So EXCITED!!!!!

Hi y'all!

I am SUPER excited to share some news today!  I applied and was recently chosen to be a part of the Altenew Educator Certification Program....or AECP for short....!  I am SO incredibly excited to work with them.  Returning to paper crafting after a nearly 6 year hiatus, kept finding these gorgeous stamped images on cards EVERYWHERE!  I did my research and found they were from Altenew.  I was familiar with Jennifer Rzasa back before I disappeared because we were on the 'Our Creative Corner' Design Team together!....its a small world!.....  now, she's one of the geniuses behind Altenew!....I can sort of say 'I knew her when'....

Anyhoo, part of the program is participating in some of the classes they offer.  The first class I have completed is the All About Layering class.  This is actually offered for free on the Altenew website!  It has great techniques you may or may not already know, and they also explain some of the layered stamp sets for you so you can excel at using them.  The 3 cards to the left are some I created from a few of the lessons in the class.  They were made a few weeks before I was officially accepted into the program....but I had already started the class.....

I have completed all the lessons in the class, and I have created a card....well 3 MORE actually....using several of the lessons combined into one project.  The card below includes techniques from Lessons 2, 4 and 5. 

I used gold embossing powder with the layered Beautiful Day stamp set, both on the background stamping and on the main flower image.  I opted not to put the gold on the green leaves, as I wanted the flower and its accented background to be the focal points.  I also went back in on the background stamp with a blender pen and some ink to create shading in the flowers and leaves.....you can see it a little better in the close-up photos....  

I also added some splatters to the background using some of my old Tattered Angels Shimmer Mists in Pomegrante and Vintage Pink as well as some gold shimmer watercolor paints.

I am also killing 2 birds with 1 stone, I'm entering this in this month's Altenew Inspiration Challenge.

I'll be posting my other 2 cards in a few, so stay tuned!!!

Have a colorful day!!

My little artist!

Hi y'all!

I just have to share this with you!  My sweet 10 yr old is a budding artist.  She loves nothing more than to spend time in our art studio, creating, experimenting and testing out new products.....new to her at least....  I recently gave her a set of watercolor paints I had replaced and she has been going to town with them! 

She created this FABULOUS background paper for me to use for card making!  First, isn't she thoughful?  Second, I never knew those watercolors could do that!  I told her it looked like a galaxy of stars, and I knew I have a perfect set to go with it!  I embossed with white and die cut the rocket on black paper.  I then used the same paints and made a thick water color paint to fill in the spaces.  It has a chalk paint feel and look to it.  It's completely adorable!  I'm planning on sticking this in her lunch box next week to make her feel special and to show off her handiwork to her friends!

Global Design Project is having a challenge this week:

What perfect timing!?!?!

Have a colorful day!

Gnome or not to gnome...

Hi y'all!

Just a quick one here today!  I created this card for the My Favorite Things Color Challenge this week.  The background paper I created 2 months ago when I was working on multi media papers.  It's just been sitting in my stash since then, waiting for it's chance to shine.  It went perfectly with the MFT color challenge, so I thought I'd use it. 

I struggled creating this card, the layout, the coloring, the imagery....I just couldn't figure out what to do.  I decided on the gnome, because I knew I could give it to my Beloved and he would appreciate it....he loves gnomes....  I don't have any Copics that match, so I had to improvise and layer them to get the right colors.  I think I like it?  I know he will!

Hope you have a colorful day!!

Gotta love COLOR!!

Hi y'all!

While today may be the first day of school for my kiddos, I won't start until the week after Labor Day....yay for me!!!....  I do however have to re-build my entire classroom due to a flood from all the rain we had in May.  They are 90% done with the construction and I can't wait to make it pretty again.

Since I'm in the 'back to school' mode today, I decided to head over to Paper Smooches for this month's challenge.  Kim offered us up 2 challenges in one - Back to School or Words (sentiments).  I decided to combine them both for my creation!

