Speckled Trout or Spring Carrot?

The wife of one of my friends at school is expecting a little one and has chosen owls as the nursery decor theme. This is a mixed media canvas I recently painted for them.

I know that some of you may be perplexed with the concept of mixed media. If you will look closely, you will see that the background and the tree and its branches are painted with acrylic paint.

I also added shadows with acrylic paint. The owls and leaves are made from scrapbook paper. I enjoy sketching off designs and finding papers that lend themselves to the designs. I have always loved cutting out paper shapes and these little owls were lots of fun to sketch and cut. (Father is orange; mother is green and baby has a combination of parents' colors.)

My friend, Martha Ray (from Grenada, MS fame) and the subject of several of my blogs, and I would sit at her breakfast table for hours and draw outfits for paper dolls. So this isn't something particularly new to me. I am more of a realist in my painting and anything whimsical (don't like that word..too overused)...gets me out of my comfort zone (also overused). But the owls were a pleasure to do for two young super nice parents to be!

Last thing...I labored on a spring carrot made of brown paper for my front door. As the Coach was walking by and saw it, he remarked, "Why is there a fish on the door?" I moved it to the back door. Yikes...some people just don't get me and my "whimsical side"...lol.

Hippity hoppity, Easter's on its way,

Fun For Kids...Texture Collage

When summer days begin to stretch waaayyy too long, take a walk around the yard, or better yet, take the kiddos to a park where there is some new ground to explore.

Our grandchildren love to go to a little waterpark (not the kind with slides, etc.) just a natural water hole with trees, running water and large rocks to splash around. We took a lunch and lots of pictures and came home happy and NOT BORED!

We named our resulting artwork..."Textures".

I copied the pictures from my camera to the computer printer. Using regular copier paper we cut each pic to 3 1/4" x 2 1/2". I used a 16x20 canvas and painted it dark gray. I scuffed the edges to give more dimension. The margin between the 28 photos was pretty small..about 1/4". Margins were: top, bottom, left side=1/2" and the right margin was 2".

Using Word, we selected a font and wrote the word TEXTURES....copied it, cut it out.

At this point we selected the pictures for our composition. Some pics looked better next to others...good lesson in composition, varying textures, spacing, etc. Then we got out the Mod Podge and modpodged away. We used Flat MP.

Guess what these images are!

Lichen, mimosa leaves, algae, oreo type cookie, grass, rust on garbage can.

Shoestring, gravel in concrete, pine, top of picnic table (ugh), spiderweb with cedar needles and raindrops, plant with water droplets.

Surely you can guess these!

In addition, tops of nails, chainlink fence, pinecone upclose are all good pictures to add. They had great fun trying to get others to guess what each thing was. Fun and quick little project for a summer day that went from boring to a blast!

We also did a smaller collage of pictures I took of them during the day!
Same thing...just smaller! Their daddy got that!

I am joining the Big Blog Party over at The Picket Fence. Please, join us!

Hope every summer day is filled with fun,

SS Refrig, Family, Banana Pudding, Earrings

What do any of these things have to do with each other? Hmmm...let's see.

I think I am in love....after 18 years, a new refrigerator! Why not French doors? Because I couldn't reach the top shelf...that's why! No Freezer on the bottom? Hubster didn't like it...that's why! We LOVE this one...she is wonderful! I am a happy camper!!
Next subject...Family!

The hubster's father was one of seven McInnis children, now all deceased. Pictured above are representatives of six of the seven children's families. I love my husband's family...salt of the earth people who take you in, love and support you. I am proud to be a part of such a clan! The hub is second from the left...styling, I must say. Below is pictured one of the dishes we took to the reunion...HIS world famous Banana Pudding...everything (except the Nilla Vanilla Wafers) was made from scratch...oh, yummo.

Handsome and CAN COOK...could I ask for anything more?

Speaking of family, one of the clan is an extremely talented vocalist and entertained the crowd with some wonderful Gospel songs. His card is below. I told him that now that he has "appeared" on this blog that he is WORLD famous!!

Speaking of famous...We also boast of a jewelry maker, supreme....Jan! Scroll down and look at some of her beautiful designs...she uses top notch findings and the ladies were treated to "shopping" her designs...wonderful gifts and so beautifully made. Contact me if you are interested...you will NOT be sorry! I will get you in touch with her.


Oh, yes...these were calling my name! I snapped them up! They are even beautiful underneath!


What's that? My name again? Oh, yes...I loved these, too.

Mine, all mine!

Loved these tiger eyes pictured below.

She also strings pearls...these were exquisite.


