Gelli Prints - So Cool!

I found the coolest thing on Youtube.  I watched the video, then immediately had to order one of the plates.  It's a thick gel plate that comes in different sizes.  I got the 8X10.  I'll describe the process, but you really need to watch the video.

I placed the gelli plate on a piece of waxed paper. I just used inexpensive, acrylic craft paints and regular copy paper. I squeezed a little paint onto the geletin plate, then spread it around with a rubber brayer. I have cut some rings out of copy paper, then laid them randomly on top of the paint, then placed a clean sheet of paper on top and rubbed across the whole thing with my hand.

When I pulled the paper up, the paint had transferred and left the ring design. I let the paint dry (it dries very fast), then did it again with a different color and some different paper shapes on top.

I also pressed a stencil into the paint of some of them.  On the one to the left, I used a honeycomb stencil.  You can use all kinds of things to create different images.  

These papers would be great to use in collages or to make cards.  I plan to use them, instead of purchased decorative papers, for a the background on a series of greeting cards. (of course, as we know, I plan to do a lot of things)

Bamboo Sunburst Mirror

I'm getting ready to make something that I hope will be really great.  I have seen so many beautiful, hand-crafted, sunburst mirrors on the web and in magazines.  HGTV has a cute one made from twigs (check it out).

I have tons of bamboo in my yard.  My husband and I are always trying to think of uses for it.  He's made flutes and uses it to tie up the tomatoes plants.

So today, my husband cut some stalks down for me.  Now I just need to go to Michaels  to find a round mirror, cut the bamboo into 15-18" pieces, then start gluing it to the mirror.  I'm putting some pictures here to prove that I really am starting the project.  We'll just have to see how long it takes for me to do it.

A Great Blog

I just found Scraphacker.com.  I love this blog.  I've been on it for the past hour and a half and I still haven't made a dent in seeing everything.

There's so many great ideas and photos.  Basically, it has tons and tons of projects that "I plan to do".  "No really - I'm going to do some of these."

I'll let you know when I get started.  LOL

The Beginning..........

I do realize that my blog is not really visually appealing.  I promise that I am a little more creative than this, however, I just can't get the hang of this Blogspot (Blogger).  I've used Wordpress in the past and I thought this would be easier.  So, be a little patient (or don't) while I'm figuring it out.

Then again, I AM A PROCRASTINATOR, so it could take me quite a while to get this thing looking decent.  But, things are going to change, right?

Cyndi's most common sayings -

• I love that - I'm going to make it!
• Look at how much that costs - I could make that!
• I just need a couple things from Michaels, Joanne's, etc.
• I've started collecting......................
• I'm going to start sending out only hand-made cards.
• I'm going to make all of my Christmas gifts this year.
• So and so is having a baby.  I'm going to crochet a lovely blanket for her (then she ends up getting a tiny crocheted hat along with a purchased gift).
• I'm getting bored with this, I'll just work on that for a while and come back to this.

I know myself so well, yet I really believe that every single time is going to be the time that I change.  C'mon Cyndi.

I'll bet that every one of you out there sits down at a nice clean work space with all of your supplies neatly placed in the order that they will be needed.  Then you begin carefully cutting, gluing, stamping, painting, glittering, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, dying, felting, embossing, sewing, and whatever else is involved, until your project is finished.  Then you probably take a picture of it immediately, make careful notes of the different results that were achieved with different dyes, pack away all of your scraps, labeling them for future works of art, then lovingly wrap the gift in homemade paper and ribbon, attach your stamped and embossed tag, then immediately run out to the post office to get it in the mail.

Why oh why can't that be me?????  Someday????