WOYWW #291: Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and got lots of Crafty goodies!  And now it is the last WOYWW of the year! You know; the What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday blog hop hosted by Julia at the Stamping Ground.

I missed the last four weeks: First I was in a card making frenzy, and then last week I didn’t get in to do anything except look for a roll of tape; I actually went down to get the camera as even I was a bit horrified!  So this will continue as my 3^rd annual Post Holiday “Full Disclosure” shot of my area!  Oh, and as  part of the full disclosure; I didn’t take the shot; but in the floor in front of the side desk, and the futon, and pretty much every carpeted area, are my Christmas stamps and Holiday Paper Packs (which, not one card used printed paper…so why are they out do you ask?)  Dakota is disgruntled; no room to lie down and have her peanut butter jars! LOL!

So, a somewhat closer (but not too close: not a view for the faint of heart!) look at the desk; I have the project for the Compendium Challenges #15 &16 (yup, missed a week there too) All of my red and blue distress inks…cause it’s such an effort to stack them 4 inches further …front left, the envelope of my new Tim Holtz Holiday Words Scrip Dies (How fun!)  and on the far right; the cutting board and pick to get said words out of the dies.  And then a whole mess of everything else! 

Once things get settled, I will have the pictures of my 2014 Holiday card collections, as well as some other projects I’ve manage to work on…

So, now that everyone can feel better about their own work spaces, I wish everyone A Very Happy New Year! May the New Year bring much Creativity and Joy to Everyone!

CC3C #18: Pocket Pages, Page 18

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the Eighteenth challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3^rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, TheFunky Junkie Boutique has offered an extremely generous $25 Gift Certificate for all the even numbered weeks! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

OK: It’s easy to blame lack of creativity to the stress/time issues of the holidays…definitely the time issue, as I’m always up against that...but I had various thoughts about how I would approach this challenge when it arrived.  After doing the worn cover challenge (#13), which I’m using as my first art journal/work book, I had a brilliant idea to make a wine log.  Bought a new cover on one occasion; with another pack of pocket pages on another:  so what do I discover the other night? I have pages that fit in the horizontal style worn cover; but my wine book will be the vertical style!

So, in my Tues. night drop back and punt, here are the pages I had placed in my art journal (See! I have used it!)  I’m using them to hold snippits of ideas, those that work; those that don’t…I had cut a bunch of the tickets out from scrap one day when I was “cleaning” up the Vagabond area, and they are in one of the pockets for my journaling/comments. 

So, while not very creative, these pages are workin’!

  

So please visit the Curiosity Crew’s sites…where you can see all the possibilities of these pocket pages!

Have a Very Merry Christmas Everyone!

Compendium Challenge #17 (& a late 16!)

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the Seventeenth challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3^rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, InspirationEmporium has offered an extremely generous $50 Gift Certificate for all the odd numbered Challenges! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

So, this week the challenge is Woodlands & Tinsel Twine, found on page 60.  I’ll admit I've been a bit scattered lately, so I was very disappointed when I couldn't finish Challenge #16’s  “Layered Stencil Embossing” piece.  But with this week’s I thought “Bingo! I can tie them together, which will give my # 16 a direction.  So out came a 5 x 7 canvas panel; added some blue through a snowflake stencil (not noticeable at all in the photo) glued down (and that was a challenge in it’s own right!) my Star Bright die cut, which was treated to the Layered Stencil Embossing technique found on page 50, again not terribly noticeable, as the stencil is a modern graphic snow flake design, and larger than I thought it would look.  Then I took the wreath from the Woodlands set, gave it the Page 60 treatment. Then, back to the challenge of gluing down: my lovely clumpy glitter is all over my sweat shirt, when I finally broke down and dragged out my Glue Gun.  As I didn't have the tinsel (I know I do...just couldn't find it!), which would have been lovely framing the panel, I cut the snowflake border die from Memory Box in velum, then had a ball gluing that down as well…lesson learned: a pre-gessoed panel could still use some fresh gesso…

 Now go visit the Curiosity Crew’s sites…there are some amazing pieces there this week! And if I don't get back on, I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas!!

WOYWW #286

Wow…it’s another WOYWW…time is flyin’ by!  To see what it’s all about, stop off atJulia’s Stamping Ground,  and then join in the fun.

OK, even I’m a bit shocked by the look of my desk...didn't think it was that bad when I left it Sunday night.  What you see are my fav Distress Markers (hope the caps are on tight!)  which I was using to watercolor the dragonfly, from Impression Obsession…which you can see on the acrylic block to the front right…

The Lady Slipper and Lupine are left-overs from some note cards I was commissioned to make with an “Adirondacky” feel, as it’s a gift for her mother who lives on Lake George.  I can’t remember the company, but I bought them on one of our Maine trips, and I think they are now out of business.  The distressing tool was used on the lupine card, the lattice (die back a bit) where used on the lady slipper.  Ink pads scattered all over the place…some brown velvet ribbon…being horded….almost broke down to use it! LOL!  Still might as it matches the cat tails….

