Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Getting Back to Nature- Turkey Tutorial

Hi, My Name is Tolbert!



This a fun project for Thanksgiving using Natural elements.
It could be made into a Pin or a little wall hanging.

Gather some Acorns and some Oak Leaves.
It's best if the leaves are still green, and not brittle.


You'll need some glue. I like this Quick Grip glue..it works
as fast as Hot Glue, except without the burns!
It gets built up on your fingers but nail polish remover on a
cotton ball cleans it right up.

Next step is to paint the leaves and the acorn white with acrylic craft paints.
The paint helps to preserve the leaves so they won't become brittle.



After painting the acorn to resemble a turkey face, I glued on a bit
of red rickrack on the top of the turkey's head. I used red paint
to cover the glue that showed.
On the tail feathers I used metallic blue and green,
and brown, burnt sienna and orange.
I love the way the leaves look like wispy feathers.



I glued the leaves together in layers with the largest one in the
back, and smaller ones in front.

I trimmed the stems at the bottom after I glued the leaves together.

I cut the beak from some cardstock paper and painted it orange
and glued it on the face. I painted the eyes with a tiny brush.
The legs are some cocktail toothpicks I found at the dollar store.
They are two pronged..those are Turkey Toes!
Little twigs would work great too!
I glued on some black embroidery thread for
my Turkeys beard..you know they have a beard don't cha' ?
Well, I guess the boy turkeys do.
You could use those little moving eyes if you want.
I just made little black dots, then little yellow dots,
and another tiny black dot.

I brushed on a coat of satin water based varnish on the whole thing,
front and back.
I glued a pin on the back, it's now Gobble Gobble Jewelry!

I shot a real live Wild Turkey a long time ago. I remember it having a
very long beard..long skinny stringy beard.

I did this project in about one hour.
I had been gathering leaves and acorns because I have
more ideas to do with the Acorns..

I needed to do a pin for a Swap ASAP, so I had to
get something done SOON. I was so excited when
I was putting it together. You know there's always that chance
that it looks Stoopid and it's all a waste of time.
I am tickled how it came out!

My next idea is a Family Tree of Nuts.
The little acorns will make cute people with toboggans hats on!

Or what about Snowmen?
The ideas are endless!

Gobble Gobble Gobble!!!!



Mixed Media on Wood--"Prayer Meeting"


Silver Leaf is nice, but Hey, Aluminum foil did the trick here.
I textured a Wood piece, adhered splashes of the foil,
Painted the design, and applied an antique glaze over it.
Aluminum Foil is Way cheap..and I am a Frugal Artist!

Monday, October 12, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sue Mitchell, Our Sister in Heaven




OCTOBER 13, Sue Mitchell DaySue painted this beautiful Texas Country Scene on a Saw Blade.

Sue Mitchell, Christian Artist, sister, aunt, daughter and friend to many many many people.

October 13 is Sue Mitchell Day, because it was the day she was born. She went Home to be with her Lord, on May 6, 2009. What a Beautiful Person Sue was, and we will never forget all the love she gave us on Chic-Chicks. Today we reminisced old stories and how she touched our lives. We each thought she was only making us feel special when she would write to us personally..but as it turns out, She wrote her tail feathers off!
She tried to save Everyone on the Planet Earth! We were all special to Sue (Susie Mitchell)
and Sue was surely Special to each of us!



We've had an outpouring of hearts thinking of Sue today, remembering her on her Birthday.
There is a weblog dedicated to Sue, with some notes of things we remember about her..

bluebonnets and daydreams

We'll See you on The Other Side Dear Sister!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Matchbox Swap Pics!

Chic-Chicks Yahoo Art Group are doing Matchbox Makeovers!
We have goodygoodygumdrops with her Altered Art matchboxes!


closeup2 with watermarkcloseup1 with watermark

This one is a Bookmark in a Matchbox by Vicky Ausmus.

Vicky's Matchbox Swap


Next is one by Margaret Grimm..

matchbox 9/09 by rustyhen
just ADORABLE!

2nd pic 9/09 by rustyhen




Beth Mosier created a Scarecrow Matchbox.



IMG_0418


A Chicken Coop Matchbox..by Me




and the barn scene one is mine too..I think it could make a great
Pendant to wear for the Fall season. It was so much fun to do the first one,
I couldn't stop at one..and I want to make more!





Loretta Neighbors made a Scarecrow and a Boo Box!



Dorothy Baumgartner created this lovely box, it's very'
striking!! I am the proud recipient..She put halloween surprises inside..
and a silver heart pendant with my name engraved on it!

These are handpainted by Marily Gray

IMAGE1


And below is the cutest little spider box I've ever seen..
made by Carol Delong..and sometimes we get candy and goodies packed in our Swaps!




Aren't these all Amazing?
We really have fun with our Creativity!