LiFe {unscripted}

Make It Monday: Galentine's Day!

Saturday I had plans with my girlfriends for an afternoon of catching up! 

Being close to Valentine's Day, I thought I could finally take advantage of "Galentine's Day" and make a small but cute gift for my girls. 

A few weeks ago, I ordered this variety set of amber glass bottles from Amazon, and I have been looking for a way to use them.  

And then Friday, I came across this blend of oils from a great Instagram feed that I follow.  She coined it as the "...make the magic happen!" roller combo.  Right there, the idea of making a roller ball of oily magic for my girlfriends was born. 

I came up with the name, "Unicorn Magic (you got this, girl!)", and decided to make easy labels to put on the roller bottles.  I created them in Photoshop (a 1.8inchX.75inch) box and added the text.  Then I just copied and pasted them onto the template downloaded from Avery Labels - I used the Avery address labes (18262) - and printed.  Obviously, I printed more than I needed, but now I have extras in case I need a cute gift in a pinch. 

Here are the oils used in the blend:

10 drops of Frankincense
10 drops of Bergamont
10 drops of Valor
10 drops of Stress Away

This is what the bottles look like once ten drops of each oil are in them. Not full, so just fill the rest up with a carrier oil.  I used cold pressed raw organic coconut oil.

Once the bottles were filled, I popped on the roller ball and screwed the lid on tightly. 

I free-hand cut the labels out and stuck them on each bottle.

I picked up these cute Valentine's socks at Walgreens - who doesn't love a good pair of socks to wear with boots?!

I created the "Happy Galentine's Day" tag in Photoshop, as well, and tied the socks and roller ball bottle with some baker's twine. 

Easy and thoughtful gift for my girls.  Obvious side note, but it must be said: All four of those oils together smell INCREDIBLE.  Just like I would imagine a Unicorn would. 

Happy Galentine's Day, girls!

 

Make It Monday: Candy-less Valentine

This was Ellis' Valentine for her classmates last year.

Simple and easy label created using a cute graphic from Creative Market, and added the "I'm Stuck On You" text.  I printed them on Avery Name Badge labels (25395).  I decided to include a small sucker with the bottle of glue, so I placed the bottle and sucker in a clear cellophane and tied it with a ribbon. 

This year I am doing something similar - candy-less, but I have yet to put it together just yet.  Probably need to get started on that, seeing as how we are already five days into February.  How is it not still January?!

I know there are lots of fun "Candy-Less" ideas on Pinterest, this one just seemed fitting last year because Ellis was VERY into gluing things.  She insisted that her classmates would LOVE a bottle of their very own glue. 

 

 

Make It Monday: Work Out Survival Kit

Tonight at my gym, Brownwood Fitness Center, we are having our launch for Les Mills Body Combat 74. 

If you don't know what a launch is, it is basically a special event where the instructors for that program (tonight: Body Combat) introduce new motivating music and engaging choreography in the new tracks. It's a great time for people who are new to the programs to come try them out. 

Brownwood Fitness group fit tries our best to make the event fun and exciting, and also give away some great door prizes for the members who come. 

Cue in today's "Make it Monday."

I decided to put together some "work out survival kits" to give away as a door prize. 

Inside these new blender bottles (I mean, cause we can all use an new blender bottle, right?!), is :

• an absorbent sweat towel (I always forget mine)
• hair ties (cause I hate forgetting a hair tie...all that sweat and hair - such a mess)
• a single bottle of Advocare Slam (because pre-workout!)
• and a few Young Living Thieves Hard Lozenges (in case you think a sore throat is a reason to not workout - kidding, sort of!)

I quickly made the little graphic insert in Photoshop, printed, cut them out, and placed them in the cup.

The best part?  These cups were less than $10 bucks to put together, but I think are worth even more than that...I know you feel me if you have ever arrived to the gym without a hair tie or pre-work-out!

Because I was on a roll, I decided to also make these easy-peasy labels to slap on a 24 case of water bottles.

 

Water bottle labels:

1. Tear off store labels off bottles
2. Make graphic in Photoshop or similar program (measures 1.5X8.5)
   
3. Print out on regular printer paper (7 per page)
4. Cut with a paper cutter
5. Wrap around bottle and tape with a small piece of clear tape on the back

Definitely not necessary for a launch, but does up the mood and feel of a Launch Party!  And, I truly want the members to feel like we are there to make them happy and put on a great hour of working out while they have fun to new music and new moves. 

