Valentine Crafts for All

"Blessed is the season

which engages the whole world

in a conspiracy of 

Love."

- Hamilton Wright Mabie

www.RubberStampAve.com

Today I'd like to explore crafts

with a Valentine theme.

Since I love a wide variety of crafting projects,

that's what I'll share today!

Enjoy....

a safety pin Pin Pattern by Sherri Osborn

Safety Pin Pins are so easy to make,

you can easily do enough for an entire classroom

in a short amount of time.

Why not pass out Valentines that are different this year

than the normal paper ones?

In fact, why not try your hand at making your own patterns?

You can find free graph paper at the UniqueBeadedJewelry web site,

or you can google 'blank loom beadweaving graph'

or check out all the free patterns (including graph paper) at

www.bead-patterns.com

Cut a piece of 8.5" x 11" piece of cardstock in fourths.

Punch in two holes, 

spaced so your safety pin can be pinned through the holes!

Pin on your Valentine pin,

and sign your name.

Add a clever Valentine saying if you wish.

For a fancier gift, cut your cardstock in half,

and then fold each half in half for a 'card' type Valentine.

You can pin your special pin on the front, or in the inside!

Get out those crayons, markers, colored pencils

and stickers!

Don't forget some glitter, scented markers and ribbons!

:0)

c.2007 Sherri Osborn

Have you tried the 'new' Yo Yo Maker templates yet?

They are super easy to follow,

and yo yos are fun craft embellishments for tons of things!

Here is one finished, ready-to-buy yo yo hair clip:

www.cookiefleur.etsy.com

Go to

www.etsy.com

and search for 'yo yo craft'.

You will find LOTS AND LOTS of wonderful items for sale,

all handmade,

and also the supplies needed to make your own yo yos,

and the finished yo yos for you to craft with!

www.OutaAfrica.etsy.com

from Tzaneen, South Africa

www.KrissyLuCrafts.etsy.com

www.AWorldtoEmbellish.etsy.com

from the USA

www.Adorabilities.etsy.com

from New York, USA

Another variation, with silk flowers, rhinestones and buttons!

www.thomassonlane.etsy.com

I get inspired just looking at the creative ways others have used the humble yo yo!

How about sending Valentines that the recipient gets to color themselves?

You can tweak the size of these to fit your card dimensions,

and print off as many as you want -

personal use only, you know.

No packaging them and selling them!

courtesy Dover Publications

copyright Jan Brett, from her wonderful web site!!

unknown source

from the Oakland Tribune, Feb. 9, 1930 issue

by Helen Maillard

found on: www.yesteryearsnews.wordpress.com

vintage valentine

"Nothing you do for children

is ever wasted.

They seem not to notice us,

hovering, averting our eyes;

and they seldom offer thanks,

but what we do for them

is never wasted."

- Garrison Keillor, author and radio show host

vintage Valentine

That's it for today!

tomorrow - iris folding patterns,

more Zoo Valentines,

and more Valentine paper dolls!

also upcoming:

easy Valentine dipped caramels

and Valentines with suckers!

inkspired

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

www.inkspired.etsy.com

and

also on pinterest: kkloberdans!!

Fall musings

Boooo - Hoooo

Twitch Sister 'Twaura', original Collage Art Doll by inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

On sale through October 31, 2011 for only $15!

Boo Hoooo

It' been a rough few days.

Ick.

It is definitely  Fall here with cooler weather, everything changing colors,

and all outside going to seed (achOO!!).

If I didn't have eyes (which I am SO grateful that I do!)

my nose would tell me it is fall.

My allergies would tell me it is fall.

My fibromyalgia would tell me it is fall.

My migraine-y head would tell me it is fall.

Boo Hoo

AchOO!

oh, ouch!

some fall/Halloween images from turkeyfeathers' blog

Use these for embroidery, woodburning,

painting, costume decorations, coloring pages, transfers...

what else can you think of?

"October's poplars are

flaming torches

lighting the way

to winter."

- Nova Bair

all images - RubberStampAvenue

Betsy McCall, 1973

"Listen! the wind is rising,

and the air is wild with leaves,

We have had our summer evenings,

now for October eves!"

- Humbert Walfe

and FALL is somewhere in-between!

or, if you live in Colorado,

we get both!

This illustration is a great idea for a Halloween costume!

With all the layers, it should be good for many different temperatures during

Trick or Treat!

Make giant cutlery with recycled cardboard from a big box,

and spray with silver paint.

Smudge edges with black paint.

Voila!

OR

Draw a set of utensils, or just two, crossed like an 'X'.

