August's challenge met, altered cigar boxes!

I had fun with this month's theme and altered a couple cigar boxes.  First, I made a zombie purse and a cute tassel to jazz it up:

I even lined the interior, like a proper purse:

Then I got into decoupage...haven't done that in YEARS!
I made a couple things for school, we have a superhero theme this year:


I found a giant paperboard "P" at Wally World and covered it with comics.   
It hangs outside my door.  Most of my students cannot pronounce my last name so they all call me Mrs. "P."  

I also covered a cigar box to hold junk that is on my desk...I forgot how much FUN it is to decoupage something.  Easy to go crazy and start covering everything!

August's theme: Altered Art

Before I get started, the winner of JULY'S  drawing is CHRIS!  I'll be send you a little goodie in the mail, thanks for playing along this month!!!

This is the perfect month to STAY INSIDE and create ALTERED ART!

Look at this idea....an old watercolor tin!

here are some other things I found on google...

It is so hot right now that all I want to do is stay inside and create.  I have to admit that little Osa is keeping my crafting ideas on hold though...she is quite the busy body!

This month I thought it would be fun to make something out of ANYTHING you can get your hands on!  

I love altered art....you can find tons of ideas online or just use your imagination!

Books, bottles, notepads, gift tags, gift bags, spools, boxes......the list is endless.  Don't forget to post your finished work of art here by the end of the month!  I'll do a drawing and send the winner a goodie!

See you on the other side!

August's theme!

Ready for a challenge?

Think of all the sweet fairy tales we read as children....
and think of how many have been turned into movies....
and think of how many had singing FROGS in them! Or frogs that were princes/princesses! (if you were me you'd also think of the campy flick FROGS!)

Hmmmm.....getting the idea?

YEP!

August's ornament theme: a frog, a frog prince, a frog princess, a dancing frog.
August's activity: rent the flick or read the book...
August's challenge: REALLY? Isn't this ornie CHALLENGE enough?

NO?

Okay then, create a toad adobe somewhere in your yard/garden or on your patio.
Pick someplace that will attract flying creepies that toads and frogs want to munch on. Add a flipped over broken pot for shelter and a bit of water and you are done! Leaky faucets are very popular with toads and frogs.

"Up high the flies are playing
and frolicking and swaying.
The frog thinks, DANCE...
I know you'll end up here below!"
- Wilhem Busch

THANK YOU, Jenny S

Jenny sent me the most amazing octopus swap box!!

I cannot believe she FOUND an octopus necklace (actually made it from a charm!!!!). I had been searching for one for her and had no luck but there one was in MY box. She just made it all so special.

The altered Bingo card is adorable,

and I smiled at her flying pig touch. Now, I'd know this box was from her no matter what, but then that PINUP PILLOW

would seal the deal. We've swapped before and are both vintage-pinup fans. Isn't it SO cute! Referencing the phase, that pinup cutie does NOT have cooties!!

She also tucked in some delicious scone mix

And isn't that cute octopus fabric

... the ideas are roaming there: apron? bag? quilt? hmmmm, I have no idea but love the possibilities.

Of course, the most personal is this sweet hand-stitched octopus.

I see her love and care in every stitch.

THANK YOU!!

Sigmund . . .

I've been having a lot of fun with Val's "Year of Enchantment" swap. Where every month there is a new theme for making ornaments for our swap partners.
My contribution to August's "Year of Enchantment" swap hosted by Valerie was August's theme was: OCTUPI.
At first I thought - yipes - these are some seriously small tentacles to work with, but once I got the hang of it - it was a breeze and fun to do!
My partner Courtney loves Brown/Pink color combos and I knew that's what I'd make!


I loved how it turned out! I sent some extras - Swedish Red Fish gummy candies and glittered "C" fridge magnets.
Lucky us - we've been paired up on a handful of swaps and Courtney makes the most creative stuff.
Here's what I got from Courtney . . . so caute! :)

A female blue octupi with a sweet lil' pink bow in her hair and green sequins! My extras are a travel tin sewing kit and some doll yarn hair which I can use. Thank you so much Courtney! :) I love everything! :)

Ollie, the ocean lovin' octi!

We did our part for this month's activity. We dropped "Ollie" at the New Orleans aquarium this past Saturday. I've already posted him to the Toy Society blog.

So....is anyone else doing this month's activity????? Hmmmm???

August's Theme!

When I was in my late teen's, I used to go scalloping with friends in Port St. Joe, Florida.
One time, I found a small octopus inside a shell I had picked up. I slid it out onto the palm of my hand. It sat there a moment and then slithered across my hand back into the water. It was so amazing. Ever since that time, I've been captivated by these intelligent, beautiful, and sometimes deadly, creatures.
I'm not alone...from fairy tales to scary classics, in books and movies, octopus have played a big part in many legends.....

August ornament: octopus

August challenges:
1. give it suckers!!!
2. use future girl's Sigmund pattern. Alice of Future girl is SO excited about this and plans to follow along and do a peep show post with them! Just check the box and enter your email addy, then the down-loadable pattern pops up at the top of her page.

August activities:
Say goodbye to your gnome or another hand made softie and drop it off for a child to find for the Toy Society!

Email me photos/info once done and I'll post it to the Toy Society blog for you!
Please include:
dropped(location)
number of toys
made and dropped by(your name and blog)
date
and (you) say:(how you felt, the weather, etc.)

"Oh! I love hugging! I wish I was an octopus so I could hug 10 people at a time!"
Drew Barrymore

August's partners!

Val & Kerry
Robin & Michele
Nikki & Melinda
Shawnee & Jenny
Sandy & Courtney
Natalie & Kim
Sherry & Gin
Ramie & Missy B.