Hand made dimensional flower

Go to http://arnoldgrummerpapermaking.blogspot.com/ to see how I made this flower using hand made paper.

Canvas using an old cupboard door

Made this canvas using an old cabinet door and putting canvas paper over it. Not sure what I am going to do with it yet, hang it, sell it.......something anyway. The flowers are all made out of canvas also.

Have a great day everyone.

National Watermelon Day canvas

Every Summer Has A Story Canvas

Today is National Watermelon Day, yes, every day is National something. Who knew.....So today, I designed my post around Watermelons.

Summer, my favorite time of year. Fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, fresh everything!!!

Today I made a canvas having to do with summer and watermelons.  I drew and colored a couple bird houses and then fussy cut some images I found.

I then used my Helmar Decoupage and pasted down all the cutouts.

I decided to also fussy cut a fence and a wheelbarrow, two of each, decoupaged the first layer down and then used Helmar  ZapDots to add dimension to the canvas by layering the second cut out down. On the wheelbarrow I cut out some watermelons and added those.

I then found some boarders that had watermelons on them and a green checkered pattern and added those to the sides of the canvas.

 

Here is a photo of the Helmar products I used which you can find to buy here. Check out their website and see all the products they have to offer.

And, here is a photo of the finished canvas and a photo of the side.

 

Making Thank you cards with handmade paper

Soon to be Thank You cards

Well another Monday which means another week starting. Today I am making cards to send to my sister who is a consultant for a Make-up company. She likes to send Thank You cards to her big clients when they order from her.

I make 5 cards to a set and she is asking for 3 sets right now. I made 2 plain ones because she does have male clients who purchase from her and I made a pink one, yellow one and one with confetti.
(the other two sets will be the same). To make the yellow and pink ones, I just added a little craft paint to the water and let the paper set in it for a few minutes.

I have not stamped on them yet because she is still looking for that "perfect Thank You" stamp she wants me to put on them. (rolling eyes here because I told her I had lots of Thank You stamps)

The supplies I used

Arnold Grummer Paper making mill

Craft paint (any color is fine)

confetti

Iron

After making the sheets, I ironed them flat. She doesn't need envelopes with them because she just writes a little note on the card and sends it with the product. Easy Peasy!!

What kinds of paper would you make with your paper making mill? You can find all the items you need to make your own here, check out all they have to offer including molds that you can make and add to anything. Have fun!

Traveling Memories Mini Scrapbook

Today I have a mini Traveling Memories Scrapbook to show you.

Here is a photo of the supplies I used to make it...

 

You will need a cereal box or cardboard of some sort. I cut mine to 8" long by 3" wide. I then scored each side at the 3" mark which made a center piece of 1" for the spine. I then reinforced the spine with another piece of cardboard cut just a smidge smaller than 1" and used my Helmar Tacky Craft Glue to glue it in the center.

 I then cut two more pieces 3" by 3 1/2" and glued those to each side to reinforce them. You need a strong glue to glue these in place, that is why I chose Helmars.

Then tear pretty papers into strips, this is where you can use some of your gelli prints or waste paint paper and even magazines. Glue the strips onto the cardboard making sure to mix the papers up so two of the same are not next to each other. Let them dry on their own or use a heat gun to speed up the process. Then turn the book over and glue down the overhanging pieces. I then let this dry overnight.

 I then glued a piece of dictionary page down on the inside, let that set up and while the cover was still tacky, brushed on some Stampin' Glitter by Stampin' Up.....who doesn't like glitter!

Next step is to take your handmade paper and cut it to the size you need to fit your small "scrapbook". I tore mine 6 1/2 by 2 3/4. Fold them in half and make signatures.

 I made five signatures for my book. I then used hair bands to put my signatures in my book but you can use whatever method you like to bind your books. I did it this way so I can easily change them out or add new ones when I want.

Then just use your traveling scrapbook to keep your little souveniers in when you travel, maybe it is only a day trip, keep your ticket stubs, a flower you may want to press, a lucky penny you find, just anything you would like to put into your small book. I did add some extra paper in case you want to jot down notes or something. You could also add dangles to the side and make it real cute.
 I added a title to my book using small letter stamps on a piece of scrap paper and adhering it with Helmar D'ecoupage and craft paste.

Easter Basket

Today I am showing a handmade Easter basket I made from Paper Pulp.

