My Gnome Little World

More supplies:

Measuring and Gluing!

Pre-final touches…

Prep for painting!

Painting!
I know silver is popular right now, but the antique versions are in gold, which will go better in our entry way!

Final Product!

Not bad, eh?
Even up close!

Please click on any of the photos, to get to the photo album and to find out some extra details on how I did it!

Okay, now I have to be truthful!

After seeing a starburst mirror in every remodel/revamp/decor TV show, I am thinking it may be over done!

So I may change this:

From Mid-Century Finds

Into this:

I would take out the art work from the above gold frame and use it for something else!
It is signed art after all…even if I got the WHOLE piece for only $2.00 at an auction!

What do you think…Gold Star Burst for front entry way or Gold Fish Scales?

STAY TUNED!
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SWIRLY, WHIRLEY, TWIRLY JAR ART FUN!

Posted: August 29, 2012 in Cheapie Cheaps, Crafts, Uncategorized
Tags: antiques, arts & crafts, ARTS AND CRAFTS, crafts, folk art, Funky Art, interior design, Old Things, recycle, Upcycle art, vintage

I have been using food jars to store my crafting and arts bit and pieces….

but could no longer handle the glass not being clear and the branding on the tops!

SO…FIXED THAT!

I went crazy with the yellow, Yes…

But yellow IS awesome!

That was after I soaked and removed the labels and then used “Goof Off” to take off any date stamps and left over label glue!

I know the trend is to paint the item glued on top too…

But I like the my toppers in the NUDE!

From Jars & Swirly Love Pieceof my toppers have meaning to me too!

And some of the toppers even have meaning to me!

Okay, just one!

Like the green VW Bug is a gift I gave my husband as a joke, because we play “Slug Bug” all the time!

Note: We only do old bugs & buses…other wise we would be too bruised!

But I do have to say I LOVE the doll hands….funky in a creepy way!

Truth…

I am keeping 3 of them, and I decided to put the two with old knobs in it in my shopito to see if I can sell some old inventory that I haven’t used! Paint it, shine, put it in a fun bottle…and maybe it will sell!

NOW…

The below piece I did not dedicate a whole post to because I did not photograph it along the way.

It all stemmed from making the “flowers” for a wreath I made in a previous post.

Click below to see my “How To!” post!

Upcycle Wreath!

Cutting, folding and rolling magazine paper flowers takes a lot of time!

But the work was well worth it because…

I love with swirly, whirley, twirly look to them!

I had a wood photo piece that needed a punch of texture…

So, added felt & magazine paper loves on it!

Completing my Swirly, Twirly, Whirley Bundle of Fun!

Click below if you want to see my Wood Photo “How To!”

Photo on Wood Projects

Now, to my shopito to add, move around, and hopefully sell the hell out of…

My Old Things, Cool Stuffs, Funky Art, Clever Crafts, Upcycle Pieces, and of course, Loverly Antiques!

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Kiddy Fun Fun!

Posted: August 15, 2012 in Crafts, How To
Tags: Art with Children, clouds, crafts, Ivory soap, kid activities, Making soap, Soap, soap clouds, soaps

I always try to be prepared with activities to do when with my young nieces and nephew!

And this past trip to California gave me another chance for us to play together again!

So…for some CLEAN fun we made some SOAP CLOUDS!

Yes, I said…SOAP CLOUDS!

And then when we were done…we made small shaped soaps!

Oh yes, we did!

Here’s is how we did it!

1) Get a bar of IVORY soap…for every child (of any age)!

2) Place a bar of soap on paper towel in a microwave!

From Soap Clouds

Yes, I said…place a bar of IVORY soap on a paper towel in a microwave.

Take out the turn table and put the time for around 2.5 minutes (stop when it looks ready to you).

3) Watch the bar of soap grow into a “cloud!”

From Soap Clouds

4) Play with Soap Cloud!

From Soap Clouds

5) Then start mushing it down to a powdery consistency!

From Soap Clouds

6) Add water to make it more liquid…but not too much water!

From Soap Clouds

7) Put into forms (we used their Mom’s cookie cutters)! And let sit until completely dry.

From Soap Clouds

A lot of Cookie Cutters!

From Soap Clouds

8) And now you have your own personally shaped soaps!

From Soap Clouds

A very cool, messy but clean, and fun activity…that keeps the kids busy for quite some time!

