how to wear lipstick in public: lesson 3: find a way to stay busy

Crafting has always stressed me out to a degree. In a sorority for four years, we had to craft all the time. Birthdays, philanthropies, rush. It would be no surprise to find me pawning off my duties and offering to do anything else.

It’s not that I didn’t like making things. It’s just what I ended up making never measured up to the picture I had in my head. Very frustrating.

But now, as an “adult”, I find myself with a lot of extra time. Work keeps me swamped for weeks at a time, but then all of a sudden, a week off. Everyone else is at work, and I’m left alone to fill my days at home.

I work out in the living room, make a few phone calls, stop at the farmers market, go to lunch. But after the first busy morning, it’s only 12:30. I’m bored. So, I starting “crating.” Taking time to make something. Anything. And, frankly, it’s only to kill time and keep my mind active. Without the pressure of a deadline, a display, I have found it to be much more enjoyable.

Here was my first project-Window Pictures

You’ll need:

Wax Paper

Crayons

Iron

Needle/Thread

Hot Glue Gun

Picture frame

Step One:

Cut off shavings of crayon in the color of your choice. I was totally unprepared and had to use a kitchen knife and a cutting board. Aside from almost chopping my fingers off and permanently dying the nice wood board rainbow waxy colors, this managed to work. It would have been easier if I had a pencil sharpener or a peeler.

Step Two:

Put crayon shavings onto wax paper. I cut my wax paper into smaller squares that matched the hearts and star shapes I wanted to create. Cover the shavings with another piece of wax paper, so that it is layered Wax Paper-Crayon-Wax Paper. Cover this little sandwich with a rag or washcloth (the wax may bleed out) and place iron over.

Step Three:

When wax is melted, remove iron. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary.

Step Four:

Leave wax paper to dry fully. I left mine over night (don’t want to use all the fun on one day!) Cut the wax squares into desired shapes. Mine are stars and hearts...well, because I can’t really draw and I’m not great with scissors.

Step Five:

In your picture frame, arrange the wax shapes as your would like to see them hang. I made two. One small and one larger. The larger frame was kind of beat up, so I painted it blue, which I think pulls it all together. When you have an idea of the full picture, take a needle and thread to the shapes. I thread the bottom piece to the middle, the middle to the stop. You could string each individually if you prefer. Make sure to leave string at the top to attach to the frame. Also, be careful. The wax paper is delicate.