Tag: arts and crafts

Posted in Make & Muse

From Abandoned Projects to Creative Comebacks

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements

Okay listen… I know, I know—I’m a quitter. Was a quitter. Let’s say I’m  “in recovery,” okay? Breaking that habit is no joke though, especially when quitting has always been my emotional support hobby. Life gets overwhelming and suddenly scrolling, snacking, and napping feels like the holy trinity instead of… actually finishing anything.

And it reminds me of that Gilmore Girls moment where Paris goes:
“She’s got a ‘C’ average, which means she’s either lazy or stupid. I can work with either. Frankly, sometimes stupid is easier. I can scare the stupid out of you, but the lazy runs deep.”

Now listen—I’m not stupid. That’s not up for debate.
But lazy? …yeah, I fear Paris would have a field day with me.

BUT. Plot twist. Character development. Redemption arc incoming.

It’s official: I’m launching my ✨Comeback Tour✨starring every project I ever ghosted. Here’s a not-so-fun confession: The last time I posted anything remotely artsy was way back in 2023. Yikes! The creative guilt is real! In honor of my half-finished crafts, I’m breaking out the classic Blend the Rules feature pic—because following the script just isn’t my style!

Exhibit A: I started crocheting tiny dog and cat dolls for my friend’s baby… when said friend was still pregnant.
That baby is turning THREE this year.
THREE.
Anyway!!!(Don’t judge—I just found the pattern again: Tuna and Bones Free Amigurumi Patterns (Crochet Dog Pattern & Crochet Cat Pattern) | Needlepointers.com)

Exhibit B: the cardigan. The cardigan™. The one I dramatically started four years ago and then ghosted like it texted me “hey.”
Tell me why I also found the exact video I was using back then?? The universe said “you’re not escaping this one.”

Exhibit C: the chicken purse.
When I tell you this obsession came back HARD—like why are there a million variations and why do I suddenly need all of them??
Also… I found my old unfinished project and genuinely thought it was a failed beanie. Nope. It was the chicken bag. I abandoned her mid-cluck 😭

AND because I clearly don’t believe in easing into things, I’m also jumping back on the sourdough train. Yes, like 2020 me.
Do I know where my original starter is? Absolutely not. She’s gone. Lost to history.
But I have a new one now!!! And her name?
✨Doughbi Wan Kenobi✨
Was it necessary? No.
Does it bring me immense joy? Yes.

Posted in Make & Muse

A Backyard Paint and Picnic

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements

I’m planning an amazing Paint and Picnic party in my backyard, obvi it will be after Hector’s party and I can’t wait to host! This is such an exciting opportunity for me since I’ve never really had the chance to gather friends like this before. Back when I lived in Vegas, I had friends, but we weren’t close enough to hang out at each other’s places. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I finally started feeling comfortable visiting others’ homes, and even then, I mostly enjoyed their company at one particular friend’s house. 

Now that I’ve moved, I really want to switch things up! I can only imagine how exhausting it must be for her to host all the time. She always provides us with delicious food, endless snacks, and refreshing drinks. While we all pitch in, she still covers most of it! It’s time for me to create my own space for gatherings and make unforgettable memories with friends. 

What is a paint and picnic, you ask? It’s exactly what it sounds like—and it’s going to be a blast! I’ve always loved the concept of paint and sip, and though I haven’t been to a studio yet, I’ve had a blast doing it with friends. Now, imagine this: we have a gorgeous day ahead, and I want to take full advantage of it by hosting our very own picnic outside! I’m already buzzing with excitement as I plan the menu, and I can’t wait to get into the nitty-gritty of organizing this fun-filled day! Let’s make some colorful memories!

I’m so excited to share my planned menu! I’m all about embracing those fresh spring flavors, and everything is designed to be casual, easy to prep in advance, and absolutely delicious! 

