Eco art for your electronics

Thank you to all my readers for hanging in with me during this crazy time of year. It's been a while since my last post, so I'll make this one count!

About a month ago I asked my Facebook friends to help me make a design decision by casting their vote on how I should decorate these portable cardboard speakers, while using the concept I had and trying my hand at unconventional henna decor. This is the question I posed, "Plain or painted, what do you think Facebook friends?"

The amount of feedback was surprising, and helpful! The nearly resounding PAINT gave me the direction I needed to finish off this project once and for all. Now you can find them in my shop - just in time for Christmas. Check out pictures here, or browse my shop for even more:

Jewality: Jewelry that functions for casual and formal occasions

In the process of making wedding jewelry for the Steinkamp-Accardi bridesmaids, I developed this design.
It's a fanciful design that goes with formal and everyday fashions.

See more pictures on the new Photobucket account
See more Mind Ruffle Jewelry on Etsy

Stunning Scraps: Transforming Excess to Ornament

In a world where there is so much want, I think it is important to take value in what we have; even our scraps. Today, I'll show you how to use up fabric scraps to make a fun bauble for your holiday tree.

Here's what you'll need...

Tools:
- Paint brush

Materials:
- A Christmas Bauble
- Scrap Fabric
- Fabric Glue
- Semi-Gloss Paint (clear)

First, you'll want to cut stripe of fabric tapered at either end; enough to cover the entire bauble.
Then, remove the cap from the top and wash the bauble with a little soap.
As with decoupage, you want a clean surface to apply your glue to.
So, apply your fabric glue to the outside of the bauble and, piece by piece, apply the fabric strips; converging the tapered end at the bottom of the bauble, and tucking other end into the bauble's opening.
Once the fabric glue has dried, paint over the fabric with clear semi-gloss paint and let dry.
Finally, add the top back on and attach a ribbon for it to hang on.

See more at Mind Ruffle

Birthday Jewelry

This past weekend was my friend Christen Accardi's birthday, you may remember her from my wedding jewelry post where I showed the bracelet and necklaces I created for her bridesmaids. For this special occasion, I was inspired by the transition from summer to fall. This custom necklace is made from three types of chain, in shades of bronze and gold, some silver accents, and a large shell bead as the focal point. The mannequin shows the necklace worn short, but its actual length is about 18 inches.

See more Mind Ruffle Jewelry at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MindRuffle
See more photos on Flickr

Repurposed Holiday Decor: Chili Pepper Ornament

Spice up your holiday with a chili pepper ornament made from the heart. Christmas is fast approaching, and if you're a crafter like me you know that there aren't enough hours in the day to make a gift for everyone. My default for handmade Christmas gifts are ornaments, and its never let me down. This chili pepper ornament is quick and easy to make, and here's what you'll need:
Tools
- Sand paper
- A paint brush
- A hot glue gun
- Pliers

Materials
- A bent tip light bulb
- Fine red glitter
- Red paint
- Green felt
- Small green beads
- Hot glue
- A fine gauge wire, or twist-tie

Clean off your bent tip light bulb with hand soap and water. Once it's dry, sand it lightly and use your pliers to pull of the metal seal on the bottom, where a small hole should be. Then, paint blub with two coats of red paint. While the bulb is still wet, sprinkle the red glitter evenly around the bulb and let it dry completely. Touch up bald spots with more paint and glitter.

Once, the bulb is dry, take a 6" piece of fine gauge wire, or a twist-tie*, fold it in half and place it into the hole in the bottom of the bulb. Then secure it with hot glue. And let dry.

* If you use a twist-tie, peal away the paper and use the wire within

Cut a round piece of green felt, a little larger than the diameter of the bulb's base, and thread the wires through the center. Use your hot glue to make a ring around the rim of the light bulb. Press down the felt circle and let dry.




Take a strip of green felt, that is about the width of the bulb's base, and cut ridges into it. You'll want to secure the felt strip with hot glue a couple centimeters above where the felt circle ends. Also, secure the felt strip where you would like the back of the ornament to be. Then wrap the felt strip around the bulb's base (small dots of hot glue will help keep the felt in place as you wrap it). Once, the metal base is fully covered trim away the excess felt.

Now, separate your wire strands and thread them with green beads.








