Football Lovers Delight with Team Support and Promote on Etsy

This week I chose football as the weekly theme, for my Team Support and Promote blogpost. Each of these beautiful handmade items, could be used for football teams, mascots, or just fun football items. To visit each shop, click the highlighted link under each image.

This adorable crochet baby football photo prop is made by Shelleyscrochetole

Debupcycles creates these lovely flannel gift bags that are reusable and eco friendly.

For all you Cardinals fans, this pdf quilt applique from Mspdesignsusa will help you make something beautiful. 

Alfadesigns, has to offer this lovely necklace done in red and black, for you Falcons fans. 

All you Bills fans will love this football colors painted peacock.  Get it now, from Missy69

Join Me In July for A 30 Day Art Challenge 2016

So, there are several different types of Art:  Painting, Drawing, Music, Writing, Crochet, Knitting, Jewelry Making, Photography etc.  Below I have compiled a 30 Day Art Challenge of things I would like to do, or specific things   I  really want to improve on.  I won't be doing this until July, because then we will be done homeschooling, but you can start anytime.  I may use any of the artistic ways I mentioned above.  I will be posting my items, here on this blog.  If you have a blog, and would like to feature each other, message me in the comments, and a way to get a hold of you.  I finished up some new art projects today, that I am working on perfecting, but until July I will not be doing anymore new painting projects.  Here is my perfect 30 day art challenge:

Day 1:  Clouds
Day 2:  Dragonflies
Day 3:  Lightning Bugs
Day 4:  Freedom
Day 5:  Flowers in a vase
Day 6:  Ladybugs and zentangle flower
Day 7:  The Wild
Day 8:  Violence      This one will be a real challenge for me
Day 9:  Someplace you would love to visit
Day 10:  Fear
Day 11:  Change the world and be happy
Day 12:  Upcycling
Day 13:  Dreams
Day 14:  Two tone palette    This one will also be a real challenge for me
Day 15:  Holy being
Day 16:  Hot
Day 17:  Cold
Day 18:  Rain
Day 19:  Snow
Day 20:  Cityscape
Day 21:  Music
Day 22:  Superhero
Day 23:  Quotes
Day 24:  Fantasy/Dragons/Fairy/Mermaid
Day 25:  Gothic        Another challenging one for me
Day 26:  Dancer or Gymnast
Day 27:  Broken
Day 28:  Education
Day 29:  Historical Event
Day 30:  Trees
Day 31:  Relax and breathe

I Love Hummingbirds!

I have said before that painting nature is one of my most favorite things to paint. It is also one of my most frustrating things to paint, since I want my painting to look exactly like whatever it is I am painting. This is sometimes very difficult. I did one hummingbird painting, a few years back, that I love, but now I have drawn out two matching hummingbirds, on two separate canvas. They will be sold together, in my Etsy shop, once I get them painted. We have a hummingbird feeder, and I think the most I have had at once is three. They are so much fun to watch, and if they get used to you they will just stay there and let you watch. Some people even get the privilege to feed them from their hand. I would love that! I probably won't get a chance to paint them until next week, but that is ok. In the mean time I will watch videos to get their colors embedded in my brain.

 I also drew out two new wood burning projects. One for Mother's Day, that will be here before we know it, and another tree of love, that I absolutely love because the flowers look like Shamrocks. I didn't get it done in time for St Patrick's Day, but if you are Irish, or love Irish symbols, this piece of work will be special. Be sure to check back to see it, should have them done tomorrow.

Crochet Lime Green and Hot Pink Baby Blanket with 2 Matching Beanies

I finally finished this baby blanket. It didn't take so long because it was hard, it wasn't, just couldn't seem to squeeze in more than an hour here or there to work on it. I love these colors, and this stitch. Done in lime green, and hot pink with matching beanies. Fees have gone up for everything, so unfortunately I have had to tweak my prices on new items, and am rethinking my layaway. I love offering that service, but unfortunately the Paypal fees each time someone makes a payment, is ridiculous. For now it is staying, but I have to really think hard about it. If you have never had a crochet blanket, then you really should try one. So much warmer than fleece, especially if over a light sheet or other blanket. Check out this beautiful blanket and beanies set, in my Etsy store. 

 February is the birthstone of Amethyst. I have one ring, I will be relisting, that was returned to my shop because the size was wrong for the lady who bought it. Other than that, I am going to try and get some new Amethyst pieces made. Hopefully my craft shop will have more of the lockets, that I can fill with Amethyst gemstones.

