HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012!

Crazy Amigo Challenge- "Oh Christmas Tree"

The challenge for this week at CAChallenge is to show at least one Christmas tree on your card . . . here's my little offering--I found this stamp at Archiver's in Boise a year ago--it was only a few dollars, so I bought it, and I just love the vintage "folksy" image on it; it makes me think of an old-fashioned Christmas at a cabin in the mountains, for some reason . . .

BLESSED HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL

. . . Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. . .

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART-"Poinsettias"

Finally got some time to play! The photo isn't great--didn't come out well, and the glitter doesn't show up that well, but I had to get something posted after such a dry spell! I took a piece of cardstock and colored it with Distress Inks, and then went from there . . . did it too fast, so it isn't perfect, that's for sure! The poinsettias are from K and Company. There are wonderful entries for this week's theme over at the Sunday Postcard Art blog! Hop on over there to see!

I Will Be Back Soon!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

GOTHIC ARCH-"The Color Green"

Here's my "green" arch for this week's challenge over at Kris' Gothic Arch Challenge

GOTHIC ARCH-"Witch"

Here's my arch for this week's challenge--the theme is "WITCH" over at Kris' Gothic Arch Challenge. My "witch lady" is a beautiful free download from Land of Nod Studio's blog--the Bingo image is from Digital Collage Sheets, and the raven may be from The Graphics Fairy, but I'm not sure where I got it. Thank you, Kris, for hosting a new Gothic Arch challenge each week, as I've truly missed that challenge while it's been on hiatus. Be sure and visit Kris to see all of her fantastic art at both her blogs, Nostalgic Collage, and A Nostalgic Halloween. There's lots and lots of wonderful eye candy there!!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Have a safe, fun, and happy, happy, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

GOTHIC ARCH-"Blue"

Here's my arch for this week's theme of "Blue" over at Kris' Gothic Arch Challenge. My arch background was created using an arch I cut from a manilla folder--I stained it with China Blue Distress Ink. The gorgeous little girl image was purchased from Debrina at Land of Enchantment--I can't recommend Debrina's wonderful images highly enough--they are not only gorgeous, but very reasonably priced. You can find them at Paper Pixieland. The paper flowers are from one of K & Company's Ephemera Collections--I bought mine from JoAnn Fabrics. The words are cut out from an old (read "falling apart") children's fairy tale book. (I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep the letters on the arch, so I haven't glued those on yet . . . what do you think? With or without?)

GOTHIC ARCH-"Classic Literature"

The theme for Kris' Gothic Arch Challenge this week is to choose a favorite author or book. One of my favorite authors is Daphne du Maurier--although I had heard her name, I never really knew who she was when I was young. I first discovered her writing many years ago when I purchased one of her novels, Jamaica Inn, from an estate sale. The book sat in my bookshelf for quite awhile, as I was just collecting vintage books because I loved antiques, and not really reading them at the time. Well, when I finally read this book, I loved it so much, I went and got another one of her novels, Rebecca, (which Hitchcock made into a movie in the 1940s), from the library--that one was wonderful, too. Until I was making my arch, I hadn't known that she also wrote "The Birds"--remember the old Alfred HItchcock movie? Because of this challenge, I know much more about Daphne now, and also am anxious to read some of her other novels.

GOTHIC ARCH-"Marie Antoinette"

I didn't get this completed in time for Kris' Gothic Arch theme last week, but wanted to post it, anyway. I used watercolor paper for my arch; I soaked it first in water, and then colored it with Distress Inks. Then I put it through my Big Shot die-cut machine, using one of Tim Holtz' Alterations Texture Fades. The image of Marie and the cake is from the Graphics Fairy. The beautiful Iris flower and the bee are from K & Company. Stickles and Stampendous sparkle dots, and a Recollections rhinestone brad complete the arch!

TMTA-"Witches"

Haven't made an ATC in awhile! I'd forgotten how much fun ATCs were! My ATC was created using images from Digital Collage Sheets, along with embellishments and stamping, for this week's TMTA Challenge theme of "Witches" and you can see all the entries HERE

(PS--my background was a manilla ATC that I colored with Distress Stain, using a Tim Holtz technique for backgrounds)

Blog Garden Tag Challenge-"Tattered Romance"

Here's my tag for this week's theme over at BelleSouth's Blog Challenge theme of "Tattered Romance"

GOTHIC ARCH-"Autumn"

As the beloved Gothic Arches challenge has been on hiatus since last April, and I have really missed creating in this genre, I was delighted to discover that Kris of Nostalgic Collage has generously offered to host a temporary gothic arch challenge each Sunday! You can see her beautiful arches on Sundays and join in on the challenges here.

