Art and Healing

It has been such a long time since I've posted here, but I'm almost "normal" so I thought I'd sit down and write. I love art, I love crafting and the expression of my creativity has always been an extension of my personality and my feelings. After the loss of my husband of 34 years I thought I'd never "feel" creative again. I also thought I'd never feel "normal" again. Of course in my way of thinking my "normal" has never been anyone else's normal so it wasn't a big deal. At least not until I found my new love and I had my hope restored. 

I honestly believe that everything you experience CAN be expressed in art. Perhaps art even helps you get through the hard times. Musicians experiencing down times used those "blue" experiences to create music that expressed those blue feelings. Humanity if full of ups and downs so many of us can relate to that sort of music. The truly fearful seem terrified of sad times, or hard times and therefore resist anything that smacks of less than HAPPY.

At any rate, I hope to come post here from time to time and revive my connection with those of you who have joined me here. We are still crafters in the Permian Basin and I hope to reconnect with all of you once my new home is finished. We simply must get together and be artsy together. With some scones, coffee and tea we can make it a real event and share what we've been doing over the past 27 months I've been healing. I hope you'll connect with me now so that when my art space is done we can easily transition into fun times there!

Until then!

Cerise

Better Than Modge Podge

It's that time again; My new favorite product. For years (and I do mean years) I've used Modge Podge for all my collage and decopage projects, but I've found something I like so much better. It's "Glue n Seal" by Ranger. This is another product Tim Holtz introduced me to. We used it to adhere heavy scrapbook paper to canvases. We applied a medium coat to all the exposed surfaces; front and sides, and we got a superb result. Tim even showed us how to deal with those annoying corners you would normally have to try and do "hospital" folds on, but that's for another day's blog.

What's the difference between GnS and MP? MP never really seems to dry. I did some decopage (using MP) on an old valise two years ago and it still feels tacky and sticks to other smooth surfaced objects. GnS dries completely. It comes in two styles: matte and gloss. It also comes on 4 ounce and 1 ounce sizes.

Better Than Modge Podge

It's that time again; My new favorite product. For years (and I do mean years) I've used Modge Podge for all my collage and decopage projects, but I've found something I like so much better. It's "Glue n Seal" by Ranger. This is another product Tim Holtz introduced me to. We used it to adhere heavy scrapbook paper to canvases. We applied a medium coat to all the exposed surfaces; front and sides, and we got a superb result. Tim even showed us how to deal with those annoying corners you would normally have to try and do "hospital" folds on, but that's for another day's blog.

What's the difference between GnS and MP? MP never really seems to dry. I did some decopage (using MP) on an old valise two years ago and it still feels tacky and sticks to other smooth surfaced objects. GnS dries completely. It comes in two styles: matte and gloss. It also comes on 4 ounce and 1 ounce sizes.

The one ounce size retails for around $3.50 but I've seen it as cheap as $2.49 online. Haven't seen the bigger sized bottle online yet, but as good as this product it I want the larger pot. It also has a built in brush so you don't have messy cleanups or wasted product. Just use it and put the lid back on!

The Ruler that Rules

What a delight when artists design the tools that artists use! No this isn't a tongue twister competition or a brain teaser either. I'm talking about Tim Holtz' Design Ruler. After trying a load of rulers, he sat down to design one with all the features he needed as an artist. He created one that has a metal edge so you can use a craft knife without gouging the ruler. It is a centering ruler so you easily find the center of your project. It begins with 0 rather than starting with an inch at the beginning. It is clear so you can see where you are placing it! It has graduated markings at 1/8" so you can also mark at equal spots across your projects. He designed it with holes in it so you can use a piercing tool and poke holes should you want to do some hand stitching. It has a beveled edge on one side so you can get your pens and pencils right up to the paper! I know I could think of more things it can do, but for now I just want to give a quick recommendation for this ruler that rocks! You can get there just about anywhere Tim Holtz products are sold, but don't forget Michael's and their 40% or 50% coupons and you'll get the best deal. My Michael's in Odessa even takes Hobby Lobby coupons! Isn't that a nice bonus?!

