Sketchbook

MOVING MY BLOG... I have moved!

Dear friends and followers...

I've decided to move my blog to blogger/blogspot.   Here is the link to my new blog location http://inkmeupkris.blogspot.com/ .   It is still called "My Sketchbook" and has the same content.  

PLEASE update any bookmarks or your "google reader" subscription.  You can be added to the new blog as a "follower".   I tried my best to move all my posts and pictures to my new blog.   Some formatting on old posts may be off just a bit, but the content should all be there.   We'll see before too long if it worked like I had hoped.

Thank you all for staying with me and blog. 

Kris

New Stamps at Purple Onion AND Sale ...

Just wanted to share with all of you that Michele at Purple Onion Designs has just added a bunch of great new stamps to her site.   AND.... she is having a wonderful holiday sale...  25% off ALL stamps.

 

Great unmounted "rubber" stamps AND the BEST customer service around.  Be sure to check it out!!!

 

 

Buddy - Holly

Many of you know "Holly", our sweet dog.  She is 12 1/2 years old now and she is still our #1 little love puppy.

I want to introduce you to "Buddy", the newest little addition to our family.

 

Buddy is a rescue dog from 4 Paws here in Louisiana.  Isn't he the cutest little guy!?!   He is about 1 1/2 years old and is a "snorkie".  If you aren't familiar with that "breed", that is a yorkie and schnauzer mix. He mostly solid black except for a little tan color on his face and paws.

We were not looking to adopt right now but when you meet the right dog, how can you not add them to your family?   Buddy came home with us yesterday and got his vet check-up today.  He got a clean bill of health but has to go back for his "operation" next week.

So far, the team of "Buddy - Holly" is doing okay.   Not any great tension between them.   That's a good thing!  

 

Ornament Card ...

I think this is a simple yet cute card.   It looks like it took more effort to make than it really does.    Just takes 5 punched circles to make the ornament.   This may be  my Christmas cards this year!?!?

What a super simple and sweet card this one is!?

I cut a corner from a piece of printed Prima paper and used it for my card front.    The flowers were highlighted with a glitter pen and olive colored pearls.   A silk bow was placed in her hair.    "Giggle" was stamped and layered on punched circles/scallops and attached with pop dots.

I think she is a sweetheart.

Zentangles ...

Have you heard of, or ever made a zentangle?   I recently discovered these and find them not only an interesting art form, but a very relaxing and "zen" like thing to do when I am stressed.   Check this out for further insight into them. Although I have stacks of these little 4x4 pieces of art made, here are four zentangles that I recently sent out in a swap.

 

Obviously the next two are fall themed.   My favorite is the "tree".

Relax and enjoy the "zen" tangles.

Hallowe'en in Wonderland ...

I recently finished this altered birdhouse using the wonderful "Hallowe'en in Wonderland" paper collection from Graphic45.

  

 

For more detailed instructions on how I made this, see my project on the Frantic Stamper Happenings blog.

Blue Birdie ...

I dug an old Hero Arts shadow stamp out of my drawer for the background layer on this card.   The bird is made from a punched circle with a piece cut off.  The tale feathers are an egg shaped punch; wing is 1/2 of an egg shape.  Eyeball is a black pearl.  I chalked the birds chest for color.  The branches are just slices of kraft paper.   Bird is mounted on 3D pop dots for dimension.  

Magic Potions ...

I recently created this "Magic Potions" book for a friend.   The book is made from a blank paper mache book from Hobby Lobby.   I glazed/painted the book and then altered and embellished it with a spider web border, creepy flowers, a muslin bow, and a rhinestone spider.

The inside has a vintage picture of two girls framed with rhinestones.    These are two young girls wearing their new witches hats.   They are learning all about magic potions.   The bats are flying, the chandelier is glowing, the bottles are spilling, and the raven is watching....   "be witchey".

I'm Back!

I'm back and ready to share art.   

I didn't go far.   Life started taking up every moment of every day.  Something had to give, and sadly my blog suffered.   But, I'm back from being overwhelmed and hope to share art with you once again.

 

4th of July ...

I don't have any art to share with you today.   Instead, I did want to wish our country a happy birthday!!! Wishing all of you a happy and safe holiday.

