Trade!

I am looking to trade, and hope it's cool that I posted here, as I AM looking to promote. OK, so here goes, this is what I have to offer:

Any custom-made ACEO to your specifications.

1 Yard (brand new, in unopened package) purple Felt Fusion Self-adhesive Embellishment (floral design).

Delta Creative unopened package of 30 stencils: ABCs,
Flowers, and Bugs, like bumblebees, lady bugs, and dragon flys.

3 Life of the Party Soap Fragrances, unopened! Scents include: Sandalwood, apple, and peach. Each is .25 Fl. Oz. containers.

I am willing to trade all of this, or whatever you specify, for "any" kind (does not have to be fancy, Wal*Mart kind is just fine) skein of yarn in either red or light blue, or both! And/or a few inches of light blue or green fabric, and/or stuffing, as I need to make my little nephew a stuffed dinosaur for Christmas.

I realize times are tough for every one right now, but I might just have what you need, and vice versa! Let me know, and keep crafting!!!

Christmas is coming!

Have YOUR name (or that of a friend or loved one) custom designed in graffitti you can hang on your wall!

YOU pick the color, YOU pick the style! Do you prefer Urban Ghetto? Or is your style more Techno Flair? Whatever your preference, it is made to your specifications.

Ink, marker, and colored pencil on quality 8.5 by 11 oak tag... perfect for framing!

Christmas is coming... get them a gift that they'll not only remember, but one they'll enjoy!

Visit my etsy shop to order YOURS today!

My First Post!

Hi every one!!! MY name is Kyle, and this is my first ever blog post! I'm getting an early start on things, being that I'm only 6 months old... but it's never too early to blog, right? OK, so here we go!!!

My post today will be a review of Baby Einstein's DVD "Baby's First Sounds, Discoveries for Little Ears".

Now, my Mom has been wanting to check out Baby Einstein DVDs for a while now, because she has heard such wonderful things about them. So, with a little help from Dad, they chose this particular DVD to try out with me!

Well, to be completely honest, the DVD is a bit of a let-down. First of all, it has more than one language throughout. There isn't enough English. And, if this is designed to teach us babies our first sounds/words, then it should focus on ONE language, as to not confuse us. We are only little babies, after all! My first words are not going to be in a different language!

We are not going to give up on Baby Einstein, but this DVD definitely had a lot lacking. But it's fun to play with, at least! I'm going to go take a nap now. Thanks for reading my first post!!!

Unfair Treatment of Homeless People

There is a two-level homeless shelter that is run by C.H.I. (Community Housing Initiative). Recently they have seen bed bugs in the facility upstairs. This is not an infestation, but they are hoping to nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem. To this end, they hired (expensively) a fumigator to come in today and fumigate. The clients who live there had to move all their belongings out of their respective rooms. If the clients had no other place to put the belongings, they could bag them up and place them in the basement until later this evening when every one is allowed to return. This is a good plan, and I commend C.H.I. for providing space for the client's belongings. After all, it is a homeless shelter... if people had a place to store their stuff, likely they wouldn't have to be in a shelter to being with.

What I do find unfair is the fact that all the clients had to take their clothes (clean AND dirty) and wash them, at their own expense. Whether the client has a job or not, or a family or friend's place to wash the clothes, they have to wash the clothes. All of them. Many of the clients do not have the financial means to do this. C.H.I.'s response to this? "What would you do if you were on your own? If you do not comply, you are free to return to the Department of Social Services and be rehoused". Many clients have children in school, and there is no gaurantee that DSS could rehouse them in a shelter any where near the schools. Sometimes DSS will put you in a motel, and the motels are horribly run- dirty and bug-ridden.

I find this extremely unfair to people who are in difficult situations who are trying to get their lives on track once again. All of the clothes we have currently (my husband, me, and the baby) cost us $72.00 to have washed. Why did we have them washed instead of washing them ourselves? Because we "need a receipt" as proof that they were truly washed, or they wouldn't be allowed back into the shelter. One poor girl simply didn't have the funds to wash the clothes, so she had to take herself and little baby and return to DSS. Who knows where they put her.

Welcome to October (my FAVORITE month!)

I had a thought a while back. I have this same thought every year. The thought is this: that I WILL document and experience SOME sort of October every day of the month, wether it is baking apple pie or collecting leaves, or something! Well, needless to say, life gets in the way, and I may not have stuck to the "every day" rule, but I've been trying to do something every day so far. I think I'm doing ok...

I began knitting my baby boy a blue scarf. I like how it's coming out so far... I'm knitting in straight standard regular knit stitch, except for the edges which I'm doing knit knit, purl purl, to create a kind of border. I will post a picture as it comes along.

