Summer Memories Ornament

Every summer we embark on a multitude of adventures.  Exploring becomes a way of life either on a stroll to the park, hike in the mountains or a swim at the beach.

As an artist I always try to come up with unique ways to capture my adventure and preserve it. Back in June I was lucky to share an adventure to the Jersey Shore with my creative friend Marfi Bradford, who traveled to me from Arizona for some artful fun and exploring.

Everyday became a road trip to all parts of the Tri-State area.  One of those trips was to Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, NJ.  Both seashore towns located on the Jersey Coast.

While there I was collecting ephemera and found objects on the beach such as shells, drift wood, pebbles and sand.  When Marfi, My Mom and Myself returned we were all exploding with creativity, so we decided to start making art in the studio.  Marfi choose to work in a Halloween theme.  My mom created in a Victorian theme, while I wanted to capture the day at the shore.

My finished piece was created using some of the elements I found earlier at the shore. I called my piece: Queen of the Sea, a summer memories ornament which will preserve our memory of the day in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove.

Materials:
-Drift wood
-Shells, all sizes
-Beach pebbles
-Lettered wood beads or scrabble pieces
-Chipboard letter
-White paper or floral wire
-Vintage image
-German silver glass glitter
-Glue: hot glue sticks, paper glue stick, tacky glue
-Tools: hot glue gun, scissors
-Other: pearl stick pin, chenille stem, navy fine glitter, card stock, letter sticker

 

Directions:
1. Cut out vintage image from paper, adhere to card stock using paper glue stick, re-cut again. (This makes       the image more sturdy)
2. Hit glue the cut image to the center of a piece of drift wood or glue to the location of choice.
3. Begin layering shells and pebbles onto the drift wood.  Attach with hot glue.
4. Cover a chipboard letter with tacky glue and sprinkle with German glitter.  Then attach to the drift wood.
5. Thread a piece of paper wire with letter wood beads and hot glue each end to the drift wood.
6. Wrap a piece of chenille stem into a circle, attach to a stick pin, add a sticker and pearls. Insert into drift       wood.
7. Embellish vintage image with navy glitter and a crown shape made from a piece of chenille stem.
8. Write the date and location onto the back of the image.

Tips:
-Create a tag.  Write the date, location, who you were with and a brief description onto the tag and attach to   the ornament.
-Use a photo of the day instead of the vintage image.
-Use a large shell as the base instead of the drift wood.

The possibilities are endless on what you can create out of your summer findings.
Thanks for visiting.

xoxo
Lisa

Piddlestixs Vol. 6, A Sneak Peak Inside

The latest installment of Piddlestixs is now available. This newest installment is vol.6 and filled with wall to wall full color projects and articles. The theme of Piddlestixs for this installment was Halloween, Wonderland and Storybook. Many of the projects created had incorporated those themes.

Our top contributors for this were; Joan Kettell, Marfi Bradford, Deb Famularo, Amy Mayfield, Kim Smith and Myself. Besides these fabulous ladies, there were also projects and articles from other artisans as well.

After a year, it was time to get back to the editor screen and release another installment, I personally believe that this is the best one to date and has more pages then the others, including 2 collage sheets exclusively for the magazine.

Here's a sneak peak of the cover

Here's a sneak peak inside


I'm currently working on vol. 7 and vol. 8, if you have a project, DIY, article, recipe, collage sheet, or idea for the publication please email to:

lisakettell@yahoo.com
Write "Mag Submission" in the subject line.

On Monday I will be announcing a call for design team 2014, chosen designers will receive product before December 1, with main projects starting to post on/or before Jan.2014. If you are interested please email:
lisakettell@yahoo.com
Write "Design Team" in the subject line.

Starting December 1, Sports Cuff World is looking for product affiliates, for more information email:
lisakettell@yahoo.com
Write "Sports Cuff Affiliate" in the subject line

As you can see lots of exciting things are on the horizon and we at Lisa Kettell Designs want you to be apart of it.

To purchase the full color print edition or the ebook download edition please visit this link:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/lisa-kettell/piddlestixs-vol6/paperback/product-21246903.html

I hope you enjoy this installment and I look forward to your submissions,
xoxo
Lisa

This Sunday May 24, 2009 12pm-2pm!

This coming Sunday come to the Grand Opening of the new ACMoore Store located:
926 Airport Center Drive
Allentown, PA 18109

and meet me for a BOOK SIGNING, art/craft demo from my new book: Altered Art Circus or just come by and say hello. I'll be there from 12pm-2pm!For the amazing opening I will be creating a project from my book: Captured Jar fairies using a variety of materials, easily found around your home and in ACMoore. I will also demonstrate the various versions of jar fairies which I also call Specimen Jars or Magical Glass Vignettes created with built in scenes which recreate a special moment of life: a birthday, shower favor, wedding surprise, a seaside vacation or camping trip. A jar filled w/clear gel and glitter to form a magical water style globe.

