Winter 2017

Well winter's arrived.  We've had some snow events, cold temps and lots of wind.  Been pretty much staying close to home trying to fight the blahs.  I'm very excited though cause a Planet Fitness is opening nearby.  There's been a large, empty storefront in Wareham and I've been saying for the past 5 years that it'd be awesome if Planet Fitness would take it over, and they are!  Whoo hoo!  I joined...it was only $1 to join and it's only $10 a month.

Been cooped up in the house for too long.  It's been too icky to take any more walks.  It seems like all the seasons have moved forward by a month.  January isn't bad, but winter now starts in Feb.  I know puppy would like to get back out to his walks.

We had a snowstorm last Thursday and the power was flickering a lot and the internet kept going out too, so I took the opportunity to stitch and stuff the swirl latch hook into a pillow.  I did the peace sign the next day.

Another batch of peanut butter fudge.  I'd promised my daughter in law, her mom and grandmom that I'd make them some.  

Nice sunset the night of the Superbowl.  That was quite the comeback in overtime.  Pretty amazing stuff.

After the snow storm last week.  Gnomey wasn't very happy.

And then there was my problem child, the advent calendar.  All attempts at doors failed.  So I had to "Plan B it" and just make it a hanging altered art piece.  I edged it with twisted pipe cleaners and added the coloured brads to the six points that stick up in the top and bottom.

Added a sled and snow to the top.

Red & green sparkly ric rac down the sides and which make the hanger.

And sparkly red felt on the back.

So the day of the snowstorm I had to do colonoscopy prep.  This was my first one and I was pretty terrified, mostly of the prep.  And my prep fears were pretty accurate.  It was one of the most miserable days ever.  I was so glad that Marsha told me to use a straw.  Everything I heard about the prep drink was right.  It was horrendous.  Next to impossible for me to choke down.  And then running to the bathroom all afternoon and night.  Not being able to eat meant headache.  I was worried about getting to the hospital by 7:15AM given the weather conditions.  But my hero and rock husband got me there in plenty of time.  I was exhausted from about 3 or 4 hours sleep, hungry, cranky and scared.  

I was so glad when they finally got me into the procedure room.  The anesthesia was easily my fave part.  Once she started to administer it I could feel the warm fuzzies setting in.  The last thing I remember is saying, 'oh yeaaaaaahhhhhhh' and the nurse saying, 'starting to feel it?'  It really was like waking up a few minutes later when in reality it was 25 minutes.  They gave me a blueberry muffin and some gingerale, then discharged me to home.  The rest of the day I was extremely loopy but I don't have to have one for 10 more years so YAY.  If they don't come up with a better prep drink then I won't do it at all ever again.

Got these sand treasure things last year.  Russell didn't want me to do them...he kind of wanted to keep them pristine, which surprised me.  So I only did one last year and I felt like doing another one a few days ago so I did.

You just put it in some warm water and use the flat wooden thing to scrape the sand off.  It's like clay so this should not be thrown down the sink unless you want a brick of clay to clog the pipes.  I took mine outside and dumped it in the snow.

This one contained a real tektite meteor rock (top left) and some lovely polished stones.  I wasn't sure if the tektite was real cause it looks and feels like plastic, but I performed a "hot paper clip test" on it and the surface didn't melt so I guess it's real.

I was watching LOCI the other day, enjoying a rare Bobby Goren episode, when Sagan got up and stood right in front of me as if to say, 'Ai more innewesting dan Bobby Gowen'.  Actually it was almost 4:00 pm and he wanted his dinner.  

I hope you all had a nice Valentines Day.  We're observing it this weekend with dinner out at Mezza Luna.  Although knowing us it'll be more like take out from Mezza Luna!  

Gnome Garden

When last we left my gnome garden, the basics had been assembled but really needed more stuff. I took a break from it so that I could have a proper look through of my supplies and think about what I wanted to do with this.

First I found 3 white bottle brush trees I had in my stash and dyed them dark green with alcohol ink.I glued those behind the rock wall (which I'd built stone by stone).  I also used a little basket into which I glued some fruit-shaped beads I found in my bead boxes.  That's a marble gazing ball, on top of a push pin.

A few years back one of my friends sent me some small clay pots.  I was able to easily carve out an opening in one of them to make a chiminea.  It's hard to see, but I also used a lamppost behind the cabin.  It doesn't light up though.  Just one from my stash.

Better shot of the fruit basket.

But it still wasn't done.  Just a few more final touches.

I added a pile of wood next to the pine cone tree, and I made wind chimes from bugle beads and put that in the back right corner.

I also found a little beagle that I'd gotten in a gumball machine so I added him too.

Then I hung white, green and purple grape beads from the ivy.

