Friends Helping Friends

One of the most generous people I know in crafting blogland is Heather Hudson.  We met in cyberspace and our orbs have intersected on several design teams.  

Heather is always there for me when I have a question about digital crafting or technical issues with my blog.  She really knows her way around a computer and can whip up something in no time--while I'm still thinking about how to get it going. 

I use the adjective generous because she gives of her time and talent without question or asking for something in return.  Like any other true friend, I know she'll always be there for me.  And I for her.  Which leads me to one of the 2014 surprises I mentioned in my last post....

I am embarking on an artistic adventure with Heather.  To go along with her awesome digital collage sheets that she sells in her Etsy shop, she is starting:

  "My Artistic Adventures Challenges"

That's right...Heather has decided to host a Challenge on her Blog every 2nd and 16th of the month using HER  Digital Collage Sheets.

You also will want to check out the RULES page here.

Heather has a distinct vintage style which I just love, being very vintage myself!  I'm honored to help her launch her new challenges.  I didn't think twice when she asked me, and there was about a one second turn-around time for my response--YES!

Please return on January 2 to see what I created with Heather's digital collage sheets as inspiration for her first challenge.

In the meantime, please visit Heather's Etsy shop where I know you will drool over her collage sheets and whet your appetite for the upcoming challenge.  Further enticement to play along with us includes a 15% off $5.00 or more purchase: 

coupon code: MYARTISTICADVENTURES

And would you please post our challenge badge on your blog?

The html code can be found in the left sidebar at Heather's BLOG.  She also offers lots of YouTube tutorials (I told you she was very generous!), including one on how to insert html codes on your blog.

Have a very merry New Year's Eve and a very Happy New Year!

Hope you have time to stamp/scrap alot (as in the ideal world of Camelot where Queen Helene has Lotsa Scrap time) ! 

Good-bye 2013, Hello 2014

2014 is almost here!

I would make a list of crafting New Year's Resolutions but I miserably fell short this year of accomplishing much of anything on my list.

Instead, I'll tell you about a few new projects I'm working on.

First, I plan to seriously work on Christmas all year.  There are several challenge blogs to keep me motivated.  I don't necessarily need a lot of cards, but I need gift envelopes, package tags, and a few ornaments.  This year I made photo tags (as you can see in this photo) through Sandi's Bank on Christmas project at her blog Maximum Embellishment. 

They were such a huge hit that I'm doing it again, with different photos.

Many of us are taking a Christmas crafting breather right now.  But I'd like to remind you that the Gecko Galz design team has all their ornaments on display and ready for you to vote for your favorite HERE.  The winner will be announced December 31 so please take a moment to vote.

Second, I want to swap some art this year.  I'm a Red Lead Swap Sister.  Red Lead Paperworks (St. Louis, MO) is having a monthly ATC swap.  Join in any and all months that fit into your schedule.  Make 4, swap 3.  The Red Lead sisters will keep the fourth one to display in the store and perhaps submit them for publication.   You can read more about it HERE.   I have lots of Red Lead products so I'm looking forward to putting them to good use. The January swap is to make pocket Valentines.  I also want to mention Red Lead offers a free digital image every Wednesday---find them on FB or sign up for their email info.  They just posted (12/30/2013) a Valentine chunky book giveaway!

Third, I need to make things for my family.  That means they may not show up on my blog even though I'll be very busy.  But I have several things to get done such as a wedding scrapbook, family cookbook, and some assignments for an upcoming wedding.


Fourth, I want to visit my blogging buddies more often in order to keep up with their news and art projects.

I'm continuing with my design team obligations and will have a surprise or two along the way in 2014.   I've been very lucky to have won some great products by entering on-line challenges so I want to be sure to use those products in my art.

I'll be back on January 1 and again on January 2 with new blog posts!  See you on the flip side in 2014.  May the New Year bring you everything you need to be happy and blessed! 

Hope you have time to scrap/stamp a lot, Helene

Stars in the Sky

The Tag Tuesday players are taking a holiday break so I'm catching up with last week's prompt:  Starry Night.  Be sure to visit Tag Tuesday to see all the players' tags. Lots of inspiration there!

