The Legend of Zelda Perler Coasters

Our brother, Zak, got married on the 21st this month and what a day it was! Before that, though, I knew that I had to come up with a gift idea that they would both like. Anyone that knows my brother knows that he loves video games, and if you really know him that his favorite series is The Legend of Zelda. I have even made him past presents reflecting this. When I found out that Krystal also likes Zelda--and some sniffing around on dA--I knew what I was going to make them.

These are the coasters that I made using Perler beads and some cork hot-glued on the back. I decided to use sprites from "A Link to the Past" since I remember playing that game with Zak when we were younger. I'm really happy with how these turned out. The cork is a little too thick, but finding cork options isn't as easy as one would think. Thankfully I had all the right colors that I needed since I bought a couple of buckets of perler beads. (And, yes, I separated all 12,000 of those beads... 30 colors... It was an undertaking... So worth it, though!) I'm really glad that Zak and Krystal like this. I'm hoping to make a coaster set for myself sometime in the future. Should be fun!

A Mission Quilt

My little brother will be coming home from his LDS Mission in 2 weeks and I thought that it would be fun to make him something for when he gets back. I have been pretty bad at sending him stuff all of the time and I wanted to make it up to him. I had sent some Christmas and one thing for a birthday, but I had missed other times. I decided to make him a Mission Quilt. I figured that he could use it when he goes to college.

I came up with a pattern that would get the most pictures and still letting them be big enough to see. I used iron-on paper for the images (and that was battle half of the time). I then painted the letters on the big squares. I found some plaid fabric at the DI (Deseret Industries) for really cheap and go the white at JoAnn's. There are three kinds of plaid, which is shown in the last image. I cut all of the fabric one day and then sewed them the next. I had to hurry to get it done since Amber and the kids were coming the day after sewing. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. It's about 6' x 8' and should be plenty big for him even if he comes back a couple inches taller. ;)

Perler Bead Sprites

I have been looking at some cool and clever creations for some time and I wasn't sure if I would ever get a chance to do them. If you give the right people the right kind of medium they will make something spectacular! I didn't know what to start with until my brother got engaged. I wanted to make a wedding present for them and I just kept going. (The wedding present needs one more step before I post it here.) I'm pretty excited to finally have had the opportunity to make some of these. I think that I will be making more in the future. I just need to get a hold of more black beads first...

This one is my design. I followed the logo as close as I could.

"A Link to the Past" sprites!

Everyone could use a Mario sprite. ;)

This Companion Cube is NOT a lie.

Drawstring Bento Bags

I have been making some clothing for my nephew and niece with some fun fabrics, and I had lots leftover. I wanted to use the fabrics in another functional way that would be simple enough to make. Then it hit me. My bento bag is boring. I decided to go overboard and make these three. I really like how they turned out. They fit my everyday bento as well as my one-layer Ponyo bento. I would say that multi-purpose = WIN.

Want to make one? Follow my tutorial on deviantART.

Polymer Cat & Unicorns

As per usual, I've been pretty bad at uploading new crafts that I made the day of. I had put these on my instagram (@geisha-neko) but no where else. Now I'm finally getting to it. I've got to get a lot better at this.

As you can see I decided to take a try at making a cat figure. I'm pretty pleased on how it turned out except for the shape of its head. I think I'm going to change the shape of it if I ever get to make another kitty. I also wanted to add some fun details by painting it with acrylics before glazing it. I really do like how the details came out.

My older brother is getting married in July and my mother and I have been going crazy getting things ready for it. Turns out that his fiance really likes the movie Tangled so we're trying to incorporate it with their colors in mind. We decided that it would be funny to make some unicorns that will go around the reception in random places. I'm hoping that some of the guests will get the reference. My brother's fiance already did. That made me happy.  ;) Oh, and the eyes are swarvoski crystals. I thought it would be a nice touch.

You can see these and everything I make on my deviantART account.

Patriotic Tulle Wreath

Last year, I made a quick {Tutu} for my daughter to go with her Patriotic outfit for the Fourth of July.  Over the almost year, I constantly saw the Red, White, & Blue tulle in my cratt drawer and knew there was something to be made with them.

About a week before Memorial Day, it came to me.  A wreath!  But, it couldn't be a plain wreath, there had to be something else to go with it. (Seriously, though, I didn't see THIS other fabulous wreath until I started mine--- AND I picked up the Family Fun magazine and they had a different Tulle wreath as well.  I swear I had the idea too and didn't copy.)

Then, when we went hunting for a flag to hang outside our house, I had another idea--- a flag...

Since I'm currently in a 'delicate condition,' I had just enough energy to finish this project yesterday... a few days late for our Memorial Day celebrations.  Good thing I've got the Fourth of July AND the Olympics coming up!  Now I have TWO excuses to keep it up all summer.


