31 Days Reflection & Hints

So I managed to post the first 8 days - 9 if you include my introduction. At this time I should have had double that amount. But I became quite ill. But I will write a small reflection on how those days went.

I think I was a bit... unaware.. of how hard it would be. I might try again another time, but probably not posting every day.

For one of the hardest parts was time. Creating an item, editing the photos and writing the posts do take quite some time. I would often sit up late to finish my post for that day.

I also struggled a bit on what I was to create. I did not think this project though at all! I did not have much materials and so I noticed I became a bit frustrated trying to figure out what to create.

I did learned a lot. Here is some of it:

1. Things take time. <- Might be obvious but I did underestimate how long I would spend on each project.
2. When creating a series and posting daily many times in a row think small, no smaller. It has to be something that you can post about daily that will not take more than a few hours hours, or just 30 minutes to finish. Here is an example for a nice size post, you should really check out all of the organizing posts in her series.
3. Start a few days early. You never know when something comes up and you suddenly have no time to write. Being 3-4 days ahead of time can really help!
4. Do not become ill - really important people!

Well that's it really. I am sorry if I dissapointed anyone.

Im Back

So I do feel somewhat better. I feel completely exhausted most of the time, but I will have manage somehow - but no project today unfortunately.

After missing 2 weeks of my 31 days I have decided to call it quits. I will be coming with a reflection of how I found the process etc tomorrow.

31 Days Break

Sorry for not posting anything yesterday. I have become ill. I went to the doctor today. I probably have a virus infection. I was told to relax and drink lots of water. I will therefore take a small break from my series until I feel better. Sorry!

Quilling Stars

Day 8 and I am really feeling how committed one has to be to have a series like this. Creating and posting something every day takes a lot of work. It was especially hard today. My whole body is feeling fever-ish and I feel like doing nothing, not even sleeping or existing. But it happens I am going an awesome blog series so I have to fight through it.

Today I did something I have wanted to try out for a long time. I bought this material set around Christmas times last year. I have seen some similar projects around blogtown and thought this would be a perfect opportunity to try. After reading the instructions it seamed like such an easy job. It wasn't. And because of me feeling sick, I am going to type this straight from the instructions, cursive is my own opinion. I also want to apologize for the blurry pictures.

I decided to make the star to the right. My materials:

1. Cut 7 paper strips in half
2. Take one of the cut paper strips and rub the end lightly to soften it - this will help you make a nice scroll.

3. Wind the strip around the quilling tool. Do not pull to tight. I kept it tight
4. Let the paper strip unroll into approx 20mm in diameter or your preferred size. This was the hardest part, two of my scrolls were too small and one was too big!
5. Glue the end.

6. To make a drop-shaped scroll, form a point by pressing between two fingers.

7. Repeat step 2-6 until you have enough paper scrolls.
8. Glue the scrolls together. It was hard to get them to stay in the correct places when I was trying to glue them.

9. Glue acrylic stones onto both sides of the star.
10. Cut approx 30 cm wire and thread it thought one of the scrolls in the star. Tie a knot near the star and thread on a round prism. To make it easier to thread, you can apply some glue to the ends of the thread, roll them between your thumb and forefinger and then leave them to dry. This will hold the ends together better. Tie the threads together to make a hanger.
11. Cut approx 15 cm thread, thread on a drop-shaped prism and make a knot close to it. Tie the pendant in the lowest scroll, directly under the pendant you made in step 10. Tie a double know and trim the thread ends.

The kit has enough materials to make 5 stars. After finishing one, I am not going near it again in a long time. So this one is simple, this product is OUT! <- Read in Heidi Klum voice.

Sparkle Pixies

It has already been one week with crafts! I cannot believe how fast time has gone. The final decision has been made, I am participating in a Christmas market the last weekend in November. I am feeling so nervous at the moment. I have never done anything like this before. I would love it to get as many hints and tips as possible!

Today I am back doing Christmas decorations. I have made some really cute sparkling pixies. They were easy to make, but time consuming. Here are all of my supplies:

I started by painting three layers of white paint on the bodies. For the knitted hat I used 8 cm of kitted tubing. I turned it inside out and tied up one end with the thread. Then I turned it right side out. I folded the edge and glued it onto the head.

I continued by using a 8 cm long ribbon which a glued on as a scarf. I then drew the eyes on with the black pencil. I finished with gluing a pearl on the knitted hat and 11 rhinestones around the body.

Silver & Pearls Simple Necklace

Day 6 has been a day of quite a bit of planning and price searching. I really want to make a few different type of necklaces. With pearls and ribbons... I have also been busy with parents visiting this weekend. So we went to visit some family on first my mothers side then my fathers side.

I started this around 11pm, after been visiting family all day. I was quite tired so I forgot to post photos when I made it. If you have some basic knowledge like I do, it is quite easy to create.

I used the left-overs from my Pearl Necklace that I made earlier this year. The pearls were ready to use, check it out here for how it was done.

