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

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Nursing Week - recognizing a school nurse

My sister is a school nurse and her husband always asks me to make her a card recognizing her not just as a nurse but as a school nurse.  It's hard to come by nursing stamps so a few years back I started making a card that was just pretty and my brother-in-law can write what he wants on the inside.  This year is extra special because she was chosen (through a local newspaper) as one of the top 10 nurses in the area!!!

Christy Tomlinson:  rub-on border

Idea-ology:  Life Quotes remnant rubs

Stampers Anonymous:  dragonfly

Ranger:  distress inks (Tea Dye, Shabby Shutters, Broken China); Glossy Accents

Cardstock:  watercolor, Bazzill (blue and green)



I used the card Paula Whitaker made (found on Pinterest) as my inspiration piece - I pretty much just copied it.

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Life's short...live it with zest!


Wendy Vecchi/Studio 490 stencil

Stampin' Up:  Lemon Zest, coordinating punch

Ranger:  Fern Green archival ink; distress oxide inks (Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Crushed Olive, Shabby Shutters); distress inks (Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Lucky Clover, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Tattered Rose); heavy duty mixed media cardstock; distress resist spray; Glue N' Seal; clear embossing ink/powder

Yellow ribbon

White cardstock

Rubber Stamp Tapestry Fresh Lemonade SFV10013

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Raggedy Ann and Andy

Many years ago a friend made Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls (several sizes) for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  The newest great-grandchildren (twin girls) have just turned 1 and are getting the last set.  The dolls are bigger than the girls but I'm sure they'll have a lot of fun with them.  My friend wanted special cards to mark the event and this special gift so we added a photo of her with the dolls. 

Cardstock: red, white, blue

Red checked ribbon

Sizzix Sizzlets Brushed Script dies (these are OLD!!!)

Monday, April 22, 2019

'Pitcher' perfect birthday


Cardstock:  white, watercolor, rust

Spellbinders dies (Oval, Scalloped Oval)

Art Impressions stamps (also followed along with a recent Watercolor Wednesday video)

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink; distress inks (Wild Honey, Tea Dye); glitter duster/dust; Mustard Seed distress marker

Stampers Anonymous: Entomology CMS 328; Hex Gradient Stencil THS117

Sizzix: Entomology 663068

Friday, April 19, 2019

Messy stitches


Stampers Anonymous:  Theories CMS329, Stitches CMS365; stencils (gradient hex, gradient circles)

Ranger:  distress/oxide inks (Tumbled Glass, Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, Squeezed Lemonade); Jet Black archival ink

Cardstock:  watercolor, white

Distresser

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

30th birthday

My niece/god-daughter turns 30!  Gasp - that just doesn't seem possible.


Ranger:  distress oxide inks (Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold, Mustard Seed); distress inks (Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold, Mustard Seed); Wendy Vecchi blendable ink (Prickly Pear)

Hero Arts white pigment ink

Simon Says Stamp Abstract Triangles stamp SSS101638

Stacy Stamp 105B (corner clock)

Stampers Anonymous:  Mini Media Marks CMS364, Theories CMS329; Arrow Stencil THMS025, number stencil THMS001; Mini Bird & Crazy Things CMS250

Sizzix: Mini Bird & Crazy Things 660949

Black micron pen; orange marker


Saturday, April 13, 2019

Schooners

I have a poem that was sent to me about saying goodbye to someone you loved and it referenced a sailing ship.  This older Stampin' Up Schooner set fits the poem so I like to use it for sympathy cards.

Two very different looks using the same stamp. 

Sizzix Handwritten Love 660218, Scribble & Splat 660222

Cardstock:  blue, white, watercolor

Ranger: Studio 490 circles stencil; Wendy Vecchi blendable inks (Cornflower blue); distress inks (Salty Ocean, Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky, Antique Linen), archival inks (Cornflower Blue, Jet Black, Potting Soil); distress crayons (Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge, Tarnished Brass)


Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Elf atop a mushroom

One of my friends needed a bit of support so I made this tiny card to let him know I was thinking of him and had his back.
I used some of the latest Art Impressions stamps and Marvy markers.  I followed along with one of Bonnie Krebs' recent Watercolor Wednesday videos.

Cardstock: watercolor, light blue, white

Sunday, April 7, 2019

1st time aunt

A young friend just became an aunt for the first time - another way to celebrate the new arrival in her family!
Ranger:  Wendy Vecchi enamel accents (Sunflower, Potting Soil); Jet Black archival ink; Wendy Vecchi blendable inks (Cornflower Blue, Sky Blue, Peat Moss, Fern Green)

Stampers Anonymous/Studio 490: Delightful Art SCS164, Plaid Flannel WVBG054, Flowers Say It All WVZ65975

White pigment innk

Cardstock: white, green

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Oh hoppy day!

