Crafting with glass part two...

I am having so much fun altering these bottles and jars.  I have been admiring yours for years now and I've finally gotten the nerve to take the plunge.  Not only that, but I've also gotten the nerve to share my creations, the good, the bad and the just plain ugly.

I think this falls on the good side ( not the great side - but good ) and I hope you do too.  I started with a gravy jar.  Spray painted it silver metallic.  Modge Podged a picture I cut out of Vogue of one of their vintage covers.

added some pearls around the neck of the jar.

and some pearls on the top of the jar with e6000 glue.

and called it done.

I think I need to work on staging these photos.  With the right accessories the bottle will look ever so much better.

Getting my craft feet wet...

Hello,

I thought I would share my first foray into crafting.   The first thing I thought I would do is with my shells and some small bottles that I've picked up here and there, since seeing them on blog land and falling in love ( or maybe obsession ) with glass bottles.  This is super easy to do.  Grab your shells ( I collect most of mine on Sanibel Island ), some sand and a bottle and then fill.

I then took a dremmel (?) and made a hole in the cork and inserted the shell and a little glue to keep it in place.

This is a super easy craft that anyone can do.  I think they are really cute as well.  But then I love just about anything with shells!

These bottles are very small.  I've placed a coke can in the next photo so that you  can see the scale.

Then I tried my hand at modge-podge and craft paper.  It was not a success.  I cannot cut straight. Not even a little bit.  I then placed some ribbon around the paper trying to hide the bad cuts.  Not good at all.  I didn't leave any glass showing.

I added some hemp string and some shells trying to salvage the jar but it didn't help.

So I went to Walmart and bought an inexpensive paper cutter the next day (really I am hopeless at cutting)  and tried again.  I like this effort a bit better.

I added ribbon to the top of the paper and then painted the jar and lid with some glitter craft paint in silver.  I added some stickers and lightly went over it with the glitter paint to give it some sparkle.

I like my second effort much better.

That glitter paint really sparkles on the lid.   My next try was on some Starbucks bottles.  

I painted them with spray paint.

Added some stickers and some jewels and called it done.

I think they would make a couple of cute little vases for some fresh daisies or other small flowers.

Then of course I had to try my hand at the "french perfume" bottles that I've seen everywhere.

I painted the lid and the bottle with the silver glitter paint.  Got a graphic from the graphics fairy and modge podged it onto the bottle.  added some ribbon and there you go. 

I have another bottle and a grouping of bottles that I've done that I will share another time.  I know I have a long way to go before I will be anywhere as good as you guys but it sure is fun trying.  It really is a stress reliever and fun, whether the results are good or not....Hope I haven't bored you too much.  Thanks for stopping by!!

I will be linking to the parties on my sidebar.  Please stop by and take a look at the other posts at these great parties.  You will not be disappointed!!

I won a beautiful giveaway!

Yes I did!  I was the lucky winner of a very beautiful giveaway from one of our favorite bloggers, Rosemary of Villabarnes.  You can view her fabulous blog here Villabarnes.  It was the perfect giveaway for me as you'll see in just a sec when I post the pictures.  As I mentioned before I have dedicated it to my departed little sister Chriss Tina.  I think of her every time I look at the things that Rosemary sent to me.  There were lots of entries, there always are when Rosemary has a giveaway.  I believe my little sis may have had a hand in me being the one that won.

Couldn't wait to get my hands on this!

There were so many pretty things.  Everything Rosemary makes is divine!  I received a pair of her sought after "angel wings".   There were also sparkly gift tags - I think there were 48 of them.  I've noticed in blogland that homemade gift tags are all the rage (and not just for gifts) so was very happy to receive those.  And you can see three amazing vintage bottles in this shot.  They have her transferred vintage angel on them.  Perfect as a tribute to Chriss Tina.

Rosemary has a tutorial for transferring images to glass on her blog.  One of these days soon I am going to try my hand at it but I am a teeny bit chicken to try right now.  Going to take baby steps as I enter the craft world. lol

I am taking these photos in my office at work.  I have an "interior" office which in translation means "no window" which also translates to terrible lighting.  But I want to leave these on my credenza at work as that is where I will get to see them most often.

Are these not perfect as a tribute to a lost loved one?  I think so and I am so grateful to you Rosemary for this gift.

