The Mystry Thrif Off Reveal

    Thank you BetterAfter for inviting me to repurpose this crazy ceramic head for "The Mystery Thrift Off"! But oh the frustration when my plan of attack had to change when after I made a "crown" out of 2 part epoxy on the top of the head to hold a platter that I had drilled holes all around to hang jewels from and in 2 minutes, I knocked the head of the counter accidentally which cracked and broke it and then I picked up the platter at a weak spot and broke a piece off  just by picking it up. (sorry for the longest running sentence ever)
   For a minute, I had wished it had shattered :(   So I made a vase out of the head instead. Plan B worked out ok.  :)
 

The Mystery Thrift Off sponsored by BetterAfter.net

I'm so excited to have been chosen to participate in betterafter.net 's Mystery Thrift Off!
  I went out to my front porch on Saturday and found this box. Inside was this crazy hand made ceramic head!  I am supposed to alter/reinvent/repurpose this object from the Goodwill into something new. Oh man!!! But after a day and a half thinking about it (I'm still open to suggestions too) I'm looking forward to the challenge.
  I will be posting the progress here and on my Instagram account @kelleysmithart with the hashtag #themysterythiftoff . Check out Lindsey's blog Better After to see mine and other participant's progress with their items. Fun!

this year's Halloween crafts.... Ewwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!! ( I kind of thought to myself- "What's a nice girl like me making creepy stuff like this?!! ) Oh well.

Just wanted to show you how my daughter Hilari decorated her living room. Isn't it fabulous?! (I'm still working on mine, and I can't wait to unveil the decor soon! ((I'm way behind this year....))

My Paper Mache Pumpkin Head Project

 This summer, while I did some paper mache projects with the glamchildren, I started a pumpkin head mask for myself. I started by applying torn newspaper an old school flour, water and white glue mixture all over a plastic beach ball. ( I like adding liquid starch into the mixture when I can find it)

 Then I taped some cardboard onto the ball for a neck and taped crunched up newspaper all around the ball to form a pumpkin shape, then paper mached on top of that.

 I takes at least a day in between each layer of paper mache to harden and that's in our AZ heat! I then drew a face on the pumpkin head and taped cardboard to add the 3-D features.

 More layers of paper mache........

 and more layers of paper mache and adjustments to add form and scariness...

I'll add a final post as I start to paint this guy. FUN

The Jackson Glamchildren came to stay....

 A couple of weeks ago, my Gourmet Girls went to Utah for 2 weeks to do research for their catering company and it was my pleasure to babysit the Jackson boys for a week. One of the "life skills" that I think is soooo important is paper mache. Need I say more. The kitchen was a mess the whole week (and the next week when I babysat the Giffin kids) but is was fun and well worth the effort as you can see! These boys waited eagerly between drying layers and layers of paper mache over inflatable beach balls.

When the paper mache was drying, the boys played video games, I introduced them to the old "Twilight Zone" TV shows on Netflix and we played laser tag. Laser Tag was intense!!!!! I sure do love these glamsons of mine!

Melted Crayon Painting

I have always wanted to make one of these melted crayon paintings that you see all over pinterest and I thought it came out so good! I sprayed triple thick epoxy lacquer on top and that made the colors pop. This canvas is 24" by 8" by 2" deep and I painted the sides black.

I put it on top of the mantle above the fireplace in the kitchen next to a painting by one of my favorite artists Lee Kaster (her artwork in also at the AZ Art Alliance Gallery...fabulous stuff!) and some of my store front letters that I collect. (you really can't see the "K", but the letters represent "Dennis & Kelley Smith" Anyway, it was fun and easy. I think it will make a fun craft thing to do with the Glamchildren.

1920's "Puttin' on the Ritz" Headpiece Inspiration

I am helping put together a Prom for the kids out here in Surprise, AZ. Our theme is "Puttin" on the Ritz"! So to help them get some ideas for headpieces, I made these examples and thought that my friends in the blog world might like to see them and maybe use the ideas for inspiration for future projects. Anyway, it has been great fun putting these items together.

FABULOUS!

Sousical the Musical costumes

My daughter Hilari is a home room school mom, so as Glammas do, I helped make some costumes for their school play coming up next week. My mind went a million ways to go about making these hats as the kids are just wearing school t-shirts and they are going for a certain style. I ended up designing these fleece hats. The crazy bird has a craft foam beak glued to a pink $1 store hat.

I thought that elongating the Giraffe back of the hat would give a sense of tallness.

The Elephant is also glued onto a blue $1 store hat. I also put boning in the front of the Kangaroo's "pouch" to make it stick out a bit. We had to make multiples of several of these costume hats, so it has been crazy with fleece scraps around here!

Thanks for letting me brag!

My Annual Girlfriend Valentine Party 2012

For the past few years, I have a Girlfriend Valentine Party. Each gal brings a Valentine Box, Valentines to give and a treat to share. It is such great fun to see all of the creative things that my "Gal-intines" put together for the party!

This year we had trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for "Best Valentine Box", "Best Valentines" and "Best Valentine Attire". Each year we change it up a bit...

I only got photos of about a third of my fabulous friends as I am always too busy jabbering away. I am so sorry to have left some people out of these pages, but if they will email or post their photos on facebook, I will make some more! I hope that you have a wonderful Valentines Day. XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Halloween Decor 2011

Sock Doll Humanitarian Project

Last month at church, our women's group "The Relief Society", did a few service projects. And of course a centerpiece for each table always add a bit of flair. So I bought these ceramic pots and metal garden angels at the local $1 store and spray painted them all white. I then printed gold Relief Society emblems and glued them behind the heads for halos. Wa-la! "the Errand of Angels is given to Women"... Oh, and for table toppers, I bought 2 rolls of shipping wrap paper (at the $1 store) and cut out scalloped squares. That so far is the most inexpensive decor I have done for a party/meeting.

. We made these cute little sock dolls that new mothers use to comfort their babies if they are too little or sick and can not go home yet. The Mom, Dad or caregiver can place the doll inside their clothing, close to the skin and the doll will soak up their scent. The next time they visit the baby, the doll is place next to the baby to snuggle and/or prop tubes and the baby will feel the comfort and smell of their loved one. The dolls are very easy to make so I've included the instructions if you would like to make some yourself and donate to your local hospital.

6 Ways to Celebrate Ava's 6th Birthday

Last weekend, my Glamdaughter Ava turned 6 years old. We decided to celebrate her 6th birthday by doing 6 things. That evening we: #1 went to see the movie "Gnomeo & Juliet". (That was my 3rd time seeing the movie with glamchildren... 2 times too many, but sacrifices must be made for my darlings.)

Saturday morning, #2: we went to breakfast at McDonalds. After our breakfast, and leaving the littlest girls with their parents, #3: we went to the mall. Ava and Remi wanted to go into "Build-a-Bear" to "look", and came out with their own creations.

Ava then decided that #4: should be buying a gumball... (fine with me after the "Build-a-Bear" incident.)
We then went back home and #5: made crafts. The girls made sock dolls, necklaces, painted an assortment of wood and plaster crafts and tried their hands at sewing on plastic canvas.
then on Sunday evening, #6: all the family came over and showered Ava with love and presents. Happy Birthday Sweet Ava!!!