Doodle Guide

Ever caught yourself doodling before a crucial deadline?  Believe it or not, doodling relieves stress and it's actually considered to be a fine art to some.  So what's the secret formula?  Simply let your emotions slide through your pen and draw whatever random thing pops into your head!  If that sounds a little confusing or if you want some inspiration, peruse through the guide below and print out my Doodle Template.

You'll only need a couple basic materials to get started: a pen/pencil/marker and some paper.  However, if you're super dedicated to daily doodling, then get yourself a blank journal and label it "[Insert Name Here]'s Doodle Diary".

Before you even think about touching your pen to your paper, try to purge your mind of self-criticism and the image of perfection.  It's hard to do, but those things just don't mesh with doodling; after all, this is supposed to be relaxing.

A great way to get yourself comfortable with the concept is to try noodling (name doodling)!  Just write your name a bunch of different ways—in cursive, block, or bubble letters as shown below:

Other than writing, doodles can be made into pictures.  Due to the fact that I enjoy nature, I like to create cute animals.  However, you can really do anything you want—let your mind wander!  If you need some quick inspiration, click and print my free Doodle Template—it has a variety of illustrated animals that can be colored in:

Want to turn your doodles into a handmade gift?  Try making a card!  Simply measure out a piece of card stock with a ruler, fold it in half, and voilá—you have a blank canvas.  Then, in a variety of pretty colors, create a pretty picture on the cover.  If you want to create your own pretty design, go right ahead, but you can also use my template.  If you need more detailed instructions on how to make a card, head over to my Cute as a Button Card Tutorial.

Whether you enjoy doodling as a past time or if you use it to relieve stress, I hope you found this post a useful resource.

I'd love to see how your unique doodle creations have turned out!  Please send me a picture through my Facebook or email.  Then, I'll choose a winner and feature them in my next post.

Have fun doodling!

Kelly

Craft Your Calendar: Paint February

Sometimes the best thing to do to beat the winter blues is to craft!  The next installment to my monthly calendar tutorial features a pretty hand-drawn picture that is sure to lighten your mood.  Since I've been learning a lot of painting techniques in my art class lately, I wanted to showcase the lovely world of watercolor.  Step-by-step below, I illustrate how to get started with painting in a simple and quick way by creating a wash, which is basically a light glaze of color.  For a quirky and creative spin, you can also apply white crayon beforehand to create a neat effect.  I hope you give painting a try—who knows, it could turn out to be your own hidden niche.

You really only need a few basic art materials for this project including the free printable February Template, watercolor paper, a white crayon, a set of watercolors, a watercolor palette for mixing, a paintbrush, a light source (a light box or a window works fine), water, and some paper towels.

1.  Print the template on regular printer-paper, and then cut a piece of watercolor paper to eight and one-half by eleven inches.  Layer the thicker paper over the template and trace over a light source using a white crayon.  This effect, while invisible at first, will create a waxy surface that will resist the water.

2.  Put some water in your paint and experiment by mixing colors to create neat shades and tints.  You don't want your paint consistency to be too thin or thick—somewhere in between works well.

3.  Using a paintbrush (I used a thick one to cover more area), cover you paper in a little water, so that the pores in the watercolor paper soak it up.  Then, paint over the paper, revealing the magic of the white crayon.  I suggest using a dark colored paint so that the white crayon will show though better.

4.  Fill in the detailed parts of the drawing with a smaller paintbrush. Next, dab over the white crayon using a paper towel to sop up any extra watercolor.  Let you calendar dry, and you're done!

5.  If you want to take full advantage of your leftover template, you can do a craft with it as well.  Using some thick markers, I colored my template, and put it in my school binder, to keep reminders for myself throughout the month.

If you enjoy watercolor, and have experimented with creating washes, try making a composition.  Above is the painting I made for my art class, which was the inspiration for this tutorial.  If you enjoyed this craft, don't forget to come by next month, and check out my calendar template for March.

Update: on the templates, I have left the days blank, so that his series can be used for many years to come!  Also, the names of the weeks have been omitted, so that any country can enjoy the calendar tutorials.  If you want, you can fill the blanks in by hand with a marker, to create the same effect as shown in the tutorial.

Happy Valentines day :)

Kelly

Craft Your Calendar: Stitch January

Create your calendar this year by learning new crafting techniques every month and using my free printable templates.  For January, I decided to make a pretty wintery scene that captures the wonder of the frosty season.  In this tutorial, I wanted to showcase embroidering techniques for beginners in a simple, yet detailed way.  If you've never embroidered before, I encourage you to try it out—you may end up loving it!  However, if stitching isn't your thing, you can certainly do whatever kind of craft that suits your fancy!  You could color it in, decoupage it, paint it. . . the options are endless.  Once you're done, hang it on the wall for all to admire or put it in a binder as a reminder for school or work.

