Game Night with Old Friends

I'm participating in the DecoArt Mystery Box Challenge.  

Please visit the site and vote for your favorite!

Hint:  My project is #9

My MahJongg group had just left when I received a mystery box in the mail from DecoArt.  I quickly opened it, revealing its contents: a paper mache box in the shape of a house, luscious fluid acrylics in four vibrant hues, DecouPage and Liquid Glass.   It was the perfect starting point for my project, “Game Night with Old Friends.” 

Game Night was, and still is, popular among friends and families.  Vintage games are resurfacing including MahJongg, Scrabble and Rummy-Q.  So I used iconic game pieces to turn my paper mache house into a FUN-KY candy holder, perfect for our next Girls Night Out.  

Products Used:  

Paper Mache House Box (by Darice)

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Quinacidone Magenta, Hansa Yellow, Cerulean Blue, Titanium White & Carbon Black

DecoArt DecouPage

DecoArt Media Liquid Glass

Supplies:

Rubber Stamps (from River City Rubberworks)

Staz-On Black Ink Pad

Paint chips

1” foam brushes

Paper Cutter

2-sided adhesive tape & glue dots

Embellishments:  Iconic game pieces

The How To

Paint sides and roof of paper mache house with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics.  I painted each side a different color.

Stamp images on paint chips using Staz-On ink.  Cut paint chips to fit box sides and adhere stamped images to house using DecouPage by brushing medium on back of paint chip and paper mache house.  

Add embellishments using DecouPage (it's also a glue!), adhesive tape or glue dots. 

Paint Scrabble trays with Media Fluid Acrylic.  Spell out “Old Friends” using scrabble tiles, 

and place on trays.

This MahJongg rule book from 1958 was a great flea market find.

Place finished house onto BINGO card and display on game board.  Fill box with old-time

candy and share at your next Game Night. 

 How many games can you find in this project?  Do you spot your favorite game?

Disclosure:  I was provided product from DecoArt but all opinions and ideas are my own.

OMG! It's National Coffee Day

What's better than celebrating a birthday or Mother's Day?  It might just be "National Coffee Day." However, when it comes to caffeine, everyday is Coffee Day in our house; and here is the sign adorning my craft room door to prove it: 

So grab your favorite coffee drink and linger awhile while I share   

a few photos and past posts of my favorite coffee-themed crafts. 

 I've included some links to get you right over to the post for more details.  

Post-it note holder made from an acrylic photo frame

I decided my daily lattes were a bit of a luxury, so I created a Coffee Stash Cash Can. I place my extra change in it (and an occasional dollar bill), and use this "extra" money to fund my caffeine addiction. Plus, it was fun to create.

Cappuccino Cash Stash

This next photo shows one of my coffee-theme ensembles.  It includes a set of coasters, note-holder and pen desk set, a large note clip, and (my favorite) a clipboard with matching pad of paper.  I love how everything coordinates!  These make wonderful gifts, especially with a fresh hot cup of coffee or coffee shop gift card.

Coffee Ensemble Makes Great Gifts

Another favorite altered art project of mine includes transforming three square canvasses into a trio that I call "Three Cups of Coffee."  I used a lot of coffee ephemera, including old gift cards, coffee sleeves and even a vintage coffee spoon.  Click here to quickly get to the post to see the completed trio and tutorial.

3 Cups of Coffee

And a fun makeover using a scoreboard chalkboard:

Altered "Coffee Notes" Chalkboard

And in case you've "bean" busy and missed my post about coffee and shampoo...here it is again.

I-am-only-as-strong-as-the-coffee-I-drink collage canvas

As you can plainly see, I am a fan of obsessed with everything coffee.  However, I hear that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day --just like a glass of red wine --actually has good health benefits. 

That's my story, and I'm sticking sipping to it.

Sharing a cup of coffee with: A Life in Balance, Happy House & Home, Sir Thrift a Lot, The Cottage Market, Flamingo Toes, The DIY Mommy, Distressed Donna Down Home, The Crafty Blog Stalker

Handmade Mother's Day Project

With everyone's busy lives, I'm glad the calendar tells us to take one day to celebrate Mom.  However, my Mom says "everyday is Mother's Day," and I tend to agree with her.  Hopefully, your kids tell you how much they love you more than just one day a year!

However, next Sunday, go ahead and lavish your Mother with more than a hug and kiss--give her several! And if you still feel like you want to give her a gift, make a handmade one that she will treasure always.

Here is an art canvas I made for my Mom several years ago.  It's still one of my most favorite projects ever. Even though I've posted this before, I'd like to share it again in case you missed it the first time.

 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, just minutes after I was born.

Note the year:  1956

(Ohhhhh!  Am I THAT old?)

Scrabble tiles spell out "DAUGHTERS"

Chipboard used to spell "LOVE" 

Additional 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.  It still hangs in her kitchen so she sees ii everyday.  

Every few years, I update the bottom photo of my daughters and me and change the date.  So this year, when my daughters are home, we'll snap a few new photos, and decoupage it to the canvas when we visit my Mom.  

Sharing at these parties. and

Moonlight & Mason Jars