Bloggers are Angels

I say this because it is true. Right before Christmas I was visiting a blog which lead me to Cindy Adkins blog, Whimsical Musings. I had posted a comment on Cindy's blog and she responded back. We had a couple emails back and forth and before I know it Cindy had sent me a little gift....one of her ebooks called

which can be purchased on Amazon along with a few of her other titles the latest which I just purchased.

Cindy writes amazing articles which not only makes sense but also makes you see things from a different perspective. I have also been reading FREE on her blog "Blogging 101" for women, why we blog, how to set up your blog for more traffic and many other fine points to consider.

I would like to thank Cindy for sharing her knowledge and wonderful articles to blog land and I truly hope we get to know each other in 2012.

Cindy also does amazing artwork as well as her writing skills and talents.

Happy New Year Cindy and Happy Anniversary to you and hubby.

♥

Alpha Stamp giveaway

check the link and head over to the annual Alpha Stamp daily giveaway. Click for details for a chance to win some exciting altered art/collage items.

Good luck to you all, including me.

♥

Final Christmas preparations..including burnt glue?

Well I finally got the end of my shopping done. For some reason I had to call in a prescript in before the weekend as I knew chances were the stores would be closed and I would be left hanging. So I trek into town yesterday...what a madhouse. I am finished my shopping, groceries included and I am so glad to be done. My car just sits dead in the driveway but the truck has been taking me hither and yon on speedy trips and doing the necessary tasks during this season. Thank goodness for the 2nd vehicle.

Anyways I got the wrapping done today, and I decided to make the neighbours cards as well. We don't exchange gifts but we always give cards to one another. Every year I make them, this year I am running a bit late in that dept but today was a good day to play catch up.

I am really excited to show you a brand new technique that I will be playing with a lot this year in my art.

I found this tutorial on the Michael's website using burnt brown paper bag butterflies. Well butterflies are always somehow incorporated into most of my art except Christmas but I tried these first then expanded. I did a few things differently and I will explain as I show you what I first made then progress to my greeting cards.

Here is the video in case you have never burned glue before.

Of course the preferred product for the video is Aleene's tacky glue. I did do that in the beginning and I didn't use brown paper bag, I used brown craft card stock paper, since it had a good durability to it. I cut 2 die cut butterflies for each and applied the wire as shown in video. I did everything else as instructed. When it was cooled I took the black soot off then I applied shimmery chalks to the butterflies. I liked it but it really wasn't exactly what I wanted to achieve. Although I liked the texture of the burnt glue but I really wanted a more vibrant colour.

So the next time I tried it I did the same without the wire and I tried just plain white glue to see what the difference is....well not much but after the butterflies cooled and wiped, I applied Twinkling H2O's with a bit of water and rubbed the colours here and there with my fingers and blended the colours. Wow that is what I was looking for. This technique really does give the illusion of faux metal. Even the paper feels very sturdy. As you can see I burnt a few antennae but that is because I probably didn't have enough glue on them. You need to cover the paper and not glob it on but a good smooth coat. The more glue you use the longer it takes and it does bubble up and I basically put the paper right into the flame. I know it says you don't need to but I did and no flames appeared. The glue is not flammable. Even the cheaper white glue. If you do get a flame, be quick and blow it out, you didn't have enough glue in that spot.

So here are the butterflies with the Twinkling H20's.

So then I wanted to make a few ornaments to put on gifts and I thought well I want to try my Spellbinders snowflake. I again cut two, this time out of recycled cereal box, glued the 2 pieces together. then I applied glue to the brown side, glue the advertising so just the brown is on the outside of the flakes. Do the technique, wipe soot with Kleenex. I do not recommend a baby wipe, it makes it too wet!!! been there tried that, don't do it.

If you click on the image you can get a good close up of the surface of the snowflakes...cool huh? looks like real metal. I believe on this snowflake I rubbed the metallic chalks in a bronze and green to give a patina look. I then edited an image, this one is from Gecko Gals collage sheet I won. Cut some bronze German Scrap from Artchix and placed around the image before I glued it to the center. Added bronze glitter, at the time I thought it was gold but the lighting was throwing me off. Then I added a little banner and glued it on. Couldn't find any bronze ribbon so I just used a piece of jewelry hemp. That was it.

 Then I made Christmas cards except I put Twinklings on the snowflakes in a really thick consistency and just dabbed it on with my fingers. I had lovely bright pinks and blues and gold on my fingers, so lovely getting my hands right in there. I believe I got the image from Magic Moonlight images. I just love this child and the snowflakes that show up in the image.

