Holiday Stockings

This past week, I had a quick change in plans...and was welcoming an unexpected guest early.  So I wanted them to feel a part of my holiday celebration (and to have a stocking among my 3 individual ones I hang...yes, a bit much, but hey, they were gifted to me and all lovely ones at that.)

So thankfully, the timing fit in with all the clearance sales going on at the art stores.  I found a stocking for $2 at Michaels....and let the wheels churn with ideas.  I searched the internet for templates of Reindeer.  I recently saw someone create a glitter canvas collage of various silhouettes & loved it.  So I went with this one:

I cut out the image and traced it onto the back of various sticky back felt.  I cut the deer up in pieces to use different colored felt. (that stuff is so easy to cut and not messy like regular felt...a new artsy love was made that day :)

I wanted to do a fun bright color + that was all the pack of felt contained...so I went with it.

After I cut out the images, I peeled off the adhesive cover and pieced the picture back together onto the stocking front.

And then added a pink bow-tie. :)

I cut out letters in red felt and placed the person's name on the top....and wanted to do some more art with felt....so I turned the stocking over...and created this Baltimore Ravens logo with felt and puffy paint. <3

This makes it a bit more manly, then the bright green deer with pink bow...

plus that way, he had options for the holidays. (and can leave up the month of January to root on the Ravens in the playoffs...It worked this past Sunday.) 

This activity is very kid friendly activity with minimal clean-up.

 I think I will be adding a variation to our Summer Camp "Arts & Crafts Hour".

SPRAY PAINT PROJECT: Toy Frame

This past year or so, I have come across a serious love for spray paint. A bit harmful when used inside, but I love it nonetheless.  Enough, I should probably invest in some masks (I'm sure my brother could get a good bargain in Japan on them.)...I digress...Hence, to go along with "Pinterest Project",

I am starting "Spray Paint Project" category to my blog.

Project One: Toy Frame.

Supplies needed:

1) random minature toys/trinkets/charms

(I used some old necklace charms, $1 store items, magnet letters, plastic animals)

2) frame of any size

 (I used some old picture frames around the house.  Best if you sand down painted ones, or simply used an unfinished one)

3) glue gun & glue sticks

(this was the best way I found to hold the object in place)

4) .....and SPRAY PAINT designed for plastic.

(Since all my items were some form of plastic, I selected a yellow Krylon Fusion spray paint)

....and now you are ready to begin.

I lightly coated the frame first before adhering the toys onto the frame. It was easier for me this way, then to get around all the nooks and crannies of the toys with the paint afterwards.

And now, time for the fun...spray painting!

  I let the coats dry for about 30 minutes in between.  And yes, I sprayed & let it dry outside...

it IS advised on the can.

NOT TO MENTION...I TRY TO SPRAY PAINT ITEMS ON WEDNESDAY AS THE GRASS GETS MOWED ON THURSDAY.  Don't want to tick off the HOA with my craftiness...and brightly colored yard.

Now you can add whatever you desire to the center.  I selected a fabric from IKEA and glued it around the cardboard piece that comes with the frame.

And placed it under my mirror in the guest bathroom.

You can also get some chicken wire and make an inspiration board, or even just leave the frame bare and place on the wall around another free floating object.  Endless possibilities for a frame. 

Enjoy the last weekend of 2012.

DECEMBER DAILY: Days Eleven to Twelve 2012

Nothing too eventful going on these past couple of days but the ordinary.  And ordinary is good for me.

Day 11:  SAY CHEESE!  No cavities for me...Oh JOY!



(used an X-Ray filter from Filter Mania 2 app to create an x-ray effect_



Day 12:  Dealing with basketball program & preparing uniforms/rosters/paperwork

(most days during this season, you will find my hair pulled back, papers in my hand while talking to the plethora of patrons flooding our facility...not to mention acting as damage control = STRESS)

I planned on posting the rest of my December Daily month, but some items are a bit too personal for me to share right now in a public forum.  Don't want to put a jinx on me before the New Year starts :)

DECEMBER DAILY: Day Ten 2012

CHRISTMAStown USA...here I come!

I decided to enjoy the 65 degree weather and venture out to McAdenville, NC for a night field trip to see the lights. Last year I went to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens & IT WAS GORGEOUS.

 McAdenville is moreso houses decorated, but they did have a beautiful lake surrounded by lit trees and color changing fountain.  It was so neat to see a community/town all get in the spirit of things.

 All & all it was a fun trip (plus going this early in December, the traffic was ideal...no lines); not to mention the cupcakes at the end were DELISH :)-

(still need to add a few more pics of lights and cupcakes)
the top middle picture is a clock on their main street-had a hard time getting an image as the center was lit up

(I will add this large photo to the back of the page)

Bring on the Twinkle!

DECEMBER DAILY: Days Three to Nine 2012

Weeklong Wrap-up ... I will keep this post simple but loaded with pictures.  

Day 3: My dog Barkley & me

Day 4: Listing of Blogs I follow & adore



(Blogs show are: Donna Downey, Ali Edwards, Alisa Burke, Junelle Jacobsen, Danita Art, Juliette Crane, Elsie Larson, Christy Tomlinson, Kal Barteski, Kelly Rae Roberts, Julie Fei Fan Balzer)



Day 5: Training for work at Freedom Park

Day 6: Baked Cookes

Day 7: Good Morning Text/Pic from CJ + tree sketch (still need to watercolor it) + some early gifts from my parents (Nuts on Clark popcorn & Toms corduroy shoes)

Day 8: Happy Hanukkah!

Day 9: JOY & Happiness (random silliness & fun moments from the day)

If there are any questions about any of the pages, feel free to ask away.