My Carrots Hanging in the Wind

So with my last blog I had written about how I had come across what I thought was a really cute idea for an Easter decoration.  It was so cute  that I decided I was going to try for myself.  

Several weeks ago I had purchased this very large rabbit from a Ross Dress for Less Store to use as part of my entryway spring display.  A can of Kono Brown  Glossy spray paint was all that was needed to him transformed him into the largest chocolate bunny I've ever seen.  He REALLY looks like he made of solid chocolate now.  This was so simple and yet so adorable, I decided to spray paint a couple of wooden eggs I had stowed away in the studio and give them a simple painted design.  

I then got the creative idea that I needed to add a few carrots to complete my decorations.  I looked around at Michaels and Walmart and not a fake vegetable on the shelf to be found.  I decided would take matters into my own hands and get MESSY with some paper mache!  

Supplies

I gathered up all the necessary supplies for my project: 

Sticks from my tree in my front yard 

Tin Foil

Newspaper

Flour

Greenery

Floral tape

The four sticks I had gathered had to be broken down into the correct size.  I wanted fairly large carrots so I tried to keep the straightest portions and yet it really didn't have to be perfect.  Using the floral tape I attached 2 or 3 frowns of greenery to each of the 4 sticks.

Sizing up my sticks and greenery

The next step was to take the tin foil and shape it around the stick in a form of a carrot.  Wider at the top tapering down to a slimmer pointed end.

When I had all four carrots shaped out of the tin foil I then turned my attention to mixing the flour and water paste.  It has probably been since Mr. Drinkard's Jr. High art class that I have used paper mache.  I have a memory of making masks or animals or something but that was MANY years ago. 

 I first tried one cup flour and one cup of water but that seemed much too think.  I ended up with 1 1/2 cups water to get the consistency that I remembered. I cut my paper into thin strips and then plunged into the really messy part.  The strips of paper must be well coated with the flour paste.  I used my fingers to pull the extra paste off before I then applied the sticky paper to my tin foil carrot.  Working from top to bottom trying to make sure each piece of paper is well attached.

When I managed to get all 4 carrots finished I then took them outside and hung them up in my tree to dry.  

The following day I decided that another coat of paper mache was necessary and so I repeated the process for each carrot.  I probably could have added several more coats to smooth out some of the more bumpy areas but I was getting pretty tired of all the mess I was making in my kitchen.  Two layers was going to have to be sufficient.

The final step was to paint them with orange paint and apply a coat of spray varnish. 

As usually you can see that I have been a rather busy artist this week.  I gathered up a number of items that all needed a coat of varnish applied.  This actually included 3 cowbells and 2 small cow paintings that I didn't remember about until after I had taken this picture.

Here you can see my carrots hanging out to dry for the last time.  The varnish really takes very little time to dry but because they were wet all over, hanging was really the best drying option.

All in all I like my end results and am happy that I decided to take the time to make my own decorations.  Even though the photo is just a little bit dark here you can see just how lovely all the pieces go together.

DYI Faux Chocolate Bunnies

 I found such a cute and easy idea today that I just felt compelled to share it with you.  Now I wish I could say that I had thought of this on my own but I must give credit to the very creative woman who shared these photos of her creation.  

Photo by Violet Lively

Violet Lively, Owner of Ranch Bar-B Rustics, LLC in Delores, Colorado shared this amazing Easter decorating idea on Facebook today and I just have to give it a try. Violet writes, "Easy DYI faux chocolate bunnies!  Dollar store Easter decor or thrift store finds and brown gloss spray paint!"  Don't they look amazing?  

Photo by Violet Lively

I'm sending Brad out here pretty soon to buy me a can of gloss brown spray paint so I can give this giant bunny a yummy looking coat.  I bought this bunny at Ross last month to add to my spring display but giving him into faux chocolate exterior will surely get the attention of my grandchildren!

I can see him now in a large basket surrounded by fake carrots.   I really am not a fan of shopping but I did look for carrots at Michaels this week but only found fake fruit.  So since I haven't found faux carrots, I guess I will just have to make my own this week out of paper mache.  Getting a little messy will hopefully prove to be more fun anyway.

Give me a couple days and I will hopefully be able to show you my beautiful creations as I endeavor to "Embrace My Creative Side".  I would love to hear from you if you try this idea for your self.  Send me your pictures and I will share them on my Facebook Page.

