Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Top 10 Posts of 2014

It's the last day of 2014 and like the majority of the world I am feeling a tad nostalgic. Bloggers exhibit this by looking back through our archives and finding out which of our posts did the best for the year. 
...I am no different. I already waxed poetic about my hopes and goals for the new year and reviewed this past one yesterday so before the year turns over at midnight I wanted to see what you, my readers, enjoyed the most about our year together. Here they are!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Talk About It Tuesday: New Years Review

So normally I don't make resolutions or do very well with keeping up with whatever ones I manage to make, last year, though, I made a post about New Years and wrote out my resolutions for everyone to see. Later in this post we're gonna look at how I did (*spoiler* Ohhhhhh we're halfway there!)



Before we begin I'd like to thank you reader, whether you're new or old, for checking out my blog and taking the time to read the words I write. This year, my first blogging, has been more amazing than any other year of my life and the main difference is this blog. I love doing what I'm doing and it's because of people like you I can do it, so as the picture says, thank you. Read below about this year and my resolutions for the next one!

Friday, December 26, 2014

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Belated Christmas everyone! If you were hanging around The Cwafty Blog last year you know that I didn't have a very traditional holiday. I was finally moving into my first apartment come January and I was working my butt off at my job full time so I didn't put up a tree or do anything festive but make this stocking.


This year I decorated a little and exchanged gifts with my room mates. On Christmas day I went to see the final Hobbit movie and cried, I totally did. I couldn't help it. I'm not one for traditional Christmases now that I'm an adult I think, but I still enjoy them in my own way. I hope you all had a great day and got to do whatever makes you happy! I also hope you got and gave some great presents!

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Tutorial Tuesday: Harley-Quinn Santa Hat

I hope your holiday season is going well! I'm just enjoying my time off from school mostly; trying to be crafty, getting some products done, doing some blog design. It's been a pretty relaxing time, in fact, I can't believe it's almost over. That's alright though, I'm taking some fun art classes this semester and I can continue to pick up my monthly comic from the shop down the street. Segue into...


This hat is so easy to make and only takes about 30 minutes to sew together, which is great because its only 2 days til Christmas! You can whip one of these up as a last minute present for a friend or make one for yourself to wear for the holiday.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Love Potion Necklace @ DaLB

 I got a little ahead of myself with this project, I clearly fast-forwarded a few holidays. Can you blame me though? Doesn't that concoction look awesome?

 Cast a spell of jealousy over everyone who sees your awesome glittery necklace!


If you want to learn how to make your own Love Potion-or really whatever potion you want- necklace, check out the tutorial over at Dream A Little Bigger!

Til Next Time!

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Aniwave Photo-splosion

On December 7th I had a very important "first time", my first time ever selling my merchandise at a convention! Aniwave #5, I believe. Aniwave is a young local convention that is held right up the street from my college annually. I have some friends one the staff and actually hosted a panel about starting your own business there two years ago.  The day is a blur in my mind, but I did manage to snap some pictures between chatting up potential customers.

This dude and his starmie were breathtakingly awesome!
 I meant to get these pictures up last week, but I actually caught the black plague and was indisposed. Just kidding, I caught the didn't-sleep-more-than-25-hours-in-two-weeks-due-to-con-and-finals flu.
The good news is that I both made a profit and a reasonable wage from selling at Aniwave and I made all A's for the semester! I'm just paying for it now. Anyway, here are some of my favorite cosplays from the convention to start us off!

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Talk About It Tuesday: The Portal Series

Sorry about not getting up those pictures from the convention I promised you guys! I caught the black plague and have been deathly ill the last week. Not really, I caught the didn't-get-more-than-25-hours-of-sleep-in-two-weeks-due-to-con-and-finals virus. I'm doing reasonably better now though.

If you're a regular reader of the blog, or even if you've just looked around a little bit, you've probably seen one of my Portal projects or heard me mention the series in passing; and that is because they easily rank in my top 5 Video Games. Portal sits at #5 and Portal 2 is easily #2 favorite of all time.

A Lemon-grenade, popularized by Portal 2.

Portal is a vastly popular game with tons of rabid fans. Today I'm going to talk about the series a bit and some of the many things I have made to show my love for it, maybe hint at some things I hope to make in the future, and show you other people's inspired creations that make my heart happy.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Tutorial Tuesday: Leather Watchband

Hey guys!  I have returned from my little break, I'll be telling you all about how the convention went and sharing some pictures on Thursday. Today I am back with another leather tutorial brought to you by EndlessLeather
I think this is an accessory I never thought I'd get to "make." Like most everything else you can put on your body, it hard for me to find a watch I like in stores, so when I was presented the opportunity to make some leather crafts I knew this had to go on the list. Once I found the perfect face, we were good to go! Learn how to make your own below!

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Would You Rather? @ Zauberbear

Hey friends! I had an awesome day at Aniwave today. I was preparing for the con at 6 am (all night really) and got home around 8. I plan on writing about Aniwave and posting all my pictures for Thursday, so check that out!

 In all the hustle I totally forgot to tell you guys about a little collaboration I did with my friend Carly from Zauberbear. Carly recently started a series on her blog called, as you may have guessed from the title of this post, Would You Rather? (WYR).

Via
Basically she gives you two choices and you have to explain your choice as "thoughtfully and meaningfully as you can". Carly's brain is a magical place bursting with creativity and oddness so I knew I wanted to get a chance to answer one of her questions. Here was the one I received:

         "Would you rather be unable to look up at the sky or see everything in black and white?"

If you want to hear what I had to say in response, click here!

I loved that it made me think. To be honest I am in an awful Intro to Lit. class this semester and I am horribly tired of writing trite papers. This was a refreshing brain exercise; Carly probably saved some of my brain muscles from atrophy.
 Anyway check back on Tuesday for a new craft tutorial!

Til Next Time!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Pokeball Christmas Ornament @ Dream A Little Bigger

Hi! Guys I have been swamped up to my ears in work. It's finals week(s) and the last day before my convention and I am in full RaChil Robot mode working on pumping out products that I should have finished weeks ago. Hail the procrasti-nation!

Today we are getting festive and geeky with this Pokeball Christmas Ornament.


I'm love to make nerdy holiday stuff; exhibit a, exhibit b. This upcoming year I may try to create a nerdy decoration for every holiday that could be a really fun challenge.


Seriously, I loved me some Pokemon as a kid. I still do, but the obsession is lessened. (I used to be able to name them all by heart, now there are over 500. That's toooooo many for me) This project is great for Pokefans of all ages and would make a great gift for a nerd you love. Get the tutorial over at Dream a Little Bigger!

(Side note: I got Pokemon Art Academy for my birthday and I looove it. I have like zero experience with digital art aside from basic adobe Illustrator and Photoshop lessons so it was really fun to learn all the tools. I may do a video game review who knows? No, I don't have the new ruby or sapphire games...yet)

Til Next Time!