New Beaded Bookmarks on etsy

Here's some new additions... Love the way they look and, since Stacie showed me how to make those clean finished ends..., I think I am in bead heaven!






Thinking more colors... hmmmm...

Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend! I'm excited to be spending some time with family...

See you next week!

Our own little BAMBI...!

If I haven't mentioned before... we live among MANY MANY deer! Driving up the street at dusk can sometimes prove challenging - having to wait for deer crossings and the occasional stampede...
I complain, too, about ticks and freshly planted garden plants being ravished in one night...
But they really are beautiful to watch in a distance and I'm happy to be among nature.

This morning we were checking out our regular garden visitors (cardinals, robins, finches, squirrels, chipmunks, a pair of old doves and a bunny...) and noticed something under one of my bushes.
a new baby fawn, just born over night from the looks of it, hiding out waiting for mama to return.
So small... the size of a small cat, and so cute! (that's a bleeding heart plant next to it). I had to take a few pics!
I really hope the mom returns soon. Baby looks tired. We had a whole night of rain and storms. and looks like the sky is darkening again.

Anyway, we are so excited and wanted to share!
Hope you have a great day too!



****UPDATE****
Mama came back for her baby and took it into the woods. Glad I looked outside when I did!

A Royal Announcement!

I got a set of Alice in Wonderland stamps not too long ago but had never found the time to use them. I had a few minutes to spare so I used one of my woodgrain stamped vellum pieces (originally stamped for a father's day card) and layered my white rabbit.
I just love classic story books and this story is one of my favorites... btw if you haven't gotten to see the Tim Burton version ... I recommend seeing it. I watched it in the theatre with my daughter and we both were so fascinated by the artistic angle. The colors, the costumes and the makeup! All worthy of a second look!
Anyway, without further ado...
May I announce-


















Have a great day!

New Father's Day card

I'm loving Tim Holtz stamps for Father's Day cards. It's really a challenge for me to make masculine cards... and I find that many Holtz images are perfect! Coupled with Stampin' Up card stock and vintage brads, I think it's about ready for that special dad!Spending the rest of the tidying up in here. I can't seem to find my mind in all this clutter.
Hope you are well!

Cityscape ATCS!

I joined a swap on ATCSFORALL.com recently... theme: CITYSCAPES.


I wanted to do a Frederick one... but after several attempts I had to put that idea away and move to Philly and San Fran. (My home city and my future ~hope~ city!)ok... now I will REALLY start on Father's Day cards tomorrow... I HOPE... Why does the day go so fast?

Hope you are having a great week.
See you!

friend to friend

Sometimes there is no better sanctuary than a friend...
Thank you to all of mine!

This card is full of details. From awesome designer card stock layers to sewing and distressing. Sponging and vintage style stamps as well as colors.
I Love Crafty Secrets sets, Basic Grey papers, Ranger Inks, SU accessories and Tim Holtz designs!

Have a great nite!
Gotto get those Father's Day cards up! Wish I could turn back time~ or just add some! Simple!
See you Later.

ROW HOUSES...

Last year my friend, Rene', gave me a bucketful of paper mache' birdhouses (from her crafty mom's closet), and I'm just now finding little time to play with them. I'm sort of glad I waited for this day to paint them up, because today was the perfect day to collage. THANK YOU RENE' and SANDY! :)

I used some ArtChix papers and lits of acrylic paints (and gesso of course!). These mini houses have found a spot in my studio... an constant reminder for me to appreciate ART, LOVE and NATURE.

Hope you have a great weekend. Getting started on new card designs next week!
See you!

I'm Back!

I had a fun 2 days... selling at the craft show at FINRA. I met some of the most talented people. A woodworker who makes everything from raw materials... a cheese board that you just wish was big enough to lay on; and a potter whose work has evolved to perfection in the 15 yrs she has spent creating.
Bags, scarfs, photography and of course jewelry. I was in awe of everyone's work.
And when you hear the stories of how each piece is made, it really brings out the hard work and genuine feelings that you just don't get from machine made items.

