Basil Salt Gift Jars

Basil Salt Gifts

This is another pin there - done that project. It's no secret that I'm an avid Pinterest fan or that I usually have an over-abundance of basil. I spotted the idea for basil salt on Home Is Where The Boat Is (one of my favorite blogs).
I made the basil salt and packaged it in Glass Snap Top Wedding Favor Jars that I found at Michaels. I made the labels, printed them and attached them with double-sided tape (another tip I picked up from a Pinterest project). I found the salt spoons on ebay. Such a quick, easy, nice little gift!

 

Label for Basil Salt

 

 

 

Mixed Media Collages

I had fun playing around with colors and textures on canvases this year. The quote is from the song "Enjoy the Ride" by Morcheeba from Deep Dive.

 

 

 

Mixed Media Canvas Collage

This is actually the first canvas I created in what became a series of three that I hung in my studio. The first picture is the original color combination I created and the second once I reworked the colors so it would coordinate with the other two canvases I made in the series. The verse is from "Enjoy the Ride" by Morcheeba from Deep Dive.

Canvas once I reworked the colors

From Quincenera to Ghost Doll

Remember last year's Quincenera Doll makeover? I had a couple more on hand and decided to turn one into a ghost doll. Unfortunately Michaels, where I got the original doll no longer carries them. You could turn any porcelain doll into your own ghost using the same steps.

Close up of face

I carefully removed the wig and spray painted it with white spray paint until I got the desired look. I also removed the eyelashes and removed the original paint using nail polish remover. Once I'd removed the paint, I sanded lightly and applied white gesso. I used gray and black acrylic paint to repaint the face. The clothes are hand-sewn on the body, with vintage trims added. For the interior of the ghost cage, I repainted an English cottage house to make it look more like a haunted mansion. I got the moss and Spooky Town tombstones from Michaels.

Halloween Décor



The materials

Adding glass beads for eyes
and forming nose

 I spotted these cool foam skulls in Michaels from their Celebrate It! Halloween collection. I thought they would be the perfect base for sculpting - after all they are already the proper foundation for a head.

Starting sculpting by adding
clay around form

Finished with sculpting




Sealed with gesso, then antiqued
with wash of brown acrylic paint





Glass jar that I've had for years

from Michaels. I used a rust

patina on it to age. Added dried

lichen moss.

 

 

                  2-step crackle medium added &

                    antiqued with black. Eyes painted.

                         Glaze added to lips and eyes

 

    

Finished Head-in-Jar

 

 

Latest Jewelry Creations



Spiral done with twisted bugles. Raku heart
pendant bought at Bead & Button Show last year



Class piece from Tyler Bead Retreat



Steampunk style with metal beads and

clock & gear charms

Another class piece from Tyler Bead Retreat



 Blue coral pendant with beading

Wooden beads bought at

convention this year

The Pond 



The pride of my backyard landscaping
Pond with water lilies. They only bloom in the
spring before the leaves fill out on the trees,
otherwise they don't get enough sun to bloom.




Lilies in bloom



Goldfish waiting to be feed

Lily in bloom

 



Friends enjoying lunch by the pond 

Zeke taking a drink from the pond,

watching the fish.



What Almost 30 Years of DIY Landscape Looks Like

Backyard landscaped area view from south side


 

View from back of yard towards backyard, decks & house
You can hardly see the house for the trees. Yes, Ben's
shop is equipped with TV




From house towards back of yard. Old
metal bed frame covered with Asian jasmine

My husband and I have spent almost 30 years working on the landscaping of our home. It started with digging up and planting red oak trees when we first moved into the house. Once the trees started growing and the yard became more shaded, we added different landscaping features - a shade bed, decks and patios, brick walkways, my pond with waterfall, more shade beds. We've also added a vegetable garden at the back of the property (we have just under 1 1/2 acres). Most all of the features in our landscaping are salvaged materials and not purchased new.

 

 

Walkways and patios are built from salvaged bricks, which is why we have various colors. Old metal bed frames are used for trellises for vining plants. The wooden bench and table beside it incorporate metal wagon wheels and rims. The fire pit was constructed from an old tractor tire rim.