled.  I happened upon a YouTube tutorial for a Night Owl Eye Mask!  It's taken three long nights, but I've finished my own.  I'd like to point out that I did go rouge by chain stitching the head straps instead of using plain 'ol boring elastic.
 
It's not perfect, but I'm proud that I finished and it looks like it should.  I choose variegated yarn to cover any imperfections. This project has created an animal and I'm ready to get started on another one tonight!  Practice makes perfect!
 

 
Visit www.CrochetTalk.com or follow this link for pattern: http://youtu.be/DszDaYLIMjM?list=UUc7ne2xKgF-9KlRS9n8KoVQ
 

WARNING!

Yes family, this most likely means you will be receiving an awesome handmade gift this year, but at least it's made with 100% love!

Kayc's Challenge: Art will be Art - RESULTS

We use to make collage after collage after collage, each on meaning something different. In fact I still have a small box that I made into a collage that I use for jewelry! So naturally, when I read my challenge for making another collage, something I haven't done in probably 5 years... my mind blanked on how to make a worthy collage!

All I could think of is that my modern day collages have been ruined by Pinterest. I don't get fashion magazines to look for ideas, I don't by food magazines for the recipes, I don't get health magazines for new work out ideas -- I simply go to w w w DOT P, I, N, T, E, R, E, S, T DOT com! Egh! I hate being so locked on to technology. 

After 10 minutes of thinking, I did what anyone would do looking for craft ideas -- I WENT TO PINTEREST and searched my page! BAM, a perfect idea that I've been MEANING to do for way to long...and NOW, now I get the chance to do what I've been putting off. Here is my results to the challenge: Collage! It's edgy, out of the box idea, but it's PERFECT and it's my story!

First step --- Go to the thrift store and get WOOD framed pictures, sand paper and wood stain because the picture frames are ugly!

Second Step -- start sanding the frame to find out your WOOD frames are composite, and a sticker that just looks like wood!...Finishing sanding and stain it anyway!

Third Step -- Get your favorite Instagram pictures printed. Be terrible at sizes and ignore that pictures printed size 4inch by 4 inch are obviously going to be WAY to big to fit in tiny, previously stained not wood, wood frames! TOSS FRAMES

Fourth Step: FIND SOMETHING IN HOUSE to keep your challenge idea alive! Remove poster, glass, and start building your very own modern looking customized Instagram hanging picture!!

FINAL RESULTS: 

Morale of the story -- Don't give up when things aren't working out as you planned. Keep thinking, look outside the box, recycle, reuse and be creative. You can do anything if you put your mind too it! For this challenge I had to put my mind in overdrive to solve one problem after the other!!! That's what this blog is all about. Finding creativity in ALL depths!

Webster Dictionary Photo Challenge: Week 2

I have to admit… photo challenges are demanding!  Actually, it probably only feels that way because I spend my day at work, come home to relax, make a delicious supper, pop a cork on a bottle of our homemade wine AND then realize that I have forgotten to post my photo & it’s already 8 o’clock. 
  

 

Supper has become lukewarm and my wine lost its chill, but both Kayc & I took some great photos this week!

This week I’m also highlighting four of our photos in the categories of emotional, humor, literal & beautiful!

 

Day #13: Gluten! Ahhh..gluten, how I do miss you!  Having an intolerance doesn’t even compare to those who have Celiac Disease, but I want jump inside this photo to have a sip and take a bite! This photo wins the emotional award of the week!

[KaseABase]

Day #11: Aesop Fables! Seriously, Bo Jangles lives the life of luxury.  Sleep all day, sleep all night & steal, steal, steal!  I still find him creepy & most certainly not adorable, but he knows how to find his light & pose!  This photo wins the humor award for the week!

[KaseABase]

Day #15: Trading Cards! This was a tough choice.  We both are in love with sports fans!  However, my husband has a collection of 15,000 cards of various sports & players all tucked away in tubs or in piles. This photo wins the literal photo of the week!

[KaseABase]

As I was typing this post, I casually asked my husband about how many Jerry Rice cards that he did have.  His response was, “Probably 30 or so.”  I then when back to typing, he disappeared.  Minutes later he returned with a binder… he in fact has 72 in a book, but informed me "that there are more somewhere in cases."

P.S. He’s willing to make a deal!

Day 10: Loud! Everyone who knows me will agree that I have two loves in my life… nail polish and books!  Colors and nail designs help me express myself loudly & books take me to those worlds that are far, far away!  This picture wins the beautiful photo of the week!!

[MusesofaSagittarius]

Follow along with us as we continue on our 30 day June Photo Challenge!  We’ve made it half way!  You can also check out our Instagram accounts.  Don’t forget to like your favorites!

Join us in our challenge!  Don't forget to tag us in your photos!

