Decorated Toaster

Here is a little project that Stacey did over the weekend

She took a cheepie little white toaster, the little polka dots are from a package of foamies

She chose lavender paint this time!

After the dots were pulled off....

How cute did this turn out!!

Happy 4th ~ Happy Pink Saturday

I took this picture Fri. The weather was perfect and there was a gentle breeze

My dear blogging friend Tatting Chic is the most wonderful Tatterer. She surprised me by sending me this beautiful heart. Look at the workmanship...exquisite!! Thank you!!!
For Pink Saturday I painted 3 chipboards. I used my crackle medium on them. I really like how they turned out
On the back it was painted with black chalkboard paint. Wouldn't these be fun to put on a package and write their name on the chalk board.

I wish you all a Happy 4th of July and Pink Saturday!!

Newborn Birthday Cupcake

Here's what happens when a baby want to come into the world early. A friend of our family went into labor a few days early...I didn't have my gift painted yet. aaaach!. last night Stacey called me to say she was heading to the hospital to be with her friend...I had an extra one of the 12x12 boards. I ran outside and spray painted it in a flat white. Came in, dried it with the hair dryer. Did a quick sketch and started painting. the babies colors are soft pink and brown. I had 3 hours from start to finish to get this finished...I did it. LOL
I am going to put the wire hanger on it...and I"m off to the hospital!! (on the back I sprayed it with black chalkboard paint!)

Texture Crackle

I read about this Crackle and had to get some. Micheals carries it.

I purchase primed canvas by the yard at my art store. I slathered the crackke med. on with a palette knife. I let it dry over night...Look at those cracks!! Big cracks where it was thicker.

I then sketched on a little nest.

I was wondering what watercolors would do, I wanted it to sink into the cracks.

This is a close up after I used permanent pins in black and brown
I sprayed it with a "fixative"
It is now ready to stitch to a fabric background
This was so much fun, give it a try!

watercolors on wood

I painted this totally usuing watercolors on the absorbant ground. Then used a graphite pencil to outline. This is a 12x12.

Pink Saturday and a little Art Work

Just a reminder that this birdie in the teacup is on my Ebay for just a short time.

My own artwork using techniques learned at the Lisa Kaus workshop

Had to throw in a bit of music, nest and roses

Absorbent Ground... it allows me to paint with watercolors on any surface. Watercolors need something to sink into, not like acrylics that just sit on top of a surface. So this Ground is perfect. I did a little research on it, seems like it works best if your surface is coated with gesso first. I used Goldens Molding paste on these too, to add a little more texture...wouldn't want anything looking to flat.lol.

Using Goldens Absorbent Ground

Uh Oh!! Look what I found today...a naughty kitty...ok, it's my fault. I left the bag of wool where he could find it. How can you be mad when he is so darn adorable! LOL
I bought a sheet of MDF (I think thats what its called) I added some molding paste then a coat of Golden's Absorbent Ground...I LOVE that stuff. I used just watercolors and it was sooo fun. Its a 4X4 . I'm tell'n ya, you otta get some and give it a try...fun fun fun.

Latest Pink Birdie Pincushion

Summer finally came to town today. It is so warm and lovely.

I just listed this little baby on my EBAY

Lisa Kaus's wonderful class!!

Class is so much more fun when you show up on the correct date. LOL. Class was wonderful. Here is what I designed. It is covered in wax so it is looking a bit more fuzzy then it really is. The paper down at the bottom are cake recipes that I took from my very vintage cook book.

Gotta love watercolor crayons!!!

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments for my mom. Bloggers are the best!!

oooops

I'm back from my class...no pictures to share, you say?? Weeeeel, this is what happened.

Alarm went off, had a cup of coffee. Got dressed, hair brushed, shoes on, bag in hand.

You know what sweet DH that I have...he got up, got dressed, had coffee and we got in the car at just the right time and headed towards Portland. We drove for about 45 min. I found Lisa's house with no problem. I grabbed my bag, said by to DH saying...see you at 4:00 bye bye. Walked into Lisa's house, other gals had also just arrived. Stacey called right then, I told her we made it ok and that I would call her during lunch.

We all proceeded downstairs where Lisa's fabulous classroom is located.

I found a place to sit...I asked everyone which one was Betty (I wanted to meet Betty) Lisa said, Betty was here yesterday, but not for todays class. Ok, thats ok...then I was looking around at the supplies...um where's the paints and drawing things??? ummmm I wonder why she has all these embellishments out. ummmmmmm LISA??? What class is this???? she said, why...its the "heart" class. I then cocked my head to the side and said.....do you think I'm in the wrong class???!!! I'm here for the painting class....everyone was silent for a moment.....then busted out laughing. She was so sweet, said I could stay, but I didn't, called my DH and said...Cooooome baaaaack.

Then I called Stacey and told her what happened....

