Gourds Galore and More

New HOT Gourd for Halloween

2010-10-14T19:46:00.000-04:00

Hi all,
I've just completed this fun new face of flames gourd for this Halloween. This design was carved out using my new Mastercarver Combo. I just LOVE this tool. It makes quick work when you want to cut out shapes.

A few added painted flames for the outside and he's complete.

I have wired him using a 6 foot cord with flicker flame bulb. He's a spooky guy!

A Silly Face for Halloween

2009-10-10T18:12:00.002-04:00

Well isn't this guy just cute as can be? I just loved his face when I finished him. He just makes you feel good.

I decided to make him simple with some dry brushed cheeks and a basic smile. I wanted his nose to be 3D so I used black polymer clay and added some nostrils. He's just a cutie.

I also added some black spatter paint for a bit of an aged look. He has just been listed in my Etsy shop. If you would like to own him click here.

Have a super weekend everyone,

Darlene

Pumpkin Kettle Gourd

2009-08-06T18:02:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone!
I've been busy creating again :-)

I used my burnt orange gourd ink again on this little gourd. I looked at this gourd on the shelf and I thought it looked like a cute pumpkin so I dyed it a complimentary color of fall and then added some nice purple and white roses and buds. A few leaves and vines around here and there for a nice decorative touch.

It would make a great accent to any fall arrangement in the home or a centerpiece for parties and dinners during the autumn season.

I will be making some whimsical faces too but I wanted a nice simple but elegant touch for the upcoming season. I just love it!

This is a pic of the back side.
Thanks so much for checking in....

Darlene

Here it is.....my Southwestern beaded gourd

2009-07-25T18:42:00.006-04:00

Sorry everyone.....I've been a bad bad blogger :-(

I had completed this gourd a week ago but just didn't get an opportunity to update an entry here with some pics. I really like how this birdhouse came out and it was fun to create.

I hand strung the beads in and out of small holes that I drilled around the entrance hole to the house. I then painted a simple wooden vine and leaves to compliment the colors of the beads.

A touch of raffia on the hanger...

This is the center back of the gourd in this picture.

Just a closer view of the painted vines and leaves.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm working on a pumpkin face next. Fall is just around the corner!!!!

Darlene

2009-07-15T18:06:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone....Happy Wednesday!

Below is a little tease of the new gourd I'm working on. It has a variety of beads hand strung including turquoise. It's turning out pretty great....come back and visit for the final reveal :-)

TFL

Darlene

Thatched Roof Gourd Birdhouse

2009-07-11T15:25:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone!
I've been working pretty hard in my craft room creating a few new gourd birdhouses out of my kettle gourds. I decided I wanted to make a house with a nice thatched roof look so this is my final product.

I used the berry gourd ink dye on this gourd and just love it. The color is very pretty but still soft and lets the natural gourd coloring show through. I can't wait to use the other colors expecially the orange for fall!

I added a few iridescent matte beads around the roof peak by hand sewing each one on. Just love the added touch!

This roof is made with cocoa liner.....it's very moldable and thick. It's fun to work with too.

Thanks for looking. I'll be back soon with more gourds and some fun fall pattern too!

Darlene

Gourd Ink Dyes and Pigment Powders

2009-06-12T10:01:00.005-04:00

I have been quite busy lately helping my husband build a privacy fence for our backyard so I have been a bad blogger. I hope to be a little more productive within the next 2 months by posting some new gourd creations.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a few new purchases with you. I have wanted to use gourd ink dyes for quite a while now but just haven't made the purchase. Well since I love the earthy rustic look of some of the fall colors I decided to make an order of some Gourd Master products. Wow these are just wonderful colors. There are so many to choose from I wanted them all!

The colors of the pigments powder here are: Spring Green, Red Russet, Antique Bronze and Pumpkin Orange. I also chose the folowing ink dyes: Sage, Berry, Blue Denim, Sienna and Deep Orange. You can put the pigment powders over the inks for a beautiful metallic luster. I also am trying the Protecting Wax instead of the spar varnish for a more muted rustic feel.

