New Stuff

Remember the haul from the craft store that I told you about? Well, I have been busy making some new designs with all my goodies. I am still experimenting and sourcing materials for the mini journals. They will be super cute for your purses to skecth at a moments notice or to write down your grocery list. I totally adore this new card I did called "The ReBirth:" Doesn't it make you want to grab it and write a letter to a friend to wish them a Happy New Year full of possibilities?

Who doesn't love a Soul Singer draped in red snakeskin? I know I can't deny it. Check out "Keep it Classy."

Both of these cards will be on sale in my Etsy shop and are 4 X 6 and come with a lovely gold metallic envelope.

These photographs serve a double purpose today:

1. To share my new designs and hopefully inspire you to write more handwritten letters.

2. They are Day 1 of a photography project called Project 365 that I am participating in over at Stars for Streetlights I love this blog because she takes amazing photographs and has fun DIY projects. I am hoping to become a better photographer so this project was the perfect one for me. I will be taking a new photograph everyday and sharing it here with you. The best way to get better is to practice and experiment. Come back often to see my progress and to support TerrorChic Designs

Keep creating!

You can catch me at the crafting table

So, I wanted to do a quick post since I am on cloud 9 from my Michaels shopping adventure. I got so many things that I needed to start creating more designs. The things that I am really jazzed about:

1. It was a 70% after Christmas Sale, so all of the holiday stuff was super cheap. The best product I got was a bag of scrapbooking scraps. It includes over 76 pieces that range from leather, burlap, twine, colorful and glittery cardstock. It was regularly $20.00 but after the deep discount I got it for $5.00. Woohoo!

2. I finally replaced my missing glue gun. All Martha Stewart tools are 30% off so I got a nice gun with black and clear glue sticks for $10.00. Yippee!

3. I have been wanting to try Heat Embossing. I was able to get a top of the line Heat Gun that was originally $25.00 for only $12.00 becuase I had a 50% off on one item coupon. I also got some glittery red embossing powder and already experimented with the process. I love It and will probably be up all night with it.

4. New high quality paintbrushes. I have been using these cheap dollar store paint brushes. I love the dollar store but the brushes fall apart after a few uses and leaves traces of fiber in the sealant I use on the cards. Its not cute. So excited to test these bad boys out.

5. Embellishments. I got the cutest silver and glittery pieces to add to the work. They also were on sale and I got one pack for only 44 cents. Score!

The haul!

I already started decoupaged the cover of a mini composition notebook. These are cute little journals that will be great for purses. A Miles Davis under a Glittery rainbow inspired one is drying right now. I promise to show all the new stuff I make with this haul. I don't even know where to start. Its so many goodies.

Have you been to any after Christmas Sales?

Crafting mania: Collage Jar Candle Holder and Ida B. Wells

So, I literally have been waking up and without eating breakfast running to my craft table and going crazy. I spent over 4 hours cleaning and organizing the space to make it more inviting. Everything has its own container and place which makes creating faster and more fun. For the past two weeks, I have been obsessed with saving any and all glass jars that come my way. I have saved peanut butter ones, spaghetti sauce, relish and pickles. I started saving them because I love the way they look without the label and I enjoy drinking juice and wine out of them. It reminds me of my grandma who only drank out of jars. She was all about canning peaches and other fruits so her tiny house was overflowing with them. I guess the extras ones became cheap drinking glasses for her. I also remember her telling me that she hated drinking out of plastic cups because they always felt greasy and unclean. I miss my granny.
Anyway, I finally started experimenting with all the jars. I continued my obsession with decoupage and mod podge and started gluing all my left over handmade paper scraps and images that shared similar colors. I hand painted designs onto the paper, added glitter, tied purple raffia around the lid and glued three coffee beans. Finally, I  stuck a small tea light in it and LOVE the final result. The candle holder looks amazing on my craft table and I can't wait until the evening so I can chill with my honey with it glowing brightly.

Love this Frida Kahlo sticker

handpainted red spots

Two tealights down and it holds the wax nicely.

Another project that I finished awhile ago is the Ida B. Wells Collage that was inspired by the cute small gold frame I got a thrift store for 80 cents. I ripped the old picture out of it and collage an image of IDa B. Wells with a red leaf I got on a leaf hunting trip with my son, glitter, bling and my favorite mod podge. I figured out a way to secure it back into the frame and now have it  hanging in my kitchen. It is also for sale if interested. It will go up on my Etsy store

I am working on another jar project that involves ribbon and lots of paint. I will post tomorrow once it dries and I see the results. Have you guys been crafting lately? Did you make anything fun for the holidays?

Upcycling and the Vision Box

I have the crafting bug all in me and can't stop with the modPodge and decoupage projects. As I experiment with different techniques I was inspired to focus my crafting on Upcycling. Upcycling is: the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. It's taking something that you would otherwise throw out and finding a way to make it into something else. As I was cleaning up, I found two of my old cell phone boxes. I remember stashing them away because I loved the sleek design of them. I found some nice images of Tina Turner in my original search of my mags and knew I wanted to do a project inspired by one of my favorites: Tina Turner.
I started the process when I saw the text: "Do what you Love" in an old yoga magazine. This one sentence inspired the idea for the entire Vision Box concept. I decided to paste it inside so it could be displayed as the foundation of the entire design. Before I move on with more of the process, Let me explain the concept of my Vision Boxes.

The Vision Box: I love the idea of Vision Boards, Law of Attraction, Positive Affirmations, Mediation and Visualization as tools for fulfilling your dreams. I have created vision boards for years and love the artistic aspect of them. My Vision Boxes are for holding what's close to you and remembering your center. I envision you holding inspiring quotes inside, trinkets of hope, love letters to yourself and photos of family. I have had this one displayed open on a shelf with the "Do What you Love" staring right at me everytime i pass it. I believe that words are power and surrrounding yourself with inspiration is important as you follow your path.

