denise's little birdie studio

Hello friends

2008-09-06T08:54:00.004-04:00

Here I am!

I’m recovering from surgery... with week three down. The first two weeks were the toughest. Now I can drive and am comfortable moving around. And I only have a few weeks left before I go back to work full-time.

During my early recovery time I went back to some old favorites and challenged myself with some new.

I stamped thank you cards … I also celebrated my BIG 50 during this recovery time.

I have doodled Zentangles with a twist after finding inspiration in Mandala Zentangle – a cross between Zentangles and Mandalas, and created some of my own. Check it out on You Tube or at Millande.

I also created some beautiful macro photography art images to create other cards with some tweaking in Photoshop. I’m just diving into (Photoshop) and find exciting. I pickup Somerset’s new magazine digital studio™ and finding it full of inspiration.

I’m searching for something… maybe this is it? Maybe, just maybe, digital art is the new art media I looking for!?! Is my muse trying to tell me something? I think I will follow this muse for awhile to see where it leads. Stay tuned.

It new meantime here are some of my recover creations. Hope you enjoy them.

Something old – Stamped cards - I used new stamps from my sister Kim for my birthday

Something new – Macro Photography Art Images - I used flowers sent to me after surgery and for the BIG 50 - one I made into a sympathy card

Something old with a twist of new – Mandala Zentangle - I used pens, markers, colored pencils and watercolor pencils

Deco Pages

2008-06-27T06:48:00.003-04:00

Two more deco pages.

Two more decos...

2008-06-22T08:28:00.001-04:00

I started the deco above- front and back pages - on photoshop. Added some stamping and a bird velum overlay.

Again I started these in photoshop and added ribbon and old photos to complete them.

More Deco's

2008-06-10T06:33:00.003-04:00

Hi all. I received three deco books in the past weeks from groups I belong to. Funny how they seem to come in groups. Here are the scans of my creations ...they are off to the mail tomorrow, hopefully. I'm going to the Tom Petty concert tonight (YIPPEE!!) and I'm not sure how much energy I'll have tomorrow. I was spoiled with VIP tickets by my sweetie! I'm so lucky!!

This is a deco I just completed. The image is one I created in Photoshop.

Here's another deco. This one's a tag book and I had the pleasure of completing the last page.

And yes still another Deco page for a friends book. The background page is a finger painting page that my grandson Ethan did and I scanned. I love kids art it's so cool!

Here's Ethan's art page scan before I altered it.

Hope you enjoyed my latest additions!

It's been a while since I posted

2008-05-16T19:30:00.001-04:00

Even though I haven't posted I have managed to squeeze in some art it the past month. Most of my art projects have been friends deco books, a few little beauties swaps and greeting cards for family and friends.

In addition to that I have been very busy creating my hair clips for local boutiques. I have add on three shops in the month of May alone. So I have to fill the orders for Spring/Summer and get them in before I miss out on the summer shoppers. Once I get over the big rush I can work at a easier pace creating next seasons.

Anyway, the images below show some of my current projects. If you look closely you may even see some of your art.. little beauties, backgrounds and inches used in my projects. Thanks for stopping in!

Decos

Greeting Cards
- birthday card

- birthday & father's day (work in progress) cards
- Mother's Day card
- birthday card
Little Beauties

Love Squared

2008-04-06T08:16:00.005-04:00

I have been lucky to participate in the Pink Artist Doll, an efforts against breast cancer. I like so many have lost family and friends to various types of cancer. So this effort has special meaning to me.

Monica Magness has finished creating the art doll out of the squares created by 182 artists. Isn’t that fantastic! The Pin Artist Doll was unveiled Tuesday, April 1, 2002. Monica’s husband, Jeff Magness, photographed the doll for us (pink artists) to share with you. My 2”x2” square is just a small contribution in comparison to the great effort that Monica put into this project

Here she is!
And to quote Monica because her words are so fitting:
“Her name is Love Squared." She smiles because already she knows love and is able to give love unconditionally. To many, she is a symbol of hope. She stands for COURAGE and was built by a community of givers. "

I would like to dedicate my contribution in this project to the special women in my life. My two beautiful and loving daughters of whom I could not be prouder, my sister Kim and friend Janet who are always just a call or email away, and my Mother who taught me to sew. And to end with, Shirley and Grandma, who we lost battling cancer and who, I believe look down on me from the heavens

Love you guys.

