Digi Ink Nov 09/09

This week's challenge over at Digi Ink is to use a quote in your artwork.
I just got 3 of Martha Stewart's newest border punches, and really love the garden trellis punch.

I punched along one edge of a piece of black cardstock and then along the other edge, then put a piece of double sided tape down the middle and and blended various Ritz Glitter micro fine glitter into the negative spaces (red, gold, warm highlights). This was my jumping of point. I haven't used some of my other punches in ages, and I have bunches of off cuts, so just assembled a bunch on the card and punched a few etc etc. Added the Quietfire Design rubber stamp quote. This is the result.

CBH Challenge Nov 10th Remembrance

This week's challenge over at Created by Hand is "Remembrance". Not an easy challenge again, especially since it's Remembrance day in Canada, and if you don't want to include war stuff, which was all that was coming to mind. Then I noticed a poppy and this card sprung from that.

Sentiment is Quietfire Design rubber and the poppies are from gg designs.

Click on card to see details etc. Enjoy.

1st batch of Xmas Cards

Well I normally make between 60 and 80 Xmas cards each year, and it is time consuming, but such a pleasure to trade with everyone. So I'm always looking and thinking of ways to make it easier on myself without doing one original and then making prints of it. I like receiving real originals, although I have received many that were prints and were gorgeous. So for my first batch, I used Art Emboss sheets on cardstock, run through my Cuttlebug and a label sentiment tied on with a ribbon. Real simple, but I think very elegant. So I have 20 down and only 20+ to go... big grin. I have a stack of Xmas cards from classes and previous years that I've accumulated, so it's time to use those as well. Click on card to see some of the other designs and how I made them. Assembly Line.

Alcohol Ink ATCs

We don't have a theme for this month's ATC swap over at Paper Pastimes, and since I've been playing with my Alcohol Inks lately, I thought I'd expand on them and do some ATCs. Our Guild's Galleria this month is also ATCs with a theme of "Bright Colors", so if any are left from this batch, they'll be traded that night. Might have to make a few more... I just love looking at the vibrant colors, they make me smile. Click on ATC to see the rest and how I made them. Enjoy.

Digi Ink Color recipe Nov/09

Digital Ink has a color recipe challenge this week. Although I like the colors individually, they're not colors I would normally put together.

I had to think a bit to make this work. I guess that's why it's called a challenge?? Big Grin. I'm also using Quietfire Design rubber stamps. Love this "Thanks" set.

Anyway, I'm really happy with the results. I will be giving them as my gift basket donation for our Show and sale. Hopefully I'll get around to making another batch of them, because I really really like them. Sheesh.

Anyway, click on pic to see details and descriptions etc. Enjoy.

Bead Maker

I got a wonderful surprise in my mailbox on Monday. A bead maker, compliments of a friend and Chuck Johnson from C-5 Creations (sorry I don't think he has a web site yet). I know he wants to sell them, so stay tuned. And here it is: http://www.xmission.com/~wa7jos/C-5/PaperBead/

Well I hadn't gotten home till late on Monday night, and needed to get up early the next day for work, so only got to try making one bead, and liked it. So needless to say I was anxious the next day to finish work and get home and make a bunch more. BIG GRIN.

I usually use a Quilling tool and thin oriental papers or hand decorated rice paper etc to make beads, because mine are usually for fine threads, but with the latest challenge we had at gg design using watercolor paper, my quilling tool would not work for this. Yes I can use a bamboo skewer or knitting needle, but the paper, especially thicker papers, have a tendency to slip while you're trying to turn the bead. So this tool was just fabulous for making beads.

I tried it with various papers (see list below) and even though the hole is approximately the same size as a bamboo skewer hole, it will still work for my finer threads. I just insert/glue a small bead inside the holes.
Note some of the beads have a second view of them - the ones on the darker or black background.
Most of the beads are formed with a long thin triangular shape piece of paper except for #2 which uses 2 triangles cut on one piece of paper. Most of my strips were from 6" to 10" long.

