Smile for the Day: Dancin' Posin' Chicks from Myrtle & Eunice

Looking for Easter egg dye ideas, I found these guys on the blog MyrtleandEunice.com. Oh my, I'm in love! There is a pattern tutorial so you can make your own felt chickies with or without pose-able legs, but even if you're not up to a project the photos on the blog posts of these are worth a look. Guaranteed to make you smile! Here they are doing a Riverdance...

And here's a happy coincidence: These chickies are also a hint for the next blog challenge theme which starts on Friday!

Tutorial to Share: Making an Altoid's Tin Book

I collect craft tutorials on my pinterest page and like to share them here from time to time. Here is a particularly nice one by Laura Carson on her Gingersnap Creations blog. Laura has created a wonderfully detailed explanation for making a charming altered book with an altoid tin. If you're like me (and my husband) you always a supply of those great little tins lying around! They're too cute and useful to through away, but you need a creative way to alter them.

Laura's supply list includes ephemera and vintage images ... you know where to find those! (brazen hint: Lunagirl.com)  This project could easily be adapted to other altered tin ideas... a box or any kind of container rather than a book, a tiny shrine, etc.  Here's the link to the original tutorial:

Gingersnap Creations: Laura Carson: Making an Altoid's Tin Book: In this tutorial I’ll walk you through creating a vintage Altoid’s Tin book using chipboard and two Altoid’s tins.

From maya*made: woven hearts tutorial!

maya*made: woven hearts: modernizing a classic: Woven heart baskets are a classic Valentine craft.

I couldn't resist re-blogging this great tutorial from maya*made!  Theses woven heart baskets are adorable ~ fill them with candy, flowers, love messages. And you can adapt the template to make "single layer" hearts, too, for cards and such.

A LIttle Project Idea for a New Year of Memories

Here's a great idea to begin in January:
Start a memory jar for your family or just for yourself.  All you need is a nice jar ~ decorated or simply labeled 2014 ~ and some supplies kept handy to write things down.  You might use pretty scraps of paper, or colorful bits of cardstock, cut-up recycled Christmas cards, or just a simple tiny notepad, with a pencil or pens.  You could even attach a pencil with ribbon or string tied around the neck of the jar.

As the days go by in 2014, jot down special memories and put them into a jar.  Include memories worth saving, big accomplishments and small victories, LOL moments, surprises, challenges, nature's beauty, things you've thankful for. You could also put in ticket stubs, tokens, little drawings and photos, mementos.  Kids can take part too!  Then on New Years Eve, or maybe during that magical week between Christmas and New Years, cozy up and pull your memory scraps out one at a time to remember 2014. 

I like that this container, and this ritual, could be as simple or as elaborate as you like.  And it would be equally nice for a family, a couple, or just yourself.

I can see a whole shelf of "years" in my future!  An old teapot would be nice for this, too ~ I need an excuse to buy more old teapots!

Ideas: Pumpkins "Uncarved"

FaveCrafts.com

I wanted to share this Squidoo page with great ideas for decorating pumpkins, none of which involve scooping pumpkin guts!

http://www.squidoo.com/the-uncarved-halloween-pumpkin

Visit the link for details on these easy ideas, and for links to the original websites with more great projects.

Pumpkins in black lace stockings! ShelterPop.com

Rick-rack and ribbons are easy, even for kids (marthamoments.blogspot.com)

Great Idea: Mini Quilts

In the etsy blog I came across this article about how to make "mini-quilts" and wanted to share!  What a great idea for a quick project:  http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/how-tuesday-grannys-delight-mini-quilt-9399/

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

I thought I would again share some links for making natural Easter egg dyes. This is a great "old-fashioned" way to dye eggs, but also a "new-fashioned" way to avoid artificial dyes and such. It's a fun experiment and a fun way to spend some time with your kids!

The earliest traditional colors for Easter eggs were red and green. Red is the most ancient sacred color, the color of life energy. Green of course is also symbolic of life and vitality and renewal. Pastel colors became popular later, probably in imitation of the pinks and yellows and lavenders of Spring flowers.

Here are some links ~ have fun!
http://www.floridaherbs.com/Newsletter_Archives_Dyeing_Easter_Eggs.htm
http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/eggs060405.cfm
http://www.aeb.org/kidsandfamily/eastereggs/naturaldyed.asp

On that last link, you'll want to click the "next" button at the bottom a couple of times, because the next few pages have wonderful ideas for decorating eggs with stencils, leaves and seeds, ribbon, even postage stamps!

The egg picture is from our Lunagirl Victorian Holidays Volume Two (Valentines, Easter, St Patrick's Day & More)

Great Saturday Project: Easter Eggs with All Natural Dyes!

Did you know you can make natural egg dyes from stuff around your kitchen? I looked around for tips on dyeing Easter eggs with natural dyes and picked a few of the best links to share! This is a great "old-fashioned" way to dye eggs, but also a "new-fashioned" way to avoid artificial dyes and over-commercialization of holiday celebrations. It's a fun experiment and a fun way to spend some time with your kids!

