Hello! A few days ago, I posted about a Halloween craft that I made with my client out of Popsicle sticks. They turned out like this:
While the Barney sticks were for my client, the ghosts, Jack-O-Lantern, and Frankenstein were for Johnny who wanted to decorate his space at work for Halloween. Despite forgetting to bring his flat friends with him on the job for the first few days, my sweetie finally remembered and he claims that he is never going to take them down. 🙂
The day that Johnny brought the Popsicle sticks into work, he took a picture of his decorated area WITHOUT ME EVEN ASKING! Check it out:
I was not expecting my fairly simple crafts to be the crowning jewel of Johnny’s display and it made me so proud that he liked them that much. His little paper cut out ghosts make me smile and that applies for basically everything he does, lol.
While we are all worried about the outcome of Election Day today, I just had to post some mushy nonsense to help take the edge off. And I am so thankful to get through whatever the results will be together with my Johnny. ❤
How did you decorate for Halloween? How is your work space decorated? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hi! Lil Red may not be the craftiest gal in the bunch but, I’ll be damned if I don’t try my best with my clients when we’re creating something together. One of my pals had a plethora of Popsicle sticks so I figured we could try to do a Halloween craft with them by painting them into little ghosts. While my client opted for making names of his loved ones out of the sticks (So sweet!), I made the following for Johnny’s desk at work and something special for my crafting partner. Check it out:
I started my crafting palooza with something easy by painting the Popsicle sticks white and making little ghost faces with Sharpie markers once the paint was dry. Simple, yes, but they turned out so cute I decided to try my hand at a few more designs even though they were going to be much harder for my non crafty self.
I thought a Frankenstein stick would look awesome and I knew Johnny would love it so I looked up a picture of ol’ Frank and did my best. While the green paint on the stick dried, I practiced drawing his face several times on paper before I Sharpied in the final effort and, frankly (lol), I couldn’t believe how good it turned out. In fact, it ended up being Johnny’s favorite creation.
After seeing my Frankenstein, my client asked me if I could make him a Barney one. I told him I’ll see what I can do and got to work on two Barney themed Popsicle sticks. In honor of the Barney Halloween episode that he loves, I painted a stick purple with green polka dots, just like the pumpkin Barney had in the show.
The real challenge, now, was going to be making Barney’s face because I can’t draw for crap. Lol, like with Frankenstein, I looked up a picture of Barney and practiced drawing his face while the purple base paint dried. Once I was satisfied, I Sharpied in the face of the friendly purple dinosaur and I thought it turned out great. I added a green tummy and his yellow toes and my client was so happy with what I made him, which is all that matters to me.
To wrap up our crafting, I made a Jack-O-Lantern stick to complete Johnny’s spooky set. Both my client and I had a blast with our arts and crafts hour and I was so happy to come up with something that was simple but we both enjoyed so much. Oh you crafty, huh?!
Would you consider yourself crafty? What is something that you have made that you are proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hi! This past week, I thought I would bring the pumpkin patch to one of my clients so that we could paint them together. Painting pumpkins is one of my favorite activities to do with clients because for one: it’s a lot of fun and for two: I have never even carved a pumpkin before so I definitely don’t trust myself with that!
During the “pumpkin party”, we had Casper The Friendly Ghost playing on the TV while we worked on our masterpieces. We painted away until we were satisfied with our creations and then gave each other a grand reveal of the end results. They looked a little something like this:
While I opted for multicolored polka dots on my pumpkin, my client decided he wanted to make one with the likeness of yours truly. I’ve got to say, I can definitely see the similarities and I was so touched that that’s what he wanted to make with the pumpkin I brought him. We both gave each other the pumpkins we made at the end of the day and I have mine proudly displayed in my apartment.
Whether it be painting pumpkins, hand traced turkeys for Thanksgiving, or ornaments for the holiday season: Painting is a blast. Make an afternoon of your crafting by putting on a movie or music to fit the theme and get to stepping on your own handmade holiday decor. And, always remember, that fun times can still be had from the safety of your home – all it takes is a little creativity!
Do you have any holiday craft ideas? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hi everyone!! For those of you who don’t know, my “big girl job” is as an Independent Provider for people with special needs. Most of my clients are not too interested in politics and that is totally fine. However, one of my clients decided he wants to become president this past week. With nothing to do cause COVID, we turned our time together into running his campaign and nurturing his dreams.
