Thursday, February 11, 2021

BFF Open House


Happy Friday Eve all! Hope those of you who have been dealing with frigid to sub-zero weather are keeping warm. Valentine's weekend is here and 2021 is moving quickly. Hard to believe it's been a year that we've been dealing with COVID isn't it? But Creatives that we are, we've been able to fill that time haven't we? Let's take a look at some of the ideas from last week's party! 




The Little Yellow Corner Store shared this Warm and Cozy Valentine's Tablescape that truly lives up to its name! 



Howling Liz is showing some love for our feathered friends with this pretty and practical Birdseed Heart. We have tons of quail around us who aren't exactly airborne but I love to watch them as they have their morning and evening conclaves. 



 Another beautiful tablescape, this time with Chocolate Truffles and Peonies, was shared by My Thrift Store Addiction. I love pulling together different pieces we have on hand and using them in creative ways. 



Finally, Valentine's Day doesn't have to only be about chocolate ( Gasp! Can you believe I just said that?... Me?!) I am intrigued by this Garlic Lovers Jelly from Homemade on a Weeknight. I started using a Honey and Fig jam I picked up on burgers, grilled cheese, etc. and it was a game changer. I think this Garlic Lover's Jelly is one as well! 

 
Thanks to all who linked up and let's see what you've all been up to this week! 








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Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Valentine's Day: MacKenzie Childs Inspired Folk Art Heart

 


I've spoken before of my love of MacKenzie Childs but my "not love" of MacKenzie Childs prices. So buy some, make some! 

Supplies
  • 8x8 Canvas Boards ( Blick Art)
  • 8x8 Shadowbox Frame (Michaels)
  • Acrylic Paints (Craftsmart, Apple Barrel)
  • Paint Marker (Craftsmart)





I had these 8x8 Canvas Panels in my supplies along with a shadow box frame from a 2 pack from another project. Like most of my projects, the idea just popped into my head. 


I painted the canvas with a coat of white paint, then taped off stripes to start my  signature MacKenzie Childs checkerboard background. Using a brayer helps make sure your tape is laid down well. 

I wanted to keep the space for the heart clear so I hand cut a heart ( here's the folk art part...it's not perfect which is the whole ethos of folk art) from contact paper ( Dollar Tree is your friend) and put this down before I taped off my stripes but you can't see it clearly here. You can below.

You can see the edges of the contact paper heart here. 


Had to recharge my camera battery so missed pics of a couple of steps. I taped off the panel horizontally and here's where I goofed, but we'll fix it later. I outlined the heart with the black paint marker, painted it pink then went over with some white paint. I wanted it to be "splotchy" and again, not perfect.  See? Even laying down the tape with the brayer, my paint bled (UGH!) but no matter, again...we're not going for perfect. I edged each of the stipes with gold paint, added gold dots aroudn the heart,  and here's where I fixed my checkerboard.


Using a straight edged brush, I filled in the "missing" white squares with a couple of coats of white paint. Since MacKenzie childs goodies are all hand painted, I hand painted! 

Popped my finished canvas into the shadowbox frame and done and done!


Other MC inspired projects: 




Sharing at: 

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Black History Month: Honoring My History Vinyl on Glass

 


Everything I am, I owe to my ancestors. The courage it took to endure, survive, risk, and dream. So to honor and incorporate them into my art and my office, I made this piece and I'm so happy with how it turned out! 

Supplies:
  • Frame. I used an old one I had on hand
  • Image. I found one that looked enough like me at Designbundles.net
  • Vinyl.  I used Oracal glossy black
  • Faux Leather. I used Cricut Silver
  • Rhinestones
  • Electronic Cutting Machine

I still have empty frames from our move a few years ago so I picked one of those to use. 



This one came with a beveled mat which I'll use for something else. I set it aside and cleaned the frame. To ensure it was secure without the additional thickness of the mat, I glued the edges in place. 



As I mentioned, I found this image at Designbundles.net that I thought looked enough like me. When I showed the finished project to my husband he said "How'd you get your image?!" so I guess I chose wisely. I shared this with a friend and she said the same!


The Designbundles file shows the glasses and lips in red but since this was going on my cement focal wall and my actual glasses are grey, I went with silver faux leather and left the vinyl image all one color. My glasses are square but close enough! I uploaded the image into Cricut Design Space, sized, and cut. I  created the text in Design Space and cut. 


