Zentangle Box

I haven't zentangled much in the last six months.  I used to tangle a lot but I tend to craft in jags and I've been sewing more in the past few months. Well it seems I may have entered into a zentangle jag.  I drew on a red tin can for the last swap I did. It inspired me to try zentangling on a different kind of box.  I used a photo box that I purchased on sale at my local craft store.

This is the sage green photo box I started started with. It's plain and boring, not much of a gift box.

With just a black sharpie, some time and positive thoughts I created a decorated gift box for a co-worker who is in need of some positive thoughts and a cheer up. As I drew, I thought about all the worries my co-worker has been facing and tried to pour positive thoughts into each stroke.

I placed my gift inside the box then tied it up with some black elephant ribbon. I dropped it off on her desk before school and left for my workshop. I wasn't at school when she found it, but she sent me a text to say she loved the surprise gift.  I'm thrilled that she liked it. Sometimes you just need a little pick me up; it helps to know other people are thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way.

New Zombie Dolls

I participated in the Zombies in the Nursery swap over a Yarnigras Swapper Spot. My amazing package arrived on Friday. Chris from A Little Creation spoiled me and sent not one but two zombies!  First she altered a doll to create a Jack and Jill zombie. Well really, Jack didn't make it down the hill, so it's just Jill. I think she ate his brains. Chris also included crafty baubles for mommy & daughter crafting, a book with a handmade bookmark, a mini notebook and a few preschool themed goodies for my preschoolers. Chris also works with preschoolers for a living.

 Chris was even kind enough to send doggie treats for Chunky and this amazing Rainbow Dodo bird for my daughter.  She loves it!!!!  My daughter and Chunky send their thanks to you Chris!

And if that wasn't already way more than enough, Chris created the most amazing Humpty Dumpty zombie for me. I am totally in L-O-V-E with him! He is amazing! Look at the little card Chris included. . . it reads "Dawn of the Humpty." He's already on the shelf with my zombie horde.

Thank you Chris!!!! You really spoiled us! 

Recycled Tin Cans & Zentangle Tags

Last week was teacher appreciation week. As a special education preschool teacher I work with an amazing group of paraprofessionals.  I wanted to express my appreciation to these women, so I planted herbs in recycled tin cans as my way of saying "Thanks for all you do!"  What better way to express your appreciation than through a craft that involves recycling?!  It's good for the environment and functional since the herbs can last long into the summer. Not to mention the finished cans are pretty.

For this project, I saved the tin cans from my crushed and diced tomatoes.  After washing and drying the cans I transplanted parsley, basil or thyme into the cans. Then I went to my craft room where I pulled out my fabric scraps, burlap, jute rope and my glue gun. I cut my fabric scraps to fit the cans, then used my glue gun to glue the fabric and the burlap to the can. Next I tied some jute rope around the can and attached some of my zentangle tags. You can find my free zentangle tags here. I'm biased because I drew the tags, but I love them and use them on gifts throughout the year.

Crafting a Baby Gift

As a gift for Baby T, my girl made him a tied fleece blanket. She picked a frog print and a lime green & blue leopard print for the back. I forgot to take a picture of the leopard print back. She's gotten really good at cutting and tying blankets by herself, though she did have some unwanted help. Chunky loved laying on the fleece as she worked.  I had to keep calling him away from the project. When it came time to take pictures he had to get into the picture too, after all he had a paw in it's making.

We wrapped the finished blanket in a bright green ribbon and attached a frog toy, then we delivered it to Baby T. He's so tiny, sweet and beautiful! We both enjoyed holding him while he slept. Now that we have a new baby in the family I think we'll have to find a few more baby crafts to try.

Zombie Sheep

I love sheep and I love zombies so why not create a zombie sheep? Well I did, in fact I created two. I'm participating in a swap over a Yarnigras' Swapper Spot. The theme is zombies in the nursery so I created a black sheep and rewrote the nursery rhyme Baa, Baa Black Sheep, zombie style.

Baa, Baa Zombie Sheep

Baa, baa black sheep covered in bites and wool,

Zombies came to feast upon him until they were full.

Awaking as a member of the unliving dead,

He craves the delicious treat that’s enclosed inside your head.

Now baad, baad zombie sheep is prowling through the night

Feasting on brains and entrails, what a scary sight!

