My Art Challenge Entry

Here is my art piece I entered in this weeks Art Challenge at Inspiration Avenue. The challenge was to use a word out of the list given and make a "worn" looking piece of art/photo/etc. I ripped papers, antiqued the edges, used tea stained watercolor paper, a skeleton key, vintage laces, old world script, and the word "inspire". I had fun creating it. I had not been able to play for awhile with the move and work, so this was a real treat.


Ta-Da...the finished piece. Hop on over to see what everyone else created. There are some very talented ladies here in blogland. See for yourself. Also, join in on the next one. The new challenge should be up tomorrow.

Classy Pumpkin DIY's and Recipes

Happy Halloween all! I am not posting your typical Halloween posting. I found these scrumptious recipes and pumpkin designs to be more fun. Enjoy!
Look a recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes plus loads of other pumpkin recipes on Pumpkin Recipes. I bet these are delicious!
You have to try this soup. My SIL made this a couple of years ago for Thanksgiving and it was delicious! It has many roasted vegetable flavors mingling in a creamy base. Yum! I was so excited when I stumbled on the recipe. I am definitely making this. Harvest Pumpkin Soup recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart
Pumpkin Topiary DIY courtesy of Southern Living
Lace Patterned Pumpkins DIY courtesy of Martha Stewart
Magical Carriage DIY by Hallmark Ideas
Nailhead Pumpkins DIY courtesy of My Home Ideas
Etched Pumpkins DIY courtesy of Factory Direct Craft Blog
Painted Pumpkins DIY courtesy of Country Living Image by Dana Gallagher

Come play with us!

This week at Inspiration Avenue I am hosting this weeks art challenge. The challenge is to use one of the words above in a piece of art; jewelry, painting, mixed-media, photograph, etc., etc. The twist is for it to have a "worn" look, ie; tattered, rusty, crackled, antiqued, frayed, etc. So if you want to join in on the fun, you have until Sunday at noon to add your post to your blog and then comment on the post here with your link, and on Sunday your lovely piece will be shared on the Inspiration Avenue Blog for all to see with a link back to your blog. Pretty fun, huh!?

I am still thinking about what to make but I am down to 2 things, so I have to get a move on. I hope to see your art there!

Happy Halloween Party!

Hi there! I am so glad you came! Look what I have prepared for you. I know it's your favorites. Of course the Lizard tale has the cream you like on it. Don't be silly. Why would I skimp on my special guests.

Look there are party hats and magical wands and candlelight. I hope you feel special.

I even started the fire pit so we can sit around and brew up some spells. How fun is this going to be!? I just learned that if you eat a salted herring on this night just before you sleep, you will be visited by your future husband or wife. He/ she will come to offer you water and quench your thirst, in your dream. So I have some salted herring just for you sweetie.
Oh where did I put the cauldron? Wait, I remember. Let me fly over, I mean run over and get it.
It looks as you have already started without me. Look at that fire jumping! You go girl! I want to take you to my favorite place. Let's scoot on over there and see who we can visit. Want to?
The flowers are so lovely this time of year. Did you see that? Look whose hiding behind the tombstone back there. It's the lovely Broom Hilda. Yay! She is so much fun!

Don't be scared silly, that's just the special drink making you see blue. Isn't it fun? Look my favorite tree!
This tree speaks to me. Listen. On the nights when there is a full moon, you can come and hear the whispers from all of those whom have wept here. This big beautiful eerie tree is magic. You simply need to speak your troubles and it whispers a spell to soothe your soul. Want to try it? Alright, alright let's fly back home so I can show you some fun things I have concocted and see if our other guests have shown up yet. Yes, I invited Elvira. She's the life of the party!
Oh look someone is here. They left the door open for us.
I know! I put her out as a joke for Broom Hilda. I can't believe she took a nose dive last year. How embarrassing. You think she'll be mad that I put this out here? Nah, she has a pretty good sense of humor. Come on I want you to see the how I decorated for our little trick or treaters.



Oh look Elvira has made us drinks! Looks yummy, Elvira, thanks! I hope you are enjoying yourself. Vanessa has loads more parties she's lined up for us. I cannot wait to mingle. Let's fly on over. I just love Vanessa of A Fanicful Twist. She throws the best parties! But wait before we go, I have a fun recipe and a tutorial for the hats and menu above.
Black Widow

Cream de Cassis
Vodka
triple sec
fresh lemon juice
Pomegranate juice
licorice strings

For two cocktails (or one cocktail shaker): 2 parts cassis, 3 parts vodka, 1 part triple sec, 1 part lemon juice, 1 part pomegranate.

Now I'll tell you how I made the table setting pieces at the beginning of the party.
Place card hats
Make a cone out of paper that you have aged and stamped. Glue it so it stays.
Cut a circle out of a piece of cardboard a little bigger than the bottom of your cone.
Cover the cardboard with contrasting paper.
Glue the cone to the cardboard circle.
Cover the area just glued with fun yarns, ribbon, bats, etc.
Make a curlicue out of a piece of wire strong enough to hold a name card. Poke it in the top of your hat and cover the glue with glitter.
Now is the fun part. You can add glitter to the hat and to the edges of a small card you have cut out for your guests.

Menu card
Grab a piece of watercolor paper that you have tea stained and torn the edges on. Or you can use any piece of paper you have antiqued. Use your antiquing pads.
Add a raised crescent moon with hot glue and then sprinkling glitter on top of it.
Add a torn piece of orange paper to the bottom and write your greeting on that. Then add glitter to glued dots for a little bling.
To make the black accordian menu sign, you will need a piece of paper about 8" long. Fold it like and accordian in small folds. Then fold in half and glue the last fold to it's other half. Now glue it to the card and add an aged torn piece of paper with menu written on it and add a bat to the corner.
Add torn black tissue paper to the bottom and top of the menu card and some gathered tulle to one of the corners.

Magic Wand
Bend a wire into a scraggly look.
Cut out a star, or pumpkin, or bat or moon.
Make an accordian flower for the back of your wand.
Add gathered tulle to the back of your star and glue that onto the accordian with the wire sandwiched between the star and the accordian.
Embellis the star as you see fit.
Add ribbons to the wire just under the star and voila you have a magic wand!

I've enjoyed having you. Please come again!
My banner can be found at Plumrose Lane. Her link is in my sidebar. She has great free backgrounds too.

Some things in life really are FREE

There is a fabulous artist who is offering a FREE online art course. Yes, FREE. It is chock full of goodness. You will be surprised at how awesome she is and how much fun it will be. Click on the button above to be taken to her site to find out for yourself. Tell your friends about it too. There is no cutoff on the amount of people who can partake. I've already signed up. It begins October 18th.