D.I.Y at Mars Cafe

The next D.I.Y. night is just around the corner Tuesday April 6 th 7-9 pm. We will be doing some book altering. This has been a little hobby of mine for the last several years. I always find it fun to deconstruct/reconstruct things as well as express myself through collage.


Supplies are very easy to come by.

1. Old book or books that you don't mind taking apart.

2. Pictures, magazines, scrapbooking papers etc.

3. Markers, colored pencils, paint. All pending on what you want to do with your book.

4. X-Acto Knife

5. Pencil, Ruler, Tacky Glue, Rubber Cement, Mod Podge

Bring anything you would like, it's all up to what your imagination!

Here are some pictures of altered items I have made that might help you get your juices flowing.




I've also have enjoyed Sabrina Ward Harrison, a collage artist that has inspired me to journal a little more within my book altering. She has 4 books that are wonderful pieces of art.

D.I.Y Furniture For Less

Fellow DIY'er/crafter/Iowan, Michele Beschen from the DIY network and HGTV "Be Original" once again was on Rachael Ray this last Tuesday. I was lucky enough to catch it during my spring break off of work!

Michele had several great "do it yourself" furniture projects that were trendy and ingenuitive. I was inspired and am hoping to give them a try myself. I really love these tables with legs made out of branches!


For those of you who missed the show you can see it here.

You may also get more information at Michele's blog Courage to Create.

D.I.Y. night #6

D.I.Y night number 6! Spent the evening block printing.

We discussed the basics of how to put the image on the block, the differences between all the blades that go with the carving tool, then onto the many ways you can create your image by making it a single color or multiple color print. After we had got a ways on carving our blocks we walked through how to apply the ink to the design and then the final procedure of printing onto paper.

Erin, our beginner block printer started her first carving project a inexpensive eraser and a very simple design. She did a fantastic job, I love the little birdie and lowercase e.


Many people stopped by with interest in what we were working on. and we even had a table of women next to us knitting and crocheting away.

You can see more pictures from our block printing on my Flickr account here.
I am working on our next D.I.Y night project line up for April 7th, please feel welcome to come join us!

Way to Represent

My wonderful friends Wayde and Erin (SoZealous) where wearing their Urbanestics and Save Deth attire the other night so I had to take a picture with my phone to show all of you.
Thanks for supporting the Poyzer's, Stovers! You can get your own too, just click on the links above for us.

Her Morning Elegance

My rommate Brittany linked me this lovely stop motion music video by Oren Lavie and I wanted to share it will you.

D.I.Y. Block (Printing) Partaaay!

Block printing is on the agenda! Come join us with supplies in hand and you will learn the basics of carving and printing a single or double color block.

Supplies:

IMPORTANT!! These supplies are not easy to come by in Des Moines, you should go shopping early for these so you can order supplies if needed. (The Art Store or Hobby Lobby)

1. Speedball Block Printing Kit (ranges in price pending where you get it. $17-25) comes with 1 carving tool with 3 different blade, 1 lino block, 1 brayer, 1 Styrofoam meat tray, 1 tube of black ink.

2. Speedball Block Printing Ink, any colors that you want to do your design with.

3. 1 Piece of Carbon Transfer Paper, available at a sewing store or The Art Store.

4. Paper to print on. (such as nice light colored card stock as well as some printer paper for test prints.)

5. Pencil and Sharpie

6. DESIGN! Bring a simple design that you want to carve into your block.

7. White Staedler Eraser or a Speedy Carve block for beginner block to carve.

8. Band-aids :)

Feathery Fun Fashions

This week at DIY night at Mars Cafe we spent the evening creating lovely hair accessories. Yes, I am sorry all you guys out there, this was a very girly project and I promise that our next DIY night on the 24th of March will not be so frilly. (p.s. it's block printing so go to the Art store and order supplies because they don't stock much.)

We were deep in feathers, fabric, and fun. HA! :)


Many great little creations were made that you very well could see selling for large amounts of $$'s on Etsy.More pictures of our great pieces on my flickr.

If you were not able to come out and join us for this last DIY night we will be having our next creative evening March 24th, 7-9pm. Block Printing is on the agenda and I advise that you get supplies soon because there is not a large stock of it in Des Moines. Either the Art Store or Hobby Lobby. Purchase the Speedball Block Printing Starter Kit or all the items separately.

Urbanestics in the Juice

You may read article here.
p.s. My good friend Rachel is sharing the fold with me and is on the opposite page as I. :)

DIY Fashion Accessories

This coming Tuesday is another evening of Do It Yourself at Mars Cafe from 7-9 pm.

We will be making lovely headbands fashioned from feathers, fabric, and more.

If you are an avid Etsy fan you may have seen this fashion trend showing up here and there on the front page of Treasury as well as on blogs and fashion magazines.

These hair items are being sold anywhere from $25 to $120 and I know we can make them for much less.

Here are some Etsy sellers that I have been admiring their lovelies. Check them out for inspiration.

Ban.do

House of Telsa

Wing Nut Brooklyn

The Candy Theif

So grab your supplies and maybe some extra to share and come join us for an evening of fashion accessories as we gear up for spring fashions.

Stuff to bring....

Headbands, hair combs/clips

Feathers, fabric, ribbon, flowers, etc.

Hot glue gun, tacky glue, needle and thread, items you would need to put your hair accessory together.

Let me know if you have any questions or inquires.

Hope to see you there!

Resemblance?

I really like the Threadbanger scarf/belt idea but made into a heart/love catcher? I get it out once a year and it still hasn't worked.

Do Something

Faux Bois Front Page

Last Saturday Night I was spending a late night surfing the net and taking care of business and happen to just stop by Etsy to see what was showing, on the front page. To my surprise... there was my t-shirt right there front and center! How exciting!
Get your very own Faux Bois (wood grain) t-shirt here.