Cut from shiny silver fabric, and use iron on webbing

to attach to the front of a fabric goodie bag.

Whenever the goodie bag is presented for 'treats',

the silverware will shine!

You can also iron onto a natural/brown color paper bag with smooth sides.

http://www.theartofhandmades.etsy.com/

Do you have a little charmer that wants to be a ballerina?

Again?

and Again?

Check out this vintage pic for some different ballerina ideas:

Why not make an orange ballerina outfit, with fall leaves and fall flowers to decorate as shown?

For a simple ballerina skirt:

First, read all directions.

Then gather your materials together in one place.

Cut out big circles of netting from different colored netting fabric:

try layering orange, pink, peach, beige, light tan,

and even a layer of sparkle netting! 

Fold each circle in half. (This is also a great way to make an even circle).

Then in half again. You now have the center of the circle up at the point.

Cut off a LITTLE to mark where the waist will go.

Unfold. Cut one slit from side up to small circle cut out in the middle.***

***

If your ballerina is small enough, you can skip cutting a slit, and just cut out the inner circle, making sure it can go over her head or hips. Remember, you want enough room for many pretty gathers.

***

Check fit. Make hole larger as needed. You want a hole that is able to circle your ballerina's waist, and then have room for LOTS of gathers.

Match all colors of netting circles, and repeat, so you end up with several layers.

Pin or masking tape together - netting is a booger to pin.

Run a 'gathering' stitch around the inner circle.

You don't have to have a sewing machine, but it sure makes it easier!

Adjust fit.

Cut a piece of wide ribbon (like satin ribbon) and fold in half over top of waist circle+. Stitch in place, catching both sides of the ribbon in your stitches.

Pin first if you want.

Be sure and leave LONG ribbon tails, as this is what you tie the skirt on with.

+This keeps the scratchy netting from bothering your little ballerina.

It also makes the ties super simple, as they are just extensions of the ribbon; and keeps all the layers of netting together more firmly.

You don't need to do anything to the cut edges of the netting, it won't fray.

Can't make sense of these directions?

Try putting it all together with long gathering stitches.

If it is right, you can then go back and do a regular stitch.

If it's wrong, it will be MUCH EASIER to rip out!

**Send me some photos you guys. Still afraid to leave a comment?**

You can send photos (smaller files please) to my e-mail:

dominoes@myinkspired.com

For a Halloween Ballerina, buy some silk flower/leaves/berries garlands.

Really, one should be all you need.

Cut apart the garland and you can hot glue them on your costume

 where you wish. NOT with ballerina inside, please!

If you want to use this costume again, you can safety pin on the foliage.

Add a pair of thicker tights, some matching ribbon to twist up from the shoes to the knee, or just below knee.  Safety pin to secure, if needed.

Put on a little sleeveless undershirt, then layer:

t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, ruffled short sleeve blouse, etc.

until your ballerina will be warm enough for night air.

On top of all this under-gear, you will need

1 pretty sleeveless undershirt

or

1 pretty vest

You can decorate the top layer only with berries, foliage etc. left over from your ballerina skirt endeavor. Use hot glue (with no ballerina inside, please) or again just safety pin embellishments on, to be removed later.

Oh! Oh!

I want to see your ballerinas!!

:0)

paper dolls from a Circus Ballet set

There comes a time when

autumn asks,

"What have you been doing

all summer?" 

Enjoy all the colors!
Count how many different colors you can see, in a walk.
Listen for the scruffling sound of dry leaves, on a sidewalk.
Gather pretty leaves to dry with your MicroFleur in your microwave,
     or press between the pages of a big heavy book.
Bake up some cupcakes, and decorate with fall colors in edible sugars.
Buy a new scent for your home - something that reminds you of apple pie.

See you tomorrow!

inkspired
http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/
dominoes@myinkspired.com
http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

A Knight's Chivalry

c'kemi

(Albanian for 'hi')

vintage illustration of Merlin and King Arthur at the Knight's Round Table

It's good to be back. I do try to post every day,

but some days conspire against me!

Guinevere's Dowry by Rackham

Let's be chivalrous today, shall we?

I want to share with you this fantasy Prince and Princess paper doll set today.



"The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom;

to serve all, but love only one."

- Honore de Balzac

"Some say that the age of chivalry is past,

that the spirit of romance is dead.

The age of chivalry is never past,

so long as there is a wrong

left unredressed on earth."

- Charles Kingsley

I found this wonderful quote from Will Durant on

www.chivalrynow.net/articles/steven.htm :

...The Candidate began with a bath as a symbol of spiritual, perhaps as a guarantee of physical, purification... He was clothed in a white tunic, red robe, and black coat, representing respectively the hope-for purity of his morals, the blood he might shed for honor or God, and the death he must be prepared to meet unflinchingly.

