DIY and 2014 Goals

I made this Goal Board simply by sticking a sheet of black card stock in front of the glass of a frame I got for Christmas from my grandma and writing on it with a silver paint pen.

I've slowly started filling it up with goals I want to achieve for 2014 - some simple, some not-so-simple. I like the word "goals" better than "New Year Resolution" because goals sound not only more doable, but the latter tends to taper off somewhere near January 20th.

Goals are reasonable. Goals are motivating. And keeping them on my wall where I will see them everyday as I get ready in the morning or before I walk out of my house means that I will be constantly reminded of the things I want to accomplish and I will be less likely to waste time.

Here are some of the goals on it so far:

• learn basic coding (HTML/CSS)
• learn other Adobe applications (i.e. Illustrator, Muse, InDesign)
• finish a novel (even just a crappy draft)
• workout more and eat less
• finish my thesis
• stop being a chicken and send some short stories to lit mags or contests
• take a photography course
• find a real job (obviously after I finish the two classes I have this Spring and my thesis this Summer)

What are your goals for 2014?

DIY Planner Redux

You may remember this DIY planner I made last summer.

 

Well, as you can see, it's gotten a little beat up over the year, not to mention getting close to running out of months, so I decided it was time to refill it. And while I was at it, I gave it a little makeover, too.

I had a stroke of genius this time. One of my problems the first time around was that the paper didn't always lay flat, even with the use of excessive double-sided tape. This time, I purchased full sheet mailing labels and printed a pattern into what basically came out as a full sheet sticker.

Word to the wise: the 8.5x11 sheet was just slightly too small, so I ended up using two different full sheet patterns. Next time, I think I'll cut some contact paper into 11x17 and take it to Kinkos to print.

Anyway, even with the two different patterns, I think it turned out really nice.

I also bought these little alphabet stamps in the dollar section at Target and personalized my planner with my name.

And, if you want a little gloss, you can throw on a coat of Mod Podge (one of my favorite things ever).

Woohoo!

Self Portrait

One of my goals for 2013 is to learn photography properly. I took a class back in high school using a manual film camera, but though I've had my Nikon D70 for about 4 years, I've barely used M mode. For shame. I know.

Another goal is to learn cool tricks with Photoshop beyond the basic layer masks I use for work.

I'm going to periodically be posting photography samples throughout the year to see my progress. Here's a self-portrait I took today after reading about how bubbles freeze below 32 °F. I decided to experiment and, sadly, my bubbles did not freeze, but I did get some cool pictures, including one with my reflection in it.

What do you think?

The Time I Decided to Make My Own Planner

So, I decided that the planners I buy in stores just don't really suit my needs. For one, I never use the day schedules, so it's just a waste of paper. Secondly, I like to write To-Do lists every week and cross stuff off when I get it done. Thus, I decided to create my own planner with the month, followed by blank pages for To-Do lists.

The trouble started when I decided I wanted to make it in a ring-binder so I could replace the inserts and use it over again. Why such trouble? Well, finding the right size binder (or a small binder in general) proved to be a hefty task, at least in searching for an affordable one that I wouldn't feel guilty about destroying (always a possibility when I try to get crafty).

Anyway, I started by tracing the calendar portion from my existing planner, then copying it to card stock.


Next, I cut the pages down to the "right size" (I had to redo this.)


Here's the "right size."


I spent an entire day looking for a 1/8" hole puncher, and of course every store was out. Apparently everyone and their mother needed an 1/8" hold punch on this particular day. I bought a random hole punch and it was EXACTLY the same size as the rings, which means that the paper is a little tight in the binder. Then, I covered the binder with this awesome scrapbook paper I bought at the craft store. I attached it on the spine and covers using double-sided tape. (Best. Invention. Ever.)

Here's the finished product. (Outside view)


(Inside view).


So there you have it. Now you know how to make your own planner. You also know that I have a Gyno appointment on the 31st, which I'm sure is information you couldn't do without.

