FREE Printable Skelekitty Gift Tags

Howdy all.  Krissi here.  Every now and then I like to make special items available for free.  From a marketing standpoint, it's good publicity.  From a human standpoint, it's just good.

So I'm happy to offer to all you Rosies out there, some FREE non-denominational Skelekitty gift tags/stickers (suitable for non-holiday gift-giving, too)!  You don't even have to buy anything from me.  :)

Just click on the image you would like (yep, you can have both - nobody is keeping track).  Then, from my Flickr page, click "Download original size of this photo" to save the full sheet of tags to your computer.  Print them out, cut them and attach them to gifts (handmade, of course)!


Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Blessed Solstice, Happy Festivus and/or Positive Mid-Winter Celebratory Greetings to you all, however you acknowledge these cold and short days indoors.

Love,  Krissi and Skelekitty



Krissi Sandvik is a mixed-media artist and the owner of Krissi's Art Studio, home of Skelekitty and Friends. She was recently named "best tutorialer on the web" by her friend Rachelle Rose.

Ask Krissi's Art Studio: Easy/Quick DIY for Cleaning Silver

Union Riveter Krissi Sandvik is back with another tutorial. This one would be fun to do with the kids over the summer - it's housework disguised as a science project!
Here is a DIY on how to quickly clean that pesky tarnished silver without any elbow grease using stuff you have around the kitchen.

Krissi Sandvik is the artist and owner of Krissi's Art Studio, home of Skelekitty and Friends in Folsom (yes, like the prison) California, where she resides with her husband, cats, tortoise and Jack Russell Terrier, Abby. Krissi, claims to have been raised by a pack of wild attorneys, was unofficially named "best tutorialer on the web" by her friend Rachelle Rose .

Night time Long Term exposure with a cheap digital camera

Today's post brings Wenchkin to the Modern Rosies mix with an AMAZING how-o on something that even traines photographers sometimes struggle with. And in true Wenchie style, she does it with a rad DIY, frugal attitude!

First and foremost I am NOT a photographer. I am a girl with a digital camera that has it in order to take product shots for her store. With that over time I learned to play with all the functions on my camera, one of them leading to some really fun shots. Today I am here to tell you how I took the picture above, it is also the same way I have taken great lightning shots like this.

So let's get started, you may not have the same camera I have and that is ok, in order to do what I do your camera needs to have two things, a flash that you can shut off and a long term exposure setting. I am starting out with a 5mp Kodak Easy Share c340 that I have dropped numerous times so I can no longer use the zoom button but it still works great for long term and macro photography and I can not currently afford to replace it.

I turn the camera on to AUTO, the generic setting usually set in green on most cameras

I then hit the menu button on my camera and scroll down till I see something labeled LT
I hit ok, it opens a menu for shutter speed, mine has four settings a.7 seconds, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds. I usually select 4 seconds, the longest exposure time the camera will allow. I hit ok, back out of the menu and get ready to shoot.

Now on my camera it automatically shuts the flash off when in LT mode. You should double check that your camera does as well as you should have a visible symbol on your camera that looks like a lightning bolt with the no slash through it. If your flash is on, shut it off, it works against this type of photography.

The most important thing I can not express enough when you are ready to shoot is to either have a tripod, which I do not, or find something stable to set your camera on. I do not care how steady handed you are you will never get a good long term shot holding the camera. You MUST set it down. Even in and with that sometimes just the act of my clicking the shutter is enough to jar the camera and ruin my shot. If your shots are still coming out smeared and you are unhappy with them then try setting your camera timer so after you click go it gives the camera a second to quit moving before it takes the shot.

Lastly if your shots are coming out too blasted out and you are letting too much light into the camera go back into your LT settings and back your exposure time back out from 4 seconds to 2 to see if it gets better. The shots I took above are completely unaltered color and light wise, this is exactly the shot I took from my camera under those settings.

Happy Shooting!

Wenchkin is an amazing artist, specializing in muerto-inspired drawings, and thick black outlines. You can find her on Google+, on Facebook, or you can shop her ArtFire shop! She currently resides in Albuquerque with artist Scott Krichau, and their tripod Jack Russell "P."

DIY gift tags- Upcycle those Christmas Cards!

The holidays are over, but that doesn't mean you can't re-use some of that gift wrap to use throughout the rest of the year, or store for next year! Our friend Arjay from Kisszombies DIY gives a cool gift tag tutorial today.

Growing up, I used to tease my mother for her money-saving tricks, especially when it came to gift-wrap.  Now, I follow in her footsteps, stashing gift bags, clothing boxes, and star bows to use over and over again, not because I have to, but it just makes sense to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Here is a great little tutorial that I came up with to save a little money, and give your gifts a little more homemade touch!

What you need:

Used holiday cards (I do this same thing for birthday gifts, as well!)

Scissors

Pen

Tape

Figure out which parts of your card that you would like to turn into a gift tag.  I really liked the red bird on the tree, so I cut past that to the crease of the card, and folded the strip in half so that I can write on the inside of the new mini-card tag.

