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Saturday, October 16, 2010

Giveaway! Mini Quilt Cabinet with Mini Quilts!



There are lots of blogs having giveaways lately.  Here is another one from Selvage Blog.  If you would like to enter, go to their blog and leave a comment under the post for her giveaway.  Good luck!


Thursday, October 14, 2010

Christmas Giveaway!



I just discovered this blog and absolutely love her work.  She is hosting giveaways on her blog twice a month until Christmas.  All items will be Christmas related.  You can see her previous giveaways.  They are primitive creations, very cozy and warm hearted.  The one featured above, a 28" wall hanging Santa, ends on October 15, 2010.  See details at The Rusty Thimble to enter.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Tutorial: Make Your Own Photo Studio Tent

completed pic her

Anyone who has done a photo shoot, even on a small scale, knows it's a lot of work.  It can hours to set up, get the right shots, the right lighting, angles, etc.  Then, after downloading the pics into your PC, you have to touch up and crop the images.  Then, choose which ones showcase your work the best. This can be an all day event.  I'm exhausted and frustrated by the end of it.

To help make this process easier, I bought a large size EZCube.  It works great but really needs to have a permanent place for it to stay up at all times.  At least the size I bought.  Although it folds up so it can be stored away, it's a hassle trying to fold it back down.

That's why I decided to make my own photo tent.  I can find the size box that actually works best for my work, make my own customized backgrounds,

Materials:
Carboard box
Pen
Razor or scissors
White muslin or broadcloth with a tight weave
Duct tape because it is stickier than other tape


Step 1: Pick out the size box you want.

Tips: Recyle a box you received from a delivery. Or, you can ask stores and supermarkets if they have a large box that they are throwing away. They receive deliveries all of the time. Most of them will give them to you. Or, if need be, you can buy a box from Uhaul or Staples. Uhaul has the larger sized boxes I personally needed.



Step 2:   Draw a 2.5" or 3" border around the top of the box and all four sides of the box.   Then, cut out.   Leave the bottom of the box in tact.



Step 3: Cut white fabric into four sections (top and three sides) so it fits over the cut outs above. Remember to cut the fabric larger than the holes, themselves. You will be taping it onto the box to cover each section later on.

Iron fabric to get all wrinkles and creases out. Use spray starch, if necessary.
Duct tape each piece over section. Try to pull fabric taut.

Tip: After I ironed each piece, I attached the tape across one edge of the cloth while it was still on the ironing board. Then, I attached the tape on the opposite side. I gently picked it up and placed it over the cut out. This was much easier than placing the fabric over the box and trying to tape it. The fabric kept falling into the holes.

Or, you can take a small piece of tape and tape each of the corners on first. Once attached, you can then tape all of the edges down.

 


Step 4:

Giveaway: Pocket MOnsters!



Speedie Beadie Blogspot is hosting a blog giveaway to win one of her Pocket MOnsters which are featured above.  If you would like to enter for a chance to win one, click on the link above and leave her a message, with your email, by October 15, 2010.  You can read all about how she came up with these little creatures.  Good luck!


Saturday, October 2, 2010

Tutorial: Make Your Own Photo Box

completed pic her

Materials:
  • Carboard box
  • Pen
  • Razor or scissors
  • White muslin or broadcloth with a tight weave
  • Duct tape because it is stickier than other tape


Step 1:  Pick out the size box you want. 

Tips:  Recyle a box you received from a delivery.  Or, you can ask stores and supermarkets if they have a large box that they are throwing away.  They receive deliveries all of the time.  Most of them will give them to you.  Or, if need be, you can buy a box from Uhaul or Staples.  Uhaul has the larger sized boxes I personally needed. 


Step 2:   Draw a 2.5" or 3" border around the top of the box and all four sides of the box.   Then, cut out.   Leave the bottom of the box in tact.


Step 3:  Cut white fabric into four sections (top and three sides) so it fits over the cut outs above.  Remember to cut the fabric larger than the holes, themselves.  You will be taping it onto the box to cover each section later on.

Iron fabric to get all wrinkles and creases out.  Use spray starch, if necessary.

Duct tape each piece over section.  Try to pull fabric taut.   

Tip:  After I ironed each piece, I attached the tape across one edge of the cloth while it was still on the ironing board.  Then, I attached the tape on the opposite side.  I gently picked it up and placed it over the cut out.  This was much easier than placing the fabric over the box and trying to tape it.  The fabric kept falling into the holes.

Or, you can take a small piece of tape and tape each of the corners on first.  Once attached, you can then tape all of the edges down.



Step 4: 

Proof of Jack and the Beanstalk: Giant Faces


I started seaching for "optical illusions" on Google and found these great pics. The one above is of L'Aulp du Seuil, Grenoble, France, 2009.

There is another one I like even better at Optical Illusions.com . Click on the link to see. I couldn't post it on my blog. It's a picture of ancient ruins; but, when the photo is turned on its side, it's another huge face.



Or, how about this incredible picture of hands that make up a face?! I think of two things when I see this.

1. How we are being created in heaven before we are born by the hands of heavenly angels and God's sculptors.

2. How we particpate in the sculpting and molding of each person we meet by how we touch them.

Who sculpted you; and, how many lives did you help to mold, for better or worse, whether it was in a momentary passing or one of a longer relationship? Did you build the sculpt up or crumble it in your hands?