Giveaway Winner!

The August giveaway winner is:

jigglipuff7575

Congratulations!  Please e-mail your address to me julie@juliemcguffee.com by August 22nd and your punches will be on their way!

There'll be another giveaway in September, so y'all come back now!

Yours truly,

Julie :)

Bavarian Folk Art

A few weeks ago a lady from Kentucky called to ask if I would paint a Bavarian Wedding Box for her to give as a wedding gift.  She had seen one that I had painted in the October issue of Paintworks magazine - October 1998!!!  Apparently she is an elderly lady and doesn't have access to the internet, so she went to the local library and asked them to help her find my phone number.

Some of you may know that I'm a decorative painter and I've authored a number of painting books over the past 20+ years.  In fact, I just finished two painting booklets for DecoArt, which will be in Michaels stores in the not too distant future, but more about that later.  Since all my brushes and paints were unpacked, I agreed to paint the box and she arranged to have a blank bentwood box shipped to me.  Ta daa, here it is:

I know that Folk Art isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I truly enjoy "strokework" and the history behind this European style of painting.  From the Roses & Castles style found on the narrow boats floating through the English countryside, to the Bavarian style found on furniture and buildings in the alps of southern Germany, each country has its own style and use of color.  What really stood out on this old design, were the scrolls or flourishes that are so popular today - another example of what was "old" is "new" again.

I'm loving the new "mixed media" trend, another great example of re-discovering and updating old techniques.  As I searched through a mountain of magazines and tear sheets to find this particular project, I re-discovered a whole bunch of my old ideas, techniques and projects that I can re-cycle and update, so keep checking back, I may even inspire you to pick up a paintbrush too!

Don't forget, there's going to be a fabulous giveaway for July, sponsored by iLovetoCreate.  Here's a sneak peek

More details on how YOU can enter to win on July 1st, so y'all come back now.........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

Chipboard Baby Album

My nephew and his wife are expecting a baby next month, so, of course we've been talking about different ways to display and scrapbook baby pictures.  One of the projects we talked about was a chipboard album I designed for Elmer's for show 1407 of Scrapbook Memories.  Here's a recap of the segment. Enjoy!

Don't forget to check back here on July 1st for our monthly giveaway.  It's a FIRECRACKER of a giveaway brought to you by ilovetocreate and you won't want to miss it!!

Yours truly,

Julie :)

First Monday - Well Wishing for All Occasions

In a world of e-mailing and social networking, a handmade card with a handwritten note is in itself a special event.  It's Mothers' day this month, but it's also a month for birthdays, invitations, thank you notes, announcements and more - a plethora of reasons to create a hand made card with a handwritten note to make someone's day even more special. 

Here are a few ideas.  Quick'n EZ to make, but priceless for the person who receives one.  The first card is very special. It's a "Get Well" card dedicated to Lisa Rojas.  Lisa is one of the designers in our group who is recovering from surgery.  As you "hop forward" please take an extra moment when you visit her blog to leave her an extra special comment.

GET WELL SOON LISA!

This is a photograph taken last week.  I added a title in Photoshop then printed the image onto inkjet transparency.  The photo was trimmed then attached to white cardstock with pink brads.  It was then glued to the front of a pink card, embellished with pink pearl textured cardstock.   Here are more ideas, using more photographs, punched shapes, ribbon, textured paper and stickers.

Who will you write a note to this week?  It will definitely make their day...............

Our monthly GIVEAWAY will be on 0505 - Cinco de Mayo - National Scrapbook Day 

and my birthday.  So y'all come back now...................

Yours truly,

Julie :)

In Mint Condition

It's hip to recycle, right - therefore, it's hip to craft.  Let me explain:  Before there were craft stores where we can buy all the supplies we need to make something, we used to "make things" from supplies we had around the house.  I remember creating a whole ensemble of chorus line dolls made from wooden beads, scraps of lace, ribbon and pipe cleaners.  Since it's no longer hip to smoke a pipe, these are now known as chenille stems.  Cardboard tubes, fabric from old clothes, yarn and more was all fair game for making something and making something from nothing is the fun part of the game.  Let me show you what I mean.  We'll start with this:

You should definitely not throw these away because look what you can make:

            

Cover tins with scraps of paper, ribbon and embellishments for a fun gift tin.  The final look is determined by the paper and how it's decorated.  Sand the tin lightly then spread tacky glue over the surface.  Lay the paper onto each side; let dry thoroughly then trim away excess.

So, don't throw those tins away!  They'll always be in "mint" condition and will make great gifts, with or without the mints.  Y'all come back now......

Yours truly,
Julie  :)

BTW:  Don't forget we'll be announcing the next giveaway on 0404!!!