Yesterday I finished painting the back side of the Calvin & Hobbes Happy New Year mailbox decoration.
Today I flipped the piece and started painting on the front of the piece. I’ll show more pics when the front is finished. We plan to put the piece on the mailbox after Christmas, so I’m really having to hurry to finish it in time. :0)
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
My husband got the bug to make a mailbox decoration for New Year’s. He found this cute Calvin & Hobbes design on the net. We had to modify the one he found, moving the wording from the gray square on the left of this picture down to across the bottom, larger, and with a different font. We also needed to add an elbow to Hobbes.
My husband translated the picture to the code needed by the computer attached to our CNC setup (computer guided plasma torch) so that we could cut the design out of sheet metal. We made a mounting pipe and welded it to the cut out design. We then painted everything with gray primer paint to keep the metal from rusting.
I then marked both sides of the piece with the design. For some unknown reason, it was really difficult to get the design to match up with the transparency on the overhead projector on the back side. We ended up marking Hobbes’ head, then moved the transparency and lined things up so that I could do Calvin’s head, then moved it again for the words. I then had to free hand all the things that came between the 3 moves to complete the design.
I painted the first coat on the back yesterday. It went pretty well, considering all the guessing I had to do to get the design to come together. I’ll try to finish the back today, except for the accents.
We trying to have it ready to put up on the mailbox right after Christmas.
I’ll post pics when it’s up.
Have a great day!
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
“HO, HO, HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Filed under holidays, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
We just put this Christmas mailbox decoration up. It’s one of the first decorations we did using the new CNC equipment with the plasma torch. If you look carefully, you can see the old style black metal we used to attach it to the mailbox post.
This is the back of the piece. If you look carefully at this side, you can see where the black mounting piece goes across the Christmas tree design. I tried to paint it so that it wasn’t too noticeable.
We decided to use the old decoration through the 14th, and then put up the new decoration from the 15th through the end of the month/year.
We talked about enlarging this design and doing it again with a new mount, but then found another design that included a tree with a boy and girl that we liked better. We’ll do that one for next year!
Filed under holidays, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
This is the mailbox decoration before I had fun using my new Snow-Tex and glitter glue.
I had trouble getting pictures today, but the left mitten gives you an idea of what the glitter glue does, and you get an idea of the Snow-tex on Santa’s eyebrows, etc.
This is a close up of the Snow-Tex. As my husband says, when you’re driving past the house at 45 mph, you probably won’t be able to appreciate the texture. I think my husband would have preferred I left Santa as he was before the new experiments, but I had so much fun doing it, I’ll just let his opinion slide. HE can paint the next one… :0)
Filed under holidays, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
I don’t have pics to show you yet, but I had SUCH fun playing with the new (to me) Snow-Tex stuff. It comes in a jar kind of like grout. You can use almost anything to put it on whatever surface you want. I used a brush, but was dabbing heavily on the hat fur, his mitten fur, his eyebrows, mustache, beard, etc. My husband wasn’t impressed with the texture, but I loved it. I also used the glitter glue on the sign frame, his mittens and the red part of his hat. Gaudy and Christmas-y! :0)
Will turn the piece over tomorrow, paint the special effects, and take some pics to post.
Such a fun day!!!!
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
This showed up this morning! We weren’t up yet when it was delivered, but whoever it was pushed the package through the cat door in the garage, making lots of noise with our driveway detector. As you can see, the company personalizes the art box. :0)
I was dazzled by the wonderful array of art media when I opened the suitcase type box! Here there are watercolors on the left with nice places to put water under each group of watercolors. There is a beautiful group of oil pastels. I’ve used ‘regular’ pastels, but never oil, so my mouth is watering. You can also see there are two brushes.
On the other side is a nice group of colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, and two nice erasers. There is also a group of colored pens.
My husband said he found this offer on Brad’s Deals, a favorite free-subscription-to-nice-deals-on-all-kinds-of-things place.
I’m really looking forward to using this. I can take it anywhere, bringing a bottle of water and some paper, and be all set up for some serious playing!
What a happy gift!
Filed under Delightful Surprises, Lewis Art
Yesterday I finished the second coat on the front of the mailbox decoration. Today I’ll flip it over and do the 2nd coat on the back of the piece.
I checked on my order of Sno-Tex, the textured white paint I want to experiment with on this. It had not been shipped! I cancelled that order and ordered from another source, so it should be delivered tomorrow. HOORAAAY!
When the 2nd coat is on the back and is dry, then I get to play.
Clipart Kid
I already have my glitter glue to make some things sparkly. THEN the Sno-Tex is supposed to make things like Santa’s hair, mustache, bear, and fur on his mittens and hat 3-dimensional. I’ve never used these before, so I’m like a kid at Christmas.
