Something to Look Forward Weekly

I looked at my site and realized that if not for my GT entries every Thursday, I wouldn't have been able to update this site. If you're not familiar with GT, it stands for Girls Talk and it happens every Thursday of the week. Most of the topics are mainly about personal stuff depending on the topic posted by the host.

In short, I have been missing a lot of post craft-y.

And so to keep you posted of what The Joyful Crafter is doing in her crafting work space, I decided to do...

Every Tuesday you will see me blogging about anything related to crafts that I currently have my hands into. Oh and that includes photos too! :-) 

So drop by whenever you can to see what I have for the week. Join me if you're also into crafts, whatever form it doesn't really matter, and have a blog. Just leave a comment and a link so I can visit you back. 

Ooohh I am excited!
See you on Tuesday! Ü

WIP

Today we decided to stay home to avoid floods every where brought about by the continuous rainfalls since the other day...

And because the weather gives off this lazy feel, I decided to stay in bed and start working on a pasta machine cover!

my hook & yarn

I used simple stitches like single &double crochet. Initially I planned to do it in blocks but couldn't really bring myself to follow the pattern so I ended up doing something out of the blue without the help of any pattern. 

I am excited to see how this project turns out. Honestly, at this point I still have no idea on how I'll go about it. And as my crochet kumare says, it'll come. So we'll see how I'll nail this. I wish I can finish this in a day but since I have CTS, this will most likely be something I'll do in the next few days. 

I'll take a photo of this sip on my pasta machine when done. Ü 

Wish me luck!

In Minutes...

I have been away for weeks... It's been really crazy. Tons of things to do at home, at work, online then came the news from NBS that they're ready to release the school supplies kits! Nevertheless, those weeks have been great ones -- physically, mentally as well as emotionally.

But no matter how toxic a day for me can be, The Joyful Crafter in me will always find its way to work on something. You know just how much I love crafting, right? Other than the fact that it never fails to relax my mind, I love the 'high' I get from it every time my hands are working with my tools. So no matter how demanding a week is, I still make it a point to sit at my working area every chance I get to able to come up with a little something.

The past weeks I was able to make little cutey stuff... Well cute for me because I made some of them in my fave shades! Ha!

Some were first attempts, while some were made particularly to be given to friends.
Here let me show them to you.

I love making making chibis and crocheting balls & flowers, so this time I thought of incorporating them to come up with something special ☺

This kind of explains why I had to wear my CTS braces again... Crocheting has always been challenging for my hands. But I love the craft and the people I made those projects for, so I continued doing them. I made another one in orange, but too bad I wasn't able to take a picture of it. But I am happy it reached the person I gave it to ♥

And now for some new projects...

I love owls and penguins, plus Nendo's represented by a penguin, so I attempted to make them... in PINK! Cutey, yes?

salted egg, anyone?

Now this is supposed to be a cute doll miniature... But after I made it, I didn't really find it cute. I found it fat for a Kokeshi, lol! Must be because I was watching The Biggest Loser, Pinoy Edition while working on this... hahahaha.

I am planning of making lots and lots and lots of those projects in different colors to be made into charms and pendants...

Cute stuff?

Basic + Advance Workshop with Poxee

Ever wonder how little things as cute as these are made?

photo courtesy of Poxeelicious

Well, last April 9, 2011 (Saturday) from 9:30am to 6:00pm in Sta Ana Manila, I, together with 2 clay crafter friends Angel and Kim plus a new found friend Jojo, attended my 3rd polymer clay workshop on Basic & Advance Polymer Clay with Ms. Grayserr Geronimo of Poxeelicious. The workshop where I gained knowledge in creating all the cute stuff you see up there.

[l-r] yours truly, Kim, Angel & Jojo

The workshop was a really nice refresher course for me too. Yet even a refresher, I sure learned a whole lot of new things -- I discovered new ways, techniques, tips and tricks in creating one of a kind projects, at the same time unraveled the secrets behind delicious looking cupcake frostings! Add to that, I met another kind, generous and supportive mentor in the personality of Ms Grayserr Geronimo, the lady behind Poxee Shop. With her I felt comfortable asking questions and just being the ever 'kulit' me -- having her repeat her demos in cases where I didn't get the technique or the idea the first time, injecting jokes here and there once in a while. I know I am not an easy student to handle, lol. 

Ms Grayserr Geronimo aka Poxee 

Since I have been claying for quite sometime now and have attended a couple of workshops that seemed  extensive in my own point of view, in the past, the basic part covered a lot of things I was already familiar with... Topics such as the different kinds of polymer clay - both local and international brands, branded and improvised clay tools / equipments, up to techniques. Yet even if I already know some of the basic part, I would have to admit that I still learned a lot of great things from it too! Ü 

The advanced part on the other hand focused more in creating one-of-a-kind chibis (which by the way is my most favorite topic), photo-transfer, skinner blend, cane making, cupcake miniatures (another fave!) and scenting clays. It's more hands-on compared to the basic part where we were mostly discussing about our own experiences as well as sharing best practices done. 

What I also love about this workshop is the fact that not only did our mentor came mentally prepared but materials-wise too. In this workshop I didn't have to write down everything we were discussing because she provided each one of us with our own manuals with kits that we get to bring home after. 

students manuals

our materials

I, together with my workshop-mates not only gained a lot of creative knowledge from it but we all had super fun too! Sure we were busy learning but along with it were laughters here and there...

working and laughing

Can you see the food in the middle? We were eating too! 