Jar/Glass Vignettes also can bring that extra festive touch to your holidays, filled with a small snowman figure, elfen or pixie figurine, vintage plastic reindeer, Easter rabbits, Valentine cards, or filled to the brim with faux robins eggs or your favorite flavor of jelly beans. LOL!Jars, cookie jars, cake containers,clear glass xmas bulbs,gumball machines, aquariums, canning jars, apothecary jars/bottles,clear glass lanterns, small decorative conservatories, old ringer clocks, framed wall clocks-minus the clock,glass vases, birdcages, shadow boxes, cigar boxes, candy boxes, glass domes over plates, hurricane lamps, wine glasses, martini and other glass ware, recycled yankee candle jars can all be used to create vignettes or scenes from your fave memories, fables and imagination! Or use some of them to fill w/your fave art supplies and notions.This jar scene is made called: Captured Mad Hatter, using a canning jar from ACMoore, then filled w/reindeer moss,a painted wooden tea pot, a vintage image which I colored in w/oil pencils, blending solution (Ranger), some paint, mad hatter hat and glitters, the background is a photo I took while I was in Jim Thorpe, PA, finished w/ a vintage wire/jeweled flower stick, ribbons, millinery and paint.This is a Specimen Jar I made called: Miss Bugglesworth, this technique is similar to the one in my book called: The Fiji Mermaid, both show how to 3 dimensionalize one image for depth and character.Here is Oliver The Pixie Wizard, I made him for a show called: Halloween Opera, which I was a vendor at for 2 years in Jim Thorpe, PA. At this event I choose, more gothic themes and tones such as: The Phantom of the Opera and Wizard's Apothecary, here I sold my more rustic, wizardly, fantasy and primitive Halloween style works, different then the color palette I create in now. This magical jar is an example of that wizardly style, made in a canning jar and the base is made with reindeer moss and peacock feathers, small apothenary bottle I embellished, along with a carnival scene, vintage wizard costumed image, wings, glitters and ribbon.Here is one I made called: Fairyland Presents, a gift for my mom a few years ago. The inside was made using reindeer moss which I painted and a real egg shell, which I soaked in bleach over night, then painted w/acrylics and sealed with decaupage medium., glued to top of moss inside the jar, then added the rest of the items: images, backgrounds, etc.
Another party style jar I made are the wedding jars for the bridal party/bride for a wedding I was in: These are perfect for shower centerpieces, favors, bridal party gifts, garden and tea parties, or birthday favors. The possibilities are endless. These were filled w/light green excelsior, embellished vintage images,
digitally colored piano book covers, shrunk to size, ribbons and elegant silk flowers for the top.Here is another party/storybook style glass vignette I made called: Doll House Mania which I made using vintage berry garland inside the jar w/vintage dolly dingle image,vintage brownies by Palmer book cover I shrunk to size, handmade tinsel stars w/silver glass glitter and a handsculpted kewpie head I made from scratch w/no mold, hand sculpted, along w/other magical goodies.
scene inside a plastic covered Easter Egg!A fairy orb which can also be turned into a wand, the instructions for that project is in my book: Altered Art Circus!
Party Jars are my small versions of Bonne Fette:
Fête is a French word meaning festival, party, holiday or even birthday (as in "bonne fête" being an equivalent to "happy birthday"), which has passed into English as a label that may be given to certain events.

Bonne: Meaning a few thinsg depending on where its used: "Good", feminine form Bonne masqueline form "Bon", when applied to "Fette" as in "Bonne Fette" Happy Birthday or Happy Party!

It is widely used in England and Australia in the context of a village fête, pronounced /ˌfeɪt/. These are usually outdoor shows held on village greens or recreation grounds with a variety of activities and are organised by an ad hoc committee of volunteers from organisations such as residents associations. Attractions seen at village fêtes include raffles, coconut shies, bat a rat stalls, white elephant stalls, cakes, and home produce such as jam and pickles. Entertainment could include morris dancing, tug of war, fancy dress and pet shows. The American and Canadian equivalent would be the County Fair or City Fair.

For additional info on Bonne Fette visit Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fete

For additional jar fairy/specimen jars or glass vignettes visit my jar fairy photo set at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonfaires16/sets/72157594563774774/

Have a wonderful and magic filled day!
xoxo!
Lisa!

Altered Art Circus, Previews, Guest Artists!

Hello All,
As of tommorrow, the official release of the book is out, Feb.1, 2009, but for many, it has already been available, for you to buy and enjoy! The best part of this whole experience is being able to share it with the you and the wonderful and talented guest artists who are involved with it, each of them are truly talented, their works bring magic to my day, everyday.

Here are some previews of the projects in the book:



Here are the wonderful guest artists in the book, who have made this book so much more special! Love them all!

Wanda Eash http://craftymule.blogspot.com/
Gina Smith http://lillysoflondonish.blogspot.com/
Eileen Grobeck http://cheeseclothmoon.wordpress.com/
Amanda Howard http://www.maygreen-fairies.blogspot.com/
Ann-Denise Anderson
http://whimandfancydesigns.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Hayslip http://sweeteyecandycreations.typepad.com/
Lori Karla http://www.lollishops.com/faeriewindow
Debrina Pratt http://whimsicalworldoffairies.blogspot.com/
Izabella Pierce http://izabella.typepad.com/
Laurie Duncan http://happy-as-a-lark-designs.blogspot.com/
Marla Tomlinson http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5181545
Alejandra Pliegro, Sandra Koterba
Buy at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592534872 Border Books, Barnes and Noble, Target Online, Your Favorite Art, Craft Site, Bookstore or soon through Me!