Artistic Expressions by Elisabeth

Back to the Drawing Board: Craft Room Makeover Part 7 {Video}

2013-05-18T09:09:00.000-04:00

Finally took a moment to work on cleaning another area of my craft room. I was interrupted by the sight of a fox in my yard, casing the place out, but then I went back to work. Partly because I was determined to finish something...and partly because I was scared to go outdoors because the fox had disappeared. In the end, I finished what I set out to do for that day, in spite of Ms. Foxy and the babies she apparently had right in front of my driveway!!!???. (Gotta call for backup for this situation.)

Ok, here is this short craft organization video. And yes, there are some super fast clean up sessions since I've heard many comments about how you like that part. :-) Enjoy!

Happy Crafting,

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Changing the World One Purchase at a Time {Guest Post}

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to share this guest post with you, written by Michael Fields of Mountains & Fields. I've definitely learned more about eco-friendly companies that are new to me. I hope this article sheds more light on companies that are working hard to be socially and environmentally conscious.

Do you ever wish you could combine your efforts for doing good with that of hundreds of others? As amazing as it sounds, you can do exactly this. Many businesses that offer products you use also give back to their communities and the world. Let’s take a look at a few of these companies and how you can join with them to do good and help preserve the environment and create a better life for others.

Blu Democracy

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The founders of Blu Democracy consider themselves accidental environmentalists. As young entrepreneurs, they were shocked by the environmentally abusive practices that pervaded the fashion industry. Fortunately, while looking for the best way to create high-quality clothing, they discovered that sturdy, high-quality fibers such as bamboo and modal actually require less water and are far more sustainable than common cotton fibers. By switching to natural alternatives rather than using cotton, the company has reduced their water usage by about 95 percent.

To take conservation a step further, Blu Democracy partnered with Generosity Water to bring clean water solutions to humans in need. Every purchase you make with Blu Democracy helps someone else gain access to safe, clean drinking water.

WeWOOD

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Founded by the offspring of an Italian shoemaker and a couple of eco-conscious entrepreneurs, WeWOOD proudly fashions remarkable wooden timepieces using recycled and scrap wood. After humble beginnings in Florence, Italy, the company established a branch in L.A. and partnered with American Forests. For every timepiece WeWOOD sells, a tree is planted!

Warby Parker

[Image Source]

Four friends had a vision of making attractive, high-quality eyewear affordable for everyone. When Warby Parker was born, the company did exactly that by working directly with online customers to fill eyewear prescriptions. The company didn’t stop there, however. In order to bring the gift of sight to those without access to corrective lenses, Warby Parker partnered with various non-profit organizations to give eyeglasses to those in need. Today, for every pair of glasses they sell, Warby Parker gives a pair to someone in need.

31 Bits

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Every fashionable woman buys jewelry occasionally, and 31 Bits provides a way for women to help other women. Currently, 31 Bits purchases jewelry from over 100 women in Uganda who create their offerings from recycled paper and other local materials.

Smile Squared

The founders of Smile Squared came up with their idea to give to others during a humanitarian trip to Central America. Here, they came face-to-face with the importance of dental health and hygiene for children worldwide. Today, each purchase of an eco-friendly toothbrush from Smile Squared also provides a toothbrush to a child in need.

One person can make a difference in this world. You can make even more of a difference by supporting others also working for positive change for our environment, children, and communities that need our help.

Be sure to check out these companies and see what they have to offer. Thank you, Michael, for submitting this wonderful post.

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43s Trailer Video {Video}

2013-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

I finally decided to make a trailer video for my YouTube channel. It shows what I hope to accomplish between this blog and my channel. Cohesiveness.

Happy Crafting,

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To New Beginnings...

2013-05-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

In October, our lives were turned upside down. In a flash, I literally locked up my house and moved in with my momma. I can't even remember if I got any clothes or wore the same ones every day. If I did, no one said a word. They probably were doing the same thing too.

Fast forward to 7 months later, I'm finally trying to put my own home together. Starting with the refrigerator. Can you imagine, walking out of your house, leaving every thing as is and coming back many months later? Trust me, the refrigerator holds no secrets. So, I cleaned out my refrigerator and freezer, only leaving behind the items that withstood the test of time.

