My Glue Dots Summer Bonding Project

TwitterMom has a great Summer Craft Bonding contest going on right now.  I needed some decorations for party that I was having.  Wasn't sure what to do, then it hit me.  I had balloons left over from my Grandson's birthday party the month before.  The kind without helium and that are on sticks.  I wanted to dress them up a bit, so I began looking in my craft room for items that I could use to spruce them up a bit.  My Grandson was helping me figure out what to use.  I came across the shoe box that was full of foam shapes in the colors of the rainbow.  But how would I attach them???  A liquid glue would not work!  They would slide right off.  I didn't want tape to show.  Then I remembered I received a sample package of Glue Dots in the mail recently, and wha-a-a-a la!  Glue Dots are great to use anytime, but especially when a liquid glue will not work.   Knowing how well Glue Dots work (they have such great sticking power and no need to wait for them to dry) to attach items where others glues do not work .... I knew I had the perfect opportunity to put my newly acquired Glue Dots to work for me

I gathered foam shapes in various sizes of circles, squares, and triangles.  My Grandson and I took two different shapes (for the most part) and 2 different colors I layered them using the Glue Dots.  Then we used the Glue Dots to attached between 9-16 of the layered shapes on to each balloon in a random order.  We had so much fun, figuring out what colors and what shapes and sizes to use together.

Once the balloons were complete, I would take 4-6 balloon sticks, place them in a vase, and add some colored tissue paper. They looked great!   I placed them on tables for a center piece.  I had one vase sitting here and one sitting there.  I received a lot of compliments!  And I still have the balloon arrangements sitting around my home, as they are colorful, bright, and cheery.  And the other day when my Great Niece was over for a visit, she wanted to play with those balloons as they really grabbed her attention.

If you have never used Glue Dots, you should give them a try.  I give them two 'Thumbs Up!" for being such a wonderful, innovative, and useful product.  If you have time, take a look at the Glue Dots facebook page, where you will find many links to other great projects using Glue Dots.

This post is part of a blogging contest from the TwitterMoms community. There is a chance this post could be randomly selected to win a $30 Amazon GiftCard, so wish me luck! For more details, you can view the contest page here (http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/2000-in-prizes-up-for-grabs).

Kitchen Diva

This is my Kitchen Diva hat I made to go in my newly painted purple and lime green kitchen. Don'tcha' just love her? I know I do. I am so tickled on how well she came out. I plan on making more Needle Felted Diva's as it was so much fun to make and my Sister wants one now.

She has on a pair of my Grandson's Great Grandmother's earrings, and a necklace that came in the mail with some sort of advertisement. I put her on a polka dot background to match my kitchen.

Here is a photo album where I first saw felted dolls and it is where I got my inspiration for making my own.

RAK/PIF

It's been a week or so and it's time for me to do what I love, give some things away. I am participating in another Random Act of Kindness aka Pay It Forward event.

The first 5 (five) people to respond letting me know they'd like to participate AND letting me know they want to host an RAK/PIF of their very own by posting this on their blog will: Get something made by me.

This first part of the offer does have some limitations and restrictions, so please read carefully.

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2. What I make will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any idea what it will be. I will not give hints. It will be something handmade by me and will be a real tangible thing. It may very well be kooky or strange.
6. All you need to do, after you tell me you want to participate and host an event on your blog, is post this text, or similar text, on your blog and make 5 (five) things for the first 5 (five) folks who respond to your event.
7. I MUST have a way to contact you. Then after I contact you I will need you to provide me with your mailing address.
8. Please do not sign up if you don't plan on hosting an event of your own. Aas there are people who will sign up, who like to give as well as receive.

Won an Altered Art Book

Craftside is an awesome blog that I love to read. I get lots of inspiration from them. For the past couple of months they have been writing up post based on the alphabet, using one letter each week. And each post has a question pertaining to the book they have reviewed that day. If you answer the question, you are entered into the weekly book giveaway. Currently they are on the letter "N". And I got lucky and won for the week of "L". A few days ago the book arrived (I had no idea which book I would receive) that Lindsey sent to me. I was blown away when I opened the package and saw which book it was. Altered Art Circus by Lisa Kettell (is a mixed-media artist). I love her work and I belong to her Flickr group, The Faerie Zine. I haven't been active in it lately, but it is a group of wonderful people and I really enjoyed the swaps and chats that I have participated in with them. If you have a chance to check out Altered Art Circus you should. The following is an exerpt fromt he Craftside blog:


Altered Art Circus! includes easy tutorials on basic digital altering effects for new and vintage images, step-by-step instruction for projects, a gallery of inspirational work from other artists, and clip art and images for you to use in your own projects. The book covers digital and paper alteration, creating from found and household objects (jars and boxes), features playful illustration, vintage imagery, and uses myriad other mixed-media materials, ranging from glitter and wire to crinoline and coloring agents.

Day 10 of 29 - Day Giving Challenge

What's the style of your home decor? Is it country, contemporary, shabby-chic or something else? What about the way you decorate your Christmas tree, that is if you celebrate Christmas? Or maybe you like cross stitch, or who knows... even collect cross stitched items.

