i [heart] kirigami

Oh it feels like a long time since I've ventured into this space but I just had to share these beauties:

WhitePapersPress

I admit it, I'm in paper lust. I love kirigami but don't that I personally would have the patience to create it! But isn't it just lovely?

origami heart bookmark mini book

Lots of crafting going on for yours truly. We’re in an upswing creativity mode, which is great. The lulls can be a bit hard!

Most recently I’ve been creating origami bookmarked note books. Here’s the origami part:

The notebook itself:

I make these notebooks for myself all of the time. I love them and keep meaning to make more for my shop but still haven’t gotten around to it. But vacation time is coming soon!

internet find: book carving artist

Stumbled across this book carving artist: Brian Dettmer and a bit awed by his creations.

 I can't even begin to imagine how much time these must take him! But they're pretty amazing, don't you agree?

origami bookmark notebook

In the summer, I attended a book binding course at SQUAM (I think they actually spell it sqam, but whatever), and I’ve been meaning to put those skills to use ever since. Here’s my first attempt to infuse my simple book binding skills with some origami art:

The pictures are really stylized, but the booklet is about 4x6, with about 30 pages and the binding string doubles as a butterfly origami bookmark.

This particular bookmark has a small clear swarovski crystal but I think I will use a smaller bead in the next models because the bead is a bit clunky in the book and will probably damage the pages over time.

As you can see in the close ups, the butterflies aren’t perfect (this is my mock up for me) but will be when I make “official” ones for the shop. My goal here was really to get the logistics of the ribbon down in order to see how the bookmark will hang in the book.

Things to change:

• bead needs to be smaller
• butterflies need to match up better
• stitching needs to be higher in order for the bookmark to hang better (cleaner)… that seems wrong to write, but I know what I mean… so yeah…

35 by 35 goal status: in progress!

black, white, and elegant: Origami Etsy Treasury

Working on a new project: an OrigamiEtsy team!

Sometimes I'm awed by the things that people create with origami. Really, truly, amazed. So I want to promote it more, develop the niche as it were. If you're interested in keeping tabs on unique origami creations, come read the blog or join us on facebook:




Or, if you are an origami inspired artisan, come join the OrigamiEtsy group!

my first craft fair and other news

That’s right. This weekend I’m participating in my very first craft fair. I’m excited. And nervous. And mostly just excited to see how things going and get my feet wet! And get a sense of how things sell at a fair vs online through Etsy.

In the meantime, I’ve been busy making these:

And these:

It feels like there is oh so much left to do between now and Friday afternoon, my head is spinning. Spinning I tells you!

Things done so far:

• Table cloth
• co-sewing  56 various table linens with the lovely Fleur de Pixie
• block printing 7 sets of napkins (4 per set)
• block printing 7 sets of place mats (4 per set)
• new ornaments (more to make)
• printed out more business cards

Things still to do:

• Prep my craft day kit (scissors, snacks, cash, decor and more)
• Wash and iron remaining linens, then package them
• fold mini cranes for ornaments
• attach business cards to all items
• mini stickers for prices

Oy vey! Maybe I shouldn’t have written a list—I feel more stressed now!

my not so secret ornament project

For those of you who have just joined me, welcome! It’s nice to have you here. (though I do have a slight confession… as my reader numbers increase, I feel a little intimidated at moments when I stare at the blank page before starting to write… but don’t worry, I’m the chatty type, so it’s only for a moment!)

That said, here’s what I’ve been up to lately:

Making ornaments! Of course, I had to start with my standard, crane in the bottle… but you may not be able to tell from the not so fantabulous photo… but this is a mini ornament (about 2 inches max with a 2 cm crane). Ironically, it’s actually easier to make the mini crane ornaments because it’s SOOOO very much easier getting the crane inside the bottle!

Next up, mittens!

I made this from felt and buttons (obviously) and it is about 3 inches in size.

Hmmm… just noticing that the background table cloth actually looks pretty festive when paired with holiday ornaments… odd! It’s actually a very summery madras style fabric. Who knew?

Let’s face it, no holiday season would be complete without a Grinch! My husband actually made this one from a round wooden piece that he glued the string then image onto. Finished it up by coating the image with diamond glaze.

Another ornament made by Paul. Little did he know when he married me that he’d become such an avid crafter himself! Secret fact about this ornament: cardboard backdrop comes from beer case!

Final ornament, I swear. At least for now.

Why am I making all these ornaments? They’re for a super secret, 12 days of Christmas project—which I guess isn’t so secret anymore is it? Me and my big mouth…. we’ve never been very good at secrets!

The rest of the project to be unveiled at a later date….

Last, but not least, for those of you who made it to the end of the page, past all the photos and text… and weren’t in the know: I’m hosting a giveaway that’s ending soon. Here’s the post with all the giveaway information

guest blogger at Campfire Chic

I while back (way back in Oct), Kam from Campfire Chic encouraged her readers to get out there and start writing guest blog posts. I thought her points made a lot of sense, so I decided to give it a go!

So without further ado: my very first guest blog post, a star origami garland tutorial is up at her site.

To add more excitement to mix... she's hosting a giveaway to go with it! Go check it out!

simple origami butterfly video tutorial

I made a video! Woo hoo! Check it out and let me know what you think.

simple origami butterfly for crafting

They’re super simple to make (I use 2x3” paper) and can be used in scrapbooking, card making, and bookmarks:

It was actually easier than I thought it’d be, but there are some glitches with the video because of editing… but it’s ok… I’m still learning!

some of what i’m working on at the moment

Random updates from my world to yours.

