DIY Art With A Sharpie

I needed a piece of fall oriented artwork for the hutch top in my living room. For over a year now I have been using a free printable piece to work from. Until now I have given them away as gifts but today, this one is for me.

I start with a printed piece. I found it on the internet years ago when searching "free printable pumpkins". You can find it here or go to my Pinterest account and in the Autumn board.

Now, I am going to talk about taping paper but it is not actually tape, it is Loctite blue mounting putty that I pick up from Staples. I use it everywhere. I attach it to back of frames to keep them straight on the wall, I use if for lightweight seasonal decorating. I have note cards with Scripture tacked all over the house. I use it to hang Christmas cards we receive each year. I always have it on hand. It can be reused as long as it is clean. It does not leave marks or stains on the walls and it doesn't damage photos that I use it on. Sometimes, on old pieces of paper it sticks and won't come off clean but that is rare.

Ok, so I enlarged the pumpkin image to fit what I wanted to do with it. I then "taped" it to the window. You can use a light box if you have one but I don't so the window does the trick for me. Next I taped a page from an old book I use for decorating and crafts over the top, positioning it where I wanted my image to show up.

Using a Sharpie, I traced the image onto the book page. Simple, right? Now, I realize I could have just printed this onto the book page using my printer but I did not want it to look that perfect.

You can leave your piece just like that, frame it and you're done....but I can't leave well enough alone so I added color. I have a set of chalks that I purchased from a Stampin Up party years and years ago (like 15+). Craft supply hoarder...not just a title-it's who I am. I accept it.

They work perfect for this? I use a paint brush and brush/scrub in my colors. The first time around leaves a light coloring.

You build color up with the chalks so you will want to go back in two or three times. It is very easy to blend colors with the chalks. Make sure to not smudge your work as you hand rests on the piece. Blow off any chalk dust periodically.

When you are happy with the color mat it and frame it.

I have done this on paper several times but my favorite is to do it on muslin.

I like the look of leaving in black and white but the chalks work very nice on the muslin. They blend beautifully into one another but you'll have to take my word on it for now.

And, there it is; easy-peasy and super cheap! I had the frames, matting, muslin, chalks and book pages. Free art=yippee!  If you try this project send me a picture of it! Oh! And if you haven't signed up to follow by email, please consider doing so. Thanks.

Party Time!
Savvy Southern Style, The Blissful Bee, Gingersnap Crafts, DIY By Design, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Ducks n' a Row, Lambert's Lately, Poofing the Pillows, Katherine's Corner, The Vintage Nest, Joyful Homaking, A Cup Of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life, Up To Date Interiors, Charm Bracelet Diva, Imparting Grace, My Repurposed Life, The Charm of Home, The Pin Junkie, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, McCall Manor, Creatively Homemade, Life With Lorelai, The Cottage Market, Olives-n-Okra, My Christmas Journey, Back 2 Simple Life, Chic On A Shoestring, DIY Vintage Chic, Ms. Toody Goo Shoes, Pieced Pastimes, One More Time Events, Finding Silver Pennies, Nifty Thrifty Things, The Boondocks Blog, Re Do It Yourself, The Chelsea Project, The Stonybrook House, The DIY Showoff, Create With Joy, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, Plucky's Second Thought, Strangers and Pilgrims On Earth, Coastal Charm, Creatively Living, Mad In Crafts, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Flamingo Toes, Cupcakes and Crinoline, The Lou Lou Girls, Celebrate and Decorate, A Stroll Thru Life, Our Home Away From Home, A Bowl Full of Lemons, About A Chick, The DIY Dreamer, Beyond The Picket Fence, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, The Pin Junkie, Shoestring Elegance, The DIY Village, The Blooming Homestead, Skip to My Lou, The Dedicated House

Dreams, Fears, Miss Mustard Seed, and Me

I am going to shamelessly plug my blog today. I have this weird accountant person hiding somewhere in me and she is a numbers person. I try to keep her medicated with good chocolate but recently, when looking at some stats on the blog, I realized that after two and half years of blogging I have a grand total of 37 precious followers-I picked up a new one this week! I would guess most of you are family, (except my family is not that big). It is my own fault really. I have not added one of those pop-up things on the blog that prompt visitors to sign up partly because I have not taken the time to learn how to do it and partly because I didn't want to bother my readers and partly because I didn't want to feel like a failure for not putting out posts as often as the bloggers I follow. It's pressure!

After meeting Miss Mustard Seed, (oh, yes I did!), a few weeks ago I am rethinking my thinking.

Not the best photo of me but she is just so cute!

