Gingerbread Ornament

As a member of several groups, I see the same questions over and over, but I guess it is true, if you don't know, you don't know.

My question is: what have you done to find the answer?

😁😂🤣😃

Basically, you have 2 forms of surfaces: wood type, or unslick, and glass/plastic types, or SLICK.

If you have a non-slick surface, basically, paper, wood or mdf, then the choice is yours to seal it or not. If it is a more porous surface, or, a surface that "drinks" your paint, then, yes, by all means, seal it, or you will be painting for days, and quite possibly will never get an even coverage.

Seal it with an all-purpose sealer. You can even mix this half/half with your base coat for the first coat. This isn't a bad habit to make!

Now, slick surfaces. 

If it is slick, then you MUST prepare your surface in some way to give it a "tooth", so your paint will have something to hold it in place. 

What  are some slick surfaces?

Metal, glass, vinyl records, plastic, slick mdf, candles, soap...

Today, I will share ONE of many ways to paint on glass.

My favorite product for painting on slick surfaces, especially plastic dominoes, metal and glass, is to use DecoArt Paint Adhesion.

CLICK HERE to go to the #decoart website to order

You simply mix it with equal amounts of Acrylic Paint, and basecoat it. I base coat it again with straight Acrylic paint, and paint as I normally do.

I love this product! 

This sweet gingerbread is painted on a flat glass ornament that I bought at Hobby Lobby--half price, of course! 

I mixed a small puddle of Paint Adhesion with the same amount of my base coat, Honey Brown this time, and using an old scruffy brush, I stippled it on, because that is the look I wanted.

Note: the fact that I stippled on the paint, gave it some texture, or "tooth", to help more by giving the top layers something to hold onto! Lots of people will sponge on the basecoat for this reason.

 

Since I didn't get a complete coverage, I used the same mix to again stipple my ornament, but I picked up a lighter brown, Camel, to mix with it to give it the look of texture.

Be sure to allow both colors to show, because you don't want mud!

Some people forget that Fast, Fun and Fabulous painting does not have to be boring! 😉

I started adding the face.

PLEASE purchase a good liner, and learn to use it. It makes a world of difference in the quality of your work. 

I suggest an 18/0 liner. 

More details were added, and again, I strongly suggest learning how to float color.

Highlighting the eyes, top of the nose, and mouth add such quality! 

There are many videos on you-tube.

Any Mogish has an excellent video on her blog.  It isn't the method I use, but it is worth learning her way.

CLICK HERE to go to Amy's blog to watch the video.

Adding the icing is always fun. Again, done with a 18/0 liner. And those eyelashes! 😲

The comma strokes were done with a #2 Round --another must have brush for me.

Again, floating shade around the eyes, icing, under the nose, under the mouth adds such dimension, and will set your work above! 

Learn to float--did I mention that? 😁😂

Have fun with eyes. 

Learn where to place highlights so that they look in different directions.

I can't tell you how much I can't stand to see Santa's with their eyes looking in their eyelids--heavy sigh...

Pinterest is filled with eye tutorials! I have a board on my pinterest account  (Charlotte Fletcher) that you can follow...

click here to go to my board on eyes

Now, aren't these adorable.

Look at the details on these cuties! 

But wait...the fur was a flying! 

Don't they look like Phyllis Diller?!

I LOVE THEM! 

Cuteness overload! 

Just because it is 

something easy, 

it can still be

FUN

FAST and

FABULOUS!

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte ♡

Terrific Tuesday!

Yummy!  I just finished eating the BEST salad.  I LOVE when food is better than you were hoping it would be!  I even had multi-grain Crackers to go with it.

Let's be honest.  The "Multi-grain" is probably some crumbs they had left from a previous batch of something, so they put it in the crackers and called it multi-grain, making people think it would be healthier, and then buy more...YEP, I'm one of those suckers!

But, anyway, YUM!

I went to the Postie yesterday to mail a special order, and to pick up a package that I knew was waiting for me from Pennsylvania.

I KNEW it had a special froggie in it.

The poor froggie has had a tough time.

Moses, was accused of LICKING him, and was accused 

of trying to take him into the Jaws of Death...

He survived a wreck, coming back from Kentucky, 

SO, hopping to my house was a blessing for him.

Besides, I have REAL ones that keep coming into the house...

Last night was 2 nights in a row for the real one, and before that maybe 4 others?  I have lost count.

This is my Birthday Froggie from a Special Friend, 

Wendy Young, of Olde Moonlane Primitives.

Getting something she made is a treat.

Her designs sell almost instantly when she posts!

Is there any wonder why??

But wait.

There was more.

As I said, her designs sell faster than hot cakes, 

and being able to get one is a Treat.

