Thanksgiving Day Collage

I started a collage today after eating more than one person should in one day - but didn't we ALL???  And with leftovers from today, a couple of Christmas potlucks ahead, two retirement parties and two invitations to friends for MORE food and libations, I should really follow the advice of my collage title . . .

Maybe I'll make some copies of it when it's finished and put one on the refrigerator and maybe use one for a journal cover so I will see it every day!

Do you see the Teesha Moore influence?  I watched a few of her journaling videos and incorporated some of her techniques.  I really dig the way she does borders around each page in her journals.

I'm creating this collage on a piece of cardboard that is 11 3/4" x 10" . . .

So how was your Thanksgiving?  Did you watch what YOU ate? *smiles*

PS  Turn your speakers on.  I've switched out my regular Playlist and am now featuring some Christmas tunes for your enjoyment.

I'm Learning to Zentangle

No, I'm not taking Tango lessons, but I got an invitation to some friend's home to learn how to Zentangle on December 5th.

Zentangle by Maria Thomas

What is Zentangle? Zentangle is an easy-to-learn and relaxing method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns.  Zentangles are abstract drawings.

Maria Thomas

Zentangles are doodles - structured, contained doodles.  The term 'Zentangle' was invented by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.  One day Maria described her experience as she created her art as feeling timeless and free.  Rick recognized that she was in a meditative state and so Zentangles were born.

Maria Thomas

Sandy Bartholomew wrote an article about Zentangle in the November/December 2009 "Cloth Paper Scissors" magazine starting on page 80.

Zentangle Kit

What do you need to Zentangle?  Smooth watercolor paper.  I read where the Fabriano Artistico HP is good and some fine liner pens such as Sakura Pigma Micron - Size 1 to 5, a pencil and an eraser.

Do any of YOU Zentangle?

Learn from my Mistakes

Last year at the winter RSC in Carson, Tim made me a Cut-N-Dry Felt Custom Stamp Pad.  Tim placed the pad in a zip lock plastic bag and told me to place it in my refrigerator until I was ready to use it.

I didn't make Christmas cards last year, so it's been over a year that the custom stamp pad has been in my refrigerator!  That's the pad in the bag above.

I stamped the pad and this is the image I got . . .

Not too shabby for a year in the fridge and no spritzing huh?

In Tim's video, he said that if you wanted to start over, you just needed to rinse out the colored inks.  Here's my rinsed out pad . . .

Notice how the print of the stamp is still there?

So I re-inked the pad with some other colors and this is what I got when I stamped this time.  As you can see, I didn't use enough ink in a lot of the areas of the pad.  I will need to go back and add more . . .

AND, see how the part at the bottom looks all splotchy?  That's because I didn't "tap off" the stamp on the pad before I stamped it onto the cardstock . . .

Ok, so I guess this isn't the sort of thing I should be doing after working all day with only 4 hours of sleep the night before *sigh*.  I'll go back and re-do my pad when I'm well-rested.

In the meantime, here's a video Tim did showing how to make the pad.  I take it he must have been well-rested when he made HIS! *smiles*

Weekend in Review

Yesterday I finally got started on some backgrounds for a couple of shadow box projects I've been wanting to do . . .

The larger box on the bottom didn't have a removable backing, so I'm working totally inside the box of that one . . .

And the birds?  These are a couple of the birds that sil/bff Lezlei made that she's selling in her etsy shop, Breath of Art.   Using decoupage medium, printed papers, pattern tissue and some distress inks, I've started bringing life to the little naked birds.

I will keep you posted on my progress of the two shadow boxes I'm working on here.

Now to this past Saturday . . .

I spent the day/evening with the Bucci's, Linda and Bob.  Linda had been wanting to learn how to make the Snow People that I was obsessed with making last year, so Saturday was the day.

When I arrived, Linda had the dining room table covered with paper and vintage bottles and salt shakers and ribbons and glitter and pearls and well, you get the picture . . .