Now it's done.

Craft Month Projects, Cont.

Continuing on with this self imposed project extravaganza, I was able to finish up my cross stitch on March 7 & 8.  Already framed and hung. 

Val had heart shaped boxes filled with black & white M&M's as wedding favours and I snagged two from our table that night.  I made a St. Pat's Day altered art box on March 9.  Green & gold glitter inside with Irish castle pic.  It's stacked on foam tape to make it more 3D.

Glued the cover on, added the shamrocks and rhinestones.

And some ribbon on the side.

March 10 wasn't very productive except for setting up some projects, which I guess counts since it was craft prep.

March 11 I did another box but Valentines themed.  Used red and irridescent white glitter inside with the 3D saying.

Added the pearl strand around the lid.

And some ribbon and lace on the side.

Cupcakes from scratch count as a craft so here is March 12th's submission.  I cheated with the icing and used store bought.

March 13 was spring forward day and I got about 3 hours of sleep so I was somewhat of a zombie.  I did manage to paint a couple birdhouses and finish this one.

I am seriously running out of projects to fill this month which I never thought I'd see happen.  Wish me luck!

Artist Trading Cards....That I Don't Want to Trade!

As my regular readers, friends and family know, I'm kind of addicted to altered art.  I've wanted to make some more Artist Trading Cards, even though that fad kind of faded about 5 years ago, and I don't know anyone with whom to trade.  Still, I'd purchased a bunch of blank card packages back when I still lived in Washington (which was 5 years ago, now).  I was kind of afraid to try them because I didn't want to screw it up.  However, the only criteria is the card size.  What you put on it is pretty much 'anything goes'.  

In my neverending attempt to use up so much of the craft supplies I've been hoarding, I decided I would knock out a few and see how they came out.  These things are like potato chips...you can't make just one.  I did seven in one sitting.  The next day I did 11.  And I like how they came out so much that I don't want to part with them at all.  Not even a little bit.  

Some of the cards I had on hand were already made from coloured chip board or matte-type paper.

And some of the cards were textured white card stock so I painted those with sparkly and regular water colour paints.  

A few years ago I tried that shaving cream and paint marbled paper.  I used my circle punches to save the best parts of the pictures.  They kind of look like planets and moons.

Another painted card.  I need to grab a real rhinestone and cover the one in the pic.  It looks so real but it's not so I will use a real one.

This poor paper redwood tree was getting very destroyed in my paper supplies.  I was hanging onto it for something special.  It was very fragile and I had to glue all the branches back on.  Then I mounted it on a piece of real wood paper.

Using metal flowers on this BINGO card was a no-brainer.

I really love these shiny/sparkly watercolour paints.  I have to use them more often.  I didn't paint the wings; I bought them that way.  This reminded me of the flying keys in 'Sorcerer's Stone'.

Another card painted with the shiny watercolour paint.  I'm just nuts about celestial stuff.

I covered a blank card with that shell paper and added the glitter to the picture.  Hard to tell but the mermaid is mounted with foam tape so it sticks out a bit from the card.  I did that 3D effect on a few of them.

Another no-brainer.  When I saw I had a bronze coloured card in one of the packs I bought, I used the blue shiny stars and a silver eagle to make a Ravenclaw card.  There is no way in hell I'm parting with this one.  I don't care if someone offers me money for it...this is my fave of all of them.

This idea is what kicked off this whole ATC project.  I'd already put the peace sign patch inside a watch face I had that still has it's glass.  'Time for Peace' came to my mind and then I thought how cool it'd be if I painted one of the cards rainbow and added it.  Since I had all the ATC stuff out to make this one card, I decided to do the others.  

Added the bow and the 'Queen for a Day' charm.

This vintage picture just screamed out for a bright flower.  This sticker was perfect.  It looked good on the silver card.  And then added the rhinestone ribbon.

This is actually a transparency that looked really great on top of the tan card.  It made the design really pop.  I used vellum adhesive tape which doesn't show up against transparencies like double stick tape and glue does.  Edged it with the pearls ribbon.

I like these folded cards too, although they don't stay closed very well.  I covered it in light blue paper and then added all the other stuff.  I thought the mermaid pic was perfect for it.  

I have a few playing cards that are backed with these fantastic pictures of tall ships,  It was hard to choose which one to use.  I couldn't get the flash to stop reflecting  no matter what I did, but the card is beautiful.  On either side are Cuban cigar labels.  Since the text on the Mermaid said, 'La Sirena', I thought the Latin labels worked well.  

I'm not sure what I will do with these.  The other 4 I made a few years ago are hanging in my craft room but I don't have any room for 17 more of them.  But I do know one thing, I'm not trading them!