Etceteras: shell tacks

Last week I posted about all the shells I had found at the beach and the specimen board that I made.

I still have a jar full of shells and thought it would be fun to make some tacks with them.

These are just about the easiest thing to make. Just glue a thumb tack to the inside of the shell and let dry.

I cut some of my water color painting scraps, clippings and fabrics to pin to this small board. 

Now I can enjoy a bit of summer year round.

 

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This project is linked at the parties listed here and 

 

The Inspiration Board: link party 13

Welcome to The Inspiration Board link party. Each week the party is growing and I can’t thank you enough for linking up your projects. If you don’t have a project to link up, please stay awhile and enjoy the amazing array of creativity.

A few rules:

• Link up your own projects – something you created.
• Link to a specific post, not your blog home page (No Etsy shops or giveaways).
• Grab a “homework” button and include it somewhere on the post you’re linking, on your home page or a page of link parties. Or, if you prefer, add a text link.
• Follow homework. You’ll find the “Follow via Google Friend Connect” gadget on the right sidebar.

Please take a few minutes to check out some of the projects and make someone smile with a comment or two.

<a href=" http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="homework" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjSbbA0SOqesA5DHID0I2xl7oOAjtbIFcAeh3DMql6FzRborOFgbaGtPfC36n4P2XimbCewe-uE_YrJzA0JxCjQ_6ifYvJlKf9fw8nFunAdoeuAn-d1hP8_XVPE4ohV3whBUTItFY8TJy/s1600/Homework+Blog+Logo+Square+outline+2-1.jpg" height="125" width="125"/></a>

Want to host your own link party? Click here to sign up for InLinkz

Sew and Tell: fabric scrap journal

This little graph paper notebook was leftover from the back-to-school supplies. It turned out to be the wrong size. Not the right size for a chemistry class but at 5” x 8” it’s perfect for jotting down project ideas, sketches and notes.

I had bookmarked this project from Oh Hello Friend  – a cute Washi Tape notebook. And since my little orphan notebook needed some sprucing up, I decided to adapt this project and use fabric strips.

I first covered the notebook in plain fabric and fringed the edge. I glued the fabric onto the notebook and then trimmed it to size. I find this is much easier than trying to cut a piece of fabric to size and then gluing it on.

I used fabric strips from vintage pieces that I had. The above cross stitch fabric is the edge of a stained tablecloth.

This fabric is from a pillow case.

Another beautiful vintage tablecloth.

I left the first piece of fabric long to act as a bookmark and also added a strip of black and white ribbon for an additional bookmark.

My new idea book – ready to be filled with inspiration.

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Thank you for visiting. Please consider voting for me at

Babble's Top 50 Mom Craft Blogs.
{Currently #68 on page 2}

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This project is linked at the parties listed here

and the following sites

      

The Inspiration Board: link party spotlight ~12~

 

Another great week of creative sharing on Tuesday’s Inspiration Board. Thank you to everyone who linked up a project and to everyone else who visited. Here are just a few of the many, many wonderful projects.

This adorable teddy bear made by Zween was a project for her first design class. The assignment was to completely transform an ordinary item which in this case was a paper bag. The expression and the posture are perfectly teddy bearish.

Inspiration: “A” work

A book planter by Small Garden Love. What a unique way to grow a little plant and I love how the little birds are keeping watch over the tiny plant.

Inspiration: another reason to read

What I love about this project is that “Lady April” is a water color and pencil drawing created by Schtuff at Home. The artwork was then layered on a canvas board with a napkin background, watercolor, stamping, and a bird image transfer.

Inspiration: artistry

At first glance, the tables look like they’ve been stenciled. Stenciling is tricky but Salvage Savvy “thinks outside the stencil” and simply uses placemats to create the pattern on these tables.

Inspiration: simple solutions

Speaking of stenciling, this magnetic board by Craftionary is beautiful. As I mentioned above, stenciling is tricky but this board came out perfectly.

Inspiration: turquoise and damask

Jacolyn Murphy does it again with another great party idea. Sailboat invitations for a party on the bay. I love how she kept the boats clean and simple.

Inspiration: inviting invitations

 

I love this bag from One Perfect Day. The layered circles are actually a pocket and the entire bag is reversible.

Inspiration: tote bag obsession

 

Pampers, Playdates and Parties shows us how to smoke summer tomatoes. A great way to preserve the summer bounty.

Inspiration: preserve summer

 

A beautiful glass pendant created as a special gift by All Things Pretty. The personalized details are so sweet with the glitter, angel wings and piano.

Inspiration: personal touches

This birdhouse mansion is transformed by West Furniture Revival into a decorative piece complete with starfish for a touch of summer.

Inspiration: big statement

A beautiful fiber wreath made from saved yarn and fabric by Felicia Kramer.
Inspiration:  preparing for fall


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Color Inspiration: black and white

1. Making it Homey

2. Love Notes by Lauryn

3. Crafty Butt

4. Larissa Hill Designs

5. Til Death Do Us Part

6. The Gunny Sack

 

If you were in the spotlight, please feel free to grab a button.

<a href=" http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="homework" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXKM4yQr9oUN7GwFux5BITknFYg1so-bdRvyvaBjWBTFrjlH943I7g401-x4gi3eWzlMzyZJjiZUszNBy3GpPcUkBQg_zNqqFY7fpE7ASpwP3nnNI250E6lTch-PcLFuJQzEqyDRYK4Yg/s1600/Featured+Button.jpg" height="125" width="125"/></a>

Thank you again to everyone who linked up. I loved looking at all the projects and visiting your sites. Please come back next week for another link party. Link parties will be held every Tuesday.

Sew & Tell: back-to-school pencil bag

It’s that time of year. If you have kids, then it’s back-to-school time. The lazy days of summer are over and it’s time to get back to the hustle and bustle of school schedules and activities.

I've used this fabric before to make back-to-school themed projects. The fabric is a cotton muslin with blue-green lines that run horizontally.

A simple red stitch creates the writing paper margin.

I stitched up a few of these simple bags to use as pencil holder bags. Super easy - I opted for no zipper so a cute red binder clip keeps the bag closed. The bags can be used as a pencil supply bag or gift bags to hand out to friends at school.

A smaller size bag is perfect for post-it notes and stubby pens.

Yes, ready or not, it is back-to-school time. I hope you had a great summer filled with relaxing summer memories.

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Thank you for visiting. Please consider voting for me at

Babble's Top 50 Mom Craft Blogs.

….....………………………………………………………………

This project is linked at the parties listed here

and

  

Etceteras: shell specimen board and a winner

Summer is winding down and it’s almost back-to-school time. Trips to the beach will soon be replaced with the hustle and bustle of school activities.

On a recent day at the beach, I collected a bunch of shells.

Some are broken but they are still pretty and will be fun to put in a jar.

Most of the shells are these tiny little clam-like shells. They are about the size of a pistachio nut and range in a variety of white, orange and brown hues.

Perfect for a shell specimen board.

I used a piece of heavy water color paper and used string and painter’s tape to mark off a grid to avoid any tell-tale signs of pencil around the shells. I glued the shells in the middle of each square and then simply removed the string and tape.

I had the perfect frame on hand – a distressed blue wood frame.

How about you? Do you have a special project in mind to capture your summer memories?

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The winner of the Plaid Folkart Extreme Glitter Paint sampler pack is...

comment #14

Lauren said...

I would love to use these paints on some photo frames.

August 18, 2011 5:23 PM

Congratulations Lauren. I'll be contacting you directly by email. Enjoy the paints.

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest.

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This project is linked at the link parties listed here.