Blue Monday

Made it thru another day of training for the new job. The material I do find quite interesting. However, the way the material is conveyed is a major snooze fest.  We read all day, copy and paste text for our notes--then hope we copy and paste is on our final assessment. Oh well. If the material itself were a bore, then we would have a real problem. It is not. So we do not.
****On to more colorful subjects.  Posted here is a painted plastic flower pot. Yes, plastic and originally gray before the magic happened. I sand the pot with 120 sandpaper  and then sprayed Lowe's Valspar primer for plastic on it. Once the pot was completely dry, I used an angler brush, no sea sponge this time, to paint metallic acrylic blues and a gold outside and some inside. The finishing touch was Mod Podge acrylic gloss sealer. Honestly, I liked using the angler brush for the look it gave. I still used the bristles to daub the pot like I would with a sea sponge. All in all I like the brush's look. 
****Now if you will excuse me a cat stares at me to be petted or they just smell the pizza in the oven!


Stay tuned! 

Print on Fabric Using....Freezer Paper?

Yep.
It CAN be done.
I know for which I speak because
I did such a feat this night....

Up top is the graphic on my computer. The result on the printed fabric is he bottom right corner. The colors will need to be adjusted darker for the fabric. Heck, I can work on that. In the meantime, for me--the girl who would surely bribe Van Gogh with a pie, to do her junior high art project, is dazed and amazed. Maybe could be be something to this whole being crafty thing.

Stay tuned.

Plaque Hangs with Terra Cotta Pot

Something different to share. Tried my hand at a plaque. Just kinda simple for my first try. When I started this whole terra cotta pot thing, my goal was to put my cat photos on the pots. The look of the finished product just did not light my fire. I have learned more of the mechanics of putting photos on pots now--paper, size, vertical vs horizontal, etc. However I was unhappy with the outcomes. The other day, I caught a glimpse of the plaques in Hobby Lobby--and thought "Hmm". On this plaque, I used Mod Podge Sparkle, hence the sparklies all over. I like the start so far.

As for the pot, it's a 4 inch rose bud terra cotta. Metallic paints of green, gold and red. I was going for Christmas colors. Although the folks that looked at it--loved the colors, yet didn't see "Christmas". I do like the the colors tho.

What's cool about these projects, I can honestly say I LIKE what I'm turning out. Tweaks here and there--sure, however I am likin' my product.

Stay tuned.

Decoupage 911

After work I headed to the little neighborhood crafty store: Googly Eyes Had a "test" pot in tow with a waterslide decal and two different poses on napkins decoupaged on it. Yep, napkins. One of the napkins had a bird on it, and the other napkin had one of my own pictures printed on it***** The decal looked OK. The bird looked great, while my printed photo on napkin, needed more black ink, possibly another printer, and a sturdier napkin**All in all, I felt like the last piece of mulberry paper, waiting to be used. Overall I LOVED the look of the napkin decoupage. Eventho my printed piece wasn't so lovely. My question to one of the owners at Googly Eyes, did she know anybody who printed on napkins. After my adventure of to print and to tear napkin layers so I could decoupage--wasn't feelin' any more long term printin'. ***** The co-owner did gave me wonderful suggestions about the decal, possible accents on my terra cotta pots, crackle medium and try to print on tissue paper. Done done tissue paper before, yet it's been a few months. Didn't want to print, yet I grabbed another 'test' pot. ***** The second time thru the printer, the tissue paper got printed on. I anchored mine to a sheet of cardstock. Honestly, I do like how it's drying on the pot. However I realized I do not want to print anything more myself. ***** All I could think of: I may need a better printer and the overall hassle of anchoring tissue paper or napkins. Especially if I wind up doing more pots for people.*****Sure. Yea. I hear ya, practice does make perfect.

In the picture: Up left is a kitty (yep really!) sniffs a tulip. That's the one I printed on the napkin. The bird was on the napkins I bought at Party City. The other kitty in the corner is on the waterslide decal.

Now time to practice on some pepperoni pizza.

Sundown Sunday

Almost -here in Dallas. I'd planned to do another couple of 'test pots' after church today. Even bought the cutest little 3 inch pots at Michael's. As a chum says, this is my R & D stage. I'm sure I've mentioned I hate R & D.

Combing the 'net for others who decoupage pots. To check out the competition and really get tips. Before Valentine's Day, I had no clue I'd be into acrylic paints, terra cotta pots and even calling a craft store my home away from home (after PetsMart that is). Today I even bought a book on mosaics. My crafty cup runneth over. I admit to having fun tho. Works on my patience because I want it perfect NOW.

Anyway, no test pots tonight. There's a technique I'm going to try, which may enhance my terra cotta pots. We'll see if it works. If so, or no, I will report back.

In the meantime, I promised cats I would clean their bid'ness boxes. Hmm.

I think the cat gets the better deal...