Leather Tassel Key Chains

This is just a simple craft you can do in your spare time or for large groups! Really easy to make!


You can use crap leather. I know Michael and Hobby Lobby sell bags of scrap leather pieces for $5-9 dollars at full price, which would be enough to make tons of these for large groups.I used lobster key hooks but you can easily get a bag of key rings for much cheaper.

You simple cut out about rectangle piece about 3-4 inches long.

Cut thin strips about 3/4 all the up. (Leave an edge at the top.)

Take another thin strip of leather and slip your key ring over and hot glue that to one edge of the larger piece of leather.

Then roll it up and hot glue the very end of it.


You can had charms to if you like.

You could probably also use different fabric as well.

if you want to use string you can make some to use for cellphone charms if you like. :)

Embrace You Soul-A Purple Paisley Chouch

Embracing your Soul.

I think we how controlled our society is today it crushes our soul. Like when you get married, everyone assumes the white dress, but maybe never thought about a dress. Really you wanted something silly and laid back. Or how you love large purple paisley couch! But whenever you bring that idea everyone looks at you with a weird look and you feel your taste is ugly. You style doesn't fit what is on "trend" right now. And if you dared to get that purple paisley couch, what in the world would people think.

I think though to change the way society thinks is to embrace our souls. Embrace what we like is beautiful. Accept that our style may not fit what everyone thinks it should be. Love who you are and what you like and embrace whole hardheartedly. Get that purple paisley couch! Paint that room neon yellow or get married in your jeans and bare foot! Life is not about pleasing everyone to the point you can no longer see what who you truly are. Life is about being yourself. Be yourself bravely and willing to flourish with others through it.

Embrace You Soul.

Stay creative and Stay inspired.


Wish I had purple paisley couch...they don't any....

Children and Art

This is my daughter. This is my daughter with a box of her tiny glass beads making bracelets. She just turned 4 but she has been stringing beads on wire since she was two. (No worries I was always with her around small bits.)

I could have gotten those chunky blocky bead toys that help kids learn fine motor skills and not that I don't like those kind of toys or kiddy things, but I see parents just stop there. Little children are like sponges and the learn by doing things hands on. Give children crayons and markers are woderful, but have you ever wondered what they do with more real art supplies?

When I was 8 I asked my mother if I could learn to paint. Everyone told my mom to get me a little paint set and paint by numbers. Which those are fine, but I wanted to learn, really learn how to paint. It took a long time but eventually my mother found me a classes. I remember going to the store to pick out my paint brushes and choosing my real oil paints. It cost a small fortune, but I loved every brush and tube and pencil. I had my ups and downs with paint, but it has been something that stuck around with me and will for the rest of my life. If mom had followed what everyone did by getting cheap paints and paint by numbers I would never had the skill I have today.

My daughter may not become a famous designer of jewelry, but she could if she wanted too. She may make her own jewelry, or become an artist. Or maybe this stringing the beads is starting her skills to be carpenter or a surgeon. Who knows she has a whole world before her. All I know she has finer motor skills working with something that is real.

Don't be afraid to give your kids the real tools to try something.

Until another day

Toodles

Cupcakes!

Its simple. Buy or make your own cupcakes plain and go all out with decorations. I bought mine and just put simple sprinkles on them and played with some ribbon and plates to stage a pretty tasty looking cupcakes.

If you have little ones like I do be aware they will watch you snap pictures of a cupcake like you are an idiot, because cupcakes are for eating, as my little girl repeatedly told me. :P

Don't worry about perfection when you are searching for inspiration in the little things. Find the joy in the little moments, like sprinkles on a cupcake or swirl of the icing. My favorite is the icing on the tips of the noses of my children. :)

Stay creative and inspired!

Mason Jar Centerpieces

Nothing can brighten up a table like a well put centerpieces. They are the center to the wedding tables, the conversation starter in your living room, the piece you give to a friend as a get well. The easiest way to start is with a vase.
But sometimes these centerpieces can be expensive. A pretty vase alone can cost you an arm and a leg. But what do you always have around? Jars. Jars are awesome because they can be created to be wonderful centerpieces for any table.

Recently my local area had me put together the centerpieces for MOPS Extend Your Reach program. With 80 women attending we had to think of something that we could easily put together, that was pretty, well put and didn't cost an arm and leg. Bring your jars! Mason jars or Prego jars or even baby food jars. These glass containers have many uses.