These are the start of some of Linda's Snow People.  They aren't fully dressed yet and they don't have on their makeup, but I asked if they would mind if I took a couple of photos anyway.  They didn't mind . . .

I just LOVE this one with the blue vintage bottle body and red ear muffs!  Linda really liked the Jack Hair I had used on one of my Snow People, so I remembered to bring some along for her to use as well . . .

I can't show you any finished Snow People, because it was getting late in the day and we needed to eat. Remember the steak dinner I told you I was getting?   Well, here it is, and yes, it was as good as it looks!  Thanks Linda and Bob!! *smiles*

P.S.  There were biscuits (that Bob hand rolled!), but once they came to the table and another glass of wine was poured, I had to put the camera away . . .

JUST IN!!  Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas is coming December 1st!  Read all about it HERE

What Do YOU Use?

Before I get into the REAL reason for this post, I just wanted to say that I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but it will be here and gone before you know it!  Soooo, I have changed my blog header (once again) to help me get motivated and inspired to start creating for Christmas!  Because you KNOW Christmas is only 35 days from now!

When I was at the RSC in Carson on the 14th, I stopped by the JudiKins booth where they were demonstrating this fairly new product called Gel Du Soleil.  You can go HERE to see it being used.

This JudiKins product is different from Diamond Glaze and DG3.  Gel Du Soleil is a resin that will cure in direct sunlight or under an ultra violet light.  You know, like the machine that you put your hands under when you get your nails done?  The lady doing the demo said that it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to cure, depending on how thick the layers are.  And after the 10 to 15 minutes, the gel will continue to harden.

What's (supposed to be) nice about this product, is that it can be layered with no lack in clarity.  And since it is "glass clear", it can also be used to repair cracks and chips in glass.

I haven't used this product yet, so I can only tell you what I learned about it at the show.

Another product that JudiKins was demonstrating at the show was called Fluxe Enameling Resin.  The demonstrator at the booth said that you get the effects of a high-gloss resin using this powder.  You melt the powder in your project in a toaster oven at 250 degrees for just a few minutes.

Now if you know me already, you know that one of my all-time favorite products is Diamond Glaze.  It's a glaze and a glue that can be used right over your artwork for a raised shiny finish.  You can also mix dye-based inks in Diamond Glaze and create your own colored glass paint too!  Diamond Glaze can be used on plastic, paper, wood and even metal.  I like it as a coating on glass to adhere glitter too.

Then there's DG3.  It's a clear gel that also dries to a glossy finish.  You can layer DG3 to create added depth.  The product is water soluable so it makes for easy clean up.  The product is permanent when dry.

This next product wasn't at the show, but I've heard a couple of people talking about it lately.  It's a product called Ice Resin.  This is a jeweler's grade 2-part product that was developed by Susan Lenart Kazmer.  The product (what I've read) stays transparent without breaking down or yellowing.  You can use the product in jewelry pendants, silicone molds and I read that you can even use it on paper!

What do YOU use?

Will Teach for Food?

This Saturday I'm going over to my friend's (Linda and Bob) house to show her how to make these . . .

snow girl with vintage jacks for hair

And because we live in California, I thought I should bring along some California winter miniatures to use inside the Snow People bottle bottoms . . .

sand, shells, flip flops and a miniature Christmas tree

I wonder if Linda will want to make as many as I made last year?!  LOL  They ARE addicting to make you know.

Snow Lady wearing glittered Christmas package as her hat

California Snow Guy wearing a resin filled bottle cap hat with a shell, fish, and the word "ocean" encased inside.  And did you notice the palm tree?

And guess what?  I get a bbq'd steak (prepared by Bob) dinner (salad is always prepared by Linda) just for going over and playing!  Ya can't beat THAT now can ya?! *smiles*

Lots of glittery goodness and vintage tinsel

Can't wait to show you photos of this year's Snow People!

