Happy Halloween - Beach Bum-kin - Halloween Pumpkin 2016

This year's Halloween Pumpkin - "Beach Bum-kin"

Beach Bum-kin

In process. .  . I loved mixing all my beachy blues and greens and turquoises before adding the starfish and peel and stick rhinestones.

Art of Pumpkin

Hunab Ku - Mayan Galatic Butterfly
Also the logo for Hooked on Acupuncture

It's October and I like to paint a pumpkin of the logo for my favorite acupuncturist at "Hooked on Acupuncture" in Galveston.  This is my fourth one, and each year I like to try something different.  Of course, that means trying new art supply toys!

Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen Big Brush in White 101 and Black 199

Good coverage, the white was really opaque.  Juicy ink for both, no pull up of color when going over a second time.  One drawback, especially on a pumpkin, the black will rub off a little bit if said pumpkin rolls around the back seat floor on the trip to Galveston.  A little touch-up and good as new. I did not use a protective sealant this time, experimenting with longevity.  The black also makes a great marker, as hubby discovered.   They are considered India Ink and are waterproof, and acid free.   Texas Art Supply carries them - the large in black and white, and smaller sizes in additional colors.  I highly recommend these...for pumpkins and other art projects.

Faber-Castell Texture Luxe in Silver

A few weeks ago, I found this at Hobby Lobby in the Clearance section for $5.39, originally priced at $8.95.  I saw it at Texas Art Supply in silver and other colors, so it is still a current item.  I can also vouch this works great on pumpkins.  It is an opaque acrylic paste and permanent, and you have the option to build up layers for texture.   I used my finger to apply (washes off skin easily) a moderately thin layer to add shimmer.  The package also says it is good for stenciling.  This is definitely another addition to my art supply stash to be used again, post-pumpkin.

Daniel Smith Luminescent Watercolors in Iridescent Gold

I'm getting my money's worth and fun from this color.  It also works great on a pumpkin!  I learned that watercolor straight out of the tube is considered "paste" - which I applied to the pumpkin with a brush without using water.  I liked the result.  The watercolor was the pinch hitter, for I originally planned to use a copper or bronze rubbing accent compound for the flames around the Mayan Butterfly design.  Alas, the pot had completely dried out, which I returned to the store for a refund.

Schneider XPress Fiber Tip Pen

One of my favorite writing pens, I used it to draw the design outline on the pumpkin.
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North by North South East West

Inverted dinner and salad plates for circles!

A traced quarter made the perfect center circle!

Whoops - went over the lines!
I got distracted
watching the Astronaut Wives Club on TV
That's OK, that's now North!
And the center - The Moon!

Voila!
Two coats of sealant makes the chalk disappear
and the pearl paint really pop

We needed a stepping stone near our front gate - to step over the mud and water when it rains.  Checking out Lowe's, hubby found a 12" square concrete stone and suggested I paint it.  Why not?  And why not a compass, oriented to the North on our land.  And on our iPhones.  Thank you, Apple!

Easy-peasy to do!    I used Craft Smart acrylic paint in Navy and Pool Blue (Craft Smart is Michael's house brand paint) and Martha Stewart's Mardi Gras Beads (purple outlined circles), Habanero (red), Carrot and Mother of Pearl.   FYI:  The Martha Stewart Mother of Pearl is a really good paint.  Grab it next time you are in Michael's and can't find anything to use your coupon on...you'll love it.

Paper Pumpkin 2

Always packaged so nicely!
(Shhh!  I carefully reuse the tissue paper - I love this shade of blue!)

Eight cards now and two different sized envelopes with liner inserts
That's an improvement!

Very generous with the supplies!

I'm trying Stampin Up's Paper Pumpkin again.

Click here to find out about and sign up for special deals and promotions.  I got this month's and next for half off.  And I more than got my money's worth,  even if I had paid full price.

There seems to be more goodies and more options for creativity than when I tried them a few years ago.  It's especially fun to check out the Pinterest boards and YouTube channels now  to see what people have done with the kits.

I think the stamps are very versatile and reusable, not just for these cards, but for my other multi-media project endeavors - water color, collage, Gelli printing. . .

Stampin' Up pairs together really interesting and nice color combinations  And who can resist an ink called "Tip Top Taupe"?