I used a Darice star embossing folder on white cardstock.  I like how my silver foil trim mimics the points of the background stars.  Tag is edged with Ranger Brushed Pewter Distress Stain.  Ribbon is shiny silver.

Entering this tag in:

Lunagirl Moonbeams challenge: Blue Christmas 
The image is from Lungirl's Blue Noel digital collage sheet.

The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge #76:  Anything Goes 

Live and Love Crafts' Inspiration and Challenge #18:  Stardust

Ornament for Gecko Galz

This time around the Gecko Galz design team is creating holiday ornaments.  As usual, the [projects are displayed at the Gecko Galz website HERE.  After all of them are showcased, you will get to vote for your favorite.  Voting begins December 24.

Here is mine:

Print and fussy cut angel image.  There are several Gecko Galz digital images of angels.  This particular angel is from the Angels collage sheet. Edge with Ranger Distress Marker: vintage photo

Print 
Lost Symphony from Gecko Galz Vanity Fair digital paper pack:  altered to 5.5 x 4.5 inches with more pink.
Frosted Panes from Gecko Galz Winter Wonderland digital paper pack: altered to 5.5 x 4.5 inches

Position Grand Gothic Window (Poppystamps) or other shrine shape on papers and die cut.
This die gives you two pieces.  I used both papers to create the frame and window insert.
Outline with Ranger Distress Marker: bundled sage.

Adhere angel to window.

Add trims:  gold Starform stickers, gold medallion, gold cord

Please take time to visit the Gecko Galz site to see all the design team ornaments.

A non-Christmas Gecko Galz card

For my design team project this month at Gecko Galz, I used the Blue Willow digital paper and Vintage Toppers collage sheet to create this card:

To give it some depth, I used Stampin' Up Night of Navy card stock for the card base, banner, and image mat die cut with Stampabilities Nestabilities Lacy Square.  I added dimension to the banner by embossing it with a Stampin' Up Petals a Plenty folder.

12 Days of Christmas

OK, not all twelve, just the eighth day.

This week's theme at Tag Tuesday is the Twelve Days of Christmas.

I bought some new Graphic 45 paper and chose the 8 Maids a milking portion to make first.  I added trims from my stash, trying to use up all these bits and bobs that have been collecting here.

Entering this in:

The Cheerful Stamp Pad:  Signs of Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra:  December

We're officially in the twelve day countdown to Christmas!  Are you ready?

Returning to the Library

Making it easy on us, Debi is asking us to post our favourite project of the year for the latest Craft Room Challenge.

In April I was a Guest Designer for the Craft Room Challenge Blog.  It just so happened that Rogue Redhead Designs, LLC was the prize sponsor that month.  I'm on the RRD design team.  So I used my favorite RRD stamp plate, Relish Reading, to create my Craft Room GDT project. 

Here is my sample:  In the Library
Details can be found HERE on my original blog post.

Now that winter is upon us, we spend a lot of time in our library.  This project seems very fitting for this end of year wrap up.  I can only sit and dream of warm days.

What I like about this project:

1.  It represents what I like about the craft blog world:  offering my art to design teams, sharing my work with others, meeting and appreciating other artists and their work, making on-line friendships

2.  I get to use my favorite stamps

3.  This is a good example of my type of work:  papercrafting with die cuts, fussy cutting, stamping, paper layering. 


To conclude:  This is my single entry for the Craft Room challenge:  Favourite Project of 2013.
Thank you, Debi, for this great challenge idea!

Snow Angels

Angels are this week's theme at Tag Tuesday.  Here is my tag:

Materials:
The particular angel I used on my tag can be found here in two different collections:
Gecko Galz Vintage Angels digital collage sheet
Luna Girl Moonbeams Etsy shop

A photo I took today when we attended a funeral at St. Mary's church in central Missouri
Paperwhimsy.com for Comfort and Joy banner
Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Marker
Rogue Redhead Designs Behind the Scenes stamp plate for the music on the snowflakes
Stampendous vinyl stickers:  dot sparklers silver

Stampin' Up products:
Night of Navy card stock and Stampin' Write marker;
Snow Flury die and Northern Flury embossing folder
Frosted Finishes embellishments (center in large snowflake)

Entering these challenges:

Stampin' Up Royalty Challenge #205:  Incorporate a Snowflake x

Sugar Creek Hollow:  Vintage Christmas x

Lunagirl Challenge: Snow Angels x

A Little Note

Rogue Redhead Designs is expanding with some great stamp sets from other manufacturers.  Please read all about it HERE.

