May Arts - Halloween Challenge

I have to say that I was very excited to be in the top 20 that gets to compete in the Halloween Challenge over at May Arts. It's an honor to be chosen and I sincerely hope I hold my end up because there are some AWESOME ladies over there designing some amazing projects with ribbon. We got to choose 4 ribbons to work with, these were my choices:

http://www.mayarts.com/halloween-craft-challenge/

I made the center of my flower by knotting the black silk ribbon repeatedly until it formed the size I needed. I stamped 'hocus pocus' onto the wide orange ribbon accenting between the words with white pearls, I just love the tiny pom pom trim on it!!

The sheer spider web ribbon was looped into a big bow and then shredded for texture. The fuzzy black burlap string was wound around the box and knotted on the sides with orange pearls accenting the knots.

A big dangly spider hanging from the burlap string guards the treats within!

Cricut Craft Room - free cut -spider
BugBites - Magic Spells stamps
StazOn - ink
Tim Holtz - grunge paper
Helmar - 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Craft & Hobby Glue, Gemstone Adhesive
Frosted Designs 2013 October Mixed Media Kit - 
( Deco Arts - Orange, black paint, Fancy Pants corrugate paper )

Entering my Halloween treat box in:
Anything but a Card - #28 Orange and Black
Craftin' Boutique - #12 Halloween

Folderol: noun

nonsensical talk or action : trivial nonsense

pronunciation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Creative Inspirations - Inspired by Anything Goes
Anything but a Card - #25 Summer Fun

August 2013 Creative Dare - Let it Go...

My first video uploaded to Youtube! This is a milestone for me!

( insert happy dance )

Things I like about the video:

1. It's right side up :) happy dance....lol

2. intentionally increased the speed so you can see the process in 11 minutes and not 22

3. It doesn't loop continuously

4. It's on Youtube, lol

Things I need to work on:

1. Lighting, must work on that

2. Remember to focus closer to the project

3. talk or music, you do need one or the other

Since the August challenge was to complete your work in less than 90 minutes, I am pleased that I did the "6 x 12" base" design in 22 minutes! I really "let it go", and "let it flow"....lol I actually like how it turned out too. Bonus, huh?

I used my Zinnias for the inspiration, you can see them in the video at the top of the screen, but here's another picture of them, they are the first 2 to bloom this summer. ( I grew them from seeds )

After I did the charcoal I had to spray it and set it, so I took the time to clean up and get ready for the next phase. Overall, I worked on the piece for 1 hour, by far the fastest I've ever completed a work. It's not as detailed as I like but the simplicity kinda works for me. During that time I decided I wanted to add some dimension to the center of the flowers so I painted the centers blue and then using E6000 I adhered some dew drops over that.

For some people the painting freehand might be stressful, but for me it's the stamping. I really have to work at it and I usually goof it up along the way. The highlight was finding out that my gemstone ladybug fit perfectly in the o of Love...♥

I had to add in the "breathe and let go" somewhere on the canvas, after all that's what this piece is about!

And the final result, the finished canvas, the pièce de résistance....

E6000 - adhesive

Apple Barrel - acrylic paint

The Robins Nest - Dew Drops

Golden - gesso

Primo - charcoal pencil

Really Reasonable Ribbon - hemp cord

Stampabilities - alpha stamps

StazOn - ink

Bosh:

foolish talk or activity; nonsense – often used interjectionally

pronunciation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Creative Imaginations - Inspired by: Anything Goes
Inkspirational - #31 Anything Goes
House of Cards - Photo Inspiration + Any style


I choose to pull from the colors of the photo inspiration to work with, in a CAS style.

I stamped the image twice so that I could cut out the spool and wrap it with sewing thread, then added my own needle to it.

