After completing the Pine Cone Press project (say that 10 times fast!) I started finishing up another project I've been working on. I'm teaching a free class this week through a Yahoo group called the Latest Trends in Mixed Media. Sharon asked if I would teach a metal effects class back in October and I said sure. By the way, if you haven't checked out Sharon's blog, why not? She comes up with the best ways to recycle things to make art. If you know me, you know, I'm all about recycling! Anyway, I'm finishing up my project for that class. Here's a sneak peek. I'll post a full picture tomorrow when my Stickles are finally dry and it's adhered to the box...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Gettin' stuff done...
After completing the Pine Cone Press project (say that 10 times fast!) I started finishing up another project I've been working on. I'm teaching a free class this week through a Yahoo group called the Latest Trends in Mixed Media. Sharon asked if I would teach a metal effects class back in October and I said sure. By the way, if you haven't checked out Sharon's blog, why not? She comes up with the best ways to recycle things to make art. If you know me, you know, I'm all about recycling! Anyway, I'm finishing up my project for that class. Here's a sneak peek. I'll post a full picture tomorrow when my Stickles are finally dry and it's adhered to the box...
Saturday, November 29, 2008
I'm Hot Stuff!
I'm thrilled to announce that I have been chosen to be a Hot Stuff Designer for Kandi Corp!!
Kandi Corp creates many embellishment tools for all sorts of crafting people. I've been chosen to design for them using their Hot Wax Art Stylus and Pigmented Beeswax!
I'm so excited to be offered this opportunity. Over the next 4 weeks, I'll be busy creating about 8 pieces of art that Kandi Crop will be showcasing at tradeshows early next year. While I won't be able to share with you what I've created until after their unveiling, I might sneak in a small teaser.
I'm so excited about this new adventure!! I'm glad it's just begun.
UHU Challenge - November
Here's the supplies I used: UHU Twist and Glue, Pearl metal, Large Mold Number L7 and, Paper Stump by 10 Seconds Studio, Sanding Block by Lucky Squirrel, Winter Wishes Paper by Moxxie, DMC Floss in brown, Puffy Silver Snowflakes (maker unknown), Ranger's Blending Solution in a water pen and Ranger's Stream Alcohol Ink... whew.. it takes a lot to make a card!
Anyhow, I had some left over Moxxie Paper from a Card Swap I did about two months ago and I was so happy with the Pearl colored metal and the paper, that I decided to pair them up again for this card. While I was away cropping a few weekends ago, I picked up some really cute puffy silver snowflakes. You got a bag of about 8 for only 99 cents! What a deal. And I decided to try the trick I learned while taking a class with Tim Holtz in September. Here's a little breakdown of how I made the card...
UHU Challenge - October
I'll be honest and say that I'm not a dot roller type of gal. To me, if you're able to easily rub off a dot with your finger, then how well is it really going to hold your paper and photos? My first test was to see how well it rolled on and then how well it rubbed off. I was surprised! Pleasantly so! It rolls on super easy, so slick! And then when I tried to rub it off, it was hard to do. It did rub off but then again, so won't my ole standby. That got me thinking... if it really holds things well, how well is it going to hold grungeboard? I've never had good luck with a dot roller to hold grungeboard. It just seemed too ... well, weak, I guess. So, off I was to create something with the mini clipboard and my UHU glue roller.
I used some old paper I had from Die Cuts With a View, the large rectangle grungeboard bookplate, some Distress Inks in Frayed Burlap, Broken China and Peeled Paint. I used Claudine's new paints in dab of yellow, blank canvas and sable brown. I also found a vintage piece of paper in foreign script. Oh, and some yellow brads made by Close To My Heart, that I pounded with the Tim Holtz Hammer. Oops, wait a minute, I'm not done with my list... I also used Ranger alcohol inks in Stream, Buttersotch and Ginger. Whew! And speaking of lists, that's just what I created, a place for my "Lists". My kitchen is a pretty yellow and tealish blue color so I thought this would look perfect hanging in my kitchen with my many-lists-I-make-a-day on it.