Hanging out with these folks... You will instantly be turned into a handmade art junkie!

On the other side of the table... Stacie said this just right... "There must be something in the water." Everyone at FINRA seems so happy and nice. Every person who walked by (regardless of purchasing or not) had a smile on their face. FINRA must be a great place to work!

All in all, it was a nice little getaway... a little time to spent in the "work" world. Wearing heels (which I didn't miss!), a bit more make up than usual (which is usually none), driving into town during rush hour traffic (challenging trying to navigate around nascar drivers)... It was nice to be in a different world for just 2 days.

But I'm glad to be BACK!
Tomorrow I will spend the whole day collaging. Bookmarks, journals, atcs... whatever my heart wants. It's a creative day.

Hope your day is great! see you soon.

Off to the Craft Show...

This is probably going to me my one and only craft show for this year... and it's about to begin!
YEA!~

I will have hand rolled paper beads, greeting cards, journals, bookmarks, and more!
So I will see you back here next week!



Date reminders:
Don't forget Mom's day on MAY 9 and all those Grads in the next month or two!

a week and a half just FLEW by!

Gosh! I realized today that I haven't posted since the 11th.
Like last year... I found myself submerged in all the beautiful garden plants and fresh mulch my car could carry!
I did spend several (rainy =) ) days making cards and prepping more for the FINRA show next week.
Here's a ducky get well card I made today (among some other designs).
I juts love the "Minnie Mouse"-esque red polka with white polka dots.
Everything is raised on dimensionals... by far my FAVORITE Stampin' Up accessory.
The inside says, " Hope you're soon feeling... Just ducky!"

Well. Hope you are all enjoying this new spring! See you soon!

Sunday fun...

I know I should be working... but when Sunday comes around... I can't help but play!








I am exciting about this next swap I am signing up for. I spent most of today working on my submission.
It is the ATC sized Journal: A Day in My Life on ATCs for All. I really enjoy swapping on this site. There are so many different types of artists here and I have loved my swaps in the past.
Here's a few pages from my journal.

Happy Birthday Stacie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACIE~
Hope your day is filled with renewed happiness and absolute love.

Is this Spring FEVER?

Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend! We spent all of Thursday, Fri and Saturday exploring in Solomon's Island and Calvert cliffs. I think I mentioned this last year too... but Calvert cliffs is the oldest and biggest fossil hunting grounds on the East Coast... and we are lucky enough that it is located right here in MD!
So we spent tons of time searching... with no bounty to report... boohoo.
We did however get a few teeth in the Easter egg hunt at the Calvert County Marine Museum! Lucky that we stopped in there.
(I'd love to hear your success stories hunting for fossils...).

Anyway, we returned home late on Saturday and spent Easter resting together. This morning my youngest daughter and I woke up with fevers... and runny stuffy heads. Oh well... all good things must come at a price. I hope this little setback doesn't last long. We don't want to miss these gorgeous days sitting at home with headaches.

On the crafting front... I have been making more paper beads. The ones I just made are a gorgeous shade of turquoise blue. I think it should be called Sea & Sky. I just love this color!

Anyway, I'm hoping to get loads of work done. I am getting so exited for the FINRA show at the end of the month... but that also means buckling in and going full speed ahead! YEA!

Hope you enjoy your week...
See you soon!

Tim Holtz Grunge Roses

For forever I've been wanted to make these Tim Holtz style roses... but I never seemed to find the right time.
This morning I made my mind up to do something just for me... and after two tries, I was able to make a satisfactory rose! (The first one was a mess. Glue not sticking well, petals not curling just right, ...)
The biggest thing for me tho, is that grunge paper seems to be a bit thick to make these roses. I think i will try with card stock next time. Either that, or the grunge paper I have is actually grunge BOARD and I need the paper version instead (if this actually exists).
I will check on this later when I get a chance. (I threw away the packaging it came in so I will have to do a little research).