My arch for this week was created using watercolor paper for the arch, colored with Distress Ink Pads, and stamped with a music background stamp by Recollections from Michaels. The beautiful image that I printed on my computer was provided by the Graphics Fairy . The flower and butterflies are from K & Company, as is the rhinestone brad in the center of the larger butterfly. I used Stickles, Colorbox Chalk Inks, (both of which you can find at almost any scrapbook or stamping store), a snippet from some vintage sheet music, and words cut out from an old children's book, to finish my arch.

Finished Frame

I used K & Company's "Madeline" papers, K & Company's adhesive chipboard embellishments, and a Prima paper rose, along with Glimmer Mist and Stickles, chalk ink pads, and a Swarovsky crystal to finish this frame. The glitter doesn't show well in the photo, but it's sparkly on the image in person--I just love this beautiful woman, don't you? Someone generously shared this image on their blog, and I can't, for the life of me, remember who it was . . . maybe someone can help me so I can give credit where credit is due!

NEVER FORGET

9/11--We will never forget--America, the land I love, the land of the free, and the home of the brave . . .

Fun with Frames

I really had fun making this--the photo isn't very good, but the finished frame is sparkly and pretty in person! It looks better if you click your mouse once on the picture . . .

Blog Challenge Garden Tag-The Letter "A"

Here's my contribution to this week's Tag Challenge at BelleSouth--"A" for Art. I started with a plain manilla tag and used Stewart Superior Transfer Ink to imprint an inkjet image of a rose. I then used stamps and embellishments, including a vintage button and paper flowers from Prima to finish.

Blog Challenge Garden Tag

I'm just coming in on the tail end of this week's theme of "Vintage Photo"on the Tuesday Tag Challenge at BelleSouth--the challenge is to use a vintage photo or copy of one on your tag this week. I used a favorite Paper Whimsy image and tried to keep it simple this time around. The words came from an antique children's book.

"Sweet Pea" Frame

I loved turning this:

Into this!


(Sorry about the lousy photos--couldn't get good pictures this time, but if you click twice on the lower image, you can see the details a lot better--the sweet image is from Paper Whimsy)

Paris Tag

Wanted to get this in for last week's Theme Thursday challenge, but was late in finishing it--still, I love making tags, and had fun with this one!

Tag Tuesday Challenge-"A Face"

This week the challenge over at at Belle South's Challenge Garden is to make a tag featuring a human face as the focal point. I colored my tag background using Tim Holtz's Distress Ink and one of his background techniques. (Here is a video of Tim's, showing the technique.) Then I got some cardstock out, and stamped my face, using an old "Tin Can" stamp from Inkadinkado. After I cut that out, I colored it with watercolor pencils and chalk. I added some butterfly wings from a Luna Girl collage sheet, and then attached the wings and faceto the tag, using a gluestick and brayer. I added some sparkles, (crystals and Stickles), and ribbons, and there you have it! (And I'm so glad I didn't have a 10 minute limit on this one, lol!) PS: The glitter on the wings doesn't show up, but they do sparkle! The tag looks so much better in person, but my photography skills are clearly insufficient--Click twice on tag to see it up close!)

Ten Minute Tag!

The challenge over at Belle-South this week was to make a tag in 10 minutes--no cheating! I gathered a few embellishments, my glue stick and brayer, a Paper Whimsy image, some scrapbook paper, and a tag I'd colored with Distress Ink awhile back--set the timer, and went to work . . . I ended up having 1 minute and 2 seconds to spare! I didn't know I could put a tag together so quickly; it usually takes me FOREVER to get anything completed because I'm so slow! It sure felt good to be creating again, though, after such a long dry spell!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!

The day we celebrate our independence and freedom; how very blessed we Americans are! Have a very safe and happy 4th!
(Thank you, Graphics Fairy, for the beautiful image!)

Theme Thursday - "ATCs"

I took a blank canvas paper ATC and coated it with Tim Holtz Distress Ink. I then decorated it with scrapbook paper, paper lace, and a stamped image I'd made on plain paper-which I enhanced with watercolor pencils and chalk. I added a real pressed flower and a butterfly image, and then sprinkled the ATC with a little glitter. Lastly, I added a word cut from an antique children's book. Have fun visiting Theme Thursday, where you can see all the lovely entries this week!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads and step-dads and grandfathers . . . I miss my own father terribly, but I am so fortunate to know other great dads who are in my life today . . . my hubby, my sons, my son-in-law, and my brothers-in-law . . . hoping all have a lovely, memorable day!

