Last minute recycled office supply Christmas decorations

I love office and school supplies. I collect vintage supplies and along with new supplies they can be recycled into new and fun decorations.

I created the scissor snowflake simply by wiring the finger holes together. The hinged ruler was the easiest by simply opening it partially to create the star. The star on the right was a bit of a funny challenge idea.

I was given a stash of hanging file folder with the challenge, "maybe you can make something with all of these?"

I spotted the traditional stick star craft project in a magazine and I thought about my stash of hanging file folders.

The stars were easy to make.

I simply removed the metal hanger from the paper folder and overlapped them into the star shape.
I secured the points with a bit of wire.

I glued vintage typewriter keys onto the tips that spelled out PEACE for a final decorative touch.

Happy Holidays everyone!

How to sew a scissor holster garter

Do you like to make projects that have a slightly sinister or snarky quality like I do? Then you will love, love, love the new book Criminal Crafts: From D.I.Y. to F.B.I. Outlaw Projects for Scoundrels, Cheats, and Armchair Detectives. I will be making every project in this book!
The first one I had to make being the scissor aficionado I am was the one Criminal Crafts called a shiv cozy. My version came out more what I would call a scissor holster garter as it's made with elastic lace.

I simply wrapped a piece of elastic lace around my thigh to fit snug.
I then traced the scissors in the shape of a triangle onto a piece of black felt.

I stitched one triangle to the underside of one end of the lace and the other triangle to the top (as in the photo but I did sew with the lace on top). This will form the pocket between the lace.

Then I sewed the triangles together along the two sides leaving the top open. I decided I wanted it a bit smaller so the scissor handles would peek out the top so I did sew it a second time and trimmed.

I can't wait to wear it under something!

If this looks like your type of craft project and want more check out:
Criminal Crafts: From D.I.Y. to F.B.I. Outlaw Projects for Scoundrels, Cheats, and Armchair Detectives
by
Shawn Bowman

more about the book from the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing:
"Criminals attract an audience. People admire the sneakiness and creativity of the profession while cursing the dastardly outcomes. So why not have all of the tricks without the trade? Criminal Crafts brings together illicit behavior and artistic expression with dark humor in this do-it-yourself project book. Author Shawn Bowman focuses on original crafts and recipes themed in noir, murder, retro espionage, pulp fiction, mafia, and voodoo.

Crafters and mischief lovers alike will love this book of 30 projects revolving around notorious criminals and their activities. From John Dillinger's soap gun to Bonnie Parker's gunshot poetry journal, readers will find themselves both amused and intrigued with the devious creativity. Not to mention how impressed party guests will be when they show up to Flaming Amy cocktails and cocktail bars stashed in violin cases. And just wait until you show off your shiv cozy! From the practical to the classically kitsch, Criminal Crafts are art projects readers will love."

Post tax day crafty blogger links and my scissors out on the town at night

Mixed Media Artist

There's a lot to be learned about texture when you work with a monochromatic palette!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to crochet a "no-chain" foundation row, 17 ways to crop a photo, draw flames with Drew Brophy, change the color in a free cherry blossom print download and a call for entries for 1000 Steampunk Inspirations.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make recycled thigh high socks inspired by the book Color Knitting The Easy Way.

The Artful Crafter
Do companies offer free craft products to the general public for testing?

About Family Crafts
Not knowing much about iris folding, Sherri rolled up her sleeves, gave it a try, and shares her step-by-step adventure and free templates with you.

About.com Cross Stitch
Connie's sharing a free pattern that was inspired by a piece of artwork she saw in an episode of Monk. You never know what the source of inspiration will be.

Aileen's Musings
Are you in need of a royal crown? Aileen has an oldie but goodie tutorial she's sharing with you.

Cathie Filian
Cathie is doing back flips over the release of her new book, 101 Snappy Fashions!

Crafty Princess Diaries
While doing some spring cleaning, Tammy made some interesting jewelry discoveries. You just never know what you might find when you try to get organzied.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
The organization continues, but the craft room is very close to finished.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Mother's Day is coming soon and Madge has you covered. Check out her mom friendly card project, recipe and jewelry design!

Scissor Poster and Crafty Blogger Links

Mixed Media Artist

Want to try a little layers experiment in Photoshop?

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has an inside peek into how to choose the right color for a design, a free pattern for knitting cuffs with the boy/girl icons on them, a fun logo made with a scribble, a tutorial on how to make a Steampunk style necklace with a recycled soda can and polymer clay heart and some Lisa Kettell news about her Art Opera.

The Artful Crafter
If you've done metal embossing in the past or would like to learn about this art form, let Eileen bring you up to date.

About Family Crafts
Sherri shows you how you can transform ordinary flower pots into a variety of fun craft projects.

Aileen's Musings
This week Aileen has a fabulous dollar store find she wants to share with you! Stop by and see what she's created and take part in her challenge.

