Craftside

A couple of Southern California events and links to cool crafty news

Happy Monday! Are you all recovered from the big wedding last week? I almost am, but boy was my Easter awesome and there is a lot of recovering to do there too. If you are in SoCal, I have 2 events to tell you about happening this coming Mother's Day weekend. The first is the Burbank Book Festival held at the Buena Vista Branch this Saturday May 7 from 1-4. Burbank is celebrating its Centennial with all sorts of events and this one looks to be a good one. Please stop by and make a recycled wool felted sweater flower with me. (Perfect to give mom on her special day!!!)

The full list of my fellow Burbank authors:

Also on the agenda this weekend is the always fabulous Unique LA!!!

All the details about the super fun vendors and special extras can be found on the Unique LA website.

Along with our always popular Craftside mega free craft zone filled with all sorts of wonderful authors and designers hosting free Make and Takes, we will have a

Free Gift Wrapping Table

fully stocked with our

Recycled Book Page Wrapping Paper

Perfect to wrap up that newly purchased treasure that you scored for Mom!

 If you aren't in SoCal, all is not lost!

This is a super prize package Traci Bunkers, author of The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore, and Make it Your Own and Print & Stamp Lab: 52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools

has put together, and you have a chance to win over at her blog so scoot on over and enter. There is only 1 day left to get in the running!

Looking to get some crafty inspiration right now? Here are some links to cool crafts:

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Check out the Mother's Day Parade of Crafts on The Artful Crafter. You're sure to find something to make that will put a smile on Mom's face. Kid-friendly projects are indicated by our little Miss SmArty icon.

Crafty Princess Diaries
How the heck do you make holes so you can add some fashionable crochet trim?

Mixed Media Artist
Have you seen Lark Publications' beautiful new book, 500 Raku?

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Book Review: Knits That Fit from Potter Craft

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi's big Fairyopolis card making post is over on the Crafter's Companion site this week.

About Family Crafts
Do you want to learn how to make mosaics? Sherri can help!

 

Traci Bunkers is giving away a copy of her new book The Art Journal Workshop and how to make novelty eraser stamps

Yes, you read right! Just pop on over to Traci Bunkers' blog post here and enter to win a copy of:

The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore, and Make it Your Own

by 

Traci Bunkers

Many people want to express themselves through visual journaling, but are stuck or intimidated with how to get started, what to write, or how to move beyond gluing down a few images or putting some paint on the paper.

This book breaks down the entire working process of journaling with step-by-step photos and instructions from start to finish: how to use different media such as paint, photographs, and collage, and contains journaling prompts and exercises. These exercises help readers dig deeper to enrich the journaling process and experience. The book discusses the benefits of visual journaling, and includes exercises about what to do when you are in a creative funk or feeling down or uninspired, and how to help yourself out of it.

The book includes a DVD featuring Traci Bunkers creating many of the visual journal pages shown throughout the book. This visual guide enhances the information in the book, showing her work process in a way that goes beyond what can be captured in still photographs or through text. 

Traci Bunkers is a passionate and quirky self-employed mixed-media and journal artist living in Lawrence, Kansas. “I love rusty things, glitter glue, old books to cut up and cheap cameras. I'm smiling when my hands are dirty with paint or when I've altered a camera or something to use as a printing tool. It means I'm doing what I love—making art and doing things with my hands. Lucky for me, I do what I love for a living.” Even though the DIY and repurposing life styles are now in vogue, for this self-proclaimed love child of MacGyver, reusing and repurposing have always been her way of life as a creative way to problem solve and make ends meet. Through her one-woman business Bonkers Handmade Originals, she sells her nifty creations such as hand-dyed spinning fibers and yarns, original rubber stamps, handmade books, knits and original artwork. She also creates an artzine called Tub Legs, designs knitwear, and is a knitting, spinning, and crochet technical editor. She has been teaching workshops across the US since the early 90s and her visual journal pages, artwork, and knit designs have been published in numerous books and magazines. To learn more about her work, visit her web site at www.TraciBunkers.com.

And just 'cause I'm in love with her first book I have an inside peek into Print & Stamp Lab: 52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools to share with you today

Novelty erasers aren't just for erasing ya know! Try following these great instructions from the book Print & Stamp Lab on how to carve them into rubber stamps.

