Flexible Framing with Foam Core Board

June 18, 2013 by mymateriallife

Have I told you how much I love foam core (a.k.a. foam board or foam core board)?  This is a material one usually discovers in art and design classes where it’s used for mounting projects and building models.  It’s also useful for making frames for inexpensive art in whatever size you wish – as long as that’s not bigger than 20″ x 30″ or so. When I was younger, I’d frame prints from art calendars sandwiched between a backing of […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Paper • Tags: art, diy, foam core board, framing, polyester film

The Paper Doll Post, Part 2

April 20, 2013 by mymateriallife

If you like paper dolls and/or fashion, I think you’re going to like the links I have to share with you in this post.  Let’s start with a few favorites from my collection … Top row from left: Andrea from Tom Tierney’s Brides from Around the World collection wearing the traditional Danish bridal costume. Die-cut dolls (the set also comes with a doll named Claire; each doll has six costumes), published by B. Shackman & Co., Inc., 1995. Another B. […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Paper • Tags: art, display, doll collecting, fashion, illustration, paper dolls

The Paper Doll Post, Part 1

March 11, 2013 by mymateriallife

This is the doll that I got from Dori Duncan at Camp Fashionista when Samantha and I went there to make paper dolls last month.  I finished mine at home because I knew I had some fabric from a previous project that I wanted to use with Dori’s coat and boot patterns.  When I saw her doll on her website in a grey flannel version of this jacket and the boots (complete with the small brads you see above used […]

Categories: Clothing & Accessories, Kid Stuff, Paper • Tags: birthday party invitation, camp fashionista, fashion, fashionary, louise de vilmorin, lucky guide to mastering any style, paper dolls, red plaid, style

Make Your Own Storage Sleeves, Portfolios, Binders

March 2, 2013 by mymateriallife

I made this sleeve to store and transport the drawings from my fashion illustration class.  I already had a nice ITOYA portfolio from a previous drawing class, but it’s sleeves were too small, and the plastic sleeve I found with my art things was too large.  So I made a new sleeve that is the perfect size for my drawings by combining three favorite materials – high density polyethylene sheets from TAP plastics, Dura-Lar (a polyester film that replaces the […]

Categories: Paper • Tags: art sleeve, binder rings, binders, diy, dura-lar, high density polyethylene, illustration, portfolios, tap plastics

Valentine’s Vignette, Hearts, Flower

February 14, 2013 by mymateriallife

Happy Valentine’s Day 2013!  I had a few things I wanted to try this year, like the scene above.  Here you can see two more champagne chairs – one with a few beads, one without (the red cap is from a bottle of Lambrusco I bought to go with a pizza we had last week).  The table is made from one of those plastic things you find in your pizza box to keep the pizza from getting crushed and a […]

Categories: Embroidery, Kid Stuff, Knitting, Miniatures, Other Holidays, Paper • Tags: champagne chairs, crafts, diy, embroidery, knitting, miniatures, mobiles, valentine's crafts, valentine's day

Fashion Illustration Class

February 10, 2013 by mymateriallife

I’m so excited to finally be learning about fashion illustration at Camp Fashionista in San Jose.  I completed this drawing during my very first session on Friday afternoon.  I couldn’t wait to race home and show it to everyone, including my sister and brother-in-law, Kathie and Doug, who were spending the night with us.  Kathie used to love drawing things like this when she was young.  Let me tell you, Dori Duncan, who is teaching the class and owns and […]

Categories: Clothing & Accessories, Paper, Sewing • Tags: camp fashionista, clothing, fashion, fashion design, fashion illustration, illustration, sewing, style

Midwinter Mobile

January 20, 2013 by mymateriallife

It’s warmed up in the San Francisco Bay area this weekend, but we just came through an unusual cold spell.  You know it’s cold when you see people in coats in the middle of a sunny day in this part of the world.  Anyway, I have a few good things to share with you in this post.  I made the mobile you see above using a wonderful product by Kikkerland Design, their hanging photoclip mobile.  So simple, so elegant, such […]

Categories: Furnishings, Kid Stuff, Paper, Reading Material • Tags: crystal snowflakes, diy mobiles, flensted mobiles, harbin ice and snow festival, kikkerland hanging photoclip mobile

Dreams, Schemes, Plans

January 7, 2013 by mymateriallife

I used to feel compelled to write down the things I did, people I saw, etc., in a calendar.  I think I started this because I was going through a particularly good time and I didn’t want to forget any of it.  I’d jot down the kind of things you see in the photo above minus the sketches.  This eventually became a burden, something I perpetually needed to “get caught up on”.  I recently decided I could let go of […]

Categories: Paper • Tags: cachet earthbound sketchbook, diy lettering, illustration, midori, moleskine, one sketch a day, planners, shopping, staedtler

Simple Techniques for Custom Christmas Cards

December 12, 2012 by mymateriallife

This is a gallery of favorite cards I’ve made over the years.  Once I started making my own it seemed like something I should keep doing, so for better or for worse I’m still at it.  The photo collage below is the first photo card I’ve made.  I typically prefer a card with some Christmas magic – the kind that is usually provided by a judicious use of glitter.  But 2011 was a festive year, so I thought the images […]

Categories: Christmas, Paper • Tags: card design, custom christmas cards, diy