The Bloglovin Post

Many of you have heard by now that Google is retiring Google Reader on July 1st.  So like many other bloggers, I'm suggesting you switch to Bloglovin.  I've been using the site for at least a year now and I find it's really easy to navigate. They've even made it simple to transfer all your Google feeds over to Bloglovin with one little button, just click here.

DIY Instagram Sticky Notes

I'm always looking for new ways to use my Instagram photos besides storing them on my computer.  Because Instagram photos are square in shape, I got the idea to print them out on sticky notes.   After a little trial and error, I got the process down so I'm sharing it will all of you today. This project is good for leaving a special note or using it as a unique gift tag.  You probably wouldn't want to print out an entire pad on your printer (there are printing sites that will do that for you).

To get started, you're going to need some kind of photo editing software along with knowledge of the program.  I used Photoshop for this project.  Whichever program you choose, I recommend using one that gives you the option of layers. 

1.  The first thing you will need to do is make a template.  You can copy this one if you want.  You'll want your squares a little bigger than a sticky note.  I made these squares 3.1" x 3.1".  Once you have your template made, print it out on cardstock.

2.  Attach the sticky notes to the inside of the boxes.  I taped the sticky notes down with washi tape to ensure they wouldn't come off during the printing process. Trust me when I say, you don't want to fish a sticky note out of a jammed printer.

3.  Using my Photoshop square template file, I added all my pictures in a different layer.  The whole point of adding the pictures into the squares ensures your images will be printed on the sticky notes.  For the photos above, I changed the opacity to 50%.  I also had to scale them to size.

Now hide the "square box" layer so the boxes will not print, only the pictures.

4.  Your project should look similar to the photo above, once printed.  In the above photo I removed the tape.  Once dry, your sticky notes are ready to use.  Slowly pull your sticky notes off the paper so you can use your template again if you want.

Keep sticky notes on kitchen parchment paper until ready to use.

Another idea, use your Instagram sticky notes for special reminders. What would you use them for?

Party Origami in Mollie Makes Magazine

Party Origami got featured in one of my favorite craft magazines, Mollie Makes!  For those not familiar with Mollie Makes, it's a craft magazine based in the UK. The magazine features craft tutorials from sewing projects to knitting patterns.  The magazine also features lots of craft artists and their surroundings.  In this issue there's a wonderful interview with Brittany Watson Jepsen (designer behind The House That Lars Built).  Another great article in the magazine shares about the best places to shop for handmade in San Francisco. There's so much more in this issue so if you happen to visit the bookstore, please check it out.  The issues always seem to get to the US a little late.  I just found the April issue at my local bookstore.

Page 50 of Mollie Makes

Changing topics, I never heard back from the winner of the Party Origami Giveaway so I've chosen a new winner.   The new winner of the Party Origami book is Fashion Lights.  Congrats!

Green Craft: Upcycled Bows

Happy Earth day everyone!  In honor of the holiday, I thought I would republish one of my green crafts from the archives.  Enjoy.

Supplies:
Food packaging lined with foil - For this craft the package should be constructed with two sheets sealed on all four sides.
Double stick tape - I used tape that's pre-cut for scrapbooking.
Scissors

*Click on pictures to get a larger view.

Starting with a food package, cut strips horizontally. Next, turn all the strips inside out.

The strips naturally coiled into a figure 8 shape. The left "8" I taped the center together to make two loops. The right "8" has not been taped, it's just to show you how the strips naturally form. Next, take one loop and push it down in the center to make a bow shape and tape (refer to right picture).

Now push down the other loop just like you did in the last step and tape. Make three of these and one basic loop (refer to right picture).

Take two of the bows you made and tape them together in an "x" shape. Next tape another bow vertically down the center of the bows.

Last, tape your basic loop in the center.

Kid Craft: Sticky Note Monsters

I debated whether to label this project a "kid craft" because I had so much fun with it.  I could have easily wasted the day away making all kinds of sticky note monsters and the next day covering the house with them.  Since they have sticky feet, they can walk up walls, hang upside down, and peek out from the computer monitor. Hmm, maybe I should call them mischief monsters instead.

Want to make your own gaggle of monsters?  Here's the how-to:

Supplies
Sticky notes
Pen
Scissors

Make sure the sticky side of the paper is at the bottom where you draw the feet.  Sketch out your monster (left photo).  Cut out your monster (right photo).

Bend the paper at a 90 degree angle to make the feet. This also allows for your monster to stand up.

Japanese Craft Book: Motif Pattern of Origami

Motif Pattern of Origami ISBN978-4-569-70773-0

If you read my last post, then you know I was in Japantown last weekend. And if you know me, you know a visit to Japantown isn't complete without a trip to the Kinokuniya bookstore.  That's where I picked up this gorgeous origami book, Motif Pattern of Origami.  The book is filled with flat modular origami projects.  Modular origami is where you use multiple pieces of paper to make a more complex structure.  Below are a few pictures from the book.

 

Here are some of the directions to the finished piece above this picture.  If you're familiar with origami, the projects in this book are doable even if you can't read Japanese. 