I’ll show you some progress on these two things as I can.
Filed under holidays, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
This is the front side with the first coat on. This will need a second coat, and then the glitter glue and Snow-Tex before it’s finished.
This is the back side of the piece, with the progress I made yesterday. I’m about to go out and start working on all the black on the piece.
I received my glitter glue, but I haven’t received the Sno-Tex yet. I’m excited to see what interest I can add with those new media for me.
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
This is the Christmas decoration after the billious yellow-green primer and my using the overhead projector to mark it. This is the back of the piece, with the mounting bar going horizontally at the bottom of the sign.
The next step is what I call ‘color blocking,’ where I just get a quick coat of paint on everything showing where the colors are.
This shows where the white paint will go on the front.
Today I added the dark green of the sign, Santa’s skin, and his hat and mittens.
Tomorrow I’ll concentrate on the black and see if there is any correction needed. Then I’ll turn the piece over and do the same thing on the back.
I received my clear glitter glue today. I’m excited to see what that will add to the piece, but I’ll have to wait until the main painting on both sides is done.
The final touches will be the glitter glue and the Sno-Tex, a white paint that is supposed to add a bunch of texture to the white of his hat, mitten cuffs, hair, and beard.
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
I found this picture on the net a month or so ago. My husband said he didn’t like the Christmas tree we’ve displayed for a couple of years now, and wanted something different. I saved a bunch of possible images and finally got him to look at them a few days ago. We decided on this one.
My husband got onto his computer and ‘did his magic’, transforming an image to a code that the computer can recognize and recreate using the plasma torch, cutting the outline out of a sheet of metal. I will never cease to be amazed that he can do this. I love watching the torch cut the piece out of metal, untouched by human hands!
After we cut the outline, my husband chipped the slag off the back of the piece with a power tool, and then built and added the metal support that attaches the piece to our mailbox.
He then hung up the decoration outside and sprayed it with primer spray – a billious yellow we had plenty of – that will keep the piece from rusting.
We hung it up on a stand in the shop. We had printed a transparency of the design and put that on our overhead projector, turning off the lights in the shop so that I could use a magic marker and mark the design on the metal, front and back. (This one was more complicated because we had to do the Santa and the lettering separately so that it could be read on both sides.)
I’m now painting the decoration in the shop. I’m first just making sure the right color is where it should be on the front side. I did the white yesterday on the front. After I get the color blocked on the front, I’ll turn it over and paint it on the back.
I’ve ordered some clear glitter glue to paint over the red and green to make it sparkle. I’ve also ordered a special paint called, “Sno-Tex” that will give the white a lot more texture. I’ve never used either of these, so it’ll be fun to see if the results will come close to the picture in my mind’s eye.
I’ll take pics as progress is made and post them.
Filed under Decorating Ideas, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
Today before we went to town we put up our Thanksgiving mailbox decoration. People stopped as we put him up, saying they enjoy driving past our driveway to see what we’ve put up lately. Can you think of a nicer compliment?
Filed under holidays, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
Since November 11th is Veterans Day, we put up our boots, helmet and rifle mailbox decoration to honor those men and women who have given their lives for our country.
This is the front of the decoration. It’s one of our smaller decorations these days, but it was one of the hardest for me to paint. My husband was a Marine, so this decoration was even more personally important to do the very best I was able to do.
This is the back of the piece. You need to drive pretty close to it to see what it is, but I hope it says what we want to say.
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
This poor shovel bird was desperately in need of some attention after standing out in the Taylor’s yard for several years. I wish we could figure out a way to combat the effects of sun and weather better, but so far, we haven’t.
His refurbishment started with pulling off the remaining google eye. I wiped him down to get excess debris off and then gave him a scrubby bath – first with Simple Green, then with soap and water, and finally with “Pre” a spray-on degreaser that makes paint adhere to metal better. I put fresh primer paint on the spots that had rusted, then repainted the mail colors.
I used a metallic pen to do his ‘feathers.’ When the painting was dry, I sprayed him with polyurethane to protect the new paint as much as possible.
The last step was gluing on new googly eyes. I used Liquid Nails as a glue, then held them tight with clothes pins and heavy rubber bands until completely dry.
We’ll take him to the Taylors this Monday evening, when we pick them up to go bowling!
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis yard art
This may be the simplest mailbox decorations we’ve ever done; yet, it’s one of the most effective as far as showing up long before you get to our driveway.
We love the HAPPY ghost, and we hope he makes people smile.
