Lemon Jitters

Let's be social!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Hey readers! Are you following me on your favorite social media platform? Am I following you? Let's be friends! Leave your link in the comments section so I can you out on your fave social media site.

image by The Academy, edited by me

Here I am:
Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook

Reader Love

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to share some love for and from my readers?

Look at this lovely example of my Hair Comb DIY.

Great color palettes, Sarah!

Also, let's all take note of Sarah's awesome simple and cute gift wrap for these combs.

For beginner crafters, a quick break down.

1) Recycle a piece of cardboard and cut down to size (slightly bigger than the size of your comb) 2) tape a piece of twine/strong string down on the back 3) wrap around and tape again to the back 4) slide your comb on the 'clothesline' and done!

Thanks for the idea, Sarah!

And check out El Tocador de Cenicienta's version of the hair comb.
She used yarn and look at that awesome 'stitching' row that she added at the bottom!
Looks great.

Have you done one of my DIY projects? We would love to see photos!

Coming Soon: Dearest Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Guess what? My blogger friend, Donaville, of Discover Paper, is launching a new site soon! The project is called Dearest Nature and it's all about nature-inspired things. It will cover tons of topics relating to nature, which I am sure will appeal to a wide audience.

It won't be just for those who love gardening, I promise (cause I have a seriously black thumb!).

I will be a contributer to Dearest Nature (squee!). Stay tuned next month to see my first post! You are going to love this site because Donaville has a beautiful aesthetic and eye for great design.

DIY + Printable: Lovebird Sucker Favors

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:43:00 +0000

Today I bring you another printable, courtesy of my collaboration with Patricia of Two Homes for One Heart. A pair of lovebirds might have caught your eye in the last V-day printable. I thought they were too cute not to use again! So here's a quick and easy DIY + Printable for you.

My slits are a bit too large, as you can see.

You want it to fit somewhat snugly, so it does not slide off in transportation.

Click HERE to print off the lovebirds.

Voila! How cute and easy is that? And you can do any color scheme for any occasion!

I predict more of these projects coming your way. :)

Vday: Elementary School Style

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The husby and I don't really do Valentine's Day. Although I am happy to use it as an excuse to eat out, if necessary. ;) And any holiday means a crafting opportunity.

So I decorated a kraft lunch bag to slip some candy in. Somewhere in my craft supply piles, I found this little "Do you love me?" cutout. Everything else is kinda of manly and not fancy so I'm hoping he will forgive the bit of cheesy elementary school love note going on. Oh, one thing I love about this treat bag - the vintage grade school notebook paper I used for the background. It's the kind of paper that helps you learn how to form letters - and it has aged beautifully.

Oil Painting: The Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Check out Evie S's post on the beginning necessities for oil painting! Click image for link. Evie S tells how to clean your brushes and get your paint to flow without using toxic thinners and solvents.

I don't know much about oil painting - I have vague memories of oil painting at some point when I was a kid. My grandma did a lot of pen&ink and acrylic work but occasionally she got out oil paints. And at some point, I had a cheap little set. But it just didn't stick. Maybe it will stick with you! Go try it!

DIY & Printable: V-Day Love

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Today is exciting! Today's DIY project is a collaboration with Patricia from Two Homes One Heart. Patricia can draw and paint. I cannot. But I can pixelate. ;) So Patricia painted the images that you see in this post and I played with them in Photoshop.

This first image is a small, cheesy Valentine's Day card for you to give to best friend who has always wanted to go to Paris. Or to your romantic partner. I think either would be pleased with the level of sweetness and cheese that is present in this card. ;) Click the image & it will download.

As if I the last Valentine wasn't cheesy enough, I amped it up with this next one. But how could I not? Those birds are the cutest thing to happen to me today. I seriously love them. Good job, Patricia!

I made this one the size of a business card so you can slip it in your loved one's wallet, next to the credit card. Because he/she is sure to see it there, right?

Click the image to download. Here they are printed out. I used a fancy corner rounder on the first card.

I need a new printer. Look how grainy that second card is. Also, it's hard to take nice photos in the winter. It looks like I have a flash on but I don't. Le sigh. Anyway, I love how these look printed! Valentine's Day is a good day to express my cheeseball side.