Imagine indulging in vibrant tomato and pesto pinwheels, a refreshing pasta salad bursting with seasonal ingredients, and sipping on a delightful elderberry lemonade that screams spring. 

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with a no-bake blackberry pie that’s as easy to make as it is to devour! And let’s not forget the charcuterie board — a beautiful spread of berries, grapes, an array of cheeses, and crispy crackers to round it all out. Maybe I’m crazy, but I prefer my “adult Lunchables,” as Hector calls them, not to have meats.

Alright, so yes, I’m definitely in it for the food (who wouldn’t be?), but let’s be real—the real excitement here is the paint part! Here’s what you’ll need to make it a blast:

  • Painting Kit – Grab your canvas, easel, paintbrushes, paint, and a water cup. Get ready to unleash that inner artist!
  • Protective Gear – Ain’t nobody got time for spills. Throw down a tablecloth and rock an apron. No stress, just fun!
  • Decor – Totally optional, but trust me, it takes the whole vibe to the next level. Set the mood with some cool lighting or funky accents.
  • Snacks & Drinks – Seriously, what’s a party without some munchies? Grab your favorite snacks and drinks, because creativity thrives on a full stomach. 
  • Good Vibes – This is a paint party, not a gallery. Have fun, get messy, and let the laughter flow!

Let’s get ready to paint, laugh, and maybe spill a little paint while we’re at it!

Posted in Monthly Muses

Blogmas Day 3

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements

Hello and welcome to day 3 of BLOGMAS

I am creating a 12-day Christmas advent calendar for my niece, which sparked a heated debate among my family. i have a few baubles and lipsThe question was Do the 12 days of Christmas start on December 1st or 12 days before Christmas? I believe they start 12 days before Christmas Day. However, my sister and boyfriend think it starts on December 1st. But we were both wrong! according to my church and From a traditional Christian perspective, the 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day and end on January 6th. These 12 days are most accurately recognized as the time when the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, which aligns with the celebration of His birth. 

As much as I would love to wait until Christmas Day to start the 12 Days of Christmas, we’re going to kick it off 12 days before Christmas this year. I’ve filled it with all sorts of fun little goodies! There are cute stocking stuffers like lip gloss, hair bows, nail polishes, and, of course, candy. I even found these adorable mini Nutella jars at 5 Below, which my niece absolutely loves. Additionally, I thought it would be nice to include a few eyeshadow pens since she’s getting into makeup now. A little eyeshadow and lip gloss can’t hurt, right? It’s going to be such a delightful surprise for her!

Posted in Make & Muse

Teaching Myself to use Watercolor

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements

Today I will blend some rules while teaching myself to use watercolor paint.

I like to think of myself as a creative person, but I’m not very good at the means of traditional art. I have an image in my head, and sometimes I have difficulty putting it on paper when drawing or painting. I’m also a little hard on myself since I’m a perfectionist.

Now I’ve seen a lot of videos about painting, and everyone says the same thing. Watercolor is harder to use, so I should start with acrylic paint. Controversial opinion, but I’m not too fond of acrylic paint. I like the control I have when using watercolors.

Thank god for the internet. I’ve learned different tricks and tips from watching YouTube and TikTok.

And these people are self-taught artists – I mean, every artist is probably self-taught. I mean, these people are definitely not art school graduates.

Now my goal isn’t to become the next Monet. I want to experiment with art without feeling like I’m wasting supplies or my time.

Now I didn’t rush out to buy expensive art supplies. I used the paint from a Target art supply kit, and a friend gifted me the paper.

I just used layers. I started with a thin detail brush and made a rough outline. I don’t like sketching with a pencil in watercolor painting because I don’t know how well I’ll be able to cover the pencil.

It was mostly layering colors, and I don’t know if there’s a word for this, but I would use a dry brush to remove paint when I thought it was too piled up.

I’m pleased with my results.

I need more practice. I want to experiment more and learn to paint bigger pieces of art. I would love to one day own my own house and have random art on the walls and have some of those be my art.