Please check back for pics of projects I have created with my new goodies!

TFL!

Darlene

Crocus Kettle Gourd Birdhouse-Final Steps

2009-04-17T10:04:00.006-04:00

I have finished the kettle gourd birdhouse. It was very enjoyable to paint with such bright vivid colors for a spring design.

I added 3 coats of exterior spar urethane (sanding lightly between each coat) for a very durable and long lasting finish. Since Michigan has such sever temperature changes, I always use the best product for the most extreme conditions.

This is a close-up of the flower detail.

I tied a bit of raffia around the hanger and added some seed beads for a nice touch. What bird wouldn't want some home decor accents right?

The hanger I use is a heavy duty suede cord tied at the end.

The front view of the final product.

I hope you try painting one of these birdhouses for your use. Caution.....it's pretty addicting!

Have a great week,

Darlene

This is not what I Call Spring Showers!

2009-04-06T11:20:00.004-04:00

Well needless to say we here in Michigan have seen many different types of weather at many different times of the seasons. Just last week Tom and I were enjoying warm 60's and starting to put our wonderful homemade compost into the vegetable gardens preparing them for a nice new crop of garden delights this summer.

This is our wonderful composter.....it may not be pretty it makes beautiful compost.

From coffee grounds and vegetable trimmings to this beautiful "Black Gold" compost. Who could ask for more and it's all free too!

We knew this great weather may not last so we have been outside almost daily planning some new projects for the yard. We will be building a pergola and putting in a privacy fence and a nice wooden picket fence for the vegetable garden.

After having some nice conversation about these projects yesterday we also turned on the news and NOT to our amazement we heard about a Winter Storm Warning heading our way for Sunday night. We both just laughed and decided to chalk it up to "Michigan Weather" again. This is what we woke up to this morning.....let's hope it melts fast. We have yard work to do LOL!!!!

Enjoy your day...

Darlene

Kettle Gourd Birdhouse-Painting Process Continued

2009-04-06T08:10:00.007-04:00

Step 2 - Painting the Design

After you have basecoated your entire gourd basecoat the crocus design with a light buttermilk color. I usually thin my paint and use 2-3 coats before it has good coverage.

Trace a light outline of the petal details.

I did a light wash of pink over the light basecoat and then began adding shades of purple.

I added two shades of purple on these petals and then added the stems and leaves using 2 shades of green and 2 shades of brown.

I added the stamens and white dots using shades of gold, yellow, rust and orange. A few vein lines were added with the darkest purple shade.

The next post I will show you the top of the gourd design and the final touches.

Kettle Gourd Birhouse-Painting Process

2009-04-04T08:18:00.004-04:00

Step 1 - Base Coating

I usually like to make the top section with a decorative edge and coordinating color but you can paint the entire gourd one color if you prefer. I mark a decorative edge around the top approximately 3" down from the top.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint in Hauser Dark Green for the base coat. Since this color is very dark it takes 2-3 coats for nice coverage. Once the base coat is on I highlight over the entire area with Lt. Avocado and Hauser Light Green. It give the gourd a nice mottled look like you are looking through a nice blurry wooded area.

I draw out the flowers on paper and cut out around the pattern. Transfer your pattern onto the gourd using graphite paper. I decided to put two sets of crocus blossoms on each side of the entrance hole (in reverse directions) and then a set of three blossoms centered in the back. All the designs will be located coming from the bottom edge of the gourd as if they are growing from the ground.
I'll post more steps in the next few days everyone!

Darlene

Kettle Gourd Birdhouse with Crocus Design

2009-04-01T08:22:00.014-04:00

HAPPY APRIL EVERYONE!

