Always Chrysti

DIY TUTORIAL: How To Paint An Outdoor Wicker Loveseat

Chrysti — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:21:52 +0000

I know, I know... it is has been half an eternity since I posted a blog entry. There is good reason for that, but I am not at liberty to divulge any more information ... yet.

I came dangerously close to axing this project from my blog.. (moi= picky, picky)... cuz' I wasn't feelin' the iPhone shots that I quickly snapped to share my re-do. Sadly, my DSLR camera was a mere 50+ feet inside, but alas, I couldn't be bothered. You know how it goes when you're in the-noone-disturb-me-im-changing-the-world-creative zone.

I scored this Pier 1 patio love-seat off of Craigslist. However, it was in far worse condition than the seller mentioned and desperately needed some tender loving care. As the photo says, it really is a cheap + easy revamp.

So, grab yourself a few things:

Old Wicker Furniture in dire need of a make-over -clean and prime it first for maximum longevity.
Indoor/Outdoor Brown Spray Paint - i like this and this.
Indoor/Outdoor Clear Poly Spray - i like this one.
Plastic Tarp/Sheeting - like this.
Bricks -to weigh down the tarp if it is windy.
A Sunny-ish, not terribly windy day
Sexy Mask Thingy - like this -to prevent breathing it in and suffering the respiratory consequences.
Patience - it is a virtue after all.
Earplugs- if you too have a neighbor who constantly tells you what to do

Then, do a few things to prepare:

I chose not to prime this particular piece. Frankly, I am not sure the condition will stand up much longer than this year - so I didn't want to invest the time in extra work. If you want the finish to last as long as possible, I would strongly recommend priming it after a good scrubbing.

Safety First: put on your im-sexy-and-i-know-it mask. Don gloves if desired as well.
Lay out your tarp in an area away from anything you do not want overspray on. Place bricks on each corner and where the legs of the furniture wil go.
Get all your supplies handy, play some happy music and get ready to work.

Now, let's have some fun:

Shake It Baby! Shake that can for a couple minutes then begin spraying the piece. The can will recommend a minimum distance to keep from it, follow that advice to avoid runs. Spray thinly and evenly in long, sweeping strokes.
After a thin coat is covering the entire piece, wait 30-45 minutes then recoat in the same manner.
To ensure good coverage on wicker, you'll want to flip and turn the piece to spray it from every conceivable angle.
After it is all covered, let it dry for 2 hours before spraying the clear coating on.
Give it 4-6 hours to dry as a whole before moving it back.
It is wise to wait 24 hours before setting cushions on it. I however, put them on after 6 hours with no ill effects.

I like to fill the time between drying and decorating by snapping and processing random shots with my iPhone.

After it has dried, add your cushions.

If you have tendon issues as I do, whine for 3 days about the pain + numbness in your hand/forearm.

I already had the back cushions here (from home depot last summer) and had planned to keep the cushion that came with the craigslist find - until i saw it was swarming with stink bugs. Yuck!! The germaphobe inside me won out over the thrifty side and I broke down and bought a cushion from Pier 1.

We are still working on the patio as a whole and cannot wait to share it with you!

Warmly,

Chrysti

DIY TUTORIAL: Upcycled Birch Gift Wrap

Chrysti — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:01:42 +0000

1) It's bound to be different than any other present you'll receive; I want it to make an impression.
2) I take package presentation seriously, v e r y seriously. No cartoony paper here.
3) You'll have a heckuva time opening it, by design- merely so it makes it entertaining for moi.

Combine those with a hefty dose of my im-so-terribly-cheap-err-frugal that I really want a boutique look for well, next to nothing. Don't we all? So this year, after I completed the book, I did a big ol' clean-out in my studio and stumbled upon this massive roll of vintage wallpaper that i got for $1 at a salvage store when I lived in Raleigh, it was either here or here ... I honestly can't remember. It's off white, has a subtle birch pattern and simply lovely. I decided right then and there to use up some of it as gift wrap.

Wallpaper as gift wrap? Perfection! Heavy, doesn't tear easily, folds nicely - the roll will wrap 300+ gifts i think... talk about economical. (I'll be lining my drawers with some next!) The only slight drawback is that this paper repelled tape - so I had to improvise and used hot glue.

Yes, Hot Glue.

A dab here, a dab there... just enough to keep those flaps shut. (you can get one here if needed)

Once upon a time... I had an online supply store and sold lovely vintage ribbons and trims.

