Melty Things and a Cupcake Book amongst the Honeysuckles?

What do melty things and cupcakes have in common. Well, it you talk to one of my friends her fav melty things are marshmallows and hot chocolate, bless you Terri. My fav melty things are beeswax and encaustic wax. Yesterday, one of you asked what I use to melt my wax in? You can use either a small crockpot or a Ranger Melting Pot. I prefer the Ranger because it does melt the wax quickly and you have a temp control on the top. You don't want your beeswax smoking! This is a mantra of Claudine's.

You can also buy extra trays for melting other stuff like Utee. I leave my wax in the melting pot and then just plug it in and I am always ready to wax again. I also use the same brush, yes it does harden with the wax on it - but it will also then melt so you can use it over and over and over again. The Clover Quilting Iron is a fav of mine for working with the wax - it is small and easy to use. However, once again you need to clean it while using it so it doesn't smoke. I have a special rag with me that I use for this - it is an old sheet I cut up! For larger items, Claudine recommends an inexpensive travel iron (no holes in the bottom) that you can pick up from places like Target.

Claudine will tell you to be sure you are using BeesWax..... which you can find in the candle section at Michaels. BeesWax comes in varying shades from white to yellow. Candlewax won't work. Like I said yesterday, Claudine's beeswax collage DVD is one of the best I have seen on collaging with wax. Next time I pull out the waxing I will do a more detailed "step-by-step" on laying down tissue paper, ironing it out, and applying images and buttons - my way.

I'm going to change the subject here and jump to cupcakes. Part of Larcy's Xmas gift was Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book ... I saw one at Michaels but it was damaged. (yes, I did a cupcake theme for her)....

I have waited since Xmas for them to get more of these books in. Have they? No. Finally last week I found a manager and asked if they were waiting for some sucker to buy the damaged book before they replaced it? He said, would you like me to order you one? I said no. He said wanna make a deal? I said yes. He said how much? I told him and I got the book which was nonrefundable and mine for ever and ever. (Remember this part since he held the book in his hands and did not give it to me....)

Surprise, had I known how damaged the spine was - that was not necessarily visible (got worse once home as I opened it and opened it and opened it again) ... I would have offered him less. But so goes the deal. So today after deciding "gluing" would not fix that spine - I tore the book apart. And grabbed my trusty RubiCoil binder machine.

The RubiCoil is a binding machine that will punch holes and let you bind books using different sizes and colors of coils. I have it and the Bind-It-All. Depending on what I am going to be putting together, I use both frequently. The RubiCoil will not punch through chip board like the Bind-It-All but each has its own + and -.

Another little tidbit on the RubiCoil is to make sure you have the "guide" screwed in place so there is no "moving" around since it will change where your punched holes are going to be. This is really important and sometimes I forget. I have really learned this machine by the "oh opps" method. I cried a lot in the beginning and at times hated it.... oh the drama....

Well, Martha got bound.... the book that is....

And you know - Martha needed some ribbons.....

Merry Christmas, Larcy! LOL.... She might as well send Oliver over to fetch it, don't you think?! I've got a cold and I'm being whinny again....... OK, I'm gonna go for hot chocolate!

A day with Claudine is like a day at the Spa?

I admit it! I do! I am a Claudine Hellmuth groupie. So there. I love that kid. She is a charmer, a creative wonder, and such a fine teacher! Today's all-day workshop was "Beeswax Collage" in Alexandra, VA. I am so thankful I was able to take this workshop with Claudine. I had taken an earlier waxing one from someone who had a class with Claudine at Art & Soul and learned a lot but that was a number of years ago and I kind of do stuff my way - as I know you all know and then foget the "right way" I was taught.

Last week I took time to watch Claudine's DVD, beeswax collage, and it was great. Anyone who is interested in beeswax, I highly recommend this DVD. It is the next best thing to a workshop with Claudine. Her techniques and suggestions make waxing and creating with it a breeze. Literally!

We spent the first 20 minutes with an overview of using beeswax, oil pastels, and crayons. I had never used oil pastels or crayons in my waxing prior to today.

I loved using these two items. I like melty stuff. I loved melting the crayons.... OK, back to my creations. The two items I made are for a friend of mine who I refer to as le petit poucet - to him, I am Hexe the Incorrigible. I won't go into the story behind the photos but one of the young women is no longer with us.

I was able to use images from my visit last weekend to the Terra Cotta Warriors. I picked up post cards with an idea to use in my Asian art.

The odd figure behind there heads was a free download from Dover Publications. If you don't get their newsletter, sign up for it. I also buy their books featuring CD Roms. Love their images. I ran across it last night and cut out my images and was ready to hit the workshop running this morning. Added ribbon and an Asian coin in the corner. The second piece was on a smaller canvas....

This one was so much fun to create. There is a joy in her face that is contagious. Added some gold wings, an Asian coin,

and, ta da --- melted crayons!!

So there you have it.... my day with Claudine. Love you sweetie, and please, always remember what a joy you are to all of us,

A this ANd A That in the Breeze

A few quick notes today. I got a new camera... Let me introduce you to it - haven't named it yet. Will do that later. Cool? I love it. This is not an impulse buy since I have been thinking about this purchase since last August and I have saved my pennies. When I took the tennis photos last summer to make business cards for some friends, I had to borrow a camera and I really enjoyed taking the photos.