And here's what I have left....

This is all that remains inside my refrigerator: garlic, papaya, ají amarillo, ají panca, Caribbean all purpose sauce, and hot sauce. What a combination!

Behold! My freezer contents...fresh frozen blueberries and cherries, homemade soups from a kind neighbor, collard greens, peppers, and a bag of shrimp.

Collard Greens

Remember all that flash freezing I did last summer? Here are the remaining bell peppers.

...and one remaining jar of fresh pesto and two jars of strawberry jam!

I cleaned my refrigerator with Mrs. Meyer's All Purpose Cleaner, in my favorite scent - Lemon Verbena.

Now I feel a fresh start coming on. And, did you notice? I used my DSLR. By looking at the contents of my CF card, I hadn't used my camera since December! It felt kinda good to hold this baby in my hands.

*****

I know you had to notice the other new thing...my blog design! I've been looking for a design for a while and finally I stumbled upon this Etsy store - Very Simple Design. Simona has some very lovely premade Blogger designs and I fell in love with this one. The moment I saw it, I stopped looking at other designs. Then I purchased the logos for my photographs as well. I still have some more to add to this design, but I couldn't wait to put it up. Whatcha think?

To New Beginnings,

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Happy Mother's Day 2013

2013-05-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

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Sharing My "Nu Sol Hair Expo" Experience

2013-05-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

[Me + a vendor, Honeysuckle Moon]

Hello friends,

A few weeks ago I attended the Nu Sol Hair Expo with my aunt and cousin. If you'd like to read about that experience, then stop by the One Brown Crafter blog where I'm guest posting today. :-)

You can read the post here.

Happy Thursday,

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Update Your Look at GlassesUSA.com

2013-05-07T15:52:00.000-04:00

Those who know me well know that I need my eyeglasses. In fact, when I was about 16 or 17, my eye doctor said to me, "If you ever find yourself without your glasses and you need to drive, call me." This basically meant, that I should not be driving without my glasses, under no circumstances.

Every time I purchase a new set of eyeglasses frames, I find myself having to do a couple of things:

Pick out a selection of frames, have someone else give me feedback, and trust their judgment.
Make sure I have on contacts when I try on the frames because then I can actually see what I look like in them.
Take a photo of myself with the frame choices, then put my old glasses back on to see which ones look best.

All of those steps for one pair of glasses!

If you've ever found yourself in that situation (I know it can't be just me), here's a wonderful solution: the virtual mirror feature at GlassesUSA.com.

At GlassesUSA.com, you will find a great selection of frames to choose from. Don't let the affordable prices fool you, this company is not selling cheap glasses. From sporty glasses to classic frames; from vintage glasses to designer name brands, you're sure to find a frame that's perfect for you.

Check out the frames I tried on using the virtual mirror. How do I look?

Eight 447 Brown

Yoshi Ayaka YA84 Red

Jill Stuart JS208 Dark Brown

You can have fun too trying on lenses from the comfort of your own home. And if you find a pair that you can't resist, GlassesUSA.com is offering something special for my readers:

Discount for Artistic Expressions by Elisabeth readers!!!

STOREWIDE OFFER - Take 15% off + get free shipping on your entire order (orders over $50).

Code: FS15

Take 10% off any order of prescription glasses.

Code: Blog10

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of GlassesUSA.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

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How To Create an Edible Soil Profile {Recipe/Tutorial}

2013-05-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Recently I had been teaching a unit on soil, so when Earth Day came around, it fell at a perfect time for me to combine the two. I wanted my students to have fun exploring different aspects of soil, such as soil conservation and soil profiles. A great way to kickstart a mini-lesson on soil conservation is to complete this Earth Apple activity, either using a real apple or exploring the virtual lesson. For the soil profiles, I could have actually gotten the different types of soil and had the students create a soil profile, but I thought they would have a little fun creating an edible version!

I can't take credit for creating the edible recipe and trust me when I say there are lots of versions out there. But, I found a recipe that better coincided with the aspect of soil profiling that I was teaching and I made a little modification in ingredients due to time constraints and school regulations.