With luck I’ll have some serious time from Thurs. evening on to finish this job and my own holiday cards, if I’m not in a turkey coma!  So Happy Thanksgiving everyone! For those in the North East, I hope the storm coming in today won’t ruin everyone’s plans! ( love adding plowing the driveway to the list with baking pumpkin pies!)
Oh, as typing this , it has just arrived in Albany NY...and it is coming down fast!!  Take care everyone!

WOYWW #284

Wow…it’s another WOYWW…time is flyin’ by!  To see what it’s all about, stop off at Julia’s Stamping Ground,  and then join in the fun.

Not much to see today….I did fairly well at the craft fair, but sold only half of the Christmas Cards, so Yay! I only have to make another 25 for my own mailing!

So I sorta took the weekend off, worked on my compendium challenge, which you can see in the back ground, or here.  And there are my blue owl cards ready for a saying to be stamped inside; I just couldn’t decide which one yet.  There is the TH Lattice die sitting there, which I was going to use on the cabinet card, then decided not to.  There is a celtic candle stamp from the closed company Scottish Borders Stamping, and the set I used for the owl from Inkadinkado.  And that’s about it.  But don’t worry, I’m sure next week I’ll be back in my usual messy hectic state!

So now off with you to Julia’s: where you can then link to much more promising desks around the world…

Oh, and has anybody else had problems lately seeing photos? I can't see the ones from my last post, but I've had comments so others can, and I've stopped at a few blogs where some of the photos are grayed out...very weird...

CC3C # !5: Cabinet Card Pocket, Pg. 38

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the eleventh challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3^rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, InspirationEmporium has offered an extremely generous $50 Gift Certificate for all the odd numbered Challenges! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

OK, onto the Technique, or in this case, cool Tim Holz Product!  First...Shocking… for someone who ran a photography business for a number of years, you’d think I’d have some photos of family members…but alas, no.  So into my TH Stash and his found relatives pack I did foray.   So I've decided this picture can be of my husband’s parents, on North Beach in Chatham MA., where in fact he did grow up…so not that far fetched.  And the stamp is actually Chatham Light.  I found a set of the  Outer Cape Lights from Blockhead Stamps when they were closing their NY shop and moving to New Mexico. It was in the remnant bin, which I usually don’t have the patience to go through. but am so glad I did.  Too bad they didn't have the rest of the Cape lights!  Finished with the TH Die cuts, a sea gull stamp from a set I think is from Crafty Individuals…

So there it is; my in-Laws, a few years before my Sister in Law was born, enjoying the beach between the tides (and therefore work-FiL was a commercial fisherman)

Now go visit the Curiosity Crew’s sites…there are some amazing pieces there this week..and then join the fun..there is still time! Have a great week everyone.

WOYWW #283

Wow…it’s another WOYWW…time is flyin’ by!  To see what it’s all about, stop off at Julia’s Stamping Ground,  and then join in the fun.

Nearing the end of my Craft Show Craziness.  This is what I left Sunday afternoon before I had to head down to start dinner; silly me planned a grilled pork, and it now gets dark so early, and I always over grill stuff in the dark (yes, the deck light is on…yesh!...oh, and can you sorta see outside my window..how overly bright? Yes, that’s snow…we had about 1.5 inches…so I was grilling in the cold snowy dark…still pretty tasty though!)

So I have a card I did on watercolor paper with a Magenta stamp I bought on our trip to Wales last year.  Embossed with gold, colored with Faded Jeans Distress Ink and a water pen  I was still contemplating using the blue pearls, but now I think not.  The DeNami tree stamp I have ideas for using green Xmas embossing powder, (it’s got flakes of gold and red glitter mixed in)  so we’ll see if I can pull that together tomorrow night as well.

And here is the card that was all in pieces-parts last week…Memory box die, Tim Holtz embossing folder. 

And here is the tag that the deer was destined for...really like the background on this one.

So please, go visit Julia, where you can then link to much more promising desks around the world…Have a great week everyone!

