Some Halloween Fun!

Yes, it's only the second week of September (week number 3 for school!), but I've already started to think about Halloween. I bought costumes for the two boys who care about that kind of stuff yesterday at Joann's before they went on sale. I got to use my 40% off coupons and they both got dinosaur costumes (yes, they're exactly the same. You'd think these little guys were twins if they weren't different heights and looked almost nothing alike.), so that was a good deal. And I've been crafting Halloween stuff for the last few weeks, inspired by Artsymama's Sweet and Sinister Halloween Swap (which a couple of things in this post are actually going towards, but I won't say what! He he!). It's been a blast!



Here's one that I made based on a tutorial from the swap blog. I'm rather pleased with it. (I didn't make the cute little "Treats" box. I bought it and its companion at T.J. Maxx.)



For this one, I painted a frame from a thrift store with black acrylic paint and stamped the witch and the Boo! stamp (both from Martha Stewart's craft stuff from Michaels, which you can now use coupons on!) on vintage text from a story about a witch's birthday party.



This one is candy corn fabric stretched across a canvas (which I bought from the thrift store and it had a picture of a flower on it, but it was super-cheap) which I traced an outline of a black cat on and then painted black around the cat. The last step was to apply glitter around the kitty (I used Martha Stewart's onyx glitter and her glitter glue; I'm totally in love with her glitter right now).



I made this banner using pieces of a photo book kit I bought at the dollar store. I painted all of the chipboard pieces with black acrylic paint, then painted the dots on with more acrylic paints and different size cotton swabs. I then added some glittered chipboard letters and bats punched out (with the bat punch from Martha Stewart, of course) from the same vintage text about a witch's birthday party. Tied together with black ribbon sets it off nicely.

So, there's the fun stuff I've been working on. Once I get done with Halloween, I have to start on presents for Nicole, Heidi, and Jenn, who won my Christmas in July giveaway, but I've just barely now annouced! Hey, you lucky ladies. Congratulations!

New Store at Cafepress.com!

I've been busy playing the last few days creating items for my store at Cafepress.com. It's kind of fun to see your own art on a journal or made into notecards. Here are two items that I've added with my art on them.

I blogged about the House in the Sky collage last month. I have to say I think it's darling. (Of course I have to say that! It's like saying you think your children are beautiful.)

This card/collage was made using a copy of a picture of my great-grandma. I made it last year for a family reunion auction, and I decided to keep it. (If you read about my birdhouse, you might think that's common for me. I'm just a little possesive. Again, my art is like a child, I guess.) But now everyone can enjoy the piece on a notecard! Fun, fun, fun!

Quilt Detail--Shades of Inspiration

Quilt Detail--Shades of Inspiration
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

This is the detail of a quilt that I saw at the Quilt Museum at This Is the Place Heritage Park. I'm awed by this person's talent.

Vintage Green and Flamenco Pink--Shades of Inspiration

Vintage Green and Flamenco Pink--Shades of Inspiration
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

A vintage green Avon decanter and a Royal Doulton figurine match up nicely! These are going to be the colors of my new bedroom!

Arm Candy--Shades of Inspiration

Arm Candy--Shades of Inspiration
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

I made this bracelet last summer and decided to show it off. Of course, as I go to take the picture, the clasp falls off. Guess I'll be restringing it now.

Brigham Young Farmhouse-Shades of Inspiration

Brigham Young Farmhouse
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

So, I found my dream house this weekend. Unfortunately, it's at This is the Place Heritage Park and I don't think they'll sell it to me. But I don't think Great-great Grandpa Brigham would mind if I moved in!

A Sunday Surprise--Shades of Inspiration

A Sunday Surprise
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

Yesterday, I was running into the apartment to change my clothes before going to my parents' house, when I saw this flower. I've lived in this apartment for 2 1/2 years, and this is the first time that I've seen this flower blossom.