Shameless Self Promotion: Buy my new DIY kit I designed for Darby Smart

by Leave a Comment

I have some exciting news! My friend Nicole of the cool DIY kit company Darby Smart, asked me to design an awesome Tulip 3D Paint a.k.a. Puffy Paint and Fabric Spray canvas set  using mini white canvases and cool stencils from the Crafter’s Workshop! This kit is officially called Color Wash Canvases and they are so fun to make!

Why do you need to buy this kit?  I’ve actually come up with TEN reasons…

The Top 10 Reasons why you’ll want to buy my Darby Smart DIY kit…
1.  It’s a fun, clever, and fast birthday gift idea for a friend or frenemy.
2.  If you’re on a diet, treat yourself!  At least, you’ll feed your creativity.
3.  It will make your teen or tween stop texting (for atleast an hour).
4. Your blank, boring walls will thank you. So will your fave relative who criticizes your decorating.
5. You can buy more supplies to add to your ever-growing craft hoard.
6. Ummm, hello?  You’ll be able to say you own a kit designed by “The Swell Designer”.
7. You’ll feel all artsy and stuffs.
8. This kit is unicorn-approved.  Seriously, it is!
9. You won’t overspend or stand in the stupid craft store line, this kit is shipped FREE to your door!
10. Do I really have to say it?????………..PUFFY PAINT!!!!!!

Oh and what’s cool about this Darby Smart kit is that it’s all-inclusive and they provide FREE SHIPPING! That deal always makes my ears perk up too!

You get this cool stuff in the kit:
– 1 bottle of Tulip Puffy Dimensional Fabric Paint
– 4 4″x4″ canvases
– 3 Tulip Fabric Spray Paints
– Your choice of a cool stencil from Crafter’s Workshop
– Foam brush

And what’s great is you really don’t use up you entire supply of paints and the stencil is totally reusable. This $24 kit is the gift that keeps on giving!

Well, there’s just one thing to ask….

OK make that four things.

So did I convince you to buy my kit yet??? Awww come on, you know you want to too…

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

65+ Halloween Projects & Ideas from The Swell Life

by 3 Comments

I’m getting into the Halloween spirit here at Casa de Swell!  And what better way to get into the spirit, then to look back at some blog projects from the past!  Shoo!  I’ve done A LOT of Halloween projects. It’s amazing when I actually look at it.  Each project and post is special in it’s own way and really do from my heart each Halloween season!

So, in no particular order, here’s my compilation of 65+ projects from the past 5 years of blogging!  I hope there’s something here you find inspiring and want to try for yourself!  I know I had a blast making them 🙂

I’ll be adding to this list this season as well, I’m sure by next year it will be up to 80+ projects and I’ll have to do a new graphic! So check back throughout the season for some new features!!

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by my blog! I TRULY appreciate it!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Pin It

Terrorific Tuesday Picks of the Week

by 4 Comments

Another week, another great set of Halloween ideas! People are so clever and creative this time of year. I think we all get a little colder and more nesting-like and want to just create, don’t you? I just love the spooky mantle (above) from A We Meenit. I can’t wait till I have my own mantle and can decorate like this!


How adorable is this polka dot pumpkin in an embroidery hoop from Little Lulu’s nest? It’s soooo sweet!


Yeah, I gotta thing for polka dots! That’s why this cute polka dot printable from Oceans of Notions caught my eye!


This spooky tree by Freaking Craft is, well, uh, SPOOKY! She shares the easy, quick revamp on her blog! She made it for pennies!!


Musings from Kim K has fun potion ideas and cute ephemera decorating ideas. I just love this little Halloween party hat. She used a hat from the dollar store as her template!

Join me next week, Wednesday, October 25th all day for the last installment of the Terrorific Tuesday blog hop. I hope you’ll link up and add your project. It might just get featured like these did!

