Floppy Diskette Ornaments--worth a second look

Ornaments are not just for holidays or trees. Take a peek at this tutorial I did 10 years ago and get make some "old fashioned" fun with floppy diskettes (yes you can order them on Amazon if you threw yours away).

These would be a fun gift to make any time of year, expecially in 2020 when we can make wise cracks like, "thinking back to olden times..." or "wish this virus would go the way of the floppy diskette."  Keep thinking, you'll come up with more.

Here are the ones from the video--they are still hanging happily in my studio today.

And for those (including myself) who like to have the printed instructions:

Floppy Diskette ornaments—“Old School” Tech hanging photo

 

Create a photo ornament from a floppy diskette and share the love while "giving green."

 

Supplies for this project:

Old floppy diskettes—all colors work well

Paper binder clips—the old style with a hole on the top makes a great hanger

Paper clips of various sizes—the colored ones jazz it up

Paper cutter or scissors and ruler

Photos that can be cut to 3” by 3”

Embellishments—get creative and use what you have. Items used in sample:

Ribbon scraps, beads, charms, Scrabble™ letters, label maker, colored safety pins, jump rings, permanent markers and stickers.

 

Steps:

1. Trim 2 photos to 3" square

 

2. Use office clip to attach photos on either side of the diskette—the same clip holds photo on both sides.           You can glue the photo down with strong dry adhesive like double stick tape or glue dots if desired

 

3. Embellish with ribbon, words, wire, gem stones, stickers, safety pins, charms, etc. There really are no rules but these designer notes may inspire you:

 

Avoid adding symmetrical embellishments, asymmetrical is always more pleasing to the eye.

Utilize the different holes on the diskette for hanging charms or tying ribbon.

Add one embellishment directly on the photo.

Use label maker or sticker to add one appropriate word as accent element

Trace a marker around the edge of the photo for a more finished look

Limit your color scheme to 3 colors or monochromatic

 

4. Bend a paper clip into the binder clip to serve as a hanger for ornament

 

Enjoy your surplus items and employ your imagination for lots of other great variations on this design.

 

Tips:

-Use a black diskette for color photos and a colored diskette for black and white photos

-Create at least one of these every time you finish a scrapbook layout while you still have the extra photos, papers, and embellishments lying around

-Thread a ribbon hanger through the hole and use flush style binder clip for attaching the photo

-Embellish further with sparkling glitter or mica powders

 

Related projects:

1. Put a magnet on the back and store/display on metal file cabinet

2. Create a series on red and green diskettes for a holiday tree--add to the effect with cassette tape “ribbon” garlands, and snowflakes from internal computer parts. Glue letters from old keyboards together for additional ornaments

3. Use a lower profile clip and secure diskette to a scrapbook page or greeting card

4. String three together for a hanging photo mobile

5. Replace photos with stamped images or recycled greeting cards

We represent the lollipop kids...

I've been combing Pinterest for "pun" gifts. Stuff like an Owl image and the words "Owl always love you" or chocolate bars with a card that says, "you're the best, bar none." Supposedly these were for business promotions and gifts, but then the OBESSION kicked into the mix.
 
The obsession is candy bouquets. There is nothing new about candy bouquets. I made them in coffee mugs as gifts in the 80's and taught them several times as workshops.
 
My first venture into Candy Bouquets 2014 was a miserable failure. I should have taken pictures, but I was rushed. Bottom line: I had the wrong candy, the wrong Styrofoam, and I was rushed.
 
I was ready to give up. I promise I was totally ready to give up. I put the supplies away and put the candy in an area approved for in-home consumption. However, the sugary bright arrangements of confection would not release me.

I kept pinning ideas and pondering designs. I found myself  in stores picking up containers that would work well as a base for a candy bouquet. Then the containers jumped into my cart and followed me home.

Last week when I was out running errands and getting ready for our trip to California--it happened. I drove past a candy warehouse. It was right on my way home. I'd never noticed it before. This miraculous reveal right in front of my eyes was a sign from somewhere (probably not from the heavens) that I must move forward with the candy project.

A quick U-turn and I was there. An hour later I was leaving the store with brightly colored lollipops and a receipt (no refunds allowed) for $26.92.



