Chore Day - Today

Hello there!

I am catching you later in the day today because I have been so wrapped up in mundane tasks that "grown-up" law says I have to do.  Wouldn't it be nice if bills just paid themselves, laundry washed and folded itself, or doing the dishes was done by the magic like in Disney's The Sword In The Stone?!? FYI, that is one of my favorite Disney movies ;) Anyhow, I am successfully getting all this done without magic so that Kevin can get an early birthday surprise for his birthday tomorrow.  Finger's crossed I get everything done before he arrives home today!

We loosely mapped out a day of fun for his birthday tomorrow - He just found out he is approved for the day off today, so we couldn't make any concrete plans.  If I had my way dinner would involve a place where we can watch the debate while we eat. That sounds very unromantic for sure, however we were the couple who spent our honeymoon inside with room service watching the Sarah Palin Show unfold so I don't think the debate on a birthday is so bad. 

On a sorta political but not so much front, we saw Argo this past weekend and it was incredible! If you are like me and you were born in the Reagan Administration or later, you may not quite have the same feelings about Iran and what makes it such a hot-button topic in these debates. I am glad that A) Ben Affleck is amazing at both directing and acting as he is, but (on a more serious note) that B) That this movie is out now because it has some insight into the drama felt by the USA and Iran in 1979-81 during the hostage crisis. The movie does a good job portraying the era and while some portions may be embellished for drama it still has a tone that brings importance to the situations portrayed. Overall I liked it very much and would strongly recommend seeing the film.       

Well, that is enough politics for me to share today... what I am here for is the crafts :)

Creatively I am not up to much today.  I did bottle up some "vintage" citrus vinegar that we posted the tutorial earlier this summer here. I am calling it a "vintage" because I tended to it for 2 days shy of four months seeing what would come of the extra time. the verdict: The extra time gave it a fuller body and opacity white leaving less vinegar-y and packed way more of the citrus scent.  Overall I would say if you can rotate your jars so that the vinegar and citrus scraps can sit for ~3 months time the overall product will make for a superior green cleaning staple.

Well, off to fold some more laundry! Hope you have a super evening!!!

XOXO, KC

Have a Tie Dye Party

Tie-dyeing is based on the traditional art of folding or tying fabric to resist the dyes and create unique patterns of color. Whether you are tie-dyeing T-shirts or marbling fabric for quilts and home accessories, you can't go wrong with trying your hand at tie-dyeing.


Basic Supplies Needed:

Rubber gloves
Rubber bands, string, or 2-inch wide strips of cloth
Plastic to cover your work surface (you can split open a large heavy trash bag to do this)
A 3-gallon bucket or tub for each color
Rit or other Dyes
Long-handle stainless steel spoon
Scissors
Plastic Bags
Masking Tape and Permanent Marker






First you will want to pick the pattern or design you want for your tie dye. Here are some quick examples:

Image found on Flickr via  weavingmajor

Basic Tie-Dyeing Instructions

We used two packets of dry Rit Dye per tub.  8 Colors in all to chose from.

The first thing you should do is choose your colors. Most people say you can choose one, two, or up to three colors. (This is the case when you want to turn some colors into another when they mix so you would have up to six colors once finished)
*I think you should be able to use as many colors as you want to, just keep in mind you have a possibility to make brown if you mix too many together.

When using more than one color, it's usually best to start with the lightest color. When tie-dyeing with two or more colors, plan to put adjacent primary or secondary colors next to each other. In the areas where they run together, they will create a third, great-looking color. For instance, red and yellow will produce orange; blue and green will make cyan; fuchsia and blue will create purple.

I thought the curbs would be helpful for the kids to be able to step up and tie dye w/ help. 

Here I am giving a quick dye lesson on choosing colors.

So many color options

Annette @TasteePastree shown dyeing a tote pictured below

Once the attendees finished adding their colors and dyed all parts of their items they wanted to be dyed we wrapped the item up in a trash bag and secured it with masking tape.  This helps the items sit and the color to cure properly. Participants can write their name with the marker on the tape and pick up their items at the end of the party this way too so that the mess is minimal.  Keep in mind that while the buckets have the dye in them you can dye all kinds of things in the dye baths.  Here is an example we did before where just dumping buttons into the dye baths can refresh boring and simple buttons.

After the item has set for a full 24 hours it can be washed.  Read the instructions paired to the type of dye you use to make sure of the best washing instructions for the colorfastness of the dye - however, I like to suggest that you rinse with warm water first until it runs clear then shifting to the same with cold water before adding any additional soap and cleansers. Do keep in mind that the item has been dyed when laundering it after the initial cleaning.  Treat the items like all other laundered items that may bleed by washing separately OR with like colors.

