Never Looked Back

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me to put together a sign for his daughter’s cheer coach for their season end party.  I wish I had a picture to share of the team.  His daughter is about 7 and so cute.

This sign is 36x20.  The team colors are black, purple and silver.   I ordered some metallic silver vinyl for the phrase from Expressions Vinyl.  It adds some nice bling to the project.

I based the large board with the purple, then painted over it with black.  The edges are sanded so a little of the purple shows through. (You know me and that grunge look)

I’ve made quite a few items using vinyl but this was the first time I did one so large.

The team pictures will go in the individual purple frames.

 

Be Creative!

Brush Strokes

Real quick cuz it is after the holidays,  Christmas is over and all the goodies are put away until next year.   Here are a couple of things I painted for others.

   

 

I took these late at night real quick so the pictures aren’t the best.   It seems I have less and less time to do what I love.   I really need to do something about that.  The problem is that I have too many things that I love  :)    I signed up for a Project52 again this year.   What was I thinking?   It may turn into a project 12.

 

Wishing you the best New Year ever!!

Black and White

Everything is not always black and white.   We live in a colorful world.  I love black and white photography,  but for some reason I have a hard time editing it.

I can’t even tell you how many hundreds of pictures I took this year.   I picked a handful and was playing around in Photoshop and did a few edits.  All in different shades of black and white.

A bee in the desert of Idaho collecting pollen.

Here are a few taken near McCall, Idaho

Here are a couple of interesting tree stumps along Huckleberry Trail near McCall, Idaho.

An old barn near McCall, Idaho.

Craters of the Moon National Park, Idaho.

An old bridge at Celebration Park near Melba, Idaho along the Snake River.

Summer of 2013 Idaho Wildfires.   Near Fairfield, Idaho.

 

Be Creative!

Power Tools

 

I  {Heart}  power tools.   As most of you know, I paint.  Decorative painting, Tole painting, whatever you want to call it, that’s one of my hobbies.  I cut most of my own wood so I have a couple of different kinds of saws, sanders etc…    It shouldn’t  surprise you that I asked for a new DeWalt palm sander  for Christmas and Santa delivered.  I finally pulled it out of the box today to work on a new project.

I bought the items I needed for this project sometime in November.   I needed a little prep done by My Handyman before I could get started.  I told him it was no rush because, well…  I was just too busy creating things for Christmas.    I am Grateful for his help. He finished up for me a couple of weeks ago so now it’s time for me to begin.

The piece of wood is sanded, drilled and ready for paint.   I painted the base with Traditional Burnt Umber.  I use Americana paints by Decoart.  They are my favorite. 

The  base coat is really the undercoat.   It will look much different when finished.   You know me and my distressed look!  I’m trying to decide if I’ll use blues or green’s….  

I guess you’ll find out when it’s done!

 

Be Creative!

Moda

I’ve been working on a quilt for my new Granddaughter for several weeks.  I found this fabulous Moda fabric at Craft Warehouse.   Fabric is not cheap..  It was 8.99 a yard  and I bought 7 yards,  plus thread and Flannel to line it with.  I love the bright colors!

I am not much of a seamstress.   I bought my Singer sewing machine back in the early 1980’s and paid $75 for it brand spankin new.    It only has 5 stitches.   Very basic..  I sewed basic clothes for my kids when they were toddlers, hemmed pants and mended clothes with it.  I’ve even stitched on my cards with it.  One of these days I would like to get a new machine and make some more quilts.  Just what I need!  Another addiction!

One more washing to soften it up, then I’ll snip all of the loose thread and it’s ready for her arrival…  Just under two weeks!   I hope she likes it.

 

Be Creative!

 

Oh Holy Night.

I painted this  24 inch wreath for Scissorbella.    I don’t paint as often as I used to, but I still enjoy doing it.   I use my scroll saw and cut out my own wood.  My paint of choice is Decoart Americana.

I purchase most of my products at the evil store  Quality Art.   It is an Artists Paradise and they also have the best prices.

When I went to Hobby Lobby to find a plain wreath they were on sale at 50% off.   (before Halloween!)   and the berry picks were 99 cents.  Now that is my kind of shopping.

This pictures shows you the various layers a little better..

This picture is a little shaded.  Here is one I took inside.

Off to my next project.   It involves a bushy white bearded guy!