I have to say, though, the best part of my planner is that now I get to try on these sweet mustaches everyday.

(Disclaimer: I'm neither related to Hitler nor Charlie Chaplin, so don't even ask.)
 

DIY Summer: High Waisted Bikini

So.... I'm really into high waisted shorts and bathing suits right now. 

Norma Jean

Well, I'm a chub. We all know this. Therefore, finding a suitable bathing suit (haha, suitable suit) is a nightmare. I have a very lovely bikini top that holds the girls in just fine (Yes, I did). But, have you ever noticed how bikini bottoms tend to create/enhance the whole muffin-top effect? Yeah. They're super tight so that they don't fall down when you dive into the pool. (Happened to me. Not once, but twice. First time the bottoms; second time, I jumped feet first and my top decided not to go down with me). Not so good. Therefore, I have accepted a self-proposed challenge to make my own high-waisted bikini bottoms. I've found numerous different methods, and I'm willing to try 'em all if I have to. Because I'm not going to miss out on any more summer fun just because I'm self-conscious of my tum tum.

Here are the most helpful ideas I've found:

1. Use an existing pattern and make my own (from One Avian Daemon)

2. Create your own pattern by cutting up one of your old bikini bottoms (from Bowlers and Buttons)

3. Alter a one-piece (from Burda Style)

So just curious, to all the dudes, how do you feel about the high-waist bikini comeback?

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Crafty Time - Dictionary Art

So, I found this dictionary page graphic from the Graphics Fairy and decided to mimic those dictionary prints so popular on Etsy. Here are the steps for the methods I tried.

1. I opened the dictionary page in Photoshop and removed the background so it would print white. I wanted to try to age the paper myself.
2. Print dictionary page.

Method 2 is the one in the top right

3. Choose image to print over page. I found a bunch of random images on Google and tampered with them (hopefully this falls under Fair Use since I'm not selling anything). I'll make them available at the end of the post. I really wanted a birdcage image, so there's a few of them to choose from.
4. Now, here's where I tried 3 different methods. All of them worked, but some better than others:

• Method 1: I sprayed a clear paint finish over the dictionary page before printing the second graphic over it. I was worried the ink would run together if I didn't.
• Method 2: I printed the second graphic directly over the dictionary page without the spray paint coat. No bleeding, worked just fine.
• Method 3: I waited until after the aging process to print the second graphic.

5. Now, here's the other difference in methods (the aging process).

• Methods 1&2: I put each page in a cookie sheet, poured cold liquid coffee over the pages, and then sprinkled coffee grounds in the corners and rubbed them in to make them look even more worn at the edges. Then I stuck them in the oven at 170 F for about six minutes. After that, I removed them from the cookie sheets and let them dry in the sun.
• Method 3: I laid the page out in a cookie sheet and poured Diet Coke over it. Then I sprinkled coffee grounds on it. After that, I let it soak in the sun, then removed it from the liquid and let it dry in the sun.

All of the methods worked fine, but Method 1 ended up looking kind of weird with the clear spray paint. The aging process of Method 3 (Diet Coke) worked well and produced a lighter page than Methods 1&2, however, waiting to print the second graphic was a mistake because the page is a little more fragile after drying.

All in all, I would recommend Method 2 for printing. Then, if you want a darker page, use coffee for the aging, and Diet Coke, if you want a lighter page.

Birdcage	Birdcage
Verne's Albatross	Birdcage

Penelope Room Project

So, I'm 24 and I live with my parents. But I'm okay with that. Because they have hooked me up with a sweet basement pad. I call it the Woman Cave. In the Woman Cave, I finally have abundant space to display my large collection of books. But, as the basement is newly finished - well, sort of, it was finished almost a year ago - there are still areas that require some finishing touches.

My bedroom, for instance, is quite bare since I had originally put my bookshelves in it and then later decided to move them to the den. All I have on my walls are one piece of painted metal that I picked up at Pottery Barn and calendar featuring historical covers from Rolling Stone.

(I've always wondered, did the band come first or the magazine? I should look that up.)

