Have you ever seen a discarded something or other that was so interesting that you drove past it, came around once more, then had to STOP???? I did! LOL!

Approximately 5 years ago, I was rushing to work when I saw wood on the sidewalk that had beautiful carvings. Unfortunately, a stream of cars were behind me and so I couldn't stop immediately. Not only that, but I had already passed a cool parking spot. Anyway, by the time I got to the corner...I knew what I could make and I JUST HAD TO GO BACK! 

It was my lucky day! After rushing around a short block I parked and this special wood was still there waiting for me. I got out and went over to it. It was a magnificent headboard and footboard with the most intricate carvings. My heart was jumping with excitement until I noticed I was going to have trouble getting it in my Toyota Camry.

However, with a little love and lots of determination, I squeezed, panel by panel, rail after rail, fitting it diagonally - yet very gently into my car. I was so happy! I knew exactly what I could repurpose it to be.

Check out the headboard carvings. I didn't even have to stain it! 

Then it hit me... I was living in a 2 bedroom apartment and didn't have room for these panels. I'd have to find someone to care for them for a short while. Well, between to sets of dear friends...my boards were cared for... about 3 years. 

One day, I moved into this cute little house with a huge backyard and my boards came home.

They sat idle for another few months and then they became what I had envisioned all along. With just a bit of buffing using Howard's Feed-N-Wax [purchased at Home Depot] and my pieces came alive!!

It was obvious that all this yearning to create had to come alive pretty quickly. So, my friend came over with his tools and we put this beautiful piece together. I am so excited to have it sit in my living room. It is very impressive and no one knows what it really originated from,  until I mention it! 

Can you locate the rails? In the part seen above... what was it before it got cut up? Can you locate the extra purchased pieces of wood that were add-ons?

This was my vision! A finished FAUX FIREPLPACE!

I just love the way my Faux Fireplace visually warms up my living room!
Oh and I am collecting Faux Palm Trees for the backyard like the one to the right of the fireplace.
This one is courtesy of Corona Beer and Rite Aid. If you see one in any store...please ask if you can have it and I will drive over and pick it up. LOL!

What do you do when a favorite vase breaks?

If you're like me and you hate to part with a favorite item -- you turn it into something equally useful. It's the right time, especially now that the weather is also turning a tad cooler. I was pretty sad to see that this beautiful vase had been damaged. It's special to me, because my daughter, Miori, and grandsons picked it out for me for Mother's Day a few years ago. 

At first I thought I could drop it again and take the glass pieces and make a special mosaic, but when I turned to see the actual break...I realized that I could still utilize it.

I turned it around and added a clear candle holder and lit it... Keeping this vase illuminated maintains the special memento that it once held for me. 

And speaking of mosaics...last week I attended a glass tile mosaic class at CAFAM in Los Angeles...what fun!

Here are samples of art work from those sitting at my table...

Mosaic by Raleigh 

This mosaic was made for a couple that just got married...
Mosaic by Jill

 And here are my two attempts at Mosaic art...

I decided I would grout with sand at home...so I did and here's what happened. I used 2 methods with 2 completely different results...

1)..for this mosaic I added sand to white glue and smudged it all over

2) ...then wiped it off.

3) Once completely cleaned off...it didn't look too bad. But then the second mosaic took a different turn..

1) This time I added white glue to all the areas needing to be covered and then poured sand on it..

2) When it dried, I shook the excess sand off and the result was a smoother cleaner look.

 I think, at a later date, I'll put each one in a frame and pour some resin over it. Maybe, I'll add a few words on top or perhaps add numbers of someone's address and give it away as a gift to hang on the front door of their house. I haven't decided, but it is sure to be a nice thought sooner or later.

Good night my craft pals! Tonight, I'll practice my conversational Italian language!

Homemade Gifts are Soooooo Special!

As a single parent of 4, I remember many a time when gift giving was often impossible. So on those occasions I gathered my children and we all sat down to make special homemade gifts for one another and for the rest of the family. The thought that we could not give because we were short on money was often a sad time; however it was so satisfying at that time to know that all of us had the ability to overcome this. As I look back and hopefully in the long run, they’ll [my children] know that homemade is really special because the gift comes from the heart and the look of appreciation in the recipient’s face is priceless!

I encourage all to use their hearts and hands in creating a special gift for a special occasion or for that “just because” occasion!

Below you’ll see a rainbow of happy colors that just kept on growing…framed it…and then gave it away!

I used oil pastels on the wrong paper, so the blending wasn’t as sharp as I’d like…nonetheless…the result was satisfying.

Tonight...I'll blast the radio and listen to smooth oldies~! Good night~

To know me...is to love me.... Oh wait!!! No-no, to know YOU is to LIKE YOU LOTS!!

#1  Since I've been having so much fun with my postcards...a friend I've had since the mid-70's asked where her postcard was. So my response was..."It's in the mail!" However, if you know me...I never do anything on a small scale and her postcard never arrived by mail. So, not only did she get a postcard, but it was showcased in a shadow box and I added real sand from the beach and real sea shells that I covered in Mod Podge ™ ...then I wrote a personal message and hand-delivered it.

