Waking up in the Land of Glitter now in stores!!!

I'm so excited for my friend Kathy Cano-Murillo a.k.a. Crafty Chica! Her new book, "Waking up in the Land of Glitter" officially hits bookstores nationwide and online today! Order "Waking up in the Land of Glitter" at Amazon today!

I still am amazed by everything this woman does. She is a true inspiration not only to crafters, but everyone out there who want to turn a dream into a reality! She really is a one-woman wonder, and I know all her hard work on this novel is really going to pay off. She's the queen of glitter and it really is her time to shine!!!

I've personally had the opportunity to read a galley copy of this novel (a galley is the proof version of the book before the final edits). It is such a fun read. The book is set in Phoenix, Arizona (Kathy's actual hometown) and she really writes how she crafts, she infuses Phoenix and the three main characters, Starr, Ofie, and Chloe with so much character! I love Kathy's writing style and her colorful descriptions. She also infuses her writing with fun pop culture references which for me, a pop culture buff, a delight to read. And of course, since it is named, "Waking up in the Land of Glitter", you better believe crafting is involved. It is really cool that she's bringing crafting to the forefront in her novel. I think that crafting is so much a daily part of all of our lives and that it isn't addressed enough in media, television, and in books. It's so nice to read a book that I can actually relate too!!

Here's a couple of fun promotions for Kathy's book that you should check out. I'm actually in the first one below :) Kathy's daughter Maya actually put these together for her mom. She's a 16 year old creative wonder! Hmmm, there must be something in the blood!



And here's a really cute clip that gives more detail to the three main characters. Ofie really is the one that makes you laugh out loud in the book...she is such a crafty nut!



All this month, as part of her book launch and National Craft Month, Kathy will be doing video segments for her blog titled, "30 days of Glitter". She talks about it here on her Crafty Chica blog.

So have I convinced you yet that you need this book? Go out and get it today!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Great video from Sister Diane on Google Reader for Crafty Bloggers

Sister Diane is one smart cookie! She always is sharing information for us crafters on our blog and on her podcast as well as great projects and other "crafty goodness" (her catchphrase, not mine). This is a great video all about Google Reader. I've talked in the past about Google reader, but this video that she made is really thorough and very helpful. If you love to read lots of blogs on various topics, Google Reader is the way you go. She shares how to use it in full detail in the video below!

Google Reader Tricks for Craft Bloggers from Diane Gilleland on Vimeo.

While you are there, check out her other videos as well. I found the "Evaluating an Opportunity (when you aren't getting paid)" video very helpful. Also, on her "A Snapshot from the Craft Social" video, I noticed a tweet that I did for iLoveToCreate's Twitter pop up. Fun! I gotta learn how to do do these little instructional videos like she is doing. I'm sure it's pretty easy to setup and take video of your screen, I've just never done it!

Hope all is well in your world!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Now this inspires me!

A few inspirations I found today...


This sketchbook page from Alex Eben Meyer. I love black and neons together!!


Marcus Walters new take on brand identity for Coca-Cola. So colorful.


And this sign photo from Public Design Center

Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Some of my favorite photos

I sometimes admittedly get overwhelmed by a daily blog. It's a lot of work. OK, ok, I sound like I'm complaining...it's just the "after midnight and I've not taken my picture or written my blog grumble".

So, I thought I would share some pics of a few of my favorite photos I've taken in the past few years (well, the ones that are most accessible via Flickr). I've been taking photos since I was 18. My earlier photos weren't much too look at...composition was poor and some were rather blurry, but once I got into college I was getting the hang of it. And then I got a digital camera, and then a better digital camera, and well, ya know...if you do anything for long enough, I guess you're gonna get better.

Anyway, here's some of my faves. I'm not going into huge detail, but I just wanted to share some fun ones I've taken, for various reasons or other.


I've always been drawn to the colorful banners that you see at car dealerships. I stopped by on my commute home from my old work and took this with my old Pentax. It always took the best pictures! I think this is really sad, a depressing sentiment. Admittedly, I'm not always good at verbally being able to tell you how I feel about a situation or feeling, but I think I can speak these things through the lens. So don't ask me to critique or analyze my work!