Materials Needed (for a group of 20):

Clear cups
plain M&M's
2 tubs of Cool Whip
hot chocolate powder mix
sprinkles
Oreo cookies, crushed/crumbled
gummy worms
spoons

Preliminary Prep:

Sort each material in separate containers so children can easily access each material.
Allow the Cool Whip to stand at room temperature so that it is not frozen. Mix in enough hot chocolate mix and stir until you reach the desired color and the white has blended in well with the chocolate.

Layering instructions (per cup):

1 spoon of M&M's.
2 spoonfuls of Cool Whip/cocoa mix
sprinkle of sprinkles
2 spoonfuls of crushed cookies
1 gummy worm

The real meaning of the ingredients:

The M&M's represent the rocky, parent material.
The Cool Whip mixture represents the subsoil.
The sprinkles represent the organisms.
The crushed cookies represent the topsoil.
And then there's the earth worm that lives in the soil.

* Now you know I used generic brands, so it was grocery store brand whipped topping and Wal-Mart's "Twist & Shout" cookies instead of Oreos. But I did use some Ghiradelli Double Chocolate mix that I already had on hand. Hey, I had 40 kids to prepare for. They didn't seem to mind and the activity went over very well. *

You can make a large pan of this for a party or class activity, but I really wanted the kids to make their own. :-)

Happy Crafting,

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Playing Catch Up....Life as I Know It - Weekly Update #34

2013-05-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hello World,

Yes, I'm still here. I've been blog silent for a bit. And that's a bit rare for me. Lately I've just not felt like doing much of anything, and in a way that's what I've been doing. Nothing. I make weekend plans, but in the end, Fridays I'm knocked out super early and Saturday mornings are slept in. Then I feel refreshed and get ready to do something, anything, but the idea of pushing myself enough to start doing it isn't great enough to actually make it happen. The weird thing is, if I actually force myself, I get a lot done and enjoy it.

[Image Source]

I've got some craft ideas swirling around in my head...think denim and African fabric prints. Ooooh. I've sewn the pieces of fabric together in my mind many times. And the end product makes me smile. Just gotta actually make it. And I will, by God's grace. Just maybe not today. :-)

I signed up for another Cara Box swap for the month of May. This month you have to get to know the person you're sending your box to and then create a box that represents where you are from but also matches what your swap partner likes. So, if your person is diggin nuts, you could send nuts made in a local factory. This is going to be rather interesting. When I started snooping around my person's blog, I realized that she lived in my state for a while so I'm definitely wanting to find some special things to remind her of home.

Expect some giveaways in the near future. A crafty friend of mine bequeathed (don't you just love that word) to me all of her crochet and knitting things. She doesn't have time for the craft anymore and the materials take up needed space. I was hesitant in taking the bag at first because you know I'm setting up and organizing my own space, but I decided that I could always share my goodies with you. So get ready!

Until next time,

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April Cara Box Reveal

2013-04-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

This month I participated in the April Cara Box Swap hosted by the Wifessionals blog. The theme centered around earth-friendliness in honor of Earth Day. I was excited to discover that my box had arrived to the post office on Thursday.

Normally, I can usually wait to open packages, but I was so ready to open this one to see what had arrived. Tiffany did such a wonderful job in selecting items that were earth friendly and that matched my style and personality.

You know I just love everything!

To see the package I sent to Elise, you can check it out here.

And now on to a little photo silliness....

Happy Friday,

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Earth Day 2013 + The April Conscious Box

2013-04-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

[Image Source]

I hope everyone had a fantastic Earth Day on yesterday. Did you spend your Earth Day doing anything special for Mother Earth? If not, Earth Day really is every day. So, there's time. :-)

As for me, I spent Earth Day engaging students in Earth friendly activities. They transitioned through rotation stations to learn about soil conservation, soil profiles, composting, recycling, and rummaging through my first Conscious Box. (Yes, I actually won the Conscious Box giveaway that I posted about not that long ago. And the April one arrived on Saturday!)

