I bought all these frames at the thrift store for only five bucks!!

I had a can of black paint and… presto!!!….new black frames.

I drew a couple of pictures on fancy scrap book paper…

and then found some images in old books.

The bottom frame of course has more glittered bugs.

The glitter thing might becoming a problem. There is glitter everywhere. And, people have commented several times, that I have glitter on my face.

Bugs. They really creep me out. Even the fake kind. Is it weird to not even want to touch fake plastic bugs? Icky!! I was tempted to use tweezers, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to freak out my little guy. He was slightly hesitant. He kept asking me if they were dead. My other guy love the bugs. Fake and real. I had to hide them so I wouldn’t find any under my pillow.

Side story–When I worked as a pediatric nurse on the night shift, we would have a few wise-guy, teenage patients that would put fake cockroaches on the IV machines to freak out the nurses. Sometimes we would find a few real ones too which was even worse! Eeewww!!!

I glittered a few creepy crawlies and that really made them seem MUCH cooler. Tomorrow I’ll show you what I did with a few more glitter bugs. I also wanted to show you my very cool specimen jar that was given to me from Tom, one of the craft guys on the Martha Stewart Show. I had a lot of fun getting this through security at the airport. “Please open your bag Ma’am”. He-he, pretty funny.You can see the video on how it’s made HERE.

And finally, this is my charm tree table complete with skully, paper mache pumpkins, jars with more bugs and paper bats. I just love this time of year. Wish I would have gotten my decoration up earlier this month so I could enjoy it all longer. More Halloween stuff tomorrow.

This is our new friend Skully (you can see the directions and video here).  He was really fun to make (accidentally wrong side out–oops) and he is especially fun to fling around by the arm.  Poor guy.  He’s found a nice little spot, for now, with the paper mache pumpkins and charm tree.  I still have work to do on my little shelf above him.

See my collection of Halloween ATCs (artist trading cards)? I strung them together to make a little garland.  I thought I had more cards. I’ll have to look around. I’ll be sharing my new ATCs for this year in a few days.

I’m full force into Halloween mode.  Having a hard time doing much else.  The boys love Halloween stuff, gross stuff , bugs, slime, you name it. So, we’ve been going all out. My littlest guy has been my big time helper. He loves to paint, draw and cut.

We made a couple of garlands today. A Halloween bunting and a “spooky” garland. The bunting is made from holiday fabric on sale at JoAnn’s.   The Spooky garland is made out of scrapbook paper, buttons and glitter.  Martha Stewart glitters rocks like you wouldn’t believe.  It’s the best.  I might be gliterizing a few plastic bugs tomorrow.

See the little ghosts in our fire place below? They are completely I-guy’s idea.  He thought we should have something spooky in the fireplace too, especially since we don’t use it.  He drew them and cut them out with just a teeny bit of help. I LOVE them the best so far. It never occurred to me to put something inside the fireplace.

Tomorrow, I-guy wants to make some of these. Hopefully we’ll find a few sports socks in Daddy’s drawer. Also, check out my excellent stash from Michelle’s charm swap.  I am working on displaying them on some dry tree branches.

Related posts:
Countess of Arachnidonia- Halloween wreath/wall decor
Here’s Lookin’ at you kid~ Eyeball T-shirts & video
No-mold Polymer Skull beads
Welcome October

I just could NOT share these. Just look at that face!

This here is my littlest guy. He has a little nervous tick where he twirls the same piece of hair over and over again leaving a funny little curl that pokes straight up.  He’s been doing this since he was a small babe. Usually the hair twirling is accompanied by a little humming moan, especially when he is trying to sleep at night. It’s really cute, but he’s also giving himself a little bald spot from the tugging and twirling.  I am tempted to cut his hair shorter which means less hair twirling, but big brother is going through a no hair-cut phase right now, so that of course means that little brother wants to be exactly like big brother.  I may have to do a hair cut day this weekend regardless.

**update** In the last hour since I wrote this, Big brother decided to solve the problem by just trimming the little curl off. I was on the phone, of course, when this all happened.  Now there is just a stubby chunk of hair where a little curl once was. I guess a hair cut will have to happen sooner than later.

Connect (available in my shop)

Still more connecting going on over here.  Can’t be enough of that, right?  Connectedness with your inner self is the most important kind of connecting, I think.  Being true to yourself, having peace within, giving yourself what you need to be whole, mindful and complete. Then, and only then can you fully connect with everyone and everything around you.

I am creating, singing, dancing, drinking tea, reading, getting enough sleep, writing, drawing, hugging, kissing and doing my yoga to keep myself centered.  What are doing?  What makes you feel the most centered and connected? I’d love to know.

