Art by Debbie Saenz

Letters, Letters, & more Letters...

I've been swimming in letters lately...yes, quite literally, I have been swimming in Wall letters, Wedding letter Sets, and even Ampersands! My Etsy Shoppe has really taken off with these new items...and is keeping me very busy!

First, however, I should explain what is going on with our house since last time I wrote we had our home for sale. Well, after a contract deal fell through, and we weren't able to really find anything else we loved, we realized we needed to stay put a while longer...I recently read Rev. 3:8, "You are the Lord who opens doors no one can shut" and the opposite is just as true - You also shut doors no one can open. That verse reminds me where my trust needs to be and brings, Oh, so much freedom and peace!...So, here we are, unpacking boxes and getting situated again.  We had de-cluttered (which was much needed anyway :) and staged our home to sell it. I took the pictures for our listing so maybe in an upcoming blog post I'll show you the pics I took. I even have before pictures from seven years ago when we bought our home...quite a contrast. Humm, that would be a fun post! Soon, I promise :)

Back to my letters---It all started with a project I did for Plaid which was actually a featured project in a recent JoAnn Fabrics catalog. Plaid asked me to design the word Love using paper mache letters any way I wanted as long as all the products were sold at JoAnn fabrics, and using Mod Podge, of course! Here is a picture of the the project I designed...

I thought a reclaimed wood look would look with a coastal color palette would look awesome...so this is what I came up with! I took this picture of my letters before I dropped them off at Plaid's headquarter office. I always have a little photo shoot of my projects before I hand them over. Pretty good, I think...but I loved the image I got of the 'V'...

Yup! that's where my letters all began...I created my first Letter Listing in my Etsy Shoppe. I used this photo and now have made so many letters I will soon be creating an album of my letters on my Facebook Page...

I now offer Wedding Letter Sets too! Those have been really popular. I thought it would be really special for the Bride and Groom to have a personalized letter set with thier initials and a little hand stamped tag with their wedding date. I  LOVE the way they turn out!

Oh so cute! Maybe you know someome who is getting married? This would make an adorable and very unique wedding gift.  What I love about these is that they can  be displayed at the wedding reception...and then used as home decor as a reminder of the Big Day.

 Here's one bride-to-be who bought one of my large ampersands as a photo prop for her engagement photos. She was so kind to send me a few images.

Adorable right? Here's another...

I do want to give credit to her photographer, Lindsay Jo Photography here.

This is the common sight next to my front door... stacks of packaged Letters, made with lots and lots of love, ready to be taken to the post office and shipped to my wonderful customers who keep me really really busy! But that's a good thing:)

 

Mod Podge Monday: Large Wall Letters

Oh so pretty! I made this for someone who was looking for a wall letter to complete the nursery....created with Mod Podge of course!

Pretty velvet ribbon and lace

I sealed it with Sparkle Mod Podge; I love, love all the glitter...and sweet pearls.

And a beautiful flower completes it!

 I now sell these in my Etsy Shoppe! Custom made with your choice of paper.

My Vintage Whimsy paper was, again, the choice for this letter. I think it's so perfect for a baby girl's nursery!

Pretty, Pretty

I love making these Custom Large Wall Letters...adding all the special little touches makes each one unique!

For sale now in my Etsy Shoppe

 

Mod Podge Monday: Vintage Style Christmas Box

One beautiful Mod Podged Chrismas box, ready! And now avalable in my Etsy Shoppe.

In between my paintings (Which are lmost ready to be revealed!), Etsy orders, and Plaid projects, I've decided to tackle, one by one, the pile of wood boxes I have collected over the  years. 

I love the vintage style of this paper. 

I removed the pin backing off of this brooch I had and glued it on the top of the box. Perfect!

Pretty red velvet around the edges

This box is now available in my Etsy Shoppe. You can read more about the details of how I made this box in my listing information.

I plan to add more Christmas boxes in my shoppe, one at a time.