A double exposure I took with my old Pentax. I rarely do double exposures purposely or well, but I like the colors and eeriness of this one that I took while on a Flickr walk/inside a parking garage of my friend Chris when I lived in Lexington.


Coming from a background in yearbook, I always have been drawn to pictures that tell a story. I think that's why I like to take so many varied photos...up close expressions, wide angle views. I love the movement hery from these gypsy dancers. I love the color too.


This is prob. my most favorite picture I've taken of my niece. She is a girl of many moods and I think I captured her intensity here. The wind was blowing perfectly that day on Tybee island. I hope she will enjoy looking back on this photo when she gets older and can appreciate it.


I've always loved the reflections and shadow of this shot. I think it's quite stoic.


I think this architectural detail on a building turned out quite nicely...esp. cause I photographed it out the window quickly while driving by it!


I've always loved this wedding photo I took of my friend Laura and her dad. I think I could prob. technically improve upon it in Photoshop, but I like the story it tells. They were showing a clip from Top Gun and they were dancing to the theme. Her dad is an Air Force captain and she's a big movie buff, so it was only appropriate for their first dance.


I def. think I captured a cool vibe in this photo of my friend Carey taken off Melrose in L.A. I think portait photography is my favorite type of photography. I am really at ease and happy when I take photos!

Well, off to bed! Hope you have a great day and I hope you enjoyed this walk down "Swell's photo memory lane".

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Inspiration is EVERYWHERE you look!

Yeah, I find tons of inspiration online for things that influence my projects, but getting out and shopping and actively looking for stuff can be super inspiring as well.

Case in point: This canvas from World Market is soooo pretty. I love all the shapes (it kinda looks like doilies) and the colors as well as the use of texture that rose off the canvas. To me, it looks like it merges a modern look with an abstract/organic look and I love that. That's what I would define my overall style being.



I love the abstraction and metallic paint used on this shirt from New York and Company. The beads give it an artsy/layered look as well. I think this look could easily be replicated using your own Soft paint and beads. Maybe not on a shirt, but perhaps on a pillow or canvas. If you see an idea you like, you may need to think of it in a different way...maybe you may not WEAR it, but you would love to have that look as a décor accent. Keep an open mind when you are out and about.


I love these retroesque kitchen sets at Target. The colors are just so bold and fresh. Of all the pieces, I'm tempted to buy the red bread box. I don't know what it is lately, but I can't get enough of red! I also need a paper towel holder as well, but I spent over $150 at Target today and that was way over my limit! Anyway, what I take away from this is that a retro look can be upscaled to have a more contemporary flair. Just by adding that little side pane window on the canister set, it made it much more modern. If you love making retro art or accents, how can you give it a twist that will make it totally different? I think that's always a challenge to us artists. By taking it to that next step, you can make something totally new and inventive and it just takes a small tweak. It really will make you stand out from the crowd if you are able to make your look different!


I've been busy cleaning up my studio. It's a lot of work cause it was super unorganized, but I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. YAY! I bought some cool new IKEA wall shelves, desk, and some other fun accents I plan on sharing real soon!

Hope you have a great week!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

From my Design File: Carey & Griffin's Wedding Invite

I was looking at an old CD of some of my work and came upon this wedding invite I designed for my friends Carey and Griffin's wedding a few years back. I designed it based on a design that Carey had seen in a Martha Stewart Wedding mag ad, but I changed up the leaves/filigree and the decorative gothic borders that you see (I used good ol' fashioned Monotype Sort Wingdings). I also created a map and water bottle design that accompanied this.

I enjoyed designing this invite and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to do it. I feel that I can do a lot of different things as a designer and this helps diversify me. I don't plan on doing wedding invites in any near future, but I guess it's an avenue I could always venture into if that was what I wanted to do. I just don't think I'd like dealing with fussy brides. People get so emotional over wedding stuff. I don't think I could handle the drama if something I did made or braked someone's day.

