October Blog Hop ...

Hello friends!  I am so excited to finally share my news ... I have been asked to join in the October Blog Hop as a Guest Designer over at Polkadot Door Designs!  I feel extremely honored to be part of this talented team of artists.  Their monthly inspiration challenge is always incredible...and there are a number of different opportunities to win fabulous prizes!

If you'd like to play along ... please do.  A prize will be given to the October Challenge winner, just create your project from the inspiration photo and link it up.

Plus, one Blog Hop participant will be named the "Featured Designer" ... the project with the most votes wins!  There's only one way to vote ... simply visit all the blogs on the Hop then finish by leaving a comment on the Polkadot Door Designs blog letting them know your favorite.

While you hop, leave a little love at each blog for the chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors!

Finally, three to five artists with the most impressive creations will be chosen to join next months Design Team and Blog Hop, and compete for the Feature Designer prize in November. 

My project this month includes all the wonderful elements of our inspiration photo.  Shades of green, clouds in a blue sky, an adorable tricycle, a splash of red, and I couldn't resist just a touch of chunky glitter sparkle.

The quote, if you don't recognize it, is from Through the Looking Glass.  Do you know who said it?

"That’s the way it’s done," the Queen said with great decision: "nobody can do two things at once, you know. Let’s consider your age to begin with – how old are you?"
"I’m seven and a half exactly."
"You needn’t say ‘exactly’," the Queen remarked. "I can believe it without that. Now I’ll give you something to believe. I’m just one hundred and one, five months and a day."
"I can't believe that!" said Alice.
"Can't you?" the queen said in a pitying tone. "Try again, draw a long breath, and shut your eyes."
"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things."
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

Oh my, that brings back memories. 

My husband keeps my supply box full of wood house forms - he knows how I adore them.  The flower is handmade ... a sweet pearl for the center.  All the print papers are from the many scraps I hoard and the tricycle is a treasure from a retired SU stamp set.

The inspiration photo couldn't be cuter ...

Here are all the October Blog Hop participants and links to their amazing projects ..... be sure visit each,  leave some love, then comment on Polkadot Door Designs with your vote!

Lindsay

DeeDee

Amanda

Debby 

Aki

Nicole

Smitha

Sabrina 

Joanne (that's me!)

Marivic

Tammy

Diana

Mazlina

Polkadot Door Designs

Happy October and thanks so much for stopping by!

Home

Hello friends.  My husband cut some more wood house forms for me today so I got busy turning these little houses into homes.  Choosing a group of four different shapes, some scraps from the drawer and a few embellishments ... I tried to make each letter feel special.  The chipboard letters are painted, distressed and "glitterfied" with Dazzling Diamonds.  The roofs also sparkle ... but with larger chunky flakes of glitter.

I just had to make a flower for the "o" - it seemed the right thing to do, I hope you don't mind my infatuation with making them.  Some lace was added to soften the look.  You'll see rhinestones on two of the homes and buttons, dyed seam binding, and heavy twine scattered here and there.

My inspiration for the color combination is complements of Embellish Magazine.  The challenge blog has posted a fabulous image in warm shades of brown paired with a deep blue.  The design team has some wonderful inspiration to share too ... be sure to pay them a visit and leave some love!

Thanks for stopping by this evening .. good night!

A house to make a home ...

Hello everyone!  First let me thank you for all the fabulous comments on my previous post.  You are really too kind and I appreciate each and every one of my crafty friends ... you are like sisters to me.

I'm writing tonight with some exciting news.  I was very nervous to "take the plunge" so to speak ... but I decided to give it a try - I opened an ETSY shop.  And by popular demand ... I have listed sets of 3 miniature wooden houses!  You can find me HERE.
 
I hope you get the opportunity to "decorate your house" like I have mine.  They are so sweet when completed - you'll love them ... I'm sure of it!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed Easter with your family and friends!

A home to share ....

Hello again friends.  I have a short story to share, I hope you have a moment to stay a while.  Have you seen the sweet little houses on the blogs lately?  Perhaps they have been there forever and I am just now discovering these delicious miniatures.  I adore them!  Earlier this week, I thought I'd send a photo of one such collection to my husband at work.  It went something like, "Aren't these cute?  (Which I'm sure he agreed but would never utter the word.)  Can you cut some wood to make something like this for me?"  Later that same day (arriving home from work myself) I walk into my craft room and what do you think is on my work table?  Three adorable little houses!  I was thrilled ... he is sooo wonderful!  I wonder what he'll say when I ask for a whole town?!

So my quest to turn these simple wood houses into homes began.  My first step was to choose the colors.  I can always depend on Mona and her Design Team to solve that question each and every week with their incredible inspiration over at CR84FN.  Look at the beautiful imagery they have posted now ....

Digging thru my scrap drawers, I pulled out bits and pieces of soft blues, subtle greens, and shades of vanilla.  A coat of acrylic paint gave the wood blocks a finished surface.  With a bit of tracing, cutting, and a slathering of Mod Podge ... my houses were covered in color.  Embellishments were next  - the "trim" on my "painted ladies".  Some lace and linen thread, a couple buttons, a shabby blue ribbon and a sweet little flower were added.  My sentiment "Follow your heart, it knows the way" was stamped on top of the lighter pattern.  Of course every home needs a touch of bling ... provided here with chunky glitter on each and every roof.

I just love my little houses (I hope you do too) ... thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me!