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Sunday, December 23, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, filled with joy and laughter!!
Peace and Blessings to you all!!!

Monday, December 17, 2012

SANTA'S SLED

I am excited to share my Santa's sled with you!!!  I made it for Altered Arts Magazine, using some of the AWESOME products I got from them, from sponsors, when I started working for them.
I love this piece!!  I used burlap from Canvas Corp., A really fabulous exacto type knife from Prima, and some paper tape from 7 Gypsies.  Those products were from the sponsor package I got.  I also used a teddy bear from Melissa Frances and the Santa image is from Dezinaworld.  A little bit of nature was added too.  I got the pine cone and pine sprig from the yard.  The dove of peace is on a paper pinwheel.

Whew!  That is a ton of stuff!!  But I love it and it is in my living room right now!!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!!!  Thanks for visiting!!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

DEBBIE-DOO'S MAGAZINE COPY CAT PARTY!!

Today is the 2nd Annual Holiday Knockoff Party (otherwise known as Magazine Copy Cat)!!
Debbie , otherwise known as the Party Queen, really knows how to get our creativity going!!!

Here is the magazine I copied

Here is my wreath.  I know!  It is obviously loosely based on the magazine, but I really like how it came out!!
I love the blue and silver colors!  I sprayed it with glitter spray too. 


Thanks so much for visiting!!  I always return comments!  And I can't wait to see what you made!!!
And Thank you Debbie for hosting!!

Monday, December 3, 2012

ALTERED ARTS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EDITION!!!

It's that time of year!  The time for giving, the time for sharing.  The time we think of others.  It is such a beautiful time of year, and Altered Arts Magazine has a gift for everyone!!  A special, FREE, Christmas issue!!!  You can check it out in a digital format, by clicking the link below!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151182193568477&set=a.401326128476.176289.45128553476&type=1&theater
Our FREE Christmastime Projects Bonus issue is now ready for your viewing pleasure.  This is our yearly, special gift to you.  Please share it with your friends.  You can access the online version by clicking on the link below.  No password is required for this special issue.
http://www.alteredarts.com/bonusissue12/default-bonus12.html


















Our FREE Christmastime Projects Bonus issue is now ready for your viewing pleasure. This is our yearly, special gift to you. Please share it with your friends...

Now that, is the spirit of the season if you ask me!!

I have a project in it that I just LOVE!!  It is a board book, that I turned into a fancy living room with a fireplace on the cover, but I cut through the book, so the fireplace is seen inside too.  And I made a tree out of rolled book paper.  It was so fun to make, and I think it will look lovely on my mantle or table this year.
I would love to have a fancy room like this, with real twigs in the fireplace, handmade stockings made from Melissa Frances paper, tied to the mantle with a bow.  And a "real" looking fire in the fireplace made with fusible fibers.

This is the inside.  What a lovely family room this would be!!  I used a lovely paper for the wall paper, more twigs in the fireplace and more fusible fibers for the fire.  The tree took me quite a while to make.  Rolling so many little pieces of paper, and gluing them just so.  The gauze on the bottom is the tree skirt and then the star on top.  I bought the tiny wreath from AC Moore for above the fireplace.

This is a close up of the tree.

I hope you are all enjoying the season, and getting ready for all of the festivities this time of year.  Thanks so much for visiting, and I hope you enjoy our FREE gift to you!!!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

WOYWW

Hello everyone, and welcome to another WOYWW.  Click the link to find out what I am talking about.

This will be really short today, I am sick and on antibiotics, while my 2 boys have a bad stomach flu going on.  Not a great time to blog. But I missed last week because of Thanksgiving and I didn't want to miss another.  The way I see it, I will just be lying around resting, as will the boys, so I might as well catch up on some blogging.

My work desk is just piled with stuff.  Too much to even explain.  My badge is on the top of the pile.
Have a great day everyone, and enjoy the party.......