I'm in the mood for spring so I've been working on some new gourd birdhouses. This is one of the new designs for a spring gourd birdhouse. I thought I would share some of the process with you. Please feel free to use any of my ideas and paint a birdhouse for yourself. Change up the design and colors too! I'd love to see what you create. Please post a comment with a link to your creation. I love to see all the beautiful creations from the gourd artists out there :-)

First step.....Selection and Preparation

I always choose my individual gourd for a specific project and design. I have chosen this one for a wren/finch birdhouse with a nice spring crocus design. Sand and seal your gourd before drilling and drawing on your design.

I mark my 4 holes on the bottom of the gourd for drainage just in case wind blows and water gets into the birdhouse. You don't want those little babies to drown!

I also drill two holes for the hanger, 1 for the perch and a 1" hole for the entrance to the birdhouse (between 3-5" from the floor of the gourd).

Clean out all the loose seeds and debris that is inside the gourd. I use a dust mask so I don't inhale the gourd particles. They can cause lung irritation in some people.

The perch gets glued in with weather-proof glue.

I'll be back with more pics of the design and painting process later this week. Grab a gourd and paint along with me!

Have a great week,

Darlene

Handmade Mini Album - Part 2 of 2

2009-02-02T11:33:00.006-05:00

I hope some of you are trying this mini album....it's fun to make!

After you have glued the spine you will need to add your decorative front and back covers.

Use the same gluing procedure getting out all the air bubbles with the bone folder as before. Then miter your corners. Run your bone folder around the craft board to make a slight indentation. This will help train your paper to fold up and around nice and neat. Go ahead and glue all edges of the front and back covers and smooth as before. Use the tip of the bone folder for a nice neat tuck at the mitered corners.

Now it's time to add the inside covers and inside spine. Just repeat the same process as the front of the mini album.

Once you have the spine glued then I run my bone folder down the edges and fold each cover back a forth a few times. Now it looks like a real book!

Punch two holes in the spine so you can attach a ribbon or fiber for the decorative handle. I use my cropadile for this since the crafty board is quite thick.

It should look like this.

Add your decorative handle by threading each end from the outside to the inside and tying a square knot. I add fray check to secure the knot.

I layer all my inside papers together and secure with 2 brads or eyelets. I attached two sequin flowers in the brushed silver brads for this book.

Now you have the front and back of all these paper sizes to scrapbook on. There's plenty of room for pictures and journaling and any other embellishements you choose to add.

Enjoy your book!

Handmade Mini Album Part 1 of 2

2009-01-21T08:12:00.007-05:00

I really enjoy making these mini-books for scrapbooking specific themes. These can be used for baby, pets, specific yearly holidays, events (ex: sporting, showers, etc.) and by adding a few additional pockets you can hold all the ephemera you need to archive the moment.

Here is a little photo tutorial on the highlights of how I make this 5"x7" mini album. I hope you try one too. They are ADDICTING!

I cut my mat board to the sizes I need. One piece for the front, one for the back and one for the spine. I purchase "Crafty Board" for my books. You can get this from The Paper Mill store http://www.thepapermillstore.com/gsearch.php?substring=crafty+board&x=50&y=12 It's a 40 pt board and quite durable. There are many other sources also.

Then off to choosing all your cardstock for outside, spine and inside. I love the Club Scrap papers because of their thickness. I want my books to be as durable as possible. I believe that they will be passed down to many younger generations and many little hands (and big too) will be handling these mini albums. Durability is a must!

Mark the center of your spine cardstock and mat board. Centering is VERY important for a professional look.

I always use book binding glue for my book projects. I really like how easy it is to work with but it also makes the final product look professional. It allows me to make crisp edges and corners. The use of the bone folder helps achieve this look. Please use it, you can't go wrong and you'll never try to make another fold without it :-)

I first apply the glue on my mat board directly from the bottle. Then I take a brush (foam or bristle) and spread the glue evenly. Make sure you cover every bit of the mat board and spread throughout. It should have a nice amount of coverage but never runny or messy.

Add your cardstock and smooth out completely with the bone folder. Make sure you are removing any air bubbles if they have formed. In this pic I am doing the spine first.

Use the same process for the front and back mat board covers. I measure a line on the mat board for reference. I want to leave a small area between the spine and front and back covers so it can be comfortably folded.

