CANVAS PROJECTS: ELEVEN DOWN AND THREE TO GO.

 Another canvas project.  I know it seems like that is all I do but there is a reason why.  You see I started out this week with fourteen blank canvases that needed something done with them.  I am now down to the last three and I MUST get them done.  My goal was to get all canvases completed this week and I might just make it.  (I couldn't sleep last night so I got up at 3:00 a.m. and worked on these three).

When the last three are done that will make a grand total of 36 in the bazaar inventory.

BAZAAR INFORMATION FOR LOCAL BLOGGERS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON

Here is a flyer for the craft bazaar I am involved in this year.

If you are local, (anywhere in western Washington or beyond) I would absolutely love to see you there.  Stop by my booth and introduce yourself and let me know you read about this on my blog and I will give you 30% off one item.

More Canvas Ideas

Here are some more ideas for using artist canvas.

Canvas Art

If you haven't discovered the many uses for artist's canvas then you should give it a try sometime.  They are quite versatile and very easy to work with.  No cutting and sanding wood, just a great base for any project ready to be painted, stained or left plain.  I buy mine when they are on sale at craft stores.  JoAnn's has them for 40% most of the time and then occasionally they will do 50% sales.

I saw something similar to this in an Uppercase Living catalog and decided to make my version of it. 

On this one I glued down some scrapbook paper onto a 14"x18" canvas then added vinyl ornaments and some ribbon.

This canvas was inspired by Wordle, a program that lets you cut and paste text into it and it arranges the words in random order.  Click on the link and try your own version, it's really fun.  This is my version using the vinyl lettering that I cut out.
On this particular project I used a black stain to create an interesting background rather than just leaving the canvas white.

Banter, Buffoonery & Bloggy Blather: Dream Weaver

If you get a chance go check out this blog post from Melinda.  She records her husband talking in his sleep.  Go ahead, it will only take about six minutes.......Funny Stuff.
Banter, Buffoonery & Bloggy Blather: Dream Weaver

Oh, Christmas Tree

I saw a tree similar to this one last year and wanted to give it a try. 

This is what I learned:

1. It was much more time consuming than I thought it would be.
2. I used an 18"x14" artist's canvas as the base.  Vinyl lettering doesn't stick very easily to plain un-prepped  canvas.
3. I used spray paint (RUST-OLEUM, American Accents, Heirloom white) to seal the canvas and hopefully make the lettering adhere better.  Note: it helped a tiny bit.
4. Designing the tree on the computer took about 2 hours plus another 11/2 hours to peel the excess vinyl then another 45 minutes to painstakingly rub each individual letter and graphic to the surface.
5. It was so worth it when I was done, I love it.  {Once the lettering is on the canvas it is pretty secure and won't peel off, unless of course someone takes their fingernail and does it on purpose.}If anyone knows where I might have seen this please let me know as I cannot even begin to remember where I saw it.  I would love to give credit to the original artist.

There is a linky party at Funky Junk Interiors I am joining.

Ghosts...Ornaments...Wisemen

Aren't these ghosts the cutest? 

This is about as scary as I get decorating for Halloween.

I don't know why but I get inspired to make new designs late at night.  Last night just before I was ready to turn the computer off for the night about 10:30 an idea SPRUNG into my head and I just couldn't go to bed.
...Soooooo, two hours later I had this almost finished with just some trim to add on the top and bottom.  Finally at  12:45 a.m. I had to turn off the lights and get some shut eye.  (I might have to keep this one and not put it in the Holiday Bazaar since my last name is HALL...get it?  "Decke The Halls")  Har har har!

"WISE  MEN STILL SEEK HIM" is one of my favorite sayings for Christmas. 

 Did you happen to notice a black and white theme I had going in this post?  I kinda do that,  get a theme going in my head and just can't stop.  LOCO maybe?

GOBBLE AND JOY...HUH?

What in the world do gobble and joy have in common?

Not much other than I thought they both would be cute made into blocks for the holidays.

I was actually inspired by some blocks I saw over at Salvesen Vinyl Creations that she had made.  Check out her blog for some really great ideas for the holidays.

The 'JOY' blocks were my own inspiration.

I have linked up with Somewhat Simple for 'Strut Your Stuff Thursday"

HOLIDAY BLOCKS

I found some cute graphics for some Christmas blocks.

This photo turned out kind of fuzzy but I thought you could see it well enough to see what I was going for.

I can't wait for the craft bazaar...just 4.5 weeks to go.

Linky Party Fun:

One Last Outing Before Winter

We went on one last camping trip before winter sets in.  I did my best to try and catch hold of the sun. In the Northwest it is hard to say goodbye to sunny weather because we know it might be months before we see the warm sunny days again.

We camped at Fort Stevens State park on the north Oregon coast.

Here is a shot of the sun coming through the trees in the morning

Our daughter Tasha and her family joined us on Sunday afternoon.  Here Spencer is learning to ride his bike without training wheels.  His dad, Jason, had to make only about three trips running beside him before he got the hang of it and zoomed off on his own.

In the background is the ship wreckage of the Peter Iredale that ran aground in 1906.

Here the boys had fun climbing on the hull of the ship.

The sun was shining but it was still cold (about 60 degrees) and breezy as you can see by my flying hairdo.

A photo of our pick-up on the beach.

Hubby and I on the beach.  We were celebrating our 37th wedding anniversary.

This is our youngest daughter Tasha and her hubby Jason.

Here is a picture of my handsome hubby of 37 years. (We were both so young when we married that I'm sure everyone thought "boy, that won't last.)  We sure showed them!

Well, goodbye to sunshine and warm weather until probably sometime next June or July.

AS EMERIL WOULD SAY: I'm Kickin' It Up A Notch...BAM!

I am starting to kick it up and make some serious progress for my craft bazaar.

WARNING: If you get in my way you just might get painted, glued, tied or sanded.

Gotta go and keep up the flow........

Boo Blocks

I have been so busy making things for  the craft bazaar next month that I have neglected making many things for my own Halloween decorations.

There are sooooo many cute scrapbook papers out there that it was hard to decide on just these three.

I actually cut the letters with my new Silhouette and glued them in place, added some ribbon and some bling.  Very simple, (that is how I like things, SIMPLE)

Busy Busy Busy Making Bazaar Stuff

I am stopping just long enough to post a few projects I have completed for the bazaar.

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, it's off to crafting I go.

Check out these linky parties I have joined.

Photo Caption Winner

I recently posted this photo and asked if anyone had a great caption for it.   I had six entries, all of which were brilliant and hilarious and since I had to choose only one as the winner (my hubby laughed the loudest at this one when I showed it to him)..............I chose this one:

You know you're a Redneck when you bring your own 'logs' to the bonfire!" HA!

by Saimi

Thanks to all of you who took the time to enter your witty answers, loved them all.

SAIMI, please send me your email so I can get the information I need to make up some custom vinyl lettering for you.

Another Canvas With Vinyl

I was really happy with how this canvas turned out.  I just love working with vinyl, it is so versitile and fun to come up with new original designs.

Sorry about the poor quality of photo, my computer has been  having...ummm problems, to put it mildly.  My photo editing program has been lost and I need to decide which program I want to go with.  Any suggestions for free down loadable photo editing program that is easy to use?