A Toast to Altered Art

Upcoming Technique Classes at Posh Scraps

2012-02-15T06:26:00.002-08:00

March 3 Distressing Techniques: working with a variety of products, we will be aging papers and tags, crumpling, sanding, tearing, inking, edging, stippling, masking, crackling, adding texture and more more more.
March 17 Mixed Backgrounds Techniques: we will be working on acrylics, glass, tissue and vellum with a variety of inks and stains to create some beautiful backgrounds for use on cards, layouts and other projects.

Each class is ten dollars and last approximately 2 hours. They are on a Sat. and start at ten am. You leave with complete, printed directions for each tag we create. To sign up, please call Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Florida at 727-784-2928. Hope to see you there!

Shoppe Around the Corner

2012-02-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

For the lovers of lovely and vintage and steampunk and tons and tons of pretties, this boutique is the cat's meow! I first learned about this shop from my friend, Kathy Nelson. We were suppose to go about two years ago but something came up and we didn't. Then, my Book Club buddy, Glo, suggested we go around Christmas time . Armed with our coupons, she, Sandi and I hit the store at a run after fortifying ourselves at Peggy O'Neals for lunch.

And I fell in love...I mean, what is not to love about all these goodies and more. And the best thing about Shoppe Around the Corner is the fact the profits go to support Meals on Wheels.
For those of you who do not live in the Palm Harbor, Fl area, there is an online shop as well. Check it all out here at Shoppe Around the Corner.
This place is pure eye candy and the stock changes with the seasons. I fell in love with all the lovely bunnies and Easter pretties and, they had gnomes!

I had to take Jo there today as I had been talking her ear off about the place almost since she had arrived...oh and the best news today...she and Bill are pretty well decided on 3 mo. next year instead of just too! Yahooo.

I am so inspired by this store and I may not sleep tonight for all the ideas running through my mind.

Hope your week is a lovely one!

WINNERS of the trash to treasures announced

2012-01-30T12:08:00.000-08:00

Give Away A: Janet LeBeau

Give Away B: Nancy Cokely

and for helping me make 100 followers: Kristen Kottwitz

Will all 3 of you please send me your home addresses to eeickmeier@hotmail.com? And thanks so much for having fun with me.

Trash to Treasures give aways

2012-01-28T12:32:00.001-08:00

A)above
B)below

I could not stand it a single moment more...I could not find anything. I had a drawer, a bin, two or even three little bins with slide out drawers and duplicates of everything. So, today, I caved in and actually cleaned, sorted and organized all the little stuff I just had to have, could not live without and absolutely NEEDED at the time.

After all this, I now have one drawer and two bins with slide out drawers and this is what is left. As I am one of those people who can not bear to get rid of things that others might use, if you will email me at eeickmeier@hotmail.com with your name by midnight Sunday, Jan. 29, I'll put your name in the hat for a drawing of either one of these. Please indicate A) or B) in your email and YES! I will pay postage but you have to take the WHOLE thing. FYI: there is a little plastic box in A)that is filled to the brim with buttons, charms, etc all sea themed).

Waiting to hear from you....

A Valentine gift to my grand daughter

2012-01-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

I am making a Treasures box for Leighton for Valentine's Day. Now, I know she won't use this for years and years but hopefully her mama will keep it for her. I have finished the lid (I think). I want to line the inside with velvet and a fiber paper and then fill it with vellum envelopes that I "watercolor" and label with such things as "Lock of Hair", "First Lost Tooth" (I have a delightful fairy charm for that one) and a larger one done in crushed patterned tissue labeled "Secrets". Some day, when I am long gone, perhaps she will open her box and think of her Nana.

I used Helmar's 405Quick Dry, the Fabric Adhesive and the Gemstone Glue. I know these hold and hold well. Can you tell I am a real Helmar fan?

2012-01-26T10:46:00.000-08:00

Leibster Blog Award

My blogging friend, Kim, gave me this wonderful award.

Please make sure to head on over to her blog and say hello!

This award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers, in the hopes that it will bring many new friends/followers.

Leibster is German and means 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'. The idea of the Leibster award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers. So, in the spirit of good fun I am passing this award on to five other bloggers. Please stop by and visit them.

The Rules are:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2. Reveal your five picks for the award and let them know.

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.

5. Finally and the best rule of all..........have fun and spread the love!

My favorites for this award are listed below in no particular order. Click on over to their sites and take a look and please leave them some love! <3

Lucy's Daughter

Parasols and Mary Janes

Gine's Scrap Room

Natasha, the Queen of Bling

and to my dear friend, Janet M who never knows where she will be.

Creating out of my comfort zone

2012-01-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

I have only made jewelry once before in my life and, according to a couple of my friends and one lady in a cab line at the Ballagio Hotel in Las Vegas, my necklace was a complete failure.

I think I did better on this one! My friend, Marcia, had several of us over for lunch and beading and I am so happy with my necklace. Jo did a great job as did everyone else. Glo made her friend, Precious, who is a school teacher, the most beautiful lanyard for her ID badge. Sandy's necklace was very vintagy!

For pictures of this most amazing adventure at Marcia's check out my daily blog www.postingfromparadise.blogspot.com

As always, thanks to those of you who read and follow my little blog. I am only 3 or 4 followers away from 100...something I NEVER thought I would ever come close to. Who knows...there may be fun things for the next few who help me get to 100. Just sayin'

Oh and I have a received a blog award that I'll try to post tomorrow and you may be getting one from me...watch and see!

Another pretty place to visit

2012-01-17T04:36:00.000-08:00

I have been a subscriber to Victoria Bliss magazine for eons. From the pages which are filled with lovely photographs, I get some wonderful ideas for layouts , tags and projects of my own. And, month after month, I have been wanting to check out one of the webs sites of a store listed in the back: Flights of Fancy.

I am issuing a warning here as well as being an enabler: do not enter the site without your credit card at your side. I need to win the Lottery NOW to get everything I want. Enjoy! I can't wait to get my ribbons, fabrics and trims.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Playing with pretties

2012-01-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

I have not been doing a lot of altered objects work since Christmas but have sure been doing a lot of scrapping. I've completed over 15 layouts just since the first of the year. All are not as elaborate as these two and some are more simple than even the 3rd. one of my son in law napping with his baby daughter.

I am not a chronological scrapper and have not been for several years. Lately, though I have been trying to fill in some gaps from several trips and catch up on the little guys' album. While I have been scrapping with some great new lines and products, thanks to Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Fl., I have also been trying to make a dent in my accumulated stash of papers, flowers, ribbons and trims and have been playing with combinations of old and new.

I am also making the first steps towards my grand daughter's treasures box so bear with me.

As always, thanks for looking.

Vintage Valentines

2012-01-12T05:16:00.000-08:00

Both my aunt Marion and my great aunt, Maime, saved post cards sent to them by friends and I inherited them. These are mostly from the 1950s and 60s but two are from 1912 and 1916. The embossed ones are my favorite.

If you see any you would like (I've used parts of the images for photo transfers and for embellishments) please help yourself.

I am working on a treasure box for my granddaughter, Leighton Kaye the next few days. I hope to have some samples of the box to post soon. Wish me luck. I'd like this to be special.

Love this sign

2012-01-08T14:03:00.000-08:00

and shouldn't we strive to make this place a prettier one in every way we can?

