Merry Christmas!

Simple but from the heart.

The Legend of the Christmas Spider ala Studio 490

Ah, the 4th and final part of the last challenge for this year over on the EverthingWendyVecchi Yahoo group.  The month-long challenge was fun...4 chances to win a prize...just for entering holiday artwork featuring Studio 490 products.  This could be stamps, stencils, embossing paste, Blossom Bucket pieces, Clearly For Art or Art Parts.  Can't get any easier to make great art!

Last week I shared with you the Legend of the Christmas Spider ala Tim Holtz.  Here's a similar idea ala Studio 490.

Hmmm...this kind of looks like an old-fashioned hearth, doesn't it?  Using Tim/Sizzix Vintage Cabinet and Mini Cabinet dies I cut out several layers from thin corrugated board.  All were covered with the Picket Fence distress stain.

The text (Art of Making It Merry) insert was stamped in Iced Spruce distress ink.  I stamped the spiders (Botanical Art) using the gold and silver paint dabbers.  The main text was stamped using embossing ink and super fine black detail embossing powder.

On the top frame I used Wendy's new embossing paste.  Once dry I swabbed some distress stains over the bricks, even adding a touch of the newer brass stain for just a bit of glimmer.

I colored a scrap of sticky back canvas with Iced Spruce, Pine Needles, Bundled Sage, and Evergreen Bough distress inks.  Once dry I pressed it onto a scrap of grungeboard, distressing the edges with a scratchy tool.  I sprayed Krylon gold and silver webbing spray all over the tree to create the spider web/tinsel.  Xmas Red Stickles ornaments and a gold star brad decorate the tree.

The legend (refer back to the 17th) was printed out, rolled up and tied with red twine.  I scruffed up the edges with my fingers and brown distress ink.  Two black cardstock spider punches were covered with Glossy Accents to finish the piece.  I do have an easel back (Sizzix/Tim) on this piece so it's free standing.

I hope you can keep the spirit of the holiday alive in your heart each and every day!

Gesundheit!

Here are two more tissue box covers I was asked to make by my neighbor as Christmas gifts.  The tops are the same and the sides similar but different.  All Ranger inks, Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies and embossing folders, white wash core'dinations (this stuff is really, really cool!), Bazzill cardstock, grungepaper, grungeboard and buttons.  The photo order keeps getting messed up; I give up trying to rearrange them.

Are you ready for Christmas?????

Holiday dominoes

Over on the EverythingWendyVecchi Yahoo group Lori gave us a month-long challenge.  Each week that you add some Studio 490 holiday artwork to the challenge album, your name will go into a drawing.  Wait, it gets better!  She'll leave the names in the drawing each week so the more times you enter means you increase your chances of winning.  How about that?!!!!??  I won last week..woot woot! 

Here are the dominoes I created for the 3rd week of the challenge.  The words from 'Just Word Art' were stamped in Jet Black archival ink.  The blue domino was colored with Adirondack markers (blues, purples) then overstamped with a tiny pine branch from Rubber Stamps Tapestry.  I removed the ink and left a ghostly image.  Cool, huh? I admit, it's a bit hard to see in this photo.  The domino was edged with the silver paint dabber.  The gold domino was colored using Butterscotch and Gold Mixative alcohol inks.  Once both dominoes were thoroughly dry I sprayed several light coats of Krylon clear gloss to seal them.

These are the perfect things to leave where you'd least expect to find art...a friend's window sill, on a counter at the doctor's office, etc.

Wait until you see what I did for the 4th and final week of this challenge!

The Legend of the Christmas Spider ala Tim Holtz

The 2nd compendium challenges are winding down...I wonder what Linda over at Studio L3 has in store for the next challenge theme?  Challenge #33 can be found on page 36....Tissue Tape.  Simon Says Stamp is the sponsor and will be giving away a $25.00 gift certificate for their store to one randomly chosen winner.  I have a shopping list ready to go...just saying!  lol

Do you know the Legend of the Christmas Spider? 

Long, long ago, on one Christmas Eve, the spiders were banished from homes while the houses were cleaned for Christmas and their webs were broken. They just managed to survive and had to move to the farthest corner of the attic for the time being. However, some of the young spiders longed to see the decorated Christmas trees and the little Christ child that came to bless the homes in the midnight. The elders tried to make them understand that they were not allowed inside the rooms but the young spiders were quite curious and adamant. Finally, the oldest and wisest spider came up with a solution and suggested that in the night, when everybody went to bed, perhaps they could creep out of their corners and get a closer look of the magical Christmas tree.