Earlier this year, I was able to buy a 

birdie and a flamingo Ornament...

AND THEN, she took special orders for 

a giraffe, a bear and a froggie!

THAT is even more of a treat, because she 

doesn't take many special orders.

I am not whining, in any way, but this year has been a tough financial year.  I have had EVERY single thing that I have needed, and it is amazing to watch God work things out for me, JUST exactly as He promised, but it still makes it 

tough at times to keep the FAITH.  

I have stood at the checkout counter wanting to buy a candy bar, but refusing, because Charcoal needed a treat far more than I needed those calories. He shouldn't have to suffer because of me.

All this year, I have kept 2 $100 bills tucked inside my billfold for emergencies.  ONE was set aside to pay for the 3 ornaments that I had ordered.  Yes, I will confess, I was being selfish.  I prayed that God would please not let her get finished earlier, because I feared having to tell her that I just didn't have the money.  I did not want to go back on my word~~something I try very hard to keep.  I also did not want her to know that I was having a tough time, nor anyone to know, for that matter.  I don't want the pity and Yes, I KNOW that is pride--a sin.  :(  Hey, I struggle like everyone does.

WELL, sure enough, I had been able to hold on to that one bill...

She said she was sending invoices...

I waited...

I waited more...

I got no invoice...

I waited...

I thought that MAYBE she just forgot and didn't make me any...

sadness...BUT it is ok, because at the end of the day, sometimes things happen, and we don't get everything we want...

nor should we get everything we want...

sigh...

BUT HOW in the world could I ever stay sad because she made something that I loved JUST FOR ME...

Not for just anybody, but ME!

Oh my...how could I stay down.

I have an Olde Moonlane Primitive Froggie!!

How blessed am I!!

BUT again...WAIT...

I went to the Postie and opened my special package, that the Posite Lady LOVED and in it I found all 3 of the ornaments I had ordered!

I wanted to cry, but the Postie is next to the Policie and I didn't want this CRAZY LADY to be hauled off to the jailie!

No, my life would have gone on without having gotten these, BUT I have a Heavenly Father, who allowed me to have something that I wanted.

I learned another lesson in FAITH, that He wants us to have some things that our heart desires.

Yes, I KNOW they are just "things" but these are SPECIAL THINGS made by a person who BELIEVES, Trusts and uses her talents for good...to put smiles on the faces of people...who is exactly as she claims to be.  Wendy is one of those special people who always goes the extra mile and turns the other cheek. She is willing to be used as an instrument of peace--I have seen it!

I in no way want to EVER compare myself to the hell that JOB experienced in his life, but it is a lesson we are taught in the Bible about faithfulness.  We ALL go through tough times, and there are always different people around~~some just can't wait for us to fail, or to see bad things happen to us, some cheer us on, even though they have nothing specific to offer, other than support, and those who do what they can to help.

We need all of these people in our lives.  Yes, even those nasty ones, whom I believe, are in our lives to keep us focused on our journey and to remind us that we CAN make it because the 23rd Psalm tells us that He prepares a FEAST before our enemies.

WOW...just WOW...I am so glad that I am learning that good things happen to me, not because of something I have done, but because of special people who are, well, just special!

Thank you, Wendy.  I don't think you truly know what a blessing this is to me, but I hope that I have explained it some.

Oh, and I went and bought Charcoal some treats with that other $100 I had stashed away, because, I have tried to make sure he has what he has needed, and he deserved some new treats, too!

I rattled one of those pieces of candy in the box, 

and well...this is what happened.

He decided that he wasn't seen, so he moved his head closer...

Now, I need to see what I can create with these items 
and MAYBE I will have a craft post for this week!!

Again, I posted this not to brag or to show you 

how good I am or blah, blah, blah...

I posted to show you to HANG on.

If you are going through tough times, just hang on 

and do the best you can.

We do NOT serve a Father who enjoys seeing our tears...

He is a Loving Father who HURTS when we hurt and He is with us every step of the way, and yes, He often gives us the desires of our heart, but sometimes, He asks that we TRUST HIM and wait for the BETTER things He has in store for us.  It might not be something that can change the world, but it can change US, and that is a step in changing the world.

I am so blessed~~charlotte♡

Tutorial Thursday: Witch Ornament

One of my favorite things about social media is finding some amazing artists.  I love those who share techniques and tips--that is the kind of person that I like and want to be like.

I also tend to gravitate toward those that are Christ Followers.  The same was true when I would buy books.  I read the acknowledgement to see what kind of person they were.

