I finally bit the bullet and purchased a silkscreening kit. I have been meaning to try screen printing at home but I was a little intimidated.
I found the Speedball Super Value Fabric Screen Printing Kit on Amazon for a great prize, I just had to have it.
I was very happy to get my new crafty thing. I was able to purchase the reflector and a lightbulb at my local ACE hardware, I swear they have everything there.
I whipped up a quick design on my computer for our 4th/5th grade science camp and was ready to try things out.
I dont have a dark room and wouldn't know where to start so I just closed all the shades in my craft room, sprawled out on the floor and was ready to start exposing.
The emulsion was ready and I spread it over the screen. I exposed it under the light for about an hour and half (he bulb wasn't as strong as I hoped for) I cleared the screen in my shower with my hand held shower head. The screen was ready and I was ready to print.
I am sad to say that it wasn't a great print, but I know exactly where I went wrong. Next time I will... A) spread the emulsion on the screen thinner B) Expose the screen for a longer period of time with the proper wattage bulb C) Make darker, more defined lines on the image.
I am really excited for the possibilities. I cant wait to get printing!!!
I finally found a moment of peace for a few minutes of craftiness. I have been bombarded with inspirations and I have been extremely frustrated because of the lack of time.
This past Thursday I finally found the time and energy to craft and bake! What?!!! Yes, double whammy.
My school was hosting a bake sale to raise money for The Red Cross in order to contribute to Japan's recovery. My heart was so full and I was bursting with joy and pride after this event. One of the 4th grade classes thought up the idea and they were the ones to organize and promote the event. I am always thrilled to get youth socially conscious about the world.
Well, after they announced the bake sale, I had my opportunity and I was going to take it! I decided to bake a few sugar cookies and I have to admit that my decision to bake sugar cookies was influenced by my great Thrift Store find. I was lucky enough to find a bag full of wonderful cookie cutters at Thrift Town for only $3. Yes! Only $3. Can you believe my luck.
All I did to make my button cookies was to use the top to the baking powder container as a cookie cutter and use a meat thermometer to add the holes.
I followed this recipe for the cookies and this recipe for the frosting. They were both amazing and really easy to follow. I am happy to say that all my cookies sold. Our school was able to raise about $800 from the bake sale. So proud, *tear*.
After I finished baking and decorating, my crafty juices were flowing, I had to keep going. I decided to finally use the felt I purchased earlier and make a little gift for a friend who was feeling under the weather.
I was inspired by this mobile and the idea to make it into a pin was just because I wanted to make it miniature.
First I cut all my pieces out. I was originally going to make two, but by 10pm I had to go to bed and I didn't have the time or energy to finish two little rainy day clouds.
Then I blanket stitched the could. After I finished the little cloud I blanket stitched every rain drop, making sure to have enough thread to attach to the the cloud when done. I attached the raindrops in ROYGBIV order, yes I know that the yellow and orange are switched.
I really like the outcome and hope to post some on my etsy site before spring really blooms. These are perfect for all the May showers to come.
The other day I was asked "Why do you blog?" It took me a second to think of something but it made me realize how much I enjoy posting and sharing my ideas, creations, and thoughts with everyone. When I answered I didn't want to sound self centered, but I really do enjoy posting about what happens in my little world.
One reason I blog is to connect and meet new people. I have run across so many interesting and amazing people through the blog world. I am always inspired by how much creativity and originality is out in the world.
I know that the answer to why I blog is basically "all about me" in the sense that this is my way of keeping a catalogue of my daily happenings. My blog allows me, and sometimes pushes me to strive for adventures and to explore new possibilities. I often find myself looking at things different because I think to myself "how can I post this?" I really do enjoy blogging and I hope that my followers enjoy my little rants. I hope and dream that one day my blog will evolve into one that is more professional and more streamlined, but for now I am thrilled with my little space on the web and I am always happy to post something new.
I will try to draw the sun from memory, because it has been hiding for about a week now.
Sacramento has been having a very long and gloomy March. The weather has been gray, wet, and windy! We had a break in the rain, and I couldn't help but go for a quick walk with Marlin the dog before the skies once again turned gray.
Once the rain goes away I will miss it. It always happens.
Marlin and I went for a quick walk before the skies once again turned dark.
