Tuesday Tutorial - Felt

Felt is so versatile and so easy to work with.   It is great not having to worry about fraying and hemming.

Today there are so many beautiful things being made with it,  too.   Here are some tutorials I found around the web.

I love these penny purses from Penny Rugs and More.

Here is a beautiful flower made from felt at Yoonie At Home.

Here is a lined felt storage basket from Gingham Cherry.

Make some pretty felt roses at Mama Moontime.

And if you want to try your hand at making penny rugs,   this blog has loads of information for you along with some free penny rug patterns.    Craft Stew

I hope you have been inspired to try something new with felt today.
Thanks for visiting.
Bette Shaw
www.byyourhands.com

Would you like to sponsor a giveaway?  Are you interested in promoting your store or blog at a very reasonable cost?   If so, just email me. I would be happy to send you the details.
                                          byyourhandsblog@gmail.com

Let's Get Organized - Toolbox for Paper Crafting

As many of you know, I do a lot of paper crafting. Sometimes, I just want to throw a quick little project together, but don't want to get out all my stuff to make it. Today, I took a few minutes and put together a kit that I'll use when I make tags. I organized it all in a plastic tool box.

First, I started with one of these plastic tool boxes.

Then, I started sorting through my paper scraps. I have a lot of them. I had a lot that were like this too... a nice sized piece of paper with just one or two pieces punched out. (who did that!!) ;-)

Once, I had them sorted out, I sat down with my punches and punched out various sized scallops and circles. Now I'll have quite a few to choose from and it'll be a lot quicker to just grab one that's already punched out when I need it.

I put the rest of my bigger sized scraps in in the bottom of the toolbox. They fit quite nicely in there.

I put my paper trimmer on top of the scraps... a perfect fit!

Next, I added some things to the tray that is inside the toolbox... scissors, ink pad, punches, bone folder, glue sticks, ribbon and some string.

With this particular toolbox, there is another compartment built into the lid. I was able to add more things there. You'll see my punched pieces in there along with some buttons, embellishments and some floss.

I think these tool boxes would be great for organizing sewing notions too. I have another one and just might give that a try sometime.

Thanks for joining us as again today!

Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.com

Blog Party Sunday, Christmas in July Sales

Welcome to another Blog Party Sunday. There are a lot of Christmas in July sales going on right now.
What do you have on your website or in your Etsy or Artfire shop that is on sale?

I'm having a Christmas In July Sale at www.ewenmeprintables.etsy.com - You can buy any 5 items for $7 (excluding printable feedsack logos).

So now it is your turn.   What do you have in your shop or on your website that is on sale?


Our guidelines:

1. Just click on the Add Your Link button below, and add your Etsy, Artfire, Blog, or website url  for the link.


2. Add a picture of your item.


3. If you are a blogger, please add our button to your blog and invite your readers back to join the party.


4. Family friendly items only, please.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg" /></a>

Trash to Treasure --- Door and Door Knobs

I would like to share some ideas for using old door and door knobs with you this week.    I love this idea.   The door is sideways and a shelf has been added.   The door knob is still attached and can be used to hang things on.

Here is a smaller door made into a blackboard shopping list.   Really cute!

Here is a combination of a small door with a door knob in the middle.    There is a glass piece behind the door knob.   You might find this as part of an old lamp as it needs to have a hole in the middle.   Hooks were added to the bottom of the door so you can hang keys,  etc.

I really love how they used the glass doorknob as a tie back here.   Beautiful!

I had never seen these before.   They are using old doorknobs to make bottle stoppers.

And finally,   this is one of my favorite uses for old doorknobs.  

Thanks for visiting today.
Bette Shaw
www.byyourhands.com

Today's Featured Artist - Folkart From The Heart

Today's featured artist is Kim Owens from Folkart From The Heart.

  

 Hi,  I’m Kim Owens.  I reside in sunny California where my very supportive husband has allowed me to create a home studio where I sculpt all of my Folk Art creations.

  

  I got started in my home based business about twenty years ago when I met a gal at church who shared my passion for art. 

  My friend and I took a tole painting class together and from there started our own business of doing home parties.  From there, we branched out to craft fairs.  Once the World Wide Web was born, and became an affordable option, it quickly became my venue of choice.  Of course there is still no substitute for holding a piece of art in your hands, so I do plan to get back into Art Fairs. 

  I started out painting on wood.  I would cut out my own patterns using a scroll saw and then paint each piece with acrylic paint. Soon after I discovered garden art.  So I would sculpt a piece out of clay, create a reusable mold and then cast the piece in concrete.  I still have the original pieces; they still make me smile when I look at them.  From there I discovered Polymer Clay, which I still love to use.  The colors and textures that can be created are endless.  Today however, I am working with my own handmade paper clay. It’s much lighter and more durable than Polymer Clay, and it allows me to be more artistic with my paints and chalks.  I still use Polymer Clay in conjunction with the Paper Clay, but Paper Clay is my medium of choice.

  I will always love making snowmen and Santas, they will always be near and dear to my heart.  But my creative juices are always flowing and new ideas pop into my head faster than I can create them, so the snowmen and Santas have to vie for attention.

  

  Now that my children are grown and starting families of their own, I get to work any time I want to.  I do make sure my house is clean and always ready for company and that I have at least a plan for dinner when my husband comes home, other than that, I’m free to create anytime my muse inspires me.   

  

I would love to someday own my own commercial art studio where my customers can come directly to me, anytime they want to and hold my art in their hands.  I love people and I love to share my art with those that love unique, quality, handcrafted sculptures.

  When I pick up a piece of art, and I see a unique design that is one of a kind created with care, time, love and quality  and I know that I am the only person on the planet that will own that piece of art, then I know it’s handcrafted.  That’s how I want my customers to feel when they hold a piece of my art in their hands.

http://www.folkartfromtheheart.com 

http://www.folkartfromtheheart.etsy.com

http://www.pfattmarketplace.com/folkartfromtheheart.html