How to make Your Own Smudge Sticks

I use smudge sticks every time I sit to meditate, read my cards, preform a ritual, have a fight, start a new season, feel like crap, basically, I use a smudge stick for everything. With the discovery of fire, people began to notice that aromatic smoke was produced by burning dried plants. As herbs, roots, resins and barks are transformed from their physical form by fire into smoke (spirit world form)it opened their eyes to change. This transformation is evidence of the spirit within substances. There are many websites on how and why we smudge, the 'proper' way. I prefer to create my own rituals and "circle time" and I like to make my own tools as well. Before I begin anything: project, craft, ritual, making something to be used sacredly, I always ask the Universe for guidance and sit for a moment in silence. When I'm finished, I always thank the Universe for watching over me as I preformed a new task.

 
I gather everything together before I get started when beginning a project...I hate being interrupted or having to stop and go. It messes with my flow. In Native American Cultures and various other cultures everywhere, certain herbs are used for certain ceremonies. I use what I like and what speaks to me at that time. I use white sage for a total cleanse. I like  the smell of lavender and rose together, and I add those for love and peace. Patchouli is my favorite fragrance of all time and I have a powder that I add into my sage to spice it up a bit(so punny, sorry.) I also use thyme, rosemary, lambs ear, and chamomile. I do only use organic ingredients and materials if I can help it...I'm sure inhaling pesticides and GMO's isn't good for you.

Lie all of your ingredients out and mix and match until you are pleased with your selection. Using a thin hemp or cotton start in the middle and start to wrap the herbs together. I wrap back and forth tucking leaves as I go, until I get to the end and I simply tie a knot. 

I then take craft paper or a recycled paper bag and roll the smudge stick into a paper tube, tying it off with string long enough to be able to hang. I cut a little slit in the top of the tube so that it would hang up and down and not all wonky. This way all of the moisture will come to one end and not get all moldy and such. Let the stick dry for about a week or so and then use it to your hearts content. 

It's okay to fail.

So, obviously, I didn't make a post yesterday about my amazing upcycled lamp shade. EPIC FAIL.

 As I began to cut into the shade I found out a few things.

1. I don't really think things through.

2. There are NO side supports on this shade.

3. I didn't have a back-up plan.

well, poop. So I had to run out to the store and buy a new shade and come back to the drawing board.

But that's the best thing ever-

I didn't get defeated. I didn't get down on myself. 

I learned a lesson(maybe check it out all the way, have a back up) and I'll keep going.So for now, the doily's are chillin on my worktable and I started a new project. I'm going to keep thinking about the doily's until I figure out a solution, but I'm not going to give up. I have faith in me. I'll come up with something eventually. and it wasn't a failure, it was a learning experience. I totally know how to tackle this when I get a new plan together!

 Until then, we'll just say this project is to be continued...

DIY Doily Lampshades

PART 1-

 I've been buying and collecting doily's for a long time; sure I could crochet them myself, but when I go to the thrift store or to a yard sale and they're .25 It's hard NOT to buy them rather than make them...besides, it's upcycling! So go out in yonder world and return with a whole bunch of beautifully intricate doily's. Most of mine we're round, but some were 'runner' style, long rectangles, and some were obviously practice crochet because they were a bit wonky. Regardless- Your going to be stitching them around a lamp shade which is no perfect circle or square so no worries! I will eventually remove the fabric that's on the metal frame of the shade, but I wanted to make sure the dye worked out and that I had enough doily's before I had a naked lamp chillin' in my living room- I'm doing this on the sly anyway, so I want to destroy the original at the last moment.

 I just sort of eyeballed the amount that I would need- I'll probably overlap them in some areas...

 I then laid down some plastic and sprayed the fabric. I used Tumble Dye by sei in pink and blue. And I also used Color Shine by Heidi Swapp in teal, mustard, chartreuse, and primrose. Color Shine is typically a scrapbook/mixed media type spray- but I figured, ink is ink-right?!?

I also decided while I was at it, that the doily would make an awesome stencil for one of my canvases- so I laid it across the canvas in progress and sprayed away- I think it'll be a cute background element!

My next steps will be to let them dry completely and iron over them to heat set the ink. I'll post about that and how I finished the project on Thursday! Stay tuned!!

Happy MAY!! FREE PRINTABLE!

Copy and save and print and share!!

Thursday Crafty Thursday

When the kids and I are having 'craft day' we like to dress up. Actually, I like to dress up, and I drag them into it. I decided that in order to feel more 'artistic' i needed a Creative Headdress...thus bands of feathers galore!

Materials:
Feathers( i bought mine at Hobby Lobby)
Leather Scraps (felt would work just fine)
Sharp scissors or razor

Tutorial-
First I cut bands of leather to fit each of our heads. Then I cut slips to insert the feathers in to. I added an assortment of feathers and then just taped them down on the inside. I now wear this when I'm writing and journaling, and I added acrylic craft paint with a round #10 brush dipped in paint and glitter to our faces for 'war/warrior' paint. We are now ready to conquer any art/craft project ever! We dress up for any and all occasions, art should be a celebration! celebrate every day with a costume, get into character- you'll love it as much as the kiddies!

Create Your Own Path

I believe in me. This is not a bad thing. If I want something done, I do it. If I need money, I work and make it. I don't depend on others for my happiness and I don't blame anyone else for my emotions or failures. The only obstacle that ever stands in my way is me. I create my own happiness and I do not allow others to affect me- negatively or not. The blame game is a dangerous game, and i feel as a whole we have lost the way. We blame others for our mistakes, never excepting that we create our own destiny's and choose our own paths.

I MAKE MY OWN MAGIC!

and sometimes, I share my magic with others. But they have to be willing to accept it and work with it, not just expect it to do all of the work for them. 

It's not always easy. It's hard work creating your own path and walking it! But, if you are willing to get off your ass and do what you say you are going to do, IT WILL HAPPEN. The only real and true magic, is the magic you create within yourself and spread where it is needed. Quit waiting for a gift to roll to you. If you are not putting in the work, the Universe will not even respond to you. Energy flows two ways, out and in. If it's only flowing in then there will be a blockage, nothing is helping open the path for even flow. Show the Universe that you want to accept all that it has to offer, by working hard, loving harder and enjoying life. Shove fear and self doubt to the side and open yourself to all things and you will start to feel your magic become stronger and more powerful- you will create your own path!

WISH BOTTLES:

To help my children visualize their wishes and wants, we created these bottles- 

As we made them we talked about what we wanted out of life, what we wished for, and how we could make that come true. Now everyday, they can walk by them and reaffirm their wants, reminding them of their path, and help them remember the talk we had about how they have to do the work to help their wishes come true!

Materials- 

Glycerin

Distilled water

Glass bottles with cork or lid

glitter

ribbons

feathers

Pour half glycerin and half water to the bottle, then add glitter, and little stars to the mixture. Lid it and shake it up- so awesome and sparkly! Decorate the outside of the bottle with ribbons, trinkets and baubles- place it in front of a window and yahoo!!! Beautiful!

(I got this idea from Pintrest- but I'm not sure which website it came from...comment me if you know the original source)

Wordless Wednesday