How To Install A New Font

Using special fonts is an easy way to jazz up your fliers, notes, and art. There are many sites that offer free fonts to download and use for personal use. Follow these steps to download and use.

1. Click Download.
   
   
2. Select Save File. This option is probably already selected.
   
   
3. Choose a place to save the file. I usually just put it on my desktop.
   
   
4. Click Save.
   
   
5. The saved file should be on your desktop looking like a little folder with a zipper.
   
   
6. Right click on the folder and select Extract All.
   
   
7. Click Extract.
   
   
8. Now a window should open up with your font and possibly another file titled Read Me. The Read Me file is probably a message from the creator of the font telling you how it's okay for you to use it. Ex. most fonts shouldn't be used for commercial uses if they were downloaded for free.
   
   
9. Click the file that looks like a piece of paper with a folded over edge and two big letter Ts. Drag over to your desktop.
   
   
10. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel.
    
    
11. Now click Fonts.
    
    
12. Right click inside the window with all of your fonts and select Install New Font.
    
    
13. This can be the trickiest step. You need to find the location of your saved file. If you saved yours to your desktop, make sure c: OS is the selected Drive. Click on c:\, then click on USERS, then CARLY (or your name if it is not Carly), then DESKTOP.
    
    
14. Your font file should now show up under the List of Fonts: area. Click the file name.
    
    
15. Now click Install. You're done!

If your computer says something like, "Window is using this font and cannot install it right now" it probably means you aren't authorized to install a new font. This is the case if you work in an office or are using a public computer.

DJ Kitchen Font

Add a cute embellishment to a typed recipe or create home made art for your kitchen with this kitcheny cool font DJ Kitchen Font from dafont.com!

Perfectly Swirly Font: Nymphette

How About Orange just posted a link to a delightful font from dafont.com. Nymphette is a whole alphabet of swirly scrolls perfect for adding a bit of fun to an invitation or business card. I'm thinking of using it and the easy pencil transfer method to add a painted wallpaper effect to my plain bathroom walls. Download it for free and comment with how you'll be using it!

The Fabric Bar

Finding just the right fabric is one of the many thrills of my crafty life. I don't mind sifting through hundreds of pages of fabrics to find just the one that will complete my skirt/window/baby gift. Sometimes local stores just don't have what I'm looking for and so, I go online. The Fabric Bar is a site with a great mix of beautiful fabrics at quite reasonable prices.

Carpet bags, Animal art, & Alphabet prints

Here are three more lovely shops on Etsy.

I purchased a bag a month or so ago from peacelovenpolkadots and I love it! The bag is just the right size for toting around notebooks and such to school and stylish enough for all seasons. The rugged upholstery fabric means my bag won't wear out anytime soon. The magnet closure and zippered pocket on the inside are the cherries on top.

I have purchased two prints from Berkley Illustration. I found this artist through Apartment Therapy and instantly knew I wanted one of these quirky little illustrations for my house. I bought two small mice that now reside in my kitchen and a squirrel for my sister-in-law Jane. A surprise story came with my print letting me know "These two mice live in a yellow cottage full of secret nooks and passageways. It may seem strange, but their best friend is a gray cat from France."

I love the look of these graphic, simplistic alphabet prints from Penny People Prints. I think they would look adorable in a child's room or smart in an office space. The colors are great and so is the price. What a great personalized gift to give someone or keep to spruce up your own space.

A Few Sweet Sites for Bakers

Cupcakes are without a doubt my favorite dessert to make. Cake + icing + pretty wrappers + fun toppings = awesome! Sometimes I go the extra mile and make them from scratch, but honestly, I prefer the lighter texture of a box mix. Not only do I love the taste of cupcakes, but I also love knowing people are enjoying a home made treat. People love cupcakes. And the thing is, cupcakes from a box will pretty much always taste the same. So, if you want to make yours extra special, put them in beautiful wrappers, spice them up with sparkling sugar or pearls, whip them into magic with mustache toppers. Sometimes craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels will carry cupcake toppers seasonally and do carry some special toppings. I prefer to drool over the selection found at the following two sites.

Fancy Flours has a good selection and is easy to navigate.

However, Bake It Pretty is definitely my numero uno choice for cupcake accessories. The site is really easy to use, the prices are right, and the selection is wonderful. Be sure to check out the Sugar Pearls!

Corbels, Moccasins, and Pillows...

...these are a few of my fav-or-ite things! I love Etsy. The ability to shop for so many things handmade is such a wonderful intertwining of technology and old fashioned craftsmanship. I also love the selection of supplies from around the world. [My kitchen shade fabric hails from North Korea.] It can be difficult, though, to find what you're looking for when there are so many shops to look through. Here are three of my favorites selling three very different wares.