I took my Kyle out for a nice Autumnal walk the other day, and this is how he looked!

We saw these interestingly-sculpted bushes. It reminded me of Edward Scissorhands!

We also got to see this interesting fungus growing on a nearby tree!

We also finally found this pear tree that I'd been looking for! I had heard a friend mention it's existance, but she told me the wrong location. So I was very pleased when I did indeed find it!

We also saw this lovely fall tree... it truly is my favorite time of year!

AND just for fun... here is a picture of my baby boy, sportin' a cool hat! Every one get outside and ENJOY this month... it only comes once a year!!!

Etsy is... down for maintanence?!?

Nooooooooo!!! I came all the way to the college to use the internet, and etsy is down? The inhumanity!!!

OK well, then... I will do my etsy search THIS way... by utilizing you, my beloved followers!

This is what I am in current search of. If you make the items yourself, or can recommend someone to me that does make them, that would be really really great!

OK I am looking for: Either (or both!) a soap and/or lipgloss with the taste/scent of Mr. Goodbar. It is my all time favorite candy, and I would love products that are fun and that remind me of my candy!

Also, soap and/or lipgloss with either a green tea scent/flavor or with a coffee scent/flavor!

Finally, I'm looking for any surf-style jewelry, similar to this: Anything with Hawaiian flowers would do, too.

OK so that's it! Promote your shops! Or those of your friends! Let me see those items!!! :)

Favorite things?

I was asked in a survey lately what was my favorite item that I'd created. What??? I've been creating since I can't remember (used to decorate my crib with diaper, yeah, thanks for the info, mom!)

But it got me thinking... what really are my favorite items? So often, it seems, we as artists and craftsmen create something that we LOVE, and then sometimes we make things that are OK, and we put them up anyway. And you know what? Someone will generally buy the OK thing! That just goes to show that there are very varied tastes out there, and more times than not, someone will like what you don't necessarily think is "all that", LOL.

However, I decided to post here three of my creations that I would consider my favorites, and why:

I really love the way these painted golf balls turned out. I think they really do look like candy! Not only are they a cute gift for that chocolate lover, they also make a great gift for any golf enthusiast. I like this creation so much for it's originality and versatility. Besides, they make me hungry!!! :)

This is another of my favorites, more for what it says than for how it looks. Too many people are negatively effected by the current economy crisis, and the president doesn't seem to have the right answers. Just my humble opinion.

And finally, I really like the way this one turned out! I never really made anything Star Trek related, but for a first attempt, I don't think it's half bad.

Why don't you post some of your favorites today, and why they are? :) Enjoy the weekend!!!

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

My husband put this anime movie on the other night, and as I was feeding the baby, I figured I'd watch for a moment or so. Well, "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" caught me, and I watched the whole thing. It was so interesting and touching, I just had to recommend it. It even inspired me to knock out some new ACEOs!

Made with ink and colored pencil, I really like the way these turned out. I also then tried to draw some wolves from Wolf's Rain, and couldn't quite get them right. I shall try again soon!

And the winner is...

Hello! It's been a while, I know. We had to change shelters, and now I am further away from the computers. But it is my hubby's day off today, and we decided to take the trek over here and catch up on stuff.

Using random.org , the winner of my contest is missbmckay! I will create the name of her choice in fantastic graffiti, and post it here when I'm done. Congrats, missbmckay! And thank you to all of you who entered.

And, on a completely different note... proof of the

water hole on Long Island!!!

Candy for Friday (not really)!

Happy Friday every one! It's been a long while since I've had anything in my Etsy shop other than ACEOs, but I decided to branch out a little bit. Here are some new items I made just last night... candy and cupcake golf balls!

I'm happy to be creating some fun things. Come see these and my new barrettes at my Etsy shop!

Freedom to Marry

I rarely deviate from the goal of this blog, which is to post craft related topics only. However, today is a rare exception. When I logged into my email a little while ago, I found this:

Apparently, Ben & Jerry's (ice cream I really like) has renamed their traditional "Chubby Hubby" ice cream to "Hubby Hubby" in support of Vermont's Freedom to Marry. You can read the press release here.

I am not going to go into a big morality debate. I have my little corner of the internet and I am saying what I believe, that gay marriage is not what God intended. I do not hate or even dislike anyone. I will continue to show love to every one, because that is what God wants me to do. But I will not support this, and am hereby renouncing Ben & Jerry's, and I won't eat their ice cream anymore. I know they believe they are doing a good thing, but the Bible is quite distinctly clear on this topic.

