VALENTINE Fun Stuff!

I found this adorable little craft book and just had to share some images with you for use in your Valentine art. Please do share with me any of your creations! Enjoy!!! Of course, I love the mail joke. Tee hee... ;0

Beep Bzrt Ping

I made it through another sleep-over this weekend. The girls really had a good time. Here is Sydney's invitation:

And Ainsley's that I forgot to show:
And my new Bots, available as 8x10" prints in my Etsy shop:



I am finally settling into the studio again and have devoted the past two days to art. I just finished this series of paintings for Logan's room. I couldn't wait to have them framed before showing you. Here's a peek of his room, far from complete. The bed was my father's childhood bed, very special to me. I moved the cube thing from the studio into his room and really like it there. The bookcase is just a necessity. We truly have a library in our home, in each room! I will probably put the new prints in white frames and hang them above the side of the bed. I'd like some white floating shelves for the opposite wall, and will keep the stickers up for now (if I can keep his little fingers from constantly wanting to pick them off the wall that is!) Anyway, that's what I've been up to.

Logan will be turning two on February 21 and we will be having a small family dinner/party to celebrate. I can't commit to a certain invitation, probably neither of these two. But thought the paper was so cute! I wanted to do something unusual, thus the arrow. I don't have a Cricut, a Cuttle Bug, or any of the sort, but hand cut this card, which opens.


Malachi brought this home from school yesterday and I was blown away. This came from his sweet little creative mind, all on his own. It graced the hallway for a long time and now I get to admire it. I think I may frame it to go with the robots. I'm sure I can iron it flat. Well, back to my art table. xx

Snow Tubing at Moonshine Mtn., NC

Yesterday my family joined my sister's family on a trip to Moonshine Mountain snow tubing park. Of course it rarely is cold enough to truly snow, but the artificial snow was great for this event.
Logan was the bravest one year old ever and was drug up the mountain numerous times to slide down with glee.
Malachi slid the big side on the first go and then decided to go the kiddy route, but after ten or so times of that he came back to the big hill.
It was a riot! Everyone had a great time, but it was very hard to get pics of anyone coming down. Anyway, things are getting settled back to normal today as DH goes back to work after a two week vacation. I am trying to get the studio back in order from the big paint job/rearrange. It's coming along nicely and I am really thrilled with the new set-up/color. More on that soon...
Leaving you with a pic of Logan falling asleep in timeout on the bottom step. :)
(He will be two next month!)

Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!

I thought you may be wondering what was taking up my time these days...

This is Ollie, our family gift from Santa. (Yes, I would be scared of the baby holding the power tool too if I were her...) I am painting my studio on Tuesday - yippee! Besides cleaning up after the puppy and preparing for the big paint job, I have been staying under a blanket reading most of the time, begrudging the cold weather. Hoping that I will feel like creating again when I get settled back into the studio, furniture completely arranged. I'm enjoying the break from it though, but didn't want to seem MIA. In other news, I will be celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday! J+A=:)

UHU!

Wanted a break from Christmas crafts and decided to work on the free sample UHU provided for altering. If you haven't checked out their sample of the month program, do so! Fun stuff! I enjoyed working with this glue as it has a disappearing color agent in it. I could generously cover the paper and see if I missed a spot, before applying it to the clipboard and then having air bubbles after it was too late. Thanks UHU!

While I'm giving shout outs, check out the Hero Arts blog hop! This was a lot of fun and I got so many ideas from the various bloggers participating. The Hero blog is a lot of fun always. And the new catalog is out! Cute stuff!!!

My Christmas Home

Welcome to my home, Christmas 2009. I've been working for several months to gather these "new" pieces of furniture and happily have everything pulled together in time for the holidays. I have wanted to put wood floors in the kitchen, but wanted new chairs that wouldn't scratch the floor first, as our others were on their last leg (get it, last "leg" - ha!).

I found this table, which is over 100 years old and for months have scoured the internet and local stores for the perfect chairs for it, which turned out to be these Tolix 1934 chairs. I've moved the table to the side and placed the bar in the kitchen and am really happy with it. (Check our the Christmas owl salt/pepper shakers!)

The kitchen in our house is so small, with no formal dining room, and this really seemed to open the space and create the perception of depth, where there is none.