And the kitchen smells like nice clean soap afterwards!

Good Times with mis sobrinos!

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MAP IT!

Posted: June 15, 2012 in Crafts, How To
Tags: 7, art, arts, ARTS AND CRAFTS, Big Sur, Big Sur CA, Big Sur California, Ceramic 7, crafts, Framed Maps, frames, interior design, Map Mat for Frames, maps, Numbers, upcycle

I asked for hints for a handmade gift, and I got Big Sur and the number 7!

WHAT THE WHAT?

I racked my mind and kept my eyes out for 7’s and anything Big Sur (Hello, I live in Florida, Big Sur is in California)!

I found it hard to find decorative numbers, if it is not for the front of your house. So when I found a big black ceramic 7 I had to grab it.

It sat around for quite awhile trying to motivate me to do something with it. Nothing was coming to mind!

Then at a flea market, my husband came across a 1966 arial map of mid-coastal California! Yes, with Big Sur smack dab in the middle!

I grabbed it!

So, I had the 7 and the map…what to do? I went to my map pinterest board to see what I could find!

Yippy, I saw a map used as a mat in a frame! How could I have forgotten about that?

HERE IS HOW I MADE THE MAP MAT FOR FRAMES:

First, the things you will need:

– Map

– Frame

– Mat (you can either make your own or not even use one)

– Scissors / X-Acto knife

– Graphics & Printer

Now lets Mat Our Map!

1) Cut the part of map you want to use.

Hint: If there is a special place…put it in a corner of the mat.

2) This is how I incorporated the 7 into the piece!

I found different graphics of 7s and then printed them out on sample paper to make sure they got on the right spots of the map. Then I printed them out on the map.

3) Once you have your map ready, cut the center out.

Hint: Just cut an “X” from corner to corner and you can just bend back the pieces.

This is my sample map and I cut the edges off to fit in the frame better. But the final map I used had very thin paper, so I just folded the pieces over.

I do not like to completely cut/destroy things in case the person buying or receiving my stuff, can change it around if they like.

4) Firmly fold down the map around the mat.

I did not glue it down, because the frame would securely hold it in.

5) And then you are done!

I ended with two of them, since I did a “practice” run first!

The practice one is done with scrapbook paper I got on sale for 25 Cents! I hope someone else likes the number 7!

BIG SUR!

I love how there is a circle about Big Sur too!

And now you have a “something special” frame!

We wish the recipients of this frame the happiest life together!

By the way, I wrote a special date on the back of the number 7 for them!
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TEAR IT DOWN TO BUILD IT UP!

Posted: June 4, 2012 in Crafts, Upcycle
Tags: antique, antiques, art, arts, ARTS AND CRAFTS, balls, baskets, craft moss, crafts, d, decorative, decorative balls, fake flowers, Floral display, flower arrangements, folk art, garbage, interior design, metal wire baskets, moss, moss ball, outdoorsy design, pool balls, upcycle, vintage, wire baskets

Sometimes I buy things that I have to take apart to make better!

This is a story about a cute little metal basket with some fake flowers stuck inside it.

I freed the basket!

And made something from the removed “stuff!”

I love decorative balls, but I have never made one for myself.

So, to add this “mossy” one to my collection, that I made, is quite exciting!

And now, how cute is this metal wire basket?

And I will use the flowers for displaying my “book” vases!

For 75 Cents, I got a basket, a ball, and extra flowers to boot!

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SERIAL CREATOR

Posted: June 1, 2012 in Uncategorized
Tags: antique, antique book, antiques, art, ARTS AND CRAFTS, block printing, book, Book Marks, Bookmarks, children's books, Christmas Cards, crafts, crafts arts & crafts, folk art, garbage, Greeting Cards, interior design, jewelry, jewelry made with rocks, natural art, outdoorsy design, photography, poetry, railroad spikes, Transitions Abroad, Travel, upcycle, vintage, Writing

I have to admit, I AM a Serial Creator.

In my past, I have killed off many mediums, and then moved on to the next!

Sometimes bringing back old haunts because…you know…they always return to the scene of the crime!

Here is The Life Cycle of This Serial Creator.

Pre-High School: Anything the Art Teacher Would Make Me Do!

6th Grade: Block Print (Did the carving, water colors and printing!)

High School: Writing Poetry & Photography

10th Grade: For Photography Class!

