Friday Freebie

It's Friday again... that means another freebie image for use in your artwork.

I'm sharing two images this week....both are scans from the backs of small cabinet cards.

Enjoy!

(remember to click for full size image before saving)

Fish and tomatoes

No, it's not a recipe. It's what's been happening around here.

As requested (and because I've got nothing better to show you), here is our new aquarium. There are 9 current residents...6 platy's, 2 corydora's and a purple cichlid. We plan to get a few more in about a month.

And then there's Bob, our Crowntail Betta. Our daughter named him "Prince (something or other)" but Bob just seemed to roll off the tongue better. He enjoys looking at art and my girl swears that he gets excited when she changes his scenery.

And finally...my tomatoes are starting to ripen, so the harvest has begun. They are so yummy!

Check it out...

Once again, I have the honor of a recycling project being featured at Going Green Crafters & Artists. But this time the honor is in triplicate!

Scrap bag

I started this project over a year ago. But for most of that time, it's been in a drawer..out of sight and out of mind. I had to clean out my sewing table (aka small desk I refurbished years ago) because it is now our aquarium stand.

Anyway....I had intended on making a tiny little string purse for going to garage sales and festival type things. Since then I've discovered that I really need to carry more stuff all the time...so a bigger bag was born.

An old piece of table cloth was used as the base for the random scraps. I used different colors of thread and stitches for a fun crazy quilt look.

I decided on a jagged edge on the flap for interest. 

The lining is a re-purposed pillowcase. I wish I had the forethought to sew a pocket or two on the inside but when you're winging it...those things don't always come to mind.

I did learn a couple things while putting this together that I'll *hopefully* remember to apply to my next purse project.

The only purchased item on this purse is the magnetic closer. I bought 3 of these a while back when I was making more purses

Otherwise everything used to create this purse is re-purposed or scrap.

A girl can NEVER have to many purses! Maybe I'll sell a few when I actually stock my etsy store... It's just an empty storefront right now.

Friday Freebie

This is the gal I've dubbed "crazy eyed girl". The scan seemed to have mellow her wild eyed look. But let me tell you...her original is wacky!

I used her image in my gothic arches. I'd love to see how you use her image in your art.

Times slips away...

I don't know how it happens but it seems as if I have been accomplishing absolutely nothing lately. Well, I should say art related accomplishments.  I'm starting to get very frustrated.

I have been reading, cleaning, hanging out with the kids, running errands, yard work etc.

The only remotely artsy thing I've done lately...and this is a real stretch... was to stain a wood project my husband has been working on. It's not completed but needed to be stained at this stage.

I'll leave you with the baby bird in a nest picture... It's a wren nest in our dwarf lilac bush along the front walk. They build a nest there every year. It's fun to see them swoop in and out feeding their fledgling.  I'm not sure if the egg along the side is the baby's egg that it hatched from or a sibling that never hatched.

Friday Freebie

Here's a couple of postcard backs that would make fun backgrounds.

Enjoy the freebie...

(Click photos for full size image)

Gothic arch book complete

While the kids were gone at a birthday party today, I got busy making a cover for my ABC 7th Anniversary book. 

One little issue...I miscalculated when I was going to punch the cover with my Bind-it-all.

UGH!

But look...amazing what sins a little lace will cover right!?!?

Photo greeting cards

I've been working on a bunch of these lately. Well...actually since before school let out.
A few even sold on the garage sale....

I gave the kids teachers each a pack of these as a end of school thank you gift. I've also given them as birthday, thank you and hostess gifts.

Mid-summer garden update

So I've had great success with growth of our plants....but we've also had some pest issues. Such as DEER!!!
Whitetail deer are beautiful creatures and can be quite yummy when prepared properly. :)
All that aside...they are eating my plants!!! My hostas are down to nubs in the front and the buggers ate over a dozen green tomatoes right off the plants.


The garden is right outside the backdoor...like 2 steps from the backdoor...with a motion sensor light. Seriously...they are not scared!


The herbs and lettuce are above their reach with the rock landscaping below...thank goodness. The flat leaf parley is going crazy!!

Check out my spider plant appendage. It's different from anything I've ever seen a spider plant send out before. The only thing I can figure is that I've never had one outside before.

The plants I'm going to over-winter in the house are going to be in for a bit of a shock!

I was thinking today that I'm going to have to make quite a bit of room. I have 2 miniature roses, a hydrangea,  3 pots of herbs, a gerbera daisy and the crazy spider plant to bring in.  That would be in addition to the other 7 plants that already reside in our house.

Braided fabric bowl

I tried something a little different in this attempt to make a braided RUG.

Last time, I hand stitched the braid together and ended up with a bowl...

This time I figured if I machine stitched it I might end up with a more flat product. Yeah, not so much... Still got a saucer shape. Oh well. Try, try again.

I think I'm going to use some liquid starch or something to stiffen it up. I think it would make a nice bowl by an entryway to toss your keys and pocket change.

What a way to spend the afternoon....

At my husband's urging to get the kids out to "stretch their legs" took them to my hometown for the farmers market and a bit of history.  I grew up in a tiny but historic town that was the summertime playground for the wealthy in the late 1800's.

The farmers market was brimming with goodies... We bought radishes, summer sausage, cheese and kettle corn for starters.




I also got this wonderful bouquet of flowers for $7 and the nice man threw in these nice big zucchini.

And just look at these wonderful eggs...  I had 2 over-easy this morning. YUM!










During the farmers market and on weekends the oldest operating streetcar in the country gives short rides with a stop at the restoration barn for a little history lesson. The streetcar was really neat. Ornate carvings on the woodwork, vintage ads at the cove ceiling and a beautiful cast iron stove for use during the winter months.

And why no pictures you ask... Because silly me forgot that you actually need to charge camera batteries every once in a while...not just drag it around in your purse taking pictures willy-nilly expecting it to magically work indefinitely.

photo credit:  Minnesota Streetcar Museum

Friday Freebie

Aren't these little boys precious! Just look at their cute little matching jumpsuits.

Enjoy the freebie for use in your art...  I'd love to see what you do with it!

(Click photo for full size image)

More Bottle Cap Earrings

I went a little nuts last evening and made a bunch more...

I've been saving bottle caps for years....as well as having others give them to me. I went through and found the ones I had pairs of. I still have a few more pairs but they'd look better with gold findings.

When I was a kid, my dad had a huge collection from all the bottled pop he drank. Bummer...it was thrown away 20+ years ago. There would have been some really fun ones in there!!

These ones with the phrases in them are fun. You could totally mix and match these depending on your mood.

Bottle Cap Earrings

I was recently gifted with a handful of fun bottle caps by my brother-in-law and his girlfriend. Thanks guys!!
I love it that they've been saving them for me!! One persons trash is another one's treasure!! 

Happy Birthday Daddy

Today would have been my dad's 83rd birthday. We brought him a card and flowers this morning.

I caught this very sweet moment where my girl lovingly touched his marker and said "Happy Birthday Grandpa".  They always had a good connection...she'd often ask to go visit him at the nursing home.

Independence Day 2010

  Hope everyone had a safe and Happy July 4th!!