Nothing a little painting change up. Take your brush and some cheap paint and have at it. Pinterest is chock full of ideas. These jars I simple got cheap paint from Walmart. (The 50 cent stuff.) With a brush I painted on a few layers and got beautiful colorful jars. Some of them I got spunky enough to put a layer of Mod Pog over it and sprinkled glitter all over it.

But don't just stop at the jar add something of interest. Use fake flowers or make your own with coffee filters. I did this one with coffee filters I dyed pink. (Watered down cheap walmart paint.) Then I took an old book and painted it to give it characters. Don't be afraid to try something like painting the covers of old books as well. If you have the tools I would slice your own wood pieces and paint those as well.
 Have fun with it.

Until another day.
Toodles.

The Finer Things

At my little shop we have a man who comes around in his red truck selling different things on a daily basis. He is quite a character and he says the most catchiest (is that even a word?) phrases. One of those phrases is "Remembering the finer things in life." 

Something about that phrase keeps popping in my head. "The finer things in life" are things or situations we take advantage of  and forget about...well finer things. Like how we are so used to fast or instant food, we forget how tasty a home cooked meal can be. The finer things are the little things in life we rarely see. A well make quilt, a family heirloom, wild flowers in jars, just the simple things.

My husband and I escaped from the kids for the weekend to Branson, MO. The town is wonderful. The food delicious and shows amazing. Yet the one thing that bothered me were are the "touristy" type stores. "Branson" t-shirts, mugs and magnets hidden away in large buildings that advertise "Souvenirs" with a neon sign. While I enjoy the cheesy souvenirs, I was determined to find something a little more special to remind me of our weekend trip. Staying at a Victorian inspired hotel that served afternoon tea, I wanted to find a tea cup, a real antique tea cup. 

After many shops, it wasn't until we found a little thrift shop on a back wood road did we find the tea cup. 

Of course I had to take a picture of it with flowers! I wish had taken good pictures with me using it, but I sadly didn't get any. :( But it is just as pretty without tea. Its a delicate cup an saucer, gilded with gold and hand painted tiny roses. Today we grab our paper cups from Starbucks and off we go ignoring the finer things in life. 

We forget how beautiful use to serve a purpose. Use to be enjoyed instead of stored in a back closet or behind the glass in a china cabinet that is never opened. 

Not that we can suddenly stop time and go back to the past. But maybe do something in your daily life that slows you down and enjoy some of the finer things in life. Enjoy some fresh brewed tea in a tea cup. Go out and pick fresh flowers down the street, or just go for a walk, when you usually spend time on Facebook. 

Stay Creative and Inspired.

Nata

Escape to Art

Everyone had some darkness in their life. Sometimes is small and short lived. Sometimes it can consume their entire life, or maybe it was an epic battle that left you with deep scars. As a child growing up I faced many dark places. I wish I could go into detail. I wish I could share more of my child hood, but parts of me are not ready for that yet. Just know that their were certain areas that I wish could have been different. I wish they could have been better. However, those rough areas of my life growing up, help mold me into that person I am today. They pushed me to the world of art, which became such a huge part of my life.

As a child, I couldn't control much of my life. I was pushed in directions, that I knew in my heart was not meant for me. Yet when I was able to paint, it was my escape. I could make and create anything with my own hands. Yes, I still had rules, but rules on how to create something for the effect I wanted in a painting or how to properly secure a necklace. There were not rules on what I could not create. I could go anywhere, I could make anything.

When the world I lived in seemed to be crashing upon me I would turn my blank canvas and paint something else. For a time, my family fell on hard time. They could not afford to by me canvas. So what did I do? I went a found wood boards and kept painting. I took every blank of piece of paper I could snatch and paint something.  Now that I am older and look back to those dark places, I know they help create me.

In a painting, you can't have have all bright colors and light without the darkness to form the details. You need the harsh lines, or the shadowing, or the opposite color which makes the light brighter. The details fuller.

These are just my thoughts for today.

Inspire and Create

Chalk Board and Chalk Board Paint Paint

One of the worst things to happen to me is to run out of an awesome color in paint. So I love to premix my colors to save for future projects. Right not I love to mix chalk board and chalk paint and store them in baby food jars. Now  I should first clarify, chalk board and and chalk are two different types of paint. "Chalk board paint" is like the name says, is paint you use to make a chalk board and

I found my chalk paint spongy after about 2 months.

you use chalk. "Chalk Paint" is paint that has a "chalky" feel to it and used to furniture, jars, etc. It has a vintage vibe to it. The great thing I love it is easy to make both an the recipe has the same ingredients. 