1. Arches 140# HP watercolor paper (3/4"w), colored with Pan Pastels, Clear Thermal embossed and a stripe of Liquitex Glass Bead Medium.
2. Heavy textured mulberry paper (3/4"w) which I had colored green and then thermal embossed high points with gold. Rolled my bead, then thermal embossed with clear. I love the shape of this bead. Very organic.
3. I started this one with a gold parchment type stationary paper (1"w), then with the heavy paper from #2. Thermal embossed with clear.
4. A burgundy toned Bazzill monochromatic cardstock (1"w), then clear thermal embossed.
5. Canson 90# CP watercolor paper (3/4"w) decorated with black ink and iridescent medium. Clear thermal embossed.
6. 140# CP watercolor paper (1/2"w), decorated with several layers of acrylic paint. Used a Quickie Glue pen to put dots of glue around and dipped into a copper micro glitter jar.
7. Canson 90# CP watercolor paper (1/2"w) decorated with green watercolors. Clear thermal embossed and dipped into clear "sugar beads"
8. Same mulberry paper from above, but done with a slice of thin strip of scrap and just let it roll wherever it wanted, almost like a ball of yarn. Clear thermal embossed.
9. 65# cardstock which was gold embossed and run through a Cuttlebug with the Swiss dots folder. Clear thermal embossed. The smaller one (1/2"w) started with the parchment paper first and continued with the gold cardstock. The larger bead is 3/4"w.

So thanks so much for this great little tool.

BVCG Booklets

This year for our Guild fund raiser we had everyone make booklets to hold greeting cards or CD's or whatever fit into the pockets. It was a 12 page booklet so good for one month per page. I had made one at home without instructions that needed a bit of alteration after making the second one. BIG GRIN. But both worked out fine. The double sided paper we used in our enrichment meeting was thicker than what I used and was more abstract designs than I normally use. But that worked out ok too. Click on pic to see details and inside views etc. They'll be sold for $5.00 each.

Vamp Stamp News Nov/09

I've been published again in Vamp Stamp News (Nov. issue), inside page 17 and it's on their web site in the rotating images. Of course I used Quietfire Design rubber BIG GRIN. Click on card to see details etc.

Digi Ink Recipe challenge

Another week, another challenge. This time Created By Hand has a "Times Gone By" challenge and Digi Ink has a recipe challenge. Not much time to create this week, but I managed to squeeze in a few minutes (well maybe more than a few minutes...). Click on image for details etc.

Now back to packing, labeling, inventorying etc etc, for our Guild's show and sale next weekend.

CBH Oct 27th Halloween

Well I've made a bunch of things, Halloween related so I could have just used one of those, but it's not in my nature to use a previous image for something current, so even though I had little time, that serendipity thing that happened for the Digi Ink challenge spawned this one. BIG GRIN

And this week's Created By Hand challenge is Halloween. How'd you guess???

This time I did a selective removal of the gold top layer. Used a Lynell Harlow brass stencil of the spider, love that guy... (available from Quietfire Design) on the gold, mounted to a black cardstock which I had run through the Cuttlebug (ps the brass stencil was also run through the Cuttlebug) with the Spider web embossing folder then rubbed over the high points with a silver metallic rub on, then mounted this to an orange cardstock. Wrote in my word with a white Inkssentials pen.

Digi Ink - No card - Challenge Oct/09

Well over at Digi Ink there's a challenge this week to create something that isn't a card. Wish I had more time. So this is the best I could come up with in the few minutes I had today. I have a four day workshop, plus need to make up lost time at work, and the running around I had to do.

I used Amaco Art Emboss Bright Gold extra light wt, extra soft embossing sheets. I adhered one to a piece of cardstock with my glue stick, then ran it through my Cuttlebug using the Queen Anne's Lace embossing folder. The image was recessed so I put some glue in the dots of the focal one and added some Ritz Glitter "warm" micro fine glitter. Just gives that little shimmer to it. Then I rubber stamped the word "Peace" (Quietfire Design Xmas 2008 set) using black Staz-on stamp pad. I wanted to clear emboss it, but the embossing powder stuck to more than the word, so I brushed off the embossing powder and used a Q-tip and some Ranger's blending solution to remove the word. Little did I realize it would remove the gold coloring from my design. But I liked the silver tone underneath, so I continued to remove more of the gold, leaving some gold still on the design. I re-rubber stamped the word and clear embossed with no problems this time. Mounted it to a bright blue cardstock.