If you want to see some gorgeous shots of these items and look at the many, many creative and wonderful things she makes definitely stop by her blog.  I gave you the general link above.  This will take you directly to the pictures of these items so you can see them in their true loveliness. The Giveaway.

Thank you so much Rosemary for these beautiful items for me to remember my sister by.

Thank you for stopping by to visit!!

Hello Again

I am so very sorry that I have been so absent after promising to do better.  I mean, after all, I do have a new craft space, a new computer near that craft space to post all the new things that I create.  Only thing is...there hasn't been much creating going on.

You see, I lost my younger sister a few weeks ago and that has taken the wind from my sails completely.  She had just turned 50.  No major health issues.  We knew she wasn't in the greatest of shape, but really, very few of us are.  She had lost her only child to a car accident 6 years ago and I think her spirit went with him.  It just took a little while for her body to catch up.  I hope there is a heaven and I so hope that they are together now. 

I do have a few things that I want to post about really soon.  I won a fabulous giveaway from Villabarnes that I have dedicated to my sister Chriss. 

I've even been back on my beloved Sanibel Island.

And I've made a few things (before her passing) that I still have to share.

Not much longer....and I promise (pinky swear) to do better about posting.  I still visit you guys, just haven't had the energy to post myself.  But I will.........

Thanks for everything.

Finally getting my craft on!

Hello Everyone!!  I have so missed talking to you!  I started the post below several weeks ago. I have a new computer so now I can fairly easily work on crafts and share with you since my new craft space and my desk is in the basement. I truly hope to be better at both posting and crafting so that you wont mind popping by.,.......................................

Okay it's only taken a couple of years of looking at everyone elses blog and seeing the wonderful things created to make me finally try my hand at something!!  Two years.....that's not so bad...is it?  Tehee.
I used to make a little jewelry. Was lucky enough to win several gift cards to a local craft store so I bought beads, beads, and yep more beads!!  I made a few pieces and then all of a sudden I missed a few days of doing it, which then turned into weeks of not doing it, which then turned into months and...,you see where this ends. That is right...with me having tons and tons of jewelry making supplies and no drive to do anything with them.
Until now. My BF made me a little craft table in an unfinished portion of our basement.  I had to do something then right?  I had part of a necklace that had been sitting unfinished on a table for years.  It was in the basement so I rarely saw it unless I was doing laundry and I got really good at ignoring it. 
But with the new table especially for me and especially for crafts (that's what I get for talking about the amazing things I see on YOUR blogs) I had to put up or shut up.  Shutting up would mean that I couldn't mention you guys again and that I just couldn't handle!  It is a ritual for me to come home and grab my ipad and blog hop.  While I didn't have time to post myself, I simply HAD to visit you.
So I grabbed that necklace and finished it.

Yes I did!!!  Woohoo.....I FINALLY finished that necklace! The one that has been eyeing me  with those dejected blue eyes wondering why on earth she had been abandoned...what did she do that was so wrong......wondering what she could do to make me love her again........lol.......(yes, I have a thing for the dramatic!!)

I don't have any before or during pictures.  But I am sure that you guys know how to string a necklace.  Just pick out your beads, grab some jewelry string that reminds you of fishing line (at least that is what I used) along with a couple of alligator clips for the ends so the beads don't slide off as you add them.

 



I finished with a toggle clasp.  I just tied the string to the pieces of the clasp and cut of the leftover string and then applied a little drop of glue to the knot.  I like the toggle clasps because they are so easy to put on.  And they are pretty.

And since this blue eyed girl had been neglected so long, I decided to make her a companion.

I mean no necklace is complete without the matching earrings doncha think?  These were super easy as well.  I threaded the beads onto a head pin ( I think that is what it is called, I've been out of the jewelry making loop for several years ) and then I grabbed a couple of fish hooks.  I took the special plyers and made a loop out of the top of the head pin and attached it to the fish hook.  I really can't remember what that tool is called.  If I do more jewelry making I will look up the correct terms.

In the meantime I will leave you with this last shot of my new babies.

Hope to post again soon.....I've been working on altering glass jars/bottles.  I will share my first results soon even though they are beyond amateurist.

Villabarnes Giveaway

I know, I know....I've been really absent for the last month.  I've gotten a new position at the office and it is keeping me very, very busy.  I am still trying to visit your blogs and leave comments, especially for all of you who are kind enough to leave one for me!!