To check out more of Patricia's work, visit her Facebook. It was super fun doing this collaboration! And we have more coming soon, so stay tuned! Also, I love what Patricia says about creating art:

Isn't that beautiful? So go check out her writing over at her blog!

Inspiration: Dadu Shin

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Oh, I am in love with the texture of this work. Artist Dadu Shin has an amazing way with layers and seamlessly fading colors and shapes into each other. Browsing his Tumblr archive is a treat for the eyes. Would it be appropriate to say that I ache with jealousy? (Geez, that sounds intense, doesn't it?)

But really, I so wish I had this kind of talent.

I particularly love the snippet you see above- of mountains and trees. The entire design is beautiful. It's called "Inside or Outside" and you can see it here. And you can purchase it here (very reasonable prices!).

Check Dadu Shin out on his blog, Twitter, or buy prints [or buy prints for me ;)].

I also think it's really cool that he posts images from his sketchbooks. I recommend reading his blog to get the story behind the illustrations.

Craft Adhesives: The Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Adhesives may be the most important crafting tool/supply you need. Cutting tools actually might come in a smidge behind adhesives in importance. Simply because you can glue things together without every cutting anything and make a masterpiece. Okay, this list is my idea of the basic types of adhesives. I know everyone won't agree so feel free to chime in!

*1. E6000 Multi-Purpose Adhesive: GET THIS. Seriously, it is amazing. It glues all kinds of things together but is not too difficult to use. Although you might have to cut your tube open at some point - it's difficult to keep the top from clogging. I use this a lot for gluing metal or plastic or small wood pieces. If you want to make jewelry, this is your best friend. Once dry, the bond can be broken but believe me - it's not easy.

2. Aleene's Original Tacky Glue: Lots of people like this glue. Tacky glue is good for fabrics. Like felt, cotton, putting sequins on fabric, etc. I've never been a huge fan of tacky glue. Some people swear by it, but I have found that between E600 and a glue gun, I'm covered. But then again, I don't do a whole lot of fabric crafting...

3. Gorilla Glue: This is good for wood, metal, foam, glass, ceramics...all of those heavy materials. And it is very, very strong. However, it does not dry clear and expands a bit as it dries, so be careful.

*4. Scotch Advanced Tape Glider or Xyron Tape Runner: Tape runners are so amazing. The are so easy and clean to use. Good for paper projects. I know a ton of people are in love with their Scotch ATG. I use Xyron runners and they are great. Plus, Xyron makes this small size which is awesome because the ATG is pretty big.

*5. Mod Podge Matte or Mod Podge Gloss: Mod Podge is a must-have. It's an adhesive and a sealant. Which is fantastic. After you get Mod Podge, you'll wonder how you lived without it. I suggest having matte and gloss around, you will use both, depending on the project. Mod Podge is good for collaging, with paper and even with fabric to hard surfaces (i.e. collaging fabric onto an art canvas).

*6. Mini Glue Gun: Glue guns are handy because they are easy to use, adhere to fabric and are only semi-permanent.

7. Glue Dots: So easy to use. Similar concept to the tape runners, only in smaller sizes instead of a continuous piece of tape. Good for paper projects.

8. Elmer's No-Wrinkle Rubber Cement: yeah! You know you love sniffing this stuff. And if you don't, please don't judge those who do - this is a safe space, you guys. ;) Ok, but for real - this is toxic smelling. So be careful when using it. It's good for school projects and paper crafts. It has a fairly strong hold but it's not crazy permanent.

Yes, I left two obvious adhesives out: glue sticks and super glue. Here's why.

Glue sticks are terrible. Only use them if you are crafting with children. That should explain why they aren't a great adhesive - if you have craft with children, you need something that is not permanent and is washable.

Super glue is too permanent and messy. You will stick your fingers together and create a crafting catastrophe. It's just not necessary to use instant glue like that. My only memories of needing super glue are in the 90s - if a plastic piece of a stereo or VCR broke off. It's 2012...we've moved on.

Oh! And Scotch gift-wrap tape is always nice to have around.

*I've starred the must-haves. I starred a glue for metal, paper, fabric and sealing.

If you want to see more basic craft lists, check out the others in this series.

DIY: Glam Makeup Brush

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I'm really happy with this DIY project! I think a set of fabric-covered makeup brushes (in a little travel bag!) would make a really cute gift. And you could personalize the color scheme.

