Celebrating September Birthday Month 2022!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes - Artist and Bricoleur

After a horrible summer of 2022 - that started with the 5-day power outage in July and included the deaths of my father and stepmother within 2 weeks of each other in August - I somehow made it to September.

I celebrated at a weekend scrapbooking retreat with my sister and a crafty friend, Becky, at a suburban Chicagoland hotel. Becky and I went for sushi lunch on first day of retreat. 

My sister, Marcy, and I stayed in a king bedroom suite since we both snore. We enjoyed the indoor pool and hot tub both nights and we both got a 60-minute full body massage on night 2.  Marcy went after dinner, I went at 9:45pm. 

My stress is just melting away - finally!

Becky's sushi lunch

Becky's lunch after

My sushi (lunch and enough for leftovers at hotel later)

My sushi lunch, After

After retreat, hubby took me out on my birthday Sep 27th for late breakfast, a movie and dinner at our fave steakhouse, Longhorn.

Dinner

Longhorn Steakhouse on Sep 27, 2022

Shaky photo by hubby

My surf & turf dinner, After

Hubby, Dave

I'm finally starting to get my mojo back. Energy level is slowly returning. I'm trying to tidy my home studio so I can do some craft projects over my winter hibernation.

Thanks for stopping by - and please leave a comment!

Peace,

LuLu

GIVEAWAY! LIBRA De-stash! FREE Giveaway! Deadline: Extended! More pix! More Info!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes  

You could win these supplies!

Sample journal of what you can make with the mixed media supplies in this huge Giveaway!

Sample of what can be made with Giveaway supplies!

Is your birthday coming? Have you had a birthday? Post a comment - you could win!

LUCKY LIBRA LADY FOLLOWER - BIRTHDAY FREE GIVEAWAY!

September is my birthday month and I'm celebrating with my Followers by offering a FREE giveaway! 

So if you are a Libra lady celebrating your birthday on Sep 27th or celebrating your birthday on Sting's birthday Oct 2nd, indicate that in your comment and you could win!

I have put together some HAPPY MAIL / de-stash items for one lucky Libra (or other) birthday girl! See list of free GIVEAWAY goodies!

ELIGIBILITY

Any LIBRA lady in continental USA is eligible over 18 years of age. If your birthdate is Sep 27th or Oct 2nd (or close to those dates) you could be the winner! You must have an email address.

You do not have to be a Follower to enter.

But there is a Bonus for FOLLOWERS! Followers get a extra little something-something!

See below if your birthday is in September or October!

WHAT IF MY  LIBRA BRITHDAY IS NOT YOUR'S OR STING'S?

A birthdate on, or closest to, either of these 2 dates (9/27, 10/2) will be the lucky winner! Up to two winners - one lady born Sep 27th and/or one lady born Oct 2 (or closest birthday).

WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH THE GIVEAWAY?

Giveaway de-stash items will be a grab bag of new and gently used mixed media supplies selected from my various studios. These supplies are ideal for creating junk journals / smash books / glue books / flow-ish journals / bullet journals / art journals.

Giveaway Includes:

Update: (a $450 value)

1. ·          A5 bullet journal - partially prepped/setup/page numbered by me with pen test pages, index pages, Key / Icon / Color Code page, plus stamped page title borders, and page title cartouches (ESSENTIALS, 8”x5.5”, dot grid, archival, acid free, ribbon bookmark, back pocket),A5 calendar / journal  – dated, obsolete, blank, twin-wire,
2. ·        junk mail journal – ready to paint and embellish (wirebound by me),
3. ·        Tote - 18 pocket tool tote – foldable,
4. ·        Tote - crocheted hobo purse (thrift store find),
5. ·        Adhesive - glue stick,
6. ·        adult coloring pages – assorted sizes (owls, nature, mandalas, etc.),
7. ·        book pages (vintage, old, foreign, dictionary, etc.)
8. ·        colored pencils (in repurposed marker tin) – warm tones,
9. ·        craft mat – new (RANGER), 
10. ·        embellishments (metal, resin, paper, TIM Holtz, and more),
11. ·        embroidery floss on bobbins – wound by me (primary colors),
• NEW! Embossing supplies for heat embossing,
12. ·        envelopes - assorted sizes, types, materials 
13. ·        Fabric - Designer upholstery fabric samples,
14. ·        fabric scraps -  quilter’s cotton,
15. ·        Fiber - Twine (striped),
16. ·        file folder -decorative for coloring,
17. ·        lace seam binding,
18. ·        markers - STM, FINELINE + MORE (assorted warm & cool tones),
19. ·        papers - deli paper (plain and painted),
20. ·        Papers - gelli print papers, 
21. ·        papers - painted wax paper,
22. ·        Papers - scrapbooking papers - patterned scraps, 
23. ·        papers - vintage sewing patterns,
24. ·        pen - fountain pen with refill cartridges (JINHAO),
25. ·        pen - FRIXION erasable pen with refills,
26. ·        pen pouch - clear with elastic divider loops (KAREN FOSTER),
27. ·        pens – glitter gel, black gel,
28. ·        Post-its – 2”,
29. ·        Ribbons - assorted lengths,
30. ·        Rub-ons with craft stick - Asian style alphabet,
31. ·        Scissors – one pair micro scissors,
32. ·        Stamp pad - STAzON permanent ink pad,
33. ·        stamp pads - Dye ink pads – assorted minis,
34. ·        stamps - clear with acrylic block – assorted themes,
35. ·        Stamps - Rubber stamp set – mini alphabet in Mimi pouch + divider tray,
36. ·        Stencil – mini alpha-numeric,
37. ·        tabs – adhesive back,
38. ·        tins – Altoid tins - empty,
39. ·        Tool - water brush,
40. ·        Tools - watercolor brushes – assorted tips/sizes,
41. ·        washi tape rolls – partial,
42. ·        washi tape sample cards – wound by me,
43. ·        yarn samples – super bulky,
44.          plus more mystery goodies [not shown],
45.          plus free complimentary shipping.