Twist the wires together, so that the beads meet, and trim away the excess wire. And...

 It's a spicy holiday!
See more picture on Flickr
Buy your own on ETSY

Homemade Fall Decorations; Owl Ornament

I got this craft book out of a bargain bin at Barnes & Nobel a while ago called I Made it Myself: Make It... Wear It... Love It! and, in the process of attempting to make an Owl Coin Purse, I arrive at this creation -- a re-purposed Owl Ornament made from extra fabric and discarded clothes.

I think he's quite charming, and I hope you do too. It's pretty easy to make, so here's what you'll need:

- 3 pieces of fabric (preferably two solid & one patterned)


- 2 pieces of felt (one for the eyes & one for the nose)
- 2 Buttons
- A needle & thread, or sewing machine (optional)
- Fabric, or hot, glue
- Yarn & a large needle
- Scissors
- And, a stick (about 6.5" long)

1. Gather your materials, feel free to use store bought fabric, but I used an old coat and some scraps I had laying around my craft room as the body. I also recommend a stick that has already fallen from your tree of choice, and as always organic yarn; which can be found at nearly any craft store.

 2. Prepare your materials, this step is mainly for cutting out the pieces that make up the owl's body, but you can also use this time to strip the bark off your stick. (the body should end up being about 4.5" wide)
For a larger version of the outline Click Here

3. Assemble the body by sewing, or gluing, the pieces of the body together including: body, belly, left wing, right wing, eye, and beak.

4. Attach the stick by creating feet with the yarn. To do this, pierce two holes equidistant away on the owl's lower abdomen. Knot a piece of yarn about 3" long and thread it through the back of the hole, with a large needle. Bringing the needle through the back of the hole again to form a loop at the bottom of the owl. Slide the stick through the loop and tighten the yarn around it. Continue to loop the yarn around two more times. Then, thread the yarn through the crevasse created between the stick and the yarn. Wrap the yarn around the section where the owl and stick adjoin, knot it, and trim away the excess. Now, one foot is done. Continue from "Knot a piece of yarn" for the second hole; then move on to step 5.

5. Make it hang by piercing two holes at the top of each ear. Knot a piece of yarn, and thread it through the back of the hole, so the knot can be seen on the back of the owl. Continue through the front of the hole on the second ear; be sure to leave some slack so the owl will hang. Then knot off the second piece of yarn.

Voila -- You've made an Owl Ornament! This craft is a creative and fun way to dress-up a basket or package, and you can hang it in your window or on a tree. Whatever you choose, you can feel good knowing you've reused thing you already have.

For more pictures visit Flickr
To browse the shop visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/mindruffle

10 Tips for Capturing the Fun of Fall in Photos

Taking great pictures that I can use for my blog and scrapbook is important to me. I also work for Kodak, who gives me the opportunity to express my love for photography by creating content for average people learning to use their Kodak Camera.

Here are some photos I took this weekend with Kodak's new EASYSHARE Max Camera:

Click Here to View

Here are some things I keep in mind when I'm shooting pictures for my blog, or scrapbook:

1- Come prepared: Have your camera battery fully charged, a fresh memory card, and anything else you find handy for picture taking (tripod, lens cleaner, camera bag, ext.).

2- Take in your surroundings like a good book, pictures can't tell a story without a setting, so don't forget to capture your surroundings.

3- Get action shots that will bring your page to life and add interest.

4- Photograph everyone whether in a group or alone, make sure you get everyone there in at least one picture, so you can tell the whole story, in pictures.

5- Take good pictures, is easier said than done, but most cameras perform best in sunlight, so if you have the option, take pictures in well lit spaces.

6-Give your photos flair without a pricey camera. You can trick your camera into blurring the background of your pictures when you stand about 5ft back from your subject, and zoom in to take your picture (just make sure your focus stays on the subject as you zoom in).

7-Try new angles. You don't always have to take pictures at eye level; taking pictures from below or above eye level can make your content more interesting

8- Use a simple photo editor like Picnik to enhance, or manipulate, your photos.

9- Be selective before you upload all your pictures weed out those that are blurry, barley visible, or aren't a favorite; make sharing pictures count and only share the ones you really like. Others can be kept on your PC.

10- Don't forget to have fun, if you get too caught up in taking artsy pictures you wont have time to make memories.