Supplies: small piece of fabric or paper, mod podge (matte or gloss), scissors, paintbrush, makeup brush

I used a $1 ELF makeup brush that I got at Target. I generally use the ELF studio line of brushes and love them. But I bought this cheapie specifically for this project and to have as a backup brush. But you will need at least a semi-inexpensive brush because the first step is to remove the brush head. This cheap one practically removed itself before I got it out of the package. ;)

DIY Roundup: Origami Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Ok, so origami hearts are cute. And inexpensive V-day gifts/decor. But I have seen SO many origami heart bookmarks lately. Like, too many. So I thought I would round up all of the origami hearts I have seen and we can all get it out of our system. ;) Because I can't handle any more origami heart crafts. Ha!

#1 and #10 are my faves.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12

Discover Paper's V-Day Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Guess what? I sent a printable DIY over to Discover Paper and you can check it out in her awesome Valentine's Day guide! Click the image to go straight to my DIY and get the printable.

There are other great things in the guide, too. Like 100+ amazing cards!

And my fave - an entire gift wrap section.

So go check it out! Discover Paper is a great blog and Donaville, the creative behind it, has awesome design skills and excellent aesthetic. Fantastic!

Craft Tools: Metal Stamping

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Guest post! Woot! So happy to have Lindsay of Shrimp Salad Circus posting today.

Show her some love!

Hello, Lemon Jitters readers! Katie's been sharing her digital expertise over at my blog for awhile, so I figured it was high time I paid you guys a visit over here! When I first got into jewelry-making and blogging, I got a little obsessed with metal stamping. For a pretty reasonable investment, you can make gifts that will blow people away. You'll look infinitely more thoughtful and put-together than your friends, and you can gloat for days over being the best gift-giver at your next function. Read on for all the supplies you'll need to get started, plus links to a few of my tutorials to figure out how to use all this stuff.

*1. Letter & Number Stamps: These are super hard metal and come in lots of different sizes. I have 1.5mm, 2.5mm, and 4mm. I'd recommend starting with a 2.5, as the other two are quite small and quite large, respectively.

*2. Fine Grit Nail File: I use this to sand off the Sharpie after I fill in letters to make them stand out. You want the finest grit possible so that you're polishing your surface, rather than scratching/scuffing it.

3. Dapping Block Set: You can get these in wood or metal, and they're just kind of a fun extra. You can take a flat disc and dome it so that it ends up with a rounded shape. I used a dapping block to make this locket.

*4. Metal Blanks: You can get blanks in any size, shape, or metal. I've used brass most often, but aluminum is cheap and great for bracelets. Sterling is the best, of course, but it's also the most expensive by a long shot.

*5. Steel Bench Block: If you try stamping on a table or any other regular surface, you're going to get a lot of bounce and not a lot of stamp impression. The bench block absorbs the shock of the stamping, allowing a deep, even impression. They come in lots of sizes, but I use a 2.5" square block.

*6. Lightweight Hammer: Just pick up any old hammer from Lowe's or Home Depot. I use a "ladies' hammer" because it's lighter. I try not to be offended that it's also a little bit sexist. ;D

7. Metal Punch: You can buy your blanks with holes already punched, but I like the flexibility of punching my own blanks. If I want to add extra holes, I can just go for it. Plus, there's a bit of cost savings when do some of the work yourself.

8. Ball Peen Hammer: A ball peen hammer has one little rounded end that's just great for giving a nice texture to your blanks. You can hammer a blank like crazy to get a pretty finish, and then stamp your text over it.

*9. Sharpie: Yes - a Sharpie. Right up there with the nail file in the realm of absurdly simple. When you stamp your blanks, your letters will kind of blend in. You can color them in with the Sharpie to make them pop, then just use the nail file to sand off any excess marks.

I promised tutorials, right? Let's start from the most basic - a simple monogrammed metal pendant. You can take that to the next level by adding a message in a bottle (perfect Valentine's Day gift for your guy). If you want to try your hand with the dapping block, go for a hidden message locket. Finally, my most popular tutorial for ages now would have to be antique spoon plant markers.

I have *starred everything you absolutely need to start off with. The dapping block, punch, and ball peen hammer are fun to add on as soon as you decide you're fully addicted to stamping...