Our Daily Bread - Spool and Tape stamp and die,
 Sewn with Love sentiment
StazOn - ink
Ranger - distress stain ( spool, scissors )
Faber Castell - gelato ( measuring tape )
American Craft - Slick Writer
DCWV - Shimmer Stack

fard: verb

To paint (the face) with cosmetics
pronunciation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Paperie - eTeam picks challenge

Teresa Jaye picked the challenge this go around and it is

Use Papers from your Kitchen in a Collage

hmmm? I knew I had napkins I could use for this challenge because I collect and hoard napkins like I do pretty scrapbook paper, lol 

So I chose this one, because it had a retro funky feel to it.

I didn't intend for this to be so Autumn looking...but the turkey along with the color combination really brings that out. Maybe because I had Shaz's color challenge on my mind is the reason I took out this napkin to use but I did try and make it not so Thanksgiving looking by adding one of my favorite sentiments:

I dream of a better world where a chicken can cross the road

without his motives being questioned.

I used some Gelli print paper for the word strips, ( love the color layers ) and painted the background out first with acrylic paint and then added a layer of twinkling H2o's over it.

I used a pearl pen for the outlining and doodling of the edges, I love that you can get different effects from this particular pen. If I lay down the dots and then gently tap my board on my table top, the drops flatten out ( inside the turkey's body ) but if I leave them alone they hardened to a nice raised edged ( the outlines and drops ).

also entering this in:

Sparkles Monthly Challenge - #46 Autumn Colors

Apple Barrel - acrylic paint

Viva Décor - Pearl pen

Copics -marker

LuminArte' - Twinkling H20's

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paper Smooches -  July 22-28 Picture Perfect challenge

I was very drawn to the colors and to the sun, so I spritzed my background with 2 shades of ink to simulate the sun, and since it was a beach picture I was inspired to use the cute little whale. The front of the card was run through the computer to print out the sentiment.

After stamping, coloring and cutting him out I sliced my paper and slid him into the water, I could have masked it but I preferred the paper piecing route. I really like a little dimension on my cards.

Paper Smooches - Surf and Turf stamp set

Ranger - Dylusion ink sprays, Distress stains

StazOn ink

pattern paper - misc. from stash

Eisensteinian: adjective

From Sergey Eisenstein (1898-1948) Russian

Think: montage, montage, montage.

This rounds out our top 10 words inspired by filmmakers

and again, this one isn't actually IN the Merriam-Webster dictionary

although they offer it up as a word!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

House of Cards - Shabby & Vintage

365 Cards - Day 202 - Super Sketchy Sunday

It's so nice to have a sketch to follow, takes all the stress away. 

Love the felt flower layered over the lace. 

DCWV - Shimmer Stack

Prima - butterfly paper

Martha Stewart - doily

Maya Road - felt flower

brad, lace - misc.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog - Celebrate

Craftin Desert Diva's - Craft It Up & Link It Up Party #11 - Birthdays

Crafty Cardmakers -#96  Birthday

( The balloon is hand drawn. )

My Little Shoebox - stamp

StazOn Ink

Faber Castell - PITT pen

Ranger - Distress Stain

K&Co. - pattern paper
CARDSTV - sentiment stamp

comely: adjective

pleasurably conforming to notions of good appearance, suitability, or proportion

 having a pleasing appearance : not homely or plain

pronunciation
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inkspirational - #25

Eclectic Paperie - E-Team Picks Challenge - Monochromatic

All the major work on this card was done on the background. I think sometimes I can get more wrapped up when creating my own paper than the actual design of the card itself. Anyhoo....I first used Broken China along with water, spritzing, and drying, but it still was too dark. So after I finally achieved what I hope for will pass as a sky, I let it thoroughly dry and then sprayed it with my Archrival Varnish and let that dry. Then, I went over the background with a white wash to soften it up somewhat. Stamping the image and sentiment was the easiest part. ;)

Ranger - Distress Stain

StazOn - ink

Hero Arts - branch and bird stamp

Our Daily Bread - sentiment

Golden - Archival Varnish

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cute Card Thursday - # 274 - In the Summertime...

