Altered Canning Jar Band Ornaments

Love making these!

You'll find a quick how-to on making these at CutCardStock, and more details on those gorgeous little angels and pretty pink bells at Altered Pages Artsociates.

a spring window frame diy makeover, and the final fairy pop layout

Whew, my inaugural post at the CutCardStock blog is up.  I had grand illusions that spring was truly here, but then it snowed on my daffodils.  ***sigh***  That didn't stop me from updating the window frame that lurks around our house,  this guy occasionally gets a seasonal fix:

More info on the window frame in THIS POST. 

Also, at the Altered Page Artsociates blog, the final, and my very favorite, layout from the tiny 2x4 inch fairy themed pop-up book is up.

Look at that little guy, flying his butterfly driven chariot! 

I am SO ready for spring.  Count me in on these spring challenges, please!
Rubber Dance--March challenge, Spring
Stampin' Royalty--Spring
Word Art Wednesday--inspirational sentiment
Unicorn Challenge Blog--Go Green
The Artistic Stamper--Springtime

Here's a SPRING closeup, so you can see some of the stamping better:

text and music stamps from Rogue Redhead, butterfly from Lost Coast

experimenting--a book, and a new life for a laminate desk.

Well, it's a new year, the perfect time for some arty experimenting.  Altered Pages is partnering with DecoArt for the month of January, and today I'm sharing the beginnings of a hand bound book at the Altered Pages Artsociates blog.  The pages are all Gelli plate prints, and the cover uses several of the new DecoArt media special effects products.  Here's a peek:

You can see some of the crackle from the Crackle Paste, and the gold from the Interference Paint shimmering behind the little fairy.  For more photos and info, please see the Artsociates post HERE--it's worth a little visit, just to get in on the chance at some of those DecoArt goodies!

Okay, and now the DESK.  Here's the story--I was aching to try out the DecoArt Chalky Finish paints on a piece of furniture.  Our oldest son's father-in-law drives a truck, and is in the habit of picking up stray furniture type things from the side of the road.  He happened to have a very plain, but very sturdy, white laminate desk--you know the type, but of course I forgot to take a "before" photo!  But surely you've seen them, they all look something like this:
Its only defect was a minor scratch on the front edge, nothing a little sandpaper didn't tidy up quickly.  I gave it a base coat of a color called Heritage, followed with Chalky Finish Crackle Medium and a coat of Vintage: 

Love the crackle!!!!  :)

As if the crackle wasn't enough fun, next I layered stenciled images--French Text, Keys, and that gorgeous Brocade from the Americana Decor series, plus a sweet little bird and a smaller brocade from the Large Fleur de Lis set:

one side

the other side

so cute! 

I replaced the original knob with a vintage crystal one from my stash.

this is on the desk top

this is also on the desk top--still lovin' the crackle!

Let me tell you, it's difficult to photograph desks . . . anyway, in the spirit of experimentation, it seemed fit to protect part of the paint with the Chalky Finish Creme Wax, and part with the Satin Varnish.

My daughter is very pleased with her new study desk, and I had a fabulous time rehabbing a roadside discard.  If you've refinished any furniture, or have any helpful hints, please share a link, I'd love to stop by and visit!

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!  :)

a metal tag art pendant with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko and Altered Pages

Altered Pages is partnering with IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko for the month of June, and from a box brimming with arty inspiration, I tried my hand at a metal tag art pendant with a tiny little locket:

You can find more details at the Altered Pages Artsociates blog--the photo on the outside of the tiny locket is an image transfer using IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko Creative Medium.  Here is the inside--the "photos" are the size a pencil eraser top:

Seriously tiny, right?  :)

AND Altered Pages is hosting a giveaway for the month of June--you'll find details at the post!

A mail art postcard

featuring Altered Pages Vintage Text Collection and collage image

A little mail art today--my favorite type of background, all that yummy ephemera--

more on the Altered Pages Artsociates blog today!

PS--Please let me apologize to all my bloggy friends for being woefully behind in
visiting;  still painting the house, putting down flooring in the living room next.  I'll
be back to blog snooping visiting again soon.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Valentines & spring are singing to me . . .

Oh-kay, I've been elbow deep in paints and papers and inky stuff, thinking about Valentine's Day and dreaming of spring:

collage image from Altered Pages

For the Altered Arts Magazine blog, a mixed media collage--I am SO enjoying my new stamps from Something Tattered:  the one here is a partial of the Boudoir Antique Brocade Wallpaper.  C'mon, even the NAME is awesome--Boudoir Antique Brocade.  Does it get any better than that??

And a card--yes, I really did make a card--for the Altered Pages Artsociates blog, here is just a corner, showing another one of my favorite new stamps, that bird's nest:

oooh, you can see the metallic crayon, too!  :)

(More details and photos are, of course, on the aforementioned blogs.)

Thank you for stopping by today;  I always appreciate your visits.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Some challenges for some weekend inspiration?  I'm joining my first piece in with:
Frilly And Funkie:  Valentine with NO hearts
Word Art Wednesday:  Anything goes, with inspirational sentiment or scripture
V's Sweet Ideas:  Red, White, and Pink
Sweet Stampin': Love/Valentines
Open Minded Crafting Challeges--Show some Love

still with the spring thing . . .

Are you tired of grey and winter?  I'm guessing that's why I'm subconsciously leaning toward greens and brighter colors right now.  Here is just a peek at a spring colored piece that's up today on the Something Tattered blog:

collage image from Altered Pages

The wallpaper strip has a golden shimmer to it:

See?  Shiny!

Of course the glow doesn't show well in the photos, but I hope you'll stop by and say hi anyway--it's my first official Something Tattered post, and I'm pretty excited about it.  See you there?

easy altered jewelry box ornament tutorial

If you've stopped by here before, you probably already know I have a
thing about candy--like it.  A lot.  No big surprise, then, that this elfy candy
label got me going on a little Christmas crafty:

collage image from Altered Pages

Made a little candy box from a small cardboard jewelry box to hang on the tree,
oh yes, gonna fill it full of goodies!  It was so easy, I couldn't make just one . . .

It was super easy, simple enough to make with children.  I got the idea from some
gorgeous ornaments a friend made years ago, but hers were way more fancy fine--
here is how I made mine:

Stuff you need:  small jewelry box, patterned paper, collage image, glue stick,
hole punch, ribbon.  I also added some ink, a bead and some glitter, all totally
optional.  You may want to add even more embellishments.

First and Second:  Cut out a collage image that will fit on the front of the box, and
cut a piece of patterned paper that will fit all the way around the box.

DON'T glue the collage image on!!!

Third, or somewhere along the line:

Punch a small hole in the box, in a spot on the box half (NOT the lid) that isn't

covered by the lid when the lid is on the box.  Does that make sense at all?

Thread a piece doubled piece of ribbon through the hole:

AND TIE a knot in it, so it won't come through the hole.  If you want,
thread a bead or two onto the top (outside the box) ribbon:

totally optional bead

Fourth:  Wrap the patterned paper around the box, creasing it at each edge,
leaving plenty of overlap to glue the paper together.

DO NOT GLUE THE PAPER TO THE BOX!  But DO make the paper
tight enough that you must physically slide it off (like a matchbox), not so loose
that it just slips off of its own accord.  That way you can still open the box, see?

Simple, right?  Big enough to hold something fun, but small enough to
be an ornament.  Easy to add extra embellishments, too--I added some
Glitz pen glitter, but wouldn't these be cute with some German scrap,
or using wire and glass beads instead of ribbon.

PS--Playing along with Inspire Me Monday!
and Lunagirl Moonbeams Hidden Things challenge

atcs around the world project--can you help?

So I'm working on sending an atc to every country in the world (which explains
all the flat atcs lately, yes?).  If you, my bloggy friend, could help with an address
or two, that would be fabulous--please see the master list HERE.

Here are two of the atcs I plan to mail out--these feature images from Altered 
Pages.  (Unfortunately, they've been lurking about my desk, detached from their
original sheet, and I don't know which pages they came from, and there are SO
many great collage sheets at AP, I can't find them!)

what a soulful expression!

I would totally wear that hat.

 Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Two for Tuesday Blog Hop with Altered Pages and Bombshell Stamps

Howdy, hoppers! (You should have arrived here from Cowgirl Katie's.)
Here is my Two For Tuesday blog hop offering, a booklet/card with flap closure:

sentiment from Bombshell's Western Gal, collage images Altered Pages

cowgirl quotation printed on vellum

good advice, right?

can be opened accordion style for display

So what are you waiting,  for let's get hopping!

Start at

Bombshell Stamps Blog

and then hop onto our Design Teams Blogs

Kelli Green

Leslie Rahye

Katie Shanahan-Jones

you are here----Trisha Too

GO HERE NEXT-------Alison Heikkila

Roni Johnson

Jodi Elam

Lyneen Jesse

Alaine Medio

Daniella Hayes

Kim Gaughan

Becky Voth

Sharon Rogers

Tristan Robin Blakeman

Jenn Cochran

Danie May

Marnie Bushmole 

Stephanie Siatta

Kathi Rerek

Gia Lau 

and finish back at 

Altered Pages Blog

always time for a little Poe . . .

It's that time of year again, with the back-to-school, getting ready for fall,
and Halloween fun.  The fall kits are coming out at Altered Pages, and here
is a peek inside a Poe mini book (it's seriously tiny, about 2 by 2 inches--
get it?  A little Poe?):

Lots of classic Poe photo images,

and of course there has to be The Raven.

Plus plenty of ephemera and other goodies!

Everything you need to make your own tiny treasure is in the Altered Pages
E.A. Poe Mini Book kit.

And you might want to join in the AP GREEN challenge this month:

an atc featuring an AP image

You have until the end of August to join in, and the prize package includes
a Ranger Ink Blender, Fancy Buttons, and Bazzill Chipboard Embellies.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

is there such a thing as altered, altered art?

For the second son's wedding, I altered some large canning jars in that Rustic
Elegant style which is so popular right now--these were used for candle holders
at the rehearsal dinner and reception.  You would think I'd be sharing those with
you for my Altered Arts show today, but hey, why not alter the altered?? 

I wanted some centerpieces for our 4th of  July Independence Day celebration--
it was so simple to stamp up some tags:

background stamps from Rogue Redhead Designs

And then dig in my stash for some red/white/blue trims and laces, adding some
great collage images (NO fussy cutting, going for fast and simple here):

You can see where I tied the trim right over the already-there burlap, jute, and key.

collage images from Altered Pages

Once again, just tied that blue midi braid and tag right over the first go-round of
trim and embellishments.  I won't bore you with all nine jars, but how 'bout one more?

Took the burlap off for this one, but kept the heart and blingy button embellishment.

In their altered-altered state, these are going to hold wildflowers and a flag.  A very
Happy 4th of July to all my stateside friends, and, well, a happy fourth of July to
everyone else, too!

Count me in for these patriotic themed challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge:  Patriotic
Cuttin and Stampin Challenges:  4th of July
Our Daily Bread Designs:  Patriotic or Red, White, And Blue
Party Time Tuesdays:  Patriotic
Ribbon Carousel: (use spooled item) heritage, country pride, celebrations
Shopping Our Stash:  Red, White, and Blue

a shiny bookmark and a Valentine atc . . .

First, let me show you the shimmer:

nice and frosty looking, right?  

Now tell me, do you like curling up with a good book on a cold winter day?

(She's from the Relish Reading set at Rogue Redhead Designs)

This young lady does, but she tried to carry too many books, and now 

 they're all blowing out of her hands!

And here is a little atc Valentine--

collage image from Altered Pages

I have to tell you, it feels good to be making stuff again . . .

So maybe a few challenges:
with the shimmery blue bookmark:
Rogue Redhead Designs--Winter Blues
Stampotique--challenge 83, New Year's Resolution (read more!)
Drunken Stampers Challenge--all that glitters
Crafty Catz--anything but a card
Dillybeans--bookmark!
It's All About the Vintage--winter feelings

with the atc sized Valentine card:
Frilly and Funkie--follow your muse.  (First time for an atc with a pin full
of charmish stuff attached, and the first atc I made that opens from bottom
to top, if that makes sense!)
Allsorts--flower power
ATCS and cards with attitude--add a tag or sentiment/anything goes
Sparkle and Glitter--anything but a square
Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge--embellish it