Birthday Poster Art for my granddaughter's 3rd BD...

....drawn by my other artist--- MY DAUGHTER...Miori 

My granddaughter...Siena Noriko who is now 3 yo!!

 Here we are....

I guess art & creativity had to run in my family! BTW...Miori is Jacob's mommy!

I'll be back soon...promise. Meanwhile, have a creatively awesome day!

Dragon Pastel

Another colorful creation from my grand son, Jacob... Jacob drew this and framed it as a birthday present. He forgot to sign it. I have to continually remind him that "HE IS AN ARTIST!!" LOL!  So he promised to create a signature for his art. :)
Enjoy!

 

Spooktacular and Sassy Clay Mask!

What do you mean it’s not Halloween yet? 

Clay Mask

Just a little early, but in time for some spooktacular fun…take a look at this sassy mask that Jacob sculpted.  While he used clay…I’m hoping he makes one just like it out of paper mache! Too cool!!

Enjoy!

"Today will give you strength for all your tomorrows"

Our Family Efforts aid Family Grieving

Yesterday was tough as thoughts of my own parents passing overcame me... A day before, I had asked Jacob to do a pastel drawing in memory of our family member's death so somehow it would help the immediate members of the family cope. I'm sure you'll agree ---that what he created was absolutely beautiful!

His drawing inspired the words I wrote and once framed...it worked its magic on the family.

Paper Mache the old fashioned way..!

Not just any old mask...this one has a mechanical component, an arm piece and red battery-operated eyes!

 No Modge Podge™ for my grandson, he prefers tearing newspaper and using flour and water. Every once in awhile, Jacob will pick up these items and begin a project. Lately, he’s been making masks and helmets.   

Enjoy!

1st version of a Roman Helmet!

Top mask enhanced: One can never have too much blood!

Creative journal cover with a touch of recycling

This picture of Jacob was taken this summer...His voice is not as high-pitched anymore and he's taller and super skinny, but his creative genes are as always...on the rise! Earlier this week, his 7th grade teacher told him that if he kept his grades up he would be able to paint a wall in the school hallway! He is sooooooo stoked and already thinking what he is going to paint!! Woot! Woot!

As promised, here is a creative take on covering a composition book my grandson needed for school. He cut off straps from an old helmet he no longer needed and stapled one on both front and back covers. This way his journal had a secure closure. He wanted duct tape to cover the spine and most of the staples, but I only had green colored tape...so he improvised. He added some doodling and a patch that he enhanced with his red permanent marker.

 

 

Front Journal Cover

Back Cover - Mini Ladder Man lost his ladder in an apparent free fall!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artists run in my family!!

Presenting my grandson Jacob!

When this little guy was only 5...he saw me binding a book and he asked if I could teach him how to bind his book. He had been drawing a bunch of faces...one on each page. After I glanced over to see what he was drawing...I asked him a question, "Jacob, what is the name of your book?" He said, "What face am I ?" I simply fell in love with his thought process. He and I worked a bit more on the book and some day...we should self-publish it. I can't wait...

He's, now, actually very close to turning 13, but at the time he started wearing-out his pastels and creating colorfully when he was only 8!! Here are a few of his drawings at age 8... I hope you like them as much as I love them. Creativity abound!! He makes me so proud.

Tomorrow I'll show you a journal he made for a class assignment...naturally it couldn't be just plain! Not my grand kid!! LOL! 

Enjoy!

How-to-Make: Yummy Yarn Tote

Gee, I've missed showing my fun art projects. Here's a neat yarn tote that I made to hold all those skeins that lay neglected in plastic bags from the store. I thought it would be fun to store them in one of my favorite prints. All it took was a couple of fat quarters from Joann's on sale, some scraps from other projects, a bit of Velcro and super-duper straight-stitching... I even made a thin pocket for my needles. To make it sturdy, I cut out a round-circle of cardboard and covered it with fabric (you can also add cotton and give it a soft bottom) then I stuck it inside. Cool, it stands up all by itself! You can cut the cardboard into a square or circle...it's your choice. For the top of the tote, stitch a hem about 1 1/2 inches deep and then slice a bit of the fabric and pull some of your own yarn through it for the closing tie or use ribbon. 

You can sew this tote in any shape you want. I believe in quick & easy, so I played it by ear and this is what came out. If you aren't creative enough to wing it...make a pattern and use it as a guide to cut your fabric. 

Now start knitting or crocheting something fabulous!!

Cost to make: <$3.00

Handmade ensures lasting memories!