I've been sharing a computer with my honey for the past week or so as my beloved laptop, Vera, caught a nasty bug of the malware variety. It took an exorcism to rid dear Vera of this awful infestation but, thanks to my son, my laptop is humming along ever. I love that boy (um he turned 40 yesterday)

I think I am going to make that sign my creative mantra for this year. So, have a creative day and always remember to Please park pretty!

Tags and Techniques Workshops beginning at Posh Scraps

2011-12-27T10:41:00.000-08:00

I will be starting the Tags and Techniques classes once again at Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Fl. If you have not taken any of the ones offered last year or missed some, now is the time to call the store and book your spot. Each class is on a Sat. morning at ten and lasts a couple of hours.

Every couple of weeks, I will be teaching a new technique through the use of tags. We will create anywhere from 5 to 10 tags each with a different way of applying a technique. The directions for each tag are given to you and can be placed on that tag for a reminder.

The first class is Embossing both wet and dry techniques and the tags are shown above. This class is to be held on Jan. 21.
The second class is Faux and we will be 'watercoloring', creating tortoise shell affects, using color washes, dyes and inks. This class is Feb 11 at 10 am.

These classes are great for beginners or as a great refresher for those who are familiar with these techniques. Each class cost 10.00 and you can reserve your spot by calling Posh Scraps at 727-784-2928.

Other classes will include Distressing, Mixed Backgrounds (glass, acrylic, vellum and tissue), Glitz and Glam, To Dye For, Image Transfers, Leafing and Foils and a surprise class combining papers and fabrics. Watch this site or Posh Scraps for more dates and times.

Hope to see you there!

Another fantastic blog

2011-12-21T13:12:00.000-08:00

Not mine! lol but another...read on
I came across a blog while I was ambling through my visitors the other day. This one appeared on several of the others I was viewing. I was curious and so roamed by. It was the best journey I've started in a long time.

Cindy Adkins and her Whimsical Musings blog are a wonder. She offers a free seminar to bloggers who wish to make their blogs more interesting and more appealing. I have just finished the first part about having a button that others can put on their blogs and you theirs. I emailed Cindy, who designs these for a very small and quite reasonable fee and she created this one for me. What I love about my blog button the most is that she used part of my banner and, more so, because the part she used is my grandmother's childhood doll.

Thank you Cindy for helping me take that first step towards a more lovely blog. You can get your own button and take this seminar through her blog. Join me!

From our house to yours...

2011-12-20T15:07:00.000-08:00

The happiest of holidays!

Pretty Blog pick for this week.

2011-12-18T04:17:00.001-08:00

Oh, this one is lovely. You must spend a few minutes scrolling down and viewing Mina's amazing art work. Not only does she make pretty things but her blog is so wonderful and beautiful.

Be sure to say hi from me to Mina at Green Witch with Sprinkles.

Miniature Victorian Stockings Part II

2011-12-08T13:43:00.001-08:00

I made a total of 11 stocking and am leaving the two I like the least here at home. I think that next year, I will make just a very few large sized ones as gifts. I love lace and the fiber infused papers (got most of these at Owl and Pussycat Stamp Art in Ft. Myers, Florida) and thanks to Helmar adhesives, I am done for this year! (or maybe not!)

Miniature Victorian Stockings (the details)

2011-12-08T13:39:00.001-08:00

There were less than I had thought to make so these are the ones I am taking to Book Club tonight. Each has a chocolate mint candy cane inside ! Hope the gals like them.

Pretty Blog pick

2011-12-07T04:27:00.000-08:00

I came across this lovely blog via a couple of others. Faded Charm has the prettiest photos and lovely art so be sure to check it out.

Speaking of lovely blogs I have featured, Steam Tea Travels is doing a wonderful "journey" through Victorian England during the holidays. The owner of the blog was gracious enough to request that I post three of my recent projects on her site. I am honored as the work posted there is amazing. You can see it all here.

Miniature Victorian Stockings

2011-12-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to make something special for the gals in Book Club. Every year I think I will have time to create something and, every year, time gets away from me. Many of the women bring a little lovely for the rest at our December meeting and this is what I am bringing this year. I plan on filling them will some beautiful candies from a local candy shop.
These were easy to make with Helmar's adhesives which I have taken to using almost exclusively since I did a reveal with some of them at A Cherry on Top. These little stockings are no sew except for the hangers which only required a stitch or two. These three are made from specialty papers high in fiber content so I glued the two halves together with the fabric glue. I used the Liquid Glue dots and the Gemstone Glue to adhere beads and pearls and some of the flowers. The fabric glue also came in handy for the ribbons, lace and trims.

These would also make lovely gift card holders or for tucking silverware into for a fancy dinner party over the holidays. Each one took about 45 min. to make once I had the pattern drawn. Three down and nine to go...wish me luck!

What are you making this holiday season?

Tree topper V ictorian Angel

2011-11-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Posh Scraps and A Cherry on Top for carrying the Helmar Adhesives I used to create our tree topper: 450 Quick Dry, Fabric Glue, Gemstone Glue and, my all time favorite, Liquid Scrap Dots.

Thank you for looking and all comments are gratefully accepted and appreciated.

Baby Leighton Kay

2011-11-26T04:17:00.000-08:00

This first layout of Leighton Kaye was so hard for me to do. I am so used to doing little boy layouts, that I wasn't sure exactly where to start. I walked around Posh Scraps so many times hunting for the 'perfect' papers, etc, that I am sure I wore a path in the carpeting...and then, VOILA: Melissa Frances (the papers), Webster's Pages (the polka dot tulle) and Prima (that gorgeous flower) along with assorted ribbons and lace to the rescue.

I don't normally post my layouts on my altered art blog but, for my new granddaughter, I am making an exception.

As always, thank you for looking and all comments are so appreciated.

I do realize my new background has made reading the lists on the left hard to read and, as soon as my son comes back, I'll have him adjust that for me...til then, sorry!

Victorian tree ornaments

2011-11-17T04:08:00.000-08:00

These are incredibly easy to make

Featured Beautiful Blog

2011-11-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

Steam Tea Travels. I try to visit the blogs of the people who comment on mine or who visit here. This one was like going on a lovely vacation far far away from computer, phones, I Pads, I Pods, and what a lovely escape. The owner of this blog writes so beautifully, the decision to select her blog was a walk in the park...or a trip on a steamer ship! Be sure to check it out and tell her I sent you, with love!

And the upscale version

2011-11-12T04:42:00.000-08:00

Framed, blinged and ribboned for a b'day gift for a good friend who turns 60 today....Happy Birthday, Diane!

Tomorrow at Posh Scraps...

2011-11-11T07:19:00.001-08:00

We will be making these holiday pins from ten am-noon. If you have not signed up for the event, I believe there may be one or two openings left. Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor Florida .

Posh Scraps
3454 Tampa Road
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
Ph: (727) 784-2928

Decorated Gift Tubes

2011-11-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

ACOT sent some of us who volunteered these clear plastic gift tubes. This is what I did with mine.

The one on the far left is done with stick on bling and Prima butterflys blinged up with Stickles. The next one is the one I call the Bachelorette Party gift tube...now how cool to hand that to the bride to be at the party filled with rolled up one dollar bills? The third from the left is my Holiday Pretty. This could be nestled into a table arrangement or give to guests at a holiday party. And the last one (far right) I did with alcohol inks and Krylon.

