Friday, September 30, 2011

Frivolous Friday's #7


I want to inspire you to take time for yourself, maybe just for a second or even a couple hours, whatever you can fit in, you deserve it.
Then take a photo, capture the moment and link it up here.

It could be:
Photography of a place you like to visit...or wish you could visit...
Photography of something you enjoy doing...but don't get to do as often as you like...
Photography of something you like to wear...but don't get to wear often...
and everything in between, just be creative.

Thank you to everyone that linked up last week!

I must say Melanie over at Happy Jax is totally embracing this. Every week she has been linking up and showing off the moments she gets to herself. This girl is super clever and has the cutest little guy!

Check out her last weeks post.

Imprintalish

I took some much need time to myself Wednesday night. Looking after a sick baby and having a cold myself, meant no time to rest. This bubble bath was exactly what I needed! It's amazing how one hour in a tub full of bubbles can rejuvenate you!

Imprintalish


Linky Etiquette:

Link to your photo directly so we can find it easily.
Grab my button above and add it to your post or blog-it spreads the word and reminds you to come back next week!
Leave some comment love to a few of the other bloggers who linked up.
I would love if you followed me :)
I reserve the right to remove any inappropriate photos, this is a family friendly blog :)






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Thursday, September 29, 2011

For the love of barn wood



Window 5x7 -Burnt Corn, Alabama-Fine Art Photograph- old red barn, wood, gable, close up, rustic, country

The cold is making it's rounds in our neck of the woods...and we are all down and out. So much for accomplishing anything while hubby is home on holidays. I am glad he is home though to help out a sick momma with two sick boys! Lifesaver he is!

My Stalker Wednesday post didn't happen...so now it is a Stalker Thursday post..haha! I have always loved old barn board and recently completed a few projects that included using some old (and new) wood. Which I will post a little later.

In the meantime here is some inspiration for you in case your not quite sold on how great it will look in your home!



Barn Wood Towel Rack

Wood shelf Shabby chic furniture coat hanger Purple Lilac silver hooks 36"

Hope everyone is having a great week and we will see you tomorrow for Frivolous Friday's!
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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

I could be shopping...

But I'm not. Today was supposed to be the day I got to bring out my old shopaholic self. I was going to go to a mall! Yes. A mall. It has been sooo long. Too long. I wasn't really going to buy anything. Just look. Just get a taste of what I had been missing out on. Maybe buy a new pair of jeans...ones that I can do up and sit down in. And ones that don't fall down as I walk. Somewhere in the middle would be good!

But, no such luck. Cause being a momma means that sometimes I don't always get what I want. Sometimes, when mommas are up 6 times a night trying to calm a screaming baby when no one else can, shopping is just not a priority. Trying to clear snot from a 6 month old baby's nose is much more important. Cuddling and rocking a sick baby is much more comforting. Nasal aspirators, chest rub, humidifiers and kleenex take place of new jeans and early Christmas shopping plans.

When duty calls, thats what mommas do. They drop everything to look after the ones that hold their heart. Wishing and hoping that your baby can breath while he sleeps takes priority over anything else.


Sweet dreams baby...I love you.

and then, she {snapped}

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Guest Post: Mel from The Crafty Scientist!

I have a special guest post for you today...yay! Mel at The Crafty Scientist did a fabulous interview with me yesterday at her blog and today she is here to share a cool tutorial with you here at my blog! Plus, I am over at Mel's blog doing a Guest Post for all her readers today too! Aren't you lucky!!? I've been a follower of Mel's blog for awhile now and her projects always blow me away! I'm so happy that she wanted to share a crafty tutorial with all of you too :) Don't forget to check out her blog and give her a little comment love! So without further ado...here she is.....

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Hi guys! I'm so excited to be sharing one of my projects over with you all at Lish's blog... she has so many creative, fun projects and she's super-sweet so I'm just thrilled to be here today!

Anyways, that's me, Mel (as in Melissa), from The Crafty Scientist (that's my blog button too and you might remember me from the lovely intro post Lish did for her September sponsors). I'm a twenty something Southern girl working on my PhD in the sciences, pampering my puppies, teaching a course every semester, loving sports, and crafting and creating to keep myself sane in between! Over at my blog I like to share lots of pictures of the dogs...


(That's Max on the right and Bella on the left.) And I like to share my various projects... lots of wreaths, wall art, blogging tutorials, and jewelry, like these interchangeable ribbon and briolette necklaces...
Or this paint chip art...


I loved the paint chip project so much that I have continued to make some other paint chip art and today I'll be sharing a tutorial for how to make your own paint chip monogram like this one...




  • Paint chips 
  • Paper punch (1-inch circle)
  • Cardstock
  • Pencil
  • X-acto knife
  • Gluestick (that dries clear)
  • Mod Podge and brush (I used the glossy stuff, but you could use the matte finish one)
  • Picture frame (mine was from the Dollar Store!)
  • A stencil of the letter you want (or a shape you want - you could do this with anything!)

