CHALLENGE results 2 and 3

This week has been dedicated to Harry Potter. I have been re-reading the last book and watching movies 1-6 in order to be refreshed and ready for the new movie coming out this weekend. You are probably asking yourself, "does Mykaela know how nerdy she sounds right now?" And the answer is Yes, I absolutely know how ridiculous this makes me seem, and trust me, the guy working at Blockbuster made sure to remind me how silly I am for loving all things Harry Potter.

Anyways, getting back on subject... Since I have been watching a movie a night I have been trying to be somewhat productive by crafting. You remember the challenge I posted a few days ago? Well, I have two new results for you:

mailing label and postage side.

pretty side!

First, I used the papers to wrap a journal that my sister and I send to each other back and forth. I made sure to layer it multiple times (might not be the most fun thing to unwrap) in case it gets tossed around. After making several layers, and using tape to bind them, I ripped out images and placed them on one side and then used a permanent marker to ad some details.

the colors surprisingly look really good

I promise they look much better in person!

For the 2nd result, I decided to get in the Christmas mood (Harry Potter movies always make things feel like Christmas) and make christmas trees. I first wrapped a few pieces of paper around each other to make a cone shape. Then, rip up the papers in squares (I chose to rip instead of cut for a more vintage look) and then begin taping them onto the cone, starting at the bottom of the tree and moving your way up to the top. I actually really like how these look, the mixture of colored paper with the white paper gives it a kind of snowed upon look. I may try to make some and possibly paint on them as well. We shall see!

So if you feel like crafting while watching a movie, these are great exercises because they don't take too much attention, just repetitive steps. And please forgive the poor lighting in these photos, it was a little later at night with not the best lighting!

A Mini Vacation

40th Pier

This weekend was the first weekend that I basically stayed put in Newport, and it was so nice. It's hard to come back to work today when I know that the beach and is waiting for me 150 steps from home. I'll give you a run-down of my weekend, almost the perfect weekend (would be perfect if I had my family and friends here to share it with me!)

Friday: 

• I was an old lady and hopped in bed around 8, read some Harry Potter, and fell asleep by 9. (what has become of me?!)

Saturday:

• Woke up at 8:30 (shocking, I know!) 
• Jessica and I walked to Starbucks (about a 15 minute walk). We then decided to go for a walk around the peninsula a bit and looked at shops and paddle boarders wading through the bay. 
• We then walked to the beach. There must have been a high tide because there were beautiful seashells scattered over the sand. I gathered as many as I could and we brought them home for cleaning. (I have some projects in mind to use these beauties up!)
• After that, we got in my car and drove to Ikea on a misssion to find my mom some stacking tables. Thankfully they were there and the mission was a success!
• While Jessica took a nap, I decided to go for a jog. I made it to the pier and back and on the way home I felt myself smiling like an idiot. I couldn't help it, I think while running along the boardwalk it finally clicked, "oh ya, I live here." 
• Tired and out of breath, I came back home and showered. Then Ashley and Mallory were able to come over to the place for the first time and we all went out to Rudy's and Malarky's for the night.
• To conclude our night we went to a local pizza shop and had the best pizza I have ever had!

Sunday:

• I woke up to find Jess still asleep so I got dressed and walked to Starbucks, for the first time, alone. It was such a lively atmosphere over in the Starbucks shopping area, so it felt great to sit outside there and drink my coffee while reading a chapter or two if Harry Potter. 
• I then walked back home, cleaned the house a bit, then grabbed a blanket and sat out at the beach. I was on the phone with my mom (I somehow get to share really special moments with her oftenly) when I saw a group of dolphins swimming by surfers in the ocean. They were so cool looking and it was as if they were just taking a Sunday stroll.
• Jessica then met me at the beach and we sat, talked, and I read more of my book. Then we decided to build a sandcastle. 
• After spending the day at the beach, we decided to go home, get cleaned up, and conclude our weekend with dinner and coffee (decaf) at Alta (a neighborhood cafe). We got some more walking in, ate a good meal, and walked on home. 
• I got ready for bed, read a bit more, and fell asleep. 

The weekend felt productive and yet like a mini vacation. I can't wait for family and friends to come visit and share in the beach life living with me!

collected seashells

so many surfers to watch

our sandcastle

our ikea trip is making me think that this is what i want
for my room decor. thoughts?

CHALLENGE!

Only about 1/4 of the paper I have hoarded over the past 5 months

Although it seems like things these days are all electronic and computer based, magazines seem to still be thriving. I honestly think (and hope) that books and magazines never get lost in all the new gadgets and technology. There is something so comforting and fun to be able to physically touch and flip through a thick book or lay out a group of magazines on a coffee table as decoration. Having said that, I do think it is sad to see how much paper a company, such as a magazine publisher, goes through in such a short period of time. 


At work, we make what we call, "color books," which is basically the whole magazine printed out in color on paper. These color books are very necessary, because you would be surprised at the edits that tend to get lost on a computer screen compared to being printed out on a piece of paper. The editors look over these color books and make edits that we (graphic designers) then have to fix. Once fixed, we re-print out the pages to be looked over and approved. All of this printing is definitely needed, but watching the printer continuously spit out paper makes me think of the cartoon movie, Ferngully (haha I know how ridiculous that is).


It only took me about 5 months to finally decide that I needed to put all those discarded pieces of paper to use, and so the challenge began! I am to use all of the old edited pages to recycle them into crafts. I am not setting any kind of limits on this challenge, the one and only goal is to just use that paper towards something else! I plan on continuously posting pictures of any crafts that I end up making having to do with this challenge, hopefully some neat things come out of it. 


I challenge you to take a look at anything that you may consider waste (people not included haha) and try to make something out of it.
  

First finished project from the challenge. I have become incredibly obsessed with making lists, so this is my "new"
list book. Thankfully I work on magazines that have beautiful photography, so my recycled papers are pretty appealing!

Detail of book tabs.