(Banner by Jeri Aaron)

We finally bought new living room furniture, wanting something we could wipe clean easily. I wanted the dark sofa and two patterned chairs, but couldn't find exactly what I wanted and decided that these would be much more serviceable. I plan on putting up linen curtains in place of the brown and changing the artwork after the holidays, with perhaps a new coat of a more celery paint.

What would you recommend over this chair nook? I was thinking a funky star shaped mirror. I'd love your opinion.

This is a shelf beside the tree, one of the few places I have to put do dads on. It holds a handmade Santa and my 4x4 book.

Our Christmas tree is a family tree with many, many handmade ornaments from the children and my artsy friends. The kids decorated it this year all by themselves. I pass out the ornaments, get all sentimental, and they joyfully pounce over to the tree and adorn it with them, with help from my husband who lifts them to just the right spot.

I worked on this puzzle wreath ornament for my sister today. We get our two families together for game nights around once per month. A time away from video games, TV, cell phones, etc., spent with family laughing and getting to know each other better. I thought she would like the altered game piece notation. :)

I changed the bathroom to this curtain, which I will use through Valentine's Day.

I've never used this cross before, but finally found a purpose for it.

I've enjoyed picking greenery on the side of the road to use in the bathroom. It gives it such life.

Remember this bird nest that I found fallen at a waterfall? It usually holds aqua egg soap, but now an ornament. What should I put in it for Valentine's Day?

I'm so ready to enjoy Christmas now. School is out, school parties are done, Ainsley's 10th birthday a success. I made this necklace for her Sweet Shoppe party.

Ainsley was too busy with her friends to get pics, but Sydney happily posed. Don't you love that make-up?!

I would show off my Christmas bedroom, but DH and Logan are napping. Share links with me of your Christmas home, please! Merry, merry Christmas!

Teacher Gifts

BFF came over yesterday and helped me design these earrings for her three teachers' gifts. It was lots of fun creating beside her!!! The earrings turned out great and we managed to squeeze in a nice lunch. Ainsley (right) performed in the honors chorus and Malachi had a solo (Oh Christmas Tree) in the school play last night. I am such a proud mom!

Christmas Cards from Create Date

As promised the creations from my mom and my create date the day after Thanksgiving.

Rooster Altered Composition Notebook

My Secret Sister from the summer was a big rooster lover and I never could find anything special for her with this theme. In Brevard this weekend I found this amazing paper and just had to rush right to making an altered composition book for Liane. I'll be sending this as a "still your sister Santa gift". I'm so pleased with how this turned out. I bought some mini books as Robin altered on THIS post and am doing some other gifts too. FUN! What are your handmade Christmas gifts this year?

Christmas 4x4 Book

An art group I belong to has a tradition of sending each person a 4x4 rather than a standard greeting card for Christmas each year. I created this little book cover to house my collection...

Concert

Busy week around here. Sydney broke her finger! I finished up a 25 piece Christmas swap. Also went to see the Steve Miller Band on Saturday. I made these earrings to match a necklace I bought. :) Not much blogging, sorry! I've been cleaning out cabinets and sorting, trying to get Holiday ready. Hopefully I will get more into the swing of things next week. I've been fighting a sinus infection and just felt yucky. Hope your week is going great!

Blogaversary at Trash to Treasure Art!

Lynn at Trash to Treasure Art is celebrating her blogaversary with some FAB prizes, folks! So run over and be sure to tell you Autumn sent you!!! Thanks Lynn for your ever inspiring flow of art!
Click HERE!
[photo credit: Lynn Stephens]

Smokey Mt. Retreat

Silly me left my Gypsy Lore book at the cabin, so I have no pics of that to share with you yet. But I couldn't resist sharing these with you any longer. It's the most wonderful time of year in the Carolinas... Claudia and I rode for almost two hours to Maggie Valley and then drove straight up the side of a mountain to finally reach this 2.9 million dollar cabin filled with the most wonderful group of friends and artists.


We enjoyed the most magnificent meals, including this Italian Wedding Soup! Drooool...

We were literally on top of the mountain, overlooking the world! It was a wonderful experience and I am so thrilled to have been a part.

