This and That

I decided to make some new projects out of stuff I already have. I use to paint a lot and I had some little wood houses left over and so I collaged some family pictures and pretty paper on them and used them up.


Then I made a large album out of collaged materials.

Mother's Day Pouches

In the latest issue of Somerset Life there were the cutest pouches made out of toilet paper rolls. You just press down on the cardboard roll and then glue one end closed. In the magazine they had used a wax technique on them. I thought these pouches would be cute for Mother's Day gifts. The older kids painted the rolls with acrylic paints, made tags, and attached elastic string to hang them up. They also embellished them with lace and little flowers. My little guys drew self portraits on paper and glued them on the rolls. I attached light weight wire to hang them up. Sooooo... easy!

Tin Containers

I had a bunch of Altoid containers and I read once that you could burn them in a fireplace and it takes the paint off and makes them look old. We have a fireplace outside and so of course I had to try it! I let them burn and cool down and then I washed them out. Then I took pretty paper and ran it through my Xyron machine to give it an adhesive backing. I applied the paper to the cover of the boxes and then embellished them.

I made this little set by taking an old playing cards box, an embellished tin box and a little journal, and attached them all together.

Here is what it looks like opened.

Here is one made for sewing. I made a tiny needle & thread holder on the left and filled the box with little scraps of fabric, lace, buttons and what-not. I like to carry it in my purse (I really carry a back-pack)so I can do little projects whenever I have a spare moment.

Tiny Journals

I thought it would be cute to have little journals in the pockets of my big journal.
I keep one in my purse so I can jot down little ideas, events or make small sketches of things I see.

Highly Qualified

I have spent three of the last six months becoming a "Highly Qualified" art teacher.
I had to take 2 methods classes and pass the Arizona Profeciency Art Exam. Needless to say, I was very busy studying and a little stressed out! On top of that I had our
school art show to do two days before my test and I had to make 100 cow horns for our Gold Rush Day's Parade 10 days after that. The next three weeks I was waiting for the results of my exam.

Yes, I passed! Miricles really do happen!!
Now I needed to play, so I ran a relay marathon with some teachers from school.

I was a minute slower than last year, but I only ran 4 times to prepare for it, so that's what I get.
Then my birthday came in March so I made myself a new journal for the upcoming year.
This journal is like a mini keepsake for important or fun things that come up. (Like passing my test!)

Here is one of my March journal entries.

Now life is getting back to normal. Time to sew and stitch. Here are some recycled bags I made with bits of whatever I could find.


This was a Trader Joe bag. Front and back.

This was a Saks Fifth Avenue bag my friend gave me for camping. Now I can put all kinds of stuff in it!
That's it for today! I really hope things stay quiet for awhile because I have so
many projects to do. Check back soon!

Halloween Treat Bags- Oh- Goodie!

Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but this year I decided to make all of our custodians treat bags so I can thank them for keeping my classroom so clean. I'll have to take a picture of my art room so you can see what they have to deal with. I really do appreciate them. Here are the little bags. They are made of felt and then I sewed Halloween panels on them and added little handles. Then I filled them with goodies. (That's the best part.)

Sew Attached

Applique- decoration made of one material attached to another. Ok, this is what I do every morning when I have duty at school outside the bathrooms. No, I'm not kidding. I sit on the floor and sew for 20 minutes and make sure the kids are not messing around in the bathrooms. Now the kids stop every morning to see what I am making. I always reply, "I'm making good use of my time!" Here are some of the "Art To Heart" appliques I have just finished.