Either way here's how it turned out! I used a tutorial off of youtube (click here for link). - she makes it look really easy!
The main things you need to start is a good glue (like SU Crystal Effects or Ranger Glossy Accents), three inked 6-petal flowers (Sizzix originals die FLOWERS #5 used here, scissors, paper clips to hold your work, and a thin paint brush handle for curling the petals.

I also used the TSUKINEKO travel sized SHIMMER SPRITZES (in frost, sparkler and copper) for added shimmer! And for some darker spritzes I used the same company - WALNUT INK Antiquing Solution in a spray. I LOVE THEM!

It was a interesting to put these together. I can't wait to make more indifferent colors and sizes.
Have a great weekend! And see you soon!

Vintage bookmarks

Here's something a little different.
I cut strips of fabric and sewed them with vintage red thread... then poked a hole and added charms and detail.
Love how they turned out. they have a real old world feel and lay so perfectly in between book pages.

Artists papers

I was looking through some issues of Somerset Studios Magazine and saw something really interesting.
The concept is similar to paper fabric... where you make a background using collage techniques for the base of your work. What I did was take Manga art pad paper (which is really sturdy) and collaged on a layer of french book pages. then gessoed over it (watered down a bit so the pages could show thru) and then painted with acrylic paints. Again letting some of the pages show thru.
Then I stamped on them, basically making my own designer paper!
I cut the sheet up into bookmark size pieces and then continues to collage or stamp/doodle on them. Each is one of a kind unique...
I really enjoyed making this set. I will try a different color base for my next set. Perhaps a blue... or ivory!
Getting started right away!
See you soon!

Spring is here!

I finally feel like Spring is here! It feels so great to go outside without my heavy coat on... It's WARM! YEA!

I spend most of today thinking about new ideas for my business. I want to add a line of bookmarks (baubles, paper and metal) and perhaps something else. I really like handmade beads... so I will incorporate them somehow.

I also have a few handmade journals I want to list as well. Each is hand made from the bare pages. I hand cut and hand bound each register ... covered chipboard for front and back cover and made a spine. Each is complete in fabric (some are patchworked) and have liners.
We'll see... not sure.

For now, I have two cards to share:
The Bridal Shower card is stamped in silver pigment ink and has a vellum cardstock liner. A swarovski crystal earring... and a satin red ribbon.
The easter card is a Stampin Up stamp colored in alcohol ink. with added satin ribbon and dimensionals for accents. Don't forget the vintage buttons!

Hope you are having a great week.
See you soon!

Beads... and more Beads!

I spent the better part of today making and listing Beads on greenNOTIONS. I made metallic beads, soft dainty ones and ones from hand made/decorated papers...
Fun!
My Favorite ones are these made from leftover Children's Wrapping Paper! I juts love what you can make out of things you might otherwise throw away...This week is going to fly by. I am preparing tons for the FINRA show coming up ... that will be my focus til the end of April.
Hope you have a great week! See you soon!

Happy Birthday To My ABBY!

Today is Abby's 7th birthday.
I can't believe how quickly time flies!
I love you with all my heart babe~...
Thanks for being my light!

Bookmarks! Fun with MICA

TODAY I spent a whole day with my friends crafting and having fun. It was just that... FUN!
I got to play around with MICA. Stacie shared some of this "odd" glass like material and I immediately thought ALCOHOL INKS!
I dabbed some on with some metallic ink and applied Then cut the mica to mimic a glass bottle.
I adhered the mica to my bookmark with just crystal effects glue. Made for a clear bond.

The middle bookmark was inspired by a designer paper that Stacie had in her stash! I love all of them. i think I'm going to make another and perhaps keep one for myself.

Well, Tomorrow - Back to the daily grind... which luckily for me is just what I love to do!
see you soon!