WW: Toilet Paper Rolls {Linky}

I decided when the pandemic happened that I wouldn't hoard toilet paper. I in fact bought a lot before the pandemic went down. 

Instead of hoarding toilet paper, I hoarded the toilet paper rolls. 

I decided to cut them, paint them, and cut them into 1/4" strips. 

Then it was weaving time! At first I didn't like how the process went. Weaving with thin cardboard isn't quite the same at weaving with fabric. I eventually got the hang of it. Clothes pins work great as clamps. 

The table runner is coming out pretty good. The sections will be painted with varnish. I have to decide if I want to sew them together, or sew them to a fabric backing. 

What crazy projects have you worked on lately?

Sunny's #tipi #teepee #leopardgecko #diy #craft #gecko

Our Leopard Gecko Sunny got an upgrade tank. He had a 10 gallon. After doing some research we found out it is just too small! He needs a warm side of the tank, and a cool side. He should have 3 or 4 hides: One on each side + a moist hide when he sheds.

On Facebook Market Place I kept my eye out for an upgrade. Finally I saw one! A 30 gallon tank for $30. We had to buy a top cover, but that was a good price. I got some non adhesive shelf paper, for the base. He was in the tank as soon as Travis cleaned it up.

We filled it up fast.

I had this ingenious idea of making Sunny a Tipi, for a hide.

I seriously decided his tipi plans on Christmas Eve Day. I went out to get the material. Then on Christmas I started making it. I kind of felt like he deserved nicer things, than he had.

I knew I needed some kind of base just to help hold the sticks where I wanted them to be. I used the lid to Orange Slices bought at Walmart - God I love those things!

Then I figured out that most tipis online have 6 sticks. Kitchen skewer sticks are the perfect size for Sunny's tipi, so I used them. I just stabbed holes with a knife tip, and stabbed the skewers through. Then I tied the top with hemp rope, and secured it with Elmer's Glue.

After the anatomy to the tipi was made I had to cut out the canvas, and I started sewing. I sewed around all the skewer sticks, and I sewed the door open.

When I was all done, I took the base out. BUT it was too flimsy, so Travis was nice enough to cut out a masonite base. He glued the skewer sticks to it. I think that's great because it's less likely to tip over. 

I debated on using fabric paint to make a pattern, sew beads on (he just licks, doesn't eat things off like that), or add the God's Eye I made last year out of toothpicks and embroidery floss. I went with the God's Eye. It was the perfect size, and I liked the colors. It was originally made to be a Christmas ornament. 

I worried a bit with the top of the skewers, but Sunny doesn't climb in his tank. Only when he's being held. He'll climb up to your/my shoulder every time. The tipi is really steep. We didn't place it near anything where he could get from one thing, to the top of the tipi. 

Here was his new set up:

I couldn't see him enjoy it because he was sleeping under Travis' sculpture hide. I learned a new word lately. When an animal lays all flat like to sleep it's called, "Splooting". Sunny sploots all the time!

It didn't take long before I heard Travis say, "Sunny is in your Tipi! Come look! It's the cutest thing!"

Sure enough he was checking out the tipi. 

Do you see the back corner? That's where he typically poops.

It was days where we didn't see any poop in his poop spot. He always poops there. I was thinking, Here we go again! Do we need to start giving him baths, and put him back on meds? Then it dawned on me...I bet he's shitting in his tipi! I told Travis to check!

Sure enough...there was about 5 poops in his tipi.

His tipi is his outhouse! He likes to poop in private.

What's the craziest thing you've ever made?

#bamtape Review

Since it's been snowing like crazy, I started a new painting. I only have the underpainting done. That's the background. I sprayed a canvas black. Then used a plastic bag to paint with. 

I incorporated Bam Tape to my work this time!  

The tape comes in seven different colors:

• Purple
• Yellow
• Green
• Orange
• Teal
• Red
• Blue

I took Bam Tape, and ripped it length wise to put it across the canvas. I painted gold there, and sprinkled sand. The tape came up so well!

It ripped easily to put down, and came up off the canvas well too!

I'm going to paint some under the sea plant life on the sand. Then I'm going to paint some jelly fish in the water. One jelly fish will be trapped in a jelly jar. 

Like I said, I've only painted the underpainting. It will get there.

Uses for Bam Tape:

• To create a mask for acrylic painting
• To put on furniture
• To put on a floor as a play town
• To add an image to a wall 
• Many more uses

It goes on many surfaces. It's easy to go on, and easy to come off. Don't use it for die cutting machines.

Where to Get Bam Tape:

You can get Bam Tape on Amazon Prime http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H44DC6N for $12.88.

Size:

• 1 inch wide
• 43 feet long for each roll

I'm happy to use Bam Tape for other projects!

What would you use it for? What color would you gravitate to first? 

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in exchange for a review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wooden Leaf #craft #stringart

Travis' boss gives him odd things: Like a foam pumpkin in the fall, and stockings at Christmas time for the employees to decorate.

He asked, "Do you really think I have time to do these extra projects?"

She said, "You like art. I'd think you'd enjoy them."

He said, "You must not get that I don't get into crafty things."

I said, "I'll decorate them, while you help the boys with homework or work on house hold fix up things."

Here's a Wooden November Leaf:

Materials:

• A Wooden or Styrofoam Form

• Elmer's Glue 

• Water

• A Paint Brush

• Leaves From Outside

• Any Kind of Paint or Fingernail Polish

• Nails or Stick Pins

• Different Colors of Embroidery Floss 

• Scissors or X-acto Knife

You can do this craft with any wooden form, but we have a leaf!

