last minute handmade gift idea...

If you are a crafty person you probably are used to making handmade treasures for your friends and family for the holidays. These are always special because you thought about the person and then spent your time and talents creating a unique, one of kind gift. At least that's what I tell myself! lol Anyways I've been super busy this year creating custom holiday things for my family, some cannot be revealed because then the gig would be up. But, I thought I'd share a quick idea that literally ANYONE can do in a jif.

Can you trace? Then you can create custom glassware with glass paint! Painted glasses can be kind of expensive and in my opinion somewhat cheesy. However, with the right pattern you can pull off a custom creation your "person" will love! There are different kinds of glass paint and I've used several. Personally I like the kind you bake in the oven because then they are done. The Perm enamel kind has a 21 day dry time. What I mean by that is it will be 21 days before you can wash and use (but they will be dry to the touch in an hour or so after painting) If you use this kind (which is widely available and cheaper) just let your person know how to care for them. You can put them in the dishwasher on the top rack or hand wash so everyday use is an option. I created some glasses for the sports fans in our family-they were a hit.

To make them I just went online, found the image I needed (in this case it was the Detroit D, Lions logo and the University of Arkansas Razorback logo) I copied them into a program to manipulate the image a bit, but you could print the target by right clicking and telling your printer which size (a print option in Google's Picasa). Then I lightly taped the image facing outward on the inside of the glass so I could trace the outline. If you are going to do some color, I suggest tracing first with an outline color-I used black, then waiting until it's dry to the touch and doing the fill-in colors. You can always freehand too like I did with the ceramic mugs. Follow the instructions for pre-prep on the glasses and then either air dry or bake as instructed. Then you're done! Easy right?

Vitrea 160 at Blick     Perm Enamel available at craft stores like Joann and Hobby Lobby

Well folks, AF is going on holiday so I'll see you all after the New Year! Have a lovely, crafty, handmade special holiday!!!

Kindle Cases on Etsy...

So you think Santa might bring you something hot this year, like maybe...a Kindle Fire? Well you are going to need to a case for that thing right? Before you buy a $40 one from Staples, check out these Etsy shops with some real cuties to cozy your Kindle (or other devices). There is definitely something for everyone one on ETSY! Support Handmade!

PSST-Can you keep a secret? I made a couple of purchases from Berties Closet (#2) (I LOVE them!)

1-Adimaas-$35

***2-Berties Closet-$23 (I have personal experience with this shop! Great Workmanship!)

3-Old Bird Lady-$25

4-Willow and Company-$45

5-Anny and Me-$24

6-CrafTime9-$18

7-Rabbit Smile-$25

8-Dobeeubags-$38

9-BoutiqueID-$53

10-Dixies Window-$52

Monday Inspirations..can't go wrong with scandinavian style

Many artists maintain blogs in addition to their shops and websites to help promote their artwork. Usually their blogs go hand in hand with their products. I'm still working on that-lol. Seriously, one of my faves on Etsy is a shop called Handz ReStyle maintained by artist Jan Skacelik from the Czech Republic. His art prints feature mid century modern home design themes with some Scandinavian flare! I've featured his work before, but today I'm talking about his blog- Design Attractor. If you love all things Scandinavian you'll like this too. I found these gorgeous pics there and had to share! Hope your holiday plans are coming together nicely! I'm headed out of town again-this time to lovely Traverse City to finish my Christmas shopping and have a little date night with my husband-yay!

Here's a look at some pretty scandinavian rooms...

Jen's Art Additions...more window paintings

Wow, I've really been slacking on my blog this week! I, like most others, have been preparing for Christmas and running around like a crazy person it seems! haha. I did have a nice weekend in Detroit-those 2 things don't seem to go together-lol-but seriously I went to my nephews birthday party and did some shopping-hit the IKEA on my way out of town-it was good. My kids are beat and getting the sniffles, we just need to bum around this weekend with some popcorn and holiday flicks! Anyways-I promised last week I would post some windows I painted at my son's school so I figured I would at least do something on AF this week!

Congrats to all the winners of the contests last week-your goodies are all in the mail! Hope they brighten your holiday spirits! I'll probably do another print contest in January when the world slows down a bit, so look for that...xo

Have a look...

I started with the outlines, then filled the color...

A look from inside...

A look from outside...

All Saints School-window paintings-nativity scene

Some Christmas fun...

2012 Contest winners and some holiday windows...

Hello friends! I feel like I haven't blogged as much as usual this week. I have a bunch of home organization, cleaning, and decorating to do-and I've been enjoying that! I've been experimenting with some new wall colors around the house and my yellow runner for the stairs finally came in. I really am almost finished with that stairway project-jeez I only started it last spring-yay! I'll update you once it's finished. To catch up on what I was doing click here.

 It's hard to believe that Christmas is so close. I start thinking in terms of weekends-ok this weekend Detroit, next weekend Traverse City, after that Kalamazoo and then OH-it's Christmas! It's such a busy time of year! I didn't post any artwork as I normally do on Thursdays, but I have been busy with some things! I'm designing a new ABC for an Etsy customer-Washington Nationals baseball team. I like doing little custom things it gives me focus.

Also I've been painting the windows for Christmas over at my son's school-heading there again today. I've been bringing the baby with me all week. The first day he was great, I pacified him with snacks and trucks. But by day 2 the gig was up and window painting was not so fun for big baby! lol I was in the midst of painting a big Christmas tree when someone stopped to talk to me. They were admiring the paintings and I was like-blah, blah, blah-and then I looked down to see Roo doing some window painting of his own. He had both hands on the bottom of the wet Christmas tree and was "waving" back and forth and back and forth! ACK! lol! Um, needless to say, I had to erase that part. Today I'm happy to say they are going to aunt Roxy's! I do love taking the boys and letting them be a part of that. I like them to see me working on artistic things because I feel like I'm fostering a love of the arts in them. But enough is enough I gotta get some work done! :) I'm posting a couple of window paintings I did here at home the other day and then I'll take some pics at the school later today and post those.

Hope your holiday decorating is going as planned. If you've never painted windows you should try it! I use regular acrylic (cheaper craft kind). Then to get rid of it, I spray with Windex and scrape (invest in a real window scraper they are only $5 or so). Clean-up can be messy, but the kids do love it!

Congrats to all the winners from my 2012 calendar giveaway and Love print on FB contest. I decided to send everybody that entered a little something! Happy Holidays! Remember to email me your addresses so I can send those out!