Gather It:

• Wreath form: Styrofoam, wire, straw--- still wrapped, you get the idea
• Red, White, & Blue Tulle (I got mine at HL  25 yd rolls for 2.99 or 3.99--- use coupons over a couple of weeks or watch out for whne the tulle is on sale)
• 99 cent American Flag
• White paint
• scrap plywood, wood plaque
• red vinyl or paint
• Mod Podge
• Glue Gun & Stick

Create It:

1. First, cover the wreath.  I cut my tulle as a went with lengths between 12-18 inches, this is completely personal preference.  If you want a more uniformed look, cut your tulle, at the beginning all the same length.
2. After you have some cut tulle, start wrapping,  I folded my tulle in half, looped it around the wreath, and then pulled the ends through the loop of the tulle.  Then, to keep it in place, I tied a knot.  Continue until the whole wreath is covered.  This process takes a little while, so it wouldn't hurt to do this while chatting with friends, watching your kids play, listening to a book... you get the idea.(Sorry for the lack of pictures, one of these days I'll remember... hopefully it won't take me giving birth before I remember...)
3. If you don't want the flag, then TA-DA, you're done!  If you do, now is time to pull out the wood.  Mr. Nag had some extra plywood in the garage, so he cut one to the length of the flag I found.  I wanted my wreath to have a saying on the bottom, so we added 2 inches to the width.  Paint the wood white, front and back.  Let it dry.
4. Remove the flag from the pole it came with (or have your 2-year-old 'accidentally' break it) and prepare to mod podge it to the wood, once the wood it dry.  Only apply MP to the part of the wood under the flag.
5. While you wait for the first layer of MP to dry, cut out the vinyl saying, or paint it on.  I have a Silhouette, so I quickly whipped up what I wanted it to say.  As always, I'll send you the file, if you have one.
6. Transfer the vinyl, then apply one last coat of MP to the whole plaque.
7. Hot glue the plaque to the wreath, and a ribbon to the back for hanging.
8. Step back and break into a chorus of "God Bless America" (it was in my mind because of the quote.)

I thought about going back and making it look more uniform around, but honestly I like it in it's non-perfected state.  Plus, I can say it looks more like a firework that way, right?

I link up {HERE}.

Master Makeover: Repurposing Lamps

UPDATE:  These lamps were chosen as one of the Top-Ten for The CSI Project in the Lamp Challenge.  Thank you!

First master bedroom post {HERE}.

Our lamps, pre-master re-do, were from IKEA.  Nice & functional, but didn't give out a lot of light, so I knew they would get replaced, eventually.

When we got the furniture set, it also had 70s-style gold lamps (with pleated shades) to go with it.  Definitely NOT going to fit the feel of the room.  However, with a little bit of spray paint and the right fabric remnants, I was able to help them fit the decor perfectly.

I LOVE how they look now.  It was super-simple too.

GATHER IT:

• old lampstand
• spray paint
• spray primer
• plain white lamp shade (I got mine at Target)
• fabric (I needed roughly a 1/2 yd for two medium-sized shades)
• spray adhesive
• scissors

CREATE IT:

1. Prime & Paint the stand.  We got Valspar gray primer & Rust-oelum Hammered Metal paint.
2. While that's drying, work on the shades.  I wanted the crisp lines of a square-shade, so keep that in mind, as we go.  If you have a cylinder shade, skip to step 6.
3. Spray one side of the shade with spray-adhesive.  I worked on the long sides first.  Then, place it on the wrong side of your fabric, preferably near an edge, so you don't waste any fabric.  Cut a 3/4 inch border around the glued side, so now you are just working with the bit of fabric on the shade.
4. Spray the corner of your shade and press the extra fabric, gluing it down to the shade.  Repeat on the other side.  Then work on the top & bottom seams, spray the shade and wrap the fabric around the little metal bars.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the other long side.  Then repeat for the short sides, however, there is ONE BIG difference.  When you go to do the corner seams, tuck in your extra fabric underneath itself, then glue it down to the corner.  This makes the seam flush with the corner & not frayable (it might be a word).
6. FOR A CYLINDER SHADE:  Congratulations!  You will not have to piece it together.  Simply, spray the adhesive onto the shade, sections at a time.  Then press the fabric onto the sprayed section.  Continue the whole way around your shade.  Just before the last section, measure out the fabric you need to finish the cover, add 3/4 inch to that, then cut.  Continue, by cutting a 3/4 inch border around the top & bottom.  Tuck in the extra 3/4 for the seam, then spray it on the shade.  Finish the top & bottom seams by spraying the shade  and wrapping the fabric around the small bars.
7. Step back and admire your ability to make something old... new again!

Super simple and it adds so much to a room!

I link up {HERE}.