Munny Changes Everything

Tampa just had a great art show this weekend called "Munny Changes Everything".  Kick Start My Art asked a group of artists to take a DIY Munny  and "art them up".  Everyone did great, there were some amazing pieces at the show, and really interesting and original ideas.

Here are the ones I contributed for the show:

The first one I made is functional!  It's a pin cushion AND a Munny!  I cut off the top of her head with a hot craft knife (Versa-Tool).  Then, I stuffed it with Poly-Fil and covered it with a leopard-y/brainy looking fabric.  For the color on the body, I used Ranger Industries Adirondack Alcohol Inks and Alcohol Blending Solution.  I was lost at how to protect the ink, so, I emailed Tim Holtz of Ranger Industries (creator of the awesome inks!) and he suggested using Ranger & Claudine Hellmuth's Multi-Medium to protect it.  I was in a time crunch (that shouldn't be surprising if you know me) and didn't have time to wait for shipping, so I tested a small amount of Polycrylic on the unused top of the Munny's head and several other products.  This one worked the best for me, in the time I had, but I will have to order the Multi-Medium for future projects involving this ink, since I use it on a lot of things!  

I hot glued threaded button eyes and ribbon on for finishing touches and used a stick pin from the pin cushion for her nose.  :)  

"Voodoo Girl"

After I finished my first Munny, I took a mold-making compound and made a mold of one of my other blank Munnys.  Why?  Because I wanted to make a CANDY Munny, of course!  It worked out pretty good, except, I messed up the mold, and had no idea how to get the Munny's head out of the mold, so I cut it open.  This screwed up the head of the Munny a little, and I was forced to go to the drugstore down the street to get candy to fix my mistake.  The first one was made of dark chocolate and came out looking pretty bad, so I re-did it with a colored white chocolate and lotsa candy!  Cotton Candy "brains" with gummy worms coming out of the head, candy dots for eyes, a headless gummy bear in one hand and a gummy cola (or beer) in the other hand.  I'm pretty happy with how he came out, especially compared to the original test one made of dark chocolate!

"Zombie Candy Mmmmmunny"

I still had 2 blank Munnys left, and a quickly approaching deadline.   I went to the drug store with a friend to pick up candy for the above "Zombie Candy Mmmunny" before we got to work on our Munnys, and had some creative epiphanies in the store (strange, huh?).  I saw a weird little fake hair pony-tail holder, that looked like it would make a great "toupee" for my Munny.  Purchased it, and put it on the Munny and it we immediately yelled out "Robert Smith!!" (from The Cure).  A little Super Sculpey, a lot of acrylic paint, some hot glue, and a Krylon Crystal Clear coating and I ended up with this little guy! 

"Munnys Don't Cry"

Also, while in the drug store, I had another idea for my last Munny, while looking at my friend's 4-pack of Red Bull & remembering they were one of the sponsors for the art show.  I spray-painted the Munny a chrome silver, used crystals for the eyes (matching Red Bull's colors).  I took two empty Red Bull cans and used one as a "cocoon", and cut butterfly wings out of the second can and attached it to the Munny with craft wire "antennae".  This one sold to a Red Bull rep, right when the show started!  :)

"Red Bull Gives You Wings"

I'm very glad I was able to participate in this show, it was a blast!  Thanks Chad and Suzie!!!   2 of the above Munnys and MANY others by other artists will be on display at Urban Outfitters in Ybor City for the month of March!  Go check them out if ya missed the show!!!

I should probably post on here again!

I had a crazy busy fall and now I'm finally caught up enough to post, so expect new posts with new crafty-ness coming soon!

I am participating in a skate deck art show in August and decided to try my hand at making jewelry out of broken skate decks. This is my first effort!

before:

after!
I basically just drilled out a hole with the hole saw attachment to my drill and then drilled out the middle hole offset. Sanded it down with the dremel, drilled a tiny hole for a dangly bead, sprayed it down with a clear coat and voila! This color was the base color on the skateboard!

My next try with this experiment will involve the scroll saw, so I can cut more shapes, etc.

Flower Abstracts

blue flower super macro abstracts 3, originally uploaded by Melisa Taylor.

I was chasing a tiny green spider around the back yard a few days ago and found these wildflowers along the way.

I think I might want to paint this some time.

Crafty Weekend!

I taught a "Mixed Media Jewelry Class" at the Tampa Artist Emporium on Saturday.  Only one person showed up out of the 6 that signed up for it.  I guess we will be requiring deposits from now on.

We re-purposed bamboo tiles from placemats in several fun ways and made them into jewelry.  (similar to the Calvin & Hobbes necklace in my previous post).  We decoupaged/collaged them, painted them, stamped, etc.  

Speaking of the Stamping...I discovered the Adirondack Alcohol Inks from Ranger Industries and BOY am I loving those things... I must get all the colors!  I taught the class participant (& my mom) how to use them and then stamp over them with archival ink.  It makes really pretty jewelry pieces!  I want to use the stuff on other things, too... if it's not moving, I'm going to ink and stamp it!

