Art & Crafts Project: Halloween 2011 & B-Day Teaser

Finally I finished a project for my door.  Projects always take longer than expected!  Creating the background was the most fun... paper, glue, apply paint and wipe away some of it away...  I am not very good at drawing.  I found images online and resized them.  Then I printed the images, cut them out, traced, painted, wiped away paint and threw on a light dusting of glitter.  Finished off with ribbon.

Also this past week, I've been working on a b-day gift.  I got the idea off another blog.  I won't reveal the gift until my best friend receives it because she is a Google Buzz lurker.  But here is a sneak peak for everyone and a teaser for her!...

What can it be?  Well, besides the obvious, a cobalt blue bottle (she loves cobalt blue).  Hmmm....  Glitter stars.... Hmmm...  Any ideas?

Is that glitter in the bottle?  And...  What is the rest?  Hmmm....

~D

Geese

The geese have been gathering and honking away for a few weeks now.  At certain moments the crescendo is quite loud, espeically when I have the door and window open.  I always turn my head toward the lake and wonder what exactly is going on out there.  What are they saying to one another?  Are they deciding everyone's position in the "V" for their journey South?... At least for those who actually go South.  Are they arguing over a departure date?  When I first moved here, the lake and land were packed with geese and ducks, I never saw so many ducks and geese in one place, but now, the numbers have decreased.  I didn't even see any ducks today, just geese.  This picture only shows a small amount of the geese that are actually out there on the lake. 

Oh, look, a lucky penny!

Find a penny,

Pick it up,

All the day,

You have good luck!

I put this penny on my balcony railing this past Spring.  Heads-up, of course!  I never remember it is there (like today), and when I see it, it takes me by surprise for a moment before remembering how it got there.  Regardless, I say to myself, Oh look, a lucky penny!  Find a penny, pick it up, all the day, you have good luck!  But I never pick it up, I leave it there to be found yet another day.  Hope it survives thru the Chicago winter.  If it does disappear, hopefully, it brings the finder luck.

Anyway, I hope to have a project and card to share later.  I am busy with the three C's -- Cooking, cleaning and crafting!

~D

Haunted House: Dining Room Chairs

Finally I finished two chairs!  They have been a challenge and I walked away from the project for awhile.  I've been busy with other projects and cards.  I talked myself into finishing the chairs today and hope to start another dollhouse project this week.

I've had trouble with the chair legs.  They won't stand straight and when I try to brush the glue webs away, they fell apart.  <Grrr...!>  I completed two chairs and decided to call this project finished! 
What dollhouse project should I start next?  Hmmm...  Muse, muse!  My dearest Muse....

Altered Book, Writing Journal & My Dearest Muse: Ode to My Muse

My best friend and I exchange writing journals.  We make identical journals and give the other person the second one.  Along the way, we exchange completed writing exercises.  Once the journal is full, the other person creates the next set of journals.  Presently, we are on our third journal.  In journal two, there is a writing exercise that has you writing your muse a letter asking for help to write the next great American novel.  I used that exercise for a page in my altered book.  My first cat Oscar was my original muse.  He is no longer here with me on earth, but I know he is with me in spirit.  I used the letter from the writing journal for a page in my altered book but made changes so I am asking for help in creating a mixed-media dollhouse.  I also included an extra letter.  The person featured is holding an envelope containing the letters.  There are a number of websites with envelope templates.  Here is the letter adapted from the writing journal:

My Dearest Muse,

Thank you for being such a wonderful help to me!  By providing me with inspiration, my writing and art have improved tenfold!

Now I am faced with the greatest challenge of my life!  I am attempting to create a mixed media dollhouse.  I know I will have a difficult road ahead of me, but I know I will persevere with your aid.  I hope I can count on you to be with me during the long hours I will be spending with paint, glue, paper, fabric, balsa, glitter...

Your help, my dear muse, will be greatly appreciated.

Your humble underling,
Deborah

Recipe: Chocolate Pudding

I love pudding, and I love it chocolate!  I sometimes eat the fat-free variety at work, but I decided I need homemade pudding this weekend.  To avoid pudding skin, it helps if you cover with plastic wrap and allow the plastic wrap to touch the surface of the pudding.

Chocolate Pudding

1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa
3 T. cornstarch
1/8 t. salt (I skip)
2 c. skim milk
1 t. vanilla

Mix first four ingredients.  Over medium heat, whisk in milk until smooth.  Continue stirring until thickened, maybe 5-7 mins more.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour into four individual serving dishes (or one bowl if you don't plan on sharing :) ) and allow to cool. Refrigerate untiul serving.  Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

I am still working on the chairs.  I know how I want them to look, but I am having problems with the execution...

Haunted Dollhouse: New Table

I decided to make a new table,  The old one seemed too short.  I stained the pieces with oak Gel Stain by Americana.  It is easy to use, brush on & wipe off.  Glued everything with hot glue.  Just dipped the pieces in the puddle of glue dripping from the gun. 

I had sustained my first dollhouse injury!  I was pressing too hard on my craft knife when the blade broke and embedded itself a little bit in my finger.  All along I was betting my first injury would involve the glue gun!  Anyway, I persevered :) with disinfectiant and a bandage and completed the table. I like the new table very much.

Back to the chairs!