Saturday, November 17, 2012

FAT BOOK PAGE FOR ALTERED ARTS MAGAZINE

I have a fat book page to share with you today for Altered Arts Magazine.  I love making these, and I have been trying to make one a month since July.  Unfortunately, this is only my third.  I missed September and October.  Oh, well!  I get to get messy and catch up!!
I used many varieties of ink for this page. Ranger distress stain, distress ink, Dylusions spray ink, Sharpie markers and Archival ink.  I used stencils and stamps and doodling too.  I usually do a lot of collage work with papers and ephemera, but wanted to just get inky with this one.  Then, at the end, I had to put 2 pieces of book paper on it!!  And Tim Holtz Chit Chat stickers to speak for me.

Thanks for looking!!  And please come visit us on Facebook HERE.  Have a great weekend!!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

WOYWW 180

Hello all!!  Welcome to another WOYWW!!!  If you want to know what I'm talking about, click the link and visit our hostess, the awesome, Julia. 

I have been saving change since last November for Christmas.  I put it in my Hello Kitty bank.  It makes a fun noise when you put coins in it!!  
I separated all the change on my work desk, and I found a $10 bill in there too!  I didn't put it there, and no one in my family did either, so they say.  I think Hello Kitty needed change and traded me for the bill.  However it got there is fine with me.

I was so excited, I was sure there was a lot of money.  In the end, including the $10, I only have $64.  For a whole year of saving?  UGH.  I understand it's better than nothing, but a whole year of change collecting and there is only $64 (really $54 in change)?
Lucky for the kids, it wasn't the only money I saved for Christmas! LOL!

I hope your saving efforts turn out better than mine!!!

Now go see the other wonderful desks at the party!  

Friday, November 9, 2012

GRATITUDE

Since I've been back online, I have seen a bunch of blogs making Gratitude Books.  From what I hear, November is ''Gratitude'' month.  I know this is the month of Thanksgiving, and on that day we give thanks, but I didn't know it was a whole month of gratitude.  

But it makes sense.  Why only one day of thanks?  Unfortunately, I don't think we spend enough time being grateful.  With jobs, bills, families, responsibilities, who has time to be thankful?  Some of us go to religious services every week, and we give thanks, but it is only one day.  I am guilty of being ungrateful.  I admit it.  After seeing so many people and so many blogs talk of this Gratitude project I knew I had to do this too.  I used to keep a positivity journal, but dropped the habit lately.  Time to get on the thankful, positive train I think!!!!
I've had this little album book for years.  I think I bought it at a convention years ago.

I had to fold and make more pages for it.  As you know, mono-printing has been my new favorite thing.  So, while I did the backs of the pages I made the other day, I added some paint from my credit card to these pages.  And stamps, and everything I could think of!!

These are the pages that came inside the book.  I did the same treatment to these pages, and I then glued the new pages to it.

This is today's page.  My super awesome son's brought me home perfect report cards!  I am very grateful, and very proud!!

This is yesterday's page.  I was grateful that my husband came home really early, and took me to lunch.  He works too much and I miss him!!

I intend to keep going, and even do the first 7 days.  I have written things down that I am thankful for for 5 of the days.  I have to REALLY think about the other 2.  I can't remember what was special on those days!  Of course there are the usual, my family, my life, my faith, but I am trying to go with that one special thing in each day that sets it apart from the "normal".  I will be showing the other pages in this book as I go along.  I hope you will join me in keeping track of your grateful things this month!!!

Last, but not least, I am grateful to Altered Arts Magazine for giving me a chance years ago when I was trying to get published.  They have enjoyed my work for years, and I a truly grateful for that.  Now, I get to work for Altered Arts Magazine!  I am truly grateful for that too!  And I made these 3 ATC's for them.  I used papers and embellishments from Pink Paislee, a Prima flower and pearl embellishment, and game pieces and ephemera bits from my own stash.


Thanks for bearing with me through this long post.  I hope you remember all you are grateful for!!!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

WOYWW 179

Hello and welcome to another WOYWW.  The party where we get to peek at other people's work spaces.  I love to peek!!

First, thank you so much again for your lovely messages, emails and comments worrying about us during this hurricane.  It has been a difficult time, and many are still suffering, but we are getting back to ''normal''.

