Did ya guess?

This was your visual "hint" yesterday...did you figure out what I've been up to? {I know you did, Sharron! *LOL*} If you did, then your prize is a great big Dating Game Kiss! Or if you prefer a good old-fashioned cyber-hug! *ROFL*

No? Well, I'm pretty sure that most of you don't know that before I made cards or altered composition books, I enjoyed tole painting. I really got into painting on fabric when my kids were younger - I don't think they ever left the house when they weren't wearing a t-shirt or sweatshirt that had Batman & Robin, Bugs Bunny, The Green Lantern, or something I'd taken from a coloring book! This project was more grown up...

It's a vest! I bought a bunch of these from a Utah craft store (Zim's) that went out of business a while back. In typical hoarder, um, I mean CRAFTER fashion, I always figured that I'd end up using them for something, just not sure what. Well, over time, I've fused different holiday appliques to them, done some pen and ink drawings, and now I can add tole painting to that list. These darling buggies are from Annie Lang ~ her little critters are always so whimsical! I have quite a few of her tole painting books, but luckily for y'all she's online now & you can download her books and packets...gotta love that instant gratification feature! *LOL*
Don't they just make you smile?
I just LOVE these lil ladybugs!
It's relatively easy to do, especially if you have loads of acrylic paints & Delta's Fabric Medium to mix in, or in this instance, some DecoArt So Soft Fabric Paints. I've done both methods and they wash/wear beautifully and last for a good long time without fading.

I hope you enjoyed my little departure from making cards. Now, I'm off to play with these....
Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!

Happy National Boss's Day!

Okay, so I'm a day early, but it's been on my mind for the last five days, and I thought I'd toss it out there. Why have I been thinking about it? Well, I did a quick job for the sweet gals in the front offices at North Davis Prep (where my boys all go to school) and just delivered the product today. Here's what I made:

a spa kit

a sundae topping kit

and the toughie...a clipboard message center. YES, it was tough! All of the images that I could find for the St Louis Rams online are in low-res crappy Vector imaging, so I couldn't blow them up big enough without distortion. I managed to grab ONE (thanks Wikipedia) and got it big enough for me to be able to paint it over to the board. Not too shabby, huh?

It was a difficult project to paint, but I haven't picked up a paintbrush in so long, that it made for a nice break from all the paper play that I've been into for the last 6 months. Well, that's it for me today. I have some other challenges that I've got to get started on now ~~ never a dull moment!

Thanks for looking & have a great rest of your day!!

More to Show

USA handpainted clipboard/message center with coordinating thumbtacks

Kitchen fruit handpainted & embellished clipboard/message center with matching thumbtacks

altered mini composition book with embossed & rhinestone embellishments

altered & distressed mini composition book

altered & distressed full-size composition book

altered full-size composition book with chipboard, ribbon, metallic, embossed & distressed elements

My goal right now is to try to add something every day. Not always successful, obviously, but it's worth a shot...have a great rest of your day!! ;-)