Baby Bento Box

Since I'm showing off baby gifts, I found one that I made awhile ago for a friend's first baby.

It really started with a cute little memory book of baby's first and I thought it would be a good idea to have something to collect all those firsts.  I came up with a memory box with separate boxes for different keepsakes. 

I attached the memory book to the box lid with ribbon. I glued one end of a length of white ribbon inside the box lid and attached velcro on the other side.  I covered the spot where I attached the velcro to the ribbon with a small wooden star.  

 
The added challenge was the fact that I had no idea if it was going to be a boy or a girl...
So I decided to go with a star theme.  I painted a wooden keepsake box a light yellow and embellished it with white ribbon and rub-on stars.

I painted the smaller boxes white and trimmed each box with thin yellow ribbon.  Each box was titled with a sharpie and embellished with the rub-on stars. 
(I have to give credit to my Mom for her lovely handwriting!)
The smaller boxes correspond with pages in the baby book.

The book had pages for news from when the baby was born.

There was a page for everyone's inspirations and suggestions for names for the baby.

It included space for keepsakes like the bracelet from the hospital.

Then there were places to record baby's first impressions.

And who could forget the first tooth and the curl from the first haircut!

It took a little (ok, a lot!) of maneuvering and switching out box sizes and shapes to get them all to fit in the large box.  ...I'm probably on some watch list at Michael's...  But eventually I got the combination and got everything to fit just right.

So now that my friend is due with her second little one...I guess I had get to work again!

What a baby...

So my Memorial Day Weekend was spent with a bunch of babies...
Literally!

I got to meet a few new additions to the family.  So since the babies are on the brain, I'll show you a gift for showers that I've done recently.

It's a pretty easy project and even better - I usually don't have to worry about someone else bringing one of these to the shower!

I also make sure the diapers can actually be used...you know, in case...

Admittedly, doing a wreath for a little boy and not making it too frilly can be a little tough.
However a theme like this Star Wars Wreath helps a bit...

I came up with the metal initials since I thought a bow would take away from the theme.

And strangely enough it's always little details and last minute additions that I like best from each one.

One word of caution however - Parents have been known to change the baby's name...(Yes that did happen here...ah well!) So if you know the parents to be are a little indecisive, go with 'It's a Boy/Girl' or maybe skip that sort of thing altogether!
     

The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown

Lamenting the length of my recent posts, my Craft-Nemesis smirked and replied, "Do three steps...even if it's impractical".

Hear that?  That's me cracking my knuckles sucker - 'cause it's on:


I give to you a mask that I made for my cousin for a Masquerade themed party she attended:

1. Cover store-bought mask in desired material (Stretchy fabric like Spandex exists to mock you - Just sayin), snipping holes for the eyes & smoothing the material flat, pulling it down around edges before the glue dries(Super 77 is great glue for this kind of project).

2. Glue desired feathers/flowers or other ornamentation to the backside of the mask before covering the back with matching material.  Keep in mind this bad boy is going to rest against your face all night so keep those pieces thin & make sure not to glue the mask strap into the decor or material. Because gluing the mask to your face is a great idea until that meeting with the boss Monday morning.

3. Decorate the mask with rhinestones and other flourishes - it is a mask, so don't hold back...save the restraint for that Monday morning meeting...

My Little Craft Gargoyle

So I think it's only fair to show you who helps me come up with all of my crazy projects...
I must afford credit where credit is due!

Please meet my Craft Gargoyle.

She usually perches nearby and watches over my crafting.

Even Gargoyles need a break...

But she checks up on me and makes sure that I stay on track.

Of course, breaks are necessary every so often.

Unfortunately, I usually outlast her with the late night stretches that always seem to accompany any project. 

The Queen Bee's Derby Hat

So I promised to post this year's Derby project...

I made a hat for a boss who definitely evoked more 'His Girl Friday' than 'My Fair Lady' when I considered the possible style.  I knew I didn't want anything frou-frou, she is just not that kind of girl.  But I really wasn't sure what to do.  I didn't even know what she would wear - not that she did either! (I hope she does now!)

I did a little research.  I looked up Derby images and there was a little highlight of a milliner who's work was being shown as part of the Derby festivities.  The collection was comprised of nods to former Derby winners.  And the hat that caught my attention as appropriately understated was what is known as a 'pancake hat'.