 I had a brilliant idea for something new to paint on. I won't discuss it until I have one completed, so you will just have to come back often to see.

Happy New Year Baby Cocoon with Top Hat Photo Prop and Iphone and Ipod New Years 2016 Case

Alright, it is almost Christmas.  You know what that means, right?  Time to get ready for New Years, and Valentine's Day.  Believe it or not, when you sell online, and promote your own items, you need to start promoting your items ahead of time.  I have been promoting Christmas since September, now for the next holidays.  I don't have a ton of stuff for New Years, or Valentines Day, yet.  But, I will start working on it.  I have some cool ideas, for Valentines Day, I just hope I can get them done in time.  Below  you will see a Baby New Years Cocoon with Top Hat.  This is all crocheted, very warm, and the hat is more of a photo prop than anything else.  Check it out in my Etsy store, while I still have free shipping, and my BOGO sale going on.  You could get two cocoons, or any other item, 2 for the price of one.  All the details are in my shop home, so be sure to read how it works.  You can always message me on Etsy, as well.

The 2016 New Years  snowman Iphone Ipod case, is available on Society6, in my art shop.  It is from my original painting, and is available on other products as well.  Be sure to check them all out, for some awesome gift ideas.  Society6, as well as Etsy, offers gift cards.  So, you can always pick up one of them, and let the receiver choose. 

How To Paint Waves- Ripples

I hope this set of painting lessons has been helpful to you. I can not wait to try his techniques. I have been busy trying to craft everyday, in preparation for the upcoming holidays. Starting Nov 1st I will be having a BOGO sale, in my Etsy store. More details to come in the following days. Buy one get one free, there is nothing better than that. Please remember I take requests, if I can't make it I will let you know. I also offer free USA shipping, and a layaway service. Check out my Etsy store now, and start saving your favorites.

How To Paint Waves Lesson 1

Fall Colors Abstract Acrylic Horse Painting

So, I had been doing peacocks, in team colors. Last week, as an Art assignment for my daughter's History class, I drew out and painted a horse in Fall colors. I am so pleased with how this came out, that I think I will do more in other colors, and abstracts. I love horses! I love all animals, but horses are so majestic, and beautiful. This painting is available in my Etsy shop. I have an adorable Tom Turkey all drawn out, but haven't found the time to paint him yet. I also have to revamp a reading chair, for my daughter, which will include a wolf painting on the chair. I hope to have that done soon, with the cooler temps here in Florida. Be sure to check out my Etsy store. It is never too early to start shopping. I offer layaway~!

Unique One Of A Kind Yellow and Black Steelers Color Painted Peacock Abstract Art

Last week I did the Bills, this week the Steelers. My husband is a die hard Steelers fan. Next will be a team that has green in it's team colors, because Peridot is the birthstone for August. My black paint pen, that I outline with, decided to die on me last night. It is much more difficult to outline with a tiny paint brush, so I kind of was not super happy with this painting. It does look stunning in the pics though. This one is yellow and black, as you can see.   I will be doing one peacock for each professional team. They are available to purchase in my Etsy shop. I do not sell prints, just my original paintings. Please remember, that I list new, and renewed items each Friday. So, this painting will not be available until August 21st. I offer free USA shipping, and a layaway service. Christmas is coming, start getting ready now. Click here to visit my Etsy shop, and check out all my awesome items.

Gloom and Doom with A Touch Of Pink Original One of A Kind Acrylic Painting

Since all it wants to do is rain here in Florida, I am getting very gloomy. So, today I sat down and drew out this picture, then painted it with acrylics the colors of gloom and doom. That would be grays and black. Then I added some beautiful neon pink to the light house, and even the bird. If it stays gloomy, I might do this in other colors.

 Last week, I drew out a peacock, to add some tangle doodles to, in football colors. I was supposed to paint that today too, but the other took too long. I am thinking of trying some oil paintings. I think I would be able to blend better if I used oils. I love acrylics, and love that they dry very fast. But, sometimes that is just not awesome. The only thing I am worried about with oils, is odors. I have a very sensitive nose, and it could trigger headaches. I will have to see. The flip flops, with pumpkin vines are no more. They annoyed me for the last time, and I removed all the paint. Now, to decide what I want to paint on them, lol.

