Its in the Details

A Gray Sky and some sprinkles…

2010-09-02T16:02:23Z

means it is a perfect day to work in the scraproom and what better products to play with then Jenni Bowlin and Maya Road. I have to say I am in love with Jenni’s new paints ( have not tried the inks yet but I am certain I will love them as well) the colors match exactly with all her inspiring products. I still need a few more colors of her paints and ink which I will be purchasing soon. I gotta have them all. Once I finish this mini album it will be filled with cute photos of Ansley and her friends.

As you can see I started out with a Maya Road 4″ binder album, painted it with Jenni’s new paints (Chili Powder “inside”, Lemon Drops and Malted Milk “outside”) and plan to alter the cover using her new Family Tree Mini Papers, Family Tree Journaling Cards, Yellow Butterfly Stickers, Butterfly Plain Chipboard Elements as well as her Vintage Style Sew On Buttons. I really love this color palette a lot.

So what are you all working on today?

Coupon Code 63B3..

2010-08-31T19:37:47Z

will get you $5. off of last years “All Hallow’s Eve” online workshop. Even though it is last years workshop does not mean it is dated my any means. These projects can be recreated year after year. So if you did not participate in this online workshop last year you can still do so without worry this year.

This online workshop includes 12 vintage-themed project tutorials. Projects include items such as treat baskets, feather tree ornaments, mini wall hangings, tags and a treat bag.

Each tutorial includes color photos and step by step instructions. Some projects come with downloadable templates to make your creative process a bit easier. I have also included vintage postcard and mini flashcard downloads for both Halloween AND Thanksgiving.

Suggestions are provided to convert at least 7 All Hallow’s Eve projects into adorable Thanksgiving themed items, making this workshop pretty much a two for one!

Your membership to this workshop will last for 45 days from your signup date. The cost for this online class is $19.95 but when using the coupon code it makes it only $14.95. So if you are in any Halloween swaps now is the time to start creating.

Enjoy!

P.S. To those of you who have asked me when book #2 is coming out well I am working on book #2′s proposal right now so any good thoughts you can send my way will be greatly appreciated. I love the idea and the vision I have in my head. But since this industry is so heavily saturated with lots of great idea books I really need to present to them a wonderful proposal… this means fingers and toes crossed everyone.

For a great cause…

2010-08-30T14:43:44Z

I was asked by Cheryl Darrow to alter a canvas however I wished for a very good cause… this canvas will be up for auction at her Breast Cancer Crop. I created this canvas using a TENseconds Studio 12″ x 12″ canvas with a nitch as well as ledger paper from 1933, vintage buttons, old book pages, scrabble tiles, rhinestones, Maya Road trim and chipboard, a vintage flower frog, Stickles and Distress Stickles. The photo inside can be removed and replaced with your own family photo.

The handmade flowers are created from old book pages. The instructions on how to create these flowers can be found in my book “Delight In The Details“. I love how they look. The trim has been aged with creamy brown ink. The scallops are accented with Diamond Stickles and rhinestones and each button has been threaded using embroidery floss.

The sides of the canvas have been painted with a black and cream checkered pattern and vintage ledger paper accents. The center of each black check is accented with a vintage button and the ledger paper is accented with rhinestones. As you can see no detail has been forgotten.

I hope this sells for a pretty penny.

Clayton Sherman Spinney

2010-08-28T04:16:04Z

June 22, 1923 – August 27, 2010

May you always rest in peace Gramps.

Gramps as a young boy with his three sisters. Not sure of the date this was taken but I am thinking sometime around 1935.

I really love this family photo of my Gramps, Grammy and Dad. It was taken in1943 just before he went into the Navy during WWII. My goodness Dad was such a cute little boy.

This photo was taken in Dec. of 2005. It makes me laugh because Madelyn was really giving him a fit. The little bugger was not wanting to sit down. Which meant she and Gramps were having one heck of a wrestling match and the littlest one almost won. Thankfully a tootsie pop was found and we got a photo but this one is my favorite.

