hearts on her tears ----

Good Morning  from the frosty southern US. Teresa here and I'm back with this week's fun creation. 

Being on the design team, I am challenged to see how far the materials can be pushed and I really wanted to see how the Embossing Powders reacted to being applied to smooth metal.

So lets look at some steps for this one.

Gather the supplies
- embossing adhesive
- Mermaid Tears Embossing Powder
- gloss Glastique
- matte Glastique
- fine applicator tip

other supplies
-bracelet blank
- I used heart punches from a favorite paper.
- tiny paint brush
- heat gun

See how smooth and shiny the blanks are.

We have all advised you not to Squeeze the adhesive because the applicator tip will come off -- well this time take it off. 

Dip a tiny paintbrush into the adhesive and paint inside the shapes (yes it does "gather up"). I found that I could manage about three hearts at a time. 

Roll the container of the Mermaid Tears Powder to mix the particles and sprinkle in the shape then heat.

TIP - do not shake any excess off for this project.

I'm sharing this because I do not want you to think this is a panic moment. You will have to repeat the application process. I actually had to do three layers of application.

Simply repaint the adhesive - add powder - and heat.

After three layers I had this lovely - The Mermaid Tears is a beautiful mix of tan, white, silver, and some ocean blue and green bits.

I then used the Matte Glastique as an adhesive to hold my heart paper bits.

Let this dry.

TIP - I keep my fine applicator tips   (yes I have plural) stored in water in the vials they were shipped in. This keeps them from clogging with dried enamels and glastique. I also keep a container of water close by to drop them in until I can clean them out. The enamels and Glastique are soap and water clean up until they are dry.

After the hearts were dry in place, I add a layer of the GLOSS Glastique to each shape. Then I covered the whole thing with a box lid to keep from marring the finish while it all dries.

I left this overnight and this morning I found........

Gorgeous - the Glastique brings out the various colors in the enamel finish.

And I am quite happy to report that, yes, the enamel adhesive and powder do adhere quite well to the smooth metal finish.

Please visit the archives for even more design inspirations and some really great tutorials. 

Life is beautiful.

Teresa (aka MaggieGraceCreates)

All images can be clicked to see the various bits of the embossing powder. Simply beautiful.

starry starry night

Hello there again ---- It Teresa - and I'm back with a new item to talk about this week. 

It's a constellation pendant.

I read lots of blogs and decor reports and noticed a trend for constellation items --- these can be for your zodiac symbol if you like, but in my case I chose my constellation for sentimental reasons. The very first one I was able to identify (and still the easiest for me to spot) was Orion.

So let's gather our supplies
- a teardrop acrylic bezel
- vintage black embossing powder
- embossing powder adhesive 
- glastique gloss glaze
- fine applicator tip 
- pointed tweezers
- interchangeable bails 
- a silk necklace cord

you will also need a
- heatgun
- tiny flat back rhinestones
- a fine point permanent marker (I used a sharpie)

 There are a lot of pictures - but this is really easy to do.

I printed a picture of the constellation I wanted to use and then shrunk it to fit the bezel size on my copier.

Gathered my supplies. (I pulled out Matte Glastique first but ended up using the gloss)

The Acrylic Bezels come with this blue protective coating on each side that peels off before use. You can see through it. So I simply placed my bezel with the blue coating over my picture and marked the constellation points with the Sharpie. Then carefully peeled off both sides of the coating.  Keep this marked piece.

Pounce on the adhesive all over the front of the bezel and cover with the Vintage Black Embossing powder. The Vintage Black Powder is a gorgeous Black, Gold, and Silver mixture.

Things to remember here  ----- do NOT squeeze the adhesive bottle, a simple pouncing motion is perfect and ALWAYS roll the powder jar to mix the colors before you sprinkle your powder.

I used two coats of the powder and adhesive and learned that you can move the pattern around a bit with the air flow of the heat gun if you are going for a smooth finish like I was.

The longer you heat the powder the more smooth the finish is. A quick set leaves lots of texture. 

If you look closely at the picture above (the arrow), you will see two little place that the powder did not cover. Here's the fix.

I took a cotton swab and dabbed more adhesive in the thin area and than used my tweezers to pick up small amounts of the powder to fill just those areas.  (sorry - this picture is a little blown out, but I tried and tried to get a better exposure and being that close, it just didn;t happen) Reheat and ----

Here you have a really pretty representation of the night sky.  I did use my heat gun to "push" the powder around to get those two darker areas.

Take that marked piece of the protective coating and align it with the now covered bezel. (Be sure your orientation of the constellation is correct) Using something sharp (I used the point of the tweezers), press the star pattern into the enamel. The enamel is soft enough to take this pointed pressing and you will be able to feel/see the little indented areas for the next step.