These were such fun and to order these tubes go to ACOT

Coming Soon

2011-11-07T03:19:00.000-08:00

I have a couple of new things to post later today. And working on a plethora of Christmas goodies for Posh Scraps' upcoming Holiday Event on Nov 12.

New baby girl has us a bit distracted lately. And in a wonderfully nice way.

Coming soon to ACOT...

2011-10-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

This is part of my reveal for Oct. at A Cherry on Top. I am completely in love with Helmar products as most of you know. This is a new one for me...I used the Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid to stiffen the flowers I cut out of fabric and then raised the various parts with the Liquid Glue Dots. I have addicted more people to these glue dots and hope to enable many more with the stiffening liquid. Thinking this might make a great class but with a shadow box rather than a hat box...What do you think?

Halloween Redoux

2011-10-14T10:38:00.001-07:00

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Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I've created one or two things new for our house each year. This year it is the shadow box of the kids and our twin grandsons that I did for part of my upcoming A Cherry on Top reveal at the end of the month to demonstrate some of the great Helmar products that ACOT carries.

Every year, we put up our dancing ghosties in the front yard, hang our pumpkin lights in the front window and wait to hand out treats. E and I dress in dark clothes and sit on the porch out of sight. When the kids (only the bigger ones btw) come to trick or treat and start to ring the door bell, one of us in a deep voice, says, "Don't ring that bell!"

We are going to have to change our routine this year for a couple of reasons. One, we cut down the hedge that gave us cover and two, the bigger kids are on to us. Last year, we over heard one little girl say to her younger brother, "This is the house where the people yell really loud at you, so don't be afraid". Games up. So we are going to put on our thinking caps and come up with something new...any ideas?

I'll put up a couple more of my H'ween projects and some free vintage post cards I have inherited. Feel free to snag the post cards and use them.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

ACOT fall crop class with Britt : 6-2-1

2011-10-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

Between the two of us, we'll be teaching you six techniques with two projects in one class on Sat. Oct 15th. at 7pm EST at A Cherry on Top. Britt is doing a fantastic banner and I'll show you how to make these great Halloween necklaces. The same techniques can be applied to a variety of projects so don't miss it.

As always, thanks for looking.

Just another sneaky peek for my Oct. reveal at ACOT

2011-10-07T02:57:00.000-07:00

Fabric and paper meet and fall in love thanks to Hellmar's Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid and the tube of 3d Scrap Dots.

What a fun request from a friend

2011-09-29T05:26:00.000-07:00

a dear, sweet friend of mine asked if I could design a very simple Wedding invitation for....her dog and the dog she is to be bred with. The male's name is Bogart and the male's wants to have fun with this event. The "wedding" will have a Casablanca theme and I think it will be a blast. And, yes, I have been invited to attend!

I've designed shower invites, wedding announcements, save the date ones and birth announcements and now am proudly adding pet announcement cards to my resume! lol

Thanks dear friend for asking me to do this. It was fun fun fun!

Been playing with some new products from the ACOT shoppe

2011-09-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

and one of the products is Helmar's Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid. The little ghostie is made of plain bandaging gauze. The ghosties hold their shape so they work great for my H'ween cards.

To see what else can be done with this product and several others to meld fabric and paper, watch for my October reveal at A Cherry on Top.

As always, thanks for looking!

Gingersnap Creations Spicy Supply Challenge Crimpers

2011-09-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Today, we are asking you to break out a tool rather than a supply. As friendship brings us together, we figured a great idea would be to challenge you to use

CRIMPERS

in your art. This great tool can create some great effects and gives dimension and texture to your art. We can't wait to see how you use it in your art! No crimper on hand? Pleating paper by hand will be accepted as well.

For details on how to enter this challenge and perhaps become the next Guest Artist, please check out the challenge here

I used the crimper to create the flowers' leaves out of vellum. I want to thank Regina, the owner of Owl and Pussycat Stamp Store in Ft. Myers, Florida for showing me how these are done. Regina, you have been an inspiration to me and I oh so miss your Wed. demo days and your amazing classes!

My ACOT sneak peek for Oct..shssssh, don't tell anyone!

2011-09-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

so, are you interested? well, I'll let your know when my reveal goes 'live' at ACOT...paper and fabric meet and meld! Oh baby, baby!

Gingersnap Creations Challenge : Gal Pals

2011-09-09T04:11:00.000-07:00

GC117: Chestnut Theme Challenge - Gal Pals
In September, we are are celebrating International Women's Friendship Month so what better challenge theme than

When the challenge closes on October 2, 2011, we will pick 10 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge.

For your chance to be eligible as a Ginger Gem or as a Home Page Artist, just follow the simple guidelines below:

1) Make a paper crafting or mixed media creation using "Gal Pals" as your theme;
2) Post your creation to your blog or online gallery with a mention and link to this post; and
3) Come back to this post and leave a comment including a DIRECT link to your crhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifeation or use the linky application below. Remember to make it a link to the specific post or picture and not just a general link to your blog or gallery. We need to be able to find your art!

For more information on our challenges and directions on linking, please check out our FAQ page.

Also 10 Ginger Gems will be announced from the qualifying submissions on October 5, 2011. You have until October 2, 2011 to enter!

Check out all the wonderful projects that the Gingers have done for this challenge
here.

My ACOT second Aug reveal...

2011-08-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

While I keep my bigger sea shells that I have gathered over the years in a large bowel out on the lanai, I have wanted a special place to keep some beachy 'treasures' that are extra special to me (the shell I gathered the first time my honey and I went to the beach together, a float I bought my first visit, etc) some place special. These Creative Imagination papers, Beach Cottage, (IOD) were perfect for helping me to make a treasure box for my treasures out of a discarded cigar box.

I have posted a step by step on how to do this treasure box at A Cherry on Top right here.

As always, thank you so much for looking and all comments are appreciated!

Family 2011 (dimensional layout in a shadow box)

2011-08-23T05:17:00.000-07:00

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This is a Christmas present for the kids. It is a pretty safe bet they won't see it here so I am safe posting it. I used 12x12 canvas paper, gesso applied with an artist's spatula, Tim Holtz Stains, tiny glass bottles and hand dyed ribbon.

If you live in the Tampa area, I will be teaching this as a class in October
at Posh Scraps Date to be announced soon.

As always, thanks so very much for looking!

An Altered Life

2011-08-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

My sister, who is undergoing radiation and chemo for cancer, has started a blog. She felt it would be thereputic to do so and I agree. We have lost so many of our relatives and many friends as well to cancer. This is my sister, Janet's second round of this. Here is her blog...if you could stop off now and then and encourage her please it would be greatly appreciated.

http://daybydaywithcancer.blogspot.com/

Gingersnap Creations Challenge : Babes and Tots

2011-08-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Today, we ask you to celebrate the joys of childhood days. We want you to use
Babes and Tots as your inspiration! Take those great childhood moments and put them into your art!

Check it out on the Gingersnap blog.

This is the second piece for the canvas collage I am doing for my daughter!

Canvas tag for a collage

2011-07-27T13:01:00.001-07:00

(Click on the image for a closer photo showing more detail.)