Other cards still have some really great images to cut out, but no space to fold them over, so just cut out around the images however you would like.   Rather than folding it and then taping it to your gift, you can just tape it down flat and it can still be lifted up to read.

Some cards don’t have an actual image to use, but have patterns or textures that I like so I still make tags for those to use on holiday gifts, birthday gifts, or any other occasion that it would work for.

I only had a few cards that were completely unusable, but look at all of these tags that I didn’t even need to buy!

Wrap your presents, label your tags, attach and Voila!

This purple and silver tag that I made went great on my friend’s birthday gift!

The holiday tags make my paper bag wrapped gifts look festive and rustic!

Arjay Smith hails from Salt Lake City, where she lives with her fiance, and a slew of fur babies. She is the owner and creator behind Kisszombies DIY. She has an Etsy shop, an Artfire shop, and you can also find her on Facebook, so there are many ways to find her!

Fiber Optic Beer Can Tree

You know what rules? Holidays that some people find serious, and others can have FUN with. Wenchie is a master of FUN THINGS, and this project is no exception. Viva la PBR tree!!!!!

Yes it is obvious I do not have kids and I do not take the holidays very seriously. With that I bring you every cheap beer drinker's tree of choice, the beer tree. But I jazzed it up by using the cans to decorate the tree instead of be the tree this year.

I try to keep my "how to" blogs as cheap as possible so there is a good chance you can get a small fiber optic tree at a thrift store for less just plug it in and make sure it works. For piece of mind and so that this lasts longer then just this project I caved and bought a new one.
This white fiber optic tree I picked up at my local wal mart for 13 bucks they also had tree colored ones but I opted for white thinking it would better suit the cans I am choosing color wise.

So this is basically easy as long as you remember one thing. Hot glue will not stick to the tree no matter what you do so avoid even trying to glue anything to the tree directly. It will just melt the plastic parts, ruin the fiber optics, stink to hell and back and make you very unhappy.

So to start all I really used is

a 24 pack of empty cans,

a hot glue gun,

extra glue sticks,

a sharp knife.

I take the tree out of the box and fluff down the first layer to make a base for my first row of cans to sit on top of.

Then because I do not want the glue to melt the tree I assemble a circle of cans off the tree first leaving the last one out. Sorry my picture leaves something to be desired but I run a bead of glue again on the insides where every can meets just for added stability.

I then place it on my tree on top of the bottom row of branches

and glue the remaining can into the circle

Then because I am not thrilled with the way the bottom branches are sticking out so far I bend each one of them back in a z shape still leaving the end of the branch sticking out at that it the part where the fiber optics are.

So now it looks something more like this.

You do not have to do this, it is just how I want to shape my tree.

Now I start taking the next row of center branches and bending them down and over the first row of cans all the way around the tree.

And for some reason I seem to be missing the next photo, awesome except for the fact that all it showed was me repeating the same make a beer ring minus one can, make it one can smaller then your previous ring, mine went 7 cans, 6 cans, 5 cans, 1 can. and continue to pull down branches and fluff them out where you want the light up ends to be.

For the final can I used a sharp knife to cut the bottom out then I pulled the last longest branch of the tree through the mouth hole.

and plugged it in

Wenchkin is an amazing artist, specializing in muerto-inspired drawings, and thick black outlines. You can find her on Google+, on Facebook, or you can shop her ArtFire shop! She currently resides in Albuquerque with artist Scott Krichau, and their tripod Jack Russell "P."

Spa Therapy Works- A Treat for Your Skin

Since the holiday season has been kind to all of the Union Riveters, we all have been slacking on posts over here. Most of us are also shop owners, and are getting overwhelmed by the holiday season, which is good for us, but not so good for Modern Rosies. We will soon be back to a regular posting schedule, have no fear!!

I am going to start off this post by saying this: Not ONE single person I have suggested this shop, has ever NOT loved it, and become addicted. And when I say "addicted" I mean it. I have over 10 deodorant bars from Spa Therapy on my dresser at this very second.
The journey that brought me to Spa Therapy, and it's beautiful owner Jussara, is not a pleasant one. When I was 5 months pregnant with my now-toddler, I had a very large lump removed from my right breast. Being pregnant, they could not perform actual surgery on me, but they needed to remove the mass, so they took SO MANY biopsy slices, that they eventually eliminated the lump, and a bunch of tissue around it as well. Nothing I want to go through again.
Well, the doctor I have for breast health is renowned for her care, and sat down and explained to me how the good old mammary glands SHOULD function. She then went on to tell me that there are situations that can cause lumps to form, even ones that are not-cancerous (mine ended up being suspicious, so we keep track of them). She then went on to start talking about my pits, and deodorant. I was confused, how does my pit-stick have anything to do with my boobs? Well, in regular "deodorant" the cosmetic people put in aluminum which essentially CLOGS the pores of your skin. It plugs up those pores like a cork, not allowing any moisture to escape. That is what makes a deodorant an "anti-antiperspirant". This eventually can lead to lumps, and cysts, and all sorts of fun stuff. Plus, there are MAMMARY GLANDS IN YOUR PITS! Should I be breastfeeding, I most CERTAINLY would not want traces of any of that crap being "fed" to my child!!!
I dunno about you all, but I am a firm believer in letting the body do what it needs to survive. Your skin is MEANT to sweat, and perspire, that is it's function. If you plug those ducts, you are trapping bacteria, and all the impurities that the skin would normally sweat out IN your body.
So enter Spa Therapy Works. On the suggestion of my doctor, I started researching alternatives to regular over-the-counter deodorant. Two words sum up why I first tried Jussara's deodorant: PINK CUPCAKE. Yep, if I was going to dive directly into the realm of non-traditional pit-stick, might as well do it smelling like a CUPCAKE!!!! Since then, I have not gone a day without wearing some Spa Therapy Deodorant. My current go-to scent is the Bourbon Vanilla (which to me smells like Vanilla Bean).

