GROW

I made another page for my Alice In Wonderland paper bag album. Again, this was for the extra challenge at the Gingersnap Creations Yahoo! Group. I added this to the Fairy Tales album there.

I must admit I'm disappointed with my doorplate technique. I have no complaints with the Tim Holtz label die which I used on my grungepaper. Not complaining about the Adirondack Gold Metallic Dabber paint or the Gold Perfect Pearls either. Even took the whole thing apart to add chalk ink and Vintage Photo Distress Ink, trying to make it look more worn or like burnished gold. I think I finally got it burnished enough that it doesn't look too bad in the photo.  But I did want it plain as a backdrop for all of the add-ons.

The papers are Graphic 45 and Tim Holtz Distressables (rulers); Wendy's Studio 490 bottle stamp with some cork for the top and a label from the Crafty Secrets Greetings from Wonderland stamp set. Alice images found on the internet, printed and colored with Copics.

First Bookmark

Here is my very first bookmark.  Not too remarkable as far as technique or decoration.  I made it for my dh so I stayed away from ink or embellies that would damage his books.  I submitted this for the Gingersnap Creations Yahoo! Group where there are a couple of extra challenges each month for the Gingersnappers.  The May theme was text for inspiration so making bookmarks was a perfect add-on challenge.  I found this great image at the Suzee Que Flickr website.  I simply printed it out and attached it to some two-sided cardstock by BasicGrey and added a sticker sentiment from ADORNit.  Both products are from the Pages In Time store. 

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR MY BLOG CANDY!!!!!

Paper Doll Birthday Card: GC#56 Color Challenge

This is my final contribution as Visiting Artist for the month of May at Gingersnap Creations where books are serving as our inspiration this month.  For this month's color challenge, GC#56, we chose three colors that remind us of those old books you see lining the shelves of musty antiquarian bookstores...burgundy, ivory and black.  I made a greeting card with this lovely paper doll from Altered Artifacts.   When I was seven years old, I couldn't wait for the Sunday newspaper because the comic section had a paper doll to cut out and color.  Apparently I still have a passion for paper dolls and had fun dressing this one with one of her tabbed dresses that looked somewhat burgundy and adding a black ribbon around the waist.  I gave her a small bouquet of flowers to hold in her hand.

I used the Pages In Time Thursday Sketch for the week of May 20 to make my card.

Patterned papers are Jenni Bowlin Red Cabbage Flower and Vintage Black Bookprint as well as Prima's Iron Orchid Designs: Heavenlies.

The  flourishes/swirls on the Prima paper and the paper dress count for the Week 20 Challenge at Lots to Do.

He Had Great Expectations

This is my third piece as Visiting Artist for the month of May at Gingersnap Creations.  I made this for the Random Redhead Challenge #55: Quotes.  Since books and text are inspiring us this month, I decided to use a quote from the author, Charles Dickens, I only ask to be free.  The butterflies are free.

I was leaning towards Maya Angelou's I know why the caged bird sings, but I really wanted to use this beautiful Victorian Fairy image from Altered Artifacts.  When I discovered Mr. Dickens was providing me with the perfect quote, my imagination took flight. 

Materials:
5 x 7" canvas panel painted with Adirondack cranberry acrylic paint, followed by pink paint, then a thin layer of cranberry again (so that some of the pink shows through)
Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Caged Bird die: cage cut from grunge paper and distressed with Black Soot ink; then covered with Perfect Medium followed by Perfect Pearls in Pewter and Green Patina and finished with a spritz of water from the mini-mister.  (Unfortunately the rain forced me to take an indoor photo so you can't see the shimmery metallic effect.)  Snap on top; gray pearls on bottom.
Public domain photo of Charles Dickens cut and placed on script paper behind the bird cage. 
Prima flowers with a black metal flower and brad.
7 Gypsies antique silver key
Alteredartifacts Victorian Fairies collage sheet for two butterfly images
Scroll from Stampers Anonymous Studio 490 Art by the Number stamp set

Knowledge Is the Key

Books and words are inspiring us this month at Gingersnap Creations .  As Visiting Artist, this is my contribution for the Gingersnap Creations Spicy Supply Challenge: #54 Pencils.  The challenge is posted today along with wonderful inspiration from the Design Team.  You have until June 6 to link up your entry at the Gingersnap blog. Seven Ginger Gems will be chosen from the entries.

