Geodes AKA: Crystal Eggs

I have been wanting to make these Crystal Eggs since last year and I finally pulled all the materials together to finally do this!

I originally purchased the PASS Easter egg dye without thinking and tried it on this yellow egg. It worked but the color wasn't as vibrant as hoped. Being so close to Easter I had no time to purchase the Ukrainian Egg Dye that the directions suggested. I end up using food coloring.

These pictures really don't do them justice!

P.S. I could not locate large quantities of Alum around the Bay Area and end up purchasing 5 lbs from Talas online. I made about 18 jumbo Geodes with 5 lbs. But you can also reheat the solution to dye more eggs.

Geode:
A small, hollow, usually rounded rock lined on the inside with inward-pointing crystals. Geodes form when mineral-rich water entering a cavity in a rock undergoes a sudden change in pressure or temperature, causing crystals to form from the solution and line the cavity's walls.

Spring Carrots!

Carrot Surprises?

These carrots are actually "surprise balls". Unwind the carrots to reveal little treats!
If you need a quick project and a fun Easter treat this project is for you!

I purchased various treats from the party store that included mini maracas (these worked out well to create the shape of a carrot), fortune telling fish, stickers and candy of course!

One roll of orange crepe paper gave me one dozen carrots.

Try to use craft crepe paper to make the leaves, the party streamers don't have that stiffness to make it look like leaves.

"A nice blend of prediction and surprise seem to be at the heart of the best art."
~Wendy Carlos

Polaroid Tuesday :: Week 71

This was our kitchen table over the weekend, I've been crafting away and have lots to share stay tuned!

"And I believe that the best learning process of any kind of craft is just to look at the work of others."
~Wole Soyinka

Banner Tutorial

Happy Monday! There have been a few requests on a tutorial for the banners that our guests waved at our wedding.

To be honest these were a completely last minute idea, I had no idea that they were going to be such a hit.

Materials List:

Sew In Printer Fabric (I purchased mine at JoAnne's Fabric Store)
Fabri-Tac Glue
12" x 3/16" Dowels
Sewing Machine & Computer

Follow directions on printer fabric package. I used Illustrator to print out the words "smooch" however I suspect a Word program would do just fine. The font JFRingmaster was used for my banner and was able to fit 2 on one sheet. Make sure when you print it out that you leave a 2" border on one side of the banner to wrap around the dowel.

Now just trim right down the middle.

Using the Fabri-Tac draw a line of glue down the center of the side you allowed for the dowel on the back of the banner. Place dowel on glue and wrap the excess fabric towards the back.

Allow the glue to dry for a tad bit, using the zigzag stitch sew down the fabric you previously folded back.

Presto! Now go wave you banner!

P.S. I love the excess thread hanging from the zigzag stitch and the edges of the banner, if this bothers you just fold over the edges and run a straight stitch down it.

P.S.S. There have been many requests to learn how to make crepe paper flowers, I will create a tutorial soon.

"Learning never exhausts the mind."
~Leonardo da Vinci

2 Balloons, Newspaper, Water & Flour...

I know of a sweet girl that has a birthday coming up. What do you get someone who loves rainbows and zebras at the same time?
(sorry for the low light photos)

A Rainbow Zebra Pinata of course!

It's not a magical rainbow yet but the secrets out on what I'm using the crepe paper strips for.

Now when I was originally thinking of what to make, I googled Rainbow Zebra and actually found someone who had this idea originally. Who would of thought?

So far 2 punching balloons, water, flour, paper cups, cereal boxes and a gang of newspapers has been harmed in the making. Unfortunately you won't see the finished product until after the birthday girl sees it first. I need to keep an element of surprise!

“So you see! There's no end to the things you might know,Depending how far beyond Zebra you go.”
~Dr. Seuss quotes

Today I...

* Am wearing squeaky shoes in a office where you can hear a pin drop.

* Dropped my pear as it rolled under the couch amongst a dozen tennis balls and I couldn't tell which one was my pear.

* Wondered if I have to have kids to understand why parents have them leave an outgoing message on a voice mail?

* Woke up so groggy I washed my hair twice.

* Thought about a middle school friend but couldn't remember her last name to look her up on FB.

* Promise you I will have some good posts coming up.

"The power of imagination makes us infinite"
~John Muir

Polaroid Tuesday :: Week 70

What could I possibly doing with all this crepe paper?

By the way Thank you for all who tuned into Green Wedding Shoes yesterday! It puts a smile on my face to see so much support.

"A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament."
~Oscar Wilde

Our 15 Minutes of Fame!

I'm so excited to see us on Green Wedding Shoes Blog!

When you get a chance please head over there to check out our post!

You May Not Know... (Special Announcement)

or maybe you do...

That I love Weddings, even though it took me 15 years to get hitched! I even have an event coordinator degree! However to my discretion I never pursed in the wedding industry. But I am a faithful follower of Wedding Blogs, Magazines and party planning! Everyday I read several wedding blogs because I love seeing different ideas and it's lovely eye candy! My favorite blog is Green Wedding Shoes! There are so many ideas offered from this blog and I am excited to announce that our wedding will be featured on Monday, March 19th!!!!

I was so estactic that they decided to accept our submission and I found out on Valentine's Day! What a perfect Valentine's gift! Please make sure to tune in on the Green Wedding Shoes Blog on Monday for our 15 minutes of fame!

"Love puts the fun in together, the sad in apart, and the joy in a heart."
~Author Unknown

Today I...

• Called someone the wrong name and only realized it as I was walking away.

• Want to make a glitter star crown for a little girl's birthday coming up.

• Was smiling as Meeko was tearing around the yard in turbo speed.

• Was dreaming of a new hairstyle.

• Am itching to sew a dress but haven't had the motivation.

• Am not fond of the mobile versions of reading blogs.

• Tried to unlock my house with my automatic car keys.

• Found a beehive in our palm tree.

• Checked out 24 books from the library.

• Wondered why every time I'm running late I get all the red lights.

• Am excited to share some news with you all!

"If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive."
~Dale Carnegie

Polaroid Tuesday :: Week 69

It's my sweet girl's 8th birthday tomorrow...oh how I adore this pup!

"If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,

If you can overlook when people take things out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can do all these things . . . . ."

THEN YOU ARE PROBABLY THE FAMILY DOG!!

~Anonymous

Polaroid Tuesday :: Week 68

"Happiness is a warm puppy."
~Charles M. Schulz

Music Monday :: Session 14

Because I always pause to listen to this song...

The Killing Moon
~Echo and The Bunnymen

Black Mambo

Nope not the black mamba snake but it kinda looks like it!

I first saw this "necklace" on one of Martha Stewart's guest on her show and really really liked it. So when I was itching for a new affordable project last weekend at Joanne's I saw a free directions sheet. I picked up two skeins of the Martha Stewart Mambo yarn and here are the results.

If you're looking for a statement piece for an outfit this would be perfect and it's less than $10.

"Sewing: A creative mess is better than tidy idleness."
~Author Unknown