Winners & Halloween Projects

What a beautiful day it was yesterday. I wanted to have each one of my 3 kids pull 3 names for the drawing but you know how cooperative they were, they are 4,3 & 1 now. So I drew names from a plate. (Because I don't own a hat) TaDa! and here are the winners!

Fated Follies Studio

Kids Napping

All about Pretty

I'll be packing them up today & shipping them out tomorrow. Thank you SO much everyone for supporting me. I am so blessed to have so many nice friends in the blog world. Here's what I worked on last week. The majority of the projects were Halloween.

These are Halloween Atcs for this swap hosted by Dani of Ambitions Designs Studio. We were assigned to make two and send them to 2 people. I also made one to keep for myself and one to send to Dani. OF course I wanted vintage themed because vintage Halloween Art is so much sweeter and more kind than today. It seems everything today is scary and bloody. Yuck! Honestly Halloween is one of my least favorite holidays. I know. I can hear the gasp coming from all of you. It seems to be a favorite in the crafting world but I hate to be scared and orange isn't one of my favorite colors. However I do love coordinating what my family's Halloween costumes will be like me and my husband being the kind and queen and our daughters princesses and my son the heir to the throne.

I also made a requested project from Monica at Ruby Begonia's to make clip art atcs and put hangers on them like little ornaments for her stores Halloween theme as of now. I added little vintage rhinestone trinkets and vintage buttons. Of course some handwriting. I feel like I can't send out a piece of my artwork without writing on it.
The backs of the ornaments

Halloween Vintage Trim tags for Ruby Begonias

Didn't the sky yesterday look like the heavens were opening up? The rays coming through the clouds. Just beautiful!

20 minutes & 20 dollars

So I went to the Flea market again this week but only had 20 minutes to look around and only had $20 to spend. Not hard but here's what I found.

This embroidered ribbon wouldn't usually be my style. I like light & flowing and soft colors. This is thick and heavy and dark but it is the most GORGEOUS ribbon I've ever seen in person!

End of things I got for $20. Some great deals all together like the candle holder with a ridiculous amount of crystals on it for $10. Trims were about $5. Brooches $2 & 2 plates for $2.
Here's what I've been working on today. Long process for such little things but the look is worth it on the lace trim cards. I have to save and cut up pieces of cardboard from food packaging boxes. Then use decoupage to give the stars a thin coat. Then press them in the finest glitter I've ever seen. Unfortunately with a one year old I've cleaned up this mess so many times I'm sick of glitter. I take it back I don't mean it. I just won't be using glitter while she's awake. Our family will forever be sparkly because of this craft. Then spray them with a sealer and hope most of the glitter doesn't fall off.

I've also been working on finishing the decor in my living room. I've painted almost everything in here so It's taking a while but the look is what I really want. It still needs some glitter and vintage flowers but it will get there. This candelabra I found at my consignment shop when I was dropping a load off I saw this on the way in. Marked at only $10 I had to get it. I went and asked the clerk how much I had on my account & she said $10. So I payed only .29 cents for this! $5.18 for the ivory candles from Walmart.

Here are my past flea market mirrors I've shared with you all. 4 of the 5 have been painted.

Don't forget to leave a comment on the post below for your chance to win some pretty vintage packages. I'm pulling numbers tomorrow! Fun!

100th post! means Giveaways & Gratitude

Giveaway #1 Pretty Powder Blue Package including a handmade crepe paper rose, vintage handkerchief, Trim tag & floral plate

Giveaway #2 Antique Periwinkle Package includes vintage plate, butterfly rhinestone pin, German post card, trinkets, buttons & a tag full of lace and some star sparkles. (Available in my Etsy shop today!)

Giveaway #3 Vintage Post Card Cards with a pink lace tag.

Just leave a comment on this post and I will draw 3 names on Wednesday, August 13th

So it's been about 8 months since I started this blog. There were a few reasons I decided to start sharing my art and I will go on in trying to list them openly and honestly which is so important. As you know we all share more with our personal handwritten diaries than on our blogs. So why not? It can't hurt to be brutally honest in my 100th blog post. And because I can't read for long periods of time without pictures there will be some pretty entertainment along the way.

Reasons I started a blog:

1. When I left work last September, I was afraid I was going to become a lazy bum Stay at home mom watching Tv and eating all day ignoring my kids.

2. I never had anyone to answer too for getting things done, pertaining to art. The only time I created anything was when a birthday party came up. So a blog was a way to get myself believing I had to keep creating just in case anyone was looking.

3. To meet and make friends. I have always been one to have very close friendships with 3 or 4 people because of the quality of friendship I wanted. I felt I couldn't give that loyalty to more than a few. Blogging has let me meet friends in which not much is required of me but to encourage them to keep with their artist self and use kind words every now and then. I don't have to meet a quota of visits per friend every month. Just in the time it takes to type during nap time and you have friends just as kind as you would in the flesh.