You might ask, what does painting have to do with back to school?  Well, I'm an art teacher so when I hear 'back to school', I think paint, brushes, paper, crayons, clay, glue, scraps, rocks, baby wipes, markers, pencils, ribbon, glitter......and so on.....  I used PS Word Salad for my sentiment and I Heart Art for my images.   I adore both of these sets, and my littlest artist....she's not so little anymore....loves to make book marks with them for school! 

I stamped the background sentiment with 4 shades of Altenew Gentleman's Grey inks so it would have a subtle ombre....thank goodness for MISTI!.....  I then stamped, colored and fussy cut the pallet and the brush.  Finally, I stamped and embossed the sentiment again on black paper, then added color to 'color' with Copic markers. 

I'm still working on my photography skills, so excuse the fuzzy edges!  Any suggestions or help would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

Have a colorful day!!!

Red all over

Good morning!

The kiddos are off for their first day of school today, so I'm enjoying a quiet morning in my art studio.  It's a sad and happy day for me, hard to see them grow up another year,....5th and 10th grade - YIKES!.... but I am excited to have some free time to myself without any mama guilt.

I created a bunch of mixed media papers a while back and have been holding onto this gorgeous red paper for just the right project. I was playing around with a stencil, rubbing alcohol and re-inkers, and I absolutely loved how it came out!  The flower is from Altenew's Peony Bouquet.  It's embossed with white powder on black paper and the shading was done using a white charcoal pencil....that's a bit of an oxymoron don't you think?....  I think this is one of my most favorite cards I've made in a while!

I've decided to include this card for The Paper Players challenge this week; black, white and a color of your choice as well as the CAS on Friday challenge blogs.

Have a colorful day!!

What a busy August!

Hi ya'll!

What a busy month so far!  I moved my sister from California to Hendersonville TN, had my oldest friend and sister in law visit from Copenhagen and Salem OH, then had our old neighbors visit from Columbus OH.  WHEW!!!  I have been crafting occasionally....late at night obviously....and will be sharing those with you this week!

First up I have this sparkly little number!  This is for this weeks Color Throwdown.  I kept the colors a bit more pastel....at least the green....and loved how it came out.  Soft and subtle.  The stamps are Hexagon Play from Altenew and Ellen Hudson's Squeeze the Day.  Love them both!

Super quick...

Hi ya'll!

I've been CrAZY busy these last 2 weeks!  I made some cards for a magazine call, finished up our fire pit, and am leaving in 7 short hours for California!  Before I left, I had to get this creation in for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. 

The challenge is to create your own background.  Well...I've been having TONS of fun creating papers using stencils, rubbing alcohol and re-inkers.  I made these 2 cards by spraying rubbing alcohol on Bristol paper, placing a stencil on top, then using re-inkers to add colors!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the effect it created!

I think the pink and purple one is my favorite!!! 

Have a great 10 days!

Here for you

Hi ya'll!

Super quick card here today.  Decided to try the CAS(E) sketch this week.  I need a more complete collection of the pink Copics , the flowers came out a bit neon-esc.  But it's a sweet card for a friend that recently lost a family member.

 

Big wish

Hi ya'll!


So...ever stamp on top of embossing?  Of course you have.  I did it with this card, and even though I wiped down all the embossed leaves after I stamped over them, it still was getting ink everywhere!  UGH!!....so please disregard the smudges.....

I do love the Verdigris embossing powder from Ranger!  It's perfect for the Tropical Leaves stamp set from Simon Says Stamp.  I've used it for several cards including this one.  I have another one that I'll post later.

I used the Color Throwdown color story for this week and the photo theme from the Addicted to Ink challenge this week.  Both had similar colors, and I made it a birthday card....ATI is celebrating their 7th anniversay!....  I really adore the tropical leaf trend happening right now.  I could use them all the time!

 

Taxi

Hi y'all!