Well I know everyone is busy with company, last minute baking, wrapping and cleaning before the big day.

I thank everyone who has been kind enough to visit, those who do so regularly and my new friends. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.

With much Joy and Blessings to you all.

 ♥

Mail art makes me Happy

Well with ongoing car issues I will not get into but the problem is too stressful to comment, mail came and made me smile when I really needed it.

I was in an ornament swap over in our FlickR group and I was matched up with Jenxo and Jenny. Jenny was a little late signing up so I swapped with her as well. Both live in Australia and I got Jenxo's a few days ago and Jenny's arrived today.

I can't wait to show you....in the ornament swap you had to use paper on your ornie. So of course this could mean a lot of things as long as it is an ornament and has paper on it, made of paper or whatever.

Lookey at these.....yummy..

This is what Jenxo sent me. There is a little book that she sanded some outside of a cardboard box, looks like it had olives and greenery on it then sewed the little pages in, did some binding and there is elastic that wraps around the book to close it. Below it is a doily that has been sewn onto sewing tissue then some string tied in a bow at the top to hang it. A beautiful stack of presents made out of different papers... How cute.

A little ATC pouch she made and it was stapled at the top. I heard something rattling but I thought it was supposed to rattle then I realized it felt like something solid in there. To my surprise I found a bamboo tile necklace with a beautiful paper bead and pearl drop on the bottom. I have already worn it Jenxo and compliments galore.

And this beautiful Angelic tag she made.Beads and lace and ribbon roses. It is hanging on  a corner cabinet  knob in my LR.

Next up is Jenny's

Jenny made me these arches. The Silent Night is gorgeous music paper with gold either ink or some rub on with some other lovely colours blended softly and the Merry Christmas arch is Jenny's whimsical girl she painted. She sure made me smile .

 Jenny also sent me some lovely napkins and this gorgeous card with a lovely message inside.

Thanks so much Jenxo and Jenny and I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy 2012.

Your ornies are hanging around with other friends ornies I have collected over the years.

I am so grateful for all your friendships.

Til next time....stay creative and live a stress free life....hah

♥

Domino Book Giveaway over at JoAnne's

Joanne is having a beautiful domino book. Click on the side image or click here to go directly to the blog post for details. If you post, become a follower and post her button on your blog that makes 3 chances to win. You will not be disappointed with Joanne's work. I must say I think Joanne has an obsession with dominoes, her books are stunning and so detailed.

Take a peek and sign up.

I already beat you to it......

Christmas tags and tea bag luminaries

Well with no car, baking pretty much done, even wrapping, and a bit of time on my hands while hubs worked the last 2 days, I tried to clean up my work table so we may eat on it during the holidays...yeah right.
I was doing some blog hopping the other night and I was on Karen's site, The Graphics Fairy and found some wonderful vintage Santa's. I knew immediately what I wanted to make.
I got out some shipping tags and distressed them in Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap and Tea Dye. I really wanted a vintage feel to them so I darkened them up pretty good. I even wet some of the tags first, crumpled them then distressed. Dried all in the oven, ironed the crinkled ones smooth and then went about decorating them. I have seen those beautiful accordian rosettes out on the web and thought I would finally get around to making some, I don't have the fancy Tim Holtz die but hey you do with what you have, a little more work but I managed quite well without it besides you can at least say they were made with a little more hands on.
I also managed to make some more of my tissue tape and I was gaffawed at the results. I don't know if gaffaw is actually a word but just the same it sounds good and the results I thought were just what I had imagined even better. I added some extra colour to the tissue tape by just using a blending tool and lightly coloring the already brownish tissue sent to me by my friend Jenxo. I then used various stamps and colours depending on the Santa in the image. I used papers from my holiday stash, My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey and whatever was hanging about. I even added some sparkly snowflake stickers courtesy of the dollar store. A few I added some clear sticker words, or typed some on the puter for the little banners. Just love  those banners too, seeing a lot of those around.
These will be attached to some gift bags or gifts and can be used to hang on a tree later or maybe on a door knob etc. At any rate, I love them. Might have to make a few for myself if time permits.

Next up are luminaries made of tea bags. Jenxo posted last week that she knew another blogger, Kim, who made these so I jumped over to take a peek. I am always intrigued with new ideas.

Having a cat makes one take another think about lighting candles and setting them on tables the Princess might jump up on. We surely don't need the princess running madly with a tail lit on fire. Who needs that, so avoid it before it even happens.