I will continue the rhinestones around all sides and I also glued these round mirrored tiles. I love these tiles so much.

I moved onto the first step in the latering prcess. I usually out my first base layer down first then use it as inspiraion for more images over it later.

I then was inspired by the images of Tina Turner so I added them as the spirit moved me. This is a close up of Tina's beautiful leg. Her legs are so iconic in pop culture and inspring. To me they represent strength.

I then added photos to the back of box and the front of the lid.

Later today I will add a third layer of accent colors, images, objects for texture and paint. I am very pleased with the results so far and plan to continue on my theme of strong women by creating a Zora Neale Hurston Vision Box and a Coretta Scott King Vision box. I also have plans to decoupage an IPad box and thrifting on Thursday to find new treasures to experiment with. My etsy page is empty right now as I organize my products for selling. I did however open one and names it TerrorChic.

I actually already have buyers for the Josephine Baker Cabinet and the Tina Turner Vision Box. Woohoo! I am grateful. Keep manifesting.

Break Through

I finally figured out multiple streams that I want to explore in my quest to become fully self employed. Ideas have been plentiful and movement is being made. Things are a little bit clearer. They are not fully clear but getting there soon. I am happy and feel motivated. This may change in a few weeks or it may get even more clear in a few days. I am just enjoying the ride right now. I am grateful. I have nothing to lose and going super hard on this dream.

Hubby is finally taking my two digital cameras to the camera store to be possibly repaired. I can't wait! I have two very nice cameras and they both have cracked screens. This leaves me with no camera for the household or my creative projects, including this blog. But, oh, change soon come and I will be back taking pictures for you in no time.

One of my break throughs is my love of crafting. I have always been into art and craft projects. My mama instilled this in me since she has drawn and painted since I was a little girl. I have three art boxes filled with every art supply you can think of. I usually pull them out to do art with my son. But yesterday, I felt inspired to try a decoupage project on this small wooden cabinet that I found at thrift store like 5 years ago. I have held onto it all this time with the hopes of one day getting around to it. Yesterday, I started looking through all my magazines to be inspired by images to create a theme for the piece. After looking through this old copy of Jewel Magazine I fell in love with the images of the amazing Josephine Baker.

There is a 6 page spread of some of her most iconic photos. I knew the theme would be Renaissance Woman and the spirit of Joespehine Baker. From there I started the decoupage process by using Mod Podge (an amazing sealant and adhesive that all crafties must have). I started with the larger parts of the cabinet by putting images on the side panels first.

I also picked to amazing images for the front and top of cabinet. I used an exacto knife to get the shape of each image wihout the background space.

Once I put these large images in place, I moved on to adding text in the front, layering the images with more paper and adding texture with mirrored tiles and finally I did some painting to create an accent color of yellow.

I really love the results so far. I have a lot more to add. I want to do more layering of images on top of it, more painting and have to get to craft store to buy more things for texture. I think I am gonna add more crystal and shiny things. Josephine Baker was known for her glamour and style, so more bling is needed. I have been inspired to do one with images of Tina Turner and Zora Neale Hurston. I will put them all on etsy along with decoupaged large wooden earrings that I want to be a part of the collection.

I hope you will continue to follow me on this journey of Creative Empowerment and Self Employment for myself. On a side note: I also booked a Skype Poetry and Creative Empowerment session with a highschool in Omaaho Nebraska and briefly brainstormed with my amazing theater friend in Chicago on co-writing a play that we want to tour in Chicago and Atlanta. I have already claimed it. I will be self employed making more than enough cash to pay all bills, save and invest into my business. Lady Terror Productions Foreva!!!!

If money wasn't an issue and fear didnt exsist what would you do? What are your true life passions?

Sunday FUNday

I love Sundays! I always have. Its something about them that seem so easy and also relaxing. Growing up I remember Sundays always having a big breakfast and dinners cooked by my mama, my hard working dad at home from his overwhelming job and a sense of winding down and new possibilities for the week.

There have also been times Sundays brought gloom and doom because I was working in a job that didnt speak to me, that was abusive and in many ways attempted to suck my creative joy. On those Sundays around 5pm I would feel the anxiety building, knowing that in a few hours I would be back off to the cubicle that neither I or it wanted to be a part of.

During my period of being "in between jobs" I have went through highs and lows. But in the last three weeks I have taken on a renewed sense of purpose and peace. This Sunday I spent my day having great heart to heart conversations with my husband, making a large breakfast of oatmeal, cheese eggs, honey biscuits and tea. I connected with amazing people via twitter, took a massive nap, did a leaf craft activity with our son and wrote out a long list titled "Things I have done and will do to move my dream of Lady Teror forward." I also have prayed and drank amazing french roast coffee.

We went on a leaf hunting adventure a couple days ago and pressed the leaves in a huge book. He glued them onto paper and used a pen to create a butterfly and a "baby with a leaf for his hair."

My favorite mug for sipping coffee. Its massive.

So my Sunday has been an amazing FUNday because I focused on the little things because its the little things that in reality are the Big things. I know my day has not been filled with anything too radical or revolutionary like screaming on a bullhorn for social justice on a corner, but to me living an authentic "enjoying the simple things" life is just as revolutionary and FUN!

HAVE an AMAZING and FUN Week! Also, check out my homegirl ManoyMetal and her adventures today. She is the creator of Sunday FUNday and super fun. ManoyMetal