I get to play with one of the S.W.A.L.K. characters by Santoro.  My stamp is  "A Little Note"  which can be found in the RRD store HERE.

Materials:

Stampin' Up Crumb Cake card stock and Stampin' Write marker
Stampin' Up Very Vanilla card stock
Archival Coffee ink pad
Ranger Distress Marker-Antique Linen
USArt Quest Vintage mica watercolor
The Paper Studio Textured Cream Sheet Music
Maya Road ribbon

A Merry Little Christmas Tag

Let's get this Christmas season started!!!!!!

After a break from papercrafting to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family, I've finally made my way back here.

Are you playing at Sugar Lump Studios?  Nancy Maxwell is offering A Very Vintage Christmas.

Here is my version of Sugar Lump Studios Day #2 Merry Little Christmas Tag.

Materials:
Music Base:  Riddersholm Design The Day Before
Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Collection
Gecko Galz digital image: Santa Bingo Card
sepia photo of 2amscrapper (me)
Ranger Ink Distress Markers:  Black Soot and Vintage Photo to edge papers
Ranger Gold Stickles
Miss Cutie Pie Inspiration Tags
Stampin' Up snow flurry die and Champagne glimmer paper for snowflake
misc. buttons and crochet trim
seam binding which I wet crinkled


Entering these challenges:
Allsorts Challenge:  Inspired by a Christmas Song:  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas x
2Creative Chicks:  Christmas/Winter
Feeling Crafty Challenge:  Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #85 BINGO  My three in a row are button, lace and glitter. x
Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge Blog: December Challenge:  Girly
Craft Room Challenge:  Vintage Christmas x
Country View Challenges: bah Humbug
Our Creative Corner:  A Very Vintage Christmas

Festive Friday:  Last Challenge of the Year--Element Challenge incorporate a snowflake  x
 

Gecko Galz 2014

Announcing the 2014 Design Team for Gecko Galz:

CAROL SALISBURY

DIANE (1 Card Creator)

GERRI HERBST

HELENE HUBER  (that's me--2amscrapper)

HEATHER HUDSON

JOAN LIDDLE

JESSICA MOORE

LISETTE BAKER

LYNNE MONCRIEFF

LEANNE SEED

SHARON ROGERS

STARR TIMMONS

VALERIE-JAEL TUPS

WENDY WALDORF

YVONNE GARNER

Camelot Collapses

I was in the ninth grade when President Kennedy was assassinated.  The emotion associated with that moment in time has never lessened for me
.
Don't let it be forgot that once there was a spot for one brief shining moment that was called Camelot.

I started with a castle tower image from the November Gecko Galz digital stamp set.  Using my software, I altered the image to create a collapsing effect.  The text also is computer generated.

Happy Holidays

We had a bit of snow stick on the ground and deck, so perhaps these skaters won't have to wait too long for a little ice--although I'd like to keep all the ice overseas at the winter Olympics.

 I challenged myself to stick to two colors and all Stampin' Up products.

Stampin' Up Materials:
Crumb Cake cardstock
Always Artichoke cardstock
Very Vanilla cardstock
Crumb Cake ink pad and Stampin' Write marker
Winter Post stamp set
Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim
So Many Sayings stamp set
Decorative label punch
Basic pearl Jewels
Petals a Plenty embossing folder



Challenges Entered:

Dynamic Duos #78 Subtly Yours  Crumb Cake and Always Artichoke


Paper Craft Crew Challenge #67 Card Sketch and use at least two Stampin' Up products until Nov 19.
 

