more Naughty or Nice . . .

Are you ready for Christmas?  (I'm not!)  Here are a few more Naughty Or Nice?  List books;  you'll find details PLUS a Santa ornament today at my Leaky Shed Studio post.  Also, in case you didn't know, there during December there is a giveaway of a pretty hefty package of Bo Bunny Christmas goodies for a randomly drawn comment leaver on the Leaky Shed Studio facebook page,

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to wrap some presents . . .
:)

Naughty Or Nice? little list books for gifties, and a giveaway

Leaky Shed Studio Snowflakes
coated with DecoArt Glistening Snow-Tex

Altered Pages collage image

Leaky Shed Studio Christmas Tree

Fun little Naughty Or Nice?  list booklets--if you'd like details on how to make your own, please see my post today at the Leaky Shed Studio blog.  There is also a really nice package of Bo Bunny goodies for a randomly drawn winner, from the comments left on the Leaky Shed Studio Facebook Page in December.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!
:)

on the Orient Express--all aboard in London . . .

Altered Pages is partnering with Just For Fun Stamps this month, and their Passport Stamp Background is a great addition to another layout in this Orient Express altered book:

Just a peek here, but let me add a special thank you to Bev at Gott Heart Art.  Several years ago, we were in a swap together, and she sent me the bookmark that I've featured in the London layout.  Thank you, Bev!  You can see the entire layout HERE at the Altered Pages Artsociates blog.

Happy Thursday!  :)

Usually I apologize for these kinds of things . . .

But this time, I'm just not sorry, not sorry at all!  Are you making merry yet this Christmas season?  :)

a tiny altered tin takes a turn for the Christmas . . .

Good grief, it's almost Christmas!!!!!

I have a new column at Unruly Paper Arts, it's a tiny little tin all made up for Christmas--when I was making it, I was thinking an altered art pendant, but now that I've lived with it a little while, and my Christmas tree is up, it seems more like an ornament.  But you can let me know what you think HERE at Unruly Paper Arts!  Okay, back to cleaning house.  Not fun, but it must be done!

a shabby, silk fairy pouch

Today at the Altered Pages Artsociates blog, I'm sharing a shabby little silk pouch featuring a fairy transfer, with some beading and embroidery.  Well, I use the term embroidery in the loosest sense of the word--you can see for yourself HERE.

Thank you for stopping by, and a Happy Thanksgiving to all my stateside friends! :)

Orient Express--this stop, Istanbul . . .

(Yes, yes, I really have an Orient Express themed altered book, thanks to an Altered Pages Mailbox Muse kit!)

Look at that sweet pile of Easterny looking chips--if you'd like to see them up close and personal, you'll find links in my post today at Leaky Shed Studio.

Happy Thursday to you!

Santa and Oreos and Amazing Mold Putty

Are you familiar with Unruly Paper Arts?  It's an online blogozine full of arty inspiration.  Each month is a new Reader's Art Quest, a creative challenge of sorts, and this month the creative prompt is Santa Claus is Coming To Town:

You are free to choose inspiration from the creative prompt or the colors.  This month, I went with the prompt, and made an ornament:

Santa image from Altered Pages

Not much bigger than an artist's trading card, so it's a good size for an ornament.  And as you can tell, it's VERY sparkly, and will catch the lights from a Christmas tree pretty well, I hope.

There are some great sponsors for the RAQ prizes each month, and this month the randomly drawn winner will receive goodies from Amazing Crafting Products.  I tried some of the Amazing Mold Putty, and found it to be aptly named.

Short Backstory Time:  My first nephew, he was quite small when this commercial came out, and he LOVED it.  He would freeze up and watch it, spellbound, each time it came on, and was fascinated when we would sing him the song:

So I made an Amazing Mold of an Oreo.  The results look so very real, I absolutely love them.

It looks like an Oreo, but it's Sculpey!

This is the Amazing Mold used to form the "cookies"

Adding some trim and jingles = Christmas ornament!

Okay, and I did make some flat backed, lightweight keys, as well--real keys are sometimes too heavy and bulky to add to things like altered books, so it made sense to try and make some from clay:

The models, molds and yellow Sculpey "keys"

Still working on the paint job, but not bad?

You have until the end of November to join in the fun--just link your creative response to the prompt or color inspiration to THIS RAQ POST, and you'll be in the draw for the November goodies from Amazing Craft Products.  Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 

another Alice In Wonderland page

This one has the White Rabbit's fan, and I am delighted to inform you it opens and closes (after all, I am easily amused!)--please peek in at my Altered Pages Artsociates blog post for more photos and details.