One of my favorite people to "follow" lately, is Mindy Lacefield.  Her style is so far from mine, that it intrigues me.  A fb friend has been taking her 24 faces on-line workshop, and I find myself turning a bit green for not having money and being able to take classes, BUT then, I again, am amazed at the generosity of so many artist who freely give of their time to share.  Be sure to let people know how you appreciate them when they share.

Mindy shared how she created an ornament the other day on her blog click here to go there.
I wanted to try it, so eventually, on a trip to the kitchen, I looked to see if I had any coffee filters.  

NOW, this is where we laugh.  I DID find some, and they were greatly discolored.  I tried to figure how long they had been in the cabinet, and I KNOW that coffee has not been made in this house for 14 years, and since they last so long, they probably had been there for about 6 or more years, since we only made coffee on Christmas morning, and maybe 2 more times...so, my question is: Does this make my ornament VINTAGE?  ROFL

I also, have had these ornaments for about 6 years too!  So I gathered them with the naturally stained coffee filters...

I used DecoArt Americana Decou-Page Matte.

I removed the tops of the ornaments.

I covered the ornament with the product and added

 pieces of  the torn coffee filter to the ornament.

I didn't care that the pieces were smooth or not-I wanted them to add texture.  I kept adding until I had covered the entire ornament.

I covered the top of the coffee filter with a generous 

coat of the Decou-Page.

Oh, and then, the fun part is getting to peel 

the "glue" from my fingers.  

Yes, I hope to always keep part of the kid at heart inside of me!!

I placed the ornaments on dowels to dry.

I had time to give my baby a Peanut Butter/Jelly sandwich.

This is the dried ornament.

I painted it with white Gesso.

Then with Jack-o-lantern.

I used my favorite "tool", Dry Wall Tape as a stencil 

to add texture with Marigold and White.

These are the colors I used to paint my ornament.

After I finished painting, I added some of Neons Fiery Red and Metallic Lustre in Orange Flicker.  I will brush several coats of Glamour Dust on the ornaments later--it messes up pictures...

How fun is this?

I don't do scary Halloween.

I try to keep everything I paint as Happy!

I hope this will inspire you to use those 

glass ornaments in a different way...

adding just a bit of texture can make a big difference!

Thanks for stopping by my corner of the world!

I am simply blessed to create~~charlotte♡

Footprints on my heart, Monday, December 28, 2015

I  do not dare complain about the rain because I lived through a drought one summer that saw farmers lose their income for the year and possibly longer, since many had to sell their cattle...

I  won't lie and say that I am seeing all the JOY in this event,  but it has made me grateful for warmth, for a dry place to lodge and for the knowledge that the ground water will help us through the possibly long dry summer.

I am grateful for safety during the storms and am keeping A prayerful heart for those who suffered great tragedies during the past few storms.

I went to the POSTIE and discovered MORE rain, but this was the rain of FRIENDSHIP!

The first discovery was to make a mental note to contact one of the husbands to take away the DUCT TAPE from his wife!! But, never fear, I got it opened!!! I  won't name names, but it certainly made me giggle AND made me think I might need to find my box opener....

CHOCOLATE, oh, and an ornament, LOL,  came from my friend, Lydia in Kansas...Lydia was one of the first people that I really met on Facebook. Her work is immaculate! This meaningful ornament will remain special, and a part of me will giggle at her son's thoughts about it!♡

This awesome package came from Gloria in Idaho-ho-ho! It spent some extra time in Memphis and I wonder if it saw Elvis!!  A beautiful hand made card (WOW), some beautiful ornaments to paint and a loverly magnet that now is on my freezer to think of her when I open the door daily...and now, for some reason, I would like a watermelon!♡

Crystal in Ohio, sent me these awesome treats that will join the other goodies I have painted by her. I love these. There are some artists that you know their work instantly, and Crystal is one of those! I love her whimsical creations. She also has one of the most giving hearts I have ever seen!

This handsome fella came from Janice in Missouri?? Oooooooooo...JAN!! ROFL He had to spend an extra night at the Postie because he was too big, but he was so worth the trip back to town! He is beautiful!! I am so blessed to have several of Jan's painted goodies.

I am floored at the generosity of people. It is just another reminder that Life often gives us better than we deserve.

Thanks for your part in leaving footprints on my heart and giving me wonderful memories of this Christmas. Because of each of you, I will try harder to be a better person and a better friend.

Thank you to all who have sent me cards...left posts and messages wishing me a Merry Christmas...they do not go unnoticed...I finally mailed some cards on Saturday, even though they had been ready for weeks...I had to find the MAGIC...  (and, well, stamps)

Once again, Thank you!  May you feel the love you gave returned to you in even greater ways! Funny how God makes that happen! I send Blessings to YOU...~~charlotte♡