HOW TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

 

Leave a comment on this post only with your name and birth date - birth year not needed.

WHEN IS EXTENDED DEADLINE?

EXTENDED Deadline is 12:00 midnight CT on Nov 30, 2020.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

I'll announce winner's name during the week of Dec 15th on this blog, in a new  post.

HOW DOES WINNER GET PRIZE?

INFO NEEDED FROM WINNER in DECEMBER 2020 - 2 IMPORTANT DATES

          Before midnight Dec 22, 2020 CT, Winner must email me (use the 'Contact' form in right           sidebar) with their email address.

          I will contact the Winner via email  requesting the following info that Winner must email           to me before midnight Dec 27, 2020 CT.        

1. copy of their ID (see below) - in body of email,
2. their snail mail address (no P.O. boxes)

About COPY of ID  

To claim your prize, winner must email me a photo copy (in body of email - not as an attachment) of their ID  showing your name and your birthdate.  ID copy can be your state D/L, your real ID, your passport.

IMPORTANT: (On your copy, be sure to mask out/cover your SSN and address and any other private/confidential info before uploading to body of your email).

WHEN WILL WINNER GET PRIZE?

After I get the above info by the deadlines.

          I'm planning to ship the Winner's prize around Dec 31, 2020. I'll email tracking                         number to Winner.

FREEBIES and TUTORIALS

Also, check out all the Freebies and Tutorials while you are visiting my blog.

Thanks for stopping by - Happy Birthday and GOOD LUCK!

'GIVEAWAY - plus Texture Freebie for Your Art Journal!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Howdy and welcome!

To celebrate my 4th anniversary on blogger, I'm hosting a long-overdue GIVEAWAY for you! My Blogoversary was in October, but I've been swamped and then had camera glitches.

If you are a scrapbooker or mixed media artist you will love this Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY GOODIES

GIVEAWAY GOODIES

GIVEAWAY GOODIES 

 

  

HOW TO ENTER

LuLu's 4th BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY!

• Join this site to become a Follower. Now open to everyone!
• Post a link on your blog titled
  'LuLu's 4th BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY'
  with a link back to this post.
   
• Add a comment on this post including,  the Title of a 'LuLu-Too-Beaucoup' post  that you enjoy OR the Title of any sidebar link on this blog that you enjoy.
• Enter as often as you like by adding as many comments as you like. But every comment you add must include a different LuLu-Too-Beaucoup post 'Title' OR a different link Title  on this blog that you enjoy.
• Include in your comment (s) the link back to your blog post.

 

ELIGIBILITY

• Open to Followers  everyone worldwide with a postal address.
• You must have a blog to enter.
• Previous giveaway winners are not eligible.

  

DEADLINE

• Midnight CST Dec Jan 20, 2013.2014

 

HOW TO WIN?

 

• I will choose the winning comment on Dec 20 Jan 21, 2013. 2014
• There will be one winner.

  

RESULTS POST

• Results announcing winner's name will be posted by Dec Jan 21st.
• Winner has until Jan  Feb 3, 2014, to contact me via email with their postal address.
• Winner forfeits prize if I don't get an email by midnight CST Jan Feb 3, 2014.
•  In case of forfeiture, another winner will be chosen.
• If no forfeiture, prizes will be shipped by Jan Feb 17, 2014.

LuLu's 4th Blogoversary GIVEAWAY - PRIZES!