For this bookI used a heavily textured paper on the spine that gives the appearance of real leather. Just LOVE it!

Once you have the spine glued, fold back and forth a few times. This trains the paper fibers to go where you want them to go for the end product.

In Part 2 we will finish the covers and the fun inside pages!

TFL

Darlene

Snowman Angel Gourd

2009-01-05T12:08:00.002-05:00

I'm not quite sure if this gourd will end up looking like a snowMAN or a snowWOMAN but it will definately have some angel wings on the back. I loved making those snowANGEL patterns in the snow when I was a child so I decided to paint this gourd with that idea in mind.

I took this plain gourd, base coated it in Lt. Buttermilk acrylic paint and then drew on a few designs.
I have quite a bit more to paint and of course I need to put the sealer on but it's looking like a snowPERSON :-)

More to come......

Red Glimmer Hearts

2008-12-29T17:50:00.006-05:00

I came across this wonderful heavy glimmer felt at the store yesterday and I knew exactly what to cut out of it....Hearts of course! All this bling makes my own heart go pitter pat.

They also had a very pretty royal blue too so I have cut snowflakes out of that color. Check out the Etsy shop for more interesting listings this week.

New Birdhouse Gourd

2008-12-11T13:45:00.004-05:00

I am really happy with how this birdhouse came out. I decided to make the heart around the entrance and call it a "Love Nest". The bookshelf and all the goodies it displays is on the back side of the gourd. This gourd measures 12" tall and is 9" in diameter. The entire gourd has been softly spatter painted for a country look. This gourd reminds me of a happy spring morning. I think here in Michigan we will need to wait a bit for that season though.

This is a view of the back

A closeup of the cute little rag doll with her her little apron on!

Crocheted Poinsettias

2008-11-14T08:36:00.005-05:00

I took a small break from cleaning gourds and crocheted a set of these poinsettias yesterday. They were very quick and easy to make with a warm holiday feel. I hand embroidered the french knots in the center for a realistic look. That really brought me back to the old days when my mother and I sat and did the old fashioned cross stitch (not the counted). After all the gourd cleaning and crocheting my hands are feeling the workout! I need to head outside before the rain hits and finish raking the leaves and cutting back the hostas and then all the perennials are ready for winter. We had some snow the other day but that has now melted. The weather forecast is calling for rain turning into snow by this afternoon and Saturday total snow so I'm heading out now to see what I can accomplish. Have a great day!

Old World Santa

2008-11-08T12:45:00.008-05:00

I decided that even though the snow isn't flying here yet in Michigan it's only a matter of time! To get me in the holiday spirit I painted this kettle shaped gourd like an Old World Santa. He's painted with more toned down colors for the Old World look. He has a nice pine needle bottom detail with red berries throughout the garland. I painted his arms and hands at his plump little sides and added a cute detail on his hat with a beautiful gold metallic edge. Santa has a full and curly beard and those rosey chubby cheeks tell you how cold it's been outside! He'll be looking for a home off of my Etsy shop on Monday. You are getting a sneek peek of all the closeups before the listing is up :-)

This gourd would be a great addition to your table as a centerpiece or anywhere else in your home that needs a little Christmas cheer. I have sealed Santa with 3 coats of urethane for indoor, as well as, outdoor use. If you shake him you can hear the gourd seeds inside. Kids love to hear the sound! He's very durable so a few little shakes from the kids won't hurt him at all. Shaking Santa also centers the seeds to the center of the bottom of the gourd so he will sit nice and straight on your table.

Who can resist this cute face?

He measures 9" tall and 7" wide (23" circumference). He reminds me of the roly-poly toys when I was a little girl. TFL!

