Art, but not mine

Well, technically it IS mine, since it was sent to me.

But I can't claim it as my own work is what I'm getting at.

There's glitter!!

I received this foxy lady in the mail today

from Nigel's Mom.

She sent it to me to celebrate a little

annual occassion that happens tomorrow.

I love getting pretty things in the mail.

Thanks!

As promised, here is another project we did for Miss B's room.

Naturally, it features butterflies prominently,

 but with some other touches as well.

We wanted a shabby chic feel

 and this old window frame fit the bill perfectly.

 I added some pretty paper dresses on a clothesline, which is

a secondary theme, as you will see here.

This feminine, shabby chic vignette hangs over the 

changing table that got a redo here.

Just a couple more projects to wrap up!

Clever collage

Can you decipher what is depicted in the collage above?

Once you get the 'what', you will never guess the 'how' it was made.

I found this incredible art by Jenny O'dell

via Design Sponge.

You must go there and marvel at her other amazing collages.

Then come back and tell me your favorites.  I've picked mine.

Little treasures

I've been treasure hunting.  Here are a couple of things I found.

Big chunky bowl

Ceramic?  Hand painted?  I don't know.  I just liked it.



Huge metal tray, green on the inside, turquoise on the outside



I rather like them together.

 

There are lots more treasures to share. 

Some will involve 'before & after" so it may be a bit before I get them posted.

The key is color

I consider myself a practical efficient type person. I don't like fumbling for a key, having to visually inspect it to know which one to grab.  (Or would that just be impatient?)  Anyway, my big ring of keys to my whole kingdom has the priority ones marked with some blobs of nail polish.  How tacky is that?  Efficient, yes. Artistic, no.

So when I recently downsized to an everyday key ring, I was still fumbling for the right key even though there were only 2.  But rather than resort to the old nail polish method, I did a little cutting and pasting.  And of course, some blinging.  I've been carrying these for over a week now and they are holding up well so far.

I am also a color-coding fool.  

Just a glance is all it takes

I cut bits of scrapbook paper for both sides of each key, glued the paper on with Mod-Podge then covered it with a thick protective coat and attached the jewels. 

Yes, I know they sell little gadgets for this purpose, but what fun is that?

From field to freezer

We spent some time in our country garden this morning.

Some of the rich bounty:

Fresh from the sunshine just a few hours earlier,
 now ready for the freezer.

"When you have eaten and you are full, 

then you shall bless the Lord your God 

for the good land which he has given you." 

Deuteronomy 8:10

More scrapping

If you do much browsing of the craft blogs,

you have probably seen these clothespins.

Just a little scrap of paper

and a little swipe of Mod Podge.....

...turns the lowly clothespin into a cutie-patootie.

Quick and simple projects are all I've been able

to complete these days.

I've got a few things started and some ideas

yet to take shape.  I'll be sharing those soon.

In which I'm not talking baseball

Little scraps

of scrapbook paper

to make a

mini bunting.

So colorful......

 So happy.....

So festive.......

I think it looks nice reflected in a mirror.

Where would you hang a mini bunting?

If the shoe (doesn't) fit......

Why, yes.  It is a shoe.  An old black one from the thrift store.

Why, yes.  I did alter it.

Well, no, it was not my original idea.  I saw it online.

I may, or may not, do the other one.

But I had to try it at least once.

What do you think?

We're all family here

Amy and I got together at my house for some crafting this weekend.

Some of it involved a glue gun--a very hot one.  'Nuff said.

Our project also involved my sewing machine.  

As Amy sits down at it and gives it a once-over,comparing the

 similarities and difference of our machines,

  she ponders out loud:

"I think our machines might be cousins."

To which I reply:

"No, they're Brothers!"

(hee hee)

In other news.....

Due to copious amounts of these ice-rocks

 falling from the sky at 100 mph............

.............I am now driving something different.

I only mention this because it was pointed out to me

that my online persona and my vehicle

have something in common.

Ahh, serendipity.

I had no idea.  Pretty cool, huh?

Making at midnight

This post will be full of pictures and a story too!  How exciting is that?  Settle back and enjoy.

Some months ago I had a vision for a multi-part project and set out to create it.  I worked on it for a while--off and on--then it got put on the back burner.  Actually, it got tucked away in a folder.  I kind of forgot about it.  Fast forward to Friday night when I popped wide awake and couldn't sleep.

Like a mouse, I crept into my art room, so as not to wake the husband, and started rummaging around for something to work on.  Well, whadadya know...I stumbled upon the forgotten folder.  It was like seeing an old friend.

 I pull out the pieces and take inventory of where I was in the process.  Time flew.  An hour or so later I went back to sleep with a finished project on my table.

Welcome to my house book.

Four house-shaped templates

Attached with rings

Back view

Come on up on the porch.  I'll take you through room by room.

The front door

The foyer

The library

A cozy nook

Family room

Dining room

Kitchen

Back porch

 As we went through the house did you catch some subtleties I nestled into the decor?  My eagle-eye real-life observer (Amy) spotted them.  I'm sure my eagle-eye followers did  too!

To give you another chance with that, and to give you a sense flipping through the book, here is one more set of pictures:

Front (R) and Back (L) pages

Pages 2 & 3

Pages 4 & 5

Pages 6 & 7

Ok, so how did you do?  

Tell me in the comments.

I love your interpretations.

You will have to come back to see if you found what I incorporated.  

Answers will be in the next post.  :)

Spring Bunting

I ran across this tutorial yesterday and it spoke to me.

As you know, I am a fan of the pennants, or as they are called now: bunting.

The colors are brighter than I normally use.  

I think that is another thing that attracted me.

The tutorial was done on stretched canvas.

I didn't have any on hand. Or any canvas boards either.

But what I do have plenty of are old book covers.

The older cloth ones make a perfect substitute for canvas.

Flying.......singing......growing......