A Few Upcoming Events

November 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 and December 5, 6, 12, and 13 is the Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach, CA.  This event features over 170 artists!


This Sunday, November 22nd is the Jamestown Village Vintage Flea Market hosted by Whimzy. If you go, be sure to stop in the store - Christmas is out and oh so sparkly!

vintage train case I bought at Jamestown

Lezlei "claimed it" so it is now in Texas!

Saturday, November 28th from 11am to 9pm, Julie over at Vintage Emporium is having a Holiday Open House.  Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping with fun and unique gift ideas like ssilver spoon jewelry, shell chic decor, and lively accessories.  The shop will be packed with lots of fabulous decorations, ornaments, gaudy ball wreaths and vintage Christmas tablecloths.  Complimentary gift wrap and refreshments will be served.  The shop is located on the corner of Wardlow and Orange at 3423 Orange Avenue in Long Beach, CA

(562) 988-8460

Julie at the shop

At The Movies

I'm sure you've already heard about the recently released movie Precious.  But just in case you haven't, this is the Lee Daniels' movie that was adapted from the novel "Push" by Sapphire.  I have read that the book is non-fiction, but I'm not certain.  The movie was the winner of three awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic competition.

This is about a morbidly obese and illiterate 16-year old girl (Claireece Precious Jones) that lives with her abusive, welfare-scamming mother, Mary (played by Mo'Nique) which takes place in 1987 Harlem.  I won't go all into the movie, in case you are planning to go see it yourself.  I must warn you though, the movie is rated "R" for child abuse including sexual assault and pervasive language!

I don't get out that often to the movies.  I usually wait until movies come out on cable and watch them at home.  But, I was hoping this would be a movie worthy of the high price of a movie ticket.  So Sunday afternoon I went to see Precious.

I cried, I laughed, I gasped, at times I cringed.  And when the movie ended, I was sitting there in my seat left wanting more.  I should have read the book first, because that's usually the way it is with a good movie - they can't tell the "whole" story in a couple of hours on the screen - I'll have to get the book the movie was based on - Push

The movie stars Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Sherri Shepherd, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz and introduces Gabourney Sidibe (as Precious).  I'm no movie critic, but I think that Mo'Nique will be someone to watch as an Oscar contender for her performance of Mary in this movie!

Have any of you seen the movie yet?  It's still only in a few select theaters here in my neck of the woods.

CHA Consumer Show - January 2010 Anaheim Convention Center

I used to teach a lot at a store in Orange and the store manager included me on the store's CHA membership.  That used to be the only way someone could get in.  You either had to be a store owner, teach at a store and be invited, or know someone that could "get you in".


The first time I went, the manager only wanted to go on the first day, but she told me I could go the next 2 days if I didn't mind going by myself.  Ooooooh, I was in HEAVEN!  And although I was on my feet from the time they opened to the time they closed, and my back was killing me at the end of each day, I pushed through the pain and did it again the next day!


Check THIS out! Now CHA is having a Consumer Show in conjunction with the Winter Trade Show.  Friday, January 22nd from 12pm to 8pm and Saturday, January 23rd from 10am to 6pm we can ALL get in!

Step 1: Go online HERE then click on Tickets under the Show Info tab
Step 2:  Enter the discount code and continue with the registration process.  The discount code is CRAFT12
Step 3:  You will receive your e-voucher via e-mail.  Print a copy and take it with you to the show.


** On another note, please see my update on Copic Markers versus Tim using Re-fillable Alcohol Ink pens.**

Sunday Sale

The etsy items listed below are on sale for those of you that stop by here TODAY.  If you are interested and purchase any of these items, I will refund the difference in the price that is currently listed in my etsy shop, back to your PayPal account.

The prices listed below INCLUDE shipping and handling for U.S. residents only

Pillow $18.00

"Write"Altered Composition Book - $15

"Take Note"Altered Composition Book $15