Happy 1st Birthday

My youngest grand-niece turned one and I wanted to make a card as adorable as she is.  I missed the mark because this child is unbelievably cute.  However, I was happy to be using one of my favorite fairy stamps again.

I am also tremendously excited about my new portable light box.  This thing helps me take amazing pictures.  Obviously, I need to work on my staging a bit, but, I am so pleased with this picture.

Check out the light box I purchased here.

Quilted Heart Card

Sometimes just mixing and matching texture and pattern is fun!  The heart is made from sewing a heart shape into vintage quilted fabric and cutting it out.  I sewed on a button and then layered it onto different papers.  Happy Birthday!

Happy Halloween - 2017!

Hope everyone is enjoying the last days of October!

When I designed this card, I meant for the pumpkins to be the focus.  However, when I stamped the witch onto the background, she kind of took over and became a focal point.

I enjoyed making this card and since I have not done a 'step by step' in a while, here is how I made it:

First stamped the witch (Tim Holtz) and the text (also Tim Holtz) using black Versafine and Gold Encore ink.  I then used clear embossing powder to set the images.

Next, I colored in the witch image using Copic markers and then used Distress Glaze to protect the witch and her coloring from the next step.

Using a foam blender, I inked the colors onto the background.  I used a mister to flick water onto the paper and create the water spots. I think they look like those spectral floaters that you see in photos that supposedly show evidence of spirits.  Sometimes, I worry that my card recipients think I accidentally spilled something on their card - LOL

Last step is to stamp, color, and cut out the pumpkins (Tim Holtz).  Also, I created a sign using the woodgrain stamp and Trick or Treat text.

I made quite a few of these and they each came out a bit differently.  Some have bats stamped onto them and some have black text instead of gold.  Just depends on what I was 'feeling' that day.

Have a Happy Halloween!!

Christmas Countdown Village

Here is a project that I have been working on for years.  I saw this in Craft Stamper magazine and decided to make one for myself.  It took years because I would finish a house or two and then set the project aside for a long while.  I finally determined that I was going to finish it up this year and I did.  I really had fun collecting the numbers for the different days, and, for some reason I added the 25th - the original in the magazine only went to Christmas Eve.

Sorry some of the pictures are blurry.  Still getting used to a new camera.

Peace

It has been a challenging summer in many ways.  I took a lot of comfort from making this assemblage - probably the first assemblage that I am totally happy with.  It did not come together easily.  You can't tell, but, I have bolted and unbolted so many components to this box.  I finally left just the essentials.  When it got crowded, it got less peaceful.



So here is 'Peace' and may you find it in your life as well.

 

 The box was made by combining an antique frame with a wooden box (thanks hubby!).  I whitewashed the box, lined the inside of the box with music notes paper, whitewashed again, and then sanded the edges.  I included a vintage butterfly frame with the Madonna portrait.  The ceramic Madonna figurine is on top of an old faucet handle.  The praying hands are holding an old perfume compact that has been cleaned and yet another Madonna image glued to the inside.  Parts from an old watch are glued to the front of the compact.  The compact opens and closes, so this is an interactive peace.


It took me a while to figure out why the photo is picking up lines in the framed Madonna.  Those are reflections of the siding on my house.  I am thinking about investing in a small portable lightbox, but, for now I get the best images outside during twilight.


I like how the figurine's fingers are broken and blackened (that is how she came and I could not clean the fingers off and I really tried).  Is this not how peace is?  Things explode in life and we must stay still and hold on to our peace.

 

 

Journal Tags

Bright intense colors were my inspiration for these journal tags.  I joined the ATCs for All swap site so I could participate in some mail art swaps and these first efforts are bound for Australia!

I first saturated some watercolor paper with Dylusions spray inks in different colors.  When the paper dried, I strategically die cut the tags from my favorite parts.  I then used stencils with water (to lighten the inked paper) or stencils with Distress Ink to add color on top.  Next, I stamped with watermark and inked again and\or stamped randomly.  The requirement was to leave space for journal entries.

I will post what I receive in return.

