Hoodlums and Pirates

I am very blessed to have such a unique group of friends

one such person who always brings out the child in me

is my wonderfully adorable friend Ashlee

We don't get together half as often as I would like

but when we do

we have the greatest adventures.

Such as the Valentine's Tea Party where we visited the land of the dolls

do you remember that?

Ashlee and I met in Color Theory class... Ashlee is the most amazing artist!!!

It's quite funny to think that when I first met

Ashlee was going through a bit of a ruff yet ruffly faze

and to this day my family calls her the pirate girl

So I guess it was simply in the cards

that she should stay with us during the pirate festival weekend here in P town

I hadn't planned on going... being the home-body that I am

so I was quite pleased with the pirate gear I found lying around the house.

It was a perk that hubby had a pirate hat from his college days

I LOVE THAT MAN!!

Dressing up is so much fun!

And many of you have inquired about my halloween plans

and I am very very sorry to report that I won't be celebrating this year

Perhaps things shall change

but as things stand

I have no pumpkins, no candy, no costume

NOTHING!

It's all really rather sad

but it's been such a HARD month so far and I just feel like laying low

at any rate last year the only trick or treaters we got where "big" kids with bandanas

claiming to be hoodlums

well i'm quite tired of hoodlums myself!

We've had quite enough for one month thank you very much!!!!!

Let's Make a Rainbow

I was working on some scrap book pages this weekend

and I came to realize that the rosette in last weeks free goodie download

can be really a fun embellishment if you start playing around with the colors

but perhaps many of you new to photoshop might not quite know how to do this

so I thought I would create a little tutorial

please note I am not a graphic designer

- in fact I am self taught so there are probably other ways of doing this -

but this is quick and easy and I'm sure if you haven't done this before

it will be your next best friend

Start by selecting the layer you want to alter

then go to image - adjustments -replace color

select the first pen tool and click on a color you want to change

then in the replacement panel below start manipulating your color

Make sure the preview is selected so that you can view your changes

you will notice that some areas may not be changing

click the pen tool with the + sign and select an area that you are not pleased with

adjust the color a bit more and presto you are done!

That's me at age 5. I think it's safe to say I was better than nice

I was irresistibly sweet!

Kits Used:

ittybittybirdy - Merry KITschmas

Kitschy Digitals - Thrift-Store Chic Picture Frames Deux

Shop 66 - Kitschy Christmas Things

and of coarse the rosette from my free goodie download

(available until the end of the week - see previous post)

but perhaps you don't want to fuss around with the colors

or you don't have photoshop at all...

well that's okay! The whole rainbow is now available in the shop

You will also find that the Circus Party Kit

now includes an easy to print file :)

I want to thank you all for being so supportive of my new business ventures

And I swear my blog will continue to showcase all my adventures, fashion, thoughts, and art

just as it always has

but I do have to try to make this work

I just found out that I will be loosing my job soon

and I would really really like to not be in a panic about it.

Well I'm off to work on a 8' elephant... hehe

don't mean to keep you hanging on this one but I will share soon!

Merry KITschmas!

It all started with a pine-cone santa

and from there piles and piles of books from my local library

what started out as just a mere interest into the world of Kitschy Christmas Ornaments

turned into a bit of an obsession.

and well then not wanting to waste my new found knowledge

lol okay so I'm more of a picture browser...

I decided I should focus my Christmas digital kits on all things cute and kitschy

with just a flare of Chelsea Ann of course.

the Merry KITschmas kit is filled to the brim

like a old worn box brought down from the attic

and each year returned with just a bit more stuffed in tight

What makes this kit special is that not only does it containing 35 individual files from

Wrapping Paper (background pages),

Trims (scans of ricrac, candy-cane binding ribbon, and a christmas bow),

Christmas Tags (winter and Christmas Themed scans from a vintage children's Dictionary)

to the Ornaments ("stickers" inspired by kitschy vintage ornaments)

But also you will find the entire kit laid out for easy no fuss printing

this new feature will also be available for the Circus Party Kit this Saturday

(Sorry I wanted it to be available with the reales of the Christmas Kit

but life got in the way)

You can see here a little peak of how the ornament page prints.

This is from my own printer on card stock

Each file is saved in CMYK for better print quality

and carefully laid out for ample cutting space

So now that all that mumbo jumbo is said and done

I thought it would be fun to take a little trip down memory lane

sadly I'm a bit too young for most of these Christmases past...

(Raggedy Ann Christmas tree - Source Unknown)

I just adore this pink little gingham gingerbread house

from Sphere magazine in 1975

And these cookie ornaments are not only super adorable but they also look mighty tasty.

