Halloween Word Art - Subway/Wordle Style

Unless you've been sticking your head in the sand, or just not blurfing, you have seen all the wonderful Subway art roaming around the web. I LOVE the look of it. I had every intention of painting this 11x14 inch canvas. Which was just hanging out in my Studio - part of one of the many projects abandoned by my darling girls. Then I remembered about Wordle. And a light bulb went off in my head. I could get this project done quickly-ish if I could get Wordle to do the design work for me. As it turns out, I got it done A LOT quicker because I ended up using the Wordle layout - mostly. I changed the position of several of the words to fit what I thought was going to be the right format for the OPUS GLUEI sketch challenge this week. My plans went wonky and I ended up reallly off the mark. Sigh.

Well, there were quite a few more tangent thoughts followed before I got to this:

I used gel medium to adhere the Wordle art that I printed on regular paper. Then took pages from an old German book and ripped them to glue the border.

I wrapped the book pages around the canvas. I think it looks better this way.

I pulled out the Halloween bin and found the right images. I went through several different ones and several different arrangements before this was agreed upon. (Has to pass the darling girls' test.) I inked the edges of the canvas and the torn edges before pop-dotting the images on. And that was that.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for stopping by. Come by anytime. I'm always here.

Thinkin' 'Bout It Thursday

.

Lately I've been THINKIN' 'BOUT Halloween.

.

LOTS.

.

We have a Halloween Sleepover every year, so I have been considering different foods and decorations. Here are some of the ones that I am going to attempt:

.

How adorable are these little Mummy Pops from How Does She?

.

Totally DO-ABLE.

.

***

.

Great tower made from paper mache boxes.

(Pic from Flickr)

I love the vintage images used.

.

***

.

Charming mini shadow boxes made from conversation heart boxes.

(Pic from Flickr)

***


Lovin' this Halloween Subway art from Saw Dust and Paper Scraps.
(She also has a BUNCH of other projects that will WOW you. I picked these because I think I can handle them this year. I'm filing a couple of others away for a later date.)


And creepy candle sticks to compliment the wall art.




Now, make sure you are sitting down, because...

.
SHE HAS TUTORIALS FOR THESE.

.
They are amazing. She is amazing.
But don't take my word for it. Go check her out.
.

There is a Halloween Candelabra that will steal your heart.

It did mine.
.


*****
.

So there you have it. My Halloween project goals for 2010.
.
.

Wish me luck with these projects.
.

I have already started collecting materials for them.
Now for the EXECUTION. BWAHAHAHAHA

Whatcha Reading Wednesday - Sept 22

You'll recall that I had been participating in Whatcha Reading Wednesdays.

.

I haven't played along in a bit. "Sigh". But, I'm back.

.

This weeks prompt is to type in the firts two full sentences on page 50.

.

.

.

I am still trying to trudge through this book:

.
I LOVE Jamie and Claire, but for some reason this book isn't sucking me in like the others in the series.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good read, but it's just taking me a lot longer than normal.

.

.

.

Anyway, here are the first two full sentences on page 50:

.

.

Familiar wtih this phenomenon, he waited with mild impatience for her mind to let go of the turbine and focus on him.

.

"...gassing on...?" she said, frowning.

What's on your desk Wednesday - Wordless

.

It really should be Speechless Wednesday for this picture.

I mean, really, is my work desk EVER like this.

Uhhhh, NO!

.

Neither is my crafting desk, but that's for another Wednesday.

.

On a rare occasion in the not too distant past, I could see my desktop.

For a brief moment. Long enough to take a picture anyway.

.

Today, I cannot. Unless I look at this picture.

.

So, perhaps it should be Fantasy Wednesday.

.

Call it what you will, all of the things you see are still here. Just "enhanced" a bit. LOL.

.

(Good thing you can't see to the right, or behind me.)

Wouldn't it be great if Dogs came in all the same colors that Parrots do!

I really want to make these:

Picture and Recipe found HERE.

Along with a WHOLE BUNCH of other mouth watering pics and recipes.

So, what are you still doing here? GO check it out.

Ease(l) into Fall...

Ease(l) into Fall, that's the prompt over at OPUS GLUEI this week. Initially, I thought I would make an easel card. I've been enamored with them for a little while now, and this seemed like a really great time to just "DO IT", so to speak. But, as you all know, that's not how the creative mind works.