I am doing a series of tags for a collage for my daughter focusing on the boys first vacation at the beach. All of these will be a 3 section canvas wall piece and will over lap to connect the 3 sections.

I learned to apply gesso with an artist's spatula from a dear and very talented watercolorist friend of mine. While I was a dismal failure as a water color artist, I picked up a lot of tricks and tips from her and using gesso under stains, paints and inks on canvas was one.

What I discovered today was that if I heat set the gesso to dry it, I get even more dimension and depth. Glad I tried this before I did the other tags! lol

Sneak Peek on some dimensional art

2011-07-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

Finished a project today...it had been too long since I had gotten my hands stained with gesso, inks, stains and mists. Here is a bit of the piece. Click on the photos to enlarge for detail work.

As always, thanks so much for looking. Will post the completed piece when I can.

Kindred Spirits Post Card Exchange

2011-07-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

I am in a post card exchange with several other women who are rediscovering the Lost Art of Writing. Each month, we create on post card to send to the person whose name is on the list for that month. Some have themed months and others do not. Our first month, July, goes to Judy C in Ga. We are an international group, but Jeanie lives "just up the street" from me so to speak, in the next state. Hope she likes it.

Gingersnap Creations: Sewless Envelope Tutorial

2011-06-21T04:35:00.000-07:00

I use to sew a lot when my kids were young but, over time, my interest shifted to other creative outlets. I still have retained my love of fabrics though and find new uses for them as often as I can. I am covering an album for our little grandsons with some lovely plaid and stripes I found and then I created this reusable envelop with absolutely no stitching whatsoever. Thank you June Tailor for creating the products that make this so easy.

For the entire tutorial, check here .

Some of the tage from the Image Transfer Workshop

2011-06-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

This was the morning class I taught at Posh Scraps last Sat. morning. This workshop and all the others will be repeating next fall. I will post here and Michele will post on the Posh Scraps blog when the workshops will begin. Thanks for looking

Technique Workshop at Posh Scraps: Foils and Leafing

2011-06-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

I will be teaching the last two workshops of the 8 part series this coming Sat. at Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Florida. These are just a few of the practice tags we will create with foils, loose leafing and alcohol inks. Everything is supplied and directions are included for each tag. Call the store for more details at 727-784-2928. Thanks for looking.

More goodies coming but until then...

2011-05-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

Technique Workshop sneak peek for this Sat. pm class

2011-05-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

Glitz and Glam Workshop at Posh Scraps: this class begins at 1pm May 21 and we will be working with Glimmer Mists, liquid inks, Krylons, Liquid Pearls, Lumieres both in the pot and the little squeeze bottles, beads and bling and oh so much more. Call the store for more information (727-784-2928). Hope to see you there!

Technique Workshop sneak peek for this Sat. morning

2011-05-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

This workshop, number 5 in the 8 part series, is entitled " To Dye For". We'll be using color dyes such as Glimmer Mists to hand dye (not mist)two types of canvas, Grunge board, paper tags, ribbons, tulle, cheese cloths, silk and linen fabrics. Come join us at ten am this coming Sat. morning at Posh Scraps. There are two spots left. Call to reserve your spot at Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Florida (727-784-29284)

Post Card Exchange

2011-05-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

Would the following people please contact me about this swap at eeickmeier@hotmail.com

Stamp Diva
Caroline
Anne

Thanks all. I don't use Outlook Express and that seems to be how all the "contact me at" works. Can't wait to hear from you! Jules

Twine Challenge at Gingersnap Creations

2011-05-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

This challenge was so much fun. I tore some strips of canvas, layered them over a gesso coated and painted 5x7 piece of canvas. I stamped the strips, misted, inked the whole thing and wove the pieces with twine. The flower was such a blast to create as well.

To see what my talented team mates created, click here.

THE POST CARD EXCHANGE IS FILLED. I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH THE ELEVEN WHO HAVE SIGNED UP AS SOON AS I HEAR BACK FROM EVERYONE ON THEIR ADDRESSES, MONTH AND THEME PREFERENCES, IF ANY.

Wanted: 11 kindred spirits to partake in a post card exchange

2011-05-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

I posted recently about the lost art of writing. Cursive is no longer being taught in many schools due to time constraints and the belief that 'handwriting' is unnecessary and perhaps archaic. I am sad.

As much as I enjoy emails, I LOVE getting handwritten mail. It seems the only time it comes now is Christmas.

I invite 11 of you who believe as I do and who also love to create to take part in a post card exchange. Each month you will create ONE post card (can even be a reproduction of a vintage one) and send it to the person who is to be honored that month. And so on...till all 12 of us receive 12 postcards during our one month of the year. The recipient can either pick a theme for us for her month or she can leave it up to our whimsy!

If you are interested, please contact me at eeickmeier@hotmail.com. We would not start until July at the earliest. Hoping to hear from YOU!

Cleaned out a closet

2011-05-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

and look what I found. I remember doing the project on the left at Owl and the Pussycat (amazing stamp art store in Ft. Myers, Fl)about six years ago. We stamped on tissue paper and used UTEE in several layers to cover. I learned so much from the owner, Reginia. And the other piece was one of my attempts to duplicate what I had learned in class. Just seeing these two pieces brought back such lovely memories...perhaps I need to clean out closets more often!

The lost art of writing...

2011-05-07T14:51:00.001-07:00

We have become a nation that picks up the phone, text messages, IMs, emails, chats via the web and Skypes. Inspired by great aunt and my aunt's post card collections that I inherited, I suggested to Pam Bennett with whom I shared a shift at A Cherry on Top's National Scrapbook Day weekend cyber crop, that for our Fast Scrap (a project to be finished in one hour) we challenge the members to design their own post card in the hopes they would send them to friends or family.

This is my post card. I printed a picture I took of the beach onto canvas and colored parts to emphasize the Kodakcrome color look of post cards of the 40s and 50s. I found a site that had hundreds of backs of postcards that could be printed out so I did and used colored pastel pencils to add a bit of pretty to the design.
I am sending my post card to a dear friend...will it be you?

EDITED to add link to post card backs

http://www.google.com/search?q=Backs+of+post+card+images&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=nJy&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uifATf_KJoS4tgeDo7XCBQ&ved=0CBoQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=581

Sneaky Pete look at my Sat. Technique Workshop

2011-04-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

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This Sat at Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor, Florida, I'll be teaching the fourth workshop in the Techniques series. This week, we will be stamping and inking on acrylics, vellum, glass and tissue paper. To join us, call 727-784-2928. We hope to see you there!

A Gathering of Gnomes

2011-04-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

This month's ACT group theme was gnomes and, while I have a few peeking out from behind plants in our garden, I lacked a single gnome image to help me with this theme. I put the call out to a group of wonderful women, The Gingersnaps, and they came through with sites and links and even stamped images from their own stash. I decided on this one of all I was sent (and MANY MANY thanks to all who came to my rescue). I backed the ATCS with a lovely light blue crepe paper by Melissa Frances for Vintage Attic. I cut the flowers from a ribbon and painted them with Prang Metallic Brush Pens and Tombow duel brushes. I printed the images out on canvas and painted them with Lyra Aquacolor crayons. Stickles for the beards and a touch of ribbon to form a "fence" for the grass and done! I used Helmar's Liquid Glue Dots to pop the gnomes . and their fabric glue for the ribbons and flowers.