An Old Find

2008-11-03T09:31:00.001-05:00

Now that Halloween is over I started digging through my Thanksgiving decorations and I found this turkey. I had honestly forgotten that I made this little ceramic guy years ago. I had taken ceramic classes (one evening class every week) when my 2 children were little ones. It was my time to get out. interract with other ladies and fulfill my pent up creativity. I loved those classes! I made this turkey when a new technique had come out called "dry brushing" using acrylic paints. This was a great process because I didn't like having to use ceramic glazes and fire the piece in a kiln again. Once I tried this process I was hooked. I always enjoyed the soft look that this painting technique accomplished.

I thought I'd share this funny turkey with you to start off our Thanksgiving season .

I'm currently working on a Santa face gourd and should be sharing him with you soon. I am also planning on painting quite a few snowmen gourds. It's so hard to decide what cute little face to paint first!!!

Have a great week!
Darlene

Ta Da....

2008-10-30T09:47:00.000-04:00

He's done and up for sale on http://www.ggam.etsy.com/!

This turkey started out as this plain gourd and grew into this happy turkey.

I really enjoyed painting this little guy. He came to life as soon as I painted his face. I hope you like him. He'll make a great addition to a home as a centerpiece or just an accent.

His tail feathers were so easy to make. I used corn husks and painted them and glued the edges together. I added a piece of braided raffia as an accent.

I did some splatter paint all over him including his front tail feathers. I think he brings a nice fall feeling to this season.

Have a super Fall season everyone!

Turkey Gourd...a sneek peek

2008-10-29T13:28:00.001-04:00

Do these look like turkey feathers? Well they are and they are the final step in my Turkey Gourd. I completed my gourd this morning and all I need to do is put the final coat of sealer on and he will be ready to pose for his picture. Please check back tomorrow for his debut. He is very cute and I hope he makes all of you smile!

Have a great day and keep warm if you are in a cold climate.

Darlene

Embossed Leaves

2008-10-23T11:03:00.000-04:00

I've been experimenting with my leaf stamps and pretty metallic embossing powders this week. I created a few new designs for the Etsy shop and I thought I'd share them here. Fall is my favorite time of year so it's always fun to create during this season. I plan on using these metallic leaves for my Thanksgiving cards and I bet they would look great on placecards for the holiday Thankgiving table too!

TFL!

Busy time of year

2008-10-22T08:46:00.000-04:00

I've been creating a few fall scrapbook items for my Etsy shop but mainly painting. I have almost completed a Turkey gourd. He's a real cutie and I will be posting his little face here soon....hopefully by this weekend. I have a few more small touches to add to his tail feathers and his special 3 coats of urethane and he'll be off to add a smile to my table. It's hard to believe that October is almost over and November is around the corner. That means I need to get to painting some snowmen to share with all of you. I have plan to make a few penguins too so please check back soon :-)

Settling Down

2008-10-06T08:14:00.000-04:00

Things are getting back to normal here after I completed the Michigan Breast Cancer 3-Day. I can now concentrate on some items for the shop. Here are a few things I have completed but I will be doing quite a bit of painting this week instead of making scrapbook embellishments. Before you know it the snow will be flying and fall will be over. I better begin painting some Santa and Snowmen gourds soon. It's going to be the season!

Have a super week :-)

Darlene

Crocheted Pumpkins

2008-10-02T13:05:00.000-04:00

I decided I wanted to make crocheted pumpkins this fall so I created a pattern for them. I'd like to use them on a few fall scrapbook pages. This is what I came up with. I think they are pretty cute. I'm going to make a few more sets and I think I will add some small orange seed beads within the stitches for some texture. I have also been making a few journaling blocks for some Halloween pages and have listed those in the Etsy shop as well. Fall is a great time of year and I just love creating decor for this season.

TFL!

Introducing ..... PATCHES

2008-09-05T13:50:00.000-04:00

Well I decided this gourd looked like a Patches so that is his name. He was fun to make and I hope you enjoyed watching the journey. I just listed him on my Etsy shop so I'm off the make the next project. Have a wonderful weekend everyone and I'll be back soon.

The Making of a Scarecrow - Part 4

2008-09-04T08:37:00.001-04:00

Well I'm almost finished with this project. He's just received his 2 coats of spar urethane and I also drilled small holes around the areas that I am inserting the raffia.