I had some rather older teas in the cupboard that I didn't fancy too much, they are the type of tea bag that are folded in half and then stapled. I removed the staples and then emptied the tea out.

I carefully slit the one side where the seam was ,then opened them up. As you can see here they are quite large. You need 2 tea bags per side a total of 4 tea bags, sew up each short side to make this complete. But, before you do all that, I took a napkin that had these beautiful roses and a rose bug and took away all that white tissue that is attached to the napkin leaving the printed part. I carefully cut away the images, sandwhiched it between the 2 tea bags. For more interest I stamped the top tea bag only with a french script. When the battery operated light flickers, you can see the rose through the script and the soft glow of the light. It doesn't show very well here but in the dimmer light, they are quite attractive. I did some sewing around the top and bottom like a border before sewing the sides together but I actually prefer no sewing of the border. I think it looks better without but that is my preference.

I then used Modge Podge to seal the bags together, I put some wax paper underneath so I could peel the tea bags away when dry.

Kim wrote an article for a magazine but I wasn't able to find it this time of year. I had to sort of figure it out.

Jenxo made some illuminaries just using napkins for her Market show.

I think they are just lovely.

What a great simple gift to make and very kitty friendly.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are getting ready for Christmas.

We have no snow, just rain and very mild temperatures.

Sure doesn't feel like Christmas is only a little over a week away.

Til next time friends

♥

It's starting to smell a lot like Christmas

Hi Everyone,

bet you thought I dropped off the face of the earth??? Well no not really, I have been busy getting things done for the holidays, it's been a real struggle for me this year to get into the mood. I went shopping the other day and I was having a hard time finding the one thing I wanted for hubs, 3 stores later and still nothing. Might have to go to the mall, not sure how long it has been since I have been there maybe last Christmas. No kidding. 

My car being in the shop still probably is a major factor why I am not in the mood, worrying about it, not having my own wheels to get out and do what I need to do. Hubs gets called into work and I am either stranded or we have to juggle things around. Hope I get it back this week. I am running on nerves now

worrying about the cost. Last time Bill didn't charge me anything but I am sure something major is going on.

Anyways today I dug in and got some baking done. Hubs went to town to run errands and do some shopping of his own and I decided to start some baking. I want to make a few gifty items and decided the home baked kind might be a better and more economical plan for me. I like baking, I can't eat any of it but I enjoy making things from scratch. I generally have to have hubs taste things since that dept is out for me.

Today I made Johnny cake, lemon snow bars, butter tarts and shortbread.

I will tantalize you with pictures and hope I get you drooling.

 Hubs used to deliver home oxygen years ago to people who needed it and one of his clients used to be a Home Economics teacher and actually gave him a cookbook she had published. It isn't a fancy book but boy Mary sure had that special touch according to JB.

I have used her no fail recipes for years and I never have a problem with any of the recipes. The book is now tattered, has spills on it and well you get the idea. If it is a good cookbook you can always tell by it's condition.

I also made some tea bag luminaries over the weekend but I was too close to the one and the picture ended up being very blurry so will attempt for my next post. You will want to make a few once you see them. Very cool and with a battery operated tea light they are safe to burn with fur babies around. =^..^=

Anyways hope you are all getting ready for your  holidays, time to spend with family and friends and to enjoy time off.

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

♥

Inspired by Nancy Maxwell James

Hi dear friends, well the continuing saga of my car and it died while I was in town shopping late this week. Thank goodness for cell phones, I had to call hubby who came to boost me then we went directly to the garage. I have even the mechanic stumped and he has been in business for over 30 years. Just when you think they have seen it all and nope, my car has to be the one that is the odd one.

Anyways I can't keep harping about it, it doesn't help the matter nor does it help my state of mind...so....now that shows are over I can get back to doing a few things I love to do. Play with paper and make some small ornaments for gift giving. If you get a chance check out Paper Whimsey's blog, they are having the 12 days of Whimsy and you can click on the button on my side bar to take you directly to the site. Right now Nancy Maxwell James( I visit her blog SugarLump Studios) has inspired me. This ornament I made is not part of the 12 days but was posted over a week or so now and I just had to make some. I did a few things differently, I printed my images on T shirt transfer paper and ironed the images on. The fabric I used my dear MIL found at Walmart, it is flour sack rags, 3 or 4 to a pack and the material is lint free and so soft. I just loved how these turned out and although the images look a bit grainy here they are really quite nice. Some are heading out in the mail this week I sure hope the recipients like them. Mum gave me a load of lace last year and I have been putting it to good use. I even cut some of the patterns of lace out from the main part of the fabric to embellish these. I made the coat hangers and I had these cute mini clothespins in my stash.dabbed a bit of white paint and they are ready to be hung on a tree or even a drawer pull. I never knew what to do with the clothespins til I saw Nancy's idea. Aren't they the cutest?

