Reasons I haven't posted in awhile:

1.  Enjoying the fabulous weather.

2.  Biking with hubby (trying to get all the way to Middleton and back).

3.  Hanging out at Settler's Park.

4.  Working on a float with a friend for the Star Days Celebration Parade.

5.  Making loads of friendship books.

From the Harry Potter Closet

In our current residence, we have a closet that is under the stairs.  I call it the "Harry Potter" closet.  All of my crafting supplies have been banished to this closet after losing their home back east.  (This house is smaller & I have no more "studio" to work in.)

One of the things that I moved cross country was a great find from the World's Largest Garage Sale that I shopped at with my mom and brother before moving.

I purchased a stack of "The Art Amateur magazine; devoted to art in the household."  They were published back in 1893-1894.  I was thinking about some ideas for crafts, decor, and swapping last night so I pulled them out of the HP closet to peruse.

Although it is too large for me to scan an entire page, I do have some cool images that I wanted to share:

Of course, like anything today, this magazine began with several pages of advertisements.  Obviously from the title you have guessed that everything is art themed.  Some of my favorite images from the August 1894 issue are some of the book plates:

I posted this whole section so that you could read the information that accompanied the book plates.  Nifty!

Anyone wishing to share some craft ideas using these images, feel free to comment.  I have a couple ideas bouncing around in my head; just need them time to make them happen.

The Making of Scripture Journals (the Bonnie version)

This is a notebook/journal I got clearanced somewhere in Ohio.  I don't like the cover, but I like the magnetic closure, ribbon book mark, and the price!

I am not fond of clowns, therefore I have not used this journal & have been waiting for a day to recover it.  I was also waiting for some inspiration as to what I would use it for.  When I found the idea online for a scripture journal - "light bulb" to quote Dr. Grue.

 I'm not a huge butterfly person, but the red on the butterfly coordinated with the red of the book cover.  Plus, I'm on this quest to use up all of the craft stuff that I lugged 'cross country so that I could justify buying more.  I haven't quite figured out a title, label that I can make from the stuff that I have, but I'll get it eventually.

I used some composition books that I got at Staples' back to school sales in the fall.  I made one for each of the ladies I visit teach.  Together, I hope, we are going to take our daily scripture study up a notch.  It was fun making them.  I was happy to make use of some donated scrapbooking supplies before they yellowed with age.  And I'm one project closer to cleaning out my Harry Potter craft closet.  (My craft/sewing/office room from my Ohio house got reduced to a closet under the stairs - hence the "Harry Potter Closet" - when we came to Idaho.)

Oh Christmas Tree

Sage and I adapted this crafthttp://taylordesign.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/curled-paper-christmas-tree-tutorial/  (I don't know how to make this link work, just google it.)
to make a craft at home.
I was determined to make it without buying any supplies.  So I had to make my own cones.

These were just stapled together.  Didn't have to be pretty because they were going to be covered.






 The next step is to cut out the little paper strips from scrapbook paper. I didn't have any two sided paper (which would look cuter) but I forged ahead anyway.  They each need to be curled.
Then begin gluing.  My tacky glue was a bit glumpy after a hot trek across the US of A, but it seemed to still do the job.



When all was glued on, I added some glitter glue at the top & a dollop on each "leaf" to add some sparkle.  Given more time, I could add a star or angle.  I'm going to make 4 more of these to use in the display at the middle school library.

 Sage wanted to make some too.  I think she did pretty good!  And I wasn't allowed to help her.

 

5 Random Thoughts

The City of Star is having a writing contest that ends in February.  The subject is "Living in Star."  I'm thinking about entering.

Ivan and I have been preparing for our first Thanksgiving away from home.  We have invited a family who has been good about making us feel welcome here.

Sage is drawing for Santa.  It is a dinosaur with a santa hat.  But she said she is too shy to give it to him.

Pictured to the right is the craft I made at our ward's Souper Saturday craft event.  Not sure why the photo is backwards, but you can get the general idea of it.  It was fun & easy to make!!!

Fall 2010 in Idaho is really cold!  -30 degrees F in the mountains tonight!  Glad I live in the valley!

FALLing

This weekend fall has come.  We woke up Saturday morning to overcast skies, cooler temps, and rain.  But that's ok.  Friday evening I was able to kick off the fall season by attending a craft night with my friend Amy (fellow Ohioian).  I made a cute wooden wood thingy that says to give thanks.

Saturday, Amy came with me to my ward's Souper Saturday.  There, I made a "welcome to our home" sign and learned had to use fabric & decopage to turn plain ol' wooden bracelets into works of art.  Had a delicious lunch and became better acquainted with some of my ward sisters.  (This is where I became aware of the great Sunday Trick or Treating debate.)  

Saturday night, after the grocery shopping was done, Ivan sat down to watch a movie.  I had my first hot cocoa of the season.  I found a bunch of flavored hot chocolate packets at the Winco (raspberry, carmel, hazel nut, mint, and chocolate supreme) & just had to have one.  Yum!!!