Fitting Halloween in a Box

Or at least on one!...haha....

I told you more little painted boxes were in my future!

I think they're a really fun way to add a bit more Halloween Whimsy to my house without destroying my budget :-P

I've been wanting to experiment with crackle glaze for a while now....

So, I thought these would be a safe, small project to experiment on...

I like the added texture and "finished" appearance it gives!

I learned, though, the thicker you apply, the larger the cracks....next time I won't be so careful, and I'll really slather it on :)

This one I made for a "Nightmare" lovin Friend!

I wanted to paint Zero inside, but the sides of the box were a little too deep to have good control over the brush/pen....so, a Halloweeny wrapped gift seemed appropriate :)

I used some irridescent glitter over the ribbon inside, and Jack's bowtie outside...

I think you can just barely see some of the flecks in this picture :)

My only complaint with these boxes is sealing them.  Does anyone have a suggestion on what to put on them that doesn't make the lids stick?  I've tried the crackle glaze and Mod-Podge with both having that kinda tacky feel....I have to pry the lids off sometimes...and the paper tears a bit :(

It's cold and rainy here today...and I'm loving it!! Hope you are all having a wonderful day, too :)

Big Hugs,

Cameron

House Painting

Hello, My friends!  Thanks again for coming back to visit!

 It seems in light of the new home prospect, houses are finding their way into my creations, too!

This is my latest Mixed Media piece....do you like it?

8x10 inches on canvas.....kinda cute...kinda cozy :)

I love all the texture and pattern I get with this style...gives a lot of fun visual interest.

That's an actual button for the doorknob....just makes you want to go in, huh?

Mushroom Cap Cottage is in my shop waiting for a new neighborhood to move to :)

On my art table sits more little houses in the works....

Which reminds me....did I forget to show you guys this?!  Shame on me!!

Isn't it adorable!  This is the piece I received from Micki Wilde at The Secret Hermit in exchange for the frog and squirrel stuffies I made a few months back! 

I have it hanging near my art desk....

I love that she used pages from Goldilocks and the 3 Bears to make it! So cute!!

Nice to have talented friends!  I'm always up for a trade if anyone is interested!

Anyway...just a quick post today to give you a looksie at what's been on my mind....heehee!

Hugs to you all!

Cam

Hoot Hooray!

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful wishes regarding the House!  It is exciting news....just trying to reserve all out celebration until everything is finalized :)

Anywhoo....I've got a couple little things to cheer about...like having Photoshop back!!  Woot Woot!

So, if I go a bit crazy with the filters and effects, forgive me...I've just missed it so!!! ;oD

My daughter and I finished planting and decorationg the front porch...

I love it when flowers and Seasonal Displays greet me at my door!

We did a bit more inside, too....like the piano...

Nobody plays the darn thing...and it takes up soooo much wall space, but my Husband won't let me get rid of it....so, it's just shelf space for fun stuff.....

Like these pics of our "relatives"...heeheee

But the biggest thing I'm cheering about today is having a new art piece to share with you!!! Yippee!

I've been in an Owl Mood (pun, intended :D) as I'm sure you've noticed by my new blog wallpaper of choice :)

This is "Darker Still" 6x6 inch Mixed Media on Canvas

I'm really happy with how it turned out....felt really good....quite natural, which is huge for me, since I'm still learning how to work with acrylics and this whole "anything goes" concept!  Probably send this to my Swap Partner for the Halloween Spooktacular swap :)

This is the scanned image....always hard to see any metallics this way...but I used golds and coppers in his feathers and lots of rusts in the original prepping of the canvas....

Hope to be back with more soon!  Have a fantastic Weekend :)

Smiles all around,

Cam

Here Comes Halloween!

It's been another week already?!  How does that happen so fast sometimes? 
Thanks for being a lovely reason to resurface from my busyness to take a breather :)

Well, the new happenings around these parts is an impending move.  Y'see, we've been in the market for a house for over a year now....knowing that if we didn't purchase something now, we might not have another opportunity down the road...  We missed the chance last time housing prices were low by just not being able to pull it off financially.  Well, it looks like we will be calling ourselves proud Homeowners in the very near future :)  Probably be moving in the 2nd week of November... sooooooo, it's safe to say that things are going to start to get hectic with packing, purging, preparing for the Holidays, etc....

So when my daughter asked if we could decorate for Halloween now...I thought it was a great idea!
I want her to be able to really enjoy herself before all the changes start to come...

It'll be our last time to go all out before we get used to a new neighborhood and new nooks and crannies to dress up in a new house....

So, I've begun my magic...hooooohoooohooohaaahaaaa!!

I'm hosting a Coffee and Candle (PartyLite) Party this Sunday, so I wanted to keep the decor a little less cutesy, but with a definate vibe of Halloween fun :)

I'll show you more when we finish getting the outside decorated....plus, I have a Halloween Swap in the works to reveal to you, as well....

Happy Haunting Everyone.....Heeeheeeheee!

Autumn Inspired

It's cooled down a bit here....and it's making me so happy!  I'm so ready for Autumn to come!

