What's on the Desk..Getting Ready for the Holidays... Week 5 The Art Gallery

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Dana on Pinterest

Todays cameras are equipped with a million megapixels - well maybe not that many, but enough to give you very crisp family and vacation photos. The real kick to all those megapixels is they allow you to print large poster sized images without losing that crispness.

There are probably as many photo editors out there as there are cameras so I'm not going to get into editing your photos other than to say crop out all that extra stuff you weren't looking at when you snapped the photo but the camera saw and captured anyway :) Now you have the main focus of your image and most likely a really cool shot too.

Source: walkinginmyadventure.tumblr.com via Dana on Pinterest

You can print that out on glossy paper at home or at a photo kiosk, or you can use some photo transfer paper and get that awesome photo put on canvas! Find yourself a great frame and depending on your subject you've got a gallery photo/portrait shot. If you're feeling adventurous there's a tutorial out there on the web (http://www.instructables.com/id/Inkjet-Printing-on-Fabric/) for printing directly on the canvas. Or if you're feeling adventurous transfer it onto a piece of wood!



Now take that same concept and this time blow up your photo to a large enough size that the printer needs to break it up into four pages. This is a great way to get those gallery shots of a sunset :) Use pre-stretched canvas paint your edges black (or a complementary color or print the photo at a size where it can overlap the edges) and hang on the wall with a little space in between.

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Collect Artist Trading cards? Find smaller identical frames and hang together in a block of 3 x 4 or however many you can fit inside a great vintage frame - instant mini art gallery!

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

If your children are very creative and the fridge isn't quite the spectacular display their art work deserves, here's another idea for your Gallery Display. Group vintage frames together on the wall and display their artwork in a way it deserves, complete with a photo of the artist and short bio! Your kids will LOVE it, so will their Grandparents and anyone else who gets the pleasure of seeing it!

Source: 221vision.com via Dana on Pinterest

Frames can be found here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ABackyardCreation?section_id=8060251
and here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeautiSHE?section_id=10512467

Art Work can be found here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGoldenTrees?ref=top_trail

Til next time!

What's on the Desk..Getting Ready for the Holidays... Week 4 For the Kids!

Today is about the kids, Gifts for them and Gifts they can make. Todays post will send you in to another blog for instructions on how to make chalkboard paint. We'll also make an inexpensive Dry Erase Board and before we do all that we'll make Orange Pomanders.

Source: sjarmerendejul.blogspot.com via Dana on Pinterest

Source: sjarmerendejul.blogspot.com via Dana on Pinterest

I remember making pomanders when I was a kid, they are so simple to make and smell so good. The designs can be as elaborate or as simple as you want - just keep in mind the abilities of the ones making them.

What you'll need:
Oranges
Whole Cloves
Vegetable peeler

Start off by carving your design into the zest of the orange. I use the tip of my vegetable peeler and pull towards me, but you could use an orange peeler or a zester, anything that gives you a consistent size groove.
Once you have your design carved into the orange you simply push the cloves into the groove. Space them in whatever manner makes you happy, this is your design be creative!
Place alone or grouped with several into a shallow bowl or make your own elevated stand to place them in like in this post:
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/03/diy-colorful-dessert-stands/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+centsationalgirl%2FcHAf+%28Centsational+Girl%29

Source: centsationalgirl.com via Dana on Pinterest

That's it! Told you it was simple!

Source: makeandtakes.com via Dana on Pinterest

Next on to the Inexpensive Dry Erase Board. Older kids for this one, glass is involved!!

If you liked the simplicity of the Pomanders, you'll LOVE this! Remember that tray I used with my candles? That's your dry erase board! No kidding! A simple photo frame with glass in and a piece of pretty paper or a solid color to match your decor - scrapbook paper is perfect here. The markers clean right off the glass, piece of cake!

OK On to the chalk board paint customizable to the color you desire! If you can paint it you can have a chalkboard - any paintable surface! Suitable for kids of ALL ages - for drawing on or message centers the choice is up to you!

http://thecsiproject.com/2011/02/09/honeysuckle-pink-chalkboard/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCSIProject+%28The+CSI+Project%29

Before you go! My friend Steph is an incredibly talented artist and she has designed some free gift tags for you!
http://collectiblepaperdolls.com/2011/12/01/paperdolls-gift-tags-free-for-you/

Til next time!

What's on the Desk..Getting Ready for the Holidays... Week 3 Cookies!

