Wednesday, July 29, 2015

WOYWW #321

Welcome to WOYWW…the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”  blog hop created by Julia at the StampingGround,  so hop over there to join the fun.

OK, don’t faint…this is really my desk.  And it looks this way for 3 reasons: 1) A new stamping buddy from the stamp club I sorta organized is coming over Saturday to go over meeting ideas, 2) I finally replaced my icky craft sheet, and the new one is twice the size and needed room to lay down and 3) I’ve already lost things I just got from the stamp show in June and last week on vacation.  OK, yes, the real reason is #3…yesh! Can’t you let me live my fantasy for just a bit??

There is the new journal I got while on vacation..playing around with one of my cool stencils from Hettie.  And the wee bird, that I was trying out my new markers; and which I need practice!!  And a few stamps I didn’t put away, because I really plan on using them….soon.

So that’s my desk, now go say Hello to Julia and see what this WOYWW phenom is all about!  Have a great week everyone!


Monday, July 27, 2015

Art Journaling running Amok

I had some free time over the weekend, so I finally finished my Steampunk Ladies pages that I started for the Online Class from Craftsy, Colorful Mixed Media Techniques with Marjie Kemper.

I had started with the brick parts a while ago to use up some Molding paste mixed with acrylic paints, then added some color.  The stamps come from Brett Weldele, with the quirky sayings coming from (I believe) Lost Coast Stamps.  I think it needs more; but being in the middle of the journal, I want to keep the pages somewhat flat; as it is I'm not sure how I'll stamp ink over the gears on the other pages.    




 And then this journal I found on vacation; I love the long, thin layout. The stencil was cut for me by my friend Hettie for a birthday gift. So; a work in progress, I can't wait to see how it grows!

Thanks for stopping by.

Altered Surfaces: Compendium Challenge #33

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the Thirty-third challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3rd 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 wasn’t sure what to do for this challenge. I only have this one set of Alpha Parts, so figured I’d start there.  My Hubby had requested a sign/plaque that supported his new “theme song”, as he puts it…”Despite all my Rage” by Smashing Pumpkins.  (Interesting, in this conversation while on our road trip, that I decided to do an art journal based on song lyrics, or impressions made while listening to fave songs..so stay tuned…well not immediately…but eventually…) Luckily I had enough letters to get the main words out.  I used Forest Moss, and then Chipped Sapphire paints, but really didn’t get quite the eroded look that I was hoping for…

I used a canvas panel, and started with spraying with Dylusions Ink Sprays, the Chocolate Brown and Dirty Martini…looked awesome, but then I tried to dry it, then blot it; and all the color came off...so much for gessoed panels!  But it did leave a light color, which in the long run was probably better.  Then the weirdness happened. I used Multi Medium to glue down the tissue paper, and this rust brown appeared. At first I thought it was from the palette knife I used, as had some of that color on it, but the paper stayed clean. It was the medium reacting to the brown ink that was on the panel!! You can see where I had a few smears in the middle…who knew??  I added some washi tape, the bird cage, and the only single House Mouse I had…luckily somewhat appropriate pose.  Unfortunately I had to write the rest of the lyrics…nuff said….And I couldn’t find my tiny Dremel bit, so once found, I’ll drill a hole so I can add a hook/brad to the top of the cage.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

WOYWW #320

Welcome to WOYWW…the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”  blog hop created by Julia at the StampingGround,  so hop over there to join the fun.

 Hi gang.  I’m sort of back; but my Sister has been over for a few days, staying in “GasP!” the craft room  (hey, she has no right to complain; she makes the stained glass/cement stepping stones—her guest room has slivers of glass everywhere...just sayin’) , as her friend got the real guest room.  So I haven’t really done much lately, except apparently acquiring more stash.  (My Hubby was very generous on our visit to Absolutely Everything Stamp store in Topsfield MA for my Birthday!!!) I have to confess; this is a bit staged. When I ran up last night to take the picture all my new stencils were in one stack. So I spread them out…just to show…I may have a new hording/addiction problem…but unlike my Paper addiction, at least the stencils really do get used! No…really!!!!  See, the top one on the left is still blue (from a quick card for Hubby’s birthday)  Notice the cool one on the top right?  That is actually one of several really cool ones cut by Hettie for my birthday!! There are 2 butterfly ones in there that are awesome!

And 2 cards I did real quick last weekend: Card for my Hubby that also went towards the Compendium of Curiosities challenge (We went to the New England Aquarium while away…so it fits) and one for my Sister in Law’s birthday...with quirky stamps from Lost Coast designs…at least I’m pretty sure it’s them; they were at the Springfield Stamp Show. Trust me; this is so her!


So that’s my desk, now go say Hello to Julia and see what this WOYWW phenom is all about!  Have a great week everyone!

Monday, July 13, 2015

CC3C #32 Frosted Film, Pg. 59

Welcome to another installment of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Vol. 3, hosted by Linda at Studio L3.  This is the Thirty-second challenge in where we work through the techniques of Tim Holtz from, you guessed it…his 3rd 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!



I thought I only had black clearly art film, but was relieved to find a clear piece tucked away. Made this a whole lot easier!  We spent a day at the New England Aquarium last week, so there is no wonder I chose these dies for a birthday card for my husband.  I only have a few colored Archival Inks, in hindsight perhaps Alcohol inks would have really popped the colors I had in mind, but ah well; these wee beasties are pretty hard to see in a tank, much less the wild, so it sorta fits. 

Finished off with a background of Dylusion’s spray inks and stencils, and some die cuts, and a card I hope will revisit the aquarium!


Now go visit the wonderful Curiosity Crew’s work to see how they showcase the Frosted Film! Have a great week everyone.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

WOYWW #317

Welcome to WOYWW…the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”  blog hop created by Julia at the StampingGround,  so hop over there to join the fun.

Wow, this looks a lot better than when I came up to snap a quick picture last night! Even I was horrified; so I put some stuff away, made some room, and then found these die cuts that are to go into a art journal page.  So, since I now had a clean area, I colored them up with distress paints, Hickory Smoke and Burnished Pewter.  Now, there are still some paints that have no place to go yet, so they are still out and about, and 2 of my new Brett Weldele stamps (I couldn’t find the sheet to put them back)  and all my foam applicators still lying around.   Hopefully next week I’ll get to a real clean up, as I’m on Vacation!!!


That’s all for now, now go say Hello to Julia and see what this WOYWW phenom is all about!  Have a great week everyone!