• Paint
• Plaster of Paris or Unsanded Grout
• Water

"Chalk Paint" 

2 Cups Paint

1/3 Water

2 Tablespoons of Plaster of Paris

Mix well and paint what you life. I will warn you that Chalk Paint, at least the homemade stuff I make, doesn't last forever. Eventually it it becomes this spongy like consistency. 

"Chalk Board Paint" 

1/4 paint

1/2 table spoon Plaster of Paris

A little dash of water if you fell like it.

Again, mix well and paint the surface you like. Just make sure you paint something that could really use chalk board paint on it. Its pretty goofy to put chalk board paint on mugs. As cute as it looks, it not fun getting chalk on your hands while drinking your coffee. :P

Tiny and Adorable

Have you ever noticed how this generation goes crazy over tiny adorable things? Not that previous generations enjoyed small adorable things, but it just seems this one enjoys it the most. Everything is about tiny and adorable.

We like miniatures of everything. Look up on Youtube about Tiny Clay Miniatures. Here are a few links to some of my favorites.
Mini Cookies and Sweets

Baby Dragon Charm Necklace

Cinderella Charm Bracelet

These crafters are so talented and I love watching their videos about making adorable tiny clay miniatures.

       

One thing I personally like to make are these mini journals made from scrap leather, pieces of water color paper, and "o" rings. I usually add some sort of charm in the front of the cover. This one I made with just some scrap leather, paper and glue. I wanted to have that thick old book feel, but still being tiny adorable. :)

And then from a  previous posts you have seen my new obsession with painting on tiny canvas. I think these master pieces are just so pretty and the fact they are so tiny make it even more adorable.

How many times have I said tiny and adorable? :P

Anyways, Stay Inspired and Stay Creative

Inspired by the little things.

I think all too often people search for the big "AH-HA" moment which will inspire them. Maybe if you traveled the world you could change it. Maybe if you won a competition you could prove yourself to the world. Maybe if this big, mega, epic thing just happened, you would finally feel like you needed to reach for the stars!...

The problem is though, those are a lot of "maybe"s. That is a lot of waiting. And that is a lot of dreaming without putting actions to support those dreams. It reminds me of when I was teenager, wanting to figure out where I suppose to go in life. I had so many ambitions, so many ideas, but I felt for me to complete these ideas or even go after them, something big was suppose to happen. Like if I wanted to be an artist I had some epic piece worth seeing. It was a perfect excuse for me to hide behind.

I think that is what a lot of people do. They set the bar high, so they can hide. It can be scary sometimes to realize what you have to go through to reach for your goals. Its easy to hide behind waiting for large "AH-HA" moment that will finally push you on your path.

It wasn't until I reached my college years did I start to appreciate the smaller, more finer, things in life. These smaller moments started inspire me to reach for something more. I would see one of my used paint brushes, and be proud because I was using the tools of my trade and it would inspire me to do more. I would sip a cup of tea and that would refresh me again to feel better and go on. It was in college that I started buying myself flowers to keep in my room, just to keep things bright and fresh around me.

It was the smaller things in life that inspired me in smaller steps to keep going. It was song here, a conversation there, a view from my window or a glance at the time. Randomly little moments, I found that kept me motivated and passionate. Instead of waiting and dreaming of a big epic moment to give you that push, start small. Find your little bit of inspiration now. Maybe you wrote a little poem on a scrap of paper. Try finishing it. Maybe you saw a flower and thought about your long passion for photography. Go ahead and go for it. Don't waste time waiting for something you could doing right.

Stay Creative and Inspired.

Mini Paintings Ideas

I am used painting larger canvas. The smallest I usually do is 8x10 inches. But lately I have been painting on these tiny ones that are only 4x4 inches and so easy to work with.

I have a thing for landscapes and sweets lately.

     They are just too cute! They are so sweet and inspiring. I love how you can have a little masterpiece that can fit right in the palm of your hand.  