I made a couple special ones for gifts so I can;t show them because I know YOU will be peeking. tee hee

And the one show I did and made a new friend Sara (you saw her table in my last post) had these cute little TicTac holders. So I routed around the Internet and found a tutorial for them. There are several versions but this one is easy and I wanted a tutorial for the smaller container of TicTacs. You can find it here.

Well that is it for now. I have a few other things going on, I do need to get more motivated to get my painting orders complete. I did some painting today but it was a real struggle. I think I am burned out, I have been painting since the end of July so once I get these few things done I need to take a break from it.

Til next time, thanks for dropping by and always love your comments.

♥

My blog candy winnings and show report

Hi everyone,

well I finally am going to post so get a drink or snack then sit and read about some blog candy I won and my last show report from the Church craft show on the weekend.

Firstly I want to share this blog candy I won over at my friend Cathy's blog. A couple of weeks ago Cathy posted a giveaway and I commented on her blog as I do often. She picked a random number and she picked mine. So.....I have always admired Cathy's painting and the way she handles those paint brushes and most crafts she touches are done with expertise and precision not to mention her speed. Cathy can spin circles around you, I know I have seen her in action. Look at what I received in the mail last week. I already have that snowman hanging in my bathroom, he looks so darn cute in there, and the ornaments she also stuffed inside. Can't wait to hang everything on our small trees this year. I met Cathy online in a paint group we formed on Yahoo and we have all met face to face and are planning to meet again this time in Maine this coming year. We always have loads of fun and we spend time painting as well.  Thanks so much Cathy, it came at a time while I was struggling with car problems and at a time shows were not going very well so it really boosted my spirits, a big cyber hug to you my friend.

Here is my table set up at the church. I think the tables were only 6 footers. I thought in my email it said 8 but it seemed rather smaller and I have it just loaded as you can see. I am glad I didn't bring my stand to hang things on, it would have been very crowded so I opted to hang items on my table cloth, which did bring a lot of attention. I also found out that this church was having it's very first craft show so that may be one reason there wasn't a lot of traffic, I did make some money and I always like to re coop the cost of my table which I did and then some. Unfortunately some vendors did not make anything over the course of the day. I was a bit upset seeing many people pack up starting at 2:15 and the show was til 3pm. Very poor etiquette in my view.

 Here is another angle of my table. We were really cramped together so trying to get either chairs or peeps out of the way was impossible but we had a good number of vendors and always good to get new contacts for the future.

 And here is my new friend I met at Sweet Sentiments craft sale my first show a few weeks back, this is Sara. Sara does some amazing things with paper. Her biggest sellers are these cute snowmen chocolate bar wraps,darn you can't see them in this pic, she makes mini albums, post it note holders, mini gift boxes and all kinds of cool items.

 And here are more gourdy folk. If you remember my last post they were on the table being painted or ready to be assembled. The forefront snoman wasn't on the table 5 minutes after we opened and he went to a new home. The snowmen sold the best but I did find homes for some of the penguins.

One young lady bought 2 penguins and after she bought them she asked if the gourds were going to rot over time. I had to laugh to myself, why would I paint gourds then sell them to rot. Anyways I explained that they had already dried out over the past year and that was not going to happen. She was happy and left.

 And one more little fella that really made me smile was this snowie. He was all bundled up and went to a good home. I will miss him, he just made me smile.

So now I am doing some orders I received during my show at the school. Finished up one order today, got some swaps ready to be mailed out. I sure hope my swap partners won't be upset with me being a little tardy. I was going to try to do one more show but opted not to.

I am done for the season. I was happy with what I did sell and it will be put to good use over the holidays.

Thanks for dropping by and I can't wait to show you a few items I have been working on.

If you ever visit Nancy Maxwell James  or Paper Whimsy, you will surely be inspired by her great work. She gives amazing tutorials and her work is stunning.

I struggle with shabby but she makes it look so easy.

Take care all and be creative, it's good for the soul.

♥

Work in progress

Hi all. I generally don't like to show my work station (ahhhh my kitchen studio) but I have been encouraged by all of you so I guess I will share my gourdy mess today.

Yesterday I spent painting up penguin gourds, the hats and flippers and ties were made (with air dry clay) last night and they are all good to go for some paint today.  And I base coated all my snowies and they are getting faces, coats and little things done today.