 

 

 The artist in me did want to share this vintage postcard image with all of you.

Patriotic Cabinet Cards ...

I recently joined a swap where we altered three cabinet cards in a "Patriotic" theme.  These are the 3 cards that I altered and sent on to their recipients.

 

"Celebrate America" - with glittering party banner, the Stars and Stripes, and the Declaration of Independence.

Betsy Ross with her Stars and Stripes and copy of the Declaration of Independence.  I colored her dress, hair and face with chalk.   Stippled the background using chalk inks to give it depth and a vintage feel.

 

Betsy Ross again, with her sewing label, stitches and trinkets, and the Stars and Stripes.  I do think that her hair bow is a bit "micky mousish" though.  

Celebrating an early 4th of July!

 

First Day of Summer...

I think I made it through spring without posting any photos of any flowers.   It's coincidently the first day of summer and I have some colorful flowers to post.   It's been about 100' degrees for a week now... and hot humid weather had preceded that.  So, my flowers are already overgrowing and showing signs of stress from the heat.  Hopefully they will make it through the entire summer.  Thank goodness for "drip" systems to keep them watered so I don't have to.

 

I stopped into a local nursery one day and found this perennial.  I had never seen one before.  It is a "cat's whiskers".   It starts flowering at the bottom of the stalk and slowly progresses to the top.  It's a really interesting and delicate looking flower.  I hope it comes back again next year since I'll probably never see one at the nursery again.

 

Years ago I tired of planting tropical hibiscus plants that never flourished or survived the hot summers.  I remember when we lived in Illinois we had a perennial hibiscus.  I located some here and this is one of them.  It is my hibiscus "tree".  It is currently 7 feet tall with dinner plate sized hibiscus.  Each day it has up about 15-20 new flowers.   It's awesome and the hummingbirds love it.

 

This is the hibiscus that sits next to the pool.  It doesn't get as big as the red one, but it is still as pretty.  And, I did have to cut a few stalks off when my patio umbrella fell over on top of it and crunched it.  I'm lucky to have any of my plant left.  :)

 

Just love the almost florescent colors of these flowers.   Most of my flowers in my pots are "annuals" that voluntarily come back each spring (like these did).  I don't have to plant new ones which is good, but sometimes unexpected flowers show up in the oddest places.

 

One of my potted hydrangeas, button flowers (a favorite) and volunteer flowers.

Thanks for viewing some of my flowers with me. 

 

 

Canvas Tiles ...

Here is a recent project I did.   I made a tag shaped card and created some canvas faced tiles to embellish it with.

 

Here are the wooden tile embellishments for the front of the card.   I basically stamped Tim Holtz images onto the canvas, aged them with ink, and attached the canvas to the tiles.  

 

If you want full instructions on how I created this card or the canvas tiles, check it out here.    I will definitely remember to make these again!!!

 

 

Shabby Spring Tag ...

I wanted to share one of my first projects that I created for the Frantic Stamper Blog.  I made this Shabby Spring Tag using a handmade a paper bag flower.

Making handmade flowers has become popular lately.  I made this flower from an ordinary brown grocery bag. Super easy! 

Click here for instructions on how to make this tag and paper bag flower.

Here are a couple of variations I made using the same "recipe" as the paper bag flower.

 

Have fun!
  


 

Great News ...

I have been so busy in the past few months that along with neglecting my blog and my readers, that I also neglected to share some great news with you.  

I am proud to say that back in February I was selected to be on the first Design Team for the Frantic Stamper.  I am absolutely thrilled by this.  I have loved the Frantic Stamper since I first started stamping.   It is one store that I can count on to always have everything I need.   And, the customer service is wonderful.  If you have never visited her site be sure to check it out.

And, be sure to view the Frantic Stamper blog.   The talented Design Team has been posting some wonderful projects.

I'm Back...

The remodeling is done.  I've finished my spring yard clean-up.  I'm back from a week at the Gulf.  I am feeling rejuvinated and much less stressed out.  My artistic muse is returning. Happy news. 