El Día de los Muertos

Today is El Día de los Muertos, a day of celebrating the loved ones in our lives who have passed on. With all of the Halloween festivities going on I have thought about my dear friend, Andrea Marrs, who passed away recently. You have probably seen Andrea's work grace many a stamping magazine. She was so talented and truly a remarkable person. Halloween was her favorite day of the year and I always sent her Halloween goodies since I didn't celebrate that much, but after collecting for her I realized how much I admired the holiday myself, thus a new passion for me was sprung! I always wish I could share this with her still and think of her with each new treat. Today I celebrate your life, Ms. Andrea, and your passion in life. To you...
With love,
Autumn

13 Days of Halloween - Day 13

Happy Halloween Bloggers!!! It has been so fun partying with you these 13 Days of Halloween! Today marks my final Halloween project for Halloween 2009, one that you may not get a chance to create yourself for Halloween, but one that you will use for many other holidays and celebrations - a pennant banner. I came up with this idea to craft six pennants from two sheets of 12x12” paper, one patterned and one solid cardstock. Your finished pieces will measure 4x6”.

Begin by cutting your solid cardstock into six 4x6” pieces. Measure one end of the 4” side at the 2” spot and mark with a pencil dot. Cut these sides of diagonally from pencil dot to opposing corner for each of your six pieces.

Next, cut your patterned paper into six pieces measuring 3 ¾ x 5 ¾”. Mark one end of the 3 ¾” side at the 1 7/8” spot and mark with a pencil dot. Cut these sides of diagonally from pencil dot to opposing corner for each of your six pieces. All that’s left to do is attach your panels, alter them, and string ribbons through to hang!

Click HERE to view my Valentine banners. I made this one from the black and white photo booth pics at the mall.

And this one was an inspiration swap for a friend.

I hope you all have a wonderful night celebrating. Happy, happy Halloween and thank you for visiting Autumn’s Antics! Don't forget to send me your address if you're a follower to get a TREAT!

My munchkins at Trunk or Treat. :)

13 Days of Halloween - Day 12

Wow! We’ve made it to day 12! One more day until Halloween! I hope you are as excited as I am. Today I am headed to the Smokey Mountains for a one day art extravaganza with Jeri Aaron of An Artful Gathering. We will be working on a Gypsy book and I cannot wait! I also have to prepare the goodies for my followers, as promised. Please e-mail me at clarkjanda at att dot net with your address by next Monday and I will send you some blog candy! What a TREAT!

When CuttleBugs first came out I thought of a new recycling art project. I saved pie tins from bakery treats and cut them to size then ran them through the embossing dies. They turned out beautifully! You may have seen some of the pieces in my Hero Arts cards on my Flickr page. I attach these with red line tape.

My friend, Claudia, came up with another neat way to die aluminum. She runs pieces of regular aluminum foil through her Xyron and then attaches them to cardstock and then runs that through the CuttleBug to emboss.

I have sponged and DTP’ed my pieces with permanent ink. Claudia has applied bottled alcohol ink to her pieces and it works beautifully. Here are a couple of examples I created using the spider web die. Have a howling good day today, I know I will be! See you tomorrow!

13 Days of Halloween - Day 11

Today’s project is one that you’ve been given peeks into through my Etsy shop, my Halloween domino necklaces. Today I wanted to show you the entire collection. I altered these old painted wooden dominoes by attaching German text and images to them with PVA adhesive. I glued down each layer and applied more glue over the top of the finished piece. I dipped the dominoes top edges in black glitter while the glue was wet to add a bit of sparkle. The glue sort of sprinkled into the main images and created a really neat dusty effect, perfect for Halloween!

I drilled holes in the dominoes with a tiny drill bit and began creating the links for my necklaces. Each piece is different, but I used a variety of beads and charms along with gunmetal chain and black oxidized steel wire (available at Ace Hardware) in various gauges. It created distressed looking wire wrapping similar to aged silver.

For most of my necklaces I added tulle as a webby accent. I cut ½” strips and accordion folded it and then strung the wire through the center, allowing it to act as a bead. On others I tied two long strips in bows.

It was very difficult to get good photos of the necklaces due to glare and that they are so small.