I guess I'll just stick to watching "Say Yes to the Dress" and occasionally admiring beautiful invitation design on Etsy.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Lighting Options for your home

I'm a big fan of clever lighting solutions and there a lot of really cool ideas to be found in this Decor it Yourself video from Threadbanger.



Here's a couple of the lighting options in my house. The yellow/orange glows always cast a nice glow, esp. if you can't paint the walls. Great solution for making things more cozy. I got my lanterns at World Market, but you can also find them at IKEA, and Pier One. Also look locally in your town at Asian gift stores or specialty gift shops. Some carry them there too.



My lamp shade is from Deadly Nightshades. I'm sure you could possibly make these yourself, but they did such a great job. Sometimes I would just rather have someone make it and get it instantly rather than spending the time and never getting around to tackling it (it happens a lot with me!)



And you may remember this Dotted Paper Tissue Lantern DIY project I made last year.

And some of my faves from around the web?


I can never get enough of these Capiz Shell lanterns from West Elm.


This DIY folded lantern from AhYiyi is really fab.


And I just love this chandelier lighting from Urban Outfitters, don't you?

What kind of lighting options do you have around your home? Please share :)

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

A couple recent projects

Here's a couple of the recent things I have worked on:

Graffiti paper lantern. I think it turned out pretty cool. I'm getting into this style. It's really easy and super simple!


A zine all about my Grandma. Silvia taught a class on the Zines the the other day (she talks about it on the Fresno Etsy blog). It was a lot of fun and I learned something new. It's like a little foldable book with 8 pages (including front and back cover) and it starts out as an 8.5" x 11" page, but folds into a little book. It's actually quite magical the way it folds.


Hope you guys have a great Wednesday! Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Fashion Graffiti on the Fly

This weekend, my friend Silvia (a.k.a. StudioMama) and I did a quick and easy video showing you how easy it is to use the new Tulip Fashion Graffiti products! We had a blast doing it! We just played with the product and had fun...I think part of the cool thing about this product is that it really allows you to just play and not think so much. I tend to overanalyze and think too much sometimes about what I am designing. This lets you loosen up and be free with your art and break out of that mold.

I was inspired by some various pillows I had found online (some retailing up to $70 a pop)!!

Here's a pic of the finished product! It's sloppy and messy...what makes graffiti so great!



Here's a whole slew of projects that we also have using the Graffiti product. We've compiled them in this Flickr set. Click on each project and at the bottom is the tutorial link to the project instructions on iLoveToCreate.

Look for Tulip® Fashion Graffiti™ endcap at your local Michaels! It's also available via iLoveToCreate.com!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

J'adore Junk Earrings

Here's a project I did a while back for Crafty Chica's blog! I wanted to share it on my own as well...

Valentine's is right around the corner and I wanted to get a head start on my crafting, so I made some funky and chunky earrings for the occasion!! If you have visited my blog in the past couple of weeks, you may have seen my Make a Modern Statement Ring. Well, I took that same technique and made these bold earrings! The cool thing about them is that they really can be made with jewelry junk and left over trinkets and supplies!! And I'm kinda addicted. I love making these little collages and spray painting them!!! What can I say? I have fallen in love with spray paint all over again! Anyway, here are the instructions, I hope you LOVE making these fun earrings as much as I did.

J'adore Junk Earrings

Supplies
– Capiz shells w/ drilled holes (I purchased mine at Michaels)
– Plastic pearly hearts (also purchased at Michaels)
– random jewelry findings, jump rings, spacers, rhinestones, etc.
– Liquid Fusion glue
– toothpick
– red glossy spray paint
– clear spray sealer
– 2 ear wires
– round nose pliers
– paper plate
– newspaper or cardboard surface
– tweezers
– camera phone or digital camera

Instructions
1. On a flat surface lay out your wooden disk and various findings. Play around with shapes and combinations until desired collage look is achieved. At this point, I took a picture so that I could go back to this arrangement later.



2. Lay out your various findings and disk onto cardboard, laying flat.



3. Prepare area outside or in well ventilated area for spray painting. Following spray paint directions, apply several coats, letting dry in between each application. Make sure to also flip and paint other side as well. Don't overspray...this may cause puddling on your surfaces.



