Happy!

Kaz is hosting the new challenge at Stampotique and she wants you to do whatever makes you happy :) Fun idea right?   I am loving my gelli plate prints these days so I picked up a print and CUT in to it to make a card.   Funny..sometimes it is like cutting in to new dp that you are hoarding.............

I used "thinking of you" image from Stampotique.  I stamped the image on Prima "printery" cs and colored with copics, cut it out and glued on the front.  I LOVE sewing on my cards :) so the leaves are cut from scraps then sewed to the vintage buttons. I also stamped "happy" at the top.  Lets see...dogs = love em..gelli prints = love em..sewing = love it...STAMPOTIQUE = love em! HAPPINESS!   Thanks Kaz for the fun challenge this week!  Now is the time to join us for this  fun challenge!  

CHALLENGES IN:  raise the bar! = "message me" text on the chair dp,  Simon Says = paper piecing -the chair and lamp.  Thanks for looking!

Love theme challenge and sharing my sketches

Stampotique designers challenge is a love theme and since I am sketching and writing in my mini journal as much as possible this year...I am showing some pages for the challenge. :)

The cool thing here is that these pages were originally just "rolled off brayer" from the gelli plate!  I punched some hearts and inked around them..added a tag with me and the hubs' pic and stamped with "two sticks" and "happy happy" from Stampotique.  Easy!
I just got back from visiting family out of town and was sketching in my mini  journal ALOT...I did alot of waiting .
So.. posting  pics here sketching and doodling  from the kitchen table... I used my inktense pencils, pit pen and water...

A great way to pass the time, document my trip and play with inktense pencils-love!

 

Below I am just sharing a few of my FIRST sketches from school..last year..It is scary but you gotta start somewhere right?  

Just simple items from my house..yes..the "voo-doo doll" is a tooth pick holder :)

My f a v o r i t e  tea kettle...A LOT of shading..

 

A bottle of oil and my little wooden candle holder from New Mexico...not too thrilled with this one..

 

 And ofcourse the all- important paint brush jar..

The bottom line here...It is not easy putting this stuff "out there" but sometimes it helps..to get braver.  I am still practicing and hope to inspire others to show their stuff!  Thanks for looking :) 

LINKING TO....Creative Every day

Art Journal everyday

Unscripted Sat Sketch and some odds and ends..

New sketch at the Unscripted Sketches blog..I made a quickie postcard.

 

Once week out of every month they (US blog) adds a "piggy back" on to the challenge.  This Sat they are asking to use a sticker somewhere along with the sketch.  I love this sentiment I just got from a company called "mama elephant"  ..there are a bunch of other cute sentiments in the set too..I think it is called "good times".  I used paper from Studio Calico pad called "darling dear".  Love the designs on the pad.   The scraps with ink are just cut book pages and the sticker is from a 7 gypsies pack.  If you are just looking to create..stop over at the US blog and follow a different sketch each week!  Easy peasy... back of post card below..using "postcard" word image from Stampotique.

Now, just to share with you... A few pics..I am in an art group with a few girls that meet once a month..Each of us takes a turn "hosting" and presenting a new topic.  Let me tell you...if you can do this..It is so worth it!  I cant tell you how awesome it is to be with some really creative and fun girls!

Here we were working on boards with spackling paste and stencils....really fun..some of us made books and I made a picture for my wall..still havent framed it yet...

I also found out I am  fortunate to live not TOO terribly  far from the founder of "Altered Arts" magazine...So cool to meet THE Cyndi Duncan and be involved in the same art group with her!  She is one creative soul!

I hope you all decide to "stretch your creative wings" this New Year...I know that between this and going back to art school for a few classes I am running in the right direction!  Thanks for LOOKING!

Hosting at the Stampotique challenge blog

Hi there!  I get to host this week's challenge at Stampotique designers' blog.    We all make New Years resolutions..and I make many!  I am asking you to use your New Years resolution as your "inspiration" this week on your creation "Stampotique style".  It can be any!  Just keep it in mind when you create your card, altered object or journal pages.  One of my resolutions is to learn as much as I can about art journaling and that includes "letting go of insecurities".  I want to take pictures and record my life's events, paint when I feel the need and journal about what ever I feel.  I think Stampotique stamps go hand in hand with art journaling so why not?  Get going and show us your stuff!  Have fun!
Stamps used here:  the crafter #6056, swirl stalks #3028 and heart vine #2411

Winter post cards and Altered Arts magazine

The new online issue of Altered Arts magazine is out and I get to share some fun "Wintery " post cards I made that are inside!

