Wisdom and Love In a Shadow Box...

Happy first of February!  

The time is just cruising by and another month at Heck Of a Challenge has passed and today brings a brand new theme of LOVE and FLOWERS!  With Valentine's Day just around the corner there shouldn't be any shortage of entries, so come on over and enter your cards or projects at Heck Of a Challenge.

I took several pictures to show the process...

Here is my 12 x 12 shadow box made from a cut file at the Silhouette Studio. It used 6 12x12 pieces of cardstock to create this, but in the end, it's so much fun!

Here I've begun to paint over sections of the muted green paper with Gesso and then mod podged torn strips of sheet music and designer papers in various locations.

This is the heart flourish, another cut file from Silhouette Studio, that has been enlarged and duplicate three times so I could glue them together for a sturdier top flourish to my box.

The flourish went from white cardstock to this lovely wood looking piece by painting over the top of white cardstock with acrylic linen paint, a coat of crackle accents then a modest sponging of Vintage Photo DI which was wiped down after application.

When I received this theme, I knew I wanted to make this shadow box that I'd been itching to try. Taking the theme of Love and Flowers, I challenged myself to go one step further and personalize this even more. An odd thought crossed my mind...

What if someone told you that all the wisdom, knowledge and love you possessed, was to be passed down to your children, but it could only encompass the space of a 12 x 12 box.  What would it look like, what would it say? 

My daughter is incredibly artistic in ways I will never be and so I drew from her talents and likes and incorporated elements from her and wisdom from me and here is what I came up with.

Of all the cute things, I loved writing erase your fears on an actual eraser..LOL. It's the little things.

I didn't have enough room to add to this, but what I wanted to say was...Your life is an easel. Let your dreams paint the canvas.

A bit of this message is blocked, but it says, "Highlight EVERY Moment"

And isn't this little girl just the cutest! These wonderful images come from Nicecrane Designs titled Fantasy & Kids DSL I and II and there are 4 digital images in each set. I thought they fit perfectly with my theme here and oddly enough, this little cutie is quite the tomboy; rather like my daughter at 3 years of age.

And now 14 going on 30...

Here are a few of her drawings...

So that's it for me. My kiddo's definitely inspire me and I hope you've found some inspiration in this post too. We'd love to see what you LOVE and some FLOWERS too! 

Well, I certainly hope my box says enough of love and my wishes, wisdom and hopes for her life...

Thanks so much for stopping in. Your time is more than appreciated!

Hugs n' Happy Crafting,

Lisa xx

Nicecrane Designs

Fantasy & Kids DSL I

Fantasy & Kids DSL II

Thank You For Each Day...

 Welcome back! 

It's 2013 and WOW, what a year it's been... ;)  

So far I woke up and had coffee...pretty great so far!

Today I have a little refurbished picture frame to share with you for our month long challenge over at 

Heck Of a Challenge where the theme is 

Thank You!

Without saying too many words, the end of 2012 left us with such immense sadness.  For me it was the reminder that time is never guaranteed. Time to grow old, time to watch those we love grow-up, time to finish that one thing I could do tomorrow, time to call that friend, time to give an extra hug or say ' I love you' 

Each hour, each second, is a gift to cherish...

and to say thank you for.

Here is the $1 wooden picture frame I picked up at a Thrift Store

Painting layers in this order, 

Gesso, Plaid Acrylic Paint, Black Licorice Acrylic Paint on the edges, White Acrylic Paint over entire surface while black was still damp, final step of clear Crackle.

I found this sentiment on someones blog and now I cannot remember where. I'll research more to see if I can find her, but she had this offered up on her blog for free to use.  

Close-up of the picture frame. 

The sentiment I turned black and white and then printed out on Kraft paper.

Hope you've enjoyed your visit and we would LOVE for you to join us over at Heck Of a Challenge for our theme of Thank You.

I do thank you all for your valuable time you choose to spend with me. You are all very appreciated.

Hugs and Happiness in 2013,

Lisa xx

3 French Horns????

Hello, Hello, Hellooooo!

Welcome again :)

I hope you saw the table of pastries and refreshments when you came in as well as the giant sign that said, "Who's the idiot in the room?" with the enormous arrow pointing to me!

Before I get to that, here is my making for our current challenge over at Heck Of a Challenge. Remember,  it's a month long challenge so you have plenty of time to enter into the theme of 

12 Days of Christmas!!

 

Using the lyrics of the song, I chose the Pipers Piping as my inspiration.  Can't think of what those "horn stuffer" things are called, but the bingo chip is supposed to symbolize that, plus the number is how many pipers are piping, apparently....

Had the project all done, pictures taken and this came out blurry, so I was headed back to the photo box to take a better one when my son said, "Uhhh, mom? Isn't it 3 French Hens?" to which I said, "WHAAAT???"  I hate when song writers screw up the words! I sang it. "Four calling birds, 3 french horns, 2 turtle doves..." WRONG!!!!

Sooo, phew...son saved the day and mom got the idiot of the day award! I even had the lyrics in front of me, geesh!

In correlation to this wonderful challenge at Heck Of a Challenge, I'm also working this into another challenge over at the Funkie Junkie where it's Linda's 12 Tags of Christmas challenge.

Here is Linda's tag # 9.

From this tag, which has a wonderful country cozy appeal to it, I drew inspiration from the wood grain, silver stars, TH tag, the red buttons, and the green gingham bow. 

