A Mermaids Crafts: Halloween Mini Pages, Blog Hop Winner and a Requst...

Hop on over to Lisa's blog and follow the link to help her win the ConsumerCrafts.com Back-to-School Crafter's Challenge!  All you have do is visit her blog and follow the link to Pinterest then Repin her beautiful project!!

A Mermaids Crafts: Halloween Mini Pages, Blog Hop Winner and a Requst...: Happy Friday!! I hope you have fun plans for the long weekend!! We are supposed to get anywhere from 5-7 inches of rain so that will put a ...

Feature Friday at The Aviary!

Happy Friday everyone!!  I've got a quick post for you today because we're heading out for the Labor Day weekend but I wanted to let you know that I'm the guest artist over at The Aviary today.  Here's a peak at my project:

Head on over to the Paper Wings Productions Blog to see the tutorial on this Day of the Dead tag.  Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!  I'll be back on Tuesday :D

Day of the Dead Mask

Hey friends!  We've almost made it to the weekend and the end of the first week back to school.         So far so good but I have to admit, yesterday was a rough day for me.  I had three run ins with some bad juju but God got me through :D  

Okay so when I was on vacation I picked up this paper mache mask.  I started working on it on Monday night and finished it up on Tuesday.  Here is what I came up with:

I really wasn't sure how this was gonna turn out because I've never done anything like this before.    I stuck to my favorite colors and just went for it :D  I'm still gonna work on incorporating this into something, just not sure what yet.  I'm thing maybe on a canvas, we'll see......

I started by painting the base layer with gesso and then painted in the eyes with some Liquitex blue soft body acrylic.

Everything was done freehand with India Ink except for the little flowers.  I used a stamp for those then just colored them in with the soft body acrylic.

You know I had to add a little book text ;D

Well I hope you like my Dia De Los Muertos mask.  This is really different for me so I'd love to hear what you think.  Constructive criticism is always welcomed, it helps me grow as an artist so don't be shy I have thick skin ;D

Have a Wonderful Day!!!

Homestead Handcrafts Update

Yesterday I had a chance to go by my little shop at Homestead and move things around a bit.  I also took in my last canvas Little Bird, the fall pumpkins and the floral arrangement I made.

It's finally starting to look better.  I was really needing to add more than just my painting to my display.

This is the top shelf, I think it still need some tweaking.  

I have some painting on the side walls and below the table.  Hopefully I'll figure out how to display the lower painting soon.

I've got some more Fall/Halloween projects in the works so hopefully I'll get them finished up soon so I can share them with you.  Thanks so much for all your sweet comments on yesterday's post.  They really made my day :D  I'd also like to WELCOME Shivani to the blog.  I'm so happy to have you following along!!

Have a Beautiful Day!!!

Fall Pumpkins

 I just love all the warm rich colors of fall and I'm itching to start decorating my house.  So I'm gearing up by starting on some projects for my shop.

These little pumpkins started out as paper mache.

I applied strips of book text to the taller pumpkin and then some gesso to both to prep them for painting.

I used various shades of yellow, orange, copper and brown in fluid and soft body acrylics.  I drew in the scrolls freehand with black 3-D Gloss Enamels (love that stuff).

I added a beautiful copper leaf to the shorter pumpkin.

I thought they'd look good with "Little Bird" so I created a little vignette.  After I took this photo, I ended up making a fall floral arrangement to go with them but it was too dark to get a good pic.  I'm taking all of these projects down to Homestead this week.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

Mark Your Calenders!

Hey there friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful day and fabulous weekend.  I'm a bit off schedule because today was my son's first day of school.  My DH took the day off so we could both take him to school this morning and after that it was off to the dealership to get my brakes fixed.  Luckily it didn't take all day so we had a little to browse HomeGoods, Kirklands and a local Antique Mall.  It's been a while since my DH and I had a day all to ourselves so it was really nice.  I found some awesome vintage suitcases to use in my booth over at Homestead.  One was even in my favorite shade of blue.

Okay so I don't know if you heard already but the fabulous and super talented Heather Lynn  is having another Owl themed Blog Hop in September!

I'm so honored to be participating in this hop with so many talented people.  

Be sure to save the date and join us!!  

Have a wonderful day friends!!  I'll be back tomorrow with some fall projects I just completed, take care!!

Little Bird - Mixed Media Canvas

I finally finished the 9x12 canvas that I showed you last week.  This one had me stumped for a minute but I love the way it turned out.  I have to warn you, this is a photo heavy post.  There are just so many layers to this canvas and I wanted to show you all the little details:

Let's get started on this canvas, shall we!

