Fun nails.....

Ok, so it's been two weeks, better than 2 months LOL. So the only thing I have really created with exception of art projects for school have been my nails. I found a really cool scrapbook product and my first thought when I saw it was..."that would be SO cool in my nails!" So that's exactly what I did when I was able to find it to purchase locally. There is only one store that has carried it and I was glad to get it. No one can figure out what it is when they see it in my nails and even try explaining it they don't get it, but then again these are not scrappers either. LOL

The product is called Flower Soft. Have you heard about it or seen it? It's pretty cool stuff. At first when I saw it online I couldn't figure out what it what made from and their site doesn't really say what it is either, so I had to see it first before using it on my nails. It seems to be very fine pieces of resin/plastic--the same kind my hubby uses to make his 55 gallon drums--which means it would work for me. The price is reasonable; however, I don't think I would use this product all the time unless I made cards all the time. I could see using it from time to time in a layout but not all the time. BUT for nails, another story.

So here is what it looks like when embedded in acrylic. I also embedded some real dried flowers to add to it.

I received a lot of compliments on these and again no one could figure how I got the look--which I love! I love having different stylish nails that no one has seen before. Well, I have been wearing these for awhile and they were just taken off to put on another set of fresh summery nails. I'll wait to post those to keep you in suspense, but think "neon."

Thanks for looking.

Holy crap it's been awhile!

Ok, so I knew it had been awhile since I blogged but holy crap over two months! Yes, it's been a crazy semester--very busy! Of course, my art class was my most stressful class-never enough time to finish the projects, I even got behind me, which is not like me--procrastinate yes, but to be behind, no! BUT I survived. I pulled off a perfect 4.0 this semester so that made me happy :O) Now I have a small "break" before I start a grueling summer session--6 weeks, two classes; English and Math, Mon through Thursday from 7:30am to 1:30pm - yes, I wll be going crazy BUT the good news when I am finished I will graduate FINALLY! It's been a long time coming. Then in the winter I will be transferring to the university for a real degree. LOL

This summer will be going by quickly. After the summer session, I will have another small break before I take on babysitting my niece and nephew for 9 days! Ack! Hopefully I won't lock them in a closet and leave them for their parents to get back. LOL Should prove interesting to say the least. Then a day after I get back from babysitting I start the fall semester working on a few classes to transfer; saving money this way.

So have I done anything crafty in the last 2 months??? Yes, I have.....mostly for class but did manage to squeeze in a project for my mom for Mother's Day. Mom has been finding old pictures and sharing them. So in this project I used one of her pregnant with me to make this 10x10 altered canvas.

My next project, well I have a list of projects that I want to work on.....I seriously need to catch up on my niece's scrapbook; a pile has been sitting for a few months now I need to sit and actually work on them. BUT first I have another baby shower present that needs to be done. My girlfriend is pregnant for the 2nd time and having a boy. SO another baby boy first year book will need to be made. Already got all my papers together, again now need to sit and get it done.

Ok, I will leave you with this for now .....look for my 3D projects to be posted soon. Also, I will post the cool nails I have been wearing...I used a scrap product that not too many people are using...I embedded it in my acrylics--turned out pretty cool.

Valentine's gift

For Valentine's day this year, I made a little treat jar for my special someone. Very simple and not too gushy since the purpose of this treat jar was for him to take it to work with him. On the back side of the "Love" tag was a short little quote. I used one of Marah Johnson's papers for this project--love her papers!

Hard to see, but I Glimmer Misted the lid with 3 colors (bronze, gold, cranberry) and added a circle punch out (inked edge) of the paper for the top of the lid.

New look for the blog finally

So I have been wanting to make some changes to the look of my blog since I was very bored with I what I had.....thank god, Heidi Swapp's new site, House of Three has some awesome new blog couture for purchase. Very reasonable plus saves me the time of trying to create something cool especially with my limited photoshopping skills! LOL You can also get banners, which you can edit to customize to you. They offer freebies and this weekend is their House Warming Party--go check it out! Not to mention they give you step-by-step instruction on how to make the adjustment to your blog to install the new layout for those that aren't blog-savvy. It's very easy to do!

Go quickly and check them out!

