New Business Card Technique

In the July/August 2017 Somerset Studio issue, an article showcasing a technique using packing tape made me want to try this myself!  I used a large business card as my template and got out my paper scraps.

Sewing the edges on my Featherweight proved problematic as I had to change the tension, the needle got sticky and after several attempts, I decided if I made more, I would use a different method of finishing the edges.  I love my Featherweight too much for this sticky mess.

I'm going to make some postcards to send out....later!

Tag, You're It

I resisted adding art on top of my tag when I completed the background. I so loved the background that I created for approximately 30 different size tags all using the same colors, stamps and stencils. When I found the fish, I thought they would be perfect for this tag!

Happy Halloween!

Tim Holtz posted a project by Emma Williams on his blog and the use of the Tim Holtz die cut for the scrolling trees was all I needed for a jump start on inspiration.  I am so lucky to have a huge collection of cigar boxes - I can grab from the attic anytime I want to make a shadow box.

I used all the Halloween items that I already had in my studio.  The detailed fence is a Tim Holtz die cut.  I love his designs!  It did take me some time to remove all the tiny bits after die cutting but so worth all the effort.  I embossed the fence using detailed black embossing powder and it really gave the appearance of a black iron fence.

The miniature pumpkins came from Michaels Craft store and the wood letters are... of course, a Tim Holtz product!

This was the first time I used the spider web product.  Super cool.

Don't you love the "Found Relatives" that Tim Holtz has?  I have lots of vintage photos, however, none for a particular theme like Halloween.

So this is what I was doing in my studio on Saturday.... having fun!

Future Potential Project

The escutcheon and door knob was removed from a picture frame that I purchased from Tuesday Morning. Even better yet, it was on clearance! I have a project in mind for this tiny escutcheon and door knob - photos to follow.

Art Journal

I love the wire spine that I made for this book! It took me a few attempts at getting the right wire weight to work with the chunky beads that I wanted to use. I would have had more success with the wire if I had more experience. I have a new found appreciation for those who do wire work in making jewelry, etc.

Some of my favorite pages.....

"Define It" by Sharon

Sharon loves letter forms and words in addition to being a mixed-media artist.  She was recently a guest artist in Stamper's Sampler summer issue featuring her amazing cards along with a wonderful interview.  She altered an existing calendar for "Define It" giving each participating artist an opportunity to use images, photos and rubber stamping to define their chosen letter.  I selected the letter "P" for Pisces.  I so enjoyed working in her book! 

I love the idea of altering an existing calendar and I'm now inspired to alter one from my personal stash!

I adhered blue mulberry paper to represent water.

Loved using my Pisces stamp!  I added star embellishments everywhere there was a star in the stamp design.  To emphasize the theme, I added text using a label gadget.

The images of the bathing beauties are from Graphic 45. 

The fish man is one of my favorite rubber stamp images.  He so much fun to dress in different clothes which takes a bit of fussy cutting and planning but worth all the effort!

I think Sharon will especially enjoy the collage work on this page.  It was fun adding different textures.

This was my last page - Sharon requested that we do four pages.  I added the yarn to the edges of each page and sewed tabs using the extra canvas from the background I used on the 1st page.  I dyed the canvas material using Tim Holtz sprays and stencils several years ago for a major project.  I have small sizes left that I enjoy using in my art.  My stash is almost depleted and I will need to take time to do more.   It's a messy process and I like doing a bunch so I have a supply on hand.

The odd shapes are from a piece of jewelry that I took apart.  I think they make interesting "pretend" stones or shells.  I added bling where the hole was drilled.

Marsha's Vintage Faux Album

I loved Marsha's theme of original photos

from Opal Thorpe's photo album

making fictional stories of her life.

I couldn't resist the idea of both of them loving each other's home

however, in the end loving their own country's home more.

Thank Shoe RSM!

Thank you Roberta Sperling, Editor in Chief and Sarah Hoban, awesome writer for RSM! Loved, loved the feature article of Sister Act. And sending you huge hugs for posting photos of my shoe on your Facebook page and in the new issue!

If you are one my blog followers you already know that I love sending a shoe in the mail. Each one is different and being sent for a different reason. Each shoe that I have altered has been a lot of fun for me making and mailing. I have been told by the recipient that there is a whole lotta joy in receiving such a piece of "mail"....very unexpected!

Happy Valentine to you Sharon!

Lucky me as I was the last artist in our round-robin rotation to altered Sharon's calendar.  She chose an outdated Somerset Studio calendar, then removed the pages of the artist's work leaving behind only the pages with the printed calendar. What a clever idea!

I thought I would alter two pages (front & back) as the other members did.  When I realized that I was the last one to work on her calendar, the game plan changed.  One page led to another .... altering the whole month of February was so much fun!

I absolutely loved doing all of February!

Dress Banner

 The dress banner made by the other artists in my art group hang in my studio window.  I get lots of light from this window but not the sun so I am not concerned so much about fading.

This is the dress banner I had made that shows a wedding photo of my parents.  It became the inspiration of the other artists as they all included a photo on their banner. 

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