Tags and Techniques Workshops beginning at Posh Scraps

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

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...

The happiest of holidays!

Pretty Blog pick for this week.

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

These are incredibly easy to make

Featured Beautiful Blog

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

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

Tomorrow at Posh Scraps...

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

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

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...

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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...

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)

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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

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

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

(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

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.