Even the adult spiders felt the thrill of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them and in midnight, when the house of a noble family was dark and silent and everybody was fast asleep, spiders crept out of their hiding place and slowly reached the Christmas tree. They were so captivated by the ethereal beauty that they spent all night in the tree, crawling up and down and examining its beautiful ornaments. They could not curb their urge to weave pretty and delicate spider webs all over the tree as they danced on its branches. In the wee hours of the morning, the little Christ child came to bless the house. He was surprised to find little spiders and their webs on the tree.

He knew that every creature was made by God and yet he knew how the mother who had worked hard all day to make everything perfect would be dismayed to find the spider webs on its tree. Thus, with a heart full of love and a lovely bewitching smile on his lips, the Christ child gently touched the spider webs and set them sparkling and shining in silver and golden colors that made the Christmas tree look even more beautiful than before. It is said that this is how tinsel was introduced to decorate Christmas trees. Some people also hang a plastic spider in remembrance of the devoted little spiders who worked hard that Christmas Eve.

The tissue tape is on the grungeboard spider, grungepaper star as well as the pleats at the bottom of the #11 (3.75x7.5) tag.   I did some wrinkle free distress on the tag then randomly stamped the evergreen branch (Mini Holidays) in Iced Spruce and Pine Needles distress inks.  'Believe' was stamped in Festive Berries distress ink and covered with clear embossing powder; heat set.

I cut the Pine Tree (Sizzix/Tim) from dark green kraft core and sanded it before removing the scraps around it.  Using Crayola Spider Writers (yes, that's really what they're called!) I created webbing on the tree.  Black Soot distress stickles was smeared over the spider.  Once I printed the legend on white paper, I tore it out, edged with brown and black distress inks, then sprayed with Perfect Pearl Perfect Pearls Mist.  A crinkly red ribbon was added to the top of the tag.

Next week I'll share the Studio 490 version...stay tuned!

Stained glass

I love looking at stained glass projects!  It takes a true craftsman/woman to figure out all the glass puzzle pieces to cut and make them fit but you also need to have an eye for composition and color.  I don't have what it takes to work with stained glass in my art room but I do in my kitchen.  And it's completely edible!

I found the recipe in a recent Country Woman magazine.  Sharon Hoffman, of Donna, TX, submitted the recipe.  The note says this cake will turn you into a fruitcake lover if you aren't already.  I made some substitutions and I wasn't disappointed.  The recipe makes 4 mini loaves.  I gave 1 loaf to neighbors who don't normally care for fruitcake but could become lovers if all recipes turned out like this one. 

To buy a small loaf of fruitcake can cost between $7-10.  This version may be just as pricey but I got 4 loaves and I know what's in it.  LOTS of deliciousness!

Thankfully holiday calories and carbohydrates don't count!  lol

Meowy Christmas!

I just ordered these really cute peg stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry and couldn't wait to use them on the holiday card for our local animal hospital.  Our cats are 'frequent flyers' there...or seem to be.

Jet Black and Sepia Archival Inks were used to color the cats (Casey is a tiger stripe, Amber is our tortie).  Numerous green and red distress inks were used to stamp the wreath.  All the stamps are from Rubber Stamp Tapestry.

Spellbinders circle dies were used to cut out the 2 circles while Tim's mini bow die was used to punch the ribbon for the wreath.

The embossing layer was done with a Cuttlebug folder.

I hope Santa Paws is good to all the staff at the Animal Hospital of Monticello!

Last of the 2012 tags

Tim recently posted the December 2012 tag and the delayed January 2012 tag.  I'm sad to see this end but hope he'll be able to do it again next year.  This schedule worked better for me than trying to do one a day for 12 days. 

Ranger: distress stains, distress inks, distress markers, archival ink, Stickles
Stampers Anonymous:  Autumn Blueprint
Sizzix:  Wordplay die
tissue tape, ribbon, crochet trim, watercolor paper, kraft core

Fall, my absolute favorite time of the year.  We have a large pin oak in our front yard so this leaf is perfect for the card.

Ranger: distress stains, distress inks, distress markers, Stickles,
Sizzix:  Stacked Words (Christmas), mini cardinal and branch dies, tree line (on the edge) die
Stampers Anonymous:  Mini Holidays 3
Journaling ticket, ribbon, tissue wrap, grungepaper, kraft core, DCWV

I used DCWV white core paper for the trees...once sanded the edges are immediately white, negating the need for additional snow on the branches.

Can you see 'memory' on the cardinal?  I had to finagle the die on the tissue wrap but it's there to celebrate the memory of my grandmother who loved cardinals. 

Thank you, Tim, for challenging us each month to recreate a tag in your style.  Sometimes I followed your lead quite closely, other times I took a different path.  I've learned a lot of new techniques along the way and found new ideas I hope to use in the future.

