Deconstructing the Cat

I have used many different techniques for removing makeup. I found a two step process to be the best.

 

You'll need:

 

Cotton balls

makeup remover

makeup remover wipes or wash

wine (OPTIONAL)

 

Use the makeup remover on the cotton balls to remove the first "layer". Hold the cotton ball down first THEN wipe.

 

Then use the makeup removal wipes or face wash to finish the job.

 

Take a few sips of your wine and congratulate yourself on getting all that crap off your face!

BEFORE

AFTER

 

Check out the video!

 

 

Halloween Apothecary jars

 

Creepy Apothecary Jars

 

No halloween party would be complete without creepy things.

That's what halloween is about (as far as I'm concerned)

 

Me and a few of my awesomely talented and inspiring friends created these jars:

 

I started collecting the glass at yard sales this past season.
I didn't spend more than $2 on any of them and it was fun to find them all!
 

 

 

For the labels, I used "burtons-nightmare" font printed onto regular paper (it was so much fun coming up with the names!). I don't have an ink printer. It's a laser printer. This is very important. You don't want the ink to smudge! Cut it with fancy scissors or just tear it.

 

Take a jelly roll pan and cover it with parchment paper

(the only reason why I did this is for easy clean up)

 

 

 

Cover the label(s) with the coffee grounds and let sit for about an hour.

 

   

    

 

(looks yummy..PFFFT)



 

BE CAREFUL when you uncover the paper. It will be VERY wet and wet paper tears easily.

let it dry between 2 cookie drying racks.

 

Well...that's what I did to make sure the edges didn't curl. I guess the point is you want it to dry flat. I bet you could put it between paper towels and then in between something flat and heavy.

 

It seems I didn't take pictures of the rest of the process but basically I used modge podge, diluted in water (so I could get the labels off the glass easy) and a sponge brush to paint a LITTLE BIT of glue/water mix onto the label. I then gently put it on the glass and it stuck. They were dry within a few hours.

 

 

 

THINGS TO PUT IN YOUR JARS

 

feathers

skeleton parts

fake eyeballs

fake spiders and bugs

doll body parts

vampire teeth

water with food dye

moss

cauliflower (for brains)

pictures of scary faces

ANYTHING CREEPY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheshire Cat makeup tutorial

 

 

I used Pinterest to capture some ideas for my makeup

(see my original post about it HERE)

 

Here I am before any makeup

 

 

I originally used these fake lashes, but then ended up getting longer ones that flared out on the edges

 

 

I used a brown pencil to outline where I wanted the purple lines to go

 

 

 

I then took a Hot Topic  palette and used the dark purple, to fill in the points of the stripes

 

 

 

I grabbed my Mehron Star Blend Cake Makeup (color name "blithe spirit") and brushed in between the purple. This blended nicely with the purple and make it look softer.

(I have used this pot since 1997 when I worked at Spooky World! It's old and almost gone, but I love it!)

 

 

 

Pink Nose time! I used another Mehron pot for this

 

 

 

I also used that pink on the outside of the purple stripes

 

 

Then I used white mehron paint to make teeth, outlined the purple/pink stripes in black and filled in the spaces in between the teeth with black liquid eyeliner.

 

 

For the rest of the outfit I wore a black long sleeve shirt and black leggins. I made a kitty hood out of a purple blanket and cross stitch plastic to hold the ears up. I used the same fabric to make gauntlets and booties. I grabbed some light fabric and make a quick tu-tu-ish skirt. For the gloves I bought cheap winter gloves and fake nails. I cut the nails into points and glued them on the gloves. I put a dab of hot glue on the tips of each so I wouldn't scratch the crap out of everything, then painted them silver.

 

 

(picture taken by Alysha McCooe Photography)

 

*** 

 

Here is a video I made of the process. Hope you like it!

 

 

 ***

Next up....how to make labels for your apothecary jars for Halloween!!

 

 

 

 

 

One Pot Quinoa and Kale

I am a vegetarian and always try to eat my dark, leafy greens, and my whole grains.

 

Why?

 

Well first, One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.

 

I got that info from webmd

 

Secondly,  of all the whole grains, quinoa has the highest protein content. It provides all 9 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.

 

I got that info from vegetarian.about.com

 

For something different (and quick), I did a search for "quick kale" and came up with thise awesome recipe from The Vegan Chickpea.

