What's on your FAVORITES Bookmark Tab? Care to Share The Good Stuff!

If you're like me you are constantly finding and adding new sites to your Favorites Bookmark Tab. I have so many I finally created category folders so I could organize and find them more quickly.  

Besides the necessary sites ie; bank, credit cards, webmail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I have some sites that I think are definitely worth being a part of my "fav" quick click list.  I thought it would be fun to share some of the sites that I have on my "Fav" tab and hope that you might share some of yours . . . who knows maybe we'll all discover some new, fun, creative, familiar, hilarious and useful sites that just have to be added to that special button called FAVORITES!

Here's a list of 12 fun and fab sites, in no particular order, but definites on my quick click list! 

(I have more, but thought 12 was enough to start with!) LOL

The Hive - Social networking with fantastic blog interaction! A great place to buzz around in!

Picnik - Upload, print, collage, create - a fun place to turn a picture into a masterpiece!

Twittercounter - If you love to tweet you might like to know your stats!

Project Wonderful - Online advertising awesome and easy even for the little guy!

Spoonflower - Create your own fabric? How cool is that! Plus, contests and challenges!

My Free Copyright - We all need a little protection...right?

Linky Tools - Link up! Connect!

Wix - Free flash websites that you create yourself! Fun!

Cnet - Free software downloads - safe

Will & Guy's Funny Clean Jokes - We all need to laugh, plus there's alot of interesting stuff here!

Creative Shake Up - A place that helps put the creative world to work

Mental Floss Magazine - A knowledge junkie's dealer! LOL

What's on your FAVORITES Bookmark Tab?  Please share!

Online Art Challenges - What Inspires You?

If you feel inspired by online art challenges or ever wondered  exactly what they are you might want to check out Elizabeth Scott's blog and listing Online Art Challenges.

It's a great way to share your art on this great web forum and a perfect way to spark your creativity. 

I did a little searching for some additional challenge sites and came up with a few more below. 

Super Awesome Art Challenge

Wednesday Stamper

Monday Art Day

Now the trick for me is deciding which I might try my hand . . . if I'm up for the challenge! How about you.

Have a favorite Challenge Site that you participate in? Please share!

Sparkle, Shimmer, Shine on a Halloween Night!

Tonight after work I had to make a run to one of my favorite "treasure find" stores, The Dollar Tree. :) It always seems that everytime I run in to get a few things I need I can always find a new little jewel that sparks an idea for a craft or decorating project.

Well tonight when I ran in for some artificial grapes, I know, don't ask LOL.  I strolled down the candle aisle and spied these clear tall glass religious style candle.   I immediately started thinking . . . what can I make with these...they're only $1.00!  So I picked up 3 and headed to the check out.  By the time I got home I had a semi-formed craft plan in my head as to what I wanted to do.  And with my brain in a Halloween mood lately that's naturally where I ended up going.

Below is the result of this fun, fast and easy to do little project.

For the photos I added a few little extra goodies for a full on festive display. (antique muffin tin with 6 of my mini candy corn votives, Mister Black Cat...I found this little plush guy during my trip to China, tea-dyed Halloween towel and some awesome resin candy corn).  Sooooo....BOO I present to YOU!

This fun little project definitely has my mind a racing with ideas for different twists, embellishments and word art . . . . I'm sure I'll be heading back to the store to get more!

For each candle I used:

1 - Clear Glass Tall Glass Candle holder (removed the stickers)

1 - Tag-board tag (any size will work. I used the larger size available from any office supply store and cut it down to the shape that I wanted. Since the candles are not scented in this type of candle holder I dipped the tags in scented wax and sprinkled them with glitter to add a scentsational touch...Sugar Cookie...soooo yummy.

3 - 1" Round scrapbook stick on tags

Markers

1 yd. Halloween ribbon

Glue

Glitter - optional

Sparkle, Shimmer, Shine on a Halloween Night

These "Boo To You" Candles glow ever so bright!

Ribbons tied around them in fancy little bows

Scented little tags that tickle your nose!

Add a touch of glitter, a little not too much

A magical Halloween candle a  perfect finishing touch!

"Fae Watch" The Lost Sketches! Do You Believe?

After a restless few nights where it seems my tick tock clock is still moving through some other time zone I came home from work today and thought it would be a good idea to take a quick nap!  Well, it is now 12:22 a.m. (now 1:07 a.m.) and I am wide awake so evidently the nap idea was not one of the better one's I've had! So, what's a girl to do, but blog!
With grumblings from my belly for some nourishment I headed downstairs to the kitchen and while on my way to prepare a decadent snack I noticed out of the corner of my eye a twinkling and rustling of paper.  There on a shelf was a book of sketches that I had started several, well, probably 2-3 years ago.  I had forgotten about these little gems that featured pen & ink along with pencil renderings of "fae" creations.  I love the fantasy and magic of fairies and thought it would be fun to share the sketches along with a few other treasures I found while on this inspiring "Fae Watch".  So here are a few quick pics of  the once "lost sketches" (maybe not lost...buried under a mountain of papers).  These were just quick, rough designs that I had planned on, well, I don't really know that I had a plan at the time I was just inspired to create them. Fairy Magic I guess...hehehe!

