5/365

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5/365

Today I released my inner rock star in front of a sign in the lobby of my work. I know, I’m really breakin’ the law.

The lobby is brightly decorated with products, packaging, signage, frames, and pieces. It’s actually pretty cool. It makes a big statement to an outsider coming in. I’ll post a few pics to show you here in a bit.

My friend and co-worker Allie actually did this. She is very much into the graffiti style and executes it awesomely. She’s about 10 years younger than me, so she totally gets that younger demographic. I guess I get it, but it’s not my style (only unless I can fake it for a 365 picture…hee hee).

Ornament Thursday: Something’s brewing up!

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cute witch canvas

This month, we didn’t have as many Thursdays in September, so I totally flaked on Ornament THursday! I got caught up with other things. So my project is a day late, and a dollar short, huh?

The theme for Ornament Thursday this month is “Brew”. so I decided to share this project that I did last year that I posted on myspace. I wanted to create a retro witch wall hanging that was cute and fun and divalicious. I haven’t gotten her out yet for this year, but hopefully will in the next week!

RETRO WITCH WALL HANGING

SUPPLIES

Americana Acrylic Paints:

Jack O’ Lantern Orange

Royal Fuchsia

Bahama Blue

Flesh Tone

Cherry Red

Americana Acrylic Writer:

Black

Dazzling Metallics Paints:

Purple Pearl

Ice Blue

Craft Twinkles Paints:

Purple (DCT15)

Orange (DCT13)

Crystal (DCT1)

Christmas Red

Brushes:

Flat brush, liner brush

Surface:

8×10 white art canvas

Additional Supplies:

Fuchsia sequins

12 small crystal rhinestones

1 large purple rhinestone

1 medium crystal rhinestone

1 starbust sparkle

Sakura Gelly Writer Silver Pen

craft glue

Water basin

paper towels

paper plate

tracing paper

pencil

Sharpie marker (optional – see optional ideas section)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Draw or trace onto canvas

2. Paint in face area using Flesh Tone.

3. Squeeze out Black writer onto plate and paint hair, inside glasses area and hat stripes (refer to photo)

4. Paint around glasses Royal Fuschia.

5. Paint lips Cherry Red.

6. Paint hat brim and stripes Purple Pearl.

7. Paint wider stripe just above brim Jack O’ Lantern orange.

8. Paint background Ice Blue.

9. When background is done, paint stars Bahama Blue and swirls Royal Fuchsia.

10. Paint stripes on side of canvas alternating between orange and black.

11. Use black writer to outline hair, neck, chin, nose, and hat. Let dry.

12. Use silver pen to add details around stars, swirls, and for reflection on glasses.

13. Use matching twinkle color to paint over selected areas…For Purple Pearl, Purple Twinkles; Cherry, Red; Jack O’ Lantern, Orange Twinkles; and Black, I mixed it up and gave it a purple twinkle tint as well. For stars, Ice Crystal twinkles was used.

14. Once all is done, adhere sequins and embellishments with craft glue.

OPTIONAL IDEAS:

1. Glue gun a matching tulle or grosgrain ribbon to the top of your canvas for hanging.

2. Use a Craft Twinkles paint pot instead of buying every single color of Twinkles or get a similar effect by just applying Ice Crystal Twinkles over selected areas.

3. For finer details (instead of using Black Americana Writer), use Sharpie Marker.

Also, I can put the pattern if anyone wants it on my flickr. I will have to draw it up though. So, if you’d like to have it, please e-mail me at swelldesigner@yahoo.com.

Here’s what the other ladies of Ornament Thursday have brewed up!

Art Bead Scene
Jennifer’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Bracelet

BeadStyle & Milwaukee’s heritage
Linda shares her Amber Bock Bracelet

Brewin’ Up A Few Witches
Witches born of glass

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
New Beads are Brewing…

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble…
Joolz by Lisa has a “Hairy” Twist on OT Brew

It’s not easy being green
Michelle yearns to be the Wicked Witch of the West – we think she’s hit pay dirt here.

Strands of Beads
Something wicked is brewing at Melissa’s place

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

All content/photos copyright, © Alexa L. Westerfield, 2008

A quick digi project and this and that

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buggin'

So, I whipped up this project last night on the fly. It’s for a friends’ coffee table. Several other people I know are makine 6×6 canvases to go under his coffee table as well as an interesting art series all focused on bugs.

I am feeling a little icky today over dealing with confrontation. I really hate doing it and don’t have to in day in day out situations, but you know when something rears it’s ugly head, sometimes you just have to approach it even when you don’t want to. I’ve always had anxiety over such things and don’t always feel equipped to deal. I guess I need to just do it and learn and experience…seems like most times it is not usually as bad as I seem to make it out to be in my head. Just not fun.

I just went to Subway. Why is it that I always gravitate toward the same type of sandwich? Anyone else do this? My favorite is the Italian BMT on Italian herbs and Cheese. I guess when you find something you like it’s hard to change. Thankfully, though I’ve gotten over chicken finger ordering at nice restaurants. That used to be the thing I always got. Now, I figure it’s one of the worst things I could get on the menu health-wise, so I tend to avoid it.

I’m all by my lonesome today at work. Just the sound of me typing and the air conditioning going. I really hope this afternoon goes by quickly. I plan on going to the arboretum later tonight and out to eat. Trying to make an exercise plan. Last night, I rode around my neighborhood 4 times. It’s actually not that much, but I was still sweating by the time I got through. I came back in and I had only been gone for 15 minutes. Geez. Well, atleast it was something!

Until tomorrow Swellions. Have a great day!

Alexa

Canvas art, coffee, and glitz

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Tonight, I worked on a few canvases like this:

dame canvases 1

I am making them for a friend for her to give for holiday gifts. Adhering printouts to canvas is always tricky. The canvas flexes, dips, and wants to create bubbles. I used an old CD to push the bubbles out and then sprayed it with Preserve your Memories 2.

Also, today, I got a nice surprise waiting at my desk…this…

general foods international

It was General Foods International Coffee in Pumpkin Spice flavor. I actually had bought the kind on the bottom (hazelnut) on Sat. at Target. I never have ever bought that stuff, so to get another tin of it was awesome and in my favorite flavor…pumpkin spice! I will say that the coffee had work has been rather unbearable. My friend Donna usually makes decent coffee, but even hers was ick last week when I had it. I really think it comes down to the pot. It has never been excellent coming from that pot (and I think it is supposed to be one of the more expensive kinds). I’ve been tempted to take my mini coffee maker in just for me and my co-worker, but this new stuff is much better (I like sweet coffee).

Also, at lunch, I had a minor emergency. On my way to grab a bite, I took a look at myself in the mirror and yikes…it was not pretty. I’ve been trying that new Clean and Clear product (they say it has results of clean skin in one day – puleeze). I believe, as I have heard many a time, that with using this type of medication, that it “has to get worse before it gets better”. Hopefully, my better days are just around the corner. Anyway, I had left my makeup accidentally at home, so I had to make a Wal-mart run for some foundation and while there, this caught my eye…

the more things change, the more they stay the same.

It is nice to know that simple things in everyday life, like ribbon, can make me feel happy. It wasn’t the best day, but just thinking about it puts me in a better mood.

I have lots of things to do this week…craft projects for friends, shops, and family. I also have to finalize a lot of gifts. I hope I can get it all done!