On a completely different note entirely, don't forget to enter my giveaway! This one is really cool. The winner will receive their name designed in graffiti on durable 110lb cardstock... perfect for matting and/or framing! The graffiti will be done in the color(s) of the winner's choosing. It will look hot! Scroll down three posts to see an example! So, if you'd like to win, here's all you have to do... Giveaway ends September 10! Winner will be chosen at random.

(1.) Vist my Etsy Shop and post here telling me what your favorite item is and why.

Best of luck to every one!

Beautiful days and giveaways!

LOL... I live on Long Island, NY, and today is an absolutely gorgeous intro to September. Autumn is my FAVORITE time of year, I really adore it. As soon as October starts, I have a goal to do at least one outside thing a day to commemorate. We'll see how that goes, lol!

I made a new ACEO that I'm quite pleased with. Here it is!



It's a vellum psalm adhered to a pre-cut ACEO painted with blue distress ink. Then I affixed a cardboard stamped lighthouse and blue glitter-paper waves. I really like this one... I kept thinking of what else I could put on it, but I think it's great just the way it is.

And, to celebrate the opening up of the fall season, I'm having a giveaway! This one is really cool. The winner will receive their name designed in graffiti on durable cardstock... perfect for framing! The graffiti will be done in the color(s) of the winner's choosing. It will look hot! Scroll down two posts to see an example! So, if you'd like to win, here's all you have to do... Giveaway ends September 10!

(1.) Vist my Etsy Shop and post here telling me what your favorite item is and why.

That's it! Real easy, right? Well, I hope to get a lot of responses, and YOU could win! Thanks so much!!!

Hearts?

So I've recently been wondering about this hearts thing on etsy, and therefor, began a thread. You can view it here, if you're interested:

No One Calls "" a Favorite Yet

I put my "Lost Octopus" up for sale a few hours ago, and already it has a heart! I guess what would be really cool is that if people heart an item, if they would send the creator a quick little note saying that they hearted the item, and why. That way it would somehow mean more, right? Just my two cents.

Completely Different!

Hello every one! Well, I promised I'd post a picture of the finished
ACEOs from yesterday, and I only got one done, but I'm very surprised at the direction it took... so different than what I had planned for it! But I guess that happens with art. Anyway, here is the finished piece. You can see how it began on yesterday's post.

No longer about fall or even leaves dying... now it is a "Lost Octopus". I really like it, even if it isn't what I expected it to be. Also, it was a boy's birthday today in the shelter where we currently live, so I made this for him last night. I like the way it turned out, but I can do better when given more time.

Well, he seemed to like it, so that's good. I'm really trying to hone my graffiti skills... it's tough, because it's totally an individual art form. You've just got to find your groove, as it were. I'm trying! :) Also, I'm happy to report that my husband is back to making ACEOs!

He hasn't made one since we left California... a long time ago. Here is his debut! It's listed in my etsy shop here! Come by and take a look at my latest ACEOs. And have a great day every one! God Bless!

New Works

I've been in a very creative mood lately, but sometimes, when I first begin a project, I don't like it so much. Then, as time goes on and I flesh it out a bit, it gets a lot better. Here I'm posting two cards I'm working on currently. When they are done, I will post how they've come out, and you will witness the difference first hand. Anyhow, pics!

Here is an ACEO that I'm making with a real leaf. I'm looking to create an aged yet
Autumnal look. The idea: that there is beauty in the death of the leaves as Autumn comes along. How'm I doing?

And this one is one I've begun with a graffiti/city thing going on. I like it so far.

That's all for today! Still trying to figure out the benefits of Twitter, LOL. Does anyone else find it overwhelming? I mean, I dig finding out about people's art and what not... but do I really need to know how many times they've gone to the bathroom in the last hour?

Mypartyshirt.com!!!

This post is a special one, because I am writing about a GREAT gift site! That's right, it is My Party Shirt! Let me tell you, you can find a gift for ANYONE on this site.

Did your sister love Full House? Look at this!
What about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers? They have the 6 main Ranger shirts, plus the white ranger!
And who could forget the fabulous Boy Meets World?

Mypartshirt.com not only has fantastic shirts, they are also easy to contact, and ship VERY quickly. They take pride in delivering a quality product, and it shows. And they have MORE than just T-shirts, too! They have hoodies, AND accessories, like this cool belt

and the greatest air freshner ever!

So when you get a chance, go visit My Party Shirt ... you won't be dissapointed!

Pretty Cards and Tooth Decay!

OK, how's that for a blog title? LOL. Yesterday, I experienced root canal. It was all gravy until the numbness wore off... ouchie! It's difficult to eat today, so I'm taking it slow.

