Not Just Starbucks Resin Jewelry

I have a great friend that gets me used Starbucks gift cars once they have been used. She saves them from the trash and I reap all the benefits! I made a few resin jewelry bracelets from different gift cards that have been given to me this week. Some are Starbucks but they are all not just Starbucks, some are Target and others are H&M. Too cute I think! I might have to steal these from my store for myself! I love the use of crowns from H&M. And if you also like Skulls wearing crowns then you will like it even better! Or if hearts are your thing then I have one for you! I also had two but one is already gone of my teal and gold bracelet. Last is my foil flowers form Target prefect for spring! Check them out I know you will love them as much as I do!

If you want to visit my store click HERE!
Have a great Sunday!!!

Cyber Friends

I was mentioned on a couple of cyber-friend’s blogs.

From Restitch me here from Feb. and here from back in November. Check out the rest of restitchme.com I love the creativity and her ability to sew and upcycle things!

Also on my photographers blog that is so creative and beautiful! And anyone that knows how ugly Bakersfield is, you would know how amazing her style is! You have to be creative in a dirty, hot farmland that is smoggy or foggy 350 days a year!
Her blog is: jessicafreyphotographyblog.com
Check out all of her fairy tale weddings they are great, you will love them!!!!
And I made the flower balls for her on this picture: here

I love the cyber world it brings the creative world so close! I live in California about 1 1/2 hours outside LA (with traffic), but the town I live in is not the most creative! I love the desert of California but there are things I would change if I had a magic wand. So my cyber world friends are so important! I am always encouraged and inspired to keep creating!

So thanks for all the inspiration! Keep on blogging!

Mapping Your Heart

I love vintage books and even more then simple stories I love maps. I love finding an old atlas. I made this picture for my wall because I needed to see something different. CHANGE!!! I love this season of change that will be here in a few days! So I needed to see something new. I would do this every week if I had the time and inspiration! No, I have both of those, so maybe just enough push and motivation to do it.

I don’t mind failing and I need to post a few pictures of projects that were rejected. I think failing makes me try focus on what the end result should be. I also have to be honest with myself about what I am able to do. I come from a long line of “duct tappers”! Motto: If you can’t figure out the right way to do it then fake fix it! get it to work for the moment and pray it won’t break too soon.

Soooo… I made this picture I don’t love it and I had to cut the sides off the good old USA but it isn’t too bad. I like the look of the map, the red it too bright and the map is cut in a way where more then one person has asked what part of the world that is in the picture. I am not in love with this project but I love that I have something new on the wall. I need change in my life to keep me involved and motivated for more change! But this one will NOT make it to my store.

Song writers have to write lots of songs before a “hit” is written. Artist are the same way! It’s called the chaff. The chaff comes with the wheat you just have to tell the difference! I think this describes the mapping of your heart. I can copy all day long from a huge talent pool, talent greater then mine. But when you find inspiration that spurs your creative side and pushes your limits that is where your heart is found. You can map your heart by what draws you in and makes you excited.

We have been created by a Master Creator that we have been made in the image of. We all long to create something in the image of our heart. We all long for the story of a victor who slays the dragon. We all sing a heart song that wants to see true complete restoration for the people we love. We laugh, love, hurt, hope and cry our heart song each day in different ways. Unleash your heart song and dream of a true victor who will slay the dragon, who holds the keys to true restoration for the ones you love. Create art, write words, sing songs, make something that will sing your heart song. All that is left is creating a map of your heart, mountains, valleys and all!

It’s better with Daughters

I love my girls they are such a joy in this life and remind me not to take anything too seriously.

ALison is 11 and so social. She will make friends with anything that moves and will get them to love her back! We have had a long year this past year. and she has grown leaps and bounds in her faith and I have seen an amazing young lady spring from the girl I once knew. I love to watch her grow in her faith and love.

Alison tried to get this spoon on her little nose for 30 minutes and then kept it on for another 15 minutes!

I was pulling weeds with Alison today and she was asking why the weeds were making her itch. I said to her, “they say Alison, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Alison laughed and said “wow do they say that about all Alison’s?”

Yep, that’s my girl!

