MrMartha went to a Hundredth Birthday Party the other week....but it wasn't what you might think.
Two of MrMartha's dearest friends since 7th grade are twins -- and they both just turned Fifty!
They had requested no gifts at their party, but MrMartha had to do something cute and unexpected to commemorate the event....so the thinking cap went on....and the answer was PAPER DOLLS!
Not just any paper dolls, mind you, but a snapshot in time of the twins. Circa 1971-72 when MrMartha first met them. Both of the dolls are wearing McMurray Jr High PE uniforms, and their extra outfits, while not specific replicas of the twins clothing of the time (MrMartha's memory is not THAT exact), captured the spirit of the era. MrMartha was actually channeling Jan and Marsha's Brady Bunch outfits.
Lesa and Heidi have been wonderful friends for nearly 38 years, and it was really fun to figure out a little project that would remind them of our shared history, as well as allow others at their party who may not have known them for as long -- or may not really know them together as sisters -- to learn a bit more about them and their history.
MrMartha framed one copy of the paper dolls to have on display at the party, put personalized copies for the birthday girls into commemorative folios, and then printed enough extra copies so that other party guests could take one as a souvenir of the occasion.
This is a super idea that is easily replicated, and could be a marvelous and unexpected gift for just about anyone celebrating a milestone birthday, graduation, wedding shower, etc....by taking a specific point in their life and history and turning it into a fun vignette.
The essence of paper dolls is their charm. Simplified shapes, and cute caricatures are much more fun than exact portraits or excessive detail.
There are lots of resources online for templates and ideas.....One that MrMartha investigated before starting this project is a wonderful archive of vintage Betsy McCall paper dolls which have that same fun 'snapshot of a moment in time' aspect that MrMartha was trying to capture. (really worth a look even if you aren't contemplating this project)
Read More to find out how (relatively) simple it is to create your own version of this idea.
The simplest way to achieve a great result, if you are not an awesome freehand artist (and MrMartha is certainly not!) is a combination of scanning and tracing (and rescanning and retracing), combined with a simple graphics program like Microsoft Paint. Find some templates or ideas you like online, or scan some vintage photos of your subject, and print them out. Then, trace the outlines and simplify, while you adjust and add aspects specific to the one you are aiming to evoke. This process takes a little time, and probably a few trys, but you will soon come up with something you like. Use tracing paper, a light board, or just tape the paper layers to a window. Scan your initial design, print it out, and then continue to adjust and retrace as needed until you are happy with it.
The completed original doll and costumes can be colored with markers, watercolors, etc, before your final scan, or you can rescan it in black and white and then use your graphics program to add color. Use the graphics program as well to add headlines and additional text. A short paragraph about the honoree describing some history, or bit of triva that may not generally be known, is a nice addition.
Keep in mind, the doll isn't meant to be a perfect portrait of the one it commemorates, but it should capture a sense of them, and have some whimsey. Do an image search for "vintage paper dolls" and also for "Betty and Veronica" or other comic book type drawings, and look at how those artists simplify facial features. Try to capture the general shape of the persons face, and things like upturned or long nose, etc -- but the overall love put into the project is a lot more important than an exact likeness!
Showing posts with label Simple Projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simple Projects. Show all posts
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Celebrating a Centennial Birthday...with Paper Dolls
Monday, June 22, 2009
Laura Petrie would LOVE both of them.....
MrMartha just survived a whirlwind several days of preparing for, and hosting, a Moving Sale last weekend... YIKES!! More about that little 'Comedy of Errors' to follow soon.
MrMartha does want to share with you -- two of the bathrooms in the new house... "new" -- as the photos will confirm -- being a relative term.
MrMartha is going to have a lot of fun transforming these spaces -- with just the most basic paint and ingenuity... as they say: a lot of paint and a little ingenuity will take you far (or is it the other way around?).
What the baths lack in the most current level of modern convenience -- like deep multiple sinks, and a large separate shower stall with multiple showerheads (Shower in the current house: MrMartha will miss you most of all !!) -- they more than make up for in functional charm.