(sorry for the pic, I know I kind of look crazy there, lol)

Now here are some photos of the projects we were able to make, too bad I wasn't able to take pictures of the others like the photo transfer project I did... I did great on that technique! Heehee...

ready for baking...

(photo courtesy of Ms Grayserr's cam)

Tada! Our chibis!

So if you want to learn about the things mentioned above and find out the tricks behind these fabulous chibis, join Ms Grayserr Geronimo's workshop [info provided below]... I guarantee you, you'll go home not just with lots of pretty creations but with hundreds of creative ideas, inspirations and learnings from her! At the same time, you are sure to have so much fun!Ü

I give this workshop a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Grayserr Geronimo

Poxeelicious' Facebook

Photo Transfer Technique + Shimmering Mica

Several months ago, I attended my first ever workshop on polymer clay crafting. It's where I learned not just the basics but even special techniques on working with oven baked clays, techniques such as photo transfer and antiquing. If you wish to read more about the said workshop, click HERE.

Then last night, after several months of not doing the technique, I attempted to do another photo transfer using one of the sample print outs given to me by my great and kind mentor, Rocky Villegas-Antonio of Rockybeads using water decal paper.

While most of my co-crafters prefer using heat transfer paper, I find myself more comfortable working with water decal. It must be because I am kind of lazy to heat up my clays so I could tear the paper part off of the clay or I just haven't tried working much with heat transfer paper. I know I have some sample print outs with heat transfer paper too, still from Rocky and a couple more from my friend Joy of Glitz of Joy. I gotta dig one of these days and try using them to find out.

Anyway, the first practice I did which I think was done several days after the said workshop was a failure. I was so heart broken (lol) that I never bothered to do it again... Until last night - - to my surprise, I was able to successfully perform the said technique using my Nendo clay!!!

Here it is (with border decorations of clays already - another reason I prefer using water decal):

messy work area, I know, lol

a closer look at the photo transfer project

Oh and since I just received my complete set of Klayola Shimmering mica powders early Saturday morning, I used them too on this project to see how different it is compared to the 2 other brands of mica powders I have been using...

my project with my Klayola Shimmering mica jar

Since I've been working late already, even if I wanted a darker shade of mica for my leaves, I settled to use #407 of Klayola Shimmering mica. After all, I've been wanting to see how my projects will turn out after this brand of mica has been applied. I will probably blog about more of my mica experience with the different brands in a different post. 

Meanwhile, here is the finish project...

Nice? I'd say it's lovely! Ü

Busy Bee!!!

She's our lovely daughter. And she's only a year old... 

While we are busy working on the color charts of Nendo and packing distributor's orders, she patiently waits for us and just spends the time reading her Mickey mags. Oh yes, she's one very smart and good kid. Lucky us, eh? Ü

On the other hand, while the rest of the clays available are mostly machine made, almost everything about Nendo is handmade - - from the time the clays are made, up to the creations of the color charts. All painstakingly handmade. This may also very well explain some of Nendo's shortcomings, ie packing. Nevertheless, I super love this clay for its quality, durability and value for money. ♥

And since the new colors that were added are almost ready for release, I have been so busy working on the charts to send out together with our distributor's orders. 

Here's a sneak peak of what's to come...

Fresh from the oven

love love love the colors.. stars stars stars!

A sneak peak of how the charts are going to look like!

I love how it turned out compared to the first set of charts I sent out before. I love the logo and how the colors were presented this time. I thought of this myself!!! Proud me... haha! Yet even if the designs all came from me, my husband still had his participation - - in helping me make the charts! 

And while waiting for the clays being baked, we made the following... 

This rose I made for shobe

And this is my husband's version of the rose

I've always been telling my husband that he has the talent in working with clays... Yet he never really believes. For him, he won't be able to do anything my hands can... But do you know that this was his first attempt to mold a rose? He made it after I did mine... Such a fast learner, or am I just a good teacher? hahaha! Nevertheless, he really is good at it too Ü

And since he made use of the Yellow Glow in the Dark Nendo clay, he got fascinated with it and started asking me to capture the following images:

GitD Series on the chart

The scrap GitD clays

And his rose!!!

Busy busy busy... office work in the afternoon until early evening, mommy duties in the evening & early morning plus clay works late at night. No wonder I've been having asthma attacks lately. But it's all worth it!

Made To Order

Lately I have been doing a lot of thinking...

Since I keep creating things and ends up just storing them, you see we don't really have that much space where we can keep them anyway, why don't I start accepting MTO, short for made to order, projects? This way I will still enjoy creating things without having to keep them for long. At the same time, I have another means of earning!

Luckily, when I had the chance to unite again with one of my friends, she asked me if I can make her a gift to give to her bestfriend on her upcoming birthday! She requested for a chibi and a tin can decorated with clay.

Excitedly I came up with this...

Pendant: Chibi in White

all packed and ready!

I am so happy that my friend loved what I did. As a matter of fact, she wanted one for herself! wweeee....! For the tin can, I am not done yet with it because the first one I made kind of failed. But I will post a photo of it as soon as I am finish. Ü

PS: Oh and before I forget, I also made me a new multiply site where I will be uploading all my MTO works and accepting MTO orders. Should you want to visit and hopefully order in the future, you may click HERE.

PPS: I love the black beads I bought from my friend Japi. Made the chibi's face look a lot neater and cuter ♥

Til my next post... See yah! ♥