I cannot believe today is Thursday, where has this week gone?

This will be my last show so then I have orders to complete (I also worked on one yesterday between paint coats drying) and I have the others to get done after the show, cards to make, gifts to buy and well you got it, busy busy busy, but that is how I like it.

We did get a tad of snow the other day and some of it is remaining on the ground but you can still see grass. Maybe that will bring the crowds out on Saturday for some great Christmas shoppers. As you know I love making gifts so when I get a handmade ornament or gift I really love it. I appreciate the time and effort one has taken into making it especially if someone knows what I like. I really take pride when a customer buys something I have made, I imagine it on a tree or shelf depending on what it is, and, it makes me smile.

 Anyways off to paint some more and get my soon expired library books back and get some new ones.

One more thing, Happy Thanksgiving to all my US friends. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and I know some of you will be getting lots of shopping done during your great Black Friday deals.

Toodles.....♥ 
I guess my pics of my gourds in progress did not show up. I was so busy I didn't check my post. Anyways this has been edited to show the production line in progress.
More pics of the completed gourdy folk, show report etc to follow.

Good gourd, what is happening

I should have a pic of my kitchen table. I got a hold of Tammy the organizer of the show I am trying to get into . Just waiting to hear back from her and looks like I can squeak in to this weekend's craft show at the church. So....I was busy washing up some moldy gourds and looking in my bag of already gessoed gourds and ,well lets say, I have a gourdy mess on the table. Hee hee.

Thanks for all your encouraging words and well wishes, looks like it paid off and I will be busy for my next show on Saturday. Woot woot.

Rosie was helping to select the right gourds for me to paint either penguins or snowmen, she has quite a nose for that. Of course the whiskers had to be painted too, can't seem to get away from that when the brushes come out.

Well I will try to keep you posted up until Friday but if not, you know the paint will be flying.

I got my car back and the clock/radio are now no longer functioning as it was causing the drain on my battery as well. Oh well I can always look for a new radio after the New Year. Right now it is not a priority. I have heat in my car and it is running.  No charge too, gotta love your mechanic when he doesn't charge you for more time and effort.

Anyways take care all and so glad some of you liked the tissue tape. I applied it yesterday to my matchboxes and I have to say I impressed myself. You must try it and if you do I would love to see your versions.

Cheerio for now.

♥

craft show pictures and DIY tissue tape?

Well after a few of you have asked to see pics and I was too tired to share last night here they are.

I had to do a bit of editing to take some things out I didn't want to show. I am no great photographer, probably never will be so here it is. It is hard to avoid heads in some of these as I was back to back with another lady behind me, beside me to the right and left. I would have loved a wall but you get what they give you. There was an organizing problem with hydro as well. On your application they ask if you want or need hydro and I always check yes because I like to put my ornaments on trees. Well I got there not hydro. I was soon taken care of, a bit later another vendor behind me to the left said he wanted hydro so could he plug into mine, I guess so but you better check. OK no problem. Then 2 tables down a girl wanted hydro to set up her laptop to demonstrate her vinyl words that go on walls. OK everyone is hooked up. Saturday afternoon I get this electric burning whiff, my nose immediately goes crazy like a sniffer dog. I am a very sensitive person with smells so I am smelling underneath the table and all around me. No strong smell. I can't see one of the  coordinators so someone finally flagged one down. All of a sudden we all had to unplug and turn out lights. Come to find out the kitchen had something going on and it was taken care of.

Lights went back on but I sure didn't like all these extension cords running under my table. You may see some in the pics but those aren't mine. I had mine well hidden but not everyone shares the same ideas now do they?

 And below I want to share something with you. Ever see that TH tissue tape but don't like the price? Well I figured out how to make some with supplies you probably already have on hand.

2 sided tape, whatever width you want to use, this is probably half inch, some black ink, does not have to be Stazon, another ink colour or two ,some regular tissue the kind you use for wrapping not the type you blow your nose with, scissors.

Make sure you have a nice piece of tissue to accommodate your tape lengths depending on projects and size.

I am making some matchboxes so I don't have to have a lot of length. I run the tape onto the tissue and press it firmly in place,then I take my scissors and just cut the excess tissue tape following the sides of the tape, remove excess tissue. Then I ink the background with a colour, here I used Cranberry and I also used a Studio G Christmas green colour. I hit it with the heat gun for just a few seconds. Then I take some stamps using black ink (Black Soot DI) used here. Randomly stamp images on the tape, making a collage. After you are done, hit with the heat gun again to be sure the ink is dry. I also ran my coloured inks along both sides of the tape to give it some colour. Once the ink is all dry with the heat gun you can add a bit more ink here and there like I did with the cranberry colour, you can see dark and light spots and some white contrast.