I'm glad I made that error, because I've made another ATC, selectively rubbing of the gold color, and I like the results.

CBH Oct 20 Trust

This week's Created By Hand challenge is to use the word "Trust". It's not a word that comes easy to me. I have a very large streak of dubiousness and cynicism in my and the trust I have is in myself rather than others. No idea why.

Anyway, I was also playing with alcohol inks and loving the results and this is one of the artworks created. Both word sentiment and quote are from Quietfire Design.

Click on pic to see details and close ups etc. Enjoy.

Lutradur Book & Textural book

I finally made the other book with that half of Textural artwork I did last month. Very happy with the results.

And I also found time to play a bit with the Lutradur I got from Suzanne at Quietfire Design. Lots of fun and I wish I had more time to play with it, but got to get things ready for our show and sale which is in a couple weeks, plus I'm taking a four day workshop with Georgia Deavers this weekend coming, and will have to make up the time at work which I don't have. Sheesh the time just flies by.

Anyway, just click on either book to see detail pics, and descriptions etc. Enjoy

Pewter Class

I've finally uploaded the things I made in the pewter class last Saturday over at Elitia Hart's home here in Calgary. Enjoy.

gg design Oct challenge

Well I finally had a chance to play and do gg design's Oct challenge. Ida Abshier has a lovely tutorial on gg's website describing how she does this technique. Lots of fun. You basically use solid type rubber stamps or stamps that have good depth to the image, color with watercolor markers, mist with water and stamp onto watercolor paper. Easy and very effective. Click on either card I made to see detail pics and descriptions etc.

Digi Ink Challenge #6

This week over at Digital Ink Co the challenge is a layout sketch. I just got some clear plastic and loved the alcohol treatment I did on it, I had to use it, so this became the card for this challenge. Click on image for details etc. Enjoy.

Twitchy - Stitchy Stamps - Cards

I was asked to create a card using a digital stamp from Twitchy (Stitchy Stamps) at Digi Ink. So of course I made two, can't stop at one. I must admit these stamps are not my usual style, but I had fun creating them. Click on either card to see details etc.

Digi Ink #4 Oct09

Digi Ink's 4th challenge is "Fall". Well fall is leaves, and pumpkins and yellows and oranges, so this card has it all. BIG GRIN Uses Nestabilities dies and Pan Pastels.

This card is also good for the Created By Hand theme this week which is Harvest Time.

Click on pic to see details etc. Enjoy

Glitter Nitty Gritty

Well the class, prizes and specials were fabulous. Sorry if you missed it. But you can see the cards and descriptions and I'm only an email away if you have any questions. Click on pic to see the samples from glitter class. Enjoy

Thanks to Suzanne Cannon from Quietfire Design for hosting this class on the quietfire.ning forum

HERE'S A LINK TO SUZANNE'S PROJECT PAGES FOR THIS CLASS
there are direct links to all the products used that she carries.

CBH Challenge Stencils

Well this week's theme on Created By Hand is to use stencils. And that just comes at a perfect time, since I'll be teaching an online glitter class on Wednesday evening, (See previous message for more details) and have been using them with the double sided tape, and coloring them in. Now if you want to find out how this card was made, then please join us. BIG GRIN

OnLine GLITTER Class

Hi All
Just wanted to give you the heads up that I will be teaching a GLITTER class hosted by Suzanne Cannon from Quietfire Design, on Wednesday, Oct 7th at 7PM mountain time, that's 9pm New York time and 6pm British Columbia time. Hope you'll join us. You will need to sign up to Quietfire.ning to access the chat room.
I will be showing samples of stamping and thermal embossing on glitter, as well as painting on glitter with alcohol inks, markers, watercolor media like Tombows and Sakura Gel pens. So don't miss out. Hope to see you there BIG GRIN

Digi Ink Color challenge

Well this week's challenge over at Digi Ink is a color theme. A dark blue, a minty green and a brownish tone. Of course each screen's colors are different, so who knows what colors they really are. BIG GRIN.

