My Easter Basket Goodies

I mailed Phd Boy all the Easter chocolate in his Easter "Boxsket". My basket actually got filled on Saturday when I got to go to one of my favorite places, Shipwreck Beads. It is a HUGE warehouse filled with anything and everything a beader or jewelry maker could want. 

Not that I needed anything but that's beside the point right? I mean they were having a sale and since the warehouse is 90 minutes away from home and I don't get there frequently and ...... you get the point. They have a great website and their sale goes through tonight I think. Just sayin' :) 

I picked up some Kiwi Sesame Jasper and Amazonite, miscellaneous findings and connectors, Vintage French and Venetian seed beeds, and some Lucite Petal Flowers. Not sure what I'm' making with any of it yet but not the point right? 

Happy Easter

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve all! Hope it's been a good week for everyone. Easter weekend is upon us so here are some last minute ideas to try or Pin for next year! 

This Spring vignette from An Extraordinary Day can stay up well after Easter. I love all the pussy willows and that big moss egg along w/ the golden eggs and birds. Wondering if that little bunny is chocolate? 

The only thing better than Pottery Barn is a great PB knockoff like this glittered bunny from Pugs and Paisley. Fess up. Who (else) walks through PB saying "I can make that". 

Speaking of Pottery Barn, this stunning floral table runner from Bird's Party looks like it could have come out of their catalog doesn't it? So pretty and and would be perfect for a Mother's Day or bridal shower table. 

If you need an addition to your dessert table, these Chocolate Cake Bites Wrapped in Coconut from Make Easy Cakes is just the thing. For me, chocolate and coconut is an irresistible combination! 

Now on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Happy Monday! Be Fierce: Lettering and Graphics Practice

Happy Monday ( I'm trying to convince myself of that). Hope everyone had a great weekend and is off to a good new week. 

Sharing some more lettering practice combined with digital graphics. 

I started with this quote I lettered last week. I go back and forth between coloring my lettering pieces and leaving them black and white so I can play with them once they're scanned in. 

If you are  not familiar with the site The Hungry JPEG, you should be! They have premium design resources ( combination of free and fee). I grabbed a Floral Megabundle one week when it was free ( it's fee now) which is what I used for this graphic. You definitely want to get on their email list or follow them so you'll know when they offer free bundles! 

Using PicMonkey, I changed the background and added a couple of digital elements from the Floral Bundle and done. 

I haven't yet decided what I'm using this graphic for ... most likely it will appear on a future card but one more for my "stash". 

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday eve all! Hope it's been a wonderful week for everyone. Busy busy busy here. 

Let's see a few of the incredible ideas from last week! 

Sara, from Find It Fix It or Build It shared what this amazing side table makeover. I love everything about it from the colors to the stencil and the chicken wire! Chic and rustic. 

Speaking of chic and rustic, how about these made over pots from The Navage Patch? Gorgeous.

Farmhouse looks are so popular right now and this wine nook from Simply September is fantastic. 

And this week's chocolate feature? WOW check this out from Lou Lou Girls: 

Now let's see what you've all been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Lettering Practice: Work Humor

What happens when stress relief meets skill building combined with a naturally snarky personality? You letter snarky things to relax yourself at night after you've had crazy work days. 

I found this quote online and it perfectly sums up how I felt the other night after a few weeks of "fun" at work. 

For this one I did a combination of Faux-lligraphy and printing, and then scanned into my computer, edited, and added a digital background.

So now I think I need to print this, frame it and hang it above my desk! ( I work from home so it's me and the dog who'll see it).

From Cigar Box to Calligraphy Supply Box

This week's BFF Open House Link Party continues here

I've always aspired to learn calligraphy so it's no surprise that with my current obsession with lettering, that desire is renewed. Real calligraphy with real nibbed pens!

As I've started collecting supplies, I needed someplace to store them and keep them together.  My camera battery was charging while I worked on this so I don't have step by step pictures but steps are pretty basic.

Mr. Chocolate is responsible for my stash of cigar boxes. I actually had to tell him to stop bringing them home because I have so many.

Supplies and Steps:

• Wooden cigar box
• Acrylic paints
• White glue
• Scrapbook paper 
• Embellishments

1. Paint cigar box with base color ( I used black and needed two coats to get decent coverage). 
2. Once dry, cover with a coat of white glue ( cheap white glue...my go to for a crackle finish). Pinterst Tutorials here
3. When glue is tacky but not dry, cover with contrast coat ( I used turquoise)
4. Let dry or if you're impatient like  me you can speed things up with a hair dryer. Note don't use hot setting or use a heat gun. Things will bubble! 
5. Embellish away! I used scrapbook paper and misc. things from my stash. 

Leftover metal corners, a circle frame and metal button

A floral button glued to the center of a line drawn flower.

Scrapbook paper trimmed with glitter tape on the inside lid and lined the inside of the box with black faux suede paper.

Now I just need to go practice my calligraphy!