Easy DIY Lacy Style Fancy Mask

I saw this pattern from Sprinkles in Springs and was struck by it's elegance and simplicity. I must admit I would never have thought of using Puff Paint for anything, much less a mask.

It peeled off the saran wrap beautifully and I used Tacky glue to attached a satin ribbon on the back of the edge.

We found sheer, flesh color fabric so it looks like it's floating on my daughter's face and the ribbon matches her hair color.

I would suggest checking the eye holes before making it since heads come in all sizes but we didn't have to adjust it for Nissa.

Pumpkin Face Carving

I was inspired by Villafane Studios and purchased a pumpkin today at Trader Joes.

My abused, vintage pottery carving tool gave out midway and I finished with a melon baller.Nissa is going to pick me up a new one at the student union (darn, no trip to Blick) and I will add a bit more detail.

They have a nice carving demonstration video on You Tube

Halloween Candy Corn Crocheted Dog Jacket

I found this wonderful free pattern on the Etsy Facebook site and it's from DIY Maven. It almost took longer to go buy the yarn than it did to crochet.

Zelda is 5.5 pounds and she's feeling a little naked after a recent trip to the groomers. I followed the directions for the small dog and it fit well.

I am going to make her another one a bit longer since she likes her middle covered.

I will be adding 2 yellow rows and 3 orange rows before the leg opening.

I like having the seam centered along the bottom so when it was time to time to make the leg opening, I slip stitched into the the double crochet stitches until I was 11 stiches in. On the 11th stitch I started my chain 3 stitch and then double crocheted 33 stitches. There should be 10 chain stitches on both sides of the center seam.

Here is the jacket slightly longer, I think it's a better match for Zelda. I'll run the other one over to the Humane Society this afternoon. Perhaps a holiday sweater will help someone find a new home.

How To Convert CMYK or RGB to Pantone Color in Illustrator

Sometimes you need to know what the Pantone equivalent is of a CMYK or RGB color.

Click on the color that you want to find. Not all RBG colors can be duplicated in print but this will get you as close as possible.

Go to Edit-> Edit Colors-> Recolor Artwork

 This brings up the recolor artwork screen.

Click on the little rectangle in the lower center area. It's the one that's a larger rectangle filled with 9 rectangular swatches.

The click-able box limits the color group to colors in the swatch library.

Choose the desired Pantone color book.

Click OK

The color name is now in your color pallet.

Open the drop down by clicking the arrow area with 4 stacked lines. You can convert the color to CMYK or RGB. The color will probably be slightly different from the original.

Vampire Drinking Coffee Blank Greeting Cards

What better beverage for creatures of the night, a venti latte.  I went a little crazy making bat wallpaper and now I'm torn about using it. I was watching Arrow and Supernatural on Hulu so I didn't notice what a time waster that little side project was.

Available on Etsy 

Party Animal Angler Fish With Paper Lantern

Anglerfish are super cool (unless you're a fella) but it's all fun and games until someone atrophies.

I used this festive fellow for a party invitation cause nothing says party like a fish with dissolving gonads attached; but the bio-luminescence is pretty.

I love the idea that she would hang Chinese paper lanterns for decorations. The fish is a vintage illustration that I processed in Illustrator and then used Illustrator to make a glowing lantern.

Available on Etsy

You Spin Me Round Black and White Op Art Poster

You Spin Me Round was a hit for the British Group Dead or Alive back in the 1980s. I was inspired when it came up on shuffle and used vintage op art style graphics. I like the way it rises and recedes.  

The whole song is great but the chorus has always been my favorite part.

 Available on Etsy 

Be Kind To Dragons Poster With Dragon Ketchup Bottle

Be kind to dragons, for thou art crunchy when toasted and taste good with ketchup. Sherrilyn Kenyon Dragonswan 

I've seen this funny quote on bumper stickers so it was nice to read the book it came from. Ms Kenyon has a series of fun books that incorporate mythology, with the the supernatural, set in a modern romance.

