Sketchbook

So many birthdays...

Happy birthday to my brother Ron.   Sorry that I am posting this a day late.  Yesterday got a bit out of control.   I hope that you had a great day!!!  You deserve it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RON!!!

Catch up...

I made this little card using a new "telegram" stamp I received as a gift from Jan, a stamping sister.  After stippling it with chalk inks, I stamped Hero Arts flowers and branches.   Attached aged twill and brown ribbon.  I thought it was a "fun" idea...sending flowers.

Tonight I started working on an altered bottle swap.  I have to alter 3 bottles that are a maximum of 5" tall.  the three bottles I found are almost that tall. Locally, I have very few resources to check for vintage bottles or "fun" bottles.   I will obviously post pictures when they are all complete. 

The first bottle I stamped an image on white tissue, and then stippled it with all different shades of dye ink.  I tore up the tissue and adhered it to the bottle.   Another bottle is now colored with alcohol inks...purples and pinks.  The third bottle was sponged with a mixture of distress ink mixed into a gel medium.  I gave it a rough texture.  I am curious to see what that looks like when the gel dries. 

If you have altered any small bottles, or seen any...please leave me a link in my comments.  I'd love to see what others have done.

Lastly....it's over!!!.  Idol is over until next year.  I always look forward to it when it starts, but I must say that I am glad it is over.   I've had my fill of it.  I feel like I have been wasting my time if I sit and watch it while it is still light outside (thank goodness for DVRs).  I think Melinda, Blake and Jordin were all wonderful in their own individual ways.  They will all have great success I think.   So, I really didn't have any "outstanding" favorite.    Any one of them as the idol was really okay with me.

Spring Has Sprung...

Although it feels like summer here, I guess in many parts of the country it is still spring.  I made this card for a secret sister.  Flower is made from a die cut flower, and die cut circle that was stamped with a Hero Arts "spring" stamp and put on pop dots.  The stem is ribbon.  The sentiment is also Hero Arts.     Nothing fancy... just a cheery little "tall" card.

A Prescription...

for a happy birthday...just what this stamper ordered.  A little card I made to send to my brother for his 49th birthday.  The "prescription" is from a fun set from Purple Onion Designs, as is the Altea alphabet.  I filled in the date with a date stamp; did some stippling on the prescription; and used lots of manly stamps for the background.

Aaaahhhhhhh.....

I think summer has arrived here already.  The air conditioner is on 24 hours a day.  We have been hot and the humidity has settled in for the long, miserable summer.    I've been working hard finishing up my spring yard projects.  Just about done!!!  I'll tell you...it's hard to work out there.   After I'm done each day, I've been jumping in the pool and saying ....aaaahhhhhhhh.  It's up to 84' degrees already.   Such a refreshing relief.  I don't know what I'd do without it...I guess be very hot and miserable.

I almost forgot to mention....I came across another snake today!!!  Thank goodness this one was in the yard, and not in the house.  I was putting out a couple more bales of pine straw, and I had a bad feeling in my gut about one of the bales, so I opened it up first.  There was a snake in the middle of the bale...about 16" long or so.  I went to the garage and got my nice sharp edged hoe.  Did the trick!!  I am proud of myself...I didn't freak out.  Now, if I had found him in a handful of the stuff, that would of been a different story.

Mother's Day...

I made these two cards tonight.  The first is for my Aunt Jo...my moms sister.  The second is for my step mother-in-law...Jo.

Both cards were made with chalk inks on glossy, layered onto textured cardstock.  The background cardstock on the first card is from the "Old World" Mat Stack (DCWV).  I love this stack of paper.  The designs are beautiful, and the paper is wonderfully thick and textured.  I also like the the newer Asian stack too.

I finally did it...

I love my mounted stamps, and really don't ever want to stop using or buying them.  I have just as many or more unmounted stamps, but for me there is something special about stamping with wood mounted stamps.

I have always had all my mounted stamps stored in tons of Sterlite 3-drawer boxes, and stacked on spice racks on book shelves.  I was tired of the  cluttered look of the shelves.  I have known for a long time that I wanted to purchase some nice "stamp drawers" to store my mounted stamps in.   Something that was easy to use, and looked nice within my studio.  It took me awhile to decide on which cabinets I'd get.

Well, I finally did it.  I ordered some storage chests and they arrived a couple of weeks ago.  They are in my art studio and FULL of stamps.  I love them!!!  They were not cheap, but fortunately I was still able to purchase them.  I have spent the past couple of weeks going through "stuff", and doing some reorganizing and decluttering (my new years resolution).  I just have some labeling left to do.   But, I wanted to share my "new" cabinets and my updated room with you all. 

I feel so good about organizing and decluttering.  It may still look like a shambles, but to me...this is clean and organized.  I feel so much more creative in a clean work area.

These are the cabinets I purchased.  I have a total of 35 drawers (so far).  They are pretty much full already.  I'm sure I will eventually get more.  I chose the white laminate cabinets, with the oak drawer fronts. 

This picture shows the cabinets sitting right next to my work table...along with all the "stuff" I keep right at my finger tips....inks, tools, etc.

This is the area that sits directly behind me.  This is where I keep all my small tools, small  embellishments, mediums, papers, paper cutter, ephemera, etc.  I used white laminate closet organizers to create all of the handy shelving space.  I have had them for a few years now, and they have worked out great.