This is really a clever promotion to give people a chance to try their products...and get hooked.  Especially when you watch the YouTube channels offering different alternatives to use the kits.  And using additional products.  (One demonstrator turned the flower into a hamburger!  Bippity-boppity-boo!)

Best Cinderella movie ever!

Bling it together

The closure on my favorite pair of Wit & Wisdom jeans came apart.  I tried a quick fix with a few taps of a hammer and some hot gun glue, but that was only temporary.    Fortunately for a girl who loves the rhinestones and all things sparkly, I happened to have a tiny rhinestone button which nestled perfectly into the front closure.  And for the underside support to cover the hole, a clear flat button.    A few quick stitches with needle and thread to secure and voila!   Blinged and back together. 

Mardi Gras Pumpkin

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

My Halloween Pumpkin is still going strong, thanks to a very unusual Fall/Winter.

Halloween Pumpkin 2014 - Candy Corn Gumball!

Love, love, LOVE the Martha Stewart Mother of Pearl paint!  The orange is just the glitter paint over the pumpkin and the yellow is a combo of yellow with a layer of the yellow glitter paint.  The Martha Stewart paints were 30% off at Michael's this week.

Go Glitter Girl

Once a week, I try to stop by Texas Art Supply -- preferably on the weekends when they take an additional 50% off their Red Tag Clearance.  This week's find was Art Institute Pee Wee Glitter - $4!
The original retail list price is $15 per collection.  Both "Bouquet" and "Petals and Wings" caught my eye.   In addition to augmenting my glitter stash, I thought these soft and transparent colors (love the names!) would also work nicely to enhance some of my watercolor projects.

Ultrafine Transparent - "Bouquet" -
baby's breath, mimosa, jonquil, spring mint, forget me not, wisteria, blue rain

Ultrafine Opaque - "Victorian"

red oak, persimmon, brass, deep forest, teal, dubonnet, platinum

Ultrafine Mixed--"Petals and Wings"
transparent sea shell, transparent rain forest, transparent blue whale, transparent flax, transparent fleur de lis, transparent lion's mane, and opaque black

Update:  I went back today and picked up two more, "Summer" and "Victorian" - jewel-toned opaque glitter. 

Ultrafine Opaque "Summer"
carnation, goldilocks, yellow, leaf, sky, heather, silver

New Year, New Creative Ideas

www.sparkledstamps.com

My über web/computer creative sister (see the Portable Snowman) came up with this cool calendar you can download and print.  She found all these cool and obscure holidays, which could have gone by uncelebrated.

Lots of ideas to pre-empt writer's and crafter's block and open up those creative energy chakras this year.

These would make fun and doable blog challenges, projects for homeschooling, Scouts, preschool, the office. . .themed baking and treats. . .Seasonal avatars for your Facebook and other social media sites.  Even ideas for Random Acts of Kindness.  I'm sure you'll find lots of inspiration and opportunities for smiles throughout the year, too.  Don't let Bacon Day take you by surprise again this year!

And as a special discount to my bloggy friends, she's offering a discount of $3.22 with the Coupon Code:  kent322  

Go to her blog website http://sparkledstamps.com/ideas-for-blog-challenges for the calendar and other postings.   Or click here!

Portable Snowman!

Disclaimer - No actual snowmen were harmed in the making of these water bottles : )

How cute is this!?  And I am sharing the link to make these cute labels, courtesy of my sister and her website.

Perfect for school parties, get togethers and even toting around for yourself during the holidays.  She's even using this design for another clever upcoming project, so be sure to check back to her blog.

Here's some of her tips for best results:

- Make sure your printer has the option to "print to edge of paper" or something to that effect.  On my printer, it is one of the effects for printing photographs.

- Use regular printer paper NOT cardstock.  Cardstock will make the labels pop open like Santa's buttons after too many cookies!

- Use the thin dark blue lines as cutting guides.  There will be extra to slice off on the last label.

- Use Sticky Strip to fasten them on.

Have fun!

Pumpkin 'Puncture

Here's the pumpkin I did for Hooked on Acupuncture

A great place for affordable acupuncture (right next door to Yoga Haven).  Owner Clint McCallum basically gave me my life back after having the shingles.  In fact, I now feel better than before I got sick!  Seriously.  He's also a Chinese medicine herbalist.  Between the acupuncture and the herbal drops, I have not had any allergy problems at all, and this is usually my worst sinus/bronchitis time of year.  (knock on pumpkin)

If you live in the Houston/Galveston area, you've got to check this place out!