At a recent 'meet and greet' a group of women sat around a table asking questions of her and she was so very gracious to share with us, throwing out ideas as she listened to where each of us were in our creative endeavors.

Miss Mustard Seed, Marian Parsons, at Signature Finishes in Grafton, MA. The

 display behind her is Miss Mustard Seed paint.

There was one common thread in each woman's answer, including mine, whenever she asked "Why don't you ________?" That blank was whatever would seem the next step in marketing our creativeness.  The answers: "I'm scared.", "that scares me", "I am afraid", "I'm worried", "It terrifies me". Every woman that answered said basically the same thing! So what are we afraid of? Failure...is that what we are afraid of?

Marian Parsons, aka Miss Mustard Seed, did not point that out but spoke about her parents' encouragement during her childhood. If she failed at something or found out she didn't like something or wasn't good at it -she just did something else. As I listened it started sounding like bells pealing in my ears. I was convicted.

II Timothy 1:7 "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." and Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, who can be against us?" 

Now, don't misunderstand me, I know that these passages of Scripture are not talking about my desire to do something I love while making money at it. I am afraid I may fail, so much so that I have procrastinated on even trying to figure out what direction to move in. One thing is certain; if I do nothing I will have failed-100%. If I step out, I may fail but then I can just try something else. Right? I have a lot of different interests...I can't stink at all of them, right? And, maybe I will find the ones I really want to spend time improving upon. I am blessed with a husband that will support me and provides me the resources to pursue my wacky thoughts.

There will be some changes on the blog. Maybe you will notice them and maybe not. It will be a slow go as change for me is always a hard thing. (I know, you would never know it by looking at my home.) Big things, though....a different story for me. I still feel scared. Even writing this post to you is giving me a little case of butterflies. Accountability! Will you be reading this blog in a year saying to yourself "I thought she was going to make some changes, she failed." Maybe. 

There is one thing I do not want change.  I do not want to ever do anything with this blog that will keep me from speaking truthfully about my faith when the occasion arises or the moods hits me. It is the biggest part of who I am and why I am. Anything creative in me is only because I have been made in the image of the Creator, my heavenly Father, and the ways I am allowed to display that creativity are a gift.

So, all that to say this: if you have not signed up to follow the blog pleeaase consider doing so using the box under the "About Me" section to the right of this post. An email will be sent to you when there is a new post on the blog! You can also follow my on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram and Pinterest accounts. I am not nearly as savvy as I would like to be on any of those social media sites but I am learning. 

Thanks for stopping by, taking to time to listen and thank you, in advance, for signing up!

Linky Partyies: 
About A Chick, Savvy Southern Style, The Blissful Bee, DIY By Design, Ducks n' a Row. Poofing the Pillows, A Cup of Mrs. Olson, Imparting Grace, Chic On A Shoestring, Pieced Pastimes, Christian Blogger Community

Fall Home: In the Living Room 2016

Can you believe October is almost over! I can't. The older I get the faster time seems to fly by. I love decorating my home for the different seasons and always seem to be a little behind but I know at this stage I have a good amount of time to enjoy my home before decorating for Christmas. I have shown you the front porch, kitchen, and dining room. Today, we are going into the living room.

I don't buy all new decorations every year. Some do and that is fine but I tend to grow an attachment to my stuffs. I remember when I bought something, who I was with, where we were.... Looking at my treasures reminds me of those people, times, places, ect. Sad? Probably, but that's me. So, come on in and grab a cup of tea, coffee or cocoa and visit for a while.

I made the paper and burlap banner last year. I picked up the burlap banner for $3, I think, from Target. I used an old book to cut out triangles and a Sharpie to draw on my letters. 

I love these cement acorns. I have only two but I make sure they always find a place where I can easily see them.

I recently saw a variation of the glass cloche decor over at Hunt and Host. I liked her leaf in the mix so I grabbed one that I had made and put it inside. 

My relatively "new" gallery wall got a bit of a fall update with paper leaf and burlap garland. I used Country Design Style's printable leaves and cut them out of an old book and burlap scrap book paper.

Yes, you've seen them here before. I used them to make the garland in the dining room. And, yes, I still have to have some summer in there somewhere!

The funky wheat-y looking thing is from one of the ornamental grasses in my yard that has gone by. 

About six years ago, Mister and some men from church replaced our front porch. In the process we found these beautiful corbels that had been covered over. I had to save what I could. I cleaned them up then sealed them in about 10 coats of a clear, matte finish. I couldn't save all 4 pair but this one I managed to squirrel away while Mister wasn't looking. I like to think he is secretly glad that I did...

On the lantern I used one of the hydrangea picks I put together when I made the wreath for the front door. I used them in the dining room, too. 

