How to make a washi tape heart on book spines for a Valentine's Day decoration

It seems like altering books and arranging them in fun ways is really popular right now. I have always arranged and enjoyed my shelves of books. As a hug fan of washi tape my growing collection inspires me to make more crafts with it. So combine those 2 elements and this is what I came up with: a heart created with washi tape on the spines of books. These happen to be little blank sketchbooks with not very exciting covers-perfect for embellishing with washi tape.

I also used my Valentine washi tape to decorate a box patchwork style.

Materials
Red, white, pink washi tape
a collection of books sketchbooks are great but since washi tape comes off easy you could use virtually any book
scrap paper
pencil
scissors





Step 1: Place books with the spines up between 2 heavy elements to secure them in place
Step 2: Make a heart template out of scrap paper to fit within your book spine area.
Step: 3: Trace lightly the heat shape on the spines
Step 4: Place strips of washi tape on the spines using the pencil lines as your guide.
               In my case I used washi tape with a white background and pink/red designs for the heart      and more solid background red/pinks for the outside area around the heart.


Love Washi tape and looking for a great book filled with tons of pretty washi tape projects check out:








 Washi Tape: 101+ Ideas for Paper Crafts, Book Arts, Fashion, Decorating, Entertaining, and Party Fun!
by
Courtney Cerruti

If you have never heard of washi tape, get ready to enter a bright new world of paper crafts! Originating in Japan, washi paper is stronger than wood-pulp paper making it perfect for use in projects like origami and scrapbooking. The tape is low tack and slightly transparent, in a mix of adorable colors and patterns, and a brilliant way to make all of your crafts even better. Perfect to use for parties. See how to create invitations, gift wrap, and goodie bags. Holidays have never been more colorful with ideas for ornaments, window adornments, and even garland.

Decorations for your home and office are easy and inexpensive when you use washi tape. Wall décor, borders and lampshades can become unique works of art and give your home a personal touch. You can even use washi tape in fashion. Dress up your glasses, shoes and jewelry using these simple ideas and designs. And because it's safe to use on delicate items, washi tape is great for personalized gifts like vases and photo albums. Washi Tape by Courtney Cerruti offers 101 amazing ideas that will make this new craft tape your new favorite thing. It's safe to use almost anywhere and great fun for children!

Me and Jane Doe Amineko hangin' in the Lion Brand Booth at CHA Show 2015

 

Jane Doe Amineko and I had a great time at the Craft and Hobby Show this year. The photo op in the Lion Brand booth with the giant knit hashtage was THE photo op of the show!

If you need to crochet up your very own amineko and then take fun photos grab yourself a copy the adorable book:

Hello My Name is Amineko: The Story of a Crafty Crochet Cat

by

Nekoyama

 Hello My Name is Amineko follows the journey of Amineko the Crochet Cat and his crocheted friends as they eat, sleep, and have lots of fun and adventures. The book comes with complete step-by-step photography and instructions for creating an Amineko of your very own and personalizing this cute cat with different facial expressions, clothing, and even bedding. Hundreds of color photographs tell the adorable tales, and mischief, that Amineko and his friends find themselves in, with complete instructions for knitting adventures of your own.

Connect two animals prompt from Creative Doodling and Beyond book and kit

Simple art prompts can "render" (yes pun intended) some amazingly cute and silly images. Try this idea for combining two animals in one doodle from the Creative Doodling & Beyond Doodle Book & Kit.

More about the Walter Foster book and kit:

Creative Doodling & Beyond Doodle Book & Kit: More than 20 inspiring prompts and projects for turning simple doodles into beautiful works of art

by

Stephanie Corfee

Artists of all backgrounds will love seeing the world through a

doodler’s eyes thanks to this fun and fanciful doodle book and kit. In

addition to a 40-page project book packed with more than 20 inspiring

prompts and projects, this kit comes with a selection of colorful art

tools designed to help anyone turn their doodles into expressive works

of art!

Creativity prompts provide imaginative ideas to spark fresh

inspiration, while doodling exercises and projects provide

easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for creating original doodled

designs and crafts. Artists will learn doodle number and letter

compositions, whimsical borders, flowers, faces, clothing, and unique

patterns and shapes. Fun techniques, including doodling with closed

eyes, progressively growing a doodle, creating repetitive motifs, and

incorporating rhythm into a composition add to the whimsical nature of

the book. From doodling crazy critters and creating scroll-like motifs

to designing easy gift tags and a personalized seek-and-find game,

artists of all skill levels will find loads of ideas and creative

inspiration to help feed their doodling addiction.