Anyways, recently I re-watched the movie Penelope (starring Christina Ricci and James McAvoy) and was completely blown away by the production design. The colors are gorgeous and are repeated everywhere throughout the film, making it extremely aesthetically pleasing and unifying the story. My favorite part, I have to say though, was the set design of Penelope's room/nursery. The first thing I noticed was that the color of her walls is similar to the color of my own bedroom walls. Thus, it gave me some great inspiration for decorating my room. My new project is going to be converting my room into something that emulates the same magical and ethereal quality that Penelope's room evokes.

Here are some images I grabbed from the film:

 This green is really similar to the green in my room. I really love the burnt orange cushions here and I'm thinking about finding a bedspread that matches that color.

Her bedroom, which is off the nursery, is a reversal of the dominant colors. Here the bedspread is the same green as the nursery walls and the bedroom walls are kind of a rusty, burnt red. I love the large "windows."

Here is another view of the nursery. I'm going to have to copy the butterflies on the wall, except I will probably go for birds. I also really love the swing and would like to mimic the look possibly with a wall-mounted bookshelf. My room is not large enough for those beautiful metal room dividers, but I might be able to find a smaller wall ornament. The one thing that I really love but am not sure where I could fit any are the ornate terrariums you see all over the nursery.

 I love this tree, but there's no way I have the time or resources to duplicate it. I'm considering creating a wall decal using ConTact paper, but I haven't quite decided if I want to keep the orange. Thoughts?

It's going to be a hefty project, but extremely satisfying, I imagine.

Sweet Dreams, Monkey

So, I've had this t-shirt in my closet for about six years. It was my favorite t-shirt my freshman year of college. You may have seen it before. It was the Low t-shirt that Kirsten Dunst's character sported with the red beanie in Elizabethtown.

Anyway, my shirt does not even come close to fitting me anymore. But I have not been able to bring myself to throw it away. I'd order a new one, but the website doesn't seem to sell t-shirts anymore (unless I'm blind).

I was thinking about making a t-shirt quilt, but who has the time for that? Definitely not me. But I do have time, I decided, to make a pillow. So I did. And it's pretty ugly. I love it anyway.

I didn't do anything right with this pillow. I didn't just get a pillow mold and use the shirt as a pillowcase, which would have been much more practical. I did, however, sew the shirt together with the wrong color thread (I don't know how to change the thread on my mama's sewing machine). And I probably sewed it in the wrong places. And there was that awkward inward curve where the arms were that, were I to sew in a straight line, would have cut off part of the graphic. So I used the back side of the shirt as an extension and then tried to make the front of the pillow look like an upside down envelope. This all sounds pretty convoluted, right? Well, it is.

Then, in an attempt to make the pillow look a little cuter (failure) I added a few blue buttons. Have a look. Don't be afraid to chuckle, I know it's no masterpiece. My mother would probably be ashamed of seamstressy skills (or lack thereof).

And, of course, since sharing is caring, I'll leave you with my favorite Low song, just so you understand why I couldn't get rid of this shirt. They're awesome. And this song is beautifully creepy.

Low: Monkey

low - monkey songs
Mp3 downloads

Creativity gifts

I want to create something for you. More specifically, for five of you. You simply have to indicate interest! (It's that easy!)

I will be leaving this offer open until 2300PST on Wednesday, April 23, (in the year of our Lord, 2009) at which time I will choose FIVE of the people who have responded at random (I will send a message to those who have been successful).

This offer does have some restrictions, so read carefully:
- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
- What I create will be just for YOU.
- It will be done this year (2009).
- It will be something made in the real world and not something over the internet.
- It might be a painting, a knitted item, an item of clothing, a poem or short story, a meal or a cake...who knows! There are other things it might be too, but I promise whatever it is, it will be made for YOU and with YOU in mind!

In return, all you need to do is post this on your blog or facebook and make 5 things for 5 other people. If you are reading this, take part, even if you do not know me very well.

Just post a comment if you are interested! :)