Advent Wreath Inspiration

November 14, 2018November 20, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

Who else is busy thinking about this years advent wreath? I usually ponder I ideas already when most people enjoy their summer vacay at the pool. I have to be honest, this year my picture is not that clear. When I don’t know what direction to go I usually just look at my Pinterest board ” Usually the first thing that I know if the color scheme of the new wreath. This might happen when I see certain candles or just some decoration that speaks to me. My moms wreath this year will be gold/brown/nude.

Following I want to share some advent wreath inspiration.

This pine needle advent wreath (tutorial) probably took the longest from all the ones I did. I love the look of it.

A minimalistic version is the French Knitted Wreath (tutorial).

A nature inspired one with the Walnut Advent Wreath (tutorial).This wreath was created of an old favorite sweater.

A wreath made of Muffin Liners. Took a lot of glue but its hanging in my apartment for many years.

Here is an idea on how to create a moss wreath.

One of my Favourites is this Snowball Wreath (tutorial). Just never leave it burning unattended.

Door wreath made of Pine Needles.

What’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

Happy inspiration,

Tobia

Scented Wall Hanging { RECYCLE QUICK TIP #11 }

November 13, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

My favorite season is slowly but steadily coming closer and today I want to share a quick and easy tutorial with you. It’s a Scented Wall Hanging made of orange peel. Because now is the time to eat lots of vitamins and so we’ve got peels to recycle. And it is a good way to slowly start decoration for Advent without overdoing it.

All you need for this craft idea is some oranges or mandarines, a cookie cutter of your preference and some yarn.

Instructions are just that easy:

Eat your oranges and saves the peel.
Get out your cookie cutter and cut away.
Thread them together. I did pairs of three. Then I strung them on a wooden piece.

scented christmas decoration hanging Well and that is about it. Easy and fun little crafting for in-between on a rainy afternoon.

If you like crafts with recycled materials my little eerie “Recycling Quick Tip” might be fun to check out. And if you have any fun and easy craft ideas let me know in the comments please.

Happy recycling,

Tobia

Homemade Avocado Sugar Scrub

November 3, 2018November 12, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

Hey There,

Remember, I tied to grow an avocado tree. Didn’t work out too good. I gave it another try a couple of month ago but again I failed even though Miri had a good post up. So I decided the third time I try something different: homemade avocado sugar scrub.

I do eat quite a few avocados so I also end up with many pits. You often read about avocado in cosmetics and how many good effects that has. So I did a little research.

Avocados are rich in vitamins that are beneficiary to hair and skin and that prevents ageing. Mainly the avocado oil – obviously it is not easy gained at home. Still it can’t hurt using the grated pit and use as exfoliant.

Specially after I read that you need 70 litres of water to grow one avocado – in certain areas up to 300 litres. That actually shocked me. And then you still need to fly it half across the earth to deliver it to my doorstep. So I better use every little bit of the avocado. (Edit: I researched bit more and realized an apple needs just as much water while a tomato needs 5litres. Who would have thought…)

What you need for the scrub:

1 avocado pit
1 cup sugar
4 tbs olive oil
2 tbs jojobaoil
3 tbs almond oil

Wash pit and let dry until the brown skin peels off. Grate it in a coffee or apple grinder. The avocado will react with oxygen once grated and turn orange. Let dry complete after being done to avoid mold.
Mix oils.
In separate bowl mix sugar and avocado gratings.
Mix together and put into jar.
Enjoy scrub.

I am not sure how long it would last. But I would assume as long as the oil is all fine and the avocado pit was all dry and didn’t get moldy nothing can happen. Did you ever do homemade cosmetics? Share your experience in the comments, will ya?

Happy mixing,

Tobia

Disclaimer: This post contains links to other Blogs. Due to current (German) law this needs to be labelled advertising. Furthermore I have linked a few of my older articles because I believe you might enjoy them.

