FUNky Flower Tin

Getting sick is never fun, and when it’s an illness that lasts longer than just a few days then all fun goes right out the window.  That’s kind of what happened when I got that virus in June.  Don’t worry, I’m not sick but my computer sure has been.  We thought it was going to be terminal, thankfully it wasn’t.  

Unfortunately though, it left a nasty trail of chaos behind.  Would you believe that the virus actually took and HID almost everything on my computer!?!!  Programs, pictures, documents,…. EVERYTHING!  So piece by piece I’m putting my computer life back together and trying to get my mojo back.  It’s taking longer than I would like it to.

I’ll be squeezing in blog posts as often as I can and mixing it up a bit so that all three of our summer artists will get fair screen time.  Thanks so much Jennifer, Yvonne and Marianne for your understanding!!

This fun”ky” tin was created by Jennifer Toussaint.  The bright colors always sell me and this cute little tin is so whimsical.  The clear micro beads always make photography a challenge so in case you can’t read the stamped image on the top it says, “He was away often.  I like that in a man.”  Kind of reminds me of those sassy 50’s women you see on calendars and napkins now.  Ü

Jennifer took her tin the extra mile and spruced up the inside as well:

Just darling!!

Swimming Acetate Shaker

I do so wish you could hold this shaker card in your own hot little hands!  Rolling it back and forth is mesmerizing!

My friend and a PWA Beady Bud, Laura Davis had a brilliant idea to ink two pieces of acetate with alcohol inks (Stream and Bottle, I think).  Then she stamped fish on one sheet with Staz On black ink.  PWA 1/8” foam tape strips were used to create the shaker box.  Inside, Laura put in a variety of colors and sizes of beads… Bigger Beads in Teal Opaque, Regular size in Royal Blue, Light Teal and some Ultra Fine Clear.  What a wonderful mix of beads to complement this under the sea theme!  Last but not least, Laura put silver foil tape around the edges to hide the foam and to frame the card.  Since the back is made of acetate too, it’s completely see through and so well done!!

Oh!  And guess what!??!  You CAN hold one of these in your hot little hands!  Laura gave me TWO of them!  Ü  Leave a comment here and make sure to sign your name so if you win I can find you!

Hugs, Suzanne

Butterflight

I received this multi layered luscious butterfly card last fall from artist Carole Miller.

“Blinged” to the hilt with swirls, shimmer, glitz and micro beads this is a wonderful example of using PWA beads to fill in the gaps of an intricately die cut shape.

Carole added O’So Sticky Tape to the back of the wings letting the sticky show through the outline.  When dipped into micro beads the area fills in nicely and adds another layer of dimension to the butterfly.

This creation is a jaw dropping wow in person, come on by and see it up close!  ;0)

Hugs, Suzanne

Springtime Tins Better Late Than Never, Right?

Is it July?  For reals?  It sure feels more like springtime here in the Pacific Northwest.  We’ve only had a few peeks at the sunshine in the last couple of months and our vitamin D levels are waning.

My deeeeeeeepest apologies to my dear friend and designer Eunice Creswell for the very, very belated posting of her simply gorgeous springtime tins.  Life happenings coupled with a computer virus sorta knocked me off my game for a bit.

I posted this in the largest size photo that I could because I want you to get a good look at the details!  If you click on the picture it should get even bigger!  Eunice’s punches were clearly happy to be out to play for these because they showed up in a big, big way.  The patience and coordination needed to work with such teeny pieces is admirable.  Of that patience, I am seriously lacking so I extra appreciate it when I see it done well.

The green tin has several layers.  Green grass and a white picket fence are the anchors.  Little white bunnies and colorful micro beaded butterflies frolic in the foreground.  Sweetness is what this tin is, pure sweetness.

The blue tin is a virtual tulip garden with tulips and butterflies making the rounds.  The entire rounds.  Ü  Eunice added texture to the striped ribbon with a strip of O’So Sticky tape and clear micro beads. 