Don't forget to check out my super sale item, on sale until 8/6, when a different item goes on sale. See it here.

Etsy Christmas in July is Over

Well, the Etsy Christmas in July event is over.  I had three sales during the time period my coupon was running, about one month.  That is very good.  This is my first year participating in the Christmas in July event, and as long as I have the time I will do it next year too.  It is a lot of time, and work, and I didn't get to put in as much time as I would have liked to, but still a success.  Thank you to all the Etsy shops who participated, and supported each other.  I hope they all had some sales too.  Now, it is time to start getting my creative juices flowing for back to school, and Halloween.  Monday, is my day to paint, and wood burn, so I will be doing something new with those two mediums.  I also started an adorable Halloween baby bear costume for an infant boy, or girl.  I can not wait to see how it comes out.  I also have to get our homeschool portfolios together, that is a week project at least.  I guess I will be busy.  That is good, because it is too humid and icky to be outside.  You can always check out my shop by clicking the My Etsy Store widget, in the left hand column.  I offer free USA shipping, layaway, and of course custom requests.

Etsy Christmas in July 10% Off Paintings and Art Work Birds

5 more days to use coupon code, christmasinjuly, to get an extra 10% off all my paintings. All my store items, actually. Today, I am sharing two of my most favorite paintings. The owl, and the blue footed booby. Two of the most majestic birds. If you don't know about the blue footed booby, do a quick search, it is a fascinating bird, and one of my favorites. I have other bird paintings as well, including cardinals, hummingbirds and others. I offer free USA shipping, everyday of the year, and a layaway service. Come on over to Melissas Menagerie of Stuff, and start Christmas shopping today.

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/195212878/owl-tangle-doodle-ancient-flowers-at?ref=shop_home_active_22&ga_search_query=painting

https://www.etsy.com/listing/183842670/blue-footed-booby-bird-with-neon-blue?ref=shop_home_active_15

Make A Bracelet With Soda Tabs

Ok, I got sidetracked last week, and forgot to share more cool ways to recylce or upcycle items into jewelry, or other crafts. Below, is a tutorial on how to make a beautiful bracelet using soda tabs. I actually am going to do this, not exactly the one shown, but I love this idea. If you wire wrap, like me, well am learning, and you love cuff bracelets, then you know making the cuff out of wire can be a challenge, and a pain. So, I was thinking soda tabs might be a clever way around that problem. I probably won't video tape myself doing it, but I will share when I get around to it. I did a lot of crocheting last week, and I so loved the diaper cake, that I have started another one, a red and black one. Plus, I still have to finish the bathroom set I started, only the toilet cover is done. I found some very nice traditional jewelry settings on Etsy, that are on my list to get, and I just finished painting a garden Angel. I think I need to add something to it, or change something, before I share her. I was very pleased with how it came out though. Be sure, and visit my Etsy store too. I offer free USA shipping everyday, all year, and layaway if you need it.

Home Sweet Home Butterfly and Flower Paintings

I didn't get to paint this week so Arizona is still drawn out, but not painted. Arkansas is ready to be drawn. Hopefully I will get to paint next week sometime, or at least draw. I also have roses drawn out, and need to do a US flag as part of my American History series. I also am working on a special diaper cake for a baby. This will be my first attempt at a diaper cake, and I am excited as to how it will come out. Then I want to do the shower curtain, and valance to go with my crochet toilet cover. I don't have much to do at all, lol. Below you will see Florida, Alabama, and Alaska. Alaska does not have a state butterfly so I did a bear silhouette instead. All of these can be seen in my Etsy store. Great gift for a college student to take to his dorm, newlyweds, or a house warming gift. I was also thinking it would be sweet for an elderly person who needs a reminder of home, should they have to go to a nursing home, or retirement home.

Handmade Mother's Day Gift Idea #7 Original Monarch Buttefly Painting

We are up to #7 in the handmade Mother's Day gift idea series of posts. This is one of my all time favorite paintings. It is signed and dated. It is a beautiful Monarch with a purple flower. If you have a Mom who loves butterflies, this is perfect. At only 24.99 it is definitely an affordable gift. I do not sell prints of my art, they are originals. To check it out more, visit my Etsy store. 


If you have an Etsy store, and would like to have an item of yours featured in this series, here is how it works. 1- Comment on this post, and leave me a link to your Etsy store. 2- These posts run each Tues and Thurs, until Mother's Day. If you comment on a post on Tues, then be sure and come back Sat to see your item featured. 3- Share the post, that you are featured in, on one of your social media sites. That is it, easy peasy.