My client and I made posters, campaign speeches, and discussed all of his platforms and strategies. It proved to be educational for both of us because he learned more about what it takes to become president and I got to learn about all of the things that are really important to him. It was also just plain fun and something different.
If you work in the field like me or if you have children, this could be a great idea to get them Feeling Presidential too. Spend some time talking about what it means to be president and how your future candidate would go about their victory. Then, you can craft to your heart’s content and even work on some grammar as you write your speeches.
The crafting and talking about future goals is inspiring and it could open up a whole new world that your child or client might not know existed before. So put your president pants on and get to work!
How do you create fun and unique activities for your children? What would your platform be if you were president? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hi! One of the things that I love about blogging on WordPress is how they tell you what countries are reading you every day on your stats page. When I first started lifewithlilred, it was always exciting to get a new country reading me and it still is. So, I decided to pin a world map to a bulletin board and placed a thumbtack in the designated position for each country that I had readers in:
Over five years ago when I began my reader map, my dad and I spent an entire afternoon locating each country so I could place a pin to start keeping track. It was a fun and downright educational way to spend some time and I thought that it was a great craft for my blogger friends to work on, especially when we all should be practicing self isolation.
Dig up an old map from your school days or print one out for yourself and you will get a visual representation of your blog’s global klout by the end of the project. I love having a reader map and the best part? Adding new thumbtacks to it as new countries start reading me! My most recent pin being in Seychelles. 🙂
What have you been crafting to help pass time in quarantine? Which DIY project that you made are you most proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Almost anything could constitute as a ‘gift’. That being said, we all know that gifting is a complex and often nuanced art. For instance, purchasing someone a new car, while amazing, does not necessarily make it better via expensive than something perfectly tailored to the person in question, thought of carefully, used as a means to illustrate a beautiful point. The gift’s worth is defined in presence of the particular giftee and gifter, no matter the particulars.
Yet sometimes it can be that you hope to give a gift that will leave an excellent and positive mark upon the recipient, ensuring that they not only appreciate your generosity, but that they can return to the memory of said item as a truly beautiful thing to appreciate. To help you achieve that, we have some of the following advice:
Experiences:
It’s hard to shed the impression a wonderful experience can leave someone. Each of us only has a set amount of time on this Earth, and so spending that time within an experience that helps us learn, grow, and feel grateful can be truly fantastic. It might be that you bring a family member along for a cruise or that you head on a road trip with your friend to explore the best of what your coastline has to offer. What matters is spending time with those you most love and appreciate, as this generates memories all by itself.
Indulgences & Treats:
A small indulgence can make for a phenomenal gift, because not only are you giving them a wonderfully handcrafted treat from Eastern Standard Provisions, but you are granting them the chance to indulge in a treat they most enjoy. This also serves as the best approach to gifting, because it matters, and it provides them with that sense of comfort they may have been missing thus far. Small indulgences are not small, they are an example of the little things that make life worth living and plenty enjoyable.
A Particular Craft:
Crafting something yourself is perhaps one of the most interesting and satisfying measures you can enjoy. However, gifting said craft to someone you love or appreciate is a cherry on the cake. Don’t think this needs to be some otherwordly example of the craft makers art in order to be assured in this. Giving someone a small clay pot from a pottery course you took, a bouquet of flowers you have arranged yourself, a small knitted jumper for a nephew or niece, or even just a painting you have applied yourself to can all be wonderful. Don’t think that because you may not have spent hundreds acquiring said item that it’s worthless. Quite the contrary, it will have soul.
With this advice, you can leave your signature mark on what you gift your loved ones with in the future.
A side hustle is a great way to earn some extra money. It’s also a way to pursue your interests, and it can help you build skills that might not be possible with your regular job. Some side hustles can even lead to bigger and better things. If you’ve wanted to make a career switch or you want to pursue your life’s passion, then a side hustle could be the beginning to helping you realize this.
Are you interested in knowing what’s out there? Here are some amazing side hustles you could turn into a full-time career:
Copywriting:
Copywriting is a popular side hustle choice. Businesses and individuals need copyrights for their websites, social media channels, etc. which puts copywriters in demand. If you’ve got great writing skills and are good with a deadline, then becoming a copywriter could be an excellent way for you to make some money. Eventually, you could decide to make the switch to a full-time copywriter, either for a business or on a freelance basis and choose a career path that’s flexible and relevant to your skills.