While we had no power, I had time to clean up my studio!!   I finished my pumpkin, and thank you for all of your ideas and comments.  I think the most mentioned thing in the comments was that it was very vertical, and needed something on the sides.  using natural things was suggested, but since we were in a hurricane, and now we are supposed to get snow tomorrow (ugh), I went with ribbon.
I also removed some of the leaves from the top, and showed off more of the flowers and beads.  I also added ribbon to the top.  I am putting it on the table tomorrow.  End of story.  I've spent far more time on this pumpkin than I wanted to, so it is finished!!  I hope you think it looks better!

when I was at that convention this summer, I saw this little Christmas flower kit for 50 cents.  I will buy anything for 50 cents.  so I started making them today.  this is what is on my desk, along with my badge!!

Have fun peeking!

Monday, November 5, 2012

THANK YOU!!

I just have to say a HUGE thank you to everyone for your beautiful emails and blog comments.  It means so much to me to have so many people thinking of and praying for me and my family.  My heart just swells with gratitude!!

I am so thankful that we made it through this with our health and our home still intact.  So many are still suffering and my thoughts are with them.

We are pretty much back to "normal".  With the exception of my precarious tree.  Time will tell with that.  

You are the best blog friends a girl could ever have!!!

I've received so many emails and blog posts that it will take me a while before I can get to all of you, but know I thank you so much!

Saturday, November 3, 2012

HURRICANE

I just wanted to write and tell you that we survived the hurricane.  It has been quite an experience. We only got power earlier today, we lost it Monday afternoon.  No heat, our food went bad, no hot water.  2 boys home from school for a week.  1 husband trying to get to work, yet be here for us.  A tree split in half vertically in our back yard, and we are worried that the piece that is left is going to come down too.  If that happens, it will destroy our shed, and our deck, and possibly our house.  We are waiting for the insurance person to come next week.  Our food went bad so we lost that, and we had lunch meat and milk out on the porch, because it was as cold as the fridge!

Even our grocery store had no power.  

But, we survived!  And we are very grateful!!  It could have been so much worse.  So many have lost so much.  We went to a different grocery store today and almost couldn't get there.  so many power lines are down, and trees are in the streets.  There is a shortage on gas, and many stations are closed because they have no gas.  We can only get gas on certain days, depending on your license plate number.  It is shocking to see.  And sad.

So much to be grateful for.  It is times like these that show us how strong we are, and how lucky.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of the people who are still suffering.  May they get some peace soon.

Thank you all for your wonderful emails and stuff.  I am so grateful that you thought of us.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You have no idea how much you mean to me!

Monday, October 29, 2012

MONOPRINTING!!

Have you seen the new Altered Arts Magazine?  There is an article by Trisha Neal aka "Trisha Too" on "Monoprinting".  I saw this technique on my friend Marit's blog months ago and really wanted to try it.  So when Trisha wrote the article, with detailed instructions and pictures I had to try it!!


 Be nice!  This was my first try!!
I gathered some supplies and got to work!!
These are just a few pages.  I made 20 pages in a half hour!!
Most of them don't have enough ink to cover the whole page, but I still think they look awesome!!

I think the lines on this one look like cancelled postage.

 I added spray ink on top of some of them.

These are my favorites!  I used punchinella (sequin waste) and I think it looks like snake skin!
I hope you enjoyed my first attempt at monoprinting!  I plan on making more papers, maybe today?

And for everyone on the east coast (like me) please stay safe!  This hurricane is crazy!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

WOYWW 177

HELLO and welcome to another WOYWW! Just click the link if  you don't know what I am talking about.  It is the best party ever!!

The first pic I want to share is my finished pumpkin!!


Last week I showed you this pumpkin in progress.  I finished it today, and I don't think I am happy with it.  It seems like something is missing.  Any ideas would be lovely!  I got the pumpkin last year, off season, with a coupon so it was like $2.  The flowers and beads are from the "Dollar" store.  So it was only $3!!  For $3 it is a fine white pumpkin, but I want it to look like a $1,000 pumpkin!