4. Review your composition on your camera and start reconstructing your arrangement. I applied a little dab of glue to the backs of each finding and placed it onto my wood blank. Depending on how picky you are, you may want to use a toothpick to apply Liquid Fusion or arrange your findings using tweezers. Let dry thoroughly.



5. At this point, I actually sprayed another coat or two of spray all over the piece. I then coated it with a shiny spray sealer.

6. Open and close jump rings with pliers and add to capiz shells. Open and hook ear wires to each jump ring and close.

7. Yay! You now have a really cool pair of earrings not just for Valentine's, but something to wear year round! Every pair is totally different and unique!



Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

One of the reasons I miss Kentucky...

This little girl. Seriously, isn't she the cutest? This is my little niece Ava. She is a complete joy and so super photogenic. It's been about 8 or so years between her and the last grandkid, so she has been a very welcome and delightful addition to our family. As you can tell, she has an awesome personality!



My sis took these pics of her. I really think she could do a little side photography business if she wanted too! She has a camera like mine. I def. think she has an eye for capturing Ava's cuteness!! And I like her use of soft lighting on a simple backdrop!



My mom made the little sewn/crochet white dress she's wearing in these pics. Isn't it beautiful?



She even added this dainty tone on tone personalized embroidery on her dress. Definitely an heirloom piece to pass along!

Yeah, I'm pretty smitten with this little girl! I can't wait till when I get to see her next. I'm not sure when that will be! It won't be soon enough!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Valentine Download Fun!

So, I went back to the good ol' day job tonight (well, not really, but by day, I am a graphic designer) and whipped up a few fun valentines for you to print out and enjoy! I love the color combination of turquoise and red together! All you have to do is download the image BELOW by clicking and then dragging or copying it to your computer. Then print it out onto an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper. If you are wanting nicer Valentine's, I'd go with a bright white cardstock, but it's totally up to you! Then cut and hand out to family and friends. How much easier can you get?

Hope you enjoy this fun download! Until next time Swellions!

Valentine Crafty Inspiration

I love Valentine's day and crafts, of course, so I'd thought I'd compile some fun ones I've found around the web. Enjoy!

Candy Cane Heart tutorial from Skip to My Lou. A great way to use up those leftover candy canes from Christmas!


These pink and red felt fortune cookies via Martha Stewart are adorable!


These Valentine's from the Purl Bee are so sweet and simple. I HEART them!


These paper ornaments by Heather Bailey are super sweet and swell as well. There's a great tutorial for them on Craftzine's site!


And this pillow based on the Love stamp is so flippin' cute! It's available to buy on MissMosh's shop on Etsy.


Hope you LOVE these ideas as much as I do! Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

I love this furniture!

I came upon this furniture during a search and I just loved it so much and thought I'd share. It's from Home Furnishings Maker Jellio. They mix throwback items from childhood and create new, cool interior designs! Maybe it's because a lot of these are sweet (I'm a sucker for sweets), but I just love how whimsical they are!!

Ice Cream Sandwich Bench


Cupcake Table


Gummi Bear Lights


Viewmaster Mirror


Button Bench


Check out their fun Custom Projects they have made for everyone from hospitals to Hot Wheels to the show iCarly! Such clever stuff!!

Anyway, hope you have a great start to the week!!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

I own original art!

Check it out, tonight I bought canvas art from my wonderful friend Silvia Chenault! She is an amazing artist (find her work here as well) and zinemaker and she turned pages from her zines (this zine to be exact) into these large canvases!

I'm super excited about it! I've always wanted to buy original art on Etsy and the like, but I just haven't done it. This purchase really makes me want to go out and buy more. I'm always seeing prints and art that inspires me, I just don't take the time or money to invest in it!



And an equally cool piece of art I also got tonight? This colorful painted coloring book page by Silvia's 5 year old son Joshua...hmmmm, I think I see another artist in the making. He has a natural talent for watercolor, I do believe!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa