A Tisket, a Tasket, Another Kitchen Basket

 

Welcome to another day of crafting, and another kitchen basket shadow box! Today I created a beach scene using crushed glass for the ocean, mixed sand for the beach, and tiny seed beads mixed with white paint for the sea foam.

I have plenty of sea shells, but added some pea gravel, moss and one glass button from a floral purchase. Looked a little empty, so I added the last of my starfish stickers. I used one of the tiny bottles I had purchased online (during COVID), with a tiny, rolled up piece of paper inside (neatly tied with a strand of twine).

The final touch was found in my box o' shadow box figurines...the tiny seagull (well, it really was a dove. Use your imagination)! LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - Seashells at the Beach

(Pin)spirational - July Tropical Sunset (I used the beach scene on my shadow box basket)

The Four Seasons - Summer Season July

Colorful Options - July

A Tisket, a Tasket, a Basket for your Wall

I scored five a these shallow, wooden baskets a month ago from a local craft swap. I posted my first  "mini" shadow basket earlier this month. Today I finished my mushroom forest. I covered the back/bottom of the basket with moss. Deciding to hang this basket on the diagonal, I arranged my mushrooms, along with several rocks, tiny stones and foliage, to set the scene. 

I used a combination of hot glue and E6000 (although the moss needed some adhesive spraying to make it stick well). standing back and taking a look at it, it seemed to be missing something. I riffled through my big box of shadowbox figurines, knickknacks and miscellaneous toy parts. I found just the thing it needed.

The snail was the last piece I adhered to my mini shadowbox, and I like it! I can't wait to make the others. I'm thinking southwest desert scene, maybe a beach scene, the ideas are churning in my mind as I type. If you like this, stay tuned for more...

I AM ENTERING:

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media Goes (I used wood [basket, stones, flowers, moss)

Creative Fingers - Challenge #304

On the Seventh Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

Another fantastic find at the Amazon Returns store was this white holiday sign for $1. There were three in the package! I added some 3-dimensionaldecoratiob on each. Two got sold at the craft fair, and one went to a new neighbor as a holiday house warming gift.

I know, I didn't do much here, but sometimes a little added touch makes things better. 

On the Sixth Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

Welcome back, crafters! I made another small canvas out of the small wooden boxes and an image from the Graphics Fairy. Again, I added the hats from the Doll House, care of Eena's Creations. Aren't those cats the cutest? This time I framed the canvas with gold trim and added a bow to the bottom.

My daughter's in love with this one, so it's hanging up in her bedroom as I type! 

On the Fifth Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

Earlier this month, I strolled through an Amazon returns store when the prices were lowest at $1 each item. The box this came in was closed, so I took a chance and scored a large sealed poster of the Grinch, along with one of his dog and another with his hand held out (maybe to hang something from it.

I was inspired to create this "wreath" out of one piece of an embroidery hoop and spray painted it white. After attaching the Grinch to the hoop, I added a sprig of pine tree to the top. Then I took three green glittery ornaments from my Christmas stash and wrote the words, "Stink, Stank, Stunk" with glossy 3D paint. I hung them from the hoop and now I have another new Christmas wreath (never mind, the craft fair brought a new owner to mybooth and they now have this fun wreath for their own home...

On the Third Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

I played around in Photoshop to create this cute puppy holiday wall decor. The dogs are a free digital image from the Graphics Fairy. I added their holiday caps from Eena's Creations from the Doll House. To frame the scene, I added green and silver trim to the edges and topped it all with a small Christmas wreath that used to a magnet.

The canvas is a wooden box, like those sold at the Dollar Store, but i bought this along with 11 others at a thrift store for $3.50. What a deal!!

On the Second Day of Christmas Crafting...

 

This piece caught my eye at a thrift store. When I go to garage sales and thrift stores, I see what things could be after altering. Do you? This was rusted and ugly and had no backing, but I saw it in my mind with new paint and a pretty winter scene hanging behind it.

Giving new life to this old card holder was fun. The copper acrylic paint looks good and I created a backing out of foam board to fit the circle. A ribbon and bow finishes it off and I'm ready to add cards to it. Um, does anyone still snail mail holiday cards out?... 

Thinking Ahead in the New Year

 

I was thinking...

