HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

May the Great Pumpkin bring you more than rocks this year!



More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

AWWW...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

THESE are the images I like to think of on Halloween:












This is my favorite. Isn't it precious?

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

KUDOS FROM BRAZIL

Greetings, dear readers!

As I shared with you in my last post, the calendar I created was inspired by the amazing Regiane Santos in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Today, Regiane sent me this sweet email:

Hi Paula,

WOW! I love the birds!!
Very cool, I´m so happy!!!
I really love when my work is used as inspiration...
I put some pictures of your calendar on my blog...

Kisses,

Regiane.

And here's the REALLY good news:

http://www.artesbyregiane.blogspot.com/

(You can use Google to translate the page from Portugese into English!)

I so love blogdom! We can make friends from thousands of miles away!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

HALLOWEEN FRIENDS...

Greetings, dear reader!

A friend surprised me today with a wonderful new Halloween friend! Behold, Crazy Jack:

Isn't he adorable in a whacked-out, crazy kind of way? I LOVE HIM! And talk about hiding it under a bushel...this woman is a sewing DIVA! THANK YOU SYNDA for making my day!

Meanwhile, I have been inspired (between bouts of relapsing flu) by the incredible Regiane Santos from Brazil. I just love her very green, use-ever-little-scrap style. Anyway, taking my cues from her, I created this 2009 desk calendar. (I warn you, it is not very clean and neat for those of you neatniks who like to have an organized work space!)

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

TWO WORDS: ONLINE CLASSES!

Greetings, dear readers!

While realizing I am making this announcement hot on the heels of zombie cupcakes created for All Hallows Eve, I am simply SO excited (and torn) I MUST share the news:

BOTH Elsie AND SisTV are having online classes...30 projects between now and Christmas! OH MY GOODNESS! Both are in an effort to spark the "buy/make handmade" for Christmas gifts this year. I don't know about YOUR budget, but the budget in the Clouse House is spread about as thin as I'd like it to be. Between gas prices and groceries, and the immediate impact that has on people, counseling for most is WAAAAAY down the list somewhere. (Like our mental health is somehow less important than our physical health! But DON'T get me started on THAT soapbox!)

I digress...my dilemma is this: WHICH CLASS? What projects? SisTV is an affordable $30 and with folks like Wilna Furstenberg involved, I KNOW there will be a lot of "bang for your buck." All the Fashionistas are incredibly generous and talented...here's a peak at a few of the gifts we'd be making:

However, ALSO with an online class is the incredible Elsie Flannigan. She is one of my scrapbooking heroes . I just love her quirky and original style! Here are HER projects:

Here's Elsie's description of her class:

This is a 6 week online class (beginning on November 10th and wrapping up just before Christmas)! I have a personal goal of making most of my Christmas gifts this year & I hope that this class will inspire some people to create handmade gifts as well!

Each week you will enjoy 5 new projects, which you can work on at your own pace. Projects come as tutorials, videos, step-by-steps and/or downloadable PDFs (whichever is most appropriate for the specific project!). All projects come with lots of photos & inspiration!

These are a few of the projects we will be creating:
-Scrapbooks (5 mini books and 1 12x12 album full of handmade embellishments!)
-Creative Photography Tutorials
-Felt Doll Patterns
-Embroidery Patterns (including a holiday set I created exclusively for this class!)
-Handmade Gifts (journals, stockings, toys & charms!)
-Holiday Decor Tutorials & Patterns
-Felt Charm Necklace & Bracelet tutorial
-Holiday Gift Wrap & Tag Tutorial.

*Each week also includes a private chat and journaling challenges!

Class fee is $60 (it's only $2 per project! :D)

The thought that I'd have a chance to work directly with Elsie is beyond exciting...what to do? WHAT TO DO? Thoughts?

Meanwhile, as you (and I) ponder this wonderful debacle (I shan't ponder long for I fear both classes will fill super fast. Can you say, PANIC?!?!?) take a gander at this!