As most of you know this was taken this past July. We all had lots of laughs that visit. Gramps never lost his humor.

And this adorable group of kids, although now a bit older and a little grayer are all together and so relieved that their dad is at peace. They have spent the past week at his bedside reminiscing about all the fun and crazy things they did with and without him while growing up. I’m glad they are together.

Take care Gramps and say Hello to Grammy, Frannie and Richard for me.

Organza Flower Pin

2010-08-27T15:10:04Z

I found these three rolls of organza at JoAnns for $2.50 a piece. I love the fall colors and as soon as I saw them I thought they would make a gorgeous accent for a fall sweater, shirt or even a headband. This flower is super easy to make BUT you must take EXTREME CAUTION when using the candle to melt the edges. The organza trim will go up in flames if you hold it in one place too long… believe me when I tell you this… I am experienced. Yes my first attempt went up in flames but fearing this might happen I first filled the kitchen sink with water, placed my candle next to the sink and carefully started melting the edges so I thought… before I knew it dear husband is looking at me with the what in the world are you doing, do blog tutorials have to burn down the house kinda look, I pass on the gotta love me grin and proceed to flower attempt #2. With great success I might add, I am a quick learner in the error of my ways. So if you would like to make one of these flowers here is how you do it… remember take EXTREME CAUTION when holding the trim over the flame.

Supplies Needed: Organza, Scissors, Sewing Needle, Thread, Fabri-Tac, Rhinestone Button, Felt, Pin Back

Instructions:

Cut a piece of Organza trim 24″ long and approximately 2″ wide.
Cut freehand scallops along one edge of the trim length wise. The scallops do not all have to be the same size so don’t worry.
Now CAREFULLY hold the scallop side of the trim over a candle flame. Remember do NOT hold it too close or it will catch on fire. Make sure you have your kitchen sink filled with water just in the case. The heat from the flame with melt the edges of the scallops.
Once the entire length of the trim has been slightly melted begin gathering the opposite edge (straight) with a threaded sewing needle.
Once you get to the end of the trim tightly pull the ends together and double knot the thread.
Apply Fabri-Tac to the center of the flower and place a rhinestone button on top, let dry.
Attach a small piece of felt to the back using Fabri-Tac, let dry.
Attach a pin back on top of the felt using Fabri-Tac, let dry.

There you have it… a cute organza pin to accent anything you want.

Have fun!

Another week flew by quick…

2010-08-26T15:22:45Z

Gosh my blog is taking a huge hit right now. I guess I will give you a quick run through of my week. Lots of neat things going on.

First off I am super excited to be a part of Paper Cowgirl next year. I was thrilled when Cindy asked if I would be the guest speaker and a teacher at her event. This is going to be such a super fun weekend.

On a sad note my grandfather has said his good byes and has told everyone he is ready to pass on. If you would please send him comforting thoughts and prayers I would really appreciate it. My Dad has been with him since last Friday. Thankfully my Aunts made it to ME yesterday to see him. So needless to say since Friday I have jumped to the phone each time it rings for updates or have been calling dad when I just cannot stand it and have to know how Grampa is doing. I’m so glad I got to visit with him in July. We had a great visit with lots of laughs.

Ansley started her Junior year of High School, Monday. These years are flying by way too quickly and the early mornings are really getting to all of us as we are super night owls… always have been and guess we will not stop. As soon as 10 pm hits our eyes pop open and we are good to go for several hours. So the 6:30 am alarm clock is a real sting when it goes off each morning. And she is a trainer which means she is super busy with football stuff after school and with the games. Our first game is Friday. Go Titans!

I have been working on a neat 12 x 12 canvas for a very special auction in September. Here is a sneak peek of what I am creating. It includes vintage ledger paper and buttons, skeleton key, scrabble pieces and black paint. I plan on adding some coarse crystal glitter and other items today. I hope it sells at a great price. It will be a one of a kind that is for sure.

