A Craft Save!

I recently tried a new craft/DIY project that I found on Pinterest to make a birthday gift for my best friend.  I thought it seemed like such a cool idea - a great way to make some inspiration artwork using some simple items that thankfully, I already had on hand.  Well... it didn't quite turn out how I expected.  That can sometimes be a good thing though - which in this case it was.
Here's an idea and some background on the original idea I found through Pinterest:

Source:  website

Source:website

I love how subtle this is - the white on white.  

Well.... here's how my project went:

the quote I found to use.... 

Navy Blue Puff Paint - the downfall of this project?

standard waxed paper

I also used:
a pre-gesso'd board from Michael's

I just handwrote the quote on a basic piece of paper with a sharpie... 

as in the tutorial online, I put my waxed paper over my quote and then wrote out the
letters using the puff paint and let them dry all day

then I peeled off each individual letter and mod podged it onto my board...
this was a LONG process!!!!

the finished product - all the letters mod podged onto the board

yuck!  green over the blue?  boo.... time to find a solution!

Add caption

I'm getting there.... I ended up using a paper towel and wiping off a majority of the green paint.  It created
more of a watercolor effect which I was fairly happy about.  :)  I unfortunately didn't take a picture of the finished product but I added some blue paint and wiped that away and then a bit more to make more layers.  It ended up looking really nice!  I added a ribbon on the back so she could hang it on the wall - sounds like she's going to put it up in her classroom.  (she's an AWESOME teacher!)

Where I went wrong:

I started out with Navy puffy paint.  So there I was painting with Navy on white.  My plan seemed simple enough - just paint over the whole thing once I had the letters on the canvas.  Boo - not so much. Maybe starting with white is a better idea?  Maybe the white on white is the best option?  Not sure.

I was able to save this project but overall - not sure I'd do it again.  Modge podging the letters on was a PAIN!  I'd rather use a different effect to make wall art - which thankfully there are lots of other ideas on Pinterest to do just that!  :)

Oakleaf Expo - Saturday, November 5th

This last weekend I participated in my first show in the Jacksonville area.  It was a very local show - within my neighborhood here but a great one!  There were 100 differents vendors - anything from pet sitting to bouncy houses, Arbonne to Avon and everything in between....  then there was me and a few others with homemade items!

so happy to be inside!  

looking the other direction inside...

brr.... it was a cold and windy day!  YUCK!

It wasn't my best show but considering the size of the event and it being my first show here in Jax, I'm happy with how I did.  I feel like I got my name out there and because it is original, hopefully a lot of people will remember it!  :)

this is one of the AMAZING 'coat racks' that my FIL Buzz made me!  LOVE THEM!!!

I met some really amazing ladies - please take a minute to look at their amazing products:

Tori with One.Eleven Handmade Bags - she is new to Etsy but has a BEAUTIFUL blog:

Source

I can't wait to see what Tori does on Etsy!

and Maria with Vintage Ooak Designs:

Source

Here's a look at the amazing bib necklace that my MIL & FIL bought for me from Maria:

SO beautiful!!!  I love it!