Thank you so much for all your kind and supportive words.  Again, you have inspired me and have made my heart very happy.  Wish I could give everyone a gift.  Without further ado, the winners are as follows…

* lene Said: Congrats! I started reading only 6 month ago, but really enjoy your creativity (up cycle notebook)

* Jill Said: Four years! Wow! Congratulations and thank you for your always fun to read posts! (vintage fabric bundle).

* Heidi Said:  Congratulations on FOUR years! That is fantastic!
Thank you for holding this wonderful crafty giveaway. I have had my eye on that book since I first read about it here. I ? upcycled fabric projects! The vintage linens also look wonderful(vintage fabric bundle).

* Elizabeth Said: Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your creativity and inspiring my own (Pillowcase Book)

And since I can’t do a post without pictures, I thought I’d throw in a couple of journal pages. This first one was inspired by my fellow fishies from the fish bowl. The second, inspired by my Suzi class.

I work Sunday, then have FIVE days off in a row!  Woohoo!!!!!!  Looking forward to a break!

Can you believe my blog is 4 years old?  I cringe at my early posts, but feel I have grown quite comfortable in this little space of mine.

Someone recently asked me if I had always wanted to be a nurse.  Quite frankly I had never given it any thought until I was in college looking for a career path. I had originally wanted to  be an art teacher, but saw art falling out of the school systems. I also wanted to do photography, spending many semesters hidden away in the dark room. I don’t think anyone would have thought I was to become a nurse.  My path seemed set in arts or some kind of creative pursuit.   But, pressure to get a “real” job, buy a home and start a family was coming at me in all directions.  One of my friends was going to nursing school and I thought, sure, I could do that.

Nursing school, fortunately, fit me like a glove. I went to a school that nurtured my love for teaching and caring for people, and it felt good and important.  Then I was spit out into the real world of hospital care.  I won’t say much more about that– I’d still like to keep my job. So, lets just say that this place here, Creative Kismet, is my safe haven for creativity. The very thing that oozes from body, mind and soul. My happy place.

What could be more wonderful than being in my home, surrounded by my family, making, creating and dreaming. I am so lucky and fortunate. Happy to be able to teach, give and share with you many of the things that make me so happy.  So, thank you for peeking in.  You have helped me to keep going on, especially when I struggle with my inner critic and that awful self doubt.

To celebrate my 4 Year Blogiversary, I have 4 things to give away today… 4 lucky winners…
* One person will win this book ~ Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase by Suzanne J.E. Tourtilott (I have 2 projects in this book)
* Two people will win a small vintage linen scraps bundle
* And one person will win  an up-cycled Doodle pad with a couple of postcards hidden inside.

All you have to do is leave a comment (one only please). Old readers, new readers,  and all you lurkers out there too. A simple hi will do Please wait for your comment to appear. It sometimes takes up to an hour, so please wait a while before you repost.

Thank you and may the creative force be with you ALWAYS!!

In keeping with the connect theme, I thought I’d share a few little gems here in Tucson.

One of these places is called CRiZMAC, which I discovered a few months ago.  They have a delightful little shop and offer art classes and lectures. I’ve been to two so far and really enjoyed them. There are many more classes being offered, so if you are local, check them out.

Also local, (listed to help me remember):

* 4th& 4th~ It’s an art market of sorts on 4th avenue and 4th street on the 4th Saturday of every month. I am planning on checking it out this month and possibly setting up a table in November.

* Southwest Flair Affair~ Oct 30th- Nov 1st

* All Souls Procession~ November 8th

* Tucson Museum of Art  Holiday Craft Fair~ November 20th-22nd

* Desert Harvesters 7th Annual Desert Harvesters Mesquite Milling Fiesta & Mesquite Pancake Breakfast ~ November 7th

I am sure that there is more going on.  If you are local and know of any artsy, crafty, fun stuff to do, please share!!

Connect is the theme for October over at Creative Everyday which seems utterly perfect with how I’ve been feeling lately.

It’s been something I’ve been thinking a lot about. Here is my great wish list of connectedness:

* connect with self: art, tea, yoga, reading, online e-courses
* connect with my family through meaningful family time–really listening, looking feeling.
* connect with my sisters: We spend so little time with each other, especially now that we all live in different cities. Long phone conversations are precious.
* connect with nature: Spend time outside, look up, look down, look closely at everything. Breath in the fresh air.
* connect with friends: Have fun, craft nights, talk, be there for them
* connect with my home: Feel good about my nest, especially when the weather keeps us indoors.
* connect with Tucson:  I’m always thinking about moving, but I’ll be here for quite a bit longer. Might as well dig in my heels and enjoy this place I live in. Maybe I’ll want to stay for good.
* connect with my creativity:  Realize my dreams are valid–make them a reality.

What are you feeling connected (or reconnecting)with?