Halloween Cards - 2013

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween!  I certainly enjoyed handing out candy and viewing the costume parade.  For the cards, I was going for a 'Dia de los Muertos' theme and I wanted the card to look like candy.  The bright paper was made using Dylusions sprays.  A Martha Stewart punch was used for the cobweb border and I added lots of glitter (I had glitter all over the house by the time I was finished).  The image was stamped and then embossed with UTEE several times until it looked candy coated.  And the eyeball magnets were a year long project.  If anyone saw an 'In Style' magazine at my house with they eyes cut out of it, now you now why!

Up, Up, and Away!

** Disclaimer **  This is a design that I copied from a magazine and not an original idea.  However, it was a lot of work and I was pleased with the result.  It required the masking and stamping method used for scenic stamping and then quite a bit of fussy cutting around the images.  I used colored pencils on the images.  Plus, the back of the card had to be stamped so that when you fold it up it looks nice.  This is the second of two that I made for masculine birthdays.  By the way, these cards were photographed at the scenic Athens Clarke County courthouse parking lot - LOL.  Happy Birthday, Guys!

Shabby Chic Birthday

My goal was to make a shabby chic birthday card using a Stampin Up stamp set and die cut set that I had never used before.  I think I had the camera set on 'enhanced color' when I took this picture because the card is not that bright in reality.  The flower is one of those white paper flowers that you can dye with markers or distress inks.  The button came out of vintage store bin somewhere. The background paper with wavy lines is wrapping paper that has shown up on quite a few cards over the years.  I love that paper!

Happy Birthday!  Coming up soon are my ultra-bright Halloween cards !!

Altered Tin - Halloween Style!

You all know how I love Halloween!  I have never attempted to alter an Altoids tin, but, jumped at the chance when a swap came up on Rubberstampchat.  This was tons of fun and I was able to use some of the odd little items I picked up over the years - There is piece of a vintage ruler in the background and some bat bling that I have had forever.   Plus, I cut the 'witch' out of a vintage postcard I picked up somewhere.  I love the smile on her face.  She is happy to be decked out for Halloween on a moonlit night!

Abandoned Art Bookmarks

One of the new things to do with your crafted items is to abandon them somewhere and leave your website address so whoever finds it can contact you.  I participated in a bookmark abandonment where my bookmark was left in a public library in Oregon (along with some of my Rubberstampchat compadres' bookmarks).    The challenge was to create the bookmark using a pink strip of paper that the organizer provided.  You could decorate in any way you chose.  I die cut mine after stamping some text on it.  Then I collaged it with some Lynn Parella stamped artwork onto a piece of cardstock and added dyed crinkle ribbon.

I hope whoever finds the bookmark enjoys it!  I would love to know what book it was left in.

Published in Rubber Stamp Madness Magazine!

When RSM magazine issued the space challenge, I could not resist!  I have dabbled in scenic stamping (using multiple stamps and a masking technique to create a larger cohesive scene), but, this was my biggest undertaking yet.  I actually started out with 5 of these and picked the best one at the end.  In fact, 3 of the 5 were so mistake ridden that they ended up in the trash.
I am very honored to have my work chosen for this issue.  They even included a little interview in which I reveal that I am terrified of flying - not kidding!

Rosette Birthday

A card I made for my son-in-law (whom I adore).  I used the Tim Holtz rosette die cut and some linen paper I have been enjoying these days.

Button Fairy Swap

Here is a fun way to enjoy those great buttons you have in your stash.  I made these for a 'button fairy swap' and can't stop making them now.  You make a fairy (just add wings to anyone you think is fairy-worthy) and then wire together a button tail.  Voila!

What do you do with them?  Well you can hang them anywhere - I put a little wire hook on the back.  Mostly, I give them away to special people.

Build a Monster

Had so much fun making this card.  I stamped with the Stampin'up 'Build a Monster' kit and then colored with Copic markers.  Also added some motion lines after reading about them in Rubber Stamp Madness.  I wanted the whole card to jump around!

Stamp Carving Class at Double Dutch Press!

Some of you know that I took a new job in Athens, GA.  Definitely one of my better decisions in life.

Anyhoo, while I acclimated to my new commute through Athens, I noticed this little shop with an intriguing sign - 'Double Dutch Press'.  Hmmmm....

Then I happened on a flier from this same mysterious establishment and found that it is a print making shop (silk screen, linotype, etc) and they offer 'STAMP CARVING CLASSES'. Well, I knew right then and there I would be signing up for the next session.

 The class was absolutely awesome and I can't thank Amanda and Katherine enough for making it informative and fun.  I had tried carving my own stamps before, but, with little success.  I learned a lot about the process from Amanda (instructor) and gained much needed confidence.  So here are some of the pictures, and before I go further, I must tell you that I chose an oddball image to carve (big surprise). It is a shuttle from the old fashioned weaving process.  Why?  I will let you know when I post info on my first letterbox!



My instructor Amanda (right) looks on while I test out my carving.  Periodically you ink your work and then test the result on paper.

Some of Amanda's carvings - a colander and a typewriter.  Amazing!  Also, some of the tools used.

This is the original image.

And here is the end result (I cannot get the picture to rotate properly).  Amanda helped me make a batch of cards using the new stamp - she custom mixed some sepia ink for me and I used a brayer to spread it onto the stamp.  I am very pleased with my new carve!

Birthday Card on a Hanger

It seems like the cards I am making these days are getting heavier and heavier.  Even though that is not a full size hanger, but, a doll hanger (about 6 inches long), this piece has some weight to it.  Mostly due to the metal tag around 'happy birthday'.  More and more I am including oddball elements on my cards - the doll hanger, the heart hanging at the top, the measuring tape.  The background with stitching is wrapping paper and I used dress making pattern paper for the stamped images.

I think this is one of my favorites ever.  Plus, it gives me an excuse to keep bringing home weird found objects - all in the name of art!

And the winner is!

Well, when I didn't win the Saturday contest, I went home and made this ATC with a stamp I had purchased that day.  And of course when you just dash something off, it is better than anything else and I won the Sunday contest.  I used vintage ledger paper, a brown office envelope, and punched some circles out of those plastic file tabs and voila!