As soon as I read the challenge, I knew what I was going to use.  No, I didn't draw this pencil sketch.  It's part of a postcard sent in the 1800's from my grandfather to his family.  He sent it from Geneva, Switzerland, where he was a medical student.  I don't know if it's a self-portrait or if someone else sketched his profile. The entire postcard is written in tiny handwriting, also done in pencil, covering every inch of the postcard around the sketch.   Unfortunately I can't read a word of the language it's written in.  (I chose to put my watermark over the handwriting on the collar since it was bothering me that I didn't know what it said.)

For this project, I photocopied the original and cut out just the sketch of my grandfather.  I placed it on top of some dictionary paper.  I added a couple of Graphic 45 stamps and lots of Tim Holtz hardware.  The base is a vintage cardboard photograph frame covered with Making Memories shopping bag paint.  After I did a little sanding to distress the board, I added a thin layer of Lumiere crimson metallic acrylic paint.  It's hard to see in the photo, but the corners are stenciled either with punchinella or Tim Holtz floret mini masks using fired brick Distress Ink.  I used a ZIG black photo signature pen to add some pertinent information.

Iris: the Flower Child

I tried a new technique with this card: Pounded Flower Prints. I found it in the May 2010 Family Fun magazine. I picked some flowers from our garden and laid them on top of watercolor paper.  (I had newsprint below the paper.)  I covered the flowers with a paper towel and smashed them with a hammer.  The imprint ended up on both the paper towel and the watercolor paper.  My fern leaf --for another project-- looks great on the paper towel but not so much on the paper.  Some flowers made a better impression than others.  I really liked the irises and these tiny flowers the best. I cut out one flower and used a dimensional to place it on top of the iris.  The article suggested using tweezers to remove the excess flower fragments left on the paper.  Once again, I used eco-friendly papers:  a card made from recycled product; the Basic Grey green at heart collection: 4 different patterned papers and the sticker trim (from Pages In Time).

I discovered my card could work for several challenges this week.

Paper Imagery Designs PID Weekly Challenge 5/3: Such An Everyday Item:  Take something you see around everyday and make art with it.  I took the flowers from the garden in our backyard.  The little girl (flower child) is from PID sheet 250.
So Artful Challenge Jeanette's challenge last week was bouquet and this week it's fragrance.  This card is for both.
Gingersnap Creations:  I'm posting this for two of the current challenges but not officially entering.
GC49: Found Objects:  flowers from the garden
GC50 (Random Redhead Challenge): Botanical    
Pages In Time:  (links in the right sidebar):  May DT Barbara's Pretty Punch challenge:  use two punches on your card or layout.  I used 3 punches on this card:  Martha Stewart lace, Fiskars wave, and a corner punch.
Lots to Do Challenge Week 18 Friendship.  This card may not look like it has anything to do with friendship, but I made it for my office friend who's retiring at the end of the month.  I used a Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 stamp to remind her to delight in the new everyday things she'll discover away from her job.
The Shabby Tea Room:  Week #8: Get Your Bling On.  Not my blingiest ever creation, but I added a couple of clear gems to the flower centers and worked with the vinyl stickers that spelled Iris, using Perfect Pearls.  I also noticed that several of the DT samples seemed to use the sketch that I borrowed to help with my design.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day, especially all the moms out there.

MY FIRST BLOG CANDY

In January, I celebrated my one year blogaversary.  I remember when I started this blog, I wondered if anyone would look at it or post a comment.  Through blogging, I've found some amazing cyberfriends.  Much to my surprise I have 53 followers.  I want to offer a chance at some blog candy to my followers for sharing this wonderful journey with me.  This is a modest offering as I don't have any sponsors for this give-away.

What you see is what you get:
Brand new still in package (photo is of mine not yours) Maya Road House Accordion Album
3 yards of brand new ribbon from my favorite store purchased for this give-away
2 Monopoly game cards from an auction
1 BINGO card from an auction

If you are a regular visitor to my blog and/or if you leave me comments and/or if you have chosen to follow me, you are welcome to sign up for this little bit of blog candy.  Sign up by leaving a comment to this post.  A winner will be chosen by random draw on June 1, 2010.  One entry per person, please!