Pocket Tag

The Tag Tuesday players' theme this week is "proverbs".  When I did an internet search, I came across this one:
A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
hmmmm.....I just happen to own a Rogue Redhead Designs Stamp Plate, Relish Reading, which includes that proverb as one of the sentiments.  How fortuitous!

There is nothing better than curling up with a good book, a cozy blanket, and a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's day.  We can only dream about that beautiful backyard garden and wait for spring!

Going with both the tag and pocket concepts, I chose to use a library book pocket as the base.   This will be a Christmas present for my hubby with a hidden gift card to a book store included in the pocket.  And the checkout card can always double as a bookmark!

Digital Hybrid Library Checkout Card: 
layer digitally and print:

Heather Hudson digital college sheet:  Vintage Library Cards Back to School--cropped card and 2 word labels

hand stamp onto card with jet black Archival Ink:
Rogue Redhead Designs Relish Reading Stamp Plate:  male figure

edge card with Ranger Distress Ink Markers: Bundled Sage and Wild Honey

Library Book Pocket:
Print and use template on manila cardstock, ensuring above card will fit inside.
Here are a couple of template links:
Tip Junkie 
Mirkwood Designs 
Fold pocket (I used redline tape to adhere the sides) and stamp front and back with Rogue Redhead Designs Behind the Scenes stamp plate: handwriting background stamp.
Distress with Ranger Inks:  Antique Linen and Iced Spruce.
 
Stamp proverb from Rogue Redhead Designs Relish Reading stamp plate.onto DCWV Summer Dream green textured card stock with Archival Jet Black Ink.  Edge with Ranger Bundled Sage Distress Ink Marker.

Use corner rounder on proverb strip and top of pocket.
Add embellishments and ribbon. 
Tim Holtz Aterations dies:  Tattered Poinsettia and Tattered Pinecone (for leaf)
Stampin' Up Adornments (flower cener)
Stampin' Up embossing folder--the wreath oval which was large enough to cover the flower
Ranger Distress ink pads:  Fired Brick and Wild Honey



Entering these challenges: 

Crafts 4 Eternity:  Anything But a Card

All Sorts Challenge:  Christmas Cheer

Festive Friday: Colour Challenge

The Paper Girls Challenge Blog:  Challenge #43 Cut It Out

Frosted Designs  Friday Challenge:  Give a Gift

Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge Blog:  November 4th Challenge: Christmas 

Try It On Tuesdays:  Color Explosion

Luna Girl Moonbeams: November Challenge:  Secrets and Hidden Things

Witches' Brew

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog during the Gecko Galz Blog Hop.  Congratulations to the winners of the prizes.  I'm still in the tea mode--this time the Black Hat Society is meeting for Halloween tea.

This is my contribution as a player at Tag Tuesday.  Please stop by the Tag Tuesday blog to see what the other players created for this week's theme:  Oct 29: Halloween.

Materials
Black Hat Society Sign from Gecko Galz Midnight Magic collage sheet
portrait from Gecko Galz Witchy Women collage sheet
group photo from Alpha Stamps Something Witchy This Way Comes collage sheet
Simplicity Halloween trim
Ranger Distress Inks:  Red Brick and Weathered Wood
Ranger Black Diamonds Stickles (for glitter on wood witch hat)
Red Lead Paperworks wood hat and gold hat charm
Ranger #12 Giant manila tag (5-1/2" x 10-1/2")
embossing folders(Provo Craft pebble, Sizzix for Tim Holtz brick and book cover )
Sizzix die cut frame Fancy Rectangle
Jenny Bowlin mini BINGO card
Aunthentique Enchanted Elements (date labels)
Echo Park Apothecary paper (Witches Brew label)
Doodle Twine
Martha Stewart fence punch
Misc. items from stash including glitter spider

Entering these 9 Challenges (in alphabetical order):

Crafts 4 Eternity:  Challenge #147 Happy Halloween


Crafty Bloggers Network:  October Challenge: Anything Goes 


Feeling Crafty Challenge:  Autumn   due end of October

Luna Girl Challenge: Witchery



Paper Girls Challenge Blog:  Put a Bug on It


Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes


Tag Along:  Challenge #9 Steampunk Halloween


The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Week #190: Pumpkin Spice
photo inspiration and pumpkins and glitter (glitter spider and witch hat)



Try It On Tuesday: Halloween:  Top 5 Winner!!!!!