Sure, I had the mechanics all plotted out, and have the papers pulled. Along with a couple of stamps too. But then a light bulb went bright in my little brain, and it isn't a card.

I went literal with this one. And decorated a little canvas which sits upon a little easel. Not too original, but I think it turned out very cute. And I am the one that has to be pleased, so it's a WINNER.

No rhyme or reason to the assembly. I just opened up the left-over container. You know the one, the stash of little things that almost made it onto a project, but didn't, and you just can't bring yourself to throw away, cuz you just might need it someday things. Yeah, that one. Anyway, I started with a forest scene, in my head. And then started with a little watercolor on the canvas. Then a layer of workable fixative, because we all know how my plans take turns and twists. When I spotted the sandpiper (a Tyggereye Art stamp) in the left-over tin, I knew that the scene had changed to the beach. Magic how it happens. Then I found that lovely flower/swirly chipboard piece, and the words, and the little diamond that just screamed to be added. And the little bunch of fall colored flowers, perfect.

And then I looked to my right, and there is my little jar with multi-colored tiny seashells.
Yup, they needed to go into the mix too.




I just love how it fits in with the little birdhouse I made.
They make me smile. And isn't that what this is all about. Making ME happy.




Thanks for sharing this little journey with me.

Have a wonderful day. Come over to OPUS GLUEI and play with us.
You should see Rosemary's projects. G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S.

A giggle'll do ya good...

He's doing it again. A lego picture a day. Everyone can use a good giggle everyday, can't cha?

a LEGO a day by Dan

Simon always fell to pieces when he tried to talk to women.

.

.

.

.

I can't help it. I love these pictures.

.

.

Attack of the GREEN INCHIES

Another wonderful SWAP-BOT inchie swap.

This one was to make GREEN themed inchies.

Feelin' Blue - Make a Scene

Sunday Postcard Art - Feelin' Blue

Shelly's Images Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Make a Scene

After this many years, what's a couple of weeks...

August 28th marked 17 years of wedded bliss for Danny and I. Up until this year, we always celebrated on our Anniversary. This year, was a bit different. Creating Keepsakes held it's first annual Virginia Beach convention this year. We live in Virginia Beach. My girls (specifically Morgan) wanted to attend, so I asked my Dear Hubby if we could celebrate our anniversary either the weekend before or the weekend after. He agreed. He's flexible like that.

Well, we didn't celebrate the weekend before. And we didn't the weekend of the convention either. As a matter of fact, I almost let the day pass without remembering what day it was. Almost. We didn't even really see each other until later in the afternoon that day (around 4pm).

Things happened the following weekend. You know how that goes.... SO, we celebrated last Saturday, September 11th. We went out to dinner and then hit a couple of shops. Nothing too exciting, unless you factor in that we didn't have to tend to our girls.

When we got home, we were surprised with an anniversary cake. Baked and decorated by Megan.

Not the best hair day for me. Now and forever more recorded in family history. LOL

Happy Anniversary to us.

Thank you Megan for one of the most beautiful cakes I have ever seen.

Cookin' like I know what I'm doing....

Since I was a little girl, I loved cutting and glueing things. Scrapbooking is okay, but there is too much pressure involved. Get the perfect picture, write the perfect story, get the perfect papers and embellishments. BUT inchies are

WONDERFUL.

No pressure. Just F-U-N. And a lot of it for such a small little canvas.

I made these little babies for a SWAP-BOT swap.

(I know that you are thinking that I may have a bit of a problem. Don't worry. I can't quit whenever I want to. I just don't want to.)

You can't tell from the picture, but the Ladybug and the Peacock are much more vibrant in person. I used Spica markers to highlight and then covered the whole thing with Dimensional Glaze and let me tell you, those colors POP. The pond for the frog is two blue flowers whose petals were cut and re-arranged. The fluffy chick was hand drawn. It's a quarter step above stick-people-drawing. And you can't really tell that the shiney blob on the MAY inchie is actually a basket of flowers. I hope my partner likes these. As usual, I got a bit carried away and sent 5 more than what was required. But you know how it goes, you struggle at first thinking "What was I thinking? I don't know what to make." And then you get an idea, and while you are making that one, another idea strikes. Then another, and another. Next thing you know, you have 15 instead of 10.