This red fabric trim, was one of those. Christmas Red. Birch Paper.

A match made in my studio, or heaven...

then again heaven is a studio to me...

Anyway, I digress.

With a massive, massive wholesale roll I am still trying to use up this stuff! (This appears to be similar, if you wanted a stash of your own) To adhere it to the package: I cut each piece so that when tightly pulled, the ends met in the middle. I secured it with a dab of hot glue. After a gazillion burns on my finger, I got a wee bit wiser and used scissors to press the ends into it - keeps it all nice and taut.

I'm a nature girl at heart. I had a big ol' bag of birch bark that I had collected from forest floors, the parking lot by UNO's where the birch trees are and a jumbo bag that I swapped Donna for awhile back. It was a no-brainer to delve into that stash. To secure it to the present: Arrange pieces in a formation you like. Dab hot glue (betcha didn't see that one coming) to the back and press for a moment or two. Continue until happy with your placement. Write recipient name in Sharpie.

Sidenote: Why oh why do we hoard supplies as if they are precious and shouldn't be used? What good do they do collecting dust anyway? I'm on a mission to use what I have. Join me!

All in all, I am pretty pleased with how they turned out. For a bit of variety, I used the plain side of grocery bags and Kraft paper too.

I think you could add a sprig of evergreen for a nice finishing touch as well.

I already love, love, love the memories that I will have watching those I love open these gifts. I'm sure I shall be cussed at as they manipulate the hot glue, but in a loving sort of way. Ahhh, family.

Are your gifts all wrapped? Have creative wrapping ideas to share? Bonus points for anything that is upcycled, creative, cheap and/or eco-friendly. Share your link in the comments so we can all delight in the goodness too and most importantly, have a happy, happy, happy, holiday filled with memories and optional cussing.

Warmly,

Christy

P.S. More photos of the gifts + my holiday decor can be found here.

DIY Tutorial: No Carve Polka Dot Pumpkins

Chrysti — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:42:13 +0000

With a boatload of pumpkins and very little spare time, I needed a project that would be fun, fast and cute to boot!

So when I stumbled upon this idea from Better Homes + Gardens, I just knew I'd have to do my own take on it and share it with you. I have to say, I'm quite pleased with my findings.. as happy as a pumpkin rollin' in manure... (and here, you were under some misguided delusion that only pigs liked the stuff)

pffft!

Before I get carried away with horrifcly bad pumpkin puns, let's go gather some supplies.

You'll Need:

An Apple Corer - I have this one. I love the dotted edges.
Paintbrushes
Acrylic Paint- I love Claudine Hellmuth's paint line. Fun colors, great consistency, easily portable... love 'em.
Optional: Staz-On Ink (I used timber brown)
Pumpkins. I dig the white kind.

1) Press ye ol' apple corer to the pumpkin; hard enough to leave a visible mark.

2) Do this over & over ...allll over (how many times can one use that word?) until ye ol' pumpkin is covered in polka dots that are pleasing to the eye.

© Christy Hydeck -Don't tempt fate, karma or my lawyers by stealing. 3) Grab the paintbrush and paint inside the circles. They can be all one color, multiple colors, it's just up to you. Whatever your choice, enjoy it. Claudine's paints made it oh-so-joyously-simple for me to choose a color palette. Simple = good in my book. Not like my literal book (almossst finished!) ... just that proverbial one.

anyway.

© Christy Hydeck -Don't tempt fate, karma or my lawyers by stealing. 5) Gently place the inked up corer it on the circles you made before. I just like adding that bit of definition around the circles and emphasizing the cute dotted pattern. The fact that it covers slight painting mistakes is an added bonus.

You're done! Yay you!

How cute is that?

You could turn the circles into flowers, add gems or beads to embellish them... endless possibilities! You'll love them til the end of vine...

(groan) That's my cue..

Happy pumpkin painting!

Chrysti

Psssst..... (did you see my easy-peasy textacular pumpkin project too?)

Autumn Light: Free Desktop Wallpaper

Chrysti — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:51:42 +0000

"the wind-blown leaves turn...
...dancing the golden sunlight
across the tired floor."
- Matt Dimmic

I've been planning to share some digital freebies with you for awhile now... and thought I'd begin with a high-res image that you can feel free to use on your computers as a wallpaper or desktop background. Click the photo above to go download the full file, or just click here.