The included materials provide all the essentials for practicing every prompt,

technique, and project inside the project book. With the professional

quality drawing pencil, sharpener, eraser, 8 colored pencils, 8

fine-line markers, loose-leaf drawing paper, lined paper, colored

cardstock, and poster paper included in this portable, magnetic-closure

kit, artists are fully equipped for easy, on-the-go creativity!

Stephanie Corfee is a full-time freelance artist and designer

living in Malvern, PA. She has worked in advertising and marketing and

previously owned her own wedding gown design studio. Today, Stephanie

enjoys the creative freedom that comes from owning her own business

while doing what she loves. She has a colorful, bohemian personal

aesthetic and loves creating fun, whimsical art for children. Visit www.stephaniecorfee.com.

How to make a morning dove nest basket from the Audubon Birdhouse Book

Are you a fan of birds? I am and I actually have mourning doves regularly nest in my yard. I actually call them my "squeakie doves". They kind of squeak. I never thought of helping them out in their nest building as they seem to like above my motion sensor lights which they build over every couple of years and a few times in an empty vase on a high shelf in my back yard. But here is a tutorial from the book Audubon Birdhouse Book: Building, Placing, and Maintaining Great Homes for Great Birds on how to build a wire mesh nesting basket if you would like to give them some help in your yard.





Click on these pages from Audubon Birdhouse Book: Building, Placing, and Maintaining Great Homes for Great Birds to enlarge and read the step-by-step tutorial on how to make a mourning dove nesting basket.

More about the Voyager Press book:



Audubon Birdhouse Book:

Building, Placing, and Maintaining Great Homes for Great Birds

by

Margaret A. Barker

Elissa Wolfson

Contribution by:

Chris Willett

Foreword by:

Stephen W. Kress

A visit to almost any home or garden center presents birders with numerous cute and colorful contraptions that are sold as bird homes. But the fact is, many of these products provide anything but a safe refuge for your feathered friends.

Produced in association with the National Audubon Society, Audubon Birdhouse Book explains how to build and place functional DIY bird homes that are safe and appropriate for more than 20 classic North American species, from wrens to raptors. Each of the easy-to-build boxes and shelves within is accompanied by cut lists, specially created line diagrams, and step-by-step photography, making the projects accessible to those with even the most rudimentary woodworking skills. In addition, this practical and beautifully presented guide is packed with color photography and information about the bird species covered—including titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, phoebes, swallows, waterfowl, and even kestrels and owls—to help the reader properly place and maintain the homes to attract birds. And because these projects are the product of years of experience and field-testing, you can be sure you’re getting the best advice regarding proper design, safe construction materials, and correct home placement to mitigate exposure to elements, pests, and predators. Finally, beyond the birdhouses, you’ll find out how you can contribute to the larger birding community and even enhance your birding experience with the aid of new technologies.

NY Giants and New England Patriots Eye Makeup from the book 500 Eye Makeup Designs

Happy Football Finals Season! To "kick off" this sports extravaganza and show my team spirit I thought I'd share 2 of the cool eye make up ideas from the football team section in 500 Eye Makeup Designs: Inspired and Inventive Looks for Mood and Occasion. I am from New England so I always root for my home team The New England Patriots and I will definitely be trying out this awesome red, white and blue eye make up to show my team spirit.

 

More about the new book

500 Eye Makeup Designs:

Inspired and Inventive Looks for Mood and Occasion

by

Kendra Stanton

500 Eye Makeup Designs is a collection of gorgeous eye looks for every occasion! From everyday "work-looks" that never get boring, to fantasy-inspired eye shadow with glitter and rhinestones, this guide provides amazing looks for breaking out of the neutral eye shadow-black mascara rut. Filled with designs for every skill and patience level, you can play up your most important feature with looks from different eras, a perfect smokey eye, theatrical looks, and even wild nature-inspired looks! With 500 Eye Makeup Designs, you'll always have the stunning look. 

Kendra Stanton is a nationally renowned make-up artist and beauty blogger. Her work can be seen on seen on the covers of Fast Company, Los Angeles Magazine, and in the pages of Muse Magazine, Runners World, The New York Times and many others. Kendra now serves as a freelance makeup artist and has worked for companies such as Estee Lauder, Aveda, and Clay de Peau. She serves as a beauty ambassador for Bloom.com and is a regular beauty expert featured on a local Portland morning show. Kendra's blog, CitizensofBeauty.com, is the witty girl's guide to honest beauty. It focuses on reviews and teaches women things about make-up they never heard from their mothers. Her blog is an extension of her passion to empower and educate women to look their best at any age.