Everyone Needs a Prowling Dog and a Covorting Cat

Original Dog and Cat before I got creative on them

Today, in Las Vegas, it seems to be raining chocolate cats and gingerbread dogs outside. True to being a long time Las Vegas residents, my husband and I went out gambling today...Not in the slot machine, poker sense but we did take our lives in our hands and brave a drive on the wet roads to go to Michaels for the sole purpose of buying this little plastic dalmatian dog.  Crazy I know, but I thought the rain had stopped when we left but of course it was only a small window like the eye of a hurricane and soon it was pouring around us.  It was at this point in our journey that we began to rethink our decision because we found ourselves sharing the roadway with so many others that didn't have the good sense to stay home.  I was thankful, almost as if we won the Mega Jackpot, when we successfully navigated the many accidents, flowing water, large puddles and crazies to make it safely home.  

The little dog is pretty cute as he is, but I will soon transformed into a one of a kind gingerbread dog with just a little paint.  I looked for a cat to no avail.  There was a nice selections of dragons, tigers and wolf pups, but there seemed to be no cats to choose from in the picked over bins that I could use to make his literary cohort.  I have no choice but to put into service this old Barbie doll pet cat that once belonged to either my daughter, my niece or some strange visitor that might have dropped her from his pocket as he visited our home.  Very soon I will paint her a lovely dark chocolate color.  

Chocolate Cat

Gingerbread Dog

Sugar Plum Tree

Now, In case you are not into 19th century American literature, I'm not speaking in code here, but making many bad references to the famous Eugene Field poem, "The Sugar Plum Tree". 

I know you are going to find this difficult to believe, but adding a little dog and cat to my Christmas decorations is something I have wanted to do for probably over 20 years but haven't accomplished it.  True to my desire to step up my grandma game and Embrace My Creative Self, I am not putting this off any longer.  After today, when my grandchildren come and gaze in awe at my beautiful gingerbread house they will see the complete scene laid out before them and my reading of this beloved treasure will now make complete sense. They will all LOVE poetry from that moment on and grow up to appreciate literature, classical music and paint like little Monets.   Okay this maybe just a wee bit over the top, but Grandmas these days have to stand on their heads,chew bubble gum and juggle 4 or 5 large kitchen knives at the same time to impress a 2 year old that can work your smart phone better than you can.  

I was given this Gingerbread House many, many years ago by a very dear friend.  It was immediately added to the high level of a Treasured Townsend Tradition.  I can't set up that tree and hang those beautiful glass candy pieces from the branches without reciting the well known children's poem written by Eugene Field in 1892- "The Sugar Plum Tree".  

My beautiful Gingerbread House decoration

Here is the entire decoration.  The detail in all the candy, cookies and little gingerbread people are something straight out of a child's dream.  We have enjoyed this piece year after year.  

I hope you enjoy this poem as much as I do.....  

The Sugar-Plum Tree







HAVE you ever heard of the Sugar-Plum Tree?

'Tis a marvel of great renown!

It blooms on the shore of the Lollypop Sea

In the garden of Shut-Eye Town;

The fruit that it bears is so wondrously sweet

(As those who have tasted it say)

That good little children have only to eat

Of that fruit to be happy next day.

When you've got to the tree, you would have a hard time

To capture the fruit which I sing;

The tree is so tall that no person could climb

To the boughs where the sugar-plums swing!

But up in that tree sits a chocolate cat,

And a ginger bread dog prowls below-

And this is the way you contrive to get at

Those sugar-plums tempting you so:

You say but the word to that gingerbread dog

And he barks with such a terrible zest

That the chocolate cat is at once all agog,

As her swelling proportions attest.

And the chocolate cat goes covorting around

From this leafy limb unto that,

And the sugar-plums tumble, of course, to the ground-

Hurray for that chocolate cat!

There are marshmallows, gumdrops, and peppermint canes

With striping of scarlet and gold,

And you carry away of the treasure that rains,

As much as your apron can hold!

So come, little child, cuddle closer to me

In your dainty white nightcap and gown,

And I'll rock you away to the Sugar-Plum Tree

In the garden of Shut-Eye Town.

Eugene Field