Emily, 8 years, is an animal lover and has told me that she wishes she was an animal and not a little girl. I had a friend tell me that she only wanted one of my girls to be flower girls in her wedding because Emily acts like a dog for hours and that would not add to her wedding. Emily would act like an animal for hours and still does. when you have to ask your daughter to be a little girl again and that she can no longer be a animal for the rest of the day, thats life at my house!

Emily’s middle name is Faith, she is a child with strong convictions and a good understanding of who she is. She is so funny and we laugh all the time with her around! She is so sarcastic and has an understanding of how to get others to laugh. SHe told me the other day that her Teacher is not funny and does not get jokes. I ask why she thought that was. Her answer… “She is a mom and has her own kids.” “What??? I think things are funny” Emily said “yea, but you can be funny too mom!”
My life with the giggle girls is so good! I wouldn’t trade them for all the money or chocolate in the world. There is no upcycling them!!!

Reverse Paintings on glass

I found a fun project called Reverse Painting catch a video in this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7b7glAixrc

I used a Sharpie to create the outline on my drawing and covered the glass (or in this case plexiglass) with acrylic paint. I choose a design that was fun and “easy” or so I thought! I picked a bird and scratch-draw the lines and feathers in black Sharpie into the plexi. If you made a mistake you can take a magic eraser and scrub it off and start again. I found a quote and realized I would have to draw it in backwards for it to be read the right way. That was harder then I thought. Then I had fun and painted away. Starting with the highlights then I moved to the darker colors. Last I worked on the background. I liked how this turned out. I am not a painter so don’t judge!

I tried my hand at an elk, I think it’s an elk. I’m not super happy with the floating animal but it’s not that bad. I wish I left the background blank or made it more abstract like the bird. I made him the same way, drew in the shape with black Sharpie, added lines to give it definition and then painted. Always start with the highlights then move to the darker colors over the top. Mix while the paint is wet so you don’t get too many lines. You want the colors to fade into each other.

Reverse Painting Elk

On this one I found a fun design and wanted to try out my silver sharpie to see what it would look like. It looks great and still has a silver shine to it. I drew in the leaf design with my black and silver sharpies. Then I took teal and painted it on bubble wrap and stamped that on. Next I painted bronze over the middle area then brown over the top. I felt the abstract was fun and free to paint with less rules and stress. Sorry for the blurry picture!

Abstract Reverse Painting

Last I got the idea of using scrap paper for the background. I found this lovely peacock design and drew in on a piece of glass (real glass) which I liked better because I messed of on this one and I took a razor blade to it and pulled it off. Simple clean up with no guilt and I started drawing and painting again. I love how this one turned out. I love the background and the colors! It has made it to the wall and to be shown off!

Reverse Painting Peacock

I taught a young lady to do this and I kept saying relax it will look better of you can relax and have fun, not worry about the end result. She relaxed and had fun and loves her painting! I have even done this with my kids and they love it! So next time you are at the $1 store pick up a frame, draw and paint on the glass and feel free to mess up! What are you waiting for, if you know your not a painter cheat a little and paint in reverse!

Simple But Fun Painting

I made these simple but fun paintings for my walls.  My walls needed a punch of color and to help them out I made these. 

First get a few canvases and have fun painting them any way you want!  I love the look of the bright colors so I played around with my acrylics and painted carefree!  I put on fun music and made sure my lines in the painting were going in a straight line.

Next, let them dry well.

Third: find an object that has a design, or circles or silhouette of an object cut from paper or use your image cutter if you don’t trust your hand.  I used the clock from a few posts back!

Last, place the object down on the painting and spray over the top of them and spray away (about 2-3 light coats) and your done!!! 

Have fun!!!

Upcycled Giftcard Jewelry

What I have been up to lately… Raising money for my oldest daughter’s class trip, and we only need $200.00 more. If you would be willing to help us get there I would be so thankful!!! All items (and the like) I have listed are $18.00 and free shipping!
I Got some new (old, used) giftcards and I made them into these wonderful things!

Just click on any of the photo’s and it should take you to my ETSY shop!
(and no the giftcard does not come with the jewelry and I am afraid you can not load the jewelry with money once it has been made into something)