The holiday baking season has begun and I can't think of a better quick gift to highlight this week than cookies! Whether a mix in a jar or a platter full of home made goodness there's nothing quite like a gift of fresh baked cookies.

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Cookies in a Jar is a great way to give the gift of cookies without having to do the baking your self. You can use regular canning jars (available in most grocery stores, Wal Marts or Hardware stores) or vintage jars which are often decorative in their own right and make a great presentation. If you've ever made sand art you'll already be familiar with layering for a decorative effect. If you choose a cookie with a colorful ingredient list you can really have fun with it using skewers or straws to create decorative designs along the walls of the jar. Top the jars with a square of fabric and a tag with the recipe and instructions for baking your cookie of choice and tie it altogether with a ribbon.

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

If you like baking but don't have the time to bake several types of cookies for a sampler platter you could participate in or host a cookie swap. Gather your friends together and swap your favorite cookies! Arrive with chocolate chip cookies and come home with snickerdoodles, oatmeal, sugar and peanut blossoms! Arrange several of each on a platter and you've got quick gifts for everyone on your list.

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Gift tags can be found at
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82856183/gift-tagsset-of-3-tartan-christmas
and
http://www.etsy.com/listing/85358773/christmas-trees-set-of-3
Snowman Patter can be found at
http://www.etsy.com/listing/84382669/snowman-antipasto-plateplatter-w-holly
Cookies in a jar can be found at
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78517031/cookie-in-a-jar-the-original-chocolate
and
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68981248/chipper-chocolate-mint-chocolate

I hope you're enjoying my Home Made series while we're getting ready for Christmas. Next week we'll get the kids involved! Til then!

What's on the Desk..Getting Ready for the Holidays... Week 2 Spa Night and Candle Light

It's a two-fer week, mostly because candles alone would be a really short blog post but also because the two go together so well! I'm not going to lie I have ALOT of wax so making my own candles is just a matter of melt, pour into the mold, top off as it wells and pop out of the mold when cool. It's fun for me to play with coloring and fragrance and I Love the way several pillars look when grouped together and placed on a tray or mirror, especially pretty in front of the vanity mirror (double the candles!) while you're soaking in the tub filled with the same wonderful essence wafting from your candles. Talk about aromatherapy!

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Spa night is all about those wonderful items you surround yourself with to pamper and enjoy. Whether your idea of pampering is a long luxurious soak in the tub or a massage by candlelight. See I told you they went together! Items to consider for spa night are bath salts, bubble bath, louffa sponges, body cloths, massage oils, potpourri, candles, pretty trays, glass jars, small scoops, and a basket or really cool crate to present it all in.

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

You can do as I do and melt and pour your wax to make candles, or you can buy sheets of bees wax and make your candles by laying the wick along one edge and rolling tightly into a taper candle or a small pillar, presto one hand made candle! You can buy candles at the Dollar store or you can buy artisan crafted candles such as the beeswax candles shown in the photo. I like to group them on a tray or mirror but another really pretty option is to find a really pretty sheet of wrapping paper or scrapbook paper and place that inside a frame under the glass just as you would a photo. This one again can fit any budget, flea market vintage frames, dollar store frames, or custom framing in exotic woods.

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

The wonderful thing about spa night is you can give everything the same aroma or you can make formulas. Use one for destressing, one for recharging, one for romance, one for pure fun or evoking memories, whatever aroma fits the bill for you. I have bottles and bottles of essential oils and fragrance oils from lavenders and roses to jasmines and amber. Some blend together for the most heavenly scents, others I use singly like lavender to treat a minor burn or peppermint to quiet an upset tummy. Making basic bath salts is pretty much a breeze, you just mix equal parts of epsom salts and sea salt add a few drops of fragrance oil and tadaa! If you've never made anything before equal parts is the really short way to say if you use one cup of this, use one cup of that too. :) Again you can let your budget do the talking, you can make, buy at Bath and Body or even Wal Mart or you can buy artisan crafted spa products. If making your own salts has got the crafting bug going for you here's my favorite website, FromNatureWithLove.com Not only do they stock all the good stuff for making all your spa products, they have the recipes too!!

