Fifth Child Studio

Oh...Go Fly A Kite!

This is a kite I made for Allie for an art exchange. She picked out the paper when we were on a road trip in St. Louis......so the hardest part was already done for me......picking out the delicious paper.

I made my decision on how I was going to make her kite....I was going to follow the theme going along with the tiny little white birds on the paper.

The kite is quite large so I couldn't photograph the whole project.

I do want to say that the kite frame is made totally from twigs which I thought was appropriate. The very top branch has a fork and extends maybe another eight inches from the top. I left the horizontal branch long on one side only.

This is the opposite side of the kite. There is no "front or back". The music background paper is also vintage. Again, a special thanks to Susan of Stamp Diva for showing me how to make rosettes!

The eggs inside the nest came from a vintage pearl necklace.

I used grunge board material for the bird. I painted it first using gesso, then used Ranger's Dabbers in white and blue for the colors. The last application was Rock Candy Crackle.

Then I mounted the bird onto matboard so my stamp sentiment sign would hang level with the bird. I added a rosette made from the paper Allie chose to lift the bird from the background.

An antique key holds the sign. I am challenged in using jump rings and wire so my husband added that part for me! Thanks Bill! Of course, I couldn't resist the added swirl of gems. The visual weight of the gems balances the long branch on the opposite side.

After stamping the quote, I used a silverleaf pen on the border and then mounted it on chocolate and green card stock.

I cut the bird from another paper and layered on top of the music paper.

I previously dyed tags using tea and coffee. You can never have too many in your supply to use when you need them. For this particular tag, I did cut it to the size I wanted for my project. Amber gems are my bling.

After sewing the kite papers together using gold thread, I added the tail. I used a wide chocolate ribbon with a smaller width of blue ribbon as the "bow ties".

Allie has high ceilings in her store where she wanted to display all the kites she is receiving from our art group. So I think the tall branches and long tail will display well.

By the Beach

This was also a Saturday class that I took at Croppinsville Studio. It is using a canvas and papers from the Graphics 45 collection.

The back of the canvas is completely finished so that this can be placed on an easel.

The starfish was an embellishment that I found on a street in San Antonio. I find myself looking at the ground when I walk from point A to point B. You never know what you'll find. It was a broken piece of jewelry. I painted it red and then added gold accents. The other silver/white embellishment in the corner was once an earring.

The tissue flower was made by Allie and is the perfect size, color, and texture to add interest to this piece.

This is a closer view of the details of the beach sign. If you are looking for special ribbons for your projects....Croppinsville has a great selection. She has a lot of new types of ribbons that I was only previously able to find in St. Louis!

This project was fun and gave me lots of ideas for future art making adventures!

Art Class - Metal Shadow Box

NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST....

This is a metal class that I took on Saturday at Croppinsville Studio. I LOVE the space in which to learn and make art projects. Each student always has plenty of personal space, lighting is never an issue.....and the chairs - OMG they are the best.

I have taken classes in all sorts of stores so I can speak first hand that Croppinsville has amazing studio space.

I added one of my vintage cabinet cards that I purchased while in Minnesota. It is a photo of a brother and sister which I love. The photo already is distressed so I did not do anything extra.

I added a compass, clock and gear embellishment that I have owned for a very long time. At one point...I thought I should just move this piece on to someone else. But then when I was completing this project...it was the perfect added item for the story. The metal fence is the final touch.

I am looking forward to making lots of things metal with my new tools and molds!

Thanks Debbie and Larry!

My very dear friends living in St. Louis always open their home to me and my friends! We've known each other for almost forty years.....and they are the best!

Thank you for such a wonderful visit, being our tour guide, and delicious conversation!

Paper Shoe

One of the exchange projects for our art group was making a paper shoe. I challenged myself to make a pump using a dice for the heel.

The base of the shoe is grungeboard paper. I used a white wire to sew around the shoe and this is what gave the shoe its shape.

This is the bottom of the shoe. I made the shoe several months ago but didn't take the time to photograph it until now.

Three pink paper roses were added as the embellishment. I think I'll make more shoes with different shapes and styles!

Minori's Christmas Bird

My friend Minori in Japan requested for her exchange a bird for her Christmas tree. She absolutely LOVES Christmas!

I made her bird using grungeboard material instead of chipboard. I thought the durability would be better.

I added a tiny Christmas tree as his hat after my husband cut a slit into the wooden stand. I was able to mount it to the bird using a few glue dots. Trim was added to hide the space between the wooden stand and the bird's head.

This is a closer view of the Santa I cut from a Graphics 45 paper. The Tim Holtz frame is perfect to showcase the vintage Santa.

My art friend, Susan from Stamp Diva showed me how to make paper rosettes. Thanks Susan! I used Christmas paper and added a vintage image of a little girl with her tree.

I applied the image to red background paper and then used a one inch circle punch. Green stickles was added to the tree and allowed to dry. Then I added Glossy Accents on top. Five bells were tied at the bottom. I hope you love it Minori!

Minnie, The Mermaid

The altered Altoids tin is an exchange with another artist. This is the beginning of the process.

I love the Dabber paints! I first sanded the tin and then applied the paints. Awesome....don't have to clean up paint brushes!

And this paint is formulated to stay on metal.

It's best to make a pattern first so your decorative papers will fit perfectly!

I used my "shaving cream" painted paper. I decided to use the double stick tape to adhere all my papers to the tin.

I measured so that the strip going around the sides was a pinch larger so that there would be an overlap for the bottom.

Perfect fit!

I really like how the papers look inside the tin. It really smells great too with the shaving cream residue!

Now the really really fun part...embellishing!

What to choose!

I made my mermaid using watercolor paper and an image of the right proportions. The just right image was very hard to find in my stash. If I had PhotoShop or Illustrator...it would be so easy. Maybe one day.....

I wanted the pearls to be the element to hold the mermaid in place when the tin was closed.

So this is the completed inside.

Oh, do I use the star fish or not?!

I found a sliced shell that I think is even better!

My mermaid tale is written on a tag and attached with a safety pin. I have in my stash the best textured material to wrap my tin.

In the mail it goes to Blue Lotus Flower. Enjoy!

Family Treasure Book - June 19th

I am teaching one of my favorite projects, "The Family Treasure Book". Each student will have the opportunity to make this book special. The students will learn the "Tim Holtz" techniques that I was taught directly from the man himself!

If you are in the Tulsa area....you can register for this class at Croppinsville Studio....guaranteed to be rocking good fun!