I promised a new tutorial and here it is! I have to say I  like this project because it is something that I can really use! It was, actually, pretty simple. It took me about 2 hours from start to finish and it only cost about $8 for my supplies. Again, I try to do crafts that are versatile and that you can change up to suit your own style.

I will quit ‘talking’ now and show you what I made…

This caddy is simple and inexpensive to make!

list of items I used for this project:

1.) a couple of mailing tubes (and I also used an empty coffee container)

2.) a plastic lazy susan

3.) some scraps of fabric (This fabric is my from my own collection once sold at Hancock’s so I had extra lying around, but you could also use magazine pages and collage that would be great too)

4.) hand saw and mitre box

5.) mod podge and sponge brush

6.) scissors

7.) glue

8.) large nail file

here are the things I used to make my art supply caddy

I used this empty coffee container too!

measure and mark the mailing tubes to be the height that you want for your 'cups'. I made mine 3, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25 and 4.5 inches. I left the coffee container it's full size.

I cut my tubes using a hand saw and a mitre box. There is probably a better way but this is all I could figure out without powers tools! Mine did not come out perfectly straight-but after a little sanding, it looked fine! This was the hardest part and probably would have been a little easier if my saw was not so dull! *HINT: use a sharp saw!

Here is what a cut piece looked like- a little rough around the edges. Nothing a jumbo nail file won't take care of!

Here are the tubes (cups) all cut. I like to place them on the caddy to see how I want to arrange them.

smooth all of the edges with a big nail file.

The next step(s) are to cut your fabric to fit each tube, leave about 1 or 2 inches overhang at the top so that you can fold it over. Brush on a generous amount of mod podge all over the outside of your tube.

roll your fabric around the tube, making sure the fabric is lined up along the bottom edge and that your fabric is smooth and free from wrinkles. Fold a small "seam" at the end and glue it all down using mod podge again.

Here is one "cup" almost completed. I cut a few small notches at the top so that I could fold it all down inside the rim and it would lay smoothly.

Here are the cups completed. Now make sure they are aranged just the way you want them.

Glue them in place. I used quick set industrial glue.

Ta Da!

Owl always love this caddy!  And as always, I welcome your comments and questions! Now for the clues…(you didn’t think I forgot did ya?)

Clue #4: Image is everything!

Clue #5: Everything is not always black and white.

vintage art from me, Kristen!

Wow I got a little “blast from the past” the other day when I opened and email from my Uncle Bernie (who arbitrarily sends me my astrological readings, stones to bring health and fortune and lentils to throw in running water on specific days…yeah, he is trippy and I love getting his far out gifts!) Anyway, so I open this email and he had scanned some of my old drawings from when I was like 10 and sent them to me. What a nice surprise! I guess it goes to show that I have always liked to draw owls. Thanks Uncle Bern.

Clue #3: Sometimes second impressions are better than the first.

(visit here on Valentine’s day to see my ’surprise’ unveiled!)

a pendant/pin by me, kristen. Made using my paper jewelry technique and wood icing.

Here is a pendant /pin I made. It is different because  I have been experimenting  with wood icing on paper. I will tell you all about the process soon, as it will be one of my upcoming tutorials. As you can see from the picture, the painting is dimensional.  I really like the effect and it is easy and fun to work with.  I have done a few pieces and it seems to be working out great! Look here this weekend for more pictures and projects.

Clue # 2:  I am going around the block.

Well, as usual , not much time for blahging! LOL but I just wanted to say check out try handamde, I’m the featured artist d’jour!

Thanks to Erika Journey, for interviewing me. I love your site Erika and all you do to promote handmade!

Oh and for all of you who may actually be following my blog, remember I am going to have a surprize on February 14th…

clue # 1 : They used to be pink.

That’s all I can say for tonight. I am woking on a new tutorial so please check back soon. I wanted to have it up here this past weekend but just I’ve been too crazy!

I will try to do two projects by Sunday to share since I missed this weekend

peace,

Kristen

No I’m not running for office! I have entered my typography owl design in a bag contest on bagstab . If my design wins then it will get sold on the bagstab site! So if ya get a chance please click on over and vote. In the meantime, I am so sorry for not posting lately. I have just been really busy working on a few major projects!   But stay tuned and continue to LOOK here on my blog for the unveiling of a BIG Surprise. Each day from now until Valentine’s Day I will give a little clue…..

Anyway, here is my messenger bag design. Go to bagstab even if you don’t vote for mine it is a really cool site!

My Type of Owl messenger bag design by me, kristen! (made completely from symbols & typefaces)

cheers,

Kristen

I don’t have a tutorial for y’all today, but I do have something really cool to share! I needed a new sketchbook for my figure drawing class and I didn’t want just any regular, ol’ sketchbook (good heavens, no)! So I had my kids old Candy Land game (which I have been saving since I cleaned out their closet this past summer…) I had it tucked in a corner of my office and it kept sliding down onto the floor. My husband kept picking it up and throwing it away, and I kept retrieving it out of the trash! Finally, after the third time (and luckily it was always dry and “clean” trash!) I said, “Don’t throw the Candy Land game away anymore. I’m gonna make something with it one day.” He has heard that quite a few times before (needless to say, he stopped throwing it out)!! LOL

Last summer I was lucky enough to find a heavy-duty, wire binding machine on Craig’s List for under $200.00. I am certainly not one to pass up a bargain when I see it. I snapped that baby up. I have made a few note/sketchbooks but have used my own artwork for the covers. It’s a lot of fun to experiment with different covers and sizes. But I wanted to do some up-cycling and I also wanted to do something big (all of my others have been 5×7 or smaller).

