How to Make Your Own Envelopes Using Ornate Paper

Got Paper? Make Envelopes! 

Be Unique! The Snail Mail Folk Will Love It!

    I still enjoy opening my mail box, the one outside, and receiving letters, #cards, invitations from friends and family. It's intimate, romantic, and will forever be special to me. I'm pretty sure it is safe to say most people love getting physical, tangible, hear the paper rip, mail to open without touching a screen in the process. I immediately want to know who it's from, "left top corner ✓ check it out!"

    If you love sending letters and notes the old fashioned way through the mail, here is an awesome video on how to make your own #envelopes. I'm including a #pattern that you can enlarge or decrease in size on your printer. I used chip board (ie; cereal box) to cut out a #stencil in order to use it repeatedly.

Click on Video to Watch

                Free Pattern 

6 5/8" x 4 3/8" envelope size finished,
increase or decrease as needed

   For an envelope to fit a 5X7" card size, you will need to enlarge by a few percentages. It's not an exact science unfortunately, but start at 2% and go up from there. Please be sure to check out past blogs on GoGo Daat Blog! You can visit GoGo Daat Youtube Channel for more interesting ideas! There are several playlists.

    If you are interested in Painting or Drawing, recently, I've been adding my oil painting and CP drawing tutorials to my Youtube channel. I call them tutorials but they're more like visual learning videos. One of the ways I've learned from others in my art journey, is just by watching the artist paint or draw. 

    I put my playlist visuals to music (mostly rhythm and blues, jazz) because I want it to not only be something to learn from, but also relaxing and enjoyable, inspirational.

Lavender Iris Project - Mixed Media - Prisma Pens -

Doing Art on a Rainy Day 

Helps Lift Up Spirits During Covid!

    Ok, I admit it my emotions have been all over the map these Covid months and I'm sure we are all in the same frustration at times. The thing is we need to find some things that help us to cope with that frustration. Keeping a positive attitude is not easy when so many things are working in the opposite direction. Here are my suggestions to keep from falling apart: 

        One, realize your not the only one going through this pandemic, we are in it together.

        Two, "this too shall pass!" It's not going to last forever and we are gaining some headway, hallelujah!

        Three, take a big breath and let it out very slowly whenever you feel overwhelmed,                                  (do this in 3's and when I say slowly, I mean slowly).

        Four, do something you know will make you feel good once you have accomplished it.

    I took my own advice and created this video for you. The art part was the most fun, but for me if I can't share it with someone...you get the idea. Spring is just around the corner and soon the iris will be popping open and helping us to smile.

     Pray for others who are worse off than you, help by giving in some way, giving always gives my heart a joyful big boost. Count your blessings.

        Six, (extra thought) take a picture of your art and do a four up copy on some 40lb paper, cut them out and snail mail as postcards. This will pay the love forward. 😀 

Valentine's Day Card - Colored Pencils and Mineral Spirts

 Swirls Make Up the Pattern...

 Mineral Spirits do the Blending!

    Learn to make your own patterns because they're therapeutic in nature. I started doodling on paper and started making swirls, the next thing you know I was liking the effect as they were bunched up on one another and in different colors. I wanted to blend them and remembered by mineral spirit purchase made. What you do with colored pencils is dip an ear Q-tip into the "Gamisol" Mineral Spirts and start rubbing in a circular motion. Get playful and see if you can't blend some of the colors to make new colors. You are in control of this project and any direction you go in is up to you. 

    Easy to Do and Therapeutic!

    Any type of colored pencils should work well with the Gamisol (brand name) or mineral spirit. I use Prisma Color Pencils. It is a non-aromatic solvent meaning it is odorless. It can be shipped in the mail so it can't be too dangerous. I would wear gloves if that makes you more comfortable. It spreads the color like a watercolor almost. Use Bristol paper, or a 40 lb smooth surfaced paper, unless you want some added texture. When it is dry, cut it into a shape. I used a heart as you can see.

    Homemade cards are very special because they take some effort on the giver's part. The receiver usually appreciates the time and effort when they ask, "Did you make this?" and you say, YES! ❤️

   

Hair Clip Designing!

Be Inspired!

Clip'n it! Make With Fuzzy-Balls! Use Various Colors!

Time to Get Creative!

    I had some extra brown fuzzy pompoms in my odds and ends collectibles along with some silky 1/2" wide ornate blue #ribbon. I took an old clip and one by one glue-gunned 6 or 7 balls onto the top part of the hair-clip making sure the glue didn't get on the opposite side inhibiting closure. They went on easy and it was fun to see the clip transform so quickly into something useful and creative. 

    Sometimes in order for ideas to present themselves, you need to put all your supplies in front of you. This works for me as I pair and imagine pieces of this and that together. Color combination has a great part in deciding what looks good, also size and shape and balance. As you pick up and move items around the mind starts creating, there's no right or wrong, it's just what feels right to you. I always ask myself, is this something I'd wear? Or does this make me feel good when I look at it? If not, start again.

    Most of these clips are for the young, age 5-10. My niece is 13 but I think she would enjoy these regardless. I plan on giving them to her as a gift. 

    Fashion ones hair with homemade clips and barrettes, it adds to your presence and gives a conversation starter for admirers. Make some clips! Do your hair differently! Jazz it up!

DIY Teddy Bears - Sew From Grandpa's Old Shirts! Pattern!

Recycling and Making Something with Meaning; Great Gift Idea!

Flannel Works the Best!

    My employer, who knew I enjoyed sewing, asked me if I would try to sew a teddy-bear for her. She wanted it to give to someone else for a Christmas Gift.  She explained that she had old shirts from a special someone and wanted it patchwork. It was not meant for a child to play with but rather a token to sit on a shelf or propped in a chair.

    Because I loved the idea, and still do, I said I would give it a try, hence the video. I think this was before all the challenging crazes started.

    I found a McCalls pattern that I liked and increased the size by 20% on my printer. I wanted it to be about 10" high when sitting. 

    The flannel that I used was from 4 shirts and I offset them to make it patchwork looking. The only concern I had was with the thickness of the material, some were more dense than others. It all worked out though regardless of the varying thicknesses. Flannel is pretty easy to work with as it does give more than other material.

    The video shows my struggles here and there, which makes for more interesting video anyway. Enjoy!

Please comment if you so choose.

   Free Pattern

Bear is about 10" Sitting Up

Bear Pattern