The craft blog thought process

I really enjoy writing my blog and sometimes I am super, super inspired to post a new project or something cool I experienced, but there are times where (like now), it is 11:37pm on a weeknight and I have no clue what I’m going to write about for my daily blog post.

As you probably notice, I really try to come up with new content that’s somewhat interesting (at least I hope it is for your sake…ha ha). When I was thinking about what I was going to do tonight, I had an idea…why don’t I share with you the randomness that comes into my head when I develop a blog post (esp. a last minute one). I’m fascinated by how people formalize their ideas and how an idea gets from point a to point b…so, with that in mind, I want to share with you my thought process behind my a post…so here’s the inner dialogue straight from my brain.

You are now entering Alexa’s Brain

“Oh, no. I really need to think of something for my blog. What kind of project can I do in 30 minutes? Hmm…maybe I can do a post on a 30 minute craft and it become a regular feature. But what if I flake out and it doesn’t become a regular feature. Ugh, I can’t make a promise to do a regular feature and not pull through…I don’t think I’m going to do that.

Hmm…hey, I could do a contest and give away some fun stuff from my craft stash. Let’s see…I have this charm, a cool goblin bead, and let’s see, I have some paper clips. Ugh, I can’t give away paper clips. That’s dumb. OK, I do have this tin. I could fill it with beads, charms, and stickers.

lemon drops

But I kinda like it. I don’t want to give it away. Um, and I don’t know if I would ship it right away. I’m going on vacation and it would be several weeks till I would get around to mailing it out. Ugh, can’t do that idea.

Hey, what project do I have around that I could post. Let’s see…oh, there’s that Creative Techniques project I did…people prob. won’t remember it, but I don’t want to have to go and find the instructions in my e-mail. That would take longer than rewriting them from scratch. Can’t do that one. Oh, wait…I do have this John Mayer frame. It has a cool technique on it…

jm frame

But I don’t really like John Mayer like I used to. He’s too Hollywood now and not as cool. I guess it looks cool and that they are my own photos that I burned on the frame, but I don’t want to have to write instructions and think of how to explain it.

OK, let’s see…hmm, there’s that vase of colorful buttons I could blog about…

buttons

Um, yeah, it’s a vase of buttons. That will make for a real exciting read!

Hey, what about if I show off the project that I created just for my blog? I’ve been waiting to feature it…

canvas detail

Ugh, but I’m not entirely finished with it and again, I’d have to write instructions. I don’t want to be up for an hour and a half finishing it and writing instructions too.

I’m at a total loss. I don’t know what the heck to blog about that people actually will want to read about…hey (looking down next to keyboard), I could do something cool with this measuring tape. It would make a super cool vase or bracelet or something.

wrapped

I don’t have a surface to start with. Hmm, I need to go to plan Z.”

Wait, why don’t I do a blog about how I decide how I choose what to blog…yeah, I think I’ll do that. That won’t take too long and it will be easy to write. I’ll just snap a few pics and I’ll be done in no time. Yeah, I’ll think I’ll do that.

You are now exiting Alexa’s Brain

Hope that made sense and was somewhat easy to follow. I’ve never been one to be perfect about grammatical phrasing. I need to study up.

Hope you enjoyed this little venture inside my head and thinking up a crafty blog post. I promise, it’s not always this hard or this much of a stretch. Some days it just comes, other days it is a little harder, but it’s all worth it. I do enjoy it.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Crafty Blogger Links!

Check out what the crafty bloggers are up to this week!

About Family Crafts
What is in your craft cupboard? What craft supplies can you not live without? Has there been a craft item that your purchased thinking it was the greatest invention of all time and then never used?

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen needs your help! She’s created another whimsical character in her curalicious series and needs a saying or quote to go with her! Post your quote or saying and enter to win a curvalicious coffee cup!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Create fun and graphic letter & number decopauge jars in a flash!