The students learned about soil profiles as they created edible soil. I will post a tutorial about that soon. But I really want to show you what came inside my April Conscious Box. I made a quick video after work today and as I browsed through YouTube, I realized that every Conscious Box is not the same. Yes, some are vegan, vegetarian, and classic, but even when you subscribe to the same type of Conscious Box, you may receive different items. At least that's what it looks like. So, take a look inside my Conscious Box. (I know I have a classic subscription because my box included beef jerky. *wink*)

Ok, now on to the video:

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

-- Native American Proverb --

Happy Earth Day,

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Life as I Know It - Weekly Update #33

2013-04-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

[Image Source]

I officially made one week of work since taking a week off after my dad's funeral. I felt like I wasn't ready for different reasons at first, but as the week progressed, I felt myself getting back into the swing of things. Friday the kids did a culmination activity and I was pleased with their performances. One class created songs about weathering and erosion; the other class created songs about the rock cycle. Now what I have to do is compile the video clips into two productions so they can see them. I know they'll be asking at the first of the week.

Well, it's that time again. Time to go back to the drawing board concerning my clothes closet. I bit the bullet and went on a shopping spree of sorts back in August and found lots of things at a discounted price. Now those things are two big, but I've been making it work. Thank goodness for belts. But now, it's spring and I can't get by with wool skirts and different variations of black. So, recently I found these pieces on Pinterest and perhaps I can find some things soon.

Source: stylisheve.polyvore.com via Libby on Pinterest

Source: peridotpixie.polyvore.com via Libby on Pinterest

Source: aidacoronado.blogspot.com via Libby on Pinterest

Source: swankheights.blogspot.com via Libby on Pinterest

Source: gbean425.polyvore.com via Libby on Pinterest

Yesterday I was supposed to leave to go to the capital city so I could be ready for the Nu Sol Hair Expo, but we were in a tornado watch and so I turned around and went back home. Perhaps I can still make it today. We'll see.

Happy Saturday,

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I Finally Organized My Craft Room Closet {Video}

2013-04-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, you read it correctly. I finally organized my craft room closet. It needed it. I needed it.

I will tell you before you watch this video that I purged a lot of things. Three large bags of trash went to the dump and there's a growing pile of items to donate. I've been feeling this huge need to purge, streamline, and organize. Truth be told, making these videos about the process is actually very therapeutic and a type of motivation that I can't quite explain.

I'm excited to show you this video because it brings me one step closer to finishing my space and showing you my entire craft room. In the last months or so, I've been watching lots of YouTube videos on organization because I'm not naturally organized and the older I get and the more things get piled on my mental plate, I find myself getting absent minded which drives me nuts. So, I bought a label maker in the hopes that labeling will help me control that, "Now where did I put that? I just had that" syndrome.

On to the video:

p.s. The tee shirt I'm wearing in the first segment of the video was a birthday present from my dear friend. My birthday was in the fall and I'm glad I'm finally am able to wear it. :-)

Happy Crafting,

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A Hair Story Times Two

2013-04-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hair Story #1

Over my spring break, I refused to really "do" my hair. (Now I know I mentioned one time before that this wasn't a hair blog, and it isn't. But, it's Tuesday and I need something to post, so just consider this a post on cultural diversity and family. LOL) So, back to my story. I refused to do my hair and I knew that if I didn't do something, my hair would loc up. Yes, I could have done it myself, but my time was super limited, I was tired, and my hair has gotten so much thicker that it takes forever for me to wash and condition it thoroughly. (My hair has gotten so thick that it's difficult to wash product out. Ask me how many times I've had to rinse again while in the process of styling my hair. Many, many times. Trust me.)

My stylist had taken that week off as well, so I trusted a friend's suggestion and went to her stylist. "She's fast," my friend told me, "and hilarious." So I went. Now, I've been to Dominican salons before and my uber thick hair was never a problem. I knew this new stylist was Puerto Rican and I was curious as to whether or not she would be as familiar with my texture as the Dominicans were. Just to play it safe, I did what I always do when anybody new touches my hair - I did my own detangling. So, yes, I went to this salon with my hair sectioned off, full of conditioner, and bobby-pinned into sections.

When I took off the hat that covered the scarf that covered the plastic conditioning cap, her first words were, "What is that cap, mami?" But when I took it off, she was like, "oh." I was a bit apprehensive but the way she manipulated my hair told me she knew what she was doing.