How will this end up? Keep checking back.....MrMartha isn's quite sure, and Laura Petrie, if she knows, is keeping quiet for the time being....she just doesn't want anyone getting their big toe stuck in the bath faucet.
Read More for a pic of the second bath, and more of MrMartha's thoughts....
MrMartha will be following his own advice from the "Million Dollar Bathroom" post a few weeks ago....and will of course be sharing the completed results here......this is just a little BEFORE preview.....who says things were dull in the 50's?
Laura Petrie would feel right at home in either of these Mid Century Spas -- the epitomy in their era, of both ease (the abundance of tile), and elegance (the fashion forward -- for the time -- colors). But, the question is, how to keep the integrity of the period, and still drag them carefully forward towards the present day --
MrMartha has a rotating color wheel of paint chips clicking through his brain right now, for both baths.....deepest burgundy? the exact same blue of the fixtures? (probably not -- reinforcing the pink and baby blue theme would make that bath seem like a very sterile nursery!), taupey gray? the same Tiffany-ish blue as the bath in the current house? (MrMartha does love that color, and the pink/oxblood tile combination is exactly the same as the current house) .....or, as they would say in Monty Python --"and now, for something completely different".
If readers have ideas or suggestions, send them by email!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Worlds Best All Purpose Glue
MrMartha LOVES Weldbond, The "Universal Space Age Adhesive", perhaps the best all purpose glue available.
MrMartha has used this product to successfully reattach loose slate patio tiles to a cement base, to glue objects onto glass surfaces, for wood bonding, fabrics, general crafts, and many, many other things.
The product will seal all porous surfaces, and according to the label, will also glue foam, plaster, laminates, cork, concrete, china, ceramics, porcelain, marble, corian, gypsum board, leather, and metal.
A favorite with mosaic crafters, the product can be found in larger home improvement and hardware stores, specialty craft stores, and online. MrMartha generally purchases via eBay, and a list of eBay sellers featuring the product can be found HERE.
The large container can be a bit unwieldy for more delicate applications and small craft projects, so for those, MrMartha decants some of the product into a smaller applicator bottle.
Get some now, and you will have it on hand when that next difficult glue dilemma presents itself, or when you are moved to jump into a spur of the moment craft project!
Note that when MrMartha recommends a product, it is only because that product is used by MrMartha, and because the product is judged to be the best option in the marketplace today.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A Million Dollar Bathroom
Well, maybe not a million -- but a couple gallons of paint and a weekend of your time, and it will feel like it is.
Any bathroom benefits from a new coat of paint, especially if it's been more than a few years since the space last had some attention. It will be fresher, seem newer, and put you in a better mood when you start the day.
If it's a powder room or guest bath, have some fun with it....think of it the way you would a fashion accessory, like a slightly outrageous hat....you can be more dramatic, because you aren't in there all the time. If it is your main bath, you may want to take a more restful or spa-like approach, but still make sure to add a strong dose of personal style. So, just do it....you know you want to!
Go get a bunch of paint chips, even in hues that you might not immediately consider. Spend some time thinking about the color and considering the options, and also think about accessories...updating pictures and replacing towels. Do you want a new theme in there or just a fresher look? If you are unsure about making a dramatic change, most paint stores will now mix small containers of their colors so you can paint a large test square -- but remember the existing color will influence any new color you test, so take that into account.
Spend one day doing prep work: a thorough cleaning, repair any grout damage, reseal the sink, prep the walls by filling holes and doing any sanding. Keep an eye out for any old paint drips, they can suddenly be very visible with new paint. Carefully mask off tile and fixtures. If there are several old coats of paint, or you are making a dramatic color change, you may want to put a coat of primer on the walls and ceiling.
The second day, roll on that glorious new color. Take care painting details and small areas with a good quality brush, and enjoy the transformation. Then, live with it a few days before adding accessories or purchasing new towels.
In our example, a bathroom with great bones, but a tired, dated, 'Southwest themed' yellow paint was ready to be refreshed....a new icy robin's egg teal color works to make the wonderful tile pop and modernize the whole space.