Online Surveys:
There are so many amazing websites out there where companies will pay you for your opinion in the form of surveys. And, if you are using some of the best survey sites, then that money can really add up quickly. Take an hour or so out of your day to get started and give your thoughts on anything from vacation spots to groceries to earn some pocket change. You can always extend your time if the survey route is working well for you.
Realtor:
Do you love all things HGTV? Then becoming a realtor on the side could be a fantastic way for you to pursue your interest. Of course, you’ll need a real estate license to be able to become a realtor, but it’s a qualification worth having if you’d like to pursue the role full-time. Some people start out their real estate career helping friends and family or working weekends, which can help you to earn some extra income while you get yourself established.
Photographer:
Are you a talented photographer? Why not use your skills to become a photographer as a side hustle? From photographing events and weddings to selling photos to stock websites, you could make a great second income from photography. If your photos are good and you market yourself well, word will soon spread – allowing you to easily turn your photography work into your full-time job. Expand your reach by posting photos regularly or even creating your own website like this Surrey wedding photographer. You never know who will be interested in hiring you if you don’t show off your content!
As your photography business takes off, it is a good idea to plan ahead. For example, you might want to consider photography insurance to keep all of your expensive equipment well protected. This is something that you might not need right now but you will be so happy you have it should anything go wrong. You might also want to start thinking about what it would cost to hire an assistant or rent out a studio if this is really the direction you want to go in.
Selling online:
Interested in starting an online shop? Many people make great side hustles from selling on eBay or Etsy. If you’ve got a talent for making things or an eye for vintage apparel, selling online can be an enjoyable way of increasing your income. If things take off, you could look at starting your own online business and start selling from your own website. With online sales, you will want to cultivate a brand that is unique to you. You can build your brand with custom packaging and ship your products with high-quality welna drzewna (wood wool), set up a booth at vendor fairs, and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth marketing. What might start out as a hobby could soon be an amazing way to take charge of your career.
Having a side hustle can be a simple way to top up your earnings, while also making the most of your free time. While there are many people who enjoy their side hustle on top of their regular work, there are also plenty of people whose side hustles become a full-time career. Take a look at opportunities to boost your career through life-long learning; you never know where these additional skills could take you!
Featured Image By: Unsplash under Creative Commons
Creating cards and letter writing is a lost art. Taking the time to make something with care adds personality to your crafting, something that cannot be replicated when buying cards from a store. That’s actually where most of the fun comes in, making a card that is entirely unique and took incredible patience and skill. If you’re just teetering on the brink of getting started and buying the various equipment you need, then take a look at these examples where card making becomes the perfect craft:
A mark of professionalism:
What if you could make your business card yourself? If you had the freedom, what kind of design would you use? When it comes to card making, it’s not just the normal greeting cards that you will be able to make, but business cards too. Right from scratch, you can decide the material so when someone touches it, they get a unique sensation. A business card made out of foam, for example, is much more memorable than typical card stock. Being able to make your own 3D designs so again, anyone who is rubbing their finger over it gets a different feel. And, rather than the typical rectangle business card, how about curved edges? Any colors, fonts, dies and materials, the choice is yours.
A bespoke wedding:
Wedding cards are, perhaps, the most difficult to choose. It’s not like a birthday that comes around every year, weddings are once in a lifetime. People who have been invited to the wedding will often fret whether or not their card looks extravagant enough and does it warrant being saved by the couple. Usually the married couple will only choose a select few cards that they’re going to save for the rest of their life along with all of the other wedding day memories. To make your card worthy of being kept and valued, you’ll need to make it yourself using Sizzix dies. These dies are some of the most detailed in the crafting world and there are plenty of them to choose from. Characters, letters, houses, animals, patterns and jewelry designs, for starters.
For your wedding card, you may wish to use thinlit dies, which are intricate patterns that are used to cut out the frontal design of your card. This allows the cover to be see-through and show a bit of what’s inside without opening it. The festive repeats, floral, seasonal, and mystical dies would go great for celebrating a moment of love and happiness.
Celebrating a milestone:
Normally, people get into crafting because they want to make a brilliant birthday card, which is fine. But you can use your crafting skills to make a card that marks a special milestone. This could be something like giving your parents an anniversary card for their 20 years together. It might be giving your daughter a card for her promotion at work. A moment in time where an achievement of perseverance and struggle is documented, acknowledged, and celebrated is perfect for making a personalized card.