This stylist was fast and hilarious with a capital "H". There was lots of fast talking, a lot of "yes, honey" being thrown here or there and before I knew it not only was my hair done, but so were the two women ahead of me. And we all walked out the door together. Seriously!

I can't remember what products were used, but they were all natural. And I've not seen my hair this straight before with a blow dry (not including the Dominican blow outs) so while it was, I was able to achieve French Rolls and different types of buns. It was fun working with my hair in this state, but I was relieved to see that it reverted back to it's curlier texture with no problem.

Hair Story #2

My sister-in-law came down for a few days and was able to go to the salon I normally go to for trims. She took down her sisterlocks and is now sporting a free-stranded style like me. Check out the rest of her story in my vlog.

So I guess I had a lot to say about hair today. Let's see what tomorrow beholds!

Happy Tuesday,

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Meet Hannah Alexis of Wonderfully Sewn {Guest Post}

2013-04-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hi there, Artistic Expressions readers! I'm Hannah, and I am so excited to be here, guest posting on Libby's blog. It has been such a pleasure to get to know her through blogland, and I was so happy when she asked me to be featured here on her blog! Yay!

Hopefully, I'll make some new friends here!

Wonderfully Sewn is the name of my blog, and also one of my biggest passions. It didn't take me long at all to fall in love with this virtual world. Now I just can't get enough of it!

People always ask me what my blog is about. Then suddenly, my tongue disappears. It stumps me every time. Because real world people don't exactly know what "lifestyle blog" means.

So I'm going to try and attempt this now.

My blog combines my walk with Jesus, all of my joy that comes from Him, and my love for people, fashion, life and laughter all into one. Sometimes I talk about tolerance, or singleness peacefulness and sometimes I discuss why freaking people out is awesome. And sometimes my family likes to spite The Bachelor.

One word I'd use to describe myself, and my blog for that matter, is... passionate. Which means I have a lot of big dreams, ideas, and thoughts running around my head like little caffeinated toddlers. But don't worry. Surprisingly, my posts aren't rambles.

I love to write, and get what's in my head. Out. My main goal is to encourage all y'all, and make you smile in one way or another. I love Jesus with all my heart. And so much of my joy comes first, from Him, and secondly, from people. Every person is different with a different story, and each person is so uniquely made. So wonderfully sewn. :) It's just awesome to meet new people.

And with that being said, I'm not shy. Some people might say I'm blunt (I am). But not rude. I'm confident, but not arrogant. I'm goofy, but not obnoxious. And I'm funny, but not hilarious. Even though, I know I've been every single one of those things at one point.

But really, I'm just a girl who loves Jesus, and chooses to love every single second of the life He's given me.

I'm a Texan, Christian, daughter, sister, activist, blogger, ballerina, dreamer, laugher, and work-in-progress.

Oh yeah. And I'm in high school. If you hadn't guessed already.

Come stop by and say hi! I'd love to meet ya!

Bloglovin. Twitter. Instagram. Pinterest. Email.

I enjoy reading Hannah's blog. Even though our ages seem like miles apart, I find it refreshing to listen to her take on life. Teaches me a thing or two. Seriously. :-)

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Conscious Box Subsciption {Giveaway}

2013-04-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was reading the blog, "Bikbik & Roro" and was pleased to see a giveaway for a 3-month Conscious Box subscription. I will admit that I hadn't heard of a Conscious Box before, but when I looked further into it, it seemed so amazing. Can you imagine receiving a box of goodies every month that are sustainable and help reduce your carbon footprint?

[Image Source]

This giveaway is amazing and if you'd like to enter to win, visit Bikbik & RoRo.

Best Wishes,

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I'm Thankful For...

2013-04-11T10:56:00.002-04:00

Companies who realize that not every adult can swallow pills; and that's ok.

[Images Source]

Happy Thursday,

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I Bought Something Motivating...

2013-04-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I did. Last week I purchased this item:

[View Source]

DYMO LetraTag LT-100H

Blame it on a lot of YouTube organizational video-watching. Blame it on a sale. But at any rate, I bought it, among some other organizational things, and I used it. This is going to be an interesting journey. :-)

My first project....a business binder. Here are a few preliminary shots:

Stay tuned!

