It's My First Post in Months, Opps : Sprites, Thor, and my Book!

So I've been MIA, sorry been out of it for months mainly dealing with my massive anxiety issues and working on my book when I'm able to get myself to focus it.

Artsy Fartsy Time:

So June was Fangirl's Birthday, and I finally finished the project I was suppose to give her for Christmas. I saw this great project idea by Epbot for Soot Sprites. I wasn't able to do it exactly like they did but it was still cute:

Thor: Love and Thunder Review:

Fangirl and I saw the latest Thor movie, I thought it was a good movie. I know some people had issues with the humor, but given the more serious topic of Jane's Cancer, I felt it was the only thing that kept me from disliking it, I don't like uber serious movies with serious topics, I prefer light hearted things. I found the goats hilarious, especially when they crashed into the planet and yelled out. Which sounds pretty dark, but it really wasn't. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to Marvel fans or Thor Fans.

I'm in a book!

Recently one of my submissions, Year's Transition, was selected for the North Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology 2022. You can preorder it by clicking the link. This book showcases a bunch of poets all across my home state.  So consider ordering it when you get the chance.

Well that's been my last few months. Not a lot going on, besides fighting the mental health hydra. So I hope you have a good weekend, love everybody, and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek*

Artsy Fartsy Time: Expandable Cards

 Hey crafty friends,

Today we're bringing you a segment I haven't done in a minute, Artsy Fartsy Time, because I am artsy and fartsy. Yes I know a woman who's admitting it, it's unheard of I know, but here I am.

So today's Artsy Fartsy surrounds expanding cards I made last month.  So last month was Valentine's Day and my Mom's Birthday, and at some point prior to these events that I saw a aPasos' Easy Love Expandable Card. Both cards featured today use these instructions. I love cards like this, and it looked super easy to make. Since it had been posted for Valentine's Day I thought why not make one for Fangirl for Galentine's Day? So I did, but my card is less cutesy, and more Supernatural. I thought I'd warn the squeamish it does show what's suppose to be a bloody heart, but you can't tell it really what it is with my mini drawing skills, not good at drawing little things. Fangirl is a big fan, and the reason I gave the show another shot.*see this post for more on that*. So I decided to go SPN with hers:

Fangirl's Supernatural Expandable Card

 When you take the card out of the envelope it's flat like this. It's a black card with some anti possession symbols on the pull tabs, since this is a SPN themed card. The first picture is a drawing of my friend that says "All I need is your warm, kind, sweet heart for Valentines":

Pull the tabs to expand and reveal the inside of the card, which features a were wolf me with a heart meal that says "Thanks for the pick me up Galentine! Love ya!", and then I finished with my artist signature:

 

Did she she like the card, yeah but between her being half asleep and the crappy miniature drawings, she didn't get it at first.

Mom's Birthday Card

My second card of the week was for my Mom's birthday. I went more cute with this one. I used my Mom's favorite colors of red, white, and blue for the color scheme. We have a cake made to look like her favorite cake, strawberry flavored. It says "Happy Birthday!" at the bottom  :

Upon expansion you'll see a drawing of me holding my arms out for a hug. It reads "I Love You Mom!" with the date and my artist signature:

Now every car need an envelope so I took to Pinterest (check out my Pinterst page link. It's in my links section the right *points*). I found a pin that led me to this Mini Envelope Pin tutorial, I sized them up and presto easy envelopes:

A Purple Envelope for Fangirl's

 

I gave my Mom's card a white one

Yeah they look wonky, but they worked, and it's the thought and your attempts that count right?

And so we close out today's post. Hope this inspires you to make your own cards if does let me see it in the comments or one of my socials. I hope you have a good week, craft on, and God bless.

*Thrifty Geek*

Halloween 2020

 Happy Halloween friends,

Well it's a full moon tonight. I'm watching the old Addams Family on TV. We'll probably be partaking of our usual Halloween feast see my past Halloween Post. We've already snacked on the pumpkin cookies my Mom baked.  We'll be watching our old Halloween staples tonight I assume. I really haven't been in a Halloween mood this year. The mental health hydra has been bothering me a lot lately.

Artsy Fartsy Time: Jack'o'lanterns 2020

We carved our pumpkins last night. I was at a loss what to do this year so I went with a Geeky pumpkin:

This was my folks offering Mom conjured up this year:

The shall light our place tonight as will the rare Halloween blue moon tonight and Mars. I also send out condolences to Sean Connery's family. He will be missed.

I hope you have bats in your skies tonight, magic all around, Happy Halloween! As always Good bless you!

