How To Make Leather Bound Metal Journals

Journaling is by far one of my favorite things!  

I've got nooks and crannies, boxes and drawers filled with my journals of notes, drawings, thoughts, sketches, lists, ideas, and hosts of other random brain droppings.  But I have to say that I also love making journals.  These are probably the most outrageous ones I've made, and the idea came to me when I was walking through the home improvement store.  Scott and I love going there and brainstorming about the different things we can make with all the extremely cool stuff.

When I saw the aluminum flashing in rolls, I knew that I had to have a roll!  Then I took it home and flattened it so that it didn't curl anymore.  

The next step is the most fun of all.  Take acrylic paints in your favorite colors, and drop onto the metal flashing.  While it's wet, pick up the metal and make the paint run from side to side. Keep playing with it until you just love it!  Let it dry completely.

You're ready to cut it with metal snips. You must wear heavy gloves for this, and have fine grit sandpaper to soften the edges after cutting it into matching rectangles.  Next, cut a 1-inch tab across the left edge of the rectangles. Don't forget to sand the edges so that they're not sharp anymore.

Now punch holes and attach grommets 2 or 3 inches apart along the center of the tabs, and along the edge of the rectangles to line up with the holes in the tabs.  If you've never made grommets, simply follow the steps on the packaging and you'll be a pro.

Grab some leather lacing at the craft store and punch holes in paper to match up with the grommets, and tie through the metal and through the paper to bind the journals.  Wow, you'll love it!

These would be perfect gifts for anyone, but I especially think they would be great for the guys in your life, too!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog, and I hope you'll find lots of cool crafts to make for yourself, your friends, and your family.

Happy Crafting!

Pompom Challenge!

Do you love pompoms?  

Do you love to make pompoms?

Do you love to help others?

Then you'll love this challenge!

The good folks over at sense.org are challenging the world of creative and helpful people like yourself to make pompoms for a good cause.... to increase awareness of people who have difficulty with both sight and hearing.  And all you have to do is make pompoms!

For more info, go to http://www.sense.org.uk/whypompoms and you'll be making pompoms that will make a difference and connect with people all over the world in this excellent effort.

Do it, and have fun with it!

How-To Make Expired Gift Card Earrings

What do you do with those gift cards when you use them up?

There are some really pretty cards out there.  I know Target has the cutest ones!  Well, here's an idea for you.  Punch or cut out the card to make two matching circles.  You can go as big as you want, but these worked out great for the flowers in a 1 inch circle. If the edges are a bit rough, you can use a nail file to make them perfect.

Then push a straight pin through the tops of the punched circles. Add a jump ring, then thread beads onto an eye-pin between the circles and fish hooks, and you've got yourself some snazzy earrings on the cheap.  Adding beads that match or contrast with the colors in the card really add pizzaz and will kick up your ensemble when you wear them!

Pompom Turkey Favors

These little pompoms will make everyone smile on Thanksgiving!

 When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of Scott and I waking up and

having a lazy breakfast before the dinner prep begins.

So, I thought a cute little pompom turkey sitting on top of upside

down coffee cups at our table would be just the

perfect favor to start the day!

Here's my crafty supplies:

Yarn, Aleene's Tacky Glue, Polka Dot Papers, and a PattieWack Pompom Tool.

 First Step:

Make a pompom

 Second Step:

Cut out 3 tail feathers and 1 circle.

Third Step:

Fan-fold the tail feathers and glue the papers into place to make your cute pompom turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pattiewack

How To make a Fall Pompom Wreath

Over at Design Improvised, there is the prettiest little pompom wreath for Thanksgiving with scrap yarns.  I love how the wreath has just the right amount of bright colors and it would be so easy peasy to make!

If you need to find out how to make super fast pompoms, go to my website and check out my PattieWack Pompom Tool and a video with the whole scoop.  Let me know what you think, and leave a comment on my video about how you use pompoms for fall.  Keepin' it fun and crafty!
PattieWack