Mi Casa de aRte

God Bless the U.S.A!

List of 100 Things To Do Before I Die

About 10 years ago I made a list of 100 things I wanted to do before I died. Since then, several things have been crossed off...and many more are yet to come.

This month, I proudly crossed off another! To get my artwork published in a book. It is called:

1,000 Artist Journal Pages

DONE! Thanks to Dawn Devries-Sokol of D'Blogala for the opportunity. The book turned out beautifully! So glad you authored this!

To be in a book with so many talented artists really makes me feel honored.

If you have not purchased this book, and love altered journaling, it is a MUST SEE!

Here is a gander at two pieces that were chosen!

 

Going to a GOCCO!

So you may have heard me mention, that for my 40th bday, I bought myself a Button Maker? Well, did I mention that I also bought a Gocco Printer? Heehee.

While I was in school last semester, I didn't have time to play. But this summer is different! I have tons of time and that is what I have been doing!

I love how fast and easy the printing is. I love its' basic techniques, yet exquisite results!

Here is a montage of my Gocco Attempts!

1st: Prepare your printer with a high contrast image from your laser printer.

 

2) Using Gocco Bulbs & Screens, "flash" your image to make an inkable surface! Ink it up!

 

3) Insert inked image into cover. Place paper down to be inked.

 

4) close the cover and give it a little muscle!

 

This screened was set up to produce (2) ATC sized images so I can use them in swaps. I was able to do two different color themes by placing "blocking" material between the two images. This helps the ink from running into the other image!

 

Lots of images to dry on the Lego Table! They take about 1/2-1 hour to dry. The more absorbent the paper, the faster the drying time. PLUS...it's been 110 or hotter here, so it's pretty quick!

 

Printed on various papers & a Moleskine Journal!

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this little journey with me!

Have U Heard of: Kawaii Stuff? Well, me either!

Kawaii means "cute". In Japanese.

And it's alllll the rage. Well, I guess I've always like Kawaii, but never realized it included my favorite Sanrio products! My sis and I have been collecting this since the mid-70's!

Here are some photos of what the images look like. My fave right now are Kawaii Stickers! They are die cut and come in tons of variety packs. I hit up my local Sanrio store this past weekend and bought a few packs. Different thems are: Hello Kitty, Crux, MindWave, San-X to name a few.

 

 

So, yes, I'm currently addicted to these little pieces of graphic-sticky-heaven! My 12 yo daughter and I fight over them. But since I'm still a kid at heart, I guess I call DIBS on them!

Movie, Tea & Swaps

Sorrrrry! I haven't been posting! But I have been enjoying my summer! Although it does not include any travel plans....I have been relaxing at home watching movies, drinking my fave tea and creating art with my kids!

This is a must see movie. I watched it with my 12 & 15 yo daughters and we all loved it! It's called "Bella" and it's an Indy film. Such a great love story with a twist.

This is what I can't live without these days. Oh, and did I mention we are at 12 days in a row that it has been 110 degrees or warmer? UGH! To fight the heat, we have been cranking our air to 78, going out in the early a.m. to run errands, home during the bulk of the day, and out again in the early eve if necessary. But this...is what I can't live without:

And here is how you order it at the drive-thru......"Hi! Yes, I'd like a Venti Passion Tea, lite water, no sweetener!"

I hate the sweetener and I love it with a stronger, bolder flavor. So when you order light water, they add more of the concentrated tea!

Last but not least, I have been on a SWAPPING adventure with other artists/crafters! I joined a website called SWAPBOT.

After signing up, you are considered a newbie. Then, you search all the various swaps and you are allowed to join up to 5 as a newbie. There are swaps such as: ATC's, Postcards, Penpals, CD Mixes, Matchbox, Wishlists, Altoid Tins, Fabric Swatches, etc.

