Turning the Corner...

Welcome back,

I am so glad you dropped in. I have been really intrigued with the more mixed media/grunge/steam punk look of stamping recently. I have been totally entranced with all the new releases at Creativation 2019 from Tim Holtz all the companies that he designs for. I watched all the facebook lives and drool over all the new products and designs that are coming on the market!

Although I can't own them all, I have a nice little stash of goodies that I am learning with. Take a look at today's creation!

JUST A THOUGHT:  I have been doing a lot of video watching, and blog reading about Art Journaling. The process of Art journaling never really interested me before. As I have mentioned before, I enjoy creating pieces that I can bless others with. Everything I create is turned into a card or gift of some form. I have passed by Art journaling previously because its end result is self-fulfilling. (i.e. I keep them) That makes it hard to share and it doesn't bless others.

However, I am growing as an artist, and my skills, techniques and subject matter are always changing and evolving. I am wondering if IN ADDITION to card-making (and scrapbooking) I could create a few art journal pages to play with ideas on a larger format rather than the very little card sizes.
I recently gave another look at Vicky Papaioannou art journaling style. She intrigues me. It took me a long time to assimilate her Greek accent, it was very difficult for me to understand at first. lol Her art style is very different than mine, but it is very controlled and I think I like that about it. I like the HAPPY PLANNER and hole punch that she uses for her journals. From what I can gather, she has notebooks, as well as several different sizes. (i.e.- 6 x 6 and 8 x 8) She mentioned she enjoys square journals. (huh) Just a direction I may venture into. Though I would share!

Here is another piece from the same background. Take a look:

I REALLY like these two pieces, and I am not sure I want to share them! So,  I may turn them into art for my craft room and keep them! (... I am a bit selfish after all) lol.
But before I do, I entered these into a few current challenges. Each one will take you there. I would love to know what you think!

1. Dragonfly Dreams
2. Fashionable Stamping
3. Love 2 Create
Leave a comment, I always return one!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Heart

Welcome back,
I am joining yet another challenge. Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so a heart challenge seems fit! Take a look:

 My background makes me SO happy. I think I really am improving my mixed media skills. (are there such things?) I wanted to incorporate this into my card for this challenge. When I pulled out my Valentines/love stash, I found a ton of die cuts I had left over from a project I made a few years back. I layered them all up to create my own thick embellishments. The challenge I faced, was that they were too "clean" (lol). I had to "dirty them up" and make them fit with the background.

I really had a fun time creating this card. I enjoyed creating my own embellishments. Thanks for stopping in. I hope my number is selected, I would love to place an order at Simon Says Stamp! Please leave a comment!

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Alcohol

Welcome Back,
I am off of school today for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I thought I would join another great challenge! I am trying my hand at a look that is a bit out of my comfort zone. I think it could grow on my though. Take a look:

I can't say that this is my original idea. I took this look from a Journal entry created by: Vicky Papaioannou Click here. I think I am warming up to her style! Her style is very controlled, and that appeals to me. :) They background is done with alcohol inks and straw. I used my stencils and the Alcohol lift ink pad with a foam pad to lift-away some of the background.  The butterflies provided my focal point. (I need to fussy cut better...huh) 

I am so glad to spend more time in my craft room today. I am getting more comfortable with my Tim Holtz products, and I keep finding more items I want (isn't it always that way?) Good thing I have a local stamp expo coming to town next month. Better start saving my pennies. Thanks for dropping by.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Clean and Simple

Welcome back,
I am joining the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge! The theme this week is Clean & Simple. . Take a look:

I saw this stamp set on the clearance rack at Technique Tuesday, and I had to grab it! I loved the price point, but seriously did not pay attention to the SIZE of the stamp set. I thought it was quite a bit larger then it really was. I was disappointed at first, but then realized that I don't have any smaller wildflower sets that I can use with a white frame. It's ALL GOOD!
I believe I used Picked Raspberries, Wild Honey and Mustard Seed. I used my Misti to get a dark black stamping. Thanks for dropping in! I would love a comment or two. It would make my day!

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Recycle

Welcome Back!
I am excited to be able to join the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. I have been enjoying my grunge-side of my cardmaking lately. My school just had a local law firm donate a bunch of furniture, chairs and TONS of office supplies to my school (I am a math teacher). Amongst the piles of office supplies was a entire box of dividers that had been removed from years of filing. I grabbed them quick! The dividers were white, but a bit on the cardstock side.  RECYCLE! Take a look:

I started the background with picket fence paint and Tim Holtz alphabet stencil on the recycled divider. Once dried, I blended a handful of bright distress inks. (picked Raspberries, Wilted Violet, Wild Honey and couple others along with a brown around the edges.) I used a handful of other stencils and stamps in the background. I placed the sentiment first and heat embossed it, so that I would room for it!  lol

The wild flowers are mostly Tim Holtz, but I just purchased CottageCuts wildflower die sets. They are awesome! They come with cute dragonflies and hummingbirds! Anyway, I used the technique from Jennifer McGuire to place all the flowers. She uses GLAD Press and Seal to lift all the small pieces and keep them in place. Then I can put glue all over the back-sides of the small pieces, and then place it back in place. What a great time saver! 

Thanks for dropping by!

New Start Gift for My Sister

Welcome Back,
I am going to visit my oldest sister tomorrow and I wanted to give her a cute gift! I have fallen in love with Paper-Mate Flair Marker Pens, and wanted to share a few of them with her. Wait, she needs a pencil cup! (pen cup, to be correct) What a great paper craft to make! Take a look:

 I ran right to my water color paper, Tim Holtz Distress inks, his diamond stencil and of course my all-time favorite, wildflower stamps! I believe both these sentiments are from him as well.  :)
I used Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberries, Wilted Violet, and Wild Honey. Then I used water over my stencil to remove some of the color. I tried to give each panel an ombre effect, but I am not sure if I achieved it.

After all my panels were finished, I taped a square panel on the bottom inside, and then glued another panel on the bottom outside. I wanted to be sure that bottom was secured. I love how the flowers wrap around from one panel to the next.

My sister will love this! If not, I am tempted to keep it, it makes me VERY happy! I hope it makes Sue happy. She needs a good smile these days. Thanks for dropping in, and PLEASE leave a comment, they make me VERY VERY happy!  :) See you soon!

More birthdays cards!

Hello again,
I have really enjoyed my Holiday break. I completed 58 cards in total. Crazy right?  Although I have to give them out during the year, I am hoping to post a bunch on my blog for inspiration. Take a look:

Distress Inks and Wildflowers
Rubbernecker background stamp

Distress paint and stencils with wildflowers

I know, I know my photographs are not the best. I struggle so much with shadows. But the cards are so beautiful in the natural sunlight. It is 70 degrees in Florida today. How can you NOT take photos outside?

More to come! Thanks for dropping by. I hope to join in some card challenges when they get up and running this year!  :)

 

Christmas Break 2018

Good Morning!
Welcome back. I wanted to share some of my birthday creations. I am gearing up to create enough cards to send to friends and family all year long, as well as continue (yep, I survived year one) my birthday card project at my school for all teachers and staff! (77 in total) Here are the a few of the best ones.

distress ink and wildflowers - green

distress ink and wildflowers - pink

distress ink and wildflowers - blue

distress ink and wildflowers - mixed

distress ink and wildflowers - blended

I seriously need some photography lessons. I have a great camera, I just can't get the shadows and the light quite right! Thanks for dropping by.