Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Freebie e-Postcards

Send this and other e-postcards 
to your friends.  
Click HERE 
to view all the postcards

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Crafty Blogger Blurbs


Brown Hair and Glasses 
Cherie is on a kick, creating several mixed media pictures that feature women with brown hair, blue eyes, and glasses.

Carmi's Art/Life World 
Carmi featured her favorite cards as seen at CHA from Ecstasy Crafts!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world 
This week at Craftside there is a recipe for chocolate pasta dough, a decollaged altered book, a video on how to crochet a lacy join and some lobster clip art. 

Crafty Princess Diaries 
Tammy is wrapping up her amigurumi gang and wishing them well on their trip.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter 
If you do beading, how do you keep your craft space looking neat?! Eileen admits she doesn't. Take a look. 

Mixed Media Artist 
Cyndi has finished her beaded turtle fabric panels. Now if she could just figure out what to do with them! 

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Creating a Chalkboard Journal Page

I just realized I had one more background 
technique to share with you from my Junque 
Journal How-To series. (click HERE to view it, 
and my other Junque Journal pages)  

With this background I began by painting both 
pages (side by side) with a layer of gesso.

Once dried I painted on the right side with craft
chalkboard paint.  It use to be that you could 
only find chalkboard paint in spray cans or in 
large size cans.  Now you can find it in small 
craft size paint bottles which is nice so it
doesn't go to waste.

Once you've painted your chalkboard paint and 
it has dried well.  Use a piece of chalk to season 
your chalkboard by scribbling on it then erasing it.

I decided to use my Portfolio water-soluble oil
pastels to decorate around the edges along 
with embellishing with paint pens.

For the left hand side of the page I first misted
my dried gesso page with Color Mists which 
are vivid sprayable watercolors. Then once the 
page was dry (heat guns works great for drying).  
I once again used Portfolio water-soluble oil 
pastels to draw a design. After I sealed 
the page with PYM II , I then further 
embellished with paint & gel pens.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Cupcakes and Cocktails

I can't believe a whole week has gone by!  I've been so busy 
cleaning and baking for a party this weekend that the week
just flew by!  Don't these cupcakes look delicious!  A 
little something for everyone's taste hopefully!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Crafty Blogger Blurbs


About Family Crafts 
The newest craft challenge is all about chalkboard crafts. Drop by and play along!

Carmi's Art/Life World 
This week Carmi has the opportunity to combine her love of rubber stamping with resin! 

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world 
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to needle felt a bird ornament, crochet a swirl granny square, an interview with Alena Hennessy author of Cultivating Your Creative Life and a recipe for coconut rice with peaches and rum raisins. 

Crafty Princess Diaries 
The Crafty Princess provides an update on her big and little fiber projects.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter 
Come join the fun. The Artful Crafter is celebrating its 6th blogoversary. Party favors, cupcakes and prizes for all 

Mixed Media Artist 
Cyndi is going to be giving away the whole Stash Happy series over the month of July...starting with the fabulous Applique book!

Playing With Blue Glass 
Cherie finally finds some blue glass to build sculptures with. 

The Crochet Dude 
Drew is having a Pinterest contest and giving away an ENTIRE set of his new ergonomic hooks! 

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Gaze Upon This...

For your viewing pleasure!

I believe my new gazing ball was originally a glass 
globe from a floor to ceiling lamp.  I wasn't able to
capture the true beauty of it when the sun hits it
and shows all the various colors it has...can I
just say GORGEOUS!!!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Pictures of the Day 7-11-12

I love when things grow voluntarily 
on their own!

a group of sunflowers decided to pop 
up in our garden

Which have given  the bees
a happy haven to do 
their work!

Amoung other things that decided to grow on their own 
are these pumpkins...hopefully they make it until fall!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Flip Flop Wreath

Flip Flop Wreath
Wire Coat Hanger
Flip Flops (how many depends on the size you 
buy-I wished I had bought smaller sizes) *
Hot Glue or Multi-surface adhesive
Ribbon
*I bought my flip flops at Target in their 2.00 bin

1. Stretch coat hanger out to form a circle
2. Glue flip flops down to the coat hanger then to each other
3. Tie pieces of ribbon to the thong/plastic part of the flip flop
(this is a great way to use up pieces of leftover ribbon) 
4. Bend the top part of the hanger around to form a loop
and tie some ribbon at the base of the loop.
5.  Hang it on your door :-)

Looking for more wreath ideas check out
inspired!

