Art Journaling and a Card

Here's some art today. I've been into butterflies a lot lately....my journal is full of pages with them.

This page started with the left over stencil from when I die cut one of these butterflies (Sizzix) for another journal project. See this post for those butterflies. 

http://fat-emma.blogspot.com/2013/03/art-journal.html

Anyhow, I traced the inside of the die cut remaining stencil and then painted those butterflies pink or orange. Then I took a Crafter's Workshop Roman writing stencil and some bright blue paint and rubbed the paint over the stencil. Then I used one of Dina Wakely's new silhouette stencils and black paint. 

I am not that much into faces and people in my art, but I do like how these silhouettes look.

Then I free hand cut out the letters for the word fly, sprayed them pink with some Dylusion's spray ink and then did a bit of doodling with a black Sharpie. 

Finally I stamped the words (Stamper's Anonymous-Studio 490) a few times around the page.

I also needed to make a card for a co-worker's birthday.

I didn't have a lot of time so used a bunch of die cut scraps and some blue paper tape (Anna Griffen) to make the background.

Then I stamped the bright pink image (Unity Stamps).  I outlined the black glasses with a Jelly Roll pen and then a sparkle black pen, though they only vaguely looked shiny here. Then I used some Glossy Accent to fill in the lenses. But it still needed a bit of a pop, so I added the yellow wigglely eyes.

Think they give the card  a fun

HA-HA!

Inside it says the usual happy birthday, but what lady who is in her youthful 50's doesn't want to be told they are looking good?

Or any age for that matter.

Hump day- busy week ahead still for me.

Tomorrow night we go to Lowell, Massachusetts for game 1 of the hockey quarter finals. Back again on Friday, and maybe Sunday since it is a best 2 out of 3 series.

Will be dragging at the end of the week-especially work on Friday-luckily it is a teacher work day, but since we had such a tough start to the season it is good to be at this point.

Thanks for visiting.

Saturday Part 2

Part 2

So since it is Saturday-and I have time to chat, how about a book update?

All these books have something to do with my trip-even if only a vague connection.

My latest read:

Had this on the plane with me, a good little paperback. This is book 3 of this series, am enjoying them.

While in New Mexico, my friend Vicky mentioned this book to me. Can't wait to get a copy and read it.

It is a scrapbook novel.

Love that.

And since I am missing that New Mexican food- I ordered myself a couple of used cookbooks off of Amazon. Not that my home cooking in New Hampshire will be the same, but maybe I can catch a small whisper of that southwestern flavor here in the snowy (but hopefully soon very spring like) Northeast.

and

and finally, another Southwestern flavored book that I borrowed from my friend Vicky.

Vicky is a weaver and she has a bunch of books to inspire her. I borrowed this one because I am going to design some scarves using the patterns in this book.  I bought a bunch of assorted colored skeins of hand dyed yarn while in Taos- the colors were just bright and fabulous. If I really get into this project I will get a used copy of the book, it is a very cool one. I'll show you my projects once I get to them.

This week went fast but it was busy and I have still been adjusting to end of trip.

Finally for you, how  about another card?

Hopefully this weekend I will get my journal photographed for you.

It is a pretty basic card. The BIG postmarks are from Ma Vinci- don't even know if she is still in business, but she has a great sheet of giant postmarks.

The envelope and words are from Unity Stamp of the Week.

But for such a simple card it is fun.

I love the envelope image and saying.

You can't see the sparkley effect of the butterflies in the light of this photo either.

Well, think I have added enough to this post.

Have a great Saturday- and go MAINE-

another big hockey game this afternoon.

We need a win-

will fill you in later.

Thanks for visiting- I appreciate when you stop by.

Happy Valentine's Day

It is a day of love. I'll be honest, not a big Valentine's Day person. I love love. I love to use hearts, but I am thinking this is more of a greeting card campaign to sell things. Or florist or candy maker, but what ever, it is a day of LOVE.

This top photo is the finished card; the one below is the semi-finished card.

I started with a white card base. I stamped the word image (Technique Tuesday) and glues that down. Then I added the die cut hanging hearts, added some Viva paint pen on the hearts and then added the Stickles. I forgot to mention, I also sprayed the card with some red Dylusions. Then I added some little red ribbons on the die cuts.

Finally, I added the earth-a Postmodern stamped image which I colored and cut out and added. I also added one to the back so that when you open the card you don't get that big white circle with all the ink blobs that leaked through staring at you.

Looking at the 2 images side by side, I think added the Stickles and the earth really finished off the card.

Here's another card I made with this icky colored background. I drew the circles and added the pink paint and then doodled in the hearts.

Then I layered the paper tape and finally added this die cut from Tim Holtz.

I colored the wording red and then added some red sparkle embossing powder to finish off the card-make those words stand out.

And one more love themed card.

This one has a slightly different take- but still talks about love. The mittens and saying are from Unity's stamp of the week series. The design at the bottom of the card is from Technique Tuesday. But before anything else went on the card I embossed in silver glitter the snowflakes in the background using an older Hero Arts background image.

