Sudoku ATC's

I recently received the sudoku ATC's that originated with Bev. Bev had created a gorgeous background using various colors of acrylic paint. Bev sent her ATC's to Carol and she added the script stamp in the upper left corner using silver embossing powder. The ATC's then traveled to Maggi and she added the silver peel off sticker in the lower right corner. Now, it was my turn. I didn't want to cover up too much of the background, yet I was afraid that whatever I added it wouldn't show up on the multi-colored background. So, I experimented on a piece of acetate. I stamped the clef flourish with silver metallic ink and then embossed with black detail powder... but, that just didn't do anything for me when I held the piece of acetate up to the ATC. Next I stamped the same stamp with versamark ink and embossed with vine maple powder (which contains some glitter). I cut the image out of the acetate and held up to the ATC. That was it!!! Now, should I stamp directly onto the ATC with the versamark? Why take the chance .... so I stamped all the images onto acetate, cut them out, and adhered to the ATC using glossy accents. I was the 4th person to contribute to Bev's ATC's and soon they'll be in the hands of Pea. Good luck Pea!

A jump start on Christmas 2012

It is only Feb 18, 2012 and I have 25 Christmas cards finished... well, except for the stamped sentiment on the inside. While I was looking through all my stamping 'stuff' to gather unwanted items for a rummage at the local stamp store, I came across a package of card kits I purchased from The Paper Cut last year. And, since I'm also on a kick to use up old stuff and use things I haven't yet I pulled out the card kit and began making these cards. I was able to use up some snowmen ribbon I've had for years and some snowflake ribbon brads. The item I hadn't used yet that I was able to incorporate was my Tim Holtz mover and shaper die... the pine tree. After die cutting the pine trees I painted some iridescent pearl paint on the edges and after that dried I added some glitter snow. The burgundy window overlay piece was run through the cuttlebug with the snowflakes embossing folder. Then, using my clear star Sakura gel pen I outlined all the snowflakes to add sparkle. The window seemed bare with just the pine tree die cut in it so I stamped a Tim Holtz pine bough in the upper right and lower left areas.
Now I'm off to see what other "old" stuff I have in my stash.

Sudoku ATC's

Most of the gals that came to WI in October for our WI Art Camp decided to try a round robin of sorts with ATC's. It is called 'sudoku atc's'. Each of us creates a background on atc sized card stock. Since there are 7 of us in the swap we each create 7 atc's. Once you create your background you send all 7 on to the next person. And when that person is finished adding something to the atc they mail it on to the next, and so on, until all 7 of us have added a bit of our artistry to the atc's. The last person to receive the finished set then mails one to each of the participants. It is very much fun and it is amazing to watch as each set of atc's evolves into a work of art.
These are the set of atc's I started. I used the glimmering rainbow technique which I found on Carol's website. Now these atc's have been mailed to Pea for her to add a bit of art.

These ATC's were started by Maggi. She created a spray mist background on watercolor paper. She gave them to me so that I could add the second layer. I first stamped a dotted squiggly background stamp with worn lipstick distress ink. I found that you could barely see anything so I stamped again with Momento Lilac Posies ink. At least now you can see some of the image. I think it adds a little texture to the already lovely atc's. And these atc's are now in the mail to Pea for her addition.







These ATC's were started by Carol. She created the beautiful purple background. I believe it was done with alcohol inks on glossy card stock. Carol then mailed her atc's to Maggi. Maggi stamped a crackle background stamp with black ink. Maggi then gave them to me and I stamped the 'art doll' in black ink. Now, they are off to Pea for her addition to these artistic beauties.

Shoebox homework

At a recent gathering of our shoebox group we were given some 'homework'!!! You would have thought that homework only came with school... well, guess again.
Using a spellbinders die we cut out 3 layers of a flower from decorative and solid scrapbook paper. It was our assignment to assemble the flower and create a card to attach the flower to.
Well, here is my card. I just happened to have some decorative card stock that matched the colors in the flower almost perfectly! I used a Martha Stewart decorative border punch on the solid colored triangular piece of card stock and used a flourish stamp with brilliance ink before adhering it to a triangular piece of patterned card stock. Then, before I attached that to the brown card I wrapped some rust colored fiber around the top portion and taped it to the back so that it wouldn't shift. I attached a pearl button to the middle of the flower.

Shoebox card using bow maker

This beautiful card was designed by my friend Bonnie! She brought all the 'pieces' to a recent gathering and 3 of us made our own card. The purpose of this design was to teach us how to use our new bow maker tool that Jane's husband, Bobb, made for us.
This may look too pretty to give away, but I'm a firm believer in sharing my cards with others. So some day in the not to distant future someone will be receiving this card.

New Tool - Bow Maker

Check out my new 'tool'. It is a bow maker.
It all started with my friend Bonnie... and just escalated from there. Bonnie found this design for a tool that would help with tying various types of bows. Her husband made her one of these and then Jane's husband copied Bonnie's and made one for Jane. Then Jane asked if we would want one and of course, I said yes because Bonnie's bows are the best!!
So now I have my very own bow maker.
Earlier this week a few of us got together so that Bonnie could teach us how to make our bows with this new tool. We started out slow and learned how to make a couple varieties. Bonnie will teach us some of the other varieties in the future. As for now... I need to practice!

Bert's 60th Birthday Book

My best friend, Bert, turned 60 this year and I was lucky enough to be with her to celebrate... BIG TIME!!! We spent the week on a cruise to the Western Caribbean.
Before we left for that trip I worked on this birthday book finishing all except for the cover and first page. So after our return I added the 2 vacation/birthday pictures and put this book together.
I created the pages for this book back in October at our WI Art Retreat. My friend Margaret brought the watercolor paper and spray mists for our group to create lots of pages.

I won't bore you with lots of commentary. Just sit back and look at all the pages. I love how the book evolved and I know that Bert will love it too. It is full of lots of memories.
Our group of friends is meeting for dinner in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited and can't wait to see Bert's face when I give her this book.see Bert's face when I give her this book.














































































c