Subway art as a keepsake

I do enjoy using my Cricut die cutting machine to create one-of-a-kind items and gifts.

Recently a young couple got married and I wanted to mark the occasion with a special gift just for them.

Using a long canvas, I created a special subway art piece. Black acrylic paint forms the background of this project. Various Cricut fonts/cartridges allowed me to mix styles to highlight the various special words....

I have included their wedding date, location of wedding, first names and last name, and loving words.  They were pleased with the gift and it hangs proudly in their living room.  

With projects such as this, I can tailor the wording to fit the people or occasion!

Thanks for looking!

Sue

penandinkwell@yahoo.com

I can be found on Pinterest

www.pinterest.com

and

www.sulia.com

Brooch Bouquets

When our daughter was planning her wedding, she enlisted me to do some of the creative elements for her special day.  Of course, the calligraphy and lettering work was high on the list of to-dos.  But one project was especially fun and will long live on as a family heirloom.....

Brooch bouquets have been popping up on many creative web sites and idea boards.  We had some old (or should I say vintage?) brooches that were in the family so that was my starting point.  Using lots of lace, ribbons and brooches, I created a one-of-a-kind bouquet.  This bouquet required more brooches than we had on hand so I scouted out thrift stores, church bazaars, and consignment stores for unique pieces to add to the design.  For fillers I used small pearls and beads. It was important to fill each space of the bouquet.  The handle of the bouquet was a wire cone piece that started out as a filigree Christmas tree - I saw it at the store and thought it would make the perfect handle. 

After lots of 'playing around', I got to work with Weldbond glue and wire.  Below is the completed bouquet...it received positive comments from everyone....and now it is stored away to be used for a future granddaughter's wedding.  :-)

Thanks for reading!

Sue
penandinkwell@yahoo.com

I can be found as Sue Montgomery Lane on Pinterest 

www.pinterest.com  

and the subject-based social network site - Sulia :      http://sulia.com

Just hangin' around

Happy Thursday! It is the end of February already...wow, where did that go?

Thanks for stopping by! I started this blog a while back because I wanted to share my calligraphy and hand lettering projects and tips about weddings and it has taken a slight turn, picking up lots of new projects along the way! 

Of course, you can find me many days with a pen in my hand but also thankfully I have two hands so that I can hold a paint brush, glue gun, operate a Cricut (trademark) machine and use my computer all at the same time.....well, not really, but you fellow crafters can understand that there is usually more than one project or task underway at the same time!

Some people call it 'juggling your time', I am not a good juggler by any stretch of the imagination but somehow I am able to accomplish a lot most days including volunteer commitments.

A favorite little treat for me is visiting Pinterest each day. I find inspiration and am in awe of some of the creative folks out there.  If you haven't joined, be sure to make an effort to see what this much-talked-about site is all about.  You can follow me on Pinterest, I have created many boards and enjoy sharing and 'pinning' with others.

 
I am listed as Sue Montgomery Lane

I also have joined Sulia.com and am finding some wonderful artists and contributors! That is another stop on my internet journey throughout the day.  http://sulia.com/  I am also listed here as Sue Montgomery Lane.

So back to my blog, I have entitled this posting "Just hangin' around" because one fun craft I like to make as gifts is decoupaged hangers.

Wooden hangers are readily available at most dollar stores (which also begs a comment - many things now cost more than a dollar but it is still an economical outlet for so many things).

To make these plain hangers into a cute closet accessory I have found patterned tissue paper (again at the dollar store).  There are lots of colors of both patterned and plain, you will surely find some that suit your fancy!

You will also need some decoupage medium (in your choice of sheen), I personally couldn't live without at least one large jar of Mod Podge in my craft cupboard at all times!

Tear the tissue paper into small pieces, strips or odd shapes are find. Once you start working with it, it conforms to the shape of the area to which you are applying it.

(I keep the hook part of the hanger attached to the wooden part but if you want, you can remove it but make sure you know where the hole is for the hook.)

Working in small sections, brush on some decoupage medium and then overlay with some tissue paper using your wet brush. The neat thing about Mod Podge is that it acts as a glue and sealer in one.