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Celebration of a Life

2013-04-07T00:09:00.000-04:00

[Image Source]

On October 3, 2012, our lives were forever changed. For 6 long months we visited hospitals, made routine phone calls, and stayed by the side of our loved one whenever we could. Exactly 6 months later on April 3, 2013, God saw fit to take our loved one home.

We had a beautiful home going service on Saturday, April 6 to celebrate the life of one so near and dear to our hearts. We miss him already in knowing that we won't be able to see him again on this side of heaven, but thankful for the time we had and the knowledge that he is no longer suffering.

I love you Dad!

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The Femininity of Lace

2013-04-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid, lace was the enemy. And ruffles too. I vividly recall being forced to wear a tiered pink lace dress when I was about 8. Twice. It was itchy. It was pink and back then I thought pink was also the enemy. My mom knew better than to buy a dress like that for me, but my aunts purchased this dress for me and forced me to wear it. What could I do? My mom wasn't there and I was kid outnumbered by adult women who believed in being "proper". After that two-time wearing event, that pink dress mysteriously disappeared.

Fast forward about 25 odd years or so and now I see the beauty of lace. Not that itchy 1980s stuff, but think more delicately. I am still not a fan of "colored" lace, but I do love white or natural shades of lace (i.e. beige, ecru, off white). A touch of lace just seems so feminine to me and I love it.

Even though I may not have much lace in my closets, I will take a brief moment to share some of the lacy items that have caught my eye lately.

Saw this on Facebook, but I do not know the source

Source: zzkko.com via ZZKKO on Pinterest

Source: localmilk.tumblr.com via Celeste on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Sam on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Yessica on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Kristen on Pinterest

So, how do you feel about lace?

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Monday's Feature: One Brown Crafter

2013-04-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

One Brown Crafter = Art + Craft + Culture

ABOUT ONE BROWN CRAFTER

One Brown Crafter is a blog that was created 22 months ago by illustrator, recycling crafter, and DIY expert Tracy Viverretta, to give voice to culturally diverse artists and crafters by showcasing their work. OBC was also created to share art related resources and information, establish a positive, uplifting, creative community and to celebrate cultural diversity.

ABOUT THE "NATURAL HAIR ART PROJECT"

Spawned by a love of natural hair, Tracy created the "Natural Hair Art Project", which is a reflection of that love. So every Friday for 52 Fridays in 2013, she shows a new piece of artwork that could be an illustration, collage, textile painting, embroidery, hand lettering, plush doll or any number of crafty projects - all related to natural hair. Most of the NHAP pieces are available for purchase in the One Brown Crafter shop. Tune in every Friday to see the featured piece of the week.

MULTICULTURAL DOLLS COMING APRIL 2013

Tracy's currently designing a line of multicultural/biracial/ethnic plush dolls. Her goal is to design several different series with different price points in mind so they will be accessible to everyone. Tune into One Brown Crafter or Tracyville for upcoming details, photos and updates.

CONTACT INFORMATION

CALL FOR ARTISTS + CRAFTERS: She's always looking for new artists and crafters to feature on the One Brown Crafter blog, so all of her contact info is below. If you have any questions, email her at onebrowncrafter {at}gmail{dot}com.

One Brown Crafter Blog: http://onebrowncrafter.blogspot.com/

One Brown Crafter Shop: http://onebrowncrafter.storenvy.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Brown-Crafter/220848741269779

Tracyville Blog: http://tracyville2.blogspot.com/

Tracyville Shop: http://tracyville.storenvy.com/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/onebrowncrafter/

Email: onebrowncrafter{at}gmail{dot}com

Personally, I love Tracy's work. I have a few of her note cards that I can't bear to part with, so in a frame they are going. Don't you just love that? Be sure to check out her work at any of the venues listed.

Happy Crafting,

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He Is Risen

2013-03-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

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Today is the day set aside among Christians to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ because in that act, we believe that He accomplished what His Father sent Him to do - to come into the world as Savior and present himself a living sacrifice so that all men who believe on His name would be saved (delivered from their sins) and be able to live eternally with Him.

