Merry go round

Every last friday of the month, I jump on the 'Merry go round'. What is the Merry go round exactly? Each month, a group of craftswomen from around the world join together and give their reponses to the same question/challenge. Since I forgot to post last Friday, I post the first Friday of this month! :)

This month's topic is "write a simple tutorial on anything - craft related or not"
Oops, a tutorial? That's been a while hey!
To be quite honest, time has not been on my side to make 'em as often as I used too.
And even for this one, it is nothing really spectacular as I kind of forgot about this post and I got reminded on Tuesday evening. So on wednesday before leaving to Holland I decided to quickly snap a few pics and edit them later. They didn't turn out really well so you'll have to forgive me for the bad quality I'm afraid.

How to make a quick & fun packaging idea?

What do you need?
Brads, handmade paper, paper, punch, water, needle, brown paper bags and a brush.

Punch out a flower.Take a piece of handmade paper and apply with a brush some water along a ruler.
The water makes it easier to tear the paper and you get the lovely handmade look afterwards.
Fold it over on the paper bag, add the flower and punch a hole with a needle.
Then use the brad to close it.
Pretty easy and fun packaging.

Want to know what tutorials the other Merriers posted? Hop over to their blogs.
Please bear in mind that the members will be posting at different times of the day, depending on which world time-zone they are in :)

Laura at Blue Terracotta
Monika at Red2White
Ruth at Birdland Creations
Kim at Vilt a la Kim
Sara at Crafts of Texture
Samantha at Vintage is for lovers
Mariana at Florcita
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent
Jen at Painted Fish Studio
Bethany at Dirksen Dabbles

How to make a leather key chain?

A while ago, I got this awesome leather punch set van EviesToolEmporium as part of the Totally Tutorials Exchange program. The only thing I needed to do in exchange of receiving this set is to make a tutorial.
I did a tutorial with the leather punch set already and posted it on Poppytalk Handmade.This tutorial will be a bit similar but I'll show you how to use the leather punch in combination with the eyelet punch.

Here is what you need:
A leather & eyelet punch set, leather, pencil, paper,
thin metal wire, thread, black marker.
Make a drawing onto paper.
Trace it onto the leather.
Punch the holes with a needle so that you know where to place holes.
Cut out the design.
Punch holes.
Place an eyelet into the hole.
Place the eyelet tool onto the eyelet and press firmly.
Glue the head onto the body.

Cut a piece of thread.
Place it into the eyelet hole and make a knot at the end.
Add legs
Cut a little piece of thin metal wire.
This is to help pull the thread through the tiny holes.
Pull the 'legs' through the wooden bead.
Make knots at the end.
Hang your design onto a key chain.

A large key chain is much easier to find back your keys when you need 'em I think... :)

Pincushion ring

Sewing class can be really boring as things are moving soooo slow there.
We started a pair of pants in December and it's still not finished.
The class is filled with too many students that can't sew so it's taking us forever to move along smoothly. The students line up for asking questions at the teacher so when it's finally your turn, the class is half over already.
There probably is no easier way so I bear with it. While I can't work on the stuff we're supposed to make, I do other things to fill up time with small things like making happy girls or do a tiny sewing project. I made this the other day & I love it.Tutorial can be found here.

How to - love

I love this Etsy how-to, how about you?

How to make a spooky fingerpuppet?

These little ghosts are super fun to make for kids and adults.
You can keep entertaining and silly conversations between all of your fingers or just use 'em as decoration for you home, table or as a prop in your product listings.
You can whip 'em up in no time and they make great companions so here's what you need:

Plaster of Paris, Vaseline, little bowl of water,
a permanent marker and a plastic bag to protect your table.

Cut strips of 2cm or 1inch of the Plaster of Paris.

Cut a few squares too.

Put some Vaseline on a finger.

Dip a strip of Plaster of Paris in the bowl of water.

Put a few strips on your fingers.

It will take about 10 minutes to set.
Sit still and relax.

Take off the plaster fingers.

Dip a larger square into the bowl of water.

Place it on top of the plaster finger.Put the finger on the plastic bag and drape the Plaster of Paris a bit.

Let it dry.Draw with the permanent marker eyes and a mouth.

Your ghostly companions are ready for Halloween fun!

Guest post: Tutorial: How to Make a Paper Spike Bow

Note: If you would like to guest post @ ArtMind please contact me ([email protected]) and I'll send you the 'how-to-blog@ArtMind' -info.

By Amy from amarshall

This fun little paper craft is something my grandmother taught me to make as a small child. I usually make one when I want to add a special touch to a wrapped gift. They also look pretty sitting on a shelf or turned into a fridge magnet.

Here is what you need:
Wrapping paper or craft paper, glue- any craft glue that dries clear,
a sharpened pencil, scissors, a cup or other circular object to trace around,
a damp cloth to wipe up the glue that you are sure to get on your fingers!

Trace & cut out several circles from your paper, 5 or 6 should do. Fold each circle in half, half again, and again (you will have 8 sections).
Cut on each fold line about 3/4 of the way, leaving the center in tact. Roll each cut section by holding the pencil at an angle to one corner.
As you roll the paper around the pencil it will make a cone.
Add a dab of glue near the end. If your paper is heavy,
you may have to hold it in place for a moment so the glue can set.
This is where I get glue all over my fingers and
use the damp cloth to keep clean. Now you are ready to assemble your bow!
Layer each circle one on top of the next with a dab of glue.
Be sure to off set each layer so the points land in between the
previous layer's points. When you get to the very middle,
use the eraser end of your pencil to stick the last layer in place. What a nice way to top off a gift!

How to make a polymer clay brooch or ring?

Through Totally Tutorials, I've 'met' Michelle from EviesToolEmporium and she has been sending me supplies in exchange for a tutorial.
I find it awesome 'cause I get to play with new toys a lot . :) Thank you, Michelle!
She send me a Diamond Burr set a while back and I thought it was about time I made a tutorial for it. Normally, the diamond burr pieces are used for engraving in glass or ceramics. I'm going to use 'em in plaster . I have a love/hate relationship with plaster. As a ceramicist it's impossible to avoid plaster as it just makes your life so much easier. So I've learned to live & work with it.

Here is what you need:
plaster, water, a container for making the plaster, clay,
polymer clay, a diamond burr set, a pencil, a dry paintbrush, plastic.

Make domed shapes with clay and make
sure they are as smooth as possible.

Built a little wall around the shapes with clay so you can poor plaster in it.
Make plaster and poor it over the domes. Let it set and dry for a few days.

When the moulds are dry, sand the sides a little bit so that it feels smooth.

Draw a little something in the mould with a pencil.

Engrave the lines with the diamond burrs and
use a round shaped burr to engrave the little dots.
Because the set has so many different burrs it's
ideal to use for engraving in plaster as there is always
a perfect one to use for the thing you want to engrave.

When it's done, wipe excess plaster away with a paintbrush.

Then take a piece of polymer clay and press it into the mould.

Take another piece of polymer clay to take the piece out of the mould.

If you don't like the result, you can still adjust
the engraving until your satisfied.
Fire the piece of polymer clay and glue a brooch pin or a ring on the back.

I use this technique for my clay and porcelain work. I love engraving in plaster and you can get really fine details with diamond burrs. Try it, you'll be amazed at the opportunities it will bring you! :)