After your piece is in place, brush on more of the decoupage medium to smooth it down.  Repeat this process until you have covered the hanger completely.

Now here is where the hook comes in - if you have taken it off, put it back in the hole, carefully inserting it so that you don't pull off any of the tissue paper.  If you left it on, that's good, too.  Take the hanger by the hook and hang it up where it won't touch anything while it dries.

That's it!  Once it is dry, you can embellish the hanger with ribbon or lace around the 'neck'.  

Easy, quick and an inexpensive gift!

In an earlier blog I showed pics of little paper mache boxes that I also decoupaged to match the hangers.  

Enjoy your crafting!  Please come back soon.

Sue
penandinkwell@yahoo.com 

More snow on the way + more crafting time (AGAIN!)

Ok, living in Ontario Canada we know that snow is a definite possibility.  Last year we got off fairly light but this year it seems that Mother Nature is making up for that.

Of course that means some time to do some crafting (rather than shoveling or snowblowing - let the gentlemen in my house do that!)  Now mind you, it hasn't started to snow YET but we have a snow warning so I thought I would work on the blog then get back to some knitting.

Speaking of knitting, I do that for fun, too.  (Or for frustration - it depends on the day and project!)

Here are a few samples of what I have made....

 This is a mini-infinity scarf...or a neck hider as a friend calls it. It be worn loosely or bunched up.

 Fuzzy yellow yarn scarf...next up, perhaps a scarf for the doggie!

 Fuzzy varigated scarf......ready to block the cold breezes!

A black and white yarn scarf - more for fashion than warmth.

A blue ski band with a flower accent.

That's it for now, time to get some things done rather than play on the computer!

Stay warm everyone.

penandinkwell@yahoo.com

Snowy day + time on the computer!

Well it is snowing and blowing a bit so it's the perfect time to get a little work done on the blog and on Pinterest.   You can find me on Pinterest - I love this site!  Search out Sue Montgomery Lane.

Pinterest allows you to create boards of your favorite web sites, projects, videos, and much more.  It allows you to pin from other people's selections and also directly from the web.  It is inspiring and addicting!  I can't say this enough, I love this site!    Be sure to check it out!  http://pinterest.com/

Wedding gifts for happy couples are always a pleasure for me to create.  I find that I do calligraphy work as a gift for many folks in lieu of another type of gift such as home appliances!  It really adds a personal touch to their invitations and placecards, table numbers and signage.  Here are a couple of more projects that I was lucky enough to craft for the bride and groom.

 These table numbers are on black bristol board (scored to tent fold) with white card stock on top, calligraphied in a wide nib italic font.

This sign was propped at the gift table....canvas and acrylic paint; the canvas has been lightly color-washed with gray paint and a border floated around the canvas.

It is fun to be creative, especially on cold, snowy days.

Family Day is coming on Monday in Ontario...wishing everyone a safe, fun long weekend!

If you wish to contact me, I can be reached at penandinkwell@yahoo.com

Keep smilin' and craftin'!

New Year, New Projects

It's been quite a busy time since before Christmas.  Here are a few projects that I have created....

Welcoming baby girl Wren!  This wall/door plaque is wood; painted with acrylic paint.  It is color coordinated with the baby's nursery.

 This knitted scarf is created by using recycled t-shirt 'yarn'. It was a joint effort from LindaEve (on Etsy) and me. Linda cut and rolled the t-shirt yarn and sent them to me, I knit the balls into a fun infinity scarf.

Welcoming baby Annabelle!  Her bedroom is decorated in a Winnie the Pooh theme so this canvas, acrylic paint and ink quote sign adds a little something special to her decor.

I will be adding more photos again soon.  I am in the middle of a large subway sign wedding canvas, looking forward to sharing it with everyone!

Until next time,
Sue
penandinkwell@yahoo.com

A few more projects.....