Here is some totes we dyed at the Etsy Craft Night at CRAFTED:

Great way to freshen up all those tote bags!

Note: I love using natural dyes as much as possible and I want to put it out there that I have no statistics or figures on what the impact of using Rit or other dyes waste water does to our ecosystem... I like to think of tie dye as a method to bring second life into old t-shirts or shopping bags.  If you can have a more intimate party that involves a heat source you should totally have a natural dyeing tie dye party using methods like these.

XOXO, KC

Etsy Craft Party at CRAFTED this Friday!

The creative makers of CRAFTED at the port of Los Angeles have been hard at work getting ready for the Craft Party and we hope you can come party with us! On Friday, August 24 we will be hosting an Etsy Craft Party as part of their worldwide craft party meetup. We’re hoping to make it the biggest and best in SoCal!

Etsy Craft Party: From 7-10pm we will craft party like it’s 1999! For more details and to RSVP go here.

Our theme is “Wish You Were Here” and we certainly wish you were here for this event! Activities will include:
★ Loads of craft projects with the expert makers of CRAFTED! (a small materials fee may apply for some booths)
★ Demos by talented artists
★ Shopping and browsing CRAFTED market stalls
★ Food trucks and a wine bar
★ Live DJ and photobooth
★ Nail bar
★ Tie-dye station
★ Message in a bottle make-n-take
★ FREE PARKING! FREE ADMISSION!

Also, any posts you may share about the event, please feel free to send my way or tweet us at @makeshoplive and @CRAFTEDport_la or hash tag #craftparty  so we can share with our community.

We look forward to having a good time with you that evening! Hope to see you there!!!

XOXO, KC

E-C-P-C Etsy Craft Party at CRAFTED

When Kevin looked at this flier he said "oh look, it is E-C-P-C!" how cool!!! Y'all should have marketed the party like this.

The creative makers of CRAFTED at the port of Los Angeles have been hard at work getting ready for the Craft Party and we hope you can come party with us! On Friday, August 24 we will be hosting an Etsy Craft Party as part of their worldwide craft party meetup. We’re hoping to make it the biggest and best in SoCal! 

Etsy Craft Party: From 7-10pm we will craft party like it’s 1999! For more details and to RSVP go here.

Our theme is “Wish You Were Here” and we certainly wish you were here for this event! Activities will include:
★ Loads of craft projects with the expert makers of CRAFTED! (a small materials fee may apply for some booths)
★ Demos by talented artists
★ Shopping and browsing CRAFTED market stalls
★ Food trucks and a wine bar
★ Live DJ and photobooth
★ Nail bar
★ Tie-dye station
★ Message in a bottle make-n-take
★ FREE PARKING! FREE ADMISSION!

Also, any posts you may share about the event, please feel free to send my way or tweet us at @makeshoplive and @CRAFTEDport_la or hash tag #craftparty  so we can share with our community.

We look forward to having a good time with you that evening! Hope to see you there!!!

XOXO, KC

DIY Toothpaste: Pearly Whites for the Cheap, Lazy and Green

A couple years ago when I was literally living below the poverty line for my year in Americorps, I started making my own toothpaste. I did it because of the reason I do many DIY things: it was cheap and easy. It really is. You just have to make an initial investment investment in peppermint oil (about $5) and that is literally the most expensive ingredient AND it will last you more than a year (you can find the cost breakdown here). Promise.

So, how do you make this great homemade toothpaste? There are lots of variations, but for the most part it involves:

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 tsp salt (optional – gives paste extra scrubbing power and adds to antibacterial power, but is okay to leave out if the taste is too salty)
• 5-10 drops peppermint essential oil (you can use other oils for flavor, but peppermint is also supposed to help with disinfecting your teeth... so if you use peppermint extract like that silly person in the link above does you are not getting full benefit of the peppermint. The essential oil is important!)
• water (add to desired consistency)

Literally the only three ingredients you will need to make toothpaste (salt, peppermint oil and baking soda) plus water.

I keep it in a small tupperware container in my medicine cabinet and scoop a little onto my toothbrush or you can dip it right in. This lasts me about a month or so. I haven't had a cavity since!

There are other variations on this that involve coconut oil (also disinfects) and hydrogen peroxide (too much is not good, though, but I mix with water sometimes to use as a whitening mouthwash). Do some exploring and see what you like! 