When I am ready I remove the shiny backing and place it on my project and I have just made custom tissue tape. You can use permanent ink markers to add elements like I did with the broken lines. So many possibilities here and a lot cheaper my friends.

Stay creative and thanks for dropping by.

Oh and I almost forgot.....I have a possibility of getting into another show this weekend.

Keep your fingers crossed. If I disappear for the rest of the week you know where I will be.

Car is ready tomorrow and no charge, Yippee skippee dance here. The week is turning out to be a good one, finally.

♥

November 2011 show report

The Christian High School was a good success. Huge well not huge but it was well worth it this year. I did very well Friday night and the gourds were literally flying off the table. Some peeps were debating with each other which one they wanted and don't take the one I want to buy. I am not sure how many I took with me, safe to say at least close to 20 and I should have taken more. I came home with one lowly snowman but I will give him a good home.

I really tried to be wallet friendly this year and opted to do more tree ornaments, goes to show you, you never know what peeps want to buy because I hardly sold any. My scrabble tile charms did very well, altered domino necklaces. I got a custom order to do a plate, another order for some key chains with a logo on it for a small business and a mouse pad that got chewed up by a critter to replace one I had made years ago. So I will be busy getting orders done but they won't take long.

I just got an email from a contact that there is a show next weekend and if there is room I just may try to get in. We can only hope.

Today I did NOTHING. I layed out on the couch, watched some boxing I have been waiting for, a couple movies then decided to get up and get a roast beast dinner going. Yum, what a great day. I didn't touch a craft, paint brush or piece of paper. Ahhh it is so nice to stop for a minute.

Take care and thank you all so much for your encouragement and well wishes.

I will post pics of my booth tomorrow when I feel more like it.

Off to bed soon for more rest and sleep.

Night night dear friends.

♥

A very busy day

Well we had our first snow of the season but it didn't last long. It came and it went. I didn't even take a picture because it barely covered anything. We are surely going to be getting a blast soon.

Today I was hoping just to get organized and just sit and relax....ha.....NOT.

I still had a few last minute items to finish up, hubs went to work for 2:30 and I was alone to do my whirl wind around the house and get what I thought would take an hour or so and rest before my show. NOT

I seemed to all of a sudden decide I needed to do some more scrabble tile charms and then I got into some other beading things which will be charms and so it is after 7pm and here I am. Still not completely done but for the most part I am pleased with my overall accomplishments.

I hope that this show will prove to be better than last year. I think it takes a while when you are new to a venue for peeps to get used to you and your products and style. I have often been told my items are different but I am not sure exactly how I am to take that. I take it as well you won't find this anywhere else, I hope.

So I am optimistic this will be a better year. I sure hope peeps are buying and that I can come away with some extra money for Christmas.

My car is still at the garage and I don't think it will be ready any time soon. I could have used a run into town before tomorrow but hey, it can wait, besides if I had gone to town I wouldn't have been able to get my load together for tomorrow. Tomorrow morning I will relax, take hubs to work then off to set up and wait for the crowds.

Thank you all for your encouraging words and support. Blog land has certainly been a very positive thing for me and I can't tell you how much you are all appreciated.

I will report back after the show. Take care and stay creative.

Lesley ♥

Gourdy Folk for my next show

Hi everyone, boy this week is surely flying by, tomorrow is Wed already, I start my show Friday evening and all day Saturday. Am I ready, don't ask. Will I be? don't ask. Is there ever enough stock, probably but you always need to do way more than necessary.

I want to show you the last items I have been working on for a while now. The gourds I grew in my garden last year and the drying process takes a while so this year I was happy to try painting them for the first time. I got a little addicted but had to stop because I need to finish a few things up before I start packing up on Thurs. I used Air dry clay for the noses on the snowmen, flippers on the pengy's and hats and bow ties. I love that air dry clay, it is so light, I use white so I can paint it and dry brush it any colour I want. I did just recently find black which I didn't know it came in black but I bought some to have on hand. I may be doing a few more of these before Christmas if these sell, but, who wouldn't want a painted gourd to smile at on your bookshelf, table or display over the holidays. I certainly would if I didn't paint. :)

I did all the painting free hand, no patterns, I even drew the faces on, for someone who is not a skilled drawer or sketcher I think I did pretty good. Although I did use Jamie Mills Price's patterns as models for the penguins but these were all done by me.