CC3C #14: Colored Crackle Pg. 53

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the Fourteenth challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3^rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, TheFunky Junkie Boutique has offered an extremely generous $25 Gift Certificate for all the even numbered weeks! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

OK, onto the Technique: I had this little deer (dear little deer?)  sitting all alone on my desk, so decide to use her.  The deer on our hill are rather cinnamon colored; (the ones down the hill are all drab…) so I started with Rusted Hinge and went from there. (Looking at the photo, I see I smudged the Fired Brick stickles I put on her nose, while getting that wreath to stick)

                                           

The tag background is Distress Embossing Ink sponged through the Layering Stencil…then covered with clear Embossing Powder. I used Old Paper DI, but I'm thinking my ink applicator (Yes Hettie, you can laugh) may have had a bit of Shabby Shutter that I didn't scrub off) Oddly, it's exactly the color I was hoping for.  The “So You Think You  Can Prance” stamp is from Memory Box; I had to have it as one of my fav shows is “So You Think You Can Dance”  I haven’t found any of Tim’s new Pine Twine, but I have this odd, clunky type, so I wrapped that up with Linen Ribbon died with DI Festive Berries, and…how does everyone glue down their bristly pipe-cleaners/twine? I used Multi-Medium; but it was touch and go! I haven't decided yet how I'll use this tag, so I have left it un-embellished for now

The Colored Crackle, unlike the other Crackled techniques gives your projects such a nice “country”, peeling wood sort of look..if that makes sense.  So grab a copy and give it a try! Don’t forget to also visit the Curiosity Crew’s examples…there are some amazing pieces there this week!

Also, I noticed that my Worn Cover post didn't link last week, so if you are interested, you can read about it here..

Have a great week everyone.

WOYWW #282

Wow…it’s another WOYWW…time is flyin’ by!  To see what it’s all about, stop off at Julia’s Stamping Ground,  and then join in the fun.

My desk, as I left it Sunday night, has 2 projects going on: the pieces-parts of another Christmas Card design that have to be assembled (being a coward: gluing down the Memory Box Candle die-cuts is daunting! Hettie gave me some tips that I’ll try tonight)  and in the lower right, a die-cut deer I’ve used the Tim Holtz Colored Crackle technique for the Compendium Vol. 3 Challenge.  With luck I will have that posted by Friday. 

So that’s about it…just various other inkpads and remnants that are hanging around from the Craft Fair mayhem that will be my nightly focus through next Friday. 

So please, go visit Julia, where you can then link to much more promising desks around the world…

CC#3C #13: Worn Cover

Posting from IPad.  I apologize for formatting and typos...Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the thirteenth challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3^rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, InspirationEmporium has offered an extremely generous $50 Gift Certificate for all the odd numbered Challenges! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

FIrst, I love journals: I love touching them, flipping through them, hoarding them; I just can't seem to bring myself to write/create in them!  I'm sure its a fear of ruining them.  SO, with this challenge, I'm not just altering this cover, but I'm making a journal I will start working in; easy as it's loose-leaf, so any totally failed pages can be replaced! Brilliant!  My subject: Wings, as I have a thing for all things wing-ed: Birds, butterflies, dragonfly's; etc.  And have a whole parcel of stamps and sayings that haven't been inked just waiting for this opportunity!

I used a sheet of Wallflower Paperstash as my start, various stencils on the back, side and cover; Primarily Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint and Scattered Straw DI's everywhere. Industrial stickers for the title, and a little butterfly to go on the front.  I did not add any dimensional embellishments, as it will be on a book shelf, and I don't want them getting scrapped off; that may change.  I used the brads to attache the ring binder as I never have any luck tying anything in. On the inside I made 2 pockets of a brown manila paper, that I printed over on the gelli plate with copper, green and gold paints.  

And in the one pocket, an image form my new Clarity Stamps...so cool! So there it is; my no-excuses journal.  The pages I put inside take anything wet really poorly, so as soon as I receive my larger watercolor paper, I'll add a few sheets of those as well.  Now go visit Linda and the Curiosity Crew to see what they have come up with! Happy Crafting everyone!

Pink Christmas! At Jingle Belle's

It’s always good find a way to combine our love of crafting with doing good in the global community.  So I’m so excited to share a blog challenge I was just introduced to , who has found a way to do just that. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the lovely Hostess at the Jingle Belle’s blog, Stephanie and Lauren will each donate $2.00 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for each Pink Christmas card uploaded to their blog, through Oct. 22.  And you can upload as many as you like! So Get Stampin'!!!

The only “rule” is that they have to be NEW holiday cards with  “Noticeable” Pink on them…as they say “Not just Rudolph’s Nose!”

So here is my first card; I’m hoping to come up with a few more!  I was mentally thinking glittery ornaments, etc., but once I got to the desk...it wasn’t happening; and not just because I really hate working with glitter! LOL!  None of my stamps where talking to me...I know! Odd, right? But a flip through of my die-cut folder led me to this Memory Box Tree…hmmmm. And then a little further back, the Spellbinders Fleur de lys border and corners. So I started with that; still thinking I’d eventually add some stamping….