Available on Etsy 

Don't Tell Me The Sky Is The Limit When There Are Footprints On The Moon Poster

Ombre shades of blue descend the page. I picked the color by choosing a pantone color that mostly closely resembled the moon last week.

Available on Etsy 

Fabulous Cow in Pink Movie Star Eye Glasses Poster

I look fabulous.

I chose preppy pink and green from the 1980s. Close up images of animals are particularly funny and they are always extra fun in glasses.

Available on Etsy 

Doctor Who Cybermen Delete Pock PC Information

What do you do with ancient electronics that contain sensitive data? Best Buy has the Geek Squad but I prefer Dr Who's Cybermen. The front is an actual photograph taken in secret since I didn't want to become assimilated. The inside of the card is printed DELETE.

I think the reflection on the pocket PC is pretty nifty.

Available on Etsy 

Who Are You Vintage Owl Illustration Poster

Who Are You is an infectious song by The Who and it's also a pun based on the vintage owl imagery.  I love twofers and orange is a recipe for happy.


Available on Etsy

Be The Good Believe There Is Good In The World Poster

I recently went shopping with my daughters and kept saying "I had that back in the 70s" so I guess I was inspired by 70s colors and fonts. The colors were taken from a vintage Vera scarf.

Available on Etsy

Doctor Who Dalek Thanksgiving Turkey Greeting Card

Guess Who's coming to dinner? Better pick out a cute outfit because if the Dr shows up you'll be in it for a long time.

The front of the card has an actual photograph of three Daleks ready to blast a poor turkey all the way to Christmas. The inside is printed with the word "exterminate"

Available on Etsy

Simplicity Is The Ultimate Sophistication Poster

Frost covered trees have a spectacular beauty and last winter we were treated to an exceptional vista; white and gray are so elegant together. I chose a simple font with lovely open counters to accompany the photo and reflect the circular image.

I love this poster so much I have it over my desk.

Available on Etsy

Celebrate Poster With A Riot of Circles

There are so many things to celebrate everyday.

I have a fondness for orange.  Orange with blue and yellow are are even better.

Available on Etsy

Ferris Bueller Quote Ocean View Poster

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

I like the way the triangle shape is repeated in the red starfish.

Available on Etsy

Vintage Looking Tomato Is A Fruit Poster

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad.

The tomatoes are from a lovely vintage etching that I digitally colored.

Available on Etsy

Doctor Who Stick Figure Car Family with Downloadable PDF

I see a lot of stick figure, car family decals on the back of SUVs but I wanted something a little edgier.

The cyberman is dad, I'm the weeping angel, my daughters are daleks and we have 3 K-9 in various sizes.

My back window is too tinted to see the family through the glass so I had to double stick tape them on the outside. I thought about making them into actual decals but that's too much commitment unless I could easily remove the decals. The last decal I put on a car was a rainbow on my vintage Karmann Ghia. The decal outlasted the car. Perhaps I'm superstitious since I really love my Jeep and I don't want it to end the same way as the Karmann Ghia. We actually had a wake for that car.

You can download a copy of the PDF here

Save Ferris Fry Cook on Venus Poster

It must be career day or I'm in the mood to re-watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off. 

I love the look of retro space age illustrations and chose the color palette based on that era.

Available on Etsy

Vintage Scissors Opitcal Poster

I'm reminded of driving at night while snowflakes come at the windscreen, but creepier. On a black background the scissor handles look a little like eyes.

Available on Etsy

Paper Boat Winnie the Pooh Quote Poster

Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.

The street edge was flowing freely so I cut the dog's walk short, ran home, and started making paper boats.

Available on Etsy

I'm A Lumber Jack-o-lantern And I'm OK Poster

I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay is one of my favorite Monty Python songs. I had him in red plaid but decided that was silly.

 Available on Etsy

Sounds of Silence Poster

The image is of the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. The Sounds of Silence is one of Simon and Garfunkel's best songs.

I took this photo while on a road trip with one of my daughters.

Available on Etsy