Mini Artwork

I haven't done anything creative with my colored pencil drawings such as making notecards, prints, etc....until now! I've made them into scrumptious mini desserts. These shrinky dink magnets come in a set at WhiMSy love. Get 'em now to celebrate the sweet days of summer!

Random

I love random blog posts. And this one is about as random as it gets. First of all, look what I got today......crutches! After having a very hurty knee for a week & a half I decided to go see the doc & she says my knee is sprained. Poo. I was kinda excited to get crutches. I've never had them before. But, I am finding out they're not that fun. They're awkward & uncomfortable & I don't like 'em. I'm only renting them so too bad I can't funk 'em up with paint or something.

BUT, look what my sweet friend Tia just brought over for me! A giant cupcake cookie jar--filled with homemade cookies!! I have the best friends!

I also wanted to share with you a neato trade I made with miss indie. It's a really cute Pink Crochet Cup Cozy. And though you can't tell, that mug is full of my favorite English Toffee drink. Mmm....

Not only do I have owies, but my wee one is about to have surgery on Monday to remove her tonsils & adnoids. My little 4 year old has had 3 surgeries in one year. (Her 2 front teeth, her appendix & now this.) What a tough chik! So, I've been busy limping around trying to find fun little things for her to do while she spends 2 weeks recovering. You know, a "sick box" filled with goodies & activities & interesting items to keep her occupied & not bored.



Look what's new at WhiMSy love..... DORK & a NERD mini tag banners. Come on--proclaim your nerdiness or declare your dorkiness with a silly & fun little banner! (They can be made in any color combo too.)

I'm super stoked because this Saturday I get to hang with my bro, sis, nephew (who just flew up today from New Orleans for a visit!!!), & pops on a road trip to Seattle for some car races. My bro (who owns an auto mechanic shop) LOVES Nascar & all that stuff. I'm planning on having a blast despite having to hobble around. I have a wonderfully wacky family & I can't wait to have a silly time!

Last night was the season premiere of my all-time favoritest show in the universe: Project Runway! It was the best end to a hectic day of doctor appointments & an aching knee.

So there. That's the end of today's randomness. I'm off to make some more shrinky dinks. I'm printing my artwork on the shrinky dink sheets & making magnets!! They're super cute. I'll show ya later.
Happy Thursday!

Shrinky Dink Drink Tags

I'm gearing up for my upcoming MOPS year.....starting in September! I know, I know. I'm getting a SUPER early start. But, I'm so excited about all the crafts I have planned that I wanted to do a tutorial right away! We'll be making these drink tags in September, but I thought it'd be fun to show YOU how to make 'em now--they're SO useful & handy, especially with the summer months upon us! I use mine ALL the time. It keeps my girls from getting their water bottles mixed up on our outings, picnics & parties!

Gather your supplies! I have lots of shrinky dink material in my stash--some are "rough-n-ready" which is really just a translucent sheet that's smooth on one side & "rough" on the other. It's the easiest to use--just because it's ready right away without any prep work! I also have it in shiny black, white, cream & brown.

You'll also need scissors, a ruler, permanent markers &/or colored pencils & a hole punch. Optional supplies: sandpaper (if you're using shrinky dink sheets that are smooth you'll need this!), decorative scissors & decorative punches.

Before I explain the steps I wanted to explain why I have so many photos in my tutorials. Well, put simply, I LOVE taking pictures! The many photos doesn't equal MANY steps. I just want to make it easy to understand as well. So anyway....The first thing you'll do is sand your shrinky dink sheet if you're using the smooth stuff.
And now you'll measure. The tags start out as 2 1/2" x 8", so cut that size from your sheet. They shrink to 15/16" x 3 1/4".

Now you can use your straight scissors to round the corners (so they're not so sharp & poky)...

...or use your decorative scissors to creative a funky edge!

I LOVE the large scallops, but there are tons of different decorative scissors to choose from. I'm not sure how the smaller detailed decorative scissors will work on the shrinky dink material. I haven't tried that yet.

I used my mini hole punch (1/8" I think) to make decorative details on my tag.


Once again--as in most of my tutorials--I will let you learn from my mistakes. Once the tag shrinks in the oven, those tiny holes will be pretty much too tiny to hang from your bottles. SO, use your regular ole hole punch (1/4" I think) to punch a hole at the top.

