Dance of butterflies in music theme.

Several years ago I made this for a neighbors daughter for her graduation. She is now in university and heading in the direction of a Pediatrician. Her mother tells me she is still enjoying the tray. I gave this to her as I knew she played piano and was very musical. Sheet music was from a Etude music magazine dated 1902. I tried to include the date on the tray for nostalgia sake. As with most of my trays I did a glass overlay to protect the rather tactile pieces such as a vintage butterfly brooch in bottom right. The butterfly from Irish linen in upper right corner was from one of my shopping trips. When I did this I really didn't know what a collage of sorts was. Little did I know where all this would end up heh! CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE THE DETAILS. Thanks for reading!

My 1st blog anniversary & some tech info

It's been a year since I started my blog and I want to take this opportunity to thank all my followers and those of you who just stop by to see what I have been creating. I don't receive many comments so I really don't know what people are thinking but that may be due to the problem Blogger has with the Comments. Which leads me to the technical part of this post. I understand that Google's browser; CHROME was designed for viewing blogs. I have been using it and am able to leave comments even on my own blog now. So hopefully I can now interact with those who want to. If you tried to leave me a comment and it didn't work try CHROME as your browser when viewing blogs. It's a fast and free browser, downloads in seconds. You can find it here:
http://www.google.com/chrome?hl=en for the english version. Works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

Did the above on watercolor paper then scanned it and played with it in Photoshop adding a vintage rose pic ripped from a 1900's magazine.

Thanks for reading! Uniquely Myself!

Cream Needlepoint pillow

This type of needlepoint went really fast - stitches in wool. Tassel attached with a vintage button.

Glass pendants tinted

Tinted the solder after it was done with alcohol inks using a foam applicator attached to the end of an old pen. You can see the difference between the two. The one on left blends with the bird image I used.

Recycled vintage tablecloth now tea towels!

I inherited some vintage linens - more tablecloths than I now have tables for. This tablecloth was beautiful soft cotton. Thought it would be nice in tea towels so I cut it up into about 5 tea towels with some recycled lace from a different project. Now I am enjoying and using it more than when it was just folded up in a closet.

Peach Lacey Lampshade by Sandra

CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE DETAILS.
This lamp shade is in my studio. Completed several years ago. I need to do a couple more so maybe this winter. Will post them when done.

More pages from my first quotation book

The above pocket was made from a page in a wallpaper sample book.
I love recycling materials to make these quote book pages. The last image I place in the back of each book. Done with several stamps. On some of these books I leave it blank so I can add a personal handwritten message if giving it as a gift. This is the last of the first book series. Will post more pages in a future posting. TO SEE FURTHER DETAILS CLICK ON EACH PICTURE.

Handpainted periwinkle swirl designed tray

Did this freehand. Added glaze to the white paint then did the negative technique using the eraser on a pencil. Hand painted the dots etc. Did this several years ago as a grad gift. Wishing now I that I would have taken a picture of the back - little did I know one day I would want to archive all my creativity on a blog!

My first attempt at slipcovering a chair!

PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE SO YOU CAN READ MY NOTES AND SEE MORE DETAILS.

This was my first attempt to slipcover this chair we inherited. I was tired of the green, besides I had on hand this lovely cotton sateen which I preshrunk so this can be quickly taken off and laundered. I used many dressmaker details. Did all of this without a pattern using "muslin" fabric to form a pattern by pinning it and forming seams etc. I did a little research on this before I started and learned that I chose the most difficult chair style since it has the arm rests. And it was - it took me approximately 40 hours. I feel it was well worth it. I saved the muslin pattern so I could do another when this one is either worn out or I'm tired of it. I have another slipper chair and maybe next year I will recover it. It will be much, much easier as it has no arm rests to deal with.
On the seat portion which is separate I tried my hand for the first time at free motion quilting stitching. I love it! I can hardly wait to go that direction and do more stitching with other pieces. Thanks for reading and looking! Uniquely myself!

ATC'S: Artist Trading Cards on letter background using MistyFuse

Click on image to see it larger revealing details.
The bottom ATC was done as a sandwich using letters from crossword puzzle's on watercolor paper with a overlay of MistyFuse ironed on to make it all one "sandwich". See the full size of it on my background blog: http://rusticpixelbackgrounds.blogspot.com/
I can hardly wait to do more with this MistyFuse and other materials. Have I inspired you?

Picture story of Bathroom Dresser redo

CLICK ON ABOVE PICTURE FOR DETAILS ON THIS DRESSER REDO.