Small holes are drilled for the straw effect.

Some of the raffia that has been glued into place.

A front view of the "straw".

The final reveal will be tomorrow. I've decided to name him PATCHES and I will list him on the etsy shop.

TFL!

The Making of a Scarecrow - Part 3

2008-09-02T08:25:00.000-04:00

This scarecrow is finally looking like himself now.....he's getting his personality. I sketched a few details on lightly with a pencil and then base coated the shapes with acrylic paint. I chose bright happy colors for this scarecrow. I shade and highlight each area for dimension. I have also used a liner brush to do the outlines on certain areas such as around the pockets, patches and stitches on the overalls.

Now it's time to give him a personality! I made sure he has that little twinkle in his eye for the final accent. A little drybrushing for the cheeks gives him that cute ruddy appearance.

I added a nice accent patch to his hat. This hat will have raffia inserted later around the edges of the brim for a straw effect. I felt I needed a bit of color to bring it all together.

I added some fun stripes for his plaid shirt and the button of course. Any colors could be used for the shirt. I just like the burgundy/red/orange combination for a fall feel.

My last post on this scarecrow will include the finishing gloss coat and the raffia accents. Hmmm....I will also need a name for this guy. Any suggestions please comment :-)

Thanks for taking a peeek!

Halloween is going to be here soon!

2008-08-30T14:47:00.000-04:00

Oh my goodness.....it's almost September already. I couldn't believe that there were Halloween AND Christmas decorations set up at Costco this past week. I think I have lost a part of the summer somehow. Oh well.....since I heard all the scary sounds coming from the Halloween displays there I decided to come home and make a few fun embellishments for the Etsy shop. This is what I created. They were really fun to make and fall is the best time of the year for me so I just loved dry embossing these pumpkins.

A new update to the scarecrow gourd is also coming this week. It's turning out really cute. I'm adding raffia for the "straw" accents!

TFL!

The Making of a Scarecrow - Part 2

2008-08-19T12:39:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday everyone!
Oh my...our new little puppy has been keeping me QUITE busy the past 2 weeks. She's a sweetie but very active! I have managed to base coat the scarecrow and do some shading and highlighting. Here are a few examples so you can see the progress. I hope to accomplish a bit more in the next few days. It still doesn't look too much like a scarecrow but soon it will begin getting a personality.

I first begin by sketching, with a pencil, the basic shape of the hat, face, shirt and overalls. I then basecoated (3 total coats) all the appropriate areas with my acrylic paints.

There will be a happy little face here soon :-)

I then begin deciding where I want my shading to be. I float different values of paint colors on those areas. This gives the piece definition and dimension.

A close up of the shading around the shirt and overall strap at the shoulder area.

A bit of drybrushing on the areas where the light would hit helps make the piece come alive. In person the denim is beginning to look real.

The next steps in Part 3 will be to draw on more details such as: facial features, collar, arms, pockets on the overalls, and stitching. I'll post some photos when they are completed. Thanks so much for looking.

Have a great day!

Please support Darlene's Breast Cancer 3-day Walk @ http://08.the3day.org/goto/DarlenePlotinski
Take a peak at our Etsy Shop too @ www.ggam.etsy.com

The Making of a Scarecrow - Part 1

2008-08-06T08:04:00.001-04:00

I've been desiging a new fall gourd that looks like a scarecrow. I LOVE this time of year so all the fall themed ideas keep floating through my head. I usually start setting out all the paint colors that I would like to use on my project. I use mostly Deco Art Americana paints but I do have a few shades of other brands.

I then begin sketching out some ideas for my design. I also take notes as I begin painting on my project so I remember what colors I use and where I shade and highlight in case I decide to make a repeat design.

Then I prepare the gourd by picking out the best shape for the design I have decided on. I hand draw the basic outlines for the design and get prepared to base coat each seperate color. More to come on the painting process soon!