But this is my interpretation. Also uses Glitter Ritz micro fine glitter.
All products available at Quietfire Design.
Click on card to see details etc. Enjoy

PS I will be teaching a GLITTER class hosted by Suzanne Cannon on Wednesday, Oct 7th at 7PM mountain time, that's 9pm New York time and 6pm British Columbia time. Hope you'll join us. You will need to sign up to Quietfire.ning to access the chat room.
I will be showing samples of stamping and thermal embossing on glitter, as well as painting on glitter with alcohol inks, markers, watercolor media like Tombows and Sakura Gel pens. So don't miss out. Hope to see you there BIG GRIN

Peerless Watercolors

Peerless watercolors are a really fantastic product. They're concentrated watercolors on a piece of paper fabric. You touch a water brush to the color and you've got instant paint. and the way I carry them around is the best of all worlds. Flat as a piece of cardstock. Smaller than a piece of cardstock. And I have every color, not having to leave any at home because they won't fit into my container or bag. It has the names of the colors as well as a sample of that color on white cardstock. BIG GRIN.

Click on image to see details etc.

CBH Challenge Sept 28th Play

What a fun word BIG GRIN. Play is something I know how to do and do every day. It's what's this week's challenge theme is over at Created By Hand. Click on card to see details and descriptions etc. Enjoy

BVCG Day of Crafts

What a fabulous day we had today. All of us came away with lots of new ides and techniques and wonderful projects. I've written down what I made including pics of finished and not so finished projects.

Enjoy

Thanks to Annette, Lynn, Tara & Suzanne, for a wonderful time.

Click on cup holder to see the other projects etc.

Oct Issue VSN

I just got my October issue of VSN. Wonderful issue again. I have 3 cards in there all featuring Quietfire Design rubber and their theme was "Creative Corner". Click on any card to see more info, detail pics and descriptions etc. Enjoy.

Two more Halloween ATCs

Well I tried something new today. Have you ever stamped on Glitter - I'm talking about Ritz Micro Fine glitter. Well I can tell you it works. BIG GRIN But it even works better when you thermal emboss it after stamping. So I added 2 more ATCs to the bottom of the page of the previous glitter ATCs. Click on pic to go there.
Well I also did an experiment to see if I could stamp on other glitter. And the answer is yes, but it's soooo much nicer on the Micro Fine since that burnishes down to a very smooth as a baby's bottom feel.

Tag Booklet Card for Misc Challenges

Well this is one of those rare times I create for multiple challenges. This week my tag booklet card works for SaWo "Bubble Wrap" backgrounds challenge #73, then for Lots to Do "Tags" and finally for Digital Ink and that was a recipe challenge to use 2 designer papers and 3 somethings (like brads or eyelets etc). Click on card to see details, descriptions and the tags pulled out of the card.

Enjoy. And I'm off to bed now. It's been a long day.

Halloween ATCs

Well I was on a roll this weekend and created a bunch of Halloween ATCs for our upcoming trade. I just love all the new Inkadinkado Halloween rubber. I get so boggled when I look at them, I don't know which one to choose first. And then I was having fun with glitter. On the pumpkin page there are a bunch of different variety of ATCs, besides pumpkins. So enjoy... BIG GRIN

CBH Challenge Sept 22nd - Texture

Well this week's theme over at Created By Hand is TEXTURE. Now I've got lots of texture stuff both in my stash and new stuff, except I can't show you them all... sheesh. They're for some upcoming Quietfire class coming in October. So you'll just have to settle for only one this time. BIG GRIN

I finally was playing with some of my spray webbing, along with some Perfect Pearls and Glass Bead Medium.

Click on card to see details and descriptions. Enjoy

"Bathroom" Hanging Booklet

Well I know some people who like to read in the bathroom... And I wanted to make a booklet using my rectangle Nestabilities, so combined two things in one. BIG GRIN

This booklet is a wonderful gift for someone. They're easy to make, if a little time consuming. Just put a decorative hook in a guest bathroom and hang the booklet up, ready for someone to enjoy. Make a few of them and change them by the season, or holiday or your decor. Every page has a Quietfire Design quote plus design elements. I'm really happy with the results.

