Santa Claus is Coming to Town

This month the Unruly PaperArts Reader Art Quest is looking for Santa Claus.

Here is my mid-month design team inspiration piece:

I popped this card onto a bush in my front yard so that the sun could catch the glitter pen on the girl's cuffs, tree, and Santa's beard.

Materials:
Image from Red Lead Paperworks Collage Sheet Merry Christmas 18
Stampin' Up Snow Flurries embossing folder and snowflake die

You can find this card, along with inspiration from several other UPA team members, in the post HERE

You still have time to enter the UPA challenge HERE.  Lucky winner of the random drawing receives an assortment of products from Amazing Crafting Products, this month's sponsor.

Birthday Card for a Golfer

I'm joining in the November Linky Party at Crafty Secrets/Heartwarming Vintage HERE.  Any theme is acceptable.  Everyone is a winner.

I made this birthday card for my hubby who is an avid golfer.  I used one of the digital stamps from the Crafty Secrets Golf Time digital set,

Additional supplies are Stampin' Up papers and Copic markers. Silver ink pen for club and buckles.

In addition to the Crafty Secrets challenge, I'm entering my card here:

A Little Bit Crafty: Clean and Simple

Mema's Crafts:  November   can enter 3 times--this is entry #2

Pile It On  Challenge #45 Special Occasion

UPDATE:  Just got picked up for Manly Monday at Cindy's blog HERE.

Altered Playing Cards 15 and 16: Flowers

Catching Up with Week 9 at Claudine's Corner where the altered playing cards have a flower theme for the week.  You can see Claudine's cards and her prompts HERE

Card 15

We are to doodle by drawing our own flowers and use washi tape for center and stems.

I chose instead to use a Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 stamp from her Art By the Numbers set.  I paired it with a digital image from Vera Lane Studio colored with Copics and Kurecolor markers. I get the same doodling effect without stressing over my own doodling!(Instead I stressed over cutting straight lines on the word strip!)
I restamped the flower center onto orange paper to coordinate with the washi tape along the bottom.
Ranger Distress Marker crushed olive to color the leaves.
Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Spray in fresh lime and squeezed orange for the card base.
Pink Paislee Paper Dolls Bits and Pieces (Christy Tomlinson She Art) for the word strip

Card 16

We are to stencil the background, then die cut flowers.

I created a different background, using neither torn tissue tape nor a large stencil. Instead of a die, I used a Martha Stewart punch to make a snowflake. I guess that makes my flowers the holly.
I started by painting the top 2/3 of the card with Ranger Distress Stain broken china.  I like how the gesso resisted the stain, making it look like there are some clouds in the sky.
I painted the bottom 1/3 with Art Anthology Sorbet Dimensional Paint dazzle .  This is an interesting product. The camera might pick it up as dirty snow, but actually that's gold flecks of glitter.
I fussy cut the girl from the Pink Victorian Vintage Holly Girl digital collage sheet found at My Artisitc Adventures Etsy shop.  I edged the image with Ranger Distress Marker in anqtique linen. I used Sakura Gelly Roll pen in clear star to highlight the fur and stocking.
After placing her on the card, I stenciled 3 trees on the horizon line behind her.  I used Dylusions  Oh Christmas Tree stencil and a Ranger Distress Marker in crushed olive.

Altered Playing Cards 13 and 14: Love You

Catching Up:  Week 8 was all about hearts at Claudine's Corner. Her altered playing card samples are HERE.  

If you are new to this series, we started by covering the back side of a deck of playing cards with Gesso. Each week, we use Claudine's prompts to alter two of the cards.

Card 13

Materials and Process:
Apple Barrel Bright Red acrylic paint
FolkArt Baby Pink acrylic paint
USArtQuest Perfect Pigment Purple Mist acrylic paint

paint brush
Rogue Redhead Designs, LLC:  RRD012 Behind the Scenes stamp plate:  Handwriting

Ancient Page Plum Wine archival dye ink
After adding the handwriting stamp, I lightly added a top coat of paint to the red and pink sections to tone down the script.

