Christmas cookie exchange contest....and a prize for you!

Good Morning!

Yep, we all get so busy during the holidays.  I always make time for a night with the girlfriends and a good cookie exchange. Not only do I get a night full of laughter, I also get lots of tasty cookies that I can use at the upcoming family gatherings.

My favorite people at DecoArt came to the outside artists with another great challenge. A cookie exchange container made out of a small empty Pringles can . Yes a Pringles can. You will NOT believe some of these! It might just be the thing that will inspire you to try one of these for your own exchange.

The best part yet is if you go and vote and leave a comment you have a chance at winning some awesome goodies. YES!

Voting is so easy. Just follow the link and click on the heart of the one you like. I hope it's mine! :)

sneak peek of mine

http://www.decoart.com/blog/article/158/christmas_cookie_container_mystery_box_challenge


Happy Holidays!

Shari

To Chalk or Not to Chalk

Hi!

I finally found the perfect storage cabinet for my studio. Thanks to my son negotiating I was able to get it for next to nothing.  YEA!!!

It obviously needed to be refinished. I was thinking I might go glossy and really change it up but in the long run I always seem to choose chalky paint. Nothing wrong with that!

I wanted the finished piece to fit into the creative vibe of my studio. So it began with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and then 7 different colors. YES!  A little distressing, dark wax, changing out the top knob for a really cool distressed crown knob, and voila .

Man, I am so glad I conquered my fear of too much color and just went for it. Loving It

Shari

Afraid to try chalk paint? You wont be after seeing this.

Hi!

 While having coffee at my neighbor Amber's house, I was admiring a piece in her dining room. It was a hutch that had been in the family for awhile. She said that she has always wanted to refinish it. It was love at first sight for me and look at this cute signature from her daughter on it.

 Ah ha! I had a light bulb above the head moment.

 "Why don't you refinish it with chalk paint. It would look awesome!!" I said. "I have never used chalk paint before"she said. Let's do coffee at your place next week and I will show you how.  The rest is history.

 Look what she refinished for her very first project!!

We started out cleaning the hutch with a damp cloth just to get the dust off. We then removed the knobs and the drawers.You do not need to do any other prep which was a pleasant surprise and relief to Amber.

It was a beautiful day so we decided to do the painting outside in the her driveway. The project will take a few hours but this will help everything dry even faster .

 Someone came by and wanted to buy the piece even before it was done. I cant wait to see their reaction when they come by later and see it refinished!

She had earlier decide on painting the inside back with yesteryear chalky finish paint and the rest with  rouge chalky finish paint. We did a thin coat of the yesteryear first and let it dry. When we did the second thin coat she was so surprised to find out how well it covered with so little paint!

 Here are some stages of our progress

We used fine sandpaper and minimally distressed areas. Make sure after you are done sanding you clean off .There are several choices to seal your piece. Amber decided on the matte creme wax.

 

 

after

before

It looks so good doesn't it?  Amber loves how it fits in so much better with her other decor too!

I think it is so awesome that she made the piece her potion station for Halloween. 

 

I really enjoyed helping Amber refinish her beautiful hutch. She had such a great time and couldn't believe the outcome. Amber is picking out her next  piece already.

So now you can have no fear of tackling a larger piece of furniture with chalky finish paint. Even if it is your first time!!


Shari

(Disclaimer: Although Americana Chalky finish paints and waxes were supplied by DecoArt for this project, the thoughts and responses are purely that of our own.)

For the Ultimate Fan

Good Morning!

Football season is upon us. I created these team spirit cowbells for my favorite football fans using Americana multi-surface paint. You can make some too with your own teams colors. Check out my tutorial over at DecoArt.

Team Spirit Cowbells

Happy Creating

Shari

Got String?

Good Morning!

Fall is coming and the mornings here in Texas are beginning to feel like it.

I wanted to find a project I can make outside to take advantage of those cool mornings . Look what I found!

String art is very popular right now. I found a great tutorial by Tiny Sidekick to help us out. I'm so excited to get started!

Thankful tutorial

Happy Creating!

Shari

Who did it Better?

 Hellloooo!
DecoArt is having a contest to see which outside artist's mystery box you liked better. If you liked my "Tea for Two" project please go to the link and vote for me. To vote just click on the heart. They will be picking out a lucky voter to receive a prize package too!

Mystery box contest

Mystery box contest

A Mystery Box Challenge

 Good Morning!

DecoArt wanted to see what it's outside artists would create if they were sent a mystery box. We had no idea what we were going to get and there were no guidelines for what to make. This was really a fun project! The box arrived with a crate shadow box, 5 colors, and some decoupage. We were allowed to add more colors and other embellishments but had to make sure to stick to the color scheme. I created Tea for two , a wall display. If you are interested you can see the full tutorial as well as what the other outside artists created by just following the link.  

Tea for Two

 Happy Creating!

 

Teaching Your Craft to Others

 Good Morning!
It's Make it Monday and I have something special to share with you.
If you have an interest in teaching your craft to others the link below will be a great help. This website offers free online classes for a variety of creative interests. Check it out!

If this class is just what you were looking for hurry and sign up today. This class begins tomorrow.

See ya there!

How to teach a craft class

 Shari

 

Is it Monday already?

 There are only two things that push me out of bed on Monday.  I treat myself with 2 cup of coffee, a sweet breakfast treat, and Make it Monday!! I love finding great crafting ideas for you .

This morning I have been looking around for some Halloween ideas. Yes crafters it will be here soon. 76 days to be exact. The Idea room has this fun crafty idea for Halloween treat bags. The labels are there for your downloading pleasure as well. 

