Tutorial --- A Cookie Inspired Creative Paperclay® Tree / New Art!

Good Morning to You All!

I hope this post finds you well and happy!  Christmas is just around the corner and I am running around trying to get last minute things done.  If you are still looking for that fun project to do with the kiddies, pop on over the the Creative Paperclay® blogsite and look at my next tutorial.  It was inspired by using star cookie cutters in various sizes stacked up to make this sweet Christmas tree.  If you don't want to make a tree and make ornaments, I talk about how to do that too. Either way, they will be darling and so simple to do.

Here is the site:  www.creativepaperclay.blogspot.com

 I also wanted to post a couple of pictures of a sweet snowman I created this month.  I think he turned out great!  First time, I have used a candlestick in my art.  Not too bad for a first.  The candies on this guys tummy were made by using my candy tutorial on this blog.  Click on the tutorial label in the right hand column of this blog for the instructions.

Well, I am off to church!  Hope you all have a blessed day and I wish you the happiest of holidays!

Until next time ...

My Secret Weapon to Sanding - Tip #2 Posted on the Creative Paperclay® Blogsite

Hi My Sweet Friends!

Happy Sunday to you!  I wanted to let you know that I posted my second tip on the Creative Paperclay® Blogsite today.  It's all about my secret weapon to sanding - my favorite tool to use and one that I hope to never be without.  I've been using them for 25 years now. :)   Go to www.creativepaperclay.blogspot.com to check it out.  If you use sandpaper on your projects, you will want to see my tip.  I promise you, it will save you time and hassle!

XOXO

Sneak Peek -- Pfatt Marketplace New Offerings - Available December 10th at 10am!

Hi Everyone!

Boy, it's cold in California where I am!  Even in our little town of Wheatland, we got a light dusting of snow this afternoon.  I have never seen that in my 9 years of living here.  At least it all melted.  Good thing too, because I don't have a clue how to drive in the snow.  Hope you are warm and happy wherever you are.

Wanted to stop by the Charmed blog and give you a sneak peek at my new offerings for Pfatt Marketplace on December 10th.  Hot off the worktable are two sweet snowman ornaments!  I think they turned out pretty cute with their candy striped noses.

Each ornament is 6" tall (10" including the banner) and completely hand sculpted out of paperclay.  Their sweet faces are full of charm and character!  The hats are made out of vintage tart tins that I painted and glass glittered and there is a sweet Christmas bell under each of their collars (hard to see from the photos).  Each snowman was given a pearl paint wash over their icy skin to give them a frosty look.  Really beautiful in person!  They have been highly glittered and look beautiful on the tree!

The Red Snowman is named "Laughing all the Way" and the Blue Snowman is called "Dreaming".

Love this photo of the Blue Snowman.  You can see his silver Christmas bell underneath. 

This little guy is just too giggly! I am waiting for tears to pop out of his eyes - crying in laughter!

Oh ... these ornaments make me happy indeed!  

Stop by Pfatt Marketplace on December 10th  and see all the other offerings by the talented artists there!  Let's race!  Beat you there!   XOXO

New Tutorial on the Creative Paperclay® Blogsite!

Hi Everyone!

Boy, I have missed you all.  Time sure flies by even if we are not having fun, doesn't it?  Well, I sure hope you are all happy in your corner of the world.   Things have been so busy with me and my family, I hardly have time to finish up my new Charmed Confections I am working on.  I think I have about ten projects going on right now and Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

This Thanksgiving, everyone is coming to my place.  So, I will be busy cleaning and shopping for the big day.  Then I will be cooking, laughing, drinking and eating with my sweet family!  I am so ready for a little fun, but have lots to do beforehand to get ready for the big day.  Even my sweet, little man Jake will be looking good on Thanksgiving since he went to the groomers.  I like to say they did some man-scaping on him.  Hee! Hee! He is all trimmed up and looking handsome.  Now, if I can get my hubby looking that good.  :)

Anyway, I did finish up a new tutorial for the Creative Paperclay® blogsite tonight.  It will be published tomorrow.  Go to www.creativepaperclay.blogspot.com to check it out.  Below is a picture of what I was working on.  They are Gingerbread Boy Tags / Ornies.  I hope all my Prim Girls out there give this a try.  They sure would look darling with their creations.  My friend, Jody Johnson of Sweet Bear Creek Whims was my inspiration for creating these little guys.  She makes wonderful creations!  Go check out her blog at www.sweetbearcreekwhims.blogspot.com

Here I have used them as ornies on my homemade jelly.  Too cute!  These would look great as ornaments, Christmas present tags (just write on the back of them). put them on garland / in wreaths or use them in your holiday potpourri as bowl fillers.

