Fun Time...

I had a GREAT Sunday!  I took a class with my dear friend Sandy at my favorite LSS...Absolutely Everything taught by another friend and talented artist Jenn Shurkus.  We created some art canvases that were totally out of the box for both of us and we had a blast!  Thanks for sharing your time & talent with us, Jenn!!

Of course, after class (and before) Sandy and I had to do a little shopping.  I got some great new things including a fabulous new "stamp and emboss" set from Hero Arts and Sizzix.  The set includes a background stamp, then you line it up in a matching embossing folder and parts of the design become raised.  (Visit Jennifer McGuire's blog to see a demo.)  I couldn't wait to get home from work today to play with my new goodies.  Here's a card I created.  Have an awesome week!!

Supplies for Art Canvases:  Stamps - Characters (Stampotique), Sentiments (Dylusions by Dyan Reaveley / Stamper's Anonymous); Flat Panel Canvas, Acrylic Paints (Claudine Hellmuth Studio / Ranger)

Supplies for Thank You Card:  Paper - Basic White & Spring Moss (PaperTrey Ink); Stamps - Background (Hero Arts), Sentiment (Hero Arts); Ink - Soft Pool (Hero Arts), Jet Black Archival (Ranger), Spring Moss (PaperTrey Ink); Embellishments - Felt (PaperTrey Ink), Dies (Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers & Flowers 3-D / Sizzix).

Inspiration Canvas...

I have been working a lot lately and haven't had a lot of time to create the entire heart canvas project from Inspiration Showcase.  However, I was inspired by Jennifer's post today to think outside the box and created a small canvas using a few of the techniques shown over the last 10 days.  I love living in New England and enjoying the four seasons...this project will hang proudly in my home to remind me of that (especially in winter!).  Thanks for looking...and Happy Fall!

Supplies:  Stamps - Tree I, II, III, IV (Hero Arts), Reflections (Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous), Sentiment (Inkadinkado); Paper - glossy cardstock, basic white & vellum (PaperTrey Ink), Sticky Back Canvas, Cold Press Watercolor (Strathmore); Ink - various Distress Inks & Jet Black Archival (Ranger); Other:  Acrylic Paint (Delta Ceramcoat), Perfect Pearls (Ranger), Perfect Pearls Mist, Pearls, Hemp, 6x6 Canvas

Stamping with paint...

This card was inspired by Jennifer McGuire in today's posting of Inspiration Showcase.  We were challenged to stamp with something other than an ink pad.  I chose acrylic paint for this card.  Thanks for looking!

Supplies:  Stamps - Inspired by Nature (Stampin'Up!); Cardstock - Basic White, Lemon Tart & Vellum (PaperTrey Ink), Green (Stampin'Up!); Various acrylic paint (Delta Ceramcoat); Embellishments - button, white embroidery thread, white embossing powder (Hero Arts)

A Play Day...

Yesterday, I helped organize a GREAT event called Day for Kids - a community-wide event celebrating the children and families of our community that featured lots of activities, games, entertainment and giveaways.  Yesterday was the kids' play day...today, it was a play day for me!  I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Jennifer McGuire's Inspiration Showcase class and today's post features some tags I created using some of the techniques highlighted on day 5 & 6 from her and Tim Holtz.  I hope you have a chance to have a fun play day of your own!  Enjoy!!

Supplies:  Cardstock - Basic White (PaperTrey Ink), Watercolor Paper (Strathmore), Core'dinations (Darice); Stamps - Just Word Art (Wendy Vecchi / Stampers Anonymous), Stuff to Say and Thankful Silhouettes (Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous), Lotus Background (Hero Arts), Print Pattern (Stampin'Up!); Ink - various colors of Distress Inks and Distress Stains; Dies - Tag, Tattered Leaves, Butterflies, Pumpkin & Acorn (Tim Holtz Alterations / Sizzix); Embellishments - felt (PaperTrey Ink), seam binding ribbon, toulle, Distress Rock Candy Crackle Paint, Perfect Pearls water mist.

An Early Start...

I know...it's too early to be thinking of Christmas (for some), but I wanted to make a tag with a rosette and must have been inspired by the new releases from PaperTrey Ink today - which are all about the Holidays.  In yesterday's Inspiration Showcase class, Jennifer McGuire highlighted a technique she calls "faux letterpress" (inking an embossing folder on one side).  Well, at least I have one tag done well ahead of time!  :-)  Enjoy...

Supplies:  Stamps - Sentiment (Signature Christmas Set/PaperTrey Ink); Ink - Barn Door Red & Peeled Paint Distress Ink (Ranger); Cardstock - White (PaperTrey Ink), Silver Foil (American Crafts); Patterned Paper - Christmas Past Collection (Graphic 45); Dies & Folders - Candy Cane Stripe Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft), Tag & Bookplates Die & Paper Rosette (Tim Holtz Alterations/Sizzix); Embellishments - Tissue Tape (Tim Holtz), Holly Leaves & Berries, Snow Glitter (Martha Stewart Crafts), White Ribbon

Take Time...

Jennifer McGuire's Inspiration Showcase class is off to a GREAT start!  Jennifer shared a 20-minute video today highlighting several resist techniques.  This is one I haven't done before...and hadn't even thought of.  This card uses a stamped resist technique over patterned paper!  Very cool!!  It's good to be stamping again...and I thought the sentiment was a perfect fit.

Supplies:  Stamps - Sentiment & Lotus Background (Hero Arts); Cardstock - White & Sweet Blush (PaperTrey Ink); Paper - Cappella Paper Pad (Basic Grey); Ink - Versamark(Tsukineko), Bundled Sage Distress Ink (Ranger); Embellishment - Prima Flower

It's been WAY too long...

I know, I know.  I was afraid when I created my blog...when would I ever have time to keep up with it?  The Summer Card Camp class provided the perfect opportunity to post often, but once that was over, life took over and well...I know you can probably all relate.  My husband and I had a wonderful opportunity to travel for a couple of weeks this summer and preparing for that...being away...and then returning to work and life, well, the weeks have passed by all too quickly.  BUT...I'm back...and signed up for another Jennifer McGuire class...YIPPEEEEE!!....so, hopefully the posts will come much more often now.  Stay tuned...I hope to post more very, very soon!

Our awesome August adventure took us to Vancouver, British Columbia

and Alaska aboard the Disney Wonder!