Here's some peeks closer up...I'm loving the vintage look to this. So my style!! The UHU glue held up extremely well overall. I was pleased with the micro dots. They easily came off my craft mat (what doesn't??) but wasn't easily removed from paper (look close at the book plate and in the left corner you can see some dots.) And it held the grungeboard. So far, so good. But I don't think it'll be coming off.
Creative Juices are flowing...
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
My family had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner today. We spent it at Oma's house. She always cooks two birds and hand makes her stuffing, serves Matso Ball soup and makes an incredible amount of mashed potatoes. This year was no different. If she had less than 20 pounds of mashed potatoes, I'd be surprised.
After Dinner, we had pies (which my Mom makes), coffee, looked through the Black Friday sales flyers and then played a few games of Uno. It was a great, great day. Very relaxing and fun.
As I reflect today... I'm extremely thankful for my family, friends and life. May everyone's Thanksgiving be as wonderful as mine.
Happy Holidays, everyone! ~ May the shopping begin!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
4 classes in 8 days...
A big THANK YOU! to all the wonderful women I've had the pleasure to meet in the last 8 days. I've enjoyed each class. It's really been quite the experience for me to teach so much art, so often and at so many different places. I've enjoyed every minute of it. I can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for me. I hope much more of the same.
Surprise!!
Mimi, Katie, Jeanne, Bev, Kerriann, Stevie, My in-laws, My parents, Erika, Nicole, Steven, Julia, Mike, Brandon, Mikayla, Bryce, Caleb and Patrick all helped make my birthday party a special one. Thank you to everyone who came. A thank you to Susan, who helped Bev with some soda too! Another Thank you to Kerriann who was Patrick's accomplice. A special thank you to Mom for helping keep Patrick with the plans and reminding him that he must clean the house! And a Super thank you to Patrick for throwing the whole thing, too!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Class Updates...
- Ten Seconds Studio - this is my number one choice and the only one I teach with
- Amaco - Can be very thin metal but works very well in the Cuttlebug!!
- Merc Art - OK, I've never tried Merc Art's metal. Anyone want to send me some??
- Dick Blick - They sell several different companies here, so you could get a smorgasbord!
Monday, November 17, 2008
More fun from the weekend...
I taught a class (Metal Embossed File Folder) to three wonderful women. Thank you to Carole, Sue and Mimi for joining me. And a special thank you to Kerriann for being my helper. I don't usually have a helper but it was nice this time.
I got my first ever massage! Wow! Was that nice. I'm going to do that at every crop, now. Oh, I felt so good afterwards!
I ate way too much... ice cream, creme brulee, cookies, candy, meals, coffee, all too much! Too much, I really should go for a walk now.
I slept too little. I need about 9 hours a night and when you're up until 3 and then again at 9, it's too little for a gal like me.
I was super silly, see the video.
I won a prize! I won for the decorate your name tag contest. And then I promptly forgot my tag in the room so it's a good thing we got a picture!
And I finally got some projects done! I finished my recipe cards!! Yah.. I never have to make another one again. I am completely up to date on the Rolodex Swap. Finally, I've been behind since... um... the start of the swap last January! (this is an on going ABC quote swap. We are on N O and P) and I finished my ATC cards that aren't due until next month. Now I just have projects for classes I need to do. Piece of cake. Um.. nevermind, I don't want any cake anytime soon. My friend, Susan just brought me out to lunch and then we each had a cannolli, I'm stuffed again!
OK, I have some pictures of the weekend to share. A little art work as well as a little slideshow of friends. Thank you to everyone that came and made my 33rd birthday special! I had a wonderful time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
A little video...
I have more pictures too, I'll upload some later today....
Friday, November 14, 2008
I'm cropping!
Here's some of the other gals we are here with. I'll have to get a group shot before I leave!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
M.I.A.
Bernadette told me she missed my blogging. Sorry Bern. I'm here, I'm alive and well and I'm gearing up to go away this weekend with a few friends. Of course I say a few but last count someone told me there were about 20 of us! Yah, that's a lot of people! We're all headed down to Hyannis, MA for the Crazy for Croppin event. I'm excited to be going away. I've got a ton of projects I want to do and I'm really feeling like I'm gonna get them done! And of course Sunday is my birthday! Making this weekend even more exciting!