     You can usually buy these adorable little canvases from a local craft store for a few bucks. I got a package of 6 for about $3.00  from Hobby Lobby after using their 40% of coupon. You can also get them from Walmart for about 97 cents for one. At crafts stores you can also get longer and even smallers, but I prefer this size. 

 I usually like to draw a little something by hand as a guide line, especially for my little cake paintings. It doesn't take much to fill the canvas so something like a little landscape or a slice of cake or cupcake works wonderfully on such a tiny space. 

    When it comes to the landscapes, you can draw a line for where a montain line or tree could be. The middle one in the bottom row in the picture above was rally easy. Just light blue above and some swooshs of white froma tiny brush to make clouds. Then with some dark purple and green, I dotted up and down to make the illusion of distand trees. The front ground was a play of colors with strokes of green, mustard yellow and some purples. 

           With tiny canvases like these don't be afraid to play with colors. I used oil paintings, but you can definately use acrylics or even watercolors for a more flowy feel. And with it being so tiny, you don't have to use to much, which means much less mess. They are just too cute! Try and make your own little master piece. 

Stay Creative and Inspired

~Nata

The Organic Poptart!: My Morning

The Organic Poptart!: My Morning: This morning I woke up and it was a typical morning for a mother. My children were still asleep, I manged to wake up before they did, but I ...

Ways I Save Space (Mom Edition)

It is hard to save on space, especially when you are a parent. Right now in the space I live I have lots of little awkward wall space. The fact that I also have two children also makes saving space hard becaus toys can end up everywhere.

One rule I have for my family is that if toys come in, toys must go out. Whenever a birthday or Christmas happens we go through all their old toys. We keep whatever is loved or used often and get rid of everything else. When my kids get new stuff they have enough to store it. This can sometimes be hard to follow, but if you take a week before a birthday party it can be much easier. I have done it each time before Christmas and never run into the problem of not having a place to put my kids new toys.

(This also applies for clothes. But I have a hard time following this one. I still find new born clothes in my 2 year old son's drawers.)

Another spot that seems to take a lot of space is the diaper changing station. When I had my daughter I found having a diaper changing station was really more a hassle than helpful. It took up a lot of room, the shelf space could only store so much and it was a piece of furniture I would only use for so long. 

When I had my daughter I used a changing cushion on a dresser she uses now as her regualer dresser. It used a space I was already using and freed more room in her nursery which was literally a large closet at the time. However when my son came along I found it much easier to store my diapers and wipes in a garden shelf I got at Hobby Lobby for 80% off. I could just grab what I needed and change his diaper right on my bed. 

Now for the thing I swear by. A great way I save space and have easy clean up is lots of those storage ottomens. I swear by those things. Square or circle or retangle, they all store toys perfectly for easy clean up and out of sight. I have three I keep in my livingroom. Each child gets one ottoman and another is filled with my husband extra game controllers. Its extra seating when we hae guests and again perfect hiding storage! 

Also in the pictures on the right are mugs of pens and brushes. I wish I could say I keep cute containers, but nothing beats a large with handle. I use my mugs to carry my pens and paint brushes more than I do my tea or coffee. Nothing beat having that handle, at least for me.

Anyways, these are just a few ways I save on space. Each person is different and each house is different so their are no one set of rules or instructions that fit every home. Hopefully these can help you or inspire you to find ways to save on space in your own home.

Stay Creative and Inspired.

~Nata

Randomly Build a Table

So have you ever had the great desire to randomly build something? Now and then I get these overwhelming urges to hold a hammer or handle a saw and build something with my own two hands from wood. Last time it was a toddler bed for my son. This time it was for a long skinny table.

I got the idea when I saw four old banister poles at my local Restore Store. For two dollars a piece I had legs for a table. I wish I could say I followed exact measurements, but in reality I pretty much eye balled everything and with a jigsaw and hand tools I built a thin table for living room. Perfect for not taking up too much space but having a space to place things!

What I used

• Four banister poles (Not sure if this is what they are called. I got for $2 each)
• 1in x12in x 4ft board. (Scrap I had from another project.)
• 1 in by 2 in wood. (I cut it to build a frame that fit just under the larger board.)
• 2 pieces cut to four feet
• 2 piece cut about a few mm longer than 10 inches. Again I eyeballed most of my measurements accept for my legs.) 
• Nails
• Screws
• Little one hole "L" brackets
• Hammer
• Jig Saw
• Screw Driver
• Tape measure (For people who work smarter than me. )
• Sand paper

The first thing I did was measure out how long I wanted my legs. I wanted the table to be pretty high so I could easy put things on it without stopping down. I had plans on putting it by the door and just wanted something thin and tall enough to toss my keys and phone on when I came home.