There's a ton of ways to decorate it! I wanted something that Isaak would get into. I sent him outside to gather 5 leaves.

I painted it with Elmer's Glue. It works best if you add a little water to the paint.

If the leaves aren't flat, it's best to iron them. Put the leaves in between sheets of white paper, and iron them with an iron or hair straightener.

Set them in the glue. Use an X-acto Knife or small scissors to cut the leaves.

Isaak painted the tops with glitter glue.

If you are using foam push stick pins in the form on the edges. We had a wooden leaf, so Isaak hammered nails in the edges of the leaf. Lowe's Clinic came in handy with hammering!

He put a nail on every outside section of the leaf.

Get the different colors of Embroidery Floss out. Thankfully we already had some laying around. We picked fall colors.

Tie a small knot on one end, and go to town with where you want them to go. Keep doing this with different colors.

Because it's not stick pins I thought the nail heads could use some color. Travis said, "What about little gems." I went as far as gluing them on with a hot glue gun. I hated them, and ripped them off.

I just felt like the gems were too flashy for this natural looking leaf. I painted the nail heads with acrylic. I used teal because blue-green is the opposite of red-orange. You can use fingernail polish. That may stay longer over time. Finger nail polish is the same thing as enamel paint, which is used for model cars and more. I snuck some teal inside bits of the leaf too.

I think it turned out pretty good. Isaak likes it too!

Side Note: I love how his shirt looks like it has strings on it too.

What I Loved About This Craft:

• It's good for boys or girls
• It can be used for decor in your house
• It can be transformed: If you didn't want to do leaves, you could use flattened flowers and spring like colors
• It's for many ages: Stick pins and foam board bases for younger kids, and nails and wood bases for older kids
• We had everything, nothing was purchased for this craft

Have you ever created string art?

How to Make Ojo de Dios #craft #art

Our last post is up on ParentSavvy! We're sure going to miss doing crafts for them! We'll try and continue them on here, once a month. I already have one we created for later in November.

Before I begin with this one Isaak said, "Mom I've done a lot of the work for ParentSavvy I think I should get paid too!" I put the last check for $100 in his savings account. He was happy about that. I used to go with my Dad to help chop trees down, or paint someone's house. He made sure I got some of the money.

Did you ever make a God's Eye when you were a kid? I did once in Girl Scouts. I never knew they had another name Ojo de Dios oh-ho-day-DEE-ohs is Spanish for “Eye of God.” 

When the early Spaniards came to Mexico they encountered the Huichol people who lived in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico. The Huichol Indians who lived in the mountains made God’s eyes or Ojos de Dios to watch over those who prayed at their altars. They were woven on to crossing sticks.

The ends of the sticks represented the basic elements: earth, water, wind, and fire. The center of the eye stood for the power of seeing and understanding things we normally cannot see.

I was told the cross stood for Jesus Christ is in the God's Eye, but this was not originally so. The Huichol people focused their worship on nature and the earth rather than a specific divine being. 

Other tribes and churches since have adopted the practice of making and using Ojos de Dios. Some think The Eye of God is watching over them. They are made for little children as gifts. Really they are wishes of health, long life, and protection.

Isaak's been big into making ojo de dios! He wants to get more complicated with his designs. For now simplicity is where his designs are at. 

He started making Ojo de Dios a few years ago, but started creating more after we visited Alpaca's of the Heartland. It's interesting how going to a place can inspire creative juices to flow.

Side note: I'm really sad that Alpaca's of the Heartland may have to close down. They aren't wheelchair accessible. The same social media that got word out about them may have closed them down as well. They just don't have the funds to become wheelchair accessible. :(

Inspiration: 

This wonderful lady at Alpaca's of the Heartland had Isaak come up to learn to knit. He was so into it. I know he'd love to make felting animals, and mess with any craft that has yarn or string in it!

When we got home from Alpaca's of the Heartland, Isaak looked up videos on God's Eyes. There are a ton! Many aren't in English. Certainly they are inspiring!

Baby Steps:

Art and crafts are kind of like playing the piano. You wouldn't begin with playing Mozart. You have to start with Hot Cross Buns. Once Hot Cross Buns is down, you work up to other things. I think kids have this idea that they can just do complicated things because they look cool.

Supplies: 

Sticks
Yarn
Glue
Scissors

Begin:

Start by gluing 2 sticks together. Any type of sticks will do. You could glue more sticks together if you want.

Pick out your thread, or yarn. You can use a variety of colors, one that multi colored, or one color.

Tie the thread or yarn in the center in a tight knot.

Then wrap the thread or yarn all the way around one stick, pull it to the next stick to do the same, and keep going around and around until you're done.

It will look like a mess of yarn or string at first. No worries. It comes together.

See! I told you it comes together.

Both sides have charm!

Here's Isaak working away...wrap one stick, pull to the next stick, wrap again, and keep on going.

Making progress...

You can keep going until the ends of the sticks are covered, or stop to add things to the ends. I could see painting the sticks colors, putting feathers, or beads on them. There's a lot that can be done!

Here's my cutie:

Shhh...he probably doesn't like to be called that! Isn't he cute though!?

What Isaak Needs to Work On:

Pulling it tighter from stick to stick. It got looser and looser as he got bigger with it. 

Have you ever made a Ojo de Dio? What's your favorite craft to do with yarn or string?