While my blogging life as been on a rather extended break, please follow me over on Instagram @junedaleyart for previews of my latest work!

Today I’m showing some state love over on the Stencil Girl blog. These personalized, embroidered hoops make great gifts for family and friends. Click here for the full project!

My daughter Nora demos how to make a State Study book (a great summer project!) over at the Stencil Girl blog.

I’ve had about enough of the snow. And cold. And ice. So I’ve started my spring cleanout which in my mind is the equivalent of a rain dance. Logical right? If I spring clean, spring will come? Please don’t tell me otherwise.

As often is the case, with one project comes another and pretty soon I’m turning one of the girl’s outgrown tank tops (plus a pair of jeans) into a beach bag and a tag. For the complete tutorial, click over to Stencil Girl. Spring cleaning and ocean themed stencils? Yep, spring is sure to come sooner rather than later. You can thank me later.

So forever ago, I came up with the lunch survey. It was my way to find out what actually goes on with my sweet little munchkins while they were away at school for 7+ hours per day. As everybody knows the lunch period is a pretty good indicator of what’s happening (socially in particular) on any given school day. Plus it’s fun for the kids to find “notes” in their lunch bag. I know at one point my firstborn was printing out ten copies a day to distribute to her cafeteria table who also insisted on submitting survey results to their parents. I realized then I was on to something. The survey has appeared in several magazines including Family Fun. I get emails about it constantly which I totally appreciate. I love knowing that others are finding it as fun and informative as my kids and I did and still do. So here it is again. I’m offering the printout for private use only.

To print the survey, please click here.

The latest stencils I designed for StencilGirl had me thinking of boardwalks, foamy waves and saltwater breezes. If you want to transport yourself back to your favorite days on the beach, forget holding a shell to your ear and try stenciling instead.

I made the three pillows above using my hot-off-the-press stencils (above) plus other materials I had on hand. Granted I have a pretty decent material stash (hoarder alert), but I promise these pillows are simple and quick to pull together. Here’s a general tutorial of how to create your own comfy beach pillows.

MATERIALS: (but feel free to improvise)

fabric paint (I used Lumiere acrylics for a bit of sparkle) .  stencils . stencil brush . canvas on a roll (click if you want the exact stuff I used) .  burlap (for pillow back) .  material scraps reminiscent of the sea . trim . pillow form . sewing machine . needle . thread

 1) Cut the fronts and backs of your pillow from fabric sized to fit your pillow form. I used burlap for the pillow backs and the unprimed side of the canvas for the pillow fronts (I liked the natural canvas side better for this project.)

2) Plain out your design before stenciling on the fabric. Taking the time to do a practice pillow on a similar size piece of scrap paper will be time well spent. You get one shot on that fabric folks!

3) When ready to stencil on the fabric: lay ironed canvas flat, position stencil and apply paint. Make sure your brush is not too wet. Again, practicing before will allow for better results on the real deal. Take my word for it.

4) I used several warm Lumiere colors to add depth and interest. Subtle, yet awesome. You can kind of see the variation of colors above, but admittedly it’s hard to capture in a photograph.

5)  Let your pillow fronts dry. Above see how I chose to design my pillows (Wet, please don’t touch.)

6) Add some fun! Buttons, trims, fabrics etc. Stitch embellishments to the pillow fronts before you sew the front and back together. Otherwise you will have a seriously difficult time here.

7) Now place the front of the pillow under the front of the back of the pillow (inside out). Add some side trim if you desire and sew together. Remember to leave an opening to insert the pillow form.

8) Insert pillow form and hand stitch the pillow shut the rest of the way.

9) Enjoy a bit of the sea even if like me, you don’t have an oceanfront address.

Thanks for stopping by. It was certainly nice to meet you if you’re new over here. The blog hop party continues below with the Original Stencil girl, Mary Beth Shaw! (that must be how it feels to be a presenter at the academy awards. I sure lucked out.

Before this (see above) actually came in the mail a week or so ago, I got a call from Chicago. It was my BFF Heather acting all hysterical. *Really* Hysterical* I thought she must have hit her head and dialed my number instead of 911. I could barely understand what it was she was trying to get out. I heard “scissors”, “mail”, “did you see?” and the biggie…”COVER!!!”  As I pieced her ramblings together, I didn’t believe her at first. It was cool/totally awesome enough how we each had an article coming out in the same issue of one of our favorite magazines. Cover wasn’t on our radar. The funny thing is while Heather was all hysterically happy about my altered scissors making the cover, she initially failed to spot her own heart pendant looking lovely on the cover TOP. That’s a true friend for you. She only saw her work after I told her to calm down and describe every detail of what turned out to be our cover.

The next day my copies arrived in the mail confirming Heather’s story. It still feels surreal. Check out my scissor how-to article if you get a chance. Nothing makes a studio happier than embellished scissors. I used Jacquard Piñata alcohol-based paints and Pearl Ex powders to get amazing effects similar to my revamped office stapler tutorial which can be found here.

Also be sure to read about Heather’s amazing necklaces. She shares her techniques in the magazine or you can buy an original, one-of-a-kind necklace from her etsy shop (I am the proud owner of four gorgeous pieces…number still rising.)

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and creative 2012!