In this last sketch photo I included a colorful collection of fairy cards that I also found in the pile of goodies!

Here's another little fun piece that I created a while back . . . on the same shelf. An altered "Fairy Firefly" that stands poised inside an old glass canning jar.  Seems not to be too happy inside there.  Think I should let her out?  hehehe!

I know not everyone BELIEVES in fairies, but you know the world might be a better place if we sometimes just let our creative imaginations soar with inspiration and share kindness joy and laughter with each other everyday!

I BELIEVE and I hope you do too!

As the little sign that hangs by my front door says,

"Fairy Tales Do Come True" 

And That My Friend Is My Wish To YOU!

"Creative Kokeshi" (こけし, kokeshi?), Sunshine & Happiness

Sunshine And Happiness

Feeling inspired  to create something with an Asian flair I decided to work on a new concept that included a traditional folk art form of Japan . . . The Kokeshi Doll.   Dating back to 1830 traditional Kokeshi dolls are made of wood with a slender body, roundish head and no arms or legs. Well, as you can see I've taken some creative liberties since mine only follow the rounded head and no arms & legs tradition. The rest . . . blended oil pastels on paper canvas (that's wood . . . right! LOL) actually have my Kokeshi doll falling into the category of a "Creative Kokeshi". A bit of the traditional style, but with no specific guidelines for shape, design, size or subject.

So my collection begins with a little raven haired beauty that I call, "Sunshine And Happiness". 

Keeping the style and love for bright and vivid colors these little dolly's fit perfectly into my Pop Art Minis world!  Each design will relate to some emotional element that is meant to inspire positive and joyful thoughts and feelings!   (ie; sunshine=warmth, happiness=smile, joy, laughter, etc.)

I've also begun experimenting with little pattern swatches that I've created from elements I've used on the doll's costume.

These elements may be fun little opportunities for more creations of fun and adventure . . . , graphics, fabrics, etc . . . mmmm . . . imagining the possibilities! 

  Here's a sneak peek of an in progress design for the next one in the series called "Peaceful Panda". 

 Hope you enjoy these new little Pop Art Minis Kokeshi Dolls.

Sayōnara

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Boo-tiful & Hauntingly Fun Halloween Decorating Ideas!

Well, it's August 1 and I thought it would be fun to get a jump on Halloween with some boo-tiful and hauntingly fun Halloween Decorating Ideas.  so....I've been google searching high and low and have uncovered some treats that I found inspiring enough to share with boo...oh, I mean YOU!

1st up . . . Candy Corn Containers

Compliments of The Hostess with the Mostess Blog!

This sweet treat is always a hit and why not use it for decor too!  Fill up glass cylinders, clear jars & bottles that would be perfect for holding candles and fall flower arrangements!  It's colorful, cute and just plain SWEET!

#2 - A Wall Mural of Monumental Proportions

Compliments of Apartment Therapy

Ok, this one may require a big blow up of a creepy haunted house, but the effect is amazing! Add the black wreaths and deck out your black table with the goodies shown below and I'm sure you'll have yourself one hauntingly boo-tiful look! ahhhhhhhhaaaaahhhaaaahhhhaaaa! (sorry I couldn't resist)

Seeing how the last photo had some fun food placed strategically upon the table this next addition is an edible treat that, uh . . . well you definitely can eat, but would you want to? 

#3 Freaky Witches Fingers and Other Edible or perhaps Un-edible Halloween Treats

Compliments of Halloween Recipes

#4 Spooky Terrariums

Compliments of Country Living

All you need to make these Spooky Spectacles come to life are a few empty pickle, jelly, and other glass jars.  Add some painted twigs, plastic creepy crawlers and a stuffed crow or two and before long you'll have yourself quite a collection of haunting terrariums all brought back from the dead!

And up last, in our first (with more to come) Halloween Decorating Ideas post is something that's got us stuck like glue to the idea . . . Sticviews!

Creative stickers that only stick as long as you want them too and can be created using your own images or you can choose from their Halloween Gallery of Ghoulish Goodies!  They stic to anything: walls, windows, ceilings, your car, bathroom and kitchen tiles, furniture, anything, but when you're done they come "unstuck" with no mess and nothing left behind . . . the perfect disappearing act! Ghostly to say the least!

So that's all for now.  I will definitely continue my quest for more fun Halloween decorating ideas and would love to have you share your Halloween decorating ideas and finds here too!

Happy Haunting!