Custom Painted Truck for Little Boys Room

I had so much designing this truck. I actually drew it all out last week, and then didn't get time to paint it until yesterday. It took a long time, but I finally got it how I wanted. It is silver with all kinds of cool custom decals, bats, vampire eyes, guitars, fishing pole, baseball and bat, flames and more. If you have a special little boy in your life, this would make an awesome gift. It is signed and dated, and available in my Etsy store. I did my second pencil drawing of a covered bridge. I am still not completely pleased with it, though it was a huge improvement from the first one. I think the lesson on Perspective is the hardest of all the lessons. I will share those in a future post. Have a wonderful Tuesday evening!

Have I Been Busy?

Yes, I have been very busy. So busy I feel like I can't keep up with my blogs. Some of that has to do with the fact that the kids and I are back to homeschooling. As you can imagine that takes up a lot of my time. The other day I was really feeling the need to draw. So, I drew out some pieces, and now I have to either paint them, or color in with colored pencils. Drawing takes a long time, at least I think it does. Since I am new to drawing, it takes me even longer. I have a very special truck drawn out for a boy's room. I will share when I am done. The gift bag shown below, was painted black and then the pink cat painted on. I love painting the gift bags. I have sold one, a penguin bag, but would love to sell more of these. They are great as gift wrap, then the person it was used for can frame the art and keep it forever. Check out my Etsy store to see all my hand painted gift bags.

New Painting: End Of Summer Vacation Beach Painting

I have been wanting to paint this for a while. I guess waiting until Summer is almost over wasn't a bad idea, lol. This is a little boy, with his sailboat, sitting on the beach watching the boats go by. It is the last day of his Summer Vacation, and time to go home. I will be doing a little girl one as well, just not sure when. Monday, is when I usually paint, but we have a 4H banquet, so maybe Tuesday of next week. This would look delightful in a little boy's room, or for anyone who is nostalgic about the beach. You can view, or purchase, in my Etsy shop. Be sure to check out all my other items. Christmas is coming you know.

Drawing Before I Paint Snow Leapord with Flowers

I have been a bit stressed out lately. Two sisters coming from out of state, the same week. My husband's job is have some changes done to it, and I don't like uncertainty. I wanted to look for a new place of employment, but for now that is on hold. To top it all off, my husband and son are supposed to visit NY for Thanksgiving, and I don't know if we will be able to spare the money for tickets.

 So, I paint to destress. I actually missed a few projects in here, but I will get to them. I bought some paint pens, last week. I thought they would be easier to make the tangle patterns with. They are, but some are medium tip and some small tip. Get the small tip, trust me. Another little tidbit I discovered, the word Zentangle is a copyright trademark word, which means you can not use it. I had to go back to my Etsy listings and remove all the Zentangle words. I had no idea it was protected.

 Anyway I never draw out my pieces before I paint them. I just paint them freehand. But, I found creating the tangles was incredibly difficult with a paintbrush, the details are just too small. Unless you are painting a huge tangle, like my mailbox I posted about earlier. So, I wanted to practice drawing flowers. The perfect rose, or what I want the perfect rose to look like still eludes me. So, when I sat down to draw flowers, I came across the most beautiful Snow Leopard with blue eyes. I simply had to draw it. Then I painted it using, traditional paint brushes with acrylic paints, and the paint pens. You can see both below. I really think I am getting quite good at this now. I still have lots of room to learn and grow. This is definitely one of my favorites. I did a bunch of resin jewelry, which I still have to share here on the blog, finished a baby cocoon or two, that still have to be shared, and started a new puppy crochet bed. If you want to see all the things I have been up to, rather than waiting, you can always visit my Etsy store. A lot of my gemstone jewelry is being retired, and not relisted. Some of it already has.

Zentangle Painted Mail Box

Every year my daughter, and I , repaint our mailbox. By a year it really needs it. The hardest part is always deciding what to paint on the mailbox. This year, because I am in a Facebook tangle group, I decided to draw a tangled flower on my side. You can see the results below. Caitlin decided to paint a butterfly and flower on her side. Again, you can see it below. It is always hot this time of year. So, we start out strong and soon we are trying to rush to finish, lol. If you paint too early in the morning everything is covered in dew. Someday we will laugh about this.