Seriously. Doing crafts, whether it’s knitting, painting, glueing, sewing, decoupage, etc, keeps me from going insane, I think. It’s very therapeutic to just sit down and create something. Long projects are rewarding, but sometimes the short, complete-in-an-afternoon ones are great, too. Here’s where you can see some of the best projects I’ve done, and maybe even find inspiration for your own “therapy” session.Tumblr (3.0; @kristapagan)http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4nf0jNCn81rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Mixed Media Challenge:<br/> I entered the “Mixed Media Challenge” at my local Ben Franklin Crafts store…having never really done true mixed media before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was modeled after the Food Network show “Chopped”, with mystery items we had to include, and a 30 min time limit. <br/> There were 8 of us competing, and I won 1st prize!!! Very exciting. And now I’m adding mixed media to my list of new crafting obsessions :)</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/23818695544http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/23818695544Sat, 26 May 2012 17:14:43 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m46fgkQjIi1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Polka dots</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/23234736153http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/23234736153Thu, 17 May 2012 13:05:08 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m41rgsAB6n1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Cupcake Nails</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/23088666132http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/23088666132Tue, 15 May 2012 00:36:28 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3y14lxUix1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Glitter Pointe Shoes<br/> I love glitter. I always have. When I was little I would beg to use our glitter and my mom would carefully line the floor and table with a sheet, then get me all set up with glue and paper and that coveted jar of purple and silver glitter, and I’d get busy creating a “masterpiece”. <br/> A few months ago I discovered that you can add glitter to shoes. Yes, you can glitter your own shoes! Well, I made some really cute glitter flats, but they got wrecked when I unknowingly wore them on a day that I ended up having to walk on very wet grass for a very long time…so very sad! But lesson learned. DO NOT WEAR IN WATER! :/<br/> So, this year I’m doing a version of Cinderella for my studio’s ballet recital. And of course, Cinderella needs glass slippers, so it just made sense to try the whole glitter process again!<br/> This time, I did just two coats of the glitter/mod podge mix, and them shook the loose glitter on top. They are soooo sparkly! I can’t wait to see them in action on stage!</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/22950182986http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/22950182986Sun, 13 May 2012 00:31:11 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3hf3dsz411rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Ombré nails (take 1)<br/> So I’ve been wanting to try this technique for ombré nails I saw on (where else?) pinterest…here’s the link to the tutorial <a href="http://thebeautydepartment.com/2012/04/pretty-polish-idea/">http://thebeautydepartment.com/2012/04/pretty-polish-idea/</a><br/> I think they turned out pretty good for my first try! Definitely going to be a favorite this summer!!</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/22369498615http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/22369498615Fri, 04 May 2012 00:57:13 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3elziVreA1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Whoooo wants cupcakes????<br/> Ok so I had a lot of fun making these owl cupcakes! Splitting the Oreos was a bit tedious, but in the end I think it was worth it!<br/> (the cupcakes themselves were chocolate with whipped cream filling topped with chocolate whipped cream…mmmmmmmm!)</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/22260088593http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/22260088593Wed, 02 May 2012 12:36:18 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m37l77gNv41rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Owl Socks!!<br/> I finished the owl socks I made for Ri. She’s gonna love them :) I adapted the pattern I got from ravelry…here’s the link: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owlsocks">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owlsocks</a><br/> I hardly ever buy patterns anymore, but this one was too cute to pass up. However, I kind of felt like they were a bit busy with the owls on the ankle and the foot, which is why I decided to just do the pattern on the ankle and leave the foot plain. I’m happy with how they turned out, especially with the addition of the contrasting toe.</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/22003561114http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/22003561114Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:37:29 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m31ii34v4Q1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Ok so our other little project Ri and I did was we made her some glittery, girly letters that she’s going to hang in her new place. This was of course quick and easy, yet surprisingly satisfying. A quick coat of spray paint, then we traced the polka dots (I used a spool of thread for a guide) spread on a little glue, and added a generous sprinkling of my super sparkly, half-the-price-of-Martha Stewart glitter from Joanns…I think they turned out really cute. This was the first of many “word” projects she has lined up, which I’m excited for. I kinda want to make myself some, too…</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/21783614349http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/21783614349Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:49:15 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m30vx5j1NB1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Cute as a Button…<br/> Inspired by one of the many things I’ve pinned on Pinterest, Ri and I created this adorable lamp today! A little spray paint (in “sunshine yellow”), some hot glue, and of course more buttons and ribbon from my stash…and we have the cheeriest, cutest lamp EVER! It was a fun project and it’s gonna look great on Ri’s little corner desk.</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/21772077133http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/21772077133Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:41:29 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2um0hvUgC1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Barrettes!!!<br/> Ok so since I don’t have a little girl of my own, I haven’t been making any “girlie” things in quite a while. (I’ve definitely been in little boy mode for the past 3 yrs or so.) So I jumped at the opportunity to start making barrettes for a friend that’s opening up a children’s store. They’ve been really fun to create…hopefully they sell well and I can earn some spending cash that most likely will get spent at their store :)</p> <p>It’s amazing to me how adorable a little hot glue, buttons and ribbon can turn out!</p> <p>The curly ribbon was so simple to make! I used grosgrain ribbon (I bought a multi pack of little spools at JoAnns) I wrapped the ribbon around wooden dowels and secured the ends with metal binder clips/paper clips. Baked them in the oven @275 for 20 minutes, and voila! Curly ribbon!! :) I cut them into little piece and sewed them together into a little bunch, then glued them onto an alligator clip. <br/> The rest of the barrettes I made were simply ribbon covering the clips and then jazzed up with some sparkly buttons from my stash, and then I also made some felt flowers, too.<br/> My favorites are the ones with the brown polkadot flowers (which I think I got from the scrapbooking section at Hobby Lobby?) with the green curly ribbon. If I wasn’t a grown woman with a young child I would seriously consider wearing them :) Its probably best that I stick with making them rather than modeling…</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/21523615359http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/21523615359Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:23:29 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2bqrciY1c1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Stripey Socks! Ok so they turned out pretty great, I think. And I have enough yarn to make another pair, maybe thicker stripes? </p> <p>Onto my next pair…</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/20908881884http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/20908881884Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:50:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m27z6hXSAG1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins</p> <p>Combine in large bowl:<br/> 3 c flour<br/> 2 c oats<br/> 2 tbs baking powder<br/> 1 tsp baking soda<br/> 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice<br/> 1 c packed brown sugar<br/> 2 eggs<br/> 1 1/2 c milk<br/> 1/2 c oil<br/> 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin</p> <p>Scoop into lined muffin tins and bake at 400* for 18-20 min.</p> <p>TURNED OUT FANTASTIC!!!!! :)<br/> and not a ton of sugar, which is nice for a “healthy” breakfast!</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/20782222273http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/20782222273Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:09:56 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m22feakAs71rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Polka Dot Nails</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/20593162581http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/20593162581Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:06:09 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m21jvloUFU1rtnkm0o1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Socks! I’m totally hooked on knitting socks now. Started another pair, this time stripes. Since I’m a bit (ok a LOT) OCD about my socks matching, the variegated yarn was kind of a disaster since the variation was not consistent and therefore I painstakingly attempted to make my second sock “match” the first one…but I’m happy with how they turned out! Stripes should be MUCH less stressful…</p>http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/20573096366http://kristapagan.tumblr.com/post/20573096366Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:59:33 -0400