Being an artist for 100 days – #100daysofcraftaliciousdrops

July 13, 2018July 14, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

Another one in the books!
If you followed along on Instagram in the last months you couldn’t miss my crafty endeavor. I challenged myself to learn more about watercoloring and aquarell painting and so I joined the annual fun of #the100dayproject where artist meet and challenge themselves to try new things, dabble with new techniques and just play around.

You may also know that this was my third year in joining (read about #100daysofcraftaliciouspatterns here). And it was the easiest year yet.

Let’s see if I can come up with a little fun list of noteworthy things and stuff I learned along the way:

You don’t need much to join and get started in this project. Overall I spent approximately 30€ in paint and pens. It could have been even less because in the end I mainly used 1-2 pens. As for the paper I recycled the inner core of where wrapping paper is rolled on to. Of course this took some time preparing and cutting up in my squares but I appreciate using materials that are otherwise a waste.
To be honest the kraft paper was a real challenge. It had some coating that was water resistant – not ideal for watercoloring. And so I was actually thinking about scrapping it on day 50 to experience with real aquarell paper. (I already got a pad.) I just couldn’t manage to make the edges look all fringed and cool. I am glad I stuck with it though because it made me think outside the box and figure out new ways to achieve what I was trying to get.
I think I used about eight different techniques for all my images.
It is very calming to watch the paint move around on paper and find its way.
I usually only spent a maximum of 15 minutes on the project. A bit longer when I took a process video. (Check it out a compilation on my Instagram highlights).
Sometimes I felt guilty for not taking longer to do it. I asked myself if I didn’t take it seriously.
I never really had the feeling I want to quite. I actually complained a week before it ended to Mr. 🖤 that the project will end and that I am so sad.
I always painted on the assigned date but was slow on posting to Instagram. However I have to admit there where two days where I completely forgot because I was so tired and one day where I deliberately decided to do two pieces the next day.
I like the blue ones with white pen the best. I actually think they look much more interesting if pen is added.
I already have two ideas for the next 100 day project. That only proves: Creativity breeds creativity!

When I started the project my goal was to end up with at least 50 pieces or art. In the end I got 74. Here are a few of my faves:

Now check out the whole collection #100daysofcraftaliciousdrops and let me know what your faves are. Also if you are interested you can check my highlights on Instagram for a few process videos.

One thought that I had during this project was: When are being an artist? When is the time you become legit? Who defines what an artist is? Do you have to sell a piece? Do you have a gallery show your work? Do you have to call yourself an artist? I really don’t know and would be interested in your opinion.

Happy weekend and stay crafty,

Tobia

Little Beech Nut Bells in Red and White – Tutorial

November 21, 2017November 25, 2017 - Tobia 4 Comments

Yes, I think the Holiday Season has started for me. Today I want to share another tutorial for this those cute beech nut bells in red and white with you.

I really don’t know how I came up with the idea. I think I was talking one of my walks through the park or my favorite cemetery and just saw those beech nuts lying all around on the ground. Don’t they look like little calyx or bells? And then weeks later I was shopping and came across those festive little red bells.

Suddenly a picture popped up in my mind and I just had to do it. But let me tell you. It is not that easy to find beech nuts early in November. They were hiding right under all the wet leaves. Of course I had to go hunting for them when it was drizzling and muddy.

Anyhow I did found some. I put them on the radiator to dry and to open them up a bit more. The rest was pretty simple.

I painted the beech nut white. I used regular acrylic paint.
Got my little bell.
I used silver wire and made an eyelet on one end (for the bell) and a knot on the other end.
I painted the wire a hot red with nail polish as I think it looks better.
I assembled the wire and the bell.
I heated up the glue gun and gave a good amount of glue in the beech nut and stuck the wire knot in it. Sometimes I had to adjust the length a bit so it looked good. I just wrapped a bit more wire around the know until I liked it.
I glued some ribbons on as well. If I do it again I might choose white and smaller ones but hey it is very festive and Holiday like.