My cute little Michi enjoyed the warm sunlight as long as he could
Mr. J and I will be in the East Coast this time next week. I am super excited!!! I have never been and I am really looking forward to this trip.
So far Mr. J has planned the whole thing. I am usually the one that plans our trips, but this time I haven't had a moment to rest. I really need this vacation, but I worry that I will be exhausted when we get back. We will see.
Since my last post I have had a busy week. Let me catch you up on a few things.
Mr. J and I wen to have some yummy drinks! It was so nice to go and just relax.
We ended up going to one of my favorite places, World Market. I purchased this really cool soft drink. It was really good, but a little random. We also purchased 6 bottles of wine, ooppps
It was a nice little break from a crazy work week.
I am excited to show you some purchases from this weekend. I have been feeling very crafty and I am glad I was able to buy some things.
I bought some fun felt, some lovely glitter and a cute little box that will be used in my classroom. Oh I also bought some cute little stamps that the kids will be able to use as a free choice job.
The weather here is Sacras is really ugly, I hope we don't loose power.
I hope to get some crafting done soon. I will post pictures as soon as I can.
I wanted to share a little sumtin sumtin from my classroom. I teach at a Montessori Hybrid school, which means that I use Montessori materials in the classroom as well as traditional teaching techniques.
After making a gazillion copies and laminating all of them I was able to complete my language materials. Montessori language is broken up into pink, blue and green material. The green material contains digraphs and high frequency words. My first graders work with these materials daily, but I needed a way to display and separate each word grouping.
I decided to make little fabric envelopes. Each envelope has a digraph so that each student can choose which they would like to work with.
I like how they turned out.
Anyways, lately I have been really inspired. This makes me really happy because it give me hope that my little crafty light is shinning bright.
Ps. I hope to start posting more about clothing, I have found a new passion for clothes and vintage. I took the pledge to only buy vintage or thrifted clothing about a year ago and have been really good about not purchasing any new items. I hope to post some clothing alterations soon.
Here are a few things that I found at my favorite thrift store, Thrift Town.
Awesome board games for my classroom!
Really cute shoes and shirts :)
Awesome little box that I will paint and posting on etsy soon enough.
I hope to post about this jewelry box soon enough. I began painting on it but I fear that the paint will not stick. I may have to sand it down and prep it for painting.
I came across this lovely, lovely image on one of my new favorite blogs. Super cute. When my blog grows up it wants to take inspiration from her blog. :)
Let It Reign: Bill Cunningham New York: "I can't wait to see this movie. Bill Cunningham is a genius. I love this quote from the trailer: 'The wider world that perceives fashion..."
So here is my simple little promise. I will never again submit a post apologizing for not posting or for not being on track or for not being motivated or creative enough.
Looking back on my blog it seems that every other post is about my poor excuses created to explain my lack of bloggin'. Well no more. I am done giving myself excuses, no more excuses.
So come back and see me some time, I know you will not regret following my frantic yet creative little world.
It has taken me almost a month to post something on my birthday. Here is a recap of the wonderful, amazing, birthday celebrations!
On the actual day of my birthday I received tons of birthday wishes via facebook, text, phone calls, and all the wonderful teachers and students at my school. It was so nice to feel all the love.
My co-workers and I went out for a bite to eat and a few cocktails, which was great.
The weekend celebration consisted of yummy wine, food and a swinging good time! We started off the night at a really great wine bar in Sac. 58 Degrees and Holding is a great little place that I will definitely visit again soon. After we had a glass of wine and ate the BEST bread and cheese ever we moved on to dinner. For dinner we visited Zocalo, a yummy mexican food restaurant. Here we were serenaded by the wonderful mariachis and where I received my birthday flan. YUM!
Later we moved to swing dancing. It was fun to meet up with friends from the bay, they are always so fun to hang out with. The live band was really cool, but we left early because I was exhausted by the end of the night.
The following day we went wine tasting! It was so great to participate in the "Port and Chocolate" festival at the Old Sugar Mill, a great little winery super close to our house.
Lastly we ended my birthday month with a great concert. We had the chance to go see Celso Pina live! It was so much fun and so amazing!
All in all I was very happy to celebrate with the people who truly love me. I am grateful for all the amazing people in my life. Mil Gracias!!!!
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