Hibernation?!

I can't even remember the last time I wrote something on my blog. All I know is that it felt like years since I used my fingers to type words instead of using them to create more callouses from knitting and crocheting.;)
My brain is not in hibernation that's why I'm not writing anything here. In fact, my brain and hands are working overtime to make enough merchandise in time for the craft show I'm joining in November. So many things to do, so little time!
I've got tons of pending projects I want to share and a few tutorials as well. So the sooner I go back to knitting, crocheting, sewing, gluing and get everything done. The sooner I can get back on track on my blogging.:)

Knock Knock!

Another one of Paolo's favorite Knock Knock Joke.:)

Have a great Weekend!

Felt Crazy

I've always enjoyed working with felt. It's comes in alot of fun colors, affordable (at least the ones you can buy at the craft store) and easy to use. I started making felt toys when I was pregnant with Lily. I was having frequent back pains that I ended up spending alot of time sitting. So just not to get bored, I started making felt food toys for Paolo. It started with one vegetable and after that....I'm hooked! It's addicting.:)) Soon after I didn't realized how much I've made already.

It's almost 2 years since the last time I made these toys. The toys are starting to show it's age that the kids are ignoring it and wouldn't play with it anymore. So it's time to make new ones! I was too happy to do it.:)

This is a fun thing to do but very time consuming. Most of the detailed designs are hand stitched not to mention cutting all those detailed pieces. I'm not complaining though because I do enjoy it. It helps as well when you see the finished product and how adorable they look.:)

4th of July 2010

4th of July are about....

Kids at play.

Chance to eat yummy food.

Reason to bake a cake!:)

Time spent with family.

This gives us a chance to reflect and be grateful for the freedom we have now and the opportunity to be able to share it with family and friends.:)

Knock Knock Jokes!

Paolo's latest obsession right now is telling knock knock jokes. It's starting to make me go crazy because he only knows a couple of jokes that he tells us everyday. Even his sister is getting into the fun of it and already knows how to say, "knock! knock" and "who's there?!"

Instead of asking them to stop doing it and become the boring Mom, I decided to dedicate entries of knock knock jokes on my blog. If you can't beat them, join them!:)

One of my purpose when I started this blog is to let my kids read it when they are older. So I'm sure it would be fun to see the kid's reaction when they found out what are the things they we're obsessed about when they were at the age of 4 and 1.:)

I don't know why kids thinks these knock knock jokes are hilarious. I swear most of these jokes are not funny so just to make it easier for us (older people..LOL!) to read these jokes, I turned it into a comic strip. Now it will also be a fun experience for me making cartoons for these corny jokes.;)

Also if you happen to know some knock knock jokes, send them my way and I will turn it into a cartoon strip and post it here. Join in the fun!!

Len bakes too!

It feels like forever since the last time I wrote a new entry to my blog. I've been working on new flowers and bows that I sell on my website and my felt addiction is back! Well, I'm going to have to blog all about that some other time.;)

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to make a birthday cake for my friend's son. If you do check my website, I do make cakes and cupcakes too! Am I trying to be like Martha Stewart?! Nahhh!! I just love baking as well as crafting!

 I had too much fun using Corel and fused my face to Martha's body. Bwahahaha!!:)

It's totally different when you make a cake for somebody else and get paid for it. I was so excited and super nervous at the same time. I just want to make sure that the client will be happy and satisfied with their cake order.

Pre-planning stages includes making a sketch of the design of the cake and getting it approved by the client. That part is relatively easy compared to knowing how to properly price your merchandise. I had to research online as well as ask a few of Greg's Aunties who used to sell cakes before. It wasn't an easy process because I had to make sure that I don't over price and at the same time making sure that I will still earn making this cake. I had to constantly remind myself that business means earning profit. Sometimes I still feel guilty charging for the stuff I make because I've never really sold them before. I normally just give it as a gift. As soon as I was done with the design and pricing, comes the part where I have to find the right cake recipe. I already have a chocolate recipe that I always use that I know will always turn out moist and yummy. I needed to find a good recipe for a yellow or vanilla cake. I'm not against boxed mixes but I'd rather make a cake from scratch or at least semi-homemade. Although I have to be practical and find ways of making the process easier because I do take care of 2 kids (oh! don't forget house chores) on top of all these other activities.