Click on the photo.
Hover your mouse on the upper left of the photo
Select File, then Download (original size)

I can't offer tech support, so you're gonna ahve to consult your compouter for instructions on changing a wallpaper if you don't know how. (Trust me, I'd just confuse you more!) It goes without saying that you can delight in this image for personal use only. Please don't alter the image at all and taking money in any way, shape or form for it is a big no-no.

I took the shot last weekend, on a gloriously perfect autumn evening when the light was just right and the air had that crisp breeeze that sends tingles up your spine. I've been revisiting the photo the last few days as monsoon season drowns us in greydom. Hopefully the weekend will bring back some amazing autumn weather.

Feel free to share the post with your friends, I just ask that you link back to my site if you do.

Enjoy!

Chrysti

DIY Tutorial: Easy, Peasy Textacular Pumpkins

Chrysti — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:47:25 +0000

OMG!

It's just so easy.

GO GETCHA SOME:

Mini White Pumpkiny Gourd Thingamijigs (or orange... ya know, it really doesn't matter..)
Alphabet Rubber Stamps
Permanent Ink Pad
Optional: Teenager who totally gets the vernacular, or just skip the texting jargon and aim for words we all understand without getting an oncoming migraine deciphering this new language.

Press stamp to ink pad & load that baby up with ink.
Place stamp against pumpkin.
Admire your work. Go on, you deserve it.

TIPS:

Eyeball up the pumpkin gourd thingamijig - use the wider strips to place letters in one spot. In the narrow sections you will probably need to space them out.

Remember, stamps aren't usually very fond of round areas - use a steady hand to avoid smudging. If it does smudge - try wiping it off quickly with a baby wipe, practicing the WTF verbally and if all else fails, turn it around so noone is the wiser. See how easy that is? Practically fail proof.

Stumped on terms?

HALIQT2GTHR - Here's a list I quickly threw together.

OMG - Oh My Gosh
WTF - What the... errr... I mean, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
2G2BT -Too good to be true
.02 -My two cents worth

Nevermind, just go here for a big ol' list of terms you can pilfer.

Happy Texting!

Chrysti

'The Book' -A Behind The Scenes Look: The Hotel

Chrysti — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:02:18 +0000

As promised, over the next year I will be taking you on a behind-the-scenes tour of what i so lovingly refer to as 'the book' that the incredible Susan Tuttle + I are writing. I plan to give you an in depth glance on my side of things - some information on the process, the ins-and-outs of working on a book, how to organize the plethora of details, what goes into making one project, choosing a publisher - you know, all those nagging little questions that pop up and seem so very hard to get answered, the stuff I wish I had known. Speaking of, let me know what questions you have - I'll do my very, very best to address them all. Comment here or contact me to inquire.

Since I am still knee-deep in work for the book - i thought I'd begin by sharing my week at F + W Media (North Light Crafts division) in Cincinnati, Ohio for the book photo-shoot. A bit less writing on my end and tons of colorful photos that I am so, so eager to share with each of you. Just in case you ever wondered... that trait is what makes me head-over-9-inch-stiletto-heels-in-love with all things photography... the images tell stories, they speak for you.... words are completely optional.

Doesn't get much better than that, yo.

(And no, I haven't the faintest idea why I decided to revel in my extreme dorkiness and add yo there.)

© Christy Hydeck -Don't tempt fate, karma or my lawyers by stealing. Turns out my editor Bethany is also a gifted travel agent. She totally hooked me up in this semi-swanky hotel with a lobby that I kinda became infatuated with. I know, I know... leading the behind-the-scenes series with the hotel seems kind of boring. I get it, I really do. But LOOK people!

the colors, the light...the ambiance...

the desserts... a hot cuppa tea and the coffee.

oh coffee, how i love you.

My willpower was tested each evening when I walked through the doors greeted by the yummy looking baked goods behind the sparkling glass case ..

and i will have you know... i did NOT, i repeat.. i did NOT succumb to the temptation.

Score:

Chrysti (in Cincinnati): 1
Eve (in The Garden of Eden): 0

The staff? So very, very warm and friendly - lots of businesses could learn something about customer service there. The rooms were beyond spacious - but oddly, had no dressers... something that my-endearingly-neurotic-fairly-compulsive-must-organize-now-personality didn't like very much.... however, the mega sized TV was a pretty sweet bonus.

I fell just a bit in love with the feral kitties living behind the hotel. Yup, went on a scavenger hunt to buy them food when I should have been sleeping. More on that in another post though.

