Class Photos? Create Wall Art!

Yes, another school year is coming to an end...the kids are counting down the days while Moms are getting their last "chillaxing" time in while they can before the pool party schlepping begins. If you're feeling the end-of-the-school year crunch, and you're still wondering what to give your child's teacher, here is one more idea. Using your child's class photo and a quick trip to the Dollar Store, you and your child can create a beautiful memento the teacher will cherish for years to come. It also makes a great keepsake and beautiful wall art for your child's room.

OK, while you dash to the Dollar Store to pick up one of their 12" x 8-1/4" (wood frame and cork) Memo Boards, I'll gather a coordinating mix of embellishments and meet you back here. And grab yourself an iced latte, as it's already in the 90's here!

Dollar Store Memo Board

My plethora of embellishments emphasizing

turquoise, yellow and a smattering of red.

Paint the wood frame to coordinate with your color palette.

(I used painter's tape to protect the cork,

then realized it was going to be covered with paper anyway, so you can skip this part.)

Crop the class photo, removing any borders, and back with solid contrasting paper.

Choose paper to coordinate with your paint color, and cut it to fit inside the frame.

Mod Podge the paper to cork.  Don't worry about the ripples; they will disappear by tomorrow.

Alter the memo board, one embellishment at a time.

Here I used my label maker to write "4th Grade".

I use "Scrappy Glue" to adhere the flowers to each other and to the board.

Using a wallet-size photo, I punched my daughter's picture with a scallop punch and backed it with a larger punched circle.  Then added a red binder clip and a small round tag where I wrote the year.

I also stamped some Fleur-de-lis designs using black "Staz-on" ink.

More flowers, a "star" button, and a tag with ribbons,

a "Friends Forever" charm and bling.

Secure  ribbon to the back of the frame to hang on the wall,

and this wonderful altered artwork makes a beautiful keepsake for a teacher or your child!

And now it's time to hit the pool.  Happy Summer!

Time for Teacher Gifts

For those of you who live in the San Fernando Valley area, I want to let you know that I am hosting three workshops in June featuring altered art projects which will make great teacher gifts.  Either come by yourself or with a friend, or bring your child and make your gift together -- your choice.   

The cost includes all materials and supplies you need to complete your project.  YOU choose the colors, theme, ribbons and embellishments to personalize your gifts for the wonderful teachers your children have this year.  As a special end-of-the-school year bonus, you will also make a coordinating gift tag & gift bag.

Friday, June 4

Sunday, June 6

Saturday, June 12

10 AM - 1 PM

Choose from many projects including:

Tile Coaster Set ($10)

perfect for holding a Starbucks gift card

Garden pail ($15) 

Filled with flower seed packet, soil & shovel

Clipboard & Coordinating Notepad  ($15)

Desk Post-it Note Pad Set ($15)

Notes read "Who are these kids and why are they calling me teacher?"
(Different note styles available.)

Coffee-theme Post-it Note Holder ($15)

Space is limited, so please RSVP at least 3 days prior to the date you choose. 

Please email me at Dozeedo@gmail.com with your RSVP, questions or for more details on the projects.

Also:  If you like these altered art projects, but cannot attend one of the workshops,
I have a limited supply of finished projects available for purchase.

Whose Side are You on?

Growing up, I shared a tiny half-bathroom with two brothers.  We did have a full bathroom downstairs that was for everyone's use, especially when it was time for the daily shower or bath.  We made do with this 1-1/2 bathroom arrangement.  After all, we didn't have a choice!

So I think that our two daughters are fortunate to share one full bathroom with two sinks just between the two of them.  So why do I hear arguments about who left the wet towels on the floor, who used MY toothbrush (eww - gross!), and who used the last piece of toilet paper, leaving the empty roll?

OK, so I exaggerated about the shared toothbrush in order to segue into the creative aspects of the girls' bathroom.  To lay claim to which side of the bathroom is theirs, the girls each embellished a large initial using their favorite colors of acrylic paint, paper, ribbons, rub-ons and stamps.  Sealing the initials with Mod Podge, adding a retro turquoise clock and a pretty planter, the bathroom sets the scene for two teenage girls, who spend a great deal of time in there!

"What time is it?  Time for me to get in the bathroom!"

Elysa's side

Kaylee's side

My Garden Party Workshop

What do you get when you cross a garden party with altered art?  One of my Altered Artworks workshops, of course!  Last week, four crafty women came over in desperate need of creative therapy.  And that's exactly what they got--three hours of schmoozing with old and new friends, delicious snacks, and most of all, uninterrupted art time. 

From my vast array of scrapbook paper, metal charms, chipboard, brads, buttons, ribbon, and many other embellishments, each participant selected her own combination of colors and textures, creating a beautiful (and useful) garden pail as unique as the individual who made it. 

So, instead of showing you my artwork, I thought this time I would share theirs:

Gotta love this fun, bold print!

Catch the sparkling chipboard butterfly!

Birds, trees & a ladybug--check!

Love the birdcage print with its strong brown & green colors!

After decoupaging (did someone say "pass the modge"?) and embellishing were complete, the garden pails were filled with soil peats, a small terra cotta pot (which they painted), flower & vegetable seed packets, planting instructions and a shiny red pail. 

Although these pails make great gifts, I think my friends were going to keep their artwork for themselves!

I went to a Garden Party...

"I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends..."  Just the other day, I heard Ricky Nelson's 1972 hit on the radio, which gave me the inspiration for this art project and post.  Planting flowers and vegetables seems to be the "in" thing to do in my neighborhood.  In fact, my next door neighbors have a wonderful garden right in front of their house with everything from kale to strawberries.  They tend to it everyday, enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor.