Cathie Filian
Recycle old jeans and fabric scraps into a quilted 4th of July Table Runner in under 2 hours!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is Jenn Mason’s episode of Look, Learn & Create where she shows us how to make a fun matchbook card and dyed plastic tube necklace, a window-screen art journal tutorial from the new book Re-bound and a mini journal with a recycled scrapbook paper catalog, a discussion of rule breaking in logo design and a recipe for roasted chickpeas.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Cat Domination at Jewelry Bench! Where or where can I work on jewelry, Tammy asks?

CraftyPod
Take a handful of buttons and some craft wire, and make charming button monograms to wear as jewelry.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Dinosaurs rule in the Land of the Lost and they also rule at About.com Cross Stitch. There are three of them stalking through Connie’s latest free pattern collection.

Mixed Media Artist
Here’s a way to combine planning with serendipity when you paint fabrics!

Naughty Secretary Club
Think all the marketing at a craft show is already taken care of for the vendors? Think again. Jen shares some marketing tips.

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Another of Stefanie’s Happy Bunnies-This one created using the help of the cool book: Stray Sock Sewing

The Artful Crafter
What new mom would not be delighted with this precious keepsake pendant? Eileen gives you step-by-step instructions for making it using polymer clay and decal paper.

The Impatient Crafter
Madge went on a bead buying trip to NYC! Get the scoop!

Vickie Howell
Craft Corps Stencil Kits are in! Check out Vickie’s How-To on making your own, stenciled gear. Stand up, shout loud, you’ve joined The Corps and you’re proud!

Crafty Blogger Links

Check out what’s up with the Crafty Bloggers this week!

About Family Crafts
If you are looking for an almost instant Mother’s Day gift or activity, check out these free, printable Mother’s Day projects.

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen has another blog giveaway! Stop by and enter to win 1 of 3 original hand-drawn ATCs she’s giving away.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Make your own mini Moo-like business cards from junk mail postcards!

Blisstree Arts
Cyndi has compiled her favorite posts on creating collages and art quilts

Cathie Filian
Cathie is Mod Podging thrift shop plates to make unique collages and mini works of art.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside’s got a cool scratching photo technique, 2 ways to weave an eyeglass case, an interview with the author of Art Doll Adventures: Lisa Li Hertzi, a tutorial on how to needle felt a bird and as always questions of the day that if you answer you’re entered to win a free book!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Even if you missed making this for mom this Mother’s Day, the Crafty Princess has a great combo gift idea for your next gift-giving need. Part of it you can make and part you can purchase, but both are inexpensive and perfect for lots of folks on your list.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Stitching on dark Cross Stitch fabrics is challenging for most of us. Do you stitch on dark fabrics? Vote in the poll, read Connie’s tips, and share your own tips and tricks.

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen shows how she whipped up a coordinating fabric covered photo album to match the curtains and the cushions in her daughter’s nursery.

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
A plain glass bottle gets a makeover with an engraved plaid jackalope following the great directions from the new book: Glass Engraving by Sonia Lucano.

The Crochet Dude
Drew finally announces his latest news; plus video!

The Impatient Crafter
Caution: Madge’s new book may cause you to dive into a craft binge. She’s created a form excuse letter so you can skip work and craft to your heart’s content!

Vickie Howell
In preparation for Summer break, Vickie shows a simple craft for bringing a little magic into your kids’ vacation!

Create a mini Idea book

great idea book

I don’t know if you are like me, but I’m always coming up with ideas and usually write them down on a random sheet of paper that I ultimately lose. I really seriously need to have a more organized approach to this, so I decided to jazz up my own mini idea book. I wanted it to be a reflection of me, so I took this mini cardboard journal and got out my markers and pens and doodled it up!

Since it is small and handheld, it’s the perfect little journal to put in even the tiniest of purses. I’m thinking about finding a mini pen to attach to it as well.

It’s good to get ideas/thoughts out of your head and just write them down. Not all of the ideas are going to be executed or even go beyond that page, but atleast jotting them down helps you clarify and get the thought process going.

These are the few things I find myself needing this journal for…

– quick design sketches
– mini creative lists
– products that I can research/remember later
– names/authors of books I want to look into
– trends I see while shopping
– color inspiration
– blogs/web sites/e-mails
– doodles
– blog topic ideas
– new project ideas
– measurements
– lists
– phone numbers

You may even want to create little pockets in your journal to slide down in clippings or crafty business cards!