And here is my desk
Very messy just like I like it!  Stamps, gesso, a TH book, my phone and some new goodies I got.  I love Dylusions spray ink, so I had to have more.  I own 6, now I own 9!  I also got the Alcohol ink pen I've been wanting. I first saw this pen on Eliza's blog during a WOYWW party and I had to email her and ask her all about it!  She was so nice and answered my questions!  I can't wait to use it!!  Thanks Eliza!!
And, of course, my badge was placed on top of my new supplies.

Last, I want to share with you this lovely tag you may see on my desk.  It is a sweet surprise from my dear friend Sherry.  I love the creepy feeling skeleton!  And Sherry did a whole post on using the fake fingernails on her project.  Check out her blog to see it, it is awesome!!

Now go and desk hop!!  Have an awesome time!!


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

I'M ON THE COVER AND WOYWW

Hello everyone!!  Happy WOYWW!  Please visit our awesome hostess Julia for all the details!!

BUT FIRST.....(drum roll please)

My work is on the cover of  the latest Altered Arts Magazine!!!!!
I made the map and the treasure chest!  The map was a super fun mixed media project.  I printed out  2 maps, colored them in and cut apart one of them to layer upon the other.  On the map I kept whole, I wrinkled it up and re-straightened.  I used pastels and inks, and I used modeling paste to make the elevations on the map.  Layering the other pieces made even more dimension.  Finally, I burned pieces of the map to make it look even older.  I placed the map inside of a wood box.  I also altered a treasure chest I bought at the party store and staged the scene with pirate coins, costume jewelry from my collection, faux gems and lace!  I was soooo excited to get the news I was on the cover.  This is amazing and I can't say thank you enough to Altered Arts Magazine!!!


NOW FOR THE PARTY!!!!
I am decorating a white pumpkin from the craft store.  I am using faux leaves and I have some jewels and squash I will add too.  Hopefully, It will be done by the next party.  I figure I can keep it as a centerpiece on the table through Thanksgiving.

Thank you so much for visiting!!!  I always reply to every comment I get, and I also try to get to as many other party goers as I can!!  Have fun!!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

WOYWW 176

Hi!!  It's time for another WOYWW!!  Click the link to find out what I'm talking about!!

I hope Miss Julia doesn't kick me out of the party this week, because I have no work desk to share :(
it was my oldest son't 16th birthday this weekend and I haven't done any work since the last WOYWW!!  I didn't want to show you the same picture again.  But, I do have a couple pics to share of my son!!
When did he get so big?????
He is such a wonderful son!  He is perfect!  He is always helpful, never in trouble, gets excellent grades, and is an all around great guy.  I am so blessed!!!  Sorry some of his head is missing.  My small son took the picture.  He tried!!  I still think he looks handsome!! 

Now go visit the work desks of all the other people at the party!!  I promise to be ready with work desk pictures!!!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

WOYWW

Hi everyone.  I thank all of you for visiting me.  I have been sick for almost 2 weeks now, and I haven't been on the computer.  I appreciate each and every one of you and the lovely comments you leave me.  I promise to return all of your comments this week.  And hopefully more.

I am still under the weather, but feel much better.  My work desk looks like a ton of junk thrown on a table.  
I did manage to put my badge on the table for the picture though!

Enjoy the desk hopping,  and please be sure to visit our hostess Julia.  She is awesome!!

Have a great day!!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

SICK

I just wanted you all to know I have been sick since last weekend.

I went to the doctor on Monday, but I am not any better yet.  I will go again tomorrow. It seems to be that cold/flu/virus/bacteria/head cold/sore throat/cough that's going around. ugh.

Please don't think I forgot you all!!!  I am just not up to blogging.  

Hopefully, I will be back sometime this week.

Take care and have a great week!

Friday, September 21, 2012

MY ANNIVERSARY!

Today is my anniversary!
I've been married for 21 years!

I was 12 when I got married. *snort*  



Of course, I got flowers.  I get them often.  My husband is just good that way.
We always get each other a sentimental gift too.  I am not sharing them with you.  Not that I don't love you all!  But some things are meant to be *secret*.

I also want to thank my very good friend Marit for always remembering my anniversary.  Her parents have the same anniversary as we do!  And today, they are married 50 years!  I hope we are as lucky as they are.  Congratulations to them, and best wishes on many more!!

Have an awesome weekend!