I also put some Viva paint pen on the mittens to make them pop up a big and look a little more real mitten fuzzy. Mittens should be warm and fuzzy I think.

I like the fact that this card does not have any hearts on it but is still full of love!

Since I have over loaded you with these cards, I will sign off.

Wishing you lots of love in any way, shape or form.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Steamy

Another simple card for the 21 year old who's off at college.

This card is super simple, nothing very complex- a quick 10 minute card.

 I really like simple plainer cards-

think I said that yesterday too.

This is an especially good thing when you send any where from 3-5 cards a week of to the college daughter.

She likes getting mail.

I remember loving it when I had mail in my college mailbox too.

Now I love getting packages in the mail.

Rubber stamps, die cuts, books from Amazon.

Naughty me!

Anyhow, back to this simple fun card.

I used 

Card stock, a die cut on white-I added the little red dots around the edge.

The coffee cup is one Unity's Stamp of the week. I colored the heart and added some red Stickles.

I also added a little fuzzy grey marker on the heart steamy release from this cup to make it look like it was releasing real steam.

I stamped the saying-cut it out and then outlined the cut out with marker.

Not much else to day.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Fun Food

I couldn't resist showing you these 2 cards with a loving and food theme.

More fun cards for the 21 year old at college.

I used this light pink card stock and some plaid orange paper that I embossed and then colored with an orange ink pad for this cheery donut card..

Donuts and saying are all from Hero Arts.

I used some bright Viva paint pens and also some Ranger Dimensional Pearls to make the decorations on top of the donuts pop a bit.

My other card uses a stamp set from Unity Stamps.  At least the pizza and the saying are from them. The bottom heart border is from Technique Tuesday and the top little hearts are from Memory Box-this ancient Valentine's clear set I have which is such a super set.

Ha-ha-both of these cards use these fun puns and put a smile on my face.

I'm sure the 21 year old smiled too.

They don't have to be fancy- I am sure 21 year olds don't care for all the frills-which I don't really do either to tell you the truth.

So yesterday I nursed my head cold at home, which meant doing some me things to make me feel really good about me. Feeling good about yourself is one way to get your spirits up which in my mind gets your immune system up and helps you knock the old virus villains in the snoozle.

Which I believe it did. Mostly- still dragging this morning but just tired, not sick feeling too.

I did a few small not too energy sucking chores about the house and I played in the studio and read more of Gone Girl and I watched more of Downton Abbey- I have made it into Season 3 now.

Everyone needs a day like this.

And today it is back to the work world of teenagers and biology and co-workers and commuting, but I am ready and prepared. Even with the tiny bit of light snow we got...but wait till Friday. Sounds like we have a lot of snow coming in the afternoon.

That means an icky commute home.

GRRRR.

Anyhow-

It is also Wednesday, already.

How did that happen?

Pink Cards for Thursday

Some PINK cards today!!!

Nice and bright for an overcast day.

Not my usual color choice but here you go, I made 3 recently using a lot of that color.

Here's my card for this week's Blogger's Challenge. Very mom-ish. In fact, I will be giving it to my mom for Mother's Day.

First this pretty one using some images from Paper Smooches that are from one of April's new sets-Pretty Momma. The background is an Impression Obsession cover a card stamp and the frame from is a Sizzix die cut. 

I stamped the cameo directly onto the card but the roses (I love these roses) are embossed and colored and then cut out and added. I also used a bit of light brown mango colored ink to lightly distress the inner frame area because I wanted t make the face area pop out a bit-and not fade into the rest of background quite so much.

And sticking with the color pink, here's a baby card I made for a shower my daughter was going to. I used pink and white card stock. The white I punched this doily border and then lightly rubbed some blue ink. I drew in the clothesline and clothespins. The baby wear is also by Kim Hughes, back before Paper Smooches when she designed for Cornish Heritage Farms. And the saying from Paper Smooches.

And finally, how about this white card with lots of pink on it. The center is pink paper with the word happy stamped on it in pink. The heart is Unity stamp. Then I used a Sizzix die, one of my favorite flowers, to make the pink flowers. I used a velvety brad for the center and some velvet leaves. And some pearl white Viva Paint Pen dots.

The Rain is Coming

So yesterday was a fantastic way to start a vacation. I worked all day-LOL! Well much of the day. Got one of my 2 big vacation projects done-I bleached down my screen porch wood to clean it up for the season. It is one of those jobs that takes a couple of hours and luckily, only needs to be done once a season. I feel good it is accomplished, that is for sure.

I also hung my second over the door cloth shoe holder in the studio and put the rest of my paper punches into it. Then I rearranged a couple of drawers of supplies in these 3 plastic storage units I have which means I now have 5 big open drawers for supplies!!!!!!! Granted- I have some fabric I need to put into at least a few of those drawers-which I have not done yet, but my whole point of hanging the shoe holders for my punches is to make space for that bag of fabric.

But getting some extra space is a bonus!!!

Love it when you get things accomplished that you've been wanting to do.

Only art I did was work on putting together my travel journal for this summer.

OK, I am not going away for 3 months but had the supplies to organize it-not decorate it- so I did that. Now I can add a few little embellishments when the mood strikes.