Here is a video with Tim sharing all this ruler can do: Tim's Design Ruler

Marvelous Tool

When is a tool not a tool? When it's something you clean your hands with, but it's so weird there really is no other descriptor! I'm talking about the Inkssentials Craft Scrubbie from Ranger. I used it for the first time at the Tim Holtz Extravaganza (loud echo to follow)! Tim never does a project that his hands aren't covered with alcohol ink, distress ink, glues and such. Our hands were all covered with the same types of products during our two day exploration into all things "altered". Tim mentioned the bar in passing and I paid little attention to it as I was deep in creative thought.  Of course after drinking Iced tea all weekend frequent trips to the little girls room was vital. In the room was the strangest bar of what looked like pumice sitting on the counter of the vanity. After washing my hands with antibacterial soap I picked up the strange "bar o soap" and rubbed it on my wet ink stained fingers. Voila! Off came all the ink. The bar is light as a feather and not the least bit rough like pumice. Wild!!! The results reminded me of Mr. Clean "magic erasers", but for ink stained skin. I found my very own bar yesterday at my local "Michael's" store.  I wanted to share this miracle cleaning trick with you while it was fresh in my mind. The cost is $4.99, but if you use a 40% off coupon you can get it for $3.00. I know you'll be amazed at how clean your hands come, just be sure that they are wet!

Order in My World

I'm sure my girlfriends think I'm organized and have all my ducks in a row, but the only ducks that are in a row in my life on a constant basis are the seven quackers out in my front yard. For some reason they follow each other in a single file row at every opportunity. Oh, if only life was that simple.

I like order because I like to do some many things. If I don't have some semblance of order I have a tendency to freak out. My husband likes order too, but he's way more laid back in his everyday life. He can just let things go.

My friend Vicky organized my scrapbook space AFTER I had organized it. She is a paid organizing consultant and thinks order. I loved the whole process, though at the time it was a tad uncomfortable. We order lovers do NOT like letting go of control of the reins. After she talked me through the scarier parts we breezed through it all. There were a couple of organizational things I put in place before she changed my space, and I still use them. Today a favorite catalog company sent me an email with one of those things I discovered before the makeover and use after the change; a jewelry organizer.

I'm a scrapbooker, card maker, paper crafter and over all crafter. I have so many paper punches I had to come up with a way that I could see them so that I would use them. For me out of sight means out of my mind (unless I'm hunting for a specific hidden goodie). I wanted to share the great item before the sale is gone. These organizers can be pretty pricey, so when a great price comes up I want to share it.

First the company is ABC Distributing. They have fun junk and occasionally something useful. You can order a catalog and call in orders, mail in orders or go online and order from their secure website.

Here are snapshots of two of the products they are offering this week for a good price. Get them while they last. If you have a variety of paper punches in a variety of sizes the jewelry organizer is a great tool. Also, vertical space is a great way to go when you run out of shelves. These funky wall storage devices can hold glues, paints or other oddly shaped items. The price is right for both of these. The jewelry organizer is less than $6.00 and the can organizer is less than $7.00!

Cerise

Sharing The Love

I'm so excited to share all Vicky M. and I learned at the Tim Holtz Extravaganza in Roswell, NM. I can't thank the girls at "Imagine That" scrapbook store for hosting this awesome event. We got to do things that no woman has done and will ever get to do again. Tim retired the Patchwork Pandemonium we did, and a couple other projects that we got to do. He had NEVER done a two day workshop with the same women in attendance! I don't want to spoil the fun so I won't say more.

I do need RSVP's for the meeting as I plan to dip into my vast supplies for this meeting and do a "make n take" using one of the many techniques Tim shared with us. Each gal will go way with a prize in hand and that means I have to prep. If you plan to attend this meeting you MUST RSVP. The cost will be $5.00 to cover my supply costs. Of course we will have door prizes (might throw in a nice surprise here)!

When: Tuesday September 13th at 7PM
Where: Barnes & Noble Booksellers Midland, TX
Contact: Cerise Welter at cerwelt@gmail.com to say YES!

Please bring something you don't need or use from your scrapbook supplies to add to the kitty if you're coming.This keeps costs to a minimum and insures that we all participate. Also please consider buying a magazine, book or something from the cafe at Barnes & Noble to say, "Thanks" for them hosting our meetings each month.

Supplies you need: Sanding block or a piece of sand paper. An emery board will do in an emergency. Basic craft supply kit: scissors, adhesives, paper trimmer and you!

Your busy leader

Cerise Welter