Rock Art Paperweight: Ladybug

Tools of the trade:

-round or oval rock
-paint
-paintbrush
-toothpick, drinking straw, your pinkie or a Q-tip/cotton swab to make the eyes/eyeballs (optional)



Directions:

Clean the rock first if it is dirty and set aside to dry completely. Paint as desired.

Let dry.

For ladybug inspiration go here:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gs_rn=11&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=kb8qgCsweHQLBJN_Lc2QlA&cp=9&gs_id=y&xhr=t&q=rock+art+brewery&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45921128,d.cGE&biw=1255&bih=1222&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=OyOAUYKKOsrHigLT3oDACw#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=rock+art+ladybug&oq=rock+art+ladybug&gs_l=img.3...3139.3879.0.4115.7.7.0.0.0.0.93.339.7.7.0...0.0...1c.1.11.img.k3GhxDWaYmE&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45921128,d.cGE&fp=cf38285fba8606ee&biw=1255&bih=1222

'Put a Skunk On It' by Effervescent Ethel

It's been a busy April fellow small crafters. We've hit many squalls this month but we hope to be smooth sailing soon! Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Signed in red paint,



Captain Mad Ellen


Tools: Paint, paintbrush, pencil, paper...oh, and hand wipes! ;)

And now for a pirate hiaku from piratehiaku.com:

Save the Last Dance for Me

If you ever see
a pirate with just one leg
ask him for a dance

Paper Flowers (and a special bonus paper craft)

Source: www.madebyjoel.com


Materials:


-card stock
-wire cutter
-22 gauge 18" length florist cloth-covered stem wire (bought 50% off for $1.oo at Joanns)
-scissors
-pencil
-tape
-poppy seeds (optional)
-hole punch
-recycled greeting cards for the tulip and the butterfly
-craft paper (ladybug)
-fake pearls





Poppy...

...with real poppy seeds!

Here's the Special Bonus Paper Craft: Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse. I would probably use black washi tape next time instead of leaving the stems green.

Minimalist sunflower

Effervescent Ethel's flower (Winner of Best in Show)

Tulip (notice I used floral stem tape to attach the leaf)

More flowers

  More florist stem tape

This flower our ever crafty Effervescent Ethel made for a little girl's 4th birthday on Sunday.

_________________________________________________________________________


Q: How do you spell 'pirate'?


A: P I R R R R R A T E 

Last Minute DIY greeting card (for a girl's 4th birthday)

Source and inspiration: http://www.designsponge.com/2009/07/diy-project-lauras-recycled-paper-cards-garland.html


Materials used:

-card stock
-craft paper (the birthday candles)
-glue
-recycled greeting cards (for the candle flame, border decoration, yellow flower and greeting)
-scissors
-ribbon
-hole punch

Greeting inside:

_________________________________________________________________________

http://www.hardyhems.com/new_intros%20Kendig.htm

Menacing Pirate   Kendig  2010 Tetraploid 40” tall. 6” near white flower has dramatic purple edge with hooks and knobs. My entire Pirate series has purple edges but this edge is bold and has great contrast with the flower and finally we are getting some height intomthe purple edges. 3 way branching, 18 buds. Red Menace x Red Storm Rising $75 SF

Put a Birdhouse on it!

Source and inspiration: http://craftsbyamanda.com/2013/04/road-map-birdhouses.html



       17 April 1713

Greetings from my comfy quarters,



Polly want a birdhouse? Unfinished wooden birdhouses are $1.09 at Joanns but I bought them using a 50% coupon with my IPhone app. I should remind you that these are decorative birdhouses and are *not* intended to be used outside with real birds. They are not sturdy enough for the elements: tropical storms, etc.

Craft items used:

-ribbon
-sequins
-loose glitter
-glue
-scissors
-paintbrushes
-pencil, black ink pen
-washable paint
-recycled greeting cards
-craft paper (on sale at Micheals for ¢.12 cents each)
-various colors of construction paper for the inside of the nest (we used a paper shredder)

Other decorating ideas:

-stickers
-postage stamps
-yarn
-buttons

Last Minute DIY Greeting Card (for baby shower)

Greetings and salutations from the Ebony Oyster,


Our belovèd ship has been in port for repair the first half of the month of April after a terrible storm off the coast of Hispaniola destroyed part of the foremast. We are now back in (and pardon the expression) "shipshape"!

This week's craft is an easy and quick one. The fact of the matter is I didn't want to spend $5 dollars for a greeting card which seems to be the going rate now however I was in need of a greeting card for an impromptu baby shower today. I have better things to blow my loot on: gun powder, pint o' ginger ale, breadfruit...

Solution? DIY greeting card: total cost about US ¢.49 for two cards. Unfortunately I had no baby pink paper or baby pink buttons to decorate the card. I really make an effort to use up craft/sewing items I have on hand before replenishing at the next port o' call.


Small craft advisory: always be sure to have pink buttons on hand prior to beginning a craft project. Savvy?


Signed,


Captain Mad Ellen


PS Two cards were made as I wasn't completely satisfied with the first card:

Card #1

Card #2

To make the very easy envelope:

Source:
http://rubberstamping.about.com/od/projects/ss/EasyEnvelope.htm


To make the greeting card (for a baby shower) with my simplified version see link below. Note that I didn't use a 'circle punch' (just another thing to buy that I probably would rarely utilize) rather I used a Fiestaware salt shaker for a template to make the neck and leg openings.

Craft source:
http://www.stampthat.com/blog/tutorial-for-the-baby-onesie/


Here's another generic baby shower card for either boy or girl:

http://www.do-it-yourself-invitations.com/diaper-baby-shower-invitations.html


Materials used:

-craft paper (and which was on sale at Michael's crafts store for 12. cents each)
-card stock (48 sheets for $5.00)
-glue
-loose glitter
-scissors
-buttons
-hole punch for the paper dots
-sequins
-old greeting cards with flower designs and for the lettering