DIY Up Cycled Gift Bows

If you feel guilty like me about recycling calendars and magazines when they're out of date, there's a cure - convert them into dramatic bows to use for years to come! 

I'm sure there are multiple ways to make them, but this is what I know, so get some scissors, a stapler, a cereal box and a hot glue gun and let's go...

1.  Cut a small circle out of a cereal box about 2-3" diameter - no need for perfection, just a rough one will do.  CAVEAT: I am all about quick & dirty, but if you thrive on precision, knock yourself out with the compass and ruler:-)

2.  Choose a magazine or calendar page and cut strips about 1/2" wide the shortest length of your page.  Again, just free hand, no need for super straight cutting and measuring.  If a magazine, the finished strips will measure about 1/2" x 8".  Cut these in half so they are about 4" long.  If a calendar your strips might be longer and will make larger bows.

1/2" x 4" strips with photobomb deer - mountain living at it's best!

 3.  Take one short strip and curve the ends so one overlaps the other one, making a pointy piece.  If you paper isn't too thick (calendars are usually thicker than mags) you can hot glue the ends together, otherwise you may have to staple.  Try glue first, but if they pop open, staple them.  Make about 18 of these before you assemble the bow.  If your pointy piece is too long and the ends overlap too much, trim them down.

4. Here's where the artistic part kicks in.  Plan your layers out so you have a pleasing arrangement of colors/patterns.  Or wing it and revel in serendipity. 

Next, begin assembly:  Hot glue or staple the pointy pieces, one at a time, close together, around the edges of your circle like so:

Finished first layer

5.  Once you have the first layer attached, start placing the second layer, making these pointy pieces fit between the others.  In the example above you will have 7 pointy pieces on the second layer. I show a stapler here because the glue wouldn't hold this stiff, shiny calendar paper very well. If you have larger gaps between some of them, it won't make much difference once you fill in the other layers; trust me;-)

6.  Once you have all of the open spaces on the 2nd layer done, continue with layer three.  If your circle is pretty full, skip layer 3 and decide how you're going to finish the center*.  Or, if you have room for layer three, continue as before.  

*To finish the center you can make a single loop or try to fit 2-3 pieces in.  It's difficult to glue them in at this point, so you may only get 2 pieces to fit.  If using a loop and it looks too scrawny try cutting a wider strip and using that. Or, get crazy and make curls or shredded pieces that burst out like a firecracker!

finished 2nd layer

starting layer 3

Finished bow with a looped center. 

This is a large Vogue magazine bow with both a third row and a center loop.  Make some! Have fun!

Holiday Fray - "Holi-Fray"

Take a deep breath.  Or three.  Think pretty thoughts.

from Healthy Bitch - Vegan Icing

The Importance of Supporting Small Designers - Like Us:-)

This morning THE Cut ran a good article on shopping ethically for presents this year.  They advocate spending on better quality and supporting US makers - Jag & Nevie, perhaps? :-)  Exerpt:


"...That means going local in our shopping. For example, you can purchase your holiday gifts from crafters like Jenine Bressner, who sold and showcased her wares at Maker Faire this year. When I spoke to Bressner and other craftivists like Church of Craft's Callie Janoff, it was clear their DIY wasn't just Portlandia-ish kook. They do tend to have ideals.* They aren’t creating a mass-production line that can lead to exploitation and dangerous corner-cutting. Buying and selling from real people and being able to make everything they need: These were some rationales for all that knitting, felting, and decoupaging."
* Three cheers for ideals.

Everybody needs a fun new scarf for Christmas

Bah Humbug!

 A couple of new T Bags are up on Etsy today.
A happy batch of Scrooge-ery  goin' on with a side helping of Nightmare Before Christmas gloom :-) 

... Just in time for long shopping lines

Black and White and Studs All Over

 Everything, everybody looks great, maybe even better, in black and white, no?! 

There's still time to special order for your beloved Xmas list fashion-forward girls.  Etsy orders are currently on SALE!!   Available in single layer to wear as a shirt or double layer for outerwear.  Color choices too if you disagree with my b&w comment:-)

 

Sexy little slice of skin.  Great w/ a bright strap peeking out.

Vintage Ornaments

The atomic symbol!  I love the Lyre the most, but atomic - wow!

Cute little guy's legs have been re-glued a gazillion times. He's really old -30s maybe?

We have been collecting vintage mid-century ornaments for a decade at least and I treasure the moment when I open the ornament boxes and discover each one all over again every year!  It's like, well, Christmas!!
These are some favorites plus my new baby Norfolk Pine.  I adore Norfolk Pines and it was time to get a new one since the last one, which had become HUGE, was left to a friend when we moved from Colorado.  It was 7 years old!

Not all of these are old, but the red celestial one and conical teal are 40s-50s

Baby Norfolk won't fit UNDER the tree much longer