© Christy Hydeck -Don't tempt fate, karma or my lawyers by stealing. I was grateful to have a safe + clean place to begin and end my busy days in. I was stoked that we could eat at the hotel on the nights we didn't care to venture out... and I was inspired j u s t enough by the autumnal colors in the lobby to share them with you. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

You can see my complete set of pics from the Hyatt Place Cincinnati/Blue Ash Hotel here.

Warmly,

Chrysti

Oh Yeahhh: It's A Book Deal Baby!

Chrysti — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:23:54 +0000

Soooooooooo.

{insert sheepish grin and innocent whistle here}

It's been awhile eh?

You may have noticed I have been suspiciously absent from this poor, neglected blog of mine.

You may have noticed on the various social networks that I frequent my utterly shameless enthusiasm (and at times mild frustration) for that thing I simply call ...'the book'.

You may have seen my dear friend Susan Tuttle mention a not-so-little project we are embarking on together.

That's right kids- through a series of serendipitous and dare I even say- life-altering events - Susan + I are co-authoring what we know to be an amazingly fabulous book. It combines our love of photography, digital art, photo manipulation & mixed-media. Like, seriously - I think we actually have that proverbial 'something' for everyone!!

How the book came to fruition is a story I'll save for a day with more time -however, it is a story that reminds me how every little step we take in life leads to another and yet another... and almost magically... it all becomes cohesive and seems meant to be. It totally solidifies my view that every experience is lived for a specific purpose, nothing is lost and there is meaning in everything.

Here are the details I can divulge right now:

'The Book' has just a working title right now - one that will be changed. Let's just call it all that is good + holy in this world. Ok, ok... that doesn't quite roll off the tongue.
Publisher: North Light Books
I despise outlines every bit as much as I did in school.
We gots us the bestest editor ever - a perfect fit for our book: Bethany Anderson
You don't even want to know how many Starbucks it takes me to generate fresh content.
Scheduled to be released in: August 2012
Topics Include: Photography, Mixed-Media, Digital Art + Photo Manipulation + More!
We have some fabulous contributors all lined up: Pam Carriker, Samantha Kira Harding, Michele Beschen, Claudine Hellmuth, Madelyn Mulvaney, Linda Plaisted, Misty Mawn, & Pilar Pollock.
I have approximately 235 new gray hairs since the start of this.

Now you know why I have been uber slack in the non-urgent-email-responding department, blogging + all the other little things I have set aside for the time being. I am in the midst of a mega deadline - all of art due in 2 weeks - and a week-long trip immediately after to F+W in Cincinnati, Ohio for the photo shoot. I am thinking of doing a few behind-the-scenes posts about that... stay tuned.

I have more amazing news to share, tutorials, ideas, giveaways - oh-so-very-much with y'all & I will, just as soon as this mega project winds down. In the mean time, I can't thank you enough for your continued support + patience with lil' ol' me. Blessed, I am.

Warmly,

Chrysti

Take 5: The Forest in Black & White

Chrysti — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:17:20 +0000

------------> HAVE A TAKE 5 PHOTOSTORY TO SHARE TOO? Details are her e.

Always,

Chrysti

Take 5: Me, Myself & I (guest post by Abigail Thompson)

Chrysti — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:31:08 +0000

-Abby

------------> HAVE A PHOTOSTORY TO SHARE TOO? Details are her e.

,.-~*´¨¯¨`*·~-.¸-(About The Photographer)-,.-~*´¨¯¨`*·~-.¸

Abby Thompson is currently finishing up her last year at the University of Kentucky where she is studying Photography and Art Education. Once she graduates she plans on attending grad school to work towards her MFA in Photography and eventually plans to teach photography. She has been interested in photography since she was old enough to hold a camera steady. Abby's photographic interests vary greatly, and she takes pictures of anything and everything. Even when she is without a camera her mind is constantly framing things and creating compositions. Lately her work has been focusing on self-portraits. This has become a way of exploring herself and expressing her most personal thoughts.

Abby keeps a blog that you should definitely visit and has a spectacular photostream over at flickr.

Get Inspired: How Art + Photography Is Changing The World

Chrysti — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:23:39 +0000

Grab a cup of coffee + a deliciously sinful treat then cozy up for a bit while you watch this.

Awesome. Inspiring. Inventive. Dynamic. Touching.

Always,

Chrysti