oven bake clay present toppers

Oven bake clay is a great alternative if you want to play around with clay projects! One of my favorite things to make during the holidays is present toppers that can double as little ornaments.

I started with a few different colors of Sculpey oven bake clay - red, black and off-white. I grabbed a few of my favorite flower stamps from my collection. Anything that makes an impression can be used to make an impression or stamp into clay-stamps, leaved, flowers, decorative buttons, decorative jewelry are all things that can be pressed into clay!

I rolled my clay into little free form disks and then pressed my stamp into the surface and carefully pulled it away.

I poked a hole in each of my clay disks.

Next I baked the clay in the oven according to the directions on the packaging (275 degrees for about 15 minutes)

Once the clay cooled I painted the surface. I completely covered the entire surface with black acrylic paint.

While the paint was still wet, I wiped it from the surface with a damp cloth. The paint settles into the nooks and crannies of the designs!

The end result are rustic looking little present toppers that can also be hung on the tree!

fashion friday- marbleized bangles

There are so many ways to turn a plain wooden bangle into something really unique- one of my favorite ways it marbleizing with spray paint. 

I like to start by painting the bracelets a solid color- this color will be the background for the marble effect.

I shared THIS marbleizing with spray paint technique a couple years ago and it works great on a variety of surfaces:

Start with a bucket of water.

Lightly spray the top of the water with spray paint- I've found that a light mist works best.

Let colors blend and swirl together.

Next, lightly skim the surface with the bracelet. The surface of the bracelet will pick up spray paint.

Repeat until the entire surface is filled.

TIPS:

Spray paint dries fast, even in water so you have to work quickly.

I have found that different brands and colors work a little different so you might need to do a few tests before diving in. I like working with Rust-Oleum spray paint and metallic colors are the most forgiving.

paper bag gift bags

Truth be told, when it comes to wrapping gifts I am lazy and I am cheap! While I love creating unique handmade wrapping, I'd rather just throw my gifts into a bag and call it good but gift bags are not that cheap. So during the holidays I always end up using all of my favorite creative techniques to make my own gift bags out of paper bags! 

Doodling and drawing is a great way to instantly transform just about anything! 

I use my favorite pens and watercolors and treat a paper bag just like a sketchbook page. Yes, it it more time consuming than going out and buying wrapping but it transforms a gift into something really special!

I'm a "use whatever I have on hand" kind of gal and you will often catch me using nail polish in my mixed media projects!

Stamping is just about the easiest way to create surfaces with pattern! I used my rubber stamps to create some pretty gift bags.

I love using all kinds of simple printmaking techniques (I even teach a class on my favorites)! It is a really creative way to quickly transform any surface into something colorful! 

I used one of my favorite techniques- plastic bag printmaking (you can read all about it HERE) to create a messy and colorful surface.

With a toddler around I find myself creating things that are whimsical and fun. These house gift bags are a cute way to wrap a gift!

When I am making wrapping paper and gift bags, Lucy loves to get in on the action and getting painting messy with watercolors (for any age) is a really simple way to make a colorful gift bag.

Note: I rarely if ever use traditional holiday colors when I am creating wrapping paper and bags- instead I select colors the same way I do when I am working on art...with my heart :)

a fresh batch of pottery (in the shop)

Ok you guys I have a fresh batch of pottery in the shop HERE. This time around I have a bunch of ring bowls that I am crazy in love with (I'm emotionally attached to each and every one of them). Instead of being thrown on the wheel they are slab bowls made by my mom and then glazed with pattern (with a tiny brush) by me and fired in our kiln. These little bowls are perfect for jewelry, loose change, little snacks or anything small. Throughout the day I will also be adding more cups and a few larger sized dishes to the shop.

Read more about my history with pottery and my recent pottery collaborations HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE

holiday wrapping from the hardware store

This time of year I find myself more inspired to decorate, to make handmade gifts and get creative with wrapping. In the weeks ahead I am excited to share all kinds of really simple ideas to inspire you to get creative this holiday season. Today I am sharing one of my favorite little holiday secrets...shopping for wrapping supplies at the hardware store! While a lot of people flock to trendy stores to buy fancy paper and wrapping supplies, I head to my local hardware store. It might come as a surprise but the hardware store or home improvement stores are some of my favorite places to shop for simple (and affordable) supplies for all kinds of projects. Here are a handful of my favorites supplies that I use in my holiday wrapping year after year.