Jan couldn't make it to the reunion because of her work schedule...so I sent her hubby home with a mixed media journal I made for her. We love her and missed her!




Such a great day with such nice people...thanks to Peggy and Skye for organizing everything so well...can't wait for next year.

I am linking with Pink Saturday & Sneak Peek Friday...see buttons on right and join in the fun.
BTW: some of you are having trouble leaving comments (as am I) on blogs...keep trying...they will get the bugs worked out! I love your comments! Thanks for taking the time to say hello.



Love your family,

Loves Me, Loves Me Not...Mixed Media Daisies

You know me...I am a sucker for a challenge. Here goes another one...I saw this canvas in the Pier I catalog and loved it!!

It was on sale and still cost too much ... so I began arguing with "myself"...you remember her...don't you? The one who ALWAYS wins! "I can do that! How hard can it be?" myself kept taunting me. Well, several days and a good bit of Mod Podge later...here's the knock off.

I used a 12x24" canvas and some plain colored scrapbook paper for my petals. The centers were metallic scrapbook paper. After laboriously cutting and adhering each petal, I shaded specific areas and the background (which was a caramel colored tissue paper.)

Cutting bits of paper, I adhered them to some of the petals to make a mosaic. Then I used Tim Holtz's distressing ink to add detail and shadows.

I also added some turquoise "bubbles" around the edges. The original didn't use this color, but I like it and think it makes the other colors "pop". The canvas can be positioned either horizontally or vertically. After a final coat of MP and finishing the edges with more tissue....I signed it and my new canvas is ready for the Silent Auction at my grandchildren's school!

I am linking to Catch A Glimpse Thursdays...

Hope you're having an artful week thus far,

Mod Podging My Way Through Life...A Gallery

I have been asked several times lately, "What's up with this Mod Podge obsession of yours?" Well, sit right down and get comfortable, I'd like to show you my gallery of Mod Podged items! I think you will have fun looking at what the sealer-glue-finish can actually do. Mod Podge is produced by Plaid. It's a pretty old glue gel and comes in several finishes depending on the look you desire. I have explained under each picture below the various components involved with the production of each piece...all held together by Mod Podge (aka: Nectar of the gods!!)

Every item on every item was adhered with MP and finished with the stuff, too.

Canvas, tissue, scrapbook papers, photos of several flowers and the vase, acrylic paint, ink.

Wood piece 24x24", Cricut cut numbers, letters & circles, acrylic paint, plain scrapbook paper.

Canvas, pictures of grandchildren run off on regular printer paper, acrylic navy paint.

Canvas, vintage pattern pieces, tissue, scrapbook paper, Gesso, acrylic paint, cut outs from magazines, typed "sayings".

Small paper covered canvas, scrapbook paper, acrylic, tissue paper.

Same small paper covered canvas, newspaper, scrapbook paper, tissue for background, typed saying, acrylic paint.

Canvas, scrapbook papers, Cricut circles, large "r" notecard, pictures run off on printer paper.

Small paper covered canvas, tissue, acrylic, Gesson, typed sayings.

Odds & Ends

Small glass candleholders, Epsom salts, glitter.

Large glass candleholder, tissue paper, glitter.

Short candle, figured tissue paper, Epsom salts.

Large tray sprayed black and painted with acrylic paints on handmade paper.

Sale wooden plaque, scrapbook paper, Cricut fluorishes (cut apart), small stick on stones, Distressing ink.

Tissue paper, acrylic paint, small printer paper picture of granddaughter, corrugated cardboard, ink, typed sayings, vintage music, small paper covered canvas.

Small paper covered canvas, scrapbook paper, typed saying.

Canvas, acrylic paint, Cricut letters, bird, flourishes & hearts, vintage science book pages, acrylic paint and Distressing ink. To see the tutorial for this piece go Here.

Canvas, scrapbook papers, vintage music, handmade paper for edges, acrylic paint.

Canvas, scrapbook paper, tissue, typed saying, acrylic paint.

Canvas, handmade paper, scrapbook paper, acrylic paint, Distressing inks.


Canvas, Handmade paper (edge), printed tissue paper, acrylic paint, bubble wrap, raised felt border (disassembled), acrylic paint, Distressing Ink.

Canvas, tissue paper, vintage paper, acrylic paint, Distressing ink, raised felted border (disassembled).

Every item above was immersed in Mod Podge...matte or gloss...all were treated to the wonderful stuff! I'd like to know what you do with the greatest stuff on earth!

Linked to Sneak Peek Friday...grab button on right.

Mod Podging my way through life,