m.o.M - mother of Michael

I Love My Shrinky Dink

Yes. I said it. I love my Shrinky Dink!

I signed up for an ATC swap where the challenge is that the ATC cannot be made of paper or cardboard. As soon as I saw that I knew what I was going to do. Zentangle Shrinky Dink!

Step one - Have husband dig some good friends out from that top shelf in the closet.

Step two - realize that my Incredible Shrinky Dinks Maker is too small for the task at hand, but at least it's within reach for some other ideas that are now percolating!

Based on the assumption that the sheet would shrink to 30% of it's original size and my target was a 2.5 x 3.5 inch ATC, I cut the plastic to a 7.5 x 10 inch rectangle.

Step three - into the oven. The back of the package said that for larger pieces, a lower oven temp would result in a longer shrink time and reduce distortion. I set the oven at 275 degrees. The package recommended 300 - 350, so it wasn't significantly lower.

Step four - worry

Step five - How cute is this?

I did not reach my target size of 2.5 x 3.5 (this shrunk down to 3 x 4.25) so it's back to the drawing board tomorrow.

And that's a wrap on month two of my Year of Creativity!

Tink's Place

This ATC is for a Swap-Bot challenge called Fairy Door. This is based on little doors in our homes through which the fairies pass.

58

I See Zentangle Patterns...

It seems like forever since I've done any Zentangling and everywhere I look, I see zentangle patterns!

Snowman Poop

I did this page for the February challenge of the Year of Altered Book class. Great plan...in my head.

I liked the image of this woman in the polka dotted dress and found a quote which I added to for the sake of the page: "In one sentence, I'd describe myself as indescribable. But I wouldn't end it with a period. I'd end it with three dots. Polka dots." Cute, no? I added the polka dot line.

In case you are wondering, that quote is credited to Jason Schwartzman. I didn't recognize the name either, but then I googled him and Oh My God! I LOVE him! Have you seen Darjeelilng Limited? Jason Schwartzman. Grand Budapest Hotel? Jason Schwartzman. And one of my favoriteitsucksitwascancelledtvseries: Bored to Death. Yep. Jason Schwartzman.

Who knew?

So back to the point. I had the dress. I had the quote. I had polka dot tissue. I made polka dot tape transfers.

I made a page that looks like a snowman pooped all over a fourth of July picnic.

56

The good news is that I'm caught up and ready for March. Bring it on!

Tape Transfer

It's small. It's the first one. I think it's kinda cool!

55

Of course the ladies over at Staples must think I've lost my mind when the print out sheets of black dots for me!

Learning...

I completed the first lesson challenge for my Year of Altered Books class. I'm pretty happy with how she turned out, but I think there's more that can be done. For example, I would love to put a word on the right hand page. It will still be in my practice book for embellishment later...

One Step Forward....

I am almost a month behind with my A Year of Altered Books class, but this is my 'one step forward' for the month of January. Tomorrow will see it to completion!

53

 

Stop the Car!

It's been a busy, running around kind of day, so my "creative" today is a bit of photography.

We were driving through a fairly affluent neighborhood in Orlando today when I spotted this in someone's front yard. When I yelled "Stop the car!" most husbands would have assumed that there was some sort of emergency. Fortunately, my husband knows better.

52

And Your Little Dog, Too!

Here is my Wicked Witch of the West ATC for the Wizard of Oz ATC Swap #8 on Swap-bot. This is the first one that has not been primarily collage so I'm fairly happy with how it turned out. Although, "Surrender Dorothy" should have been written in all caps. Oh well...

This little guy will be hopping on it's broomstick this afternoon and heading off to the cold climes of Erie, Pa!

51

50 Days of Creativity!

It feels appropriate that on the 50th day of the year, I complete my first altered book page! And the message is one I continually have to remind myself of:

Stop chasing butterflies and jump!

50

If this is going to be my self proclaimed year of creativity then I'd damn well better create!