Saturday 23 June 2012

A Chip Off The Old Block...


I forgot to take pics as I went along...Oops.....I really need to get into the habit....

But this is a cool, super easy, super fun project to indulge in.  All you need are wooden blocks, sandpaper, acrylic or folk paints, stickers or rub-on transfers, magazine cut-outs, stamps, ink, and Modge Podge!  What you use or need just depends on how you want the final output to look.

First what you'll want to do is, sand down any of the rough edges.  You don't want anyone getting splinters (trust me!  I speak from experience!).   Next, apply the paint and let dry for a few hours.  The good thing is, with wood, the paint absorbs quite well.  Then, you'll want to apply your stickers and transfers (or, you can always use magazine pieces as well).  Just use Modge Podge to glue on any paper.  Then, just coat with 1-2 layers of Modge Podge!

Now, if I had had more time, I would have done some sponge painting in a variety of colours around the edges of the blocks just to jazz them up a bit more!  You can also use little gems or stamps and ink (which I did use a little bit on these blocks..but you can't really see that from the pictures I posted).  There are lots of great things you can do with these little guys!

Enjoy!

A.A.

Sunday 17 June 2012

Happy Fathers Day!

So I decided to get creative yet again (surprise surprise).

Two super easy crafts to go with my dad's main gift of American money for one of his upcoming trips.

I got both ideas online but modified each slightly...



The first thing I made was the jar (I filled it with almonds for my dad).  All you need for this gift is: A jar and black paint pen.  I got the idea online from a site that sells these little decals to put on jars.  Why bother with the decals when you can make it yourself?


So easy!  All you need to do is draw the image I have up top on a jar with a paint marker.  I'm a perfectionist, so I usually sketch it on a piece of paper and fold it in so I have it there in case I need it.  The good thing with paint markers, is that although they are permanent, you can usually take off a little mistake if you make one with rubbing alcohol.

And the little monster below was originally designed as a cell phone charger (you poke a hole through and fun the charger through) but I decided to use it as a cell phone holder instead.  I knew my dad would be cursing if I looped his charger through.  All you need for this little guy is: Fake fur, big googlie eyes, a glue gun, felt, scissors, and clay!  I wish I had taken pictures during the process..but I was in a wee bit of a hurry......I really have become a last minute gal......

All you do is get a big glob of clay.....punch your hand into the middle and shape it so there's an area to set your cell phone in.  Then...let the clay dry over night......bust out the glue gun and fur.  Glue the fur onto the little monster.  Glue the googlie eyes on wherever you wish.  Cut out a circle from felt....shove it into the mouth just to make sure it fits right....don't just assume it will....Once you've double checked it, glue it into the mouth and voila!  Good to go!


Happy Fathers Day to all the Fathers and Fathers-to-be!!

A.A.

Sunday 10 June 2012

I've wanted to post this for a while but couldn't...

Because the baby shower wasn't until today!

I created another mixed-media canvas for a good friend of mine who is having a little boy in August!  Her nursery theme is sports and dogs.....so....I stuck out the sport theme and chose a few different piece of sports equipment to incorporate in the piece (oh yeah, her colours are a beige and baby blue - so cute!).  I actually had a second painting started (to match her theme)....but I didn't like it...so I stopped and destroyed it...here's what I had of it so far...


But it didn't survive....I hated how it looked...so I destroyed it....(sorry Erin!)

So here is how it started out....

First, I sketched the pieces of sports equipment onto the canvas....Then, I took the small pieces of crayons that I wanted to use and glued them on like so:


Again, I can't emphasize enough that you make sure you've lined the area you're working in with newspapers and paper bags...just in case someone distracts you while you're melting the crayons with a hair dryer...

Next, I busted out the acrylics and began to paint:


And here is the final product!  I always use a matte varnish to spray overtop of the painting (just in case!):


A.A.

Saturday 2 June 2012

Sorry for the lack of updates!

I'm sorry for the lack of updates!

Provincial testing has been extremely exhausting and has taken over my life this past week....but I will kind of get my life back after Tuesday....

I am currently working on a gift and will post pictures once I am able to. I can't post an image until this person has it in his/her hands....so until then I'm a little stuck......

So here is a picture to tie you over until I am able to post the final gift product.  I took this photo last summer in my kitchen.



Enjoy!

A.A.