Once in a Blue Moon: Gingersnaps last challenge for March

I have had such fun being the Visiting Artist at Gingersnaps Creations and have met some of the most talented and fun ladies. I feel that I have spread my wings a bit and ventured out of my safety zone all thanks to the challenges at this site. I can't wait to see what these gals come up with next!

Since this month had five Wed., Gingersnaps' issued a 5th. challenge calling it Once in a Blue Moon. For this challenge, we were to take one of the many wonderful tutorials given by the design team and make our own project from it. I chose Shar's tutorial on photo transfers and made this gypsy girl tag.

My altered object challenge goes live at A Cherry on Top tomorrow so I'll have to wait to show you that one. But here is a hint: I am working on one in several colors! lol.

And all the trimmings...

Today was play day here in Paradise. If I don't take a day every now and then and try something new or do something I've been inspired to try...well, you know what they say about all work and no play. This is one reason I have enjoyed being the Visiting Artist at Gingersnaps Creations so much this month...it has been inspired play.

Today I was inspired by an article I read in the April/May/June issue of Somerset Life by Kelsie Maree Borland about a artist named Louise Wheeler. Louise created the most beautiful travel box and named it The Country Empress". She used an old cigar boxand you simply must see it to believe how lovely and creative it is.

I wanted to find a way to make my trimmings more portable and certainly more lovely than the zip lock plastic bags I had them sorted into.



And, of course, nothing would do but to tie the accordion trimmings holder shut with the oh so pretty French dyed ribbon I got a week or so ago at the quilting shop in Dunedin called Rainbow's End.

I created a faux textured marble background on one side and used gold tissue paper crumpled and distressed on the other. The pockets front and back are actually a darker pink and I am not sure why they show up as white. Oh well.




While the accordion album is make of heavy duty card stock, I treated it so it would be durable yet flexible. The pockets are for remnants too short to wrap around the 8inch tall album.

How often do you have a play day and what was the last thing you made?

Gingersnaps' Wed. challenge: Growth

Here is mine; show me yours, please!


GC48: Random Redhead Challenge - Growth
We are drawing to the end of our birthday month here on Gingersnaps and have been reflecting on how much we have grown in the past year. Plus, in many parts of the world signs of Spring are popping up everywhere, so we figured that

GROWTH

would be very apt for this month's Random Redhead Challenge. Your piece could be inspired by Spring and new growth, personal growth or growth in your family. We know you'll come up with dozens of fun and creative ideas!

Gingersnaps Color Challenge: Ginger, copper or rust

Straight from the Gingersnaps blog: GC47: Color Challenge - Copper, Ginger or Rust
As this particular color challenge was our first ever challenge on the blog, we decided to make it a yearly event! Welcome to our 2nd annual

Copper, Ginger or Rust

Color Challenge! We hope these colors will bring out the Gingersnapper in you!

Be sure to check out the fabulous DT at Gingersnaps did for this challenge!

Recovery time

I've been down and out with that horrible bug everyone has has lately. Until today, the most creative I have felt is which drug (all legal btw) to take in what order and how long would I sleep and on what side so I could breathe. Today, after once again soaking in the steam of the hot tub, I emerged feeling much better and spent the day alternating between basking in our lovely Florida spring weather and trying out Shar's photo transfer technique she posted on Gingersnaps blog earlier this week.

I use to think that if I created something, it had to serve some purpose. I was raised by two parents who grew up during the Depression and WWII where frivolity was not an option. If I made a journal, I felt compelled to write in it; if I made cards, they had to be for someone or some specific occasion. I have been moving away from purpose driven creations. Today, I played for play's sake and am going to be happy for the effort!

Details of my "Frostings"

Since blogger will only allow me to upload 5 photos per post so the lady on the far left on the card with wings was omitted from this posting. I painted her with pearlescent watercolor and painted Platinum Stickles (one of my favorite colors) on her wings.

I mounted the canvas onto glossy black card stock and tied a sheer black ribbon into a bow at the top to finish off the snazzy (I hope) look of the card.

As always, thanks for looking.

Gingersnaps Creations Frosting Challenge

Here is the challenge:

We challenge you to frost your creations with anything that takes your fancy. It could be glitter, flower soft or flocking; beads, pearls or rhinestones; Stickles, crackle paint or Diamond Glaze. We have such incredibly talented readers that I know you'll come up with some fabulous projects!(quoted from Gingersnaps blog)

I stamped onto a piece of Carson Canva-Paper with this wonderful stamp by Lost Coast Designs. I lightly painted the paper with gesso to give it more texture. After the ink dried from the stamping, I colored in the dress forms with pastel pencils, metallic markers and pearlescent watercolors. When those had dried, I added more 'frosting' with tiny pearls, self adhesive bling and painted on Stickles.

I'll put some detail pictures up tomorrow.

The challenge is up at http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/ so head on over and give it a shot! Thank you for looking.

Perfect Pairing: G45 papers and Wendy's Studio 490 stamps

When Janet and I were at Stamp Fest, one of the lines of stamps that grabbed our attention (and our wallets) were those of Wendy Veah's Studio 490 for Stampers Anonymous. Janet bought one set and I bought another (and am sure I'll be adding to my collection with still another set or two). I used a background stamp from Janet's to give the piece a sand texture and then stamped the bottle on acrylic. I cut the elements from the new G45 On the Boardwalk collection to finish the hanging piece. Thanks for looking. Janet's is on her blog at http://stellaruby.typepad.com/ (Never Knowing Where I'll Be).

Celebration Time at Gingersnaps Creations

Gingersnaps is celebrating its one year birthday this month. And, I created this party invite in keeping with this weeks challenge theme of celebration. I used a new stamp I just had to buy at Stamp Fest by Stampers Anonymous and stamped it twice on vellum. I used Rose Madder and Chrome Yellow inks by Nick Bantock (love love love his inks)on the tags. The word letters are from Quietfire.

Gingersnaps issues a new challenge every Wed. so check it out and watch this spot every Wed. for the month of March to see what I can come up with. These women are amazing artists and I feel so honored this month.

Happy First Birthday Gingersnaps and here is to many many more.

So excited and honored

I am the Visiting Artist at Gingersnaps Creations for the month of March. My first challenge piece will be up Wednesday, March 3 so watch this spot! and check out the blog...amazing challenges every Wed. and a great group of talented ladies too!