Posted in Make & Muse

Tiny Haunted Houses

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements
https://videos.files.wordpress.com/BUAgd7BH/2cdc7b0b-4f3d-450c-8cd6-2248c886975a-1.mp4

This has been my favorite spooky craft. Almost everything for this project was from the dollar store.

As a person who loves being crafty but isn’t super creative. This is one of those crafts you can’t mess up.

You Will Need

  • • Any dolls house
  • Spray Paints for the base. Black or white is the best bases
  • Acrylic paints for detailing
  • Mod Podge spray
  • Added Details (dried Spanish moss, popsicles sticks)

Steps

This doesn’t really have steps.

Base Layers: Remove all stickers before doing the base layers. Spray paint was used for the base. I like an even coat so we did two layers with the stray paint. Once the base layers were applied spray with a matte mod podge.

Detailing: this is the easy part. It all depends on what you want your house to look like. I recommend you hunt around and see what you can find that might suit your haunted house. I think twigs, spiders, and pumpkins can be fun.

Posted in Make & Muse

Milk Carton Skulls

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements

As a basic witch who loves getting spooky, I’ve been busy.

Every Halloween my friend has a party for her daughter and her friends and other little kiddos who live in the neighborhood. It’s always super cute and fun and we go all out decorating.

The theme this year is a kid-friendly hell house. We’re going spooky but not too spooky.

I don’t know where my friend gets her ideas from but I love them.

We got a little bit of a headstart on some of the decors since we’re making most of them ourselves.

These milk carton skulls came out amazing. Now they are a little tricky to make.

What you’ll need

  • • 1 skull made of cement or resin (whatever won’t melt)
  • heavy dutyglove
  • heat gun
  • ice water
  • sponge
  • scissors
  • electric hot knife
  • masking tape
  • glue gun with glue

Steps

Step 1: Set up your guide skull in a safe place to use a heat gun and hot glue so you don’t accidentally set something on fire or melt something you didn’t mean to.

Step 2: Cut the handle off the jug and position the jug over the Guide skull with the long part over the face.

Step 3: Wear gloves. To begin shaping the jug, set the heat gun on HIGH and begin to sculpt but holding the jug about 3 inches from the plastic until it turns clear. Once clear, you should be able to manipulate and shape it. Using your gloved hands, shape the plastic against the Guide skull and tuck at the cheekbones.

https://videos.files.wordpress.com/gp7X6Ppf/img_1589-1.mp4

Step 4: Now begin to heat the rest of the plastic again until clear. Then grab your sponge and dip it in ice water. This will cause the jug to mold to the skull’s details. Press it gently into the nose and eyes to deepen them, but be careful not to rip the plastic. The harder you push, the more detailed it will be, but watch out for tears.

Step 5: Trim the excess plastic under the mouth and tuck the remaining plastic to finish the jaw.

Step 6: Now you can cut the back of the skull to get it off the Guide skull. The easiest way to get it off is to draw a line going up the back of the skull, then a wide V on top. This will create the guide for the Y-incision you will have to cut to get the jug off the skull. Heat your hot knife then cut on the Y-incision guide. A box cutter will also work.

Step 7: Pull the mold forward off the skull. Tape the incision from the outside. Use your hot glue gun to seal the incision closed from the inside. Let dry.

You can fill them with LED lights for a cool nighttime look

Posted in Make & Muse

Painting Pumpkins

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements

Does anyone else go to target and leave with things they don’t need? No? Just me?

I was just casually strolling around target when I found these super cute paint-your-own pumpkins.

Of course, I had to buy these. I brought some for the kiddos and some for the adults, and we all just had a pumpkin painting day, and honestly, I love lazy days like this.

The whole time we were painting I kept thing of the song from Alice in wonderland, painting the roses red.

I stole my pumpkin idea from Pinterest.

