Friday, December 27, 2013

To begin my Health and Organization January 1

We are going to start with the upstairs stamp room since its the most organized room and I just have to pick up a few things to get it organized.

Then we will tackle the Downstairs by the computer, and then the last room will be the downstairs Room to open it up so I can paint and do everything in that room.  I am really excited to get some things done.  I really want to start tonight, but tonight is the 27th of December.   So I'm going to take a look at my other rooms and gather all the stamps I have and incorporate them into this room.  I am then going to straiten up the floor.  To make room to walk around in there.  Each day I will Blog my things that I have accomplished.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Friday, December 20, 2013

Today I have decided to make Haystack cookies.  They're a no bake cookie - just melt the butterscotch chips and coat the Chinese Chow Mien noodles and cool on a piece of wax paper.

Waiting patiently for the stuff to melt..... ok changed from butter scotch chips that would not melt to vanilla melti chocolates and finished them much faster added red sprinkles. YUM!


Sunday, December 15, 2013

Health and Organization

 I was trying to put this on www.Bubblews.com, but  it was too big. but it kept failing so I knew it would fit here!!



Health and Organization.

When we look at a room like this - we feel overwhelmed, depressed, insecure, and out of sorts, we sneeze and cough with the dust that accumulates.

This room - I'm sad to say, this is one of three places in my house that I use to store, and make crafts.  I design and create my own cards, using rubber stamps and various other embellishments.

I also create amazing scrapbooks for myself. You would say that it's organizing in itself, but, preparing to do anything requires; one, to first get messy, then to create-- part of getting messy is cleaning up afterwards.  My mother said do it right away.  Ha ha..... I'm an adult, I can do it when i want.... so turn it around and let organization be your adult side again.  Make life more calm and organize.

I am talking to myself, but I'm sure there are those of you who are out there who have similar difficulties.

At my home all my rooms have a mess of some kind or another.

My rules:

1. Plan your day.
2. Get up early.
3. Set a schedule.
4. Write down a list of easy things to do.
5. Pick one room (an easy one)

If you are like me, you get board easy.
7 Pick two rooms to work with.  Schedule even time between the two.

8. Plug that music in and whistle while you work
9. Check off the completed items!!

I found a positive message I have posted on my wall.

by Francis of Assisi

Start by doing whats Necessary,
Then do what's possible,
and suddenly you are doing the impossible.!!

I would love to hear any comments about what you think.  My grandmother and mother did grow up in the depression era., I have always been a saver of some sort, it used to be just money... now its stuff.  I started my blog on my messy craft room.

I am going to get organized and Smile doing it!! Are you with me.!!!  Oh and I will post my progress!!

My two rooms is that picture of my craft room and my bathroom.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Days pass by so quickly...

What have I been up to??.  I'm getting ready to open my own business, but first I'm starting from scratch going to business classes through Puget Sounds Women's Business Center. So cool the things I am learning.  Plus taking some art classes to bone up on my skills.  I painted this lovely painting of Poppies at "Uncorked Canvas" .

I didn't think it looked like flowers at first but all things fall together when you add that white thingy in the middle.  :D  Do you believe there are black and orange stripe in the background of the blue and other colors - wow there are.... it was amazingly fun!!

Saturday, November 30, 2013

I haven't painted on canvas for weeks. So this is my Black Friday Canvas!

I really love the yellows and oranges and aways love the shadows of the mountains against them.  I have never painted a barn before, but saw it in one of my painting books and decided to give it a try.   This is what I did.



Always painting something and at one point Tracy asked that we paint a one word dare so I did.

My one word dare consisted of one word and a number and a picture indicating "Time for Love"


November 2013 creative dare

My Creative dare came out a little different because I added  molding paste to the stencils and decided there was more room on the side for my flower.



Monday, November 18, 2013

Wow Talk about a month Gone by.

I have been so busy.  I am so excited to be preparing to go back to business school.  So I can open my own business.  I've been working on my new Web page, and reading up on having my own  business.   I am just so excited!!!