If you would like to know how I made this stop over at Arnold Grummers Blog and see the details.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

In the Shadows

I have been intrigued with abstract painting lately for some reason. So I thought I would give it a go on canvas after trying it a few times. This one was done with heavy body paints and pastel chalks.

Christmas card/picture

Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving, I hope you all are having a wonderful time with family and friends on this great holiday. I can almost smell the turkey cooking now. I love Thanksgiving it is my favorite holiday. Just good food with great people, no hassles of buying gifts or any of that. Just great conversation with the people you love.

Oh by the way, this is Donna.....

Today I have a Christmas  picture I made for my younger brother and his wife. She was born and raised in Germany and my brother met her there when he was stationed in the army. They married over there and the ceremony was beautiful, but boy can those people party!!! Any hoot, the background is made from hand made paper and then painted then I attached a painting I did to the front and wrote Merry Christmas in German on it.

I also used some LOVELY ribbon around the outside that was so thoughtfully given to us by The Ribbon Resource, it is just lovely and fit this picture perfectly. Thank you so much Ribbon Resource and go check them out, they have lovely items to choose from.

Well, I don't want to keep you from your busy day, so I will just show a few pics. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

A small painting done with acrylic background and Inktense blocks used like watercolors.

Pastel Fairy

Here is a drawing done in Pastel chalks.

Hello again, I hope everyone is feeling well. I know the flu is going around, I got a flu shot for the first time this year. I did NOT want to get what my husband had....UGH!

Today I want to show you a canvas I did, I call it "After The Rain". I took a painting that Leonid Afremov did of a ballerina and changed it up a bit. He has beautiful paintings if you would like to go take a look, He uses a palet knife to paint, I find that a little challenging for me since I have not had much practice with one.

Hope you like it and thank you so much for stopping by.

Renoir's Red Peonies on canvas

Recently I found a fantastic painter on You Tube and her name is Ginger Cook, she is the mother of Theartsherpa, Cinnamon Cooney. If you have never watched either one, you should look them up and paint along with them.

Recently I viewed a painting video that Ginger did called Renoir's Red Peonies and thought I would give it a try. So here goes......here is my interpretation of what she did.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by. Make sure to check out both of these very talented women.

ATC October

Hello all, today I made an ATC for the ColourArt blog Challenge "Orange is the new Black".
I used Twinkling H2O's to color the pumpkin and then made leaves from paper pulp and a mold then painted them with H2O's. I then added the words "Hello October".

Thanks for stopping by.

Stop by the ColourArte Blog and make something to join in.

From Paper Pulp to Jewelry

Here are a couple things I had been working on before I received my goodies from Arnold Grummer Paper Making. I used paper pulp, which I had been playing with for a while now but not being able to make paper, I went for the jewelry making with it. This first piece is a pin I made from molds. I can't show the mold because I packed it up to go out to my new shed I just had build and delivered. I haven't come across it yet to unpack.

I used paper pulp in the mold, painted it when dry, I then put Glossy Accents on it to protect it and make it stronger and then added the pin to the back with a good strong glue.

Here are the earrings I made also.

This one I still had the mold out so you can see what I used. Again I used paper pulp, painted them and then adhered them to each other with a strong glue. This time I used a wood hardener and dipped them a few times, let them dry between dippings and then used a lacquer on them to protect them even more. 

Since, I have received my package and have been playing around making paper. It is soooo much fun. Go check out   http://arnoldgrummerpapermaking.blogspot.com/ to see all the fun things you can do with paper pulp and don't forget their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/arnoldgrummerpapermaking?fref=ts. They have a ton of fun items to help make your paper making so easy and fun in their store.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy what I made. 

Day 41 of #90daysofblogging

I went and took some more pictures of my craft shed being built. At least I can go visit it LOL. Sure wish it was in my yard instead of his.....

I am almost tempted to go and get it myself!!! If I hadn't already paid for the darn thing, I would probably tell him to keep it. Two weeks has now turned into two months. I sure hope it's worth the wait. Well, here are some more pics and I was able to go inside this time and take pics. Notice the roof is on but nothing else since last time.

 This is the front with the small porch cut out, the second pic is of our new swimming pool in our back yard (how that one got in here I have no idea).

This is one of the inside where the small porch is and then the cut out inside on the opposite side of the porch (did that make sense?.... Oh well)

These are two more of the inside, there will be 3 windows total and hopefully, it won't come with bats...........