 
Apparently the time was right for Candy Bouquets 2014. After only a couple hours I had four candy bouquets and 3 pieces of leftover candy (not counting the lollipop I taste tested for purely scientific reasons).

They are now all posted on my Pinterest Page under gifts.

Total supply cost including containers, ribbons, and better Styrofoam was $8.79 per bouquet. Not a bad cost for a gift and about the same as a bouquet of grocery store flowers. With good fortune and no similar OBSESSIONS on the horizon--I should be finished with my Candy Bouquets 2014 adventure. You never know though, I've always been a "sucker" for lollipop bouquets.

We'd like to welcome you to Munchkin Land.

Spring means

Camping

For the last few months I could not get the idea of a camping trip off my mind. My family used to camp every year in a little travel trailer all over Virginia. We even hauled that thing to the World’s Fair in Canada once. I have such vivid and happy memories of camping.

From age seven to age thirteen I went to sleep away camp every summer where I slept in canvas sided huts, swam, paddled canoes, sang, ate all kinds of strange foods I would otherwise never touch and, of course, my favorite arts and crafts time…smile. As an adult I camped with various husbands, friends, and family members and never tired of the experiences.

Sir Henry and I have had a charmed life together, but before last weekend, we had never been camping. I couldn’t stand going a moment longer without camping so when my dogs asked what I wanted for Mother’s Day—I got a weekend at the KOA in Lake Okeechobee. Those dogs are just so thoughtful; they even made sure they could come along for the fun.

We rented a little hut with a bed, a porch swing, and, because it is Florida, an air conditioner. It was like camping in hard sided tent with AC. We loved it! The campground had all kinds of amenities and special events. I had an ice cream sundae as an appetizer for dinner Saturday night and we went to an all you can eat pancake breakfast by the pool on Mother’s Day.

Mother's Day
Before we left I enjoyed making Mother’s Day crafts with my neighbor kids. I had to hold them in my house to prevent early gifting (smile). Plus we made their Mom a white chocolate cheesecake with strawberry garnish.

New Card Gallery
There’s nothing like crafting with kids to get you excited about making things. I’ve been on such a creative binge since February. The Destination Heartfelt Art has really inspired me to get things out of the studio and into the hands of my loved ones. I put up a gallery http://www.nachattin.com/Gallerymain.htmlof 55 new cards I’ve put together since mid-February. I hadn’t even realized it was that many.

Playing with Pink
Repurposing and recycling have become my standard in the studio. Yesterday I decorated a little pink box that Smashbox™ make-up came in to create a fun birthday card for my 8 year old neighbor.

Happy Spring everyone!

Regular Features:

Surf stops—web sites I’ve visited recently:

1. Smilebox—Created a fun slideshow to be delivered to my Mom and a copy for my brother on Mother’s Day while we were out camping. Edit HTML and post code into the body….

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2. Cooks.com- Dirt Cake Recipe for 8-year-old’s birthday http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,196,150160-224197,00.html This cake is the most fun dessert on the planet. I put gummy worms in the top, flowers, and made a customized sign for the birthday girl. Too fun.

Touch of color—what color(s) influenced me— yellow, sunny yellow.

Most played song: “Mercedes Benz" by Janis Joplin, sung by a woman at the campground so well that I‘d swear Janis was still with us.

Studio progress: Emptied some stuff for projects you’ll see soon, not a lot of clearing. (abashed shrug)

In the kitchen: Camping food! We used the Coleman stove exclusively for cooking dinner. The first night we had stuffed chicken breasts with salads and the second night Kielbasa stir fry with salads.

That old standard, the five cup, salad recipe, is perfect for camping:

1 cup sour cream, 1 cup mandrian oranges, 1 cup pineapple, 1 cup mini-marshmellows, 1 cup cocconut--all mixed up. You really can use more or less of any ingredient and throw in other stuff if it sounds good to you.

Oh, it was goooooood.

Austerity Plan progress-($15.00 per month for art supplies and tools): No art related purchases this week and sent out several recycled items from a converted nut can (for camping cookies) to a card made from a Smashbox™ make-up box and a vase from an old Pringles™ can to hold a bouquet of balloons.

My opinion and where it may lead: Getting away, just for a weekend camping trip, is healthy for the body and soul. Even if I need more “recovery time” afterwards, I don’t ever want to stop going on adventures.