To make you own "inedible" cookie ornaments just use a basis salt dough recipe from your cook bo0k or from online. A great project to do with your kiddies this winter, as well as a great gift for them to pass out to their teachers and friends. Double bonus!

(Source: National Geographic Society)

who said retro had to be expensive?

This whimsical light reflecting window art is made from plastic cups and plates

(Source Unkown)

I would really like to make my own Christmas ornaments

given that sadly for as much stuff as I have for someone my age

I have nothing to put on my tree

except some mismatching ornaments from childhood

... I think little felt, smiling mushrooms would put my in the jolly spirit.

(Source: Left- Unknown. Right- Womans Day 12/1969)

There are so many fun ideas...

I'm just glad you can pretty much change your theme and style with each passing year.

Because what's in one year is kitschy the next :)

(Source: Top Left -1968 Unknown, Top Right- Sunset,

Bottom Left- Christmas Ideas 1976, Bottom Right- Unknown)

and no matter what

remember to make your Christmas decor extra sweet

so all your holiday guests come begging for more next year :)

(Source: Family Circle 1975)

*All Image clippings are property of Portland Central Library

LOL well before we all get too ahead of ourselves lets not forget

that Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner

but don't be fooled

Christmas is just a hop, skip, and a jump away

so you better get busy with your Christmas crafting and shopping

~ Chelsea Ann

Oh my goodness sakes, I almost forgot!

Here is a free little goodie download

for all of you for being such great friends

(available until Friday, October 16th)

A Holly Jolly Mood

I have shared with you all so many thoughts about my fashion

I think it's not only because it's an expression of who I am

and how I want the world to view me

but because it's so amazingly therapeutic (if that's the right word?)

to dress in a way that makes you happy.

Not bound by any one else's ideas of what is in and what is not

but by what makes your heart stop a beat.

IS FASHION FORWARD!

About a month ago I stumbled upon etsy shop nancysneedles

full of sweet little, handmade sweaters

and something inside of me was smitten.

So being the silly girl that I am

I contacted the shop owner and asked if she might be able to make

a toddler sized sweater into big girls

I am sure Nancy found my request very odd but she agreed to try.

I almost cried when I opened the package

I could not have prepared myself for the amount of love and time

put into something so special and unique

made just for me

I know I can't ever truly imagine

the amount of work that goes into creating something so sweet

but I hope Nancy will agree to make me two more sweaters

I can just imagine the ducky sweater in black with white

and sweet pastels for the elephants

Thank you SO much Nancy!

You made this "big" girl very very happy!

I would also like to share a few sneak peaks of my new kitschy christmas kit

COMING FRIDAY!

This kit has 10 vintage inspired ornament stickers

I just can't wait to share this 35 piece kit with you

I've learned so much since I introduced my first kit

and so this new kit will have a Print Friendly File

for my not so computer savvy friends

but I'll share more about that Friday

as well as a whole heap of fun goodie to get you in the holiday spirit

Happy Jolly week everyone!

Weekend Adventure in Battle Ground, Washington

A couple weekends back my husband and I drove up to Battle Ground Washington

to spend a day antique shopping and having lunch with my wonderful friend

Britt of Sparkled Vintage Charm

(you can view more pictures of our adventure by visiting her blog)

our first stop was The Barn House

which is beautifully decorated but we ended up only staying about 5 minutes

for as you know I am a thrifty girl! and expensive antiques are just not my thing

so I was a bit depressed but looking forward to lunch with my gal pal and her 2 adorable kids

but along the way we struck GOLD and found another similar sale

with the cutest venders all set out in the grass

very charming

OH why oh why did I not get that dress?

oh and I also wish I gotten this amazing pyrex casserole dish

the pattern and colors are divine

but I am limiting myself to just white...

so that I will really use it and not have to worry about the dishwasher

I would love to use this idea with a few of my tattered baby girl dresses

But what I loved most of all was this life size cow

if she had been for sale I just might have emptied my savings account.

oh- don't think I wouldn't!

Finally, Lunch at Britt's favorite little dinner

the kids were a hoot

and Bit and her husband were just sure

that we might think twice about having kids

but OH NO! I want them even more

every time I see those two adorable chipmunk faces

I thought I would slip this image into this post

since it plays so well with the last picture

It's from our recent trip to the coast

located in North Bend

I actually didn't see it :(

but our wonderful travel buddies stopped and took a picture or two for me

what PALS!

Happy Weekend you'all :)