So what have I been doing? Well Saturday I hung out with Jen Starr at the Scrapbook Cupboard. She came down to teach a few fabulous classes. After that, I went out cropping with my friend Kerriann. It was a short crop but I got some important things done.
Sunday I hung out with the family for most of the day and then that evening I hosted an event. A whole bunch of us got together to do something special for a few friends in need. I did this event Monday night too. I'm so happy with the turn out and I'm sure the friends will be happy. It always feels good to do good.
Monday I taught a private class for an extremely talented artist. Marissa is a wonderful woman and she really knows her stuff. I'm so thrilled to have met her and it meant a lot to me that she wanted me to show her how to metal emboss. She gave me this piece of jewelry that I adore. On one side is Caleb's favorite symbol (the pirate skull) and on the other is Bryce's favorite symbol (the Fleur de Lis). It's almost like the piece was made for me. I love it. Thank you, Marissa! Click on over to Marissa's link and look at her Etsy shop, her website, look at her work. You'll see just what I'm talking about.
Then Tuesday. Veteran's Day. I actually spent most of the day running around with my Mom doing wedding stuff for Nicole. We picked up her runner, her invitations and some ribbon for the cake. It's a little over 3 months until her wedding and I've got to jump on the shower stuff. The good thing is, I AM working on it! I've contacted everyone and we're all on the same page. Whew!
So Wednesday, wow, that's today. See how my time has flown! Today I woke to sickness. Not me... Caleb. Be rest assured he's fine but let's just say he gave his little brother, Bryce, a not-so-nice shower at about 5AM this morning. Yah. So I've been on laundry duty all day. Urgh!
Tomorrow I must pack for this weekend. I have my lists, what I want to do what papers and embellishments I needs, etc. I even went out to Home Depot today and bought a mailbox. - That you'll have to wait to see. - Actually I'll have to wait to see it too, it's in my head but hasn't made it to paper. My favorite author, Laurell K. Hamilton, has a blog I follow. In her blog she talks about how the characters of the book speak to her and once they start talking she needs to put them to paper and make them alive. (even if the paper is sticky notes!) I hope I don't loose the character in my head for the mail box before Friday. I'm thinking not but we'll all just have to wait and see!
I'm bringing my laptop so expect some photos and updates this weekend from the crop. Sorry no pictures today but I guarantee there will be plenty for this weekend!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The Winter Canvas is Ready!!
This is gonna be another super fun class for December. It'll be just before the Holiday, December 20th from 10AM - 12PM. So, if you're in the area, come on by and check it out!
Also, Bev bought a new bow for my wreath. A beautiful gold ribbon...
While this picture isn't as good as the last one, the bow was my main focus. The last one just didn't match. So what do you think about this one? Better?I'm off to crop tonight. Having fun!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Playing around...
Of course this thought ran through my head at 2 AM and I don't own the Dragon and I didn't even know if Bev at the Scrapbook Cupboard had ordered the Dragon, so I write a quick email. In the morning, I get the news that yes, she's ordered a Dragon and they are expected in this week. Well guess what came yesterday to the store? Ok, Ok, I know you guys all know. The Dragon! I bought him, brought him home and quickly squashed him through my Cuttlebug. Take a peek...
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Metal Wreath 98% done and did you see!
This is a 12 inch wreath base that's just about completely covered in metal flowers. I was inspired by a design in the book, "The Metal Craft Book" by Janice Eaton Kilby and Deborah Morgenthal. If you own the book you'll see the big difference right away, if you don't own the book... sorry, maybe your local library has it? This book is one of my staple metal working books. You just never know where inspiration will strike!
OK, so I'm so excited to tell you! Mr. Frankentini, he made it on to Cheryl and Megan's blog over at Ten Seconds Studio!!!! How absolutely cool is that? You have to check it out yourself! Yahoo!!
**Edited: Calv asked what type of metal I used. This entire project was made using the Art Metal from 10 Seconds Studio.
Also to note: Bev did Colorwash the bow for me but it came out a purplish color so, no new picture. As soon as I get the right bow, I'll post another pic.
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