Now that I am getting back in the swing of things, let me start off by sharing two cards I made recently.  I used the same stamps for both.  I believe the birdhouse is by Stampendous and the background is by A Stamp In The Hand.  The sentiment is Hero Arts.  I directly inked the birdhouse image using Colorbox chalk ink making sure to blend the colors.

The first square card has colored pearls added to the stamped image.   The second card was highlighted with a glitter pen.  The paper flower is from Tim Holtz's colletion.  A carved wooden brad is in the center of the flower.

 

Isn't Remodeling Fun !?

Well, I know that I have been missing from my blog lately.   I have been missing from my art room too.   We have started having some home renovations done and it has been taking up all of my time and energy.   The planning stage is fun and exciting.   The pick-out/ordering stage gets a bit more stressful.  Then comes the demolition.  Oh my!   What a mess.   You have to be able to laugh at this point!   Then comes waiting... and waiting... and more waiting.

We are currently living in cluttered madness (and the layers of dust come along with it).    We actually started a couple of weeks ago with the demolition and installation of new tile floors in all 3 baths and the laundry room.  That was time consuming but went smoothly.   Very pleased with the final outcome.  

We have an almost completed new storage closet off my back hallway - 6' x 6' plus space under a staircase.   we have always had a shortage of closet storage so I am looking forward to using this new space.  We are also having some small things done like a new shower door.  Each project no matter how big or small, seems to take more time than expected.

In the meantime, we've waited for several weeks for our new granite countertops to be fabricated.   Last Wednesday the crew came to remove our old tile countertops so that the new granite could be installed the next day.  This is what the kitchen looked like that morning.

This is what it looked like by noon.   No countertops, backsplash, stove, sink, etc.   But, some new cabinets were added to the open side of our island.  Barstools will still go in between them.

There is a missing photo here.  It would be the one showing our FINISHED granite counters and new tile backsplash.    Unfortunately I don't have one ... yet.  

Thursday, they installed our new granite in the kitchen and in all the bathrooms.  Everything was going smoothly until the final cleanup of the granite.   That is when we noticed the scratches/gouges in the granite in the kitchen. On Friday we were notified that they would be re-fabricating all new countertops...10 more days before removal and installation. 

Now, this of course is delaying the new tile backsplash that was suppose to have gone in on Saturday morning.   And, the cabinets can't be painted until the "newest" counters arrive.   Still no sink, no dishwasher.... but I do have a stove.   And, more waiting.

The bathrooms all look like this one.  But isn't the new tile floor under all that plastic nice looking!!!

These are the bathrooms we are living with.   Actually, we do have bathroom sinks now.   But, the cabinets, lighting, mirrors, etc. aren't finished yet.   Oh cabinet man... wherefore art thou?

I do get my new light fixtures, new outlets, etc. installed on Thursday.   At least that is the plan.   

I finally did get into my art room tonight.  Felt great to be at a point where I felt like I could actually create something.   I am sooo stressed out... it was a pleasant change of pace.

I'll post a couple of cards I made very soon.  Thanks to all for being patient with me and my lack of art posts.   And, I'll post finished pictures when (and if) all of this construction ever gets finished.  :) 
 

Altered Gum Container ...

This week I altered a plastic gum container.  I made it into this handy-dandy magnetic refrigerator pencil holder.

 

While thumbing through the newest  Good Housekeeping magazine (January 2010), I saw this really clever idea.    A gum tin made into a refrigerator pencil holder.   So simple, but so ingenious.

Like many of you, I have a magnetic grocery list/to-do pad stuck on my refrigerator door.    I can never seem to find a pencil or pen when I need to write on it though.  I usually have one stashed in a nearby drawer. 

 

I decided I was going to make myself one of these neat pencil holders.    Of course I thought....I can make mine better.   I am going to make mine a little bit more "artsy".   I went through all of my metal tins and couldn't find one shaped like this.   I remembered I did have some plastic gum containers that opened on the end.  It ended up working just fine.   I just cut the plastic lid off and started altering it.

 

               

 

I wrapped the gum container with printed paper.   I left the paper about 3/4" long at the bottom.   I folded the paper at the bottom like the end of a wrapped gift box.  Added a vintage looking label to the front.   Aged with a little ink and sandpaper.  The neck of this container is tapered, so I added two layers of twill and twine around the neck.  A button and paper flower were added to embellish it.    I added one round magnet to the back of my container and it is plenty secure when loaded up with a couple of pencils/pens.

