It's Baby Season

Well, the Snail-Bait has received a face lift. What do you think? I like the new blog templates, but I would like to change the background. Beyond a new face lift, I have some new projects to share. My cousin-in-law is expecting a baby boy. We are throwing her a baby shower and these are some cute onesies I made:

The pattern is from Trey & Lucy they so kindly posted their pattern for ties and guitars. I thought the ties would be my favorite, but I ended up loving the guitar! I cannot wait to see it on the baby.

To make a guitar or tie onesie:

Step 1:  Buy a packet of onesies for cheap-Target or Walmart has great prices! Packs of 5 onesies for around 7.99.

Step 2:  Buy or find the following around the house:

--Fabric (can be scraps!)
--Wonder Under (or Steam to Seam) 1 sheet for guitar, 1/2 sheet for tie
--Iron + ironing board
--Pins
--Embroidery thread to embellish
Step 3: Follow instructions on the Wonder Under to pin pattern to wonder under and fabric accordingly. Cut out! Peel the Wonder Under from the fabric and the "web" part should be stuck to fabric. Place your applique on the onesie. Don't worry it won't stick just yet, so you can move it around until you find a placement you like.

Step 4:  Turn on the iron! Make sure you place cardboard or something inside the onesie so it doesn't stick together! Also place a piece of fabric over it so Wonder Under does not get on the iron.

Step 5: After your pattern is adhered use embroidery thread to make designs!

Coming up next on the bait: Every Wednesday I am going to make it my goal to post. Next Wednesday-I have two more onesies that are embroidery only that I will show how-to and progress. Maybe even a video!

Felting!

I went to Maker's Faire today for the first time. I was amazed at all the different stuff! I was looking for one thing though. Needle felting! I have really wanted to try it, but I have not been able to find anything at a reasonable price, until today! NifNaks had a great kit for $15 which includes the foam board, 6 bundles of roving (you get to pick the color) and two felting needles. The kit comes with instructions and a bit of history about needle felting. They suggest starting out by making a ball. My ball turned into this:  

Isn't my lady bug cute!? It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but it did take a long time. This little guy is a bit bigger than a quarter. Love it!

More pictures of the Maker's Faire to come!

More Crafts

More beautiful coffee filter roses. This bunch was created by my mom for my clinical supervisor. they are double delight roses. We chose this cute teapot to put them in.

They look beautiful in the early morning light. Don't they? Look very real!

Find the pattern at marthastewart.com --> paper roses

Freedom!

How to paint your graduation mortar board (cap). Step 1: Print your design, color back with white chalk all over. Place pattern on cap and trace over with pencil pressing down to transfer your design. Lift up your pattern and the chalk pattern appears.

Step 2: Paint-I tried regular acrylic, but puff paint works the best. Do not use the puff paint bottle, hard to control the outcome. Instead, squirt some onto a plate and use a paint brush!

Step3: Bedazzle! I used Martha Stewarts Irridescent 12 Pack glitter and store bought rinestones. Use Jewel It glue and tweezers to place rinestones.

Step 4: Admire and wear your awesome and unique graduation cap. Don't forget to take a lot of pictures!

It's Almost Time!

I have 3 days left of externship and 5 pages of a final until I am officially done with my MA degree! I am already finding more time for crafting. I started a new felt project, bought new supplies, and will be decorating my graduation cap! For now I will leave you with these beauties-coffee filter paper roses painted in water color. My mother learned how to make them! Thanks to Martha Stewart and Mommymakesroses.com

They seriously look real. My mom made another bunch for my supervisor and I will post pictures by Wednesday! So come back soon!!

Learn something new everyday

Alright time to get nerdy! Did you know that crafting reduces anxiety?

• "Patients with mood disorders often 'live inside their heads'. Participating in a craft can help patients 'move' forward."

Often people who are in hospitals, recovering or in therapy benefit from craft "therapy". I, myself have anxiety from time to time (which is normal for most people!). When I craft on a consistent basis and have an outlet for "my brain"; I seem to be more relaxed. My brain is "moving forward" because you are spending time making something, either just for you, someone you care about, or just for fun and it takes your mind off your worries.

• "Robert Reiner, Ph.D., a New York University psychologist and the study’s author, the findings prove what crafters already know: Crafts de-stress. “The act of performing a craft is incompatible with worry, anger, obsession, and anxiety,” he says. “Crafts make you concentrate and focus on the here and now and distract you from everyday pressures and problems. They’re stress-busters in the same way that meditation, deep breathing, visual imagery, and watching fish are.”

I guess I already knew this, but to know scientifically that my crafting is a form of therapy and it actually works is awesome! However, like I have said before with graduate school coming to a close in about 4 weeks (classes anyways) I have ZERO time for crafts.

The last straw, hurdle, jump whatever you want to call it= super stressed/anxious, overwhelmed, overworked, studying like crazy, with little time to eat, sleep or finish my work..... let alone craft.

Counting the days_____39______ until I can offically call "time" my own again!!!

After May 29th watch out world, Snail Bait will be back in action and I may even start a new blog about my career in SLP---which is sure to involve a lot of creativity! :)

Easter Goodies

My mom and I made 94 cake balls today for Easer. Click here to learn: How To Make Cake Balls We used a recipe that was similar, we used chocolate to coat and added decorations! Suprisingly easy to make, the coating part was a bit tricky but decorating was fun! We saw some very creative cake balls while searching the internet! Some made into lolli-cake balls for weddings and showers. Some made into animals with fondant. Fun to get creative!

Not exactly Peter Cottontail! Looks like a box of chocolates!

Chocolate Cake Balls-regular chocolate (white drizzle) and peanut butter chocolate (sprinkles)

White Chocolate Cake Balls-Funfetti Cake with Sprinkles! They taste just as good as they look!