More Is More

Ok, so I've been all over the place with what I've been working on these past few days but there has been a common theme; more is more - no minimalism for me! Everything is several colors, with buttons, patterned paper, felt, paper flowers, you name it. As long as it's cute, it goes.

My mother bought some cheap wooden stakes at Home Depot and I drilled some holes in them, painted them, glued some cute patterned paper to them and connected them with wire and little wooden spools that I painted in the same colors. Then I took some paper flowers and buttons etc., and glued them to the bottom to make an adorable little hanging decoration.

I might add some words or something but haven't decided yet.

I also made this frame. I painted a wooden frame, added some patterned fabric that Lauren had left over from one of her projects, added some felt and plastic buttons. I could have stopped there but I wanted something more. So I added some ric-rac; always a good call.

You can go too far and you do need to know when to say when. However, when you've started something and you're just not quite satisfied with it and consider just giving up, just remember: more is more!

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes!

Whew! Isn't it a relief to be navigating through our new blog template without using a Spanish/English dictionary to translate? Nothing against Spanish... it's a lovely language... and thank you to those who stuck with us and "leered mas" and "buscared"! We appreciate it! Ever since this change we've been getting TONS of comments. Okay, TWO comments, (one of them was from my sister) but let me tell you that those comments made me want to run around in a circle, fall on the ground, and kick my feet in the air! :)

This week, we worked on taking pictures of some of our new creations and posted them on our Etsy site. Check them out!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading, and COMMENT why don't you? We love feedback. (It makes us feel special.) Have a happy day!

Indulging my felt obsession

Don't worry - we're not getting away from Paper - we will always try to incorporate paper and paper products into our art. Felt is extremely versatile, fairly cheap, comes in a whole bunch of saturated colors and doesn't unravel when you cut it. I looked at an owl fabric for the basic shape and then made it even cuter with buttons and embroidery floss stitches. Embroidery hoops make the perfect frame and create a nice finished edge.

For this hoop, I was inspired by a compilation of stitched felt circles that I saw on Pinterest. Of course, I had to add buttons and a cute gingham bow!

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this little hoop! The colorful buttons are so playful and create the perfect frame for such a nice expression. I couldn't decide if I should embroider "I heart buttons" or "I heart crafts" and ultimately just went with this. I think it was the right decision although I can see them all in my mind and will probably make the other versions very soon! I see all of these hoops hanging from colorful ribbons on a wall together...

OMG! I never thought I would buy zebra printed felt but I am so pleased with the result. I love this little guy. I know he has pink accents but I can't help thinking he is a boy! Tiny button eyes and fuzzy yarn hair add to his personality - I wish you could see his little tail and pink heart butt! 

Favorite Things FRIDAY!

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things"...

1. Crafting with my mom. Mama Baula is one, very crafty lady, but way too humble to admit it! Today, she helped me prepare mini books that are made out of paper lunch bags.

My dining table has been an extension of my sweatshop craft room these days...

Lunch paper sacks just begging to be embellished! :)

A baby girl brag book...

2. Dim Sum lunch breaks. I took my dad out for an early Father's Day lunch at one of our favorite dim sum restaurants in Las Vegas...

3. Saving moolah! After lunch I wanted to use a couple of coupons that expire tomorrow at a local craft store. People that know me know that I am cheap, frugal, broke obsessed with coupons. All of you out there that craft know that making pretty things can cost a pretty penny, and I like to keep as many of those pretty pennies in my pretty little pocket! Today, I took advantage of Joann's paper sale (5 for $1... score) and bought a bunch of card stock for future projects. I also bought a few fabric remnants and a scoring blade for my dad. (Yes, my dad! He wants to get in on this craftiness, too, and who am I to stop him?!) With the sale and my coupons I spent $53.45 and saved $105.16! Isn't that crazy? If you haven't jumped on the coupon train yet, I highly suggest that you do. Chugga chugga, Choo choo!

Happy Friday to you!

Minding Our Business 2

Ok, so I'm already procrastinating my blogging duties; sorry everyone! Last week business progress consisted of learning a little bit about tax laws for small businesses. What we really learned was that we had a lot more to learn, and I mean a lot. We met an enrolled agent named Cindy McCleister who had come to speak to the Etsy group we belong to. She was very straight forward and knowledgable. I'd recommend her to any small business owner. Cindy gave us all a very broad overview and then answered as many questions as she could in the short time she was there. We need to do a bunch more research on the tax front so we don't end up like Willy Nelson, only without the whole being world famous and generally awesome thing. Tomorrow we are meeting with our lawyer friend Mike to pick his brain and get some more advice. Thanks in advance for reading this and continuing to bear with us as we change and fine tune our blog. More is soon to come, have a good night world.