Super quick on here for you today.  I was inspired by this weeks Just Add Ink photo challenge....yellow and grey are one of my favorite combos!....and thought I'd pull back out the MFT stamp set London Mouse for the taxi cab and use the color story.

Inspired by the Shopping our Stash challenge, I also tried out a new technique for me, stenciling with texture paste.  I know it's been around a LONG time  and I've had the supplies around for EVER, so thought I should finally give it a try.  It's a lot like gesso for acrylic painting, at least the clear stuff is. The white was thick like cream cheese.

I really like how the background came out, but should have used Bristol paper.....lesson learned....  I used yellow watercolor paint and put a few layers of it on.  I then sprayed and splattered my metallic grey glimmer mist to give it that grungy inner city vibe.   I have to say, I love the possibilities with this stuff!  I think I'll be making some mixed media papers to play with...

We are a pair!

Hi y'all!

4 years ago today, I married my beloved!  We met in 1998 and dated for a hot minute, and because his cousin is one of my oldest friends, we stayed in touch over the years.  We re-connected 5.5 years ago and here we are!  I'm lucky to be married to my best friend.  He makes me smile, makes be feel loved EVERY second of every day, and he's an AMAZING dad to the girls.  We are all truly blessed in life!

 

My beloved has a crazy sense of humor, so I had to make this card for him.  We aren't the florally, romantic type of couple....humor is the way to go for us!  It's an old set from Taylored Expressions called Hangin' Out.  I tried to find it on their site, but alas, it must be retired.  I am able to include this card on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week, Anniversary is the theme.  I'm also adding it to the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge (Any Occasion) and another one for the Global Design Project color challenge.

To the moon, Alice!

Good morning peeps!

Just getting in a little bit of creating today.  I've had the supplies to participate in the Global Design Project sitting on my desk for a few days now and am just able to get it finished now!  I really loved creating the watercolor background.  I made several of them at the time and have been using them one by one.  Unfortunately the green color looks weird in the photos, it is more lime colored than what it shows here...

 

I originally wanted to use a floral set for this background, but came across this old PTI set in my stash that hasn't seen the light of day in about 5 years.  I had to use it since the background looks like a black hole!  I used some washi tape, which I have really had a hard time getting behind.  I don't like that it's see-thru so I backed it with some white paper....which I know defeats the purpose of the the tape, may as well use patterned paper....  I added glitter to the flames and the rocket.  I have to figure out how to photograph things with glitter, they never look as shimmery on camera.

Have a great day y'all!

Trying something new...

Good morning peeps!
I'm trying something new here.   A bit more 'grunge'....if that's the word for it....  I don't have ANY father's day stamps or any masculine stamps.  I have kid athletic ball stamps, but that seemed inappropriate.

I wanted to make something for my dad for Father's Day.  He's the BEST!!  He makes us laugh....a lot!....encouraged me to ditch business law and go into art, helped me buy the car of my dreams at 19, he's a great dancer, loved and encouraged me through my divorce and celebrates the new life I have with my beloved.  He totally rocks!....he's cute too eh?....  This is even a little outside his comfort zone in style, but I know he'll appreciate that its created by his little girl....even though I'm 47....

 

Inspired by the color challenge at TGIF Challenges I set to work.  I'm also adding this to the Cards for Guyz challenge for Father's Day, they are having a DT call there, check out if its for you! I stared with some watercolor paper, dropped some water on it and then added a drop of Night of Navy ink.  I let the dye run around naturally and dried it with my heat gun.  I did it again and added a bit more ink this time.  I then added a spray of green shimmer mist....or 2 or 3, it kind of got away from me.... then I added the houndstooth stamp in the soft teal color....I don't have the Pool Party color so I used Baha Breeze....  I obviously didn't want to use flowers, so I pulled out the PTI Spruce and Stems set for the focus.  Added the sentiment and that's it!

 

It's not my normal style, but I can appreciate it.