Mixed Media projects not posted yet

So I finally got some pictures from last semester's Mixed Media projects. These are some of them I forgot to get pictures before turning them in, but Misty always documents them during the semester.

This project was to use only one item in multiples and you could not see what adhesive was used. Baird had a huge amount of old keys at work that he brought home for me to use. Let's just say using keys, not so easy--no adhesive likes keys! Finally after several failed attempts of adhesives, I settled on JB Weld, which still didn't give me the sculpture I was going for, so I had to work around what the keys wanted to do, and this was my final result. Much to the surprise of my teacher, it became a hanging piece.

This was my least favorite project! So of course, it was chosen for the Winter Student show! Can you believe it!!!!! Only 3 students were picked and I believe I was the only non-art major in the class. LOL I was in shock when she asked me to bring them in for the exhibit! Surprisingly this was my 2nd entry into a student show--years ago, I submitting 2 charcoal drawings for a student show at Mira Costa College only at the prodding of another fellow student, so she wouldn't get rejected alone; however, the committee chose one of mine over hers :O( the irony! her and the instructor forced me to enter and only I got in from our class LOL

Another project that we did was a little bit different and could be confusing at times. You had to wrap and cover an item, making sure you didn't know exactly was used and creating another look for it. Get it? Me either--I'm still confused on what the assignment was, but this was the final result. Again, Baird brought more crap from work home for me to use in a project--this had been sitting around for awhile BUT I finally got to use it. It was a copper spool that some wire came on so I used that as well as an irrigation cap (for the base), scrap paper (to cover the openings), ribbon (to cover the copper), and a little bit of paint to cover up where the ribbon slid away from. I also used vellum for my photos and turned it into an illuminating piece.

Here's the finished piece: The pictures turned out great! Thanks Misty!

Well, our 2nd project for 3D is still underway and not having much fun with it--sucks working with wire! Next week I should have pictures up; hopefully it will actually look like a koi or at least some kind of fish!

New art class

Yes, I took another art class this semester for "fun." This one is very similar to my Mixed Media class; however, this 3D class has a little more guidelines to each product and not as much freedom, meaning you must stick to these guidelines. We have already finished our first project and am starting my next one.

This project was a 3D relief. Only using a 6"x6" foam tile, you must use cereal boxes to cover the foam and create your design. It can be abstract, geometric, realistic, etc, etc. I had several ideas in mind until I went shopping to get my cereal box (which we don't eat so I had to buy some to use) and found this Stater Brothers Rice Crispies box that had this dolphin on it--and loved the idea of using it for my project. I wanted to use boxes where you were not able to recognize what cereal it is was, and I think I was successful in that area. While my design was simple, I liked the outcome. I was afraid of having too much relief projecting out and then realized mine wasn't enough after viewing the others in class. There was such a contrast in work done throughout the class. It was amazing to see especially after viewing last semester's submissions--ours were quite different than theirs.

So here is what I submitted......I have been toying with making some more of these but utilising scrap paper instead! We'll see.

Our next project is out of wire. We must recreate true to scale, either a human or animal figure; can be the whole thing or body parts. Of course, I was leaning towards a cat, because for those that know me, that's my thing! LOL BUT then I thought a koi might be easier as well as a nice added decoration to our koi pond. Since it has to be true to scale my projects should be a pretty good size considering most of our koi now measure to 12"to 18" in length and I might actually be off--they could be longer--they are huge! So look for that project to be posted within the next couple of weeks.

BTW, remember this project my first project; Assemblage from last semester--I had another offer from someone to buy it for their home :O) Who knows, maybe I'll become a professional artist, yeah right! LOL my art teacher told me I need to pursue art instead of business LOLOLOLOL Baird says as long as I can make $$$ he doesn't care! LOL

Been a long time.....

since I have blogged any creative goodness. So here is what I have completed lately. I was commissioned by a client and a friend for a "first year" baby album for baby shower gifts this last month. One for a girl and one for a boy--my first boy album! They turned out pretty good, if I don't say so myself :O)

BTW, don't ask me why these are posting sideways....never done this before! But you get the jest of it.