I basically just opened one of the sides on the pearls and added another one until they were all chained together. Then I added the chain and the toggle clasp. Then I took quite a number of product:

At its currant state, I believe it so too simple and to dull for people to want to buy it. If I was to sell it I would have to figure a way to make it more special.

Shimmering Angels

Day 5 of 31. I suddenly feel super-smart. Since it is Christmas soon, I can make Christmas crafts! I now have... a lot more plans on what I can create now! But yes, I still feel super-smart. More on my series here.

Today I have decided to start making some Christmas decorations. These angels are perfect! These were also a kit I got last winter during the after-Christmas sale. I gathered the supplies I needed to make them all.

Then I made my supplies for one. Including a 35 cm long thread.

I stated with the dress for the angel. I simply added the bead to the middle of my thread.

Then I put the thread through the needle...

... and added the rest of the angel.

Then I twisted the thread once around the halo and tied a knot to the end.

Can this sell? At the right price I do believe so. The right price is a low price. If I could make a series with similar decorations I do believe they would sell. They are small, pretty and elegant. I know I love them!

Tissue Holder

Fourth of October. Day four of my series. It has harder than I though. Not planning anything and not having my supplies and everything. I am unsure how long I can keep this going.. But I am taking one day at a time.

I was having such a hard time deciding what to make. I ended up using a Martha Stewart Hankie Holder with my own twist. I started by cutting out two pieces of felt a bit bigger than my Tissues.

I knew I wanted something different, so I tried out some different patterns on my sewing machine. I decided to use the first one, flowers in a row.

I pinned the two fabrics together and sew around three sides. One thing I would change next time, is changing the next to steps. First I would make a slit in the fabric, then sew the top.

But I did not do that. I started sewing the top first then made a slit in the fabric.

Then I just popped my tissues through the slit and voila. Done.

Not my pretties item I must admit. It ended up being a really weird shape. Even though I did not think this process was quite successful I do see how some people would like this product. (When done properly) it would look a lot better that just a tissue would. It can also be decorated even more. But I am not really seeing it to be a product I would sell. 

In the future however if i decided to create it, I would make it quite different. I would fold over the fabric like my inspiration, but I would wrap it around the long side, not the short side. I would also create a template for it first so it looks better and more rectangular shape. I would also probably find a way to make the slit took better, possibly by overlapping the fabric a bit. 

Lavender Bag

Today is the third day of my October series. More information on that here. Even though it has only been three days, I feel a lack of things to make. I am trying to think of creative things to make that I can possibly sell, but its not that easy. I actually do not have a plan for what to make tomorrow. So it will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.

I decided to do something quite different, but at the same time a bit similar to my two previous posts. I have had this starter kit thing for a bit under a year now (wow time flies!) and I decided to finally make it. It was a material sett, enough to make 3 lavender bags. I made one today. It is basically a cushion with dried lavender inside a decorated organza bag. 

I started by making the cushion first. I actually did not do any measurements, as they came pre-cut. I had a rectangular cotton fabric.

I folded the fabric in half and pinned it. I left an opening in one of the sides.

I then sewed around the cushion, leaving an opening. This was after a small lunch-break so forgot I had changed the background to get better pictures. 

 I cut away excess fabric in the corners and turned it right side out.

Then I filled it up with wadding.

I made a small cavity in the middle of the wadding. I then took some dried lavender and poured it into the cavity. I first tried using this... tool.... that I totally forgot the name of in all languages... But the lavender got stuck, so I ended up puring it out of the... tool.. and on to a piece of paper. I made a paper cone and poured it inn that way.

Then I closed the cavity with some wadding and sewed the opening shut with the ladder stitch. Its my new favourite stitch. Its supposed to be invisible (if you do it correctly). Cushion Complete!

I started to work on the organza bag. The good thing about this part is that if you want to make it yourself, you can use anything you already own. It is so simple as well. I used lace that I measured and sewed closed before pinning it to my organza bag.

Then I sewed around it. Just one thing I have to mention here. Make sure that you put the details far enough away from the drawstrings that it does not get affected when you pull the drawstrings together. Just a word of advice. I sewed mine to close to the draw string, so it looks really weird when I close it completely.

Another way to decorate is using string and jewelry. Remember the drawstrings as well. I put some silver beads on mine. Then sit back and enjoy your work (and smell it!). It looks so pretty you can even use it for decorations.

Now the question is, would anyone buy this? This is really where the uncertainties come. I guess I could make the two others and try selling them. This first one is more of a sample, and I am not 100% satisfied with it, so its a keeper for me. Its pretty so I like it.

On another note, I must say I really like the main picture I did. The black background really made it pop, especially compared to the picture above. It does really inspire me to try to take better pictures of my work. As well as makes be want to create a photography box with different coloured background. At the moment I am using a Styrofoam board with some white fabric pinned to it. For my main photo I just put some black fleece over it while taking the photo.