Friday, March 30, 2012

Isn’t it nice when

you make something you really like!!! I just completed another project for the library and I tell ya, this one is going to be hard to give them -

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This is a totally recycled project. I salvaged the frame (kept it from going in the garbage…picked it out of someone’s garbage pile…I have no shame!) I got the string, used as branches, from the thrift store. The black paper is from little (sometimes tiny) scraps of paper left over from another project. The music paper was donated to the library to be used in this kind of a project…or whatever else we can dream up – lol!

Here is a picture of the project in progress -

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above: This is what was in the frame before I took it apart…

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above: This is when I was covering the original mat board. As you can see it was matted with pink an blue. I glued down the paper and cut a 45 degree angle on whatever strip of paper was laying on top…nice mitered corners.

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above: Sorry for the glare…I’m too lazy to take the glass out. This gives you a better look at the details. I cut each flower out with my craft knife and used my stylus to give the petals some shape. Then glued them down and added a dot of glitter with my cinnamon stickles stuff. The little bird was raised with some foam dots too.

I was going to paint the frame but I think I’m kinda liking the gold. Surprising! It’s a nice wood frame so it would take paint well…hmmm….

Happy Crafting!!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Oh deer!

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The lighting is just cruddy today – we are in for some rain! However, this picture isn’t really done so this is an in-progress pic. I was inspired by this work and decided to try it out with paper before I move to wood. Really, I don’t seem to have enough time to start a big wood project these days. Isn’t that sad?! I keep telling myself to just tackle a project one step at a time and even if I only get a half a step done in one day I’d still be moving forward…maybe tomorrow! I want to paint the frame or refinish it…I’m thinking I’ll either paint it dark brown (Julie, you’ll be happy! lol)

Why don’t I seem to have enough time? Well, aside from the usual laundry, cooking and cleaning…boring! We’ve just been people on the move lately. I taught another needle-felting class on Saturday. I tell you, crafters are just the nicest people! It was fun. We all went four-wheeling on Sunday after church. The weather was crisp and clear – no bugs or sweat! We are part of a hunting club and have access to 1,800 acres of land. I snapped some pictures to show you how awesome it is!

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Here’s one of the many trails-

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Here’s another trail with the middle child riding a small four-wheeler.

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There’s lots of water features on the land. The Mississippi borders part of it and there are ponds and swamps. I learned there is a wild rice bed! We will be ricing this fall!!!!!! Miles of the trails are bordered with raspberries and I found a hazelnut tree/bush yesterday. There is so much to see and explore. I told the middle child that once he figures out how to strap down the Rhino and 4-wheeler we will spend time out there even when dad is at work. (My brain does not compute the straps…it’s weird…like I enter a mind-warp when I have to deal with them!)

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There is tons of wildlife out there…here is a wolf track…the size of my HAND! My youngest shot his first deer last fall out here too. And for his birthday he got this -

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A Savage .22 bolt action for a lefty. He and Grant shot targets most of the time while Abby, Dev and I rode the trails. We were all exhausted when we got home, and will be going back soon! Even though this is within 8 miles of our house we don’t get out there too much. Last year was a cruddy summer and I was so busy with Girl Scouts – but this year – this year we are hoping for a great summer and lots of FUN!

Happy Crafting!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Where do the days go????

I can’t believe it’s already Thursday! In crafty news I don’t have much to show for the week. I did complete and deliver these modge podged eggs to/for the library…

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I decoupaged book pages to plastic eggs, added a glitter glaze, and then coated them with about 6 layers of modge podge. They are pretty…and time consuming! (Most of my volunteering with the library has to do with crafting for the Friends Of The Library Foundation, and Abby and I volunteer during the Summer Reading Program.)

In happy news I won some prizes at my library during their “Hot Reads for Cold Nights” program! I got a book club journal -

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and a mug, and some note cards, and a beautiful wood-turned top from the Ripple River Gallery. It’s been a good week! I even got caught up with some cleaning…I spent all day yesterday cleaning out and organizing the pantry and a couple cabinets. phew, I don’t know why those chores have to take all day... this Saturday I teach a needle felting class again, we are making bunnies!

Well, that’s it. Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting!

Monday, March 19, 2012

What a weekend!

We went to a St. Patrick’s Day parade in a neighboring town…my hubbie was in it -

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He’s the one on the left.

Everybody gets their green on for this parade – here is my youngest -

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You can’t see but he also has a blinky bow tie…he’s pretty cute! St. Patrick’s Day is also my hubbie’s birthday…it was a looong busy and FUN day!

Happy Crafting!