Rogue Redhead Designs, LLC:  Singles:  SS02G Winter Elements: double heart
VersaMark embossing inkpad

Tim Holtz for Ranger black soot distress embossing powder

Stampin' Write real red marker (red heart)
Smooch Pearlized accent ink sugarberry (purple heart)
Rogue Redhead Designs, LLC:  SS02E:  Love You
Tsukineko black embossing powder
Black Sharpie

Card 14
This involves dripping paint which is not in my arsenal of crafting techniques.

Materials and Process:
Apple Barrel Bright Red acrylic paint
Ceramcoat Old Parchment acrylic paint
USArtQuest Perfect Pigment Cobalt Turquoise Blue acrylic paint
paint brush and water mister
Vera Lane Studio digital images.  We started this challenge with these, and I bought several images at the time.  I thought this week's heart theme was perfect for some of Janet's images. So I opted for these rather than the black circle and heart that Claudine used.
Ranger Distress Markers:  tumbled glass, worn lipstick, spun sugar, broken china, wild honey
Stampin' Write real red marker
Black Sharpie

Gecko Galz November

I hope all of you enjoyed our annual blog hop and collected lots of free digital collage sheets for your crafting stash.  Lots of winners of the big prizes have been announced in the Gecko Galz email.

On a personal note, I won the Halloween challenge at the Gecko Galz Papercrafting Group on Face Book.  If you haven't been there, check us out HERE.  

This month's Gecko Galz Customer Challenge theme is Christmas Joy

I've made a totally digital composition:  A Child's Christmas Joy

Products:

November Gecko Galz products:

Holiday Botannical Papers

Christmas Cuties

Christmas Icons

Other:  Gecko Galz It Isn't Easy Being Green digital paper

Directions:

resize and layer images onto tree paper from Holiday Botannical  digital paper pack

add wording onto post card

frame with digital pink framing in Photoshop

place composition on green digital paper from It Isn't Easy Being Green

Now it's your turn.  For challenge details and to see the other design team makes to inspire your creativity, please go to our Gecko Galz blog HERE.

Thank You Blog Hop with My Artistic Adventures and Craft Hoarders Anonymous

Hello Friends!!

Today the"My Artistic Adventures Challenge Design Team" 
is Blog Hopping with 
Gloria's Craft Hoarders Anonymous Design Team!!

Challenge #19 For all that You do, Thank You!

Create a "thank you" gift for this challenge. It can be a Thanksgiving hostess gift or a simple thank you card. It can be a "thanks for helping me out of a jam" present, or a "thanks for being you" scrapbook layout. As long as your project says, "THANKS," enter the challenge! We want to see you de-hoard some of your stash and say thanks to someone! (Your project does not have to be Thanksgiving-themed!)

One Talented Participant that Links up their "Thanks" project to the

Craft Hoarders #19 Thanks Challenge 

will receive a 

$25 Gift Certificate to the My Artistic Adventures Etsy Shop!!

Here is the inspiration piece that I created:

I created a double diagonal fold card with a Thanksgiving food theme.  The template/sketch/tutorial for a double diagonal fold card can be found on the internet, including the Pinterest site and Splitcoast Stampers site.

My daughter (dd2--darling daughter) is quite the cook and baker, and she will be helping me prepare our Thanksgiving family dinner.  As a thank you to her, I made this special card.  She likes bling so I added some Petaloo Dazzler flowers and worked in some glitter pens.

The tags signify family favorites.

Her older sister (dd1) says it's not Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. Note the sugar (glitter pen) and whipped cream (Marvy liquid applique pen) on the pie.  I outlined the pumpkin and filled in the leaf with glitter pens.  All images are edged with matching Ranger distress marker pens for a finished look.  Who says a tag has to be rectangular?

Her dad (my dh-dearest hubby)) craves his mom's sausage/bread stuffing.  And since he has a great sense of humor, I hope you like my library card tag where the turkey is "due back" on Thanksgiving.  heehee

I'm hoping the joke offsets the fact my dressing never is as good as his mom's was--my hubby wouldn't say so, but I'm admitting it's the truth even after giving it a try for 44 years!  

