Tag: craftbookproject

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Crafty reading

This past weekend, I took advantage of an empty apartment to craft like crazy. Unfortunately, all these crafts are (drumroll…) WEDDING-related, so I can’t share them with you on the off-chance a bridesmaid stumbles by here.

Here are some wedding-related crafts I think are awesome but I am NOT making, found (where else?) on Pinterest:

Doily tablecloth from Martha
Doily tablecloth from Martha.

 

Spray painted Mason jars from the CSI project
Spray painted Mason jar centerpieces from the CSI project.
Seed bombs from MADE
Seed bombs from MADE.

 

I learned something about myself after twelve hours of near-continuous crafting. When I craft alone, I have the ability to consume mass quantities of television. We’re talking…too many hours for me to want to share. A lot. Many. Muchas horas.

I’m not anti-television, especially when there’s quality films like No Strings Attached playing (why is Ashton Kutcher so freaking cute?), but if I’m going to do this every weekend, and it looks like I might if I want to get all my projects done in time, the part of me that wants to be a writer and loves to read lots of books is going to feel very, very guilty.

Solution: books on tape! Andrew and I have already discovered how they can make car rides go by, and I think it’s time to get some literature by osmosis when I’m home, too. So, any suggestions for good audiobooks? Not every good book is a good book on tape. We tried Isabel Allende and there were so many names and dates and so much historical background that one of us (ahem) fell asleep. Luckily it was not the one driving.

 

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The Craft Book Project logo

I wanted to take a minute to share the source of that lovely logo at the top of the page…doncha just love that handwritten look? My brother, Erik, who

recently graduated from UVA (high five, little bro!), designed it for me. I wanted to send him a shout-out because his work is the bomb. In fact, you can check it out at erikdelosreyes.com. If you’re interested in having someone speedy, smart, and creative design you a logo, hit him up!

 

 

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Pinterest

I love Pinterest. I, like the rest of you, can spend hours upon hours there. One of my favorite Saturday morning activities, in fact, is doing just that: coffee, Pinterest, couch. I could sit there for hours. It’s better than re-runs of Friends (ok, maybe not quite).

Just before I got on (you can follow me there if you like, @likesoatmeal) I read Diane of Craftypod’s post about Pinterest and copyright/credit-giving. It sat in the back of my mind as I clicked through uncredited after uncredited photo. I decided I would always put the title of the blog I got my inspiration from in each pin, and I have. I try not to repin, which isn’t very social of me, because I want to know where everything comes from.

screenshot of Pinterest boards
Who doesn’t love this?

But I also felt a fair bit of sympathy for non-credit-givers. It doesn’t say anywhere on Pinterest “CREDIT YOUR SOURCES!” And as an English composition TA, I have experienced firsthand how difficult the concept of giving proper credit is (the terror of plagiarism haunts students more than anything else).

Yesterday, I read this article about how Pinterest violates copyright, or allows people to violate it, while getting off scot-free. The guilt was official: guys, you should really credit your pins! It’s not hard, and besides, then you’ll see what blog your awesome tutorial for Calvin and Hobbes snowman truffles came from and when you’re trolling the internet for new tutorials, you can hop back over there and see what’s new!

Maybe it’s just the composition teacher in me, but I don’t give anyone a fail for not doing this. Just like plagiarism in college, there’s no course in internet source-crediting. But, it seems as though going forward, mentioning where you got your pin is a good thing to do. Maybe it will discourage websites from putting “nopin” code into their sites and allow us to keep creating awesome pinboards for cake.

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Craft party

Pop up card made from white and pink cardstock from Martha Stewart
Photo from Martha Stewart, home to many cute card tutorials

On Sunday, I held my first ever craft party. It was awesome. My friend Jennie asked me if I would lead Valentine’s Day craft night the week before, so I dug out my piles of paper and stickers and we got to it. Fueled by brownies, someone made a valentine-coupon book, someone else made a cootie catcher, and I made a few little cards to hide in the cereal cabinet : ) So much love!

I highly recommend you throw together a craft night–all it takes is an email out to any vaguely crafty friends  and some space on the floor. In my <700 square foot apartment, we fit eight people, no problem. Oh, and a few supplies–ask your pals to bring what they have. I was amazed at how many people I knew owned glitter glue!!

We ate brownies, and I tried a new recipe that came out more cake-like than I wanted. Here are a few that I am bookmarking to try next craft night…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies by Joy the Baker

Cocoa Brownies from Alton Brown

Peppermint Patty Brownies — I’ve actually made these before, and they changed my life.