In the spirit of preparing for the Magic and Macabre of the Season, I thought I'd indulge in some projects to get me in the mood!

These are a pair of earrings I've decided to call "Exotic Spice"....

Lush with freshwater pearls, swarovski crystals and semi-precious stones in colors of cinnamon, pumpkin and spice!

I entered an Autumn Bookmark swap (I'm having so much fun making these little things!) and made this using watercolors, stamps and gold embossing powder.

Speaking of handmade bookmarks, this is what I received for the Woodland Themed Bookmark swap...

Isn't it cute! Cindy Brown read that I love dragonflies and ladyslipper orchids....so, she made this just for me :)

Up next is a project I started 5 years ago!  It has been "almost done" all this time....so, last night, I just decided to finally take it out, put on the finishing touches....and finally call it DONE!

This is "The Goblin Queen" 10x13 inches watercolor and ink...

Surrounded by her minions and sinister pets, she reigns the Dark Forest dressed in her rich gown of Ghoul Green and Phantom Violet :)

Bring on the Fall!  What are you up to that's Autumn Inspired?

Happy Creating!
Cameron

From the Archives

Hello All!

I've got a rare treat for you today!  A little looksie into the Archives of my old Handmade Card Biz I owned a decade (WOW, a decade!) ago :) I didn't even know (or just plain forgot) these existed!

You see....as most of you already know.....I've been running Bare Bones computer-wise for a few months now....no access to Desktop, External Hardrives, USB Port, Scanner, Printer.....Nuttin....not even sound!  While this makes sharing and uploading pics of new work challenging, it hasn't been impossible.  I type all the content of my posts here at home, snap the photos, etc. then I take them to my Parents' house.  My Dad puts them on his computer for me, and I transfer them to the post from there.  It works....but I don't get to manipulate my photos, so my camera skills have been tested, too!

Anyways....while I was there yesterday, I was looking for copies of my work in his files to use on another website...when....lo and behold.....

I stumbled across these! What a blast from the past! Thank goodness parents think all their kid's stuff is worth keeping...haha!

I handwrote all that Japanese in the background! No, I don't know how to speak it.....I copied it. But my Grandmother was Japanese...my Middle name is Shizuko, which was her name. Just a little tidbit about me :)

I started making handmade cards 11 years ago at my kitchen table. I was working as a waitress back then, and I'd load the cards up into a basket and show my regular customers my creations....

I called my biz Art 2 Heart.

I've always loved sets of things......separate pieces that belong together.

Here is my first Shell Set painted in watercolor. My gosh, how could I forget these!

These Swan Cards blew me away! I vaguely remember doing these...but, if my Dad hadn't insisted  on scanning every piece I've ever done....then these would have still been lost in the dark recesses of that peanut I call a brain, too...lol!

This next one is my favorite in this set <3

And here's 2 more for fun!

Oh, and matching envelopes! I think they make such a nice statement that can make the Receiver smile even before it's opened...and ties everything together :)

Hope you enjoyed these...I know I did.  A trip down crafting memory lane has been a nice way to gain new ideas from old projects...and takes the pressure off not having anything more recent to share...haha!

Of course...it can make one feel a little OLD, uggh...

What's lying around in your archives?

Smiles :)

Cam

Refreshed and Ready!

We're back from our vacation....and I missed you guys for sure!  But, I made certain that if I was to be away so long, that I would make up for it with pics galore!  Okay, okay...so maybe looking at other people's trip photos doesn't sound like the most exciting thing in the world...but bear with me....

Hopefully I won't dissappoint :)

My daughter and I flew up to Oregon, while Hubby drove up a few days earlier with our camping gear.  We then drove down the Coast back down to So. California together.  This is what a lot of our mornings looked like :)

This, too...heehee!

Oregon's famous for wild Marionberry bushes...everywhere!

 A bit tart this year, but fantastic in cottage cheese!

Here I'm keeping an eye on my 2 Sweethearts walking down River...oh, and maybe on my cute pedicured toes, too :) (Do you get your toes done before vacationing, too?....Oh, good...it's not just me then :-p)

Can you see Hubby and Mags out there?

How about now? :)

They LOVE the water, which is cold with a capital C! I don't know how my daughter can just jump in!  As for me....

Just up to the ankles is deep enough!

Nothing like tunes and snacks after swimming!

Say Cheese!

But the highlight of our travels had to definately be the animals we saw!

....like this adorable chipmunk....

Banana Slugs...

Roosevelt Elk...

Harbor Seals...

Look at this huge snail....I wish I had a pic of him out and about...he was pitch black!

My daughter was making lots of friends!

From this cute little butterfly....

To this sweet and patient donkey.....

How about a baby opossum...

Would you believe....a baby tiger!

What an amazing experience!

Our vacation was filled with fun and memories that I hope my daughter will carry with her always!

...Heck, even one of the hotels we stayed in had gorgeous sights....these murals were so colorful!

Hope I didn't bore you too much!  I'll be back next post with some new Sea Glass Hair Clips made from pieces we just collected at Glass Beach....

I couldn't wait to make some new ones after the thrill of findings such cool glass, shell and pottery pieces!

Missed you so!

Cam