When I tell people about my deodorant, the first reaction is "OH! I have tried that, I smell after about 20 minutes, that crap doesn't work!" Well, first off, here is my testimony. Remember when I said that I was 5 months pregnant when I had my biopsy done? Well folks, Spa Therapy deodorant carried me through EIGHT HOURS OF LABOR. EIGHT! I only have to re-apply after my son was born.
One thing to remember, is when switching over, you need to allow your body to "cleanse" the pores in your pits. It may take a week or two to get rid of all the junk that is up in there, clogging up the works. I found that after about 3 weeks, I only have to apply in the morning, and I still smelled wonderful by bedtime. On hot summer days, it can be a LITTLE different, but I usually carry a stick in my bag, and re-apply if needed. I WOULD RATHER DO THIS THEN RISK MY HEALTH! Also..... MY ARMPITS SMELL LIKE A CANDY STORE!!

I have been reviewing DIY cosmetics and bath products for quite some time. Heck, I have even tried other handmade deodorants (which I would not suggest, it turned out AWFUL........). Spa Therapy Works is hands down the best deodorant on the market. I use it, my husband now uses it, and I even have my pre-teen son using it. Have you ever smelled a teen's armpits? THIS WORKS!!!!  The best part about Spa Therapy, is that she NOW offers deodorant samples! This is a perfect way to try out her product, smell different scents, and not buy the whole stick. I also use these little guys in my back-up bag, in case I have an emergency. (Like the other day when I had to hold my 40 pound toddler still during a one hour presentation... ICK!!)

You can find Spa Therapy on Etsy, and you can also follow her on Facebook, where she announces new products, and sales. And while you are there, try our a shaving soap, or facial bar. There is not a single product she makes that is not amazing!!


UPDATE!!!  THE ENTIRE SPA THERAPY WORKS LINE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY RACHEL RENE BATH AND BODY!  YOU CAN STILL FIND THESE AWESOME DEODORANTS ON ETSY AND FACEBOOK!

Occupy Handmade this Holiday Season

We have all seen it in the news, this "Occupy" movement. It is grassroots, has been making waves, is VERY political, and at times, violence has come of the protest. Here at Modern Rosies, we choose to take a neutral ground, and keep OUT of the politics of the situation. We love all of our readers, no matter WHAT side of the line they stand on. But at the end of the day, there is some truth to the thoughts of these protesters.

Buying handmade is an amazing way of supporting your fellow human being. It circulates money back into other people, other people that are making a living doing something that they love. An artisan, if you will, that makes something that you NEED, and then will in turn, circulate the money from the sale of their wares into another handmade business.
Today is Black Friday, the largest shopping day of the year. People have been up for hours, even days, scouting their local malls and large chain stores, looking for great deals on consumer items. A good majority of those items are not made here in the US, and support the economy of other countries, while the US economy is in so much trouble. So why not help stimulate us here in the US? UN-Occupy the malls this year, and give gifts from the heart!

You might not even need to spend ANY money! I know as a mom, I would LOVE if someone gave me a simple card with the promise of a free night of babysitting! I plan on giving my mom a card for a free day of me taking over elder care of my grandmother, so she can use the salon gift card I am giving her to get her hair done. The kids and I also plan on self-detailing my husband's car for him, something he desperately wants, but never has the time to do for himself.

I also plan on giving mostly handmade gifts to most everyone on my list this year. Gifts like these are amazing, not only because you are socking it to the large corporations by NOT giving them your money, but also because all of these gifts are unique, and most are one of a kind! Our friend Vilate over at Nifty Nappy recently posted about how she is un-occupying this Christmas, with some amazing shops to get goodies at! You can check that out here.

This weekend, being the largest shopping weekend of the year, lots of small businesses are offering amazing deals on some amazing items. If you surf Artfire, Hyena Cart, and Etsy, you can find a plethora of shops running amazing sales. In my searching, I have found deep discounts up to 50% off! That is HUGE in the handmade world!

So let's make a difference. Let's hit this economy where it NEEDS it the most, in the pocketbook. Let's stimulate something this holiday season. And let's start turning this around, and making this world a happier place.

Brooke is the owner and seamstress at Brooke Van Gory Designs. She lives in The Chicago suburbs with her two kiddos, and her rock star husband! You can shop BVG here, and follow her on Google+ here.