Using the fine point applicator, dot the Glastique on those marked places and add your rhinestone "stars"

If you look closely (again see the arrow), you can spot the little indented places for the stars.

Let this dry -

After the stars dry, coat the entire front with more of the glastique. Let this dry completely.

Another tip ---- I have a cat who loves to help and can be a disaster for drying finishes. I grabbed a small clear bowl from the kitchen and cover my shape with that while it dries.

I added the pendant bail and a hung mine on a black silk necklace.

I love the Globecraft and Piccolo bails - they are interchangeable so you can switch your pendants as often as your mood changes.

I would love to see your versions of the Constellation pendant.

You can leave comments here or also on the Globecraft and Piccolo Facebook Page.

I'll see you next Thursday, but please visit everyday. There are lots of inspiring projects here.

Have a great day.

Life is Beautiful

Teresa (aka MaggieGraceCreates)

orion

find this pendant here....

And please come back later in the week to see the project this item inspired.

G&P Design Team

My first post as a Design team member can be seen over at the G&P Blog 

HAPPY THURSDAY! I am really inspired by what the other designers have posted this week. 

I'm very excited to share my first project using the Globecraft and Piccolo products with you today. 

I'm helping a friend with some Winter Wonderland wedding ideas and who is the very next important (and sweet) bridal party member after the bride and groom? Well ---  the flower girl of course!

Here's how I made and adorable accessory for the flower girl to wear.

G & P SHOPPING LIST

- bejeweled snowflake accents LA-100

- vintage silver enamel powder

- aged white enamel powder 

- enamel powder adhesive 

- glastique gloss finishing glaze

- fine line applicator tip

- tweezers (not a requirement but I love the ones I have)

other items - Links provided for SweetStamps products

- heat gun

- extra fine vintage colored glitter

- clear drying glue

- tulle (I used ivory)

- headband (mine is an ivory satin one)

When I opened my package from G&P - I was blown away by the detail of the laser cuts. The bookboard is not heavy or bulky, but it is very strong. 

I opened my Snowflakes and grabbed my pointy tweezers and punched all the excess bits from the laser cut. LOOK AT THAT DETAIL.

Knowing that the back of this may show I covered the front and back of the accent.

The back of the accent was covered with Vintage Silver and the front with the Aged White. (aged white is a wonderful white with sparkly bits - simply beautiful)

I watched several videos previously published before I started ------  the links to the videos are at the main website.

Here are my "QUICK TIPS"
 --- roll the container of the powder several times before each use and after adding the excess back to the jar.

--- if doing both sides - I discovered that a ceramic tile was a great nonstick surface to heat on.

--- on these fine detail shapes, a lot of my powder would blow off with the initial heating - I learned quickly to hold the shape with my tweezers and heat from the bottom until it started melting, then finish from the top.

--- the longer you heat the powder the smoother the finish. (I used the heatflash technique for the white side and heated the back to a smooth finish)

Now for the pretty pictures.

Roll the powder to prepare for pouring.

 I used the embossing adhesive all along the shape.

Sprinkle with the powder (catch the excess on a folded paper - the fold makes it easy to pour back into the container).

Want the finish thicker? Simply reapply the adhesive and powder and heat again.

Oh look --- pretty.

I wanted a bit more sparkle to these - so I used the fine applicator tip with the Glastique GLOSS and added flat backed rhinestones to the rounded areas of the snowflake and to the centers of each of the connected ones.

Let those dry and then to strengthen the shape even more, I covered it all with more of the Glastique GLOSS finishing gel.

I gathered my tulle for the headband and then, using a small flat paintbrush, I randomly stroked more Glastique on the tulle and sprinkled with extrafine glitter. The Glastique dries clear and flexible and makes a great glitter adhesive.

Then using a heavy body glue - I glued the large snowflake and some cutoff small flake accents to the headband.

All that's left to do is add one really cute flower girl. 

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see the next amazing creation.

Life is beautiful --- 

Teresa (aka MaggieGraceCreates)

ONE WORD FOR 2014 "INTENTIONAL"

The angel and deer image is from the Graphics Fairy.

intentional: *done with intention or purpose  *intended  

2013 was the year for DO - and it was super productive. 

I did accomplish a lot of things.

And it was perfect for the way life handed things our way. 

But a LOT of what was done was in a reactionary way. 

As the end of the year approached, I realized that there were many things I did not accomplish.

Because I was too busy "DO"ing.

It was the Universe's way of telling me that I needed yet another active year,

But that in addition to spurring on action, my word needed a little fine tuning. 