These consist of Vintage mag pics...

stamps, ink, markers, computer text...

die cuts, stencils and gesso... and just ALOT of fun!  A way to pass on a winter day.  Hope you can check out the site and the online quarterly magazine.  Lots and lots of awesome inspiration emailed to you when you subscribe!  tfl..  and remember...."Never take a job where winter winds can blow up your pants"...he he he he!  (Geraldo Rivera quote)   Stamps used above= Roc Nicholas: screaming bunny and squiggle arms..both available at Stampotique..Stencils at the Crafter's workshop...     LINKING TO......paint party friday..
Thanks for looking!

Unscripted challenge #193..inspiration

There are so many things you can do with this sketch..
Loved this new challenge at the Unscripted Sketches blog today..

Word art free from: ginger's house
Linking to :  365 card a day challenge blog= color challenge, Papertake weekly= new stash, veneer person! love them! tfl

Gelli plate madness!

Carolyn Dube over at "A Colorful journey " is having a "gelli plate party".  OK...even tho I "borrowed" this gelli plate..I think I can still play! lol  Serious tho...I AM LOVING this gelli plate and I NEED one!  Thank you Mary if you are reading this...I promise to give it back at the next art group mtg!
Here is a bunch of my papers so far...

Oh yeah....FUN you guys!

Then I couldnt wait any more.... BELOW..HAD to make a card .
I used  the bunny from Stampotique called "hung out to dry" 
and "funky striped leaves".  I punched the heart out of the scraps of gelli goodness, sewed a bit and punched the tab for the sentiment (cosmo cricket tiny text stickers).
TFL and if you can hop over to Carolyns' blog..you will be happy you did :) 

Listen to your heart... 2013

Unscripted Sketches for Saturday post here...What I love to do the most...Use what I have in front of me..or left from other creations lying around and just "put it together"  This is a tiny card with some older BG cs on the front I never used.  I picked up a scrap of some painty paper and a sentiment from a Cosmo Cricket tiny text sheet, did some sewing and... there you go!

Love it :)   I am linking up with "365 cards" blog for the first time.  TFL and happy Saturday!

Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year!  FYI:      Stampotique is thrilled to start off 2013 with the start of another successful year of challenges.  They will continue to do weekly challenges this year with random winners chosen on the first challenge of the month for all those that participated throughout the month.  Ofcourse I am thrilled to continue on with this FABULOUS group of designers!  :)

We bid two of our long time designers farewell in 2013, Kate Crane and Jo Capper-Sandon will be missed on our team, but we know we'll continue to see some fabulous designs from them using Stampotique.  We made the tough decision not to replace these two fantastic designers, but we do look forward to sharing 11 new guest designers with you this year.  You can see our first one, Kristen Catalano here and read more about her.

So, to kick off 2013 Stampotique is challenging you to create a Journal Cover or Page, Diary Page or Calendar page.  

I picked up a 6 x 9 watercolor spiral notebook to make a monthly journal for 2013.  I will be experimenting in it and trying to keep my art commitments lined up!  Here is the cover:

I gessoed over some newsprint from the health food store, stenciled and dripped some ink.  Stamps used: "funky striped leaves" and " funky dotted leaves" ... (stampotique)  And here are the first open pages for January..  hope to fill them in!

I used several dylusions sprays , water, stencils, acrylics and "snowy Fran" with "swirl stalks".  I made lines for notes and some journaling... below is the opposite page and I used "brrr"... = how I am feeling in January!  I just stamped her over the lines and colored her in.  The tree was totally fun..I dropped some india ink and quickly blew it into a tree :)  So cool and love the look!  I used my white uniball to make snow on the branches and a credit card to make the snow looking lines with white acrylic...

. Thanks for looking-  Wont you join us for this fun challenge?  TIME TO GET INKY!