Saturday, October 5, 2013

Snow Smiles! by MKLM 10/13

I ordered a really cool Multi Media Kit from "Frosted Designs" !! I just love it.  I got some "Faber Castell" Jesso, and Gellatos in Tropical color, Golden Molding paste, two stencils one by Heidi Swap with stars and hearts, and one by "My Favorite Things", "Artist Lofts" pallet knifes, "Maya Mist" White out,   some Umm WOW chipboard confetti that Barb added as a bonus... Sweet I love bonuses.!

And then she asked me to to share my creations, oh so my favorite part!!!  I'm so excited to say that I did play!

I used the Chip board confetti to make snowflakes, I used the the Molding paste with the floral stencils, I used the White out Mist with a chevron stencil I had, and I used Banner Flags & special wording from the Designer, "Teresa Collins" that I had in my stash.  I also incorporated Buttons from "Heidi Grace", "Michael's" Felt Embellishments & Ribbon,  and my favorite Deco Arts Americana Acrylic paints, and shiny bling. I outlined parts of the project with a black Deco Arts marker. :D

Here is the unveiling of my project!! I call it "Snow Smiles"! by MKLM 10/13



Thursday, September 5, 2013


Multi-Media Art

What is it??
It’s using Different types of Mediums, i.e. Acrylic paints, Gelotos (water color crayons), Markers, Modge Podge, Jesso, bling, water, baby wipes, etc., and media, i.e. variety of papers,  chipboard, charms, letters, etc..., to create on a page for a Journal or canvas or even a scrapbook.   Then adding a special quote to inspire one to be positive. 

How is it created??
First you will want to jesso your page or not depending on your feeling, and you may even want to leave some texture behind.  Take it one color, one medium at a time and cover the canvas, sometimes I use modge podge and get all my scraps off the table and fill the page with them and other times, I just Create a picture.  It’s all in how you feel that day...  Be Spontaneous!!

 How do you get the medium to the paper??
You can use brushes, sponges, Baby wipes, your fingers, Stencils, cloth,  gelli pads, and more.

Different materials can be added too!!
Add Material, designer paper, chipboard.  Actually, any material that would make your design yours.

Background is Key!
You want a creative background.  I sometimes take my paint and add it to the paper at the top and let it drip down, other times I take a brush and dab it to the page and then swirl it around with baby wipes.  There are no mistakes in painting. Make it your own. 

Foreground is Unique!
Make it your own.  I add washy tape, stamped images, buttons, material, newspaper, pages out of old books, music, pages out of dictionaries, jewelry, Go hog wild.!!!

No Creation can be a Mistake, and what we view as a mistake is just apart of the creation!!

Add positive Messages!!

Each Design is your own, be creative and you will never go wrong, let it flow, look past the negative and find the positive and your creation will always be great!!!

Will be Demonstrating at the Washington State Fair
Saturday, September 7, 2013 4:30p - 6:30p  and
Sunday September 22, 7pm - 9pm 

After that:
For group Classes and prices
Love to teach kids too.

Mary Kay Lyons-McDonnell
(253) 471-9260

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Deco Arts application entered.

Today i applied for the Deco Arts Blogger because all of the paint I use is with Deco Arts and I've found that they have a lot of ideas on their page and also I love their colors so vibrant and ready to use.

Here are some examples.: of color

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Paintings for August 2013 by Mary Kay Lyons-McDonnell

My Tracy Weinzapfel August Challenge Paint in 1 hour or less





August 26, Monday night painting 


Saturday, August 17, 2013

Changes are in the air....