I have 4 sets of these hanging pocket organizers (from QVC)...that I love.  They come in two sizes.  The ones on the left hold small items...I use medium sized glass topped tins in each pocket.   I can easily see what is in each tin/pocket.  And, the larger pockets are great for packaged items...like 7 gypsies items.  Again, I can find things so easily with these organizers.  Everything is so visible.  And, even though there are four panels hanging on each side/hook...they basically take up no space hanging where they do.

In this corner, I have stacks of embellishment drawers, topped with some boxes that I hold my favorite small Purple Onion alphabets that I have mounted onto small wooden cubes.  You can see many of the document boxes that are full of ephemera, stamps, etc.

These are my "clean" bookshelves.   I can now use the top two shelves on each unit to display some of my art pieces, and my "frogs" on my frog shelf.

I purchased photo boxes and different bins to store other supplies and tools in.   There is even some room to spare!?!?!  I wonder for how long though??

I haven't finished my other wall which is my display wall.  I need to update it.  This is the wall where I display all of the wonderful art I receive from my stamping friends.  It is my inspiration wall.

Well, that is my update and reorganized (and decluttered) studio.  Hope you enjoyed the tour.  I had fun sharing it....and did I say .... I LOVE my new stamp drawers?!?!!?

Little birdie...

As many of my stamping friends know... I love bird stamps.  I have liked them for years.  Long before they became the "latest" image to use in stamping. 

I have all kinds of birds.  Little birds, big birds, cute birds, wacky birds, flying birds, standing birds... you name it, I probably have it.

Anyway, I recently got a new quatro set from Hero Arts.  The set has the 4 cutest little birds.

I colored my little bird using the MCP technique.  Used lots of purples...and I even stamped the sentiment on a little embossed tag from "Martha's" new collection.

I wonder who the lucky person is, that this card is flying to right now?  Um....I'm not telling.

Charming Swap....

I recently hostessed a charm swap for one of the online art groups that I belong to.  See post right below this one.   I mailed out all of the charms earlier this week, and I think everyone has received their packages.  Now I can post some photos of the wonderful charms that we all received.

I apologize for the poor photos.  They do NOT do the charms any justice.  Again....I apologize beforehand.  These are the charms "I" received.  Some may have been different for each person.  My descriptions are my interpretation of them...I don't know how each of them was made or exactly what materials were used.  I am guessing on my descriptions.

These three charms were made by Candy, Annie and Carolyn.  All beautiful.  The first is a silver frame with a glazed picture and beads in it (really bad photo/glare), and lovely crystal beads.  Annie used some type of gold pan and put the moon image in it with the word "dream".  It has been glazed and some glitter and beads added.  The beaded face charm is gorgeous.  I'm not sure how Carolyn made the face.

These charms are by Christa, Corinne, and Tina.  Christa made hers from a sewing machine bobbin.  She made a felted heart and it was sewn to the side of it.  When you turn the bobbin on its side,you can see the colorful threads and orange (of course) polka dotted fabric tied around bobbin.  Also, a button is attached.  Corinnes charm was made with clear aquarium tubing and silver findings and crystals.   Tina made us two charms.  They were made with tear drop beads and swivels ... one way and three way.

These charms were made by Donna, Kelly, and LisaRenea.  Donna's charm was made with beautiful brass findings and crystal beads.  I don't know if they are vintage or not.   Kelly made hers using a keep from a computer key board, and also from a glass stone.  It has metal on the back...not sure if it is solder or what, but it's very pretty.   Lisa Renea made each of us our own altered matchbox with a personalized bottle cap on it.  Mine was a "garden" cap.  Everyones was different.  The charm inside was beautiful too...gold frame with crystal beads.

This group of charms were made by Pat, Linda, and Keri.  Pats is amazing.  She said she made it from cotter pin dipped in molten UTEE/pearl ex, and wrapped with wire/beads.  It is beautiful.  Linda made two charms.  One with a sewing machine bobbin and silver findings.  The second is a tag shape with pearly coating, a picture with the word "sweet" and small flower, and glittered edges.  Keri also made two charms.  The first one is a stamped charm with the word "friend" in it..finished in silver/black, and has beautiful crystal and silver beads on it.  The other is a real penney with a copper "made with love" charm attached to it.

These two charms were made by Sue and Tracy.  Sue's is made with a layer of felt and netting sewn together.   Between the layers, she put a shell button and irredescent sequins.  She also put irredescent glitter around the edges of the felt.  I'm not sure how Tracy made hers.  It is a vivid blue square, with a picture on it.  The edges have been coated with micro beads or sugar beads.  A silver and hand wrapped jump ring are attached to the top.

I really enjoyed being the hostess for this swap.  It was a fun and artistic swap. Thank you to all of you who participated.   I know some of us had a very hard time creating these charms...but, I think we ALL did a terrific job.   Now, we each need to decide what we are going to do with our charms.  Will they go on an actual bracelet, find their way to an altered book or journal, or to an unknown place.  Any ideas???

Charm Swap....

I am the hostess of a handmade "charm" swap with one of my online group of art friends.  We will each end up with 15 original handmade charms.

This was a view of my dining room table while I was swapping out the charms.  He may look chaotic, but it was totally organized!

As a "teaser" to my group of friends, I'm posting this second picture to show them what they are recieving in their packages.  This picture really shows the wonderful  presentations of the charms...and none of the charms themselves. 

I don't want to totally spoil the surprise.  The charms should be there in a couple days...and then I will post a photo of all of the charms.

Thanks ladies...this has really been fun.