I also channeled my Nana last week and made shredded beef tacos on Sunday. I updated her method a bit, and used the crock pot to cook the beef. She used to do it on the stove. But she didn't work outside the home, so could tend the pot during the day. I cooked the meat Saturday, so I really don't know why I just rambled on about that. Anyway, I love my crock pot. I don't use it as often as I should, but I DO love it when I do.

I'm pretty sure she would have frowned because the tacos were too dark.

But in my defense, I need more practice. LOTS more.

No one complained. They ate them all without too much conversation.

I take that as a BIG compliment.

YUM

Happy Halloween and Winter Wishes - edited due to some wise-gals!!!

OPUS GLUEI's challenge this week is to use *some of* the ALPHABET in your project. I've been making inchies a lot lately and actually thought I would make some with words on them, and then decided that I would make some cards instead.

I made a Halloween card with some things that are too big for inchies. It's a really simple card. But I love it. It's cute creepy. I like cute creepy. I am not really one to go for the scary movies. So this card is more MY speed.

I also decided that it was time to get cranking on the Christmas cards. Christmas cards for me is a mis-nomer. I am one of THOSE people who has all the good intentions of sending out Christmas cards. And then I lose them somewhere in the house, to be found after Christmas (best case is two days before.) So, they get sent out in January, if at all. SO, I am embracing my "quirk", and making Winter Cards. If by some freak accident (miracle) the cards get written out and mailed in December, I will write or Stamp MERRY CHRISTMAS inside the cards.

This one was made with stash. I have a Christmas stash from projects made in prior years. The bling center on the snowflakes is new. I got them at the CKC VB Convention.

I am extending a personal invitation to YOU to join us in the OPUS GLUEI challenge this week.

See you there.

Let ME eat cake...

.

My menu for the day. Just in case you were wondering.

.

If you haven't been to Manic Expressive, you are missing out.

.

Lots of wonderful illustrations. Eye candy galore.

Summer Inchies

My obsession with inchies is nowhere near being over.

So, you'll just have to look at them, cuz I'm going to keep posting them.

.

.

I have signed on with SEVERAL SWAP-BOT inchie swaps.

The first ones I did, I only made the inchies I sent off.

.

What a mistake.

.

I made the coolest NUMBER inchies and mailed them off without remembering to take a picture.

.

DOH!

.

Well, I have developed a fool proof method for not letting that happen again.

I am making an extra set for me.

.

Genius, isn't it. LOL

.

.

NOT only do I not feel mailers remorse for letting them go,

BUT, I can go back a take pictures whenever I want to,

AND I am approaching my goal that much faster.

.

Heck, I might have to make 2 canvases....

.

.

.

.

ANYWAY, here are the inchies I made for the SUMMER INCHIE SWAP on SWAP-BOT.

.

You know the ones for ELECTRA.

(I apologize if I have ruined the surprise for you. I hope you would have gotten them by now.)

.

Unfortunately, it wasn't until after I made this set that I decided to make a set for me.

Oh well, I can duplicate them. I mean, after all, I have a picture of them.

.

.This is being entered into 1 challenge.

Shelly's Images: Anything but a card

SWAP-BOT Winter Inchies

I have been super busy this last week. But not too busy that I didn't
play. I can't believe that Wednesday is here. (Never mind that it's September
already.)

I sent these little babies out this week. Along with a set of Summer
inchies. But I'm not posting them until they get to Canada.
Can you believe that I got to send mine to Electra? ??? How frickin'
cool it that? And since she swings by here every now and again, I don't
want to spoil her surprise. And it will be a surprise. Cuz I was late
getting them out. Sorry. But I did include a little sumin-sumin extra
for you. A shameless attempt to beg your forgiveness for being late in
getting those little summer beauties to you. You'll have to let me know
if it works.

Wordless Wednesday - The Force is with me today

Yes, you can say you know me...

....I've made it big!

I was published in Shelly's Images September Newsletter.

My little shrine to Zeke is the featured project in "Adventures in Blog Hopping".

You can see more of the Zeke Shrine on the original post - HERE.

Shelly's Images has some adorable digital images, great tutorials and fun to be found there.

.

.

Thank you Shelly. I am honored that you like my Zeke shrine so much.