In the Rain..

After I got home from work and did a little exercise, with the prayer I drop about a million dress sizes overnight--I headed to The GoodWill, up the street. Since I discovered my 'inner crafty' I wonder about experimenting with paint and decoupage on wood--the whole plaque thing 2.0.

For 19 bucks and some change I found cool, one of kind treasures. Solid wood. Different sizes. I looked for older looking plaques. I imagine their story. How they got there and from where. That's when the writer in me came out. It also amazes me, how pieces of china wind up at the Goodwill. For just pennies. The china is another post. I'll stick with the the plaques for now.

I surveyed the plaques. Thought of how to re-birth them. I mean, one of them is a wooden paddle with a bunch of cows painted on it...Did I mention it was also raining when I went to the GoodWill? The cashier packed all my goodies in a big, plastic bag. The size of my bag would surely rival that of Santa's.

I took good care of my treasures as I walked to the car and placed them inside. I did have two china bowls in the mix too. One was 50 cents. Told ya--cheap!

Well, if all excuse me, I'll call it a night. I need to peak in my sock again. Tickled how I stuffed my own stocking---sorta.

Stay tuned.

Tuesday Tweet

I am determined to print on napkins and not destroy napkins, or printed paper jams in the process. As much as I like tissue paper for my decoupage on terra cotta pots, I so favor the look of napkin more.

Today I picked my classes in my new school. Even met one of my professors. He seems like a nice guy. I met him while I met with y advisor. We all laughed. The school is Christian based. I never once thought I'd see me in a faith based much of anything. Amazing. Anyway I'm taking two classes. Since I've not been to this school before, I was weary to take more. They also offer mini--mesters, which you do a class every day except Sunday or maybe even Saturday-for a week. The school has these during their break times. That's an option. I'm excited! I do need to get a new mindset to see Jesus in the my texts.

And mindset--yea, print on the napkin. Oh, thought about trying to make strawberry....

Stay tuned.

Well..

After I told my chum Aurora about the over the weekend success with my terra cotta pots, how all 20 of my decoupaged 4 inch pots found homes, she asks:

"So when ya posting your pots on Etsy.com?"

Uh.

Hey, would you look at the time! Litter boxes gotta get cleaned.

Stay tuned.

Print On Paper Napkins

Ain't for me.
Yea..yea. That whole practice makes perfect thing--
It could be the printer-
Or, as I don't wanna admit it: could be me!
I can print on napkins. So if I can, you certainly can.
The thing is to get the napkin to feed thru the printer.
I do anchor the 3 ply dinner napkin to a piece of cardstock
I realized, on my printer anyway, I need the end that feeds into the printer
Must be the actual cardstock and not napkin covered.
Otherwise the cardstock covered napkin goes right thru the printer
With nary a drop of ink on the napkin. Not amused.
So after about 5 napkins, I left about a quarter inch of cardstock uncovered
And napkin was printed on almost beautifully,
I wasn't almost out of ink, hence the picture came out too light...
I do love the look of napkin as decoupage-
And yes, practice DOES make perfect...
My guess is I need more practice to find somebody
Who prints on napkins perfectly and inexpensively....
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.

Transfer for Terra Cotta Pots

On my pots, I've had trouble with the artwork not looking how I want it to look. Done tranfers with packing tape, contact paper and recently Omni Gel. I loved the quality of the Omni Gel. Will definitely use it for something else, like the 4 and 3 inch pot, yet not the six inch. The artwork still looks like a picture just slapped on the pot.

Ain't feelin' that.

So I have some new things things to try. Avery Clear Sticker paper. I didn't know this even existed until today. Plus waterslide clear decal paper. These items weren't expensive, yet the bad thing is I had to get ink for my inkjet printer--which was more than I want to pay. I wanted to stay away from printing anything on my own printer, yet I may not have a choice.

The look of the artwork is the last thing to make have happen on these pots.*

Stay tuned.

Look At Change

Change. Yep. Not talking about terra pots this day (even tho I did buy some pretty tissue paper to decoupage with). Today is about change to my education. I've spoken about papers and such, due for school. I want to transfer to another place of higher learning. My education is quite important to me. I want it to be more in depth and not just 'easy' to get thru.

I spoke to my school about when I could withdraw. June 7 was the earliest. I wanted to have my next steps already in place by then. Well, that didn't happen. I spoke to other schools, and some would not talk to me until I registered and enrolled then they would tell me if my hours would transfer.

Wasn't feelin' that. If I was all into business (and I don't mean just my own cat business) I'd be set. Well, I'm not all into business--never have been. And I'm not 18 anymore either to hear "Have you thought what you want to do when you graduate?"

Sure I do. I'll pop the 12 year old college advisor up side her head and steal her Barbie lunch pail.

I digress.

Anyway, today I did visit another school. I liked it. They talked to me about my degree plan. I agreed with it--then it came to transcript time. I didn't even think to bring them. Nobody has taken time to even look at anything--so why should have this time be different? Well, the kicker was--which I had to explain, my current school says I now I owe them $$ so I can't get my transcripts.

Yep. Eventho I got financial aid plus two grants I owe them bucks. Why? Because, me thinks, I brought up the fact I thought of transfer. Suddenly a grant I was awarded LAST YEAR was cancelled because, gee, wouldn't you know it, the grant people calculated wrong. And then the grant I was awarded the beginning of THIS year--it's on hold, because, gosh, they didn't get my paperwork.

See, that's pretty funny, because on the second grant, I still had the e-mail from another advisor lady acknowledging she received my fax. Which was February 2011. I forward those e-mails and another copy of my paperwork to my head financial person . So far, no response.

Which means I can't get my official transcripts until this mess is cleared up or write em a check. And ya know--as ticked as I am--I might just do that, especially if this doesn't work itself out. Since the school I visited, and any other, requires them. Of course, I never thought of getting them before I talked about transfer. I held off until that newest grade was entered.

*sigh*

Yep. Change is a comin'.
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, new tissue paper awaits.

Sunday Twist of Terra Cotta Pots

Ya know, I was glad today was Sunday. Why? Because I got to go go back to the House of the Lord. I needed a Word from Pastor Rickie Rush of the Inspiring Body of Christ Church. Yes, I needed to know how good wants me to have my desires of the heart. I want people to look at me and see His light. Yes, all of that. However, as Pastor Rush says, we may not have that pain tolerance level to handle what He's got for us. Any other time I would think, "Well, yes I do!" *****
Alas, I think of the painted and decoupage terra cotta pot I showed my friend yesterday. I wanted Her opinion. I do believe she was being kind.****Blessing ain't hit my painted and decoupage terra cotta pot scene yet.****Nope. My pot was UGLY. I'm not saying that to get attention. Nope. It was UGLY. I'd just spot you the "GLY" and my goodness. My vision for the pots, hasn't quite made it to "what is" yet. The focus of the pot, was overshadowed by the accessories (aka tissue paper) I plastered on the pot. Oh my goodness. I'm amazed how Mod Podge transforms anything. I do admit I'm having fun messing with it. However, I'm not feelin' that good to share my pot's unattractive to you. Don't want you to turn to stone. ****I want my terra cotta pot to be terrific and pretty and I want to like it before I share it with others. My friend yesterday says, "Be patient. Art is difficult." ****Once again, I remember the C's and D's I mustered to get in junior high art class. I tell you what, once I get these pots ready for human consumption, I'm going to send one to my junior high art teacher. Yep. She found me on Facebook. It will be a surprise to her. Maybe I can redeem myself and maybe get up a "B".
****Pain tolerance level indeed.