I hit the embossed areas of the die with my Distress Markers: Spun Sugar.  Colored the flowers on the tree with the same, then touched them up with a bit of DM Picked Raspberry and a waterbrush.  Managed to stick everything down without too much glue seepage, then added little crystals in pink, red, and clear to the flower centers.  

So, my first Christmas Card of the season…I’m thinking I’m going to become a regular follower of the Jingle Belles, as they promote holiday card making all year long…great way to avoid this panic 2 weeks before a craft fair!

WOYWW #280

Wow…it’s another WOYWW…time is flyin’ by!  To see what it’s all about, stop off at Julia’s Stamping Ground,  and then join in the fun.

From the category of “Better Late than Never”…my desk, from rather late (for me) last night, which was still Wednesday…

Hettie kindly informed me of a blog challenge; JinglesbellsRock Blogspot, where with linking a pink Christmas card, the blog owners would be donating $2 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation—very cool; but be quick: ends Oct. 22!

So I had a brain storm at work yesterday…and somewhere between 2:30 and7:00 it sorta faded:

I left it as is at 9:45, as Dakota informs me she NEEDS to go out NOW!  As it starts pouring buckets…good dog…

So, there is a Memory Box Tree die cut, a Spellbinders Die cut Border, some stencils, some stains, a gelli plate print I really love (ie, don’t want to use! LOL!) Stay tuned to see how it all works out!

So please, go visit Julia, where you can then link to much more promising desks around the world…

CC#C #12: Distress Photo Tinting

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the Twelfth challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3^rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, The Funky JunkieBoutique has offered an extremely generous $25 Gift Certificate for all the even numbered weeks! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

OK, onto the Technique: and I have to confess, this is a simple example of just going through the steps, as the entire universe conspired against me.  1) printer ink seemed empty, bought new cartridges 2) no, not the ink; printer has finally died 3) new printers are all wireless 4)sales guy is an idiot: Apparently you can’t use wireless printers when on dial-up w/o a router unless you have a new computer that is above Windows XP 5) my CD Drive can’t read the new CD-DVD disk with printer drivers & 6) You can’t connect to HP Support while on dial-up to download the drivers…GAH!

As I've only missed one challenge since the first compendium challenge, I was a bit bummed to be missing out, and then I found this image on the work computer (I honestly don’t know why or where it came from-in our signature file!) and as I have no image altering ability at work, it luckily was already a sepia monotone.  So I smuggled in a few sheets of photo-paper, and yeah! A bit blurry, but what ‘cha going to do? 

So, I followed the steps; again, bare bones; colored the lips, blouse and feather, added a rub-on remnant and some tissue tape, and counted myself done; and hopefully I’ll still be able to link in!

Once I get my printer/computer issues figured out I’ll give this a try again, because this technique does add such a nice touch to family photos. Go visit the Curiosity Crew to see what I mean!

Have a great weekend everyone...and a great Holiday for those Stateside!

WOYWW #279

Wow…it’s another WOYWW…time is flyin’ by!  To see what it’s all about, stop off at Julia’s Stamping Ground,  and then join in the fun.

  

My desk, sadly, is exactly as it was Saturday night….not good as I have exactly 1 month to get a substantial amount of cards made for a craft fair at my Mother’s Senior Community Center; and since they all buy their cards from the same little store area, they went crazy for original cards last time.  I could be in big trouble! LOL!

So, left to dry, but never got back to, some birthday cards made with Tim Holtz’s Cupcake Framelit set, with Rock Candy stickles drying on the frosting, and my good old PSX Calla Lilly stamp (LOVE those PSX Botanical stamps; so bummed they are out of business-but I’m sitting on a fortune of Botanical stamps!) which I colored with Pearl-ex and a waterbrush.  And as I have company over the weekend, with the 2 boys sleeping in the [Gasp]craft room  (I know!! But it is, errr, was…well…I did promise my husband that when I took over his son’s room it would still be a guest room…and there is still a futon, somewhere, under the dog’s blanket and the Christmas paper packs, and magazines….oh bother!)

Anywho, next week isn’t looking promising either…

So please, go visit Julia, where you can then link to much more promising desks around the world…

WOYWW #278

Well, I’m calling it “Who’s on Your Workdesk Weekend” this week, as Hettie from Wales was over for a visit! We became friends when we where swapees on the 3^rd WOYWW PIF Anniversary! Time flew, and we only had a short time in the actual craft room comparing stash; even with a supply of beer for the men-folk to relax with!