I seem to have no time to post because I am busy with projects and some volunteer work.  Throw in everyday obligations and where has the time gone?  So I will just post a few pics of my work and hope to get back to writing one of these days soon! Thanks for looking.  I can be reached at penandinkwell@yahoo.com

Made for a special little friend of mine layered paper on canvas and acrylic paint

My interpretation of a special couple on canvas with ink and acrylic 

My friend's home in Michigan, interpreted in ink and acrylic by looking at a photo

A quote by Aristotle - canvas, textured star, acrylics

A couple of new signs

I had a request from someone to create a couple of signs for a baby girl's first birthday. The customer provided the verses and I went from there.  It was fun.  Here are the pictures:

Both are done on stretched canvas and I used acrylic paints.   I like to do signs and think they make ideal gifts/keepsakes!

Still trying to catch up on blogging - my crafting time gets in the way!

I will get back to posting soon...been busy with projects! 

And I am on Pinterest....follow me. It is a wonderful site!!!



Here's another set projects I have completed: 

Paper mache boxes covered with tissue paper, varnished. Each one has a lid, these will be good to hold little presents.

July 2012 update

Well summer is underway, it has been a hot one so far.  That has slowed me down a bit.  I have been crafting alot, though, and will post some of my projects.  And while I am on here, I will also upload a project from my daughter's wedding. From time to time I will include wedding projects for your viewing.  If you would like any personalized items, please be sure to contact me and we can discuss your needs.
Thanks for looking!
Sue
penandinkwell@yahoo.com

Canvas sign. Layered and aged. 'believe'



Large canvas tree. Painted with acrylics and decorated with buttons. Cut out lettering.
c. 2012  "If you don't branch out, you won't know what you're missing".



Cohen's personalized baby sign. Layers of calligraphied paper with his name, date, weight and parents' names, overlaid with dark brown lettering. I aged the whole piece with a sepia wash.

From the wedding - a trifold display board. I requested pictures of people who were far away and weren't attending the wedding. People took a pic of themselves holding a sign sending their best wishes.  I mounted them with photo corners so the bride and groom could keep the photos if they didn't have room to store the whole board.  I decorated the board with lettering and hearts and labeled each photo with handlettering. It was a hit!

Back to projects!

It has been a while since I posted....our daughter got married a couple of months ago and since their engagement last spring, I had been working on personalizing their big day.  From invitations to placecards, napkin rings, signage, a brooch bouquet, and more, I was kept busy.  And I can't forget the centerpieces. That was a neat example of upcycling some of the project supplies - apple juice cans became fun holders for fluffy tissue flowers that I made.  With some scrapbooking paper, Mod Podge, Cricut letters and patience, the cans were used on the tables as part of the displays.  Add some mason jars with fabric covered lids and some ribbon and well, you get the idea.

This is the entrance table to the wedding reception.....

So now it is time to work on other projects.  I have just completed addressing wedding invitation envelopes, one of my favorite things to do. I've also completed a canvas sign, a photo matboard, and am currently working on a baby keepsake which I will post soon. 

Signing off so I can get more work done!  In the future I will add more pics of the wedding 'stuff' I have made recently. 

If you are looking for a personalized gift, contact me to discuss what I can do for you!

You can reach me at penandinkwell@yahoo.com

Thanks for reading!

Summer is just about over.....

Ok, I thought I would be able to keep at this blog on a regular basis, I was wrong!  Life seems to get in the way of my writing.

But now I am here so would like to show you a few projects that have kept me busy this summer.   Congrats to Kendra and Todd on the early arrival of Delaney Ella.  I made a little sign for her bedroom.

This is a wooden plaque, painted then stencilled.  Around the edges are pearl beads and eyelet trim.

***

I also have been doing some wedding projects for Lindsey.  Below is the table sign I made for her wedding. After the wedding I will also post a monogramming project I did for the bride and groom - no one will be seeing it until the wedding day.

The sign will sit on a stand at the entrance to the reception.  Congrats to Lindsey and Adam on your upcoming nuptials!

***

I am currently working on a sign for a 40th wedding anniversary and will post that after the party - the party is a surprise and I don't want to spoil the surprise!

***

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the residents of Goderich, Ontario who were hit by a devastating tornado on Sunday, August 21st.

And also thoughts to those affected by Hurricane Irene and its aftermath.

