An Award and a little bit about painting heads...

"If The Shoe Fits" Award.

My sweet friend Just A Gal paid me a visit last night and awarded me this award.
Isn't it cute?
And I just love shoes, but I rarely buy them :0!
It always feels a little strange accepting awards because most of the time I have nothing to say so I ramble on and on, but I'm always honored when someone enjoys my blog enough to keep coming back. So thank you Just A Gal for blessing me with your friendship and this award. I am truly honored!

The award is for those enthusiastic people who just bubble over!! Be warned: The following people are contagious!! You just might catch what they have!!

Isn't that darling?
I've decided to pass this award on to few people who bubble over with beauty and inspiration.
1. My friend Ellen B., The Happy Wonderer who I dearly love and have had the pleasure of meeting face to face. She is a fellow Christian and sister in the Lord who inspires me with both her gorgeous photography and her amazing ability to pair the perfect scripture with the picture.

2. My sweet friend Fairmaiden at Sea Cottage who is like a cool bubbly brook to a dry thirsty soul. Whether she's posting about her daily life or sharing her love for the Lord, visiting her blog is like stumbling into a living poem. She too I would love to meet one day before we leave this earth.

3. And I'd like to give it back to Just A Gal. A sweet bubbly woman who I've just begun to get to know and am looking forward to much more.

Now...a bit about painting heads. Just A Gal and Ellen B. wanted to know how and where the head thing came about. So here are a few instructions.
The heads can be purchased at just about any beauty supply. If you can't find one there, try a wig shop (do they still have wig shops)?
You'll want to find one with the smoothest surface possible otherwise your lovely lady may appear pimply and that is just unacceptable...and traumatizing!

Amber had the brilliant idea to use Liquid Starch and tissue paper to cover the heads after Kathie and I painstakingly coated them with two layers of Gesso. DON"T USE GESSO!!!
Simple Craft brushes of assorted sizes and shapes,
Acrylic paints. We used a combination of Ceramcoat, Folk Art, and Accent.
Cut-Rite wax paper was used to squirt our paints onto.

Kathie's head is on the right and has a much sweeter shaped face. Mine is on the left.
We started by paper macheing the heads with the tissue. Since the tissue was so fragile we placed it over the area and then gently brushed the starch over the tissue...GENTLY! (that's one of my favorite lines from the movie Princess Bride. When Buttercup first found her beloved Wesley laying paralyzed on the bed). Aren't you GLAD you have that little piece of information? OK, but really, very gently otherwise it will tear.
We then allowed them to dry overnight before the painting began.

We penciled in our hair lines and basic shapes such as lips and eyes so we would have an idea of where to paint. It made it so much easier.
That is pretty much how it's done, but if you have any questions please feel free to ask. I would love to help!

Have fun and don't stress out too much about their darling faces.
Once you see them in print you forget about all their flaws and the pains you took to cover them!