Play Date in the Cafe #101

Wow, I haven't made it to a play date in, like forever! But this week's colors, Wine, Smudge, Leather and Parchment, are my favorite colors, so I had to give it a go. I will admit, not my best representation...in my head it came out so much better! LOL! Time just didn't allow me to bend the reality to fit. And I have to go watch that Tim Holtz video to see about the reflections stamps....I seemed to have missed a step, as you can't see that on the dress form at all. But I did get to play with the new stamp set, and I'm Soooo Loving that Ruler!

My inks were Vintage Photo, Aged Mahogany, Weathered Wood and Antique Linen. I was sorta amazed how bright the AgeMahogany came out on the binding ribbon...I even added some of the weathered wood to tame it down, but you can't tell. Now, watch, when I want that rich red, it just won't happen! LOL!

So, now go get your cup a' coffee, tea, hot cocoa (that time! YUM!) and spend some time at the Play Date Cafe! See how wonderfuly rich and versatile these colors can be!

WOYWW #121

Greetings all! Well, I sorta survived last week; aside from the confirmation from the vet that one of the kitties, Ponder, does indeed have cancer, I was able to really hit the craft room over the weekend and make some progress for the craft show. Last night I started putting all the done cards away and ran out of the card baggies that I had gotten from the LSS that closed...anyone have any supplier info?

I also played around...again...with the Deer die and the new die from Memory Box...with the chickadee stamp from Impression Obsession. Its hard to tell, but I have sparkly paper underneath..any suggestions? I'm not sure what to add, change, etc. These layers will probably go over a white card. I so loved the die when I saw a sample in the store...

And finally...Tadah! My side table is sorta back to normal...not teetering piles! (Very Proud!) And I can still find things. So, it was quite a week.

So, if you're new to the WOYWW experience, go visit Julia's Stamping Ground and then go see some really great work spaces! See you next week!

WOYWW #120--The Horror!

I thought I was in control; Things seemed to be progressing nicely with the commissioned Xmas cards. I had taken Wed., and Thurs. off with the only purpose taking the fur-babies to the vet (yeah, 2 shifts-I need to be committed!) and crafting! I had done the coloring and a lot of the cutting/punching during the last few work lunch hours. and only had to assemble the 24 cards. I ran out to grab a drink, came back in and actually looked at my "space"!! And Holy Crap!

Tell me this is not a disaster site waiting to happen! Piles everwhere, ink applicators near pristine white panels ready to go...and my "spare" desk beside me---which was clean anticipating a play date-Ghah! Had to grab a shot, with a vow to clean up when done! Next thing I know, Hubby is home, dinner isn't started, and only half the cards are finished! Because, yes, shortly after this shot, I reached for my crimper and silver paper, and avalanche! Luckily, I had moved all the ink sponges back where they belonged, so no disaster there, and all the ink pads landed on the chair mat. It is now Thus., and as soon as this loads, I'll be closing myself off for the next 5 hours to 1) finish the cards, 2) re-organize so I can find things again and 3) if time allows, work on some more designs for the craft show...oh boy!

Now, to see what all this is about, you can go check out Julia's Stamping Ground, and then visit other fabulous desks! And I'll be visiting around abit later as well. So wish me luck with my goals..I'll let you know how I did next week! Oh, Look, the photo just loaded...I spy with my little eye--the jar of sparkly fluff I couldn't find...can you? LOL!

WOYWW #118

Hi all, real quick as work is busy-busy! Plus, for any ark builders out there...I am on the third peak on the right...waiting with my craft tools to be picked up! Only one road left open to get down the hill to work, a good 10 mile detour! UGH!

So, I got some real quick time the other night, to really...I mean Really...start my cards for the craft show. So, played around with the TH reindeer die; love the deer, not sure what to do with them! LOL! I got a new Spellbinder set, and used one for the frame, and this are the new stamps from Memory Box I picked up a few weeks ago...well, not the saying...hmm, give me a moment...

Anyway, to see what all the Wednesday fuss is about; head over to Julia's Stamping Ground, and then peek at some truely inspiring desks! Have a great week! Stay safe if you're in the North East Flood zones!