 Enjoy,
Shari

Make it Monday with Decoupage!!

Hi!

No longer your mamas decoupage projects! The products we have to work with now to transform ordinary projects into the things we love have changed so much. Check out this project using DecoArt products by Ruben Ruiz Design. I am in love with DecoArt's decoupage paper!!

I'm Back!

Morning!

I took a little time off to transition into a new creative endeavor. Lots of great things ending but many great things beginning. Now I am back (yea) and so happy to start sharing again!

 Make it Monday is today!

When I first viewed this tutorial by Mark Montano, Resin Hearts, I knew I needed to share this for Make It Monday. Enjoy and I'd love to see your ideas. I am thinking x-mas ornaments?!?



Hey look! I found a steampunk version at   Reinvented objects by Denise Peterson

Creative Paperclay® air dry modeling material: Shari's Tip of the Month

 
              Creative Paperclay® air dry modeling material: Shari's Tip of the Month: Hi!, Today I am going to share with you a tip on fixing a broken ceramic piece with Creative Paperclay®. I found this ceramic garden ar...

Make it Monday!

Love how these kids are getting into the DIY craze!  Ck out their video.

  https://youtu.be/2xzXIf6igiQ

Make it Monday!

Happy Make it Monday! 

Pocket Letters are becoming so popular. Here is a tutorial on how to get started. I adore these coffee inspired ones. Check out the link. :)

  Cup of liquid happiness

Hello...MOM?

I have a new tutorial over at the Robin's Nest!

Chattering Robin's: Hello...MOM?: Hi ! Our inspiration this month was from a quote by Erma Bombeck. "Being a child at home alone in the summer is a high risk occupati...

Creative Paperclay® air dry modeling material: The Imperfect Heart

Creative Paperclay® air dry modeling material: The Imperfect Heart:    Hi, Today I am showing a few mixed media techniques to make your creative paperclay piece pop. I have heard that black wings sym...

Make It Monday

Look what I found for Make it Monday

 I can't wait to create one of  my own!

 Follow the link below

rhinestone-braided-bracelet-diy

My First Make it Monday !

Hi!

I'm starting a Make it Monday day. Some will be projects I create and others will be fabulous finds I come across.

 Check back every week for an easy fun project to take away the Monday blues. Here is a great reuse project I came across for our first Make it Monday. Enjoy!!

Earphone holder video

Mixed Media Cigar Box Art

Good Morning!

 I wanted to invite you to follow the link to a new tutorial I did forThe Robin's Nest blog.

Chattering Robin's: Mixed Media Cigar Box Art: Hi!, I am excited to show you how I transformed a plain wooden cigar box into a work of art.    Here is what you will n...

When Chalky Decor Meets Flea Market Finds Great Things Can Happen!

decoart.com/secondchances

Our Special Fairy Garden

Good Morning!
 I have a new tutorial over at the Creative Paperclay blog.

Creative Paperclay® air dry modeling material: Our Special Fairy Garden: Hi! Today I wanted to share a fairy garden that my grandson and I created with a little help from Creative Paperclay® He picked out some...

Birds on a Key Magnetic Memo Board

 Good Morning!
Hope you weekend is starting off right. I wanted to show you my latest project created for The Robin's Nest. Follow the link below to their blog for the full tutorial.

Birds on a key magnetic memo board

Re-purposed Garden Art

Good Morning!

I have been so ready to do a fun re-purposed project!

I have a habitat for humanity re-store where I live. I was able to purchase 4 ceiling fan blades and a banister rung for less than $3.00. I used these to create a large dragonfly for my garden fence.

 

I used Americana Decor multi-surface acrylic paints.  

 These paints are self-sealing - no primer/sealer needed. Indoor and outdoor use.

Here are the colors I used

Coffee bean

Black tie

Eggplant

Iris

Deep turquoise

Turquoise waters

Blue bird

Sky blue  

 

 

For the dragonfly head I purchased a paper mache egg, when I tore off the outside coating I found it was  plastic underneath. I cut it in half then cut out a notch on the bottom so it would fit over the banister rung.

 




The eyes were created using 2 unfinished wooden swirls glued together.

I used a small piece of wood for each 2 wing segment. (Upper and lower) I attached the wings to the wood and then the wood to the banister. I attached wire to the back of the dragonfly so that I could hang it on my fence.

I am so happy with how this turned out! The Americana multi-surface paint colors I used are so vibrant and were the perfect colors for this dragonfly. 

Thanks for stopping by and checking out how my dragonfly came to life!

Shari

When Life Gets Stormy

I have a new mixed media canvas tutorial made with The Robin's Nest line.Chattering Robin's: When Life Gets Stormy

:

Alice Inspired Pin Cushion for Mom

 Good Morning!
 If you have a Mom who likes to sew then this cute teacup pin cushion gift will be a real winner!
Click on the link for my tutorial on The Creative Paperclay® blog.

Creative Paperclay® air dry modeling material: Alice Inspired Pin Cushion for Mom:

When Skies are Gray

I have not done a shadowbox in a long time so this was a lot of fun. Once you have everything you want to use this project gets put together in no time.

The full tutorial can be viewed at The Robin's Nest Blog

Shari

Fabulous You

Hi!

Wanted to share a project that I created for The Robin's Nest®.

You can see the tutorial on how I created this at  The Chattering Robin's blog

Positive thoughts for Your Side Table

 Hi!,

I wanted to invite you to my new tutorial. These blocks are quite easy to create and can be done in an afternoon. Just follow the link :) 

  Positive thoughts for your side table

These were so much fun to create!

Shari