Monday, October 28, 2019

I have survived...and lived to tell the story!

Just kidding, it wasn't that bad but the process was not fun.  But then I let it get to the stage where serious intervention was necessary.  Here are some 'before' shots to let you know just how awful my creative space was.  The room is roughly 10' x 16'.  The large window faces south and the short one west.  I did put heat/glare film on the west window to reduce light issues.  So far, so good but the true test will be in the summer when the sun comes in much stronger.










Here are the boxes I saved to move things from my room to the enclosed porch where I sorted EVERYTHING.  Despite purging a lot of items I know I could do more (and probably will as time goes on).
And here is my new art space!  Changed the paint color, window treatments, and removed the carpet and installed vinyl tile (12" x 24" pieces).  The curtains were rather boring as all one color so I created a collage of Tim Holtz fabric squares and sewed them on the panels.  Mismatched buttons were sewn on where the squares meet in the middle. The rag rugs I had used many years ago in a different room; they are leather strips in browns, black and neutrals.  Perfect for here and help cut down the noise from all the hard surfaces.




This process took much longer than I expected; some was procrastination on my part but I guess it happened the way it was supposed to.  I am very happy with the end results and vow to not let this room get the better of me again.  (It also happened in New Jersey so if I haven't learned by now I guess I never will!)  

Here are 3 more photos to better show off the east wall.






Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Celebrating a little girl's birthday

Cardstock:  white, watercolor, Bazzill

Ranger:  archival ink (Jet Black, Magenta Hue, Chrome Yellow); distress ink (Tumbled Glass)

Stampin' Up: More Kids at Play

watercolor pencils

Sizzix:  664177 Alphanumeric Label

Monday, May 20, 2019

Butterfly wishes

Hero Arts:  Monarch Butterfly and coordinating die (color layering)

Cardstock:  white, Bazzill

Ranger:  distress inks (Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber, Tumbled Glass); clear embossing ink; clear embossing powder

Taylored Expressions Prairie embossing folder

Friday, May 17, 2019

Celebrating birthdays and graduations

Sizzix: 664161 Cutout Blossoms and 660223 Celebration Words: Script

Cardstock:  white, Bazzill (coral), watercolor (layer behind coral)

Ranger: distress markers (mustard seed, wild honey, tea dye, ground espresso)

Washi tape

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

More celebrating

Cardstock: white, watercolor, Bazzill

Sizzix:  664164 Wildflower Stem #2, 664172 3-D Elegant Texture Fade

Colorbox gold pigment ink

butterfly punch

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Congratulations to the newest college grad in our family!


My youngest niece has graduated from SIU-C with a B.A. in Applied Linguistics and a minor in French!!!  Not sure what she's going to do yet but I know it will be fun and interesting.

My friend, Wanda, (artbywanda.blogspot.com) made this card (shared on her blog Sept. 1, 2017) and I pretty much copied it but made a few changes along the way. 

Stampers Anonymous:  CMS332 Composition & Lined (envelope). CMS230 Schoolhouse Blueprint, CMS163 Artful Tools; stencil (THMS011)

Idea-ology:  Small Talk Stickers; Flash Cards - Elementary; paper doll; tiny stapler

Ranger:  archival ink (Jet Black, Ground Espresso); clear embossing ink; clear embossing powder; distress markers (Stormy Sky, Aged Mahogany, Tea Dye): distress ink (Pumice Stone)

Cardstock:  Distress, white

Dymo label maker with black tape


Friday, May 10, 2019

Masculine birthday greetings

Stampers Anonymous:  CMS371 Distinguished; stencils THS118, THMS119

Ranger:  archival inks (Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso); distress inks (Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen); distress oxide ink (Bundled Sage, Weathered Wood)

Cardstock:  watercolor, white, decorative paper

Plastic packaging (for label)

Staz-On Black

Idea-ology:  tiny fasteners, washers