The earliest traditional colors for Easter eggs were red and green, btw. Red is the most ancient sacred color, the color of life energy. Green of course is also symbolic of life and vitality and renewal. Pastel colors became popular later, probably in imitation of the pinks and yellows and lavenders of Spring flowers. Supposedly teal is the "hot" color this year!!

Here are some links ~ have fun:
http://www.floridaherbs.com/Newsletter_Archives_Dyeing_Easter_Eggs.htm
http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/eggs060405.cfm
http://www.aeb.org/kidsandfamily/eastereggs/naturaldyed.asp

On that last link, you'll want to click the "next" button at the bottom a couple of times, because the next few pages have wonderful ideas for decorating eggs with stencils, leaves and seeds, ribbon, even postage stamps!

The vintage egg greeting card pictures are from
Lunagirl Victorian Holidays & Occasions.

An Invitation

Would you like to see your altered art projects, jewelry creations, decoupage projects, ornaments, handmade cards - or other handcrafted creations! - featured on Lunagirl Moonbeams blog?

I would like to feature artists and crafters more often, especially those who use vintage ephemera or vintage-style ephemera in their work. So whether you sell your work or create "just for fun" - email me at info@lunagirl.com if you're interested!

How to Create Altered Art Charms

Create your own altered art charms with Lunagirl images! Altered art charms are really hot right now. They're so beautiful and fun, and not as difficult to make as you might think. Many of the people selling bracelets are using Lunagirl vintage images.

Scroll down for some easy, basic instructions. I'm sure there are others ways to do this, but I'll share what works for me. (Thanks to Jodi Crago jodiwho of SPARROW'S GATE for permission to use her images of her work!)

PRINT & CUT OUT YOUR IMAGE
First, choose your image! I have several sheets of mini images (inchies and craft circles) ready to print and clip out for charms (1-inch circles and inchie squares for jewelry charms), but of course you can print ANY of our collage sheets smaller if you like, for smaller pictures (an advantage of digital collage sheets). Being high-quality jpg images (not pdfs) they will keep their image quality at smaller sizes.

To make charms it is best to print the image onto fairly thick acid-free paper or photo paper. Any good laser or inkjet printer should do, but many prefer the laser printing for charms because inkjet prints tend to smudge more easily.

After printing, place your blank charm setting on the picture and trace around it, then clip out the picture with some good very sharp scissors (it's good to first cut it slightly larger than you want, then trim it down).

There are several people selling the metal charm blank settings on ebay. If you search on the phrase "altered art charm blanks" you should find a few. Or, you can buy charm jewelry at discount stores and pop out the existing charms to put in your own pictures! You can also use dominoes, wooden pieces, etc.

GLUE ON THE IMAGE
You can glue the image into or onto the setting with a hot glue gun, or better yet with a good general purpose craft glue, then smooth it down nicely. Be careful not to be too heavy-handed with the glue, or it can get lumpy or messy.

A charm is beautiful with just a single image, but you can also add other images or printed words to create a collage. You can even add pressed flowers or other "pressed" items if they are very flat.

ADD A PROTECTIVE GLAZE
There are different opinions about which gloss/glaze is best. I prefer a few coats of spray-on Krylon Crystal Clear Glaze because it's easy and it's nice and clear without bubbles. Some people prefer a clear polyurethane you can paint on, as with decoupage. Either way, be sure to let it dry between coats.

HAVE FUN CREATING!
Try using an old link bracelet, and turning it into something wonderful by adding your own charms and beads! There are lots of bead sellers on etsy as well if you want to add beads. Your local crafts store will probably offer findings (jump rings, clasps, etc.) and jewelry making tools. EVEN BETTER: Find costume jewelry and vintage jewelry pieces at discount stores, garage sales, jumble sales, and secondhand stores, and incorporate them or disassemble them to use on your own bracelets!

You can also create pendants, clips, even earrings and barrettes. Or add charms to your altered boxes and books. I've seen lovely bookmarks, hip clips, even cell phone jewelry, using altered art charms.

For a very simple yet elegant pendant, simply place your charm onto a beautiful ribbon or thin black trim or leather necklace.

If you decide to purchase Lunagirl images or collage sheets for your project, please be sure to read our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for useful information.

Browse our Lunagirl digital collage sheets to find mermaids, fairies, Christmas images, romance, witches, charming children, Victorian Edwardian ladies, flappers, retro glamour girls, flowers, castles, tea parties, vintage posters, Alice in Wonderland, text ephemera, and much more!

Or.... check out our COLLAGE SHEET SETS ON CD for amazing value. Thanks again to Jodi Crago of Sparrow's Gate -- visit her etsy shop to buy her gorgeous jewelry.

It's all about "altered": Take images and existing items you "find" and use your own creativity and imagination to create something new and unique! An altered art charm bracelet, pendant, or clip you've created yourself is a beautiful gift ~ truly one of a kind and from the heart.