I sure hope you will stop by the Creative Paperclay® blog tomorrow.  Leave me a comment and tell me what you think.  You know I love to hear from you!

Until then ... XOXO

Sunday, Nov. 10th -- My First Tip on the Creative Paperclay® Blogsite!

Hi Everyone,

Happy Friday!  I don't know about you, but I am saying TGIF!!   Hope you had a good week, but I sure hope your weekend is amazing!!  I am ready for a break.

Coming up on Sunday, November the 10th, I will be publishing my first post on the Creative Paperclay® blogsite.  My post is called "Get to know your clay".  If you have ever wanted to get in on the ground floor and learn about paperclay, now is the time.  I have tried to summarize the basics for you and give you lots of tips along the way.  Sure hope you pop on by www.creativepaperclay.blogspot.com and say hi!  There are so many tips and tutorials on the site.  I am sure you will find something to inspire you!

Well, it's 5pm and I am off to start my weekend!  All my best to you!

Goblins Gonna Get You If You Don't Watch Out!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!  

This is truly my FAVORITE day of the year!  So, thought I would post a little poem that always fascinated me and scared my older sister to death when she was growing up.  I hope you love it!  It is one of my favorites and will get you in the mood for tonight!



Little Orphan Annie's come to our house to stay,
And wash the cups and saucers up, and brush the crumbs away,
And shoo the chickens off the porch and dust the hearth and sweep,
And make the fire, and bake the bread, and earn her board and keep;
And all us other children, when the supper things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun
A-listenin' to the witch tales that Annie tells about,
And the Gobble-uns that gits you if you don't watch out!

Once they was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers--
And when he went to bed at night, away upstairs,
His mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl,
And when they turned the kivvers down, he wasn't there at all!
And they seeked him in the rafter room, and cubby hole and press,
And seeked him up the chimney flue, and everywheres, I guess;
But all they ever found was just his pants and round about!
And the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

And one time a little girl would always laugh and grin,
And make fun of everyone, and all her blood and kin;
And once when they was company and old folks was there,
She mocked them and shocked them and said she didn't care!
And just as she kicked her heels, and turnt to run and hide,
They was two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
And they snatched her through the ceiling
'fore she knowed what she's about!
And the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

And little Orphan Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
And the lampwick sputters, and the wind goes woo-oo!
And you hear the crickets quit and the moon is gray,
And the lightning bugs in dew is all squenched away--
You better mind your parents, and your teachers fond and dear,
And cherish them that loves you, and dry the orphan's tear,
And help the poor and needy one that cluster all about,
Or the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

Have a wonderfully, wicked Halloween tonight all my Pretties!  

XOXO LeeAnn

Checking in / Paperclay Anyone?/ Someone Sweet

Hi All!

Wow! ... Some time has past since I  last blogged.  Sorry about that.  No ... I'm still alive and the house hasn't fallen on me yet.  Hee! Hee!

Wanted to share some news!  A few posts back, I had mentioned that I was trying to get on the Creative Paperclay® Design Team.  (This is one of the types of clay I use in my art.)  They have their own blog and a team of really talented artists that make up tips and tutorials for anyone and everyone, every month on their blog site.   In addition, you can find their tips and tutorials on the Michaels, Joann's and Hobby Lobby Facebook pages too!

Well, I am so happy to announce that YES ... I made the team!!  (Hard for me to even believe.)  When I sit back and think about what to do or what direction I should go in on my artistic journey, I never thought that something like this could actually fall in my lap.  I'm thrilled!!  Just goes to show you all ... You've got to GIVE IT A TRY!!  The worst that can happen is they say no and you are right back where you are today.  Nothing gained, (but most importantly) nothing lost.  So be brave, my friends and reach out through your art ... and go for it!

I hope you will pop on over to the blog -- www.creativepaperclay.blogspot.com and sign up to follow it.  Even if you don't work in paperclay, some of the tips will work on polymer clay too.  (I've worked in both.)  If you have never tried clay and always wanted too -- Now is the time!!  You might even find you have a hidden talent for it!  :)

I will be posting tips and tutorials every month for 6 months (along with the rest of the team).  I will start out easy and progress over the months.  Please join me and lets create something together.  It will be fun!  You can do this!!  Plus, I could use a few friends along the way.  :)  I sure hope to see you there!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today, I received a wonderful message from Brenda of Pumpkin Hollow Primitives.  Brenda won my sweet Spider Bite in the Witches of Giggleswick Blog Hop last month.  She was so incredibly kind to post something about her winnings on her blog.  I was truly touched by her thoughtfulness.  Brenda is quite the Artist herself creating incredible graphite drawings.  WOW!! I was truly impressed.  How can anyone draw something and actually make it look real is beyond me.  She is a really talented painter too!  You need to see her Prim Artwork! Below is a link to her blog site.   Go check it out and give her a shout out.  (Thank you so much, Brenda!  I am a new followers of yours!  Hugs)

http://pumpkinhollowprimitives.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that's all for me right now.  I will keep you posted on upcoming artwork, tutorials and then some.  Posting some new items in my Etsy Shoppe soon! 