You'll find the Alice chipboard at Leaky Shed Studio HERE

an altered book and Christmas--What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #284

Here's a quick peek at what's on my desk this morning:

A piece of painted chipboard for an altered book layout, and some Christmas makings.  Last week I was working on some ornaments, if you'd like to see the finished ones, just scroll down a post, or click HERE.
(Okay, just to clarify, I didn't cut out that chippy--it's from Leaky Shed Studio.)

Short and sweet this WOYWW.  I'll be desk hopping later today and tomorrow, to see what's on YOUR workdesk!.  :)

Christmas ornaments--I hope you won't be offended!

Do you like your Christmas colors to be strictly traditional?  If so, I hope you aren't offended by these ornaments--I broke out some non-traditional colors to create some arty Christmas goodies for friends . . .

First, let me say that no matter what colors you use to decorate with at Christmas, in my mind, glitter is always appropriate.  Which will explain the fact that each of these is pretty much coated with DecoArt Glamour Dust paints--incredible sparkle!  You probably know how hard it is to capture twinkly in a photograph, but I tried for you:

You can see I added some shine to the butterfly wings, as well, and did you notice the snow?  It's not just "snow," it's GLISTENING, Glittering Snow--NO way I'm passing up snow that glistens AND glitters.

Altered Pages butterfly, Leaky Shed Studios Scroll Bracket Frame

Next is a turquoise/aqua angel--trust me, the flowers are sparkly like crazy, coated with Aqua Glamour Dust Glitter Paint and a powdering of the Glistening Snow-Tex.  The ornament itself is painted with Cobalt Teal Fluid Acrylic and a DecoArt Crackle Glaze/Antique Cream combo, which makes it look almost enameled:

Altered Pages angel, Leaky Shed Studio Scroll Frame Ornament

All the ornaments were constructed using DecoArt Matte Medium, which also makes a nice protective coating for the collage images.  I really like this next one--the crackles are much more obvious on the larger surface:

Altered Pages angel, Leaky Shed Studio Snowflakes

How about a peek at one more?

She's an Altered Pages angel, too!

If you'd like to see the rest of this little Christmas angel, please pop over to the Leaky Shed Studio blog for a better look.  Thank you for letting me share these ornaments with you, and have a wonderful weekend!

painty things--What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #283

It's November.  That may not sound profound to you, but let me say it again--it's November.

Please note the daughter's shadow puppet looming over the painty things on my desk this week:

These are destined to become Christmas ornaments

Just saying, I like crackles! 

Happy What's on Your Workdesk, everyone, and thank you as always to Miss Julia for the fun of visiting creative workdesks all over the world.  Anyone can join in, just pop over for a look. 

a new old stamp set--What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #282

A bigger view of the table I'm working at this week--it's in the living room, still no carpet, still painting all the rooms in the lower level BEFORE getting flooring.  Makes sense, right?

 That big wooden box, I got it this past weekend at an antique show--it's a hectograph kit, from 1932, used by teachers to make their own copies for their classrooms.  A hectograph plate is, and I find this funny, pretty much a Gelli Plate, but the printing process is a bit different.

True to the time period, there are president stamps of Wilson and Roosevelt, and a streetcar as well.  I'm particularly fond of the alphabet and words:

Happy What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday, everyone--I'll see you at Julia's!  (Oh and ps, that car seat canopy that I posted a couple weeks ago, it may have looked fancy, but seriously, it was extremely easy to make.  The blingy tulle flowers I added to the velcro holds were the most difficult part of the whole thing!)

an Autumn necklace

At the Leaky Shed Studio blog, you can see a full photo of this autumn necklace, created using the Autumn Leaf Crown, and obviously a necklace chain, some charms, plus the chip is colored with pearlescent and metallic chalks:

Have a wonderful weekend!  :)

another Alice in Wonderland layout

Today at the Altered Pages Artsociates blog, I'm sharing another layout from the Alice In Wonderland altered book I've been creating in--if you have time, I'd love it if you'd stop by and take a look.  Have a wonderful Thursday, everyone!  :)

You'll find the full layout HERE!

a bit of sewing, a painting, and Alice--What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday #280

Just so you woywwers know, I do possess basic sewing skills--here is a car seat canopy I finished for a baby shower, it turned out pretty well, and the blingy button accents are fun, right?  They are removable for laundering, and the backside is super soft minky, as the canopy can double as a blanket.