Here's how this card took shape...I first took a cotton ball and wiped it over a baby blue stamp pad and dabbed it all over my card to simulate the sky... leaving space for the occasional white sky. I then used a Fairy-tale-type Castle image and stamped it on the card with Gold pigment color. Little by little, I found just the right sea shell and with a bit of Mod Podge ™ , all the natural beauty and colors starting shining through. I made a few calls to family and friends to see who was hitting the beach and ordered a bit of sand. I got the sand in record time...[it's an easy feat during these hot summer months]...then I managed to glue it on the card. I personalized it by writing something personal... "Our friendship is everlasting...Like the sea shells carried throughout time...they too are everlasting! Thanks for your friendship!"

Friendships are everlasting!

Like the sea shells carried throughout time...they too are ever lasting!

#2  I recently had a conversation with a former high school friend, that I didn't know all that well then: [I went to an all girl's high school and he went to an all boy's school]. However, quite recently he found me on Classmates.com and we started chatting. In a recent conversation, he expressed sadness at missing his grand kids and that the only thing he had left of them were pictures that had been removed from the wall by an intruder. As I listened, I knew immediately that I could do something to brighten up that sadness...so I gathered some pictures via his cell phone and I came up with his very own set of pop-up grand kids! Needless to say, he was elated and now they pop-up anywhere he wants them to be! 

Take your pop-up little person to work...have them sit on your keyboard

Or have them frolic on a shelf where you can keep your eye on them!

Or have them just hang watch you at work!

Or sit them on your books!

Or just let them hang anywhere you'd like!

 The trick to these little one's was to embellish the activity they were engaged in and make the memory tantamount to that event! You got it...these were very appreciated and that alone makes me happy!

How to:

Select a few favorite pictures of the subjects as well as other photos that you can add to embellish the originals and print at your local drugstore...the 1 hr. kind...cut them out and and glue onto card stock...add my favorite shiner...Mod Podge ™ and wait to dry. Then add a little kick-stand on the back and presto!!...Your pop-ups are ready to be displayed throughout your home or office or even your car! Although you need to make sure they are never placed in direct sunlight or heat as they will stick together and get ruined!

Enjoy! 

OMG, a silly story to share and then...
The surprises just keep coming!  

Have you ever driven off a curb? It's the funniest thing I've done in a long, long time. I found myself low on gas and stopped at my local gas station. However, on the way out...I missed the exit and went off the curb. You can't imagine what I did next... I sat in my car and laughed out loud! Hahahahahahaha! That happened years ago, but I remember this incident each and every time I go through that same gas station. Within minutes 2 police officers drove by and approached the car and helped me get out of that predicament. They asked if I was in the habit of missing the exit and we all laughed... Don't you just love memories that make you laugh at yourself? I do. On extra tough days, I often look back and remember those times that brought me to tears with laughter. 

And with that I want to share two more beautiful cards that have recently arrived in the mail. I just luv them! The first of these two cards arrived from Karen who was a recipient of one of my cards. It was such a surprise to receive her beautiful card! This lovely artist also sponsors swaps so you should check her out at mailmesomeart.blogspot.com !

From Karen I. in MA

From Nancy S. in Canada

My 9th card from the International Post Card Swap came in from Nancy, in Canada, who designed this very chic card with advice to follow!! 

Although I wrote this a few weeks ago...I thought I would have enough time to add, but didn't. So, forgive...have a laugh on my silly-stories and admire my work. HAHAHAHAHA!
Have a wonderful next few hours! Tonight...I'm blogging 

It's raining Postcards! Halleluiah...it's raining International Post Cards! :)

You know, it's been a long time since I've looked forward to receiving snail mail in my mailbox, but I must admit this was a barrel of fun!

Michele S. from WA sent this art deco card she designed. What a fun card! She did a wonderful job bringing retro back. Her card had a film on it with a stamped image of a woman smiling, she used cute embellishments to hold the layers together and she painted a myriad of designs on the background layer to give it the extra color punch! 

Barbara M from Canada sold me on Canada and Sunflowers! Barbara took her project to another level – she decided that she would come up with various uses for postcards including…Tourist cards “wishing you were here,” product promotions, reminders, promoting tourism particularly of her small town of 2,000 people. And it worked…I would love to visit the Manitoba Sunflower Festival! Great idea…now go sell the idea to your local Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Dept!

Katie B from Illinois reminded me to value each day! She created her smart retrospective collage on patterned paper that she painted with acrylics and then she wished me a wonderful summer! Thanks Katie – you too!

And just yesterday, I received a darling little Koala in my mailbox! It was…adhered to a great framed picture card from Joan F from Australia… that lovingly, also, chose Sunflowers for her special card. Hope you’re feeling better, Joan!

Thank you to all for my lovely cards! I’ve received a whopping 8 so far, so I’m jazzed!

From Michele S. in WA

From Barbara M. in Canada

From Katie B. in Illinois

From Joan K in Australia

Tonight… I think I’ll start a surprise project for a another special friend!

[Pssst! I have lots of special friends!! I am so lucky!]

Have an awesome evening everyone!