Now I need to start working on some layouts for my niece's scrapbook. They are all laid out and ready to be put together, now I just need to sit and get them done. Those should be coming within the next week or so....well, that's the plan anyway. Side note: my sister has become hooked on scrapping for my nephew--woohoo! She calls me every time she scores a deal at the scrap store LOL

Mixed Media final

I knew I was forgetting to post something....my Mixed Media art final...this turned into an interesting project. We pretty much could do anything we want whether it was revisiting a previous project, incorporating the techniques together, or whatever, which is easy since mixed media can be very vague. So I thought I would put my scrap paper (used a lot of Luxe Design--love them!) to use. I created a background to be hung then created a flower pot and filled it with paper flowers to blend into the background so you wouldn't realize it until you got closer and could identify the actual flowers. Pictures don't show the vase very well. It was a piece of resin which was pulled from a machine from my husband's work. I was finally able to put it to use.

Next semester I am taking 3D, so the projects will be similar in concept; however she puts a little more guidelines and structure on each project, so not as much freedom, but I have seen the projects that we will be creating so I have an idea what is expected. I am taking the same teacher again because she is great! Love her! Very motivational, encouraging as well as inspiring! Can't wait to start again! Look for new projects in January.

Happy Holidays!

Well, the holidays are already upon us and it is truly winter in Southern California. Some rare snow footage dropped this week in the moutains as well as some lower areas that rarely see snow. We weren't fortunate enough to have any this year like last year, which is weird comsidering how frigging cold it has been this week. Two weeks ago it was 90 degrees and this week it's been in the 40s--what is wrong with this picture???? Not that we aren't loving the cool weather but come on people, us Californians are not use to dressing in this!

Here is what I woke up to this morning. I had a small glimpse of this yesterday, but there wasn't enough time to grab the camera before the clouds covered it again--today was a different story and sad it's already startting to melt :O(

So for crafty updates. I have not had any time to get any projects that I wanted to accomplish for the holiday, including making cards and getting them sent--where the hell did the time go???? How can it be Christmas already! I did make a few quickie gifts for some special people.

I made this for my friend that refuses to take any type of payment for cutting Baird's hair, so I made her this little wall hanger and picked up a beautiful poinsettia for her.

For my art teacher I had to make her a little something--she has been so fascinated with all of my "scrap" gear that I bring in that I felt I should make her something scrappy. SO I made this banner which was my plan for several other people but obviously didn't happen.

(my little banner holder)

That's it for me......

Holiday Spirit????

Are you in the holiday spirit yet???? Well, hubby got the lights up and I have yet to decorate inside, but that's only because I have not had time--with 3 projects due for classes all inthe same week I have been a little overwhelmed with school right now. Yesterday was the last of them --all turned in and done! Only 2 weeks of school left, 1 week of lectures and 1 week of finals AND it's over for the semester with a quick break until mid-January. WTH does the time go!

Anyhoo, during all of this chaos I managed to make the invitations for the holiday party I am throwing for Baird's office at our house again. Last year was a huge hit but this year sounds like it might be a quiet one, which is okay with me. I also managed to put on a new set of nails and yes, they are quite festive. Forgot I wore these colors last year too, but oh well I only wear green once a year and this will be it. Love green but not on my hands. LOL

As for other "kreative" projects, I have a lot planned; homemade Christmas cards as well as some homemade gifts for my clients this year. Don't want to say yet what they are since a few may actually read my blog without me knowing it :O) But I have been stockpiling for the last 2 months now it's time to use all of it!

On another note, my sis and kiddies are coming up soon to stay a few nights with us and we plan on doing a lot. The agenda is making cookies for hubby's office as gifts, making my Christmas cards and gifts, a few art projects for my 3 yr old niece, BUT the most exciting part is....my sister wants to scrapbook.....she got the bug BAD. I took her to her first crop (my only 3rd one) and she didn't seem to impressed--a little too quiet for her, but apparently she got into it. She later told me she could see how you become addicted and ever since then she has been shopping like crazy for bargain deals. So I have told her where to go and every day she shops I get phone calls on her "finds." SO her main purpose is to come up here and "kreate." Of course, I had to get her a starter kit for her xmas gift, plus I think I can give up some of my stash now that I have a stash (I like to hoard). Not sure if I can give up Thickers but maybe one pack! LOLOLOLOL

We'll see how much I actually get done LOL --sounds like a good plan *hehehe but with a 3yr old and 1 yr old, things could change.

What are you "kreating" right now?????