Jen Bowles Design

Handmade Valentine Projects: Day 5, Love Wrap

Happy Friday!

For today's Valentine project I actually have a two-fer.  I mean, why not, it's the weekend, right??
This project started with an empty toilet paper roll.  Sometimes I can't bear to even recycle an object with such potential.  As I was making it, I wasn't really sure what it was going to be.  At first I was thinking some sort of dimensional wall art.  Maybe with beads hanging down.  Instead...

It's a Love Wrap!

Covered in an old book page, decorated with charcoal and colored pencils and then embellished with handcut cardstock letters, it's definitely a Love Wrap.

Reminiscent of a Valentine cracker, perfect for slipping a gift into.  What's the prize inside this wrap?

It's an I Love You rock ☺.

I started with a nice, smooth rock from the beach and used gel medium to affix a punched heart and vintage book text (shocking, I know).  All ready to set on a desk as a  reminder for a special someone.

Or maybe just yourself  ;-).

Have a great weekend, be sure to check back Monday to see my favorite  Valentine project yet!

Handmade Valentine Projects: Day 4, Valentine collage

It's a puzzle, it's a great way to use your precious paper scraps...it's a Valentine collage!

I created this collage on a 5x7" flat panel canvas.  I selected a Valentine-y color palette and scavenged through my {very large} basket of paper scraps.  Then the fun begins, trimming pieces of paper and fitting them together, just so~or  just so-so, in which case you take pieces up and try again.

I used gel medium to attach the paper scraps.  I left a small rectangular area in the middle open for my central image.  In this case I used a doily, a pouf of sheer fabric and an image from a magazine.

My love of tiny text from vintage, thrifted books cannot be denied so I added a banner onto the central heart image and cut out letters to spell 'be my valentine'.

I was going to display this collage on an easel but it seems to be quite happy perched atop my flea market vintage camera.

Now I just have to whip up a few more Valentine decorations to keep the collage company☺.   Stay tuned!

Handmade Valentine Project #3: Upcycled Sweater banner

I love to make banners.

Ok, sometimes I don't love making them, but I usually love how they end up looking when I'm done.

Typically, I use paper and chipboard (cereal boxes, scrap cardboard) as my base and embellish with glitter and trims.  After seeing and pinning several fabric banners, I thought Valentine's Day would be a great excuse to make a different kind of banner.

Source: notwithoutsalt.com via Jen on Pinterest

 

 

 

Day 3's Project is a Valentine banner made from upcycled, felted sweaters and fabric scraps!

I have a stash of thrifted sweaters that I've collected, most of them have been washed and dried and live in one of my many re-usable shopping bags.  For this project I used three different sweaters:  a red one, a mauve-pink one (was actually mine from Jr. High) and a lambswool blend light pink one.

Using a rotary cutter and cutting mat, I cut out 9 banner pennants, trying to vary the size but keeping the shape generally the same.

Next I scavenged through my collection of fat quarters and fabric scraps.  I cut out several hearts along with an X and and O.  I sewed each applique onto a corresponding pennant with my sewing machine.

Finally, I stitched the pennants onto a length of bias tape.  Um, that's it.  Done.

When I went to hang it up I decided it needed a little extra oomph.  The ivory trim is from my stash, purchased at a yard sale several years (and many yards) ago.  The pink poms are one of my new faves~purchased at AC Moore, a great, economical alternative to traditional ball fringe.

This banner is currently hanging in our breakfast nook area and I must say, makes me smile whenever I catch a glimpse of it :-).

Handmade Valentine Projects: Day 2, Winged Door Heart

I'm kicking it up a notch for day 2, going big and going outside!

Today's project is a Valentine themed door decoration:  a Winged Door Heart. 
Just what every front door needs.

Please ignore the ugly brass lighting, needs to be painted or swapped out.

First, the inspiration.  Or should I say, Pin-spiration.

Source: callingallsleepyheads.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

The original project features a painted burlap shape, stapled together, stuffed with plastic bags.  Cheap and cute.

Here's my version.

I used off white canvas/duck cloth.  I have a bolt from a thrift store that has come in handy for a number of these type of projects.  I primed the cloth with white gesso then painted with regular acrylic paint--but just one side.  The back side is plain, no need for extra effort since this is hanging on an exterior door.

I freehanded the heart and the wings in pencil directly onto the cloth.  Cut out your pieces (front and back).  Stitch with a sewing machine~I like the detail.  Then stuff. 

I love the idea of using plastic grocery bags for stuffing.  Who knew??  I did use regular polyfil for the wings, too small and fussy for grocery bags.

Hopefully you can get a sense of the dimension in this photo.  Pleasantly plump, I'd say.

To attach the wings to the heart I used a combination of hand stitching and hot glue.  Again, not pretty but also not visible.

There you have it, a fun, whimsical winged Valentine decoration for your front door.

Even if Ebby says it looks like a giant blood spot as you drive up the driveway ;-).

Handmade Valentine Projects: Day 1, Yarn 'Love'

Happy Monday!  I'm still trying to regain my composure after last night's emotional win for the Patriots--wow!  I seriously thought I was going to throw up for most of the 4th quarter.  People around here are saying Mrs. Kraft may have blown a bit of wind to steer that field goal wide left :-)...Whatever it was, we're SuperBowl bound and looking for redemption vs. the Giants!

Ok, glad I got that off my chest.