...since my Christmas crafts aren't packed away for the year, and I plan on actively signing up for a craft fair or two, that I should continue creating crafts that I'd like to sell in the Fall. So saying, I've inventoried, packed and labeled the bulk of my holiday craft items from this year and last. I'm going to build up my inventory and have enough items to make a good profit. And if I don't sell it all, I will use it through the years. It's a win-win situation!

So my project today is still Christmas-themed. I pulled out another thrift store find, a holiday card holder in the shape of a wreath. I sanded the rusted metal until it (almost) shone, and have it a new shiny copper color. Next I used designer paper leftover from a project I made a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

I adhered the paper to a stiff backing and then glued it to my card holder. A small bow and a red ribbon finishes it off. An easy upcycle that I can safely wrap and put away for next year. Besides altering thrift finds, I have a list of craft ideas that will help decrease my stash of craft supplies by making things from scratch.

My blog will see all kinds of projects, as my card stash has practically disappeared, I have a new sewing machine with which to play, and plenty of things to alter. So please visit often. You never know what will show up here! LOL

24 Days of Christmas - Day 24 - Let It Snow Wall Decor

 

Merry Christmas Eve, crafters! If you're here, then congrats, you survived the 24 days of Christmas. Wishing you all a happy holiday filled with family, fun and food. And of course a safe and prosperous New Year...

My make today is a matching set of wall decor. The square wooden pieces were clearanced at some thrift store, and the snowmen were a part of a Christmas placemat. After painting the wood white, I adhered the material to them. The greetings are buttons I bought a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. There are sparkly snowflakes that came from a garland I never used. The placemat has another four panels that include another snowman, a tree and ornaments, which I will put away for next year's projects!

With today's project, I won't be back until after the New Year starts. Stay safe, be kind and live in the moment!!

24 Days of Christmas - Day 19 - Merry & Bright Wall Decor

 

Hi, crafters!! Less than a week away now--are you ready for Christmas? I have another Christmas decor project to show you today. I used a well-discounted 4th of July metal star decoration that I had bought at Hobby Lobby eons ago. By the time I got to the store, the discount was 90%!! I just can't pass up a good deal like that. I've used it for the last three summers, hanging it on my front porch.

Today I gave it new life by first painting the red, white and blue star with white acrylic paints. After it dried, I added the words Merry & Bright using a green and red Posca paint pens (these are so nice if you don't have a Cricut). I put a protective coat of gloss varnish on the star, adding an outline of gold adhesive-backed gems while the varnish was still wet. I just don't trust the sticky backing of gems, especially when the project will be outside in the elements.

I sprinkled some shiny clear glitter, using up the last of my Stampin' Up glitter I had bought before the turn of the century! I don't normally use glitter on projects because it gets everywhere, but Christmas often calls for the shimmer and shine...

I'm going to hang it under the front porch light so the light catches the glitter. So now 'm down one Independence Day decoration, but have a new Christmas one. I'd call that an even trade, wouldn't you?

P.S. (Okay, you caught me. When I painted and decorated my star, I didn't realize I had turned it so that the chain with which to hang it was not centered. But it doesn't look bad).

24 Days of Christmas - Day 12 - Christmas Card Catcher

Can you believe how fast the days are passing? I was able to craft another project today. Both inspiration and creativity smiled on me as I dug up a thrift store find from last year. It was a framed bulletin board with pockets. I thought it would make a nice holiday card catcher at the time, and I was right! LOL

I sanded the wooden frame before I pulled out my holiday designer papers. All my papers are either from past projects or torn out of the stacks I bought at thrift stores or on clearance. I was lucky that all the papers I used were from the same set (DCWV I think). I cut them to fit above each burlap pocket using spray adhesive.

I chose some lines of adhesive-backed gems to run across each top of the pockets. I like a simple craft, but my card catcher needed a little extra, so I added a few snowflakes around the frame. A Christmas bow and Santa button finishes off today's make. I added a few of my own handmade cards and I must say it looks great...
 