I’m currently in love with this song:

I have too many craft projects on the go and none of them are particularly quick projects!

Here are a few I have on the go:

Crochet leaves on a chained vine. It’s for a necklace but we’ll see how it turns out. I may use it instead as curtain drawback ties.

More crochet in progress:

A crochet sweater. I’ve never made a sweater before, so this is a huge endeavour for me! I’m on row 14 of the first 30 rows…. and then the next 100 or something rows!

And life wouldn’t be complete without a little origami:

What do you think of my mini origami wine glass thing-a-ma-jigs? I’m actually making the stars for a top secret project but thought I’d steal one to try the idea out. I think it’s cute and if you make them small enough they’re pretty sturdy (though a bit more challenging to fold). Would rainbow star origami wine thingies work for you?

The rest will remain a secret… hey a girl needs some secrets after all.

origami ornament giveaway

Christmas is around the corner, believe it or not and I’m starting to think about ways to spread the holiday cheer (yes, already) and have decided to offer an origami ornament giveaway.

Interested? Of course you are! Who isn’t interested in free stuff!?

I’ll give you up to 3 tries (third time is the charm after all) to win your own ornament, here’s how (there’s always a catch!):

Main entry: Visit my etsy shop and then leave a comment letting me know which ornament you like the most (colour, style, etc) . Please make sure if you’re not using blogger, to leave me an email/blog link, etc so that I can track you down afterwards! 

for extra entries: 

Follow the blog publicly via Google Friend connect (if you already do… just drop me a comment and let me know) or Facebook or Twitter

or/and

Tweet or blog about the giveaway (send me a link or include an @lotustreecrafts tag)
Giveaway will end on Nov 27th 2010. I will use random.org to pick the winning number, notify the winner and announce it on my blog. If the winner does not respond within 48hrs, I will choose another winner and will announce it again in my blog.

Good luck to everyone and thanks for playing along!

NOTE : Please remember to include some way of me contacting you if you win.

recycled art: toilet rolls

Ok, I don’t know what I’d actually do with them, but they’re gorgeous!

Don’t you agree? This last photo I could see being more something I might do…  Both images originally blogged about at Indie Fixx

origami mini books: 16 pages of folded goodness!

Find out how to make your own origami mini book here! Or, just watch the video:

origami gift box ornament

Ok, so the holidays are a long ways away, I know… but for those of us crafty peeps… now is the time to start planning and folding and creating in order to be ready for the season

So when I discovered these lovelies last year, too late in the season of course, I knew that it was something that I wanted to share for this year instead! (Follow link for original image and instructions).

I think there are many great things you can do with them!

• Make 'em small and hang them on your tree
• Can anyone say 12 days of Christmas?
• Advent calendar goodness, oh my! (see last year’s project for a friend and for my husband)
• use them to hold jewellery or any other little goodies (maybe of a crafty persuasion?)
• even better, wrap expensive, but small gifts in them (hint, hint…)

origami gift boxes

Tried my hand at origami boxes and created a new ornament packaging:


At first I wasn’t sure how the boxes would turn out because it felt like the box looked a little too homemade. And while I’m all about the handmade, I don’t want to be sending out homemade looking products… cause there’s a big difference in the level of professionalism that goes with each category!

But I’m pleased with the final product. I think the pop of colour and the small crane give the box the punch it needs to make it a bit more special.




What do you think? Does it work for you? Would you prefer a different colour combo? I’d have gone with black but the custom order was very specifically not in favour of black.

Instructions for box here

how simple paper bead wine glass charms from recycled paper (and not recycled metal!)

Not so long ago, a friend and I were having  a conversation about making wine glass charms, trying to figure out a cost effective, quick way of making a large quantity of charms that were still pretty.
I think I may have found a solution! And of course, being the paper loving lady that I am, particularly interested in green living, I found an idea that brings together my love of paper and my love of recycled art!

Ok, first things first: making the beads!

I found this video here:

Here and here (last link not round beads) are more instructions if you need more explanation.

Next, making the metal ring!

Here’s a link (with even more links) on making the metal ring to insert the bead onto!

origami bookmarks

So like I mentioned, I’m all aflutter (tee hee) with my origami butterflies.

These days I sort of feel like I’m just trying to see all the things I can create with them.

My latest creations, on your left, are bookmarks. I think they’re a bit of a flop but that’s ok, I’ll share them anyways just so that when I figure out how to make them better you’ll all be wowed by my vast improvements!

origami art fusion

I’m working on an idea: fusing art with origami (I write that as if it’s sooo original!) but it’s a new direction for me. This is my first attempt at it using origami butterflies. (I’m all about the origami butterflies these days)!

I still have a few more elements that I want to add to the page, but this is where I’m so far. Now I’m waiting for the paint to dry: exciting isn’t it?

new origami ornament

The other day I mentioned that I was working on a new origami ornament.

Here’s a sneak peek (of course taken with my iphone because I love it so…):

 

I’m actually debating listing them on etsy like this because I like the look of the picture so much, but I wonder if the colouring actually does the item justice… But it’s tempting! Maybe I’ll try it?!…

Next up, learning to take pictures of glass that don’t reflect everything in the room around me (much harder than you’d think!)

i [heart] origami bonsai

 

I have to learn how to do this:

Images from www.Benagami.com

 

They are seriously amazing. And I think they’d make fantastic paper terrariums! New craft goal!!!!