I hope you follow along as the remaining chapters of the doll unfold. She'll premier in Art Doll Quarterly™ and head off to eBay for actions. The proceeds will go towards the fight against breast cancer. To see to lean more about the making of Love Squared." and to see more photos visit girls gone thread wild.

New Blog Page Image

2008-04-05T19:05:00.000-04:00

I was messing around today and decided it was time for a new blog page image and this is what I came up with. I think it's a nice change.

I signed up for another set of little beauties on Creative Card Swap this time the theme is underwater. Little beauties are quick little "art starters". I have found them useful for greeting cards, ATC's, and different mixed media projects. Guess I'm hooked on them.

Here's the latest set of 10:

Double Deuce Dare!

2008-03-30T07:40:00.004-04:00

I signed up for an art challenge "Double Deuce Dare" where you receive a package in the mail full of art goodies. Now you have to create something using the items and send it of to a partner in the swap. when my package arrived it was full of images, tiles spelling home, a gold window frame, CD tin and several other goodies.
I decide to create a house with and accordion fold book inside. This is what I came up with...
it was a challenge to use what someone else gives you. I'm so use to just winging it and grabbing what inspires me at the moment from my stash. This was a good experience for me!
I was enlisted by my Mom to make a greeting card for her friends 90th birthday. When I asked Mom what she like she said "she like birds" Right up my alley. Here's what I came up with - Mom was thrilled (one of my best fans)

I also made a second Image Challenge card - below - because I mail the first one to the wrong person. I need to slow down!

decos and image challenge

2008-03-26T19:54:00.008-04:00

These are pages I made for three different deco round robins.

Shattered glass image

This is a card I made from an image challenge. The image came from Adrienne. She shared some awesome photos she took. I made a blank note card using the door image and a photo of a little girl I've been itching to use. I sprinkled her dress with fairy dust and added a little to the vines. The quote under the photo "from small beginnings come great things".

I am having problems with my scanner and the color so sorry colors are off a bit. Hope you enjoyed them.

Art Deco pages

2008-03-17T06:51:00.004-04:00

These are the front and back pages I made for an art deco book. The leaf print in the background was from a "little beauties - leaf" swap that Susie made. It was the perfect addition.

It Snowed - I played

2008-03-02T07:05:00.008-05:00

It snowed overnight Friday so after cleaning the house I decide to create. I read about Gesso textured backgrounds on Trish B's site, you'll always find something interesting there. Anyway, I decided to give it a whirl. So following her easy-peasy instructions I went to work, or should I say play!

I gesso'd one 8x10 sheet and when dry cut it in half. Painted one black the other green. When they dried I cut them in half so I now have quarter sheets. Using acrylic paints I topped the black with silver, the second black sheet with bronze, a green sheet with bronze and the final green sheet with gold.

They are fabulous...thanks Trish. I will make these again.

I also signed up for another little beauties swap. this time the theme is MEN. So I started making them over the weekend. I used some of the background paper above when making a few. I thought I could go with Masculine as the theme but I was wrong there must be a man someplace on the little beauty. So, I'll need to either alter most or make some new ones because only three have men. No biggie because these will make great card starters.

Easter's right around the corner and I have 4 grandsons to make cards for not to mention a few others I send them to. So I decide to get cracking. I found some cute ideas in a craft magazine and created diecuts and started on them. Here's one style. That's it so far.

I've been tagged - 2nd time

2008-02-26T12:29:00.012-05:00

I've been tagged again. This time by my new friend Charlie at here’s the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My seven:
1. I had a little pony name Flame when I was a girl and loved to ride her bareback in the fields near our home. She was very spirited and would some time throw me off – woo hoo!
2. Although my studio is called little birdie studio my favorite animal is cats. Kitties do love birdies too! he he
3. I'm going to turn the big 50 this year... and saying it doesn't make it any easier. Hum, so they lied to me and now the cat is out of the bag!
4. My favorite color is red but I find a color that I get hooked on for periods of time. Right now it's light green. Don't worry red you are always my favorite.
5. I'm a wise guy, even at the office. But can you believe I was shy in school? Yup! EEEK
6. I discovered I really don't like the snow! Where is the warm weather? Hum?
7. When I was a girl my mom would take care of an elderly woman on our street and I would go with her sometimes. This wonderful lady became my “Nana”. I loved to visit with her. She was a worldly lady, an artist and flower gardener extraordinaire. Her stories stayed with me and her art, which she continued even when her eyesight was failing, made her special. She touched my life she became one of the most inspirational people I’ve met and my mentor. Thanks Nana!
Okay, so that's it!

