twenty-five days and twenty-five projects?

Okay, so a lot of people on Facebook did these "I'm Thankful for..." statuses for X amount of days; 
I'm thinking of doing something kind of similar. 


Since Saturday marks the start of December, and I've been obsessed with craft projects lately, I'm wondering if I shouldn't try out a new crafty thing each day. Yes, that's up to 25 THINGS.

Some of the stuff I have found on Pinterest isn't difficult to make, and this way, I might have extra cool Christmas gifts? And just cool stuff in general! And that's where the thankfulness comes in; if they become gifts, it's my way of showing my love for a relative or friend = a homemade something from my stout fingers!

AND I've noticed that when I focus on being creative outside of the writing realm of things, I get creative everywhere. This could help in my latest publishing projects (that may or may not blossom). The goal today is, since I've wrapped up grading for this week and don't have classes until tomorrow, to find craft projects to do each day because I'm going to need 25 of them. Or at least 15-20 because some may be 1+ day projects...

So, a list to choose from:

button bracelets [already did, but I'd like to make more]
button necklaces
button additions to an old/new shirt
buttons on a card
heart garland
felt garland
garland made of old Christmas party invites so I can use it to decorate the fake baby evergreens in the living room
fabric letters on an old/new tee [already did, but I want to do more]
fabric hearts made of scraps (with buttons on them? snowman shape or Christmas tree shape?)
leftover fabric = patchwork on old jeans (may take more than a day?)
leftover fabric = patchwork on a shirt (may take more than a day?) like words or a skull or just hearts on elbows?
leftover fabric = stuff animals (may take more than a day?)
leftover fabric = fabric keychains
scrap fabric Christmas wreath
yarn covered cardboard shaped in the form of a letter
pom-poms
zippers = small pouch
zippers = add to a dress to change how it fits? (may take more than a day?)
crossbody bag (may take more than a day?)
modge podged wine bottle for my bangles
beads made from paper (using modge podge)
chevron friendship bracelets from t-shirt string, etc.
napkin rings from TP rolls and fabric
deck of cards + creativity = mini-funky-journal
CD holder sleeve(s)

^^ That's 25, kids.^^

As I choose them, and complete them, I'll try to upload a picture and then cross them off the list!

and there's fabric, too.

And... I have an obsession with fabric, too. At one point, I was all about making myself cute tops that required two seams or tank dresses... but now, I want to make other things that are tougher, probably.

Who doesn't love to give themselves a challenge?

button mania.

Yes, you read that correctly. I'm not gushing about Beatle mania or Beetle mania, although I could... well, the former would take more umph than the latter (god bless VWs). Anyhow, I have been a mad woman seeking out buttons lately.

Ever heard someone say that before? Yep, me neither.

If you checked out my last post, I made a cute little button evergreen ornament. Yeah. Well, finding buttons - GREEN ones at that - in my piles of junk, that are different SIZES, wasn't happening. I was able to make two tree ornaments. That's it. Bummer.

Then, last Saturday, I went to a thrift store - a big one - in Fargo to find MORE green buttons of MORE sizes. No go. Damn it. Who gets upset about buttons? This girl. So silly. I completely realize that.

So, yesterday, before I knew I had to be on campus for my office hour at 11am, I took off for Fergus Falls, MN in my baby bug (okay, she's no baby at almost 13-years-old; man, I really am all about reduce, reuse, recycle - I refuse to trade her in) to find some *#(@%$ buttons.

And came home with other crap instead. Still, the other crap was great crap. But they weren't buttons.

So, after assessing papers like a teacher on crack, I thought, "Hey, I'll go back to our little thrift store in town. It had some buttons the last time I was there." And they DID. Like three small bags of ALL GREEN BUTTONS. I was never so happy to see buttons. (Yes, I might need therapy after all this DIY stuff I've thrown myself into ever since making friends with my sewing machine.)

Now, all I can think about is what to do with buttons, because obviously, I will have leftovers. I already had too many buttons for a person who hates shirts that button... and god bless Pinterest for helping me find button projects.

I may try to make necklaces and rings and bracelets and beaded headbands and beaded wreaths and... yeah. I've linked all the above to my Pinterest DIY category, so go here to find the links to the cool stuff above.

At least this addiction costs me very little. With my 25% Off coupon yesterday, I purchased A LOT for under $20. Woot woot! Oh, and I found awesome-and-barely-used thread for $0.19-0.49!! And a fat little stuffed Santa (possibly made by a DIYer) for my office.

diy saturday.

A gift for a mama-to-be wrapped in paper from an old baby name book.

My first try at sewing tiny things; these are fabric ornaments with stuffing from an old pillow in them.

Saw this (and the things above) on Pinterest; buttons + wire = an evergreen ornament!

hemp yarn light of coolness.

Sometimes, I learn things on Pinterest. Then I make them. This was MESSY (glue and hemp string and cornstarch), but it is so pretty when lit! The bf was like, "WTH," as was my dad, but they don't KNOW cool. Well, they know ME, but they don't... whatever. I think they'd rather I didn't make messes and just bought stuff, so they could then mock me after. A.K.A. "she burned up another credit card" instead of "she's frugal and creative."

Next on my list of DIY: leftover fabric + garland format = see the idea here; 8 oranges shall be squeezed into my "punch" for the Thursday jewelry party THEN I'll use what's leftover + white vinegar = cleaning agent as seen here; and, lastly, I'd like to try this = using oil in my plug-in thingies from that one store in the mall.

p.s. There are some DIY posts on my other blog, too, because this summer I neglected this one. Here's one such post about how we took a big old door and made it into my new office desk!

Oh, and as usual, you can find me here on Pinterest.
Word!

halloween: leaf me alone.

I was a tree for Halloween.
In case ya'll wanted to know. And stuff.

[Tunic = Savers $4, Owl necklace = secondhand store somewhere for under $5, brown leggings = Target for under $10 awhile ago... and slouchy brown boots.]