Hope you are all ready for Halloween.  Jake (my sweet doggie) and I are almost ready with our costumes!  Stay tuned for pictures and remember this month it's ok to be a little wicked.   :)

Until next time ... 

What time is it? SpookyTime Jingles Time!!!

Hi All!

I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am to have a weekend.  It seems like for the past month, I have been getting up at "dark o'clock" and going to bed in the wee hours of night as well.  So many things on my mind and deadlines to meet.  Needless to say, those bags under my eyes are just in time for Halloween.  No ghoulish makeup required.  :)

I wanted to share with  you all my newest Charmed Confection.  This is Willie (the gargoyle) and his party pal Gus.  These two will be available for purchase on SpookyTime Jingles on October 13th.  Hope you like them.  Go to www.spookytimejingles.com on the 13th if you are interested.  They are several outstanding artists there, so be sure to check out their wonderful offerings.

SOLD!  Thank you!!

On a personal note, wanted to share a few cute pictures of my daughter, who is now the Drum Major for her High School Band (That's her in the striped pants).  They are the Pirates and she is dressed up in her pirate garb and leading the band in a parade ... twirling as she goes!  She makes me so incredibly proud to be her Mom.    She even saluted and winked at me as she walk past.  (Of course, I teared right up.)

  

There is her mischievous look ... I'd know it anywhere!   Here she is getting ready to lead the trumpet section in the National Anthem - opening ceremonies of homecoming.   She did a fabulous job!

One last note before I go ... I am calling all Angels to pray for my Uncle Arlan.  We are praying for a miracle as he is very, very sick.  If you have some love and time to spare, please say a pray for my sweet Uncle.  He, my Aunt Marge and their family together (and all of our extended family) could most certainly use it right now.

Hope you and your family are well and happy.  I am sending blessing to all my followers and friends!  Take care ... until next time.  XOXO

Wicked Wands -- New Charmed Confections!

Happy Wednesday to You All!

Hope all my followers out there are having a great day (even though it is the middle of the week) - Ugh!

I wanted to share with you my latest Charmed Confection. Wicked Eyeball Wands!  These wands are of my own design and approximately 20" tall.  The wand with the top hat is 18" tall.  The eyeball itself is hand sculpted out of Creative Paper Clay that was sanded, painted, stained and sealed.  My secret to great looking eyeball veins were then added and it was resealed again.  I attached the eye to an antique thread bobbin, which I painted and stained, added a ruffly, fabric collar, a hat and embellishments.  The black mirrored knob on the bottom of the bobbin is a drawer pull.  (Clever - I thought and adds a great weight to these pieces!)

Anyway, I hope you like them.  They can hang on a wall, be put into a vase filled with candy, or you can just wave it around to go with your Halloween costume.  Either way, it is unique and lots of fun!  Who out there has an Eyeball Wand?  Not many for sure.  I even added some cute pumpkin bells so you can rattle it!

I will be featuring these in my Etsy Shoppe very soon and another one (not listed below) will be listed on www.pfattmarketplace.com on October 10th at 10am.  Please stop by and see all the wonderful offering the talented artists have available

P.S.  Wait till you see what I have coming up on SpookyTime Jingles on the 13th!! Can you say - Gargoyle?!!  Yup ... stay tuned for him!!  He is one of my favorite pieces I've done!!

Enjoy the day my Friends and thank you for following me on my artistic journey!  XOXO

Creative Paper Clay Challenge & New Design Team

Hi Everyone!

Posting again ... In my internet travels ... I went to the wonderful Creative Paper Clay site www.creativepaperclay.blogspot.com / www.creativepaperclay.com (that is the type of clay I use to make all my sculptures) and they were having a Creative Paper Clay Challenge.  So, I thought I would check it out and join in on the fun -- You know, I love paper clay and how could I possibly resist!

So, I am going to enter my sweet Charming Charlie (My Ghastly Ghost) into the challenge.  His head and body were completely hand sculpted out of Creative Paper Clay with a foam core inner armature.  After I sculpted his features and twisty accents, he was left to dry completely.  Charlie's head and body were both sanded to a silky smooth finish.

He was then painted and dry brushed in various shades of white, off white, and dove gray.  I then used a stain over the washes of color to give him a vintage, ghostly feel.  Charlie was sealed with varnish.  His hands and arms were made from wire that was wrapped, posed, painted, stained and sealed for protection.  His ruffly collar is two different fabrics gathered around his neck and his ghastly cloak is made from hand dyed, distressed gauzy material.  I added a little chain for him to rattle as well as black tinsel to neck and wrists.