Now for the fun part of tagging others.
1 Vicki belongs to one of my art groups. Currently we are going Deco books as a round robin. So when I checked out her blog and found such pretty pages she made I was thrilled. I instantly added her to my blog site.
2 girl-gone-thread-wild this site belongs to Monica Magness. She should be an inspiration to all of us! This wonderful lady took on the challenge of collecting 2x2 art squares to make an art doll that will be auctioned for breast cancer. Please visit this site and see all the wonderful work.
3 Funky Cat Studio is another talented new friend.

I have worked with the next 4 artists for a while now on I believe three yahoo groups.
I always find their art inspirational and creative. I visit their blogs often and you should too. Here they are:

4 Chrissy's Creations
5 Maggi's blog
6 Autumn Light Designs
7 Kathy "Sweetpea" Beringer

Now I'm off to their blogs to let them all they've been tagged.

Acrylic (ink) Blot Background Paper

2008-02-25T06:58:00.002-05:00

Blue - green - sliver acrylic with green watercolor

Blue - green - gold acrylic with red watercolor

Made some more background papers for a swap. I always like the way ink blots look so I tried it with acrylic paints. They look pretty cool but needed something more so I sprited with watercolor and let it dry. Alot of fun and messy!

Make a Moo or two & Paper weaving

2008-02-22T11:27:00.005-05:00

I came across this site: http://makeamooortwo.wordpress.com/
A Moo is a little card with the size of 2.8 x 7 centimeters or approximately 1.1 x 2.8 inches. Based on the weekly theme you choose the materials and techniques you like and go to town. Once you're done you post them on your blog, flickr- or other photo sharing site. Copy the direct link to your post. When leave a comment on the Make a Moo or two theme in which you paste the link to your Moos. Easy.

This weeks theme is TRAVEL so I gave it a whirl. Here they are ...with a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo there a moo...see they travel a lot!

Paper weaving is up on one of our swap boards so I decide to try it out before signing up. I used on of my backgrounds I created with alcohol inks and a decorative paper. I'm not sure if this is my thing. I thought it needed something more so I added a finishing touch with an Asian girls in the center. Here it is:

My Deco book - Art Wired

2008-02-21T07:07:00.001-05:00

I just finished creating my art deco book for a round robin I'm in. I made this little beauty myself and covered it with tyvek, acrylic paints letter stickers and a photo of a barbed wire fence. I just had to add my birdie sitting on the barbed wire. I have 20 pages bound into the book with a green ribbon. It's shipping out today - ready for my artist friends to create in. I can't wait to get to work on theirs and see what's going on in mine! I'll keep you all posted. Woohoo!! What fun this will be.

Credit card background creation

2008-02-19T06:54:00.004-05:00

This credit card background was created using acrylic paints. I used gold, venetian gold, leaf green and true orange. I over stamped using A muse Artstamp - Floral Vines with colorbox chalk inpad in burnt sienna. The gold paint doesn't show clearly in the photo but it gives it a great look. Messy and fun! I signed up for a backgrounds swap and will use them for that.

little beauties - leaves

2008-02-17T16:33:00.002-05:00

I recieved some awesome little beauties from Chrissy and just had to sign up for more. This little beauties theme is leaves. So I called today a "play day" and gathered up my stash to create my 10 little beauties . Play days are so much fun!!!

I even managed to create 2 birthday cards for my grandsons. Both have March birthday's, turning 1 and 2 years old. Now my grandsons ages will be 1, 2, 3 and 4 years old! Last month I bought them tee shirts with Dr Suesss' Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3 and Thing 4 on the front. I slipped them on each little guy at a local indoor play area! Soooo funny to see. My daughters got a kick out of it and so did many of the other parents. My oldest grandson wanted his mom to call him Thing 1. hee hee. I'm such a little trouble maker!