Little Scrap Pieces - Fun Friday Summer Luvin' Challenge

Delightful Inspiration - i {heart} card sketches no. 23

I colored my cool cat in with some distress stains, added a little stickle to the center of the flower on his sandals....done. :) 

Creative Imagination - pattern paper

Hambo - cool cat digital stamp

Ranger - Distress stains, stickles

Faber Castell -PITT pens

Really Reasonable Ribbon

Helmar - 450

caterwaul: verb

to make a harsh cry

 to protest or complain noisily

pronunciation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PanPastel Challenge Blog -  Challenge 19 - In The Pink
Craft-room challenge - Stamp your own background
Challenges 4 Everybody - #20 Anything Goes ( 2nd entry )

I just love this sheer butterfly ribbon....trying not to hoard....trying...

Paper Smooches - Timber stamp

Really Reasonable Ribbon - butterfly ribbon

Martha Stewart - doily

Pebbles - rub on sentiment

StazOn - ink
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper Smooches - May 13-19 Designer Drafts challenge


As you can I took the version on the right and instead of banners I used 3 fish with bubbles going up instead of the straight line. On the right side of my card, I took 2 colors of blue paint and coated my bubble wrap and pressed it down. After it was dry I ran it through the printer using the free digi stamp for the sentiment. Love the bright yellow bow against the turquoise paper.

Love the bright colored fishes!

Paper Smooches - Surf and Turf stamp
Rangers - Dylusion Spray inks, stickles
Apple Barrel - Bahama Blue
Adirondack - Cloudy Blue
Sharpie - black

fustigate: verb

to beat with or as if with a short heavy club

to criticize severely

pronunciation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faber Castell - May 'Take the Challenge' with Mou

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Inspired by
Love to Scrap! - Anything Goes

Eddyth Sue ( from our Mixed Media Monday group ) has issued a small challenge of her own!

"For Monday, May 6, 2013 my challenge for "Sandee Setliff" and anyone else is......pick your favorite piece of work that Tracy has done, whether it's a canvas, journal page, etc. and make a page/canvas/coaster with your take on it! Oh, and post a pic of her work and yours."

Noticed how she picked me out? hmmmm?

Well, not to disappoint anyone, and I am always up for a challenge!

 So I picked this canvas piece from Tracy's work:

I love that field of colorful flowers and since it fits the garden theme with Mou's challenge, it was an easy choice. Here is my little garden card:

My background is a wash of gelatos, the flower outlines are stamped and then colored in with more gelatos. I tried using the pastel pencil to outline the "canvas" but it didn't go over the gelato layer very well, so I used pens instead.

Faber Castell:

gelatos- metallic grape,blueberry,mint,melon and gold

pastel pencil

yellow Aquarelle pencil

other:

Stazon ink

American Crafts - flowers

gems - misc

Ranger - stickles

Close to my Heart - bee stamp

Studio G - flower stamp

Sharpie - for outlining and doodling

Oh, and for all you stickle addicts

 ( yes, I am one of them ) I found a new challenge site JUST for them! lol ...in heaven...just sayin'...♥

All that Stickles -Icicle Linky Party ( used on the bee's wings, and in the center of the stamped flowers )

kiln: noun

an oven, furnace, or heated enclosure used for processing a substance by burning, firing, or drying
pronunciation
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

entering in:

 

Paper Smooches - Designer Drafts Challenge

and

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Challenge: Fly
Sister Act Card Challenge - #1 Anything Goes
 

I love this great shot of the light on the Dylusions spray showing it's beautiful shine:

Does the beak on this cutie remind anyone else of  Cyrano de Bergerac ?

 

Paper Smooches - Autmn Groves ( bird stamp )

StazOn - ink

Ranger - Dylusions spray, Distress stain

Faber Castell - PITT pen

 

 

provenience: noun

origin, source

pronunciation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge Brass in Pocket

I made a shaped gift card holder; I have fallen in love with making shaped cards and now adding pockets to the front of the cards to hold the GC makes them even more of an adventure!! lol

 

A little close up of the metal elements securely held on with Helmar's 450:

 

Faber Castell - PITT pen 

StazOn - ink

Autumn Leaves - stamp

ric rac, metal charm - misc.

