Birthday Candy Bar Centerpiece

 

We couldn't get together for my cousin's 60th birthday last year so we celebrated it a tad bit late at a family reunion last weekend.  I wanted to do a themed gift from 1960's candies but wanted a different presentation.  That's when I stumbled upon a very tall Happy Birthday wine glass at my local discount store.  To weigh it down, I added clear marbles from the dollar store, attached wood skewers to the back of the candy bars with shipping tape and then stuck the skewers into the marbles and I was done.  Almost forgot - the birthday flag - I cut some double-sided scrapbook paper in a flag shape, printed off the greeting on my printer, glued it on the flag and then glued the flag around a painted dowel.  I used stick glue so it was quick to dry and it's sturdy.  I added some curly ribbon to the top and made a simple tissue paper flower that I glued to the top of the dowel.  I did add some other things besides candy like bubbles and crayons - I couldn't find jacks!!!  My cousin, Marsha, was totally surprised!!!  Love it!

Tulip Tie Dye Your Summer

San Luis Obispo 

Tulip Tie Dye Your Summer Tour

And the crowd went WILD for tie dye!!!  Last week, the San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market was extra colorful with the awesome Tulip Tie Dye Your Summer van and tie dye demos.  The street was buzzing with excitement as each person created their own tie dye shirt and took photos with the tie dye van.  We even had the Wilkinson family stop by and make shirts for pretty much everyone in their extended family.  They were here celebrating a 60th wedding anniversary and some were as far away as Iowa.  They couldn't wait until the next morning to unveil each of the t shirts.

The van will be touring California the rest of the summer so check out the schedule and see where you can catch the tie dye spirit! www.tiedyeyoursummer.com/

Tulip Tie Dye Your Summer

Come join the tie dye fun and make your own FREE t shirt at San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market Thursday, July 18th from 6 - 9. Look for the cool tie dye van!

Aleene's Revisited

Sub in a glass etching product from your local craft store and if desired, sub in stickers for the Con-Tact paper cut outs.  Use shapes that fit your theme and you have custom decorations for any occasion.

Custom Photo Memory Shoes

Art Deco, Pewter and Midnight Blue

 Here are my latest custom photo memory shoes.  I was commissioned by a bride in Illinois and on her wish list was pewter, midnight blue and art deco.  She sent me her photos, I had them custom printed on fabric and then I went to work on her wish list. Since I've worked so closely with the photos, I want to know the story behind each one!

Take a peek at other design ideas www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMartinFee

Here's how they turned out.

 Art deco, midnight blue and pewter...

I ordered extra fabric, just in case, so I made individual shoe bags as a surprise for the bride.

Aleene's Revisited

Sailboat Shelf

I wish I had this cute sailboat shelf to hang on the wall in my bathroom.  I think I'll just have to recreate it subbing in canvas or some other stiff material for the Aleene's Satin Sheen.  How can it be 15 years ago that I created this?  Time to hit that bucket list and go sailing...

Creative Bucket List

Bucket List Alert!!! I have tried many, many times over the years to learn how to knit. There was just something about it that my brain couldn't wrap itself around but tonight I conquered it!!! I vowed recently to start making Thursday Creativity Night. Even though I have pressing deadlines I stayed true to myself and got out the yarn and needles.

Aleene's 4th of July Decorations

I so remember making these projects at Aleene's Creative Living back in 1999!  They are still so fun and so festive for the 4th of July.

Since I made these projects so long ago, you'll need to sub in a few items like the sheets of plastic from the craft store, use Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue, any tissue paper and any glue gun.

Aleene's Blast From the Past

4th of July Star Celebration Bowls

Spread the red, white and blue spirit with this easy and fun- to-make bowls.

I dusted off my Aleene's Creative Living television show archives and found this patriotic design for the 4th of July.  Just sub in any tissue paper brand and use the Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue for the reverse collage glue. 

This technique can be used for any occasion, just change the shapes you cut out of the tissue paper.  For an inexpensive party idea, head to a dollar store for the bowls.