I need to DO, BE, ACT, with a purpose. 

As I prayed - and pondered - and on, November 23, I came up with my word.

INTENTIONAL, INTENTION, INTENT

use whatever version you choose. 

I've a list of things I wish to accomplish. 

I've a calender / planner with some strategic dates already penciled in. 

I've a list of steps already going to get these things rolling. 

I've started a Devotional study written for those participating in the ONE WORD format.
One of the biggest things is that I will intentionally be gracious and kind to MYSELF.
I've claimed that Life Is Beautiful and am living in an intentional way to celebrate that fact.
I've made progress already towards these goals.
I know I will fail on things - I will start again anew when I do.
I know I will stumble - I will pick myself up, dust myself off, and like a toddler just learning to walk - say UH-OH, and go at it again.

INTENTIONAL
(with purpose to succeed)

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
LET's CELEBRATE THAT FACT.

I've been waiting for many years for this......

Years ago I found a blog that resonated with me. 

A lady with an amazing talent for ephemeral art, crochet, and appreciation for nature, and for living a beautiful life. 

This lady has a wonderful name too

Margaret Ooman

you can find her here

or here

Anyway, back to the story. I saw a post on her website and fell head over heels in love with the idea. 

Now, she lives where it get COLD (as in -6 degrees C) and I live in the southern United States. 

There was an issue with completing this idea at my house --- it may get cold, but it often warms well above freezing during the day. 

So the artwork would really be "ephemeral" and vanish quickly. 

But not now.

We are having a huge freeze here in good old northeast Georgia.

It was 8 degrees F here this morning. and not going out of the 20's all day.

This was my chance. 

I took a pie pan. 

A crochet snowflake. 

Snowflake flat in pan. 

With the hanger draped over the edge. 

Sprinkle Glitter across the water. 

Sit outside. 

Go to work.

Come home to this.

Crochet ice sculpture. 

It makes me smile every time I see it hanging on my kitchen porch.

I'll be doing this one again "SOMETIME"

    Here's the link to the post I saw over at Resurrection Fern. 

What do you guys think?

Happy Tuesday!!!

Life is very Beautiful.

Happy DO Year --- a recap.

For three years now - I've chosen a yearly focus word.

I has been so very effective to help me focus for the year ahead. And much easier for me to keep than an entire list of resolutions.

The words have been easy choices at times and more difficult at times.

"DO" was the choice for 2013, and it was an easy word to decide on and to implement.

And boy have I DONE.

I've submitted work for a design team call and been selected for the GlobeCraft and Piccolo design team for 2014.

I crocheted 10 baby blankets (and made a huge dent in my yarn stash)

I made several additional baby gifts.

I finished many projects that have been languishing in my UFO pile for WAY to long.

I have read.

I have exercised.

I have eaten better.

I have made decisions that have affected my life for the better - hard decisions that hurt - but rather than stringing them along, I buckled down and made them .

I posted a short story that I wrote many years ago - and now am working with a college student who wants to go into book illustration as her career. She wants to illustrate this and then lets see if we can at least self publish a few copies.

I sang in the church Christmas Cantata. (Including a solo that left me shaking in my shoes)

I've lived beautifully.

I've learned so much.

I've counted blessings. (Thank you Ann Voskamp for the pattern I use)

I've paid off several debts - and made a huge dent in some others - and I have put away a bit of money as well.

I have also taken the advice - DO unto others as you would have them DO unto you. I've reached out and shared and helped and loved and prayed and encouraged.

As 2013 winds down - I am reflective about the year about to pass and trying to lock in on my word for 2014. I hope for the next word to be as effective as this one was.

My life is beautiful --- and my life includes the word DO. Having that word be my focus has made this life and love even more beautiful.

Happy DO year 2013 ----- let's see what 2014 brings.

Find more inspiration over at the ONE WORD 365 site. It is amazing what we can do if we focus.

tell me the stories ....

We make nativities. 

The current ones get lots of road miles.

He cuts and sands.

I trace.

He wood burns.

I paint.

He stains. 

We sell. But honestly, the ones we give to our littles are the ones that mean the most to me. 

The story of the first one I made is at the link. 

We gifted this little one with a set this year. 

She spread it out and Dad sent us this picture.

Cute. 

My hope is that she will play and really learn the story. 

Then teach it to her little brother. 

And so forth and so on. 

Much like my girls did. 

(at the end of this post is a fabulous active way to use this for advent devotions)

Then I get this picture via text. 

"Rebecca said this is "Jofus" I said you mean 

Joseph...."nope, Jofus" "

How cute - and if she is playing with it, there will be learning occuring.

Merry Christmas.