Cricut - Doodlecarms cartridge p. 119

Scor Buddy

 

balneology: noun

the science of the therapeutic use of baths
( is this similiar to Calgon-ology? )

pronunciation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper Playtime
come join us!!

Ch#7 Use a PUN
Begins: Mon, Apr 1

Ends: Sun, Apr 14

Prize $15 Gift Cert. from The Robin's Nest
and
My Craft Spot with a prize of Metal Dies or Stamp Set
 (winner's choice). WINNER MUST HAVE A USA ADDRESS

Winner announced in the WINNERS Page Tab

Here's what I created for this challenge:

 

 I think it makes a dino-mite Easter card for a little boy.

 

Cricut Craft Room - Create a Critter ( free cut )

Ranger - stickles

Faber Castell - PITT pens

DCWV - Glitter Stack

Helmar - Liquid Scrapdots ( to lift the Easter egg up a little )

 

I can't wait to see what you come up with, after all PUNS are FUN! 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

================================================

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Here is my Monday inspiration for the Frosted Designs challenge which started on March 29th, go check it out and play along with us, you still have plenty of time!

 

 My favorite part of the card are all the little stickle dots and doodling :) They make me happy!

CARDZ TV with Mary - stamp

Stazon - ink

Ranger - stickles, Liquid Pearls, Distress pen

My Little Shoebox - papers

 

Make a card, layout or off the page project with scallops on it and you can enter it into our challenge to be eligible for this prize!

Words or Whatever

 

This weeks Prize is 10 pieces of chipboard of your choice

There is some amazing chipboard designs, go over and check it out HERE

 

*PLEASE REMEMBER, WE ASK THAT YOU ONLY SUBMIT ONE PROJECT PER CHALLENGE! THANK YOU!* 

fuliginous: adjective

sooty 

or

 obscure, murky

also

 having a dark or dusky color

pronunciation

 

( OK, there are some words that you just HAVE to try to remember, this be one of them! )

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Entering my card today in:

 

CARDZ TV - Don't Quote Me Challenge #128

Simon SaysStamp and Show Challenge - Quotable

and in

 

Go here to play along with Inkspirational
and in
Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #87 Friendship

 

Which came first? The quote or the sketch?

I haven't a clue...but together they made for a cute Friendship card.

 

 

I replaced the 3 dots in the sketch with a crack in the egg...just goes so perfect with the quote! Stamped the butterfly directly onto the egg and then again on red paper, fussy cut it out and covered it with stickles.

 

No fuliginous colors here :) 

 

Cricut Craft Room - Easter 2010 ( free cut ), egg

Close to my Heart - stamp

StazOn - ink

Ranger - stickles

Reminisce - pattern paper

Faber Castell - PITT pen ( to draw crack in egg and outline )

Cheddar Salad BTN - font

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Elizabeth has asked me about my mixed media wall hanging signs, so here is a 6 month re-cap:

 

September - 3

October - 7

November - 2

December - 5

January - 0

February - 0

 

So that's 17 signs in 6 months, and like I said in this post, the Art MoB is tourist driven.
 Signs are trickier than cards I think. I have learned to put them up to sell even when I personally didn't like them, 'cause somebody else might love it. I have sold 3 signs that amazed me as I didn't like them at all :) I've talked with the other artists at the Art MoB and we all agree that it's very hard to discern what will appeal to someone. I've had 'my favorites' up there and it took months for them to sell...

you just never know.

 

Christian based - 4 out of 5 ( they sell well )

mermaids themed - 3 for 3 ( they also sell well )

seasonal - 1 out of 6 ( does not sell very well )

 

The remaining 9 signs that sold are everyday based, ranging in all sorts of different themes.