If you get a chance go to www.creativepaperclay.blogspot.com and leave a comment for me!  I could use your support and who knows, maybe they might even want me on their design team.  One could only wish!

To to www.creativepaperclay.blogspot.com for more details!

   

Halloween Preparations and Updates

Hi All!

Hope you are doing well in your part of the world.  We are now in my favorite month of the year ... October!  The witching hour is fast approaching and I couldn't be more in my element!  The pumpkins are ripe, the leaves are falling, and the witches' moon is high and clear.  That means Halloween is very near.  Makes me giggle in delight!  My little doggie (Jake) and I are planning out our costumes ... hmmm, what will we be this year?  Have any ideas?

I can't wait to get down to the local pumpkin patch and pick out my pumpkins for this years' outside decorations.  I am thinking of doing a pumpkin totem poll this year.  (Stacking those wicked babies on top of each other with a rod down the middle for support.)  We live out in the country and our pumpkin display has to be pretty big to see it from the road.  I will definitely have to get my husband involved in the totem stacking.  My daughter is the carver in the family, so I am sure they will turn out wickedly good!  She has a knack with a knife - I dare say.  :)  How will you display your Halloween pumpkins this year?  I would love to hear your wickedly good ideas!  Email me a picture and I will post it here!!

I received the sweetest email from Brenda, the gal who won my Spider Bite, in the Giggleswick Halloween Blog Hop.  What a doll!  It was a pleasure to meet her and I am thrilled she won my piece.  Can't thank her enough for her kind email.  She made me blush with the excitement in it.  Enjoy that Spider Bite, my new Friend!!

Well, Pfatt Marketplace and Spookytime Jingles updates are right around the corner.  I will be posting pictures of my offerings in the next two days to give you a sneak peek of what is coming up.  You will definitely want to keep an "eye" out!  Ha! Ha!  You will see what I mean, when I post some pictures!  Until then friends ... be well, be wonderful, and be a little wicked!!

THE LUCKY GIGGLESWICK HALLOWEEN BLOG HOP WINNERS ARE ...

Ahem ... the envelope, please ....

The 13 Witches of Giggleswick are pleased to Announce ... 

Jennette J.

You have won the Spool Ghoul by Carly Smith of Boggy Bottom Bayou

www.boggybottombayou.blogspot.com

DogsMom

You have won the framed "Moth Girl" by Marguerite Nochese of My Witchy Women

www.my-witchy-women.blogspot.com

Tee

You have won the Pumpkin Man by Lisa Ammerman of A Piece of Lisa

www.apieceoflisajane.blogspot.com

Sandi - Primitive Skate

You have won the dapper One-Eyed Monster by Debb George of HalloweenJinglesBellsBoo

www.halloweenjinglesbellsboo.blogspot.com

A Magical Whimsey

You have won a Banner/Graphic  from Amy Allen of Amy's Primitive Attic

www.amybugsattic.blogspot.com

Charlotte McCoy

You have won the Candy Corn Man by Jody Johnson of Sweet Bear Creek Whims

www.sweetbearcreekwhims.blogspot.com

Lavendar Dreamer

You have won the Bear Ornament by Karen Brady Hammontree of Brady Bears Studio

www.bradybearsstudio.blogspot.com

Mary - Starry Nites Farm

You have won the Hand Painted Light Bottle by Heather Milliott of Witch Hollow Primitives

www.witchhollowprimitives.blogspot.com

Robin of The Cranky Crow

You have won the Primitive Pumpkin by Brenda Griffith of The Rusty Thimble

 www.therustythimble.blogspot.com

Ms. Lilly Pads

You have won the Witch Boot Pinkeep by Joyce Tenay of RagPatch Prim

www.ragpatchprims.blogspot.com

Brenda - Pumpkin Hollow Primitives

You have won my Spider Bite!!!! CONGRATS TO YOU!!! Email me, right here at Charmed Confections -- LeeAnn

YOU ARE HERE NO NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER SITE!!

USA Gypsy

You have won the Pumpkin Box by Cindy Conrad of The Pixie's Thimble

www.pywackitprimitives.blogspot.com

Kimber

You have won the Sweet Moon Man by Flora Thompson of Bonehead Studio

www.boneheadstudio.blogspot.com

If you are one of our lucky winners, we will try and contact you.  However, the links are below your prize, please contact us to claim it!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL and THANK YOU to all those who participated, who's lovely comments about our art have not gone unappreciated.  We love all our followers and we hope that you had fun hopping to all of our sites!

Hugs and Hexes from the 13 Witches of Giggleswick!!