ATC

Thank-You Card

I love the Texture Fades by Tim Holtz! The raised texture on the brown panel of my card was created with one of those and my Big Shot machine. So much fun!

Butterfly Card

Found a little time recently to make a "thank-you" card for my sister; I've been playing with the Sizzix "Big Shot" die-cut machine I received for my birthday last month. The little flourishes with the flowers on the corners are die-cuts I made. The butterfly is a sticker I've had sitting in a box forever, and the paper flowers are Prima. It feels so good to be making something again!!!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

HAPPY MAY DAY!

HAPPY EASTER!

Tag Tuesday Challenge-"Easter"

It's been awhile since I've posted anything--was out of state helping to care for my mom and then back home taking care of the grandkids--it feels so good to be able to create a little tag! My photo isn't very well-lit, but you can get a better look if you click twice on it. You can see all of the wonderful Easter-themed tags over at BelleSouth, here!

Tag Tuesday Challenge-"Vintage Sewing"

Finally finished my tag for this week's Tag Tuesday challenge of Vintage Sewing; ironically, my sewing machine kept jamming up and my "sewing" around the edges didn't work out too well. Oh well, if at first you don't succeed . . .

Tag Tuesday Challenge-"Spring"

Here's a tag for a new Tag Tuesday challenge-Tag Tuesday has moved HERE; Rebecca at BelleSouth has generously offered to continue this challenge, as Louise, who originally created and hosted this challenge, has many obligations right now-she will still be continuing to showcase her beautiful art on her blog, Kard Krazy.

GOTHIC ARCHES-"Spring"

This arch for the current Gothic Arches Challenge theme of "Spring" came out sort of "frilly and fancy" I suppose, but I just got going with it and couldn't stop! Anyway, I'm glad to have a new Gothic Arches theme to play with, and I love the season of Spring so much, I might make another arch later on in the week! (I think the arch background and the glitter both show up better if you click twice on the photo to enlarge it!)

Playing Around

My sweet hubby found a coupon, and ordered a book from Barnes and Noble that I'd wanted for quite awhile~Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities! I was so excited when it came in the mail, and I've been playing around with some background techniques of his. It's very hard to see the background of this tag in the photo, but basically, it's just Antique Linen Distress Ink that I applied and dampened a little--and then used the same ink to stamp a background image on the tag. I edged the tag with dark brown chalk ink, and used the same chalk ink to stamp the flourishes. I made the "shabby flower" out of paper from a brown grocery store bag; I punched circles out and trimmed the edges with decorative scissors, and then crunched up the paper after I'd sprayed it with some Glimmer Mist. I opened the circles out while still damp, and then dried them with a heat gun and layered 6 individual pieces, gluing them in the centers--and then added a vintage button when I was done.*** I've had the Paper Whimsy image for a long time, and thought she'd be perfect for this tag!
***I got the idea for the paper bag flowers from this wonderful video by the VERY talented "ER" on YouTube--here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHy9xEK8eww

Tag Tuesday Challenge-"Surprise Me"

The current Tag Tuesday Challenge over at Kard Krazy is to create a tag that has a little surprise to it. As I'm not very innovative, my "surprise" is pretty simple: I had been experimenting with a couple of Tim Holtz ink backgrounds on a tag, and I had this tag that I'd inked and stamped on both sides. So I decided to make a 2-sided tag; you look at the tag and then turn it over, and there's another image on the back. Not super exciting, but since this is a two-week theme I'll put my brain to work and maybe come up with something better before the challenge ends!

Thank-You Card

I made this little card to send to my sister. She is living in Germany right now; her husband is working over there--I miss her terribly, but am so very glad she's having wonderful adventures! She says the people are so nice, and she's been able to do and see so many fantastic things! I am living vicariously through her stories and her photos . . . buying fresh-baked baked in nearby France, hiking in the Black Forest, exploring old castles, driving on the Autobahn, going to the Christmas Markets and Oktoberfests, going on a river cruise, having breakfasts in quaint villages, visiting ancient churches--ahh, what fun!

Tag Tuesday Challenge-"Postcards"

I made a little tag for Louise's Kard Krazy Tuesday challenge of "Postcards"~ such a fun theme!

Teacup Tuesday

I thought I'd share my blue teacup--my only blue and white one! It is not an antique, although it looks similar to my antique cups; it was given to me as a gift a few years ago. As I've said before, the lighting in my house is awful, even during the daytime, so the photos aren't great, but I'm glad to have the chance this morning to participate in this fun event. Hop on over to Artful Affirmations to see all the beautiful entries!