Mod Podge Monday: Monogrammed Antiqued Photo Canvas

Many times Plaid asks me to design projects such as frames or, in this case, a photo on canvas. They only require that I use the specific Plaid product they designate, and then I'm free to be as creative as I want, Yea! And I love to use family photos whenever possible. 

This time, I used a picture of my grandson, Isaiah Michael. Adorable! He was actually 3 years old in this picture and earlier this month he turned 8! 

The used Mod Podge Antique Matte, one of Plaid's new Mod Podge products. 

I really like the time worn effect it gives to black and white photos.  

In case you're wondering...ok, you probably don't really care, but for my family that may read this...I used an M (for Michael, his middle name) instead of an I for Isaiah. Yes, since it was a Plaid project I needed to make sure it photographed well, and the M worked better visually than the I would have, on this particular project :)

I love you Isaiah Michael! 

You can make one like this too, you can find my complete instructions here, on Plaid's website.

I noticed, for whatever reason, a download for the template was not included with my instructions. So, If you want it, just send me an email and I will send you a file with the template I made for this project. 

While in my local Michaels the other week, I noticed Plaid has a new display for their Mod Podge and paint products. I was so excited to find 10 images of my projects were used! How cool is that? 

Next time you visit your local Micheals, you'll find this project with Isaiah Michael featured in the isle with all the Mod Podge and craft paints! 

Well, I better get busy! I have several more paintings to finish this week and more Plaid projects due soon!

 

Mod Podge Monday: Vintage Pumpkin Decor

Last month I designed several pumpkin projects for Plaid. And since I just had to incorperate vintage themed pumpkins I pulled out one of my old books and grabbed my bottle of Mod Podge. With a few additional embellishments, wholla! just the look I was going for.

 You can get my complete instructions here.

If you are into decorating pumpkins, Plaid has a Trick Your Pumpkin Contest going on until October 24th. Check it out, you might win :) 

I'm stlll trying to find time to get all my newest paintings photographed, my others finished, and blog posts written...I have lots to show you. Ugh!! sometimes I really don't know where the time goes...I guess it doesn't help that I'm not the greatest manager of it! Actually, I've been using much of my time trying to really focus on just painting.

For now though, I've been in TX with my hubby since last Friday. We went to a conferance together through yesterday and today I'm going to galavant around Austin while my hubby is in meetings all day. Oh yes! I have several galleries lined up to visit. Exciting, Exciting! 

Well, until next time :)

 

 

 

Mod Podge Monday: LOVE Letters

I have some LOVE for ya...since I've let a whole month go by without posting any Mod Podge Monday's... 

I designed these LOVE letters for Plaid earlier this year as part of the group of projects I designed for Plaid's booth at the 2012 CHA, Craft and Hobby association. This project was also featured in Plaid's 2012 Mod Podge Formula Catalog and on Plaid's website. Funny, while in my local Michaels the other day, I saw this again! It was part of the thumbnail photos Plaid has despersed along their FolkArt paint section. Lots of LOVE!

I'm not sure you can appreciate the shine here, but I used one of Plaid's new products: Mod Podge Super Gloss. It looks like glass and shows no brush strokes. What's not to love?

As you may, or may not know, for each project I design for Plaid, I write out detailed instructions. This is not my favorite part, but it allow you and others to recreate a project just like it on your own. You can find my complete instructions for this project here.

For now, It's back to my studio :)

Mod Podge Monday: Mini Frig Before and After

Last week I showed you a Lamp shade I transformed for my daughter's dorm room. This week I want to show you a mini frig redo. 

UGLY isn't even the best word for this poor little guy. I picked him up at a used appliance store....and this pic was before I scrubbed it clean and used white paint to touch up some of the edges that would show after I did my magic with a paper table cloth and some Mod Podge.

TaDa...here is what I did to it! I used Hard Coat Mod Podge on this piece for more durability. I must say, he's a real statement piece now! Sarah was so happy with the way her mini frig turned out. It sits in the furniture piece I made for Sarah. You can see my daughter's dorm room, as it was last year, here, in this post. 