2013 Cherry Blossom Festival

Ever have one of those days (or months) where you just need a change of scenery?  That's how I was feeling last weekend so we ventured out to San Fransisco for the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown.   I didn't take a lot of photos due to the crowds.  Plus I wanted to actually enjoy the event, not just document it.  However, I did make an effort to take photos of things I've never shared before in past Cherry Blossom posts. 

This year there was a Japanese sword exhibit.  At the exhibit this sword diagram caught my eye.

Also in the exhibit were quite a few Tsubas (the guard part of the sword).  I had never seen one separated from a sword before.  I was impressed with how unique and detailed the tsubas were on their own.  They looked like mini pieces of art.

While shopping in Japantown, we saw the new arcade Playland Japan for the first time.  All the games in the arcade were new to me (not that I keep up on arcade games).  Pictured above is a Pikachu game.  I wasn't able to get a picture but the front of this machine looks just like a giant Pikachu.

I call this one the kawaii claw.  Have you ever seen a claw machine so neatly set up?  If any of the toys got knocked over after someone played the game, an attendant came and straightened them up.

In the back of the arcade I spotted this taiko drum game.  We didn't get to try it out but it looked like a lot of fun.

Last, I give you the The Bishi Bashi.  I looked this up and apparently you compete with others in a bunch of mini games.  I'm not sure what the mini games consist of. 

The festival offers so much more than what I shared here.  There's plenty of  good food, shows, crafts, and even a parade.  To find out more, visit the official Cherry Blossom festival page here.  The event runs for one more weekend (April 20 -21) so there's still time to check it out.

Makers Gonna Make

"Makers Gonna Make" Tattly Design by Jude Landry

I was browsing around Tattly the other day when I stumbled upon this temporary tattoo, Makers Gonna Make.  The quote just spoke to me and made me laugh.  If you've never visited Tattly before, they have lots of designer/crafty themed tattoos.

Here are a few other crafty places I've been enjoying around the web:

Dewey Decimal System Inspired Journals by Lime Riot - I'm smitten with this idea of a dewey decimal system inspired craft project.  Did you know "crafts" falls under 745.5?  

Guest Post by Abby Glassenberg on Crafty Pod - Abby shares how she's been talking on the phone with some of her blog readers.  I found this post intriguing and very insightful.  For bloggers, would you call up some of your readers?  For readers, would you want to talk on the phone with the authors of the blogs you read?

Washi Tape Crafts - Amy Anderson from Modge Podge Rocks just launched a new site dedicated to washi tape crafts.

Cut Out + Keep featured in Google Ad - Normally I wouldn't send you to an ad but since it features Cat and Tom from Cut Out + Keep I'm making an exception. I just watched the video myself, it's really well done.

I also want to give a shout out to Michele for helping me get a grip on the spam comment situation.  Captcha is off once again! 

Eye Candy

and then there were two...

A while back I bought some candy eyes at the store.  I had planned on using them for April Fool's day for my kids' lunches.  I had it all planed out, I was going to place the eyes in their sandwiches and not say a word.  Unfortunately the joke was on me because April Fool's Day fell on spring break.  I suppose I could have used them anyways but it just didn't seem as fun.  I guess there's always next year.  That said, I thought some of you might enjoy seeing the eyes in action.  

Here's what the package looks like.  I purchased the candy at Target but I think I've seen this at Michaels as well. 

I can't help but think of Heidi Kenney's plush toys when I look at this.

Changing subjects, I'm going to try and get rid of the Captcha to make commenting easier.  I stress the word try because I always get tons of spam when I do this.  Then I end up turning the feature back on. If you have the time, please let me know in the comments if you prefer no Captcha, thanks :)

*Update  Captcha is back on.  I had over 30 spam comments within less than 24 hrs :(

Secret Asian in Disguise

Children can say the most unexpected and funny things.  I decided to take some of those unexpected moments and work them into my art.  Pictured above is an illustration of my son.  When he was little he used to think "secret agent in disguise" was actually "secret asian in disguise".  I feel like I need to give you a little background on this so you understand why we thought this was funny.  First off, I'm Caucasian and my husband is Japanese.  My son ended up taking more after me when it comes to looks; he has medium brown hair and fair skin.  That said, he kind of is like a "secret asian in disguise".

Below is a little bit about how I created this illustration.

I started off with the photo above.

I cropped the photo and turned it into a black and white image.  I used the "photocopy" filter in Photoshop to make it.  If I'm making an illustration that's mainly black and white, I like to do this so I can get a better idea of how the image will look.

Next I sketched out the image on Bristol board.  Once I had a good outline of the image, I started inking it in one section at a time. I recommend using Micron pens for this. They come in all different sizes.  I used a 03 for this illustration. 

Last I colored in the image with markers.  Lately I've been using Copic markers for my illustrations.  I also like Tria markers. 

If you were going to make a piece of art from an overheard quote, what would it be?

Printable Bookworm Calendar

You may recall me writing about the Scout Creative Printable calendars.  Every month the Scout team would come out with a free printable calendar.  At some point Scout Creative started posting the calendars on a new site called Crush, making it tricky to track down the printables.  In case you were looking for them, click here to access the April calendar.