This summer has been a rough one, weather-wise.  Please stay safe and watch over one another.

***

That's it for now, back to doing some work.  I will try to get to the blog more often; it really isn't in my nature to put things off, I am just getting sidetracked with projects.

Falling behind

There are days when we seem to have to play catch-up on everything....this is one of them but I doubt I will ever really get caught up!

I have been operating in slow gear lately due to some things beyond my control but hope to be back to 'normal' soon. In my downtime I have been able to rest and work in the wedding spiral notebook that I have started for a family member's upcoming wedding. (I am a big list person! lol)

This wedding is going to be very important to our family. We know the bride extremely well and are blessed that she and her groom-to-be are wonderful!

So for this wedding I am going to be making the invitations and related wedding stationery. At this point I have cut the placecards and embossed them. Of course, the lettering of the actual guests' names will be done closer to the wedding date (which is early in 2012). The reply cards are also cut and I have embossed them as well. I will letter those soon, my hands need to have a little break right now. The Save the Date cards are done now, too. We need to get those sent out now that Canada Post is back to work.

I was lucky to find a (new-to-me) supplier of paper products in Toronto. Their assortment of papers is wonderful. The bride and groom have chosen a dark blue metallic paper for the tri-fold invitations I will cut and create. Inside there will be a nice metallic gold sheet which will have the actual calligraphied invitation on top of it on ivory paper. The layers together will be nice, I will post a picture when I have them done.

The invitation will close at the front and be tied with organza ribbon. On that ribbon will be a tag that will have the guest's name on it. This saves having an inner envelope that is traditionally used in wedding invitations.

On the back of the invitation I am making a pocket of the blue metallic and inside that will be the reply card, reply envelope and map to the venue.

It's fun to do this and I am anxious to see how they turn out! 

*****************************************************

Here is a guest book table sign..... This is a canvas, painted with acrylic paint. The border is pearls and lace.

The wedding was wonderful! The bride was beautiful!  Overall, a great day and I am so glad I was able to attend!

****************************************************

I was saddened to not be up to attending my recent high school reunion so I want to say hello to all of you and I am so glad you had a great time that weekend.  I am looking forward to our next reunion!  Miss you all!


That's it for now, once I get back into the swing of things I will have more projects to post.

Good bye for now,

Sue
penandinkwell@yahoo.com

Rainy day, time for crafts!

This spring the rain keeps on coming so on the days that gardening and yardwork have to be put on the back burner, it's a good time to do some crafting!


I have been making some more placecards using cardstock and my new scoring board.  Over the years I have not taken many photos or scanned my placecards so I thought it was time to do a few to post on the blog.

This is a rubber stamped design and colored by hand with colored pencils.  Your guest's name would be below the stamped area in calligraphy. 

Placecards can be used for occasions other than weddings, too.  They add a personal touch to your dinners and other gatherings. 

They do not need to be fold-over; placecards can be placed on the plates, inside glassware, in small terra cotta pots with moss for a casual look.

I will post other placecards as time goes on to give you some ideas of what I can create. I will also coordinate to your invitations and other stationery.  Using a Cricut machine or stencils, I can create other personal looks.

***

It's time for a shout-out to a high school friend who has continued to be a friend all these years later.

I'd like to introduce you to Filomena.

Filomena is a Psychic, Medium, Coach, Holistic Practitioner and Spiritual Trainer.

She is also a Licensed Massage Therapist and Body Worker in several additional modalities.

Visit her web site at  http://www.888angels.com/

The mission of her practice is to offer hope, healing and comfort during times of intense challenges, illness, loss and grief. 

I am sure you will find her practice both interesting and enlightening.

***

Please feel free to contact me with your calligraphy and hand lettering needs and remember that I also create slideshows on DVDs and CDs along with scanning and saving your precious photographic memories to disk for your safe-keeping.

Email me at penandinkwell@yahoo.com

That's all for now, time to get back to work!

Please stop by again soon!

Thanks!

Sue

Visit my Facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/sue.montgomerylane#!/pages/Calligraphy-and-Hand-Lettering-and-More-by-Sue-Lane/105487656209042