My New Family in Spokane.  February 2013

My first video. :D


Sunday, July 7, 2013

FIND YOUR VOICE:

THIS IS ME... I'M A REAL SMART WOMAN. SEE ALL THE BRAINS AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD.  :D TEE HEE.   AND MY NAME IS MARY KAY LYONS-MCDONNELL.  THE MCDONNELL PART WAS ADDED ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I GOT MARRIED., I JUST TURNED 52, BUT I'M SURE THAT NUMBER IS TRANSPOSED BECAUSE I'M SO YOUNG INSIDE.  I SMILE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE MY DAD TOLD ME I SHOULD.
AND BECAUSE PEOPLE WONDER WHAT YOU ARE UP TO.

HERE'S ME IN ONE OF MY CREATIVE RELMS - SCRAPBOOKING AT THE FAIR -
 LOOK AT THAT PAGE IT'S THE PUMPKIN PATCH WITH MY SON!!

MY SON GAVE ME AWAY...






 
 OUR FAMILIES CAME TOGETHER MY FAMILY




 DANS FAMILY



 MY HUSBAND IS THE MOST WONDERFUL MAN SO SUPPORTIVE AND LOVING
I AM SO BLESSED.


 JULY 14, 2013 WILL BE OUR FIRST YEAR TOGETHER.


Saturday, June 29, 2013

June Challenge 2013 My Powerful Truths - Mixed Media Monday Nights with Tracy Weinzapfel

I especially like the paper craft
background.... My challenge for 
June 2013 Mary Kay Lyons-McDonnell

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Dear Me

Here's is my Dare " Dear Me:"





Mary Kay Stockwell

 a little girl with shiny black curly hair.
Her Mom’s first Girl,
and her Daddy’s pride and Joy.

Every year she grows tall, 
every year her hair grows long.
She was a Princess 
with all her brother’s to love her.

Mary Kay is her mother’s oldest daughter.  
She learns how to laugh her mother’s laugh.
She is Kind and considerate,
loving and caring.
She learns baking and cooking, 
cleaning and dusting.

Mary Kay follows her daddy 
learning about plants
and how they grow...

Mary Mary Quite contrary,
how does your garden Grow, 
with Cockle Shells, and silver bells
and three little maidens in a row...

My father carries me on his shoulders so proud.  
We go fishing and play baseball at our family picnics.
I love nature and catch frogs, snakes and follow shrews..

I learn to draw and create beautiful paintings and drawings.

I Love daffodils so yellow and bright and love picking them
in a secret sight.

I grow into a loving young woman and blessed with a son, 
Jonathan Lyons, a little boy with curly blond hair.

I grow and grow and I find my true love.
The man of my dreams, so attentive so loving,
he brings out the best in me and supports me who I am.
I am happy and I feel complete as 

Mary Kay McDonnell



Saturday, April 27, 2013

17turtles: Bo Bunny ClearSnap Blog Hop

17turtles: Bo Bunny ClearSnap Blog Hop: Hello and welcome to the  Bo Bunny ClearSnap Blog Hop!!! You may have arrived here from the ClearSnap Blog , but if you didn&#3...

Very nice work Juliana.  Eagles are very sentimental in my family.  I'm glad your step mom enjoyed herself.   I'm so excited that you took a picture of her.  It's not often that us as photographer's get our pictures taken.

I love the page you did, so professional, and your explanation was so detailed great work!!!

Thanks for Sharing Mary kay Lyons-McDonnell

Monday, April 1, 2013

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Baby wipe/paper towel Challenge. March 25, 2013



I used Paper towels to blend the colors... :D


Canvas Works



This is my painting I dedicated to a fellow Artist "Tomiko McCurry". Then I sent it to her.

Sunday, March 10, 2013


My song is Called Nothing by A Chorus Line.  

And my Buttons have an ATTITUDE!







 This is my own version of the Yes Page. Mary Kay Stockwell-Lyons-McDonnell





Sunday, March 3, 2013



My weekend canvas 3/2/13.  See how the light shows through the back this was taken without a flash and the sun shine in the background was coming though the window.

Saturday, March 2, 2013



This is Mary Kay's Bucket List.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

January's Creative Dare for Tracey Weinzapfel Studios


My word of the year is Laugh!!


Mary kay Lyons-McDonnell