If you enjoyed the elements used on Linda's tag, you can find them here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique, which is also sponsoring this fantastic 12 tags challenge.

I wood grained the base of my Altoids can, used pine greenery to symbolize the gingham bow, added a few sticks of wood, two silver stars, the TH play tag, red berries to pull out the red of the buttons on Linda's tag and finally the correct number 11!

 

So, be festive, be silly, be creative and bring your love of Christmas on over to Heck Of a Challenge for our 12 Days of Christmas theme!

Thank you so much for stopping in, I truly appreciate you.

Hugs n' Happy Stamping,

Lisa xx

 

 



Autumn's Last Leaf

Welcome back friendly crafters! It's officially the first of November and kicking off another month at Heck Of a Challenge we have the theme 50 Shades of Autumn.  I encourage you drop in and see the most creative makes from my teammates...they've really done an incredible job again of capturing one of the most gorgeous seasons in the year!

As for me, welllllll, the jury is still out on this one.  I enlisted the help of my grandmother on this one.  It went something like this...Pick up the phone, dial her number, she answers and I yell..."HELLLLLLLP!" So being the sweetheart she is, she popped on Skype and helped me out with shading, fading, leaf placement and coming to terms with the negative VOID space.  She and my mother are the painters in the family, me...not so much. BUT, I did try my hand at it and the experience was, well...it was an experience.  So THANK YOU Grandma for all your advice and constructive tutoring.  I may not be thrilled with the outcome, but the experience and time spent with you was wonderful!

Anyhow, here is my offering for the 50 Shades of Autumn. I've tried to capture Autumn's Last Leaf.  As gorgeous as a multicolored tree looks in the fall, I'm equally as captivated by one last leaf hanging to a limb as well. 

If you choose to leave a comment, you don't have to "fluff" it. I'll GLADLY take constructive criticism and tips. Eventually I would like to be able to master the look and feel of real bark, so any help is welcome.

I thank you for your visit and your time.

Hugs,

Lisa xx

 

Recycled canvas that was artwork hanging in my daughter's room.

Gesso and acrylic paint base with twisted cardstock makeshift branch

Supplies used: Gesso, acrylic paints, versamark, gold, black and opaque embossing powder, clear crackle.

Have a wonderful day!



"Norman!!!!"

Welcome again to another month long challenge at Heck Of a Challenge, where the theme is...

SPOOK IT UP!  The DT are kicking off the month of October with some amazingly ghoulish projects to inspire, so be sure to check them out.  Here is my contribution to the Halloween season.  The very first scary movie I ever watched (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for letting me stay up and watch this!) when I was young was Psycho.  Here is my rendition of the movie, all on a little birdhouse.  Hope you enjoy it!

 

The birdhouse in its original form.

Shipping tags I've cut to make rickety shingles.

After applying shingles and painting with black and white acrylics and hot glue strings for webbing.

Branch from a bush outside and some store bought moss to design a decaying old tree.

Sculpey again...LOVE this stuff!

Using my stylus, this cute little trio comes to life.

An old rusted stake I found in the yard to help build my ladder.

Here's "Mother"

Painted orange with a copic and detailed with a tooth pick and acrylic paints...here's the cute pumpkins.  Poor scared pumpkin on the right is eyeing the recent addition to the yard, the lovely tombstone.

Here's Norman having a conversation with his mother as he climbs the ladder to the "motel".  Notice he even comes complete with his own knife.

Added another movie reference from Poltergeist to the doormat.  Remember the little psychic lady with the groovy voice? "All are welcome"

Side view and notice the door to the motel is open?

There's "Mother" again.  She is mounted on a battery operated candle that shines through the crepe paper at night and is seen through the door. Creepy!!

 

That's it for me on this post, but I do hope I've inspired your senses and you're encouraged to come and join us at Heck Of a Challenge. 

Have a terrific one and remember, if you're ever out on a lonely abandoned highway at night and you see the dilapidated old motel with the half-lit neon sign flashing "vacancy"...keep on driving!

Hugs n' Hauntingly Creative Crafting...

Lisa xx



Altered Garage Sale Tray

2 posts at one time to run this morning, so please check my Our Creative Corner Challenge post to see what's happening there too. :) 
 

Ready for a HECK OF A CHALLENGE????

Then you've absolutely come to the right place.  I'm so excited to announce that this is a brand-spankin' NEW challenge blog sponsored by Craft and Hobby Store in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire as well as their online store Every Crafts a Pound and I've been honored with the privilege to DT alongside a very creative crew! 

So, what's in store for Heck Of a Challenge this month, you ask...

ANYTHING GOES!!

 Here is my project for this month....an altered tray from a garage sale.  I paid $0.25 for this.

 Here is the tray in its original form.  Very cute, but I wanted it to fit another project I'd already completed.

A few pictures to show the transformation

 Remember the little altered box I posted awhile back? The post on it can be found here.  Now it's part of a set that sits wonderfully on my desk!

 

Interested in knowing more about this NEW challenge blog?  Check it out at...

 

Heck Of a Challenge

The challenges will be monthly with a new theme set on the 1st of each month.

All types of Craft are welcome and you can enter more than once but each entry MUST be a different type of craft.

Challenge - Anything Goes

Prize -   £10 to spend in store or online ( excluding P&P)

Challenge runs until 8 pm on the last day of September

 

 Thank you so much for all your wonderful and encouraging comments and for the time you take out of your busy day to visit me. :)  I appreciate it.

 

Hugs n' Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx