it's a barbeque Invitation

It's a Barbeque. Kinda. It's actually a barbeque invitation kind of day. 

The set I used is one of the new items over at the Globecraft and Piccolo shop. 

Here's the rundown on the items I used. 

- BBQ Fun Accents Piccolo A163

- Mossy Glen Embossing Powder (the grass) 

-Pure Platinum Embossing Powder (the utensils and the grill rack area) 

- Deep Blue Sky Embossing Powder (the words) 

- Micro Black Embossing Powder (the grill) 

- Honey Mustard 3D Gel (flames)

- Deep Red 3D Gel (flames)

- Orange 3D Gel  (flames)

- Embossing  Powder Adhesive 

- Glastique

- A tiny Paint Brush

- medium Green stamp pad (This one from SweetStamps is similar in shade)

- a blue Stamp Pad (this one is very similar) 

- an Invitation Stamp

- Card Stock

I used a paint brush to make grass shaped lines with the Embossing Powder Adhesive and embossed the grass using the Mossy Glen Powder. Then I used my favorite tool (my finger) and smeared the green in to fill in the grassy area. Using a torn sponge, light tap a blue toned background for the sky. 

Emboss the utensils and the grill rack area with the platinum - I painted these in with the paintbrush and the Embossing Powder Adhesive. 

Add "handles" to the utensils with the Deep Red 3D Gel. and set aside to dry. 

Emboss your words from the Set with the Deep Blue Sky Embossing Powder. Stamp the You're Invited Image at an angle on the card. Align and glue the wording below the stamp.

Now the grill itself - I used three layers of the MicroBlack Embossing powder. It gives a nice texture to the grill parts. 

The flame was done by dotting the Honey Mustard and Orange 3D Gel and running a toothpick through it to mix the colors. 

Adhere everything down using Glastique - I used gloss, but it also comes in a Matte Finish. 

Add the details inside - Mail and enjoy the great food and great company of friends. 

September is coming ......

For the past several years, I have observed what has come to be called SIMPLY SIMPLE SEPTEMBER. I spend the 30 days of September focusing on simple moments - simple activity - simple creating - simplifying.

I would love to invite each of you to join me. No prompts - no pressure - just a focus on simplicity.

I'll be posting my pictures - commentary - etc. on my Facebook, my Instagram  (using hashtag #simplysimpleseptember, and here.

If you would like to take a moment or two each day focusing on the beautiful - simple things with me, I would love to have you join me.

a tutorial for altering clipboards.

notice - this is a repost from 2009 - i am trying to keep the tutorial active, but the spam bots have suddenly found this post and are steady targeting it. I have moved it and retitled it - and will be deleting the orginal post. some 100 spam email notices have been tied to the original post.


Happy Tuesday ---

I ran two laps last night without slowing to catch my breath - a definite improvement. I had a goal to lose 10 more pounds by the end of the year, but I think the holidays are gonna get in the way of that goal. Oh well.

Now for the tutorial. Notice this looks a lot more difficult than it is. Just take your time. I only covered the fronts of my clipboards, but you can do both sides. I found these clipboards at a thrift store and they were in pretty good shape. A couple had writing on them, but that was not a problem since I was going to cover them anyway. You can also find new ones very reasonably at the Dollar Stores or office supply stores

MATERIALS
clipboard
twine or zip ties
MODPODGE or any decoupage medium
xacto knife (make sure your blade is sharp)
Scrapbook paper (giftwrap or vintage paper works just as well)
Foam brush
cheap emory boards
embellishments (optional)

HERE WE GO

Pick your papers and gather up your supplies. In this case, I actually followed those directions and laid all my papers on the clipboards to start with.


Decide your layouts. See my finished boards at the end of the post for more ideas.

The next picture is the only really challenging part of the process.

Tie or zip tie your clip open.

Decide where your paper is going to intersect the plate that attaches the clip to the board. Most have a curved shoulder at that point. Cut a slit in your paper to accomodate the part that sticks up (how's that for a technical description). Press the flap down to mark the curved shoulder area.

Remove the paper and cut out the shoulder area. (see below)

Another view of the fitted paper (below). Also shows the clip tied open. Do not worry if your paper extends beyond the edge of the clipboard. We'll deal with that later.

Once everthing is fitted and arranged like you want. Glue it all down. I use a brayer/roller (wallpaper seam roller) to make sure the air bubbles are gone and the paper is smooth. Get the decoupage glue all the way to and over the edges. THIS IS IMPORTANT -- YOU WANT A GOOD SEAL AT THE EDGES OF THE CLIPBOARD.

Set them aside to dry completely.

Once they are dry, use your xacto knife to trim the paper close to the edge of the clip board.

Add any additional flat paper embellishments or layers you choose. Glue these down. Again make sure you glue all the way to the edge of these layered pieces. Let these dry again.

Now for the really messy part. I used cheap emory board packs from the dollar store. Sand the edges of the paper back against the edge of the board. You want to be able to rub against the paper in reverse without peeling the paper off the board. This is dusty and tedious, but not difficult.

Wipe off carfully. Then apply a coat of the decoupage medium to the entire paper surface. In this case my only instructions are to read the instructions on the label.

Here is a shot of my pile during one of the early drying phases. I spread and stack and prop on every available surface. That habit was one of the things that ultimately pushed the Man at My Address to adapt the barn into my studio. At least now he doesn't have to move 4 drying clipboards off the table to be able to eat.

Once your finish coat(s) have dried add any 3D embellishments at the top. Consider the use of the clipboard carefully when you do this. I only add them to the very top. (Next 3 pictures)

Now for my finished boards.

I stamped on the one to left above.

This is my favorite. Sorry about the glare. The postcard was cut from a scrapbook paper.

The train/ship was a big hit with Lannae's son - William.

The color on this is off in this picture. The photo color is better in the in process shot earlier in this post.

Really crappy picture - but I like the colors a lot.

Those are real pressed flowers and that lace edge paper is absolutely amazing. It was made with a Martha Stewart edge punch.

If you would like to purchase one of these - they are 12.00 each. I can ship, but will have to determine shipping at time of order. (Note to self -- get that ETSY shop going).

Again - I hope you make something for yourself or someone else this Christmas.

Have a wonderful day.

calm

Happy Thursday. Teresa here again with a wonderful altered pendant. I love the way the enamels adhere to practically everything, giving us a ton of options for surface embellishing. 

Then adding the UV cure resin to seal it all gives us even more options. 

I actually made two of these - one to send to GlobeCraft and Piccolo and one that is hanging on a large lighthouse in my home.

Here is the shopping list.

real rust enamel powder
Enamel Adhesive
Instant UV Resin
Glastique Gloss 

There is full tutorial of the process for enameling the metals here and here. All it takes is time and patience for this process.

Another really great item is a toaster oven. Line the sheet with foil to protect the cooking surface and place the items under the broiler.

The Real Rust Powder is my current favorite - using the toaster oven allowed me to watch it carefully and stop the process of the melt with a lot of texture left so that the metal keeps a rust color AND texture. This powder mixes are amazing especially if you are covering a fairly large and smooth surface. This pendant has three layers of the powders on it.

While the pendant is cooling, make your accent. This one features an image from a lighthouse themed postage stamp. I took a clear glass flat backed marble (floral marble) and traced the shape on the image, then cut it out. The marble magnifies the image a bit.

I then used the Glastique to adhere the image to the marble and let it dry. Glastique is a wonderful paper adhesive. There is no wrinkling of the paper at all and it dries completely clear. Perfect for adhering images behind glass.

After the image dried, I again used the Glastique as an adhesive, attaching the image and the words (cut from a magazine article) to the pendant. I allowed all of this to cure overnight.

After everything cured overnight, coat everything but the marble with a thin layer of the Instant UV Resin and cure that in the sun or under a UV lamp. Adding the UV Resin to the pendant both seals and adds even more security to the image under the stone.

Hang your ornament with pride.

here are some more ideas for using the Glastique to mount images behind glass.
- pendant bezels
- photo frames
- magnets
- memory jars.
- Christmas Ornaments

Have a wonderful afternoon.

blogging without expectations.....

I haven't been here as frequently as I once was.

Life is happening at a lightning fast pace right now. More details to come.

But I wanted to share a quick little idea.

 I am at a point in my life where I am simplifying many things.

Mostly I am recognizing that I don't need to get better organized, I just need LESS STUFF.

But I want that STUFF to really make me smile when I use it. (I almost used the "make me happy" phrase but that is wrong. STUFF cannot make anyone happy)

I have come to recognize that I will shuffle through the stack of assorted bowls in my cabinet to use the same styled one for my cereal every time. Why have twelve bowls I don't use ---- well hello - get rid of them. Instant improvement. Multiply that idea by thousands and you will find where my brain is at this point in time. PURGE PURGE PURGE.

Back to the post.

I found this Vintage Brass Tissue Cover at the thrift store.

It's been sitting around here and there and I just kept moving it.

I also use the folded fabric softener dryer sheets and I just keep the little box sitting on the dryer. But you know, I want my STUFF to make me smile.

And then a flash of momentary brilliance. I word it that way, because sometimes these things don't work exactly as planned. But this one did.

Pretty Brass Tissue Box with a hinged lid. Prefolded dryer sheets. A perfect eclectic combination that I think will make me smile often. And it is a big improvement over the recycled baby wipe box.

See.....

more to come.

leather and lace

Full tutorial for this can be found HERE.

angel words

I'm over at GlobeCraft and Piccolo today with a tutorial for the canvas above.

Offbeat Bride Bouquet

full tutorial is at the design team blog

I still make things (and I need to be selling some)

So - I restocked my booth with new bracelets today. 

Some really pretty ones - the basket weave handled one in the photo below is very different from most of my silverware finds.  

I've been in a strange place for some time now. 

Things are simply out of kilter and a bit overwhelming right now. 

And my go to when I am like this is to shut down - so I am fighting that urge. 

Bracelets are now $25.00 and if you are local to Athens, Georgia, you can find them at Junk in the Trunk on Olympic Drive. 

The rose floral one in the picture below is a favorite too. 

I've also added several new spoon collage and skeleton key pendants to the offerings. 

As the one below speaks - I AM BLESSED - and life is very beautiful.

I absolutely love the blues in the spoon below. 

I sell them as pendants, but they can be converted to key chains. 

Or simply motivational ornaments to hang. 

Again- available at Junk in the Trunk in Athens, Georgia. 

I have that booth - but I am quite willing to sell these and mail them. 

I am not set up for credit card purchases, but we can work out those details if need be. 

(yes MaryAnn - I need an etsy shop - and I need to work out the whole paypal thing) 

Simply leave a comment here - or at my facebook - or instagram message

or email me at 

teresahome @ juno . com 

(just take out the spaces on the email address - the spammers are killing me with junk emails) 

I'll be popping in here in the next few with some "pop up" inspiration kits to sell too. 

Have a great day. 

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

Well Hello There --- haven't seen you in a while.

 I'm still kicking.

Lot's of changes in my world. 

But I do still make things. 

Actually I've been making LOTS of things.

These two are just the latest Design Team Offerings over at Globecraft and Piccolo. 

And cool news - They have asked and I have agreed to continue for the rest of the year as one of the team. 

It was very exciting to be invited back. 

I'm also requesting prayer for some things going on in my life. 

Just things. Nothing serious. But overwhelming none the less. 

In good news, the Softball Princess is busily preparing for post season play.

They have advanced into Regional play and are on the road to Nationals. 

I'll be spending LOTS of time on the road and by the field this weekend and hopefully for the next several weekends. 

Life is Beautiful.

Note - there is a tutorial for the cross and dragonfly here. 

Grateful Hope Planning and Praying

This counting of blessings - it's contagious - my friend Patti has/is reading the book --- I am re-reading it. Looking for things to focus on for the retreat. Trying to plan the details. 

Details - all the details - and this is to be a low stress event -----

For my friends. 

Me - well this s a GIFT for them. Some of the details may go unnoticed, but the prayers that are in those details --- they will be felt from now until the event and hopefully well past it. 

Which brings me to today ------

This is me. 

Let's just recap the week. I forgot to write a transaction down in the check book - the warehouse for shipping material to us at my grown up girl job left a CRITICAL item off the truck (4 hours in the car to make that right - windshield time) - Mr Dorsey has had another stroke - one of the youth from my church had a GI artery bleed and is still in the hospital after emergency surgery - a friend of mine spent Wednesday night and all day yesterday trying to find her elderly father (who left going to church, became disoriented, and was finally located miles and miles from home), another friend lost a job, and  add to this ---- I feel puny. (hope I am not getting sick).

I am quite empty ---

And yet I am blessed.

Patti posted her NOTICING on facebook last night. Simply beautiful.
I tossed a grungy sock with the bucket boy --- both of us enjoyed that play time.
Andrew's surgery was successful - he will be ok - again
AND - they found Beth's Dad safe - he wandered into a Historical Museum in a small town and the lovely people there searched until they found Beth's number (please please people - program an ICE number into your phones.)

Blessings through the HARD, EMPTY, TRYING moments.

I want this seeing of blessings to be shared with the ladies in attendance at GRATEFUL HOPE.