I did this many years ago. It was ugly brown but rock solid. Gave several sealer coats to the top finish which makes it very easy to clean. The color is a blushing white high end latex paint.
The sweet pea floral arrangement is probably the last summer bouquet. Used a miniature tea cup to arrange it in.

50th Wedding Anniversary Card

We were invited to a 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration so I just had to create a card. Yes it took some time but I'm sure they didn't get two of these! Highlighted some of the markings on the leaves with embossing powder. Used my Scor-it-Board tool to mark the horizontal line on bottom third of card. Finished off with a sheer bow. I also made the envelope from scratch. Will post that at a later date. Thanks for reading.

Garden and Nature themed trays

The above tray is different from the one below. Notice on the one above the vintage necklace. Click on image and it should show more details of picture.

The above is the same paper but I positioned it differently on tray. Notice the word music has been framed with a mini frame to highlight it.
Both trays have glass overlays to protect the embellishments inside. Oh how I wish I would have saved at least one of these!
Hope you enjoyed these!

New garden pictures blog added.

I have added a new blog: YARDEN COLLECTIONS. If you are interested have a look: http://yardencollections.blogspot.com/

This is a place where I am archiving my garden/yard pictures with some chatter. imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">

Lavender lace lampshades made by hand.

Done by hand. Custom dyed the braid, (gimp), fringe and lining to coordinate with lace. Left the "eyes" sheer. When light is on it looks very interesting. Took approximately 35 hours. Made a decorator pillow to match. Will post it at a later date.

Dried Peony etc floral arrangement

Saved peonies from our garden, dried them by hanging upside down just when they are at their prime. Added a few dried birthday roses and other artificial greens for a dining room table arrangement. This is a very short arrangement - no peeking around it at dinner guests!

Quote on painted scrap became a bookmark.

Used this scrap of one of my painting leftovers to add a few dried pansies digitally and quote I recently heard fr Dr Edel that makes so much sense. Feel free to use this one or go to my Rustic Pixel Backgrounds blog for the original one before I started playing with it. It's amazing what you can get when you are just cleaning off the excess paint from your brush etc.

Some more ATC's!

Stenciled with gold texture paint then added some bling before adding this quote from a newspaper.

Did a background texture then added scraps of printed tissue and ripped text before finishing with a tissue overlay and Golden's Gel.

Made this ATC by painting different golds and a touch of soft pink on brown paper. Cut out a oval then inserted a photo from magazine. Finished off with pink ribbon and gold rub on spelling HI.

Added background with tissue paper that was stamped with the leaves then added text. Finishing with a frame from some watercolor play. Oh my these closeups reveal alot of extras!

Dreamer card design

This was so much fun to do! Found the image on Teresa Stanton's site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/teresa-stanton/page26/
The background was one of my paintings on a box top then I altered it digitally creating a grunge look. Go to my Rustic Pixel Backgrounds blog for the free background to do what you want with. One day I hope to print this off and do a beeswax collage with it on a canvas board. I would make two holes on top and hang it with a black embossed velvet ribbon! Too many ideas and not enough time. Enjoy.

Happy Mother's Day Card

Took the photo of flower then digitally enhanced the edges. My dear mother is 96 &1/2 years old. Her mind is very sharp but her body is failing her. She is a remarkable person. A pleasure to visit with. Friday I am hoping to take her to the garden center, she had and still does have a passion for growing things. She is living in a assisted living facility which limits her planting but she has her windows filled with houseplants.

Being rich quote on Amaryllis petals

I had a amaryllis bulb given to me and it bloomed beautiful! I thought it would be nice to dry/press a couple of petals - well that turned out to be a brown disaster. I could see the veins in the petal so with Photoshop I added some color and this meaningful quote. Please go the my Rustic Pixel Background blog for the petals to use as a background if you wish.

More Glass Pendants

I enjoyed making more of these pendants, this time adding some beads etc to the bottom. I like hanging these from the switch on lamps. You then know exactly where to reach for the switch!

Shreddie blankets using vintage chenille bedspreads

I used many pieces from vintage chenille bedspreads to make this "Shreddie" baby blanket. I call it shreddie as the seams are exposed on right side. Seams are cut every half inch then they frey. Printed the child image on photo fabric sheets then added trims. Some of the trims I cut up further and added it as it it were the flowers she was dropping. I lined the back with cotton fabric.
POSTNOTE: USED IRON ON TRANSFER PAPER BY EPSON. CAN BE FOUND AT A COMPUTER STORE SUCH AS STAPLES. YOU MAY ALSO CHECK AT CRAFT STORES.

