The Royal Crown

Spellbinders has a line of dies out for pendant, pins and jewelry making as well as other items.  They are all very vintage-y looking.  I decided to give this crown a try and the results were worth the patience.  It's embossed on foils which you can purchase from them or elsewhere.  JoAnns is carrying this line also.  This is called the Vintage Trellis Crown.  It takes two dies, which could be used separately as borders for your cards and scrapbooking, and 1 sheet of foil. The bottom die is threaded with metallic ribbon, although that is not a must and you paint the inside with gold metallic paint.  I used Ranger.  It was a fun project, although as I said, required a little patience.  I just thought it was something a little different.  Mine is going on Grace, my antique dress form!

Brr.....fall is really here!

Last night and tonight our temps will be in the forties.  It was cold on the way to church at 7:30 this morning.  I warmed up with a latte afterwards and some good old fashioned creativity.  I have two projects to share today.  One is a very simple gatefold album for my daughter to put her doggie Halloween pictures in.  You know, the ones with the dog thinking  "I can't stand this nonsense!"

The other is a Halloween Witch Hat.  I bought the paper mache hat years ago and this was the year to finally get to it. I painted it black and then had so much fun decorating it with a large rose, a halloween bottle brush tree, a mouse, a pumpkin and acorns, a skull and a vintage Halloween card.  I think I covered most everything.....oh and orange and black tulle!  Hope you enjoy!

Print and Cut on the Cricut Explore

This is the first image I cut on the Explore with the new Print and Cut feature.  You print the image on your printer and the Explore cuts  it out.  I am so blown away.  I can think of a gazillion applications for this.  No coloring with Copics or markers.  No hand cutting etc.  Just a crisp clear image with glorious color.  Those of you who don't have an Explore better put it on your Christmas list.

Dancing Witches

Here's the other file I told you about from Megan Hardy.  I have the figures rather spread out (there is a cat on each end) but this is just to show you what a cute file it is. Click to enlarge it to see the wonderful detail, right down to the straws at the tip of the brooms.  What do you suppose they are dancing to???

Happy Hallow!

This little card was made using my Cricut and, originally, a Silhouette file.  I found out after the fact, that the girl who designs the files, Megan Hardy has her own Etsy shop where she sells some of the same files in .svg.  Halleluiah!  I used several paper collections and a rosette left from a project two years ago.  I hope you'll visit Megan Hardy's Etsy Store.  These trick or treaters are only one file of three all with different costumed trick or treaters.  And she has a dancing witches file to die for!

Amazing!!! Simply Amazing!!!

This beautiful cut was done on my Cricut Explore.  Be sure to click on the picture to see it up close and personal.  I found the file on a blog called Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky! by a girl named Marigold.  I could not believe the intricacy of the file and how beautifully the Explore cut it.  Get yourself one of these machines.  They are superb!

Tired of it yet???????????

I am having so much fun doing these mix media canvases.  It's also using up lots of charms and baubles I've been saving over the years.  Today I tackled one of those large thick paper mache letters like Michaels and Jo Anns sells.  I gessoed it twice as a base.  Then applied paper scraps with multi medium (love that stuff).  Then I covered it with texture medium and laid on some cheese cloth and did some stamping.  Then for the fun....I pulled out all the fun pieces and began laying them on.  I ended up using all silver which is not what I had in mind when I started but some things just "tell" you what to do.  I used both E6000 and hot glue to add everything then sprayed with Perfect Pearls mists Patina and Mister Huey's Sparkle.  I love that.  It adds sparkle and shine without color.  So much fun.  Needless to say this will have a spot of honor in my studio!

Mixed Media-I'm In Love!

After doing the mixed media piece I showed you a few weeks ago, I found I am really drawn to this craft.  It feels like "real art."  So I did two more pieces, show below.  One is about the things I love and the other I did for my husband's office.  It's a little more masculine.  Take a look.  I'd love to  know what you think.  My inspiration, of course, is Finnabair and her wonderful collages and techniques.

I find with these pieces you have to study them to see everything.  But they are so much fun!  Have a great weekend.