 

Super simple.  Super convenient. 

 

 

Keeping It Simple and Clean ...

Most of Tim Holtz products are geared to the vintage/aged/shabby/rustic look in art.  I love it.   But sometimes I just like "clean" and simple art.   I found this fun "card" while looking at blogs.

 

This came from the blog of Shari Carroll - blog post My World.  Her blog is very inspirational.    I think this is just adorable.   It is "clean" and simple.   She used one of HeroArts new row house stamps (by the way, I must have it) in the background.    She used Tim Holtz's Crackle Paint on a chipboard house.  Her crackle paint house came out terrific!  

 

I don't know about any of you... but when I use the crackle paint, it doesn't look as nice as this.   Mine is always very chunky looking.   With this is mind, I decided to take a slightly different route on my version/interpretation of this beautiful card.  First, I chose to make a Valentine's Day card.   Secondly, I used a grungeboard heart (harlequin pattern) that I finished off differently then with crackle paint.

 

My grungeboard heart was finished by inking it up with chalk ink and letting it dry.   You could color it with most anything.   Then I used versamark ink on the entire front of the heart and dipped it in clear embossing powder.  I applied two coats of it.   Then I put a sprinkling of holographic embossing powder in the third layer of embossing powder.   You could use a fine glitter also.  Gives it lots of depth.   Also, remember that grungeboard can be cut easily.    The heart that was in my set of shapes was too big.  I just used my Tonic scissors and easily cut it down to the size I needed.

 

This is what I ended up with.   This goes to show you that you can use Tim Holtz products and not always have to have a shabby/vintage looking finished piece of art.

 

Christmas Skinny Pages ...

I am anxiously awaiting the return of my "skinny pages" from a recent swap.   We each made skinny pages (3"x6").    They each had to have an alpha letter on it -- spelling out Christmas.  Here are the ones I sent in.  I will get 9 in return... spelling out Christmas.  I will either make them into a small book or a banner.

 
 

I love the little birds I created using a circle punch and a small "egg" shaped punch.   Super easy.  I think I am going to be putting these on my Christmas card this year.  The alphabet stamp set I used is from Purple Onion Designs.
  
 
 

25 Days of Christmas ...

I have a little catching up to do.   On December 1st, my "25 Days of Christmas" started.    In one of my art groups, 25 of us joined this gift swap.   We each made a giftie for each artist.  We each were assigned a day (mine is the 15th of December) that our gifts will be opened by everyone else.

I had planned on sharing the gifts I received on a daily basis, but am already a few days behind.  I will try to catch up here.

First, I must say what fun it was to open the mailbox over several days and find little surprise packages.  I could hear the little jingle bell inside tingling.  Such fun!   I put all of the wrapped gifts in a Christmas suitcase that I have and they are sitting on my dining room table just waiting to be opened. 

 
  

 

1st Day of Christmas  - Robin (Yooper) made these beautiful blue button fairies.   Just gorgeous.  A great addition to the Christmas tree.

 

2nd Day of Christmas - A beautiful beaded acrylic ribbon necklace.   I love the metal bead/finding that she used for the tree.  Really nice.

 

3rd Day of Christmas - Autumn made this adorable wooden heart shaped Santa ornaments.  Santa is hiding behind the bow, but he is there watching to see who is naughty and nice.

 

4th Day of Christmas - Claudia sent out these beautiful foil cards.  Inside was an embossed library pocket and lace Christmas ornaments.  I'm not sure, but the foil silver card appears to be colored with alcohol ink.   Also, clever idea with the libray pocket... embossed in the Cuttblebug.

 

5th Day of Christmas - Ellen altered these darling (and very useful) mini-composition books.  Really wel done.   Love it!

I plan to be here each day to update you with all of the little gifties I open.   Until tomorrow...

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Altered Angels - Peace, Love and Joy

I am very excited about my latest altered art project.   I'm truly getting in the mood for Christmas already.   Those that know me, know that this is unusual for me.  It seems like my festive mood rarely kicks in this far ahead of the holiday.