Apply the vinyl to the glass with transfer tape. Here I was a little careless and got some bubbles. While normally the perfectionist in my would have removed the vinyl and started over, since my hair is super curly I decided "texture" and popped some of the more noticeable ones with a pin, used my scraper to get the air out, and went with it. Since the faux leather isn't adhesive, I tacked down on top of the vinyl image with small dots of superglue. 


Both for the remaining bubbles and because I'm overdue coloring my roots, I added these variegated grey rhinestones randomly. Finally I applied the words. 


I left the frame as it was which is a light antique gold with "scratches" of black in it. 


My favorite kind of project since I had everything on hand! 


The faces of me

Black History is American History

Sharing At: 







Thursday, February 4, 2021

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve! Ten days until Love Day and you all are definitely getting ready so I'm adding a couple of extra features this week! The reason I call it "Love Day" is because Valentine's always suggests couples to me and I think it's important to celebrate those we love, whether they're a partner, spouse, kiddos, parents, friends, and / or especially oneself! It's been a rough year so showing love is so important! OK let's see what you've been up to!




Anita, from Unique Creations by Anita continues to nail it with her Steampunk creations, this time a Steampunk Heart! 

Niky from The House on Silverado is back with a fabulous Burlap Ribbon Wreath! 


Priyam from Simple Joys shared this lovely Origami Heart Treat Holders. These could also be everything from bowl fillers to a wreath or banner or just as they are!


Kristie from Love My Little Cottage shared this incredible Abstract Heart Painting. I love the colors and how she blended everything. 



Wheatless Foodie shared these pretty Gluten Free Brownies With Buttercream Icing that whether you're gluten free or not look amazing! 


Finally, The Kitchen Is My Playground shared these Chocolate Valentine Kiss Cookies that are just the perfect bite size morsels of love! 

Thanks as always to EVERYONE who linked up! Now let's see what everyone's been up to this week!









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Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Valentine's Day: Pink, Grey, Cream Valentine's Cards

 


Less than two weeks until Galentine's and Valentine's Day! When you love making cards, it's easy to make them for those you love. 

I tend towards non-traditional colors because I'm contrary like that. This year, I went with a color palette of Black and White, Cream and Grey and Pink. I backed into my palette when I found some great stickers at Dollar Tree last month. 

With these COVID variants, we're going out even less than before which wasn't that much to start and it will be another cozy home celebration for us. 

Supplies: 
  • Cardstock (Recollections 110lb Michaels)
  • Scrapbook Paper (American Crafts and Pink Paislee)
  • Focal Sticker (Dollar Tree)
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Adhesive 


I found this sheet of wood stickers at Dollar Tree. I love the natural hearts and although I'm not much of a pink person, I really wanted to use those too because I knew I had the perfect papers in my stash! 


I did some on cream cardstock with coordinating grey and cream papers. I had scraps from cutting the cards to size (5x7) so I ran them through a damask embossing folder that matched the pattern of the paper. Makers hate waste!. I kept these simple because the papers were so pretty so just adhered the natural heart to a white scrap, matted with a grey scrap and done! 


I'm physically unable to avoid black and white. It's true! My doctor confirms. OK no, but...it's my thing. So for this one, I used a striped silver on silver paper, American Crafts XOXO paper, the pink hearts and done!


For the pink cards, white cardstock, coordinating papers by Pink Paislee, more natural hearts and done! 



Those of you who know you're getting one will just have to see which one you get! 😛







Thursday, January 28, 2021

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve all! Hope that everyone has had an uneventful week! Uneventful has become my favorite word. We had a little surprise snow here in the desert! I live in the foothills of the "Valley of the Sun" so it was a but of a shock! 

January is not going by slowly is it? How are we at the end already with February on our heels which means lots of Valentine's and Galentine's Day fun! Let's take a look at some of the ideas shared at last week's party. 

My latest projects are here and here : DIY Leather and Silver Earrings and How to Make a Card Without Fancy Tools


If you have a collection of family memories like Vintage Valentines, The House on Silverado has a great way to make a current piece of Valentine decor using them! 


How pretty is this Ombre Felt Fringed Heart from Creatively Beth! You can adapt to whatever your Valentine's color palette is. 



Masterpieces of My Life shared Six Decor Ideas for Valentine's Day including these beautiful Romantic French Labeled Bottles!


Finally, Two Chicks and A Mom has Valentine's Sugar Cookies that would be perfect to make for that someone special! 

As always, thanks to EVERYONE who linked up and let's see what you've all been up to this week! 

















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