My First Altered Tin

I have to start out by saying, THIS NEARLY DROVE ME NUTS, but once I got it all figured out, I LOVED IT, and can't wait to make more. 

The reason it started out bad for me is because I didn't have the right kind of tin. The only ones I had were deep with windowed tops. I had to build up the underneath of the lid to even it out because there was a frame around the window, (darn, I didn't take any pictures of that - I'm making another one with the windowed lid and plan to post a "step by step" for that one). This gave me a shortened lid depth and it's relationship to the container itself was off. It's all good though. It worked out beautifully as you can see from the pictures. 

Once I figured it all out if was easy and fun. I always say experience is the best teacher and I got tons of it on this first tin. Thank you to Cathy Bluteau, I really enjoyed learning from you, (for more info on creating altered tins, check out Cathy's class at Creative Workshops and my previous blog post )

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Creating.

Susan

So Much to be Grateful For

Generally I live my life on the bright side. Even in the midst of a crisis, I look for, and usually find the silver lining. Some may say that is a very naive way to live life, others would say it's because I am a Christian, but I just call it faith, (whether it's obvious to me or others, everything happens for a reason). Regardless of what I might think or others might call it, it's just how it is for me. 

This month I've decided to join in on Tracy Weinzapfel's 30 Days of Giving Thanks. I haven't been as organized about my posting as Tracy but you can find my post at my Facebook Page. (if you aren't a "friend" email either to FB or thedistractiblescrapper@gmail.com or send a friend request to Susan Chestine Garman).

I would like to encourage you to participate also, (it's not too late). While you may not want to expound your thankfulness in such a public manner as a blog or Facebook post, I encourage you to keep a journal or simply take a moment each day to pause and give a little nod of recognition to something you are grateful for. Really, you have nothing to lose and it might even change your day or start a trend that could change your life forever.

I hope you have a wonderful day, full of all kinds of gratitude and reasons to be thankful.

30 Days of Giving Thanks

Day 11. Today I find myself mindful of the many men and woman who have sacrificed so much for my personal freedom. God bless you all and thank you for your service. I am grateful for each and every one of you.

Day 10: I am thankful for the small space at the end of my living room that I call "the crafting area". It's like having a little piece of the world that belongs just to me.

9. After reading my daughter's comment to a status I posted earlier today, [you should check it out, she called me a bum :) ] I realize that I am so totally blessed and grateful to have a good, solid and friendly relationship with my children. We can be honest [not that I'm really a bum], find humor in our flaws, and just enjoy the company of each other. I love you K.C. Garman and Sara Garman.

8. It's been a tough week financially with the appliance melt down we've been having here. This in it's own rite has made me grateful. I am so fortunate and grateful to be able to find the riches in life in things other than money. While I wish I didn't have to embrace the difficulties, I am grateful that they do not define me.

7. I am so grateful for my moment of "me time" that I get to have almost every morning.

6. Giving thanks for my children who have grown into wonderful young adults.

5. Thankful for my home where I can take refuse even on bad days. I love my home!
4. Giving thanks for friends who can't wait to share their good news with me.
3. Grateful that our family was and still is willing to make the sacrifices necessary for the girls to be homeschooled, (even though one is graduated and both are in college)
2. Thankful for quiet mornings.
1. Grateful for change.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Creating.

Susan

I Just Have to Share!

Ok, I just have to share this link. Not only because there's a giveaway involved, but because I've fallen in love with Lynn Steven's work. You have to check out her original pieces over at Trash to Treasure Art.

So to the point. Lynn's having a Blogaversary giveaway and wants to get the word out. The drawing is for a couple of beautiful pieces of her own design and one "bonus" item. These pieces truly are treasures, (don't just take my word for it, go check it out). 

Click to enter

Thanks for stopping by today. I've got to run. I want to Pin some of Lynn's pieces to my Pinterest boards.

Happy Creating.

Susan

Wow! What a Transformation

Ok, dare I toot my own horn? I think I will. I absolutely love the transformation of this $2.75 thrift store spice rack purchase. I love it so much that I'm going to show you the "After" picture first. 

Isn't that really cute, (ok, the tops on the bottles aren't particularly attractive but I'm still looking/thinking about an alternative stopper)?

This is how it started out. Really nothing to look at. Even if I wanted to use it for it's original purpose it would have required work.

I dabbed some white acrylic craft paint tinted with a little Golden's Fluid Acrylic in Primary Magenta all over the display and then went back with a baby wipe and dabbed some of it away. 

After drying, I used Helmar's Crackle Medium to give it some thin cracks. The Crackle Medium is a 2 step process that takes about 30 minutes, (give or take) from beginning to CRACK! The cracks were filled in with Ranger's Distress Ink in barn door. (Using a cosmetic sponge I rubbed the ink over the entire project and let it sit for a few minutes, then I used a rag to wipe it off. The color stays in the cracks. how AWESOME is that!).

The rest are just rub-ons and some pearl bling. The flowers I made with lace from my wedding gown, (Don't swoon. My dress was almost entirely destroyed in a flood and I've made use of the lace in all kinds of projects for the past several years. Reusing the lace is my way of passing on my dress). After bunching the lace into a flower, I dyed it with some Range Distress Ink in worn lipstick, and added some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Chandelier. The Glam makes the sparkle and also stiffens the lace.

 

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Thanks for stopping by.

BTW, my plans for this weekend include making a light box. Hopefully using a light box will improve on at least one aspect of my photography.

Happy Creating.

Susan

To Much Education is Never a Bad Thing, Is It?

I wonder, as we age, is it normal to hunger for knowledge? A time when learning is more a matter of function instead of form. Lately, I just can't seem to take enough classes, read and listen to enough tutorials, and lift enough techniques to get me through the day. Last month alone I took two online classes and another two at A Scrapbook Store and More, my favorite LSS. Maybe for others this is nothing, but for me it's a big deal. I'm pretty thrifty, (aka, cHEap!) and rarely take any class that I have to pay for. 

That said, I've signed up for two classes for this month. At this rate I am going to be a highly educated crafter by year's end. I sure hope the time spent in learning shows up in the quality of the items I create. 

One class that I am super excited about is Creating Vintage-Like Tins by Cathy Bluteau. Cathy creates unique and beautiful tins with just a little of this and a little of that. I can't wait to learn her secrets. 

You can check out Cathy's tins and some of her other beautiful designs at her website  http://cathyb.typepad.com/.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Creating.

Susan