Apart from my throwing flowers into a few pots, the only gardening that I do is in the form of art!   I have created an altered artworks garden pail --I know it pales in comparison (ooh, sorry!) to my neighbor's garden, but as they say, it's the thought that counts! And that's exactly what this is: a thoughtful and personal handmade gift for a friend, Mom, aunt, teacher, or even your next door neighbor!  This is the finished project:

Here's how you make it:

Start with a clear acrylic pail bought at your local crafts store.

Choose colorful, fun scrapbook paper

I used a garden motif.  Cut a 3-1/4" x 12" strip of paper, and mod-podge it (hey, Amy -- is "mod-podge" an actual verb?), wrapping the paper around the circumference of the pail, leaving a 1" space at the bottom.

 

The pail is about 1/2" smaller in diameter than the 12" paper, so I just added a 3-1/4" length of 1/2" ribbon to cover the gap.  You can also just add an extra inch of the scrapbook paper, and believe me, no one will be the wiser.  Cut a 3" circle and mod-podge this to the lid. After a few minutes, apply additional Mod Podge over the paper.

I added a punched tag (using EK Success' new Journal Plate punch) , a cute bug charm, and spelled out "Mom" with my label maker.

I continued adding colorful, coordinating ribbons to the handle, a chipboard bird, flowers, a brad, and finally a chipboard tag (stamped with a picture of a watering can with flowers).

 

The next step is to fill a clear cellophane bag with potting soil, and place it inside the pail making sure you can see the soil at the bottom.

Then add a brightly-colored shovel, a few packets of flower and vegetable seeds, several plant food stakes, and you have a personal gardening gift!

Of course, you can add anything to the pail such as gardening gloves, a coupon "good for one day of helping plant the seeds" (great for kids to give to their Mom or Grandma) and maybe even some herbal mint tea bags.  

 

Coincidentally, while I was writing this blog, the door bell rang and it was my wonderful neighbor, Kay, with a beautiful bunch of sweet peas for us! I think her ears must've been ringing!  Now I know exactly who's receiving this garden pail.

A New Look and a New Project

We just love when Elysa is home for spring break -- it's so nice to spend time together, and catch up on her busy college life.   That is, when she's not sleeping til noon!  Anyway, our little Scottish Terrier, Coconut, decided to sleep in Elysa's room all week.  He knows a good thing when he sees one!  Is Kaylee jealous? Yeah, just a little... 

And speaking of spring, here in Los Angeles, we only have two seasons: fall and summer. While most of you in the country are enjoying springtime, we are feeling the warmth of summer -- well, it seems like it with 80' weather and a sunburn from a two-mile power walk on the beach!   Well, with the new season, I thought it was time for a new look -- not for me, for my blog (although I could use one, too!).  I took advantage of Elysa's PhotoShop knowledge, and she helped me create a new blog header! And with a new look, comes a new project:   Here are photos of the altered canvas I made for my Mom.

 8" x 8" and 8" x 4" canvasses tied together with ribbon;

each canvas painted and then decoupaged with designer papers;

Photos added.

Yes, that's really me, minutes after I was born.

Note the year:  1956

(Ahhhhh!  Am I THAT old?)

Scrabble tiles spell out "DAUGHTERS"

Chipboard used to spell "LOVE" 

Further embellishments:  chipboard scroll, button and

silver heart charm tied to "E"

Then added ribbon, brads and flower

Finally, current year of bottom photo:  2010

I had so much fun creating this wall hanging canvas for my Mom. 

With Mother's Day coming up, I think my Mom will be quite pleased with her new artwork.

 

[Editor's Note:  It is now 2013, and my Mom requested an updated photo of my daughters & me.

Well, mostly a new pic of my daughters...]

 

Partying along with:

 

 

 

 

Cheap Crafty Mama

Cappuccino Cash Stash

Ahhh! The first sip of my afternoon latte tastes so good. It's just what I need to get me through the afternoon, a kick-start to the second half of my day.

Do you have a daily liquid indulgence? Maybe a mocha or Americano? Or a delicious, exotic green tea? Whether it's a non-fat, iced grande, extra foamy cappuccino, straight-up cup o' Joe, or your favorite tea, do you feel guilty splurging on this daily treat, when you think you shouldn't spend the money? Well, what if it's "play money"?

Which brings me to the question, "What do you do with your leftover change?" You know what I mean: those annoying pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters that bulk up your wallet or are tossed into the bottom of your purse, never to be seen again. Except for an occasional parking meter, what good is the heavy metal anyway? The creative solution: Your very own Coffee Cash Stash -- a place for your extra change, while turning it into your "play money.”

Gathering a smorgasbord of my favorite coffee-themed embellishments and paper, I re-purposed an empty can into a beautiful Coffee Cash Stash! First, I mod-podged the can with designer papers and ribbon. Then, I created a label using my Slice and an old coffee sleeve. I stamped the coffee sleeve with the sentiment, "Coffee Run!", edged it, and mod-podged the label into place on the front of the can. I then adhered brads, layered flowers and added stamped images of coffee beans. After making a slit on the lid of the can, I mod-podged the lid with matching paper. I then glued red hemp around the lid, slid the coffee-sleeve tag (which I made using a punch) on it and tied it into a ribbon. I finished the tag with buttons and a flower and finally tied two coffee bean buttons at the bottom of the ribbon ties.

The only thing missing now is the heavy metal. Now, where did I put my purse? Meet you at the coffee shop!