Home Improvement; Dream Craft Art Studio Progress Update; Part 2



0000_


 Here we are in May, and I am finally giving you all a progress update on the building of our grand craft/art studio. It was back in January when we first revealed this big and exciting home project of building a custom studio, which has been a dream of mine, ever since I was a little girl.  There is no doubt that this creative space will get a whole lot of use. In fact, I can easily see it becoming the most occupied room, in the whole house, by our whole family.  I am always going at craft or art projects, and Michael’s design, cutting and lettering prepping work space will be in here too.… Read More

Mother’s Day / A Social ShareIt



00_


 One night a week or two ago (have I told you how bad I am with time frames, yet?, lol) . . . Michael and I were having a casual conversation. So very casual in fact, that we were both in the bathroom, getting ready for bed, come to think of it.  Anyway, I don’t remember (either) exactly what the conversation was originally about, but it was on the topic of Mother’s Day being around the bend.  And the course of that conversation led me to state how “Mother’s Day was a way bigger deal to me, than my birthday”.Read More

Can’t We All Just COLOR? / A Social ShareIt


00_


 I saw this question/quote on a T-Shirt online the other day, and it really cracked me up! It read,
“Can’t we all just color?”
I knew I had to make it into a House Of Joyful Noise Social ShareIt, for you all to grab and share online.
I’m guessing it’s a spin off of the saying, “Can’t we all just get along?”  I don’t know for sure.

But I found it funny, because that’s not what it made me think of.
It made me think of all of the days when I had cleaning, or dishes, or laundry, or other more task-orientated things to do.… Read More

Re-purpose Old Calendars – DIY Wall Art

Learn how re-purposing old calendars can be used into creating some fantastic DIY wall art for your home decor.

NEW Glass Tile Pendant Tutorial Using Trays / New Tips & Techniques



00_


It is not often that I ever do the same craft-like project, twice. But I’ve got a feeling that making glass tile pieces is going to be something I’ll be doing again, and again. I am so fond of the high quality feel of the finished pieces, the variety of styles that can be made, the multitude of purposes they can be made to be used for, and the fact that I simply enjoy making them for myself and as gifts for others. By knowing how to do the general process of making glass tile pieces, you will then have the ability to make all kinds of wonderful and customized things, such as jewelry necklace (bracelet or ring) pendants, decorative magnets, key chains, drink coaster sets, vehicle rear-view mirror hangings, home decor embellishments, and so much more.… Read More

Spiritual Easter Printable for You.



00_


I felt like designing a spiritually-themed Easter printable for us, and to share with you.

So I did!

It’s designed to fit an 8×10 frame. I recommend printing it on white card stock.

Please be sure to DOWNLOAD and SAVE the full resolution version, as opposed to the image you see in this post, which is web sized.

Clicking on the colorful printable below, should bring you to the full sized version at my DropBox. You need to click the ‘Download’ button there.

*Warning Note: Do not right-click and ‘Save Image As’, or you will not get the sharp printable image.… Read More

How to Blow Out Egg Yolks and String for Hanging / Decorative Eggs for Keeps.

            

00_


You may already know, that yesterday I had a little blogging mishap! For the first time in my near 5 years of blogging, I published a post (this one) by accident, before it was completed. And I didn’t even realize I did it until the next morning! No doubt I hit ‘publish’ instead of ‘save’. I must have been tired.  It was just all photos, with none of the text and step-by-step directions in it yet. Once it’s out there on the internet (especially overnight), you can’t get it back.  I put out the alert best I could, via our Facebook Page, which feeds to our Twitter as well.… Read More

Signs, Signs, Everywhere There’s Signs. (Ours!)


00_



Are you singing now? The title was a spin off of a song.
Well anyway . . . . . .

I’ve been in the company of professional sign makers / letterers, one way or another, for about 26 years now, and I guess it’s really worn off on me.

I really love the whole entire creative process of sign-making and lettering. What’s more, I simply love signs. Most especially signs in a home.
So many months ago now, I started making some fun signs (with a little side-kick help from Michael), for the purpose of home decor.  I got so into it, that we started talking about opening an Etsy custom-order sign shop!… Read More

Love is the Beauty of the Soul./ A Social ShareIt


00_



With yet another mess on my sun room table to share with you today, you may be interested in an update on how the art studio is coming along.
Yes, no, maybe?
Well, as of this week, it is all wired for the electricity. So we’re happy to have that part finished.
Also, the entire studio is all primed and painted. Which is just all white. I’m thinking that would be pretty boring photos for you all.  But it sure looks a lot nicer, and brighter, then it did, with just the sheet-rock.  I believe the ceiling is next, and that may be something to see.  We’re going with something a little different than traditional, with that.  So stay tuned if you care to see.… Read More

Banner of Love / A Valentine’s Decor-Craft


00_


While February, the ‘month of love’, was approaching throughout January, I had had this image in my head of a burlap pennant banner that spelled out LOVE, with little pink ribbons, over our french doors in the sun room, to the living room.  Of course, I didn’t actually have one, so it was something I’d need to create. After pondering how I might go about doing that, I decided I wanted to keep it as simple as possible, even if it doesn’t hold up for subsequent Valentine holidays.


01_Valentine-craft-pennant-banner


As planned, I got some burlap, for the pennants themselves. I’ve never worked with burlap before.  Good-gosh does it stink!  I don’t understand why.… Read More

Let Your Happy Shine! / A Social ShareIt


00_



I’ve been spending lots of time painting lately.
I can’t tell you all how much I love just sitting, and doing artwork.  Any kind of artwork. Drawing or painting. It doesn’t matter.
Hours will escape me. But they are such happy hours.
Without the drink. Ha ha.
O.k., maybe sometimes with a drink. If it’s weekend night. lol


01_watercolor-paint-palette-brush


It seems I must love creating. Because I seem to make a great big mess in the process, every single time, that I have to clean up.
I sure am looking forward to that art studio being ready, for me to move right in! 


02_artist-brushes


Oh, the happy hours I will spend there!… Read More

The Lost Art of Letter Writing and Creative Correspondence

Our kids especially, are very blessed with very thoughtful and loving aunties, who often send them all kinds of wonderful mail, all throughout the year. Both through the postal service, as well as e-mails.  They always love it, and you can always see the expression on their face of how loved and ‘thought of’ it makes them feel. They treasure and keep mail like that.
Well after receiving some very fun and thoughtful mail in our street mailbox a few times, from a reader of our blog, who has since become a friend, I had the idea of inviting her to do a guest post on some tips and ideas of how you can be creative with ‘snail-mail’, as we call it these days.  I’m so glad I did!… Read More