So what was so different about Jesus' death? The fact that He was and is the only perfect sacrifice. The high priests before Him always offered sacrificial lambs for the sins of the people, but Jesus was the perfect sacrifice because He knew no sin and by Him giving His life, there was no longer a need for anymore animal sacrifices. It was done, once and for all.

But in addition to the fact that He died, we believe that He rose from death, conquering total victory over death, hell, and the grave. That is why we call Him a living Savior. And we know that because He lives, we too can have true life and be resurrected from our own sinful ways. That gives us hope.

So this is why this Easter "holiday" is so important. It's a day of remembrance for what Christ did way back on Calvary and what He continues to do for His people today. It is one of the fundamental points in the Christian faith. So, even though different denominations may have varying viewpoints here and there, one thing that connects us is the fundamental truth that Jesus died and rose from the dead so that we can have eternal life with Him. What a blessing!

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For those who celebrate, Happy Easter!

I may be linked up to the following parties:
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Saturday:

How to Create a Blog Button with PicMonkey {Tutorial}

2013-03-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hi friends! Today I decided to create a new blog button using PicMonkey.

You want to know how?

To Create the Basic Part of the Blog Button:

Take a picture of yourself or get a friend to do so. The one I used for this button is from my trusty cell phone. :-)
Open PicMonkey.
Click on "Create a Collage" and click on the "x" on the right side of the collage so that you only have the background divided into two parts. Then re-size which ever side you want to place your photo image on.
Under the "Photos" tab, click on upload images to upload your image of choice.
Drag that image to the largest section of your collage.
To create a colorful background where your text will appear, click on the "Swatches" tab and select the background of choice, then drag it into the smaller space on the collage.
Save the image.

To Add Text to the Button:

Exit out of the collage section of PicMonkey and open up the "Edit Photo" section.
Upload your image.
To create text, click on the "P" on the left side of the screen. That will allow you to add text. Click on the text font you desire and then type your blog title in the text box. You can rotate it and re-size it according to your specs.
The size at this point will be too large for a blog button, so if you click on the "Resize" button underneath the "Basic Edits" tab you can re-size the image to 200 x 200 pixels.
Save the image.

To Create the Blog Code:

Upload your blog button to a site that will create a url. I use Photobucket.
I use the free website "Grab My Button Code Generator."
Once you get to the code generator site, this site tells you the easy peasy steps to perform to create your blog button code. This works for Blogger or Wordpress based on which button you choose.
Once you get the code, copy it and paste it into an HTML gadget in your template or wherever you want your code to appear.
My piece of advice: Save that code in a Word document, email or somewhere so you can access it without creating another code, but creating another code really is simple if anything should go wrong.

Hope this helps!

I may be linked up to the following parties:
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Monday:

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Friday:

Saturday:

Cara Box Reveal {March 2013}

2013-03-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

This month I participated in my first Cara Box Exchange. I really enjoyed getting to know Lindsey (of Life on Countryside) - the one who was sending me my Cara Box and Lauren (of The Crafty Ginger) - the one I was sending a Cara Box to.

For the month of March we were instructed to create a box of items that matched the personality of the person you were sending a box to. AND, the items had to start with the first letter of their first name. Lindsey did a fantastic job!

Here's what I received:

... and a very encouraging letter with inspirational quotes from Live Life Happy.

If you want to see what I sent Lauren, you can check it out here.

Happy Crafting.

I may be linked up to the following parties:
Sunday:

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday:

Craft Room Makeover (Part 5b) {Video}

2013-03-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Finally this weekend I was able to get back to working a little bit in my craft room. My cousin came down and so she helped me out on Saturday. Then I finished up the rest of this portion on Monday. Part of the delay was because of the lack of time and the other part was due to the fact that the camera I was using broke, so Friday I purchased another small camera for a replacement, but the quality is sub-standard for my taste, so it will be returned. I found a camera just like the one that broke on eBay and it should be here between Thursday and Friday of this week. *fingers crossed*

Now, on to the video!

The next course of action? Tackling the closet.

Happy Crafting,

I may be linked up to the following parties:
Sunday:

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday: