Kimekomi

I decided I wanted to try my hand at making a Kimekomi cone.  I saw this technique on Pinterest first using Christmas balls.  It is originally from Japan and is fabric tucking.  You can find some tutorials on Pinterest but most of them are in a foreign language.  You can get the gist just from watching even though I didn't understand a word.

I used a pattern that I found on Pinterest.  You can find bunches of them.  The step below is using carbon paper to transfer the pattern to a Poly Styrofoam cone.  I used a marker to make the lines clearer.   Then you use a x-acto knife to cut all the lines. 

I am certainly no expert but it turned out to be fun using different fabrics to get the desired effect.

I ended up using a seam ripper to tuck the fabric into the grooved lines. 

It is important that you use enough material to get into the groove so that it won't come out.

The picture below is my completed project.  Although, I am still working on what I will put on the top.  I will probably use a star but still haven't decided as yet.  I did add buttons to Santa and a pom- pom for his hat.  I couldn't quite get the star on the top of the tree so I added a metal star.  It worked fine!

I could have just done the Santa but decided to add a deer to the back.   It gave me more practice.  I hope to do a few more and hopefully get better at it.  But this one was really fun!  Will probably sell it at our Christmas Fair in November.   

It was really HOT today so this was a fun project in my craft room with my air conditioner!  Hope you all stay cool!

I loved using Sam's tutorial over at Mixed Up crafts to make this lovely Boxed Fence Card!  She does a wonderful job of showing you how to make it here-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=830&v=zMjVnq-ZNgc

Tim Holtz's Wildflower dies are so pretty!  I thought I would use them to make this card. 

I colored them using my Copic markers.  I love how you can change to look of the flowers just by

changing the colors!

I left the backs white so it does look sort of monochromatic.  I am really just lazy....

The dies are above- I have bought a bunch of them since I really do love the different flowers I can use to make a bouquet!  

Today we have our Grandson overnight!  We have plans to spend the day with him outside playing mini golf and going to the park to play frisbee.  You know...tiring him out... along with us. 

It should be fun!  Hope everyone has a fabulous day!

Happy 4th of July!

What a beautiful day!  We spent the day with family at my sister and her husband's home in Mass.  They have a fabulous pool!  I spend most of the time up to my neck in the water in the pool!  We had great food and great company!   It was a wonderful way to celebrate the 4th !  Thank you Lenny and Adrianne for the invite!

The above picture is of an album I made this past week!  I think it really is cute since it looks like a suitcase.  The instructions are by Alexandra ( I think )- and you can find the video in the link in  her blog here-

http://clayguana.blogspot.com/2015/08/graphic-45-craft-reflections-suitcase.html

I couldn't find the envelopes she used with the same dimensions so I made my own. I also had paper that looks like leather so I didn't have to do any of the coloring she mentions in the instructions.  I just glued it to some cardstock to make it more sturdy. 

Here's a few more pictures-

This album has 8 pages!  Plenty of space for journaling and pictures!

Each page has a pocket for either a tag or a folded book.  Check out Alexandra's blog to find her walk thru of this album.  I used Graphic 45's Love Notes collection for most of the pages.  Love that collection!

I still want to do some more decorating on some of the pages. I loved making this album!  One other project I have been working on is the lighted winter scene below.

My wonderful brother in law made the frame for this project.  I still need to spray paint the frame white.  But I do like how it came out.  I plan to do some more lighted winter scenes to sell at our Christmas fair.  They are really fun to make!

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July!  Stay cool!