If you were featured above, get your button to add to your blog here:

The Swell Life's Terrorific Tuesdays

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Swelldesigner Craft Secret #79: I don’t finish projects

by 3 Comments

I don't finish projects

This is the first of hopefully several super Swelldesigner secrets that I plan to share. Yes, I realize that #79 doesn’t make sense, but I think it is funnier that way.

Today, I want to reveal the girl behind the curtain here at the Swell Life and let you know that I am indeed not all that I’m cracked up to be.

See the project above? If you follow my blog, you may realize that it is indeed my Letter and Number DecoPauge Jars and my Colorful Collage Cluster Bottles. The truth is that I just sometimes get wrapped up into a project in the wee hours of the morning, want to get it posted, and will stop short, because it is “good enough” for a photo. Not to say the idea isn’t a good one or that I don’t like it, I just don’t finish it cause unfortunately, it ends up sitting in my craft room with no eyes to see it.

I have tons of projects like this. It’s just how I roll sometimes. Not all of my projects are like this, but several of them are. And I know I’m not the first person to do this. I know a lot of other people don’t finish the backs of projects for this reason.

Anyway, just wanted to let you in on this little crafty secret of mine. Are you or aren’t you surprised?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

To tell you the truth…

by 1 Comment

297/365

1. I always feel a little out of sorts after Halloween and October. I really feel like October is my month and when it is gone, I always feel sad. I feel like the crafts I do in October trump all other times of the year and I don’t feel as inspired as when I do in October. I feel like I need to work on this.

2. I would like to open up my blog to Guest Bloggers, but I feel kinda picky about the content. I want to make sure that if I do have a guest blogger that they complement my style and interests. I think that’s only normal that I want that. I’m totally new to the guest blog posting and have done it only a time or two on other blogs, I just want to make sure it’s the right fit for my blog, ya know?

3. After those little rants, I seriously need some help. What would you like to see? Please leave your vote in the top right hand corner and if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comment section below. I want to hear what you like and find inspiring or would like to see more of. Any posts you liked in particular? Anyway, give me your thoughts. 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you have to say!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Terrorific Tuesday 2010: Week 3

by Leave a Comment

terrorific tuesday 2010 week 3

It’s another week and another roundup of Terrorific Tuesday! I can’t believe this month has flown by so fast. There’s still time to get your craft on, though, and here’s some projects to inspire and get you in the Halloween spirit!

Use a 2-liter bottle to make a super cute Halloween cupcake dome with Pattiewack!

Glory shows you how to make Creepy Spider Biscuits with spider Halloween stencils and edible color spray!

Make a funky and functional Plaid Skull&Crossbones Skirt with Excell Crafts!

Vanessa and Erin team up to make Awesome Halloween Cookies in a Jar Crafts complete with free easy to download sticker and label printables!

Cheryl Ball shares her beautiful Embroidery Floss Acorns – the perfect fall accent.

Korinne whips up a spectacular Vintage Style Halloween Wreath on her Crafterella blog.

Make Glow in the Dark Jewelry Using Polymer Clay and Rubber Stamps with Kate at the Rubberstamping About.com page!

Learn how to make festive Pom Pom Pumpkins on the Marvelously Messy blog!

Paint a super easy Pumpkin Pin with Ann Butler to accent your fall wardrobe!

Be a hit at the costume contest with this Corpse Bride Costume by the Crafty Chica!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner shows you how to make a Snooki Painted Pumpkin inspired by the popular Jersey Shore Guidette!

Eileen Hull shares a Cute Halloween Bookmark project that will melt your Halloween heart!

Sebastian is faster than a speeding bullet in his Superman Costume featured on the Sew DoggyStyle blog!

Phyllis Dobbs wows us with this festive Spider Apron perfect for Halloween baking!

Silvia shows you how to make a No-Sew Fuzzy Monster Cuff – the perfect craft project for all ages!

That’s it for this week! If you are interested in playing in my fun Terrorific Tuesday roundup, e-mail me at swelldesigner (at) gmail (dot) com and I’ll send you the details!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa