2010 March »

Into the Looking Glass with a Video on Making Paper Flowers!

Altered Art, Dimensional Flowers, Grunge Paper/Board, Home Decor, Pyramid/3D, Spellbinders, Techniques, Tutorials, TwistedPapers, Wrinkle-Free Distress 38 Responses »

Mar 312010

Good morning! Well, I really wanted to get this project posted yesterday, but in the middle of it all I decided to do a video tutorial. Yes, you asked for it and here it is . . . a video tutorial on how to make those paper flowers using Spellbinders™ Nestabilities!

Here’s the flower that I was working on yesterday when I decided to stop and make the video.

Here’s the video on how to make that flower.

and here’s my project using the flower.

For some background on this project, the guys at TwistedPapers.com contacted me right before they were going to upload the colored images of Alice. They thought it would be really cool if I made a project using one of the images with the negative Pyramid (get it . . . . down into the rabbit hole). I’ve been singing

One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don’t do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she’s ten feet tall

. . . . for weeks now! I might have to dig out of the old Jefferson Airplane album (yes, I said album . . . and yes I still have a turntable in the basement just to play them on).

I made the positive and negative Pyramid images using Spellbinders™ Square Nestabilities. After I had the layers made into the pyramid, I decided that the negative image needed more than a card. I went digging through some supplies and found a Grunge Book from my last Tim Holtz class at CHA and used two of the pages from the book. I glued them together and then glued a sheet of Webster’s Pages Postcards from Paris on both front and back. For an additional layer, I printed out a section of Alice in Wonderland from the net about the croquet game (because it matched this image), did a little Wrinkle Free Distress using Old Paper and Vintage photo, then distressed the hell of all the edges.

For some added fun I tore up a few old watches to get some parts that I added to the bottom left. While doing that, I came up with another wonderful idea and have made note to get it done in the next few days. In the image we have the Queen of Hearts so it wouldn’t do . . . I had to add some hearts to the project.

To hang the project, I added some Tim Holtz idea-ology Swivel Clasps and link chain. Thought that was pretty darn clever myself!

Images: Alice in Wonderland from TwistedPapers.com
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Webster’s Pages Postcards from Paris; BasicGrey Wassail
Ink: Ranger Vintage Photo and Old Paper Distress
Accessories: Spellbinders™ S4-232 Blossom Two and S4-126 Classic Squares – Large; Tim Holtz idea-ology Grunge Book pages, Swivel Clasps, Jump Rings, Trinket Pin and Link Chain; Ivory Twill; Ranger Matte Accents; Sponge Dauber

Well that’s all for today folks! As if it wasn’t enough. I’m off junking it with my sister today. Hopefully I’ll find some great alterable junk!

Thanks for stopping by and remember . . . life is short, make the most of the day’s adventures!

Spring is in the Air!

JustRite, Sewing/Stitching, Spellbinders, Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Techniques, Watercolor 16 Responses »

Mar 292010

Happy Monday! I truly meant to have a post earlier today, but I’ve been a little slow moving the last couple of days. I just love spring time in the Ohio River Valley! Saturday I visited with my mom and uncle most of day and then I slept yesterday. Slept all day . . . off and on . . . actually. Oh I’ve got to tell you what I did Saturday morning though! It’s exciting . . . SUPER EXCITING (well for me anyway). My stamping idol, Wendy Vecchi, is going to be teaching some classes at Sharon’s Crop Studio in Greensburg, Indiana, on May 15 and 16. I signed up for all 3 classes! I was so excited that I sent an email to my friend Beate Johns. Beate has moved closer to me than when she was in Florida and we were talking last week about trying to get together for a day. Well guess what? Beate signed up too!!!!! We will be spending the weekend together doing what we love best . . . makin’ art!!!

So here’s the thing. I saw that Beate posted on her blog over the weekend and I’ll reiterate here. If you are in the Indianapolis area and want to get together with us either for the class or for dinner, we would love it . . . AND . . . . if anyone wants to plan a Splitcoaststampers dinner for Saturday night we’re definitely up for that!

Now for my card today! I love hydrangeas! I know it goes back to when I was a child and my grandmother had one growing in the yard. It was in the front of the house, on the corner. We loved to run around the house and jump over it . . . and then when my grandmother would see us, she’d come out swinging a dish cloth p’shawing us. Every fall my grandfather would mow it down to the ground and it would come back bigger and better each year!

The image was embossed with gold on watercolor paper and then water colored with Distress Reinkers. I used The Stamp Simply Lilac Avenue Kit from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store for my designer paper and ribbon. I made this a birthday card, since I always seem to need them either for myself or for mom to send to one of her friends.

Stamps: Plant a Little Love Set by JustRite from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; Happy Birthday from Endless Creations
Paper: KaiserCraft Lilac Avenue Collection from The Stamp Simply Lilac Avenue Kit; Prism Iced Yellow; Core’dinations Dahlia; Watercolor
Ink: Ranger Embossing, Antique Linen, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Broken China, Tumbled Glass and Dusty Concord Distress Ink
Accessories: Spellbinders™ S4-116 Standard Circles – Small, S4-249 Big Scalloped Circles – Large, and S4-241 Jumbo Scalloped Borderabilities Petite; 1.5” Ivory 100% Silk May Arts Ribbon and Ivory 100% Jute from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; Foam Mounting Tape; BasicGrey Buttons and Sanding Tools

That’s all I’ve got for right now! My mind is racing with so many projects I want and need to do and hopefully I’ll be able to get some of them done in the next couple of days!

Thanks for stopping by and remember . . . life is short, enjoy the adventures of the day!

Just For Fun® Friday and Some Taintor-Tude!

Challenges, Copic Markers, Graphic 45, Humor, Just for Fun Rubber Stamps, Masking, Paper Piecing, Sewing/Stitching, Spellbinders, Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Techniques 13 Responses »

Mar 262010

Good morning y’all. How’s your week been? I’ve been needing to go out and run errands all week, but I keep finding some reason not too. Today it was the weather . . . just yucky. Monday I got all showered, dressed, walked the dogs and then headed out to the garage. Flat tire! Tuesday I was able to get enough air in it and drive it up to the corner to have it plugged. Thankfully there was just a roofing nail in the tire . . . . and YES, I am blaming Mr. Stodgy. He was the last to drive MY car on Friday when we went to dinner with the kids. The rest of the days I was just too lazy and enjoyed the walking the shitzes more. Today is my day . . . . I MUST venture out!

Today is also Just For Fun® Friday and Broni has challenged the Design Team (darn it all, one of these days something catchy is going to roll off my fingers and we will have a nickname). If you have any ideas, please share them!

I know that Broni took her inspiration for these colors from Graphic 45 On the Boardwalk, so that’s what I decided to use as well. Just For Fun® has some awesome lady images, here, here, here and sets here . . . they are bawdy, quite Marilyn Monroesque and very versatile. I’ve had them set to the side to play with and I finally decided that this was the challenge . . . we need a little Taintor-tude! Suffice it to say, some of my best ideas for cards have been inspired by Anne Taintor. I have been a fan for many years and her calendars . . . well, I just LOVE them! Remember the pecker cards? Inspired by an Anne Taintor magnet that hangs in my studio!

I did something on this card, that I’ve never done before . . . paper pieced! Well, if I have I sure don’t remember it. Her undies (and she is wearing some), blouse and hat are all paper pieced. The rest of the image was colored with Copic Markers and even though you can’t see it, the background is airbrushed lightly in a pale yellow. I stamped the sentiment 3 times and punched out the words that would fit in the word window punch with a little creative freedom! The Graphic 45 paper and ribbon is from the Stamp Simply Graphic 45 On the Boardwalk Kit.

Stamps: D2737 No Good Girls and G2757 Just a Breeze from Just For Fun® Rubber Stamps
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Kraft; Teal; Graphic45 On the Boardwalk
Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black, Adirondack Pitch Black and Antique Linen Distress
Accessories: Spellbinders™ S4-144 Long Classic Rectangles – Small and S4-145 Long Scalloped Rectangles – Small; May Arts Ribbon – 5/8” Teal Twill, Bittersweet Jute and 1” Yellow Grosgrain Ric Rac from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; Sewing Machine; Button; Ranger Matte Accents

Now that you’ve seen my challenge card, it’s your turn! We would love for you to play along with us and post a direct link to your card on the Just For Fun® Blog.

Don’t forget to visit the other JFF Designers (see there we go again . . . I need something that just rolls off my fingers) to see what they’ve made:

Broni Holcombe
Kat Tucker
Heidi Blankenship
Linda Duke
Sandy Sandrus
Starla Nelson
Terre Fry

Thanks for stopping by and remember . . . life is short, enjoy the adventures that come your way today!

JustRite Mega March Blog Hop Day 2!

Altered Art, Chipboard/Illustration Board, Graphic 45, Grunge Paper/Board, JustRite, Spellbinders, Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Techniques 649 Responses »

Mar 242010

Easter Chicks!

Chipboard/Illustration Board, Easter/Spring, Her Badness, Holidays, Sewing/Stitching, Spellbinders, Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, Techniques, TwistedPapers 24 Responses »

Mar 222010

Good Monday morning! Wow what a weekend! On Friday my oldest, Kate, got married to her long-time boyfriend, Will. They had a nice little ceremony at the courthouse and then we all went out for dinner. We’ll eventually give them an open house reception so all the family and friends can celebrate.

Smart kids . . . they just bought a home and Kate’s car is on its last miles, so they opted not to spend a small fortune on a big wedding. It makes you wonder how many couples are taking the plunge at the county courthouses these days instead of big, elaborate weddings.

I spent the rest of the weekend working on my project for the big JustRite Mega Blog Hop this week. It starts on Tuesday and my day is Wednesday. You will for sure want to check it out. I believe it might be the biggest blog hop ever with 88 designers taking part. There are many prizes to be given away daily!

Then Bad Bev and I finished up most of the invitations to the Sorority Luncheon Style Show. We started when the Bristol race came on Sunday and ended when the checkered flag dropped. Perfect timing!

After the race, I figured I had a little more time to spend in the studio and decided to make another Easter card. Remember last week when I told you about all the cute little chick images at TwistedPapers.com. Well I had to go back and get one more!

Not much going on here, except a little sponging and sewing. I did use the Lilac Avenue Collection from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store and put the image on illustration board.