Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas at the Zoo!

Our family does a Christmas theme each year.  You can decorate, wrap, create cards, or do anything with the theme.  It is not a requirement, just something we do for fun.  My favorite theme was 'Christmas in Outer Space', but, we can't do that every year.

This year's theme, chosen by my nephew Niko, is 'Christmas at the Zoo!'.

Here is the card I made for this year.  I had been looking for an opportunity to use those tiny Christmas light embellishments and I though my lion needed a little decoration in his habitat.

Have a Roaring Good Holiday!






Thursday, December 13, 2018

Paper Angels

This is a riff on a Paper Witches class I took on Creativebug.  I had my nieces (8 and 11) over to make paper angels and we had a blast!!  Next year I promised we would make paper witches..





All I did was put out old photos and some images of women that I copied out of books.  I added a pile of wings (die-cut and butterfly images), lots of paper and embellishments, scissors, and glue.  The girls (and their Mom and myself) made as many as we could.  This was my favorite.  It was a fun night!!

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Bloom Where you are Planted

Many years ago, our family visited a young couple in Tampa Florida.  The husband was (and still is) a minister, and, his first assignment was a tough neighborhood riddled with poverty and crime.  His young wife had a beautiful embroidery on her wall that said 'Bloom Where you are Planted'.  She said she kept this in mind when things were difficult.

I've never forgotten that saying...


There are a lot of collaged elements on this and I have had a tough time pressing it flat.  Here is a close up.


I like that she is bundled up against the cold, but, somehow has tropical flowers all around!

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Iris Fold Technique

I never really considered the insides of envelopes until I took a class on 'Iris Folding'.  Now I eagerly open my bills, looking for the elusive green or blue linings that look like Japanese origami paper.  The patterns are for security, but, they can be reused for so much more!



This is a picture of my Dad - about the time when he met my mother in Michigan.  I think the blue papers look nice against a black and white photo.


Then I thought, why not try framing a color picture with Iris folds in blue?   This picture of my granddaughter at the beach really pops in this.  I liked it so much I put it in a shabby white frame for keeps.

The blue papers are hard to find.  Lots of black envelope patterns and I am working on a journal page using those.  Feel free to send me any green paper you find.  It is the Holy Grail!!

Friday, June 8, 2018

What will you tell your older self?



This was my next journal page using gelatos.  I like this one even better although I haven't spent much time thinking about this topic.

The older man pictured is an image transfer from a photo.

What should I tell my older self?

What would you tell your younger self?


Historically, I haven't done a lot of journaling.  At first, I thought journaling was sketching out your art ideas into a book.  Last summer, I took a class on the topic and discovered that art journaling can be very personal and a pouring out of the soul.  Another class by Mou Saha introduced me to using gelatos in your artwork.

The result is this page about what messages you would send your younger self.  When I was a child I imagined I was receiving visions or messages from my future self (yes, I was an introverted oddball).  Now as an adult, I wonder what messages I should have sent to my younger self.  Lot's of encouragement and love.  Also, stay away from 'that' guy.

This page uses a lot of picture stamps, torn pages, and a transfer image of that 1950's girl that I have some photos of.  I had a swing like that in our backyard when I was little.

I am not happy with my hand writing, but, I am trying to wean myself off of using stamps for sentiments and getting more comfortable with writing stuff into journal pages with my own hand.

So, note to younger self - Work on your penmanship - LOL

What would you tell your younger self?


Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Postal Projects

Do you ever read Green Craft magazine?  It is an inspiring read and I have been trying out some of the projects I earmarked in some old issues.

First are the postage stamp collage journal covers.  I had a small pile of vintage postage stamps just ready and waiting to be used in a collage!  I turned one of the smaller journals into an address book for my Mom.  I just had to stamp the alphabet onto the pages so she could store hand-written addresses.


I also repurposed some vintage postcards, maps, and postage into greeting cards.  I love the masculine feel of these.



Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Meet Mable!

Sorry to be absent from this blog for so long, but, I just completed a major clean out and reorganization of my craft room.  It feels so good!  I donated a truckload of things that were weighing me down - I literally found some sewing projects that had been neglected since the 1990's!