Isn't it beyond FABULOUS? It's my first little Christmas trinket of the year, hand made by the amazing Tina Wright of Paper Cowgirl fame. She's my soldering hero! Look at this beauty (also on my Christmas list):

Little Shrine Necklace Wire nest with Wings

Beyond gorgeous, yes? I've got a soldering iron on my Christmas list...I figure, the worst I can do is make an enormous mess and set something on fire. What's to worry? LOL! I know I won't be able to pull off this kind of artistry, but I figure it might be a fun hobby to attempt. (My sister says I'm a "Dabbler"...that's an artist who has no specific medium but tries her hand at ANYTHING...EVERYTHING! I must confess I like the title!) And so a dabbling I shall go!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

IS IT AN INVASION???

Greetings, dear readers!

Because of the loud outcry from many of you, and because Harold the Cupcake Zombie has been taking out all of his zombie wrath on ME, I have created for him a counterpart. A mate. A sidekick if you will. I would like to introduce Harriet the Cupcake Zombie:

As you can see, rather than wearing the larger, slightly exposed zombie brains on the side, as does Harold, Harriet opts for the more subtle look with a frontal lobotomy. To offset this subtlety, Harriet sports a purple bow to match her lovely glittering lilac icing. Still very zombie-esque, yet understated. Harriet is also one of those whose eyes were sewn shut post mortem, thus the curly eyelashes rather than bloodshot eyeballs. Also, as you can readily tell, Harriet has had many unsuccessful collagen and botox treatments on her lips...are they plumper? Yes, but still quite worthy of zombie attire.

Are we being invaded? I have heard that cupcake zombies are like termites...nobody has just TWO?!?! If you happen to find cupcake zombies on your doorstep (be careful, they can be cleverly disguised as mild mannered Halloween treats!) or if you stumble upon them at All Hallows Eve gatherings, please report the sighting immediately!

From the Zombie Fashion Runway, this is reporter Paula Clare signing off...UNTIL...(insert twilight zone music here)

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

ATCs and CLOUSE HOUSE BECOMES THREE!

Greetings, dear readers!

I am SO excited to make this announcement...my hubby and I have prayed long and hard over whether or not we wanted to be "parents" again...and in our indecision, fate (read that, GOD) intervened and now we are going to be adding a new member to our family!

As many of you know, my youngest sister, her husband and my two dear nieces are moving out of the country at the end of the year. The initial plan was that the ENTIRE family would be going...however, due to the customs of the country they are entering, and due to the fact that this family member does NOT travel well, one family member is going to be left behind...and move in with us!

Dear friends, I'd like for you to meet Webster:



(Yes, he has TWO eyes...the photo just shows one very, very dark)



Webbie and his favorite toy

Is he not precious? Webster (yes, named after the dictionary) is a miniature Schnauzer...a SILVER miniature schnauzer. He is the most well behaved, best trained dog we have ever had the pleasure of knowing. A year or two ago, I stayed with my nieces while my sister and her husband went to visit the country they are now going to be moving to. Besides having a wonderful time crafting, playing, and hanging with my nieces, Webbie and I (that's what he is fondly called by family members) bonded. In short, I fell in love with this furry little guy, and we got along like we lived together all our lives. In fact, he was SO good I came home and began researching what kind of dog would be best for the lifestyle we live. The miniature Schnauzer and Boston Terrier tied for "dogs most likely to succeed" in the Clouse House.

YAY! I'm so excited! I'm gonna be a mommy (I Know the dog whisperer is thinking, "OH NO! Another of THOSE kinds of dog owners!!!) Well, yes and no. As I said, Webster is very well trained and I will NOT undo that. He goes to his kennel at night for bed and he eats only dog food. He does tricks because Emileigh (the oldest daughter) has trained him remarkably. SO, we will NOT be tampering with the perfection that is already in Webster's personality. However, he WILL be loved on and hugged and cared for and will become a member of the family...hopefully, prayerfully, without a great deal of stress and anguish on his part.

Anyway, I am honored and excited to join the ranks of the many millions of "dog owners" in the country! WOOT!

I've been ill the last two or three days, but in between my horizontal bouts of fever, chills and delirium, I have had feeling-better vertical moments. (Envision me crawling to the craft table...well, maybe not QUITE) Here is what I've made today...



