The Easter egg chain link fence decoration

I have been having so much fun decorating my ugly chain link fence for each holiday. Here is the Easter egg version. Happy Easter all ya'll!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Don't throw those Easter egg shells away. Here's how to make an egg shell mosaic box using them.
Mixed Media Artist
Never throw ANYthing out, not even paint-soaked paper towels!
Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on portrait poses, how to make frosting bunnies, chicks and eggs, along with info on house rabbis and a recipe for white bean dip with rosemary oil.
Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi explains how her puppy became the Easter Bunny for a set of greeting cards.
Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you the bowties she made with her DIL and gives you a few links to easy tutorials for making your own for the young man in your life.
Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess explains how to make a simple art book.

Unusual Easter Egg decorations

I have been having some fun decorating eggs but not really the usual way or with the traditional themes. I was flipping through The Art of Papercutting and I came across this page that has a tutorial for decorating eggs with paper. Well, in keeping with my theme of unusual and recycling, I went to a copy of a fashion magazine to see what paper I could harvest.
I found a picture of a rather cranky lady and the word "guilty" and hey, in my mind they would make an awesome bit of egg decoupage.
After the dust settled...actually the Mod Podge dried I popped on my finger tip Hot Glue Gun Helper and flipped the switch on the Ad Tech cordless hot glue gun and secured a ribbon loop and a recycled Glass Glintz to each of my eggs.
As you can see I decoupaged one egg with a photo of scissors and stamped the word "head" on another....you get the joke right?
Egg Head??? Paper cutting???

Yah I know dorky!

If you like working with paper there are tons more great projects in:
The Art of Papercutting
by
Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell

More about the book from the publisher Cico Books:

"Papercutting has a long history, originally as a traditional folk art practised across Europe and North America, and now elevated to new, sophisticated levels. Here, Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell presents a stunning collection of 35 papercutting projects, ranging from party decorations, decoupage pictures and paper flowers, to greetings cards and gift tags. All have easy-to-follow instructions, with advice on the best paper to use for a superb result. Papers used in this book range from lightweight crepe paper and tissue to heavier weight card and water-colour paper. Recycling plays an important role, too - finding, collecting and using small scraps of discarded paper to incorporate into something new is a rewarding process. Here you will find wallpaper, postage stamps, gift wrap and postcards given a new lease of life. Whether you are new to the art of papercutting, or a skilled crafter looking for fresh ideas, the projects featured in the book will inspire you to pick up your scissors and a sheet of paper and create something beautiful."

It's beginning to look a lot like...Easter!

No, this trifecta of cuteness is not mine, they belong to a good friend of mine who let me get my "bunny lovin' fix". They were so soft and silly.

I hope you have crafted up something this springtime that is making you smile. If not here are some ideas that might help:

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to make an Easter egg pop art decoration, a recycled leather Steampunk style cuff, embroider multicolored yarn "X" shapes on your knitting and a recipe for bacon butter.

RockPaperInk.com

Off Book/Typography/PBS Arts video

Mixed Media Artist
Even though she has very few drawing skills, Cyndi is pleased with the results of her latest quilt experiment.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to applique a "Zzz" pillowcase.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
You can make any size envelope with the Crafter’s Companion Ultimate crafting tool. Look at how easy it is to “push the envelope”

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess takes a road trip and visits an amazing yarn shop in Florida.

Carmi's Art/Life World
The spring ring. So easy to make and wear!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she turned trash to treasure with a re-purposed whisk, ribbon spool, felt and a little ingenuity.

How to applique a "Zzz" pillowcase

I love crafting "funny" and this is really funny. I also had so much fun posing Jane Doe Amineko for the shot just like in the book All Sewn Up that the tutorial is featured in.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to use a contrasting fabric like the directions in All Sewn Up specified or use some trim. After a little test driving I went with the black bias tape.
I pinned it on a pillowcase I had already made a while back so I simply took one of my smaller cutting mats and slipped it into the pillow so I could pin the ribbon in place without fear of pinning the front to the back.

A few laps through the sewing machine and I had a silly "Zzz" pillowcase!

If you like sewing adorable things I bet you will love:
All Sewn Up
by
Chloe Owens

More about the book from the publisher Cico Books:

"By replacing pens and pencils with needle and thread, and paint with fabric appliqué, Chloe Owens has applied artistic principles to sewing and created these unique projects showing her true passion for handcrafted things.

Packed full of 35 crafty ideas, Chloe uses a wide variety of techniques from embellishment and adornment to freehand embroidery that are forward thinking but still inspired by vintage style. Start by making something fun for a lunch with friends in Cooking Up A Storm. There are pretty placemats, table decorations, and even an apron for the hostess. In Cuddly Companions you will find a giraffe, lion, and bonkers bobtail bunnies to sew, each one decorated with pretty stitches. Gifts comes next, with tote bags and quilts that friends will love to receive. If you adore long lie-ins then Rest Your Weary Head has pillows with appliqué and embellishments, plus a Holly Golightly inspired eyemask. Finally, Room Decorations has wall murals and hangings to add a splash of color to your home. Every project comes with step-bystep instructions and adorable artworks, making everything so simple to stitch. There is also a handy

techniques section and templates to help you along the way. So what are you waiting for? Grab a needle and thread and get down to some seriously creative crafting."

Cool vodka packaging and crafty links

I love fun packaging. This is Firestarter Vodka that looks like a fire extinguisher is awesome. I also think that it is a riot that they have to put on the label, "This is not a fire extinguisher"

More things that might make you smile:

The Card Album Blog
Learn how to make a "Keep Calm and Cut On" recycled art card.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there tutorials on how to make tube rivets, recycled envelope stamped mail art, use an ironing board to adjust drape, info on Crafted at The Port of Los Angeles and a recipe for peanut butter bread.

RockPapeInk.com
Fumi Watanabe is inspired by her messy desk.

About Family Crafts
Play along with the new Make-It-Over craft challenge. This challenge is all about making crafts using Easter Peeps candy.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a re-post of a fun magnetic Easter or Mother's Day project!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi makes some pop up cards using some beloved vintage imagery!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows off a new work in progress, a beautiful ripple shawl using self-striping yarn.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
One of The Artful Crafter's readers has developed a new, improved recipe for homemade polymer clay. Be sure to check out Eva’s recipe, as well as the darling "gingerbread" house she made with it.

Mixed Media Artist

What's a girl to do when she can't draw but she wants to include a drawing in her quilt?