One Pot Quinoa

 

Here is my version of the recipe:

 

You need:

 

 

Directions:

 

In a small pot, over high heat, bring broth to a boil

 

 

In this order, add Quinoa, Kale, and garlic. Push it down so the Kale gets wet

 

 

Cover and reduce to low, cook for 20 minutes

 

 

Pour a glass of wine

 

 

Clean the dishes while you are tortured by the amazing smells coming from your stovetop

 

Because you can't leave well enough alone, in the last 5 minutes add cranberries and sliced almonds

(re-cover the pot in the last 5 minutes)

 

                                      

 

I had to add that punch of color!

 

 

WHOA this was REALLY good! It was also good cold!

 

 

***recipe without pictures***

 

One Pot Quinoa & Kaleserves one as a side & can easily be doubled, tripled, quadrupled..

1 Cup vegetable broth
1/2 Cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
4 leaves of kale, rinsed and torn into pieces
2-4  cloves of garlic, sliced

In a small pot over high heat, bring vegetable broth to boil. Add quinoa, kale, and garlic, and stir until all ingredients have been submerged in the vegetable broth(they don't necessarily have to stay submerged, it's just important that they are no longer dry). Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes. Removed from heat, plate, and enjoy!

 

***

Stay tuned for a tutorial on how I did my cheshire cat makeup AND a video!

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheshire Cat Costume

How much do I love Pinterest let me count the ways:

 

 

It's helping me in HUGE ways to plan my Cheshire Cat Costume.

 

 

I bought these contacts:

You can buy your own here

 

(I don't wear contacts regularly and it SUCKED putting them in, taking them out, and wearing them...but they looked amazing. hahaha)

 

For my costume I'm going to wear a tight black shirt, a black skirt, and black leggings. I hope to be able to spray paint them with purple stripes that glow in black light.

 

I also used this idea to make a hood:

 

 

(I used this fabulous purple furry fabric my friend gave me to make the hood. To make the ears stand up I used a plastic sheet that you use for cross stitching and stitched them right in.)

 

I used the fabric to make a tail attached to an elastic belt. I'm also going to use that fabric to make gauntlets and booties (that go from my knee to the floor).

 

For my makeup I'm going to use a combination of things:

 

I love the stripes on her forehead:

 

 

How big her teeth are:

 

 

How the edges of her mouth curl up:

 

I'm not sure if I'm going to make a prosthetic mouth piece yet that have whiskers "built in". I guess it depends on how much time I end up having!

 

I would also love to make these gloves:

 

 

 

I would also love it if I could paint my cat like this:

 





(yeah right! How is that even done?!)

 

Links to these pictures and more fun halloween stuff are on my Halloween Pinterest Board

 

 

 

 

 





3D Plaque

 

A three dimensional plaque made with plaster and a plank of particle board

 

 

 

The quote is the inscription over the Buddha's ashes.

(well....at least I hope that's right! I am relying on the good ole interwebzzz!)



Commissioned pieces - in process and finished!

Some time ago I did a painting (wood and acrylic) of a dancer surrounded by fire:

 

One of my friends said she loved it and asked if I could turn it into a series for Wind, Water, and Earth.

I can't remember which one I did next, but I have completed all but the Earth one.

Here are is my sketch for the water one:

The finished painting of WATER

 

(figures I can't find a picture of the WIND one)

 

ANYWAY...I started the Earth one FINALLY!

 

(it will eventually be a voluptuous female tree)

 

 

Face Painting

I'm trying to get this blog rolling again (hello lonely 2008 post...sorry you were waiting for me all that time!)

 

I figured I could start up again with some pictures from a birthday party I did for my good friend Alysha (who is an amazing photographer...check her out! Alysha Mccooe Photography)

 

It was a Star Wars themed party but I had my entire book of face painting items to choose from. This little doll chose a unicorn/rainbow combination (my kind of girl!)

 

I blurred out her face because I didn't get permission from her parents to post this picture on the interwebs!

 

 

This little guy's face paint was so much fun to do. He kept falling asleep though, so I was holding his little head up with one hand. It was adorable:

 

Birthday BOY!!!

 

The adults got in on the action!

 

 

(not pictured: yoda (I thought I had a picture of this one! He was so cute!) and some scary adult face painting!)  

 

 

***

As a side note: This girl knows how to throw a party!

Death Star watermelon

 

Yoda Soda

 

Grape Light Sabers

 

AMAZING goodie bags!

 

 

A Darth Vader Pinata

 

 

An obstacle course (yes, she even made them little jedi outfits) complete with silly string and a Darth Vader to defeat!

 

I MAY or MAY NOT have gotten in on that (leaning more towards MAY)

 

 

I made the cake and mini cupcakes! (that is supposed to be tataouine)

 

 

 

(also not pictured: a snow cone AND cotton candy machine were involved in the shenanigans!!!)