Owl Therapy

There are times when I just need to do something with my hands and my mind

 that is so ultimately different than all the things involved in teaching high school science.  

A $1.99 pack of Sculpey provided the stress therapy I needed this afternoon.

Sculpey is a very soft pliable clay that can be baked in the oven.

I have used it for for making art doll heads, Christmas ornaments, 

and whimsical pins for different holidays.

I made half a dozen little owls out of one pack.  I started with a 1/4 thick circle of clay.  I folded over two sides to make the wings, and then folded over the top to make the head.  All the other details were carved into the clay with junk lying around.  Put them on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 275 degrees.  They will cool very quickly and then you can paint them with craft paints.  I hit mine with a few swipes of sand paper to give them an aged look.

I gave them a coat of gloss spray, added a pin back, and did up a quick tag to stick them in. 

Who shall I give them to?

Something to "Crow" about!

I thought the crows would be fun in the old tool box!

Love this last crow!  He looks so real!  Got him at TJ Maxx a couple of weeks ago.

Pumpkins of all kinds!

Seen a few post lately about pumpkins.  

Bought a beautiful Heirloom pumpkin from a farmers market yesterday in Old Salem. 

 Love the velvet pumpkins with real stems that are on Pinterest.

Thought I would spend this great indian summer afternoon painting a pumpkin.

What a glorious day it has been!

Meet Winnie!

Winnie is casting her spells all over my art room!
I made Winnie the Witch almost 10 years ago.
This is an Eleanor Peace Bailey pattern.

I take her out every fall and let her add
 a bit of magic to the season!
She just makes me smile every time I look at her!

My new iPad!

My sweet husband bought me an iPad!  Too busy playing with it to do a real post!

Paper preserves

Made a little trip into Charlotte yesterday....Pottery Barn, j.jill, and Paper Source all provided the eye candy I needed to churn the creative juices today!

Paper Source had this cute paper and matching tea towel. 

 I just feel in love with the canning jar theme!

Bought both!

 This started out as a junked jewelry box from GW.  

I pulled out all the fake velvet from the inside and oriental fabric padded panels from the lid tops. 

I spray painted it with flat black and then distressed it a little.

I have had it prepped for a while, just didn't know what I was going to do with it!

 I have lined some of the box with the canning jar paper.

It is now a stamp box for my fruit and veggie stamps!

 The little bottom drawer holds an ink pad, tags, scissors, a pen, and the newest stamp in my collection. Which I also got at Paper Source!

I don't can things...

I don't grow things...

But I sure would like to make tags for those jars if I did!

Link Parties:
Sew Darn Crafty
funky junk interiors

Fired up fall front porch!

Southern Living was waiting for me in the mailbox yesterday.  

 Perused it this morning with a cup of coffee. 

 Page 60!

 Todays project!

 2 cans of Regal Red spray paint

+ 6 new plants

= Fired up fall front porch!

Brown pots are now red!

 The front door got painted yellow last summer.

Home Depot had everything I needed. 

 Can hardly wait to add the pumpkins in October!

Thanks, Southern Living, for the inspiration.

I had a wonderful Sunday!