Two friends became 1st time grandmas - what a special event that definitely needs to be recognized!


Stampers Anonymous: Funny Farm CS361; gradient circle stencil
Oval and scalloped oval punches
Ranger:  Watering Can archival ink; unknown blue, green and pink distress inks
Studio 490 open circles stencil

Sunday, March 31, 2019

You're engaged!

When young friends posted their engagement photo on Facebook, I knew I wanted to recreate it best I could.  He proposed to her on a Florida beach on Valentine's Day.  I've known both of them since they were very young and his mother is a childhood friend of mine. 

Sizzix: Stacked Deckle 662694

Stampin' Up: Summer By The Sea; Beautiful You

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink

Stampers Anonymous:  Glitter Dust

Derwent Inktense pencils

Watercolor, white and Bazzill (blue) cardstocks

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Bartlett pear

Sparkle N Sprinkle Sketched Pear Stamp Set #905

Sizzix 662694 Stacked Deckle

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink

Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils (too many to list-my idea of layering color requires at least 3 and usually 5 or more per color family)

Peach, coral, white cardstocks 

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Thank you

Rubbernecker Stamp & die: penguin 895-22

Sizzix Sentiment Words 661807

Ranger: distress inks (Abandoned Coral, Dried Marigold, Fired Brick, Black Soot); Jet Black archival ink

white cardstock, peach cardstock

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Waiting for spring

Stencil Girl L709

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock

Sizzix: Wildflower Stems 2 664164

Ranger distress inks (Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Cracked Pistachio, Evergreen Bough); Studio 490 blendable inks (Sunflower, Prickly Pear)

White gel pen; black, white cardstock; black polka dot ribbon

Stampers Anonymous: washi tape

Monday, March 11, 2019

Age, it's not just a number

Stencil Girl M243 - Prairie Style Window

Ranger: distress inks (Brushed Corduroy, another version used Wilted Violet and Worn Lipstick); Jet Black archival ink

Rubber Moon stamp

Stampers Anonymous: THS054 stencil (card base)

Washi tape; black pen


Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Happy 20th anniversary, mom & Ken!

Stencil Girl L670

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock; rose-colored cardstock; olive cardstock

Ribbon

Ranger distress ink (Old Paper, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky)

Sizzix 664150, 660218, 663113


Friday, March 1, 2019

The butterfly counts

White, patterned cardstock
Ribbon
Acetate

Sizzix: TH alterations: Brackets, Butterflight

EKSuccess border punch - Dotted Scallop

Impression Obsession: Butterfly Counts D1379

Savvy Stamps: Thinking of you - wavy 319C

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink; distress and distress oxide inks (Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Spun Sugar, Shaded Lilac, Scattered Straw, Stormy Sky)

Card pattern can be found on Splitcoast Stampers (Acetate Tent Card by Dina Kowal)

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Leap year road trip

One of my friends has a leap year birthday.  Poor fella, he's not as old as he thinks!  lol


Stampers Anonymous: CMS128 Road Trip

Ranger: Jet Black archival ink, distress ink (Hickory Smoke, Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood, Gathered Twigs)

cardstock: white, brown

A birthday is just the 1st day of another 365 day road trip around the sun. 

Friday, February 22, 2019

Bunches of art



All these cards use pretty much the same ingredients:

Stampers Anonymous: SCS163 A Bunch of Art/coordinating stencil (Studio 490 - Wendy Vecchi)

Sizzix: Stitched Ovals 661188

Ranger:  Jet Black archival ink, Jet Black distress marker, Studio 490 blendable inks (Watering Can, Acorn, Orange Blossom, Sunflower, Red Geranium, Poppy), distress ink (Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Twisted Citron)

Micron black pen, white/black cardstock

Monday, February 18, 2019

It's rough getting a year older


Stampers Anonymous: CMS271 Crazy Dogs

Sizzix: 661593 Crazy Dogs

Sakura: white gelly roll pen

washi tape

Ranger:  archival ink (Jet Black, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Stormy Sky), Stickles (gold, gunmetal), watercolor markers

Dina Wakley stencil - leaf

white cardstock, orange vellum

Tim Holtz retro grunge double-sided cardstock

Don't know why I bought this pack of paper because I really don't care for it.  However, when you stencil over it I was pretty happy to see that I could enjoy using it.