Back again

More apologies for missing another few weeks. We ended up in Kansas City an extra day over Thanksgiving due to a huge blinding blizzard that moved through Kansas and Missouri. We finally arrived home late Monday night after scurrying for flights through Denver and Oklahoma City. Then on Friday we left for the weekend in Chicago to visit our youngest daughter. 

I promised photos of the projects we did on our recent retreat. Ten ladies attended and each brought a project with kits for all to do. During "down time" we also completed at least twenty cards (everyone had brought a minimum of two samples with kits).

This was my project. I altered a cigar box. The outside is covered with all things textured - keys, buttons, texture paste through stencils, metal washers and nuts, corrugate, rickrack, drywall tape, lace, gears etc. I also added a Tim Holtz "Found Relatives" card. Then I covered everything with small cut pieces of aluminum heating duct tape. Here is a photo of the box before adding the tape.

Once the tape was adhered, I burnished is very well, getting into all the nooks and crannies of the texture. I also used a small sewing tool for creating a dotted line texture especially around the photogragh. Then I painted over all with black acrylic paint, let it dry slightly and wiped off the excess.  Here are two photos of the finished box.

I covered the inside with a patchwork of Tim Holtz "Torn Wallpaper" and added metal feet to the bottom corners.

Here are the remaining projects, in no particular order.

Snowman "Jack in the Box"

Vintage Book with Photos printed on Tea Bags

One inside page

Tall "Love" Explosion Box

Inside

File Folder Book

One inside page with pockets and tags

Small Book Made from Library Pockets

Two inside pages/pockets with "found relatives"

 Christmas Shadowbox

Christmas "House" Shadowbox

Christmas Countdown Canvas

Wow - I'm "published"!

Remember this mixed media cigar box I created for the first LBH Mixed Media Mania class? (You can see the original link here.)

I just found out that Shirley Rudener, author of Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry, mentioned it in her latest newsletter ("Spumoni Scoop", Vol. 2, Issue 5) complete with a photo and a link to my blog.  I'm in good company there as she also features Laurie Mika who does exceptional work with clay.

Shirley specializes in polymer clay and mixed media.  You can sign up (free) for the newsletter here: http://shirleyrufener.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8bfc977b90a770b27620517a2&id=caa7542d8a

and then the newsletter will be emailed.

I'm pretty excited - not sure how she ever found my little-ole blog but I'm glad she did!

More Student Projects from my Mixed Media Mania Class

My second altered cigar box class at The Little Blue House was as successful as the first! Everyone's projects came out fantastic! Take a look at these wonderful boxes.

Julie's "Create"

Laura's

Linn's

Mary's (she was visiting all the way from Chicago!)

Michelle's - not quite finished - she added red burlap in lower left corner which insisted on remaining red! She wants to change that a bit but the rest of the box looks amazing.

Susie's "Junk"

I love teaching this kind of class where the students just take off on their own, making unique color choices and combinations of embellishments. Every one comes out different yet beautiful.

Looking forward to Mixed Media Mania classes again in September!

Mixed Media Mania Class - Altered Cigar Box

We had a great response for my Mixed Media Mania class on Tuesday.  And, because it was also the first day of school, many were not able to attend so we have added another date for two more classes next Tuesday, Sept. 3, 10 am - 1 pm or 6 pm to 9 pm.  You may call the LBH at 817-431-7930 to reserve a spot.

I wanted to share some of the results of the students. I forgot to start taking photos until after a few had left, so this is just a small sampling of the gorgeous boxes everyone made.

Debbie's - before the final highlight coat of white

Ellen's - before the beautiful dark green and blue sprays

Hilary's finished box

Karen's - for some reason I was unable to crop or edit this photo but the true colors of her finished box were beautiful soft greens and blues

Lynette's finished box

Susan's finished box - love the wings!

This class was a blast! Please join me next week if you can!

My new class at The Little Blue House

We're in our second round of summer classes at The Little Blue House and this is one of the classes I designed.  It's a travel book and memento box.  The book fits inside the box (an old cigar box) but can also be separate so the box can hold treasures from a special trip.  The base of the book is made from envelopes and there's lots of stamping and several techniques involved.  If you are local and interested in taking the class, check out more information on the blog.

Don't forget to comment on my posts to be entered to win a giveaway on the 15th!