Regarding crafty hoarders, I'm a paperholic and hoard paper--you know, the type of person who doesn't want to cut up a beautiful patterned paper or wants to "save" papers for a "special" project in "the future".  As you can imagine, I fondly sifted through my papers to choose the perfect two-sided patterned paper for this card. And let's not even "go there" regarding trims and bling....  But I can tell you the crochet trim on the library card is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the baker's twine on the pumpkin is Doodlebug Doodle Twine. I was finally able to emboss and cut (it's usually just cut--never could get the hang of the extra rubber shim) with my Stampabilities Nestablilities Classic Scalloped Ovals.  (I have managed to hoard quite a collection of dies.)

I used images from the following My Artistic Adventures collage sheets:

Pumpkin Pie Loving Girl

Fall Pumpkin and Acorn

Vintage Library Cards

We will be starting the Hop at the

Craft Hoarders Challenge Blog

You can see her Design Teams Inspiration Pieces there and on

their individual blogs.  Here is a list below.

Amber Milone

Christy Butters

Debbie Seyer

Donna Idlet

Glenda Brooks

Gloria Stengel

Jan Marie Ennenga

Karen Zueger

Kathy Clement

Pam Bray

Wendi Robinson

My Artistic Adventures Design Team

Helene (me)

Shawn

Carol

Lisette

Sandi

Candy

Heather

How would you like a SECOND chance to win a 

$25 Gift Certificate to the My Artistic Adventures Etsy Shop?

Hop on over to the 
My Artistic Adventures Challenge Blog
to get all the details!!

Thank you for Hopping with Us!!
Hugs
Helene aka 2amscrapper

You've got two great challenges to enter!!!!!!!!!

I'm entering my card here:

Cheerful Stamp Pad:  Anything Goes with Fall Colors
Digitally Sweet Challenges:  Anything Goes
Frilly and Funky: A Grateful Welcome
Fussy and Fancy:  Challenge 126 Thankful
It's All About the Vintage Challenge 78 Anything Goes
Mema's Crafts: November Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays:  Challenge #231 Anything Goes + Sentiment

Shopping Our Stash:  Challenge #175 Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'--hoping my pumpkin tag is round enough!  

Try It on Tuesday: Colours of Autumn

Gecko Galz Blog Hop

Hello Everyone!

I want to welcome everyone to the 12th destination of

Gecko Galz 4th Annual Blog Hop

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 21 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 down load, The one here is

"ANGEL DARLINGS".

Also make sure you collect all the “secret” words on each blog so at the end of the hop you can send in the phrase to enter our drawing for a wonderful treat.  So sit back, relax, take your time and enjoy the hop!

We have FOUR amazing prizes up for grabs:

·        First is the Kit Club for each month for an entire year. This is exclusive sets for club members which include a paper set, stamp set, and collage images in each set! That is 12 different sets! This is a $144 value!

·        Second prize is the monthly collage sets for an entire year! Each month you will receive all 4 sets absolutely FREE! This is a $96 value.

·        Third prize is all of the individual collage sheets each month for a year, this includes the jewel it sheets! This is a $90 value!

·        And our Grand Prize ONE FULL YEAR of Gecko Galz PRODUCTS!!! That will Kit Club Set, 4 individual collage sheets, Jewel it set and 4 collage sets each month for the entire year! This is a prize worth $330!

Read on to learn how you can win!

First of all, you will need to visit all 21 blogs and leave a comment on each blog :) **This is important so we know you have been to all the blogs **. Collect all 20 words (one on each blog site except the home 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 November 3rd we will randomly draw the 4 winners and email each of you, then we will post the winning names 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) 

 

My Secret Word is:

ILLUMINATE

Please enjoy this free Gecko Galz Collage sheet

“Angel Darlings”

as well as the samples I have made using the images!

(Just click on the picture --- or the link addy below it --- for link to full size sheet)

https://sites.google.com/site/geckogalzdesigns/angel-darlings

My Samples

Make yourself familiar with the angels and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.