CAROL: [MusesofaSagittarius]

KAYC: [KaseABase] 

VIII. Candy Canes

Christmas is on the countdown, so fa la la la la la la la laaaaa!!! Christmas time is candy time. And who doesn't love a candy cane???

This week, if you choose to accept, I challenge you to PEPPERMINT!

I encourage you to use peppermint in a recipe for maybe cookies, maybe candy, maybe a winter cocktail or a maybe a warm loaf of bread. Use your imagination, create a new creation! Use what it takes, create, or even bake your way into this fun Christmas time spirit!!!

On behalf of bringing us a bit closer this holiday season, I also put myself to the challenge to create your creation within 7 days of you posting it. Just a little conversation starting, taste bud mixing, moment of fun sharing that we can do while being 3,000 miles apart during the holiday season. (of course if your concoction turns out good)

Challenge Details:
Inspiration: Candy Canes
Medium: Peppermint flavoring (or Candy Canes) -- Garnishing with Candy Canes
Deadline: Sunday 9th, 11:59pm

VII. Wreath Results

I accepted the wreath challenge with great aspirations. I actually had to force myself to choose which sort of wreath I wanted to make.

From sticks, to stones, glitter and pine cones, I was prepared to create the Christmas Spirit..... So I thought.

I went to the store the next morning and walked through all the Christmas items waiting for the most perfect idea to pop. When I approached the flower isle, I nicely found a sale sign --- ALL STYROFOAM 50% off... YES, GREAT, AWESOME...NOT!!!!! All the Black Friday shoppers had cleaned the place out! Not discouraged, I wandered to the spice isle. There's just something about Cinnamon that warms me up! Looking for the Cinnamon sticks was exciting. I was already thinking about all the red fabric I had at home and how I could make my own bow and use the sticks as the core of the wreath..... til I found that a pack of 12 cinnamon stix were $9.00, and I needed easily 50 sticks.

With the tail between my legs, and 4 stores later, I found a wood wreath made up. I grabbed some fun decorations, dissembled them, and got out all my red fabric. I ripped small shreds tied the ends together to give it a rustic look and placed each festive piece to finish the puzzle. It is a fun welcoming wreath, now if it will just warm up enough so I can get something to stick so I can hang it on the front door instead of just inside the front door.

Although my wreath was not what I had wanted, hoped and expected it to be, it still turned out to pack a punch of Christmas. Don't get discouraged because all the pieces aren't falling together perfectly. Use this as a reason to go outside the boundaries!

Of course I look at yours and absolutely love it! HOW PERFECT!!!

VII. Wreath Results

Ta-Da! It's been a while, but I finally finished a challenge!  So I was browsing through Michael's last Monday  because I need to pick up stickers for work and I got stopped by the 50% OFF all Christmas decor.  My favorite holiday decor are wreaths, so I just needed to find the correct supplies in order to make it!  I looked through the floral and foam section for a foam circle to use as the base for my wreath, but they were all sold out because they were also on sale so I knew I was going to have to improvise.

I picked up some fantastic, glittery midnight blue plastic leaves that were $0.49 a piece!  For that price I was able to purchase a handful of different leave shapes.

Other supplies that I used were scissors, wire cutter, floral tape and a glue gun.  I thought that I would be able to wrap it only with floral tape and then cover that with ribbon, but I ran into problems keeping it circular in shape because it wasn't strong enough.  Therefore, I resorted to the glue gun.  I also struggled with that, I think the glue is rather old.  I started by laying the pieces for layer one face down and glued the end of the stem to the top leave of the next.  Although I bought a variety, I ended up using only the fern like stems and the broad leaf stems.

After the first layer was put together and glued securely, I layered on the fern pieces to give it some body and structure.

The minute I held up the wreath, the glue started to give way and my circle became more oblong.  I reinforced about half of it with a wire hanger to help hold it's shape.  I hot glued it to the back of the wreath and taped it in few places with the floral tape.  I used left over stems and snipped the leaves so I could hot glue them around the wreath to cover the not so good looking parts.

I used a similar colored ribbon to hang the wreath from and perched it on our door.  As you can see there are few parts that could use a little more body and it's shame isn't 100% circular, but I think it looks great!  It's simple, festive and unique!

Happy Holidays to All!

VI. Be Thankful - Photography

Tis the season to be THANKFUL!! Being gifted with the challenge week of Thanksgiving I have quite the challenge for you! Now that you have access to an amazing photo editing program, and have the ability to have a smart phone in your hand…

If you choose to accept, I challenge you to taking, creating, and editing 10 PHOTOS of things you are THANKFUL for! 

So turn on the juices, and start the set ups. This challenge is fun, intriguing and creative.

You can take pictures of ANY thing you want. People, places, objects, things – you decide! Just click away and share what you get!

CHALLENGE DETAILS:

Inspiration: Capturing things to be Thankful for

Medium: Photography

Deadline: Sunday, November 25 @ 11:59pm