Silverware Butterfly Garden Stake

I love, love, love this silverware butterfly created by a local artist.  I bought him at a recent craft show with a special friend in mind and thought I'd save it for Christmas since her birthday had already passed.  The occasion came this week when her cat of 16 years passed away and I wanted to give a little comfort gift.  I hope this whimsical gesture brings her comfort when she sees it in her garden

Talent Show Display

I'm getting ready to share my Photo Memory Shoes with my Newcomers Club this week at the talent show. I'm adding some little touches to my display but I want the shoes to speak for themselves. The shoes are customizable with your photos and are perfect for a special occasion or every day. www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMartinFee

Wine Photo Memory Shoes

Are you a wine lover? These shoes are ready for a day of wine tasting, dinner out or a day if shopping. They can be customized for your fav winery too! www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMartinFee

Butterfly Photo Shoes

These butterfly shoes are my favorite!!! Butterflies not your thing? The shoes can be customized with your photos to make them uniquely you! You gotta love that! Go to my etsy store for the simple details. www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMartinFee

Family Photo Memory Shoes

These flats are perfect for casual occasions and especially for someone like me who can't wear heels because of a broken ankle a while back Customize with your family photos or any theme you desire. Check them out at www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMartinFee

Talent Show Pennants

If you know me, ordinary doesn't exist in my vocabo. My original intent was to print everyone's name on a piece of paper, fold it so it would stand and I'd be done. Here's what that idea morphed into. The dollar store was my friend from the plastic cups to the shredded paper filler. They will add some color and whimsy to the table talent portion of the show. Next...

Pennants

They are taking over my kitchen. I'm off to the dollar store to get some filler for the pots while the plaster of Paris dries.

Pennants

I'm getting my craft on tonight making name 'tags' for a talent show.

Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformations

Who says Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformations are just for cabinets?  

Two years later...here are my finished stairs.

I had some leftover Cabinet Transformation from my kitchen make-over and decided to spruce up my stairs.  If you've been reading my blog for a while, you might remember that my stairs were literally my down fall two plus years ago.  I was looking at my stairs, that had been neglected for 33 years, and was trying to decide what to do with them having a zero budget (my dream would be wrought iron).  That's when something went very wrong and I found myself laying at the bottom of the stairs.  I crawled to the phone which of course was on the top of my desk about 5' high, called a friend and an emergency visit later found out I had a broken ankle.  The stairs have totally gone by the wayside since then.

Before

Tulip Tie Dye Your Summer

Here's a cool bullseye t-shirt a friend made. She said it was fun, easy and a great learning experience.  She's ready to go buy some Tulip dye and make some more.

The Tulip Tie Dye Your Summer van rolled into San Luis Obispo yesterday at the Old Navy store for a fun-filled day of creativity.  Old Navy supplied the shirts and ilovetocreate supplied the Tulip One Step Tie Dye so everyone created and took home a free tie dyed shirt.  We had 'kids' of all ages creating shirts - one dad was out shopping and stopped to make a shirt for his daughter's eighth birthday today.  He said she loves making things so she'd be surprised at his creation.  We had entire families making shirts, we had little tiny kiddos who had to have a little help from mom or dad, we had college students - it was a fun-filled creative day.



One Mom said her daughter's birthday is in November and they can't do fun activities that time of year so she was going to have an end of the school year tie dye party next week.  Tulip has several ways to buy the dye and they even have a couple of large kits that make up to 24 shirts - look in your local paper or on line for discount coupons.  Instead of handing out sugary party favors, the kids get an entertaining activity at the party, something to take home and a  reminder of the fun party every time they wear the shirt.  I mentioned to the mom to look on line because there are tons of tie dye food ideas too! 

If you're in the San Luis Obispo area don't forget the van (and I) will be at the Farmer's Market on Thursday, July 18th from 6 - 8.  More details as we get closer to this fun event.

Free Tie-Dye T-Shirt in San Luis Obispo

Who's in? Come learn how to tie-dye and create a FREE t-shirt at the Old Navy store in San Luis Obispo (just off of 101 and Los Osos Valley Road)

I'll be there this Saturday, June 8th from 11:30 to 2:30 helping you make an awesome tie-dye shirt.  ilovetocreate (my former employer in Fresno) is supplying the t-shirts and the dye all you need to provide is YOU!!!  Come on out and have some awesome fun - no experience necessary.  Check out tie-dye projects, videos and techniques at www.ilovetocreate.com.  Learn more about the Tie Dye Your Summer tour and ways to win amazing prizes at www.tiedyeyoursummer.com!!!