Artist: Origami

For one of my college projects we have to write about a practitioner who inspires us or who produces stuff similar to what we do and post it onto our blogs, so I have chosen Jo Nakashima, from Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

I’m subscribed to him on YouTube and thoroughly enjoy following along to his captivating videos where all you can hear is the folding of paper. Recently, he has started to include little pictograms in his tutorials which are amazing for budding origami-ists, such as myself. 

His charming designs range from simple to complex, but even the easy ones can take a bit of practice so be prepared to face a little frustration (as I do) but then ultimate satisfaction at your creations!

The current series which he is doing at the moment is making an origami alphabet which would perfectly decorate a wedding, a table, or a child’s bedroom with a personal name ,and it would just glow with uniqueness, flair, and satisfaction.    

You can find him on all social networks and I’ll include a link to each so you can follow him too!

You must go check him out if you enjoy a challenge or even if you have already mastered origami.

Here is one of my favourites to make and it would be great for the kids too! I adore it.

 

Check him out, here:

Twitter

Facebook

Google+

And of course, YouTube

I have also just discovered that he sells some special paraphernalia that I might just have to save up for and grab! A flowered mug, notebook and magnet have my name written all over them.... 

Cafe Press

Zazzle

Update #3

Oh noes! This blog is being infected by 'updates' - where are the real meaty crafty posts she promised? Is she a computer or worse, a robot?.....

Hey guys, sorry for the extended maintenance period. I just wanted it to be perfect because, here's something you should know and I haven't included it in my personal description, I'm a perfectionist. There, I said it. Admitting it is the first step to recovery isn't it? I fear this is just part of me though, as my mum too suffers from it.

Anyways, I made a banner for this blog, scanned and photographed lots of little things I like, arranged it all as best I could, but it didn't look right. So I have to make another. Hopefully the new one will fit with my background but I had to open up my blog again so you wouldn't think I had truly abandoned you.  ;P

I'm starting to gather up a list of crafty ideas to share with you and there are still some things I need to add to this blog, like links to where else you can find me. So stay tuned!

See you later!
Alice 

COMING SOON

Be warned, there will be a massive overhaul of this blog, but don't worry - its all for the better, I promise you! : D 

The whole blog will be updated and modernized because, frankly, its a little boring to look at. Don't panic! All the existing blog posts will remain!

Things to look out for include new graphics and a new profile description plus regular (ish) blog posts about new crafty ideas!

Woohoo!!!!

Update #2

Hey guys, I am so sorry for the inactivity on here recently. Life has been pretty hectic and then I couldn't get onto the computer even if I had the time for it. I still have lots of crafty plans to do and some pictures to take of the ones I promised and finished a couple of weeks ago. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning you yet!

See you later ;)
Alice

Crafty Treats and Bead Haul!

Well hello there, long time no see eh? 

 

So I’m going to combine two blog posts into one here as they are both hauls and I don’t want my blog to be made up of just haul posts. 

 

A couple of weeks ago, maybe a month, I had my braces removed after a long slog of 2 years. So I just had to treat myself to something I had been wanting: some individual letter stamps. They were 99p a pack which was a bargain! I only had a couple of pounds to spend so I had to choose between plain lettered or fancy because then I wouldn’t have enough for ink, which was essential if I wanted to actually use the stamps! I choose the fancy ones with some recommendations from my mum :)

 

Rummaging through the clearance box I found this packet of silver beads which I actually had for cheaper than the price on the packet, which was a bonus. Included in the pack were 2 clasp thingies, you can just see half of one in the photo and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what they are?

 

As a present the next day, my mum brought me some Japanese inspired wrapping paper from the village shop which I used here as a background. It’s so beautiful!  See for yourself. Also, you can see where I got the stamps from if you wanted a set ;) 

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~

 

The second part of this post is a haul of beads that a friend gave to me. She was going to get rid of them but I told her I liked taking old jewellery and making something new from it. So here is what I now have:

 

- Large, flat and round chocolate brown beads

- Shimmery tan and small light brown beads on a brown strip of cord (I think this was actually a belt)

- Silver pendants almost with swirly patterns on – large and small

- Chain

- Green shell pendant

Here are some close-up images:

 

 

 

Update

Oh boy am I tired today! I have been so busy these last two days: getting up early, working and learning all day, meeting new people, making new friends and gaining so much crafty inspiration! 