Still hot hot hot out here in Long Island. I still haven't gone to a beach yet... I have GOT to see the ocean soon or I'm going to go nuts. Here are two greeting cards I made for friends... one is a thank you, and the other is for a baby shower. I really like how they came out!





How did they come out? I also did this new ACEO, on what else? A WIC check! (Pasted onto some studier card stock, of course!)

Decembering into Autumn...

Hard at work right now on multiple ACEOs. I am trying now to do "altered prints", where I print bits of my original work, cut and paste them to ACEO cards, and then decorate or alter them however my mood directs me. I like the way they are coming out thus far, hope to have them up soon.

Also working on a multi-textured "Summer Fruits" picture for this month's Dawg Group quest.

I am nursing a current love affair with the Decemberists. I can't remember how I found out about them, but I really enjoy their music, almost as much as my all time favorite band, Radiohead. I already made this ACEO a while back:



with some lyrics from their song "Red Right Ankle". I can't wait to see what I come up with next. Autumn is on it's way, my favorite time of year. It is a point of high creativity for me... it is difficult to look out at the beauty of this time of year and not create.

Husbands Just Don't Understand

Today's blog post will be brought to you by... creative stress!

Alright. We are all crafters, right? And let's face it. We craft because we LOVE it. It's nice if we make money, but we would do it regardless. Why? Because it's in our blood. It's what we do. It is who we are.

That being said, I feel it is unfair of my husband to threaten to cut off buying me crafting supplies if I don't sell more art cards. I mean, wether or not he's serious is not the issue. That's like telling Van Gogh you're not going to buy him paint anymore. Van Gogh needed to paint because he was a painter, the same as we are whatever respective craft we do.

Does anyone else feel the way I feel?

Anyway, here is my latest ATC, up for trade. Want it? Comment here!

How to Make an ACEO!

Hello every one, and welcome to my fun little tutorial on making an ATC/ACEO! ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions, and Originals." They are 3.5 by 2.5 in size (the same size as a baseball card), and are made for selling. ATCs are just like ACEOs, only they are created for trading purposes only. Either one is very addicting to make and to collect. Here I'm going to show you one I made just last night. Of course, there are many different materials that can be used to make ACEOs, so this is just one little example of the tremendous fun that can be had. Enjoy!

The very first thing you'll need to do is ensure all your family is otherwise occupied. For example, I had to make sure last night that my husband was on the bed, happily playing on the laptop. He truly is a wonderful man who supports me in all my creative endeavors, even though he "sometimes" threatens to cut off my crafting supplies if I don't sell more ACEOs!

I also had to ensure that little baby Kyle was blissfully in his own crib.


Once my loving family was where they all belonged, it was time to gather the materials I might use. As I said earlier, you can use just about any materials you can imagine to make ACEOs. The sky is the limit! But one thing I definitely recommend is chocolate! Notice the huge Hershey bar?

After you have gathered all your materials, you are starting with a fresh, clean card. Half the fun of making these cards is deciding how to make your next one! For the purposes of today's tutorial, however, we are going to make a beach ACEO.

I took my newest set of clear stamps, "Coastal Clear Stamps" by Inkadinkado, and attached them to a thin acrylic block. I really love the versatility of clear stamps. I feel they give as much detail as the wooden ones, and they are a lot less expensive. And the designs are endless!

I then inked the stamp with a funky new ink by Tim Holtz, called Distress Ink. This one is "Broken China", and gives the effect of broken china! It is not easy to see from this picture, but the ink really is cool. I stamped the top of the card and the bottom.

After inking the shell design, I proceeded to cut two strips of thin blue ribbon and attach them lenghtwise to the card with glue. The strips were longer than the card itself, so you can cut off the excess once the glue dries. I used a blow drier to help the drying time.

Then, I cut a small block of designer paper that I thought would accent the blue ink. I glued that block to the card, and stamped different shells with black ink right onto the square.

Once that was done, I took a sticker of a B with a small seashell on it and attached it to the card. Then, I used two Gellyroll Stardust pens (blue and green) to write the rest of the word beach.

I also used the two Gellyroll pens to accent waves along the top and bottom of the card that I made with black marker.

And there you have it, my finished ACEO "Beach Day". I am happy with the way it turned out, and I only ate half of the chocolate bar!

I encourage you all to try and make some of these fantastic cards. I really enjoy creating them, and the feeling when they turn out better than you hoped is very rewarding. Please leave me any comments if you have any questions about making them, and above all else, remember to enjoy yourself! The creative process can be so much fun if you do it right. With chocolate!