Now...here is where I'm confused (lol) My husband and daughter weren't at all surprised, why is that???? The good news...I didn't miss my class, it is tomorrow and I can still take it. lol

Pink Saturday

These roses are from my sweet DH! I've had a very very sad day. After visiting my mom I just cried and cried. She isn't doing well and I fear she wont be around for very much longer. So these flowers came from the heart to show me how much he cares.
For lack of having time to make something pink I thought I would show you this sweet little vintage girls dress that I have hanging in my sewing room.
On to happy things...the picture above and below are photos from a class I took with Lisa Kaus last year...tomorrow I get to take another class from her...in her studio! I'm so excited and it will be so nice to immerse myself into creativity.
I'll have show 'n tell when I get home! Be sure and sign up for my give-away on the previous post.

Giveaway Card

I made this little card last night "just for fun" and to Give it away!
I'll pick a random winner around Wed.
It comes with an envelope too.
Just leave me a message on this post.
Here is my question....what is your favorite animal.

Sneek Peek

This is a big project I just finished to send off to Somerset...It is hard to try to come up with new ideas that the magazine hasn't already seen or done...I came up with an idea..I don't think it has been done. it will have to remain a secret for now, I really got excited and got it all finished...

Whoohoo!!!

LAKERS WON !!!

PINK Saturday

I listened to everyones wonderful ideas on my lettering...I'll have to go back over my comments to see who came up with this idea so I can give her a tag...I'll let you know who it is. Anyway, when I paint...some days I feel like painting light and airy, sometime very antiquey and aged. So, when I got started working on the letters, I had to make some corrections which means I had to try to hide it by antiquing it...I darkened the eggs a bit...I like how it turned out. Thank you all for your input! Did I mess it up?? lol
I wont be able to post tomorrow, so I'm getting an early start. I just finished another order for magnets using watercolor paper and watercolors.

I just finished this too. I painted a piece of canvas layering pinks and tans to get an old aged look. I then wanted the bird and rose to look aged too. The green fabric is a piece of silk that was a blouse a touch of lace, piece of vintage music, old buttons. a bit of bling.
Please check out Beverly from How Sweet the Sound for a list of participants.

Magnets and Roses

I just finished this order for magnets magnets magnets

sad news

I don't want to rehash what happened again, but for those of you have a been with me, remember Staceys friend that was in jail. The judge sentenced him today...10 years in prison. He's the toughest judge that is in our court system. No one ever wants him to be there judge. There is no doubt that Stacey will stay in contact with him...they were never best friends, just friends, they've just known each other for a long time and he has lost most of his friends over this ordeal. So now it is a bit of a burden to know that she cant and won't stop being his friend...but 10 years is a looooong time. I've never even met him. We went and saw him sing yeeeeers ago at a talent show at the Fair. It is just so sad...there are so many horrible people that get out of jail with a slap on the hand, I'm sure the judicial system does the best they can, but I also know they can screw-up.

Project....Box...and a little givaway....

This is a music box that I picked up for pennies

I sprayed it with a coat of white primer

I layered 3 thin coats of molding paste to hide the engraved hearts. Then antiqued it and paint the top. Looks a little different huh. Looking at this photo...I don't think I like the green lettering...I'm thinking the egg color...or the pink??? Let me know what you think...I'll will make you a tag if I use your idea...

Daughters are soooo fun

The class wasn't the greatest...but having Stacey there with me to take the class...PRICELESS

It was all about overlaying a letter on a letter

I forgot to take pictures of what Stacey did...I hope I can get them before she gives them to the recipients. She has some nieces and she did their Initial...fabulous. We had a great time together...thats what its all about...and I'll use what little I learned.

Altered Bottles / Laces and Goodies

I've been sleeping pretty well lately...until last night!! It all started with an invite...my husby invited me to go with him to Eugene, its an hour drive, and I would have the car to do whatever I wanted for 1 1/2 hours...and brunch at a very nice hotel...how could I pass it up..right! I only got to a fabulous quilt fabric store and an antique mall and the to-die-for art store before he called and said to pick him up...The photo up above are...fabric samples from an upholstery/gift shop
bottles from the Goodwill that I came home and immediately soldered the tops
I found this beautiful doily, pin. Then at the art store these metallic crayons, and the pens are for Monday when Stacey and I are taking our Fanciful Letter class
Look at these beautiful fabrics and laces. We then went to Ben Franklin where I got these LARGE glass pieces, cant wait to try those out...We went to Costco while down there and a couple of shops that we found as we were driving around...it was such a fun relaxing day. When I got home I worked on the bottles...oh yes, I found a couple more wooden things, I'll share them tomorrow...anyway...I didn't sleep at all last night...I was crafting ALL night long, my body may have been asleep, but my mind wasnt!! lol Never good to go shopping right after payday.lol

PINK Saturday Roses

I have painted a lot of pink roses this week, be sure and scroll down and take a look. The Pink Teacup Pincushion with my Pink Birdie is on Ebay right now.The top photo are tags I just finished. Thank you for looking!!! Thank you to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday.
My creation
Originally uploaded by lauriescharmingdesigns.