Wanna-be Crafter

I'm totally a wanna-be crafter. I could be an actual crafter, but I have little to no patience for crafts. I also have very little motivation to do crafts on most days. The actual crafting doesn't seem so bad, but its the getting all the supplies out and then cleaning it all up at the end. And the frustration in the middle when I can't make it look like the picture.

Even though I know this about myself, I still collect bookmarks for crafts I want to do "someday". Here are some of my favorites, that maybe someday will get done.

This mason jar soap dispenser from apartment therapy is so simple and so so cute.  The handy thing is, I already buy soap in the really refill jar.  And I happened to break the top of the old soap dispenser when re-screwing it on.

Now that I look at this, I actually need the top to that, so that's not helpful at all.  It's actually really inconvenient.

I still want to make this though, it will happen someday!

I've been using one of those zipper pocket Vera Bradley wallets with the key ring since November, and I'm converted.  I love it.  I saw this tutorial to make a cuuute zipper wallet, and I want to do it.

The only thing stopping me is that it looks like a lot of cutting.  And a lot of sewing.  And that's a lot of patience.

But it looks like the front pocket would hold my cell phone!  How handy is that?!  I need to find some cute fabric, and some patience.

Last but definitely not least, I WANT TO MAKE THIS PRETTY PINK PLANNER.  I know it's more of a tutorial of how to make your own planner in general, but I want that one.  Exactly that one.

I've even bought some pink glittery sticky back foam that I found.  The problem with this is finding something to use as the small binder that's a reasonable size and price.  This may need to wait until I have a real job, so I can do it right.  I'm so excited though.

And she's Swedish.  Those labels are in Swedish.  But that only accounts for a very small amount of the love that I have for that planner.  Someone make it for me please?

Slice of Life: Day 86

I made a headband!  I love ribbon headbands, except that I can never tie things around my head and make them stay.  Solution?  Glue ribbon to an old headband. Ta-da!

Slice of Life: Day 66

Friday I got crafty!

I should clarify that I made these super easy magnets that Becca told me how to make.

They're a perfect craft for me because:
A) They take five minutes to make, so they can hold my attention for that long.
B) It takes no crafty skills.  Literally.  Anyone can do this.

Get circle magnets and get those clear marble stones that people put in vases and whatnot (the ones with a flat side).  Cut out a picture that's the size of the magnet, glue it down, and glue the stone on top with some type of really strong and really clear glue.  Done.

The only issue I had was when I tried to make some using pictures I printed from a computer and the ink ran.  I "laminated" them with clear packaging tape and that solved the problem.

So easy.  It's a great way to feel crafty.

Slice of life: day 32.

I'm not very good at sewing, and I'm not very creative.

I do love thrift stores and I can sew buttons though.

$16 and about 20 minutes of sewing later, and I have a cute new wool coat!

Slice of life: day 8.

I'm still aware that it's day 9, but really I do promise that this is from day 8.  I made a skirt yesterday! Using a sewing machine!! I generally don't get along with sewing machines, so this is a big deal.  These elastic waistband skirts are really easy to make though, and if I can make it, that's saying something.  I'll let you in on a little secret: I am not particularly crafty or artsy, and I have almost no patience when it comes to projects like this.  When I get the urge to do something crafty, I have to do it right then and finish as quickly as possible.  If I don't it will just sit in my closet (or on the kitchen table) for years until I move and throw it away.

Here's what I learned from making it that I should do differently next time:
1. Iron the fabric first. (I know, common sense, but I ignore most things like this.  Just wait and see.)
2. Cut the fabric to it's desired length and shape (evenly) before sewing it to the elastic. (Yes, you read that right.  I sewed the lining and the skirt to the elastic waistband before I knew how long it was going to be.  It ended up really really really uneven.)
3. Learn how to sew the side seam so it doesn't create the huge puffy butt effect.  While popular a few centuries ago, I don't think it's a trend that's going to be making a reappearance anytime soon.

All of these things aside, it's cute and wearable and homemade! So exciting!