For wooden corbels, shop Corbels And More. The prices are a steal even compared to big box stores and there are several details to choose from. Corbels are a beautiful way to support a shelf, add interest to a porch, or divide two rooms.

For exquisite, handmade moccasins shop at Darlingtonia Moccasin Co. Compared to Payless, these shoes cost a pretty penny. However, they are handmade and made to last. And, might I add, completely darling. I plan on buying the Plain Jane in Forest Green in the fall and wearing them pretty much everyday.

For pillows, I like the selection of fabrics from milk & cookies canada. You can buy just the pillow case to keep your costs low. Just under $30 will get it shipped to your house and transform your bed or sofa.

Jazzing Up Jewelry You Already Have

Whether you're on a budget or not it's nice to work with what you have and make something old new again. American Eagle has three great ideas for changing jewelry you already own into something fresh and exciting.

I just purchased these earrings! Take any pair you own and add little ribbon bows to get the same effect. If you find your ribbon is fraying on the ends, dab on a bit of Fray Check or another goo suitable for stopping fraying. My little pink bows are girlish and charming, but black bows or something with a stripe could make any pair earrings work with other styles.

Chains and layered necklaces are quite popular right now. I've seen several variations on this chain necklace, but I like how this one combines a large chain with a feminine ribbon. Any size of chain necklace would work and layering several gives you even more personalization. Don't already own a chain necklace? Wait till jewelry making materials are on sale at a craft store and pick up a length of chain and a closure; that's all you need for this simple necklace!

I've collected several brooches and pins both new and vintage. This ribbon brooch is another way to wear them. It's also a nice way to give an old, worn brooch new life. To make your own just fold a wider ribbon into a bow shape and hot glue so it will stay in shape. Use your brooch to pin both the brooch and ribbon to your shirt, bag, or pillow.

Fonts!

Finding a special font can make even the most mundane sign or flyer extra special. As a lover of fonts, I freely admit spending hours looking through fonts to find just the right one for projects. A font can add emotion, meaning, and feeling to your message. Just think of all the logos you know that use different types of fonts. Pottery Barn conveys a message about its furniture through font. Ben & Jerry's, Charlotte Russe, and Coca-Cola also use font to express something more than just the name of their respective companies. Business cards are the same way. So are wedding invitations. The site I go to for fonts most often is dafont. There you can easily search through categories and almost all are free to download. Font Squirrel is another good site for free fonts.

A New Yarn

Literally, A New Yarn store has recently opened in Springfield. As 417 Magazine reports, both the store and owner are quite charming. Owner Lisa Jobe Ellis was inspired to knit after watching her grandmother. She turned her love of knitting into a beautiful place to inspire others and provide all the supplies a knitter might need. There are even comfy areas in the store where shoppers are invited to sit and knit and crochet. Related supplies are also for sale, as well as several classes for both new and pro knitters. The photos of the store both in 417 and A New Yarn's oh-so-sweet website look gorgeous.

A New Yarn
2625 S. Glenstone
417.882.YARN
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday - 10 am to 6 pm ;
Thursday - 10 am to 8 pm ; Saturday - 10 am to 4 pm

Get Words and Details Perfect By Transferring

Some projects call for precision. If you can't freehand a tree the way you want it or you want a word to look perfectly font-like transferring is the way to go. You don't need special paper, just a little trick and a pencil.

• First, print out your design. I wanted to number the drawers in my hallway built in. For larger designs you may need to have it printed at a copy store. My words were small enough to easily print off my computer printer at home.
  
  
• Next, flip the paper over and shade the back of the design with a pencil.
  
  
• Turn the paper over onto your smooth surface. Making sure your paper is properly aligned, trace around the design with the pencil and delight as it is seemingly magically transferred onto your wall, cabinet drawer, or photo box.

Hint: when you plan on painting your design white or another light color, don't press very hard when tracing. You only need a faint line.

Create Your Own Paint Stamps

Stamps are an easy way to make any project sing. Small stamps are great for jazzing up wrapping paper, cards, and embellishing tote bags. Large stamps can be used to pattern a whole wall or whip up some printed fabric. Either way, stamps can be quite expensive, especially if you have to pay for just the perfect stamp. Making them is cheap and easy using these steps.

First, draw out your design keeping in mind how your stamp will "repeat" if you're going to use it on a large scale like I did for my curtain fabric.

Either trace or freehand the design onto foam sheets (mega cheap from craft stores!). Sometimes it's easier to know where you be cutting and to see the exact shape of your stamp if you shade the area of the stamp.


Cut out the design and glue to a piece of thick cardboard or scrap wood. I used Aleene's. Let dry.