Sarah is now a Sophomore and begins classes today. We moved her back in this past week. Last year she only had one window, this year she has two windows and I don't have enough of the same fabrics and trim to make an identical one. So, guess what's been added to my to do list? Yup, make two matching curtains for Sarah's room. 

I better get busy!

 

 

Mod Podge Monday: Lamp Shade Redo

It's amazing how quick Mondays roll around! Well, here is another Mod Podge project for ya...

 

This week my daughter will be heading back to college. It's sad to see her go, but I'm hoping this year will be just like last year when we had the privilege of seeing her most weekends when she made the drive back home.

Last summer I was all consumed with beautifying Sarah's dorm room and worked really hard, even through many nights, to have everything done by the move in date. You can see how it all turned out in the post I wrote about "My Daughter's Dorm Room". Now, we're dragging everything out of storage and are ready to set up her space once again.

I thought I would share this simple project with you all today. I gave one of my yard sale finds a redo for the perfect bedside lamp for Sarah's room. 

Here are my instructions:

1. Make a template of the lampshade using a large piece of newspaper; Cut out 1/2 inch larger on each side and the ends. 
2. Trace around the template on the backside of desired fabric; Cut out.
3. Apply Fabric Mod Podge on the outside of lamp shade until evenly coated. Make sure you go back over any spots that might have dried. 
4. Position your cut fabric piece over the lampshade and smooth out with your fingers adding additional Mod Podge as needed. Overlap the seam and fold the excess fabric toward the inside of the shade for a finished look. 
5. Attach trim along top and bottom of shade if desired. 

You might have an old lampshade that could use a little revamping too!

 

Mod Podge Monday: A Very Special Gift...Personalized Painting!

This very special art piece was a gift I made for Jasmine, my precious granddaughter. Mod Podge was a key ingredient, but the main ingredient was love! There's lots of layers and it's all mounted on a piece of wood with Mod Podge, of course.

Jasmine Faith Walton, our beautiful granddaughter was baptized while we were in FL. The best part was that my hubby, pop-pop, had the privilege of performing the Baptism ceremony. Very Special!  

I made this little charm bracelet for Jasmine to wear on her special day. 

God Bless you Jasmine Faith!

ps. I sell these personalized paintings in my Etsy Shoppe. I can paint any name and add any text you wish!

Mod Podge Monday: Pretty in Pink Bird and House

 

A sweet little pink bird, happy at home, full of bliss, cherishing life. 

This is another one of the projects I designed earlier this year for Plaid's booth at the 2012 CHA, Craft and Hobby association. This one was also featured in Plaid's 2012 Mod Podge Formula Catalog as well as on Plaid's website.

I changed out the boring wood dowel for a more elegant perch, a glass knob!

Notice all the cool cracks? I love it! That's the effect of Plaid's new Mod Podge Formula, Mod Podge Crackle medium. You gotta try this one! 

I tore some 100% silk fabric to make a whispy bow...perfect for the shabby look I was going for. 

Basicly, your message could say anything you want it to, simply change the words. I typed up what I wanted to say and printed them using my inkjet printer. Easy! 

You can find my complete instructions here.

and you might need this: Download Bird Template 

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If you follow my blog, you've might have been wondering where I've been the last several weeks. Well, I've been traveling the world. No, not really, but almost! We drove to South Florida (from North Georgia), then flew to California, flew back to South FLorida, drove to Orlando and then back home to Georgia. Whew!

And yes, we got back home just in time for the Olympic Games to keep us up too late at night...now I'm recovering from Olympic exhaustion! But, the suitcases are unpacked, laundry is done, a backlog of orders are filled and I finally feel like I'm back on track. 

I have so much to share with you...the jewelry I made while on the road, my new easel, my new way of eating, a new art piece I've been working on, my precious grandchildren, and other highlights from our trip!  Look for all of it real soon :)

Oh, I love to travel, but sometimes it's so good to be back home, I'm feeling blissful...just like the little birdy in my project!