Annie Lang's Blog!

If you have an old plastic serving tray that may be a bit scuffed up but is not cracked and is still usable, here's a fun makeover project to give it a whole new look!  For this project, my favorite well used clear plastic tray was the ideal choice for a makeover.  Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how I was able to use craft paint, fabric cut from a fat quarter and a few basic supplies to complete the project and hopefully put this tray back in service for several more years.  Feel free to modify this project to suit the size and shape of your plastic tray.  You can also  easily  match paint colors to your choice of fabrics and then paint tray edges with any design you have in mind.  I used handpainted stripes for this tray, but polka dots, tiny flowers, flourishes, vines, etc. would also look simply amazing on any finished tray.  I can't wait to see what YOU can come up with to renew your own tray to use for serving your guests in style! 

While cleaning out my craft supply closet I found both new and used stretched canvases saved from former painting sessions.  Since I try to repurpose as often as possible, giving the art a "makeover" while decluttering my storage closet seemed like a very practical solution.  I covered over 2 older canvases ( used for teaching demonstration paintings )  with fabric from my crafting stash.  I then painted a new blank stretched canvas with black craft paint and adhered them together to create a dimensional wall art home accent to hang and enjoy all season.  By simply changing the fabrics, I can also make wall art suitable to any season or room theme I choose.  I still have quite a few used canvases to use up and plenty of fabrics tucked away on my shelves for future wall art projects.  Cost for the finished sample project shown above was under $10 after hitting a 1/2 off Spoonflower sale for the fat quarters and already having the canvas on hand.  You can also purchase new stre

  I've made numerous attempts to successfully hand paint scenics on plastic cups and dinnerware to make them both safe and durable to use.  In most cases, the paint faded quickly or gradually chipped off even though it was sealed.  Unlike glass paint, you can't bake the paint on in the oven!  I then discovered how to preserve the art and make it dishwasher safe by using several coats of Mod Podge as a sealer.  Not only does it do an exceptional job, but the sealed colors remain as bright and vibrant as the day they were originally painted despite time and heavy use.  I recently cleaned out my summer stash of plastic drinkware to get ready for the season ahead.  Several glasses and cups were just a bit scratched but not cracked so I decided to try painting them for a fresh new look.  Here's my tropical plastic stemware step-by-step project and I hope you'll give it a try!  The scenes were painted "freestyle" without a pattern but you can use a light pencil to d

I've always been an avid book reader which explains why my bookworm characters are so very near and dear to my heart.  In 2014, these endearing little characters appeared in my very first published children's book title " Bookworms Know Stuff " and were later translated into fabric prints, clipart collections, pattern books, merchandise and more.  But even more rewarding is being asked to introduce my characters in a classroom book reading setting where energetic and enthusiastic children are totally captivated by the story and illustrations presented to them.  Kids are totally engaged when it comes to storytelling adventures and watching their imaginations soar is nothing short of priceless!  It still amazes me that our young children very much enjoy the experience of group book reading sessions as they discover the magic with each and every page they turn.  It really is true that when you share a book, you'll make a friend and a new little bookworm will pass it

I hadn't stocked up my home supply of greeting cards for almost a year and it really irked me to purchase 3 cards from my local department store while shopping for groceries.  The cost of the cards was twice the amount I normally pay for my own designer cards and they were smaller, printed on thin cardstock and the inside verses were rather trite.  So I went home, checked my events calendar and remaining card stash, sat down to my computer with a cup of coffee and ordered enough cards to see me through a year of upcoming events.  Best of all, I could personalize the inside verses and many of the card fronts for free.  Since I ordered a quantity of cards, shipping was free and I took advantage of card pricing.  Not only are the 5"x7" card printed on high quality card stock with a glossy finish, they are also perfect for framing and crafting.  You'll often find discount promo codes on sites like RetailMeNot for additional savings that can be applied at the checkout.  My

It's National Quilt Month and 15  brand new fabric prints have just been added to Annie Lang's Spoonflower Shop .  From Bubble Trouble to Frolicking Zebras to Tropical coordinates, you'll have a hard time choosing a favorite! When you visit my Annie Things Possible Spoonflower Store...Just Click the "NEW" button to see them all!

You can make a homespun potholder without fabric or a sewing machine when you DIY your own with this delightfully fun papercraft potholder greeting card!  To download the full page project sheet, simply right click the image below and save to your computer.  ENJOY! 

Life is sweet and so are Annie Lang's whimsical Gingerbread characters!  Make your own fun with Annie's FREE Ginger Sweet Notes that can be used for mini signs, tags, labels, memos and so much more.  To download the full page project sheet, simply right click the image below and save to your computer.  ENJOY! 

Black and white stripes are all the rage and Annie Lang's whimsical zebra characters are wearing them in style!  You'll find a whole herd of happy zebras on this FREE paper clip sheet to make DIY magnets, stickers, tags, pokes, envelope seals and more. To download the full page project sheet, simply right click the image below and save to your computer.  ENJOY!

Whether you're planning a Hollywood themed party, a movie night gathering or a home video showing, this is the perfect printable for you.  So grab a seat and a bowl of popcorn and let the fun begin! To download the full page project sheet, simply right click the image below and save to your computer.  ENJOY!

