• Art - Blog - Creativity

    Coffee altered book — Complete

    I can hardly believe it but I’m finished!! I started this altered book the summer of 2008. Yeah…talk about a long term project. Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that it would take over 7 years to complete this “easy theme” of coffee.

    Coffee altered book | Halle's Hobbies

    A couple weeks ago I completed this last page in the altered book.  All that was needed was something done with the cover.

    Coffee altered book | Halle's Hobbies

    I saved some cheap newsprint type paper that had been wrapped around candle a while back. It was a good size piece…perfect for distressing and covering the book. I decided that a found text story might be fun if I could somehow tie it into the theme.  And bonus…I got to use a new stamp.

    Tomorrow for T stands for Tuesday I’ll share the whole book.

  • Art - Blog

    Order in Chaos

    I’m giving a new challenge a whirl today. Perhaps I’ll make a habit of it.

    tiot1 copy (1)

    Try it on Tuesday has the theme of Letters and Numbers for the first challenge of 2016.

    Order in chaos | Halle's Hobbies

    I will admit this is not my favorite page but it does reflect the chaos in my quote. I believe that I got carried away with the sprays. I should have stopped several squirts earlier.

    Order in chaos | Halle's Hobbies

    I was able to use up a bunch of number stickers that I thought would never get used.

    I have another idea in mind…if it ever warms up enough to hang out in my basement art space.

  • Blog - Crafts

    After Christmas crafts

    On Wednesday I was on a mission to get all of my errands complete before the snow then wicked cold snap was to hit. I went 11 places in just under 4 hours. Shockingly I didn’t spend a bunch of money either. I was hitting all the loss leader deals at various stores while still getting the essentials to last into next week. I wasn’t even planning on going to Michael’s but since I was just down the street from it I decided to check out the 80% off all Christmas deals.  I picked up the needed supplies to make a couple of wreaths.

    Deco mesh wreaths | Halle's Hobbies

    Since we are putting away all of our Christmas decor today, it was now or never next year for wreath making. So I gathered my supplies and set to work.

    Deco mesh wreaths | Halle's Hobbies

    I also had to find a video tutorial on the process of creating a deco mesh wreath.

    This one worked for me.

    What I didn’t comprehend was just how huge this was going to be!

    Deco mesh wreaths | Halle's Hobbies

    It became painfully obvious that the scale of the elements I had purchased would be completely wrong.

    Deco mesh wreaths | Halle's Hobbies

    I added some ribbon…and what appears to be a nice bow in the photo. Nope…just shoved the rest of the ribbon in there for storage until I can find someone to help me with the bow. Did I mention how much I suck at making bows!?! I called my crafty neighbor for help and evidently she lacks that skill as well. I’m thinking with the addition of a proper bow and perhaps some plastic Christmas balls this would work for an outdoor wreath.

    Next I set to work on a winter themed wreath. Something to take you through until Easter.

    Deco mesh wreaths | Halle's Hobbies

    Did you notice the price sticker on the deco mesh…? Goodwill $2.99 and I used a 25% off coupon so it was really $2.24, sweet! The wreath base was purchased previously when I made my burlap wreath. I started out and realized that the green wire base was showing through in a very unflattering way. First I doubled the number of pipe cleaners on the base but the green still showed through. It needed to be white.

    Deco mesh wreaths | Halle's Hobbies

    Lucky for me, the temps were hovering around freezing yesterday so I was able to give the base a quick shot of paint in the garage.  Honestly, I’m surprised at how quickly it dried. I was really worried since the can said not to use below 55°F.

    Isn’t it pretty!?!

    Deco mesh wreaths | Halle's Hobbies

    I was making it for a gift but it looks so good on my front door that I think I’m keeping it. Shhh…

    Deco mesh wreaths | Halle's Hobbies

    I love the iridescent shimmer in the mesh. Perfect match to a cold winter day.

    Do you decorate for “winter” to carry through until St. Patrick’s Day or perhaps Easter?