Click on booklet to see details and all the pages.

CBH Challenge for Sept 15th

Ah!! the letter "Q". There are some "Q's" I really love and this is one of them. I love Queen Anne's Lace, Quilling and I love Quotes, so incorporated all of them into this week's challenge. Click on card to see descriptions and detail pics etc. By the way the letter "Q" was the challenge on Created By Hand this week. Hope to see yours there.
Enjoy

Digital Ink Co Challenge

The Digital Ink Co is having their first challenge and they have given a digital poppy image to play with. I love poppies. Have a bunch of them in my garden, so couldn't resist playing along. And of course I got carried away and made 2. Click on either card to see detail pics and descriptions Enjoy

A Couple more Journals

Finished two more hand bound journals. One using a heavily textured piece of artwork I did a while back with the intention of making book covers from it. This book has half of the artwork. The other half will be a book eventually when I figure out what binding style I want to do.

The other journal is a Belgian Eyelet, and almost didn't get made. I had made the cover, probably in June, and shoved it in amongst my pile of stuff that keeps getting higher and higher... Then my shelf came loose from the wall yesterday, and in the process of moving everything out of the way to fix it, I discovered it again. So finished it today. And of course since there is "Stitching" in them they also fit this week's By Hand Challenge. Big grin I'm happy with the results of both of them.

Click on either book to see details and more views etc.

CBH Challenge Stitching

Well I got to try something I've been putting off for a long time. That whole thing of piercing and sewing a patterned design. So I drew a butterfly, pierced the holes and did a cross over pattern, added a bit of quilling and I'm happy. and can you guess what this week's CBH Challenge is??? Stitching.

The other card was something similar I saw in one of my new books "New concepts in Paper Quilling" by Marie Browning. It's an OK book, with a couple good ideas, this being one of them. Instead of using brads on the corners I decided to do a French Knot and voila I have another stitching challenge done. BIG GRIN

Click on either image to see details and descriptions etc.

Punched Flowers

I'm having a blast doing punched flowers. BIG GRIN. I colored a piece of gold parchment paper with Pan Pastels in a blue and magenta, then punched the whole sheet with my Carl mini Sakura punch. I was watching TV while doing this. Then used a piece of fun foam and a large stylus to put the 3D effect on each flower. Got another one of those clear organizers and have started loading my flowers in there. One of these flower cards can take 50 to 100 little florets, so I better have a stack on hand. Anyway, click on image to see details and descriptions etc. Enjoy

September ATCs Bugs

This month's theme over at Paper Pastimes is "BUGS". Normally I'd say ugh except for things like butterflies and dragonflies, but Inkadinkado came out with another batch of gorgeous rubber with a lot of bugs on them. So I did a bit of playing with them, but not as much as I had wanted to do, just not enough time in a day. Anyway, click on image to see the other 8 that I made, not similar to this one either.

Joanne's Blog Prize

Well Joanne is giving away a gorgeous hand made beaded amulet bag between now and when she reaches 3000 visitors (real close). Your choice of the latest two she made. So click HERE to enter.
Don't miss out, they're beauties.

CBH Challenge for Sept 1

This week's CBH Challenge is "Back to School Days". Must admit I haven't need anything about school days in many many years. So had to think about it. Finally came up with something that would fit the category and still be useful. Click on card to see details etc. Enjoy.

OK so 2 more cards

Here are a couple more cards for the gg design challenge which I thought started in August, but actually will only start in September. So hit me over the knuckles with a wet noodle.

After the last card I submitted, someone asked me whether I had tried using my Cricut to cut out a shape from the veneer. And the answer is no. Not something I'll try either, because I don't want the cutting mechanism to foul up if it jams in the grain of the veneer.

But then I decided to try using my Cuttlebug instead. One card uses a Sizzix "Puzzle" die and the other uses a couple Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Circles. Both work well cutting the veneer.

Both cards use gg designs and Quietfire Design rubber of course... BIG GRIN.

Click on either image to see details and descriptions.