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s the chilly, dark days of fall encompass me, my need to nest increases exponentially.
Huddled in my blanket and ensconced in my easy chair at home, all I want to do is eat, sleep and read. And craft – when I get the energy.
This is the time of year when homemade greeting cards, small gifts, and artsy experiments pull me in.
Being a hard-core tchotchke (knickknack) collector, I have a plethora of items to decorate and re-purpose. Take for example, old vases, of which I have dozens in all shapes and sizes.
Sometimes, I want to perk them up and transform them into practical pieces of art.
So I tried using washi, a versatile Japanese-style low-tack masking tape that can be easily added to, and removed from, any material. Produced in a variety of widths and decorative patterns washi can easily turn a simple picture frame or mirror into a dramatic accent piece.
In Fun With Washi by Jessica Okui, readers are introduced to washi projects as varied as faux headboards, bookshelf trim, decorative curtains, cell phone covers, and even nail art!
Including a section on materials and techniques, this little gem of a book will turn your DIY projects into fun and funky art.
Then there’s DIY Chalkboard Crafts by Lizette Schapekahm, which gives step-by-step instructions for how to create more than 50 chalkboard paint projects.
With tips, techniques, and lists of tools, even beginner crafters can turn an ordinary object into a practical work of art.
Brush-on and spray-paint chalkboard paint can be used on almost any surface, so the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
This is truly a way to take ordinary objects to a whole new level.
A few of my favourite projects in this book include putting chalkboard paint on the inside of a lunch box, then writing sweet (or intimate) messages there.
Personalized coasters are also a cool idea. A menu board for organized parents lets your family know what’s coming up next. Wooden cake toppers with individualized messages can really elevate a birthday cake.
And clipboards transformed into To Do lists are a great idea, too.
Really, the sky’s the limit with chalkboard paint, so go nuts!
The library has loads of crafting books for those who just want to hunker down and make stuff. So check them out!
For other popular reading suggestions check out Richmond Public Library’s website at www.yourlibrary.ca/goodbooks/.
Shelley Civkin in the communications officer with Richmond Public Library