3rd Annual Gecko Galz Tricks and Treats Blog Hop

Welcome Everyone to the 3^rd Annual Gecko Galz Tricks and Treats Blog Hop

I am the next stop on your “hop”.   Welcome to my blog!  If you started here you might want to go back and start at the beginning at the Gecko Galz blog so you won’t miss anything!  

We have 15 AMAZING blogs for you to visit this weekend, each with some gorgeous projects created using the Gecko Galz collage images, that we are giving you for FREE! Each blog you visit will have another free Gecko Galz Collage sheet for you to download, The one here is "Two For Tea".

Also make sure you collect all the secret words on each blog so at the end of the hop you can enter to win our wonderful treat.  So sit back, relax, take your time and enjoy the hop!

We have FOUR amazing prizes up for grabs:

·        First is the ephemera collections for each month for an entire year. That is 48 different sets! This is a $144 value

·        Second prize is a The monthly paper pack for an entire year! Each month you will receive our paper pack absolutely FREE! This is a $72 value.

·        Third prize is all 3 individual collage sheets each month for a year! This is a $54 value

·        And our Grand Prize ONE FULL YEAR of Gecko Galz  COLLECTIONS!!! That will be 1 paper pack, 1 digital stamp set, and 4 collage sets each month for the entire year! This is a prize worth $288

Read on to learn how you can win!

First of all, you will need to visit all 15 blogs and leave a comment on each blog :) **This is important so we know you have been to all the blogs **. Collect all Fifteen words (one on each blog site) and at the end of the blog on the Fripperies and Butterflies site there will be a link to email the phrase to Gecko Galz. This enters you in the contest. On October 28^th we will randomly draw the 4 winners and email each of you, then we will post the winning names on our website and on the Gecko Galz blog site.

For an extra chance to win make a purchase from the Gecko Galz site and your name goes in again for a better chance of winning (each purchase you make that weekend gives you another chance to win) 

Finally, we are having one more give away! If you post our Gecko Galz badge (found on the Gecko Galz Blog) on your blog, facebook page, or website you will be entered to win a Gecko Store Shopping Spree worth $25 - super easy right?  Just post a link to your blog on the Gecko Galz Blog so we can come visit :).

My Secret Word for you is;

NEAT 

Please enjoy this free Gecko Galz Collage sheet “Two For Tea”
Please do not right click on this sheet to save.  Instead, please go to the post immediately below this one where if you click on the sheet, it will take you to a high resolution collage sheet to save.
LEFT CLICK ON THE TINY SHEET AT THE END OF THIS POST, IT WILL BECOME A LARGE COLLAGE SHEET.  THEN RIGHT CLICK ON THE SHEET TO SAVE.  

As well as the samples I have made using the images:


Two For Tea:

Miss Meaghan sends Miss Elizabeth an invitation to tea .

This first sample is a DIGITAL invitation using the tea set cropped and saved as a ping file, then layered onto a postcard cropped from the Gecko Galz Postage collage sheet.  Text was added in my PSE software.

Tuesday turned out to be a beautiful warm day to celebrate Miss Meaghan's birthday.  She decided to take tea outside, making it a bit of picnic.  

Miss Elizabeth was quite taken with the tag on her package, stating she would save it as a remembrance.

The tea labels are from the Gecko Galz college sheet, Teatime.  Bag, twine, striped tag: Stampin' Up.

Misses Meaghan and Elizabeth spoke of their childhood tea parties.

What would a tea party be without a card folded to look like a teabag?  The template can be found here.
Graphic 45 papers.  ( Note the clock is set at 3:00--the same time as the invitation.)  Easy to make and perfect for a holiday gift card or a real teabag.

After tea, Miss Elizabeth presented Miss Meaghan with a birthday card.   They hugged and promised to take tea again, very soon.