 

Hettie’s Fergus got close and personal with the “Wolf” pumpkin; see the huge stem?? Some were so thick I can’t imagine how to cut them off the vine!  That is my Wee Angus, explaining the whole Pumpkin/Jack-o-lantern concept.

Once Hettie and her Hubby where on their way to Boston, I went up to play with the Clarity Stamps she brought over! Can’t really see the hummingbird one here done in gold; and there are two others up to the left of birds and bird feeders.  I also got some stencils; I have to say; I’m liking this company! (And her videos are great!) 

And here is a card I made to thank our Town Board for accepting my proposal of a plan to help bring Broadband/Cable up to the town (Oh, and contributing $4000 for our line extension…might actually be  caught up to the 21^st  century by next year!)  Inside is the TH stamp “every possibility begins with the courage to imagine”  fitting, as I have been crusading for this for 11 years!

Now, please, head over to Julia’s Stamping Ground to get all the details on the  WOYWW blog hop, and have a wonderful weekend everyone!

WOYWW #277

Welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at The Stamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.

Sad to say, another week without much in the way of crafting; but, a lot of tidying so that my dear friend Hettie (who will be here tomorrow!!) Won’t faint at the site of my crafting room! (And also, I had to find all the goodies I’ve been stashing for her…shhhh) So, I have had these panels floating around for a few months now (I know, I know…) and finally got them up; Spiffy!  The kit came with 5 little hanging hooks; not sure what I’ll use them for, and I don’t have many punches that work on that punch bar; but I really love those basket thingys and will probably get one more! 

And here is the desk, after I made a card for my husband’s co-worker who is going in for a double mastectomy. I liked how it came out so will be making a few more for the show.  

 And, here is the pear card that came out of my Eureka moment when I was typing the blog last week; not quite how I envisioned, but pretty cool non-the less…

So now off with you to Julia’s: I have work to do before I take some vacation time.  Have a great week everyone!

CC3C #11: Effect Powders, Pg. 52

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the eleventh challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3^rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, InspirationEmporium has offered an extremely generous $50 Gift Certificate for all the odd numbered Challenges! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

I have a few of the basic colors of the Distress Embossing Powders, but Linda mentioned at the start of the challenge description that Tim has reduced the line to 4 colors; and believe me…I looked high and low, even my trusty TH app, which didn’t seem to be able to load products all week; and couldn't find a sign of them anywhere.  So after a brief detour which didn't  pan out, I had a eureka moment when typing my WOYWW blog, and created my Pear Skin effect powders, by mixing Peeled Paint and Mustard Seed DEP.  I used my favorite “A Stamp in the Hand” Pear stamp, used Tim’s technique, grunged it up with Pumice stone (failed at the shadowing) then masked it to over-stamp the Pear text. 

So while I like it; I’m not really sure what I’ll use it for; an impromptu general purpose card I suppose.  And shockingly-with all the pear stamps I have (no really..lots!) I don’t have any sayings that go with it..so I’ll gladly take any suggestions!

So, there it is; Distress Effect Powders…now go visit the  Curiosity Crew to see their fab results, then grab a copy and join in!

WOYWW #276

Welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at TheStamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.

Not much activity this week; well, not much crafting; but serious time spent tidying for a VIP who will be visiting Next Week!! /Squeeee!  But once that was done..(well, except for the new peg board panels I want to put up which with luck will be this weekend)…I had a few minutes to play with the Distress Embossing powders, which is the topic of this week’s Compendium of Curiosities Challenge. Of course, I only have a few of the original ones; and now Tim Holtz has re-worked the line, reducing them to 4 colors; but I can’t find them anywhere, so I’ll have to make do.  I tried to use them with somewhat thicker-inked stamps, but I’m not thrilled with the---yiminy! I just got a brilliant idea….wait brain; for fingers to catch up…to use my Stamp in the Hand stamp of a pear with the green Distress powder…oh man, it’s going to be a long day before I get home!!!

KK, as there really isn’t anything to see here…come back next week to see if my plan works….gotta run!

Go see Julia’s, to portal off to other creative spaces around the world.  Have a great week everyone!

WOYWW #275

Welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at TheStamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.

Another week has gone by where I’ve been sidetracked from my mission of getting cards ready for the craft show.  /shakehead.  Not that I didn't actually spend time here…but most of it was spent staring at this….the blank Assemblage Clock. 

I had such great plans when I purchased it; waiting for the week it would come up as the Compendium Challenge. Now that the time was upon me; panic!  It was big…it was shiny… and all the possibilities kept leaping around; “make me Christmas”; “make me Birds”; “make me Time”…yeah, it was a rough week!  So, pulling up my big girl panties; I finally dug in. My desk is the state it was in when finished; ink pads not put away; die-cut refuse, the cork that goes over the X-acto knife, which I don’t see anywhere..hmmm.  