So, everyone loves Pinterest, right?  I know I do!  Sure, I spend a lot of time on there some days but I also love how I'm able to organize ideas and easily refer back to them--because I find I'm actually using the ideas and making things!  Such a novel idea ;-).  Whether it's dinner or a creative project, Pinterest is my new BFF. 

My latest Pin-spiration is my Be Mine, Valentine board.   Each year I try to create handmade Valentine cards to send to friends.  I don't know about you, but I still think there's something special about receiving a handmade card in the mail.  This year I decided to create not just cards, but several handmade Valentine projects.  Who knows, maybe I'll keep them to decorate my home or maybe I'll send them off to brighten someone else's day.  In the meantime I'd like to share them with you here on the blog!

My first project is a relatively simple one:  a yarn and pipe cleaner word.

Source: blog.giddygiddy.com via Jen on Pinterest

 

All you do is form a word out of pipe cleaners and wrap coordinating yarn around it.  Done!  The blogger who posted the project said her preschooler could even do it.

Um, yeah.

I may not have had the proper technique going because all I could do was make a tangled mess at first.  It would probably be better to cut off a reasonable length of yarn and then wrap it and tie it off.  Instead I was holding a giant ball of yarn trying to weave it through the loops of the letters.

Fail.

So I employed an alternate method.  I twisted 3 pipe cleaners together, wrapped them in yarn and then formed the word 'love'.  

Still not perfect (note the slightly exposed pink pipe cleaner ends), but charming nonetheless.

I think this project will be staying home with me. 

And I'm perfectly fine with that!

Just keeping reminding yourself...

Source: etsy.com via Jen on Pinterest

 

Happy Tuesday ☺ !

 

Winter Cloche

It's stormy today but here along the coast we're just getting rain.

I can't say that I'm too upset about that.  I've decided that I'd be happy with a mild, make that very mild, winter.

The other morning we did wake up to a light dusting of snow.  The kind of snow you can just sprinkle some ice melt on the steps and call it clear, no snowblower required.  It was also the kind of snow that made a lovely backdrop for photos of my new winter cloche.

My Mom participated in the 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas mini workshop offered last month by several talented artists/bloggers.  Lucky me, I had a birthday and was gifted this wonderful winter cloche my mom created during the workshop.

My favorite thing is the blue silk bow around the glittered deer's neck

I also really like the {bleached} white bottle brush, pearl bedecked trees.

And the fence is adorable.

As is the sparkly, pearly topper.

Yep, I love it all.

And really, I'd be happy if this cloche was all the winter I experienced this year!

Pin-spiration: Lemon Loaf (Starbucks copycat)

I am not a coffee drinker, much to my husband's dismay.  He feels about Starbucks like I feel about art shops and the beach:  the more time he can spend there, the better.

I have been known to accompany him, laptop in tow, on one of his daily pilgrimages from time to time.  I don't ever drink coffee, usually it's tea or maybe a Banana Chocolate Vivanno smoothie (do they even still sell those?).  When I'm feeling especially indulgent, or especially hungry, I'll treat myself to a slice of Starbucks Lemon Loaf.

To borrow from my Pinterest board: Oh Yum.

Moist.  Dense. Lemony.  And that icing.  A little over the top but so, so tasty.

I haven't been to Starbucks in a while but recently I had a hankering for a slice of Lemon Loaf.  It wasn't convenient to get in my car and drive to Starbucks so I did the next best thing:  I googled and I pinned.

Source: buttercreambarbie.com via Jen on

Oh Pinterest, how I love you.

Yesterday, armed with a bag of lemons, I set to recreate the Starbucks Lemon Loaf using this recipe from Buttercream Barbie.  I must admit, I was a little skeptical when blending the wet ingredients didn't call for creaming the butter and sugar first.  My eggs weren't fully at room temperature and I ending up with sizeable chunks of butter in the wet batter.  I carried on and incorporated the dry ingredients, then the oil.  Then I put the filled loaf pan in the oven and hoped for the best.

Moist?  Yes, though I probably could've taken it out of the oven 2-3 minutes sooner.

Dense?  Yes.

Lemony?  Oh yes.

Over the top icing?  A little thinner than the Starbucks version, but I'll just add less milk next time ;-).

Overall, another tasty Pin-spiration success!

Doing It: Bloom True

I {finally} did it.  I signed up for an e-course.

Not just any e-course, a painting e-course.

And not just any painting e-course, the Bloom True e-course with Flora Bowley!

I'm counting the days until February 6th (which I was doing anyway...but that's another story), the first day of the class.

My mom recently attended a two day workshop with Flora in California.  I love the canvases she painted (pictured below) and can't wait to get started on a few of my own!

    

 

Winter Wonderland mural

Once again, it's almost Christmas and I'm running behind on my to-do list.  It's actually my to-make list that's in disarray.  I really need to start Christmas gift crafting in January!  Maybe one of these years I'll learn...

In the meantime, I was looking through pictures of Christmases past, and what to my wondering eyes should appear:  my Winter Wonderland mural from 2005!    

Yep, I painted this mural in our soaring foyer in North Carolina the first Christmas we were there.  It was going to be painted over in January so I decided to go for it.  I loved it.  The kids loved it.  The guests we invited to our Christmas Open House that year loved it.  I'm guessing had we left it there the people that eventually bought the house from us in 2008 would not have loved it.  It was May after all.  Although, the mom told me she planned on leaving the robots I painted on the walls in the boys room.

There are no winter (or other seasonal) murals on the walls in our current home so I thought I'd share a peek back (once again...) at our whimsical Wonderland.

Enjoy the season!