It's time for a hug and Annie Lang's whimsical bunny is waiting for you!  Page includes a Bunny Hug image, lined note page and 2 embellishment images to use for stickers, magnets, envelope seals or whatever!  So let's make something fun today and give yourself a Bunny Hug!  To download the full page project sheet, simply right click the image below and save to your computer.  ENJOY!

Here's Annie Lang's free Peek-A-Boo Bear dimensional card project you can personalize any way you'd like.  So go ahead and make something fun today  and surprise someone you love with a happy greeting!  To download the full page project sheet, simply right click the image below and save to your computer.  ENJOY!

Share some smiles today with Annie's FREE downloadable papercraft mini card and envelope.  This printable project features everything you need to make a busy crafting bee sharing his heart! To download the full page project sheet, simply right click the image below and save to your computer. So go ahead, bee happy and share some handcrafted smiles today!    

If you've got Cabin Fever, you are in the right place because for the next week, you'll find a fun FREE downloadable project to warm you up and chase away those winter blahs!  So let's make something fun today by starting out with this Winter Break dimensional card project.  To download the full page project sheet, simply right click the image below and save to your computer.  ENJOY!

  It's 2023 and Annie has just added 10 brand new greeting cards to make you smile!  Vibrantly colored art and characters with personality make these cards come alive and stand out with their cheery smiles and happy messages. If you'd like to see how the new card characters were created, drop by Annie's YouTube Channel and you'll find many of them included on the Draw Silly Characters playlist.   You can also change the inside card verse to add your own personalized message and spend less than cards you'll find in the store aisles.  Order and send your cards from the comfort of your own home or have them mailed direct to your recipient by Greeting Card Universe .  To get more information and see all cards and available options before you order, visit Annie Lang's Card Shop today! 

  Drawing it silly never been more fun!  You'll find 44 delightful character line art pattern pages that can be used to follow along with Annie's Draw It Silly YouTube Channel videos.  You can easily import the art to your image editor and color the designs digitally OR simply use the patterns to trace, transfer and create traditionally as you would with any other line art pattern.  Each character page has line art and color sample guide if needed.  This " Draw It Silly " publication is only available in printable .pdf format which you can order and immediately download through Annie Things Possible.  Make sure you check out all the book character " Draw It Silly " video series posted on Annie's YouTube Channel.  You'll see how each and every image created by Annie Lang has been digitally hand rendered and then colored.  The characters have been used for storybook illustrations, fabric prints, clipart collections, line art books, manufactured goods,

Whether it's a holiday celebration or just a quiet night at home entertaining a few friends, you can serve your guests in style by making your own wooden charcuterie tray.  After pricing numerous trays both in stores and online, I decided to make my own food safe tray and it was surprising easy to do and the cost was less than a trip to McDonalds!  I was tempted to paint a design on the tray, but I fought the urge and made this a simple serving tray to use for any occasion.   I bought all my supplies at our local home improvement store.  It took about 4 hours to complete from start to finish and much of that time was spent sanding.  Since this was a new wood board, I applied 3 coats of wax following the manufacturer's directions.  There are numerous finishing products available to make your serving tray both waterproof and 100% food safe.  Many products need to cure before use which is why I chose to go with the Walrus Oil Wood Wax .   It's easy to use and I can apply it t

It's a gloomy day.  It's too cold for outdoor activities.  You're bored and restless. You head to your craft supply shelves.  You discover a stash of scrap fabrics.  You also notice that wire frame you picked up from the Dollar Store.  You grab a pair of scissors and head for the table with your coffee and supplies and turn on your favorite music playlist.  Before you know it, you have made a whimsical wreath.  Hope you'll try out this traditional craft and experience the joy of creating a handmade treasure! 

  One of my favorite Autumn themes are harvest time Scarecrows and gatherings from the pumpkin patch.  Not only do scarecrows stand guard over our gardens, but they do a marvelous job of displaying a wide array of colorfully repurposed clothing!  Best of all, the theme carries through from the first days of autumn until the Thanksgiving harvest celebration concludes.   I decorate my home and outdoor living spaces with all the incredible colors and textures of the season, from leaves, acorns, woodsy animals, happy scarecrows, leaf wrapped lanterns, apples and pumpkins galore and bows of calico and plaids.  So fire up your imagination, gather up the harvest and let's simply Fall into Autumn smiles!   Need some fabrics for seasonal inspiration?  You'll find my fabric, wallpapers, home decor items and more in my Spoonflower Shop!  The above image features  Starecrows Scarecrows print, Brush Stroked in Ivory print,  Pumpkin Patch Scarecrows print, Naturally Brown Burlap print, 

Now that the days are growing shorter and the nights have turned cool, it's the perfect time of year to venture out to enjoy the summer flowers and sunshine before they fade away.  Applewood Estate was the ideal destination to casually enjoy the spectacular gardens and beautiful estate vistas this historic site offers to the public for free.   Applewood is a hidden gem located in the cultural district of Flint, Michigan and has been meticulously preserved and maintained by the Ruth Mott Foundation as a tribute to the legacy of Charles Stewart Mott and his many contributions to the Flint Community.  Applewood is the historic home of C.S. Mott and his family.  It is not a grandiose mansion, but rather a warm and welcoming country estate home with sprawling gardens, a greenhouse and interesting historic architectural features. Though it only takes a few hours to tour the gardens, it's time well spent as you leisurely tour the apple orchard, numerous flowering gardens, visitor'