Renewed & Great Find: Dining Room Table with Chairs

Scratched/Scuffed table-top

People are on the move again! I found this great table scratched and scuffed and dismantled from its legs.  The structure and lines of the table attracted me to it and once I tried to pick it up to transport, I realized that it weighed a lot and therefore it was solid wood. Oddly enough the table almost looked like it had a Cherry Wood finish where the legs and the chairs were completely different. Yes, very odd indeed!

Legs after marbleizing

After a good cleaning with Tung Oil and a few hours of thorough drying, I took an old t-shirt and dipped a small portion of it in my trusty can of black indoor/outdoor paint. With varied strokes of paint, I began to add a marbleizing effect by hand and often times put my fingers in the paint and spread it around as unevenly as possible. I started with the table legs first and loved the finish outcome: This was my test as I wasn’t sure what the results were going to be. I loved it!

Table-top after marbleizing

With such great results, I naturally continued to work on the table-top which needed much longer strokes in a consistent, but erratic pattern because there was more to cover. The result was beautiful; it toned down the brighter Cherry Wood coloring and the black marble gave it a richer appearance.

When the table-top and the chairs were completely dry, I added one coat of Minwax ™  Fast-Drying Polyurethane to the table-top for daily-wear protection. Yummy!

Too cool! By the time I had finished the table, the chairs were a piece of cake!
Check them out!

Close-up of newly-marbleized chair back

Great new marbleized chairs

Cool new dining table after 1 coat of Polyurethane

Ooops! I completely forgot to mention...The chair seats had a yellowy-greasy and definitely dirty plastic cover on them. However, when I took the covers off...the seats were in IMMACULATE CONDITION and needed no help from me! Yeah! I am going to make a couple of cute seat covers to throw over these and make sure they stay super clean! :)

Cost to me: <$5.00 for the can of Polyurethane

Sharing: Handmade Toys I've Created

2009 was my year of an entirely handmade Christmas...Sharing a couple of toys I created for two of my granddaughters.

Butterfly Pull Toy on Wheels

6 Puppets and Puppet Stage card table cover-up

Handmade ensures memories that last a lifetime!

Renewed & Repurposed: Old vanity table spruced up as a writing desk

My teen-hood vanity table of yester year 

When I was about 17, my mom surprised me with this table. She added a mirror on the wall and yahoo --- I had my own vanity table! I loved it, but as time when on - the table became useless and as of lately...it's been in the kitchen as a catch all.

Redesigned retro-chic writing desk...chair to follow!!

So, I dumped the stuff that was useless clutter and I spruced it up by giving it a new design, paint job, and new purpose. As soon I re-upholster the matching chair...I will have a new writing desk!

The big black dot on the table-top is a painted on coaster!! LOL!

Sooooo cool! Enjoy!

Cost to me: Approx...$2.95 + tax (sample size can of Behr paint from Home Depot) and I already had the semi-gloss indoor/outdoor black paint.

Handmade One of a Kind Rag Dolls

Samurai Dolls

I just wanted to share a few pictures of dolls I make and sell, and often give-away! There is absolutely no sewing involved. These are stuffed, tied, gathered, and hot glued!

Each doll is signed by me, given a unique number, dated, named, and comes with a certificate of authenticity! You'll love your doll!

You can purchase an existing doll in my Etsy shop at http://bluemoonshadows.etsy.com
or custom order a special doll with your own specifications.

Enjoy! 

How-to-make: Journals for every occasion

When you see an article or a picture of something you just luv – What do you do? You know what I do? I tear them out and paste them into my “Things that make me say – AHH!” journal.  I tear out décor ideas, color combinations, travel pics, home interiors, house exteriors, plants and flowers that catch my eye, items I want to buy someday… and I make notes alongside each picture, ensuring I always remember why I placed that tear sheet in my book in the first place! These are the things that make me say—Ahh!

Another great idea is a Gratitude or Memories Journal…where you jot down all that you are grateful for and maybe dedicate those thoughts to someone special.  Or you can make a holiday, recipe, gift idea, or sports, travel, quote, friendship, fashion, trend idea, school notes, color, paint chips, baking, prayer, special moments, birthday, green/energy ideas, renewed & repurposing possibilities journal. How about a road-trip journal...where you went & your favorite vacation spots, or a party journal...with meal planning ideas, actual menus, decorations, what was prepared and for what occasion, or how-to instructions and picture books, personal poetry and special thoughts, goals, and more goals! Why not make a garden journal - as gardening is SO IN nowadays...what you planted, when, what grew and what didn't and why it worked or didn't work, etc.- Whew...I think you get my drift! Right? Yeah!! I KNEW IT!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1.  One composition book… Buy it from the 99 cent store and save money, especially if you’re just going to paste magazine pictures and stuff in it. However, if you’re actually journaling and writing in your book, you may want to purchase a real composition book from a store where the lines on the pages are printed clearly…hahahaha! But, I luv the 99 cent store and have found really cool deals there!

