Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a photo by flowerlily1 on Flickr.

All Images were created, manipulated and/or enhanced in Photoshop by me.
For the skeleton I used an invitation template from Martha Stewart which can be found here.
Printed on card-stock, cut out and collaged.
The skeleton was assembled with brads.

For trade with the "Georgia Peaches ATC Group"
Theme: Dia de Los Muertos
Month: October

Mermaid Evolution

Mermaid Evolution, a photo by flowerlily1 on Flickr.

This is another drawing I did a while back.
The first image is the hand drawing, the second is the watercolor painting (unfinished).

In the third image I used Photoshop to recreated every element of the illustration and this is the final digital rendition.

Evolution of an Illustration

Evolution of an Illustration, a photo by flowerlily1 on Flickr.

So here is something I was playing with.

This little girl started as an idea for an ATC swap a few weeks ago. I hand drew her and painted her in watercolor (image 1 & 2)

ATC can be viewed here

This week I wanted to test my drawing and painting skills in photoshop and this is what I came up with (images 2 & 3).

How to make your own "embossing fluid"/ Como hacer tinta para gofrado

, a photo by flowerlily1 on Flickr.

The other day a friend of mine asked me if I knew how this fluid was made. I had never wondered about that myself. (Yeah, I know…unbelievable for such a diehard DIYer LOL). In any case, when I got home I googled it and found the answer here... gomakesomething.com/blog/041610tip/

Since the recipe is simple I decided to give it a try. Glycerin can be found at most pharmacies. I found it at Walmart (pharmacy section $3+). Craft stores sometimes have it as well. It is used to make fondant therefore; it should be in the “Cake supply” section.

I don't know if glycerin can vary in consistency but the ratio suggested in the above site (1/1) didn't work with the one I got. The mixture was a little too thin and only a little embossing powder adhered. I added a bit more glycerin (1.5 glycerin/1 water). This ratio yielded the right consistency and it works great!

***************
El otro día una amiga me pregunto si sabia de que estaba hecha la tinta para gofrado. Nunca me había hecho esa pregunta pero cuando llegue a casa hice una búsqueda en Google y encontré la respuesta aquí… gomakesomething.com/blog/041610tip/

Ya que la receta es tan simple decidí probar. La glicerina se la puede encontrar en farmacias. Yo la compre en Walmart (sección farmacia $3+). Tiendas de manualidades también pueden tenerla. Se usa para hacer masa elástica o fondant para tortas así que estará en esa sección.

No se si la glicerina varia en consistencia pero la proporción sugerida en el link de arriba (1/1) no funciono con la glicerina que yo compre. La mezcla resulto un poco ligera y el polvo de gofrado no se adhirió bien. Añadí un poco más de glicerina (1.5 partes glicerina/1 parte agua). Esta proporción me dio la consistencia correcta y funciona de maravilla.

Klic-n-Kut Zing (day 1)

Klic-n-Kut Zing, a photo by flowerlily1 on Flickr.

Klic-n-Kut Zing

YAY...my new Zing arrived yesterday!!

I decided to breakdown and buy this digital cutter. The versatility of materials it can cut was a big deciding factor. However, the biggest selling point for me is the fact that I can make my own desigs and this machine will cut them. Well HAH!...it's not as easy as klic-n-cut. Yesterday I spent some time trying to figure out how to "import" my designs but I have yet to figure it out. From what I've read, it seems I need to first to make them into "vector" shapes (which in turn means now I need to learn about vectors *sigh*) before I can do any such importing.

Oh well....I'll keep working on it. Hopefully figure and be able to cut something today *X-ing fingers*

Back to Dotees!

So...after taking a long break from making dotees, I am now back at it!

Kikuya is the first one I made at a get together with my crafty friends back in December.



Frankie and Frank were twin dotees I had started two years ago for the "Wacky Silly and Unusual holidays swap" (October 31 - Frankenstein monster day) on swapbot. Frank got finished but Frankie who was staying home has been laying unfinished until recently. He is finally done!



This past Saturday we had a crafty day get together with my friends. The theme we picked was "Steampunk". This little lady is one of the Steampunk dolls I made. However, since I was so distracted yapping away while I worked, after I was done attaching and beading her face I realized I had attached it to the wrong side LOL. I really didn't want to undo what I had done (because I thought it was too much work HA!). At my buddies suggestion I decided to make her a two faced dotee. In reality this turned out to be A LOT more work because, not only did I have to embroider and attach another face but I had to decorate both sides LOL…oh well….I really enjoyed making her anyways…DOUBLE THE FUN!