Apply paint directly to the stamp surface or smooth a thin layer onto a plastic plate and stamp like usual. For surfaces with lots of texture you'll need a thicker coat of paint. For smooth surfaces like the inside of cupboards a thin coat will do.


Before switching to another color and definitely before you stow your stamp till next time, wipe off the excess paint and allow to dry.

Schoolhouse Electric

As a fan of vintage decor, I have spent many an hour trolling through estate sales, flea markets, and my grandma's basement looking for unique pieces for my house. As many HGTV designers have noted, changing your lighting can completely change the look and feel of a room. Schoolhouse Electric is a company out of Portland that has recreated authentic lighting from the school house era. The prices may seem high if you're used to shopping the clearance isle at Target, but I think a few pieces could really transform a whole house and infuse a space with classic design. The photo above is one of my favorite shades and it just so happens it would look great in my kitchen.

http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/index.asp

The Cup--A New Cupcakery in Springfield

If you've been downtown lately you may have noticed signage for a new bakery downtown, right next to Good Girl Art Gallery on Walnut. I had heard rumors and was delighted to see they were true. The Cup, formerly The Cupcakery, will host a grand opening July 30. The Cup already has locations in St. Louis, Edwardsville, IL, and Knoxville. Visit their website to see a menu and more information. www.cravethecup.com

Habitat For Humanity Restore

Looking for cheap building materials, lighting fixtures, or miscellaneous household items? Check at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Springfield to find all of these and much more. It's not likely you've driven past it. The Restore is located out by Nathaniel Green park and the Horton Smith golf course.

The Restore gets all sorts of donations, from furniture to chandeliers to kitchen cabinets to old windows. They don't keep an inventory online, so you'll have to drive out and see what they have in person. I do think you'll be surprised at what a huge amount of stuff is up for purchase and how great the prices are. I'm going to shop there the next time I need stain or paint as the prices are really low and it might not matter whether I have just the right shade of walnut.

Check our their website for printable coupons or specials. When I visited in December, you could get 20% off your purchase by bringing in a new toy to donate.

Here's the link!
http://www.habitatspringfieldmo.org/restore.htm

Artist Interviews

I plan on interviewing local artists as part of my regular blog postings. I have several friends and business owners in mind. I love hearing how people get started doing what they love. I hope you will enjoy it as well!

Fit A Bulletin Board Into A Small Space

When you're short on space or don't need a huge bulletin board, you can create mini cork boards with things you probably already have around your house. Wine corks, small nails, a utility knife, and a hammer are all you need!

• First, cut your wine corks with the utility knife. I cut mine about a quarter of an inch thick. You want to make sure your nails will go all the way through the cork and into your wall, so keep in mind the length of the nails you're using.
  
  
• Second, decide which side of the cork you want facing out. If you don't like the look of the raw cork (or the side stained with wine), paint them! I chose to leave my natural.
  
  
• Finally, pick your spots and nail gently into the wall. You don't need a lot of force to go through the cork and small nails tend to go into the wall easily too.

Create Art From Fabric Scraps

A few months ago I picked up a baggie of fabric triangles from a garage sale not knowing what I would do with them. For 15 cents, I thought it was a fair investment for a future craft project. I recently moved into a new house, and bought some frames from IKEA to fill a large wall in my living room. Taking inspiration from old quilts, I used the triangles to fill one of my frames.

• To start, cut all of your fabric scraps into small triangles making sure they are the same size. For a less quilty look, use different sizes or shapes of fabric.
  
  
• Find a piece of paper or thin cardboard the size of your mat opening to use as a base then arrange your pieces. I used fabrics that mimicked the colors in my house, but a more monochromatic scheme in different hues and patterns would also look beautiful.
  
  
• Attach your fabric to the base with glue dots or hot glue. I like to lay out pieces then glue so I can make changes if need be.
  
  
• Slip your base into your frame and there you have it!

I was thinking of other uses for this project. Sometimes people want to give you blankets or quilts but you might not appreciate them or have a need for another blanket. You could ask for a finished quilt square instead. Another twist on this project is the ole t-shirt quilt. I have one, but it took me eons to finish it. Instead of the whole shirt, cut up scraps of your t-shirts (or memorable clothing from your family) for lovely memories in an easy-to-hang and no sew way.

Finally Starting A Blog...

I'm happy to finally be able to say I've started my blog. I've been writing and posting things for a while via my Carly Robinson Crafts facebook page, but this blog will be a chance for more creative control and more frequent postings. I'll be sharing the transformation of my new house, step by step projects of all sorts, and the things that inspire me. I'll also throw in some of my other passions like baking (cupcakes!), finds from recent estate sales, and news for local readers. I hope you will start following--and enjoying--Carly Robinson Crafts.