4 x 4 Friday

This weeks theme is: Alice in Wonderland~This is the "Mad Hatter's tea party"
The story of Alice in Wonderland is one I've never read from cover to cover as the first bit of nonsense I started to read put me right off. lol.... yep, I'm difficult~ Anywho, since the story is "odd" I figured anything goes. The teeth represent the Cheshire cat :-P

I painted the background with an old bristled brush and then rubbed some of it off.... then I used some blue iridescent paint over the top of that which I kept brushing until almost dry then I took the pointy end of a paint brush and scraped circles in the paint. Then I dry brushed some black over all of that before adding the twigs, tea cup/saucer & moss to this piece. This 4 x 4 is built up on a foam core board which I cut into so I could slip the plate into the background.

Just for fun~

Here is a little something that I whipped up for a little friend of mine named Daylan. She is having a runway birthday party. Soooooo I thought of a "fashion boutique" I made her some business cards with a little felt card holder and a sign for her door which reads "Daylan's Fashion Boutique" I've also made a birthday bunting with her name on it. She told me her colors for her party were orange & baby blue! Very hip!

Show & Tell Friday

This week for show & tell I'm showing & tellin' about some Map table cloths I've made for... yes, you guessed it, my grandson's pirate party! (coming in APRIL) Now this is just the top part mind you.... I've made 3 of these map table cloths that will be atop of...I'm thinking some black fabric, or maybe some burlap? I'm not sure yet~ This one pictured has a map from my house to my grandson's house! He is my little treasure, thats for sure!!
Here is a close up of the compass I've stenciled on one corner.

Here is how I made them if anyone is interested:

I took some ultra suede fabric and tore the edges randomly. I then went around the edge with some watered down paints. I then took the fabric outside and ever so lightly sprayed it with some spray paint in the colors of black and a red primer. I then bunched up the fabric and sprayed it a little darker to give it the look of being folded up for ages. I found and enlarged a map compass online and printed it onto cardstock paper which I then cut out and made into a stencil. I used acrylic paints to stencil on the fabric. I then just painted roughly a "map" onto this old-worn looking fabric. I'm pretty happy with the results!

The winner in my drawing for one of my zipper pins is: Susan from the blog Penless Writer. Susan if you could e-mail me your address I'll get your pin off to you toots-sweet!

This show & tell is hosted by Kelli :-)

Theme Thursday~

This week's theme: Letters of the alphabet... all or some~I created a little box with my ol' pal Pete. His impish-mischievous look always cracks me up. Here Pete is sitting on some old wooden blocks... A, B & C of course. I used some pages from an old school book from the late 1800's to cover the top/bottom & sides. I also used some vintage gold (fading in some spots) crepe paper...I love that stuff~
I still cannot get my photos to enlarge when clicked upon.... any words of advice on what to do or try? Thanks in advance :-)

Mixed Media Monday

This week's theme: School I didn't add any embellishments of color or anything that would detract from the photo... I've used this photo sooooooooo many times that this time, I just wanted the kids and the simplicity of that. How many times can you "pink the cheeks" and think its cute? lol I was thinking maybe adding an old pencil.... like a handle at the top. I just need to set it aside and see what pops up. I used an old family photo from the year 1925. I color copied the image (a lot smaller, the original is 8 x 10) and ever so carefully cut out each row of children. I then, ever so carefully, glued them back together on top of another copy of the same exact photo. I glued small bits of black paper behind each child so that they will always appear to be "popping" out of the photo. I then surrounded the photo with raised edges, placed a glass top over that and then soldered the whole thing. (soldering is a lot harder than most people express! lol)
I love the whole concept of the photo under glass, and I'm thinking I am going to do this more often as it was/is fun~ Maybe my soldering will improve! lol

Show & Tell Friday~

Showin' & tellin' & givin' something away~

This week.... I'm sharing a torso/jewelry stand that I purchased from a second hand store for 2 buckeroos. The bust is made out of styrofoam and is held up by a brass stand. I covered the bust with vintage sheet music. I've had this jewelry stand for years. It was in my daughter's room when she was a teenager, it had leopard fabric on it when she had it. She hung necklaces from it and even used it as a bulletin board, it was cute! When she got married & moved out I had it in a hall closet for a few years lol.... and now its going in my studio~If your wanting to try covering something in old sheet music...here is how I did it:

There is a trick to covering things with old sheet music or paper from old books. If you have ever tried to tear old paper into random strips you'll find they will tear very straight. Not a good look when your looking for a more hap-harzard look. Soooooooo if you soak the paper in hot water before tearing it apart it will tear beautifully and actually adhere faster with whatever glueing method your using. I just rubbed Elmers glue all over the torso with my hands, full strength letting the water on the paper dilute it ever so slightly. I let the piece dry over night. I then went over any rough bits with 100 grit sand paper (ever so lightly) I then went over the entire bust with a product called "Decoupage Finish" made by Royal Coat.... oh my goodness, I just love that stuff. It gives it a nice slight-gloss-yellowed-antique look when it dries!! It only takes about 20 minutes to dry. I highly recommend this product. Anywho... once the finish coat was dry, I sanded anymore spots that seemed a tad rough and just applied another coat of the decoupage finish over those bits and taaaaaaaaaaaa daaaaaaaaaa instant cute!!

Another thing I want to share this Friday is this:

A flower pin made out of a vintage zipper. Now mind you, this is my very first one~ so it is not 100% fabulous, just about 80% fabulous~ I am having a "give-away" to anyone wanting a chance to win a zipper flower pin (not this one, hopefully a cuter one!) I know not everyone thinks this is cute nor would want it....so if you want a chance, just say you want in the drawing and I'll enter you! I will draw out a name and post it in next Friday's show & tell!

This show & tell is hosted by Kelli

I WON~

I never win 'nuffin.... and I won two things :-)Firstly I won this.... beautiful art piece from Patty O'Rourke It is from the One World One Heart blogwide event I took part in. Isn't it beautiful! Thank you sooooooooooo much Patty, I can't wait to receive it!!

Secondly, I won this from Betty:

I just love it! Thank you soooooooooo much Betty!