Anyway, back on topic because I could go on and on about the little guys!
I tried to use different techniques, things I haven't done in a while. Keeping them similar but different. Here are my little beauties ... maybe I'll make some more!

"Birds, Nests & Eggs" Inchies

2008-02-16T08:52:00.002-05:00

I just signed up for another swap. This one is for "Birds, Nests & Eggs" Inchies. With a name like little birdie studio how could I resist? The requirements for this swap is to use ARTchix studio products, and work must contain a bird, nest, eggs and a word. Not so easy on such a tiny 1" square. I had to rescan three pieces because
OOPS!
I fogot to add the word. So here's my two scans. Thanks for stoping in.

"the pink artist"

2008-02-06T10:19:00.000-05:00

I am a contributing artist to “the pink artists”. "the pink artist" is a community of artists joining togetherto create one joint art doll to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. When doll is complete, it will be mailed in to Art Doll Quarterly™ before finally being auctioned off on eBay at a later date. Monica Magness will create the doll and coordinate this project, what a wonderful lady.

If you are would like to participate and create your own 2x2 inch square to send. Check out the site and sign up today, the link is at the right. They need to be mailed by March 1, 2008.

I hope you join in.

I have just finished my square to be sent off to Monica today. What do you think?

Feb 3 - ATC triptych

2008-02-03T14:10:00.000-05:00

Like many of you I like to create most of my art before signing up for a swap. This one is for the ATC triptych swap on CCS.
Process:
*I designed and cut the triptych usng my digital die cutter using glossy cardstock. Next I painted the front with pink acrylic paint diluted with a pinch of water. Before it dried I sprinkled with alchohol and heat set. I also did the heart from the center.
*Now I stamped the two outside pages with a rosey heart pattern in black.
*I cut a matching tripstych in patterned paper and glued to the inside of the main tripstych.
*Embelished with two cute photos, gel pens, hearts and ribbon.
And here she is.
Thanks for stopping in.

Wednesday, Jan 30th - already!

2008-01-30T15:37:00.000-05:00

As promised here are the final two paper dolls I made.

I signed up for a swap on CCS to create 10 Little Beauties, each Little Beauty must be different. Little Beauties are items which can be used to embellish projects, top cards and/or ATC’s. No precise size is specified but they should be no smaller than 1.5 inches by 2.5 inches,and not larger than 2.25 inches by 3.25 inches. I was surprised how quick they are to make.

If you would like to see more little beauties check out my CCS friends blogs - Sweatpea, Fiona, Maggi, Adrienne and Trish’s. You will find their blog links in the right column under Artful Blogs. While you're at it why not click on some of the other links under Artful Blogs. Their art is sure to inspire!

Thanks for stopping in!

My Muse is back, my Muse is back.

2008-01-28T12:35:00.000-05:00

I had a creative weekend and it was wonderful. My grandson came over and painted some rainbow watercolor back grounds together. He let me keep one and he took the rest home. So cute!

I then signed up for a swap with CCS group for Art Paper dolls and started to play. I found a paper doll template I like and tweaked it and decided to convert so I could cut it using my digital die cutter. That was challenging because I have only had it for a month and am just learning. Success! The die cut nice and clean with no errors or hiccups. Now I can make these babies anytime I want and not have to pull out the scissors to cut out the body. With mild RA in my hands having the die cutter to do some of my work is wonderful!

To create the doll I used some of my handmade background paper with the leaf pattern to create her dress, I added her facial features and some embellishments. I ended up making two dolls and used the water colored paper I painted with my grandson for the die cut butterfly wings and added them to doll #2. To attach the wings I made a slit in #2 dolls back and slid the butterfly’s body into the hole making the butterfly wings removable – pretty cool. I also doodled on her arms and leggs to jazz her up.

It’s good to be back in a creative mode.

This is an image of doll #1.

Oh, almost forgot. I tried out the shinny stone technique challenge last week and in my wackiness I mixed two techniques - shinny stone and glue resist. Let’s just say they were not what I expected! LOL. So I tried again and made two shinning stones backgrounds. These are better but they aren’t knocking my socks off either!

#1 Shinny - glue resist #2 & #3 Shinny stone techinque

2008-01-09T09:34:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone. Long time no blog. The holidays kept me very busy with lots of Christmas gatherings with friends and family. Christmas was wonderful. I enjoyed all of our kids and grandsons coming over. We really are blessed.

