Right before Christmas, The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, hosts a community art project.

This year, it as all about The Sock Monkey.  We came with our required two socks and a pair of scissors.  The rest was FREE! We arrived to be greeted by Sock Monkey helpers that handed us a pattern.

They then directed us to tables…

of thread, needles and stuffing along with…

piles of fabric, buttons, ribbon, ties, thread, yarn and rick rack…all the necessary accessories to personalize our Sock Monkeys.  My daughter and her friend were in crafting heaven! (Ok, so were the mamas!)

We felt the power of collective crafting being in such a spacious room with other creative types.

We spent the afternoon, chatting, stitching and creating gifts.  This was a great event and I will be sure to keep an eye out next year for The American Visionary Art Museum’s community craft project.

It was a great way to sit and focus during the rush of the busy holiday season, on what’s really important…time with favorite people…creating!

I promised a glitter project last week ~ do you have your glue bottles ready?  This is a fun DIY Project that will possibly get you back in touch with your inner finger-painting child.  It also a great gift idea or decor idea for the holidays!

I was first inspired to do this project when I purchased a “glitterized” vintage picture at an antique store and bakery over the summer.  I found it at “Kathie’s Finds” in Wayzata, MN.  I love it so much that I made it the centerpiece of my mantel.  Glitterized Vintage Pictures have a kind of  “Anthropologie” feel, a little homemade-y, a little sparkly, a little fancy!  I thought that it would be super a super easy craft project ~ and it was.  There are no rules to glitterizing pictures.  Go with your gut ~ glitter where it makes you feel happy!  However, I did learn some things that I’ll share as we go.

Start with an impressionistic styled primitive vintage picture.   I found this in a thrift store.

Gather some glitter.  More is more.  Glitter is yet another art item that could lead me down another path of hoarding ~ sort of like ribbons, yarn or fabric has.  Glitter can now be added to my list of hoarding propensities.  I’m OK with that.  I like a full color palate to choose from.  It’s like spice bottles.  You never know what one you might need.  Plus, it makes me happy.  I think I mentioned that.

Find a place to work with good light.  I choose the floor by my front door.  I figured the glitter mess could be quickly vacuumed up.  I resisted the urge to buy the fancy special glitter glue at the local craft store, made by the lady who starts with the letter M.  Even though I was worried about it, turns out plain ole’ Elmer’s works fine for the is project.

When my teens came home from school and saw my sprawled out collection of glitter, school glue, and paper towels spread in front of the front door.  They were curious.  “Is that your new thing?” they asked.  “No, really…is this your new thing?”  It’s like they were getting ready to begin a glitter intervention.  My dog Roxy was not that interested.
Glue and sprinkle and do your thing.

Break some rules.  Get dirty.  You can use your fingers.

I got this.  And, I had to admit.  It looked amateur.  When you compare it all that amazing other glitter art.

So I consulted with my original amazing glitterized picture from Kathie’s and discovered that I was wrong.  More is not always more when it comes to glitter.  Less is more.  See how she just dabbed a bit here, a bit there.  Beautiful.  Not overdone.

While the glitter is wet you can still wipe it off.

Go in and make some edits and additions~

But I left some drips for character.

Final project ~ A Glitterized Vintage Picture!  A bit of a disclaimer.  It is hard to get a good picture of this project.  Trust me.  The glitterized Vintage Picture looks even better in real life.  Really it does.  It’s really quite charming.

Simple steps to Glitterizing a Vintage Picture:

l.  Find a simple vintage picture.  I think a primitive feel works best.  There will be enough going on when you add the glitter.

2.  Find project work space with good light. So you can be objective about where the glitter is reflecting once you start working.

3.  Gather tools:  Glue, Glitter, Paper Towels, Vintage Picture

4.  Glue, Glitterize, Dry, Shake, wipe and repeat if needed.

Enjoy!  You are officially ready to Glitterize!

(This post was shared with other creative ideas over at the blog, Censational Girl & I Gotta Create.)

We think our Mother’s Tree Of Life necklaces is the perfect gift inspiration for birthdays or holidays for any Mother, Sister or Friend in your life!  Why not get ahead of the holiday curve and order the perfect special gift ahead of time?  Artist Liz Oie handcrafts this necklace in gold or silver with real gem stones to honor the births of children or grandchildren.   Check out this necklace ~ found in our LoveFeast Shop.  We will be adding new items to our shop as the Holidays get closer ~ so keep checking back!

And while your thinking gifts ~ here’s a little bit of Gift Wrapping Inspiration and tips!