A collection of Chinese Export porcelain in the Canton Rose pattern, picks up and accents the main and trim tile colors, as well as the new wall color. The porcelain pieces used as wall decorations create a wonderful mood, and give a subtle theme that doesn't hit you over the head. One final note, all the porcelain was purchased as lots on eBay with a budget limit of $5.00 per piece!
For a comparatively small investment in work and time, you'll realize a huge difference -- in a space that you can be a bit indulgent with!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Indulgent Easter Eggs
Ready for a little creativity and craftiness? Easter is a great occasion to embellish -- by adding some frivolous little fancies. Eggs have been traditional for centuries in springtime celebrations, and there are so many wonderful ways to incorporate them into your holiday decor.
Take a little break from the world, get out your 'craft box' and see what treasured scraps of ribbon and lace, pearls and trim, and little bits and pieces can be crafted into exquisite blown egg fantasies.
Read More has Lots of different ideas and HOW TO -- from quick to complex......
If you cant find time to have some crafty fun before this coming Easter, save the idea for next year, and get them made in advance on a dreary February afternoon!
The HOW TO:
To blow Eggshells: 
Warm to room temperature, poke a small ring of punctures, using the tip of a corsage pin or sharp needle, at top and bottom of shell. Carefully open 1/8" hole at each end of the egg. Use a small skewer to puncture the yolk inside, and blow carefully to expel the contents (Then make scrambled eggs or a Quiche!) Submerge the blown eggs in soapy water, shake to clean the interior, and then blow the liquid back out and allow to dry for a couple of days.
If you have any breakage, crush the shells into fine uniform pieces, set aside and save.
For the "Shadow box" decorated eggs:
To open a window to the interior of the egg, mark a basic guideline onto the shell with pencil, prick around the perimeter with the pin, and carefully cut out with manicure scissors. Patience and care are your greatest allies in this process. 
Then using hot or craft glue (or a combination depending on what material you are affixing) attach laces, trims, sequins, beads, and tiny flowers to the exterior. Add miniature items in the interior of the egg shell (themed sets are easily found at the craft store).
If you would like a textured exterior on the shell, coat the shell with thinned white glue, roll in the crushed eggshells, and allow to dry overnight before you start trimming.
Even easier....purchase plastic, plaster, or bisque eggs at the craft store and just trim the exteriors.
Or, do some simple Decoupage on the egg exterior:
Use small images, drawings, or clip art on lightweight paper, cut out and test fit. Make some small clips into the image as required to allow it to fit smoothly to the eggs contour. Paint thinned glue onto the shell, affix the artwork, and coat with more glue, allow to dry, Add a coat of spray varnish if desired. Trim with ribbons, small silk flowers, or whatever looks cute.
Or, get out the paints: 
Use watercolor or acrylic paints and tiny brushes to paint simple floral or other spring designs on the exterior of the egg. Spray with matte varnish or shiny lacquer to protect the painting. Tie the perimeter of the egg with narrow satin ribbon and a bow, to cover the holes in the egg.
Even easier....use assorted felt tip colored markers to put the design on the eggs, spray varnish not required, but still gives them a more finished look.
It doesn't take a lot of artistic ability, just trust your intuition, and do things as simply or as elaborately as you desire, and your time allows. Then display your creations (napkin rings work wonderfully as stands), tuck into a special Easter basket, or take along to surprise a hostess!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Take TEN Minutes and....
Always know where your keys are.
Most of us have a 'default' location for our keys, but often not a specific home for them. A suprising amout of effort is wasted over time when one doesnt know exactly where the keys are. It's also much handier if all your various and sundry keys are stored together, rather than scattered in different locations around the house.
It seems like a silly thing, but can make a real difference....so take ten minutes and a couple simple steps, and make it easier on yourself!
Three large cup hooks and a good location will solve the problem. Place the hooks where convenient, but slightly out of the way. As shown in the photo, the end of a bank of kitchen cabinets above the refrigerator works perfectly.
Could also be next to a doorway, inside a kitchen cabinet, or even on the refrigerator itself if you get strong magnets with self hooks. If you dont want to attach the hooks directly into your surface, use a small picture frame with a piece of painted wood as the insert, attach the hooks to that, and hang frame on the wall.
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