You guys may not know this but, I absolutely love anything Frankenstein. Like anything Frankenstein or Bride of Frankenstein I’ll buy it. The Frankenstein storyline was one of the reasons I watched Penny Dreadful. And how underrated was the original show!?!

Time for the big reveal. Drum roll please….

For a little more Frankenstein love here’s my favorite snl clip. I just realized this is 7 years old I remember watching this when it aired.

Posted in Make & Muse, Monthly Muses

Christmas wreaths DIY

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements

Day 14 of Blogmas!!

Another Day, another DIY Christmas craft. 

I’ve been into DIYs so much lately. This time its wreaths!

Christmas is right around the corner, and I’m still doing some basic decorating for myself. 

I was due to have my driving test today, and it was canceled due to COVID. And there’s no idea when we will be able to reschedule it. Instead of sulking about still not having my license, I went to a friend’s house, and together we decided we needed a craft day. Which was great because I had no idea what I was planning to write today. 

Onto the wreath you came here to make—you’ll need the following:

  • a metal wire frame
  • different types of greenery
  • Ribbon or twine for hanging
  • An assortment of random things for a little razzle-dazzle 
  • Hot glue for the embellishments

I found a metal wire frame at a dollar tree. It was a total score. 2pack, and the frames are 8 inches.  

Target is where I got my greenery. They have fake Christmas tree branches. I also scored a cypress, pine cone, and berry stem filler/decoration thing. Both were $10. 

As my niece called the random bells and flowers, the toppings were also from a dollar tree. 

Once you have all your supplies here’s how it’s done: 

  • Arrange your greenery how you want it to look. 

I cut a few pieces I felt were too long and made sure it didn’t look too bulky. They are made of wire. I used scissors, but if you have wire cutters, I definitely recommend them. 

  • Begin attaching the greenery —one by one—to your wire frame.

If your frame is bigger than an 8-inch frame, I would recommend making bunches, so you have an evenness around the entirety of the wreath. I think groups will help you get so many gaps. 

Since my frame was small, I draped the greenery over the edge, winding around each stem a few times to ensure it’s secure. Overlap your bunches with the previous to cover the branches.

  • Fill in any gaps and add embellishments. 

For the purpose of hanging, create a loop. Cut an inch extra of the amount needed to hang your wreath. Tie the circle around the back of the frame and make a knot. 

When you begin layering on your add-ons, pay attention to cover the stems. Also, pick flowers that hold their shape. 

As you can see from the picture, I didn’t really know where I was going with this. I started placing different stuff I bought, and this was the result. To be honest, in the beginning, mine looked shocking, and I wasn’t very impressed with it. Still, as I got further around it, suddenly all came together. For my first try, this looks great, and this one only took 30 minutes to make.

Suppose I had a place where I could decorate myself. In that case, I could definitely see making a new wreath each year as a new holiday tradition. It’s easy and fun, and you can make them how big or whatever shape you want. Maybe next year I’ll do one again, but it will be a Disney wreath. 

Posted in Make & Muse, Monthly Muses

DIY Macrame Christmas Tree

Posted on by Eryn 🐰
Advertisements

Day 5 of Blogmas 2020 is here. Looks like it’ll be a very crafty Christmas indeed!

I’ve wanted to make my own ornaments for a while, and all the DIY ornaments I  look the same and boring. 

I wanted something, not a dangling bauble. Luckily a friend of mine made her own ornaments.

It’s a macrame Christmas tree. I LOVE IT!!

Maybe it’s the simplicity and homemade nature, or perhaps it’s the combination of textures and simple color. Still, whatever it is, I am happier with this particular ornament than I have been with any previous decoration I have tried. 

I should have written down the steps as she was teaching me, but of course, I swore I’d remember how to do it. 

If you have extra time and want to start from the very beginning, be sure to watch the short video I attached below. It was the closest to how my friend taught me how to make it. This is how these cute and creative ornaments were born. 

I also attached the link to the macrame cord she uses.