I'm Gonna Be a Great Grandma!

 

When my son married, it came with four stepchildren. The oldest was 10 years younger than my son. That grandchild, Antonio, and his wife are having a baby! Of course, I made a card for the Shower. I tried something new that's popping up on Pinterest, a 3D card that folds out, down, up and back.

They're having a girl, so I incorporated some pink into my pastel-colored card. See that tiny white BEAR at the top of the card? I inserted a message to the happy couple that can be pulled out. Their daughter is expected to make any appearance around the end of May. I'm so excited!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

2 Sisters on the Blog - Pastel color scheme

Summer is Just Ahead

 With the weather trying to be warmer in the States, my trailer in the woods is calling me to open up and get ready for Summer. The official opening of the Park is Memorial Day, and I've been working on sellable art for the craft fair they sponsor.

Last year, residents liked my signs, both funny and inspirational. I created this one using a digital image from Scribbles Designs called Campfire. My sign is a piece of wood, about 6"x15". I used acrylic paint to color the background, hand-drew the stick loaded with marshmallows, and the S'More is a photo out of Food Network magazine!

I just need to seal my sign and after it dries, add it to my pile of artwork I'm bringing to the sale. So what do you think I should try to sell it for?? 

Challenges I am Entering:
WeLove2Create- Anything Goes
Gem of a Craft - Anything Goes

Taylormade - the Great Outdoors

Color My Heart - Color challenge

Tangling with Zen, and Ike's Art

  I recently got bit by a bug -- a Doodling bug. I've devoted several pages of my art journal to doodling Zentangles. At first, I drew squares or circles and doodled within their limited borders. Then I tried to incorporate my doodles into a scene of some kind.

But my most recent Zentangle uses a digital image from Ike's Art. I love Ike's images; in fact, most of my mixed media pieces have used images from the Shop. My Zentangle today uses Flamenco Dancer. It's one of my favorites. Instead of coloring the image with Copics, I doodled her dress. I added shading with2 different blue colored pencils. I love how she turned out and wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think...

 I'm going to link her up to Ike's Art  World Challenge blog. Other challenges I have entered:

ART*JOURNAL*JOURNEY - favorite movie/song "Shall We Dance" with Richard Gere

Wired Up in Jewelry

Since discovering my treasure box of sea shells, I thought I'd try my hand at some wired jewelry. The first few were pretty rough, but as I practiced I think I got better. They are no magnificent works of art, but I sold a couple, and gave a few to friends and family, letting them choose which ones they wanted. I still have a few left, and plenty (too much) wire and supplies left over. I added2 small charms to the first one shown.

With the next one, I added small  pearls to my wire as I wrapped the shell. Those pearls were so slippery, I felt like Whoopi Goldberg in the movie Sister Act as she tried to string beads to make a rosary.

I found a few of these skinny shells that I wrapped, adding a small bead to its end. Because of its shape, it was much easier to wrap.

This last one sold before I could say Boo. I sold my necklaces for $10 each. I made others using sea glass and polished stones and crystals. It was relaxing to wire them, and I was happy to have tried something new...

During the pandemic and on (and on and on) have you tried something new? Started a new hobby? What did you do with whatever extra time you hade? I'd love to see where inspiration took you!

 

Making Spring Wall Decor

 

As I clean out and organize my craft supplies, I am discovering not only items to upcycle and alter, but inspiration as well. Today, I sanded and painted a metal starburst ornament. After painting on a layer of gesso, I decided it would look great with a rainbow design. The center was empty when I bought it at a thrift store ($3), and thought a positive affirmation would look  great.

I cut out three circles from foam board (Dollar Store $1). The one above is covered in patterned paper from my scrapbooking pile. I found large letter stickers in my stash, painting and "glitterizing" each. I adhered twine to the edge of my center, but after I added it to the starburst, it still needed something to frame it, so I grabbed (hopefully) the last of my clear glass bubbles, also from Dollar store. I finished off my wall ornament by adding a couple butterflies and a flower.

Remember that I cut out three circles for the center? I chose the words PEACE and PRIDE so that I could change out my artwork when I felt like it. They kind of look like patches, but these circles are about 6.5" each.

Have you caught the thrift store bug? Besides items to alter, I buy clothes, cookware, and loads of other things (take a look at my basement and you'll see how MUCH I love to thrift). What do you look for or find that makes its way home with you?

Sally Sells Seashells by the Sea Shore

Hello, crafters, my Muse has finally returned from vacation, and I have helped it along by organizing my craft supplies. I found some fantastic sea shells and other seaside materials, and created two new shadow boxes.  The shadow box above got its lowly start as a wooden container holding Doug & Melissa construction trucks. My girlfriend's grandson loves all kinds of vehicles, and she knows I like to give new life to boxes, especially wooden ones.

I painted the inside of each section of my box before attaching each item into the cubbies. I then covered the outside of the box with handmade paper using spray adhesive. For the final touch, I used some shell necklaces from my mom's travels to Hawaii around the front of the frame.

My second project uses a basic square box divided into four sections. After painting the box, I attached an item  in each section. I adorned the box simply with "fish netting" that used to be a shawl of mine (ah, the sacrifices we make for our art). A tiny sea  shell adorn the center of my artwork.

I have more sea shells, sea glass, coral and other sea items that you may see in the weeks ahead. I've also tried my hand at some wire-wrapped jewelry using sea shells and glass. That will be my next post, I think. I'm just happy to be back on Blogger and creating art!! 

Happy crafting, y'all!

The Art of Recovery - for The Path of Positivity Family Challenge

 

I was asked by 901 Studio, in partnership  with Hines VA Hospital Veterans' Creative Art Therapy Department, to create a canvas about Recovery. I was inspired at first to create a mixed media canvas about my ongoing recovery as a caregiver and surviving spouse of a 100% disabled veteran who passed away from ALS, but before I started on the project, my mother passed away suddenly from a heart attack.

Reeling from this unexpected, piercing grief, as well as the arduous path of recovery from the loss of my husband, I came up with this canvas.  I painted the background of my canvas with acrylic paints before adhering my Copic-colored image. I used an image from Ike's Art called Never. 

My idea was to liken grief and recovery to letting your hair grow out. You have to really zoom in to read the words on her hair. Starting from the bottom, the darkest hair, are what I felt when grief set in. Over time, or as the hair grows out, the color is lighter and there is a feeling of hope allow with the pain. The newest hair growing in describes my ongoing recovery, with a more positive description of feelings.

The text I added described the inspiration behind my canvas. All I did to finish the canvas was add a small symbol of hope, life, new beginnings - a butterfly.

I've entered my canvas as a DT project in the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. It is a celebration of family members who have recently went ahead of me. Be sure to check out the Challenge Blog and enter your art!! Scribbles Designs will provide a random prize.