Finally!

There are few things better than being able to complete a task and say "Finally!"

For example, I finally made a trip to the post office with a big stack of stitched paper and fabric postcards to send to destinations all around the United States, and to New Zealand and Argentina. This post office trip has been a long time coming, and I am hoping that this batch will get me to other side of my mail art inertia!  Finally!

Also, I've had on my To Do list the task of hanging some new art on the wall in my craft room, Studio 791.  I got the new pieces up yesterday, and am enjoying the additions:

To the far left is a little red painted box with a Dia de los Muertos assemblage that I purchased in San Antonio, Texas, back in May.  In the top right corner is the collaged piece I purchased at the CREATE Art Retreat in July, created by Elizabeth Nixon (above that lovely piece by Janet Briggs!):

And right above my sewing machine is the sweet row of houses I purchased from Jodi Ohl at the same retreat:

They look much better displayed on my wall than piled up waiting to be hung.  Finally!

Mary and I exchanged art journals one last time because an error in scheduling left us two spreads short in our Round Robin.  When she returned my journal to me, I had these two new spreads to enjoy:

There are some blank pages in the back that I might choose to play around with at a later date, but for now the Art Journal Round Robin is complete.  Finally!

I always enjoy articles, blog posts, and pins about upcycling projects that turn "trash" into fabulous storage containers and display ideas.  But whenever I try similar projects, they are a distinct "fail."  For example, I've tried turning cereal boxes into magazine holders--a much-beloved upcycling project--and they really just turn into lopsided half-savaged cereal boxes that I've tried to shove my magazines into.  Not a good look.  But I managed a little upcycling project that actually pleases me....finally!

I covered this little cocoa tin with pretty scrapbook paper, and created a decorative pencil holder.  Or, since everything looks better with paintbrushes, perhaps it will hold those art implements instead:

Simple and sweet, don't you think?

Now, as I leave these tasks behind, my daughter's sixth birthday party looms on Saturday.  There is much gift wrapping, house decorating, and food preparing to be done in the next couple of days.  When I get to the other side of it, I will share with you some photos of a what an Octonauts-themed birthday party is all about!

Enjoy the rest of your week!