Saint Francis De Sales

Cyber Angels

Digital Composition

My first sample is a totally digital creation using a tag from Gecko Galz Christmas Tags collage sheet and the paper and several icons from Robin Gough's Merry Wishes digital paper pack.  I added shadowing for dimension.  

Earth Angel
Mixed Media

My second sample is a digital hybrid.  First I cropped the angel. Then I altered the color by applying "old paper" and then "sepia tint" in Adobe Photoshop Elements before printing.  I wet distressed the edges and then edged with Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink
I used a 6x6" burlap canvas for the base of my mixed media project. For some added texture and background interest, I used the Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Brick Wall stencils for art along with her white embossing paste.  I added flowers from the Paper Studio Mixed Media Burlap Roses and Petaloo Textured Elements Ivory Burlap Blossoms, and two pinecones made with the Sissix (Tim Holtz Alterations) tattered pinecone die topped with Marvy Liquid Applique (snow with heat tool) to mimic the display in the photo. 
Trims include mini scrabble tiles, brown leaf vine, corde jute, and canvas fringe.

Guardian Angels
Cabinet Card

My third sample is a cabinet card.

My base is a Tim Holtz Cabinet Card Frame.  I chose the one that said "Blessing and Co" on the bottom which seemed an appropriate pairing for the angels image.  Soft colors and gentle trims complement the ethereal feel depicted in the photo.  

If You missed checking out one of the blogs or want to go through them again here is the rotation

Here is the Blog Hop Rotation

Sharon Rogers

Joan Liddle

Vicki Romaine

Jules Eickmeier

Patti Fisher

Heather Hudson

Diane Bove

Yvonne Garner

Michele Storm

Jessica Moore

Helene Huber

Terri Burnette

Lisette Baker

Barbara Bird

Gerri Herbst

Amanda Phillips

Carol Salisbury

Wendy Waldorf

Leanne Seed 

Altered Playing Cards 9 and 10

This 6th week Claudine is working with a Halloween theme, tissue tape, stamps, torn napkins, and a stencil.   You can see the cards she made at her blog HERE.

Early on, I decided two things about my set of cards:
1) I would NOT do a mix of horizontal and vertical designs because I want all the cards "going the same way".  This has limited me in some product choices.
2) Even after the discussion regarding memorizing the cards by their designs, I DO plan on actually using this set--even if it's only to play Solitaire.  Therefore, I'm resisting the temptation to turn them into ATCs by using 3-D embellishments or going beyond the borders.  I'm really hoping these can be shuffled when all is said and done.

Card 9:

I chose a card where I had added crushed tissue paper when applying the gesso base coat.
I painted the card with USArtQuest Perfect Pigment Acrylic Orange.
I added USArtQuest Vintage Mica Color Copper Pipe Watercolor Paint, highlighting the folds and creases of the tissue paper.
Instead of covering the card with tissue tape (since it already had the tissue paper base), I added two patterns of washi tape to fill the void..
acrylic stamp of houses is from a Martha Stewart set.  I knew I wouldn't get a clean stamped image because of the textured tissue paper but I like the eerie effect that was created--almost like ghosts are popping out of the windows.
witch digital image is from Gecko Galz Little Witches collage sheet

Entering Card 9 in the following challenges:
Anything Goes With a Twist--this is a new challenge blog and this week is Challenge 2 with the twist FEMALE
Gecko Galz Papercrafting Challenge Facebook Group:  Halloween Ladies of the Night


Card 10:

I chose a card where I had added drywall mesh tape when applying the gesso base coat.
I painted the card with USArtQuest Perfect Pigment Acrylic Orange.
I edged with what was left on the paint brush from highlighting card 9 with USArtQuest Vintage Mica Color Copper Pipe Watercolor Paint
I was able to find the same paper napkin that Claudine used and created the torn napkin effect.
rubber stamp of eye is Red Lead Paperworks
Poe digital image is from Gecko Galz Poe collage sheet
Dylusion stencil and black Sharpie pen down right side
black ink splatters
old numbers and letters from stash

Entering Card 10 in the following challenge:
Gecko Galz Papercrafting Challenge Facebook Group:  Halloween Theme - woohoo!  I WON!!

