flag banner

I certainly am no Martha Stewart....everything I make is a fly by the seat of your pants creation/concoction in my head that is inspired by some random thing.  Most of the time it works (and sometimes it doesn't.)  But I love the process...and I really love the sweet vintage style flag banners you see lately. 

Couldn't resist making one myself.  Ofcourse, I wanted mine to look a bit more rich than the ones you see in the stores.  So, off I went searching for all of my scrap materials and there I went to work on a "Merry Christmas" flag banner.  The only thing missing here is a whistle for each flag....I used most of what I could think of for this piece.  I am lucky to have a TON of miscellaneous materials lying around the house which I have collected throughout the years BUT, you can make this with anything, really.  Be creative....that's what makes yours special.  You can make a banner for any holiday, birthday, occasions...you name it.

 This cost me $0.00:

Cut out your "flags" and letters using heavy duty paper...

Next, cut out newspaper "flags" a smidge smaller than your paper flags and glue to your original flags.

I then used a polycrylic finish to give it a sturdy surface...

I have a habit of saving wrapping paper, boxes, tissue...you name it.  I happen to have a load of pink tissue paper at my finger tips.  I used some scraps for each flag and created a round "flower" if you will for the base of the letter.

I love Martha's craft supplies in general...however not so much her glue.  It is designed as a throw back to our kindergarten years when you pulled out a brush with the cap (remember that??) 

Quite messy....but I used it anyway.

Used a hot glue gun for the letters and to glue on the tissue paper a bit more

Happened to have these fun little stones and glued one to the bottom of each flag to give character

Using Martha's glue and glitter...I went to town with gold and silver....

Wanted my banner to have more depth and richness so I hot glued wraphia ribbon to the back of each flag...draping down from behind which gives whimsy.

In process...

Punch holed two holes in each flag and chose a lovely satin cream wribbon to weave through the banner to add character...

I also sprayed some acrylic coating on each flag just to secure the glitter

 done 

 It's a smidge on the pink side for my taste so I might give it a quick silver/gold spray paint...BUT, it will be lovely with all of our vintage Christmas decor I will put out soon.......how I do love CHRISTMAS :)

creativity...

 

must begin somewhere

vanessa, really!?

So about 10 years ago I was a huge Vanessa Carlton fan....playing her Be Not Nobody cd over and over again during my long commute.  Pretty Baby was one of my favorites...(I'm just seeing the video for the first time...yikes!...not quite what I would have imagined for this lovely little song. Quite a younger, made up version of Vanessa.)

A few days ago my husband and I were watching Talk Stoop...and who else was on but Vanessa Carlton....yay!  I listened to her talk about her latest, Rabbits on the Run, cd and loved hearing about her life and what she has been up to.  Haven't listened to her in years now.

Yesterday my husband brought the mail in and brought her cd to me...asking if I knew of her.  I reminded him that she is the artist we saw on TV the other day.  Had I ordered her cd and forgot?!?

Nope...check it out:

I love my husband's company to begin with but this is just straight up fabulous.  This year's company holiday party just got a little more enticing...talk about Vanessa Carlton being a non-conformist!  Can't wait:

amber rose

Just finished amber....I think I am going to have a hard time parting with this one if someone wants to purchase.  The paint is built up with many layers and it's just a happy piece...very rich and full of color.

20" x 20" acrylic on cotton.  Edges painted all around....ready to hang OR it would look sharp with a simple but bold gold frame...this won't be up on etsy but is available for purchase if interested.  Please contact me. 

chartreuse II and more

today "amber" took on a life of her own and my original vision is way skewed.  But, that's the surprise in painting....you never know what will happen.  Almost done.

13 months

got away for a bit this afternoon to get my

newfound Chartreuse fix:

Walked away with a $3 frame that needs some love, but will be fabulous when done!  Will create an oil painting on wood for this....

today

at work on "amber" and doing laundry on this cozy fall day

degas in dc

Must get to The Phillips Collection before the Degas show ends in early January.  One of my all time favorite artists, I love his color combinations, ability to capture light and expression.  Can't wait!