Grungy Monday #21

While at first, while totally understanding Linda's need to slow things down to catch up, what with the TH Cruise and all, (ok, maybe not that understanding...she's going on The Cruise!) I was bummed to not have the Grungy Monday Challenge to start my weeks. Now, thank heavens! I seriously need some time as well! I have officially registered for one craft show in Nov., and still would like to do the local Fire Department one in late Oct., so I really need to get those holiday cards cranking!

So, back to this challenge, which you have plenty of time to join in...it is open until Sept. 18, which starts us off with Tim Holtz showing us 4 techniques for his Fragments. I only used one, as I just couldn't find the right background on the tape transfer one, I suck at collages, and I really want to give the etched glass on my undivided attention, you may see that one by the 18th! So, this is the alcohol ink version. The backgrounds are from the Graphic 45 Christmas Past collection. The ink colors were meadow, cranberry and latte (or maybe ginger...) I layered the fragments over a tag I stamped with my new Memory Box Christmas Stamp, then layered over sanded Core'dinations paper to fit in my 7 Gypsies ATC tray.

You need to forgive the photos; the day I was leaving for Niagara Falls for our Annual convention at work, I smashed my camera lens into the door knob. (good news--seems to only be the filter which shattered, and once they remove that, and straighten out the ding so I can screw another one in-I'll be good as new! Oh, and only 1 week in the shop and $35!! I was ready to by a new lens!!) So I am using my 100 mm lens, and pretty much shooting from across the room! LOL! And, as I had promised before, here is the tray so far...hmmm, butterflies anyone? LOL!

So, go get those fragements out; pick a favorite, or new technique, and get hopping! Oh, and did I mention that Linda mentioned a prize?? You still have plenty of time!

Absolutely Everything, Day 2!

(ok, full back-up running at work, I have 15 minutes to post again! LOL)

So, Our Tim Holtz Inspired Weekend finished with a class that converted some of Tim's Tag Techniques into cards. Very Fun-especially since I mostly make cards!! Some of the techniques are in Tim's book, The Compendium of Curiosities, with some Perfect Pearls Spray added for good measure! So, without further ado:

Card 1: A take on the "Perfectly Distressed" technique in TCC. Stamp with Distress Ink, dust with Perfect Pearls, spray and let the magic happen!

#2: My favorite: The rusted Enamel Technique on the background, and the Indsutrial Grunge technique on the gears. I so love the color on this one!

#3: Using Perfect Medium, stamp one or two images on glossy cardstock. Then using a brayer, brayer the heck out of it with Adirondack Inks. The darker the better! Then overstamp with black. I do wish my bird came out a tad darker.

And Finally: #4: Which I honestly can't remember what we did! LOL! I think it was the Wrinkle Free Distress background, with the grunge label adding texture, along with the seam binding.

So, that was our fabulous weekend of creativity! The true test of our craftyness though was in the smuggling of the 8 or so bags of "Stash" that made their way into the craft room! LOL!

Well, gotta run, work becons yet again. I still have a few more posts to catch up on, so do stop by in a bit to catch up with me!

Absolutely! The Best!

Already seems like a lifetime ago! The first weekend of August, "Absolutely Everything", in Topsfield MA, was having some Tim Holtz inspired classes, with a little after hours get together of members of the "All Things Tim" Yahoo Group. Well, it's a 4 hour drive for us, but as my sister lives in Haverhill, MA, just a jump down the road, my friend Julie and I took the Friday off, packed leftovers for the men, and headed out. On the way we stopped at "Ink About It" in Westfield, MA. What a very cute store, and as all our local stores have closed, it was like a stamping oasis! Even knowing we'd be shopping the next two days didn't stop us from packing quite a few bags in the car.

Saturday was a whole day class--using Tim's Configurations Tray. Now...I preface that our LSS's classes where very..ummm, specific. Everyone on the same steps, with almost the same colors, same stamps, etc. After a few years, you become a soldier. Not so at AE!! Julie and I were SO Befuddled! LOL! It was really kinda shocking. We got to pick just about all the elements, which made for some serious confusion. The first project was to take the two larger dividers and make a little suitecase with a book inside! Very Cool! That we accomplished on time.

The actual tray?? Julie was a perfectionist on the Tissue Tape step, which put her way behind...I just winged it...and still finished just last weekend! So, here are the project from our first day of our wonderful Tim Inspired Weekend.