I contacted another blogger friend who has ventured into photography (she is a professional -- no doubt about it) I asked her for her recommendation in my price range and this is it. Played with it last night once I got the batteries juiced up:


The photo above was taken from across the living room when I was playing with the zoom... love zooms... Close-ups are great.... (for some things.... wrinkles, no)

I need to print some images out tonight for my Saturday workshop with Claudine Hellmuth. I have also decided to work on another Asian wax for a friend and need to get specific items printed. My Fridays, after my hour-long workout with James, are just so like I-don't-want-to-do-anything-except-vegetate! So, tonight is it. Will be switching between the Olympics and Survivor. You won't believe it but my Godson nephew is in Vancouver and might be on the TV when they filming the ski arials. He says they were up near the front. What does this all mean - I don't have a clue but I will be calling, "Aaaaaroooon is that you?"

Getting ready to wax wanely in the Breeze

Today, I headed to Michaels' Craft store to check on some supplies for my waxing workshop this weekend and look what I found on the clearance sale table...... I bought....

On Saturday I will have the pleasure, again, of taking a workshop with Claudine Hellmuth. This one will be a Beeswax one! This was rescheduled since our first date was the day of the infamous 34" of snow. I have been gathering my waxing tools, and items I need to take. I am not sure what I am going to work on - right now thinking it will be a cigar box to hold all of my Alphabet Cards.

I have "waxed" before and I really do enjoy it. Several pieces you might remember include the recent Asian one for a friend:


And a family photo which was the first piece I worked on:



I also enjoy working with encaustic wax, love the colors, especially on stamped images:



I made a calendar in 2007 and played with the encaustic wax (and as you can see I favor the green, yellow, pink and blue....:


So needless to say, I now need to go and find some images I want to use on my cigar box. I will leave you with one more image of my encaustic waxing!

A = Amour in the Honeysuckles

As I was cleaning up my little creative creation space last night, I happened on the image of a purple arch from Itkupilli Arches & Angels. Heart skipped and I knew I had to use it. The purples are so royal. I then found the image of a young lass I had printed onto canvas. This image is created by Janet Janson. Her digital collage sheets are fun and I'm not sure she is still doing them. I can't seem to find a link for them. So I added a key and a little bit of bling and there you have it! Was way to quick to create - kind of scary.....

As I have mentioned before, I have been going through all of my old magazines ripping and tearing out articles that I want to refer to later and also use for creative ideas. A friend of mine gave me a "Camping" journal - no kidding - that someone gave her. I took it right off her hands, added a few items and began to create this:



Originally there was a camp fire peeking out you. Oh no, no more.... I cut up an ad for Somerset Studio's Somerset in Love. One of the most beautiful publications from Somerset. Check it out.


I just used my Elmer's glue stick and have been gluing away... and away on me the pages and everything else!


The photo above may apprear a little weird but I want to be careful with other's art work that have been published. Most of these pages have been taken from the Stampington & Company magazines. The most wonderful inspirational magazines around! Well, I need to make dinner, get ready for the Olympics and decide on the next ATC card..... It is rainy here but NOT snow! Sorry, my Canadian friends.... yes, USA did win the Men's Hockey game! You have to admit it was exciting. I'm also so happy Bode Miller has cleaned up his life. He was such a basket case four years ago at the Olympics majoring in drinking and partying - and no medals. His gold, silver, and bronze are impressive this year. Enjoy the evening.

And more little atcs in the Honeysuckles....

Wanted to get in a quick post today. I was able to get two and a half more ATC cards done. We now have: (1) T for Three; (2) L for Lesson; and (3) E for Eye Candy. The 2 1/2? well you have seen one ATC that I did go on and repurpose for the Alphabets...

I did use the paper I mentioned to you the other day... it is hiding beneath everything. I then added some lace and the statement, "and baby makes three."


When I first started working on this one, I realized it had to have a music sheet behind it and then I thought it needs SO much more as it was a little boring. And so we got to this point:


A few flower headdresses...... a flower in the corner....., bling buttons.... an old earring taken apart and I have a musical note.... I was feeling the music on this one and am pleased with it. The images used in "Three" and "Lesson" are from Itkupilli.


The HALF card is my Edgar Allen Poe one made in November 2009. I had to include Edgar, and please note, if he were alive today I would be lusting after him. Just an editorial comment. That's all. Lust not Love. ... . So I added an "E" and the statement Eye Candy........ It was originally called "Nevermore" - but Eye Candy also suits it. Edgar and Doll Face are from Digital Collage Sheets.

Had a pleasant surprise at the crop last night. It was called a "Murder to Die For" crop.... OK, why not, a crop is a crop. OK.... It was based on a character from two books by Joanna Campbell Slan, Kiki Lowenstein. Joanna has written two books: Cut, Crop and Die and Paper Scissors Death. Well, she has moved to our area and was at our crop last night. How fun! I have not read the books but did get autographs for them. And we had a murder reenactment (Larcy won the grand prize). I did have the books since Oliver's mummy (Larcy) gave me both of them for my recent birthday..... Got stuff done and had fun visiting with old friends.

I now need to get the "back" information stamped and put on the ATC cards .... I have just been creating and dealing with the chores here..... What is the back you ask? Well, it is this...

Need a cup of Java and get the laundry out of the washer, yada yada yada.... See you tomorrow.