This is my painting for my column today at Unruly Paper Arts--Painted Imperfection.  There is a link at the end of the column to a youtube video, Everyday Is A Good Day When You Paint--if you haven't seen it, and you like Bob Ross, you'll enjoy it.  Even if you don't know who Bob Ross is, if you like painting, you'll like it!

Here's the current desk.  Alice is on hold for a few days, poor girl, too much going on.  The pink book is one of my favorites, I'm leading a study using it.  The small atlas loses pages now and again;  there are currently some in the altered Alice book.  

That's it today for me, I hope to have another layout or two finished and ready to share next week.  I'll be around to visit you sometime in the next few days--my visits don't always coincide with the Wednesday, but you know how that goes, right?

Happy What's on Your Workdesk!  Be sure to leave Julia a comment and tell her thank you for the party!

happy--painted imperfection

The theme for the October issue of Unruly Paper Arts is Painted Perfection.

Personally, I've never known painted perfection, but if you'd like to take a look at my latest imperfect painting, please stop by the blogozine for my current column:  Painted Imperfection.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

how late it's getting--an Alice altered book layout

Over on the Leaky Shed Studio blog today, I'm sharing the first full layout of an Alice In Wonderland themed altered book.

It features some great Leaky Shed Studio chip, like this fellow here, the White Rabbit, and some time related collage images from Altered Pages.

Watch Time Fly collage page

The cover has a cut niche full of Alice related items, all surrounded by a beautiful Victorian Mirror Frame.

Victorian Mirror Frame from Leaky Shed Studio

The fabric cover is gessoed/painted, stamped, and crayoned--I shared this Thursday at Altered Pages:

Handwriting Background Stamp from Rogue Redhead Designs

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!
:)

an altered Alice book

Today at the Altered Pages Artsociates blog, I'm sharing the cover of an Alice In Wonderland themed altered book I've been working on.  If you have time, be sure to stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win some yummy ArtAnthology and Altered Pages supplies!

Victorian frame from Leaky Shed Studio

mostly Alice--What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday #279

Just a little different from last week--I've been working on the Alice In Wonderland book, you can see the front cover (but it's sideways).  The frame is around a niche that will be filled with some Alice related things.  I'm awfully late getting this posted to woyww, so if you drop in, please expect me to return the visit sometime this week, okay?  Happy What's On Your Workdesk!  :)

PS---I filled the niche on the cover, it's one post up or at this link:  Cover of Alice

mish mash--What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday 278

So last week I was out of town for a conference--one of the evenings we had off, and took a river boat cruise.  This is Cincinnati, Ohio--after the baseball game, there were fireworks, and we were there at the right time to see them:

I wasn't around much this last week to make anything.  Here is a link to my last finished thing, a CAT BOOK--I tried to paint the chipboard kitties to look like cats we've had or have.  This one looks like one of our current feline friends, Daisy: 

Here is my desk, just how I left it last week:

The blue plastic thing is a junction box for a light fixture, the tiny book next to it is the Flower Fairy Alphabetica I'm still filling, with the little collage pics that are in the black bowl.  The blue book is one I'm altering, it's going to be Alice themed.

Happy WOYWW to you, and thank you to Julia!  (Sorry if I sound stupid this week, I've got a cold.  At least you won't be able to catch it when I come by for a visit, right?)

cat--a 4x5ish origami book

"You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats."  --Colonial Proverb

Yes, yes, it's another origami wallet fold book with stitched cover--this one is a little over 4 x 5 inches.  What can I say, those interior pockets are super for holding lots of tags, and this one has plenty, each with a quote about cats, of course.  Actually, each tag has two quotes, one on each side.  And I do like tags--my favorites are from the Altered Art Ephemera Pack at Altered Pages.

I painted each chipboard kitty to look like one our cats--this is Daisy;  she likes to eat moths.

All the chipboard cats are from Leaky Shed Studios--you can see more of the ones in my book at THIS POST, or if you want to see, ahem, "naked" kitties, you'll find them HERE.   I'm trying to work myself up to make a tutorial for this type of book . . . but don't hold your breath, I'll let you know . . . here are some of my other books made in this same manner:
I Am Free
one with Rogue Redhead Designs
one for my daughter and Hydrangea Hippo
another one--lots of different tags, travel theme

Have a great Saturday!