Creative Jumpstart 2021

Creative Jumpstart 2021
Join me for the 10th Anniversary of CJS2021

Wednesday, May 26

Back in the Studio

I've always loved the look of chipboard attached to a canvas or album cover and then painted over for a cool monochromatic effect. I've seen quite a few different projects done with this technique, but was inspired to make this canvas from a sweet little canvas I saw on this blog, the Pink Couch. I decided right away that I wanted to make one - and ended up making 2 - one for me and one for my friend Karen's birthday. You can see her initials here and there - but there are NO hidden messages at all, I promise.

Here's the finished one - after about 10 layers of paint, gesso and crackle medium.

It came out perfectly, I can't wait to hang it with the other canvases I made in my Wire, Paint and Paper class. I hope that Karen likes hers!

It felt good to make something for myself for a change! I need to make a regular habit of it!

Thanks for stopping by on this lovely Monday. Enjoy your evening!

Tuesday, May 25

My Creative Classroom

The spring semester at My Creative Classroom is now closed and we're gearing up for the summer semester.

I'm pleased to announce that due to the popularity (and number of very happy students in my class) we've decided to run Get Creative with Punches for the summer semester.

The class will begin on July 9th and run for 4 weeks. You can find more details here, at My Creative Classroom.

Enjoy your day....we've got a 4 day weekend coming up....hoping the weather holds out so we can go on a camping trip! What are you up to this weekend?

Monday, May 24

oh Blue Bird.....

I love bird images....and this little sweetie is no exception. I made this card as an Easter project for Spotted Canary, but you could easily change the sentiment and make it a card for whatever you need it for.

To make this card, I stamped the image with black StazOn and then hand colored it with watercolor pencils. The sentiment was created in word and printed on white card stock. For complete instructions and supply list, go to Spotted Canary and check out the gallery for this and MANY more sweet projects!

THANkS for stopping by, enjoy your evening!

Friday, May 21

Just change the angle

I love photography - something about carrying around a camera makes me happy, and good. I like catching the perfect moment on film - it makes me happy to look at the pictures I've taken of people places and things I see in my travels.

I learned though, that by changing your perspective, or the angle that you are taking the picture from - can change the dynamics of the photo and take it from blah to WoW!

It can go from a row of 4 really boring plant pots against a white wall in a cute shop . . .

to 4 really cool pots with fun shells embedded in grout on the sides in a shop that you want to know where it is and shop there right now!

You wouldn't even imagine that this shop had some really cool antiques in it. Nor would you want to try and make some of these pots by looking at the first picture! (By the way, they were made in Malorca or some exotic place like that.)

I went shopping with my Mom the weekend before Mother's Day and she saw these pots. She fell in love with them and kept saying she wanted one, but typical of my Mom she didn't leave with one. Later this summer she would have wished she bought it for herself. To be honest I don't think she could justify spending 65 bucks on a pretty plant pot.

So, we bought it for her for Mother's Day! She was pleasantly surprised, and I think I may have seen a little glint of a tear in her eye! I could tell she was happy because she had something in it from the nursery the next day!

I totally am going to start looking for mussel shells at the beach this summer and make some of these bad boys for myself and all my cool friends can join me if they want!

Thanks for stopping by - the weekend starts off tomorrow with a beautiful day - and I'm gonna get the boy up early and to go out junking! Enjoy your weekend, and try changing your perspective - you never know what you'll see!

Monday, May 17

Brimfield 2010

Last week I went on my (hoping it becomes annual - we've gone the last two years so...maybe) annual trip to the Brimfield Antique Show. It's not far from here - a drive of a couple of hours. It's just far enough that we stay overnight in a hotel and get up early (5:30am early) and go exploring and buying old junk for the day.

One the drive down to Brimfield we stop at a couple of our favorite places - one is Absolutely Everything in Topsfield and the other is Holy Scrap in New Hampshire somewhere. It's hard not to spend all of our money at AE - but somehow we manage, LOL.

Last year the weather was sunny and warm - perfect weather for outside junking. This year - not so much! When we left the hotel it was cold, wet and drizzly. But that didn't discourage us - we had raincoats, umbrella's and were ready for a great day!

Here we are, getting ready to leave the hotel to get some breakfast across the street.

McDonald's anyone?

Karen found this cool box made out of rulers, to bad she saw it first because I wanted it, LOL.

I wanted this sign, but it wasn't even old and the dude wanted $49.00 for it. Needless to say I didn't get it!

Geez, what happened to my hand? It was so cold that it got frost bite!

These girls were so cool - I really want to figure out how to make one for myself!

Pretty trims, though our favorite trim lady wasn't there that day.

Buttons, weird looking buttons.

Look at all these chairs!

They were really really tiny!

More sweet girls that we all loved!

Hannah's bag was so heavy her back was hurting.....

Pictures of my goodies.....love them all! The thread cabinet is large enough to hold all my threads and arrange them by color!

At our dinner spot the night before, it was great!

So that was my trip to Brimfield in a nutshell, hope you enjoyed it! Maybe I'll see you there next year! Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, May 16

New York City

Before I can post the Brimfield pictures I need to finally share my pictures from our April vacation in New York City. We had an amazing time - the weather held out nicely - and so did my husband - even though had had major surgery just 2 weeks before we left, it was quite a perfect week!

The window display at Tinsel Trading, I loved all those metal letters! Though, the store didn't have much that I was drooling to have!

We went to Wicked one night, OH MY GOSH - it was amazing!

The first morning, at Bryant Park.

The dappled sun on the sidewalk at the park is so pretty here. We played ping pong and enjoyed the morning here, it was such nice respit in the middle of the city!

One of the pretty details on the fence near the bathrooms at Bryant Park that caught my eye.

The boy had a superBoy portrait done, it was cute.

Messing around waiting for Blue Man Group to start.

After the most amazing show, the boy was VERY inspired to start practicing his drums without complaint!

Went to Martha Stewart show, VERY front row seats. On another day I met my EK Success friends at the MSLO offices and sat in on a creative meeting with Alex (who was on the shoe last week showing some punch techniques) and then off to the EK offices in Clifton, NJ. I just loved that day for sure.

Went over to Brooklyn where my husband spent 10 or so years of his life. Visited his old stoop - which made him happy even though we walked a bazillion miles from the subway station!

Waiting for the Ferry to come and take us over to Randall Island for the Cirque du Soleil show. Oh WOW - that was amazing too. We had great seats - and the boy again was inspired to practice his drums!

Dinner with my pal Carla from EK Success at Ruby Foo's.

Got Meredith's autograph, and she did a double take. She said I look just like her best friend. That was special!

A picture of the sign before we ripped Meredith's signature off to save for a scrapbook page, LOL.

Taking a picture of myself in the mirror of his glasses with 30 Rock in the background, cool.

BatMan Lego at FAO Schwartz (don't know if that's spelled right but oh well.)

A ride in Central Park.

A mime at the park that gave me the creeps.

Smile.....again ;-)

This was a cool thing on our walk back to the hotel from Central Park.

A quick shot of some pretty colored ribbons from Tinsel Trading.

That's about it in a nutshell, we had the most amazing week of weather, adventure and great eats. We certainly got our exercise - we walked several miles a day, I'm sure! It is the most amazing city, though I'm happy that I live in the country!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

Friday, May 14

Brimfield 2010

Check out some pictures my friends posted of our trip:
I'll be getting my pictures posted as soon as possible!