Tuesday, June 10, 2008

A month, 2 days, birthdays and the flu.

Yes, it has been a month since my last post. In my defense May was crazy around here. First I got this horrible flu coupled with strep throat. Then it was my birthday and the very next day my son, my oldest child turned 15!

I don’t feel old, it’s really quite a gift to watch him become the man he will eventually become and as for me? Well 38 is a good age. Wrinkles are there but not too terribly pronounced. I have enough life behind me to make better, (not perfect) choices. I’m happy being who I am. Besides, playing with glue and glitter keeps one young!

Here’s a project I did for Art Declassified using a new stamp created by Donna Downey.

I started by stamping the image into clay I then painted it and the canvas. Adhered it to the canvas. The wings are also made from clay and are part of the Identity Femme set.

Doused it in black glitter and finished by creating an easel back from a bent Invis-A-Link.

Love these things, they’re so versatile!







Bet you though that since so much time has passed that I had forgotten about the winner of the last RAK but I didn’t.
Robin, look for a little something coming your way in the mail.
Want to get something other than bills in the mail? Just reply to this post and I’ll drop your name in a hat to have a chance at this cute little stamp set from Inque Boutique.




Speaking of Inque, here’s an easy project to make for yourself or someone else.
A purse sized business card holder made from two magnets.
I used the ones the ones with advertisements on them that are sometimes
on the front of phone books.









I'm off to enjoy the weather and spend some time at the part with the kids.
Have a good one!

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Where does the time go?

I can't believe that an entire month has gone by already since my last post!Seriously, where does the time go?Life has gotten quite busy here as of late here on the mountain, of course with typical life things but also with something that I am quite excited about but
can't quite share with you yet. I promise though, as soon as I can, I will.

Right now I'm part of a little challenge group that is doing an about me book. I think I managed to do 7 of the challenges so far, (yes, just a little behind!). This challenge was to create a spread about your purse, so I grabbed two of my favorites, I'm constantly switching out purses,and this is what I came up with...

Today's organizing tip is something that allows you to show of your paintbrushes in a rather unique way, while keeping their bristles intact.I found this great little metal star pocket at a local discount store for something like $2.00. As soon as I saw it, I knew immediately where I was going to hang it and what I was going to put in the pocket. It hangs behind the door to my little creative space and it was perfect for putting my paintbrushes in. Not only does it allow me store them with the bristles up, but it looks pretty neat hanging on the wall.

Thought I'd take a minute and tease you with another project that I have created.This one will appear in an upcoming speciality publication from Stampington.I adore it and it's not often that I am completely pleased with something that I make, this one though is the exception. :)


More importantly....
Laura is the winner of the RAK! Look for a little brown wrapped package coming to you soon! Don't worry, I'll put the rest of you into the next drawing, (new players always welcome!) which will be for this little wooden notebook/sketchbook that I created for Art Declassified.
























Friday, April 04, 2008

Back To My Roots

It's still raining here. Another dreary day, but I was much more productive.
I have the house to myself for the next day and a half and since I am all caught up on my deadlines, I thought I would start a new altered project.
Got it started and then of course I couldn't seem to get my thoughts transferred to my supplies. So I put it away for another day, (I've learned over the years that forcing it never helps) and instead dragged out some photographs and patterned paper. It's been months since I create a scrapbook layout for myself. I never stress over it though, the fact that the photos keep mounting, (hey they match my supplies!) or that I will never, ever be caught up.
That doesn't bother me; it's the creating part that makes me happy. Be it an altered project, card or layout. Scrapbooking is after all, how I started out in the industry and sometimes
it does a soul good to get back to your roots.
Nothing fancy-smancy, just a layout that I am happy to have in my own personal album.


On another note, I thought I'd take a minute each day to share my favorite product/tool
as well as ways to organize your stash, because if you are like me, you are short on space and heavy on "stuff". Today my new favorite product is these little wee bowls that I found at dollar type store while visiting my parents over Easter. There were five of them for $1.00 but I have placed on top of the dryer as my "hoping he's the next Hendrix, but does amazing wonderful things considering he is self taught" son the guitarist is constantly leaving picks in his pockets. Which of course, despite my best pocket checking efforts inevitably end up in the dryer, so now I put them in one of these little bowls... (out of breath here after that huge run on!)

Anyway, they are great for mixing paints, mediums and the like
and for $1.00 you can't go wrong.



As for organizing, I have to give credit where credit is due. This idea comes from my very best friend Mary. She has the same thing in her room and I couldn't help but to steal the idea myself. It's metal roof sheeting, which awesome because it utilizes a blank wall all the while giving me additional space for displaying reminders, mementos, calendars, addresses and the like while not taking away from my valuable floor space. DH and I cut it size and together we screwed it directly to the wall. Since its metal, magnets stick to it. I can use chalk markers from http://www.pentel.com/ to write myself quick notes directly onto the metal.


Today's sneak peek is something that I created for http://alteredarts.com/.
Actually I did 2 projects for them but I have no idea if they will make it into the next issue or not. I'm sure I could I could ask Cyndi, the editor, but I rather like to be surprised.
If it does make into the issue, I'll be sure to link it.



It's FRIDAY! Certainly a day to celebrate! So to honor the day that allows us all to catch our breath, spend time with family, and perhaps have a date night with our significant others, I thought each Friday I would offer up a little RAK. Might be supplies, might be little art pieces of my own. I'll vary it from week to week. Besides, sending out some mail that doesn't include a little note about the due date and monies owed is always a good thing in my book. All you have to do is post to this thread and on each Wednesday, I'll have my Daughter choose a post at random (after I've printed them all out of course!) to choose the winner. Why Wednesday? Because it's the "hump" day. The one that doesn't start the week or end. It's just sitting there in the middle with no real importance, well until now that is!


What's in this plain brown wrapper?
Honestly, I have no idea! I just took a bunch of things and wrapped them up. This one though, given the size and shape I'm sure has something to do with ink. All supplies will be brand new in the package and the art will be created special for these RAKS. Does a heart good to give.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Misty Mountain Musings

Foggy, rainy, cold, dreary. All words that describe the weather here.
While that may be true, they remind me of the opening lines of a detective novel.
Misty has a more whimsical feel to it.

Though having said that, I must admit that my mind feels rather misty as well. I haven't been able to get in gear today at all. I have a million projects that I should be doing, could be doing and yet all I have managed to do so far today is check email and take a few pictures. All the while I keep thinking about what I should be doing. Laundry, figuring out something for dinner, playing with the new stamp sets Inque Boutique sent me...

Perhaps the best answer is to slip my MP3 in my pocket, don the earbuds and just do it.
In the meantime, here's another misty photo of my fountain. Soon spring will be here for real, not just a date on the calendar, and I'll be able to turn it on.

On a creative note, here's a sneak peek of a project I did for the Inque Boutique website.
I'll send along a link when the complete directions and more images are up (sometime this month, I think) if you want to make one for yourself.