K is for.... Kangaroo King

Collage ATC

ATC for the K is for ....ATC Swap in swap-bot

J is for...Jacket

Collage ATC

I made this ATC for the J is for ....ATC Swap in swap-bot

USA ATC #16 Kansas Swap

Collage ATC

For the USA ATC #16 Kansas Swap at swap-bot

USA ATC #15 Iowa Swap

Collage ATC

For the USA ATC #15 Iowa Swap at swap-bot

USA ATC #14 Indiana

Collaged ATC for the "USA ATC #14 Indiana" series swap at swap-bot

Arms of the Angel

Collage ATC

I so love the Zetti style that I decided to use it for this atc. I designed this ATC for trading with the ladies of my local ATC group. The theme was "Song Lyrics" and for my song I chose the theme song from City of Angels, "Arms Of The Angel" by Sarah McLachlan.

I is for... Iced Tea

Collage ATC made for the "I is for... " swap at swap-bot.

I created the iced text and reflection in PS using a tutorial found HERE. I used clear embossing powder to give it and the glass a shinny/wet look and white embossing powder to accent the frost on top of the letters. I cut all the pieces and attached them to the background with mounting tape to give the image a 3D look.

Vintage Series #1 - The Lady ATC

Collage ATC for the "Vintage Series #1 - The Lady" swap at swap-bot

Happy 4th of July

Collage ATC

I designed this ATC for trade with the ladies in my local ATC group. I also made two additional copies for trade.

USA ATC #13 Illinois

Collage ATC for the USA ATC #13 Illinois swap at swapbot

H is for...Hair

Collage ATC for the "H is for..." swap at swap-bot

Busy ATCing weekend!

After loosing all my files when my storage drive pooped I had to redo a lot of the work. This put be behind on my ATC swaps so I just spend the last four days getting back on track. Here are all the ATCs I worked on....

Zetti ATC Swap at atcsforall.com



April PAT (Pick A Theme) Swap at atcsforall.com



Romance and Vintage France Swap at atcsforall.com



Since I didn't have too much to do, I made an extra card! lol



I forgot I had already made this card (before the mishap) so I did the origami ATC I posted a few days back but I will send this one for the G is for... Swap at swap-bot.com



F is for... Swap at swap-bot.com



USA ATC #12 Idaho at swap-bot.com



And finally here are two cards I made for a private swap. I totally missed the deadline to sign up for the USA ATC #11 Hawaii swap. The gracious hostess generously offered to send me a copy of the card she made for this swap. For her sweetness, I offered to send her a card in exchange. Although she said it was not necessary, I want to send her something in return and since I knew I would be making all this cards I told her I would make an extra for her....well I made two...she definitely deserves them!


hope she enjoys them =)

G is for... Geisha

G is for.... Swap at swap-bot
Trying my hand at origami =)

Pliers / Tools Holder

"Necessity, who is the mother of invention" ~Plato~

The other day I was looking for something to hold/organize my jewelry pliers and tools. I first searched the internet to see what I could find. I found different ones ranging from $9-$25 (+ shipping).



These are some pliers holders I found.  Besides the cost, I also had to deal with having to wait....and wait...and wait...for it to arrive *big sigh*. Have I ever told you that I am impatient specially when I an on a mission? Well, this day I was in one of my "organizing missions" and I did NOT want to wait...no siree bob!
Sooooooo... I looked around my craft room for something I could use for this purpose. In the recycled containers area, I found this large margarine tub and ding ding ding...*IDEA*!!!! this is the pliers holder I came up with. In case you want to make your own, here is a quickie set of instructions below.

Supplies:
- Recycled large plastic tub/container shape and materials are up to you. I used an "I can't believe is not butter" margarine tub. I prefer a round plastic container because I want to place it on a Lazy Susan on my work table. And, the plastic in this tub was very easy to cut with the scissors.
- Recycled small glass jar that fits inside the tub and lets you close the lid. (the one I used holds mushrooms)
- A circular object/template. Approximately 1" (2.5cm)
- Sharpie or maker
- Small scissors
- Hot glue gun (not shown)


Directions:
1. Remove the lid from the tub and draw small circles around the edge. Leave 1/2 - 3/4" space between each circle.
2. Draw a larger circle in the center of the lid. Use the lid from the glass jar or the jar itself (the lid will not be used in this project).
3. If you choose to, paint the outside of your container and lid now. Wait for it to be completely dry.
4. Hot glue the glass jar inside the tub, in the center.
5. Place the lid back on the tub and VOILA! you have a pliers/tool holder....Enjoy!
Cost: $0 or if you choose to paint your container and don't already have some on hand (I did), the cost would be that of the spray paint.