Artistic Journey will be here before I know it. We have a fun tag challenge going on right now. Everyone was asked to make a tag about them so here is what I created. As you will notice I have lots of Maya Road products included. Bottlecaps, Kraft Doilies, Mini Butterfly, Turquoise Metallic Mist and White Baby Pom Pom Trim. Here is a fun little tip… you can mix any of the Maya Mists with Gesso to create your own paint. This is how I painted the bottlecaps. Give it a try, it is fun.

Then we added a 9 month old puppy that is the size of a small horse to the family. Chief is such a sweetheart. He and Sonny enjoy each other but Buster really wishes he would just go away. Hopefully in time Buster will realize he has a nice playmate. Time will tell with this issue.

As you can see he is a big 9 month old. But talk about sweet and goofy. We love him. He has kept me pretty busy this week. Learning to walk on a leash without ripping my arms out of my sockets and sitting for more than 1.2 seconds kinda tires a puppy out. He seems to really love this section of the couch for nap time.

This pretty much sums up my week. And since it is football time I need to go make cookies for the trainers to snack on during the Freshman and JV games tonight. It is amazing how many cookies teenagers can eat. I’m just thrilled they liked them so much last year that they asked if I would make them again this year. I made cookies for every game last year. I guess it will be a tradition.

I think this is everything that has gone on here in the past week. Have a great day. I’m off to get the oven heated.

These things make me smile…

2010-08-19T19:40:19Z

I thought I would show you a few more things from around my scraproom. I just love old and new mixed together… although what I am going to be showing is mostly old… also, I find it fun to decorate my scraproom with items I have found with other people while digging in antique stores or thrift shops… makes me think of them a lot when I use the products I have stored in dishes etc.

I have used these two candle holders for years to fill with candy hearts for Valentines Day or snow for Christmas but now they will be filled with vintage buttons of every kind. Oh how these make me happy sitting right on my worktable at arms reach. I always think of me and dad scooping out and counting about 40 pounds of these beauties. And you all know how much I love my typewriter. I LOVE that thing so much. I always think of my mom asking the lady at this antique store if they had one and her saying yes it is in my car in nearly perfect condition… you can imagine my face.

I love the look of milk glass mixed with depression glass. The divided dish works perfectly to hold my Distress Stickles, glue sticks, sewing needles and my milk glass shaker filled with fine silver german glass glitter. The smaller oval dish is perfect for holding my scissors and other tools. That little salt shaker makes me so happy. I found this last month when mom, dad and I were driving through TN. The milk glass pedestal piece was purchased in an antique store in Buckhannon, WV. These pieces I use for organization cost me about $20.00 all together. You can’t beat that price.

These metal flower frogs are just sitting patiently on my shelf waiting to be used for photo shoots to hold tags and cards. But for now they display old buttons and a few Jenni Bowlin photo images. I love these frogs and find them all over. Mine have come from WV, TX, TN and ME.

And now for this fun item… my dad made me this paper towel holder a few years ago. I plan on decoupaging old sheet music to the base which I will show you when I get it completed. I created the top of the holder using the vintage button tutorial project I did a while back. I think it looks so cute sitting on my worktable. Now I am on the look out for a container to keep my wipes in… vintage of course.

So here are just a few of the things that make me smile. I will share some more photos of my room once I get a few things hung. Now if I could just find my bottle of Fabri-Tac and Art Glitter Dries Clear that would make me really smile!

And finally we are done…

2010-08-18T15:28:35Z

Oh I do not miss those stripes and stars for one second… not a tear was shed when they got covered by this gorgeous color by Valspar. It is called Prairie Brush and I love it. Now I walk into a room that looks like this… Every single product is in its place and every single drawer, box and nook and cranny has been cleaned out. It feels so good.

I love that I finally have a spot for my Underwood typewriter… this poor thing has been all over the house. I still need to hang a shelf over the one you see for items that I need but do not use all that often. And I want to dig around some thrift stores to find some vintage prints to hang on the wall.