This go out in the mail today and hope the girls in the ATC swap like them.

Tweety Jill now at Posh Scraps

2011-04-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

(click on the image to see a larger view)
I had such fun with this "Butterflies Nature's Wonders" stamp collection by Tweety Jill and am so glad Posh Scraps is carrying these. This is only my first attempt I admit but love how it turned out. I overstamped one of the butterflies (pure accident) but think it gives the sense of flight to that one. I touched them all with a tad bit of Stickles and used the flower ribbons also available from Posh to add more dimension to the tag.

First I used Tim Holtz' Stain to color the tag (of course, also available at Posh)and love how this stuff goes on...then I used 3 colors of chalk inks in shades of lavender, added the Stickles with a brush and voila!

HINT: you do not want to miss National Scrapbook Day at Posh Scraps if you live in the Tampa area or Florida for that matter. Call the store for details...727-784-2928. Tell Michele, Mary, Loui or Rhonda that Jules sent you!

Happy Easter Weekend!

Gingersnap Creations 99: Random Redhead Challenge...Fans

2011-04-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

This is my fan for the challenge. As I did not have anything Oriental, I decided to do my fan with a Victorian slant. After all, wasn't it the British who persuaded the Orient to open trade with the West?

I used Prima papers and flowers and hand drew the overlapping sections that form the fan. The shape of the fan is loosely based on the palm shaped church fans I remember from my childhood. Helmar Scrap Dots and the fabric adhesive...wonderful.

and here is the challenge from the Gingersnap Creations blog

for this Random Redhead Challenge! Use the image of a fan, a mini-fan or create a full-size fan - your choice. This simple and practical device yields fabulous opportunities for beautiful art.

When the challenge closes on May 15, 2011, we will pick 10 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge.

For the step by step directions to participate in this challenge, please go to the blog where you can also see the beautiful work done by my fellow design team members.

Thanks for looking!

I'm such a tease...

2011-04-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Just a snippet of my reveal for Gingersnaps that goes live on April 20th along with incredible art by my fellow DT members! Be sure to check out the blog every day for amazing word by some very talented women.

Bo Bunny and Kaiser Craft... such fun! (ACOT reveal)

2011-04-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

For my April reveal at A Cherry on Top, I worked with the Timepiece line by Bo Bunny. This paper line with all the beautiful embellishments made this tribute to my honey for making our house a home something I believe he will treasure. Shush...it is my 'card' to him for our upcoming 16th. Anniversary. To see more about this project and my other mini album done with the Clock album by Bo Bunny, check it out here.

As always, many thanks for looking!

My ACOT reveal sneak peek!

2011-04-06T05:12:00.000-07:00

My reveal goes live at A Cherry on Top next Wed., April 13th. This is just a teaser! I'm loving these two projects and hope you do too! The products are such fun.

ACOT April Altered Objects Challenge

2011-04-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

This month I selected envelopes (any size) as the altered challenge for A Cherry on Top. I challenged the membership to create an embellishment, a card or a mini album out of one or more envelopes. This is my sample for the challenge done with 3 business sized envelopes and the Gabrielle papers by Bo Bunny. The flaps on the envelopes become pocket pages on several of the facing pages.

These are a few of the pages of my mini album. To view the entire album, go here.

To see the other challenges by the design team for A Cherry on Top, click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for looking at some of the things that bring me joy!

Wearable Art thanks to Prima's Botanical line.

2011-03-31T07:16:00.000-07:00

This tee is one of my projects for my reveal at A Cherry on Top. For full directions on how make your own can be found here.

I can not take credit for the magnet/flower idea. One of the women who checked me out at Stein Mart last week had a beautiful flower attached to her sweater this way. How clever...and now I can launder my tee (inside out out and on gentle, of course, with it lined dried) with out worrying about the flower being destroyed or by putting a pin back on it and holes in my tee.

Thanks for looking and for visiting my altered blog.

Gingersnaps' Once in a Blue Moon challenge

2011-03-30T05:19:00.000-07:00

Every few months, we end up with 5 Wednesdays in a month! That's where the Once in a Blue Moon Challenge comes in. As this is not a frequent event, we try and make it a little different than the regular challenges and often send you back into our archives or out into the blogosphere for inspiration!

This time is no different! As we have now had over 100 challenges, we thought you might like to revisit some of your favorites. We challenge you to pick one.

I selected the Jewel tones and gold challenge. For a complete list of the challenges and how to enter plus see the amazing work done by the rest of the design team, check out Gingersnaps.

HOW TO:
1. clean the bottle in hot soapy water, rinse well and allow to completely dry.
2. using a tacky glue that dries clear (try Helmar's Premium Craft Glue) or a spray on adhesive, coat the bottle.
3. crumple tissue paper and spread over the glue. Use a bone folder or a small brayer to insure adherence. Use a bronze or gold Brilliance ink to 'glaze' the surface of the tissue. Heat set.
4. glue on the images (these are from Graphic 45 papers). I went over the edges with a gold Krylon ink pen (optional).
5. spray the bottle with a clear drying acrylic sealer. This allows the bottle to be lightly washed with a damp cloth when needed.
6. add beads or any other embellishments after the spray sealer dries.

And thanks for looking!

"Things with Wings"

2011-03-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

This was the theme for the ATC swap group to which I belong for the month of March. I overlaid vellum on patterned paper, punched the dragon fly out of metallic gold paper and then vellum. Using flat tipped tweezers and Brilliance inks, I applied the color to both the gold dragon flies and the vellum. After I layered the vellum on top of the gold, I added some glitter to the vellum wings and beads to form the bodies. Krylon edging finished these. I wanted them to be soft and pretty...hopefully I achieved that. Thanks, as always, for looking.

Gingersnaps MARDI GRAS

2011-03-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

One of the Gingersnap color events was Mardi Gras. This is my project for the blog. I printed a mask form onto canvas paper. I traced the image onto a piece of velum paper, and painted layers of purple (justice)and green(faith)in the Yasutomo Pearlescent Watercolors and edged the vellum with gold (power) Krylon inks. Between the canvas paper and the velum, I layered some purple mesh, added the lace and the bling. I sprayed the mask with an acrylic sealer to give it stability of the colors and flexibility. All that is left is to add the ribbons to tie.

To see what my fellow team mates at Gingersnaps did with this theme, check here.

Thank you for looking and Lessez les bon temps roluez!

Request

2011-02-28T04:20:00.000-08:00

Jan, thank you for the invite and please contact me at eeickmeier@hotmail.com so we can work out the details.

Bella Creations Feb. Muse Challenge

2011-02-18T06:19:00.000-08:00

Lacee Broyle gave us this image and challenged us to use it on a card, tag, etc. I printed the image onto vellum and flipped it over when it had dried. I used mat board as the base and sprayed it with an adhesive. I crumpled up some light green tissue paper and patted it into place. I covered this with some of the Webster's Pages sheer fabrics, made the flowers out of ribbon, lace and more of the gauzy fabric and called it done. For more on the challenge and others, check this out.

GC91: Random Redhead Challenge - Crowns

2011-02-17T04:01:00.000-08:00

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in your art! Be creative with this one and show us how many different ways you can include this iconic symbol of royalty in what you create!