I received a Silhouette Digital Die Cutter for Christmas and have been busy experimenting with it. I was able to create my grandson birthday card with it (sorry I forgot to scan it) and have created a few of my own designs. I plan to use the die cuts in different projects and to sell some of my creations at the local shop I currently sell items at.

Like everyone I have made New Year goals and naturally the top one is to take off the 4 lbs I gained over the holidays….ugh too many cocktails and cookies!

New Year Goals 2008
1. Take off the 4 lbs I gained over the holidays by March 2008
2. Pay more attention to my money
a. When checking out to make sure I’m charged correctly and receive the right change back. Don’t laugh I have been short changed and never realized it until I’m home.
b. Creating a budget and following it. That’s a tough one!
3. Art - Try something different –
a. Idea adding die cuts to art projects for swaps and gifts by utilizing the Silhouette
b. Try a new technique from one of my swap groups
c. Creating my own die cut designs
4. Year round make practical items for sale at the local craft shop and for next years holiday craft fair.
5. Eliminate clutter –
a. In my studio – discard unwanted materials. Reorganize keepers. Label items in bins for sale by season.
b. Unsubscribe to groups I have out grown, lost interest or just don’t have the time for.
6. Submit something for publication each quarter. March, Jun, Jul, Oct 2008 - I think I can, I think I can!

Here is one of my creations for my die cutter. I have yet to cut it and create on it. When I do I will post it. I'm hoping to make valentine's cards/booklets for family.

We are heading off Saturday morning for a relaxing week in Florida to visit family. I hope to spend a little time creating.

Art Doll

2007-12-05T19:36:00.001-05:00

scan0003
Originally uploaded by little birdie studio

I created this art doll for a swap with CCS. She has acrilic arms and legs and birds throughout. The title is House of Freedom.

Christmas craft fair projects

2007-10-30T16:08:00.000-04:00

I’ve been very busy creating things for our office Christmas craft fair. The photos below show some of my project for the fair:
Embellished jean jacket
Small canvas frames – Christmas theme and Pink Piggy
Christmas Magnetics
Magnetic Bookmarks
I have several larger Christmas canvas count downs too. Right now they are in a local shop
Sorry the photos are small.

Zentangles anyone?

2007-10-27T08:16:00.000-04:00

Here's three "Zantangles" I created in a note book at the beach

Last of the Sudoku 4

2007-10-25T09:56:00.000-04:00

This is my contribution to the final ATC from a Sudoku challenge I work on with 5 others. The background was crated by Tamisha and Sheryl added the X charm. My contribution is the Crow #10. This gets passed on to the next players until we each had our time. In the end we each end up with a completed piece.

Art from the weekend

2007-10-15T14:17:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend I picked up Spackle. I wasn’t sure how to use it so I inquired with my friends at Art-venture. One suggestion was to use it to create a raise stencil image.

Using a border image and the Spackle and a touch of paste and viola – it adds a nice touch to your art piece. I used it on a calendar (using the Oct image from one of my art groups Art Exercise). I also added it to the gesso canvas I made previously. I liked making the calendar and decide to make another one (without the Spackle) to use as a hostess gift for an upcoming swap.

My next Spackle project will be to create a textured background.

New Art Excercises

2007-10-11T09:57:00.000-04:00

I have a few projects to share with you from my art groups. One group offers up three or four “Creative Art Exercises” each month. This month it is #1 Gesso, #2 Shades of Autumn, and #3 Make something with the image provided. I have complete exercises #1 & #2 combining the two to create an ATC.

Autumn-Nature ATC
Steps:
1. The small multi-hued square is made from gesso mixed with varies shades of tube watercolor pounced onto the cardstock with bubble wrap.

2. I cut the gesso strip into 1 inch squares and bound them with gold wire and attached it to a wine color square to the back.
3. This was placed on a Gold background I stamped with a leaf motif. I added a strip of green mulberry paper running down the side.
4. A small bird sticker was placed on the bottom.

Tip-in for October 07- Children
Funny and playful things come to mind. My first thought was the nursery rhyme “Old woman who lives in a shoe”. I also found a funny little poem about kids that I used on the backside. “Cleaning house with children at home is like trying to staple Jello to a tree!" So keeping them in mind I went to work…here’s the results.

