Dog tag necklace and earrings

When I saw Shelly Hickox's dog tag tutorial I just knew it was something I wanted to create for myself...and maybe for future gifts.  I used an old Sizzix big red scallop combo tag die and the same metal flashing.  For safety I did sand the edges a bit to ensure there were no rough spots to cause problems later.

I used Tim's Wildflower Stencil and Wendy's gold embossing paste.  My base embossing powders are Wendy's Sky Blue and Cornflower Blue.  They really resemble the sky, don't they?  The golds are from Ranger - Tarnished Gold (more brown in it) and Pale Gold.  I wanted a bit of contrast between the two. 

The dragonfly charm was silver but Cornflower Blue archival ink changed that quickly...along with a bit of Tim's gold paint.  I didn't like the way it dangled on the jump ring so it was adhered to the tag with Multi-Medium.

When I was at the thrift store not too long ago I spotted these pearl earrings for a quarter.  Archival inks wouldn't stick to the slick surface so I added some alcohol inks, more archival ink and some dabs of gold and tumbled glass distress paint. 

Can't wait to wear them this weekend when I attend my youngest niece's high school graduation and my youngest nephew's medical school graduation. 

Dragonfly makeovers

This is one of my hose guards.  It's supposed to keep the garden hose out of the beds and away from the plants.  However, it doesn't seem to deter some people from cutting across the internal corner of the sidewalk and manages to trip them up.  You'd think people would learn once they've tripped over it a few times.  Not so.  

 

Hence, a bit of gesso and Ranger archival inks to the rescue!  And now they should be able to spot these beauties and NOT go where they shouldn't be!

I put a light coat of gesso on them; let dry.  With a sponge I dabbed on French Ultramarine, Aquamarine, Leaf Green, Viridian and Watering Can archival inks.  Even if they don't keep people out, at least they're more colorful!

 

 

It's puzzling...but these are a few of my favorite things

Time for a new challenge!  Claudine has issued a challenge to alter a 24 piece puzzle.  The first week we primed all the pieces with gesso so they'd be ready to go.  It was suggested that we also have a theme in mind so the pieces would flow when finished.  I chose "These are a few of my favorite things."

The first puzzle I found was about the right size but had w-a-y too many pieces.  I also paid too much for 4/package.  Then I hotfooted it to our local thrift store and found the perfect one for 50 cents!  There's a 25th piece plus the frame; how cool is that!?!??
And here are the first two pieces of the puzzle.  I used Studio 490 stamps, stencils, embossing paste and archival inks.


Studio 490 stencils: Honeycomb, 2 Fancy Florals

Studio 490 embossing paste

Studio 490 stamps: Nature's Art, Busy Making Art

 

Ranger:  archival inks (Pale Ochre, Saffron, Dandelion, Orange Blossom, Monarch Orange, Venetian Orange, Fern Green, Potting Soil, Jet Black0; Adirondack Acrylic (Butterscotch); Gold Perfect Pearls

 

Black StazOn; acrylic packaging scrap

 

So find yourself an old puzzle...check out thrift stores, garage sales, your kids' toy boxes or game shelves and get busy!

April - rainy days and birthdays

It's currently pouring, thunder booming and lightning brightening.  And I've just learned that my dad's other brother passed away this morning at the age of 87.  He had Parkinsons (as did my dad and their father), Lewy-Body and a few other things.  It was just 6 weeks ago that his older brother passed away.

Our landscape project is well under way but where there was bare dirt there is now super mud and ruts.  Heavy sigh.  But at least the area that has been hardscaped at this point looks fabulous.  Haven't spent any time in my art room as I like to be watching all the action and taking plenty of photos.  Then the contractor accidentally cut the cable to the satellite dish late yesterday afternoon so I had an evening free - perfect for working on my version of Tim's April tag.

I followed his directions but obviously used different stamps, colors, dies and embellishments to make it my own.

CMS212 Bird Crazy

Celebration Words: Block and Script; Holly Branch die as a stencil

distress markers: Black Soot, Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Pumice Stone

Jet Black Archival Ink; Mushroom Alcohol Ink

watercolor paper, #8 kraft tag, black card stock scrap, silk ribbon

Hero Arts 'musical note' stamp

metal Happy Birthday charm

Our high school's prom is tonight.  Prior to the students meeting for dinner there is promenade at the school.  They'll walk the red carpet and have their names announced in an area decorated specifically with the prom theme.  The community gets to see them all decked out in their finest.  It's my youngest niece's senior year so I will be there to see her and all her friends looking gorgeous in their long gowns and tuxes.  I just hope the rain lets up so they can have fun without being soaked!

Wendy Vecchi Mixed Media Art Adventure 102

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to take Wendy's class at The Scrapbooking Studio in Moline, IL.  Several of us stayed at another friend's house and we met the 5th member of our group at the store.  I hadn't met 2 of group before but we've been on-line friends for quite awhile.  It's always fun getting to meet your on-line friends!  And it was super to see Wendy in action again. 

We started the day creating tags that showcased 10 new mixed media techniques that can be used anywhere...cards, tags, scrapbook pages, journals, and even home décor.  Wendy created labels for the back of the tags that described each process.  This will be helpful later when I try to recreate the technique.

Loved being able to play with new stamps and stencils and to see the newest colors coming out very soon!
 
Next up we used what we learned and created a mixed media canvas.  It was interesting to see what colors and ideas everyone used...they were all quite different.

There was just enough time to add in a bonus feature and that was to alter a home décor piece.  It was originally white with gray undertones.  A bit of archival ink changed the look very quickly.  The colors didn't turn out in the photo as vibrant as they are in real life.  Blame that on the photographer! 













And here's a shot of our group with the fabulous Wendy Vecchi.  In case you don't recognize me, I'm 2nd from the right.  I'm sporting a new very short 'do and loving it! 
(Wanda, Wendy, Debby, Lori, me, Nancy - between us we hail from 3 states)

April cards

Here are some cards I made for April birthdays and what not.  I neglected to write down what I used but did find the inspiration pieces on Pinterest.

There's plenty of Bazzill card stock, Ranger inks, Sizzix dies, Stampers Anonymous stamps, and watercolor paper plus a few rub ons and some Idea-ology pieces.
Okay blogger.  You are acting completely stupid and won't allow any formatting.  Sheesh.  Sorry, folks.  It also apparently doesn't like my typing and refuses to allow me to type other than at hunt & peck speed and omits many letters, spaces, etc.  Maybe once the bad weather clears it will be better.

Jokers are wild

The last two cards in my deck are not jokers...but you won't be seeing that side of them anyway so it doesn't matter.  This is the last part of the Altered Playing Card challenge...sad to see it end but I hear Claudine already has something up her sleeve for the next altered challenge.  Can't wait!

Both of these use bits and bobs that have been left behind from previous projects so I can't accurately say who makes some of the items.  I know that Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous and Ranger feature predominantly in my work so it's safe enough to list these vendor.  I even tried flicking Mermaid Lagoon distress stain from my work surface on to the right hand card but a big drop fell an made a real mess of things.  Oh heavy sigh.