Well today's give-a-way has a touch of country flair to it. It is a collection of 4 handmade cross stitched ornaments (if you want to use them that way) or they could just hand in your home... from a dresser drawer, a a vanity mirror, or a door knob, or some place else that I ahve not thought of.

Anyhow, if you are interested in today's give-a-way, leave a message on this post. And remember, if you post this on your blog or web site...about my 29-Day Giving Challenge, please leave another post for me telling me where you posted about this, so that I can put you in the drawing at the end of this for a special gift.

Please forgive my lousy photography today. For some reason everything has a yellow tint to it. But all the ornaments are white (not yellow like the top two look) and they all hang from a satin ribbon. The bottom two have the ribbon tucked behind them for the photo.

One World - One Heart Grand Event

Update 02/12/2009 at 7:28am CST:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Winners have been chosen and I will contact them and give them until Sunday night to reply to my email. If I do not hear from the winners, alternate winners will be chosen on Monday.

And the winners of the One World -One Heart grand caravan are .... (drum roll, please....)

The numbers were:

#72 : Miri, My Child's Diary

#2 : Heidi, Digital Misfits, My Hiding Place in Cyberspace

#176: Connie, Cetta Cheese Chatter

Congrats to you all!



update 02/11/2009: I will be closing my comments for this event around 11pm CST. I will then do a random draw and post the winners (as well as contact them) tomorrow Feb. 12th. Good Luck to you all!


update: not too many more days to leave a comment on this post to be in the drawing for the 3 gifts below. And while you are here, stop by my 29-Day Challenge for a whopping 29 days of gift giving where you can win some fabulous gifts.

WELCOME!

And thank you for stopping by I am so tickled you have.

Lisa Swifka of A Whimsical Bohemian is once again hosting and participating in the ONE WORLD - ONE HEART GIVEAWAY! This is the third year for this event. The Give-a-way presents you with hundreds of opportunities to visit new or maybe familiar blogs, plus meet many wonderful people from around the world, and to win prizes.

This is my first year participating in this event. I have three chances for you to win here. The first name will get the first prize and the second name drawn will get the next and so forth.

My give-a-way is open to anyone and everyone stopping by and leaving a comment on this post only, and a way for me to contact you (either via your blog or an e-mail address), should you be one of the winners.

My first item for this give-a-way is this beautiful Red and White handmade necklace that utilizes vintage beads, seed beads, and a toggle clasp.

My next item is a necklace and earrings set. They are both strung on waxed cotton cording and the beads are Picture Jasper. The earrings have sterling silver ear wires and the necklace closes with a vintage mother of pearl button.

My next give-a-way is a 2 for 1: this adorable Dotee Doll , made of fabric, yarn, and glass beads, and the Spring Journal I made out of tags, hand made paper and rubber stamps from See D's. It's a cute little journal that can be use for ...what else...journaling or maybe even a mini scrapbook...it measures approximately 3.5" x 6.5

This event will end February 11th and the winner will be drawn and announced on February 12, 2009. BTW, I'm an equal opportunity kind of gal, so I'll be using the random number generator to pick the lucky person.


Click on the logo at the top of this post to get to the One World-One Heart Event Blog to see all the other participants, and for info if you want to become one yourself!

.......and a winner is.....Moi!

This is the necklace and close-up shots of the necklace that I made with the 9 Scrabble Tile Charms that I received via swapping through a group I belong to on Flickr called Altered Dominos & Other Altered Game Pieces. We have a wonderful group of ladies (I don't think any men belong to this group at this time) that create some awesome altered art! When the necklace is not worn, I will hang it one the wall so that I can see the artwork.






Isn't this a beautiful bead? This froggy's name is Lizzie. I won this from Larry's Beads that is located in my home town of Belleville, Illinois. And if you go to Larry's website and vote for his site you will be entered to win one of his beautiful beads too. Hop on over to Larry's and good luck winning.




















I recently won a book from Lindsey over at Craftside....and I am tickled. It's a paper quilling book titled: The Art of Paper Quilling by: Claire Sun-ok Choi. I've already begun making some of the floral arrangements. Not many mind you, but I have begun. I really need to get pictures taken of the book and what I have created so far. I so enjoy paper quilling while watching TV. Since my little fur baby, Coffee, likes me to sit right next to him, it's one craft I can do in the recliner.
And here they are.....a few pictures I finally took today.

Art Journaling Class Started

I'm behind, but what is new....

The Art Journaling Class that I signed up for started 2 days ago. I can't wait to begin, but they are working on my bathroom today putting in the new shower. So it's a no go today as I can not get to my office/art room. And everything is in there. But I make a promise to myself to get caught up as soon as I can.

Book Give-a-way

Oh my gosh! ....Look at the book that is being given away...... Catherine Matthews-Scanlon is giving away a book by her called "Art From The Heart"


Sure hope I am one of the lucky winners.... give it a shot you might win too....and it sure looks like an awesome book to have. Good Luck and Thanks Catherine!

Pay It Forward

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow, or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. So basically, if you comment and you’re on, I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make!

Once you sign up, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work. I’m getting paid forward by Trish and thought it would be fun to pay it forward to you. I will check my blog daily to see who the first three sign ups are, and if they’ve joined this Pay It Forward exchange, they will be the recipients from me. Make sure to leave your blog address with your message, so I can check your blog.