If you are reading this (live in the Brownwood area) and maybe have always wanted to try Body Combat, but have been unsure - this is your sign to come tonight! 5:30PM New music, new moves at a wonderful gym full of warm and inviting people who all share one goal in mind - health/fitness.  Come try for free - tell the front desk that Becky invited you. 

And if you are not in my area, look for a gym in your area that has Les Mills (click the yellow "Find a Class" button at the top right) and I encourage you to go give a class (or 4!) a try.  You are never too old/too young/too big or small to to begin your fitness journey.  Today is a great day to start.

 

 

Make it Monday: Digital Lettering.

I talked about this free digital lettering class by Holly Pixels a little over a week ago. Although I have not completed the class just yet, I decided to just start practicing a few of Procreate tricks I have learned from her.

Because of this class and her Instagram feed, I also became part of this Facebook group.  It's a great place to dive in a little further with tips and questions asked by other members that have helped me learn more.  You can also get great feedback on your work that is constructive and kind.  Like a classroom setting.  Each month, Holly creates a list of "Lettering Challenge" prompts to use as a starting point to just practice. You can practice on your own time, and even share your work with the group.

As an art teacher, when my students would ask me how to get better at drawing/painting/etc., my response was always - "the more to you do it, the better you will get."  As a student, I forget this over and over.  The irony, right?!  But it's true, right?!  So, I decided if I want to get better, I just need to practice once every day if and when I can.  #practicepracticepractice

I started on Saturday. 

And then again on Sunday.

My challenge/prompt for today is still in progress. 

What I like about these challenges/prompts, is that you don't have to letter them digitally.  Maybe you just want to improve your handwriting.  Or maybe you have wanted to try a new technique you saw on Instagram like this one, using just a couple of regular Crayola markers.  You can use these prompts as your starting point.  Take the guess work out of where to start, and just start with what you have on hand right now. 

I like that.

 

 

Make it Monday: Sugar Cookies

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I love to make sugar cookies for fun and for holidays...and you might have seen one or all of these photos before.  Every time I have posted on IG or in my IG story, I inevitably get a few messages asking about how to make them, etc.

My secret?!  This class Alison's Cookie Party by Alison Faulkner.

It is hands down, the best investment into my cookie game I could have ever made.  I am not a sponsor, I just love when I find something really great and helpful, and wanted to share about it.

When you buy the class, it comes with a PDF that is packed FULL of her whole cookie game. From the recipes for the cookies and royal icing, to a fantastic list of items she uses to make the process easier - complete with links to the items on Amazon.com. 

The class also includes videos that I found fun, interesting, and SO useful when she talks about the thickness of the royal icing - you get a great visual from the videos. 

Not to mention, Alison just has a fun personality.  Tips and tricks are loaded throughout both the videos and the PDF. 

I am the type of person that when I get into a creative funk, I like to make things with my hands. It helps to pull me out of my rut, and gives me something to focus and redirect my energy.  The process is always the best part, but the end product makes me a little happier when I get to share them with family and friends.

Ellis loves decorating, too!  I love that with the supplies recommended in this class, it seriously is so easy for little hands to decorate with minimal mess.  Win, win, in my book!

If you've always wanted to be able to make cookies that are like little art projects, this class is for you!

 

 

Hello there, Prickly Pear.

Welcome to the first addition of Make It Monday here on my blog.  I am pairing up with my long time scrapbooking friend, April, over at TheBlessedBeanstalk, and we have set up a game plan to blog more this year.  Technically, it was her idea LAST year, but in true form of life, I let other things take up my space/time, and just never did it.  So we are challenging each other to blog this year by setting up a plan for each week. 

Today: Make it Monday.

I generally get crafty with felt around the holidays.  It started several years ago in my teaching days.  I looked for a project for my HS students that we could start working on after the Thanksgiving Holidays, and work on them until Christmas Holidays.  A sewing project that would teach practical life skills like "how to thread a needle," "how to sew on a button," "how to sew something together," and also teach craftsmanship, learning how to sew with different and decorative stitches.  I wanted them to make something that they could take pride in learning how to make it, but also make it well enough that they would want to give it away as gift.  Enter, the felt ornament!