Guest Designer at Country View Crafts' Challenge Blog

I'm honored to be guest designer at Country View Challenges for Challenge #20 and the theme has been chosen by Doreen - 'Sparkle and Shine".   Please visit them to see the amazing inspiration from the design team HERE.  And the post about me and what I made for my guest designer spot is HERE

I decided to use one of my Prima Doll stamps, created by Julie Nutting, to make Glinda the Good Witch, from Wizard of Oz.  It's time to think about Halloween costumes, and why not choose one that has lots of sparkle and shine?

Sparkle and shine for her dress and crown come from Core'dinations silver glitter cardstock, wide shimmery ribbon, and Starfoam heart stickers. There's a glitter star for her wand and Stampendous silver dot sparklers to shimmer in the night sky.  I used Graphic 45 papers to create a Halloween theme. 

For those of us who like to dress up on Halloween and want to be good while treat or treating....
-- 
I can't wait to see what sparkle and shine YOU come up with.  In the meantime.....
I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Mema's Crafts:  October Challenge Tic Tac Toe  (3 across--flowers, bling, sparkle)
Crafting By Designs:  October Anything Goes
Fab n' Funky: Halloween  (ends Oct 7)
Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Happy Fall Y'All--I hoard Graphic 45 paper collections!
The Cheerful Stamp Pad  Challenge  96Halloween Costumes and Fun
All Crafts Challenge:  October November 

Altered Playing Cards 7 and 8

We're in Week 5 with Claudine Criner.  You can see her altered playing cards 7 and 8 on her blog HERE.

For the second week in a row, we're using acrylic paint for a background.  The other card background is a torn paper collage.  Also doing some stenciling, fussy cutting, and doodling.

Here are the two I created:

Card 7: SOAR

Because I don't do much painting and have limited success with stenciling, I followed Claudine's tutorial closely.

Base is the same pink paint I used last week as I painted this card and then decided to use a different one with more gesso design.  It was perfect for this week.

New products  out of the packages:

Red Lead stencil journaling spots which I used for my circles

Wendy Vecchi stencil down left side

Crafty Individuals ink splats rubber stamp

Old stuff from stash:

Tommy Boy image from Paper Imagery Designs

Tim Holtz SOAR ticket cut down to size

Adirondak Acrylic Pain Dabber:  Lake Mist and Juniper

What I learned:

Still not good with stencils--this time I used a black Sharpie but it bled through when I switched to a larger tip.

For me the best white circles were made with a Sharpie white paint marker--messy but this white pen showed up the best.

Easist black circles made with Zig black 5mm pen

Having to add water to old hardened Adirondak paints still not effective for covering base paint. -----retiring this set.

Fell in love with the ink splats stamp and am leaving it out on my craft table for more projects.

The overall messiness works for this background. And I'm pleased with the end result.

Card 8:  RESCUED RELATIVE

Since I had done torn paper backgrounds and collages before, this one was an easy make for me.  I just had to figure out which products to use from my stash.

Breaking open these products for the first time:

Papers from Pink Paislee London Market

Image from Red Lead Paperworks Ancestors 42 collage sheet

TJ Designs Vintage Ephemera & Photographs rubber stamp collection for word label Rescued Relative

From the stash:

Tim Holtz number stamp

Ranger Antique Linen distress ink

Ranger Seedless Preserves Distress Paint

Ranger Spun Sugar distress marker

Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker

What I learned:

The stained dress technique was new to me so I should have practiced on something else first.  The color was too dark and the paper got pithy when I watered it down.  I ended up adding the spun sugar distress marker and then covering up most of the dress with the word label.  

I love the total vintage look of this one.  

I would like to enter my Rescued Relative in the following challenges:

Simon Says Monday:  Finishing Touch-Sentiment

Artistic Inspirations: Challenge 111 Anything Goes

Fantasy Stampers Challenge:  Here Come the Girls