Gift wrapping has always been one of my creative outlets – you could say hobbies.  Scraps of paper, pieces of fabric and ribbon - make me happy and all the possibilities of their potential – give me a little of a high.  Over the years I have worked hard to coral all my creative bits with ways of organizing.  Back in the day – my ribbon spools got away from me!  You can read all about when Kristin came to my creative rescue, her husband made us the best meal ever and some tips for organizing gift wrapping ~ especially around the holidays ~ HERE.

Tips for Gift Wrapping Inspiration:

l.  Gather beautiful cards, ribbon, papers and gift wrap.

2.  After the gift wrap think of building the decorative pieces for depth and beauty.  Think layers.

3.  Use “found” items for interesting scraps of textures such as pieces of box, metal, newsprint, leather, string etc.

4.  Mix patterns, styles, and textures.  Leather with shiny.  Wood grain with satin.  Opposites attract and add interest.

5.  Add personal touch, card, or whimsical greeting.

This is just a bit of creative inspiration for you.  It adds to the gift.  And ~ the receiver of your present will be tickled with the extra attention to detail ~ and time spent making something special for them.

We wanted to inspire you to wrap your own special gift! 

To enter a Giveaway for our Mother’s Tree Of Life Necklace in gold do the following:

l.)  Leave a comment saying who you would gift the Mother’s Tree Of Life Necklace in gold to feel free to add any of your own gift wrapping tips ~ too!  Don’t be shy if you are going to gift yourself!

2.) Tweet this post for an additional entry.  Don’t forget to let us know you did!!

Giveaway will be chosen via Random.org .  Giveaway will end on Monday October 24th at 12 midnight.  Open to US only please.

Just because he loves me, he brought these flowers home.

He bought them at Costco and brought them home in their cellophane bundle.  They were beautiful, but I decided to add a little more love to this bouquet of fall splendor.  First I trimmed each stem, at different lengths, building an arrangement of varying heights.  Then I took an empty, large glass jar (I think it once was an over-sized jar of sun dried tomatoes) and placed the freshly trimmed flowers inside.  I took one of my vintage tins that was just a bit bigger than the glass jar, and

put the jar inside.

A couple of years ago, I bought this green moss.  It’s been tucked away in a cabinet waiting to be used.

I placed my freshly, primped gift on the table,

and adorned it with a few fresh pumpkins, as well as

a few velvet, plush pumpkins.

Just because.

A while ago I happened to see a picture of these coasting on the web ~ Branchlers by Luke Bartels found on Remodelista.

I’ve had it on my mind ever since – and seriously, this has nothing to do with the fact that I shot an AK37 or something like that this summer thanks to my brother-n-law who likes to keep this suburban mama country capable.

But now back to my Branchler – project ’cause this is how we roll in the citeee!  Note:  There are no guns needed for this project unless you choose to use a paint gun.

How To Make Branchlers

Needed:

Branches, spray paint, small nails, hooks, wood plaque, trim, hammer, small saw.

l. First, go to the strip mall craft store of your choice and you get yourself some spray paint.

2.  Spray a wooden plaque from same craft store and spray paint the plaque.  I sprayed mine over a series of a few days so that it would have a nice dark finish.

3.  Cut or saw the branches at an angle.

This is where it gets embarrassing.  I was going to use a saw, but that would have required me to go back inside to the basement to get a saw.  And ~ I would have missed the 2nd verse to Fergalicious that was jammin’ on my daughter’s iphone.  Thus, I resorted to cutting the branches on an angle with a garden tool.

4.  Hammer the branch that has been cut at an angle into the plaque with a small nail.

5.  If you want to get it a bit more finished you could wrap the bottom of the branch with trim or leather to cover the nail.

It also should be noted that no city deer were injured in the creating of this craft.

Ta-da!!  Branchlers.  Go make some – they’re Cool-a-licious!

*****

To share our Branchler joy we shared our inspiration at ~ I Gotta Create!

My husband brought this beauty of a vintage frame home from a renovation job he was doing and I decided to turn it into a cork board for my office.

Here is what you will need to make your own Vintage Cork Board:

Vintage Frame…I prefer one that is ornate and has character

1/2 inch Cork (measure the inside of the frame and order to size)…I ordered this over the internet. For my large frame, it cost about $50.

Sheet of Plywood

4-6 Flat Brackets

8-12 1/2 inch Wood Screws

Spray paint

Liquid Nails

Exacto Knife

Picture Hanging Wire Kit…make sure it can handle the weight of your frame

1. Spray frame the color you desire. Let dry completely.

2. Cut plywood to the size of the back opening of the frame.

3. Use a t-square ruler to measure and cut the cork with a sharp exacto knife.

4. Attach cut plywood to the back of the frame using the flat brackets to secure. Attach one half of bracket to frame and the other half to plywood. Screw into place.