Thanks for checking in,

Darlene

Gift Packaging and a GREAT Company

2008-08-01T08:02:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!
I did a custom order through our Etsy shop a while back for a company named Brownie Affair. Gail, the owner, has some wonderful products on her website http://www.brownieaffair.com/.

Here is a sample of the two options she has using my flower and tag designs for her gift packaging. Thanks again Gail for your business! Give Brownie Affair a try if there is a gift for a special person or family in your future. This company is wonderful!

"Elegance"

"Flower Chic"

Best of luck on your business Gail....

Darlene

Glitter, Sparkle and MORE Glitter

2008-07-22T10:59:00.001-04:00

I have been enjoying experimenting with my new glitters. I really like the idea that the glitter doesn't shed onto your project(s) or layouts. I take a stamp of my choice, press it onto my embossing pad and then sprinkle the pattern with powdered glue. Once heated with the heat gun I immediately sprinkle on the glitter, let it set a minute and then it's complete. It's great for large coverage too or just a small accent. You can also use a glue pen and use the same process. It makes a great signature or card sentiment. There are more additions on our etsy. I can't wait to do some blingy pumpkins for fall!

Have a super day everyone!
Darlene

Chalked Flowers

2008-07-18T08:08:00.000-04:00

This is a peek at the chalked flowers that I have been experimenting with. I went to a local scrapbooking MegaMeet here in Michigan a couple months back and they had a demo with these chalks. I just love all the color options that come in the box. What I like even better is the fact that they have a fixative in the chalk and that once it sets up it no longer smears! That means no residue on any other part of your project(s). Pretty cool concept I think. They are also hand embossed and then I added some Glossy Accents by Ranger Industries for dimension and this is the result. There are a few more views of these posies at http://www.ggam.etsy.com/ if you would like to take a peek.

TFL
Darlene

A New Daisy Gourd

2008-07-17T07:29:00.001-04:00

I really liked how this pattern turned out. The blue is a real calming color and that little bee is a cutie! I have just begun working on some fall items. I have plans for pumpkins and ghosts as well as scarecrows. Fall is my favorite season so it's twice as enjoyable to paint anything with a fall theme. Then, before I know it, it will be time for those adorable snowmen and santa's.

Have a wonderful day everyone. Keep cool if it's hot in your part of the country :-)

Whew....I've been busy!

2008-07-15T08:22:00.000-04:00

I have to thank everyone for the purchases from Etsy. I appreciate your business so much. I now can donate $250 dollars to my Breast Cancer 3-day walk. Bless you all!

I have been creating some new flowers as well as beginning my fall and winter painting projects. I will begin to post a few in the shop soon. There will be some whimsical fall and winter gourds and they are just adorable.

I have more crocheted flowers to finish and here is a peek at some pretty chalked flowers. They are very pretty and look great on cards and scrapbook pages. I did a scrapbook layout on my personal blog @ abitofscrappin.blogspot.com using the pink embossed and chalked flowers. They really add to a page! I also love the acetate flowers. They make create transparent centers over a large silk flower.

Here's a peek at the chalked and transparent posies....

I have Etsy Sales!

2008-05-08T13:43:00.000-04:00

It's so exciting. I have added quite a few flowers to my new little shop and I have gotten sales and nice comments. It feels so nice to know that your hard work is being used in someone's home or given to a loved one somewhere. I have sold to folks in the US but also Japan and Australia too! Pretty cool :-)

I hope to add some gourds soon but I haven't had a moment to paint. YIKES!

Crocheted and Clear Flowers

2008-04-10T08:52:00.000-04:00

I've been crocheting my little heart out over here making these cute little flower embellishments. They are coming out really nice! I will be making a 2 layer crocheted flower with a Swarovski crystal center. These are just gorgeous and they catch the light just right!

I also have been making these clear flowers. They are great for layering over a stamped flower image. I like how you can see through them so it doesn't take away from the project. It adds great dimension though.

TFL....

Darlene

I'm Dreaming About Flowers!