When the challenge closes on March 13, 2011, we will pick 10 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge.

For your chance to be eligible as a Ginger Gem or as a Home Page Artist, just follow the simple guidelines below:

1) Make a paper crafting or mixed media creation using at least one crown in your art;

2) Post your creation to your blog or online gallery with a mention and link to this post; and

3) Come back to this post and leave a comment including a DIRECT link to your creation or use the linky application below. Remember to make it a link to the specific post or picture and not just a general link to your blog or gallery. We need to be able to find your art!

To see the art by my amazing co-designers and Gingersnaps' Guest artists, click here.

.ONE KIT ONLY LEFT

2011-02-16T03:42:00.000-08:00

Each kit comes with a child sized wooden hanger and three of the coated white wire doll dress hangers. There are templates for the 3 dresses, the pinafore and a boy's tee shirt and overalls. In fact, I included 2 sets of each template so you can use those to create more dresses and boy's togs for cards or layouts. The directions are step by step and include color photos. All papers and embellishments are included of course.

The reduced cost of each kit is 20.00 plus shipping. If interested, please contact me at eeickmeier@hotmail.com. Thanks. Those of you in the Tampa Fl. area can view the original at Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor and purchase these kits there saving shipping. These will go into the Crafter's Garage Sale here at my house on March 5.

Gingersnaps DT call

2011-02-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

check it out

All the info is here

It is finally home...

2011-02-13T06:55:00.001-08:00

About a year and a half ago, the editor of Somerset Home, requested my wooden Home Shrine for the upcoming spring issue of the magazine. And, while the piece did not make it into that issue, I was delighted, none the less, by the request. Yesterday, the Fed Ex man left a box for me and inside was my Home Shrine. Welcome home!

Each of the four panels are from a repurposed mini album by Genuinely Jane Studios. I covered these with crumpled tissue paper that I had 'aged' with inks and attached with a spray adhesive. The lace is vintage, the frames metal (and source unknown)that I also 'distressed' with a combination of alcohol inks and Krylon ink pens. The heart at the top and the two medallions on the top most frame are from pieces of vintage jewelery. The photos are free downloads from the internet and I used the iridescent water color paints by Yasutomo to highlight them.

Each panel has a tribute to home such as "Where the heart is", "a port in the storm" etc. Smiles that this has come back to the nest! Thanks for looking

Creative Therapy

2011-02-08T14:17:00.001-08:00

When I worry, I clean. Unfortunately, I don't worry enough or my house would be in the House Beautiful magazine or one of those How to Organize your Home mags. But, I've been on a cleaning/ reorganizing jag since our friend has been in harm's way with his health.

One of the things I set out to do was purge my work room. I started on one side and worked my way down drawer by drawer, shelf by shelf and have only finished about 1/3 of the room so far. In the process, I have also been finishing small things that I had left unfinished...and this wire dress form was one. I wanted something a bit "Carman Miranda" but with a touch of vintage. She is done and has joined her sisters perched on top of the shelves on what E believes to be "his side" of my work room!

Still cleaning and reorganizing...and two big boxes ready for the multi-gal crafty garage sale to be at my house.

Hope your day is scrap happy...and our friend is doing great!

Gingersnaps' Yahoo group challenges for Feb.

2011-02-02T03:32:00.000-08:00

This month the theme is royalty and Gingersnaps is doing it up right. The yahoo group has a sketch challenge, a technique challenge and a recipe challenge each month. This month, the recipe challenge was to use 1 sparkle, 1 crown and 1 red item. The tag is my example. To view the other challenges and to join the yahoo group, please click here

Gingersnaps Creations Coffee and Cream Challenge

2011-01-26T03:25:00.000-08:00

Use this simple but elegant combination as the basis for your own creation!

When the challenge closes on February 20, 2011, we will pick 10 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge.

For your chance to be eligible as a Ginger Gem or as a Home Page Artist, just follow the simple guidelines below:

1) Make a paper crafting or mixed media creation using coffee and cream (dark brown and ecru) as your main color palette;

2) Post your creation to your blog or online gallery with a mention and link to this post; and

3) Come back to this post and leave a comment including a DIRECT link to your creation or use the linky application below. Remember to make it a link to the specific post or picture and not just a general link to your blog or gallery. We need to be able to find your art!

For more information on our challenges and directions on linking, please check out our FAQ page.

One random winner and seven Ginger Gems will be announced from the qualifying submissions on February 22, 2011. You have until February 20, 2011 to enter!

Can't wait to see what you create!

Be sure to link to your post and not just to your blog.

To see the amazing work by my fellow designers, please go to the Gingersnaps blog.

Artist's Trading Cards (ACOT Jan. Reveal)

2011-01-19T03:32:00.001-08:00

My reveal for this month was about creating Artist Trading Cards with the hot new Art-C products available at ACOT. I had a blast designing these 2.5 x 3.5 cards. For the full article, click here.

Gingersnaps Challenge and two layouts

2011-01-17T05:49:00.000-08:00

I had such fun creating these roses from brown coffee filters. To see this challenge and the other creations by my fellow design team members, check out Gingersnaps Creations blog.

As I said on my main blog a bit over a week ago, I attended and taught at the Cause for Paws fund raiser crop held in Sebring Florida. I did six single page layouts and one double pager. I can not even remember the last time I did a double page layout but I had taken so many pictures of the market in Barcelona when we were there, that I could not decide which to use, so I used them all. I'll post that one at a later time. Meanwhile, here are two of my favorites...more the subject matter than the design. Look at those funny hats on my little men! and, while the professional photos the kids had taken did not turn out as well as they were expecting, I loved these of the boys in the coveralls!

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Thanks for looking!

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T05:52:00.000-08:00

On the first of each month, the designers at A Cherry on Top, post challenges to the membership on the site. I do an altered object challenge and focus each month on using something commonly found in the home to create something else...re-purposing.
This month, the object was paper plates. I used Tim Holtz flowers die and then sprayed the flower cut outs with Glimmer Mist. I love how soft the colors show up on the absorbent paper plate bottom and how crisp the petals remain. Layering is a snap with these.

To see the rest of the challenges, go to ACOT and on the home page use the pull down menu on the right top and click on contests and challenges.

Last Altered Project for 2010

2010-12-31T05:25:00.000-08:00

I made this little mini album while cropping at Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor Florida with some dear friends. I made the album for display for the store. One of my pals, Jackie, loved the little album so I surprised her with it for our gift exchange. It went to a wonderful home.

Happy Holidays to you all.

SP6 Gingersnaps Once in a Blue Moon challenges for Dec.

2010-12-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

SP6: Once in a Blue Moon: Ginspiration

With 5 Wednesdays in December, it's time for our Once in a Blue Moon Challenge again!

For this extra special challenge, we've asked the Gingers, our Design Team, to give you lots of options for this challenge! So get ready for some

Ginspiration

to get those creative juices bubbling! Each participating Ginger has picked out their very own challenge topic for you! You get to pick which one suits you!

When the challenge closes on January 25, 2011, we will pick 10 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge.