So finally after a few attempts and a husband and 2 kids overstuffed with cake, I finally found the perfect recipe for a moist and yet dense (good for layered cakes) yellow cake!

So the last part of the process is making the right schedule for baking and decorating the cake in time for delivery. Not like with other crafts that you can make ahead of time, with baking comes perfect timing. You don't want to make it way too early because you want to deliver a fresh cake. You can't do it too late that you don't have enough time to decorate. Baking doesn't take long, it's the decorating that takes alot of time.

I have to be honest and admit that I haven't mastered the art of sticking to a schedule. I do start at the right track and does the baking part well. It's the decorating that throws me off course. Even with the design on paper, it still changes once you see it on the cake. You adjust and re-design to make sure it will turn out to be a fun and unique cake as you promised it to be.

All the hardwork is all worth it when you see a smile from your client and the other people who sees your work. It's all worth it when you know that the cake made their tummy happy too!:)

 To my friends who asks me how I find time to do all these things, my answer is that I FIND the time to do it. My love for crafting and baking are way to much to be overcomed with stress and hardwork that goes with it.:)

A cake for Daddy..:)

It was my husband's birthday last Saturday which gave me a reason to bake a cake! The other reason why I opted to make one (instead of buying a yummy ice cream cake from Coldstone) is that I need to practice because I have a cake order in May. 

It's been awhile since the last time I made Marshmallow Fondant and I saw this new recipe online that I just had to try. I also want to make sure how much cake batter I need to make a 10" round cake (2 layers) and 6" (2 layers).

I was looking for a moist, dense cake recipes because it works well for tiered cakes. For Greg's cake, I tried the butter cake recipe I saw on the Wilton website. I found it to be too sweet and turned a bit dry as well. So it's time to try some other recipes to find the best cake.:)

As for the design of Greg's cake, I still didn't have an idea of what to do until I covered the cake with fondant. At first I was going for the design I'm suppose to make for the cake order so that I can actually practice. But I felt that it's so unfair for the birthday boy if I give him a cake that won't actually represent him.

So after I covered the cake, a design came into my mind.

I thought of just making a figure of Greg with the things he likes....computer and his camera!

I'm not used to making sculptures so I'm so surprised that the the figure turned out ok.:))

The figure is made to look like it's lying on it's tummy because my father-in-law told me that this is Greg's favorite position when he was still a kid while he watches tv.:)

It's a simple cake but made special for our Daddy Greg. Happy Birthday again and we love you!

Crayon cannisters and Art box

So while I'm into organizing my crafting supplies I decided to organize my kid's art supplies too. Paolo and Lily are now fighting over crayons that I have to make 2 separate containers for them. With that I also made an art box for Paolo where he can put all his supplies in one container. It's time to pull my bag of recyclables and craft away!:)

For the crayon cannister I used empty milk cans, printed tissue papers (that was used to wrap some glass bottles I got from a craft store), assorted scrap paper, glue and ribbons.

I started by removing the label from the milk can. I tore pieces of tissue paper so it will be easier to glue it on the can. You can use decoupage glue or you can be "kuripot" (thrifty) like me and just use regular glue and water. I found these glue from the dollar store (2 pcs. for a $1) that I don't need to add water anymore and it has the right consistency. With that, I started gluing the tissue paper to the cans.

As soon as it's dry, I started decorating the cans and added the ribbon as handles.

After I was done with the crayon cannisters, I made an art box for Paolo. Still into recycling so I used a shoe box, more assorted scrap papers, box board, transparency and of course lots of glue. I designed a box that will have a frame on top of the lid that we can put some of Paolo's art work.

I glued assorted paper all over the box and used permanent marker for borders around the paper. It gives a modern look to the box. Instead of using glass for the frame on top of the box, I used transparency. There's an opening to one side of the frame where I can slid Paolo's art work. I added his name for a personal touch.

