Sites of the week

I often say that I start with an idea and the finished product looks nothing like my original intentions. Don’t we all? This project falls right into that category! This started out as a plain jane tray from GLUE. {No, that is not insulting their product! They make plain wood products that you get to finish.} So, this was going to be a key rack. I was going to put the letters k-e-y-s in the squares and add some hooks, and do some other embellishing. Well, I pulled out the chipboard letters that I have and nothing was working. I didn’t have the hooks, either. I just started messing around doing a little of this and a little of that. I reached for things with all sorts of texture, and this is what I came up with…

I love this!!! Love It Love It Love It!!! Maybe it sounds like I am tooting my horn and maybe I am, but I don’t care…I LOVE IT!!! :) Here’s how this all came to be…
First, I painted the wood with acrylic white paint. Dry. Repeat. I then cut out black felt and adhered it in the 4 squares with Mod Podge. On top of the felt I layered 3 Prima flowers that are held together with a Making Memories crystal brad. I adhered them to the felt using hot glue. The chipboard flower in the center is covered with K & Co. paper that I found at Target. You can’t really tell from the pic, but the chipboard brackets and “d” were first covered in black paint {that part is obvious, I know} and then coated with several layers of Diamond Glaze…these babies SHINE!! The finishing touches include clear baubles {these are the larger kind from Michael’s floral dept.}, photo corners and ribbon. The bow that you see is attached using hot glue. The same ribbon is also wrapped around the outside edges. While this is called a tray, I am going to keep it on a plate holder as a piece of home decor. I am getting some more of these, and I can’t wait to play!! I have sooooo many ideas. The rest of the GLUE girls should be posting their projects soon. Be sure to check them out!

Coming up…
*Saturday I have another Sketch For You To Try…of course
*I just crossed over 400K hits this week. I think that a celebration and a thank you is in store. Tune in next week for a HUGE giveaway!

Exciting News! I have been asked to be on the GLUE design team. I have admired their stuff for awhile now!! HERE is one project, a 3×3 album, that I have done in the past. I also have a 3-tiered cupcake stand that I have started to work on, but just can’t commit to using adhesive yet. My first official assignment was to alter a dress form to match my personality. Yikes! Which one would I choose? LOL! Just kidding!! I wanted something to reflect my taste…pretty, but casual. I love all the pretty trendy things {and all the bling that goes with them} that are out there, but I am a jeans and t-shirt gal through and through. So, I took a pair of old {a.k.a. my butt can’t fit in those anymore} jeans and traced and cut out the outline of the dress form. To adhere it, I used a thin layer of Mod Podge, as I did not want any to come through the fabric. From there, I create a skirt made of ribbon. I began with a satin piece and adhered organdy ribbon to the back with red line tape. The edges of the ribbon are cut into a “V” and a small acrylic flower that I topped with a Swarovski was attached with hot glue. For the base of the form, I gather Primas and adhered them with hot glue. The edge of the base is wrapped in May Arts ribbon and finished off with more bling bling {Swarovski crystals}. For the top, I added a drawer pull and added a necklace of glass beads. This was so much fun to make!! I’d love to make some more for some friends. I think I covered most of the details that may have been less than obvious. Let me know if you have any other questions about the project, and I will ETA them here.
Full view…

A couple of detail shots…

Now onto Ellie with Elmo…

As you may know, Tony’s grandparents are here visiting. We are all getting spoiled, especially Ellie. Shocking, isn’t it? Great Grandparents fly in from out of state and the lil’ one gets spoiled rotten. It’s quite cute to watch her with all her new goodies. Grandmama {yes, that’s spelled correctly} and Papa Jack gave her Tickle Me Elmo today. Here is a brief photo diary on how that went. Let me tell ya, she was a little less than impressed with all the giggling and gyrating that Elmo was doing!!!!! Then she warmed up to him…finally!

Opening the box {which makes sounds}

What the heck is that thing doing???? Notice Cooper is there for protection. Abby is obviously bored {yawning dog in the background}.

Seriously Elmo, what the heck are you doing?

No Elmo! You stay over there!!

Whoa Elmo!!!

Ok, we can be friends, but be quiet already!

Last, but not least {for sure!}. This is the look that Papa Jack got when he asked if he could see her new Elmo. I think that may translate into “Papa, you be crazy!” PRICELESS!