Brown chairs given new life with white paint etc

I did two of these chairs; this one I put my husband's initial G and on mine S. They were an ugly brown so I painted it white and had lots of fun with stenciling, stamping, hand painting with a paint pen. Did the edges in a scallop design to look like a cushion ruffle. This one sits in the guest bedroom. Sometime soon I will post the lamp shade to match in color.

Lamp shade done by hand

I made two of these shades for our guest bedroom. I used a soft barely pink cotton. The fabric was glued on then frame ribs covered with white gimp. Finished off with a white fringe. The rosettes are done with a white chiffon on the front and back. I did not line these as it cuts down on the light for reading in this situation. Took about 30 hours for each one. I have since taken the course on hand stitching the fabric rather than gluing and it is more time consuming but makes a nicer shade where I have more control on how the fabric is applied. Will post in future some of the hand stitched shades. Oh so much to do and so little time! Thanks for viewing.

Card Design

I took a page from a book and did the painting and stenciling. I scanned it into pc then added the image from Teresa Stanton's site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/teresa-stanton/page26/. She has some lovely images to share. Background sheet can be found at my Rustic Pixel Backgrounds blog.

LEAVING A COMMENT

As many of you may know my blog has been one of the unfortunate ones where more often than not it is impossible to leave a comment. I have investigated this and it is a issue with Blogger which many people are having problems with. Unfortunately we can't get any help for this at present.. So till it is resolved I have disabled the Word Verification for comments. If I get a lot of spam etc as a result of this I will have to put it back on. Please do leave me a comment now if you want to. Thanks.

Kodak Slide Frames Recycled

I had fun covering these Kodak slides to make frames for putting on cards, collages, atc's etc.
The bottom two were covered with aluminum tape then done with alcohol inks. Stamped with a permanent ink before rubbing away the ink, which then left a design on the alcohol ink. I used various tools to make a emboss design at random. Background design can be found at my Rustic Pixel Background Blog.

Card Keeper with Ribboned Closure

Made this for a friend when she lost her Dad. I intended for her to put the sympathy cards in each pocket. I also made a couple signatures out of card stock so she could add her own pictures and memories. On the edges of the pockets I glued or stitched a fuzzy trim to add a finish and prevent paper cuts when putting paper in and out of pocket. She is very creative and hoping to see what all she does with it. This would be a great idea for a new baby as a shower gift. The mom can add baby's cards and photos and they will all be in one place. Another suggestion is grad, special anniversaries etc. The first ones I made I would fill with greeting cards that I designed and would place 5 cards of different occasions in each pocket and present the entire package. It makes a lovely gift that is useful. Without making the cards to insert it takes approximately 5 hours. The ribbon bow enclosure sets it off and almost doesn't need to be wrapped. Watch for more .... coming soon!

Heart from my doodling pink paint background

Used the background ( see my other blog: http://rusticpixelbackgrounds.blogspot.com/ ) What more can I say with a quote like that!

Alphabet storage using a CD case

This is a storage idea using a CD case for those little things like die cut letters and numbers etc. Had some fun first decorating a sheet of 1/4 inch foam core. I took some colored pens and made designs at random. (If you don't want to make your own designs with pens try stamping an allover design or glue on a sheet of paper from your scapbook and card making supplies.) I added some glue glitter. After it all dried I measured off 1/4 inch then took a cutter and cut strips on a cutting mat. I then measured and glued them into the cd case making compartments for my letters, numbers or die cuts etc. I have designated a cd case for each alphabet letter. I love being organized. This way when I am doing a project and need them I grab the box A for example and choose the letter suited to my designs. Remember your imagination is the only limitation when creating these storage containers. Have fun! Warning: to do the full alphabet it will take some time but you will be so glad when it's done.

My First ATC'S

My first Artist Trading Cards!

I have submitted these for a ATC Swap this weekend. Sometimes I find these little works of my art hard to part with ( as much as my larger pieces.) But I also like the thought that I will exchange for something different.

I have started another Blog! This one is for the backgrounds I have been creating with paint; some have been digitally altered. Please feel free to have a look and download any of them. Have fun - use in collages, altered art, ATC's, decoupage, greeting cards, digital scrapbooking, tags, use in your favorite digital imaging software. Enjoy!

Here is the link: http://rusticpixelbackgrounds.blogspot.com/