     For a day he fasted; he passed a night at Church in prayer, confessed his sins to a Priest, attended Mass, received Holy Communion, heard a sermon on the moral, religious, social, and military duties of a Knight, and solemnly promised to fulfill them.

     He then advanced to the altar with a sword hanging from his neck; the Priest removed the sword, blessed it, and replaced it upon his neck. The Candidate turned to the seated lord from whom he sought Knighthood, and was met with a stern question: ...For what purpose do you desire to enter the Order? If it be riches, to take your ease, and be held in honor without doing honor to Knighthood, you are unworthy of it...

     The Candidate was prepared with a reassuring reply. Knights or Ladies then clothed him in a Knightly array of hauberk, breastplate, armlets, gauntlets (armored gloves), sword, and spurs. The lord, rising, gave the Accolade - three blows with the flat of the sword upon the neck or shoulder, and sometimes a slap on the cheek, as symbols of the last affronts that he might accept without redress; and dubbed him with the formula, ...In the name of God, St. Michael, and St. George I make thee Knight....

     The new Knight received a lance, a helmet, and a horse; he adjusted his helmet, leaped upon his horse, brandished his lance, flourished his sword, rode out from the Church, distributed gifts to his attendants, and gave a feast for his friends...

—Will Durant

by Wilda Dupree,

all stamps by RubberStampAve

 Today I have included an entire paper doll set,

and that wonderful but long description of a knighting,

so I think I better stop now since, for Michael,

I will not write a book,

I will not write a book,

I will not write a book!

'King Arthur', by Charles Ernest Butler

recycled bottlecap magnet by inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

See you tomorrow!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

M'Lady Faire and her Castle

shwmae

pronounced "shoe-my"

Hello, from South Wales

hair jewelry for sale at http://www.gardensofwhimsy.etsy.com/

Let us take a peek at the women of the Medieval Castle today.

Great Eras Collection, Medieval Barbie, 1995

From the scouring servants

to the kitchen

to the ladies in waiting,

to the master hall,

the castle couldn't have been run properly without women.

Duh!

(Of course, a properly run castle also needed men!)

card from Rubber Stamp Avenue's Gallery, using RSA stamps

I will be adding more cards from RubberStampAvenue's Card Gallery.

I love her stamps!

You can see most of her catalog here:

http://www.rubberstampave.com/index.html

If you love pirates, mermaids, knights,

oh, just every category...

she has it!

Visit, order, and say Karen from Brighton sent you!

http://www.rubberstampave.com/

I like this one because it looks to me like the 'princess' is just enjoying  a nice day outside, and there are these knights on horses rushing around, but she doesn't seem alarmed at all. They're just silly knights you know.

That's what they do!

Donegal Castle Keep, restored, Ireland

Liana has made some wonderful paper doll costumes that fit with our theme:

She has stopped creating her wonderful paper doll costumes. I am very sad.

You can see her extensive old blogs here:

http://www.joechip.net/liana/

I think we should all inundate her with requests for more!

:0)

The traditional view of Maids in the time of Chivalry and Knights is

swooning

fainting

delicate

fragile

idle.

This is, of course, the romanticized view of women because of the Chivalry Code.


"The institution of chivalry forms one of the most remarkable features in the history of the Middle Ages."

- Horatio Alger

I will talk about Chivalry in another blog,

as today we devote our time to M'Lady Faire.

painting, a scene from King Lear, Shakespeare

Princess of the Irish Court, Barbie, 2001

Burresheim Castle, Germany

vintage illustration



Portrait of a Woman

by Robert Campin c.1420

Here are some paintings from the Medieval Ages that show women

doing a bit more than

swooning

fainting

being delicate

and fragile

and idle.

Women as Warriors, c.1430

Spinning

Hunting

writing

Why not take inspiration from some of the paintings above,

and draw and color some more outfits for this Lady.

Medieval painting, woman milking cow

Zarnek Malborku

Poland, 13th century

fantasy prince and princess to color

a Fantasy Lady's costume from Liana:

inspired from the movie "Voyage of the Dawn Treader",

based on the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis

from an article about historical women's accessories

www.yesnet.yk.ca

I have enjoyed this adventure through Medieval Ages,

from the woman's perspective.

Oh yes, I still have more castles and knights and Chivalry to come!

hand tinted vintage illustration of Romeo and Juliet

Not quite the Medieval Ages, but still cool!

inkspired

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com