Oh, and Tim Holtz is my new crafty hero!  Claudine Hellmuth, too!  Love her stuff!  (They both do demos with Ranger products and have their own lines with Ranger).

Pictures & a short tutorial to come soon!  Back to your regularly scheduled work day!

New Crafty Collage jewelry!

I just completed another collage bracelet!  I had a duplicate Calvin & Hobbes book and needed a crafty way to start using it up.  So I made the collage bracelet and a matching pendant!  

Calvin & Hobbes Recycled Bamboo Tile Necklace & Bangle Bracelet set. 
Necklace pendant: I cut up a placemat (seen under the necklace stand) and decoupaged Calvin & Hobbes comics on it. 
Bangle Bracelet: I cut up the Calvin & Hobbes comics and collaged it on a blank unfinished wooden bangle.  Lined the inside of the bracelet with recycled Victoria's Secret ribbon for comfort and a pop of color!
Both covered with a thick glossy sealer. 

Also in this post:  Better pictures of the previously posted Leopard Print collage bracelet!

I need to take better pictures of these and the new ones I made

and now that taxes are done, I just need to re-tidy my craft room and get those pix taken!

Here are some of the Shrinky Dink necklaces I have made in the past year.

one of my own photos:

these next few are from Pulp book covers


and of course, the Velvet Elvis!

 

Photos in the Tampa Artist Emporium Emerge Photo Show

These are the photos I have on display at the Tampa Artist Emporium.  I took phone shots of them, so they are hard to see the detail, but you can find the originals on my flickr page.  

Collage Bracelet!

Collage Bracelet!

I took a Leopard print gift bag, cut it into thin strips, and glued it to a wooden bangle (with Liquitex Acrylic Gloss Medium, the same way you would decoupage with Mod Podge) and then lined the inside with Victoria's Secret pink ribbon (gotta use that pretty stuff somehow!).

Sorry for the iPhone quality pics, I haven't had much time to get a better one.

Art Show tomorrow night!!

I have some fun photographs in the show!  Come join us!

ART MIXER - This Saturday 3/21/09

Please join the Tampa Artist Emporium located in the Palma Ceia Design district at our March Art Mixer on March 21st from 5 to 9 p.m. 

Guests can enjoy a complimentary wine bar while purchasing affordable artwork and unique jewelry by one of our 70 local artists. 


We will also be teaming up with VETMADE. In doing so you will be able to purchase one of their beautiful Adirondack chairs or bird houses. 100% of their sales and 10% of all art sales will go directly to VETMADE. 

VETMADE’s mission is simple: Prepare disabled veterans for re-entry into the workforce; and then place them in meaningful long-term careers. www. vetmade. org 

Check them out, it’s a wonderful charity. 


Saturday, March 21, 2009 5pm – 9pm 

Tampa Artist Emporium 

Palma Ceia Design District 

(Located in the Starbucks Plaza) 

3415 Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa, FL 33629 

(813) 835-0212

For more info regarding other Tampa Artist Emporium Events, visit: TampaArtistEmporium.com

Green Spider

Green Spider, originally uploaded by Melisa Taylor.

Another angle of my new little friend.

He looks like he should have a mustache to go with those eyes. :)

Green Spider - look at those eyes!

Green Spider, originally uploaded by Melisa Taylor.

This spider was the size of my pinky nail. I shot him with my Canon 100mm macro lens with a reversed 50mm lens attached to it. This allows you to magnify past 1:1 macro onto "super macro". I love doing this, although, the depth of field can be very small - so patience while shooting is a virtue.

The Orchid & The Spider

The Orchid & The Spider, originally uploaded by Melisa Taylor.

The first artistic photo I've shot in MONTHS (maybe even longer). It really feels good to shoot again. I bought this orchid on Thursday, and by Friday it had a lil' spider living in it! He's still there. :)

Re-Use/Recycle Everyday items

There's a really useful thread on Etsy right now on re-using everyday items, like soup cans, soda bottles, glass jars, toilet paper tubes, boxes, etc.  

I have been saving the soup cans to do something with.  I'm torn between little lanterns (putting holes in it and painting it, then putting a candle in it).  Or using them to hold tools, craft items, pens, brushes, etc.  I could probably eventually do both.  We like soup around these parts.  :)  My boyfriend did ask me recently, just how many cans I needed to save.  ;)  

Oh... almost forgot... HERE is the link on Etsy's forums.  Lots of creative ideas!

Hi All!

I doubt I have any readers yet, since I haven't told anyone about the blog yet.  But here is my first post!

I am currently trying to figure out a way to organize my craft room/office.  Any tips are appreciated.  It's pretty chaotic in there, much like my creative brain!  I'm wondering if I can get organized at home, if it will help me get organized mentally.  I will get back to you on the results of this experiment.  

I may have to take a quick iPhone pic of the chaos and upload it later.  ;)