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Showing posts with label Sh-tuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sh-tuff. Show all posts

Thursday, June 30, 2011

School's OUT... almost...

Summer for all 4 of the boyz starts when the bell rings this afternoon!

I've been storing sh-tuff away for the past 3 months like a squirrel... for the summer months to get us all by sharing the same space 24/7.
LOTS of fun things tucked away. ;O)
This year we're focusing on Home and Health so despite what I'm sure will be *muuuuch* complaining the boyz will be helping with the renos and redos.
Largely it's for their benefit, they'll be gaining the entire basement as their domain.

The end of the year brings the task of Teacher's Gifts around.We try to provide a wee something for everyone that works at the younger boyz tiny school (teachers, aids, custodial, office...etc.). The boyz can be a bit of a handful and each and every teacher has had dealings with them through the year, if not daily.
Nobel Peace Prizes all 'round, unfortunately, is not an option. ;O)
This year it had to be quick and made/assembled in a day because I didn't know what I'd be up to handling after my surgery. I'm very glad it got done before! Those were some pretty strong drugs given after. Sarah go zzzzzz....

It all started with a fantastic Micheal's Markdown. I was out on a coffee & shopping date with the lovely Katharine and she spotted it: 50 Pack of DIY Wedding Favor Boxes marked down from $30 to $7.50, because someone dropped the box and smashed the corner.
We split and each took home 25, just enough for us each to use on our own. Perfect!

I found a square cookie cutter in my urm, um... rather vast collection (yes, I have an addiction!) of Cookie Cutters. They fit perfectly in the wee boxes once baked and together. I made LOTS because I wanted to make sure the ones in the boxes were pretty. Leftover baking doesn't tend to last long in this house, extra tends to be 'self clearing'. ;O)
Recipe at the Bottom!


The Cookies fit 3 to a box quite nicely. I did put a dab of tape on to keep the boxes shut, they weren't overfilled but I had no desire to keep holding the boxed closed JIC while adding the ribbons and tags. Git 'er Done! There were beautiful silver ribbons from the kit I stayed with, putting the 'Thank-You' tags aside for another project and made our own.

I used my favorite photo of the Boyz taken by the Super Talented Robert Allard, back in March at the Steampunk Fashion Shoot.
You can see more of the pictures HERE on his site and the whole shoot HERE on Flickr.
The Tags were quick and simple, printed on regular paper and cut out with scissors. I can't get to my super-cutter that's still walled up in the Studio due to our reno chaos. I did managed to get my Crop-o-dile, it was near the door thank God, for making the holes.
I taped the ribbons on the bottom in the center, again easier than fumbling and I wanted these done ASAP. Then thread the tags through and tied them off in a pretty bow.
I love, love, love the shiny, shimmery silver coupled with the brass, copper and dark in the photo.
25 made in total:
4 went with the oldest boy and 21 with the youngers.





The Main Teachers also got plants.
Ivy was perfect, being in the same family with Roses they THRIVE on coffee and coffee grounds and it's also pretty hard to kill...
Made sure the teachers knew about feeding them coffee when they got the gifts.
Garden Center plants in IKEA Pots, bit of Stampin' Up! Organza Ribbon and the names written on smaller (Staples) manila tags.
Simple and Easy.
8 of these:
4 Main Teachers, 2 French Teachers, 1 Principal
and the 3 Specialists that work with the younger 2 boyz.




Chocolate Chip Shortbread.
Quick, 4 ingredient and DO NOT ask for a calorie count!!!
I tripled for the Gifts.

Original:
2 cups Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
(I like the really raw stuff)
4 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup Additive, if desired:
Chocolate Chips (I only use the Presidents Choice Decadent Chips)
or
1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup Skor bits is deeeevine.
At Christmas I make them 'Virgin', just topping with a light sprinkle of Colored Sugar before baking.

Cream Butter & Sugar.
Blend in Flour.
Then add Additive of choice.
Roll and Slice with Cookie Cutters.
Bake: 350 degrees F
Time: 15-20 minutes
bit longer of you like 'em crispier.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

WOYWW #94: Bits of Wonderland...

What you see is what I can show...
I have several Design Team thing 'under construction' as well as my project for the April Bunny Hop, tucked away on the side so I could take today's pictures. ;O)
BTW:
Hop Starts April 1st: 20 Stops AND there will Prizes all the way!
Info on my sidebar.

I'm still working away on my 2nd Portal Project.

