Sweet and Sinister Swap from Lisa for Dawn!

I joined a swap in July for Halloween. It is called the "sweet and sinister swap" and hosted by the terrific Kari Ramstrom who goes by artsy mama. http://www.artsymama.blogspot.com/
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The idea was to get matched up with one swap partner and find out their personal taste and get to know them. Then create a home decor item, a thrifted item that you could embellish, something "Sweet" and something "Sinister" however you might want to interpret that...

I recieved the most wonderful gifts from my lovely partner, Lisa. Indeed in addition to the great box of goodies I received I have been introduced to a friend, I will indeed have for life.

She is artfully here at her blog :

http://www.artingwithlisa.blogspot.com/

Here was the Pièce de résistance........

I love love love love swirly and gnarly trees. She named it "Family Tree" Did I mention how much I love Lisa's trees????

This is the cool packaging she stenciled and it was so fun to open....

The extra goodies came in this cool vintage tin....

Here is a cute tag garland she made me!

Here is all the cutest goodies ever!

Isn't the owl the greatest! I think he was the sinister part!

Thank you Lisa, I love all my goodies....!!!!!!!

~Dawn

It's a Pumpkin Time of the Year

I went to Las Vegas this weekend on a business trip with the hubby. Have you ever been to the Bellagio? Have you ever seen their Floral Conservatory/Botanical Garden???? Different theme every month or so...and Pumpkins were everywhere...it was pretty cool....























I loved this tree with the face on it...of course it talked and winked!


















there was some scarecrows about......

















this was a cool gnarly tree with a face too...


















with a creepy hand like a tree root....




















then of course, if you have never been there before...you simply must see the ceiling in the lobby once in your life...it is hand blown glass art by Dale Chihuly and simply breathtaking!!!!!
















Back home now from the place where it gives bling a bad name...Let's Bring on THE FALL!!! Happy Fall to Everyone!!!!!

~Dawn

A Spooky Starry Tree

I needed a little spooky tree so I fashioned this one out of wire. Naturally the next step was to coat it in black glitter and it just needed something.

What is the cherry on top of glitter.........sequins, of course!

I am so pleased with my little tree, and it's home is super cute too! (you'll have to wait till after my partner gets it to see for yourself)

How are your Halloween projects coming along?

~Steph

Crafting Friend Supply Drive

*** THIS SWAP FOR SARAH IS NOW CLOSED......

Imagine being without your favorite crafting supplies? A fellow blogger, Sarah @ Gypsy Mermaid has been hit hard in Texas by Hurricane Ike.

You can read about it on her blog http://gypsymermaidlife.blogspot.com/

We had an idea about helping her to restock her stash. I know it won't be the same but

we can certainly spare some supplies to send her way and we bet you can too. If you are interested in helping out send us an email.

** I would like to add that this was just something we came up with and only after our inquiry did she share a list with us. We have never met.

Her wish list is:
crepe paper rolls any colors
the green styrofoam cones the small ones
something to store my stuff in I know walmart has those little open totes in the craft department that were pink and brown for $15 I could so use that!!!
glitter glue
glitter(i use martha stewart but whatever kind!)
vintage cupcake picks for my cupcakes
charms and silver charm bracelets( to make my charm bracelets with)
paint brushes
paint(lighter colors are best since I use them more)
owls
mermaids
strawberries
vintage picks
cute deer
retro vintage stuff
fav colors: light blue like robin egg blue, pinks, red, yellow, green, white
fav things to craft with and use: martha stewart glitter and glue, styrofoam cones, crepe paper, vintage jewelry, charms, buttons, chipboard(i really really need this I lost all mine!) I use the glittery letters and the plain ones, those stick on rhinestones, hot glue sticks, paper mache boxes the smaller ones and medium size ones, scalloped edge scissors big and small, pastel felt, paint, paint brushes, modge podge, clear spray paint, ruler, something to hold my supplies in, polka dot paper

Help us help spread some love among fellow artists! Pay it forward!
~Dawn and Stephanie

***We don't want to post her address here... you can email us for the information!
email Dawn ...

Bling Bugs

You know they say 'Diamonds are a girls best friend." I think glittered spiders are a girls best fiend! Get yourself some plastic spider rings, 99 cents for like 100. Put them on your fingers and think about how you would totally freak if these were real.

Chop off the ring part with your wire cutters. Don't tell the sterling wire, it's afraid of spiders.
Let that spider swim in the Matte Mod Podge, shmear off some of the excess. Now it's a spider ghost. Double creepy. Could it be the ghost of many smashed up black widow's coming back to haunt me? whatever, I aint scared.Drop the gooey arachnid into black glitter. As you swirl the cup make a funny voice and pretend to be the spider sinking in quicksand, really it's fun to say "aaaaaahhhh I'm sinking" but do it after the other housemates are in bed or they will check the Mod Podge label for inhalation warnings, then just determine that you have lost it.

Using plastic chopsticks included in a kid's meal from Pei Wei pull the spider out and admire it's

creepy beauty! I also added little crystals for eyeballs.

So there you have it, even creepy bugs can become a thing of beauty when coated in glitter. What have you covered in glitter today?

~Steph

I LOVE getting Art in the mail....

Recently I sent a little package of goodies to my "Sweet and Sinister Partner", Lisa. She lives in Chicago and her blog is here http://artingwithlisa.blogspot.com/ She was so inspired she sent me a whole bunch of atc's back in the mail! It is ALWAYS fun to get art in the mail!!! I wanted to introduce "Artist Trading Cards" to her. She had never made them before and I think her's are splendid.

and I so love Artist Trading Cards.

There was more art in the mail last week....