So yesterday - while praying over so much difficult stuff - I tried to pray over an easy craft for the Retreat. I put up a picture collage of these and asked for votes. I'm still asking. See some of these ladies are not "craft" oriented ---- but I really want them to feel like they can make something pretty as a memento of the day together. Something that when they see it, they are reminded of the JOY, GRATITUDE, and FELLOWSHIP of the day.

Note - I will put together kits for whichever one I/we decide on. The actual craft will be INSPIRED by these - not an exact duplicate.

So please vote in the comments on this ---- list your top three in order of what you might like to make if you were a part of the gathering.


1. A BEADED HEART ORNAMENT - inspired by the one pictured. I found the original link at Mayahelena on ETSY

A note prompted by Patti: This can be completed in brights or neutrals. I already have everything I need for this craft. I would form the hearts ahead of time ----and the completion would be stringing the beads and wrapping the heart to your liking.

2. FABRIC BUNTING - I found this image at The Natural Wedding Company - it linked to BHLDN - but the bunting is no longer available there. The one shown is sewn to the hanging string, but we would glue ours. Again we can do this in brights - or neutrals. I'm thinking at least 10 different fabrics for each one. 

I have everything needed for this one too - I would precut the fabric shapes  - and the completion would be the gluing together - I most likely would cut all the pieces from assorted fabrics - then randomly package the kits - but you ladies could swap at the tables ---- 

3. BEADED MOBILE YARD ART. I found this on Pinterest, but in searching Google images - I located the source - on ETSY.  The most difficult part of this will be stringing beads (I'll add buttons to the ones we would make because - well - I have them - and I like them)

I have everything for this one too - I would predrill the branches and completion would be stringing and tying these on. Again - these can be brights - pastels - neutrals.

4. HANDSTITCHED TINY CHARMS - be still my heart -- I love these. These were made by Becky Shander - actually I love ALL her stuff.  Now these are tiny - and this would definitely be a handstitching project.

But once again (imagine) I have all the stuff. to make assorted versions of these.

Matter of fact - I'll be making some of these anyway. Just because.

5. WORD BLOCK ORNAMENT - this one came with a FULL TUTORIAL and I like it. it can be expanded to say HOPE - PEACE - GRACE - LOVE - really anything.

I have "most" of this readily available. Although there may have to be a bit of adaptation to use from the stash. it might not be multi-sided and we may wind up using scrabble tiles for the letters.

6. MELTY FLOWERS -- I made over a 100 of this type of flower for Molly's wedding.  I found this picture here.   Circles of petals - fun button and bead centers. These are a little more "laborious" - but NOT difficult to make.

I would bring the precut circles - and candles - you would melt the edges (who doesn't like to play with fire) and hand stitch together to make a pin on flower. again these could be done in any color scheme and I have all the stuffs for them.

Crafts for 15 people - from the stash - well yes - I can EASILY be accomplished.

This event is in October - it is a LABOR OF LOVE for me. I have felt called to do this from the first chapter of the book. Please help me get all these details right ----

I am investing my heart into this --- God is investing His love through me ---

Please comment with your 'PINIONS even if this is not an event you can attend. I need your help.

I am working through all my details - most will not be seen here until after the event --- surprises are fun.

Life is beautiful - busy, but beautiful - stop and NOTICE the beauty.

GRATEFUL HOPE

Each day new. 

Blessings will spill forth. 

Will you recognize the gifts? 

Even in the ugliest moments there are gifts. 

Do you believe that? 

I do.

I also believe that sometimes we miss them. 

Looking ahead, rushing through, distracted by. 

Whatever the explanation is, we miss them. 

And another thing I believe is that we forget them.

We swear we will remember, but then time slowly erases the color from the memory and finally we lose it.

Until something reminds us. 

A smell, a note, a photo, a word spoken, a song. 

Reminders. 

What if. 

We take the time to NOTICE.

Then to record. 

What if we look into God's word and see a way of living. 

One that allows us to see how he fills. 

Pours out.

Overflowing. 

Allowing us to FULL, FULLY, BEAUTIFULLY live. 

Coming this fall --- 

a day of learning.

in a small group of supportive, encouraging friends.

1000 Gifts - a DVD based study. 

Good food.

Pampering.

Encouragement. 

Laughter.

Tears. 

Grace.

Growing.

Blessings.

GRATEFUL HOPE

More information to come.

Here is the original post about why this retreat is so very important to me.

4/10/2014 EDIT
GRATEFUL HOPE
OCTOBER 4, 2014
NEAR DANIELSVILLE, GA