Obviously, anyone who keeps a journal will do what they do with their own, but having your own may just be the perfect tool to helping you organize your ideas and give you some creative clarity!

Oh, and by the way, here’s the back of my little journal!

back of great idea book
Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Swell Designer’s Halloween project roundup!!

Swell Designer's Halloween Projects

I wanted to share with you a compilation of my projects I’ve done for my own personal “Terrorific Tuesday” over the past couple of months. I’ve been actually doing “Terrorific Tuesday” on my blog since mid August. I wanted to get a head start on my crafting and help inspire others in their search for Halloween craft goodness…

Here are the links + full instructions to the projects in order of the way they appear in the pic above.

Diva Witch Canvas

Pumpkin Box Man

Halloween Cup Labels

Vintage-inspired Halloween Ornaments

Spooky Googly-Eyed Crafts

A Costume Masterpiece

Cute CD cupcake stand

Frightfully Funky Feather Wreath

Vintage Black Cat pendant

Also, here’s a super cute craft idea not shown above in the mosaic…

Spooktastic Halloween Pennants

Only a couple more weeks of Terrorific Tuesday and this season with come to an end 🙁 But you might be so inspired that you will want to just craft Halloween stuff all year long!

Until tomorrow Swellions!

Alexa

Join me for Terrorific Tuesdays!

terrorific tuesday banner

If you haven’t already guessed I just love Halloween! I would call myself the queen, but I’ll settle for princess (I do have the tiara after all). And I have my own black cat too! That’s my cat Pixie in the banner above, the official mascot of Terrorific Tuesdays. She’s actually more of a scaredy cat than a scary cat!

If you have been reading my blog for a couple of months, you may have noticed that I’ve been posting a project each Tuesday and titling it my Terrorific Tuesday project. Well, I wanted to expand upon this idea and open it up to all my blog friends out on the “web”! I wanted to create a blog circle for October focusing on Halloween crafts and ideas. Tons of people are looking for clever ideas during this season in every shape and form and I wanted to create a positive, happy network of crafters for that!

You can choose as little or as much as you want to participate. I don’t want this to be something you stress over! Halloween is supposed to be FUN after all!

All I ask is that you please contact me and atleast let me know that you are interested so that I won’t be surprised last minute by someone I don’t know.

Guidelines:

1. Project can be a new or old idea. There will be no set theme from week to week. You can choose to include or not include instructions in your post, but I do ask that you post a photo and a brief description or explanation as to why you were inspired to make that particular project.

Consider one of the following ideas for your post:
– home décor
– jewelry/accessories
– spooky food and drink recipes
– party and table decor
– clever costumes
– cards and paper crafts
– invitations
– outdoor décor
– pumpkin carving/painting

2. I want to keep this simple for everyone. I don’t want there to have to be a set day of the week that you post your project. For example, if you want to post your project on the Friday prior to October 6th, that’s fine, just send me the URL to that post via direct message on twitter (swelldesigner) or e-mail (swelldesigner@yahoo.com). If you want to be included in the Terrorific Tuesday Halloween Crafts and Ideas Roundup for that week, the absolute deadline is 6pm (Eastern time) on each Monday of October 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th. I will send a reminder on Monday morning on Twitter. Please get it to me each Monday by 6pm, or expect to have your project left off the roundup until the following week.

On that Monday evening, I will compile all the links and create a cute photo mosaic of all the featured projects and write up copy for everyone to use on their blogs. I will e-mail you back late Monday evening this info for you to be able to post in your blogs on Tuesday.

As you probably already know, I like promotion, so I’ll try to stir up some interest on the “web” after our first post! Hopefully it will generate excitement, while also generating us some positive traffic.

Here’s a little button I made for you to be able to promote this fun roundup on your web site. Click on it and it will take you to the HTML code and the Hot link information that you can then copy and paste into your own web site.

terrorific web banner for promotion

I can’t wait to see what you guys “brew” up!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa