Content/Sidebar/Sidebar

 

I snuck in a quick project today.  This is an embellished photo board.  I decided I was feeling Autumnal and Halloweeny so I went that direction with it.

I started off a bit plain (if you can call black velvet flowers and orange Halloween paper plain) and then went from there. 

 

Too bad that great black and white paper has to get covered up with a photo (or in my case a vintage Halloween image).  I *love* the ruched, black ribbon on the bottom.  It looks like rick-rack at first glance but it is so much more.  I found it at a rubber stamping store and it just looked like trim that would be on a Victorian mourning gown.

 

(Click on the image to see it larger)

I added a litte running pumpkinhead man and some German glass glitter.  Because what isn't better with a little German glass glitter?  Hmmm?  Not much.

Whenever I finish a project I always think of about eight different things I would have done.  I have some great black lace that I should have added to the top.  Ah well.  It's all good.  I'm learning and that is the total point of this online art retreat.  Stretch a little.

I have to give Rick partial credit for this project.  I had him dragging out his saw and cutting me pieces of wood (actually I think it is veener – it's really thin) and drilling holes in it. 

 

I only made one of the three projects posted on the on-line art retreat this weekend.  I got all involved with cleaning my garage on Saturday and that would have been the day I would work on projects.  I did manage to whip this out on Sunday morning.

First of all the reason it is called YUMMY pocket pillow is because there is supposed to be a cupcake appliqued on the front.  And it the reason it is called yummy pocket PILLOW is because it is supposed to be stuffed like a pillow and the pocket is the in the front.

I didn't feel like doing it the bright pinks and blues of the example so I just did my own thing and did an all white version.

 

I did this monogram a year ago and finally found a use for it.  A little fusible webbing, a little glued on trim and Bob's your uncle.**

I did that monogram before I learned about backing my projects so you can see the threads on the back showing through.  Ah well.  It's all a learning experience.  I still love that flowery A.

I am going to have to scramble this upcoming weekend because I'll have the three new projects and the two left over from last week.   I can only just imagine what my studio/dining room is going to look like.  It's already a disaster.

 

**Can anyone explain the expression "Bob's your uncle"?  It makes no sense at all.

 

Weeee – little pumpkin headed running guy!  These will be incorporated into the Halloween Party invitation somehow.  I am still waiting for my gothic-y chandelier stamp but it is back ordered.  I'm about ready to give up on it.

I've discovered that Etsy is a great resource for buying small amounts of crafting supplies.  Most regular e-tailers make you buy a minimum number of a particular item but on Etsy you can quite often buy just one or two of something.  I'm fairly certain the Etsy sellers are just acting as middleman between the regular e-tailers and me but I don't mind paying a little more for an item if it means I don't have to order 11 more than I need.  In the long run it saves a lot of money.

And I love supporting Etsy sellers.

 

I was actually looking for velvet millinery forget-me-nots because all the cool kids participating in the on-line art retreat use them and I just have cheapy Michael's polyester flowers for my projects.

I found an Etsy seller named Carmelos that has a great selection of 'artful supplies' and she ships lightening fast.

Not only did she have the forget-me-nots but the little pumpkin headed running men, which were so cute I had to get some of them too.

 

 

Projects 2 and 3 from the Sweet Six Studio online retreat.  An embellished ribbon lantern.  I was supposed to use an actual paper lantern but forgot to pick one up when I was at the craft store.   They had an example done with a can so I went that route.

 

I didn't take a picture of the dangly ribbons – the are embellished with buttons, flowers and sparkly bits.

I'm really getting to embrace my girly side with these projects.  My lantern was a manly workout concoction before it was beribboned.

 

The other project was a fabric flower pin.  I only took one picture of it and after I saw some of the other examples I wish I had just a touch of black tulle under the cameo. 

 

I have made three craft projects and a patchwork quilt pillow.  What a productive weekend!  Now I need to go sweep up the drifts of glitter, ribbons bits and thread that are taking over my house.