24 Days of Christmas - Day 2 - Stitched and Painted Canvas

 

Today I have another wall decor project. This one combines stitching and paint. I received a couple framed cross stitch canvases from a storefront called Help Heal Veterans. Any veteran can come in and browse shelves of craft kits and supplies once a week. I served in the US Army a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (well, it was a long time ago LOL). I was actually the first female mechanic in the 54th M.P. Company at Fort Ord, CA. Like I said, a long time ago...

Anyway, I picked up these free framed canvases and took them home just in time for my Christmas crat series here. I started with acrylic paint, setting the background for a forest of pines around a frozen lake. Once I had colored in the sky, trees and lake, I added a some snow on the trees, but it was very abstract.

Enter the needle and embroidery thread...I sewed the stars first, lighting up the night sky. My trees definitely needed some definition, so I went in with two different shades of green to give the trees some support. The sky needed a little more lightening, so I took a toothbrush and sprinkled on some distant stars, and my project is finished.

I just recently started to use both paint and thread on the cross stitch canvas material, and I like it! Have you tried it yet? Careful, it's addicting! LOL

 

24 Days of Christmas - Day 1 - Wall Decor

 Welcome to my blog! Today starts my series of DIY, artwork and crafts celebrating the winter holidays. I thought I'd start my offerings with an easy Dollar Store DIY. I had picked up a bag of wooden easter wall decor back in the summer. There were 13 of these in a bag for $6 and I found them at a thrift store. Thank you Dollar store for donating them to one of my fave thrift stores! I had created several summer and Halloween wall decor and had two left. Here's the first...

I found holiday napkins after Christmas last year. After stripping the Easter poster off the front, I painted it white all around, front and sides. I pulled one napkin apart so that I had the thin decorated print (I used the plain white backing for lunch). I used homemade mod podge to adhere the scene to the front, applying a second coat on top of the napkin. Using thin paper and mod podge often leaves tiny crinkles that are really difficult to smooth out.

The effect was nice, almost vintage-looking. After it dried, I added a couple sparkly snowflake foam stickers. I also attached some glitter-covered die-cut letters to spell out the word JOY. And my first project of the season is complete and hanging in my living room!

I hope you come back throughout December to see what I'm creating, hoping you get inspiration. 'tis the season to DIY!!

31 Days of All Hallows Eve - Day 26 - Golden Skull Wall Art

 

My make today features the golden skull. Why did I italicize those words? I don't know, it sounds like an Indiana Jones movie title. Anyhow, the skull came off a Dollar Store skeleton. Since he was dead already, I cut his head off his body and took off the back half of his skull. Then I painted it gold.

The "canvas" is one of the few boxes I got from the Dollar Store via the thrift store. I peeled the Easter Bunny decoration off the box and used Mod Podge to adhere part of a Halloween napkin onto it to create the background. 

As I was painting the sides of the box, the gold paint over-ran onto the front, so I made sure the gold made a sort of border. After my skull was dry, I used hot glue to adhere it onto my canvas. I pulled out a piece of laced burlap and some twine. I added some Fall leaves and a sunflower and my project is finished.

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Try It on Tuesdays - Halloween

Unicorn Challenges - Halloween

31 Days of Halloween - Day 6 - From Easter to Halloween decor

 

I love October! The scent of the air has a warm and comforting smell. The leaves are falling, making the sidewalks look like colorful carpets. And my favorite holiday for crafting is closer than ever! So, in anticipation of Halloween, I altered another wooden sign from the Dollar Store. 

I altered several of these boxes, which were purchased months ago at a thrift store, a bag of thirteen pieces for $10. Half of them went into summer decor, which you can fins=d on my blog HERE. Today I was a wicked crafter and above is the result of my maniacal imagination.

After removing the Easter decoration, I painted the front white with acrylic paint. I then adhered a Halloween napkin with homemade Mod Podge, after pulling off the extra layer of napkin so that it wouldn't form bubbles.

After it dried, I dabbed at the border of my wooden canvas to highlight the actual scene. Adding a plastic spider as well as some lace seemed fitting for this project. Now I have a cool Halloween canvas to celebrate the season! And all it took me was time to let the paint and the Mod Podged-scene to dry.

That's Nine Altogether - Thrift/Dollar Store Upcycle #7

 

One of my all-time favorite Halloween movies is Hocus Pocus. Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as three witches released from a curse and looking to drink the life essence of young children, this Disney classic has plenty of humor and comic moves to give it a PG rating. It was good enough to get a sequel, new in 2022.