So many to choose from

2007-10-05T21:02:00.000-04:00

I spent the evening on my laptop poking my head in my art groups and checking out some of my art friends blogs from these groups. Before I knew it hours had passed and I found so many interesting and inspiring sites I felt like a kid in a "art" candy shop. I believe I could spend a good part of my day doing this!

I made a point of opening a second window to my blog so when I came across something that inspired me I added it to my blog site. I even found some art challenge groups like 4x4 Friday and Fluffy Fatbottom Twisted Tuesday.

You should have a look, check them out. There's plenty of excitement and wonderful art to be found in these links. Be very careful though because it can be addictive.

Is Summer still here?

2007-10-04T11:52:00.000-04:00

What a warm and wonderful Thursday - 81 in Connecticut and it is October. Since last posting I have worked on several projects. Halloween ghost cards for the grandson’s and my friends daughter Maddie – naturally they aren’t very scary because they are still so young.

Glittery Ghost Card

IF YOU ARE PART OF THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS AND YOU DON’T WANT TO PEEK STOP HERE!
I am working on a swap for the 12 days of Christmas and have signed up twice. So I have been busy creating 2 sets of 12 gifts and I’m having fun. For one of the sets I made magnetic bookmarks. I liked them and made an extra to keep for my own. I try to make an extra of whatever swap project I am working on for myself or to give to someone else.

magnetic bookmarks

I received in some awesome Black & White ATC's from one of the swaps. They are so cool and I should scan them and post them for all to see the beautiful work my artsy friends did! Anyway, while perusing through them I thought it would be nice to make an ATC holder for them. So, I found an old card holder template and modified it into an ATC template. Played around with it and ended up making several to store my ATC’s in.
ATC holder

I like them so much I decided to make them for the 2nd set of 12 Days of Christmas Swap.
Because I like to recycle when I can I used old calendars that have a nice glossy coat. The blank side was coated using direct to paper - I used black and brown StaysOn ink and a lighter brown distressed in. The look reminds me of animal print. That became the outside the inside ended up with the floral print form the calendar. They’re cool and they keep the art organized.
ATC holder

Art from Junk?

2007-09-20T10:11:00.000-04:00

I'm excited. It's going to be a warm and sunny weekend, 80's, and we are off to the beach tomorrow for the weekend. You guys know it's one of my favorite spots. It's so beautiful and our friends there are the simply the best! I came to the conclusion that I spend way too much time planning and thinking and planning and more planning when I work on my art pages. So my goal this week; in addition to getting projects ready for a craft sale in November; was to produce at least two pages daily for my sketch book. Without all the planning, just doing. I didn’t need to add the journaling, just go with the flow and just create. It was FUN! I forgot how much fun just going with the flow could be.

“HE” popped into my studio and watched my work in progress last night. “You just started and the pages are there before you know it!” - “Whoosh!” -“You can do that because you know what you’re making, right?” "becuase you've done it so many times it's all in your head>"….
Me - ”That’s right!” (LOL, I don’t have a clue what I doing and that was the point of it.)
His final comment before walking out of the room “You’re art (yes he actually calls it art) is created from just cut up stuff…look around it’s like a junk yard… and you create cool things from ...just junk.” Naturally I start to take offense at the junk yard comment and reply “I like my room…and the junk.” He assured me it’s a complement. I'll keep him!

So here's this weeks creations for my sketchbook. They will accompany me to the beach where I may add the journaling.

New Art for Swaps

2007-09-06T10:35:00.000-04:00

Hi today I am posting different swap pieces I have made.
The first one is is for Clown themed Tipins - front and back.
Next is mini ATC's in autumn colors.
And my favorite is the doodle ATC's. I doodled the flowers and colored them with pencils and cut up strips of my earlier doodles to create the ground. I like doodling. I can do it anywhere... even while I work. Oops did I say that? Anyway, I hope you enjoy them.

New Sketchbook Page

2007-09-05T09:44:00.000-04:00

The theme is "What I want to be when I grow up".

Oh phooey! Do I have to grow up? I really like to playing and growing up means less play time and no nap time.