If you're using the "rough-n-ready" sheets, here's a handy tip for writing names. Write the name on the smooth side with a dry erase marker.

Then, turn it over to the rough side & trace the name with your permanent marker or colored pencil. This is so that the finished product will look all schnazzy-like on the smooth glossy side.

Decorate your tag in whatever way you wish. You can write the names horizontal or vertical--or however you wish!

Next comes the baking part! I like to set my shrinky dink creations on parchment paper--on top of the cookie sheets before baking. It prevents the tags from sticking to anything. I have also heard that some people lightly dust their pieces with baby powder to prevent them from sticking to each other when baking. I've never done this. But, in September, when I have 30 ladies making this craft for EACH of their kids, I might reconsider.


Here's my hot shot from the oven-cam. Follow the directions that come with your shrinky dink sheets. I used to use a toaster oven to make mine. But, I burnt up my toaster oven a few months ago so that's not an option anymore. I kinda cheat now & just turn the broiler on in my gas oven & watch it bake. It doesn't take long at all, so keep an eye on it at all times. Never leave a shrinking shrinky dink unattended.

If you've never made shrinky dinks before, this part will definitely freak you out. I can just see all the newbie shrinkers faces now....HAHA!!!! Ok, I'm mean. The tags will curl & bend & twist. That's normal. If you were sitting in a burning hot oven you'd probably react the same way. Eventually they will flatten out. That's when you take 'em out. I always pop 'em off the cookie sheet (careful! They're hot!!!) & place them on a hard flat surface & tap them real quick to completely flatten them out (in case they have a bit of curl left in them).

Ta-da! They're done.

I made two tags with the "rough-n-ready" sheets & wrote names on both sides so you could see the difference in the shiny & rough side. They're both cute, but I like the finished name to be on the shiny side. It just looks more complete & finished.

Now you'll want to loop a rubber band through your hole punch. I use my little girls latex hair elastics.

Warning: Fuzzy photos ahead.

Pull the rubber band through the hole...

...loop it back through itself....

...& tighten.

Now you can tie on different colors of 5" lengths of ribbon if you want. Completely optional. My girls love the ribbons.

Now strap the tags over water bottles & you'll never be confused again! We used to have so many random water bottles lying around that would go to waste. Not anymore!! Just don't forget to take your tags off when you recycle your water bottle. The tags are reusable & fantastically useful!!Clicke HERE to find lots of ideas, patterns, trivia, & kits to purchase from the Shrinky Dink website! Did you know shrinky dinks were first sold in 1973?

And you'll be seeing some new Shrinky Dink handmade goodies soon at WhiMSy love!

My Latest Shrinky Dink Project

Last weekend I madly searched the internet for shrinky dink projects. And, look what I learned how to make! They are sewing pins topped with the sweetest itty bitty shrinky dink decorations! I don't have a cute pincushion to poke 'em into, so I might just have to make one of those too.

The first one I made was the very tiny light pink cupcake. I like that size best. I also outlined some in black pencil before baking. I actually like the ones that are NOT outlined--the dark pink & turquoise cupcakes & the chocolate chip cookie. Do you see that tiniest piece of cheesecake? There's also a piece of candy in there somewhere. I can't wait to make more tonight!

I was also taking pics around my house the other day & had to show this piece that I got as a gift last Christmas. It is one of my favorite pieces because Mr. WhiMSy love surprised me with it. It holds a lot of my crafty stuff. And I think the doll head on top is funny. But, I guess it could be considered creepy. I was vacuuming my house one day & the head was on the floor & I just popped it up there to get it out of the way & it's never come down.

My beloved button collection. I sorted them all by color. I get such a high doing mundane things like that. HAHA!





I don't know why, but I have a strange attraction to salt & pepper shakers & interesting little bottles. I actually make little bouquets from buttons & use these as the "vases". I'll have to show those one day.

I distressed these letters & they lean above the window which sits right next to the dining table. I love my silly valance thingie made from torn strips of fabric tied to a rope. I have longer "curtain" versions of these hanging in my living room & bathroom.

The original lampshade on this lamp was a modern/oriental thingie. Not my style. So I covered it with a little girls "petticoat" that I cut up & sewed to fit. And the movie poster in the background is one that my mom gave my dad -I'm just "borrowing" it 'cause they're not using it. It's about 7' x 7' & is from 1916!!