The leaf print was found at A Night Owl. It is free to download. I just clipped it to a cheap board I picked up at Walmart for less than a dollar. I use them for all kinds of things from school to decor.

In the middle of trying to shoot pictures the sky turned dark and it started to rain; not good for a room that has no overhead lighting, just lamps.

So, I put away my camera and I called it quits for the day. It was good time to grab a magazine and cup of tea. Ahh.... there it is, autumn is bidding me to settle in for a season.

It's party time!
Back 2 Simple Life, Savvy Southern Style, DIY By Design, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Ducks n a Row, The Blissful Bee, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Katherine's Corner, The Vintage Nest, Joyful Homemaking, Have a Cup Of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life, Poofing The Pillows, Up To Date Interiors, Charm Bracelet Diva, The Charm of Home, At Home With Jemma, Shabby Art Boutique, Craftberry Bush, Beyond The Picket Fence, Imparting Grace, Olives-n-Okra, French Country Cottage, The DIY Village, McCall Manor, Life With Lorelai, The Pin Junkie, Shoestring Elegance, The Cottage Market, Chic On A Shoestring, Blooming Homestead, I Heart Naptime, Ms. Toody Goo Shoes, Pieced Pastimes, One More Time Events, The Boondocks Blog, Finding Silver Pennies, Nifty thrifty Things, Create With Joy, The DIY Showoff, Coastal Charm, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, Skip To My Lou, Creatively Living, Plucky's Second Thought, Strangers and Pilgrims On Earth, Stone Gable, Cupcakes and Crinoline, Celebrate and Decorate, Flamingo Toes, A Stroll Thru Life, Our Home Away From Home, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Lambert's Lately, My Christmas Journey, The Dedicated House

Fall Home: On The Front Porch 2016

Thank you to all of you who left kind and lovely comments regarding my kitchen and dining room post! I was so thrilled that it was featured on several other blogs. I am trying to grow my blogging audience but sometimes feel like I am spinning my wheels. A kind word of encouragement goes a long way. It is a reminder to me, also, to be sure to reach out to others who are writing and sharing their hearts and homes.

The weather this week has been crazy here in Massachusetts. Mid week I was wearing flip-flops and regretting having packed away my summer clothes. I spent Friday afternoon taking pictures around my town and surrounding areas. My youngest, like her mama, has caught the shutter bug....

I have lived in a lot of different places, (states, continents, climates) and have to say that New England autumns are hard to rival, although the aspens in Colorado's autumn air are a good contender.

The view from my front yard.

Stone walls decorate the New England landscape.

The leaves along this split rail fence beckon one to shuffle their feet through them. 

This old stone house has been a long-time favorite of mine.

And, this one, too!

Saturday morning it was so warm I was sweating while making blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Mister and I went for a walk a few hours later and the winds of change had ushered in a cold, raw air that had blown down many of the leaves that I had just taken pictures of the day before.

As we turned onto our street I was struck with thankfulness for the welcoming warmth of home.  I want to bring all the beauty of fall to my front porch; giving my guests a hint at what is inside.

Hmm....next year's wreath will have to be more colorful to stand out....or I will have to paint that door!

My fall wreath. You can find the wreath tutorial here.

I planted four packets of seeds in my beds and this is one of the very few that made
 it past the hungry pests in my yard.

Fake pumpkins last for years!

I am a creature of habit. I made this sign several years ago from an old door. I like the colors and it has weathered well. Perhaps I will do something different next year....maybe not.

Time to go to the parties!
The Stoneybrook House, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, Plucky's Second Thought, Strangers and Pilgrims On Earth, Coastal Charm, Creatively Living, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Cupcakes and Crinoline, Celebrate and Decorate, A Stroll Thru Life, Our Home Away From Home, The Dedicated House, Savvy Southern Style, DIY By Design, Handy Man Crafty Woman, The Blissful Bee, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Katherine's Corner, The Vintage Nest, From My Front Porch To Yours, Joyful Homemaking, Have A Cup Of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life. Poofing The Pillows, Up TO Date Interiors, Charm Bracelet Diva, The Charm of Home, At Home With Jemma, Shabby Art Boutique, Craftberry Bush, Imparting Grace, Olives-n-Okra, French Country Cottage, The DIY Village, McCall Manor, Life With Lorelai, The Pin Junkie, Shoestring Elegance, The Cottage Market, Chic On A Shoestring, Blooming Homestead, Ms Toody Goo Shoes, Pieced Pastimes, One More Time Events, The Boondocks Blog, Finding Silver Pennies, Nifty Thrifty Things, Create With Joy. My Christmas Journey