• v 1 pre-prepped art journal (4 1/4" x 8 1/4"), 8 folios/16 pages,   (bound by me including a variety of papers - scrapbook, designer, craft)
•  
• v 1 original stamp "LuLu's Lunas" - carved by me exclusively for the winner
•  
• v 1 hardcover book - journal pages altered by me with original tape, washi and masking tape
•  
• v 3 original 3-pocket journal pages (designed  & assembled by me from double-sided pattern cardstock
•  
• v 3 original acrylic charms - painted by me with alcohol ink
•  
• v set of original tabs - cut by me from pattern scrapbook paper 

•      1 Strathmore  'Drawing' paper pad

 

·       1 Basic Grey paper stack, 6" x 6")

 

·       1 border sticker sheet 

 

·       2 original dominoes - altered by my artist friend, Maria Garcia

 

·       2 vintage dice (great for Steampunk assemblages!)

 

·       2 foam stamps

 

·       2 hanks of ruffle yarn

 

·       2 sheets of vellum sentiments

 

·       2 storage tins

 

·       3 monopoly game tokens (great for Steampunk assemblages!)

 

·       5 foam sheets - assorted colors

 

·       5 keys (great for Steampunk assemblages!)

 

·       6 double-sided embossing/texture plates – plus embossing tool (Fiskars)

 

·       misc. goodies (not shown)

 

·       misc. stickers

 

·       misc. die cuts

 

·       misc. die sheets

 

(Basket not included)

 

 

BONUS ENTRY!
For another chance to win, include in your comment the one-word name of a 16 time Grammy winning musician who shares the same birthday week with me. Hint: he's coming to Chicago for a few months for his musical starting in June 2014!

EVERYBODY WINS FREEBIE!
Even if you do not enter the 4th Blogoversary Giveaway above, you can still take this freebie. Great for adding texture to your art journal or altered books! Permission granted to right click and save picture 'Moisture in Mars' - an excerpt of 'Doodles Deux' - to your computer.

'Moisture on Mars'

Freebie -

permission granted by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes for you to copy

COMING SOON!
A new FREE Tutorial is in the works and coming after the holidays. Stay tuned!

As always, I'd love for you to comment on any of my blog posts.

Thanks for stopping by - and good luck!

Peace,
LuLu

'WOYWW - LuLu's Mini-studio Makeover and Tour - 11 Sep 2013!"

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

This weeks WOYWW is a mini-studio tour of my recent Makeover!

Workstation table was just not working well enough for the art I need to produce. Also, I'm desperate for more counter space. Decided that WOYWW was impetus to re-organize.

This is a mini-studio tour and mini-studio makeover - 'mini' because I still need to move my scrapbooking rolling totes out of this studio. Thanks to Hubby who is cleaning up basement so I can store scrapbooking supplies downstairs!

BEFORE -

Tuesday P M

 

IN PROGRESS -

Tuesday Evening

 

 

IN PROGRESS -

WEDNESDAY A M

 

 

 

AFTER -

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

 

 

 

Look at all the clear space - just begging for the next project - yippee!

 

No longer used glass vessels on top of kitchen cart that I'd originally commandeered from the jewelry studio. I'll be using the middle shelf of this rolling cart for my most used tools. The glass vessels will be returned to a vintage hutch my jewelry studio.

Top shelf of cart will add much needed counter space! Yay!

 

 

YOUR TURN

Are you happy with the configuration/layout of your studio? If so, what are your 3 fave things you like the most? If not, what are the 3 most annoying/aggravating things you like least or want to change/fix ASAP?

Thanks for stopping by - would love for you to comment on this post - or any of my other posts.

For more studio spaces, click here to visit WOYWW!

BEFORE
Mini-Studio makeover
Tue, 10 Sep  2013

AFTER

Mini-Studio Makeover

Wed, 11 Sep 2013

P.S. My Blogoversary GIVEAWAY is coming soon! Stay tuned...

Libra Birthday Girls - shh-hhh-hhh-hhh-hhh!
P.P.S. This is my birthday month - so if you are a Libra celebrating your birthday on Sep 27th or celebrating your birthday on Sting's birthday Oct 2nd, indicate that in your comment. I'll put together some HAPPY MAIL for one lucky Libra birthday girl! Any lady worldwide with Sep 27th or Oct 2nd birthday is eligible! (I'll announce winner later this month and respond to your comment to get your snail mail address).

Peace,
LuLu

'Deep in the throes...' Thank you, Sting and George Lucas!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome!

I'm deep in the throes of re-organizing and purging in my 'winter' craft studio. Not much fun, but I'll sure be happy when I can focus on making art. While I'm busy with that task and up to my neck in errant art supplies, here's a spread I created in an altered book art journal - from last fall.