*Thrifty Geek*

Artsy Fartsy Time: Gift for Jesus 2019

Happy Friday my friends,

It's the final Friday post of 2019 and the decade. Sorry for the radio silence. This holiday days ran together, there really wasn't anything to write about, and the Mental Health Hydra reared it's heads. But I am back with a couple posts to close out the new year.
Today we are gonna talk about my yearly Christmas tradition of making a gift for Jesus. I had thought of writing another poem, but inspiration was lacking. Well while diving in my craft drawer I found some CD art I never finished and was inspired to make an art piece:

I took a CD and traced around it on a piece of black construction paper. After cutting out the circle I hole punched various holes in it then glued it on the CD's rainbow side. Then I cut a circle of yellow paper and pasted it in the middle. I was gonna use the baby party favors I've been using for a while now for Christmas themed gifts, but I couldn't find them. so I had to make my own. I wadded up a couple balls of paper for the body and the head, and glued strips of paper around it till I got a babyish shape and let it dry. Then I painted it with brown with a water color set I have, the with a blue marker colored a "blanket" on. Then drew an ink face on him. After it dried I glued the baby in the center. With a blue marker I wrote Merry Christmas. That's how you make this years gift.

I had a good Christmas, visited, and was visited by, family. We had good food and had some good gifts. If you celebrate I hope yours was good.
Are you guys having a good holiday? What have you guys been up to? Let me know in the comments.
I hope you have a good week, make art, and God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Artsy Fartsy Time- Narwhals, a Bow Tie, and a Fez

TGIF my friends,

In this segment of Artsy Fartsy Time I'll be sharing some of crafts my Mom and I have been doing for birthdays and cons.

Narwhals:

Fangirl recently had a birthday. I was racking my brain what to get her. I found her some anime stickers, and dragons, but I wanted to get her more. I came across Craft Passions instructions for a Sock Unicorn Whale, basically a narwhal. This was perfect, cause Fangirl finally discovered the awesomeness of Star Vs. The Forces of Evil. Now every time we go somewhere and she sees a stuffed Narwhal she pelts me with it going "Narwhal blast!"

I used the aforementioned instructions as a guide of sorts. The only colorful socks I could find were shorter than what the instructions called for so I had to go by the seat of my pants on this project. The result is not the best narwhals, but they get the job done Fangirl has done pelted me with them.

Narwhal!!!

To Become the 11th Doctor:

I wanted to be the Doctor from Doctor Who last Halloween, but I wasn't able to put a costume together in time, so I went as a mermaid out of water. Well I started early putting the costume together for Halloween, I decided to get it done by the time the Asheville Anime Regional Convention came, so I could wear it there and get 5 dollars off my ticket, either way awesome.

Most of my costume I done owned or acquired at a thrift store or online, that was for my sonic. Two pieces I enlisted the help of my Mom to make the bow tie and the fez.

Even when I searched for one during prom season, I could not find one in a thrift store. So instead I bought a thrift tie and my mom turned it into a fancy looking bow tie. We just need to attach it all.
Now my fez required the aid of a colonel, Colonel Sanders that is. I first tried using old drink boxes, but that failed, but luckily my adopted nephew works at KFC so he got me some chicken buckets, unused of course. Then with some red felt I purchased at Jo-Ann's, Mom glued it to the bucket and added a black tassel made with yarn.

I'm Doctor ready!

 So are any of you guys crafting anything awesome? Let me know it the comments. I hope you have a good weekend, let your geek flag fly, and God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Creative Space in a Box

Happy Monday friends,

Today is another Crazy Ideas time, only this time I actually did the idea, so  this is a bit of Artsy Fartsy Time too. Today I'm going to show of my creative space in a box.

See I have always wanted to have a creative space (I think Keri Smith has mentioned creative spaces in her blog at some point, not 100% sure). Either a place like a writing shed, or even just putting  a shelf near my computer with things I find inspiring, but money and space makes all of these not feasible. Well the other day I was doing some research for a story, and came across this article  from Exemplore about Types of Altars, one was one you could keep in a box and store away when you needed to. Then it hit me hey why not do that with a creative space? So that's what I went and did.
First things first I needed a box. I just so happen to have this purse shaped box my uncle's wife at the time made me for Christmas a couple or so years ago, if you're curious I think she got everything at Micheal's.

I then placed inside things I found inspired me. I don't have much in it at the moment, but I'm sure more will be added as time goes on.

It was only when I was taking this picture that I realized, when opened this thing has a coffin outline. While we only have a few things in this puppy let me give you a close up on the items.
The top have I have some inspirations sayings. It's all attached on with washi tape I got at Micheal's. On the upper slip of paper I have my favorite Bible Verse from Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me." Be low that I have the first two lines I love from one of my favorite poems Arthur O' Shaughnessy's Ode: "We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams," I put it on this crinkly paper to give it the air it'd been scribbled on a scrap of paper, but I may have to change it out.

Next I have some gumball machine treasures, is that what you call them. The yellow thing looks like it may have been a factory defect, cause it looks like is just half forming into something, so I call in an idea, and I have it in here in hopes I always have ideas forming like it. On the left is a skull cause well every writer needs a skull don't they?

This cute bottle I purchased at my first Asheville Anime Regional Convention. Inside it I put a fake crystal and a couple silver stars, and the tangerine seed I wrote about last new years.

I have this saying decorative stone my folks gave me it says: "Only you can give your special gift to the world".