4. A blog is like a billboard of your talents. People can reach you from everywhere. You have millions of potential friends, colleagues, inspirations, teachers & customers. It is a way to meet people who might believe in you and take chances with you.

5. I felt like starting a blog would define me to myself better. I don't think when I was pregnant for 3 consecutive years I thought about anything. I was exhausted and emotional and I couldn't have told you my favorite color or where my glue gun was. So sad:( This was a way for me to compile my favorite things onto one page that I felt defined me. I learned alot about who I am and am still doing so as my taste change often. I 'm tweaking who I want to become and portray myself to be.

I believe for many situations a blog can be the happiness factor in your life. Like becoming a new mother possibly a stay at home mom who doesn't have a routine or time for herself. Maybe you have a new windfall of time due to retiring or your children going off too school . This can be a huge relaxation tool for those situations. But you have to be careful that the number of sales or number of comments or visits doesn't define your success.

What I feel I have accomplished in the last 8 months due to having a blog:

* I Built more character & Self Esteem

* Made friends with an unmeasurable amount of inspiration & talent

*Received so many cool things from Swaps. So far I've finished 18 in 3 months and I've joined 22 more.

* I've become a better writer & thanks to the artists around me have had to rise to their level of fine art.

* My artwork may be published soon in Somerset Life!

* Found an art style that fits my personality

* Organized and purged things in my home.

* Decorated my home.

*I've admired God's artwork more thoroughly & have thus become more Spiritual.

* Started YourAngil Adornments Etsy shop.

* Began making items for Ruby Begonia's Boutique. See and buy my items here!

* Made it a point to "go out" and see things this year to post about like...my first trip to California, my first concert & going to the fox theatre.

* While I'm not sure I made more than I spent. It still feels good to make a bit of $ from a hobby that you enjoy doing and are able to do at home.

* Got my kids involved with mommy's art projects and got them into a better daily routine.

* I am greener. Now that I've done many swaps I've learned to use everyday things or trash for projects & packaging. Cutting cost for me and waste for the environment.

* Learned to deal with rejection.

Some goals I have for my next 100 posts are to think more intellectually. Think things through and talk them out. To explore around my hometown more. Go out and see what Missouri has to offer me & what I can offer people here too! I want to host a swap before I get all "Swapped out". I want to have more giveaways and do some Show and tells.

I wish I could make gifts for all of you lovely friends who come and visit and keep me company on my journey through becoming an accomplished artist and mom. Thanks for hanging out with me for 100 posts! I hope 100's more are to come.

Valencia's Garden Birthday Party

Here she is! My free-spirited hippy chick who only allows candid shots.

She is now 3 and successfully potty training. She has been very reluctant too though. I know she considers it easy just to use a diaper and I think she was just as weary as Mommy starting the potty training. I just did it with my 4 year old son a year ago. Why can't I remember how to do it? I'll tell you why. I didn't journal it and I of course didn't take pictures.

Me and my adorable nieces Bella & Ammiel. What beautiful Butterfly Birthday girls they made.

Some twinkling lights hanging from the ceiling of the tent. The same lights used at my wedding.

The atmosphere was relaxed and magical with this tent set up by my father who put so much effort into making this a beautiful and special party. He did a tremendous job and I heard the kids say numerous times it was the best day ever! How joyful!

Here are the Floral Headpieces I worked on right up until a few hours before we were leaving for the party. There were enough for all of the Birthday girls and the their mommies.
With it being a hot Summer night I wasn't being my normal neurotic picture taking self & I missed out on so many gorgeous shots of this day. Someday I hope I can hire a photographer for birthday parties.

Phrases from Books ATCs

You are here to enable the divine purpose of the Universe. That's how important you are!

Consciousness takes on the disguise of forms until they reach such complexity that it loses itseld in them.
As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness & struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy & ease.These ATCs are the second series I've ever done. It was fun. I really love creating these small trading cards because with 3 small children I don't have long stretches of time and mess space to devote to art. These are a really good option for me. This assignment was given by Club Creative. If you would like to sign up for additional swaps and be in a inspirational & supportive group come join!
I used the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle as the book to choose phrases from. I haven't even completed the whole book but the first few chapters I've read are pretty eye opening. A really cool way to look at life you probably have never thought of before on your own.


Yesterday I also received this fantastic swap package from Tanya Peacock who started a blog recently called FannyFarkle. I love the aroma of this package. The candle and oil sticks smell so clean and fresh and light. Much like around the beach smells. Minus the fishy smell which is great ;)
I Love this small canvas collage. Tanya used tide reports as a first layer and added beach combing treasures. I can't wait to display this in my new craft room. Which I can't wait to show you as soon as it's finished. It likely won't be done for another week because of Valencia's Garden Birthday Party Tomorrow which I'm so excited for!

This pail is so incredibly Vintage and whoever the artist who painted this was really wonderful. You don't get real art like this on anything commercially made anymore. I Love everything Tanya. Thank you for all the hard work you put into my package.