 

If you liked this innovative stamp making project and want 51 more, grab yourself a copy of:

 

Print & Stamp Lab:

52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools

by

Traci Bunkers

Artist and popular workshop instructor Traci Bunkers can turn just about anything into an interesting stamp, printing block, or tool. In this book, she shows readers how to see overlooked, everyday objects in a new way, and how to "MacGyver" them into easy to use printing blocks and tools. Readers learn to create 52 print blocks and stamp tools, all from inexpensive, ordinary, and unexpected materials--string, spools, bandages, flip flops, ear plugs, rubber bands, school erasers, and a slew of other repurposed and upcycled items. The book also shows how to use those simple tools to make gorgeous, multi-layered prints and patterns that can be used to enhance journal covers, stationery, fabrics, accessories, and more.

Traci Bunkers is a passionate and quirky self-employed mixed-media and fiber artist living in Lawrence, Kansas. Through her one-woman business Bonkers Handmade Originals, she sells her nifty creations such as hand-dyed spinning fibers and yarns, original rubber stamps, handmade books, kits and original artwork. She also creates an artzine called Tub Legs, designs knitwear, and is a knitting, spinning, and crochet technical editor. She has been teaching workshops across the US since the early 90s and her visual journal pages, artwork, and knit designs have been published in numerous books and magazines. To learn more about her work, visit her web site at www.TraciBunkers.com

 

How to use henna stencils in your art journal videos with Traci Bunkers and crafty links

You know what a fan I am of using something in a creative way other than its intended purpose, and that's what Traci Bunkers, author of Print & Stamp Lab: 52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools and The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore, and Make it Your Own, has done. Check out these 2 cool videos where she shows you how to use henna stencils in your art journal pages.

And the second video:

More about the new book:

The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore, and Make it Your Own

by 

Traci Bunkers

Many people want to express themselves through visual journaling, but are stuck or intimidated with how to get started, what to write, or how to move beyond gluing down a few images or putting some paint on the paper.

This book breaks down the entire working process of journaling with step-by-step photos and instructions from start to finish: how to use different media such as paint, photographs, and collage, and contains journaling prompts and exercises. These exercises help readers dig deeper to enrich the journaling process and experience. The book discusses the benefits of visual journaling, and includes exercises about what to do when you are in a creative funk or feeling down or uninspired, and how to help yourself out of it.

The book includes a DVD featuring Traci Bunkers creating many of the visual journal pages shown throughout the book. This visual guide enhances the information in the book, showing her work process in a way that goes beyond what can be captured in still photographs or through text. 

Traci Bunkers is a passionate and quirky self-employed mixed-media and journal artist living in Lawrence, Kansas. “I love rusty things, glitter glue, old books to cut up and cheap cameras. I'm smiling when my hands are dirty with paint or when I've altered a camera or something to use as a printing tool. It means I'm doing what I love—making art and doing things with my hands. Lucky for me, I do what I love for a living.” Even though the DIY and repurposing life styles are now in vogue, for this self-proclaimed love child of MacGyver, reusing and repurposing have always been her way of life as a creative way to problem solve and make ends meet. Through her one-woman business Bonkers Handmade Originals, she sells her nifty creations such as hand-dyed spinning fibers and yarns, original rubber stamps, handmade books, knits and original artwork. She also creates an artzine called Tub Legs, designs knitwear, and is a knitting, spinning, and crochet technical editor. She has been teaching workshops across the US since the early 90s and her visual journal pages, artwork, and knit designs have been published in numerous books and magazines. To learn more about her work, visit her web site at www.TraciBunkers.com.

Now onto some more crafty goodness with my favorite crafty bloggers:

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a recycled t-shirt and wire hanger St. Patrick's Day shamrocks.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Writing and journaling, whether prose or poetry, can help you move forward as an artist. Here's an example from Eileen that turned out to be quite prophetic.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi explores mixing traditional embroidery with her beadwork.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how to make a colorful springtime tote.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi gives herself a Graphics 45 paper challenge!

Crafty Princess Diaries
The baby afghan granny square is done! Here's what I will change next time.

 

Video from Traci Bunkers' new book The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore, and Make it Your Own

Check out this video that is an exercise called "Intervention" from Traci Bunkers' new book and DVD The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore, and Make it Your Own.

More about the new book:

The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore, and Make it Your Own

by 

Traci Bunkers

Many people want to express themselves through visual journaling, but are stuck or intimidated with how to get started, what to write, or how to move beyond gluing down a few images or putting some paint on the paper.