Let’s just say that I now have the means, motivation and funds to explore new crafting and arty techniques and to continue to progress in the artisan business and in my final year at art college (yes, I got the job!). Woohoo! 

I’ve been given some projects to do such as decorating a box, drawing a self portrait and decoupaging a dog! So stay tuned to see how those turn out! I also have a few more blog posts to deliver as I am a little bittie behind. 

Now I’m topping up my water table and watching videos on YouTube. Over and out!

Bead and Rock Fair Haul

So I am a little bit behind in my line up of blog posts as this one should have been uploaded a week or so ago :) Anyways....

A friend and I went to a bead and gemstone fair the other weekend and, in her words, we spent a ‘small fortune’! It was incredibly fun and now I know what sort of things are there, I must start saving for next year!

So here is what I bought: 

1.  Pink gift bags with shiny gold flowers
2.  Clear plastic resealable bags
3.  Shell pendants
4.  Bargain bag of beads
5.        Resin/plastic roses
6.  Floral fabric beads
7.  Silver wire
8.       And of course, I had to buy a          mineral to add to my collection!

I’m not sure what I’m going to use the beads for yet but I just bought what I really really liked and the plastic bags and such will be useful and they were quite inexpensive. I’m pleased with everything so far. I do wish I had bought more beads but I was on a limited budget and there was too much choice!! Here are some close ups of my stash, enjoy:

How to Adorn Your Favourite Bag

To adorn your favourite bag with your favourite keyring/s (which you can change every day to match your outfit, if you so desire), you will need:

 

1)    Your favourite bag. 
2)    Your favourite keyring. 
3)    A chain bracelet, possibly a charmless bracelet, but which definitely has a clasp.

Firstly, you thread your keyring onto your bracelet.

Then you attach your bracelet to your bag and fasten.

 

Voila! You have successfully adorned your bag, making it personal, unique and interchangeable!

I love this quick and simple embellishment and do it every time I go out! 

Here are some more examples:

Interview Demonstrations

The other week I had an interview for a job. Now you might be thinking, why on earth is she talking about this on a crafty channel?? Well, it was for a job at Hobbycraft - the craftiest place on earth! It was my first proper job interview and I was very scared. The first thing we did was a group exercise where we had a box of craft materials and we had to make something in our groups which could be easily replicated into a kit for kids to make. It was. . . interesting. Did I mention we were being assessed here? Eek! Then we all had a one-to-one interview – also nerve wrecking.

But the point I’m getting to and the reason for this blog, trust me, was the demonstrations we had. Funnily enough, there was one table with a box of beads in the centre and some findings. The one I naturally headed straight for. Then on the other table there were some stamps and card. This was for embossing, something I hadn’t done before and was really excited to learn about. 

To emboss, you need stamps - any stamps and any inks. Then once you’ve stamped your design, you sprinkle what looks like silver glitter onto the ink but it’s actually embossing powder. After you’ve removed the excess, you point a heat gun at the design and watch the powder magically melt and merge with the ink to create a raised, shiny design! It was great fun! Here are my very first attempts at embossing:

Embossed designs

     Un-embossed designs...Hopefully you can see the  difference :)

Close ups:

This one didn't turn out so well. I think I should've heated it up a bit more.

 

 The next three are just stamps because the heat gun overheated and wouldn't work again! :D

  and here are the earrings I made. I'm not sure what I'll do with the oddbob beads yet...

 

Weekend Card Making

Good evening! Now commences my first official crafty blog post (hehe :D) and its going to be about card making!

The first of which is a card for a little friend of mine who was taken ill. I wanted to cheer him up with a fun, simple, and interactive card so I reused an old card about Paddington Bear. I added my own little touches and drawings which were inspired by the card and, on the opening page, I made a game for him to do. It was quite funny really because on my first attempt I drew all the lines leading to the sandwich! So it was win-win all the way! 

Second, is an anniversary card - also recycling an old card. I drew on my own lace design and glued on a matching ribbon to add a personal touch. Although it’s composed a little wonky, I think the overall design is coherent and sophisticated. What do you think?

 

Here are some older cards I’ve made.  Which one do you like best and why?

 

 (PS I found out how to change the post title! Woohoo!)