And then the back side.

Maybe I will go over again tomorrow and see if he has gotten any further on it. Well, thanks for stopping by.

Day 40 of #90daysofblogging

Lately I have been into learning how to draw faces. I am wanting to learn with colored pencils how to shade and whatnot. I have to say, it is very hard. I have watched a number of videos and all the colors they use just for the skin tone, wow!. Here is one I did with colored pencils...

As I look at it, I can see so many places that need to be fixed, but......I am just learning so not too bad. I used Prismacolor Pencils and black paint for the hair and brown paint for the shirt and then used pencils to highlight in areas.

This one, is done in Charcoal...

It is the same subject photo just using different mediums. Again, practice, practice, practice. LOL.
Thanks for stopping by.

Day 39 of #90daysofblogging

Altho my crafting shed is not finished or delivered yet, I was able to drive over last week and take a few pictures of it in the making. I forgot I had these on my phone (DUH) He is a little behind due to some things beyond his control, one being the weather. Like I said in an earlier post, we have had nothing but non stop rain for days. I think every ones basements are flooding. But today, finally, we have sunshine :) oh what a relief.

Here are a few of the pictures I took, we couldn't get into the inside because he had ladders and such in the way of the door because he was just starting to put the shingles on the roof.

It is 8 feet by 16 feet with a small 4 foot by 4 foot small porch, which now I am not sure I should have had him put on. But, I may end up liking it. The inside is going to be jam packed with all my crafting supplies (hope I have enough room) and then I am going to foo foo up the outside LOL

Thanks for stopping by and check out my friends.

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 38 of #90daysofblogging

I have been trying to learn how to draw portraits by watching Dede Willingham. I don't have toned paper so I have been having to improvise. This time I used the back of a cereal box (not the best choice) to draw Marilyn Monroe. I have a fascination with the woman I think because not only is she beautiful but because of the mystery surrounding her death. She died at such a young age and not at the height of her career even. I know she had her struggles in life, if you have ever read anything about her, she had a hard childhood.

There are so many talented artists out there that have captured her likeness incredibly well, I like mine but I know I still have a lot to learn. Like shading and getting things proportionately right. On this picture you can really see the stroke lines, I think it is because of the "paper" I used.

and this picture was taken in shadow...

Deep down, I know it isn't a bad drawing but I am very critical of my own work. I know I will never be a portrait artist even tho I have always wanted to be good at it. When I was in collage and took art lessons, I tried drawing my kids and didn't think they were good enough so that is about when I quit. Maybe had I keep at it........who knows. Some have it (and I have seen some very good ones) and some don't.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week.

Don't forget to visit the other ladies.

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 37 of #90daysofblogging

Well, :::sigh::: my "Crafting Cottage" was suppose to arrive yesterday (Sunday 6-14-15) But........the man that builds them lost both his helpers. His wife, who is ready to have a baby any day now and the man that helps him that just found out he has cancer and has been going for treatments. And on top of all of that, we have had rain for almost a week straight now. I am so sick of rain!!!! I think maybe I should have him build me an ark (is that right? arc, ark....whatever) I will definately bring my animals a dog and two cats but the rest is going to be filled up with craft supplies LOL.

It's my ark I can do what I want and bring what I want. I was hoping to have pictures of it being delivered and being put in place but nooooooo, instead I took a picture of a groundhog in our yard with my phone. But it is too small to even show you that.

Well, I hope she has a healthy baby and I hope for the best for the gentleman that found out he has cancer, those are more important than getting my shed here on time. And I do mean that. It's just that I have been so excited to get it.

Ok, that is my post for the day, have a wonderful week everyone.

Day 36 of #90daysofblogging

Yesterday we had our cat shaved (really it is my daughters, but she could not have animals at her apartment when she left for college, so my husband has gotten so attached to it, it is now ours!!) any......we always have her shaved in the summer because she is such a furry cat. When she is not shaved she looks like she weights 100 pounds (Ok, I am exaggerating but she is big). We always ask for a lion cut LOLOLOLOL. My daughter hates it!!! :::maybe that is why we do it.....not:::. Well, here is a picture of her shaved...

She would not hold still for me for anything! Cats have such an attitude.....On the other hand, this one

is a ham and thinks he has to be in every picture taken LOL. We also have a pure white cat but she is like Houdini.....can never find her when you want her.

Well, have a great day and thanks for stopping by.