ROLLS OF PAINTERS PAPER:

A staple supply in my studio year round is rolls of painter's paper. Most hardware stores have all kinds of rolls of paper to cover the floor when painting walls. This paper is wonderful for a variety of projects because a.) it's REALLY CHEAP b.) the surface can withstand all kinds of supplies and even layers of paint. 

wrap from Alisa Burke on Vimeo.

During the holiday season I create handmade wrapping paper by rolling out yardage of painter's paper and going to town with my favorite techniques and supplies- painting, doodling, drawing and stamping are all easy ways to create unique paper for wrapping.

ROPE:

I always go a little crazy for all of the different colors and sizes of rope at the hardware store and can't help but grab a few different sizes that I use instead of fancy ribbon when I am wrapping gifts. 

MASKING TAPE:

Masking tape is really cheap and VERY easy to alter- my favorite way is to stamp with permanent ink and then use it in my wrapping.

DRYWALL PANS:

Drywall mud pans are long narrow pans made from plastic or metal that are used to mix and scrape out drywall mud but they also make great wrapping for gift packages! Keep it simple or personalize with a permanent paint pen. 

MAILBOX LETTERS:

I love anything black and white, bold and graphic and mailbox letters are PERFECT for personalizing gifts. Since they are stickers it is simple as sticking them to the outside of a package, tags or cards!

PAINT CHIPS:

Any time I am at the hardware store I always grab a handful of paint chips- they are great to use in all kinds of paper crafting projects and during the holidays they make easy and colorful tags for presents!

PIPE CLAMPS:

Pipe clamps (found in the plumbing section) are a really cheap alternative to a wreath form. At about $1-$2.00 for small sizes they are perfect for creating tiny wreaths that can be turned into an ornament or even a present topper.

OTHER THINGS I LOVE:

Clothespins can be used to clip onto branches or as a present topper. Glue just about anything to them (paper, pom poms,  flowers, bows, tags, beads) and you have a simple decoration.

Key tags are just about the easiest way to create a simple tag for a gift. 

While you are in the key section, grab some blank keys, paint with colorful nail polish and add to the top of a gift!

Forget about wrapping gifts in paper and try wrapping a gift in a painting! Canvas drop clothes, found in the painting section of home improvement stores are super cheap and a fun surface to paint, cut up and wrap with.

Flower pots make great containers for gift packages.

I hope I've inspired you a little to stop by your local hardware store and see what you can find!

turkey pho

After Thanksgiving there is a pretty good chance you have A LOT of leftover turkey sitting in your freezer right now (at least we do)! And one my favorite ways to put that turkey to use is to make homemade pho. After about day three of eating Thanksgiving leftovers I always need some different flavors in my life and pho (a Vietnamese noodle soup that I crave like nothing else) is the perfect change of pace. 

INGREDIENTS:

32 oz chicken broth- traditional pho is typically made with homemade broth but you can cut corners if you are looking to save time by using store bought chicken stock.

Seasoning for broth: This takes a little bit of testing- star of anise, cloves and coriander are strong flavors so add or subtract for your taste.

1 teaspoon ground ginger

2 whole star of anise

2 whole cloves

1 teaspoon of coriander seeds

1 tablespoon of soy sauce

1 teaspoon garlic

2-3 cups of cooked shredded turkey (more or less depending on your taste)

Garnishes:

1 bunch of green onions, minced

1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

1 bunch of basil leaves

mung bean sprouts

sliced jalapeños

lime wedges

1 package of rice noodles cooked according to the package

DIRECTIONS:

In a large pot, bring the chicken stock to a boil. 

Reduce to heat and add seasoning- ginger, star of anise, cloves, coriander, garlic and soy sauce. Allow flavors to simmer for about 15-20 minutes.

Add shredded turkey and simmer for about 5 more minutes.

Prepare the fresh garnishes- green onions, cilantro, basil, bean sprouts,  jalapeños and lime wedges.

Fill bowls with broth, noodles and all the fresh garnishes- bean sprouts, basil leaves, cilantro, green onions, jalapeños and a squeeze of lime.

Add additional seasoning- fish sauce and/or Sriracha or sambal.

ENJOY!