Behind me the Expedit is filled with products and treasures. I have my glass glitter in salt and pepper shakers, milkcaps in a large pickle and candy jars, tools in milk glass vases etc. I love to just stand and look at it.

My computer and sewing machine have a new desk… this can also work as an additional workspace when CHA time rolls around.

And I think today’s cute award goes to this flower frog doubling as a paintbrush holder…. I love it and it works perfectly.

Although I think this is pretty cute too… I placed a glass flower frog inside a glass dish which holds my Stickles perfectly. These simple little things make me so happy and so inspired to create.

And I must give a huge thank you to Alan a.k.a. Mr. Techy for helping get everything moved in and out, hooked up and just right as well as our trusty little supervisor Sonny. He worked really hard… can’t ya tell.

Scraproom Makeover

2010-08-16T15:17:08Z

I have not fallen off the face of the earth… just been lost in my scraproom. Last weekend my friend Lisa E. came over and helped me clean out my scraproom… let me just say if you need to clean out yours she is the one to get to help as she will make SURE you stay on task and get it done… nine hours later I had every shelf, drawer, nook and cranny, AND the closet cleaned out. Nothing was left untouched. We filled the trunk of her car and half the back seat with products to sell in a garage sale.

So with all of this said yesterday my sweet daughters, son-in-law, husband and pretty much adopted daughter Mercy came and helped empty out my scraproom so the painters could paint my room today. Now when you walk into our house you see this… I swear it seems like it has to go from bad to worse before it can get better.

Yes all of this came out of this one 10′ x 13′ room….

Now you know why I am so glad the painters are coming today…. I just cannot take creating in this bright room another second. It was perfect for Ansley when she was 6 as I let her design the paint theme but now she has moved on to a different room with a much better paint scheme and I got stuck with this one… stripes no more… today it will be Prairie Brush green. And I am so happy. Just makes me super creative thinking about it.

I will post photos of the painted room tomorrow.

Have a great Monday.

I spy…

2010-08-06T22:07:24Z

a really messy bar and kitchen table. The bar is loaded with lots of fun things I purchased while in Maine and West Virginia and the kitchen table is filled with stuff I have been using this week. You too can have this mess if your scraproom is so out of control you need to ask your neighbor to help you come organize…. next week hopefully all that you see will fit into my scraproom. Pray for me that Jennifer does not leave the second she sees what I have done.

You will spy with your little eyes vintage milk bottle caps (for my future Christmas online workshop), German glass glitter, bag full of vintage tinsel and aluminum garland (more items for an online workshop), old bottles to be cleaned and filled with vintage shell buttons, a printers tray that my grandfather gave me, my Artistic Journey project, Glossy Accents, Amy Butler bag filled with vintage cards, papers and other ephemera that I brought back from CHA, a box of empty Fannie May chocolates I got in Chicago for Ansley, vintage trim, collage pauge, Cracker Barrel Syrup bottles that I will be soldering on… there shape is so cute, ziploc baggies for kitting classes, daughter’s water bottle, super cute milk glass salt shaker to fill with glass glitter, my purse and my Underwood Typewriter.

And my kitchen table… well this is good as it has been far worse… you will find lots of Maya Mists, a future online class project using Maya Mists, Black Soot Distress Stickles, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink – Creamy Brown, tools, beads from Paper Tales Inc. on Etsy, super cute “B is for Boy” vintage flashcards from Pretty Little Studio, rhinestones, self adhesive pearls, a canvas to be altered and auctioned off for Breast Cancer, stack of vintage postcards and my laptop that I have sat at for three days straight typing up class instructions.

I think I need a bigger scraproom… trying to get the nerve to move back into the front room of the house. It is bigger and I need the room but cannot get up the courage to make the jump just yet. Oh and I still have all of this to put away. I need a keeper bad!

But at least all the wash is done… that has to be good for something, right?