Some choose to make the toothpaste at home because it is free of chemicals, sweeteners and flouride (I don't care that much). What is great is that you can swallow this paste and not worry about it. You can buy Tom's of Maine or some other expensive toothpaste or you can make this and save tons! Plus whenever you run out of toothpaste, no need to go shopping, just go to your cupboard.

MAKE the most of your Craft Fair & Events

Renegade is next weekend in San Francisco and just two short weekends away for here in Los Angeles. Alas, we won't be vending at Renegade, but we will definitely be checking out the one in LA to support all of  the talented artists and our friends who will be there!

We know how hard it is as a handmade artist to pull together all the pieces for a big show.  Not only do you need your handmade inventory, but you need displays, banners, business cards, promotional materials/ freebies, as well as packaging for all your wares.  We created a round up of items you can customize and make your own to take your brand to the next level.

Put you own logo or image in some Bottle Cap Magnets and make customized magnets. This is a great place to highlighting your products, your logo/ info, or other themes that can reinforce your brand on the cheap.

Use Enclosure Envelopes to hold your business cards or if you give a discount on future purchases make it feel even more special in a fancy envelope. 

Upcycled Decorative Bows can be included in gift wrapping or as that special touch for your handmade goods.

These Tissue Roll Pillow Boxes are a great way to package small items.

Do you have old post cards from your business or previous events? Crop them and use them for these Magnetic Mini Note Pads that make a great freebie.

Have extra, larger paper scraps? You can make these Scrap Paper Books super easy and maybe even make a few bucks off them.  A fun idea is to make one for every event and you can jot notes as the weekend goes to record and keep your memories of all the fun.

Make your own Small Shopping Bags from upcycled air bubbles included as shipping packaging.

Sew some quick T-shirt Totes as a gift with purchase for your higher priced items.

Fill your visual space with some fun with Outdoor Party Lanterns and DIY Garland (using yarn and fabric scraps) and your booth will draw in the crowd.

We are all so happy for all the artists involved and participating at Renegade and we look forward to seeing what everyone is up to. Good luck with these last few days of hard work to come!

XOXO, KC

Photo Frames - Washi Tape Makeover

Kevin and I are on a personal quest to finish our in-progress projects around the house. Things have been so hectic with "this goes to the port" "this for a to storage" "this goes to your studio" and "get this the heck outta here somehow" piles that a part of me feels like just getting rid of everything. For now, I am going room by room, going through mixed bags, unchecked boxes, and turning over uncovered hiding spots that may hold projects that need a few minutes of my attention. 

I came across these pictures which are actually from my college webcam back when Kevin and I were first dating. He is really fond of these pictures and I feel like the pictures and the frames they are in were the first thing to decorate our first apartment when I moved to LA. The frames have never been my favorite but they get the job done. They were stacked and ready to be hung when we moved but I think my hesitancy to hang them came from how sloppy they looked on the wall. The pictures are to small and they would slide around.

The cool think about Washi tape is it comes in so many colors and patterns that you are bound to find the perfect pairing for any project.  Also, it is very easy to use and on some materials it can even be pulled up and placed back down without damaging the bottom layer. With the paper showing inside the frame the Washi tape is a perfect way to completely change the look of the frame.

I used two different types of Washi tape that are slightly different colors but the same pattern. The darker one shown is in the middle if the photo arrangement. I thought it might be nice to pop that one up.

Close up on the two patterns.

These are kinda hard to photograph with out getting wickedly awkward reflections. Hopefully this will convey the point while I try to get a good shot to replace it.

Anyway, I hope this can inspire you to refresh something you want to toss with Washi tape :) It is always fun to have a "new" old thing to enjoy!

XOXO, KC

Quick Tip: Citrus Vinegar DIY Drain Freshener

Today Sharon shares with us a quick tip for non-toxic household cleaning. Enjoy!

XO, KC

I was inspired by KC's citrus vinegar post to make my own. I'm a vinegar enthusiast. It's super versatile and I've been using it as my all-purpose household cleaner for a while now (I've completely given up on Alvin Corn... the alcohol does something weird with the air pressure in the bottle). So, adding the citrus element seems smart, especially since the vinegar scent needs something to take the edge off.

KC only used peels in her citrus vinegar, but I just dumped any old lime or lemon I squeezed right in
there and it's  worked fine. The large bottle of vodka in back is not for drinking but for making Febreeze. ;)

Well, my latest use is to start using the citrus vinegar to help clean my drain (my apartment was built in 1940 and garbage disposals were not standard). I dump a little bit of baking soda down the drain (it won't really go far, but will just sit on top of the mouth of it) and then slowly pour a bit of citrus vinegar until it's all gone. You will get a foaming reaction... just like the volcano science projects that use the same concept. I try to do this a couple times a month to keep things fresh.