I'm not great with writing poetry, but I did enjoy making the black sheep for my partner, Chris. I tried a different method for making these zombie wounds. I layered felted wool under the top piece then cut away the top to create wounds in their skin. I created a short little zombie wound tutorial that you can see here.  You never know when the desire to create a zombie wound might strike you.  :)

After I finished the zombie sheep for Chris I decided to experiment some more with wound making. I did get a little carried away creating wounds on my white zombie sheep. He's got a lot of wounds but I was having such a good time experimenting that I couldn't stop myself. This is hilarious to me since, in my real life I can't stand anything that cuts flesh.  I scream when I get a paper cut and can't watch violent movies. Instead to relax I create zombie dolls with flesh wounds, very ironic!

May the Force Be With You

Over spring vacation my husband and my daughter watched all six Star Wars movies together.  My daughter loved them, so she decided to craft up a bit of Star Wars fun.  She gathered up some fabric scraps, polyfil, paint and sharpies and set to work.  Honestly, sometimes I'm amazed at how creative she can be! I had a mom that would sew and do crafts with me but I know I wasn't that creative when I was her age.  I've been crafting with her for years but now at the age of ten she's able to create things mostly on her own. She has a vision and the know how to do it. For this project the only thing I did was assist with the sewing machine, she did the rest.

She created a collection of Star Wars characters by sewing fabric then painting it with acrylic paint.  She did a fabulous job!  Here's the rubble during the creation process.

This is Yoda.

This is one of General Grievous' droids and c3po.

Here's the whole Star Wars gang together. May the force be with you!

Number Ten is Here

Welcome to Baby T! 

 We're so excited that the baby is finally here! He arrived on May 2nd and weighted in at 7 lbs 10 oz. Both the baby and my sister are doing well. 

Baby T is the 10th child on my side of the family so he's coming into a big family that will love and adore him. As a matter of fact, we all showed up at the hospital yesterday to meet him. He's beautiful! My girl was the first of the cousins to hold him.  She is totally enamored with him and keeps asking when she can hold him again. She's working on a present for him so I'll post pictures when she's finished.

Here's Aunt Jill holding the new baby. Sorry Aunt Jenn, but I got to hold him first. :)  Poor Aunt Jenn was stuck in traffic for an hour and a half so I got to the hospital first. My husband texted her this picture with the caption "I win."

I went to my sister's house the other day to help finish the baby's room. She bought these wall stickers on Etsy and wanted help to put them up. It took us a few hours but we got them up and the room looks great. We finished just in time because she went into labor the next day.  

Remember the little elephant I made?  Look he's on the shelf in the baby's room. He looks so cute there.

One Sick Puppy

 Last Wednesday morning I went to get Chunk out of his crate and found that he had been sick in the night. This has never happened before, however Chunky had run off the night before and was missing for ten minutes so I assumed he ate something he shouldn't.  I made him rice for breakfast and went off to work.  Turns out he wouldn't eat the rice and continued to get sick through out the day.  By late Wednesday night he wasn't even keeping water down.  I brought him to the the vet where they started him on an iv and took x-rays. Unfortunately Chunk has been know to be the type of dog that will eat anything. Really, we've caught him with fabric, Legos, paperclips, coins, buttons, stuffing from toys and more. The x-rays weren't definitive so the vets ran other tests to figure out what was wrong with him. He started to respond to the medicines so we thought he'd be coming home when he took turn for the worse. In the end he had to have abdominal surgery on Monday.

This is what the vet found in his intestines . . . a mini beanie baby aardvark toy with the end of the tail ripped open and no beans or stuffing in it.  He had swallowed the fabric skin whole! No wonder he was so sick.  Needless to say while Chunky was still on his extended vet stay we cleaned out his toys and got rid of all  his little babies and fabric toys.

Chunky came home on Tuesday afternoon and seems to be feeling a little better everyday.  Last night he was zooming around the house and wanted to play fetch with me, a sure sign he's feeling better. It's kind of funny but when he's sick his tail uncurls, that's a sure sign that something is wrong because normally his tail is curled up tight. Thankfully he's back to having a curly tail again so he's feeling better. It's nice to have him home.  We missed him while he was gone. Right now he's asleep between my feet snoring softly as I type, it's a good sound to hear again.

I'd like to say he's learned his lesson regarding eating foreign objects but in his first day home he tried to eat two fabric scraps, a band aid and a button.  Oh Chunky, let's not do that again!!