So now I have narrowed down my project list to newer more enjoyable things.  I am focusing more on art projects of all types, sewing, and less stamping and cardmaking.  Currently, I get sort of stressed out when I pick up rubber stamps.  So, I pared down my collection of stamps to my favorites.  I think I just stamped for too long and got a little burned out.  Not to worry, I will still be incorporating stamping into projects here and there.

I moved my sewing machine closer to my window and installed a lamp.  I have been happily stitching away ever since.  For example, I had some old quilting squares from an antique quilt that was too far gone to rescue and made this (don't laugh) chicken pincushion.  She is just adorable and filled with heavenly lavender scented crushed walnut shells.  My husband was horrified and called it my voodoo chicken.  I named her Mable!


I also made a batch of needle keepers (got the idea from a class on Creativebug).  If you store your needles in 100% wool they stay sharp and rust free!  I was able to use some cool scraps I just could not let go of, including the fun ribbon with gnomes on it.  On the red one, I incorporated a label from my beloved and talented Aunt Lois.  Aunt Lois was an automobile interior designer and executive starting in the 1950's.  She had amazing class and style and I miss her to this very day.


I'll keep you posted on what I create next - under Mable's watchful eye!

Monday, March 26, 2018

Solvent Transfer



Easily my favorite transfer method from Courtney Cerruti's class (Creativebug), was the solvent method.  In the above card, I used a black and white copy of the little girl (see photos below) and then transferred it onto my inked cardstock (Tim Holtz distress in Faded Jeans and Scattered Straw).  I used a pink pencil to color in her bathing suit and then stamped the greeting.  The best thing about this method is I can copy the photo and transfer it as many times as I want - the sky is the limit!

The photos of the little girl were found in a flea market.  They are a set that I purchased of the same girl from the 1950's.  I think one of her parents was a very good photographer because her photos are so lovely.  I am looking forward to incorporating these images into more of my art.



Here are some of the photos that I used for image transfer.


Packing Tape Transfer


I have been enjoying Courtney Cerruti's 'Image Transfer' class on Creativebug.  The first type of transfer we learned was the 'packing tape transfer' method.  I made this piece by collaging two packing tape transfers (the flower pattern and snake girl in frame).

For the background, I glued book paper to the card stock and then painted it with gesso and some light colored paint.  I added chit chat stickers and the butterflies are Tim Holtz rub ons.

I really love how layering the transfers allows the images below to come through the clear parts of the tape.  If you grew up feeling a bit different like I did, then the sentiment will ring true with you, too.


and a close up or two.



Friday, February 16, 2018

Japanese Stitched Books


I spent my second Creativebug class learning how to make Japanese Stitched books.  This is easier than the coptic stitch and it presents an opportunity to use all kinds of paper for covers.  On these, I used craft paper stamped with my hand carved flower double stamps.  The paper inside is high quality mixed media paper, so I can give these as gifts to my crafty and artsy friends.


My favorite is the pink!

Birthday Card


I just can't seem to get enough of the brightly colored spray stains.  I splurged on some chit chat stickers and I have been putting them on everything.  Happy Birthday to my niece Corinne!

Thursday, January 18, 2018

My First Coptic Bound Book


I took the plunge and signed up for Creativebug classes.  It is a wonderful deal because when you spend the money on an art class in person, you have to take notes and remember all the details.  However, with Creativebug, I can go back and review the video over and over and over until I get the technique down.  I need lots of repetition apparently.

I have long wanted to learn coptic book binding (in fact, I had all the materials to do so, but, had not learned the skill).  This was another unfinished project that needed fulfillment.

I loved this class!  Book binding with thread is much like knitting because the tension must stay consistent.  I have so many books that I would like to repurpose and making sketchbooks and notebooks out of old beautiful covers is something I plan on doing more of.



Dropcloth Sampler Completed


This is one of those projects that I completed last year (my year of completions so to speak).  If you like doing embroidery you should check out Rebecca Ringquist's books, Etsy shop, and she has classes on Creativebug.  I must say that I enjoyed this project even more than anticipated.  Embroidery can be like sculpture and Rebecca has a modern approach which is refreshing.  Particularly for someone like me who has trouble keeping the back of the work nice and neat (which traditionally is a bit of a requirement).  The book makes a nice reference too, so I will be keeping it in my library.