2.  An ironed Fat Quarter from Joann’s or an 1/8 of a yard of your favorite fabric

3.  3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive (that’s super-duper Industrial strength – LOL!)

4.  Double-sided scotch tape (any size)

5.  Hot glue gun

6.  Once you know what theme or purpose your journal will have…Search for a handful of corresponding or descriptive words & decorative images to cut out from magazines or greeting cards.

7.  Gather anything you can use to embellish your cover…i.e., yummy paper scraps, pretty ribbon, old greeting cards, printouts from your computer, dried flowers and/or leaves, buttons…etc.  

Let’s get started:

Customize a slideshow

Tips:

* First iron your fabric

* Don’t forget to allow at least an inch all the way around before you cut. Darn it, I’ll just give you the measurement! Cut a rectangle approximately 17.5”x12.5” if you’re using the standard B/W composition books we all used in school… once upon a time. LOL!! 

* Read the directions on the back of the can before spraying and do this with caution because the sticky stuff can get all over the place. Make sure there is no wind in your direction or it will blow the adhesive back at you. L

 
Yeah! Your journal is almost ready! Now wrap it up or start using it!! 
Happy Journaling!!

    Cost to make: <$2.50 (includes the composition book and FAT Quarter on sale from Joann’s) Additional costs you may incur might be for the adhesive spray and the double-sided scotch tape, if you didn’t already have them at home plus any embellishments. However, the latter could simply be from recycled gift-wrap paper, old greeting cards, or old magazine tear sheets. Always –ALWAYS, look around your home for new ways to make-do with old items!!

Handmade ensures memories that last a lifetime!

How-to-make: Silk Flower Napkin Rings

A great gift idea that’s elegant, simple to make, and wonderful to treasure!

Here’s what you need:

1.  Hot Glue gun

2.  1 or 1 ½ “ wide interfacing cut in half length-wise or keep the size as is and buy the amount you want…get a  1 yard

3.  1/8 yd of silk or fabric of your choice for napkin rings

4.  1/8 yd contrasting fabric for leaves

5.  1/8 yd of organza for the flowers

6.  1 small crystal or button for the flower center *I used Swarovski crystals, but you don’t have to.

7.  A candle

8.  Thread and needle

9.  Mod Podge™ and a small brush

Instructions:

Flowers

1.  Cut multiple circles out of organza fabric not more than 3” in diameter …you don’t need to be precise in the sizes, allow 4-5 circles for each flower.

2.  Light the candle and carefully hold the organza above the lit candle so that the heat barely singes the perimeter of all the circles…safely turning each circle quickly ensures even gathering and  the singe will give you different patterns and sizes too.

3.  Thread your needle and sew the center of 4-5 circles together…add a crystal or a small button to the center and tie… Make the number of flowers you want for your napkin rings…and you’ll end up with 4 or 6.

Napkin Ring

1.  Each napkin ring will be 6 inches long, so multiply 6x4 (24”) or 6x6 (36”) depending on how many you want to make. Cut the interface band the length you need.

2.  Cut the silk or fabric of your choice in strips larger in width than the interface band…you’ll be wrapping the interface with the silk or fabric of your choice.

3.  Heat your glue gun at this point

4.  Begin to wrap your interface band fabric with the silk or fabric of your choice and iron carefully if needed to get a nice crease.

5.  Begin to fasten with a thin line of hot glue. When the entire strip is completely done, cut into sections of 6” each in length.

6.  Form a circle with each 6” section and glue together to secure the circle overlapping the ends

Leaf for each flower

1.  Cut top and bottom leaves whatever size you’d like

2.  Brush a thin coat of Mod Podge™  on one side of leaf and place in a ventilated area…when dry coat the other side. This will make each leaf stiff and pretty shiny.

3.  When all your leaves are finished and dry…

4.  Hot glue 1 leaf to the napkin ring seam and press in place… do this to all napkin rings.

5.  Next put a couple of hot glue drops on the leaf and glue a completed flower on top of the leaf. Do this for all napkin rings and then gift wrap to give away or use that same day and enjoy!

Cost to make: Price depends on the type of fabric used

Handmade ensures memories that last a lifetime!