My local buddy, Maija Lepore and I had planned on exchanging/swapping altered cabinet cards at least a year ago when we ran into each other at a class we took together. You see Maija is kinda famous for her altered cabinet cards. At least the people at Cloth Paper Scissors thought so...and the inspiring Gillian at art-e-zine too. Here is a link to her article on art-e-zine with some instructions...

http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/maija.html

I just love it! It graces my eyes right over my desk. I keep some of my favorite artwork from friends, myself and my muses right over my desk to inspire every time I am there and creating!

Then if the week of getting fun stuff in the mail could not have gotten better....

Maija and her lovely hubby were just in France last week on vacation. She sent me a postcard during their visit. Lovely Parisian Vintage Poster complete with postmark and the French Stamp, of course on the other side! Yippee made my day to get a postcard from France!

So, I gotta say it again...

I just LOVE getting art in the mail. Who doesn't??? Beats all the lovely bills that are there in the box whether you want to look at them or not!

~Dawn

Good Witch Tiara

Are you a Good Witch or a Bad Witch? Some days I really have to ponder that question! LOL Maybe I should say I play a Good Witch on TV and leave it up for interpretation. :D

Here is my latest Tiara, I'm cranking them out till I run out of chicken wire! (I have A LOT) It is 11 inches high with ribbons glittered tulle, glittered spiders, flowers and feathers.

It really sparkles with all that Art Institute Angel Dust glitter, my fave. Heaven help me if I run out of Angel Dust, not likely since I have 3 containers in waiting.

This was created for an as yet undetermined recipient. I am hoping someone will want it as a giftie give-a-way.

Time to fetch the oatmeal raisin cookies out of the oven, yuuuuuummmmmmmm.

Happy Saturday,

~Steph

Painted Pumpkins

I am having a ball with the Sweet and Sinister Swap. I wish I could show you all of what I have

been doing lately.

My dining room table has been covered in all things black and white!

Keepin it real with the Matte Mod Podge, I have used Gel Medium almost exclusively for a few years but when I used the MP in a classroom recently I was reminded of what a great inexpensive product it really is, especially for big jobs or basic stuff.

Oh and the glitter........... I have been thinking about doing a zine with the title Glitter on the Carpet! nuf said.

~SW

Deliver to Dallas

More tiaras! I made this pink one for a friend of my sister. I must admit I almost went overboard on the glitter. Is that possible? No, never-mind!

I was super pleased because one of my crafty suppliers, Mikey, had flowers buy one get one for a penny so I took the opportunity to stock up! I took the photo at night so it's a bit dark but I had to get it in the mail early the next day so I was literally out of daylight!

I hope she likes it as much as I liked making it!

~SW

Halloween Painting Today

At home today while the hubs is out golfing and I am arting up a storm. I am knee deep in Halloween Orange and Black Deliciousness.........

I could not be more tickled that my Halloween projects are shaping up more nicely...so I had to share...

I found a roll of Plain White Embossed Paintable Wallpaper at a garage sale for $4.

One of the assets to living in the Phoenix sunshine is how fast paint dries on the patio.

Here is my background paper drying on the patio out in the sun. Several feet of orange & black Halloween painted wallpaper. The orange color is called "eat your carrots" Who names paints these days...? Too funny. Then step two I dry brushed black gesso over the raised baroque damask pattern loveliness.

~Dawn

ATC's and Halloween

As anyone who knows me very well...I adore Artist Trading Cards. Recently an artsy friend gave me a gift that I really like and want to share. Believe it or not this crazy Pokemon looking package holds an ATC holder! I never would have known that from looking at the package. It is available at "Dollar Tree" stores nationwide for $1, of course. You can embellish the cover yourself. It comes in about 5 colors including black shown here.

I put together a book of my favorite Halloween themed artist trading cards for inspiration to look at. S0 you can see the possibilities of this cute inexpensive little holder.

Here is my VERY favorite Halloween inspired ATC in my collection...

It is one of my favorite images (Fornasetti) done up in a vampire theme. So awesome and made with a nod to "Twilight" by Stephanie Wright, my dear friend and blog partner.

So I have been working away on several Halloween projects and I am so tickled with my first of the gifts for my partner in the Sweet and Sinister Swap. I know Lisa checks this blog and so I guess it may whet her appetite for what she will be recieving ??

More later,

~Dawn

Summer Card Swap

The summer card swap arrived and I was so pleased with the cards I got. I made some with a little cupcake and since the camera decided to go on the fritz, I couldn't photo them before they were mailed.

I was going through them thinking wow, these are really nice. I love the one with the girl ironing and the lace is a nice touch. I didn't really look at the names on the back, I was too busy admiring the front. I really liked the one on the upper right, I was thinking 'Is this Twinkling H2o's?' "What soft fiber that is.'

It wasn't until last night when I scanned them that I discovered one was from Dawn Binyon! How lucky am I?

(Clockwise Jessica, Dawn, Melissa Merrill did the lower left, so cute, and Marylin)

Thank you ladies for some great cards!

Steph

Envie my swaps?

Hee hee hee, I couldn't resist the play on words. I have been a swapping fool as of late and I wanted to share the great results. This was a fun swap hosted by Barb, an envelope swap. Some really funny envelope messages that will speak to just the right recipient! They really made me smile and giggle too.

It really got my creative juices flowing, one of the envies is made from a coffee bag! Many people know that when I get cut I bleed *Bucks Frappucino. I love how the wire closure will serve as the "flap" of the envie.

The other EXTREMELY cool thing about the swap is that the hostess included a very sweet message. See below. The thing is she probably had no idea how much that meant to me. It is always fun to get art mail but this note made my day and week. I will be framing it as proof that someone who doesn't know me and never met me thinks I make "real art." ~Steph