Simple Play

I'm between challenges at the moment and working on projects that need completion!  One is working on note cards for my MIL.  I gave her several sets last year and when she visited us back in November, she simply stated "I'm out of note cards"... um OKAY!! LOL

How many of you out there enjoy collecting stamps?  Apparently I do!  The collection is growing, even as I purge... How many of you drool over the creations in the publication "Take Ten" by Somerset Publications?  Me too!  Every publication has a section titled "A Different Point of View".. and focus on one stamp/set, multiple applications or results.   I thought it would be fun to try.

 

This stamp set is "Petals from Scratch" by Fiskars... I honestly forgotten I owned it.  But it was discovered during some recent purging and sorting.  Oddly, I've been admiring this stamp for some time...it reminds of me the cone flowers we'd see on the roadside growing up as a child.  So, shopping in your own stash does pay off!

Here's three finished cards fronts.  I used scraps for my matts (I'll take an afternoon and cut scraps down for cards, tags, tabs, flags and squirrel them away for a "rainy" day), also pulled out some manilla folders, cut them down for my base.  Then the play began!  Distress inks and stains to build up the backgrounds, watercolor pencils for color, black archival ink for stamping.  I even played with my white pigment inks and embossing powders. 

Well this is getting the creative juice going, I'm off to see how many more "different" ideas I can get out of this set.... What can you do with one stamp/set??

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your time and comments!  :D

For Valerie

This is just for Valerie... she called me a tease!  I guess I sorta am, but life got all kinds of crazy complicated within the last couple of days.  Even the best laid plans can blow up before your very eyes...

Here's Miss Tilda, or one of many Miss Tilda's that are colored and fussy cut, along with my ovals and scalloped ovals..I bet you're wondering what papers I'm using.  I have a sweet little 6x6 pad of Authentique "Peaceful" that I picked up over at Cat's.   I loved it so much I also picked up the 12x12 papers... you also might be seeing a peek of Pink Paislee's  London Market line... I know, not typically Christmas but I was using up scraps from the bucket and after some distressing and misting.. I think they'll suite just fine.
So I'm thinking... tonight if all fares well.  The kids cooperate and the planets align just right, I'll start assembling some cards.  I feel a need to mass produce a whole mess of tiny jeweler tags with my TH Tiny Tag die and stamp some lovely sentiments like "Wish", "Believe", and such and I'm also hankering from some holly leaves... 
So here you are Valerie.. stay tuned.  More will come, I promise!  XOXOXO

It's Good to Be Queen

Oh my goodness what a great way to start a month and start a summer!  Look at these fabulous colors for this weeks Case File over at CSI!!!
When I originally saw the color swatches, I thought "military" and started digging out my husbands Navy pictures...but the more I dug, the more I didn't "feel" the vibe.  So, I just browsed thru my picture files and I came across this picture of my dd Erin.  This was take in November, but the colors of her shirt matched so well..and she's a bit of a Drama Queen.. sooooooo  LOL

 My journaling is hidden again this week.  I took two manila tags and covered each with patterned papers.  On one I used Michele Singh's digital creations, CSI Coordinates, that she creates for each and every casefile and are available to our CSI members for FREE..  One tag has my wish list for Erin.  The other, has some sentimental mom journaling.  Eeewww gushy stuff.

I was originally inspired by Susan Stringfellows sketch #84, but this is where thing went awry.  Folks, you can be inspired by a sketch and have your layout look NOTHING like the inspiration.  What's important is that YOU were inspired.  If you've taken a creative turn, it's okay.  I just wouldn't try to spin that in a contest or anything like that..  (folks will scratch their heads and say "Um, not seeing it!")  But do share when and who you receive inspiration from, it gives them a thrill and keeps us honest.

 I had fun playing with some Canvas Corp stitched tags, my rubber stamp and many of my Tim Holtz gadgets and trinkets.  I've been inspired by Tammy Tutterow again on the tag, she stitches, inks, stamps  and just makes wonderful things with tags.

 I hope you enjoy this weeks Case File.  I highly recommend playing along and seeing what YOU create!  We'd love see what you make!  Until next week!!

9 Sarah's Journey

I'm a little late getting my "reveal" up for CSI  this week.  But it's been a bit busy is my excuse.  This was a fun case file and it's still early enough for you to play along! 

Last week we had so many of our members play along with Case File No. 8 and one stood out for me.  And lent inspiration to THIS weeks layout for me.  Michelle Grant, Design Team member for Dusty Attic, created this awesome layout, and then posted a tutorial for her technique on her blog, For the Love Art.  So I had to try it and I did on a very small scale.

Hmmm blogger keeps rotating this picture!  This isn't right!

For my mask I used a Dusty Attic Wrought Iron Fence, and the only thing different I did, was seal my Dusty Attic piece with some Super Seal.  It waterproofs the chipboard so it doesn't absorb my medium.  I also mix my thick gesso w/ texturing gel, which created a great marble effect once it all dried.  This was my interpretation of striped paper for evidence.

I framed Sarah's picture with an Art Deco clipart frame I found on the net.  I went back and colored with my Faber-Castell pencils and then misted the whole thing with Tattered Angels Glimmer mist for some shimmer and sparkle.

Lastly I took a Teresa Collins tag and covered it with some 7 Gypsies papers, and a scrap of muslin, splattered with some more Tattered Angles and some old rub-ons.  I printed my journaling onto a transparency, and covered the edges with some torn dictionary scraps and then stapled it to the tag.

Journey of Special Ed.

"Since Sarah is in Special Education classes, we are required to have annual meetings, called ARD's.  It's meant to discuss and figure out the game plan for Sarah's education next year.  but you have to be a bit Thick Skinned when you walk into these meetings.  They've run tests and evaluations and their findings I'm not always in agreement with or even thing they are valid.  To be told her IQ is grossly below average...you really have to let it roll off your back, like water off a duck.  But you sit down, roll up your sleeves, and prepare for 'battle', going back and forth fighting for her needs and abilities.  Both sides are stubborn like goats but in the end, we all shake hands and leave the room.  Content, knowing I've stood up for my daughter and her continuing journey thru school."

I hope you like it.  Please visit Michelle for her tutorial on texture as it's FABULOUS.  Thanks again for stopping by.

Dutch Dare Card Challenge

I made this card for a birthday.  I used stamps from C.C. Designs, Daricies, & StampingBella. I also used dies by Spellbinders.  For color, I love my Faber Castell Aqua Water Color pencils. For some extra dimension Liquid Pearls and Glossy Accents by Ranger Inc. 
I learned of a new blog today; Dutch Dare Card Challenges via one of my favorite blogs Simon Says Stamp. It hosts wonderful challenges!  I'm a gal who likes challenges and this one happens to be sponsored by no other... Simon Says Stamps!  So.. I had to enter.  Wish me luck... actually wish EVERYONE luck.  There are some awesome talent out there.

Have a Great Day.