(By the way, we had a delivery from Fedex a couple of days ago. The man had a huge grin on his face as he handed us our package. He said, “I LOVE your watermelon!”)
It really makes our day when someone enjoys something we’ve done. :0)
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
I love getting to put up this decoration because it means we’ve finally started the fall!
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
Hollis J. Works
We just returned from Lunch Bunch, where we had a nice catch-up with our good friends, plus errands. Now I’m heading out to the shop where I have two projects –
Rain clouds are moving in as I type, and we’re due for some heavy rain this afternoon and evening.
I hope that things are good where you are, and that you have a fun Friday, too. :0)
We put up another of our mailbox decorations this morning. This is Wile E Coyote paying Sonic the Hedgehog for capturing The Roadrunner for him. I wish we could take credit for the cute design, but we found it on the net, loved it, and made it out of metal using our CNC setup plus my husband’s good welding.
This is the front as it looks on the mailbox.
And this is the back of the piece, if you’re passing our driveway from the other direction. We love the rebar legs on the Roadrunner, giving the piece a good 3-D appearance.
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
Dilbert by Scott Adams
We changed out our mailbox decoration yesterday. Catbert, the HR Director from the Dilbert cartoon by Scott Adams, will be up until the middle of the month. This is the back of the piece which is about 2 feet tall and a little more across. You can see where I tried to blend in the support piece.
My husband thinks that I need to redo the lettering on the sign so that it shows up from farther away. I’ll work on that when we take him down again.
This is what he looks like as we sit at the bottom of the driveway. (You can also see the welcome robot, and one of the two owls.)
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
This sun face is HUGE and HEAVY. I was afraid my husband would hurt himself trying to lift it onto the humongous hanger we put on the tree. We made some templates and cut out each ‘flame’ separately and then welded each to the round sun face. The eyebrows, nose, mustache, lips and beard + sunglasses are all separate pieces, as well. After all the pieces were welded, I began the painting. The final part was making and attaching the sunglasses. The tree is toward the top of our driveway. He greets all comers. :0)
This is my husband’s design for a butterfly. (No light, delicate, ‘sissy’ butterflies for HIM!) This is made totally from scrap metal pieces welded together, plus old satellite dish arms. The eyes were made by cutting a rubber ball that had ‘studs’ on it in half. I painted the ball halves black, then dabbed paint on all the studs in iridescent green, then sprinkled glitter into the wet paint.
This dragonfly clown hangs from the ceiling in the shop. He’s made from scrap metal, some round glass for his eyes, and welding rod for feelers.
We bought this wonderful turtle from a shop in Van Buren, Arkansas. He was totally concrete colored – much too tame for our tastes. I mixed up several shades of green and painted his shell, plus gave him an eye, a mouth, some toenails, and a bit of webbing on his legs.
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis yard art
This is the front of the Popeye mailbox decoration. He’s about 2-1/2 feet tall. He doesn’t show up well until you get pretty close to him.
This is the back of the piece. You can see the stiffeners from his chest to along his arm under the can of spinach, and the one up the middle strengthening his neck and head.
We have such fun making and displaying these. We have no clue what our neighbors think. Occasionally someone will be laughing as they come up the driveway – a wonderful compliment. :0)
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
I had fun painting a brown tee with white puffy ‘flowers.’ Then I looked at the shirt and decided it didn’t look ‘finished,’ so I put more white flowers on it. On looking at it again, I decided I thought a powder blue would add something. So I did that yesterday.
Here is the finished refurbished tee –
At least I know that no one else on the planet has a shirt like this….
Filed under Lewis Art
Recently I’ve been refurbishing favorite tees by painting them, making button designs on them, or both. I sponge painted white puffball flowers on a brown tee and decided I wasn’t happy with the design and added to it. Today I’ve decided that I want to add some powder blue ‘tops’ to the flowers. Even if the tee ends up in the trash, I’ve had some fun afternoons. I’ll post another pic of it if I decide to keep it. :0)
Filed under Lewis Art
I got the extra package of horseshoes from Michael when he cut my hair this afternoon.
I brought them home and my husband and I got busy, trying to finish the project.
This picture gives you the best idea of what we did. The difference is that our tree is larger, having 5 horseshoes across the bottom of the tree, instead of the 4 you see here. We also put a straight piece on top of the top horseshoe so that Michael could put a star ornament on the top.
We took it right to him when we finished. I didn’t even get to take a picture of it with my phone!
The look on Michael’s face when we brought it into his shop was a joy for us. He really seemed pleased with the finished product. He’s such a nice person and takes such good care of both of us, it felt good to be able to give him a small ‘thank you.’
I wish we could take credit for the design. We found a number of clever ideas on the net. There are a lot of creative people out there!
