Try Today Friday

Over on our Facebook page, I’ve been doing something I call Try Today Friday. I share a craft idea, travel app, recipe tip, or some other useful thing simple enough to try out that evening. The ingredients/supplies are things you probably have on hand, could easily pick up on your way home, or just download.

Some examples from past Try Today Fridays:

For now, #TryTodayFriday only happens on the Facebook page. So like us and make sure to stop by there on Fridays!

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Scarf photo via Schmutzie. Calendar via Things I Should Do.

May 6, 2015January 3, 2018

Cactus Craft

I keep coming across neat cactus-related ideas and thought you guys would like to check these out.

1. Paper

Simple yet fabulous-looking paper cacti project via The House That Lars Built!

2. Plastic

Plastic bottle cacti by Veronika Richterová. While she has special processes for creating her cactus art, it’d be fun to try making a simpler version of these.

3. Planters

We featured these upcycled water bottle planters by A Beautiful Mess on our Facebook page in a Try Today Friday post, but I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss them!

4. Pincushion

Sewing Lab has a tutorial for a cute stuffed fabric cactus that’s the perfect place for pins and needles.

5. Possibilities

C2C Gallery in Grand Haven, Michigan suggests using cactus seeds in artwork. What they had in mind were Helen Otterson’s botanical-inspired ceramics. (Like Succulent Blossom.) But it made me wonder about using seeds in collage to add some depth and texture.

Have you ever created something inspired by cactus or using actual parts of a cactus plant?

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Top photo taken by me at The Farm at South Mountain. Other photos via their respective sites.

April 27, 2015August 24, 2015

Michelle’s paper boat in Nashville

My friend Michelle, who recently moved to Nashville, took me up on my suggestion to make a paper boat and take photos of it in her new city.

Did you know there’s a replica of the Greek Parthenon in a Nashville, Tennessee park? Yep. And there’s an art museum and gallery space inside.

I’m glad spring finally arrived in Tennessee, and it was great to see Michelle’s boat float by!

If you make a paper boat and take a photo where you live, you can email it to hello (at) travelcraftjournal.com OR post it on Twitter with hashtag #paperboatseverywhere and mention @travelcraftjrnl. We just might share it!

March 30, 2015January 9, 2018

Open to creativity

About a dozen people of all ages showed up for my workshop at Southwest Maker Fest Saturday.

I talked a little about making minimalist travel journals that you can start during your trip. Then I gave everyone an envelope with odds and ends to represent what you might pick up on your travels — attraction flyers, paper scraps, coffee sleeves, Travelcraft Journal stickers, etc. Then I set them loose to create something that told the story of their day.

Because the room I was assigned to was in a children’s museum, some of the parents assumed it was a “kid thing” and were surprised when I handed them an envelope to create one too. Also, the open-endedness of the project freaked a few people out a bit at first.

But, by the end, everyone — kids and adults — really got creative and made some fabulous things. They journaled, they drew, some of them went outside the booklet format and got architectural, building things with their materials.

I love seeing people open up to creativity.

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March 23, 2015May 23, 2023

The Return of Southwest Maker Fest

It’s almost time for the second annual Southwest Maker Fest, a free celebration of creativity and collaboration, hacking and tinkering. Once again, there will be lots of workshops, interactive maker booths, and music.

I’ll be presenting “Make Art Travel Journals Anywhere!” I’ve built on last year’s workshop to make it more hands-on.

Southwest Maker Fest will be held this Saturday, March 28 from noon to 8pm in downtown Mesa, Arizona. My workshop is at 12:30pm in the i.d.e.a. Museum HUB Classroom (150 W Pepper Place).

I’m also relaunching my newsletter with the next issue coming out this week! If you haven’t signed up previously, get on the list!

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