another take: variations on love balls

Remember these love balls?  Click here for the tutorial.

This weekend I made some variations:

hug and kiss balls for Valentine's Day.

hope balls for a friend that could use a pick me up.

I intended to make some holiday themed balls, but just didn't get to it.  (I also didn't put up a Christmas tree this year which is kinda sad, but I also don't have to take one down which is kinda happy!)

Stay tuned!  I have an epic craft fail to share later this week!

another take: french knot circle pillow

I found this variation of the french knot circle pillow on The Secret Life of D.  I love the colors and how the lighter knots really pop against the dark brown.  

Check out her blog for craftiness and more.  I love the fact that she's lived in Waterloo, Iowa which is near where I grew up!

My original french knot circle pillow tutorial can be found here.  This pillow is such a fun and easy project, seeing the pillow in different colors has inspired me to make more!

Hope everyone has a great week and thanks for subscribing.

another take: domesticated nomad paint chip coasters

What's the best coaster tutorial post title ever?

Beer me!  Go to the domesticated nomad blog and check out her take on my paint sample coaster using wood instead of tile!

And if your drink still hasn't found its perfect home, check out these great coaster tutorials...

Love these number coasters from Modern Cottage.  Lately I find myself more and more drawn to more modern design elements.

This great tutorial from a thoughtful place proves once again that simple ideas are pure genius!

another take: clay herb markers

I decided that it was time to make some markers for my little window herb garden.  I found a great tutorial for making garden markers out of clay.

For details on forming the clay visit this tutorial.
Rather than using white clay, I started with Sculpey III clay that was tinted black.

I formed my clay and stamped with rubber letter stamps.

I rubbed in some white chalk over the ends of the clay to make the letters show up better.  Before baking the chalk was not very visible (it sort of absorbed into the clay), but it showed up nicely during the baking process.

After baking some of the chalk rubbed off, but some was baked right into the clay.  I haven't dunked this in water, but I did test getting them a little wet and it seems that the chalk is set into the clay, which is cool because I don't have to be careful while watering.

I love my new markers and they look so pretty in the little pots...

another take: retrohipmama vintage camera embroidery

I love seeing other people's takes on my tutorials.  Didn't retrohipmama do a great job on her vintage camera embroidery?  I just love that she "signed" it.  I am definitely going to start incorporating this into my embroideries.

I'm so jealous of her crafting area (so much better than my crafting dungeon in the unfinished basement).

And check out her most recent post about Project Life (which is a really neat scrapbooking project...but I'll let you check out retrohipmama's blog to read all about it.)

You can find my vintage camera embroidery tutorials here:

vintage camera embroidery no.1
vintage camera embroidery no.2
vintage camera embroidery no.3

You can upload pictures of a crafty cpa inspired project to my flickr group.

a big idea: light canvas & more love balls

Don't you just love this lighted canvas?  It's so pretty and simple and genius.  A snowflake or star design would be so pretty for Christmas.  I think I will be buying a big canvas and some twinkle lights in the near future.

Check out this great magnet idea by Diary of a Crafty Lady inspired by my love balls.  I just knew those clay balls could be used for something useful!

another take: a simple life love balls

Here's another take on my clay love balls.  Check out A Simple Life blog for some really beautiful photography.  I wish I could hire this lady to take all of my project photo shots because everything looks beautiful on this blog. 

While you're there check out this pillow tutorial.  You know I love a good pillow!

If you've made a crafty cpa inspired project, share it in my flickr group.  I'd love to see and feature your project.