I mailed Nan of Her Art Nest her prize from the Fanciful Twist party and received the sweetest note from her:

Hi Autumn,

I received your necklace today! It's absolutely beautiful! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am going to post a photo of it to my blog next week...

I really like how you added that tulle above the beads. What an awesome idea! Very cool. I am so lucky to have won this fabulous giveaway, and I truly appreciate your generousity. I'm doing my happy dance.

Thanks, Nan

Nan, you are so welcome!!! Guys, do check out the coolest bottles on Nan's blog!!! I hope you’re having a haunted day and are fully prepared for Fright Night! I’m still gathering last minute details for my costume. Mewhuhahahaha!

13 Days of Halloween - Day 10

While my boys were off on a camping trip we girls contemplated having a girly girl night doing our nails… but decided we’d much rather be getting our nails DIRTY instead, making a piñata! Meet Frank, yet another recycling project.

We filled a cereal box with candy and punched two tiny holes in the top box flaps. We tied a thick knot on one end of two strings and pulled them through the two holes.

We then applied tape on the inside of the first flap and again to close the flaps in place, testing it to make sure it was strong enough and the hole didn’t rip.

We created the screws from aluminum foil. To make them we folded a square of foil down again and again until it was a 2” high strip with the last section unfolded as shown, then rolled it up tightly to create a thick and thin side.

We taped it onto the box tightly with thin strips of masking tape.

To make the paper mache we mixed two parts white glue with one part water and poured this over 2” pieces of newspaper torn up in a bowl. We mixed this up well and applied it all over the box and “screws”.

With the last bit of pulp we sculpted a nose, eyebrows and mouth.

Finally, the girls painted Frank with acrylic craft paints. He is ready to be tied in the tree in our front yard for our Halloween party. We had a lot of fun working on him. This is definitely a fun project to for you and your little ghouls to work on! You still have enough time and while he's drying you can make Rice Krispy Treats! Don't forget to share!!

I totally forgot to draw a winner yesterday, so without further ado the WINNERS of the Scrabble words are...
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
5
7
2
Brenda of Memories & Treasures
Claudia one of my local friends and
Bleubeard and Elizabeth of Altered Book Lover

Ladies, I will be contacting you regarding your prizes! Congrats!
~ Autumn

13 Days of Halloween - Day 9

On the ninth day of Halloween a wicked witch gave to me lots and lots of little skullies! Today's project is another PaperClay project. I added some pics of the in between phases for you to see. I created six napkin rings and one charm.

I began by creating a wire base with a wrapped loop for attaching a necklace or napkin ring through. Note orientation for each.

Next I molded a bit of aluminum around the wire base.

Then I sculpted the PaperClay around the aluminum and let the pieces dry for several days.

I came back and painted the features. When the paint was dry I created the metal napkin rings. I measured about five times the length of wire needed to wrap around three of my fingers loosely. Then I strung the wire through the opening in the skully three times and wrapped the remaining wire around the rings to secure it in place and give the appearance of barbed wire (click first picture to enlarge for detail). He sticks up above the napkin and peers at hungry friends! I sprayed the finished pieces, including the wire with acrylic fixative.

I'm in cupcake overload this week. Making cupcakes for Cub Scouts, class parties, my parties! Thought I would share one with you. :)

13 Days of Halloween - Day 8

Welcome back to day 8! Today's project is a recycling art project. I created these luminaries from a coffee can, a candy can, and a carrots can. To start with I smashed the tops of the cans slightly and drilled holes in each can in various patterns, and in each side for the wire hangers. I then gessoed each can. After the gesso was dry, I painted the cans with acrylic paints, blending the edges of the stripes slightly while the paint was wet. Next I sprayed the cans with acrylic sealer in matte finish. I let these dry for one day to make sure there was no residual odor (this stuff gives you a headache if you're not careful!) and then attached the images and label tape with Mod Podge. I cut a length of wire for each can and wrapped it in place. Finally, I added candles inside (taking care not to rub against the inside of the drilled holes) and lit them. The light peers through the holes beautifully. I plan on placing these along my picnic table on Halloween night near our bonfire. Here's a better view of the candles...

And I just had to share this of Logan trying to dress up as (hotdog) Chicken Pox boy. He's such a silly goose!