It's really hard to find something that will look
right on my unique door! I really loved the idea of
brightly colored flip flops for summer :-)

Click HERE to see my door painting process


Monday, July 09, 2012

Yummy for my Tummy!

Had some digital fun using pictures I took of
Mr. Kevin eating his first watermelon!

Sunday, July 08, 2012

Crafty Blogger Blurbs


Craft Buds 
If you've ever hit a wall in running your creative business, be inspired by these top 12 new resources from our expert, Anna at Urban Stitches.

CraftFoxes 
If you still haven't found that ideal summer swimsuit, maybe it's time to make your own! CraftFoxes highlights 10 free swimwear patterns for summer.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world 
This week at Craftside there is a recipe for zucchini slaw, a tutorial for a herringbone and beaded blossom embroidery stitch, a fingerprint American flag card and knitter's letter to President Lincoln.

Crafty Princess Diaries 
Tammy continues her knitting lessons, this time with a scarf kit and some yumo merino yarn.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter 
How to keep 'em in stitches with your mail art.

Feeling Patriotic 
Cherie makes some red, white, and blue paintings

Mixed Media Artist 
Cyndi has finished a quilt that pays homage to the beautiful lava flows on Hawai'i! 

Resin Crafts! 
Carmi has a fun idea to pour resin into vintage baking pans.

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Lemony Goodness!

Limoncello for all!

Way back in March my friend Kris and I began our limoncello adventure!  Remember when I posted about my abundance of lemons I had?  Click HERE for my other lemon recipes.

Limoncello
The Recipe
20 lemons , well scrubbed  

2 (750 ml) 151 proof Everclear - grain alcohol

5 1/3 cups sugar 

6 2/3 cups bottled water

Wash the lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any reside of pesticides or wax; pat the lemons dry. Carefully zest the lemons with a zester or vegetable peeler so there is no white pith on the peel.
Zesting the lemons

Step One: 

In a large glass jar (1-gallon jar), add one bottle of Everclear; add the lemon zest as it is zested. Cover the jar and let sit at room temperature for at least (10) ten days and up to (40) days in a cool dark place. The longer it rests, the better the taste will be. (There is no need to stir - all you have to do is wait.) 
As the limoncello sits, the Everclear slowly 
take on the flavor and rich yellow color of 
the lemon zest.
~~~~~~~~


Step Two: (In our case it was 40+ days later) 
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar 
and water; cook until thickened, approximately 
5 to 7 minutes. Let the syrup cool before 
adding it to the Limoncello mixture. 

Add to the Limoncello mixture from Step One 
Add the additional bottle of Everclear. 
Allow to rest for another 10 to 40 days. 
suggest 40 days, it really makes a 
HUGE difference.

~~~~~~~~


Step Three : 
After the rest period, strain and bottle: 
discarding the lemon zest. Cheese cloth or 
coffee filters are good methods of straining.

I bought my bottles at 
Specialty Bottles.
Keep it in the freezer until ready to serve.
OR
Add a label and give as a gift
Download for tag/label if 
you want HERE

Monday, July 02, 2012

Cheers!

I finished a couple of cards for my own personal use.  I used 
watercolor paper for the card base and my Color Mists.
Then changed a couple of my Cocktale Grl images into
more Patriotic Grls.

Sunday, July 01, 2012

Crafty Blogger Blurbs

 

There are a couple of giveaways 
this week, so run don't walk to 
check all the links out!

Tammy Powley has a blog giveaway for the whole month of July!

Carmi's Art/Life World 
Carmi is giving away ONE free spot in Claudine Hellmuth's next Big Picture online class "Composition for Collage." 

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world 
This week at Craftside there is a recipe for roasted red pepper pasta, tutorials on how to draw and paint clouds with a watercolor mixing tip and a fun idea for using sewing hook and eyes in a mixed media collage.

Crafty Princess Diaries 
Tammy shares her latest yarn aquistions from Knit Picks and some future project ideas. 

Eileen - The Artful Crafter 
Sneak a peek into Eileen's Creativity at Sea journal.

Evergreen Glass Sculptures 
Cherie makes a glass sculpture out of darker green glass. 

Mixed Media Artist 
Cyndi moves forward with her lava-inspired quilt, but is still not quite sure where she'll end up! 

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery 
Check out my latest creation: a recycled wood and furniture cabinet.