Thursday, October 28, 2010

Mr. Pumpkin Gourd

The other day I shared a pic of my little pumpkin in her Halloween costume and now I'm gonna show you another one of my pumpkins....one that I painted. Excuse the marketing ploy but I have the fun job of offering arts & crafts classes to the community. I love meeting with potential new instructors and have them show me all the really cool and crafty things they do, then I get to sign up for our own classes and show you what I made! We have one instructor that paints gourds, several of them she turns into birdhouses. This one in particular is Mr. Pumpkin Gourd. Of course, I brought my camera to class so I could show you step by (almost) step.

We started out with a plain ole' gourd.

Next, I gave it a good white base coat.


Then I brushed on the orange paint in downward brush strokes.


She showed us a technique (sorry, I forgot what she called it) where you pick up another color on one side of the brush and create a palette.


Using the palette, I created streaks, equally spread apart.


Next, was the leaf. I first painted the leaf a solid green (that's one step I forgot to capture). Then I used the same technique as above with 2 different greens.


Then I applied it to the leaf.


Time for the face! (Again, I forgot to take out the camera for a couple of these steps.) We had shapes cut out for the eyes and nose and we traced them on our pumpkins with chalk then free-handed the smile. Once I got everything drawn on, we began painting.....the most nerve-racking part of the whole project!


We added a few more details to make it pop a little more. But wait! I'm not finished yet!

I took it home to let it dry over night. Then I brushed on 3 clear coats, added the raffia and leaf and ta-da!!


The is the pumpkin that the instructor painted. It's a tad bit better than mine....haha.


The Office Quote of the Day:
When I needed salespeople for my new paper company, everyone here turned their back on me. Am I going to ask them to beg for forgiveness? No. Am I going to ask for a big, crying apology? No. Am I going to ask them to slit their wrists for me? No. I just want a tiny microscopic version of that.
~Michael

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Tippy Tuesday

This is a special HOWL-O-WEEN edition of Tippy Tuesday! It was pretty easy to put her costume together because she pretty much had everything needed to be a bat. Bat ears...check! Protruding teeth....check! All she needed were wings and her costume was complete!

HAPPY HOWL-O-WEEN EVERYBODY!!!!!

**Pics taken by CC&B Designz at Hoof N Paw, a fabulous little pet store in Richmond. If you're in the area, you should really stop by. Josie, a cute little black chihuahua with white on her chest, greets you at the door. She kinda looks like Tippy but with better teeth. FYI, they will be coming back to Hoof N Paw to take pics for Christmas cards!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Friday, October 15, 2010

Happy Boss's Day!!!

It's Boss's Day and I feel like I need to give credit where credit is due. As many of you have heard, I feel very lucky having the job that I have. Not only is it a fun job but I truly have some of the best boss's. They are always so supportive, encouraging and will always go to bat for you. In regards to this special day, I feel like I need to give a shout out to one of my bosses that is (oddly enough) a faithful reader of The Crafty Bachelorette blog and the Associate Dean of our department. Yes, he may give me suggestions on my blog....such as "talk more about people" and not my dog and also offer suggestions on how I could make money on this thing. Even though we have a difference of opinion on certain topics, like chiropractic care (haha) I wanted to give him a SHOUT OUT and recognize him on Boss's Day!


Speaking of Boss's Day, I was pleasantly surprised when the girls in my office popped over to my desk with this plant and a card!

I told you I was very lucky with the job I have. I couldn't ask for better people to work with! You all are the BEST!!!

The Office Quote of the Day:

Charles: I mean, come on. This is a workplace. It isn't designed for your vanity.

Michael: News flash. I've been here for fifteen years. Headline, you have been here one day. End of story. You have no right to cancel my fifteenth anniversary party. End of story. End of story.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Guest Bathroom: Cabinet Hardware

There's been one thing that I've been wanting for quite some time now.....POWER TOOLS!!! How can I do all these future DIY projects without power tools? I mentioned this to my dad and he had an extra one laying around so he gave me this! *I'm hearing Tim, the Tool Man, Taylor chanting in my ear.*



The last project of my guest bathroom was to add cabinet hardware (which is why I needed a drill.) I truly believe that hardware can make a space. It's an essential accessory....like jewelry! Cabinets look unfinished without them, much like a person does without that perfect statement necklace or earrings. Unfortunately, most builders these days do not add cabinet hardware so they can shed a little off the cost of building. So yes, I still have to add it to the cabinets in my kitchen and master bath as well.


I had never used a drill before so my friend Damon came over one night and showed me how to use it. We first went to Lowe's to buy a drill bit. Dum-Dum here, only bought one bit and not a set. So he showed me how to use it and one thing he told me to do to make the hole a little bigger was to "waller the hole". Well, I guess I wallered it too much because I broke it in half. Oops!



Then I had to go buy more drill bits. This time I got a set. Well, I got a little trigger happy with the drill again and nicked the drawer a little bit. Again.....oops!



I can fix that! Luckily, I have a stash of acrylic paint.



I took a Q-tip and dabbed it on there.



Good as new! Well, kinda. I was hoping it would look like one of the darker blemishes in the wood.



The final product!

Don't you LOVE them?


Well folks, I think that wraps up all of my guest bathroom projects, which means I finished it!!! Can I get a "Woot! Woot!" Well, I might add some cute contact paper to the drawers but I'll do that later (and show you, of course). Stay tuned for the COMPLETE tour and before and afters of the bathroom. I know you're so excited you can barely contain yourself!

The Office Quote of the Day:
I have sent out an Evite for our big grand opening pancake luncheon. Six yes's, one maybe, only eleven no's. Um, and seven hundred and eighty-eight not yet replied's. But of that group seven hundred and eighty-two have viewed it.
~Michael

Tuesday, October 5, 2010