Anyway, I made not one but two big sketchbooks. I just love them. Now I am keeping my eyes peeled for other cool games to up-cycle (one can never have enough sketchbooks). I hope you enjoy these- I know I will!

9x12 up-cycled sketchbook using an old discarded game box lid!

here is the inside-I made a pocket to hold loose papers too.

Here is my 2nd journal using the game board. It is 10x15.

inside my 'game board' journal.

game board journal opened up!

Hope you enjoyed my show and tell. As always, please let me know if you  have any comments or questions !

KP

Happy Friday! I was not going to post a new tute until Sunday but I had this idea and I couldn’t wait! I have always loved “Nesting Dolls”. I didn’t even know until recently, that they are called Matryoshkas. My good friend, Elana, is from Russia. She went home to visit her family at Christmas and I asked her to bring me some “nesting dolls”.  She just gave me a blank look until I described what I wanted, then she smiled and said, “Oh,  you mean, matryoshka doll!”  Yes, that is exactly what I meant! And she did bring me back a beautiful set. (Thank  you Elana. I love them!) I have been wanting to create some cute charms or do some illustrations of these beautiful, whimsical, colorful dolls ever since and, well, this is the first thing that ‘came out’. I thought it would be pretty simple and it really is! Once again, I try to create projects that are versatile and that you can ‘make  your own’…. Make some big and some small, try different color schemes or  make up a few different sizes  and string them on a necklace…whatever you want. But, whatever you do, have fun!

matryoshka doll earrings by me, kristen!

Here is a short list of things you will need:

1) air dry clay

2) eye pin(s)

3) acrylic craft paints

4) small detail paint brush

5) wire cutter

6) earring hooks

the supplies you will need for matryoshka doll charm(s)

get a pinch of air dry clay

(about this size)

roll your clay. you want to make a pear shape.

pinch it a bit. be gentle and use a bit of water if you need to smooth it, but only to moisten, you don't want it too wet.

it will look something like this...

cut your eye pin down to approx. 1/2 inch.

insert your eye pin into the top of your pear shaped, wet clay. let dry overnight or until completely hardened.

letting it dry overnight. tick tock, tick tock...... waiting is the hard part.

after it has hardened overnight, paint it in the base color of your choice.

paint the face. this is where you can get really creative! make her as simple or as detailed as you wish. maybe give her rosy cheeks and a little heart shaped mouth...black hair or blonde? If you are not sure, then make a few little sketches first. remember, if you make a mistake, you can always paint over it with your base color, let it dry and start over!

here is my example with her finished face and the start of the body design...

here she is with her body design completed, i used hearts, swirls, flowers and dots...

now add a little something to the back.

add your earring finding or a jump ring...(and I added one, quick coat of glossy mod podge.)

if you want earrings, make two!! awwwwww. pretty darn cute huh?

* here is a view of the back and front!

valentine angel pendant by me, kristen!

Here is another angel that I recently made as a paper pendant. I think she has such a sweet and angelic face! Sorry I don’t have much time to write tonight, weekdays are super busy for me now that school is back in full swing. I will post more this weekend….look for a new tutorial on Sunday night!

The Phoenix is such a symbol of hope and renewal. Perfect for a cold day in January!

It’s Sunday evening and I have so much going through my head right now. I start back to school tomorrow after a much needed (and much too short) break! Most of the time didn’t really feel like a “break” anyway with all of the busy-ness of the holidays and the many hours of shopping, cleaning and cooking. I’m not complaining because it was fun to have time with the family and it’s always wonderful to have my oldest girl home from college.  But as usual, time just flies by and before Calgon can take me away, the time has passed.  Like I said, it’s back to school tomorrow and it’s going to be a full load. The kid started back last Tuesday but then had a four day weekend due to the snow and ice and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s going to be rough on all of us getting back into a routine in this frigid weather, ugh!

I sure hope you have enjoyed my tutorials and the new look of kristen powers ink!  I plan on posting at least one or two craft  tutorials per week. I hope that if you like what I am doing you will subscribe. I have a lot in the works for this year, so please check in often!

Artfully yours,

Kristen

make this to hang in your studio or as a sweet gift for your favorite creative friend!

Hi ! Here is another craft idea that is really fun to do with the kids! It’s pretty simple to make and it is just really sweet!

Here is the list of things you will need:

here are some supplies you will need to make your little colored pencils...

1) a few ’round’ toothpicks

2) a tiny wood flower pot (or you could use a thimble)

3) white glue

4) craft acrylic paints in the colors of your choice

5) small paintbrush

6) scissors

This is a versatile little project! You can paint the pot with whatever colors, designs or message you would like (of course you can!) And you may turn it into a magnet, a pin or even a super cute pencil topper! See the photos for full instructions! Have fun…..

cut your toothpicks to desired length (if the cut end is rough you may want to smooth with a nail file).

paint your toothpick with craft paint, leaving about 1/8 inch of the pointed end unpainted.

now paint just the very tip of the toothpick with the same color.

here is what they will look like when they are all painted!

paint your pot with whatever colors or designs you wish.

here is my fnished pot!

put a few drops of glue into the bottom of your painted pot.

place your pencils into the glue....

now you may add a magnet or pinback or find some other clever use for this whimsical little pot of cuteness! Enjoy!

Hope you make lots of “colored pencils” (it’s so funny because people ask me all the time if they are real pencils!) Please check back soon and I will show you a couple more cute things you can do with these tiny treasures! TTFN…

Artfully yours,

Kristen