The pink tin is sporting intricately punched white lace with ribbon threaded through.  The butterfly really takes the stage though with it’s delicate wings and rose micro beads.

Eunice’s artwork is always a treat to see.  Her hyper attention to details and finishing touches are what make her so unique.

Glass Sculpture

This fun project has been two years in the making, really!  A couple of years ago I was craft show hopping with some friends when we spotted a beautiful cobalt blue glass sculpture displayed as a yard ornament. 

As we discovered that it was all created from various glass items such as a wine bottle, vase, plate, marbles, etc. we all ooh’ed and aaahhh’ed even more.  Surely we could do that!

The best part was that when I wasn’t looking those silly girls bought it for me for my birthday.  I love them so much!

From that day forward we all started collecting interesting pieces of glass to use in our own sculptures some day.  After several false starts, that “some day” came several weeks ago when we all met together with ALL of our collective glass pieces and the sculpting began!

The sculpture shown above was a collaborative effort but I think Julie Imsland and Yvonne Grimes were the key contributors to the design.

The glass is “glued” together with 100% silicone applied liberally.  For items left outside it’s important to seal everything tightly so that water won’t get inside.  (If it does, yucky things grow.)  Because I still have very little hand strength I purchased a Black and Decker power caulking tool for about $35.  It worked out wonderfully!

Inside the vase I put some teal and clear micro beads.  Above you can see them still layered.  At that point in the photo shoot I hadn’t decided for sure if I was going to mix them up or not but then I went for it! And I’m so glad I did!  This little sculpture stands about 14 inches high and is just too sweet and delicate to decorate the outside.  I’m keeping it inside where I see it every day and where it won’t have to weather the elements!

Included in my sculpture is a glass bird, a vase, a small plate, a bubble vase, a votive holder, white pebble marbles, a weird flat vase (like the kind my grandma floats rose blossoms in) and a heavy plate with scalloped edges and glass feet.  Someone thought it could be Fostoria – don’t tell grandma that I glued that!  ;0)

I really wanted to show you the inspirational cobalt blue piece but the virus on my computer won’t let me have the picture.  :0(

Hugs, Suzanne

Red, White and Blue SALE!!

While my computer has been offline (ugh virus!) I've been busy cleaning! Cleaning out closets, cupboards and my craft room! Things are starting to feel lighter and less overwhelming and that is a good thing!

In fact, I even carried it over to the Pennywise web "home" and cleaned up quite a bit there too... http://www.pennywisearts.com/index.shtml

Brian helped me combine some of the web pages and we deleted several of the ones that just cluttered up the menu bar so now the home page feels lighter and updated too. What a great feeling!

To celebrate we decided to bring in some fun new products to jazz things up a bit! NEW colors and NEW sizes of beads! And NEW Shake It window pouches for making another fun variety of shaker cards! You gotta see them! http://www.pennywisearts.com/beadables.shtml Be sure to scroll down and see the fun SAMPLES that some of our designers created with them!

Be sure to let me know what you think of the new look and the new stuff!

Since my most favorite holiday of the year is approaching I'm going to have a Red, White and Blue sale!

Shop on the website between now and July 4th and add at least one red, one white and one blue bag of beads to your cart and you will automagically get a FREE bag of Mini Micro Beads in your order! That's a value of $5.25 and FREE! Cool beads!

It doesn't matter if you choose them in opaque or transluscent, there just needs to be one of each color in your cart. If you order two of each color, you'll get two bags of free beads. You might want to go in on an order with a nearby friend and share the shipping cost.

Hugs, Suzanne
http://www.pennywisearts.com/index.shtml

Berries Fresh From The Garden

This special project was hand picked by designer Michelle McCarthy.  It might look like a simple crate but just you wait!

Inside is a fun berry surprise!

The sides of the box fold down and are embellished with stamped scenes and quotes as well as tags, micro beads, ribbon, fiber and brads.  In the middle of the box is another little box that holds the handmade strawberry boxes. 

 

The micro bead exteriors make the berries look morning fresh picked with a bit of dew still on them.  Yum!