Two for Tea has concluded.

Now  you are ready to go to the next blog site and see what wonderful treats await you there. Just click the name  to be whisked away to their blog!

Here is the Blog Hop Rotation 

 Hazel Harler

Carol Salisbury

Joan Liddel

Penny Walker

Starr Timmons

Helene Huber   you are here

Barbara Bird

Gerri Herbst

Sharron Rogers

Lisette Baker

Sherri Levinton

Jessica Moore

Heather Hudson

Leanne Seed

Witch's Shoe Tag

Playing towards the end of the week, here's my contribution for Tag Tuesday:  shoes
Please click on the link to see how the other players interpreted the shoe prompt.

I started with the shoe template offered at the Fripperies and Butterflies blog site for Leanne's challenge, due the end of October.   I increased the size of the shoe by 200%.

While I'm at it, I'll just enter this in the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Yahoo Group challenge, Paper Shoe, due October 25. Winner!

And was motivated to get it done in order to link up with Celia's Altered Witch Shoe challenge on her blog, Adventures of the Striped Stockings, which I saw on Tee's blog today. The event started yesterday which means I'm a day late to the party.



Materials are scrapbook paper and embellishments from stash.

Using template, cut shoe from Making Memories Spellbound 12x12 Polka Dot Stripe (reverse side--cobwebs and words)
Outline shoe with black marker
Doodle Twine
the glittery cobweb bow arrived today, wrapping the coffin from Tee (see previous post)
I think the journaling tag is part of that same paper collection
Wilton black doily

Are you using the Challenges for Days blog?  It's on my sidebar.  I saw quite a few challenges to enter with this shoe.  I'll do that later this evening. 
Oopsie.  I accidentally hit "publish" before I uploaded my photo.  So, no, you're not seeing double.

I found these challenges using the Challenges for Days blog:

2 Creative Chicks:  Challenge Week #7:Halloween 
I'm entry #117.  Challenge closes in 11 days.

Country View Challenges:  Something Spooky
I'm entry #110.  Challenge ends in 11 days.  

Our Creative Corner:  It's Halloween--Let's Tag It On! 
I'm entry #28.  Challenge ends on October 28.  I'm a regular here. 

Natalie and Amy:   Challenge #13 Shabby Chic 
I'm entry #55.  Challenge closes in 8 days. 

All Sorts Challenge:  Week 229 Ribbons and Bows 
I'm entry #76.  Challenge closes in 4 days  I'm a regular here.

Scary Stuff

Tee sent me a fabulously spooky coffin and wonderful ATC as a thank you for participating in her first annual Halloween Blog Hop Giveaway.

( As you'll recall, I altered a couple of jars to show and then gave away a Gecko Galz collage sheet.)  Here they are again:  I have them on a shelf and will add Tee's coffin to the display.

Thanks so much Tee!  I loved being a part of your hop and am thrilled (and chilled) to receive your goodies.

If you'd like to see more of Tee's great work, check our her blog HERE

Labeling Beautiful Dreamers

Today I'd like to share a couple of cards I made and donated to one of my stamp clubs for a fundraiser.  I used images from the September Gecko Galz release: Beautiful Dreamers collage sheet.

Materials:

Gecko Galz products:
two images fussy cut from Beautiful Dreamers collage sheet
backgrounds from Vanity Fair and Wild Roses digital papers

edge papers with Ranger Antique Linen, and Vintage Photo inks
stamp with Ranger Worn Lipstick and Archival Sepia inks
adhere papers to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" pre-made cards from Paper Accents

Rogue Redhead Designs Reading Relish Stamp Plate: "daydream"
Stampin' Up "beauty"

add misc:
Melodies and Lace Craft Tags (Michaels) (labels and burgundy ribbon)
KandCo diecuts
Spellbinders scalloped oval die
Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder
Sizzix Stampin' Up Rose embossing folder
Sizzix Stampin' Up Adorning Accents Edgelits
Red Lead Paperworks hand dyed ribbon
Doodlebug Designs buttons
Stampin' Up Gumball Green cardstock

Entering These Challenges:

Live and Love Crafts" Blog Challenge: Use Pink




And there's also time to sign up for a chance to win their blog candy.