Above, Bette Midler tries to impress upon her sisters how necessary it is to suck the lives out of children so that they don't "cease to exist". I gave new life to this free clipart by coloring her hair and skin, as well as some black trim and Halloween stickers. 

Below I used up my 3D bird stickers to create another canvas. This one reads, "Take time to laugh, for it is the music of the soul".

Wall Decor Gone Wild

 My stack of thrift store upcycled wall decor is getting higher with every passing day. Featured above is my newest canvas, one my mom would have appreciated. She was a Star Trek fan of every movie, TV series and offshoots. She went to conventions and cruises where she got to meet, dine with and get autographs with all numerous celebrities from each venue.

I found a clipart of Mr. Spock from the original TV series and colored it. I added the ST insignia onto his shirt. I love his quote, "Are you a Vulcan or a Vulcan't! 

I've got to say that the time invested in scraping and sanding the Dollar Store wooden wall decor is well worth the effort. I plan on selling these at the next craft fair on my calendar... 

Here's another canvas below. I used one of my Zen Doodles to create it. I added a few paper flowers and adhesive pearls for dimension.

Can't Have Too Many Shoes - Dollar Store DIY/Upcycle #5

 

I found a huge dresser drawer filled with stickers! These beauties are felt stickers, and I used a strip of designer paper from a previous project for the quote. The paper is one I've had for years and I thought it went perfectly with the shoe theme. After all, shoes are as much about style as clothing.

I remember wearing heels like these when I was younger. I had a lovely pair of "platform" heels that were lined in black velvet. They had clear plastic straps over the toes, with a black silk flower on each. The straps around my ankles were black satin. I called them my hooker shoes! LOL

Comment if you remember wearing platforms, hot pants, bell bottoms (now called flares) and jackets with fringe (purses, too). What a blast from the past!

Faith - Dollar Store DIY/Upcycle #4

 

Today I upcycled another Dollar Store wooden sign. This time I used a stamp from Crafters' Companion for the sentiment. The cardinal is a 3D stamp (isn't he beautiful?). The paper is once again a grab from my paper stacks. I swear, unless I need a specific paper, I won't have to buy another sheet until the year 2035. LOL

I admit it. I am a paperholic. If I say I'm on my way to a paper-crafting, intervention, I'm really on the way to buy more paper. And that has to stop! My sister and her hubby are coming in to stay with me in September, and that basement (where my craft supplies are located) must be cleaned out and organized before they take step one into my house.

I will say that a lot of paper came from clearance racks, thrift stores and 50% off sales, and I haven't bought a single piece since before COVID. But then I inherited my mom's stash of papers when she passed. I had bought a shelf (on clearance) from Michaels craft store to keep everything in one place, but I later discovered that I had only put the 12x12 papers in it. I recently found a couple drawers full of cardstock in all the colors of the rainbow, so the pressure's on. Of course, I could go back to making cards and scrapbooking, but I'm having so much fun painting and upcycling and creating wall decor and patio decor...and those projects often clean out more space that using paper and tape!!!

Beach - Dollar Store DIY/Upcycle #3

Since I bought a bag of 15 Dollar Store signs at a thrift store for $5, I decided to create a post each time I finish one. Today's project uses designer paper, stickers and buttons. All my upcycled boxes have a 3D element on them. I pulled everything from my leftovers stash. The letters spelling BEACH were part of a scrapbooking goodie from a crop weekend and the flip flops are buttons. 

My favorite type of vacation features a beach. Cozumel is one of my favorite destinations. Later this year, my sisters and I are going on a cruise in the Caribbean, and I plan on spending plenty of time on the beaches, soaking up the sun (properly covered with sunscreen), splashing in the waves and searching for shells.
 On the first anniversary of my hubby's passing, my daughter and I went to Cozumel and spread his ashes into the Caribbean Sea. It was sad and yet he loved it there. I don't think we'll go back any time soon.  The hotel we used to stay at changed owners and is not as well-maintained as it was previously. Add in the fact that we had always traveled with my girlfriend and her family, it was a lonely trip (she had passed away three months before my husband). But we'll always have the memories, all put together in a scrapbook.