Randomly speaking

Inspiration for my holiday Open house at Everafter in Vista

So I am a bit behind... an entire house of sickies (myself included) has really put a kink in my schedule...but I am finally on the mend, my kids are better, and i am back to being creative, getting ready for classes ,making samples...finishing up CHA winter etc.

I am teaching a holiday class at Ever After on NOV 29th. and I wanted to do something a bit more than just a paper crafting class...so I decided to do a Bib necklace class. 

My inspiration comes from Anthropologie---such an inspiring store in so many aspects!

Using these beauties as my inspiration (I would buy em all but they are all over a $100 buckes each)...my collection of fabrics, lace and button, some goodies from creative cafe, my accucut...and more goodies from Tim Holtz. I am pulling together a bib necklace class for my local girls. Photos of the class will be posted tomorrow and sample will be in store Tomorrow night or Thursday morning.

Get your needles, wire cutters, and needle nose pliers ready we are gonna get our pretty on!

Day of the dead & Spidery Witches= lots of Halloween fun!

Miss Maddy....getting ready to spook the neighborhood as a spidery witch.

 Got to love having a few extra Creative Imaginations self adhesive rhinestones to put in the spider body. I have lost track how many spiders and black make-up faces I have done over the years on my three daughters.

Went a little crazy with my pumpkin this year. I love Day of the Dead art, so I decided to carve my favorite sugar skull art into my pumpkin. My linoleum cutter and I became pretty close friends after hours and hours of carving.

Love the glow....

Miss Sophia's....he is so cute!

Tyler's...there's some skinny details here...I am impressed!

Maddy's pumpkin was a bit hungry

Kennedy's was a cute pin-up witch, but my photography sucked and the photo did not turn out. If the pumpkin survives the day I may try again tonight.

I have one very talented Facebook Friend.

I have never met Kristen Peterson in person, but i am quite sure that if we did we would hit it off, as if we've known each other for years. I love perusing through her albums...she is sooooo talented! Each photo is pure eye candy! 

These little Halloweenies are individually hand painted...tiny little brush and yummy golden paints. You can check out her EBAY site here

She also does some amazing mixed media pieces

this one is right up my alley!

Then there is the Kick A$$ jewelry....love this!

and oddities as well...

Find her on flicker

her albums are a virtual playground for the eyes!

Find her on Facebook....thats what i did!

Loved my evening at Ever After.

We had so much fun tonight.

We learned that I am VERY short and Michelle is VERY tall.

Cindy and I had a "Who's hands are dirtier?" contest. She won.

We mad lots of pretty little presents, using lots of Bare Elements.

This wall hanging was a hit! Melange Merry and Bright chipboard is the bomb!

Stay tuned I will post photos of our Fab kids class next weekend ....you are going to love what the projects are.

A few more to share-

I used glitter for over 9 hours yesterday.(Thank you Martha Stewart!) Between prepping for my upcoming classes and creating ornaments...i have reach my glitter quota for a few days. I have glitter on every inch of my body...and in places it shouldn't be! In between my teeth for one! 

I had to share a few more. I used Allison Connors Metal flowers for this bunch.

If Ranger ever takes alcohol inks off the market I am sunk! The Chipboard ornaments are from the Merry And Bright Collection by Melange for Creative Imaginations. I am so glad Christine Adolph and I came up with these. I am in love with them!

Calling all of you Karen Russell fans---tip#21

I Love Karen Russell...Every time I see her she truly bubbles with passion and enthusiasm for this industry. I love mixing her products with mine when I teach, her sweetnessof her products often adds balance to my edgy side. She has this great self adhesive paper ribbon in her collection....super delicate and great on its own....but then enter Mona "Meister" Creative Imaginations product educator. (She told me to try doing my glitter thing on the back of the paper lace.)

The lace comes in a great package that is also a dispenser so that the lace doesn't get crumpled.

Cut off the length of lace you need, and remove the backing to reveal the adhesive.

Pour a small amount of glitter on a scrap pieces of paper(keeping the glitter in a pile). place lace adhesive side down and press firmly into the glitter to ensure a complete coverage of the lace.  Martha Stewarts glitter (fine & opaque) are a perfect match for the paper lace. The beauty of the paper lace versus the glittered chipboard is  how supple it is...great for wrapping around vases,ornaments, purses any thing that requires a bend. 

Glue, Glitter, and tip #20

I have had a few emails asking how I get the glitter to look so smooth on the chipboard pieces, and what kind of glue I use. I wish I could say I use some sort of fancy glue, but instead I use good old fashioned Elmer's glue. 

I pour a few table spoons into a bowl and mix with a few drops of water until it is the consistency of craft paint. Then I use an old paint brush and paint the glue onto the chipboard in a nice even coat...thicker rather than thin coat, making sure to work all the edges.  That way the glitter covers smoothly and evenly across the front and all the edges.

Creative Cafe Bracelets....and then some. Idea #11

This was one tough project to photograph so if i can take some better pics, i will repost. I will post the ones i have for now.
Used my alcohol inks to color the bracelet blanks. (I am telling you, i cannot go a day without breaking out the inks!) I used the Silver Floral brads again(because I love these soooo much, so i make as many excuses to use them as possible)and used some gorgeous Swarovski bling to give the bracelet the added "WOW" factor. These look like you bought them at one of Chic Boutiques in LA.

Idea #10

I will do several versions of this...but I have to show you this one since it is done and I love them so much it makes me giddy! These are Bare Elements Pushpins. Perfect little teacher gift, or office manager gift, any one who has a cork board would love these. Who knew you could make such fabulous jewelry for your bulletin boards. I used my Antique Silver floral brads from my Ecclec-ti-ka Collection and some Peridot Swarovski Rhinestones. I can't wait to show you the ones i am working one now.

Recycled Idea #9

This is an idea from July 2007 that i made for a craft fair in Costa Mesa. I used the Bare Elements Magnetic Adrian Paper clips and my trusty 1" circular paper punch. All the images are truly vintage. These would be adorable with family photos on them or maybe bits of your favorite scrapbook papers. To create the bookmark I removed the magnet from the backside of the clip. These clips are on sale on the Creative Imaginations website for .99 for two....seriously great little stocking stuffers! I will make some more later with a few other ideas for decorating them.