I started by mixing up blue, yellow and white acrylic paints and applying layers of color until I had a shade I liked.  I used Martha Stewart stencils for the dotted circles and Moroccan designs.  I adhered the clouds I had on my workspace from my last project (trying to use up my scraps).

Next I applied a lilac wash over the entire canvas and added the bird stencil.

I added some scraps of patterned paper on the left and went over the Moroccan design to bring it back out and create a border.

This is where I left off on Sunday.  I hand cut the flowers from a book and randomly stamped some PWP script.  I also added a flower diecut that I colored with my oil pastels.

This is how I finished it out last night.  I really wanted to enter this into Frilly and Funkie's challenge: Get Crafty With Canvas so I used a lot of canvas on this one but I ended up missing the deadline.  

I used Spellbinders to cut my circles, embossed them with script and distressed them with TH inks.  I also sprayed the smaller ones with Dylusions Ink.  The sentiment and bird I used are from PWP Bird Melange stamp set.  I used Stazon and stamped them on canvas.

The beautiful orange flowers are from Paper Studio and my stash.

This is a new kind of element for me that I'm really excited about.  I was really inspired by the Industrial Chic mixed media jewelry elements I saw at Micheals so I've been buying all kinds of beads and charms to make my own.  This is the first tassel I've made and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out :D

I tucked in some cardboard and canvas.

More canvas tucked in on top and a little  washi tape too

I really love the way all these elements work together.  I hope I've inspired you to mixed your media on your next creation.  Well I've gotta take my youngest to get some new glasses today so I'm off to get than done.  Thanks so much for stopping by today and be sure to let me know what you think :D

Have a wonderful, beautiful and creative day!!!

I entered this project in the following challenges:

DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Use a Flower.

Belli Challenge #150 - Winged Things

The Poodles Parlour - Winged Things

Berry71bleu's August Challenge - Wings

Home Sweet Home

We made it back in town just in time for Meet the Teacher.  My son didn't want to miss it so we headed back early this morning.  We had a wonderful time at the beach and fishing.  My DH even took me to all the local craft stores :D and I scored a ton of great clearance deals:

I picked up lots of canvas for 50% off at Joanne's and a some other K&Company goodies.  Michaels had a ton of stamp sets on clearance for $2.99 so I picked those up.  The paper mache items are from there too.  I wanna get started on those fall and Halloween projects.  Last stop was Hobby Lobby, they had a bunch of Spellbinders on clearance so I picked another one of those up along with a Crafters Workshop stencil, some  twine, beads and a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Well, I'm gonna try and finish that canvas I started last week...Ciao!!!

PWP Altered Journal Guest Post

Hey friends, I hope you're having a wonderful day.  I'm out on vacation with my family this week for one last bit of summer fun before school kicks off next week.  We just got back in from doing a little fishing and I checked in for my guest spot over at PWP and low and behold there it was, lol.  I've been dying to share the projects I made for Paper Wings Productions with you and today I get to show you one!  Here's a little peek but you'll have to hop on over to PWP to see the whole post!

So head on over and let us know what you think!!

One more thing before I go:

WELCOME TERESA JAYE!!!  Thank you so much for joining us, I'm so happy to have you :D



Happy Monday!

Hey there, hope you had a wonderful weekend.  We went bowling, played laser tag and finished up our back to school shopping.  Then we decided it would be fun to head out to the beach one last time before summer ends.  So we left late last night and got here around midnight. 

Yesterday was also vendor night at Homestead.  That's when they stay open after closing time so you so you can change things up without being in the customer's way.  My DH helped me switch out my table top and add a new hutch.  I took some pics to share but I think I left my camera back home cuz I can't find it anywhere.

Well, since I forgot my camera I won't be posting much this week.  For some reason when I upload pics from my phone, they don't come out good.   Here is a pic of a beautiful bridge we crossed last night coming out here (see how its real blurry)

Welcome Tricia Too!!  I'm so glad you stopped by and decided to follow along :D

Well I'm off to start my day, have a great one!!

Sneak Peek Friday!

Hey Friends!  I'm so glad it's Friday :D  Today I have a few things to show you.  I haven't completed the last canvas I started but I'd thought I share a peek of what I'm doing:

This is what I have so far, hopefully I'll get a chance to finish it up over the weekend.  I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this one but I'm sure it'll come to me once I start working on it again.

Next up is my haul from yesterday!





I took my youngest shoe shopping yesterday.  We didn't find any but I did namage to find some supplies, lol.  Seriously though, we went into the shoe store and I had my 20 mth old grandson with us and no stroller so that didn't go well.  I decided we're just gonna have go shoe shopping when I'm not babysitting.  So we'll have to get it done sometime next week, this weekend is tax free shopping and I hate going out is those big crowds.  Anyway the area I was in has the best grouping of stores.  They have Target, Toys R Us, World Market, TJ Maxx, Pier 1, Kirklands, Michaels, Hobby Lobby and tons more but those are my favorites.  So after the shoe debacle we went to TJ Maxx and I scored those awesome Martha Stewart and EK punches for $3.99.  Next up was Hobby Lobby and they had a bunch of Spellbinders on clearance for $14.99 so I picked up the scalloped circles.  I wanted all of them but I was a good girl and only got one (your welcome honey). 

Well folks, have a fabulous weekend!!  Hope you get a little creative fun time in because it's good for the soul ;D  Thanks for stopping by!



Boo!

Hi there, I hope you're having a great week!  I've got a real quick post for you today because I have a lot of paperwork to get done.   So lets get to it shall we:

I've started working on my Halloween "BOOs",  I just love leaving little treats for my friends :D  This year I'm trying to get a head start because I wanna take some down to Homestead.  I'm hoping they'll be hot sellers ;D

Here's a closer look at that cute little owl:

Well, I better get to work now.  Have wonderful day and thank you so much for stopping by!!

I entered this project in Make it Monday Challenge #105

Organizing Part II

Happy Hump Day! 
Okay so today I'm sharing what I put into the new Alex drawer set on the right.  This side is not nearly as organized.

The top drawer still holds all of my Dylusions, TH Distress Inks and now I have room for my embossing powders too.

The second drawer has my alphabet stamps, clear stamp blocks and other stamping supplies.

This drawer has paints, stencils and other items that I use to create texture on my projects.

This one is my craft junk drawer.  It has all kinds of embellishments that I don't know where else to put.

The bottom drawer has some ribbons but I think this might change because I don't really use ribbons to often.  I'd really like to have my stamps in these drawers so I'm sure I'll be doing more rearranging over the next few days.  Its so hard to get things just right, lol. 

Well, thanks so much for coming by today :D  I'd love to hear how you store your stamps or any other suggestions you might have.

Have a beautiful day :D

Organizing

Over the last couple of weeks I've been trying to reorganize my studio to come up with a layout that works best for me.  So today I thought I'd share a little bit of what I've done so far. 

We moved into this home over 2.5 years ago and it took me almost 2 years to really start using my new studio.  I really loved my last studio an this one just didn't feel inspiring to me.  I think its because it has carpet and I was so afraid of staining it with paint.  I eventually got over it and yes I did stain the carpet, lol.  The other problem was the lighting so my DH installed track lights for me.  It still has lighting issues but it's much better.  I like to work sitting down so I'm trying to bring my supplies in closer to me.  So yesterday I rearranged and added another ALEX drawer set to my workstation.

Excuse the mess on my desk :D  I haven't cleaned up after my last project.  See the red box in back of my ottoman, it holds fabric and has my old sewing machine on top. 

Okay....so, you wanna see inside my drawers?!! 

These are the drawers on my left:

This is where I keep all my pens, markers, Exacto knifes and adhesive.

I just set this drawer up yesterday, it has all of the new jewelry things I've been buying lately.

These are little odds and ends.  It also has a sliding organizer on top.

I found this organizer at my local grocery store.  It slides back and forth nice and easy :D

These are all my brads and buttons.

The last drawer holds all my rubons. 

I don't wanna bombard you with too many pics so that's it for today.  I'll be back tomorrow to show you what I put in the new Alex draw set on the right.  If you have any organizing tips or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. 

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!!!



Heather Lynn's Big 250 Follower Giveaway!

Check out Heather Lynn's 250 follower giveaway:

Isn't that awesome?!  I don't know bout you but I'd love to win this blog candy :D  All you have to do is visit her blog, become a follower (if your not already), leave a comment and for more chances to win share on your blog and on FB, easy peasy!!!

GO CHECK IT OUT!!!



Happy Monday

Thank you all for helping me pick out a new banner yesterday!  I really appreciate your input :D

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  We did some back to school shopping and watched the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie.  My son loves those books so it was a real treat for him.  Today I'm heading out to IKEA.  I've been doing a lot of organizing in my studio lately and want to replace the legs on my workspace with am Alex drawer set.  Maybe I'll post some updated pics of my studio soon. 

Later friends, have a wonder day!!

New Banner ?

Hey Bloggie Friends!  Hope you're having a great weekend :D 

I need your help!  I changed up the banner and need your opinion and be honest please.  What do you think, Yay or Nay? 

Is it too busy, maybe tone it down a bit or just leave it the way it was?

Please let me know what you think!
&
A big warm WELCOME to Stacey & Miriam!!! 
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and joining in on the fun!!
I really appreciate all of you :D

UPDATE: 3rd Option

I think I like this one the best.  What do you think?