Month: January 2014

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Caught on Instagram: Crafting Broncos Super Bowl Spirit | Elysian Studios

The Denver Broncos are the AFC Champions this year and headed to the Super Bowl!

It’s time to get our team craft on….

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photo by @elysianstudios on Instagram

I realized last weekend, that I had not stocked up on enough Broncos gear before the big AFC Championship game.  I am from Indiana, so I’ve been a big Colts fan for years, and an especially big fan of Peyton Manning!  After Peyton moved to Denver, we retired most of our Colts attire, and have been slowly replacing it with Broncos gear. But now we’re in the Super Bowl, and it’s time to get serious!

I’ve raided our local craft stores and am making room for more orange and blue around our house and in my wardrobe.

First up: a crocheted scarf…

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photo by @elysianstudios on Instagram

I’ve taken up the knitting needles before, but never the crochet hook.  I knew I needed a bold, cozy scarf pronto, so crochet was the only way to go.  Luckily, Michael’s had a great yarn sale this week, too!  Score!

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photo by @elysianstudios on Instagram

I followed this easy YouTube tutorial by Tracy Nguyen and just switched it from two colors to three.  I love the scarf, and I’m making the same pattern in more colors to get me through the end of winter.  I am totally hooked on crochet!  

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photo by @elysianstudios on Instagram

So with all the hooking and looping, the Rainbow Loom was calling my name.  We originally got one of these to craft with my niece, but we soon realized how awesome the rubber bracelets and necklaces are!  Even my boys came up with guy colors for cool bracelets.  Of course I needed a few orange and blue bracelets to add to my stack!

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photo by @elysianstudios on Instagram

Warning, even though Rainbow Loom Jewelry Made Easy! looks easy, one falsely looped band sends the whole project to “ppbbllllt!”  It’s not too hard to get a complicated pattern to work though, and I love the way these bracelets turned out.  Don’t hesitate to mix these fun,colorful bracelets in with your nicer jewelry!  I stacked mine with an artisan leather bracelet, but a sterling silver bracelet would look great too!

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photo by @elysianstudios on Instagram

I have a few more team craft ideas to share, and I better get going!  The big game is only a week away!  Of course, you can be a fan all year round!

Sneak peek of the next craft:

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GO BRONCOS!

Want to keep up with my crafting adventures?  Be sure to follow me on Instagram!  See you there!

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Celebrating the New Year with the Top Posts from the Last | Elysian Studios

Happy 2014!

There are great things in store for Elysian Studios this coming year, but it’s not too late to look back at the fun we had in 2013!

These were the 10 most popular blog posts from the Elysian Studios blog last year:

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Please click the links to read the full posts:

#1: DIY Zentangle Quote in Watercolor

#2: DIY Reclaimed Chair

#3: Modern Abstract Expressionist Landscape Paintings

#4:Caught on Instagram: A Rekindled Love for Vinyl Records

#5: Playing with Ideas: Three New Modern Still Life Paintings

#6: New Modern Art jewelry in the Elysian Studios Etsy Shop

#7: Caught on Instagram: The Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships

#8: Palm Street Windows: Two Abstract California Landscape Paintings

#9: Spinning Records: Three New Modern Still Life Paintings

#10: Now Showing at Grand Lodge Resort in Breckenridge, CO

2013 was a great year! I had the chance to really grow as an artist, and I look forward to creating more original paintings and handmade jewelry in 2014.  I will also keep snapping photos on Instagram, and will share a tutorial or two to spark your creativity and inspire you to add artful elements into your home.  Thank you so much for all of your continued support and encouragement- I couldn’t do this without you!

Want to see more of the best posts from Elysian Studios?

Check out the Top 10 of 2012

 Wishing you all the best in 2014!

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DIY Broncos Team Colors Superbowl Felt Wreath | Elysian Studios

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IT’S ALMOST GAME TIME, AND WE’RE CHEERING ON THE DENVER BRONCOS FOR A SUPERBOWL WIN!

See how I made this colorful felt wreath to show off our team spirit in this easy tutorial:

I love the soft texture and the bright colors of this wreath.  You can change up the colors for any team or holiday.  It’s also a great craft to have the kiddos help out!

Have fun, and GO BRONCOS!