This is a lot like this basic paint chip art project I made first. Basically, the first thing you want to do is punch out a bunch of paint chip circles. You also want to cut your cardstock to fit your frame. I also traced my "M" onto both the front and the back of the cardstock (in the same place - basically you need the letter on the back so that you can cut the letter out and you want it on the front so you don't necessarily have to cover the area to be cut out with paint chips). Then you basically grab your gluestick and start pasting circles over the front of the cardstock up to and including the borders of your letter.



You can kind of see the outline of the "M" in that photo. After that, you want to use your X-acto knife to trim the edges so that your art fits into the frame. Basically, you want all the edges to look like that left edge in the photo above.


Then, you want to flip over your art and trim out the pattern. Then you want flip it back over and Mod Podge the whole front. I used glossy finish because I just like it.



Now it's just a matter of framing your art! I wanted the frame to be "backless" - like in my July 4th Sparkly Blue Star Art project - and so I pasted this thing into the frame directly. Basically, I mostly used my gluestick to put some glue around the front edges of the project where it would be covered by the frame. However, there were still some little points that weren't laying flat so I dabbed a little bit more glue on those places...



And voila! New pretty wall art for almost no money!




Hope you enjoyed this fun little tutorial! I'd love it if you'd visit me at my blog, The Crafty Scientist, and a HUGE thanks to Lish for letting me guest post here today!






Thanks so much for posting Mel! I so enjoyed talking with you and having you guest post on my blog today :)
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OMG!

Never in a million years did I think my blog would ever have 100 followers! But yes, when I turned on my computer this morning...there it was!! Amy at Kiwi Chic was lucky number 100! Well, maybe not lucky, but definitely cool! Mmmm...I think I should do something big for all you guys...like a giveaway of some sort? But not just any giveaway, something BIG! Just to say thanks for being there and supporter me. I'll give it some thought and let you know later...

Happy Tuesday! Oh, and check back for my first Guest Post later on!
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Monday, September 26, 2011

DIY Photo Canvas & Sneak Peak!

I wanted to give you all a sneak peak to a top secret project that I have been working on the last couple months. More on that at the end of my post though...haha...cruel isn't it?!
First, I have a super cool DIY to show you! I've been dying to do this project for awhile now, but like all my other 'really want to do crafts' it just wasn't getting done, until now...

DIY PHOTO CANVAS



Art Canvas (I got mine at the Dollar Store)
Mod Podge
Foam Brushes
Black Acrylic Paint
Photographs
Cutting Board
Acrylic Paint Sealer



1. Paint all edges of the canvas' in black. Overlap the paint a bit on the front, so once you glue the photo onto it, it will all blend together.


2. The canvases I used were 8x10, but I printed off my photographs at 7.94 inches x 9.93 inches. I printed them off on my home computer on HP Premium Plus Photo Paper, High Gloss. Then use a cutting board to trim off any excess paper.


3. Because I printed off the photos smaller then the canvas, a border was left all the way around, which helped in adhering the photo to the canvas when the Mod Podge was applied. Apply a bit of Mod Podge to the back of your photo and place on canvas. Gently move your photo around until it is centered. Now your ready to apply the Mod Podge on top of your print.


4. Using a foam brush (or a roller), brush on a thin layer of Mod Podge. The foam brush left some streaks (which was fine with me), and roller would probably be a lot smoother.Wait 15 minutes and coat again. I applied a total of 3 coats.


5. Wait 12 hours (I wanted to make sure they were good and dry) and coat with an Acrylic Sealer. This will hep prevent fading and protect your photos!



6. That's it..hang em' up and your done! Now looking at my photo..I realize they are not all that straight...oh well! It gives it character! LOL!

Have a great week!


Oh right...you wanted to know what my top secret project is...
WEEELLLLL....see those pretty photos up there? I will soon be adding those and many more to my Etsy shop! Yep, I will be branching into the world of selling photography prints and sharing it all with you guys! There's still lots to work out, but hopefully by the end of the month it will be all up and running!

The Girl Creative 
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Sunday, September 25, 2011

Mom's Blankies Giveaway Winner!

Better late then never..LOL..I ALMOST forgot! Congratulations to commentor #29...Katy at The Country Blossom! I'll be emailing you shortly!



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Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Low Key

So this is my low key photograph...then realized upon some research that low-key actually has to do with lighting in photography, not just doing something relaxing..lol...amatuer I am! Oh well...here's my shot none the less.


The Color Wheel - Monochromatic and Analogous Color

I've been working on mastering the 'bokeh' technique and here is one of my practice shots in a monochramatic 'green' color scheme.

Circle (Self Portrait)

That's me...and a circle..

Photography love...


Scarf

I can't wait to start wearing my scarves this fall and I have a crafty project in mind for this rustic shutter.



Phone

 Little hands on a little phone...couldn't resist.



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