For your chance to be eligible as a Ginger Gem or as a Home Page Artist, just follow the simple guidelines below:

1) Make a paper crafting or mixed media creation using one of the Ginger's challenges as your theme or inspiration;

2) Post your creation to your blog or online gallery with a mention and link to this post. Don't forget to mention which of the challenges you are completing; and

3) Come back to this post and leave a comment including a DIRECT link to your creation or use the linky application below. Remember to make it a link to the specific post or picture and not just a general link to your blog or gallery. We need to be able to find your art!

For more information on our challenges and directions on linking, please check out our FAQ page.

One random winner and ten Ginger Gems will be announced from the qualifying submissions on January 27, 2011. You have until January 25, 2011 to enter!

Posh Scraps in Palm Harbor Holiday Open House

2010-12-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

Michele, owner of Posh Scraps has asked some of us to do some fun make n takes and here is mine. We'll stamp, emboss, paint, stipple chalk ink, glitter and flock all in about ten minutes flat for a cute Santa tag, book mark or even a card. I know the others have been creating some great things too...bundle up, come on out, get some holiday spirit and join us at 6pm-8. Oh, and did I mention that there are refreshments and 25% off your entire purchase!

Gingersnaps Challenge : Glitter

2010-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

GC82: Spicy Supply Challenge - Glitter
Welcome to another Spicy Supply Challenge! Our theme is month is the Great White North and we're celebrating winter and snow elements. So what better supply to challenge you with than...

When the challenge closes on January 9, 2011 we will pick 7 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge. In addition, we will pick one random winner, whose work will be featured on the Yahoo Group homepage and in the blog's sidebar.

For your chance to be eligible as a Ginger Gem or as a Home Page Artist, just follow the simple guidelines below:

1) Make a paper crafting or mixed media creation using white glitter;

2) Post your creation to your blog or online gallery with a mention and link to this post; and
3) Come back to this post and post your creation or use the linky application below. Remember to make it a link to the specific post or picture and not just a general link to your blog or gallery. We need to be able to find your art!

For more information on our challenges and directions on linking, please check out our FAQ page.

One random winner and seven Ginger Gems will be announced from the qualifying submissions on January 11, 2011. You have until January 9, 2011 to enter!

Barcleona part of Cruise album almost done

2010-11-26T05:53:00.000-08:00

I've been working diligently on our cruise album while the wonderful memories are fresh in my mind. The first one is my favorite of the 3 I put the finishing touches on this morning before I head out to the Posh Scraps Black Friday crop. This is my oldest friend...we've known each other since we were 14. This whole idea for going on a curise together with our husbands started over our dinner table way last January and by June 6, there we were having tapas together in Barcelona! We did it Jo! and most of the planning was done by Jo who even flew down here for four days to confirm all our side trips. What a friend.

Thanks for looking. I usually put my layouts on my other blog but it pretty full of our grandsons' first Thanksgiving!

Gingersnaps Creations tutorial: stamping and stitching

2010-11-23T12:46:00.000-08:00

For the complete step by step directions on making this canvas stamped and easy stitched holiday tag or bookmark, check out Gingersnaps Creations blog.

Many thanks for looking!

Gingersnaps Creations Random Redhead Challenge 79

2010-11-18T06:55:00.000-08:00

GC79: Random Redhead Challenge - Stitching

As we continue our love affair with all things fashion and fabric, we know that you will all have this latest challenge all sewn up! For this month's Random Redhead Challenge, we are daring you to incorporate

in your creation! You can use real stitching, faux stitching or stamped stitching! What about some lovely needlework details? As long as it's stitched, it's perfect for this challenge!

When the challenge closes on December 12, 2010, we will pick 7 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge.

For your chance to be eligible as a Ginger Gem or as a Home Page Artist, just follow the simple guidelines below:

1) Make a paper crafting or mixed media creation using some form of stitching in your creation;

2) Post your creation to your blog or online gallery with a mention and link to this post; and

3) Come back to this post and leave a comment including a DIRECT link to your creation or use the linky application below. Remember to make it a link to the specific post or picture and not just a general link to your blog or gallery. We need to be able to find your art!

For more information on our challenges and directions on linking, please check out our FAQ page.

One random winner and seven Ginger Gems will be announced from the qualifying submissions on December 14, 2010. You have until December 12, 2010 to enter

Please check out the other lovely samples from some of the other members of the design team here.

I have a few of my hand dyed totes and banners for sale on my other blog,
Posting from Paradise. I am doing a trial run to see if I am to open an Etsy shop or not. Any input is appreciated!

My class for ACOT's Nov. crop

2010-11-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

This is the vintage NOEL banner I taught at the crop. I can't wait til I can hang this in my window or over the mirror in the dining room!
The crop has ended :( but you still have until Tues to complete any or all of the challenges. The fast scraps are closed but you can find the challenges here.

The first and last banner have a wreath made of Maya Rose ribbons and some bling.

Thanks for looking!

Gingersnaps Haute Couture Challenge (GC77)

2010-11-04T05:25:00.001-07:00

We are all about style and fashion this month on Gingersnap Creations! So let's dress up some fabulous creations Haute Couture.

Here is the challenge:

Bring fashion to the forefront with an amazing creation and wow us with your art in our own "Project Runway" assignment.

When the challenge closes on November 28, 2010, we will pick 7 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge.

For your chance to be eligible as a Ginger Gem or as a Home Page Artist, just follow the simple guidelines below:

1) Make a paper crafting or mixed media creation using Haute Couture (fashion) as your theme or inspiration;

2) Post your creation to your blog or online gallery with a mention and link to this post; and

3) Come back to this post and leave a comment including a DIRECT link to your creation or use the linky application below. Remember to make it a link to the specific post or picture and not just a general link to your blog or gallery. We need to be able to find your art!

For more information on our challenges and directions on linking, please check out our FAQ page.

One random winner and seven Ginger Gems will be announced from the qualifying submissions on November 30, 2010. You have until November 28, 2010 to enter!

Our design team has put together some stylish samples!Gingersnaps Blog

Check it out to see what the other tres chic and multi talented team mates of mine did for this challenge and come play!

A CHERRY ON TOP altered objects challenge for Nov

2010-11-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

This month, I challenged the gals at ACOT (and please feel free to join in...the more the merrier!)to raid their medicine chests and use something they found to creat an embellishment for either a layout, card or altered object.

For my sample, I selected a gauze pad.

I ran the four ply pad through my Cutterbug w/o removing the packaging ( I did it removing it from the packaging and found that the fibers got caught up in the die)using T. Holtz Grungy flowers die.

I used Glimmer Mist and other dyes to color the gauze and created layered flowers for two layouts.

Show me what you find to create with in your medicine cabinet!

Working on some new stuff...I promise

2010-11-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

I have a tutorial coming up this month at Gingersnaps Creations on hand dying canvas with Glimmer Mist and a class at this month's cyber crop at ACOT on how to make a vintage NOEL banner and a couple of surprises inbetweenb (like some of the projects I am doing for Posh Scraps here in Tampa for the store's Christmas Extravaganza) so don't stop checking this spot, please! and many thanks to those who do!

Gingersnaps Color Challenge

2010-10-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

GC76: Color Challenge - Pumpkin, Eggplant & Avocado
Welcome to another Gingersnaps Color Challenge! We are enjoying the glorious colors of the Fall leaves here in New England, so we picked some rich seasonal colors for today's challenge:

Pumpkin, Eggplant & Avocado

To get full details on how to participate in the challenge and see the amazing work of my fellow design team mates, go to this link...

http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com

Hope you have a colorful day!