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Flower Soap http://www.etsy.com/listing/60261267/soap1-handcrafted-hibiscus-flower-soap

Bath salts http://www.etsy.com/listing/85280373/honeysuckle-bath-salts-from-the-dead-sea
Massage oil http://www.etsy.com/listing/59845351/monoi-de-tahiti-body-and-massage-oil-4oz
Mirrored Trays http://www.etsy.com/transaction/62595317
Chocolate Truffles http://www.etsy.com/listing/85299801/chocolate-truffle-wedding-favors
Beeswax Candles http://www.etsy.com/listing/45580546/handmade-100-percent-beeswax-candles-8

hmmm maybe I could've split this into two blog posts! Til next time! Dana

What's on the Desk.....Getting Ready for the Holidays.... A Weekly? Gift Guide with Crafty How To's

This year like many years past I've taken the Hand Made Pledge. Meaning I pledge to make or buy hand made items for a good portion of my Holiday Gifting. Going Hand Made allows you to get creative with your Christmas budget, and who couldn't use a little creativity in the budget?.

Source: thehandmadegiftguide.com via Dana on Pinterest

As it happens the best and most memorable Christmases for me were small, paid for entirely in cash and largely hand made. I'm also the crafty sort and with a hand full of items I can make some pretty cool gifts. You can be the crafty sort too, even if you've never made anything before.

Over the coming weeks I'll give you some ideas and some instructions for creating so you can make at least some of your Holidays Hand Made. These are a few of my favorites to help get you started. You can keep them simple or really go all out it's completely up to you and your budget.

Movie Night Gift "Basket"
I have not only given this gift but I have also received it and loved it!
A favorite movie, some microwave popcorn (with or with out seasonings), a couple favorite candy bars, and a cool bowl to put it all in.
You can keep it simple and just pick the candy bars and seasonings up at the grocery store, you can make your own candy and treats, or you can go all out and buy hand made and gourmet treats like the effervescent chocolate shown here

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Popcorn bowls can be as simple as a large bowl picked up at the Dollar store. Left as is or decorated, you can buy hand painted bowls (as shown here) or go all out and buy an artisan hand thrown ceramic bowl.

Source: etsy.com via Dana on Pinterest

Putting it all together is a snap! Just take your movie, popcorn, seasonings and candy and arrange it in the bowl until you like the way it looks. Wrap it up with a basket wrap, curling ribbon and bows.
Effervescent chocolate can be found on Etsy in the trufflepigletchocs shop http://www.etsy.com/listing/77574580/effervescent-chocolate-bar
and the popcorn bowl can be found on Etsy as well in the KudosKitchenByRenee shop http://www.etsy.com/listing/79041618/large-popcorn-painted-bowl

I hope you liked Movie Night :) I'll be back with Cookies and Cocoa, Spa Night, Hand Made Ornaments and Your Own Personal Art Gallery!
Til next time!

Dana

Dragon's Eye the pendant has been finished...

and I thought I had the hoop earrings finished too. But they had a small latching problem - one would randomly come open and not relatch. No rhyme or reason just pop I'm open. So back to the desk for them. Too bad too, they were really looking cute.

I was looking at the list thinking it looked longer than what was actually on the desk and realized, I finished that ring awhile back and never mentioned it! It's finished! I made two small stackable bands and paired them with another woven ring I had made and they just look really cute together and are a really comfy set.

Eye one of Alex's Dragon Eye set is done. I'm really happy with the way it came out if I do say so myself :D



I won a pair of lamp worked beads from Bastille Bleu Lampwork and they just happen to be this weeks colors for the color combo challenge. Think I'll weave up some leaves to add to them and make earrings. If I hurry I might even make it in time for the challenge deadline!

Til next time!
Dana

Octobers Currently on the Desk......

It's been a very productive couple of weeks, finished up my custom orders and got them all mailed off and delivered, made a couple tiny metal roses and a couple other flowers and decided to get started on Alex' eye pendant.  I thought the timing appropriate as it's October and Halloween is sneaking up :)

As luck would have it, school pics came home and Alex set them on my desk.......as I was pulling out the eyes to work on. Paige immediately saw the photo op, what are sisters for if not for spotting photo ops lol




Having already made the connection of Halloween on the way, I thought it might be fun to show the progress photos in that same way..........



We're going for something of a dragon's eye effect. He saw an eye on Etsy he really loved and asked for that type of style. Bless him for understanding copy rights "I like this style, but don't copy that one, I want it done in your style." I'm pretty sure I did something right there :) The sketch has been worked up , he's approved it, and we're playing with the placement of elements for their best effect.

Christmas items have been making their way into the shop and I've tried to provide price points for most budgets. I think I'm prepared for the season to begin.

Currently on the Desk: *Forged hoops - still waiting to recut the ends, forge, file, and drill again. *The beadwoven necklace *The bead embroidered set - *The Labrodorite heart waiting for weaving and scrollwork........

Til Next TIme See Ya Then!