Step-by-step below, I'll demonstrate three basic embroidery stitches—the running stitch, the french knot, and the backstitch.  You can use these techniques however you want to on your template or use my examples as inspiration!

Materials:  Click and print the free January Template on thick paper, scissors, practice paper, needle, and embroidery floss in several complementary colors.

 

To prepare a needle and thread for embroidery stitches, cut a stretch of embroidery floss (no more than 18 inches so it doesn't tangle) and tie a knot close to one end.  Thread your needle onto the opposing side of the knot (use a wide-eyed needle to accommodate larger thread).

Note:  I recommend that before begin on your template, you practice and perfect these techniques on a recycled sheet of paper.

Here's how to do the running stitch. . .

This dashed stitch is a must-know because it is very common and easy to do.

1.  Poke your needle up through the paper and pull until you reach the knot.  Then, simulate an "under-over" pattern with the needle and thread, creating stitches about one centimeter long.  You'll notice that this stitch creates a line of dashes.

2.  On the backside of your paper, you should see your knot and the same dashed pattern.

In your template, you can apply the running stitch anywhere you want.  I used the same "under-over" concept of the running stitch to create a snowflake, instead of a line.

Here's how to do a french knot. . .

This embroidery technique is one of the prettiest stitches and is surprisingly easy to do.  Practice it a couple of times and you're sure to get it!  Note: this tutorial demonstrates the technique right-handed, but if you are left-handed, simply reverse the hand positions.

1.  Poke up through the spot you want to create a french knot.  In one hand, pull the thread coming though the paper taught and in the other hand, hold the needle.

2. Wrap the needle around the thread about two times.

3.  In a place close to where the thread came out, poke the needle back through the paper.

4.  Keep pulling the needle through until a little knot is created.

In all the places where there are dots on your template, you can apply the french knot.  If you don't want to do a french knot, another option would be to create little X's over the dots.

Here's how to do a backstitch . . .

The backstitch is a great technique to use if you want to create a solid line.

1.  Begin this stitch as you would for a running stitch: poke the needle up through the paper and go over, under, and come up again.  

2.  To fill in the gap created, go back to the last stitch made, and poke the needle through it about 1/4 way though.  Repeat this process by coming up to make a stitch again and then filling in the gap.

I used the backstitch for the solid lines in the template including the boots, tights, dress, and mittens of the girl.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and picked up a few embroidery techniques along the way.  I'm interested in knowing how you will decorate your template and how you're going to use it!  Remember to check back at the beginning of every month for a new template and craft that goes with it.  If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by,

Kelly

Easy Mosaic Wall Art Tutorial

Be an artist and create a beautiful and creative masterpiece by using my free printable Mosaic Template and recycling magazine scraps.  I had a lot of fun sitting around this holiday season and lazily glueing this project together while spending time with my family.  It's so simple that you don't have to worry about messing up either—the goal of this project is just to relax, enjoy and let your creativeness flow!

I also hope you'll like my hand-drawn illustration of a girl walking in the rain with an umbrella.  I was inspired to create it after seeing local artwork and watching the constant drizzle of rain here in Oregon.  Even though grey weather can be a bit boring, it does make the perfect excuse to stay inside with a warm cup of hot chocolate and throw a craft party!

Materials: Click and print free Mosaic Template, scissors, decoupage or glue, a foam brush, a thick piece of paper, and some magazine scraps (you'll need both fine print and colors)

Step One:  Search through some old magazines and focus on one color that comes in a variety of shades (I chose green).  Once you collect a handful of scraps, organize them into three piles by shade: light, medium, and dark.  Then, cut the pieces into small squares, about 1 centimeter long.

Step Two:  Print the free Mosaic Template I created and apply a thin layer of decoupage or glue to a section of the drawing (it's easier if you work in small sections and go from top to bottom).

Step Three:  You'll notice the template drawing has thee different shades: dark, medium, and light. These correspond with the mosaic tiles you cut earlier—it's the same basic idea as paint by number!  In dark areas, apply small pieces of dark tiles and vice versa in other sections.

Step Four:  Continue this process until you're done filling in the picture.

Step Five:  Once you're done glueing the tiles, cut the girl out with scissors, following along the edges.  Then, set aside to dry for a while.

Step Six:  Meanwhile, cut scraps of magazine that have lettering and fine prints on them.  Then, glue them onto a thick piece of paper and let it dry.

Step Seven:  Glue the mosaic girl onto the magazine print background.  If you want, write an inspirational quote on the background.  By cutting out scraps of pink paper, I spelled out "Everything will be OK".

Step Eight:  Let your masterpiece dry and you're done!

Thank you for stopping by my blog and check back soon for a new series of projects having to do with creating your very own calendar!

Please feel free to share this craft with your friends and don't forget to "like" my Facebook page!