"...growing up is optional!'
Inkjet transfer/transparency, gel medium, Acrylic wash, gel pen,
colored pencil, vellum, rub on, custom embossed foil tape with acrylic paint

My 60th birthday is rapidly approaching and the sentiment on the left page reflects my feeling perfectly this year. (Sting and I are nearly twins - his 60th birthday is a few days after mine! I'm a big Sting fan - and going with another couple to his concert in November. Sting is releasing his 25th anniversay CD collection on my birthday. I'm also a huge Star Wars fan - and George Lucas is releasing his Blu-ray collection of the Star Wars saga on on my birthday. Isn't that so nice of those guys to give such great 60th birthday presents? :-)

The past few weeks I've been assembling a list of 60 items (places to go, things to buy) - one item for each year on planet Earth! I'm also adding ideas to the back half of an altered book art journal that I started in May of this year - to chronicle our 35th wedding anniversary celebration.

What do you do on your milestone birthdays? Do you plan to do anything special to celebrate your milestone birthdays? I'd love to hear what you've done for your milestone birthdays.

Thanks for stopping by. Please take some time to look around my blog - there are all sorts of neat things to see - and come back again soon.

Peace,
LuLu 

LIT - These Are A Few of My Favorite Fun Things!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,
This week for List It Tuesday here are some fun things I LUV to do!

'Fun Things' -
gel pens, glaze pen, on scrapbooking journal spot

What are some of the fun things that you luv to do? Would love to see your comments on this - or any of my posts.

Here are more lists if you want to sneak a peek.


Peace,
LuLu

Get used to disapointment - or Happy Birthday, Libra...

Hello and welcome.


THE DARK SIDE

For those of you wondering, last month,  I was asked to cancel my debut art show that was scheduled to open with an Artist's Reception in Blue Island, IL on Sep 25, 2010. For several reasons...

It was also to have been my birthday celebration this year. So my plans have come to a screeching halt. Of course, I'm unhappy and disappointed beyond what words can express - and have shed many tears. As a famous swordsman once said, 'Get used to dissapointment!' :-(
:-(
:-(
:-(

A NEW HOPE

• But I guess the bright side is that a new poem is brewing...
• Also, my show is to be rescheduled for fall 2011. I will have the new date soon. Meanwhile, many thanks to all my friends and relatives and sponsors who have supported me in this project!
• IRON MAN 2 comes out on DVD just in time to be my consolation birthday present. Just the thought of seeing IRON MAN 2 again makes me feel better!

 'DIGI SELF-PORTRAIT - Bedhead 20100718'

Photo of me - July 2010 Sting Immersion Weekend at Beth and Bruce's

Secret ingredients:

Processed by me using PSE and MS Digital Image Composer with mouse and also using WACOM tablet and WACOM pen, effects and lighting.

Technique:

in MS DIC -

Convert to B&W, change contrast, use sketch effect to eliminate detail, use pen and tablet to select more areas to fill with white, cut-and paste to fix right eyeglass frame that was washed out, distort to make messed up curly bedhead even messier and shoulders misproportioned.

in PSE -

Used WACOM pen and tablet to select and outline my washed out upper lip.

DIGI SELF -PROTRAIT - test 3

Used WACOM Pen and tablet to select areas of face to fill with white.

DIGI SELF-PORTRAIT - test 2

Back to 'Hairy Manes' another of my many nicknames...Used distortion to s-t-r-e-t-c-h my head and shoulders. Selected right side of bedhead hair using tablet & pen and used cut-and-paste to copy for filling in middle section where my part is.

DIGI SELF-PORTRAIT - test 1 - hairless

A hairless me - to use in collages with hair and hats drawn on or with found hair, crowns  and found hats pasted on me - to use in my art journal pages.

B&W cutout - saved with .png extension - example

I'd already worked over the first cutout so this silhouette does not exactly match the finished image.

Black and White conversion

Original photo -

by artist Beth S.

Notice my black sleep mask that looks like a headband. I had just awakened and went downstairs to say 'Bonjour!' to my hostess, Beth.

Photo was taken just before breakfast the morning after the 1st of two scheduled Sting concerts at Ravinia Festival for me and my artist friend Beth! The weather was sweltering HOT in Chicago that weekend - in the 90's! I normally love hot and humid weather - but that weekend was even too hot for me! Hot for Sting Immersion Weekend!

What do you think of my first digital Self-Portrait?

Also, look for my first giveaway of nifty ephemera coming this fall! There will be mutliple winners for this giveaway. Thanks for visiting and please come back soon.

Peace,

LuLu

The ultimate STAR WARS nerd and Sting fanatic!