An Evening Activity

Let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.

After wanting to dye my hair dark dark for quite some time, I finally made time. My Boddy Boddy {think The Wedding Planner} recently dyed her hairs red and I learned that she buys the professional stuff from Sally's. I thought that was a brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of that? So I was out running a couple errands and made my way over to Sally's, where I picked up some "dark brown" dye and components {all for $14, beat that salon!}. I slid home in the freezing cold. Then after my guys were in bed, I got to work!

I had dyed my hair red-ish from a Target box a month or two ago. You can kinda see if growing out. It mainly just tinted it. So something needed to be done.


Gotta have the sad "before" shot. {I actually like this picture though! And my part is awesome.}


During, right before I relaxed and watched a show. I'm working my way through CSI NY Season 1.


And after! See? I'm oh so happy and in love with my hairs.


And then you need new self portraits with the new look.




Ok, so this was JUST as easy as dyeing your hair from a box purchased at Target. Next time it'll be even cheaper, as I already have the developer, brush, and bowl. So like $5, whereas the box is usually at least $7, and the salon is $50 {? I've only had my hair professionally dyed once, so I don't remember!}. Plus, I have not had any fading or lost dye even when washing my hair. No colored shampoo or anything. It's awesome! I love it.

So. If you're bored with your hair and need to spice it up, just dye it yourself! It was super easy; I did it all myself. Don't let it become mom hair, ok?

P.S. Thank you my dear!

Just call me Crafty Caitlin

A few weeks ago Ki was not going down for his nap and I was frustrated. I went out to get some coffee and was playing the afternoon back in my head. Ki broke half his mini blinds {which I abhor} about a year ago. They've been halfway up since then. The other side has been all the way up so he doesn't break them {or hurt himself}. During his naptime it's so bright in there I can imagine having trouble sleeping. So I decided to finally make some curtains for my little man.

I think they turned out pretty cute -er- handsome!





Plus I did a super job matching Ki's sheets to the top of the curtains without them. Ki's been in his twin bed for a couple months now. We've just been using his little blankets to cover him up. I picked up a brown comforter for him and he just seems so much more like a boy, not a baby! I think it helps him stay in bed {as in not roll out} too.

I love making curtains. They're so easy to whip up an can completely change the look and feel of the room. Plus the nasty mini blinds are GONE! An uber easy thing to make a rental feel like home.

bathroom duty

Mike and Ki are off at Nana and Grandpa's. I'm stuck in the bathroom all evening. Well, hopefully not too long. And not the way you think! I have to burn and wash out a screen. Here's hoping it's perfect like my last one. That would be swell. {This is my absolute least favorite part of screen printing. The screen's kind of important, though.}

P.S. This is post #100 over here! Wahoo!

water and mesh

We had a nice end of week (as opposed to weekend...we came back Saturday). We went up to Mike's gpa's lake house a couple hours away for his cousin's wedding. I got a bit of a tan, rode the Jet Ski with Mike, then his little sister, went on a boat ride with some fam (which Ki loved) and ate good food. It was nice. I wouldn't call it relaxing - chasing a 19-month-old around a house, trying to make sure nothing got broken and he didn't escape - but it was nice.

Last night my cohort came over and helped me make some screens. She needed a screen for a couple orders, so I'm selling one to her for cheap (material cost). I already had 5 1" x 2" x 6' woods, so I took them over to the 'rents and cut them all by myself! So proud. And I still have all my digits (my mom was worried). I cut enough for 5 screens. Mandi and I built the frames, then put mesh on 4 of them before we ran out. I ended up with 3 mondo frames (guess I'll be getting tons on those suckers) a smaller frame that I love the size of, and a really cute (yes, I'm calling a screen cute) square frame, about 18 x 18 that Mandi kept.

Overall it was superb! That is a gigantic accomplishment. I just doubled my screens. And cheap. I've made 5 screens now for about $40. That's just over what ONE screen costs to purchase. I am in love. And I think I got Mandi hooked, too. It's really easy, just takes some time. Mandi also came up with plenty of jokes regarding screen making that I never knew were possible...she's quite entertaining. I have to get all my time in with her now because she's moving in a few weeks and won't be right next door. Weird.

So today the plan is to put emulsion on a few screens and get some images on them. I also need to print new designs from the screen I made last time & possibly make more designs while the screens dry.

OH! I didn't tell you about the underwear I printed for Mike's cousin (the bride). I'm still not gonna. You'll just have to wait, cuz that's how I roll. It's pretty sweet though. I will tell you it's white with blue ink...something blue...

Final Product!

Check my flickr for step by step on how I got here. :)

Screen Shots

My screen's all done! Before I make my next screen I'll be buying smaller staples. These ones were mondo and I ended up hammering them in the more so they weren't sticking up. (Not that it's hurt anything, I'm just anal about certain things. And it really bugs me that the staples aren't in a nice straight line!)

Check out my flickr to see the final product & compare my screens. You can also see a couple with images on them. Off to add emulsion so I can burn this new screen! I'll try to keep taking pictures along the way. I know I love seeing how people make things and screen printing is a very (long) interesting process. I don't think many people get that. :)

Check ya later!

Screen Fashioning

Pictures of my first attempt at screen making! It's unfinished, as I ran out of staples. I'm pumped though. Looks like it will work well.

I'm set! I've got my frame (made yesterday - I'll show that process when I make my next one), mesh, and a staple gun. Here goes my first screen making attempt.



Cut the mesh down.



Got the mesh wet, as I've read to do in many places. It's a smaller, tighter mesh than I've had before. This means I'll get finer lines, but the ink will dry in my screen faster.



Starting in the middle, I stapled one side, then the opposite. I worked my way out on both sides (re-wetting when needed). Then I went to the long sides and began the same deal. Middle to outside. And ran out of staples.



I made my frame the day before. I'll show that when I make my next one, but I was in a hurry this time! It was super fast and easy.