And the clock. I’ve decided I don’t like the Antique Linen color I painted it; so that will change to a warmer tone, and I’ll add a bit more to the outside. I’m thinking trailing roses like a mini-trellis; and then it will be going into work.  (It’s been a year in the new building; time to jazz the office up a bit!)

 So that is mine…run along now to Julia’s, to portal off to other creative spaces around the world.  Have a great week everyone!

CC3C #10: Assemblage Clock, Pg. 33

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the Tenth challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3^rd Volume of the Compendium of Curiosities!!  As in the past challenges, we can’t give details on the challenge, so don’t ask, but do go get your own copy of Tim’s fabulous book.  Also, The Funky JunkieBoutique has offered an extremely generous $25 Gift Certificate for all the even numbered weeks! So grab a copy, and join in to play!!  All the deets are here, at Linda’s blog!

I  have been looking forward to this challenge since I bought the book, and knew we’d be doing the challenges.  Then I opened the box.  And Panicked…That is a big ol’ shiny clock sitting on the desk!

So all the Dreams of Possibility sorta became a mob scene and then sorta ran away… So after a week, I pulled up my big-girl panties and got down to business.  First; pick a saying; one that will actually fit.  As it’s not totally readable, I chose “God gave us memories so that we may have Roses in December” by J. M Barrie.  So next; make the roses (look--so much better than our first challenge!…Oh, and I wanted the trellis….ok, on a roll now! Didn't want the clock shiny; so I painted it with Distress Antique Linen; to look like that frosty enamel pans my Grandmother had (ok, looked good until the end; now I hate it; so it will be painted again at a later date)

I wanted the trellis to stand off the back; I thought my system was brilliant!!  Didn't want to paint the inside, and to cover up the screws, yup, Wallflower Paper Pack to the rescue…still seemed like everything was going to fit…Then I realize just how deep that little clock is!!!  So roses fill up the front, but not the pretty ones that were already glued to the trellis.  And the Memory Box Butterfly; it is literally glued by a wing and a prayer to sit up front…just a dab of a hot glue gun on the edge of the wing…

And now that it’s done; I want more to do the beach motif; the Christmas Motif; a flight motif…Yeah, now that the clock (he he) is off, I get ideas… I do like the butterfly outside; but it needs something else…maybe I’ll add some trailing roses after I repaint it.  

WOYWW #274

I almost missed it! Gotta love a short work week!  So welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at TheStamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.

Yes, last week there where Christmas pieces-parts started.  Then I realized that aside from playing with all my new Tim Holtz goodness, I would need some of my standard Holiday stash; And I also need to make basic sympathy, birthday, etc., cards for the craft show…and you all have seen my room; I just don’t  have the square acreage to do both…so back to some normalcy; but don’t worry, in a few weeks the Holiday season will be fully engulfed. 

So, at the end of my Labor Day "me-time", (almost forgot to take a picture) was a card I’m fiddling with.  The square flower stamps are from Hero Arts; and I want it fairly simple; but it’s too “blah”, and it was too hot/humid to spend any more time upstairs and come up with any more ideas, so I’m letting it stew a bit.  There is the Penny Black stamp I’ll play with next, the TH Framelits stamps /dies that I played with for the Compendium Challenge; just not put away yet, and overall, pretty shockingly tidy…huh…I guess I really was “done” that afternoon! LOL!

 So that is mine…run along now to Julia’s, to portal off to other creative spaces around the world.  Have a great week everyone!

WOYWW #273: Warning--images not for the faint of heart...

Welcome to another “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” (WOYWW), the brilliant blog hop initiated by our lovely hostess, Julia at TheStamping Ground….and you can see all the deets there.

So, I had yesterday off, and as the furniture delivery guys were early, I got some craft time in…Joy!  I started with putting away some of the stash I've been acquiring lately (Now have 2 mini ink tins filled!) puttered around a-bit as for a change I didn't have a card emergency, then broke out my new Tim Holtz Christmas Blueprint stamps.  As I know I’m using them for cards for the craft show, I didn't do my usual design one first, then go into assembly line mode; I just plowed in.  So I have 3 sheets each of poinsettia’s and the pine cone. I started coloring with the DI markers, but they seemed too intense, so I instead swished a Distress Pad on the craft sheet, then picked up the color with a water brush.  I didn't use particularly great paper, so there is a bit of buckling, so the sheets were left to dry completely. I then went down to see if I could post the blog from home, and couldn't, so here it is now…

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week, and for those on my side of the Atlantic, a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

The Creative Blog Hop

Gelli Plate Print Ombre Collage

Good morning, and welcome to Kim’s Creations!  Let me start by saying how honored I was to be invited to participate in the Creative Blog Hop!  My invitee is Hettie, whom I first met on the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” Blog hop from The Stamping Ground.  And she will be a hard act to follow! Go visit her Blog Hettiecraft, to see what I mean!  After hitting it off with emails and skype, we actually met last fall when we went to visit her home in Wales! And this fall, she’ll be traveling to Upstate New York to visit with us.  This shows the Artistic Blog Community at its best!  