Lastly, I have this TOMY Micro Dancer. I got this a lone time ago. I don't know why it just makes me smile. This particular one is called Elvie the Daisy Dancer which is perfect since my favorite flower is a daisy and she's got a Union Jack on her shirt, which I love cause I want to visit the UK someday.

And that closes the box on this post. I hope you all enjoy my little creative space on the box, maybe it'll inspire those of you with little space and funds to create your own. If you do share them in the comments below. I hope you guys have a great week, stay inspired, and God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer and Vampire >vv< Kitty

St. Patrick's Day 2018

 Happy frozen Thursday friends,

This past Saturday was St. Patrick's Day. As I promised I was gonna give you the skinny on the holiday so here it is.

Artsy Fartsy Time: Shamrock Card
I didn't get too artsy with my St. Patrick's giftings. I got some St. Patrick's Day Necklaces from Dollar Tree® and decided to make Shamrock cards. I got a pack of Hot Neon Colors construction paper, it's apparently the only paper I could find with green in it. I cut out a shamrock pattern then followed it on the green. I folded it in half, then I used the Irish toasts and blessings I found on Sassy Cat's St. Patrick's Day Page on the inside, I kinda miss the days of these old webpages,  and a special message for whoever I was making it for. I decorated the front of the card using some St. Patrick's Day Stickers from Dollar Tree®.

 Misadventures in Cooking: St. Patrick's Day Supper

Besides watching Disney Channel's Luck of the Irish, we made a Irish inspired meal. While I don't know how Irish this meal actually is in recent years I try to spearhead a St. Patrick's Day meal for my family. First up my Mom did most the work in the Colcannon, which was inspired by Diane's Colcannon recipe,  we never put cabbage in it, and we didn't have bacon, but we we did have bacon grease to cook the onions in.

Onions cooking on the stove is heavenly

Colcannon!

Mom decided we needed some green for out meal so we cooked some beans:

Our meat was a simple  Bristol Brand cooked ham we microwaved:

This makes my third year attempting Brennan's Irish Soda Bread. This year I not only cut back the cooking time, but split the dough into two loaves. this year I can say I was successful, little crusty on the outside, but it wasn't complete over or under cooked.
 

A beautiful meal!

Can't forget Momma's Cake!

I hope those you that celebrate had a good St. Patrick's Day, keep warm, and may God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Artsy Fartsy: Fabric Taco Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day my friends, or Galentine's Day if you prefer to observe that,

I know is not a favorite day for many of you, as a fellow single gal I totally get it, but each year I like to take this time to shower some love on my family and friends. This year along with some cute little Dollar Tree® plushies, and a little homemade card, I put together a Fabric Valentine Taco! Why the crap would I make tacos? Well to be honest there were suppose to be fabric fortune cookies, but I got so far and saw that wasn't happening. I was inspired by this Chica Circle tutorial that Craftgawker shared on their Facebook. But I wanted to make big ones and felt the paper would be easily messed up so I opted to make fabric ones, but it started reminding me of a taco so I decided of it's a taco.
So it today's Artsy Fartsy Segment, which if you recall is where I do crappy craft tutorials, I shall show you how to make your own Fabric Taco Valentine:

First cut out a circle of fabric, I leave the size to whatever you need. My fabric of choice for this project was a Waverly® Inspiration Fat Quarter from Wal-Mart. I think the color is Lacquer.

Next fold it up, and stitch it together along the top leaving the sides open. And there's your fabric taco valentine.

If you want to add a personalized touch to them before you stitch it together you can stitch the recipients name into the side.

Finally we have the fun of filling it, my ingredient filings of choice were some Palmer® Fudge Hearts and some heart table scatter and a boxes of stickers I purchased from Dollar Tree®. My family really thought they were cute, so that's all that matters.

I also should note not sponsored by any of the above, just happens to be the places I got my stuff.

So you guys make anything cool for Valentine's, or Galentine's, day? Let me know in the comments. I hope you all have a good day, remember to spread the love always, especially in the times we find ourselves in, and may God Bless You!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Artsy Fartsy Time: A Patrick?

In this Artsy Fartsy Post I'll talking about the gifts I made this St. Patrick's Day for my family. This year I made I guess whatever would be the equivalent to a Valentine on Valentine's Day, so a Patrick?

First I took a glittered foam shamrock from a pack I got at Dollar Tree, and you better hope you love glitter cause I still am getting it on me, but I did it here at the computer and I have some of the shamrocks still hanging around, so yeah green glitter party!

Next take a separate shamrock and cut a section off. In this case I used one of the lighter colored shamrock's from the pack. Now using some green thread I stitch the piece to the corresponding leaf on the complete shamrock, but don't sew the side where you cut it, you'll want it to form a pocket. And only stitch where there's two layers of shamrock, I found the single layer ripped to easily.

Here you see the pocket.

I also purchased a pack of these gold coins at Dollar Tree.

I just slid it snug into the pocket for a bit of luck.

Then using various green markers all which bled to different degrees on the foam I wrote a blessing I found on Sassy Cats . It was simple as that.

 I hope this inspires you in your gift making/ I hope and pray you all have a good day and may God bless you.