Thanks so much for being part of my crafting community!

Visiting Artist for the Month of May at Gingersnap Creations

I'm so honored to by the Visiting Artist this month at Gingersnap Creations. If you haven't visited their site, please take the time to do so.  I love the inspiration from the monthly muse, the amazing talent of the Design Team, and the diverse and beautiful work of the members.  This site fills my need for making artsy pieces.  There are great challenges with plenty of time to complete them.  And I like the variety of techniques posted for me to try.

*****PLEASE COME BACK FOR MY NEXT POST ANNOUNCING MY FIRST BLOG CANDY!*****

Today my work is included with the Gingersnap Creations Design Team for the GC53 Chestnut Theme:Read Challenge.  There were so many directions I could go on this challenge, I was getting dizzy trying to decide what to do.  I ended up scrapping a layout.  I found a great wrinkled photo of my in-laws from their dating or early married days.  I wonder what they're so busy reading?  But young love brings to my mind a love note to read.  I found some Little Yellow Bicycle papers in my stash, perfect for my theme (lovin' that flocked grey notebook paper).  I whisper stamped the solid paper with a Jenni Bowlin stamp (cabbage rose?).  My mother-in-law loved birds so I just had to use the Tim Holtz diecut to make two love birds and added hearts for wings.  I embellished the love note envelope with a couple of ribbon trims and a Maya Road velvet flower.  Much to my surprise, nothing is distressed, or grunged up.  And there's "white space" on the layout.  Oh wait!  I did wrinkle and crease the photo copy just like the original.

Continuing with the reading theme, I'd like to share a layout I made last year of my oldest dd "way back when". 

*****PLEASE COME BACK FOR MY NEXT POST ANNOUNCING MY FIRST BLOG CANDY!*****

April Showers Bring May Flowers

It's really more like severe April weather brings May floods and flowers. We had a dangerous weather system move through our region last night.  But now the sun is shining brightly.  It's May 1, and I'm using more of the Basic Grey green at heart patterned papers because I'm thinking about all of those May flowers!

When I opened my Pages In Time Design Team box from Karen, I discovered a stack of Basic Grey half sheets from the green at heart line.  I also found in the box a white paper bag album ready to alter.  The two probably were meant for each other.  But I made two cards in the posts below and now this layout for National Scrapbooking Day! 

PIT DT Alda posted this sketch on April 22 for the Thursday Sketch of the Week.  I decided it would be a perfect match for using up this paper because Alda likes to do a lot of layering.  All the papers and stickers used in this layout are from the BG collection.  My goal was to use as much as possible.  PIT DT Barbara started a Flat Layout Lovers group and challenged us for the month of May to make a flat layout that actually fits inside our albums.  Between the two challenges, this is my result.  I created the layout first to meet my challenges, then I found the photo to go with it--the opposite of how I usually do it.  But then I have 150 years worth of photos to scrap so I wasn't too worried about finding the perfect photo.

I have some gems and pop dots and layered silk flowers, but the layout is flat enough to get into a page protector!  I used Rock Candy Stickles on some of the flowers.  I found that adorable butterfly in my stash.  The bling matches the glittery heart on dd's shirt.  I also used the yellow doily I found in the PIT box.  I thought it could represent the sun and fit the sketch.  I pounced it with some fluid chalk ink to make it match the yellow in the BG letters.

PAGES IN TIME MAY ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to Beata.  Her layouts are stunning.  She's been chosen as Artist of the Month.  There are so many beautiful layouts in her gallery at Pages In Time. Please join me there to see her work and congratulate here.

At Pages In Time we have monthly challenges, interest groups, Tuesday's Technique, Thursday's Sketch of the Week, a chance to be Artist of the Month or your work chosen as Layout of the Week, and right now we have a Design Team call.  I moved from Guest Design Team member to permanent member of the Design Team.  I'd love to see you at Pages In Time.  There are several links to the right on my sidebar.