Coloring paper blossoms today...

Hi - welcome back!  Glad you came over to take a look.  I have been busy creating paper Cherry Blossoms to embellish projects and I am very happy with how they came out.  I even made a YouTube video showing how I create them.  You can see the YouTube Video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy7jNoCGhQY&feature=youtu.be

I'm having a lot of fun lately!  I'm trying to use what I have - and since I've been crafting - collecting for many, many years - I have lots to use.  Probably for a few life-times.  This is a picture of my completed flowers - I really like them.  The paper changed a lot through the process and looks kind of Glassine - no longer like scrapbooking paper!

If you look at the YouTube video you will see a "mess" on my desk - I'm going back to do something with the paper butterflies I have cut out too - hmm, what will it be?

It's cold - still - outside today.  I think this has been one of the snowiest Februaries in a long time.  Wally and I will be going out to feed the birds in a little bit - at least I will go to fill the feeders and the suet cages - Wally will go out to chase the birds - he's fast but they fly faster.  He looks so confused - it's funny - I think he wants to fly too...

I hope your day is sunny and that you are happy.  Take care and be blessed - K

Polymer clay and wire wrapping - YAY!

I tried a new thing today, well - at least new for me.  I had a moon stone type, tear-drop shaped piece of polymer in my craft room and couldn't think of anything to do with it.  I was looking on Pintrest and saw a piece of wire wrapped polymer - and there were holes in the polymer with wire going through the holes!  Wow - the possibilities.  I have wrapped wire around polymer - not ever through it.

This meant getting out my tools.  I have a Dremel that I hadn't used in years and a dapping hammer - YAY!  I think I enjoyed this part more than the wrapping part to be honest.  So I drilled some holes, hammered a little wire and the photo below is the result.  It's not perfect, but I think for a first try it came out pretty good - and oh the possibilities!

Moonstone polymer in pink and black

I've been wanting to do a video on three of my dragon pieces - but my house is so loud in the winter!  I got a new oil furnace installed last November and the house is so loud it's hard to hear myself think.   The camera picks that sound up really well too.

The brown dragon guardian I've shared before there are two more that defend Dragon world too and I don't think I've shown them - at least not here.  There is a gray guardian and a purple guardian.  They are both defending a precious stone.  (Also made of polymer clay.)  The cabochon that the Purple Guardian is defending is also wire wrapped.

Gray Guardian

Back view showing wing and tail detail.

Other side - this really shows the leg detail.

Purple Guardian

Back view - highlights the wing and back detail

The Purple Guardian also holds a small pearl in his tail.

It's been really snowy and cold here again today - it is February though and both February and March tend to be the higher snow fall months here in the Cambridge Valley.  I hope that where ever you are this finds you happy, healthy and doing something that you enjoy.  Remember that every day may not always be good - but every day has it's good moments - cherish those you find.  K

Another very snowy day -

The weather forecast was really off for my area in upstate NY a couple of days ago - and now here again it was off - last time they really over predicted and I think this time they under predicted.  It's really snowing out there - my tire tracks from earlier are almost completely filled in and all the sweeping and shoveling I did - now looks like I didn't.  Oh well, welcome to the great northeast!

Today instead of showing more of my art and craft works, I'm just putting up a few pictures from my sunroom window - the birds predict the best - my side yard feeders are filled with the busy feeding feathered friends.  Its a flurry of bird activity out there - the last storm that didn't happen but this time - wow - my feeders have been packed non stop - good think I refilled them too.  I may have to refill in a little while - it's supposed to dropped dangerously cold later and stay that way for a few days - don't want to do it then.

Woodpecker on suet cage and cardinal in the feeder.

Lots of birds under the black walnut tree.

Some activity under the birch trees.

Many birds moving around in the birch branches.

Of course as soon as I tried to take pictures quite a few of the birds flew off.  Its really nice to be inside and watch all of the activity of the outdoors.  It was nice outside earlier - but I'm over that now.

