Andrea Currie-inspired project "The Butterfly Mask"

Craftastic was Masktastic this week.  Andrea showed us how to make a candy corn mask and also a butterfly mask.  When we participate in these live broadcasts most watch and chat, but I like to try to follow along if at all possible. 
Andrea made a template available to us and that made things much easier.


I printed the template and placed it over a sheet of flimsy foam and using my trusty Martha Stewart craft knife (which moves likes a symphony in my hand), I traced/cut out the shape.


I applied layers of puple and orange and glitter acrylic paints.  Then some gold foam paint for 3-D effects and sprinkled white and green glitter over the semi-dry paint.
Finished with crystals and 2 pipe cleaners twisted for antennae.

presto pretty mask

Foam is an excellent base.  It's easy to paint, soft on the face and very lightweight.

The Way an Artist Sees...........

"I saw an angel in the block of marble and I just chiseled 'til I set him free." Michelangelo (1475-1564)
     Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer.

Martha Stewart is my Boo - How to tie the perfect Bow

Courtesy of a friend of my husband's, I received dozens of old MS magazines.  My favourite feature is "Good Things" and I am looking at the Apr/May 1992  issue, devoted to 15 years of Good Things (holy cow, Batman, that's a LOT of good things!)

Martha's Favorite Bow

Perfectly suited to wire-edge or stiff ribbons that hold their shape (taffeta, organdy, or grosgrain), Martha's favorite bow is charming when freestanding -- sewn to a bridesmaid's sash or attached to the side of a pew -- or as a wrapping for favor boxes; you'll need at least twelve inches of ribbon just for the bow. If wrapping a box, first tie a left-over-right half-knot.

Martha's Favorite Bow How-To
1. Shape two evenly sized loops, one in each side of the ribbon.
2. Cross right loop over left one.
3. Knot loops by threading right loop behind left one, under, and up through the hole; make sure ribbon is not twisted or bunched.
4. Pull loops into a smooth knot. Adjust loops; trim tails to be slightly longer than loops.

Robi tested, Robi approved:)


Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Three Perfect Bows 

New Craft Storage Ideas Using Unexpected Items

3 great ideas I found this morning at bhg.com 

Before: Mug Tree

After: A lovely new home for your Copics!

Before: You can find a large vent like this one in the contractor section of your local home improvement store. Lay it flat and you can prop up rows of stamps right on your desktop. They come in metal (which you can paint to fit your color scheme) or plastic, so they are easy to clean.

After: Stamp Storage

Before: Wire Tiered Basket

After: Stamp Storage

Happy Birthday with Cynthia's supplies

 Here is the card I created with the ribbon and foil/holographic cupcake stickers from Cyn Gagen.

Ingredients: Martha Stewart corner punch, Bobbin Ribbon, EK cupcake stickers
Thanks again, Cynthia!

When Cyndi met Robi -- The London Chronicles

I drove Debsy back to Western today and this gave me the chance to meet - IN PERSON - the one and only Ms. Cyn Gagen!  

Of course, we 'met' on

Now, where would two Canadian girls rendezvous? At a Timmies, of course! We are convinced we were separated at birth because there are WAY too many coincidences between us -- even down to being born 3 days apart, both driving red Dodge vans, and we think we even look alike.  Patty Duke move over, I think Robi and Cyndi might have a new show!

Anyway, it was wonderful finally seeing each other and we gabbed away for a long time (even to the point that I had forgotten about picking up my son from a restaurant!) -- p.s.  Love you Phil:)

It also gave Cyn the chance to give me the wonderful prize I won during Andrea's birthday bash! 

Lookee here....

My prize! The scrap paper is double-sided and sooo scrumptiously lovely! The rest of the goodies was lovingly encased by a white shear gift bag.

Please note:   Plug for the Party Girls in lower left side of photo!!!!

....I scored this lovely bonnet! (What? It's not a bonnet?)

The yummy stash  included the notebook, cupcakes galore, ribbon, stamps & block, and a divinely fragrant candle.

Thank you Cynthia!

Please visit Cyn at http://cynchronicity.wordpress.com/

And if you want to win wonderful prizes like I did, please check out www.PajamaPartyLive.com 9 pm Eastern every Wednesday.

 

Autumn in Ontario - a day trip

It's usually much easier for me to just stay put -- maybe catch some vitamin D on the deck - but I know the fall art show is only playing for a limited time and it would be very silly of me to miss it.  Besides it meant I could go for a nice drive with my hubby and enjoy the sunshine.

We went through many small towns including Snowball.:)    Here are a few pictures:

We stopped by Cook's Bay. 

We were going about 80 kms here -- not a bad picture!