A project finished!

A project I've had in mind for a while...

 

I think it was on Pinterest, but I'm not sure any more...

directions for making cute refrigerator magnets

out of wooden puzzle pieces.

 

The hardest part is finding a reasonably priced vintage wooden puzzle.

I found this one for $1.49 at Goodwill!

(but I've been looking for quite a while)

I think the images are adorable!

 

The pieces actually fit kind of tight and difficult to get in place.

But that was ok with me.

 

I went to JoAnn's and bought these round magnets (10 for $1.29)

and found my hot glue gun.

Quick and easy!

 

They are those kind of magnets that fall off the fridge if you really think they are going to hold up all your lists and photos and coupons.  These are more for the toddlers to play with and to add a certain cuteness to my kitchen.  I will watch carefully to see that the magnets stay secure.

 

One project - finished!

 

 

a colorful day.

A friend posted her grandchild with PLAY-DOH on facebook.

It got me thinking...Is Wyatt ready for play-doh??

 

A quick trip to Target and the experiment began.

 

I think it was a great success. 

 

 

He loved playing with it. 

 Tori and I made the zoo animals, which he decorated with blobs of play-doh. The snake didn't make it to the photography stage, but it was especially enjoyed...

The nice thing about play-doh is even the older siblings love it.

 

I think grandmas and playdoh go together like peanut butter and jelly.

 

I've been meaning to share the above beautiful duct tape flower that Tori made for me.

 It is on the end of a pen! I love it.

 

 

I have a new project coming up which will be revealed soon, but I needed some special fabric pieces for it.  I went to my favorite discount store (goodwill) and bought the above two pieces of velvet - the green velvet with the decorated lace was a camisole. The purple velvet was a girl's dress.

The fabrics are lovely.

 

The above three pieces came from the "home decorating" department at Goodwill.

Two pillow shams and something that looked like a Christmas stocking but not in the shape of a sock.

Most were half price so everything was very thrifty.

 

Yes, its been a colorful day.

 

A fun technique to share

Today I tried out a technique I learned on PINTEREST.

 

supplies: 

watercolor paper

watercolor paints

stencils

 

I just used the stencils I had on hand.

I looked at the dollar store, hoping to find some

children's ones - like zoo animals

but no luck there.

 

My plan was to see if it would be possible

for my grandchildren to do.

A successful technique with watercolors?

 

This one got kind of runny and messed up.

using the right amount of water is important.

 

but some sketchy outlining saved it somewhat.

 

Its easy to mix colors.

 

Yes, I think the grandkids can do this!

I'm thinking the images could be cut out and made into a greeting card, or place cards or a bookmark.

 

 

You might see me at Joann's checking out the stencils tomorrow.

What I love ...

...about watercolor

1.  it dries fast
2.  you can mix any color under the rainbow
3.  If you mix a color you like, let it dry up, all you do is add water later
4.  cleanup is a snap
5.  I love the look of the vibrant colors
6.  it washes right off my hands
7.  it doesn't spill
8.  if my paper buckles, I just iron it.
9.  easy to start and stop many times during the day

 

I found a tutorial on these little "six stroke figures" on Pinterest.

They are easy! It's just a technique.

Look on my "watercolor" board if you want to see for yourself.

 

I've finished the "color" section of my online class.

 

warm colors (like sun and fire)

 

 

cool colors (like ice and shade)

 

...and many new background techniques...

 

When I paint, I set out FOUR water vessels. That way I can paint for quite a while without having to change water.  And if I'm using reds, and there is reddish water in one of the containers, I use that one.

 

Finally I am using all those brushes and paper and watercolor paints and things I've been collecting for years!

 

Soon I'll actually be painting objects (next lesson).  

Watercolor homework

1.  Mix colors on the paper - make leaves.

 

 

2. make flowers and background and shading with one color - several "values".

 

 

3. make flowers and background using primary colors: red, blue, yellow.

 

 

4.  paint with more color combinations.

 

5. make it rain. 

 

This lesson was all about color - mixing, choosing, painting.

 

no real artwork yet - just experimentation.

 

 

 

A flavorful gift

A gift received

 

 

Lemon salt and Lime salt

 

Ready to be sprinkled on...

salmon, steak, pork chops, stir fry...

Vicki gave it to me today at lunch.

 

I've been having artsy fun going over all the archives of Alisa Burke. I liked her "Fashion Fridays" and tried sketching what I was wearing today. I'm considering taking her online watercolorclass.  I like how free and easy her sketching and painting are. Mine is still a little "stiff".  Yes, that is supposed to be me.

Things I've done since Thursday

I started this post on Thursday. 

Now it's Saturday.

 Here's what I've been doing:

 

Helping Wyatt fall asleep for a nap, a drive and parking on East Bay Drive.

 

cold and clear 

 

 

Carving some Valentines stamps...

(Pinterest inspiration)

need some pink and yellow ink!

 

Using the panini maker, a lot!

 

Walker decided to treat us to homemade  bread.

 

Delicious rustic style foccacia.

 

 

just make something

 

a little tiny project

 

I've been reviewing last years' online classes, and pulled out my stamp carving materials. I also spend (too much) time on Pinterest, seeing what other people are carving.  (New Pinterest board: Rubber Stamp)...I made these in no time at all.  I did discover that I don't have many good ink pads. The color ones I did with Ranger Distress Ink, but I think they would come out better with a brighter permanent ink.

 

 

That was really fun, and now that my stuff is out, I think I'll try some more complicated carving. maybe something for Valentines Day. This is something I definitely need to wear my reading glasses for!

 

And just a little reminder to myself of the spontaneous art and creativity that happens around the house when one of the kids is home for a while...

 

 

December daily

I've had a lot of fun with my "December Dailies" book.

You wouldn't believe all the weird stuff I have glued and taped into it!

I would never be done if I didn't finally pack it away with the rest of the Christmas stuff.

 

I love how fat it got - kind of like us with the holiday treats...

 

I've already started on a bare-bones book for 2013.

below are a couple of pages I liked out of the 2012 one:

 

This is the day we went to see The Hobbit.

Tickets, quotes, pictures, runes...

 

This is the page for the day Walker flew home.

See the airplane coming from the East?

Snow flakes etc.

 

 

Here is retired husband engaged in one of his favorite holiday activities.

 

I hope you had some moments like this.

Peaceful.

 

 

December Memories Book (week 1)

I'm trying to keep up on my book on a daily basis.

Today I had to catch up on three days, not counting today.

 

 

It's getting fat and lumpy, the way I like it!

 

December 1

 

 

December 2.

The house tag is loose and I have journaled underneath.

The snowshoeing guy is a page from a vintage calendar.

 

December 3

 

Not too much going on this day, so I wrote down the recipe for what we had for dinner: Northwest Salmon chowder. The house photo has a secret!

 

It has a little ribbon hinge on the left.

 I had to put postage stamps on to cover the holes I put in the wrong place,

 but it looks like an inspired design!

 

December 4

I may not be done with this page yet - needs more layers.

The dimensional snowflake is hard to see on the right page.

I stamped the "4" on a cutout from a box of Trader Joe's shortbread stars.

I had lunch with friends at Panda Express so I included my "fortune"

 

December 5

 

I made a pocket out of a starbucks sleeve, kept receipts of my days' errands,

salvaged a coca cola bottlecap for fun.

 

December 6

 

December 7 beginnings...

I've just been waiting for the 7th so I could use this

7 Swans a swimming tea image!

 

Are you doing a December memories book?

 

How is it coming?