Printable Quote: Sad

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Mattie Stepanek died at age 13 from a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. Mattie's sister and two brothers died before him of the same disease. His mother was also diagnosed - with adult MD. Mattie was a gem. He wrote six books of poetry and one book of essays that all made the NY Times best-sellers list. He was an advocate for peace and those with disabilities. He did great things with the MD Association and was on many talk shows spreading goodwill.

If you want to read more about this amazing kid, here ya go.

This quote is really speaking to me right now. I just started a new job in adult and child protection - taking reports of abuse and neglect. And well...what can I say? There is a lot of sadness in the world. But we don't have to live sad, right? Right.

I thought this zebra looked a little sad but his stripes are so awesome. An appropriate reflection of Mattie and this quote, perhaps? I like to think Mattie would like the zebra. ;)

This quote will print 8x8in. Please credit me if you use it online. Enjoy!

Sources: Besotted, Quicksand, BioDivHeritageLibrary

DIY: Fabric Favor Topper

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Favor toppers are one of my favorite crafts. They are fairly easy and quick, so cute and an easy way to dress up a simple gift. I've made a lot of paper toppers but I decided to try out fabric this time. AND I decided to try stamping on fabric.

Supplies: inkpad, stamp, fabric, favor bag

See the results after the jump!

DIY Faves: Lamps

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:03:00 +0000

glitter woodgrain shade, agate stand, dyed shade

DIY: Comic Card

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

This is such an easy and fun DIY! See the details after the jump.

2012 Idea Jotter

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

In an effort to really improve Lemon Jitters this year, I made a cute little idea jotter to keep with me. I used various scrapbooking papers and other odds and ends. I bound it all together and now I grab it whenever I have an idea. Later, I transfer the ideas into a more cohesive, organized binder.

Maybe this will give you an idea to make your own jotter. I only used items I already had. That cool black/creme patterned circle is from soap packaging! Love 'found' papers like that.

Inspiration: Daniel Fishel

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Maybe you can tell how much I admire illustrators. One of my favorite types of art.

Today we take a look at another great illustrator, Daniel Fishel.

He has a sort of carefree, colorful style. His lines aren't exact, his color palettes are great, his shading has depth and there is movement in his work. Overall, I would characterize his pieces as 'alive.'

These darker color palettes at the bottom are my very faves. Especially the female silhouette. Love that piece. The imperfection, you guys! The background peeking through the brush strokes! Love.

You can see more of Daniel's work here.

And follow him on Twitter here.

And shop his work here and here.

Craft Tools: The Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Since I started doing DIYs and tutorials on the blog, I've noticed that there are a lot of beginner crafters out there. (duh, don't know why I didn't think of that before). So this year, you will find weekly posts covering crafting topics like tools, supplies, and techniques. I hope this gives beginners a strong foundation and refreshes the scene for us old crafters.

In writing this post, I looked around my craft room to find the craft tools I use most. Now, there are many more tools that I use but they aren't beginner tools. So today I'm just covering the basic tools you will need. They fall into two categories - cutting & adhesive.

Cutting Tools

1. Fabric Scissors: I use Fiskar's Multi-Purpose, nothing fancy but good quality. The trick here is to only cut fabric, ribbon, yarn, etc with these. Do not cut paper with them, they will dull very quickly.

2. Paper Scissors: For a beginner crafter, I don't think the brand of scissors matters much. I linked to a good Fiskar's pair. Just make sure you only use them to cut paper!

3. Tag Punch: A tip I have learned over time - don't skimp on your craft punches. If you get a cheapy craft punch, it will just mean headaches and frustration later. This brand will cut through cardstock like it's butter and it won't wear out after thousands of punches. I'm a fan.

*4. 2 in Circle Punch: I cannot sing enough praises of a 2 inch circle punch. As you may have noticed, I like the lever style punches. They seem to last longer, are more precise and easier to use. Apparently I'm a Fiskar's fan, too. ;) I recommend other sizes of punches, which I will discuss later, but start with 2in.

*5. 1/16in Hole Punch: This hole punch give a professional look to your projects. A regular hole punch makes most projects look elementary. This small hole will not be noticeable, but will still allow you to thread ribbon, etc. That way the focus is on your work, not on a big, distracting hole.