I thought about things that summed her up and I realized there had been an inside joke about her being the Queen Bee.  But what I could do with that - I wasn't exactly sure. However in the recesses of my twisted little mind, I thought that a Pancake hat would make a chic bee-hive... 

So, I got to work looking up how to jimmy-rig hat-forms and use craft-store felt... I went crazy saving pictures and tips.  I took awhile because I think it intimidated me.  Someone I knew (that wasn't my little sister) would be wearing this - in public.

I ended up using a goldenrod felt, some purple/gold mesh, and some fuschia ribbon trim.  It's only decor is a gold queen bee trimmed with the wrong side of purple crushed velvet.  An elastic strap is worn to the back of the head so that the hat tips toward the forehead.

 

 

From the e-mail that I got once the package arrived, I think she liked it:

"
Subject: QUEEN BEE IS HAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPYYY.

That is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.  I’m all abuzz.

It will really sting when no one else at Derby has this hat.

I think it will pollinate a new fashion trend.

"

So I am hoping for some good pictures of the Queen Bee and her hat at the derby very soon!

How fascinating...

It's almost time for the Kentucky Derby, which means one thing for me, hats... 

I did some hat-making in my theatre classes in college.  You can imagine that I don't use that skill all that often.  Then last year a co-worker got me to make a fascinator for a charity function she was going to.  My boss at the time joked that I would have to make her one eventually.

Then the boss lady got a new job in Louisville so that means she will be going to the Derby this year.  In fact, as her going away gift I gave her a coupon promising to make her a hat.  So, now it's derby time and I am putting the finishing touches on one Derby hat.  And by finishing touches, I mean hiding all my mess-ups!

She has no idea I have actually made her that hat I promised...

I feel a little guilty that I'm putting this on here before she even gets to see her hat.

So instead I will show you the fascinator that I made that I made last year and just tease/promise you that I will post this year's hat later!  Stop cursing me...I can hear you.

I wanted to keep it small because my co-worker didn't give me much time.  Furthermore, she hadn't decided on her outfit...which made things tricky.  I made her pick a few ideas and she actually went with me to pick out flowers and pieces for the hat. 

She picked a deep red, almost burgundy, color.  She picked the flowers and some reedy looking pieces.  She wanted height and some movement.

I removed the leaves and some of the plastic stamens to avoid bulk. 

I started with a 3" plastic disk.

Luckily I had some velvet left over that was just the right color!
I cut the fabric and covered the disk.  First I glued the fabric to the disk so that it would stay in place while I stitched the edges to the disk.

 
I decided the best way to attach the headpiece would be with loops that she could pin it into her hair-do.

I was going to attach two disks together.  One disk, I would attach the flowers to and the other disk I would pull the loops through and use to cover the back of the first disk so the place where I attached the flowers. 

 Like I said - I have to hide the mistakes!

Here is the finished product!

Post-Mortem Ponderings...

This was one of those weeks that looking back I'm not sure how it all stuffed itself into just one.  There was a cousin's engagement, a friend's funeral, realizing how big my baby sister is when she came to work to shadow people since she is going to start looking at colleges and majors. I found some cool artists, some good new songs and I am still trying to process it all.

But it has me thinking about inspiration for what we do.  I usually like to create things for other people, that is typically my motivation.  But occasionally there is a need for the art for yourself.  That is what weeks like this are for.  I don't really know what to do with everything that happened.  I don't think I'm even ready to start a new project...but maybe looking around at other artists to see how their life has snuck into their art will give me some direction.

 

Elsie at A Beautiful Mess  has her art journals which I could find helpful after this week. 
This is just a cool site I totally feel like I'm there with her and ready to craft and it makes me want to dig out my hot glue gun.

While I was there digging through all the great ideas on 'A Beautiful Mess', I found a link to Art & Design Inspiration. 
I like her 'Too Cute Thursday' which is a set pictures that are sure to spark possible projects.  The posts are whimsical with inspirational quotes and illustrations that sneak into her pictures it makes me feel like I just got a needed hug.   

Dollar Store Crafts has become one of my favorite blogs!
It's inspiring to see all the unique solutions people can come up with from Dollar Store items...like I need another reason to craft shop at the Dollar Store!  Sometimes, I find that a small random project can get me back into one of my more monumental undertakings.  This site is great for quick projects and clever ways to dress-up things you might have on hand.


My goal for the week is actually to finish up my current project so I can show you my most recent monster...fingers crossed everything goes well!