See you later,

Kelly

Recycled Bottle Bracelet Tutorial

What's better than creating a chic piece of jewelry that costs practically nothing?  A pretty bracelet that helps the environment and is budget-friendly too!  These colorful bands are sure to make a fashionable statement to any outfit.  To build them, recycle a used water bottle and some scraps of paper.  This craft is it's easy to do by yourself or with friends during the upcoming holidays.  Let's get started:

 What You'll Need:  a plastic water bottle, scissors, decoupage, a foam brush, and an assortment of patterned paper (you could use scrapbook, tissue, or leftover calendar paper for this)

Step One:  Using scissors, carefully cut through the water bottle to create a round bracelet (I used the segmented pattern on the bottle as a guide).

Step Two:  Brush a layer of a decoupage glue, such as Mod Podge, onto bracelet.

Step Three: Snip pieces of a patterned paper and secure them to the glue, holding for about 45 seconds each.

Step Four:  Continue covering the plastic bracelet with pieces of paper until it's fully covered.

Step Five:  Seal the bracelet with a top coat of decoupage and let it dry for approximately 15 minutes.

Step Six:  Now enjoy wearing your new fashionable and eco-friendly jewelry!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial—these bracelets will make great gifts for the holidays!

Would you like to see more repurpose/recycled crafts in the future?  Maybe I could do something with a bottle cap. . . !  Please let me know in the comments below.

Have fun,

Kelly

Stylish Pencil Pouch Tutorial

Hit the halls in style this school year when you create these cute and easy pencil pouches!  Before school starts, get together with your friends and host a fun crafting party.  Everyone can bring their own special style to this project.  All you need to do is gather up a few pretty papers and some basic crafting supplies.  Create a sealable pouch by recycling an ordinary sandwich bag.  Once you're done, stash all your basic office supplies in them from pencils and pens to scissors and glue.

What You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Patterned paper
• Double-sided tape
• Packing tape
• Resealable plastic bag

Step One:  Cut patterned paper in strips that fit the size of the plastic bag.  If you don't have any fancy paper handy, recycle an old calendar or use wrapping paper.

Step Two:  Apply double-sided tape to the backside of the paper you cut.

Step Three:  Secure the paper onto the front face of the plastic bag.  Repeat this process on the opposite side of the bag by cutting and taping on more paper.

Step Four:  Create a glossy finish by applying packing tape over the paper.

Step Five (Optional):  Accessorize with tape and stickers and you're done!  You can also attach magnets to the back of the pouches and hang them inside your locker.

I'm starting high school this year and I know that these pencil pouches will come in handy.  I'm making these ahead of time because once school starts, I know I'll be busy.

Do you want to see more back-to-school crafts?  Leave a comment down below.

Craft on,

Kelly

Cute as a Button Card Tutorial

Use my free printable template to create these cute and easy button cards!

Give all your friends these cute and easy handmade button cards!  The unique doodle design that I created complements the simple button decorations.  Say anything from "happy birthday" to "thank you" to "congratulations" when giving these away.  If you want, you can also keep these for yourself.  Use them to adorn your room by framing them as art or find another creative use—the options are endless.

What You'll Need:

Click to Print

• Free printable Button Card Template
• Card stock (or any thick paper)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Ruler
• Buttons (3-8 depending on card)
• Colored pencils or markers

Step One:  Click and print my free Button Card Template.  Using scissors, cut along the outside edges of desired card.

Step Two: With pencils or markers, color in the picture.

Step Three:  Measure out a piece of card stock or any thick paper to 10 x 5 inches with the ruler and cut out with scissors.

Step Four:  Fold the piece of paper in half and crease.

Step Five:  Glue the template cut-out onto the top face of the paper.

Step Six:  Using a liquid glue, adhere the buttons and you're finished!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have fun creating these easy cute as a button cards!

Keep crafting,

Kelly

Easy DIY Journal Tutorial

With only a few household supplies, you can create your own personalized journals by yourself. Use your notebook as a way to keep reminders, give a gift, or write a story.  Stash them in pockets, purses, or backpacks and whenever you need paper, they'll be there!

The process I use to make these journals is very easy and relaxing.  In fact, it will hardly take any brainwork at all.  The best part though, is that you can personalize them according to your own unique style.  I love using pretty little stickers, quotes, and ribbons to accessorize mine, but you can do whatever you want!  I hope you'll enjoy creating these as much as I did.  Let's get started.

What You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Embroidery thread and needle
• Card stock (or any thick paper)
• Patterned tape
• Paper (lined, graph, plain, etc.)

Step One:  Cut paper and card stock to desired size (the example above is 8.5"x 5.5"), align them together, and then fold in half.

Step Two:  Using the needle and embroidery floss, stitch through the middle of the journal, leaving the ends free on the outside.

Step Three:  Finish off by applying tape along the outer edge, making sure to hide the embroidery floss.

Step Four (Optional):  Accessorize with stickers and ribbon and you're done!

What are some ways you're planning to decorate your own journals?

I'd love to hear about all the unique styles everyone can bring to this project.

Happy crafting,

Kelly