How-To's Day: Mercury Glass Wedding Votives

Alessandra really liked the look of Mercury Glass which can be quite pricey.  Wanting votive glasses and candles filling the two-stories of the historic Montauk Club would be a challenge if not for this easy DIY project.

For this project you need Looking Glass Mirror-Like Paint and a spray solution of equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

Solution = 1 part Vinegar to 1 part Water

After pooling loose votives from various sources we came up ~300 short from our target so Alessandra ordered some votive holders to complete the project.  This project is WONDERFUL for upcycling (Making  use of recycled items as materials while saving energy and resources that would be used in recycling) and is a great way to refresh new life into old jars and other glass items.

Spray the votives or item you are working on with a light layer of the silver paint.

Here Alessandra is showing off her technique rolling the paint around in the glass to make sure there wasn't a big glob. Set aside to dry.  After around 3 minutes you can spray a light amount of the vinegar and water solution inside the painted area and lightly dab the paint with a paper towel creating the variation in the paint making it look "cracked".

As the layers of paint build up you can control the opacity more, just make sure the beginning layers you have a light touch with the vinegar solution because it strips the paint creating the technique.  It is super helpful that this paint reacts to vinegar because clean-up is a breeze with non-diluted vinegar unlike regular spray paint.

Layer #1 down! As you can see it is very light and you will need several layers to create a wonderful effect.

Ale` finishing up a votive

We worked on this project in sections which is helpful to not get burned out mid-project. It also helped the enjoyment level by being in beautiful Prospect Park where we could sit out and work in the grass.

Now for some examples from the big day :)

Along side the mercury glass votives and flower centerpieces, we used vintage number cards from Etsy seller 30one for the table numbers shown above.

Here the candles around the cake shows off the hint of pink this Brooklyn Bride highlighted in her Navy & Pink celebration. The bow theme (which will be highlighted in a soon-to-come post) is continued on the two -tiers of their cake which was two of my favorites: red velvet and carrot cake. As a wedding gift and added touch they received the Kate Spade New York "Grace Avenue" Dessert Serving Set which was the perfect addition to the fabulous cake table.

We had a wonderful time working on these votives and we hope you enjoy making some for yourself too.
Happy Making!
XOXO, KC

DIY Outdoor Party Decorations

Are you taking your Cinco de Mayo outdoors this year? We posted last week a DIY project we shared at West Elm's customer appreciation night at their Beverly Blvd. location. These lanterns take a bit of prep work so if you are able to start them tonight you will have them in perfect time for Cinco De Mayo.

DIY LANTERNS

All you need for these lanterns are some old cans, some dried rice, nails, and a hammer. Here is some cans that will be turned into lanterns after eating all the tomatoes.

The first step after cleaning up your cans is to make the middle solid again so the can doesn't buckle when adding the holes.  I saw tutorials on making similar upcycled lanterns on Pinterest that said to use sand. Being that I don't have a yard and am a city dweller, the thought of all the soggy sand leftover from this project seemed problematic. I thought trying my hand at this project with rice might make better sense.

The rice expands in the freezer so leave plenty of room for expansion left in the can. I found it works nice to freeze the rice all day and add more water to fill out the rest of the top portion of the can and refreeze.

If your rice expands too much like the picture shown on the right just scrape the top portion of the rice off and top it off with as much water as possible before refreezing.

Once frozen you can make any design you'd like with your hammer and nail(s). You will really just need one nail.

Once you poke your design in the can you will want to flip the cans upside down in a bucket so that it collects the rice and water as it thaws. 

Pop in a candle, or some of those flame-less battery operated kind if you are indoors and you are in business!

DIY FABRIC STRING GARLAND (No Sew)

This garland is a simple and easy way to put old fabric and yarn scraps to good use.  

Since the strips are looped over in what ends up being a cow hitch/ Lark's head knot--otherwise known as "really easy"!

As pictured you fold the looped end over the string and you pull the tails through the loop fastening it over and securing the fringe. Do this as many times as you see fit for your garland.  The best part is with this type of knot you can move the fringe wherever you'd like so there is no way to mess this project up :)  It could even be hung up in your studio as a way to organize the smaller leftover strips too! I love when decor holds an extra function. 

Enjoy! XOXO, KC