DIY: Patterned Paper

My DIY Crafting Adventure: Plodding Along with Patterned Paper

For two days, I have been plodding from task to task filled with disappointment because my crafting / art skills are not improving fast enough.

Plus, I have watched so many DIY Craft YouTube videos, they’ve become a muddle in my brain.

My main focus, at the moment, is boxing and wrapping the items I have completed.

Making wrapping paper wasn’t high on my list but now I find that is what I need to do.

After a rough start, I actually made some decent patterned paper to use as wrapping paper.

My first attempt at patterned paper looked more like a Rorschach test.

This is ok, I like using a variety of different sized circles, just need to make some improvements like arrangement and color choice.

 While, I like this one, need to improve my tree doodle.

   

Almost got it with this one!

The previous three samples are an example of my craft supplies management. To conserve my permanent colored markers and acrylic paints, I dug out my colored pencils. They are fun to use!

On a positive note, my patterned paper disasters will be great for making paper beads!

Here are links to just two of the many DIY Patterned Paper YouTube videos I perused:

https://youtu.be/iuulm92pEv4

https://youtu.be/uyAcE12htMk

Reference:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorschach_test

 

DIY: Cardboard Earrings

DIY Cardboard earrings

Credit: https://youtu.be/f_UDijesb1A

I love the idea of making earrings from cardboard and Garlinda is so creative!

I jumped in.

My circles aren’t perfect but as I have learned, again, to learn a new task, it takes lots of practice and patience.

Garlinda’s idea of using a black magic marker to finish the edges of the discs was great.

Also, I need to remember to punch the hole in both earrings by holding them together.

Everything was going well until I got to making the punch hole and putting in the jump rings.

Then, my first pair of cardboard earrings project turned into a nightmare.

Like recipes, I never have all the ingredients or tools required. Use what you have is my approach.

I did not have a hole puncher. So, I used my wire twist earring-making tool as an awl.

While it worked well. Putting in two jump rings was almost impossible.

I have never been able to pry open a bit of a jump ring, easily, to add the earring hook. For this project, I had to find a way to pry open a jump ring enough to slip it through the hole, add another jump ring with the hook and then close it securely.

Before I partially accomplished this task, my floor was littered with jump rings that popped from my hands and I broke two fingernails. The rings are still not secure. I am going to look for an alternative solution, but I now have some beautiful cardboard earrings!