Over the years, I would make one or several right along side my students.  And once Ellis came along, I decided to make some for the special kids in her life at daycare, or now, in her class at school. 

This year was no different.  I was very excited to start working on them and even started a little earlier than Thanksgiving. 

I already knew what I wanted to make - Cute Cactus.

 

In artist fashion, I started with a certain cactus in mind.  This one was from the Land of Nod Bingo game set. 

I scanned in the card. And printed it on card stock.  Then cut it out. 

That's always been the easiest form of having a pattern to start from.  My HS students used to just search the internet for a cute picture they liked and do the same thing.  My only rule being that it had to be simple.  Simple is always better when creating with felt - if it is too detailed, then you end up having to cut out so much felt before you can start sewing. 

From there, I used my printed pattern and a piece of chalk to "trace" it onto the felt.  I needed two cactus' and one small piece in a different color for the red top.  For the top, I would just trace the top circle and free hand cut the little triangle pattern around the bottom. 

Again the easiest way I have found to make these, though I am sure there are other ways.  For the supplies I use, I will link along the way, but I will also put a quick reference list at the bottom of this post for the supplies.

Cut and Ready to Sew this is my process:

1. Sew on Red (or other color) round top directly onto the front cactus.  I used 2 strands of DMC thread for this in a color that was either monochromatic or would be a good contrast.
2. Sew the year onto the other designated back piece cactus using 2 strands of embroidery floss. I like to put the year for my purposes and I think it's a special idea for the people receiving them to know what year it is from.
3. I used an Eyelet hole punch to punch small holes in the face of the front cactus so I could insert my eyes, but I am sure you could probably just cut a super super small hole with scissors. SIDE NOTE: the black eyes are from Amazon.com.  They are called "Safety Eyes."  Last year when I was making my ornaments I came across an amazing artist on Instagram, @bargraf, who used these and I messaged her asking what they were, and she so sweetly and kindly shared her info and link to them on amazon.com.  They were a game changer and made putting a face on ornaments so much easier! I used the 4.5 mm size last year, but when I realized I was running low this year, they were out of stock, so I went with the next size up, the 6mm.  They were a tad bit larger so I had to make my pattern a little larger.
4. Secure the eyes in place.
5. Sew the triangle nose with two strands of red DMC embroidery floss. 
6. I used only one strand of black thread to sew on the mouth.  Both the nose and the mouth were just free hand sewn on.  I did not draw them on first. 
7. I used two strands of a light green DMC floss to sew on the thorns to the cactus.
8. For the hanger, I used ribbon from my stash and folded and pinned it into place, sandwiching it between the front and back of the cactus'.
9. I always tried to start sewing the ornament together at the bottom right side.  I used a blanket stitch for this, but you could always just use a loop stitch. 
10. Sew all the way around to the bottom left side of the cactus and stop. 
11. Stuff the little cactus ornament with poly fill. I was not able to stuff the arms of the cactus, as they were too small, but I was able to get the body nice and full. 
12. Continue the blanket stitch along the bottom to completely sew the ornament together.  Knot the thread, and then push the needle back and through the back so the excess thread would be hidden inside.

I realize so much of these step by step directions might only make sense to someone who sews already.  For that reason, I am also playing around with the idea of making some video tutorials for this kind of craft.  It was always one of my most favorite things to teach my students at school, so I think it would be easier to understand for a beginner, if I had videos to go along with the directions.

Would this be something you were interested in?  If so, leave me comment and let me know :)  And if you just have simple question, please feel free to ask!  Hand sewing cute little items makes my heart happy and gives me something to do when I am laying in bed at the end of the day watching t.v.

And it always makes me smile when I visit the homes of my friends and family and see the ornaments I made them on their Christmas tree. 

Supply List:

Felt
Some of my felt is from Dick Blick, and some I bought several years ago on Etsy. 
There is a difference in quality, and the Etsy seems to be higher quality, but for crafting purposes, the Dick Blick always seems to work well, too. 

Embroidery Floss
DMC embroidery Floss

Needle
Hand Sewing Needles

Eyelet Punch (optional)
Eyelet punch

Safety Eyes
4.5mm (smallest)
6mm

Poly Fill
Polly fill

Blanket stitch online tutorial - Red Ted Art channel on YouTube.  Redtedart.com