First thing I did was cut my thin pieces of wood and build the frame for under the table. These are the pieces that will help secure the legs in place.

I used four of the little brackets to secure the frame to the table top. Then flipped the table top over and put a few nails in it for extra security. There is probably a more professional way of doing this, but I found it pretty secure. Also i forgot to mention that four of these little "L" brackets along with screws cost less than $2 dollars.

The next step was to clean up the old banister poles and saw off the angle edge. Here I used pliers to remove the old nails and then a jig saw to clean up and cut the edges I needed. I kept the legs around 3 feet tall. I had my husband watch T.V. and sand the rough edges to keep a clean look.

 The next part is little hard to describe. I used small "L" brackets to secure one side of each leg up against each corner of the underneath of the table. Then put nails through the frame into the legs of the table. Then I ran out of "L" brackets. It was lat at night and the hardware store was closed and Walmart didn't have what I wanted. So I there I was stuck with still slightly wabbly legs that needed that other side secured. I tried doing the triangle brackets, but it just wasn't working no matter many I used. A bunch of poor nails died along with some screws...It was an epic battle and a long night.

However it is like I meantioned in a previous post, sometimes the answer is just right infront of you. With four simple screws, I secured the other sides of the legs and got four solid and secure legs. I had to stop for a little while my little helper inspected my work.






By now you will notice the couch and rug and living room type setting around my project area. And yes, this is my living room where I decided to randomly a build a table. My home is small so I don't have a large space to build anything other than between my kitchen and living room. No worries my precious babies where in the other rooms fenced off watching T.V. By now they are use to Mommy doing crazy things in the other room.


After a few tweaks and little extra nails, the table was complete. I still need to paint it, but for now it does a pretty good job holding some pretty flowers, a tea pot and a sippy cup. :)

My little helper even approves. :)

Hopefully this can inspire you to go a build your own peices. Don't be afraid to pick up a hammer and take a crack at something..

Stay Creative and Inspired

Lacking Luster Days

It happened. A boring day overcame you. All the things you have to do, all that you could do suddenly don't matter and you are bored out of your mind. Slowly the boredom trickles into aggravation because you can't find yourself doing anything other than wallowing in boredom and feeling useless. Its suddenly a bad day for no reason at all.

Inspiration in the everyday is sometimes hard to find. There are long hours where I wish I could find the right quote, do a fun craft, find the perfect outfit, just something to lighten my day and put in skip in my step. It is not that something bad happened, it is just a boring day grabbed a hold of me and went with it. Without realizing it I find myself stumped. The easy thing to do would to be hang out in jammies and sit on Facebook secretly complaining how everyone else is having fun or at least someone to talk too.

Sometimes the answer is right in front of you. Maybe it is not that you can't find something to do, but your mind is telling you not to do something. Instead of feeling you need to fill time, it is time to waste time just being at peace. Go to the couch or your favorite chair. Heck crawl into bed and let yourself rest for a few moments. Push the negative thoughts and feelings of boredom aside and simply exist. Let yourself just be.

Sometimes when you are stuck in mental rut it can help by doing a simple task. The other day I went and bought myself some flowers. With the weather being wonky with it sunny one day then snowing the next it felt nice to have some dusty pink flowers in the house to brighten the place up. It gave the place an airy and springy feel and gave me inspiration to get back into my groove.

And who doesn't like a hot shower or bath? On my worst days of being cranky, bored, or losing the luster for life I hope in the shower to feel the relief. As cheesy as this sounds with the pun not intended, a shower washes away my troubles sometimes.

Again these are not the worst days, just ones the seems to lose their luster and really seems to suck for no reason other than to be a bad day. Take a step back and make sure to breathe. Go out for a walk or snuggle in bed.

Stay Creative and Inspired

~Nata

My central blog

I randomly do things. Each activity I do is spontaneous, which makes things confusing at times. One moment I am capturing memories for a friend while another I putting together a table in my living room from scrap wood parts. Since the things I do happen at random time I decided to make a central blog/website. Everything I do with posted here.

Hope everything gets updated in  timely manner and is more organized. :)