First, you need custom dies which you can very easily order online. But what kind of dies would you need? For a promotion, how about the logo of the company they work for? For an anniversary maybe a picture from the photo album? Anything that relates to the focal point can be made into a 3D design with a custom die. Next, you should use materials and colors that match the event. Again, you could use corporate colors for the promotion card or the favorite colors of the couple. Ribbons and flowers are a great addition to personalized cards as a change of material and adds depth to the card.
Making a children’s book:
Children will one day grow too old to be read bedtime stories but, while you have the chance, make them a personal bedtime story. You can make up your own characters and story line to reflect the kind of teachings you want them to learn. With using the dies, you can make a 3D book which has lots of opportunity for interactive storytelling. Popup books are popular because they have moving parts, so you might want to incorporate that into your crafting skills, as well.
Handcrafted cards are incredibly personal and will instantly be recognized for the hard work you have put in. Start crafting a card and make something special for someone you care about!
Art is often seen as something that is reserved for a dedicated few. It’s something that seems incredibly beginner unfriendly, inaccessible, and also expensive – but all three of those claims are far from the truth and the reality is that everyone possesses the creative mind required for art. The big hurdle to overcome is the initial step and, in this article, we’re going to show you six ways to bring out your inner artist:
Visit an art gallery or art-related event:
There are likely dozens, if not hundreds, of art-related events and galleries that you can visit for inspiration. It could be an art gallery, it could be a photography workshop, or even just a speech by a famous artist or design professional. Whatever the event is, attend it and see if it can change your mind to bring out your inner artist.
Look at the art of your favorite books and movies:
Everyone has a source of inspiration for their creative works and yours could be from your favorite books, movies, or cartoons. Plenty of cartoonists love watching different cartoons from all different eras for inspiration and some painters enjoy fantasy scenes from movies and use them as references for creations.
Find an alternate art medium:
You don’t have to stick to paints and canvas or even pencils and paper. There are plenty of fun and expressive mediums and tools that you can use such as chalk, graphite, sculpting, or even using Lego to create unique works of art. There are no limitations when it comes to art, so use whatever you want to be expressive and create something unique to you.
Try and go digital with your art:
Many people stay away from traditional art tools and mediums because they believe that it’s hard to recover from mistakes and they just hate to see their work crumpled in the bin. This is where digital tools can come in handy. With features like copy and pasting, layers, and the ever-so-useful undo button, it can make getting into art a lot easier.
Make friends in the art community and learn from them:
There are plenty of ways to get out there to meet the art community either in your local area or even over the internet. You could attend a paint and sip class to make friends while you work or you could join art communities over the internet and discuss things such as art tools and ideas together. You’ll find that it’s much easier to bring out your inner artist if you have friends that enjoy the same things as you.
Have a purpose for your artistic creations:
Lastly, try and find a purpose for your art. If you just use art as a creative stress reliever, then that’s perfectly fine. But if you’re interested in art because you want to sell fashionable shirts or posters, then having a goal to work towards will help motivate you and bring out your inner artist.
Remember that art isn’t about being perfect so create, explore, and always have fun!
Hi hi! I am by no means the craftiest person in the world. The only way I can create cute things is with the most straight forward directions off of a Pinterest post or a how to guide. And, that’s okay, because I know that my strength lies in being a fashion forward word girl. However, the craft bug bit me right in the ass when I was at Joann Fabrics with a client and I walked away with six yards of black and six yards of white tulle at eighty-nine cents per yard. What can I say, I was feeling inspired! Check it out:
I don’t know what came over me, but when I saw this gorgeous tulle, I just had to buy it. I absolutely love tulle, because it is so prissy and posh but when styled correctly, it can be oh so punk rock and that is definitely the look that I’m going for. I had these fantastic visions of vintage style veils worn with or without a hat and wrapped skirts around short shorts or around the skirt of a dress. And, with six yards of each color, I will have enough to play around and make mistakes – I’m pretty excited!
Will everything I make come out just right? No. But, I know that if I left the store empty handed, I would have stayed up thinking about all of the cool stuff that I could have tried, so I had to make the purchase. My philosophy when it comes to fashion is always about having fun with your looks and pushing the envelope, and I think that I can do a bit of both with my new crafting project. 🙂
What would you create with a buttload of tulle? What do you recommend that I do with mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
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