Horsing around

In a recent Martha Stewart magazine she shared some bracelets and tassels she'd made from her horse's hair.  Her horse is very much alive and well but the idea reminded me of mourning jewelry made from human hair (victorian times?).  A friend of ours has a riding stable in NJ and I thought the idea might appeal to her for several reasons.  She's an aggressive recyclist/repurposer, she LOVES horses, and some day might want to remember a special horse in a unique way.

Here's the card I sent that includes the article and pictures.  I created my own faux wood background and added the Sizzix Door.  Obviously this has some extras included that aren't found on the original die.  I had to figure out my own barn door configuration; the bottom half of the dutch door is sealed shut.  I didn't have any horse stamps that would work so I used the photo of Martha's horse, Rutger.  The hinges are from the Sizzix Flagpole with Lantern & Sign die.

Rutger looking out

Closed barn door

Ranger inks and stains were used to create the wood and grain.  What would I do without Ranger????

Holiday thanks

This is an A2 card..leftover scraps of holiday paper cut into banner strips and outlined with a gold pen.  The mini baroque label, flourish and mini pine tree are courtesy of Sizzix and Tim Holtz.  They, too, are outlined with the gold pen.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up and was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink.

Thank you all for reading/following my blog!

Read the fine print

Time for part 2 of the 4-part challenge Lori has issued on the EWV Yahoo group.  Any holiday item using Studio 490 stamps and products qualifies.  And the entries will work in each succeeding week so the chances of winning a weekly prize package grow.

I first stamped the grid background from Art Gone Postal in clear embossing ink, covered it with gold embossing powder, heat set.  Antique Linen Distress Stain was wiped across the #8 tag, edged with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and Gold Paint Dabber.  I inked up the cancelled post in Festive Berries and Evergreen Bough Distress Inks and rolled the stamp carelessly (yes, didn't want a full image anywhere) on the tag.

Using Tim/Sizzix Tattered Poinsettia die I cut out numerous petal layers from clear Clearly For Art.  Numerous red and green alcohol inks were used to color the layers; heated to shape; edged with the gold Paint Dabber.  A gold brad holds the layers together; it was covered with Clear Rock Candy Distress Dry Glitter (cuts down on the brassiness of the brad).

I cut a small label (Tim/Sizzix mini baroque die) out of manilla cardstock, edged in gold and stamped the sentiments in Jet Black Archival Ink.  There is foam tape behind the label for dimension.  The brads are for looks only.

The Martha Stewart silk ribbons were spritzed with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist, crumpled then dried with the heat tool.

I sure wish there was a way to photograph clear or shiny materials better.  All that glare is just awful!

Joy bell pull

Didn't realize until after I'd taken the photo that this project will qualify for 2 challenges.  The first is over at Studio L3, the 2nd compendium challenge using paper rosettes, and at Inspiration Emporium, 'joyful creations'. 

The bell pull is about 18" long.  I used the Sizzix Mini Paper Rosettes die with green Bazzill cardstock.  The edges of the rosettes and ribbons were all touched by Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Maya Road chipboard letters were covered with Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint and Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and Aged Mahogany Distress Stickles.

The buttons are Jenni Bowlin and tied with cranberry twine.  Don't know who makes the word tiles (Greetings, Joy, and Happy Holidays), ribbons, brads or d-ring.

The day is so overcast and the bell pull so long...hence terrible photograph.  I'm sure I can also blame the operator.  lol

Happy Hanukkah!

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and we're already licking our chops for the latkes!  My mother-in-law's old cast iron skillets will be called into action once again to put a yummy crunch on the 'taters.  Bring on the sour cream and applesauce...

On the front of the card I've highlighted the 8 nights of Hanukkah with a silver pen.  The embossing was created using one of Tim/Sizzix's embossing folders on white cardstock.  The base card is dark blue. 

The inside was cut using a Karen Burniston/Sizzix Pop 'N Cut die.  I don't remember who manufactures the stamps I used; stamped in Cobalt archival ink.  The inside label and ribbon strips are part of the add-on die by Sizzix.  The dreidel is an older Sizzlit die.  The edges of interior card were cut with Tim/Sizzix's on-the-edge die.

Isn't it time for dinner yet????????????

Holiday test

Here's a test run with some new dies and a new way of displaying the finished pieces.

The frame for the woven scraps is a 20" bicycle wheel.  The bells are vintage cookie cutters.  Tim and Sizzix teamed up for the gingerbread men (folded so they can hold hands), tattered poinsettias, holly and branch, cardinal and branch and Noel Bigz dies.  The Noel kinda looks like faux mercury glass (up close).  All these pieces were cut from a discarded chipboard box.  Hey, it's going on the front of my house (somewhat protected stoop) and I don't expect it to last more than one season so why not?  And it's a very inexpensive way to test run a die, color combo, stability, etc.