Haul Videos............yes I said Haul!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just wanted to ask you to please turn up your video.  I did not have my settings right on the audio for these two videos.  I'll be sure to correct it!

New Blog Topics

I've never been one to make my blog about personal things.  But recently I've seen several articles and Pinterest posts about depression. Some are accurate in their facts, some not so much.  I've suffered from clinical depression for 30 years.  Most of that time I have functioned very well and life goes on.  There have been very dark times when it almost wasn't worth living (distorted thinking).   I was fortunate that I had an excellent psychiatrist who was really into the pharmacy end of treating depression.  The first ten years or so I was on a drug that killed the terrible anxiety attacks but I almost have no recall of what happened then because I felt so "drugged."  My gynecologist suggested I go on a different drug and I discussed it with my other doctor and he agreed.  That is one thing you must remember in a medical situation.  You must be proactive where your health is concerned.  After all, you are in charge of your own body.  It may take awhile for you to get that way.  Over the years I have had ups and down and tried almost every drug on the market.  Finally for the last ten or twelve years I have found a combination of drugs that gives me great moods, good sleep (which has been a chronic problem), good energy and a better disposition.

You must remember that depression is like any other illness such as diabetes, lupus, or arthritis.  It is not a character failing or your fault.  It is a disease, a treatable disease.  The biggest thing with depression is distorted thinking, the kind that says you should commit suicide because nothing else will help.  The kind that keeps you from getting help in the first place because you are SURE nothing can be done to help you.  The kind that keeps you from being the best that you can be, stay close to your family and friends and the kind that says the world is coming to an end in the middle of an anxiety attack.

Please if  you suffer, get help. If you don't know where to start, contact your local hospital and they should be able to hook you up with a psychiatrist.  Don't depend on your primary care physician to treat this.  Some are excellent at doing that but most just don't have the grasp on the medication aspects or time for talk therapy.  Most insurance plans cover some or all of the fees associated with seeing a specialist.  Some of us will suffer with this for the rest of our lives.  But I am living proof that a better life is achievable.

Doing a little bragging here..............

My new door box for fall.

A little enticement..............

This picture is not so great.  The sun keeps coming in and out here today.  If you sign up to be a follower or if you are a follower and you get someone else to sign up, you could win this Prima Paper Doll tag.  Whichever group you are in you must send me an email and tell me you signed up or signed someone else up (both of you get a chance).  Have a great Labor Day!

Sweet Innocence

A few cards using stamps from the Sweet Innocence collection of My Favorite Things:

Just a few Halloween projects to share:

This little shoe from the Sizzix ballroom slipper die is slipper style with o heel.  The other project is again from a Sizzix box die which are so popular now.  The paper is Lost and Found Halloween by Authentique.  I used TH corners on the bottom and a ribbon from my stash around the top.  The skull is sitting on a double rosette and has a spider rubbed with Inka Silver.

Finally, my photography assistant, Sophie, one year old. Adorable, yes?  Have a great week.

Here's the last bunch for now:

The cost of the valentine mini is $20.

This little heart mini which is spiral bound is made from a die and the box is actually part of the mini.  The picture with the beige rose is the box and the one that shows the teal rose is the front page of the mini.  There aren't too many embellishments on the pages but lots of little pockets and pages for pictures or mementos.  A great gift!  The cost of this one is $20.

The butterfly mini is kind of a play on happy words.  The cost is $15.

This is little suitcase from the Sizzix suitcase die.  Inside are several tags devoted to Tim Holtz.  It actually buckles closed.  Cost is $15.

OK here's a few pictures of my little treasures.  I tried to take the cover and one spread on each.

The price on the fall one is $15.

The price on the tea pot mini is $20.

Minis for Sale!

I have so many finished projects taking up space in my studio and so many more I want to make that I've decided to sell a few of the early ones.  I can't describe each one in detail....no time...but most of them were featured on my blog at some point.  They're all in great shape and I've priced them inexpensively.  I'll get as many pictures on as I can!  Just email if you are interested!