************************************

I cannot take credit for this idea, but it is a wonderful one. 

A friend of mine uses their wood block nativity along with some other props for their Advent readings. 

The various figures are placed around the house with the numbered envelopes.

Each night the search out the correct envelope and have the devotional. 

For instance 

Night one - the angel comes to Mary.

Night two - The angel comes to "Jofus" 

Night three - Joseph and Mary together read the scroll. 

All the while the empty manger sits on the table by the tree. 

For the twenty five days leading up to Christmas. The story unfolds and the characters in the story slowly make the trip through the house to Bethlehem. 

On Christmas Eve, Baby Jesus appears in the manger. 

On Christmas Day - before the gift frenzy begins - the Wise Men bring their gifts to the new Baby. 

A beautiful tradition for the kids. 

If you choose to adapt this idea for your Christmas, please leave a comment here, I would love to hear your stories. 

Much love and a Very Merry Christmas to all of you. 

inspired - and given

So there are these friends.

New baby boy. (the baby brother of little miss rebecca - she is the owner of the butterfly artwork)

I needed a gift.

Happy DO Year underway.

Stash usage is a serious part of the DO idea.

And So here is the next giftie ----

I stalked mom's pinterest boards and discovered ------ the following pin was my inspiration

Miss Jill McDonald makes beautiful handcut illustrations that she then sells these wonderful prints of.

missjillmcdonald on Pinterest

Being an artist myself, I twisted the idea into my own version of the artwork.

I knew little Chips' room was going to be blue, so I gathered several blue themed scrapbook papers and set up my CRICUT machine. I cut the letters - attempting to use a variety that I could mix and mingle.

I painted the background of my canvas pale blue --- latex from a miss-mix shelf at Lowe's.

After I cut my letters I randomized the lines and laid them out on the canvas.

I taped off the edges to keep my spacing fairly accurate.  Hours later, I had Mod Podged all the letters into place.

I peeled off the tape and decided it was a little bland for my liking.

So I grabbed some blue glimmer mist. Spritz away.

I then took my heat gun and dried the mist. (to keep the letters from peeling up at all)

I discovered that the ModPodge bubbled with the heatgun and it left this awesome texture on the canvas. (I call that kind of discovery a Happy Accident ---- although every now and then it can be an OH SH*&)

After the spritzing and blow drying - I sprayed the entire thing with clear spray sealer.

And called it DONE.

I love it ---- I hope mom and little Chip love it too.

The Design Team Official intro ....

Take off over here 

Too meet the lovely ladies who are making up the Globecraft and Piccolo design team. 

I am in awe of being one of them. 

I cannot wait to see what inspiring ideas this group presents to us all. 

Also - take off for shopping too

Globecraft and Piccolo

SweetStamps

2014 looks like an inspiring year to come. 

On wings of love.......

So I have lots of sweet littles in my life. 

Rebecca Peterson is one of them.

Several months back - little Missy announced to us that she was going to be a BIG SISTER. 

I stalked her mama's pinterest for ideas to make a gift for the new baby. 

(that post in a few days) 

While I was mulling that over, 

I started on a little giftie for Rebecca.

(BIG SISTER had to get a gift too) 

I sent her dad a text and it was determined that pink butterflies would be the ticket. 

I painted a 12x12 canvas green.

Then punched sixteen circles.

Some glue and patience later they are laid out on the canvas. 

Then I wanted dimensional butterflies and I had these great sequins in the right shape. 

I punched assorted paper ones too. 

I bent the sequins for dimension.

stacked them on the paper shapes

(see the beads) 

I strung the beads on light gauge wire. 

Wrapped to the back to secure.

Because I KNOW someone will ask, here's how I bent the sequins using the back side of my xacto knife blade. 

After making all the little butterflies, I moved them around and decided on the layout I liked.

If you are ever around me creating - there is that moment that I refer too as "look - it sings"

More glue - this time a clear drying tacky glue.

The finished artwork

I likes this one a LOT. 

The full front view. 

and ------ 

A sweetie little missy enjoying opening her present.

here's the newsflash

I've wanted to design for a company for a long long time. 

I saw that GlobeCraft and Piccolo was looking for design team members. 

Being that my word for the year is DO.

I clicked and linked.

And waited. 

And over the Thanksgiving long weekend, I received an invitation to be a part of a lovely group of talented ladies. 

I readily accepted the invitation.

I will be a design team member starting in 2014. 

I am so excited to work with these products and the ladies on the team. 

I do hope all of you will follow all of the goodies the entire team comes up with. 

Linky Goodies. 

Blogsite

Website

SweetStamps website

I am so excited to be a part of this.

Watch for more fun updates soon.