Filed under Friendship, Lewis Art
Michael, the wonderful man who cuts our hair, asked us if we could help him make a horseshoe tree. We, of course, said, “Sure!”
He sent us a text with a picture showing the tree he wanted us to make. We got the horseshoes from him today when we went in for my husband’s haircut.
For some reason, even though the picture was on my phone, we were unable to get it off the phone onto the computer so we could print one large enough to see the details. I went on the net and found a picture and printed it. (above)
We came home and got to work. The horseshoes didn’t fit as well as we would like, so we modified some of them to emulate the picture as much as possible. We got most of the tree welded together, noticing we were 3 horseshoes short. We got the tree made, but only had one horseshoe of the 4 needed for the base.
When I got on my phone to text Michael, I saw the pic he sent again. It was this one –
Gulp. We were short because we made the wrong one. :0(
Michael was really nice, saying he’ll have the extra group of horseshoes at the salon when I go for MY haircut tomorrow.
My husband is embarrassed because he couldn’t get the pic off my phone. I’M embarrassed because I didn’t pay enough attention to detail. It’s a really good thing Michael is understanding.
Hopefully, we can finish the tree tomorrow and take it to him at work this week.
With friends like us….
Filed under Friendship, Lewis Art
This was a solid brown tee with some nice wooden beads and some rope work around the front of the neck. I went for an all white free form puffy white flower design. I had great fun working on it, and it’ll give me a fun shirt to wear for awhile longer.
While I was doing this, my husband used two sizes of metal pipe to make two tomato supports for next year. They’re about 6 feet tall and are kind of like an old style TV or ham radio aerial design, with smaller pipes coming out from the long center pipe. I used paint thinner to get all the grease and dirt off the metal, and then took them outside and sprayed them with several coats of white primer.
I’ll take a picture when they’re finished and post it.
I love a plain orange tee I got several years ago. Of course, since I love it, I blopped SOMETHING on it that wouldn’t come out. (Actually, there were THREE somethings on it that stayed no matter what I tried…
Yesterday I decided to see what I could do to refurbish it.
I got out my stash of buttons. Full of enthusiasm, I started figuring out what I wanted to do and started sewing buttons on the shirt. I discovered that this kind of art is MUCH more difficult than I had hoped. I kept having to stop and get another band-aid each time I stuck myself with the needle, not wanting to bleed on the shirt.
I ended up with a combination of buttons and paint.
I can tell it’s going to take a LOT more practice before I am able to do more than baby designs with the buttons, but I had a LOT of fun and am looking forward to trying again soon!
Filed under Lewis Art
The prize for July’s Creative Artworks contest was a 3-D hand-painted tote bag with felt flowers on it. It was a smaller version of this one –
The winner’s name was Wendy Lee and I mailed her the bag the day after the contest ended. On August 4th I received an email from her that made my spirits SOAR, and I’m STILL smiling!
She said,
Filed under Lewis Art
The last two afternoons I gave myself permission to stay inside and play in my art room. I entered the room with the intent of finding my stash of buttons, but I found an old tee that I love, but couldn’t wear anymore due to dark stains I couldn’t get out of the navy shirt. I decided I liked it enough that I would paint it one day, giving it another life.
The star at the top came on the shirt. It’s little bitty star-shaped rivets in the patriotic pattern and colors. I just love it, and I’ve worn this shirt for years. I decided to paint the very handmade looking flag under the star. I went for an old, worn look and added glitter to the stats and the ‘fringe.’
I had a lot of fun and will enjoy wearing the shirt for the next patriotic holiday – or just when I want to say ‘thank you’ to all the men and women who have fought for our freedom.
Filed under Lewis Art
alearnersdiary.blogspot.com
My thermometer says is 108 degrees F. right now. In celebration of having a/c, I’ve finished re-reading a well-loved book, and I’ve just come down from my art room.
I haven’t made the time to go up there for quite awhile now. I simply had too much to do in the garden and the flower beds, and everywhere I looked lately. When the temperature goes to 100 or above – not even THINKING about the heat index, I give up all plans outside until about 7:30 in the evening when I can work out of the direct sunlight.
This afternoon I found an old tee that has a patriotic star done in little bitty star rivets. I’ve loved this tee for many years, but it was looking ‘tired,’ so I put it in the art room to look at later. Today I started painting an American Flag on it, using fabric paint and some glitter. I spent about an hour up there and had the best time! I haven’t ‘played’ like that for too long. I’ll start trying to spend time up there at LEAST a couple of times a week. My spirits really lift and I find myself smiling. :0)
Filed under Childlike Fun, Lewis Art
creativeartworksblog 