Hooked on Acupuncture

2505 Market Street, Galveston, Tx 77550 • 409-241-3199

Take a yoga class next door, follow up with a visit to the Oasis Juice Bar. and you've got a great, restorative day of health, healing and happy.

~~~~~

This is how I applied the glitter to just the tips of the flames.  I mixed a little of the sealant with the glitter and applied with a brush.  The brush happens to be part of a makeup brush set (Sonia Kashuk) which shape seemed better suited for painting and crafting than applying eyeshadow.

Halloween Pumpkin 2013!

Hopefully Chococat will have nine lives and stick around!

I used Martha Stewart's glitters -- Crystal Fine, Onyx, Brownstone, Cinnabar and Turquoise - from that 24 pack I scored at Michael's awhile back, 50% off.

I was pretty impressed with this - found it at Texas Art Supply for less than $2!

I also used Liquid Pearls in "White Opal", to highlight the ears, around the face and along the stem.

I thought this looked like a starfish!

Inspiration:  Magnet 

The sketch!

Ready to trace!
I put it on top of the pumpkin and with a little pressure traced along the lines with a pencil to create a line (dent) in the pumpkin
No need for carbon paper!

Mollie Makes - Peggy Makes

I love Mollie Makes magazine!  

I also love the extra bonus they stick on the cover.  Issue 28 has a packet of teal green yarn, a crochet hook and instructions to make a crocheted bow brooch.   

The US is about a month behind of this charming English crafting magazine.  I find it at Barnes & Noble.  Though be sure you get the attachment.  One time I got the last issue but someone got the super-cute couple yards of ribbon instead of me.  

(Really?  Stealing ribbon from a magazine?!  You low-life!)

You can also get the digital edition on the Apple Newstand and on their website.  

Minus the freebie.  And if you go to the Downloads section, you can get the templates for the projects - free!

Anyways, I thought it would be fun to actually start making some of these quick projects and I will post my adventures.  

I do have a rudimentary basics of crochet, so let's how my finished result compares to theirs.   Sometimes you just need a quick dip in the creative fun pool instead of a lap swim.

Trip to Lowe's!

...equals adventures and painting opportunities!

Behren's 12 quart steel bucket - $9.97
#89804

$2.99 Hummingbird feeder from Garden Treasures
#0419997

See also paver, stone and can, watering

To Celebrate Sewing Machine Day, I painted a rock. . .

But I still have another chance, for September 10 is also Sewing Machine Day!

My front garden needed some stepping stones to make it easier to get around to weed and maintain.

Paver rock from Lowe's

Fifteen minutes of listening (trying to) Songza on the iPhone and some Martha Stewart paints. . .

I just need to glaze the top before placing outside.  

And figure out which stations/channels to listen to on Songza.  I do like how they offer suggestions for different times of day.  And they play a very wide variety.  But honestly, I'm still still liking Pandora better.   Songza may be more for my daughter's generation.

Now to see when Paint a Rock Day is!

We have lots of lady bugs!

Update:  It just needed a little extra touch!
And I found the Soft Pop Rock Wake-Up channel on Songza. . .

Some of my best ideas for projects start this way. . .

Santa, Stitched

I embroidered this tea towel back in 1995!  (It took longer to outline than it did to cross-stitch.)

Hanging Around Fall

Remember the wreath and Fall decorating supplies I found at the Dollar Spot at Target from last week's Wednesday Work in Progress?  Here are the results of a little fun with a glue gun!

I attached (pinned) this to the kitchen curtain valance

A Fall touch to the tall lamps on the living room bookcases

Arts and Crafts Keep You Sane

And sewing, too!

10 Pack!

Plus one!

Including the coveted, hard-to-find "Vanilla Bean" - heralded as the perfect brown for 2012 home dec and accessorizing craft projects.

The 10 pack of Satin finish paints (they also had a set of the Metallic & Pearl paints) goes for $19.99.  Scored today with the 50% off coupon. Sweet!

Colors include:  Mint, Surf, Sea Lavender, Hailstorm, Pink Carnation, Raspberry Ice, Habanero, Carrot, Jonquil and Chestnut Brown. (Love the names!)

I used the Martha Stewart paints in another craft project, and just loved them.