Casket for the Creep Over Crop at Hilltop Memories

2010-10-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the weekend crop in Sarasota. And it was tons of fun catching up with old friends. Linda, the owner of the company that puts on the crops along with her gal pals, Elle and Kathy did a wonderful job.

A week before the crop, Linda sent us each a little wooden casket and told us to decorate it for a contest. I had tons of fun with this and everyone did an incredible job.

There was a 3 way tie and the winners entries were nothing less than spectacular! or should I say SPOOKTACULAR? LOL To see these amazing creations, go to Linda's blog . I now have a new addition to my altered H'ween creations...thanks Ms Linda!

More Felt Flowers (canvas and Webster's new netting)

2010-10-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

I took the opportunity at HIlltop Memories Creep Over Crop that I attended this past weekend to catch up on some things with which I had been wanting to play some more. One of these was wool felt. My intention was to improve my felting technique as I had bought a couple of the tools that help but inadvertently had purchased the wrong ized needles. So, I tried some other things. Using my Cuttlebug, my Tim HOltz grungy vintage flowers die and a couple of other flower dies I had, I cut the felt and then wet some of it to shape, left other pieces dry and dyed the white ones a shade of blue lighter than the felt color and stamped on some canvas ones I had cut out as well. I topped some with the wonderful new new netting by Webster's Pages (hint: I placed the netting between two sheets of thin paper when I ran then through the cutter with the dies). A couple of these have been on my blog but I added some to them.

Thanks so much for looking!
(I'll put up my casket soon that I made for the crop. It is on my laptop whose battery is about to die...left my cord at the crop and it is on its way home thanks to Linda, the owner of Hilltop Memories).

Masque Macabre

2010-10-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Every Halloween, I try to create something new to add to my spooky collection. One year, I made a haunted house (on this blog somewhere), another year it was a torso Witchy Woman, and still another a tribute to Poe in the form of a cigar box raven, "Nevermore" and this year, I created a mask that I would imagine could be worn to a masque macabre or for a story telling of an Edgar Allen Poe tale.

The mask was a black plastic full face mask when I started. I combined Lumiere paints and alcohol inks by Ranger with some of the blending solution also by Ranger and painted the colors over the black plastic. The rest came from my stash of bling, flowers and ribbons.

I also created a casket this year thanks to Linda, owner of Hilltop Memories. She sent each of us attending the Creep Over Crop, a small wooden casket and we were to decorate it for a contest. This was fun and I'll put it up after the contest ends.

Have a Spooky Day!

Knee deep in fun stuff

2010-10-18T13:13:00.001-07:00

I've got some fun things to post soon: my casket for Creep Over (Hilltop Memories)Scrap Retreat this coming weekend, my version of Gingersnaps Color Challenge, and a Halloween mask I am working on...but can't post a single thing right now!
But soon, my pretties and your little dogs too! ...love that line from Dorothy and the wicked witch( much abused that witchy woman, me thinks).

I've been wearing my pin proudly lately, " If the broomstick fits, ride it Baby!"...lol.

So stay tuned...BOO!

Free Vintage Halloween Post Cards

2010-10-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

I inherited a slew of lovely post cards from my great aunt and my aunt. I share these as often as I can because I believe these are meant to be loved and appreciated, not sold. Help yourself! I have more to post at Christmas and Valentines and one or two for Turkey Day...both my great aunt's collection (dating from the late 1890s) and my aunt's (1940s-70s) are a delight. Enjoy!

Gingersnaps Creations Chestnut Theme Challenge: Gothic Elements

2010-10-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is my first reveal as a member of the Gingersnaps Design Team and I did a back lit,haunted house incorporating the gate and scroll photo display, Webster's Pages wonderful new netting (the black patterned one) and the haunted house from a paper by My Mind's Eye. I distressed and aged the photo display with Ranger's alcohol inks and crumpled tissue to add depth to the back of the display under the netting. It was a fun challenge and you can share it with us...here is the challenge and how to from Gingersnaps.

Create something dark perhaps supernatural with an atmosphere of mystery, darkness, oppressiveness, fear, or doom. Basically, if you take a normal scene, put it in a dark and gloomy palette, and then add something rather disturbingly amiss, you will have a great gothic scene. With Halloween around the corner, this may get you right in the mood! It definitely got us into the spirit!

When the challenge closes on October 31, 2010, we will pick 7 Ginger Gems - fabulous creations that we feel really exemplify that challenge's objective. The Ginger Gems will appear in our wrap-up post and in a slide show in the blog bar for an entire week and their creators will have the honor of displaying our Ginger Gems blog badge.

For your chance to be eligible as a Ginger Gem or as a Home Page Artist, just follow the simple guidelines below:

1) Make a paper crafting or mixed media creation using Gothic Elements as your theme or inspiration;

2) Post your creation to your blog or online gallery with a mention and link to this post; and

3) Come back to this post and leave a comment including a DIRECT link to your creation or use the linky application below. Remember to make it a link to the specific post or picture and not just a general link to your blog or gallery. We need to be able to find your art!

For more information on our challenges and directions on linking, please check out our FAQ page.

One random winner and seven Ginger Gems will be announced from the qualifying submissions on November 2, 2010. You have until October 31, 2010 to enter!

http://www.gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow I'll put up the Grateful mini album I created for A Cherry on Top for my reveal which went live on the site this past Tues. So watch this spot! and thanks.

Very excited

2010-09-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

to announce that I've been asked to join the Gingersnaps Creations Design Team along with the other talented members. This is such an honor. I was the Guest Dt for two months but never dreamed of being a full time designer for this blog. Thank you Sharon and Ali and what a delight and honor.

http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/

and I have one other bit of news to share in a day or two. So bookmark Gingersnaps as the ladies here both members and Dt are amazingly talented and inspiring!

SIGH!

Life is too short...

2010-09-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

I used Crate Paper's Restoration Collection for the papers, the Maya Road banner from CHA and Maya Road ribbons to make this layout along with Helmar's Liquid Scrap Dots to add dimension to the layers of flowers that make up the border.

Thanks for looking. (this is my pal, Janet Miller and I at the Columbia Restaurant in St. Pete Florida and the drink of the day is the house specialty, Sangria).

Vintage banner with Maya rose canvas and ribbons

2010-09-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

I've had this banner since CHA (thanks Maya Road) and had been wanting to play with it since then. Posh Scraps, in Palm Harbor, just got all the new ribbons in and I was off and running! I dyed the banners with Glimmer Mist, attached everything with Fabri Tacand printed the vintage lovely ladies onto canvas paper then used Perfect Pearls in pink to high light their drapes and the flowers.

Thanks for looking!

Thanks for looking!

ACOT: Altered Objects Challenge for Sept

2010-09-01T03:45:00.000-07:00

Every month, the CT members at A Cherry on Top, issue challenges for the membership. I do an altered challenge that centers around using objects most people would find around their house. In the past year, I have challenged members to use such things as coffee filters, empty boxes, ribbon, the cellophane packaging off embellishments, etc.

The challenge for this month is to open the tool box or odds and ends container for a tool box and use at least one of the items on a card, a layout or as an embellishment on either of them. I used a hinge and a rubber washer on this card.