Saturday, October 24, 2009

I've Been in my Art Studio this week!

I've created a wrist corsage for a fundraising auction honoring my good friend Tina.
Lots of glitter and pearls, on a pearl bracelet. It would be a great touch for any holiday party!Speaking of my friend Tina....take a peek at a very special book we've put together for her here... The very talented Lisa and I organized the book, and it turned out just beautiful. There were over 25 of Tina's friends who participated. Each talented artist created a page of encouragement and love. The theme of the book was "The Power of Friendship."

It was an honor for me to do the cover of the book. Look at the thickness of this creation!
Thank you Lisa, for actually putting the book together! I made a new friend!!
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Just a few more floral corsages I've been working on before Silver Bella...
It's fun to put a corsage on a colorful apron!
Some little goodies for a few little sweeties...
Here's another peek at "part" of the mum for my TEXAS Bella exchange.I can't believe Silver Bella is in three weeks!! I am getting both excited and a little nervous! Here's my art case...ready to pack!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Welcome to my Blog Halloween Celebration...a continuation of festivities originated my friend Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist!
My theme this year is Glamour Witch!
Who says witches are scary?? How about a few "mod" witches?

Here are a few digital creations of mine...

Now for the most celebrated glamorous witch of them all...

Click here to play a Bewtiched Paper Doll Game!! Have fun!

Here are a few party gifts...
Thank you for coming over!
Happy Halloween!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

More Flowers!! Wrist Corsages

I've made Homecoming Mums before, but never attempted a wrist corsage until this weekend. I started playing around with my collection of vintage flowers and made this fun corsage...for myself of course!
I fell in love with these beautiful pearl corsage bracelets. I used REAL flowers in the wrist corsage for for my son's homecoming dance date...
Supplies I needed: fresh flowers, floral wire, floral tape, silver wire ribbon, and fresh flower "glue."
Here are three practice corsages...
Here's my final corsage...on me. ...and here it is on Max's sweet Date. She loved it!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Texas High School MEGA Mums!

It's THAT time again!! Texas High School Homecoming!

My youngest son is a sophomore, and this weekend we went shopping for mum materials. His date loves cats, so I planned a "cat theme" using the traditional red and green colors of the high school.

Here is our homecoming "loot!" We got everything from Michaels, Toys R Us, and the Dollar Store. I bought the silk flower, lots of trims in the school colors, extras like a feather boa, glittery strands, sticker letters, the featured toy (my son picked out) for the middle of the flower, and of course the kitty accessories. I used my hot glue gun and a lot of glue sticks. I ended up using 12 glue sticks for this mum.
Craft stores sell white circles to use as backing, but I find them very flimsy. I make my own foam board circles. They don't have to be "perfect." They will be covered. So here is where I started. I covered one of the white circles with green felt and glued part of the feather boa and some glittery gold trim around the edges.

I usually buy a large mum, mainly so it can show off the "toy" in the middle. When I make senior mums, I use three smaller flowers.
I used spray glitter all over the flower and then glued it to the covered circle.
Each mum has some kind of toy in it...usually a stuffed animal. Traditionally, HC mums had a teddy bear, but we like to be different. I like to really focus on what the girls enjoys.
The toy of choice this year....Hello Kitty!
The next step is the flip the kitty around and start hot glueing all of the ribbons. It's important to remember that what you glue on first will show up on the FRONT of the creation. I glued the small ribbons and trims first. I used a lot of thin ribbons, so that I can attach toys on to them later. I then added the red boa, and the plaid ribbons. The last layer was the thick gold mesh and crushed gold ribbon.

I then flipped the corsage over and started with my stickers. I put both names on the front.

Next I used small pieces of thin ribbon to tie the bells and school signs on to the thicker ribbons. I made knots. My mums are heavy and loud!
Now for the FUN STUFF! We bought all of the "kitty toys" at the dollar store. I used my glue gun to glue everything on the ribbons.
The key to a good mum is...the tackier the better!
I will add candy later.
Now to finish my mum...

I flipped the mum over and added a thin pretty ribbon at the top. The ribbon has two open ends. This will be the "necklace" for the mum. Yes...the girl wears it around her neck!
I covered the neck ribbon with my second white circle. I covered the circle with some coordinating scrapbook paper and added a little note.

Here is the final product! It will be worn around the neck homecoming day. Later, the girls like to hang it in their room.
The mum is about 4 1/2 feet long.
I hope she will like it!Here is another one I made....using Tinker Bell as the center piece. It's a senior mum...all white and gold.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Power of Friendship

My sweet fellow Texas art friend Tina is going through a hard time right now. If you don't know Tina (Glue On My Fingers), she's a very talented cute-as-pie girlie. She solders, faux finishes, and is an expert at all mixed media art. She and my friend Cindy are the co-founders of the one and only Paper Cowgirl event in Waxahachie. If you do know Tina, please visit the Paper Cowgirl Blog for information on an inspirational art book being made for her. The power of friendship goes a long way!

Big Hugs to Tina!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Little Glass Houses

Seems like yesterday when I sent out all of these soldered glass houses!
They were so much fun to make. I really enjoyed working with triangles for the first time. I had a lot of support from Tina...thanks girlie!
Here is my display of all of the Cute little Soldered Houses. The swap was hosted by my good friend Tina Wright. Some of us used two pieces of glass to make the house shape, and some cut out one large glass piece. I was amazed at all of the little details in each house. I LOVED this swap!
Glass houses created by:
Tina, Cheryl, Jeanie, Heather, Phyllis Ann
Thanks to everyone for sending me a house!
Sometimes I take one or two off and wear it as a charm on a long necklace...hehe!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Graduation, College, Sweet Goodbyes

Last weekend my family wished my oldest son good luck on his new life journey...college!
Here are my parents with both boys. My In-Laws with the boys and sweet cousin... Our "little boys" and Dad...Mom and Me!
I surprised my nieces with these glass glitter crown pins...
I had a fun surprise waiting for me when I got back home! My sweet friend Dede's Halloween Round Robin article came out in the latest Somerset Studio issue. I was so lucky to be included in this art group. It was so much fun!
Circled is my part in the book...
Thank you Dede!