2008-04-03T08:47:00.001-04:00

I've been busy making flower sets for my etsy shop lately. I wake up thinking about colors and shapes. How funny that my brain just doesn't sleep when I think I am! Oh well....it's good to be creative I guess. Somehow it's a great stress reliever when it's not quite warm enough to enjoy a day outdoors yet.

I'm trying to make a couple new sets of Benevolent Blooms a week so I can get back to painting gourds. It's sure wonderful to have the time to decide what I want to do instead of fitting it into a crazy schedule. Did I say I LOVE retirement? LOL

Have a super day,
Darlene

The First Couple of Designs

2008-03-19T07:49:00.001-04:00

Here they are...the blooms have arrived just in time for Spring! I will be listing many more colors soon. I hand paint either the entire flower or paint on the flower that I have cut out. Most of the flowers are hand cut by me with scissors. Only a few are die cut. I also embellish some of them for added sparkle. You can layer these sizes together or use them seperately. Sizes range from 1 inch to 4 inches in each package. All bloom purchases will be donated to the Breast Cancer 3-Day (minus shipping).

Check out our Etsy shop for future designs.

Have a great day and TFL!

New Section in the Etsy Shop

2008-03-13T08:03:00.000-04:00

I have made a committment to participate in the Michigan Breast Cancer 3-day in September of this year. I have begun my training but need to begin my fundraising. I will need to raise $2,200 before I can attend the walk. Raising money is very difficult for me because I do not like to ask for help. I really love to share my creativity with people so I have decided to open a section up on my new Etsy shop titled Benevolent Blooms. Since the word benevolent means caring, compassionate, kind and giving I thought it was quite a fitting title for a fundraiser. A big THANK YOU to my husband Tom for the great name. With every purchase of a package of blooms I will donate all the proceeds (minus shipping costs) to the Breast Cancer 3-day. By doing this I felt that I would be "giving" customers my custom designed flowers and they would be "giving" me a donation for a wonderful cause. I plan on having many color choices and themes. Each paper flower is individually hand cut by me and inked, painted and embellished individually. I am currently working on a scrapbook layout about my committment to this cause using these blooms and will be posting it soon. Please check the Etsy shop soon for the first few flower designs. I hope you will enjoy them.

Have a great day!

Dragonfly Inn

2008-03-10T09:37:00.000-04:00

I finished this new design on Friday and have posted it in our Etsy shop. Please click on the etsy link to the right for more views of the detail of this house. It was really fun to paint! I'm working on a tulip design with some bunnies next. I think I must have spring fever or something! LOL

Off to the paint brushes!

Darlene

Almost Finished

2008-03-06T07:58:00.001-05:00

I've been working on another birdhouse design the past few weeks. It seems to have taken much longer than I planned! Here in Michigan we have had a few snowfalls that have required a bit of shoveling (which seems like almost every day) so it has hampered my painting progress. We have another 5-10 incher predicted for Friday so I have just put my final coat of finish on and will be posting to my Etsy shop later today. I really like how this house came out. I added a real cedar roof with some metal accents. I want to keep it for myself now!!! I called it the Dragonfly Inn and I just love the little dragonfly I designed as an accent. I'll post soon.

Have a super day everyone!

First Item for Sale!

2008-02-18T10:02:00.001-05:00

Our first item has just gone up for sale on our Etsy shop. We are so excited. I hope there is a special person out there that would enjoy this little birdhouse. We have so many designs going around in our minds we can't wait to list more. Please keep checking our shop for fun designs!

The process of growing our gourds

2008-02-04T10:09:00.000-05:00

This is a little slide show of how we grow our gourds. TFL!

Joining the Crowd!

2008-02-01T09:07:00.000-05:00

Well, with a little prodding from others, I FINALLY decided to get up to speed with the blogging world out there. My intention is to get my business website up and running in early spring. I will do my best to keep you informed about new products and share a few fun ideas and information along the way. This will be a new experience for me and I am looking forward to learning some new tricks and making new friends in the craft world. Thank you for stopping by!