So today is all about Spoilers!
This one has an Alice in Wonderland Theme.
Bigger than the Steampunk Teaopia one so I have LOTS more space to fill up behind the door. That works well because there is soooo much I CAN put there!
I've been stash digging and 2nd hand store collecting for months for this project. I've kept my eyes peeled at every FreeCycle event and snapped up more than a few things from the trash.
This week I'm cutting and glazing the paper elements and painting... painting... painting... anything that needs that done before starting to assemble everything for the 3D Collage *inside* the Base.
Clocks, Fireplace, Chess Pieces, Door Hinges, Mirror, Pig, Book, Birds, Lace, Cups, Computer Parts, Turtle, Lobster, Bunny, Mushrooms, Bottle, Flowers, Leaves and Playing Cards... Oh My!
Even more sh-tuff:
Vines, Eggs, More Cards, More Chess Stuff, More Computer Parts, Lace, Ribbons, Flowers, Birds and Book Pages...
Yet again... The Base.
lol, sick of seeing it yet?
One of these Wednesdays I will have this finished and not 'under construction'.
It's a biggie project, it's taking some time... but it will be worth it!
~Sarah Cooper~

PS: getting my Ra-Rah!! In:
Check out who is Artist of the Week on Steampunk Canada's Home Page:
http://www.steampunkcanada.ca
Portal #1: Steampunk Teaopia is up, as well as Warning to Time Travellers.

11-ishy PM:
Update! The Portal is DONE.
I will be taking pictures tomorrow when:
1) I'm more awake
and
2) My wee little camera has sunlight to help it.
So check back tomorrow,
I'll post the pictures when I get 'em done.
:O)

Friday, February 25, 2011

The Gallery Work Tour *picture heavy* & WINNER for the 400th Post!

I know, I know...
You all want to know who won the 400th Post Blog-Candy.
But 1st, bear with me, I'm going to toot my own horn since I have something worth trumpeting.

I've been crafting for oh, we'll say decades and um, leave it at that *wink* and this month I'm taking a BIG step, having been blessed with the opportunity to have some of my work displayed in a Gallery Show.
I Scrapbook, create Cards, ATC's, Postcards and other Paper Goodies... BUT my true Muse-Soother is Recycled Mixed Media work.

My Personal Motto:

Reduce, Reuse and Redecorate.

Using up as much 'junk' as I can...

Always striving to re-beautify with items that would otherwise go to waste.


I'm lucky enough that 3 of my Mixed-Media Projects will be on display this month at:


Steampunk " The Penny Dreadful " Artshow

Saturday February 26 at 8:00pm
- Saturday March 26 at 8:00pm

187Gallery
187 Main Street East
North Bay, Ontario
CANADA


A Sub-Genre that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s . Incorporating prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy , 19th century steam power technology and the elegance of the Victorian style.

"The Penny Dreadful " will be a celebration, appreciation and exploration of a hidden culture that is STEAMPUNK.


******************************
Welcome to a 'personal' Gallery Tour...
A picture sneak-peak at what I'll have on display:
(clicking on any of the picture will bring you to a larger version)
********************************

Steampunk Explosion Box
Mixed Media Decorative Gift Box
Gears and Cogs and Brass and Fanciful Bits... Oh My!
Visual Feast for the Eyes.


********************
Steampunk: Warning to Time Travelers

3D Mixed Media Collage Wall Hanging

This is a 'statement' on some of the 'dangers' of time travel.
The wooden base is an actual clock face.
A visual 'Treasure Trove'!
S
earch for:
Commentary on The Chaos Theory and The Butterfly Effect.
Pictures of the Delorean, Tardis and other 'time machines'.

Dinosaurs, Victorian goodies and Futuristic elements too.
Representations of Rolling-the-Dice, Threads of Time, Measuring Time, Eternal Time Loop... and many, many more.



***************************
This piece is being shared publicly for the
FIRST TIME
Here:
*****************************
Portal to... Steampunk Teaopia
3D Mixed Media Collage and Sculpture

Portal:
Base: 18 1/2 inch X 5 1/2 inch
Height: 15 inch
Pictured on a Table but can also be hung on a Wall. (wire)

Q: What is a Portal?
A: A Portal is a Door.

Q: Door to where?
A: Open the door and find out.

First in a series of fantastical Doors (ie. Portals) that when opened give you a glimpse at another time... another place... another space...
You don't know what's on the other side til you open the Door. You want to know, don't you.
Go ahead...
Open the Portal.

NOTE:
Several Clip-Art Images MOST appreciatively obtained from:
*The Graphics Fairy*

***********************************

and...


now...

what...

you've...

been...

waiting...

for...

The Winner of the 400th Post Blog-Candy is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

5

Timestamp: 2011-02-25 19:26:49 UTC

SCRAP VAMP!!!!!!
Who said...
Thanks for sharing this little peak! Can't wait to see it in its entirety! Oh, and I love that door!
February 13, 2011 9:08 AM
HUGE CONGRATS!!!!

Please email me you snail mail:
sarahccooper@rogers.com

MORE NEWS:
We have surpassed the next 25 follower mark!!!
I'm going to put together a Goodie Bag over the weekend, Post it and do the Draw:
Monday February 28th.

Already at 423 posts so we're heading towards the 500th Post Blog Candy FAST!

Thank-You
to everyone who commented and/or decided to become a follower.
~Sarah Cooper~