But I had to repost this giveaway.  I want it so badly!!!  Good luck if you enter and win............without further ado, I give you .Rosemary of Villabarnes.  If you have not visited her before, grab a cup and sit a spell!  Here is her post about the giveaway and the link above should take you there.

GIVEAWAY #9: A Little Romance

Ready for a little romance?  To celebrate my feature in Romantic Homes, because I love my followers so much, and because it's been four months since I gave away one of my vignettes,  I've put together a nice collection for you.  Here is GIVEAWAY #9.

This is actually my 10th giveaway, but I'm staying sequential with my personal vignettes.  Everything you see here was designed, or redesigned by me.  The winner will receive the entire vignette.

Recognize a few things?  Since everyone seemed to like my ,"Shabby Magnetic Board",

, it's included.  The two fleur-de-lis magnets will be with it.  I'm also including my "Frenchy Jewelry Box",

grain sack pillow with lace flower,

romantic lavender sachet/pillow,

a pair of fleur-de-lis decorations, and one of my sculptural birds.  One winner will get it all.

If you would like to enter this giveaway, here's how:

1. You must be a follower of VILLABARNES, and let me know you would like to enter. Leave a comment letting me know if you are already a follower, or if you've just joined me.
2. Follow me on Linky Followers (Located below Google Friend Connect on my sidebar) for an extra entry.
3. Because I so appreciate some of you as customers of my Etsy shop.  If you've ever purchased anything from me, and you're a follower, I'll count that as another entry.  Just let me know what it was.
4. For additional entries, share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, etc.
5. Leave a separate comment for each entry. Example: If you share the giveaway on your blog, FB, and Twitter, that's three additional entries. Don't cheat yourself out of an entry.

You have till Friday, AUGUST 17th at 12:00 midnight, CST

***TO ENTER***

The winner will be picked by Random Number Generator

***GOOD LUCK TO ALL***

Oregon Coast - Day 3

Thought I would share a few more pictures of the gorgeous Oregon Coast.  This was on our 3rd day there and it was overcast for most of the day.  We drove South of Newport and pulled off at most of the outlooks.

Because it was cloudy the temps were rather cool as well.  So we did a lot of looking and not so much hiking or beach combing.

The views are always amazing where ever you stop.

 

We did end up taking a few little hikes and this is what you go through to get to the beach.

Say hello to my brother Kenny!

So much green!!  If you take a really close look you can see all the moss that is attached to the limbs of trees.  We had a tour guide tell us that this is a rain forest. 

So much beauty to behold.  It was awe inspiring!!

And this is just day three!!

Hope your days are filled with beauty.....

Oregon- Yep More!!

Sorry, I can't help myself.  I LOVE Oregon and want to share the beauty of it with you.  If you are getting tired of these posts, leave me a comment and I will cease and desist.  I can never get enough photos if a place is beautiful.  And these spots were definitely that.  Here is one more picture of the cobblestone beach. 

All of these photos of the beaches and lighthouses of Oregon have not been edited.  They are straight out of the camera.  I could probably make them a little more dramatic by editing but I honestly do not have the time for that or I definitely would.  

And one more at a slightly different perspective.

 

We absolutely loved all the waves rolling in. We especially loved it when the waves would crash against the rocks and go flying into the air.  You don't get that very much on the beaches that I have visited on the east coast.

The top two photos were at the cobblestone beach at Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

We then drove south from Newport and made a few stops before we decided to park and walk around the little tourist area in historic Newport.

 

Once again we missed the low tide and the tidal pools.  This would have been another good spot to have done that.

 Instead we got to do the next best thing and that is watch those waves rolling in.  The sound is mesmerizing.  The water is so blue.  Not Caribbean blue or aqua like the sea gets on the east, but this sapphire blue.  When the sun is shining it is so pretty.

It is a little darker here but look at those waves!  They just keep coming and coming.  These were rather large.  Look at the ratio of the people compared to the waves.  

Love the contrast of the colors...the white of the waves capping, the blue of the ocean, the brown of the sand and then the green of the hillside.

pretty little cove

another lookout

Wildflowers were everywhere.  Daisies and of course dandelions.  They have the tallest dandelions I have ever seen. 

There was also a pretty purple flower that ran wild everywhere. Particularly on the side of the road.  I will try to find a shot of it for next time.  But isn't this spectacular!!!