Cathie Filian
Check out Cathie's blog for 11 DIY wedding favor ideas.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy gives you an update about the new jewelry book she's working on plus a little inside scoop.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Connie's added more stitchable signs to her Laundry Room Collection - add a little humor to a household chore.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
Being creative for a cause is great inspiration. Check out what Linda did with some t-shirts for Camp Shaw's silent auction.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge is so ready for spring, how about you? Here's a tutorial for a yarn flower loom embellished frame that's sure to cure the winter blues.

Locked & Loaded Jacket Patches made with The Cricut and the Blackletter font

Is it strange I am making a jacket when it's over 100 degrees out?

This is my first fabric project I made with my Cricut. I am soooooo hooked!

Here is how I did it:

First I ironed Heat and Bond onto the back of a 12 x 12 piece of black cotton fabric (with tiny white dots just to be a bit cute)
Then I die cut the words Locked & Loaded using my Cricut die cutting machine using the Blackletter font.
Then I repeated the process with a piece of white cotton to get the shadow effect for the ampersand (the "and" symbol).

Then I simply photographed a pair of scissors, uploaded it into my computer and printed it out to get my scissor image. I glued it right side down to the back side of the black fabric to cut it out.

Then to make the top and bottom rocker template off to Illustrator. (feel free to download the pattern)
I then glued the rocker patches onto the back of the white fabric and cut them out. Note: The scissors are there only to make sure there was enough space for them.

Then I pealed off the paper backing of the black scissors and ironed it onto the front of the white fabric. Then cut it out of the white fabric with about an eighth inch border.
I then pressed the letters onto the rocker sections and then aligned everything onto the back of my jacket and pressed it all down.

All that was left to do was some raw topstitching around the scissors and some clean stitching with black thread around the rocker patches about an eighth inch in from the outer edge.

Finally I added a stud to the center of the scissors at the hing point.

I think this is going to be like cross stitching is for me (my house is starting to look like a sign shop because I keep cross stitching all sorts of words and sayings) all my cloths are going to have something to say!

And speaking of signs, here is another one I made, snarky eh? Get it? If you want to see how I made this one (including a great way to align and space the letters super easy) pop on over to Craftside.

Sweater Surgery Ghost Halloween Decoration

Halloween Ghost made from, what else? A sweater!
All you need to do is make cuts in the sweater where you want the eyes and nose to be and make big runs in the sweater. In this case I sewed up the sleeve openings, cut the pockets and buttons off as well.
I gathered up the neckline with the oh so fancy safety pin and linked it to a bent metal hanger. I unlike Joan Crawford am a big fan of the wire hanger!
Then simply wrapped the edges of the sweater over the soft new curves of the hanger. If you live in a particularly windy area you may want to glue or stitch in place but as yet I haven't had the need. Oh and I did tie the outside bottom corners out to the foliage to make the bottom splay out a bit, but is isn't necessary.
And to see more pictures of the Halloween Back Yard and this GIANT Spider web pop over to Craftside to see how they were made!

CRAFT Magazine Release Party at Reform School

So I got this cool invite through My "Church of Craft" group:
"Hey Angelenos-- don't forget to come by ReForm School in Silverlake
this Sunday for an afternoon of crafting and fun in celebration of our
newest issue, CRAFT: 07. My co-hostess Jek (of Scrumdillydilly) and I
will teach you to make these fun, retro shoe clips designed by our Old
School columnist, Cathy of California, while enjoying lemonade and
cupcakes from Lark Cakeshop. We'll be offering special subscription
deals and will also be giving away some great CRAFT merch like box set
of the first four issues, teeshirts, plus a pile of amazing books from
Chronicle!"

CRAFT: 07 Release Party
Sunday, June 8, 1-4pm
@ ReForm School
4014 Santa Monica Blvd.
LA, CA 90029

And here is the wonderful project:
And the cool swag:
And the yummies even got in on the crafty-action:
Crafting detritus:
And the peeps who made the detritus:
And check this "show and tell" this crafter (who I regret I didn't write down her name so I deeply apologize in not giving you props here) but I still wanted to share your great quilt squares that were made by randomly pulling fabric from a brown bag. Jean Arp would be proud!

Red Heart Hat Saga-I "heart" Scissors

My Hat Saga
Being Fierce With the Scissors

By The Sweater Surgeon

I put a call out for hat patterns using Red Heart yarn and I want to thank everyone who sent me patterns.

The first one I got I went with originally. But I felt like the brim was too puffy with a 2x2 rib and since I didn't make it as long as the pattern indicated since it looked really long-it was too short.
Lessons learned: I think I knit pretty loose and FOLLOW THE D*%^#M PATTERN!

So out came my beloved scissors and snip away!

In the mean time a few more patterns were in my "In-box". One used a 1x1 twisted rib, so I tested that stitch and voila!

So after two tries, I had a happy hat wearer.

Onto hat deux.

This time I started with the twisted rib, followed the measurement instructions, finished the hat and brought it to it's wearer. Too long this time, didn't mention that would be preferable to not have a folded up brim.

Out came ye trusted scissors and snip away!

So I'm not quite sure what the moral of the story is other than, thank goodness for invention of scissors.

PS: I love the way you get a spiral at the time when decreasing!