*6. Corner Rounder: GET THIS. Seriously, you need a corner rounder. It also gives you a professional finish. I have a Fiskar's one, which works well. I recommend 1/2in. You won't ever feel the same way about a sharp corner after you get one of these!

Adhesives

*1. Mod Podge Matte: Mod Podge is your best friend. Seriously - it's amazing and has many functions. I don't want to see you use a Roseart glue stick ever again! Mod Podge has a jillion awesome versions. But start with this one. We'll cover the other options later.

2. Xyron Tape Runner: Goodbye, mess! Xyron makes excellent adhesives. And they make life easier.

3. Scotch Transparent Tape: You probably already have this. It's inexpensive and effective.

4. Scotch Blue Painter's Tape: Don't skimp on painter's tape! Get Scotch. Keep a roll handy and you will find it has uses you never would have thought of. I use it a lot for stenciling & glittering.

5. Mini Glue Gun: I'm not too picky about glue guns. This is an inexpensive, high temp version. I think you can do most projects with a mini like this. Especially if you have Mod Podge, my first choice.

I have *starred my recommendations for absolute necessities. Of course, I have all of these and use them often. But if you want to start with the very basics, go with the starred options.

DIY: Co-Worker Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

not pictured (2 buttons)

You can use any craft punch - a heart punch would be so cute! I used two different sized hole punches.

I used the small punch to make a hole in my lid (so the string would be a tight fit).

Tie your button tightly. Triple knot it close to the note.

Tie your other button on the outside of the lid. Again, tightly.

Tip1: Try to find containers that do not have tight lids. Maybe a film canister?

I used bead storage containers and they are made to fit very tightly.

So I had to loosen the lid to get the confetti to pop correctly.

And there you have it! Office party in a tiny container.

Suggestions for note:

-Lunch on me-

-Homemade dinner-

-Drinks after work-

-1 hour of filing-

DIY Faves

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I always, always have a list of awesome DIY projects that I want to try. I will never be able to try them all. Since the advent of Pinterest, I've been collecting my fave projects there. If you want to see more of my pins, come visit and follow!

I mean, really this is just a smidge of the amazing projects out there.

Some I pin just for pure awesomeness, some I pin to actually try in the near future, and others because they sparked an idea for something else. Out of these, I really want to make the paper mache tray and the striped cardigan. But of course, the hex nut bracelet, floral pillow and jewelry holder are great.

Doodles: Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:46:00 +0000

If you are a long-time blog reader, you may know that I have zero natural talent when it comes to illustrating. I mean, I can't make it happen. My little sister doesn't even try and these realistic masterpieces flow from her pen. Ugh. So I have been watching illustration tutorials on youtube to better my skills. I still can't draw on my own but I can follow a tutorial and get usable results. If I had three wishes, being an awesome illustrator would probably be on the list (next to world peace, of course).

So I was just doodling today and realized that my hearts are just okay. Isn't that sad? I can barely draw a heart. Such is life. Somehow I've managed to live despite this handicap. :)

Organization Tip: Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I love organized things. You wouldn't know it looking at my craft room...

But I really love organizational tools. Especially when things are organized by color.

So I'm ridiculously excited over my new bin.

I got this file storage bin from Target, on sale. Here's the link.

Super cute leaf pattern on the inside.

So the idea is to use a file folder storage bin to separate and store your 8.5x11 cardstock.

File it by color. And I added a file for 'specialty' papers. It makes is sooo easy to find the color you are looking for or be inspired by colors that are usually hidden in the bottom of the pile. I love it and am way too excited about it. ;) It doesn't hurt that it's a pretty color, has a cool patterned inside and a hidden drawer at the top.

So, how do you organize your paper?

DIY: Brilliant Home Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Katie (Lemon Jitters)) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:20:00 +0000

I've done a mini roundup of my favorite DIY home ideas that are practical and functional.

Other than the idea to hide your washer/dryer - that's just for looks. ;)

(1) Conversion Chart (2) Butcher Block (3) Pet Food (4) Laundry Room

Technically, the pet food cabinet is a link to purchase it.

But I think it is great inspiration for DIY versions of the concept.

If you want to see more of my fave things, check out my Pinterest boards.