Crafty Bloggers Network:  Anything Goes

Time to Vote

It's time to vote for your favorite Gecko Galz Design Team card made for our National Card Day Challenge.

Just check out all the entries:
on our Gecko Galz website HERE  (see the cards one per page with directions and products used)
or on our blog HERE  (see them all together)
then email your vote to us at geckogalz@yahoo.com

And everyone who votes gets a free holiday digital stamp just for taking part.

My card was posted early on.  Here is what it looked like:

Please vote for your favorite!  And collect your free digital image by email!

Missing You

It's been quite a while since I blogged and visiting my blogging buddies.  Sometimes life just takes us in a different direction.  We took a road trip to attend a wedding.  At home, I'm busy with some remodeling and redecorating.  I miss papercrafting.  Today I decided to steal away a bit of time to create a tag and enter some challenges.  I appropriately named this tag, Missing You.

I combined two weeks of Tag Tuesday since I'm not sure I will have more hours to get in another tag today. But it was necessary to play since I'm a contributor and haven't played much these past 3 weeks.
Tag Tuesday:  Beads, Buttons and Bows
Tag Tuesday:  Tattered and Torn
Please stop by the Tag Tuesday blog to see the other tags being made.

  
Materials:
Lunagirl Moonbeams collage sheet:  Lady of the Flowers
Misc items from my stash:  corrugated card, white paint, blue buttons and twine, ribbon trim, clear gem for hair comb
Sakura Gelly Roll pen for some glitter bling on the flowers
Ranger Distress Marker: Antique Linen (for outlining fussy cut image)
Recollections Adhesive Faux Pearls



Entering these challenges:

The Cheerful Stamp Pad:  Tag

Sugar Creek Hollow:  Romance

Lungagirl Challenge:  Lady Blue

Wood, Black Paint and Chalk

Wonderful news!  Unruly Paper Arts blogozine will continue thanks to Dani and Zoe.  There will be some new columnists coming aboard.  I have decided to take a sabbatical this term in order to devote more time to some important family events coming up in the next six months.  However, I will continue to provide a couple of design team inspirations for the Reader Art Quests.  And here's the first one......

Happy October!  The theme for this month's Unruly Paper Arts issue is Haunting Ways.  And the two Reader Art Quests (RAQs) are Black It Out and Going Batty.

Here is my design team inspiration for RAQ 1: Black It Out

I used My Mind's Eye the spider's web Halloween Night 12x12 scrapbook paper from my stash.  There was so much detail on the paper that I didn't need to do anything to it.  Instead, I concentrated on the new chalk technique--for the wood witch (Red Lead Paperworks) and the chalk cardstock.

Mini Tutorial

Using dabber on bottle, paint witch face, legs, hand and pumpkin with Ranger Distress Stain - Wild Honey
Using hand-roll method (not adhering stamp to a block) stamp checkerboard (from Rogue Redhead Designs This N That stamp plate) onto pumpkin, using Ranger Distress Ink (pad) - Spiced Marmalade.  Immediately, using dabber on bottle, lightly dab Ranger Distress Stain - Wild Honey in four places on pumpkin, to blur the squares.

Using foam brush, paint remaining wood with two coats of black chalkboard paint, drying one hour in-between coats of paint.  Let cure 24 hours.

Using side of chalkboard chalk, rub chalk onto witch and then rub off with chalk eraser or a piece of felt (I used felt).
Outline the witch with your choice of white marker. I used white chalk.


Use banner die (Stampin' Up) to cut three banners from Chalkstock (Canvas Corp.)  Punch holes and lace with Doodletwine.  Anchor with bat gems. Using chalk, hand draw border and print letter on each banner.

I think this page would look great framed for the holiday or as a first page in a Halloween album. 
FYI, I just upgraded the software on my iPhone.  It now has a "square" feature on the camera which really helped when photographing this 12x12 page.

As always, I'm looking forward to reading all the columns this month and seeing your art work entered in the Reader Art Quests.