Are you thinking about Halloween?

We are! And just wait until you see this fall's artist lineup! The fun is just around the corner....

Summer Images

I thought I would share some summer images even though most places are almost out of summer. Here in Texas we still have several months of hot weather! Just click, save, and print to use in your art and crafts.

an easy peasy back to school tutorial by one ripe peach.......

It has been a tradition since my sweet pea started school that I created this foofy teacher's pen holder for her new teacher every year. Teachers do soooo much and are far toooo under appreciated that I like to make sure to do all I can for my sweet pea's teacher throughout the year....heck...who doesn't love a little something now and again. This easy tutorial is constructed of a freshly washed can (make sure there are no rough edges), some pens (red or black), ribbon, wallpaper, papers, embellishments, green florists tape, hot glue gun (I use the heavy duty kind) and some silk flowers.

First you need to remove any labeling from your can as well as make sure there are no rough edges at the top of the can....and make sure to run the can through the dishwasher. Now you are ready to start embellishing. I measured the can so that I was able to get the exact size of vintage wallpaper I needed and then wrapped the paper around the can and adhered it to the can with some hot glue. Now that the paper is in place you are ready for any other embellishments you wish to add. I like adding vintage ribbons and earrings. I used a small snipet of vintage satin baby blanket binding and a vintage gold cluster earring and glued all the components where I desired them to go. Viola'....the can is now finished....but don't stop there!

I take the pen caps off and also the cap at the end of each pen....which requires a wire cutter to snip the ends off. You also need to snip off the flowers leaving only the tops of each flower and a small stem end to glue down into each pen end. I use a generous amount of glue so that when I add the flower glue will bubble over the top.

Now wrap the pens with green florists tape from end to end....making each pen appear as a flower with a lovely stem.

There you have it....a really easy peasy tutorial for a great back to school teacher's gift. Your child's teacher will LOVE it!