This book breaks down the entire working process of journaling with step-by-step photos and instructions from start to finish: how to use different media such as paint, photographs, and collage, and contains journaling prompts and exercises. These exercises help readers dig deeper to enrich the journaling process and experience. The book discusses the benefits of visual journaling, and includes exercises about what to do when you are in a creative funk or feeling down or uninspired, and how to help yourself out of it.

The book includes a DVD featuring Traci Bunkers creating many of the visual journal pages shown throughout the book. This visual guide enhances the information in the book, showing her work process in a way that goes beyond what can be captured in still photographs or through text. 

Traci Bunkers is a passionate and quirky self-employed mixed-media and journal artist living in Lawrence, Kansas. “I love rusty things, glitter glue, old books to cut up and cheap cameras. I'm smiling when my hands are dirty with paint or when I've altered a camera or something to use as a printing tool. It means I'm doing what I love—making art and doing things with my hands. Lucky for me, I do what I love for a living.” Even though the DIY and repurposing life styles are now in vogue, for this self-proclaimed love child of MacGyver, reusing and repurposing have always been her way of life as a creative way to problem solve and make ends meet. Through her one-woman business Bonkers Handmade Originals, she sells her nifty creations such as hand-dyed spinning fibers and yarns, original rubber stamps, handmade books, knits and original artwork. She also creates an artzine called Tub Legs, designs knitwear, and is a knitting, spinning, and crochet technical editor. She has been teaching workshops across the US since the early 90s and her visual journal pages, artwork, and knit designs have been published in numerous books and magazines. To learn more about her work, visit her web site at www.TraciBunkers.com.

And now on to your favorite crafty links to kick off the week:

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night. Read Eileen"s tale of her first magical Christmas birthday in Mexico.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi shares the steps as she begins to assemble a small quilt using her own handpainted fabrics.

About Family Crafts
Check out the current make-it-over craft challenge! Do you have a snowman craft to share?

Aileen's Musings
New Project Announcement--Every Inchie Monday A "small" personal challenge....an inch a week is all we ask!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi sews up an elephant using a vintage cigarette card pattern.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Valentine's Day already? Yes, it is a good time to start thinking about it if you hope to sell some Valentine's crafts.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Print your Free 2011 Cross Stitch Calendar - use it to track stitching events, appointments and more. Keep track of how many days you stitch this year too.

 

How to make a rubber stamp out of a garden kneeling cushion from the new book Print & Stamp Lab

Do you like rubber stamping?

Do you like making your own stamps?

Then you will love this book filled with 52 ideas on how to make stamps from all sorts of things.

 

Print & Stamp Lab:

52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools

by

Traci Bunkers

Artist and popular workshop instructor Traci Bunkers can turn just about anything into an interesting stamp, printing block, or tool. In this book, she shows readers how to see overlooked, everyday objects in a new way, and how to "MacGyver" them into easy to use printing blocks and tools. Readers learn to create 52 print blocks and stamp tools, all from inexpensive, ordinary, and unexpected materials--string, spools, bandaids, flip flops, ear plugs, rubber bands, school erasers, and a slew of other repurposed and upcycled items. The book also shows how to use those simple tools to make gorgeous, multi-layered prints and patterns that can be used to enhance journal covers, stationery, fabrics, accessories, and more.

Traci Bunkers is a passionate and quirky self-employed mixed-media and fiber artist living in Lawrence, Kansas. Through her one-woman business Bonkers Handmade Originals, she sells her nifty creations such as hand-dyed spinning fibers and yarns, original rubber stamps, handmade books, kits and original artwork. She also creates an artzine called Tub Legs, designs knitwear, and is a knitting, spinning, and crochet technical editor. She has been teaching workshops across the US since the early 90s and her visual journal pages, artwork, and knit designs have been published in numerous books and magazines. To learn more about her work, visit her web site at www.TraciBunkers.com

The first inside peek I want to share with you is this cool tutorial on how to make an impression stamp from a garden kneeling cushion.

 Click on these images from Print & Stamp Lab to read how to make rubber stamps from a garden kneeling cushion.

I had to try making my own heat impression stamps.

First I had to figure out what I wanted to impress into the foam. Always my scissors to the rescue!

I followed the directions and soon I had two cool scissor stamps.

A tip here, for the larger scissors I used a clear block to impress the scissors evenly and all at once.

And here are some of my first images from my homemade heat impression scissor stamps. Oh and I mounted my stamps on 2 by 4 scraps with some carpet tape. They are huge!