Free Handwritten Fonts

More examples of creative people doing creative things. Tripwire Magazine links to 45 different handwritten fonts, all for free and ready to download. No go make something pretty!

via, Craftzine.com

Inspiration is Everywhere - Framed Flowers and Shelves

I'm still diligently working on my frame ideas so any creative way to use frames grabs my attention. The folks at the. (that's right, their name is "the") have created these three beautiful ways to use them as decoration in your home.

School starts next week, so I'm focusing on lesson plans at the moment, but I'll still continue to post beautiful inspiration and Etsy finds until I have a new shop update.

Inspiration is Everywhere - Rainy Day Cloud Box by ISLY

When I first discovered the wonders of Etsy.com and started to dig deep into DIY and the handmade movement I just couldn't believe how creative people were. I have a long blog roll I read every day in Google Reader and it is chock-full of blogs where people continue to dazzle me with their ingenuity and craftiness.



This craft is from ISLY (I Still Love You). I love how she describes her inspiration for the project and that she offers the template for her readers to download for free. You can guarantee that many of my fellow teachers and maybe even a student or two will be receiving one of these boxes this coming school year.

Ecstatic! First Jewelry Display Box Complete!

Wow. I did it.



I completed the first 100% handmade version of my idea. It was fascinating to create something I had been thinking about for so long, and to see it turn out so well!



I learned so much in the process of just making one of these babies. I can't wait to implement what I learned on the next one. A few of my friends decided to do a craft swap this summer, so this version was mailed off yesterday to the girl I got in the swap.

I went with purple because it is her favorite color. The next one is going to be done in a deep blue for another friend's birthday. I want to have a few under my belt before I start selling them on Etsy.

I still can't believe I did it! Go me!!

First Handmade Prototype

Whoohoo! I finally compiled all of the tools I needed to start trying to hand-make my own version of my jewelry display cases. Eric helped me on this end.

Honestly, it was more moral support than anything else. I had made a dozen runs to Home Depot and Michael's searching for the perfect paint, for hooks of all sizes, for screen, for sawtooth hangers and L-braces, etc, but when it came to buying a mitre box I just really wanted someone standing with me in the Home Depot tool aisle debating the virtues of which yellow box was better, and it helped, it really did.

So I installed the box on the work table in our storage shed and got to work cutting angles on the wood I had picked up. I can't believe how much I've learned, and I'm not even finished with the first prototype.

Here are some more shots of what I'm working on:

Using the mitre box

Spacing out the different hooks

Bringing the pieces together & more to come!

Sensitive to Metal - Nickel Allergy

I have a sensitivity to nickel. A lot of the metal in costume jewelry contains nickel because it's fairly cheap. When I shop on Etsy I always search for nickel free earrings, but sometimes even the ones I pick up can make my earlobes start to burn after a few hours. So I'm trying this:

I've heard that if you coat the posts and backs of your earrings in clear nail polish it can really increase the amount of time you can wear the jewelry for daily. Has anyone else had success in doing this? I'll let you know how it goes.