Friday, March 16, 2012

It’s so nice outside

that I haven’t been at my computer at all! Yesterday I raked a part of the yard that hasn’t been raked in years and years. It is the part of the yard that we used to store about 50 bicycles in. Really. Well, the bikes are now gone and I have a fresh new blister to show for the raking. I am so out of shape!

In crafty news I finished this!

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I added a little Martian! And my favorite is the little guy peeking out the porthole!

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The little Martian has a magnet in his bottom. lol! And the space ship has a little tab of metal buried in it’s side…so the Martian ride. I feel I could fuss with this some more but have decided it’s good enough. There are too many other projects in the works right now…mostly yard work! I’ve also been making more things for the library. Here is the latest collage I brought to them -

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This was on my work table (aka Kitchen Table) all last weekend. I’d add a little something wait for it to dry and add a little more. It’s amazing how much time these take!

Well, that’s it for this week…Happy Crafting!!

Monday, March 12, 2012

3…2…1…

Take off!

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This rocket is almost done. Almost…I seem to have a problem with finishing projects. I. Don’t. Know. Why. I still have to weave in the little fuzzies and there is a surprise element to this rocket I’ll show you soon. There. Now I have to finish!

Happy Crafting!!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Collage attempts 3 and 4…

And we have a winner! I like these!

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I think I’m getting somewhere now. I think we all know I love paper airplanes…I see a lot more of them in my future collages! Again I made these by layering paper, tissue paper, paint, glue, more paint, more paper…you get the idea. These little guys are tiny. The frame outside edges of the frame measure 4”x5”. And I think the frames are pretty special…they came this way direct from the thrift store. By the time you read this post these will already be at the library and for sale. It’s kind of hard to give them up…but a darn good excuse to make some more! (And I loooovvvveeee my library – we gotta do what we can to support them!)

Happy Crafting!

PS: Next week I think you’ll see more needle felting.

PPSS: Mary…could you keep a look-out for more frames from our favorite thrift store? smile. They don’t have to look like this – I can always paint them…just little and sturdy. Really any size up to 8x10…

Bonus links to keep you busy and give you something to talk about…#1

She’s awesome! (there are two you can find the other one here)

#2 http://autismasithappens.blogspot.com/2012/03/future.html This blog is written by a mother who had a daughter with autism. Oh my gosh…she can get down in words what a lot of us parents with “special needs” children are feeling! When I read her posts I keep thinking “I know! I’ve been through that too!!!” It is almost painful for me to read but I can’t stay away. I check in with her blog once in awhile and read big chunks and leave feeling happy, sad, and understood! Her daughter is quite a bit younger than mine…I wish I would have found someone like her 10 years ago…The post I’m linking to really relates to where we are right now…you’ll see.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Collage attempt number two…

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OK – this one is actually not done yet. It needs a little somethin’ somethin’. I just don’t know what. Hubbie has suggested a yellow bird. I think “tweet” needs to go and be replaced with scrabble tiles or something. Any ideas? I want to get it to the library by the end of the week…so put your thinking caps on!

Happy Crafting!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Get ready for collage week…

It’s funny where life can take you! I was thinking about my role at our library as a “crafty person” and was feeling guilty that I hadn’t made them anything lately. Luckily we had a pretty lazy weekend around here. For once it wasn’t scheduled to death. Well, the next thing you know my kitchen table was littered with paper and glue and I was making collages. Here is my first attempt -

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I started with a plain piece of 1X6 pine. I don’t think I’ll give this one to the library cause it isn’t great…but it makes me smile so I’ll keep it! I might add to it as time goes on…we’ll see. Looking at it now I think more black dots would jazz it up a bit. This is one of the hardest things about making a collage…knowing when to stop adding more and more and MORE! lol! (more collages to come this week…ooooo…exciting I know! ha ha)

Happy Crafting!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Redwork

Here is another Redwork pattern from I did overthe winter…

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Again I got the pattern from a Yahoo embroidery group… I look at it now and realize I was a little shaky with some of my stitches but I think that is because I couldn’t see the lines in the dim evenings…Darnit!

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Happy Crafting!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Deer before and after…

I got this out of a free box last summer.

Before:

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And after:

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I have it hanging here…by these two mirrors I’m still working on. This is such a dark little hallway in my house I’m hoping the mirrors and white paint will brighten things up. I’ll add a pop of color when I figure out what that will be. lol!

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Can you believe I started spray painting this last summer…almost a year ago! But while spray painting I noticed the antlers were loose and almost falling off. So I brought it into the house to get fixed…and there it sat… until I got out my E6000 glue and a stick pin and dabbed glue into the crack. Phew! I can’t believe it didn’t get broken before I could get to it…

Happy Crafting!

PS: And when I say “get to it” I mean remember that it isn’t done…sometimes I have projects that sit around so long I don’t see them anymore! Anyone else have that problem?