12th Grade: My Nationwide Winning Photo for the “Year of the Disabled” Photo Contest.

I worked with this girl at McDonald’s…she was a friend that was born with just part her arm. I still admire her!

College: Photography & Writing “Witty” Letters to the Editor of the School Paper.

A couple of my letters to the Radford University Newspaper’s Editor. I was so sassy!

I wish I could still write that neat!

20’s: Making Greeting Cards (When the Name “My Own Little World” was created), & Rock Jewelry.

One of a series of the “Hill” themed birthday cards. The only sample of them that I have left…because I actually gave them to people after making them! I have a person in mind for this particular “Vintage” card of mine.

From Safety Pins & Pendants

My Rock Jewelry. I actually still wear these! Timeless Beauty!

30’s: Writing Children’s Stories, Making Greeting cards, & Creating Small Odd Gifties.

Bookmarks that I thought were awesome…not so much now.

You should have seen the ugly Christmas Ornaments I made in the same design!

Ack!

Sorry friends and family for that “creative” period of mine!

But I still love the below creative flow!

Volunteer, Learn a Language Combine Language Study and Volunteer Work in Guatemala

A variety of my Christmas Cards!

There is The “Gangsta’ Santa” one , The “Safe Sex Christmas Tree” one (It says “Keep Your Christmas Bright…Wrap It Tight”), The “Reindeer Got Ran Over by a Grandma” One, and of course, The “Dancing On Top Of Santa” one! Good times!

Now, my one and only published piece! And mind you, I got paid for it too!

Okay, I wrote on the internet too, but in the writing world, it is just not the same!

Click and Read, My Friends, Click and Read:

Early 40’s: Writing.

From The Books I Made

Although, I just made these actual books, I wrote the stories in my early 40’s for a Children’s Clothing Line…that never went into the book business. But they said they liked them, they really did! Now, they are just for my 7-year-old twin nieces!

Mid 40’s: Blog Writing, Photography & Videography.

Examples of this are all wrapped up neatly in “Vintage” HenderBalz Blog Posts!

Click and Browse, my friends, Click and Browse:

HenderBalz Blog: El Salvador Story Time

Later Mid 40’s (ahem…NOW): Making of Things, Photography, Writing, & Videography.

Again, the HenderBalz Blog, says it best!

Check it out, My Friends, Check it out:

My Own Little World Shopito!

I attack with gusto, even to the point of trying to sell my work, and then I give up…whether I have done well or not.

MAY I NEVER GIVE UP AGAIN…MY OWN LITTLE WORLD SHALL GROW!

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THE GARBAGE WREATH

Posted: May 29, 2012 in Crafts, Uncategorized, Upcycle
Tags: art, arts, ARTS AND CRAFTS, craft wreaths, crafts, crafts arts & crafts, Crafts for kids, crafts with garbage, crafts with toilet paper rolls, Easy Crafts, folk art, garbage, garbage art, interior design, recycle, upcycle, upcycle crafts, wreaths

100% FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS…

AND IT LOOKS GOOD!

UPCYCLING AT ITS BEST!

AND DOES NOT SMELL!

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SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

– Toilet Paper and/or Paper Towel Rolls (lots of them)
– Old Magazines
– Glue Gun
– Scissors
– Spray Paint
– A paper plate

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START CREATING!

1) CUT ROLLS!

Toilet Paper rolls can be cut into 5 pieces. They do not need to be perfect or the exact same size.

The paper I buy seems to stick to the roll at the end, and taking it off is the hardest part of the whole thing!

2) START DESIGNING WREATH!

Start to lay pieces around the plate.

Get your design down.

3) GLUE PIECES TOGETHER!

4) START YOUR MAGAZINE PAPER FLOWERS!

Tear out pages of magazines, I go for the most colorful. I cut each page into 3 strips.

4) FOLD STRIPS OF MAGAZINE PAGES.

Fold them in the width that you would like your flower to be. Honestly, they do not need to be the same size…I just fold them up, and used the glue gun to keep the edges down. I have done it without gluing them down…saves some time.

5) ROLL YOUR FLOWERS!

Just start rolling. I glue down the last edge of a strip and then the beginning of the next edge strip. And you can make them as big or as small as you want!

6) LAY OUT WHERE YOU WANT THE FLOWERS TO BE ON YOUR WREATH.

Do not glue yet!

7) SPRAY PAINT YOUR WREATH.