So, what is “The Creative Blog Hop”?  It is a brainchild of a blogger some time ago.  A blogger is tagged along with two others who then answers some questions and introduces three other bloggers the following week and so on and so on. (Like the old Faberge Organics shampoo commercial w/Farrah Fawcett…if you’re old enough to remember)  There are no rules as to who you invite or what art the blogger you choose undertakes whether it be cooking. painting, cardmaking, scrapbooking, writing or anything else.  So, on to TCBH!

About me: 

I have always been creative…starting with candles, then running amok with candies, leatherworking (which stopped once I realized that making my own saddle wasn't going to get me a horse! But still one of the best money-making hobbies I've ever had), music (I was a flute major in college-still play in a community orchestra), and photography (with my own darkroom and everything!)  I’m also a role player/gamer, which is what brought me to my current and all-encompassing hobby…Rubber Stamping/Card making.   You see: at tournaments (yes, role playing tournaments..I've even won trophies!), I wanted to make name plates for my characters, and while on my honeymoon in Ireland, I found some Celtic knotwork stamps.  I thought they would be nice.  When we got home I went to show my friend in CT, and said I needed to go to Staples to get some ink. “Oh no, you can’t use that…” she said, and promptly dragged me to my first Stamp Store, Impressive Impressions.  They really knew how to run a store (too bad they retired and sold it; it’s now closed)  They had a big demo table..asked if I wanted to emboss…turned on the heat gun, and if you’re a stamper, you know the rest! LOL!

Burlap Panel

I have been making cards and altered art pieces now for almost 18 years.  While I started with the “Clean and Simple” style, along the way I was introduced to the Distressed Look and a Mr. Tim Holtz…My husband I’m sure still regrets that!  Oh, and the Gelli plate, serious addition! But since he gave that to me as a gift, only he is to blame! LOL!

My Blog, Kim’s Creations  was started in June of 2010 so I could join my first blog challenge, The Compendium of Curiosities Challenge at Studio L3.  Blogging has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people from around the world!  It is such a wonderful way for the creative community to inspire and support one-another.  While I used to be a regular poster, nowadays it seems I’m lucky if I get a challenge piece in. The “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” hop from The Stamping Ground sometimes is my only motivator to get in the craft room some weeks to snap a quick pic! Sad that I’m counting down to retirement already so I have more free time…14 years, 11 months and 3 weeks to go…

Now to the Questions:

Stamp Camp Dove

1.      What am I working on now?   At this time of year, I try to focus on one thing: Cards for the Craft Show and Christmas! After selling out my first two years, and then had to make all my own holiday cards in a rush, I now really work at having a lot ready to go.  This year the show is the first week in November…only 11 weekends away! /Gulp!

I’m also taking part of the “Compendium of Curiosities III” Challenge, hosted by Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3.  This is the 3^rd volume of techniques written by Tim Holtz.  Every other week we get a new technique.  This week is learning to use the Sizzix Framelets dies. 

TH Stamps & Framelits.

2.      How does my work differ from others in my genre? As all my cards get mailed, I try to keep them flat and light.  Clean and Simple, and I like to think Elegant is how I would have described some of my earlier works—never would have used the word Cute!  And then comes along the Distress Inks, and the grunged up look of Tim Holtz.  Hooked immediately! Now I consider my work grungy and simple!  I have found that I am a far better hoarder of Tim’s embellishments than a user of the embellishments! LOL!

Spellbinders Folder

3.      Why do I create what I do? For Fun…plain and simple. A smuggled 2 hours in the craft room at night can relax me more than…hmmm, as much as….a day on a beach, some home-mixed Mojitos, riding the trails on the ATV’s…well, as I apparently can relax quite easily, let’s leave it at the fun of playing with colors and images! The subtitle of my blog “So Many Colors So Little Time” is so true! There are still more colors out there..I can just feel it…

Sizzix Flip-its card

4.      How does my creative process work?  This is a tricky one.  It has become apparent that I can’t just sit down and start making something with no particular person in mind. I know...weird right?  So when I start making cards for the craft shows, I have to think as if it was a gift for someone first.  Same with canvas’ and other items.   And once I have that person in mind, colors and images sort of coalesce in my head.  And what is truly bizarre, I think, is that I need that mental lay-out/plan before I can even start to put ink to paper.  Otherwise nothing seems to feel right. That’s not to say that my mental layout doesn’t get FUBAR’ed- if you excuse the language, or the final design ends up a long stretch from the original vision, but there is a higher success rate if I have a plan.  And for some reason, a plan does not mean those “sketch” designs.  I have rarely gotten inspiration from them.  Do You?