I also lounged out on my now very clean screen porch and read some more of my Peter Mayle book. It was 80 ish degrees and just a gorgeous day-light breeze-not too humid. A morning walk started my day. Ended my day by going to Lowe's for some grass seed and masks for when we rip out the carpet (so we don't breath in all the crappy build-up in the rub) and going out to dinner with my hubby.

It was a very full day for sure.

So today I am showing you this cute little card that uses one of Unity's Stamp of the Week selections. I think this one is my most favorite to date. And this is a simple simple but perfect little card.

I first stamped the cherry image in black on both the white card and on some plain white stamping paper. I then took some pink ink and brushed a bit just around the cherry on the card. Not a lot though. Then on the white paper I colored the cherries and the leaves-which I then cut out and glued down in the appropriate spots on the card. I put some pale lilac  Viva paint pen dots on the flowers and then stamped the sentiment.

So you are asking about my title? The rain is coming?

 They say starting today we will get a day and a half of some good soaking heavy rain. We need it, my backyard is like the dust bowl. Hence the grass seed, which I plan on throwing onto the ground tomorrow a.m., hopefully before it starts to rain. My lawn is looking HORRIBLE right now. Hardly any grass left for some reason. We also put down some bug killer and fertilizer so hopefully all this will help.

Plus tomorrow will be a nice lazy day for me, hanging home in the rain. Maybe watching some old movies or reading on the couch. Sounds fabulous.

Thanks for visiting! And have a great start to your new week.

I am on VACATION!!!!!!

Spring vacation is really here!!! Trees are blooming and it is sooooo pretty when you drive around.Cherries and apples and forsythia and a bunch of other trees I can't even name are all in flowers. Here is a peak of a flowering tree stamp from Unity stamp of the week. It is stamped in black on a piece of glossy card stock that had  decorated with some alcohol ink in a bright plaid pattern. Then I added some Viva paint pen to the blooms in some light spring colors.

So yesterday everyone was so ready for the day to end and vacation to start. Lots of people I know are going away- but I am OK staying home. I have 2 days planned-a visit to see my mom on one day and going out with my friend Vicky on another. I really really want a low key week and just do some things I want to do. I already accomplished one thing I have wanted to do...I bought a shoe holder-one of those cloth ones that would hang on the back of a closet door but instead of putting in shoes, I put my paper punches in it. That created a bunch of space when I emptied out my  punches so now I can organize some other items better. Love it. Really think I want to do some cleaning out too of some of  those overloaded craft supplies. 

Just about time to get my eBay sales up again.

So here's a bit more of the tag, using a Sizzix die cut of swirls, a Spellbinders peacock feather die cut and a small stamped scrap of blue paper.

So for day one of my vaca....what will I do? Not so sure...but am thinking of getting one of my big projects done- bleaching down the wall in the screen porch-I fill a bucket of water half way and add some bleach and then use a long handled scrub brush to rub it on the wall and posts. They need it too- lots of black mildew since I didn't do this chore last year.

Lets see how motivated I am in the morning-since I am writing this Friday night.

Friday night-the best part of vacation when the WHOLE week is still ahead of you and all the potential of having a week off.

It was a gorgeous day on Friday and when I got home Katie and I went out and got an ice cream. Yum!

So here's the final full tag-with some lace and some more Viva paint pen dots.

Don't know if the tag is a bit too bottom heavy....but I still like it.

So enjoy your Saturday...make it fabulous!

A Couple of Simple Cards

Today I am showing you a couple of cards using stamps using Unity Stamps.  I went specifically for simple cards, plain with not a lot of fuss or added extras.

Above I used a Unity Stamp of the Week. I started with white card stock and  brushed some aquamarine ink on it. Then I stamped the rainbow image (love this one) twice, once on the card itself and once on white paper. I colored the rainbow on the white paper and then cut that out and attached it to the card. Then I used pearl white Viva paint pen.to puff up the clouds on the card. I stamped the sentiment that came with the rainbow stamp.

Here's a Unity Stamp-from their Itty Bitty Collection. The saying and the chair with the umbrella at least. I stamped the chair and umbrella directly onto the card. I colored the yellow part of the chair and also the brown pole on the umbrella. I also stamped the image on white paper. I colored with Copics and cut out the blue part of the chair. Then I attached it to the card, I did the same thing with the umbrella.

Then I stamped the little blue dot lines (Paper Smooches) and the sun (also Paper Smooches). The sun was stamped on white paper, colored and cut out. Once attached I used some Viva paint pen-glass effects  in yellow on the sun.  

So yesterday it was so HOT!!! When I got home my car thermometer said it was 91 degrees. 91!!!!! The house was hot, school was hot....This morning we're at 64 at 5 a.m.  Yeeks. No AC out yet. Sweating a bit here.

When I came home I sat on the screen porch and finished reading my Katherine Hepburn book since it was like 100 degrees in the studio and just too hot to work.

Here's my next book.

Maybe just wishing I was leaving for France this weekend when my vacation starts-LOL-

actually I am thrilled to be staying home for the week.

They say 10 degrees cooler today.

YEAH!!!