Well, not quite, but I did get a little write-up in Design is Yummy plugging my blog.
Design is Yummy is the blog of - wait for it - the kind soul of a designer who helped me put together THIS web space. She blogs about interesting design bits she sees. Naturally, Craft with Jackie made a cameo appearance.
Check it out here!
My friend, Liz, is probably one of my favorite crafters (other than myself). We worked together at a summer camp on Arts & Crafts and Liz was always notorious for not really listening to directions and doing her own thing. I think one summer, we were supposed to be working hard on preparing decorations for the end-of-summer dinner, and she was busy making herself badges for her own version of a crafter’s girl scout sash - Troop Beverly Hills style. It was hot pink. She also handcrafted food-inspired felt pillows. I probably have her ice cream cone pillow floating around somewhere.
Needless to say, I was hardly surprised when I got a hilarious phone call yesterday from Liz, telling me that not only did she do my most recent craft, but she did NOT follow my directions [she didn't want to trace - she wanted to draw freehand]. Hers came out a TEENSY bit different than mine, but I love hers anyways!
Instead of drawing a girl, Liz’s drawing took form in the shape of an old man, who she’s named Al.
Check out her top! Love you Liz!
As usual, my #1 inspiration is designer clothing that I can’t bring myself to spend money on/can’t afford. When I first
saw this Lanvin tank top, I knew I HAD to have it. It was only once I’d seen that it was knocked off at tons of low-end chains, that I found it craft-interesting. And it was being worn by fashionistas. Every single chain that’s notorious for knock-offs (Forever XXI? Can you hear me?), has done some form of face top for their spring lines. Even regular designers are on this! Rather than buy a carbon-copy, why not make your own design? I will admit to this though: the INSTANT I saw it, I knew it was an easy-shmeasy craft to make. That, and the authentic top is sold out nearly everywhere, so you and I have NO CHOICE but to make it!
That, and it’s no-sew and you can make it using ONLY things you probably have at home - whether you have access to a craft closet or not!
Things You Need:
How To:
Note: only because I KNOW you’re going to ask - this is a similar tank top to the one I used (mine is racerback and I can’t find it on the website, obviously) and this is the one I used for my sister’s top. Mine was MUCH easier to work with than hers. Also, because it’s more trendy now to have a bigger, looser tank top, my tank top is about 3 sizes bigger than I’d normally wear. This design totally looks better on a looser top. Because I didn’t sew the bow on [you absolutely can if you want to], it’s totally exchangeable for other bows! Change your mood, change your bow! (If you don’t sew on your bow, remove it before washing it!)
Estimated Time: 15 minutes - MAX
Craft Level: So easy it HURTS!
A friend of mine who also happens to be fairly crafty asked me a pretty SERIOUS question about my crafts and I knew I’d have to address it here.
She had wanted to make this and didn’t know where to buy the materials needed. She proceeded to ask me where exactly I get all my supplies.
So, crafters, where DO I get all my supplies?
I foremost use - and suggest - Wal-Mart. Lowest prices, a pretty decent range of supplies ranging from mountains of beads to aisles of scrapbooking materials to inexpensive fabric. They also have the best return policy EVER. I get all of my basics there.
I also visit local Dollar stores for odds and ends, like fun stickers, cheap crayons, specialty paper. Oddly enough, the Dollar Stores near me happen to have a pretty amazing selection of scrapbook stuff and at $1 each, I can’t say no.
If I’m looking for something particularly special, fancy or weird, I visit Omer DeSerres. That’s a Canadian art supply chain. Not overly cheap, but the flowers I used on the extra headbands? I bought them on clearance! Can’t say no to a good deal!
If I am lucky and my parents happen to be going out of town or I happen to skip out of town, I ALWAYS try to visit a Michaels. If Omer DeSerres and Wal-Mart had a craft-love-child, it would come in the form of Michaels. ONLY crafts and tons of great deals. We don’t have one in Montreal, and the closest one is MINIMUM an hour away. I can’t exactly visit daily! When I DO get to visit a Michaels, I try to sneak in as many specialty products as possible. I sent my mother there to get me fancy specialty feathers - which apparently, are totally unavailable in Montreal.
I think it’s also necessary for me to mention one extra little fact: I have my own collection of supplies I’ve collected over the years. I keep a stack of old magazines handy for collages/decoupage. I hang onto extra buttons from clothes for quick accents. I hang onto clothes with weird patterns or fabric that have the potential to be reused.
Oh, right. That, and I happen to have a crafter mother who has enough assorted supplies for me to make anything on this planet. We have a room FULL of everything basic that I can dream of. Drawers of ribbon, assorted peculiar fabric remnants, thread to match every color in the rainbow and enough glue guns and scissors to supply an army.
How’s that? Feel free to bombard me with any questions at jackie@craftwithjackie.com
After a no-craft delay of a few weeks - SORRY - I am anxiously returning with a fresh craft. We’re going to spruce up a BORING old cardigan and turn it into something SUPER CUTE.
Because I’m heavily inspired by pop culture and its fashion, it should come as NO surprise that this craft is in honor of an avant-garde fashionista from the TV: Penny Marshall as Laverne De Fazio from Laverne & Shirley. Yes, I know this show is from before my time and technically I should be basing crafts on Donna Martin & Kelly Taylor, but give me a break. Did Kelly or Donna look like this? What about this? Catch my drift? See where we’re going here? INITIAL CARDIGANS (with a twist)!
Truthfully, I’ve been trying to put the cardigan I used in my pile of “give-away” clothes for years. Likely since the week after I bought it. No matter how many times I tried to get rid of it, it always managed to creep back into my closet (on the floor, obviously). It was always too plain and usual (and itchy) for my regular rotation. When I was brainstorming on crafts for here, I knew that fixing up this cardigan would be an obvious choice post. And it actually worked - since I did this, I’ve actually worn the cardigan out AND it’s given me inspiration to hang onto old clothes and fix them up!
So, without further ado, let’s talk CARDIGANS!
Things You Need:
Things You DON’T Need But Can Use Too:
Note: while this IS a sewing craft, you don’t need to be a wizard seamstress to do this - a simple fell stitch does the trick and is as basic as stitching comes.
How To:
Estimated Time: 45 - 90 minutes, depending on your sewing level
Craft Level: Intermediate if you don’t sew, EASY if you’re a seamstress
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