Hubs helped with some of the designs and suggestions and Rosie assisted with the painting. Of course whiskers had to be groomed during the whole process. Maybe that is why it took me forever to paint these.

Cats.....such demanding critters.

I will keep this short, sleep is calling my name. Tomorrow I will be finishing up some odds and sods and I have scrabble tile charms to do as well.

Til next time, I always enjoy your comments and I will be visiting more blogs once this show is over.

Stay crafty my dear friends.

Lest We Forget 11/11/2011

In Flanders Fields

by: John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

It never ends.....

I am usually a pretty calm and even tempered person but I have had it today. You remember me telling you about my car and the battery was being drained, they couldn't find the problem for the longest time and then they said after trying everything it was the automatic door locks that was causing the dead short so they disengaged them and now I don't have automatic locks. Well I ran back and forth all weekend long to my craft show and I was in town, On Tues I was doing some errands, I was getting tired and decided I wasn't going to do groceries(well I should have). Well today I went to do groceries and drop some items off to my MIL's for her craft show this weekend.....the battery.....was DEAD. After many dollars the last time I am livid. Hubby is on the afternoon shift so he needs his vehicle. I need to do groceries and many other things in the next week and NO VEHICLE. My bank account was drained from the last episode and I can only imagine this next time won't be anything great either. I feel like crawling in a hole and crying. Will this car episode ever end. I like my car I just wish whatever is going on would stop. I sure hope when I drop it off on the weekend it isn't weeks again, I have a big show next weekend and I might be missing out this weekend on some sales thanks to my MIL.

OK thanks for listening to me rant.....I just needed to vent.

Until next time....I promise I will be more positive.

ACKKKKKKK

library pocket cards and a Christmas gift idea

Well today I sat down and did the time consuming job of pricing my ornaments. I have a whack of them but it needed to be done. I have a few wreaths to put together and some more gourds to paint for my next show and then I am done for the season.

For my scrapbook store sale I made some library pocket cards and thought I would share a couple with you for an idea. You can find the template over at Mirkwood. I made a tag to fit inside and embossed them on my Cuttlebug then I placed the image on top and added some bling or whatever I had in my stash to spruce them up. They look so darn cute and a change from the tradition greeting cards.

One library pocket card is for a challenge over at the Oh La La group on Bella to use the little girl image provided to us by Lee Anne Seed's shop Gecko Galz. Lee Anne is a sponsor and provides many images to Bella for all kinds of Challenges. Doesn't this cutie just make you smile???

 I rubbed some white shimmer chalk over the embossed snowflakes on the tag and it just shimmers and I got some snowflake stickers at one of the local dollar stores. Christmas is starting to take over. I love creating this time of year....

And my last thing I want to show you are my pins I am going to make for Christmas pressies.

I was getting a few supplies at one local craft shop and saw these cool kilt pins with these loops on it.

Well I picked up a few they were on the frugal side of my budget and I had loads of charms at home and I am going to make these for some gifts to send over to the UK for Christmas. I am going to make cute tags to put them on. I think they are so darn cute and the pins are really sturdy they are not cheaply made.

So for a few bucks I think they are darn cute.

I wish I had a bit more time to make some for next weekend but I have enough on my plate. Maybe next year as I think they would sell really well.

My dominoes surely shocked me and I am no jewellery maker by any means. I am all thumbs when it comes to beads and stuff and I certainly do not have any more room for more stuff.

Thanks for dropping by.

♥



Don't forget the altered ornament swap

This is sure to be a fun swap for the holidays. If you want to make 2 ornaments that are paper based and then embellished and receive 2 in return then sign up here in the FlickR group to join. You have until November the 11th. You do not have to sign up to the matchbox swap group,  but, if you are already a FlickR member then you already know what to do. Come one and come all to the Ornament swap. Play with paper, paint, mixed media, etc. It will be a nice frugal trade and what better way to get a couple new ornies for your tree, handmade. 

Hope to see ya there.

First show report

This weekend I experienced my first scrap and paper type of show and I am sad to say it was not very good. Unfortunately Sweet Sentiments was last listed on the list, it entered as a new participant and the old reliables on the tour list were of course on the front of the page and at the top. I think new vendors should be listed first and maybe highlighted as new but I am not running the show but just my 2 cents.

We had some great peeps that did come in and check us out. There were 5 vendors that participated and we got to know each other very well over a very short period of time. We laughed, we shared info, emails and we even shared interent info.