Happy Easter!

I have been spring crafting like mad.  I made two different Easter cards for family and friends. (stamps used are from 'Stampin Up')  Also, sewed up the bunny using an old embroidered cloth that was too far gone to save.  It's a freehand pattern and I think I need to work on the ears a bit, but, I like the face that I embroidered for him.  Finally, I have been using my felted wool scraps to make felt flowers (see Aunt Peaches tutorial  on this).

Wishing everyone a Blessed and Happy Easter!

Easter Tags

Getting a jump on the upcoming Easter holiday and making some tags for a friend.  The rabbits are still one of my very favorite stamps and one of the first stamps I purchased when starting this hobby (online from 100 Proof Press).  I think I made my very first Easter card using that stamp.  The chick is from the Stampin Up 'Honeycomb Happiness' set.  I will be making more with this set in the next few weeks!

Butterfly Birthday Card

Continuing with the feminine themed cards!  When I went to the Heirloom Stamp festival a few weeks ago, Stampland was having a 50% off sale on their wood mounted stamps, so I picked up this beauty.  Used the Tim Holtz technique from this tag on the butterflies.

Mailing Day is my Favorite Day

One of the best things about making cards and crafts is sending them off to family and friends.  Besides the joy of (hopefully) making someone happy with a handmade gift or card is the pleasure I get from visiting the classic old post office in downtown Athens, Georgia.

And here is the birthday card I am mailing today.  It is a butterfly collage and I added a crackle glaze on top.  Definitely going through a pink phase these days!  Also showing my standard paper bag insert for protection against the USPS machinery.  Took this photo on one of the beautiful marble window sills inside the post office.

Happy Mailing Day!

Aunt Peaches Valentine Swap

Took a break from 'Project Catch Up' and made some fun valentines for the Aunt Peaches Valentine swap.  This was a stash buster project!  I used spray stains, watercolor paper, distress inks, a new Lost Coast stamp (heart), and arrow embellishments.  These came together so quickly - a real pleasure after struggling with the assemblage boxes.

I hope my swap mates like these!  Happy Valentines!!

Garden Fairy Boxes - Assemblages

Here are the first finished projects from my catch up year!

I have been fascinated with assemblage boxes, but, whenever I try to make one it comes out kind of cutesy.  Which is OK - I live in a pink puffball world anyway, so that is just how my art comes out.

So I found these girls' photos in a Salvation Army.  I loved their dresses and their sweet expressions. I  papered the boxes with vintage papers, added wings and some metal adornments and then some faux foliage.  I just kept going until I felt they were 'done'.

These boxes are tiny - maybe 3-4 inches square.  They can stand on their own or hang by a sawtooth hanger glued on the back.

Meet Maybeetle and Junebug!

New Year's Resolutions

I am so excited about this coming year!  This is the year of the forgotten project and the unused supplies.  My goal is to finish all of the projects that I did not have time to do over the years, but, projects that I am still excited about.  I have a plethora of supplies and found objects that are waiting to be incorporated into artwork.  In fact, I am still working on Christmas projects that were never completed!  I will be posting all sorts of things as they finish and they might be popping up during the wrong time of the year - LOL.  Rehash of Christmas in February anyone?

In order to get this done, I won't be answering any design calls or challenges - just working on the forgotten and fun things laying in wait in my craft room....

That's the goal anyway.  I'll keep you posted!

ATC Swap at Rubberstampchat - Just Use Metal

Happy New Year!!  I somehow forgot to post this Artist Trading Card (ATC) that I made for a swap on RubberStampChat.  The challenge was to use metal in some way and I had quite a few of these metal pen nibs in supply.  I decided to use the metal nibs as an embellishment and repeat the nib theme using a Tim Holtz stamp.

Here is the ATC...

and here are the lovely ATC's I received in the swap. . . .

Love the embossed metal and also using jewelry as an embellishment!  Cool ideas !!

I enjoy making these tiny art pieces and when I participate in a swap, it ignites my creativity.  A big thanks to my swap buddies for the cool artwork :-)