I made these altered angels for Glue, Art & Paper Studio.    I am really happy with how they turned out.  I will proudly display them in my home during the holidays.

 

I used  pearl ivory and gold as my focal colors with a touch of copper and brown for the accents.   For many, these colors probably seem very non-traditional for Christmas. I like the earthy feel that the copper and brown accents give these angels.

I started with these wooden dress forms from Glue, Art & Paper Studio.  I painted two of them pearl ivory and one in metallic gold.   The ivory angels were stamped with a flourish design and Brilliance ink.   The Brilliance ink stamped beautifully on the painted wood and gave it a shimmery accent.   I left the gold dress form unstamped as the metallic gold paint stood out well on it's own.

 

Each set of wings are different.   The base for easy is a shimmering ivory card stock.   I topped them with layers of printed vellum, embossed vellum, and gold skeleton leaves.   Each is cut in a different size and shape.

Did you notice that each angel has a rustic bird nest sitting on her shoulders?   A gold glittered dove sits on each.    I also printed the words "peace, love, and joy" on shimmering ivory card stock and placed them in gold bottle caps.   I attached a word to each angel.

 

 

I gave each angel a flowing skirt of ribbon.   I used about 10 different colors, textures, and widths of ribbon.   I doubled the ribbons and draped them to one side of their waists.   I left them extra long and draping.   I added a wired ribbon bow to each at the waist.    Also, beads that I cut from holiday "picks" were glued to the base of each angel.

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed my holiday altered angels.   The beautifully made wooden dress forms from Glue, Art & Paper Studio certainly made this project easy.    They have such nice quality products.    This truly is an easy project and can be easily personalized to your style and colors.  Give them a try.

Enjoy your holiday season!!! 

 

Altered Christmas Cabinet Cards (and more) ...

I have to apologize for not posting anything new lately.   Not to worry... I have been busy working on many art projects. I just finished a 25 days of Christmas swap, and an altered cabinet card swap.  I am currently working on Christmas pages for a tall skinny book swap, a set of wooden angels for Glue, Art & Paper Studio, and trying to fit in general stamping, card making, and taking care of 3 secret sisters.   Oh yea, somewhere in there I have been designing this years Christmas cards.

For the altered cabinet card swap, I altered 14 cabinet cards in a Christmas Song theme.   Each had to represent the title of a Christmas song.   And, it had to include a santa hat on each cabinet card also.   I don't want to post all of the altered cards, but here are a few.   Does the song title fit?

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Now, the 25 Days of Christmas swap has been a fun one so far.   25 artists joined, and each of us was to make a small gift.    We mailed one of our gifts to each of the other 24 participants.   I have been having a blast getting the mail each day with piles of little gift packages arriving each day.    Each of us was assigned a day in December that our gift are to be opened on.   In the end, we each have a gift to open from a fellow artist on each and every day in December (up to the 25th).  How fun is this going to be!?!?!    I am really looking forward to December when the unwrapping can begin.

Sorry, but I can't post a picture of the gifts I made yet.   I will at a later date.   I can show you what they look like in the little gift bags I sewed.   This is what the other 24 artists received from me... mine are to be opened on the 15th of December.

Merry Christmas ladies!

I'll be back soon.  Hopefully my Christmas Angels will be done.   I am very excited about them.

 

 

Rain, Rain ...

... I really wish you'd go away (for now anyway).    We are having record rainfall this fall, and to be quite honest with you, I am sick of it.   We've had 30" in October alone.    Then it was another 12" or so in the last half of September.   Yikes... that is a lot of water.   It has no where left to drain to.  Everything is saturated and backing up.   The river is above flood stage.  The bayous are full.   We've had even more rain today... but nothing like the stormy weather we were warned we were going to have.   It is suppose to be sunny this coming week... I sure hope so.   I'm tired of clouds and drips.   You'd think this was the perfect weather to stay inside and do art.  Well, not for me.  Makes me restless and unmotivated.   Way too early in the season to be trapped inside.

Funny... I don't remember buying waterfront property!?!?!

And, Holly is much better after she scared us this week with her little "emergency" health episode.  We are back to having happy tails again.