I did not make any sales today, boohoo.

I often like to watch the peeps that come by, they admire, they stare, they look at details and one lady came for the free cider, looked around the tables then before she left she said, well I got some ideas and marched out of the store. I know people do that at these shows but some are a little more discreet than that. Sarah and I had our jaws drop after we heard that after she left.

I am leaving some items for the rest of the week. Next weekend I have been asked to leave some things at my MIL's craft and bake sale at her retirement residence open to the public so I have another little venue to place items. I think I will give her more painted things than I had at this show.

I was floored tho to find that my mini domino necklaces flew off the table and a few inchie houses. I was so happy. The mini dominos were a last minute idea and I will have to make some more before the Christian High School show in 2 weeks.

Well that is it. I can only hope in 2 weeks time it will be better.

Back to painting and getting ready for the next one.

Thanks for dropping by and if I don't post for a while I will be busy at the kitchen table.

A Christmas Ornament swap on FlickR

Hi everyone.

I am still finishing up details for my show this weekend. I will be busy Friday thru to Sunday so I had better make a quick post here regarding this great Christmas Ornament swap.

I have posted it on the Matchbox group because I am not starting a new group just for ornaments. You can click on the blinkie on the right sidebar and it will take you directly to the page.

I would love for you to join us, all the details are there for you to read. I know we just got over Halloween but with the US Thanksgiving then Christmas in December, and it gets crazy, I thought I would post this now and we will take a break during the month of December.

I have a few ideas for you but you do not have to use them, I am just giving a bit of inspiration in case you need some and I am sure you don't.

As you know I did up a bunch of birdcage dies for tree ornies, I cut them  out on the Cuttlebug. You can find templates online, I Googled Ornament coloring pages and found lots for just basic shapes. You can use tree shapes and decorate with vintage images, digi images etc. Just have fun.

I made these a while ago and although they are ok they could use more sprucing up but you get the idea.

So come to FlickR and sign up. We would love to have you join us. It is fun and you only have to make 2.

Thanks for dropping by.

Happy Halloween



Inchie House Template

Thank you for commenting on my inchie houses and a few of you have asked for the template.

I just want to say that I did not originally design it but after a few attempts of the one I had it wasn't measuring up so I adjusted the template  so I guess you could say I redesigned it.

There are 6 houses on a 8 1/2x11 sheet. Print either on a piece of white card stock and cover with your favourite papers or directly onto the papers you want to use. make sure you have the lines facing you so you can use them to guide you when scoring. I used a light weight card stock then glued decorative papers on top. Score all the dark lines. Those lines will be on the inside of the house and you will not see them. The roof is measured 2 inches by 1 inch. Score it at 1 inch and fold. If you want to hang your houses like I have, make the house first, then on the bottom find the center and pierce a hole, on the roof find the center pierce another hole. I used wired and added beads and jingle bells but you could just use gold or silver string, elasticated strings or whatever. Just have fun. If you are not adding beads and just hanging from the roof you won't need the hole in the bottom of the house. I have done them both ways and both are just as nice.

Click on the image and get the full size. If this doesn't print out correctly email me and I will send it to you.

I had a number of you interested so this is why I am posting the template.

If you make any please let me see, I am always interested in what others make would be fun for kids to make and they are really pretty to use up scraps, old book pages, stamps etc.

Have fun and don't forget to show and tell.

NB  on the templates there is a line just under the roof and it is lighter than the other lines. DO NOT score this line. I forgot to mention that so this has been edited for you. Thanks again.
 

Inchie Christmas houses

I finally was able to get some half decent pics to show you my inchie houses. What are inchie houses? The base of the houses are one inch square not including the peaks on the front and the back of the houses. I have a template I print off then use to construct my houses. The roofs are 1x2 folded in half . So cute and fun to alter. I used images I found around FlickR. One source I found wonderful vintage Santa's was from riptheskull. He has some excellent images of many types of themes.

I used 2 sided scrapbook papers which are quite sturdy, some German scrap, scraps of borders and anything else I could find to use. You can be fancy or just dress the houses up. I usually print off my images in the format of a one inch square(inchie) then I cut around the main image. That way you get a good dimensional image according to the size of the house.

If you are at all inclined to make some I would be happy to send you my template. This is not my original design but I have modified it as some houses on the internet are not one inch square.

Thanks for dropping by and have a super weekend.

I am off to make some small cards and a few post it note holders. I have one week left to complete items for my first show at the Sweet Sentiments scrapbook store so I best get back at it.

Til next time.......stay crafty.