Funky Flower Art

On the EWV Yahoo group Allie (list mom) challenged us to use one of the older sets to make art. We're to post any pictures by Sunday noon as there are some giveaways to be had. Not one to shy away from a challenge involving Wendy's images I leapt at the chance to make something that has been on my mind for a while. I just hadn't taken the idea far enough to figure out which set would work best for my idea. So, I flipped through the sets and decided 'Funky Flower Art' would work just fine.

I ironed Heat-Bond to the back of some homespun fabrics then stamped Wendy's images on the front using Fabrico ink pads. Cut out the images then placed them coming out of the pocket I made from muslin. The pocket is actually the background stamp. Carefully I ironed all the flower pieces onto the sweatshirt, trying to keep the arrangement in place. I tried stamping the text directly onto the pocket but it just didn't work too well. So I kept stamping it onto more muslin until I got the clearest image, cut it out, then framed it with more homespun, raveling it a bit. I did machine stitch around all the pieces; I'm sure that Heat-Bond won't stand up to the use I'll be giving the sweatshirt. I don't care if there is some fraying at the edges, it will just add to the handmade charm. I didn't use the small circular stamp (flower center?) because I wanted to use old buttons tied on with embroidery floss as the flower centers. The petal stamps just seemed to cry out for button centers.

I'll be meeting EWV friends tomorrow at a stamp retreat and then again next Saturday at a class Wendy is teaching (the mini fat book) using Maya Road products, her stamps and the new Distress Inks. I am no fashion plate but I do love my Wendy sweatshirt!

Edited: I did end up using the small circular stamp! I stamped the image onto black shrink plastic (Lucky Squirrel) using Ranger Snow Cap White Pigment Ink. I adhered them to the last 2 posts I had (gasp - this sure worked out well!) and they're a perfect addition to my new Wendy fashion line!

Presidents' Day

A federal holiday, a day off from school, and another snowy day here in east central Illinois. The dusting we could have seen overnight turned into a few inches. The sun is trying to shine so if I get out soon enough it can dry any icy bits and keep the drive and walk clear.

I took an old atlas and tore out the Washington, D.C. closeup map for this ATC. I didn't want the boldness of the map to detract from the stamps so I placed a layer of gold-edged vellum over it. Three small star brads on the right and 3 cancelled postage stamps reflect the holiday. Love my Dymo labeler for small projects like this.

Whether you're reflecting on the day, taking advantage of retail specials, shoveling or being creative, I hope you're able to make the most of it!

Double the pleasure, double the fun!

Can't remember this happening in my lifetime...Valentine's Day and the lunar New Year - China's Year of the Tiger. Chocolate and chinese food...yum!

I'm sharing an ATC celebrating the Year of the Tiger as well as a chipboard wallhanging all about love. It's actually 1 page of 3, I'll be showing those to you later in the year (one's for our anniversary in June). The wallhanging is done Wendy-style. The pink covered buttons at the top I found at an antique store. They were in a glass bottle that I bought because of the other things inside. These were a bonus find! The ecru lace is an antique piece that has been in my husband's family for many, many years.

This Saturday I'll be attending a one-day retreat in Springfield, IL put on by the Prairie Art Stampers where I'll get to see some of my EWV friends and club friends. I'm sure I'll be making new friends along the way. The following Saturday I'll be taking Wendy's class up in Bloomington, IL where I'll meet up with an on-line EWV friend and possibly some I already know. In class we'll be making a mini book using lots of Maya Road products, Wendy's new stamps and playing with the new Ranger Distress Ink colors. I've not been to the store before so I hope to get there early enough to shop and see Wendy's demo before the class.

Whatever you do today I hope you have fun!

Chalky Pigments

On Wendy's blog today she has a tutorial using Ranger pigment inks and Perfect Pearls that result in a chalky look with bling. Instead of using Red Pepper and Denim pigments inks I used Butterscotch and Eggplant. I don't have her new stamps yet (boo hoo!) so I used some of her others to create a similar tag.

Now that I'm seeing the tag on my screen the flowers look a bit small compared to the size of my leaves and heart - oh well. I used a snap instead of a threaded button for the flower center and added one of Tim's keys to balance out the tag.

Computer issues on both the desktop and laptop have kept us hopping today and very frustrated. I think making art helped me calm down while the issues were being resolved. Maybe now I can get back into my stamp room and get down to business.

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to...

but I don't. Yep, today's the day! Double nickel for me - feeling great, blessed in so many ways.

Today's card was inspired by the challenge found in the most recent TechniqueJunkie newsletter. The techniques I used are Bingo Blast (A/M '09), Salt & Pepper (June '04) and Marker Tapping (Feb '10). The little girl is from I Brake For Stamps, the sentiment is by Endless Designs. The oval plain & scalloped dies are Spellbinders. The tiny flowers on her hat were made with a hand punch; the candles are a thumb punch. I colored the little girl with plain old colored pencils. I did accent the little girl's tears with the Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll pen; the flower centers are Ranger Stickles (Black Diamond). I have no idea what line of paper I used-not a name brand, that I do know.

Hope your day will be as special as mine!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Don't know if Phil, or anybody, saw their shadows this morning but it doesn't really matter. The calendar still shows 6 more weeks 'til spring. Plenty of overcast skies here with the possibility of a dusting of snow.

The groundhog stamp is by The Cottage Stamper, the rest of the stamps are Wendy's. Just love my Distress Inks by Ranger! I don't think a day goes by that I don't use them. The sunrise sky was created by sponging Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Broken China, Faded Denim, and Dusty Concord. Love how the card came together - colorful but vintage-y.

Wendy's classes

I met Wendy at Prairie Art Stamps (Springfield, IL) back in September when I took her wallhanging and 3-D bird classes. She autographed her book and the sets of stamps I purchased that day. The rest, as *they* say, is history. I now own all her sets and the newest ones are on order. Wendy taught me so much in class...I can't begin to repeat all the lessons I learned. Since then my art has taken on new dimension and meaning for me. Oh, I still have other styles but hers is my favorite and one I find I can easily do; it seems to come naturally to me, or so I feel. So, a big 'Thank you!' to Wendy for opening my eyes! If you haven't taken a peak at her blog, you should do so. Lots of neat things happening over there!

Here's the wallhanging and 3-D bird we made in the 2 classes. It was a lot of fun using grungepaper, Wendy's stamps, Tim's Idea-ology products, and inks by Ranger to create these unique pieces. If you have the opportunity, DO take one of Wendy's classes. They are so much fun!