That should complete my Halloween ATCs for the swap. I am due to receive several batches of ATCs in the mail...a few even from London! When I get them, I will of course play "show and tell" with you all!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

SPOOKY...

Greetings, dear reader!

As many of you probably know, I'm not much into the spooky, blood and gore side of Halloween. I love the sweet vintage images and an occasional good zombie movie, but that's about it. Along those same thought processes, though, I started thinking about other things I love. Not necessarily Halloween things, but, you know, just "things" in general. Coffee. I love coffee. With lots of flavor and lots of cream. My husband said the coffee is probably the smallest ingredient in my capuccino, latte love. Perhaps so. Hmmm. What else? I also love cupcakes. YES! That's it! I will combine my love of cupcakes and my love of zombie movies into one fantastic Halloween treat!

Ladies and gentle readers, I give you:

HAROLD THE ZOMBIE CUPCAKE:



WAIT! Don't run a way! Don't be scared...I want to tell you a little more about Harold. Harold, if you'll please walk the runway for us:

Harold is sporting this season's hottest attire...slightly exposed zombie brains. Along with this festive look Harold wears a zippered mouth (since zombies are technically dead then come back to life, I suppose this is the stitch job the mortician did) with faux blood added for effect. Harold also has a pair of lovely bloodshot eyeballs, entirely too large for his 6 x 6 inch frame. (The red dots are an accessory available with the zombie, bloodshot eyes only.) Harold's chocolate insides lurk beneath a lovely pleated blue paper cupcake paper, and supports a large dollop of glittered icing atop. The exposed brains are dimensional and peek out of the icing just enough to make Harold appear a bit sinister. It will be one of this holidays most sought after looks!

Okay, well, maybe not...but around the Clouse House, Harold the cupcake zombie is as sinister as it gets. :-)

Here are a few more ATCs created while NOT creating zombie cupcakes:



Peace in the (cupcake) Hood,

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

FLY, MY PRETTIES...

Greetings, dear readers!

I just love the above image, don't you? I remember as a child that part of the movie (The Wizard of Oz) scared the bejeebus out of me. I mean, come on...flying MONKEYS? YIKES! And they all looked pretty serious about their work too...I mean, BLUE monkeys...with UNIFORMS? Sounds like pretty serious business to me..AND they are dog nappers to boot! Poor little Toto!

I have recently been inspired by the flying monkeys, and by these wonderful CLEAR halloween strips I've found:

They are from Lil Davis designs and called "Voodoo." Way cool, huh? I am making ATCs with a wonderful gift from my Sweet and Sinister partner...Tragic Royalty playing cards. I LOVE them! Just look at the expressions on the faces of the face cards! HILARIOUS! (or, should I say, TRAGIC!?) Anyhoo, here are the ATCs I've made so far...

I am putting each ATC in one of these fun little sleeves found on Etsy. Aren't they FUN!?

Back to the ATCs! More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare

FLAGS, BANNERS AND PENDANTS, OH MY!

Greetings dear reader!

I thought I would share with you a few of the projects I've created inspired by the Paper Cowgirl Retreat in Waxahachie, Texas. If you recall, I made the adorably vintage "Boo Banner", a creation made by the mind of Jan Thomason. (She may still have one or two kits left in her Etsy shop...you can only hope!)






And then the kit I purchased from Jan's class made this spring flag/banner:











And then, because my sister's fam was visiting this weekend, I made these "Art Girl" pendants for my dear nieces (the cowgirl pendants are for me. :-) ) Here's the front of said pendants, created with copper frames, microslides, vintage images, acrylic and rubber stamps, ink, and the "Get Your Cowgirl On" from a "shrunk down" version of a piece of wall art created by the incredible Tina Wright:



And a message to my dear nieces...lest they forget as they move overseas they have an aunty and uncle who will be praying for them and loving them! (That's us in the wedding photo!)


Now I'm on to creating a Watch Crystal Pendant...we'll see how THAT goes! Thanks also to all of you who have commented and enjoyed watching my videos. I am glad they have been a help to you! More shall be forthcoming!

More soon!

XOXOXOX



Paula Clare