5. Fully cover the plywood with liquid nails.

6. Press cork board on top, pressing gently, yet firmly to stick. This will dry relatively quickly.

7. Attach picture hanging eye hooks approximately 1/3 down from the top of the frame, on the back to the plywood.

8. Measure from eye hook to eye hook. Take that number and multiply by two. Cut the wire to fit. String wire through one eye hook, then through the other and twist the ends around themselves until secure. Cut off excess.

Hang your Vintage Cork Board and prepare to organize!

*****

This How To Make a Vintage Frame Cork Board Project was linked to the Fall Project Party over at  Censational Girl & Tutes & Tips at Home Stories A2Z & I Gotta Create!.  We think the colors of the cork and bright red inspire the feeling of fall.   The cork board could greet your guests at your front door or for a party.  You could pin on a menu or your fall to-do list.  We hope you are inspired!  It’s F’all Y’all!

Well, I could wander around here all day.

Many times I have.  There is something about floor to warehouse ceiling stack of bolts and bolts of fabric that calms me.  For awhile ~ until I start buzzing with ideas.

While wandering this maze of isles I find inspiration.

The inspiration to build ideas, tablecloths, curtains and pillows.

The more projects I think of the more I start to giggle.  I’m giddy now, high on ribbons and remnants and linens.

There are plans for pillows and streamers.

Then I call someone who knows just how I feel and I try to explain what this is?  Ribbon or gusset?  It’s velvet and interesting.  So, some for her and some for me.  For whatever we decide to make fancy!

One of my favorite inspiration haunts  in Minneapolis is S.R. Harris.  Do you have a favorite creative inspiration place you like to stalk?  Spill your secrets!!  Leave a comment and tell us all where it is.

Link up something you’ve been inspired to make lately here~

Well, I could wander around here all day.

Many times I have.  There is something about floor to warehouse ceiling stack of bolts and bolts of fabric that calms me.  For awhile ~ until I start buzzing with ideas.

While wandering this maze of isles I find inspiration.

The inspiration to build ideas, tablecloths, curtains and pillows.

The more projects I think of the more I start to giggle.  I’m giddy now, high on ribbons and remnants and linens.

There are plans for pillows and streamers.

Then I call someone who knows just how I feel and I try to explain what this is?  Ribbon or gusset?  It’s velvet and interesting.  So, some for her and some for me.  For whatever we decide to make fancy!

One of my favorite inspiration haunts  in Minneapolis is S.R. Harris.  Do you have a favorite creative inspiration place you like to stalk?  Spill your secrets!!  Leave a comment and tell us all where it is.

Link up something you’ve been inspired to make lately here~

4th of July for my family in Colorado is all about letting go and having fun!

We say good bye to our suburban Minneapolis neighborhood and embrace the country.

We shoot things and make things…

and watch things be made and shot.  We say good bye to corporate America for just a bit…

Delve into a feast ~

And embrace an element of danger!

We are happy, well fed, relaxed and having fun.  We’re celebrating all the things we enjoy ~ our freedom in America.

How do you celebrate the 4th of July?  This Fancy Friday is all about it!!  Link up (anything 4th of July related) or share a comment for us all to be inspired by!

Many of you have heard the expression in decorating, “bring the outside in” to breath life into your home’s rooms.  Well, recently I tried the reverse, bring the inside out.

The other day (before our recent historical Minneapolis heatwave) the day was mildly warm and sunny.  The kind of day where summer greets you with possibilities.  The flowers in my garden were just starting to show their potential.  The lilacs were wafting lovely scents in the air.  This was no day to be working inside.

Much of what I have to do is centered around my computer and my phone.  Sometimes I forget that doesn’t mean I’m stuck inside on a beautiful day.  For a refreshing change of scenery I took whatever I needed, which wasn’t much outside to a “office space” I created in my garden.

Having everything handy was essential to making my space comfortable.  I brought a refreshing drink, a small vase of flowers, my computer, phone and my notebooks.  A clear plastic tumbler with a few polished glass rocks leftover from a table centerpiece project became a holder of pens, pencils, and highlighters.

My new “office space” refreshed me and dare I say, made me happy.  And, sometimes that is all you need to put a little “whistle” in your work.

“When you change your point of view, your views bring about a change in you.”  ~George Alexiou

We’d love to hear your comment ~ What have you done lately to “refresh” your working space?