I liked how the box turned out and wanted one for myself and for Lily too. I need more shoe boxes! That gives me a reason to go shoe shopping.:))

Multi-Purpose Wall Art

Since I re-arranged my work area, the walls on that corner seems bland. I couldn't put shelves because I'm not sure if this area will become my permanent work space. I was thinking of a more practical use for the wall and still make it look like art. Here's what I came up with.

I used 4 clipboards that I got for a $1 each at Walmart and used small nails to hang them. Now I use these clipboards as frames and hang anything that I want that can inspire me to be more creative. Either my kid's latest art work, a project I'm working on, a magazine that I can get inspiration from or just a nice scrapbooking paper.

What I like about this wall art is that it doesn't restrict you to a certain look on your wall. It will even be nice if you can do a theme every month or during holidays. I just think it's so cool to have your own inspiration wall!:)

DIY Ribbon Holder

Since I re-arranged my work space I had to organize my craft supplies as well. We got my worksation unit from IKEA. It includes the desk and 2 cabinets. With a growing number of crafting supplies, the cabinets are not enough anymore. I even had to buy a plastic drawers that I can put under my table. I use this drawers to hold most of the supplies that I use often. I want a place where I can easily access those things. 

One of the supplies that I had to really organize are my spool of ribbons. When I started crafting I had a few of them but now I have more than a few. But then how can you resist buying $1 ribbons every time you visit a craft store?!;)

Now that I'm into recycling I wanted to make my own ribbon holder from materials I already have on hand. So I share with you an easy DIY project that you can easily do in less than an hour. :)

Materials you need are:

*old shoe box (the one I used was big enough

to hold 2 rows of ribbons)

*wooden dowel

*assorted scrapbooking or gift wrapping paper

*cutter or exacto knife

*scissors

*glue

*packing tape (optional)

First wrap the shoe box with any printed paper you like. With this project, I didn't wrap my shoe box anymore because I already like the color combination of it. I just covered 2 corners of the box to hide a manufacturer's sticker and to add a little design.

Like I mentioned, the box I used is big enough to hold 2 rows of ribbons so I laid down 2 spools as guide on the side of the box to estimate the distance of the dowels I will be using. Mark them and use an exacto knife or cutter to make a hole. 

Do the same thing on the other side of the box and just make sure that it's aligned to the 1st 2 holes you made on the other side. Pre-cut your dowel to the length of your box and slide it in the holes to fit.

Now the box needs an opening so you can pull through the ribbons. Put the lid on the box and measure it from the edge of the lid about 1/2" to 3/4" x the length of the box less 1/2" both sides. Hmmmm....confusing?!

For example the length of the box is 10", you need to measure and mark 9" leaving 1/2" on both edge of the box.

Cut the line you made to make a slit big enough for the ribbons to pass through. Cover the slits with a packing tape to make the edge smoother and for the ribbons to easily slide out. This part though is optional.

Put all the spool of ribbons that will fit the box and your ribbon holder is done!

This is a fun and easy project to make that will definitely help you organize all your ribbon supplies. One thing I realized though when I was done with this project, one box of ribbon holder is not enough to hold all the ribbons I have!;)

My Little Corner

I'm sure most crafters have their own craft room or area in their homes. Before my youngest was born, I used her room as a guest/craft room. I have a long table and lots of storage space in the cabinet to use. Now I had to downsize my space to a small corner in my kid's play area. I had to give up the room for Lilygirl and it's alot better to do all my crafting where my kids stays most of the day so it's easier for me to watch them.:)

Sometimes I still don't know how I get things done with a 12"x12" workspace. I work on a small area infront of my computer unless I'm sewing. Before I re-arranged my area, I used to sew in our dining table. With so many crafts I do, my table always gets crazy messy in just a few days.

Last week I decided to re-arrange and make the space more workable for me. I wanted to move my sewing machine in the same area so that I don't have to use our dining table. Although most of my paper supplies are still sharing a space in Lily's closet. Wish I could have all my supplies here but a small space won't do.

I couldn't add shelves on the walls because I'm not sure if this will become my permanent work space. Art work will be definitely added to the walls. For now, this area works well for me.

I'm looking forward to making more fun crafts in my little corner.:)