I used plenty of distress stains and inks and liquid pearls to color everything.  Because I know I'll be changing things out as the seasons change I didn't want to glue anything down.  And you can't really wire paper to the spokes.  Hmmmm....velcro to the rescue! 

Sorry I'm not a good photographer but the images do look really amazing up close.  My neighbor was caught speechless when I told, then showed, her the backside to prove this was plain old chipboard from a soda case. 

Off to see what other items I can repurpose for the holidays!

Holiday cheer

Lori has issued a rather unique challenge over on the EverythingWendyVecchi Yahoo group.  Throughout the month of December any holiday items we make that have Studio 490 stamps or products can be entered into the challenge.  Each week a name will be drawn randomly for a goodie package.  Your entry is also good for the rest of the month so your chances grow to get that weekly goodie package.  I don't do much decorating for the holidays but having a few items scattered about is just fine for us.  How about finding one of these gems on a bedside table?  Or by your dinner plate?  Maybe leave one at the neighbor's?

Guess what they're made from?  Give up?  Dominoes!  I applied red, gold and green alcohol inks to them before stamping.  The red one I stamped the flourish from the poinsettia stamp in Jet Black archival ink then carefully wiped the ink off before it dried.  See how it looks white?  Then I stamped the message in JBAI.  Around the top edge of the domino is a gold rim.  On the green one I stamped the holiday background stamp but didn't wipe off the ink since the font was so small.  The tree was stamped on white shrink plastic, colored with distress inks and markers.  The message was stamped in JBAI.  To preserve the inks I have lightly sprayed the dominoes with a Krylon sealer.

Hope your holidays are the merriest and best ever!

I'm beside myself with worry (update at the end of the post)

Today we find out the results of my husband's lung biopsy.  Hence, the 'towel' I've been wringing and the need to handle me with care as I'm quite fragile right now.  I need to stay strong for both of us.

This poor woman, I really do like to use her a lot.  She fits a lot of my situations.  All the images are by Studio 490 (My Kind Of Art, Graffiti Art, She Spoke Of Art).  Distress markers, inks and stains were used to color everything.  All images were stamped on watercolor paper using Jet Black Archival Ink.

I've added a hinge to the top of the brick wall and underneath I've written a 'Dear Diary' message about my fears, etc. 

Que sera sera



Update:  My husband does have lung cancer.  Further tests and appointments this month will determine the next steps to be taken and in what time frame.  Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, hugs, etc.  They are greatly appreciated by both of us.

All aboard!

This weekend our local train museum started it's rides on 'The Polar Express' (trademarked from the original book, movie) after the Christmas parade Saturday morning.  This #10 tag is a tribute to the train ride and was colored using the Ink Palette: Distress that's the challenge over at Studio L3 following along in Tim's 2nd compendium.

The images come from Stampers Anonymous (On The Railroad, Mini Holidays 2, and Odds & Ends).  They were stamped in Jet Black and French Ultramarine archival inks.  The snowflakes were stamped using the Pearl paint dabber as was the snowflake border (on the edge die); both were sprinkled with Distress Stickles Dry Glitter (clear rock candy).  The silk ribbons were crumpled and spritzed with Perfect Pearls Pearl Mist.  Too many distress inks and stains were used to list them all.  To achieve the brass on the train I first colored the areas with a yellow then the complementing metallic stain.  The billowing steam I shaded with Shaded Lilac, thick glue and more DSDG.

Can't you just see this steam engine coming around the tracks en route to the North Pole?  In reality, our tracks do come around the bend before entering our vintage station...very cool to see the steam billowing above the tree tops as you listen to the chugging sound approaching the station house!

Winter tag box

I attempted to create a winter tag box but I am afraid I do a lot better with fall colors and themes than I do Christmas and winter.

The box is created from 4 #8 tags.  Here's what I used on the finished box:
Ranger:  Gold, Pearl Paint Dabbers; blue, purple, green, brown distress inks; Jet Black archival ink; Distress Stickles Dry Glitter (clear rock candy); distress markers; Crackle Accents

Sizzix:  deer, branch, cardinal, poinsettia, flourish, holly mini dies; Vintage Noel Bigz die; Paper Rosette, Stacked Words: Christmas decorative strip dies; Holiday Words, Seasonal Stuff, Christmas Background 3 embossing folders

Stampers Anonymous:  Mini Holidays 3 Tim Holtz stamps

Dylusions:  Let It Snow stencil

Sakura:  white gel pen

Miscellaneous:  Seasonal Paper Stash, Vintage Shabby Paper Stash, Kraft core'dinations scraps; vellum, shrink plastic, chipboard, Martha Stewart Chestnut Flocking Powder, modeling paste, pinecones, berries, greenery

I'll keep trying my hand at winter art...it isn't here yet so I have some time to perfect my techniques.