I recently finished "Pink/Lime/Orange Matchbox Swap" and I had to decorate and fill a 32-count matchbox full of goodies relating to the swap theme! Its was so fun! Here is the one I rec'd all the way from SLOVENIA!

 

 

 

 

 

And here is another called the "Plastic-Gumball-Machine-Toy Swap":

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's so fun! Sometimes the swappers will include extra goodies and suprises from your "profile" that you fill out. It contains your likes, dislikes, faves, etc.

Here is one I sent out:

 

 

 

 

Of course it wasn't finished. It was being sent to my partner in the Pink/Lime/Orange Matchbox Swap!

So, there you have it! That is what I've been up to!

**((Graphic Fun))**

Having a little fun creating graphics! Lovin' my tablet!!

!!!ETSY!!! Shop for Cool Stuff!

I took the plunge and added stuff to my ETSY account finally! I also placed a link on the right sidebar at the top of my page over there ----->>>>!!!

So far I have ONE Upcycled Vintage Library Journal, (25) Custom Wedding Favor I.D. Tags, and a listing for Gift I.D. Tags.

Fun! Here are some quickie photos of what is listed! Please visit! Thanks!

**Handbound Upcycled Vintage Book**

I'm on a roll! Here are some pics of a class I'm teaching locally. Using a vintage book from the library (yes, it was headed for the dumpster!) I upcycled it to create a new journal! Some fun techniques are used on the cover, such as riveting and the use of an industrial button machine!

**Creative Gift Wrapping**

I don't know how this is happening! But I actually have TIME ON MY HANDS!! Yes, there. I said it. I have time. I feel like I need to find alot of bottles and try to bottle these precious moments!

And with time, comes timely bday shopping for others....and my most favorite part....GIFT WRAPPING! I love to wrap gifts in a super-cute way. I believe that PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING!

The first package is for a One Year Old bday party. I wrapped in Kraft Gift Wrap on the roll from IKEA. It's a great texture and wt. It has these sweet pinstripes in it! Anyway...I wanted to do something cool to the seam. So I made the seam at the top and left some extra paper so I could fan fold it back and forth. This fan fold effect allowed me to insert the card at the top. Kind of like a pocket! Cool!

Then to hide the tape, I added cute little dingly ribbon. (what ISSS the official name for it?)

Lastly, I put the cutest little name tags hanging from the ribbon with ball chain! SCORE! So sweet! Can't wait to give!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, the next gift, is for a dear friend. And she better not be reading this!

I won't say what's inside the packages, but this was a simple little construction.

I simply used some funky coordinating tissue paper. I added some twisted bakers twine for some color.

The best part was the cute little "old fashioned" flash cards! I used Century Gothic font and printed on cream cardstock. After cutting out, I snipped the right top corner at an angle.

Sweet, eh?

 

Yummy Summer Devine-ness

Going over to the sisters today. Making my famous Shrimp Ceviche, Rocky Point Style! Thought I'd share the recipe!

In a Large bowl combine, Clamato Juice, Clam Juice, Lemon & Lime Juice & Worchestire sauce. All to taste. I usually use one jug of clamato, to one bottle of clam juice. The worchestire sauce is what truly gives the tangy flavor.

Chop: celery, cucumber, cilantro, red onion & avacado. Add to your liquid.

Add: shrimp (I combine large shrimp w/tiny salad shrimps), and fresh or canned clams.

Add: lemon & lime juice and tobasco to taste.

Serve in bowl w/white rice...or serve with crackers. It looks great in wine goblets or margarita glasses!

Enjoy! It's a summer BBQ favorite!

ETA: OK, so I made it for lunch at my sis' house. It was amazing. I do have to say that it is tricky getting the right flavoring. I did use to jugs of clamato, two bottles of clam juice, about 1/2 c of worchestire and I had to play with the lemon & lime juice. The clincher was when I added the tabasco. It really does change the flavor dramatically without making it spicy! ( I can't handle Tabasco spicy-ness!)