And for your next week’s TCBH hostesses:

Here is Claire.   We met just this year at the PIF Anniversary of the WOYWW blog hop.  Turns out she lives in “the City”…  New York City..a whole different world from my Upstate New York!  We’re hoping to meet later this fall in person.   She has does such colorful and fun work!  Her blog is Ham ‘n’Mule Designs.

I've been making cards for about 8 years. I started out with a really basic kit and now my craft room is an out of control beastie! I love making cards, because there is always a new technique or skill to learn that can enhance your work. I get bored easily and so switching around is key. In 2014 I have got better at stenciling, learnt how to heat emboss, watercolour and mist. There is definitely never a dull moment in my craft room! 

I am a born and bred Londoner - which is quite rare! I am married to Sam - he keeps me in check, supports my hobby and is genuinely my partner-in-crime. We have been married for 5 years this year and together for 10, so will be celebrating in style in October! Along with our furchildren - Archie and Boscat, we relocated to NYC in May 2013, we love it, but miss our family and friends. I have a real job as a Project Manager - which I am good at and I enjoy it, recently I changed to working for a software company, after a 20 year career in the advertising industry. I love to travel, read, eat, drink wine, watch rubbish tv and hang out with my friends. 

And here is Kay!  Another WOYWWer who I got to know this year on the PIF Anniversary Hop.  She always has great photos on her blog with what’s going on in her neck of the woods! And apparently we have a mutual love of horses which we translated to art! Her blog is: 505whimsygirl.

Hi, my name is Kay Hammock.  I was born and raised in California; a true valley girl from the San Joaquin Valley. I moved to New Mexico around the age of 18. I grew up in a family where my dad painted with oils and my mom would make the most heavenly pies you ever tasted. Like any girl, I loved horses.  So much so that I'd get bars of soap and carve them into horse heads!  I was always doodling and drawing, something that I now wish I kept up with.  There was always something fun and creative going on in our household. 

I started my blog August 8, 2011.  I had been blog hopping for a while before I decided to start one of my own.  I have made some wonderful friends through blogland, most of which I'll never meet.  We all have something in common; the creative spirit.  

As far as crafting, I'm all over the place.  Knitting is my favorite craft as it's like meditation for me.  I love to listen to the sound of the needles.  I've dabbled in beadwork, mixed media and all kinds of papercrafting.  A new passion I've discovered last year is photography.  It's amazing once you truly open your eyes to the world around you what you see.  

I'd like to thank Kim for nominating me for this amazing blog hop!  I've only just "met" her but I definitely feel a bond with her.  Another wonderful reason to blog!

And last but not least….Here is Candy!  I was introduced to her blog, Creativity is Contagious, as she is one of the uber talented “Curiosity Crew” designers from the Compendium Challenge.  She does some of the coolest dimensional pieces! Just check out this week’s challenge piece!  

Hi!  My name is Candy Colwell.  I live in Springfield, Missouri with my high school sweetheart and husband of almost 40 years. We have been blessed with two children and four beautiful grandchildren. 

Although I love all sorts of mixed media and paper projects, my heart usually leads me towards vintage and shabby chic styles. There is just something so sentiment, romantic and timeless about that genre. I dearly love getting together with my “crafting buddies” at least once a month where we solve all of the worlds’ problems while we have fun working on a project.

I am passionate about teaching both online through my tutorials on my blog and locally at Scrapbooks Forever in Branson, Missouri.  I have met so many amazing ladies and truly enjoy sharing my love and knowledge of products and techniques with them as “make art” (as my 7 year old grandson calls it) together. 

My “second home” is in my art studio.  There, I have created many pieces for Simon Says Says Monday Challenge Design Team, The Compendium of Curiosities Challenges, and numerous Guest Designer spots.  I am so honored to have been named to Tim Holtz’ Blogworthy Links twice and I am a proud graduate of Ranger U.  I am also a self professed Tim Holtz junkie! I love his style, his products and his willingness to freely share so many techniques and ideas. I hope that if you visit my blog, you will find some inspiration there!

Thank you so much to Kim who has invited me to be a part of this Blog Hop. I have met Kim through the Compendium of Curiosities Challenges.  She does beautiful work and I know that she is a Tim Holtz fan as well and we are both HUGE Big Bang Theory addicts!