My next posting will be showing some of my polymer clay jewelry.  Hope to see you back again for that.  Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog post.  I hope that you are safe and happy - have a creative day.  Be well.  K

Final day of my participation in the Facebook 5 Day Art-Doll Challenge

Today is the last day that I will show three photos of my art-dolls on FaceBook - doesn't mean I won't post my art - just not because of this challenge.  LOL.  This has given me a taste to get back into making dolls and art items again.  I hope that you follow my blog and my YouTube channel so that (if you're interested) you will see when I have something new to show.

These are today's dolls:

Hansel and Gretel Candy Witch

Crazy Quilted Cape

Graveyard Witch

Boo to you too!

Grandfather Cloud Walker

The link to my 5th day on YouTube is here:

http://youtu.be/QlYcLD5jVfY

This video goes into more detail about each doll and more of the work involved is displayed.  I hope you enjoy it and that you like and subscribe to my channel.  I would really appreciate it - shameless self promotion here!

Be well!  Thank you for looking - I certainly love that you've looked.  K

Shall we dance? The Art-Doll 5 day challenge

Today is day four of my participation in the 5-day Art-Doll challenge.  I shared some photos for today which I will also share here.  Cloth doll making is a long time love that I've gotten away from in recent years.  This challenge has made me want to get back to creating them.

Cloth Rag Doll - Forgetmenot

This rag doll pattern was one of my very favorite beginning patterns.  This doll I have kept for myself - I love her.

Navigator Bear

This little bear with his flight jacket I made for my late husband, Ted.  Ted was a Lt. Col. navigator when he retired from the Airforce.  He loved his LT Col. Ted E Bear.

Minuet

These dolls are a dancing duo - yet unfinished.  I really enjoyed making these dolls.  They are from a class/pattern by Barbara Schoendorf.  If you would like to see more detail I've included the link to my youtube video here:

http://youtu.be/MnVdLwjb76A

Thank you for taking a look at my blog.  I hope that today finds you happy and healthy and in just the right frame of mind.  Take care - K

Snow Storm pending - Crafting tomorrow!

I've had a very busy day today - seems like now that I'm retired I am busier than ever - how did I ever find the time to work?  LOL

Yesterday I completed three sympathy cards.  I think they came out pretty nice.  These are for me to use.  Two say "Thinking of you" but are actually extra cards I will send to my friends who are sisters of the woman whose funeral I attended on Friday.  The purple sympathy card went to her family.  I am hoping to make some really happy cards - have to break the sympathy rut.

Here are pictures - one sympathy card to another friend and then the two thinking of you cards.

Sympathy card and envelope with the inside verse above

Two "Thinking of You" cards - blank inside.

The rest of my busy was taking care of the house in preparation for the anticipated coming storm.  It's supposed to be a pretty big one - but I have a wood stove and a generator (which my oil furnace is connected to) and lots of food, blankets - and yes my well is also connected so I will have water too.  I just hope that it isn't that bad and no one gets injured or worse due to the weather or related incidents.

Maybe tomorrow I will have more to share.  Be well - be safe and be happy.  K

Sympathy card materials

Card Base: Core'dinations 12X12 Card Stock Super assortment, Canvas Texture
Printed base cover paper - Hot Off The Press 12X12 purple sponged - HOTP-20070
Purple 1/2" organza ribbon Offray by the spool
Right side prayer stamp: N033 Blessing by Stampendous
Middle verse: Going to the chapel precut - Heartfelt Creations
Shapes were cut on the Brother Scan & Cut machine

Purple organza ribbon - Offray by the spool
Scalloped ovals from shapes on Brother Scan & Cut
23rd Psalm stamp - Stampabilities (Hobby Lobby)
Cross: Cross & Lilies precut - Heartfelt Creations

Heartfelt and Handmade by from Stampendous Friendly Phrases SSC11141

Envelope made using the We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board.
Deepest Sympathy stamp is Heartfelt greetings by Hot off the press

Inks used for the sentiments:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Ink used for the Cross:  Imprintz Pigment Ink - not sure this is still available.
Embossing powder on Cross: Ranger Black puffs
All colored card stock used is the Core'dinations Canvas Texture from Michael's.
All white card stock is the Staples brand 8.5X11"

This is just a basic gate fold card using basic stamping, embossing and design techniques.  I created the layout as I went along using supplies that I have at hand.  I recommend that we all use what we have and create what we like - it makes crafting fun and makes time fly.  K