When I grow up I want to be a COWGIRL or maybe a ROCK & ROLL STAR!! Well I got Mom's singing voice (very bad) not Dad's (he played in a local country band) so Rock& Roll star? Afraid not. I do like to slip on my cowgirl boots and play cowgirl...yee haw! Maybe I can become a sorceress and wield some magic?

My Sketchbook Challenge

2007-09-03T08:52:00.000-04:00

Hello,

It's been some time since I actually posted some art! I have a new scanner, a birthday gift from "him" and I will try to catch up. As mentioned in my last blog I am working on a sketchbook with one of my favorite art groups and promised to post what I have done so far. The first page is "My Name" using words to describe me that spell my name. For example D=Dreamer, N=Naughty

Page 2 is "8 Things I Love" - I'm not happy with this page. (:-w

Next "My Life in Numbers" Yes, I jumped around in the list. That's where Naughty comes into play.

And my fourth post is "My Family Traits Tree"

I find this to be a bit of a challenge for me and not something that flows easily. Since I have been doodling a lot (will post some of them later) I think I will be adding more of that to my sketchbook.

Below is the di Vinci Code Tip in I made for a swap.

Sunny Saturday in August

2007-08-11T07:49:00.000-04:00

I've been working on a few projects lately with my favorite art groups. I just complete background pages for a swap and sent them off. I had fun making shaving cream backgrounds I hadn't made those for a long time. I almost forgot how pretty they come out. We are working on sketchbooks. So far I have created five backgrounds and complete my first two pages. The theme is All about me (or a similar title I might pick- working on that now).

Page one we added words using our name to describe yourself. Mine are D=Dreamer, E= Easy-going, N=Naughty, I=Imaginative, S=Silly, and E=Encouraging

Page two is 8 things I love and page three I am working on now is What I want to be when I grow up. I like this topic and have some fun ideas for it. Page two wasn't easy for me because I had to think about myself too much. (:P

I am also working on da Vinci tip-ins. Just received the stamps I ordered for this one and I'm ready to play. Yippee!

I hope to get some of this scanned and posted . I still have to get out and purchase a new scanner...maybe this weekend.

Here's an nice art site I think you will enjoy http://www.aceotogo.typepad.com/

Enjoy!

It's been awhile...

2007-07-28T08:29:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since my last post. I've been very busy at the office and have taken on more responsibilities. Not complaining at all.

My scanner is broken and I need to get a new one. I want one like the one I have because it works so well. I didn't realize just how often I used it! I have made a few projects that won't make it to my blog because of it.

I've been tagged!

2007-07-13T11:48:00.000-04:00

Okay, I have been tagged so I need to list seven interesting things about me. Next I have to tag 2 people. Watch out it could be you!

Here goes:
1. I enjoy camping with friends on the beautiful beach dunes. Camping at the beach.

2. We bring our little white Maltese Molly on the motorcycle with us and she loves it. Don't worry she is harnessed and in a special backpack and we only go around town with her. Miss Molly
3. I have 4 grandsons all under the age 4; yes that's right 4 under 4 years old...Mimi's little men.

4. I enjoy reading Fantasies and have read all Harry Potter too!
5. When I go to a fabric store I want an unlimited Visa (with someone else to pay for it - dreaming here!) I love Fabric and creating things with it. Especially for little girls. Go figure I have grandsons! LOL
6. At one point we had the following family members in our home: 2 adults, 2 children, 4 dogs, 4 cats, 1 parrot, 1 ferret, 1 lizard (Chinese water dragon), 1 alligator (no joke) and fish. And big bottles of Zanax!! We have since downsized. The kids are on there own and now there's the two of us, 1 dog, 1 cat and 1 parrot. I'm still keeping the Zanax (just kidding)
7. We like to go to warm climates to vacation and scuba dive.
So there it is! Now I'm tagging:

http://goldbettyboop.blogspot.com/
http://carolcsstuff.blogspot.com/

Get your doodle on

2007-07-13T11:19:00.001-04:00

I was checking out the doodles on http://chrysti.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/get-your-doodle-on/ and decided to give it a try. Especially since one of the up and coming ATC themes for one of my swap groups is doodles. This is so much fun. I felt so carefree doing it, like a kid again.

I tried to use circles and rounded shapes, thus the title "Fool'n A-Round"

I think I will save it for backgrounds to some art piece. Here it is.

Shabby Chic Backgounds

2007-07-07T06:49:00.001-04:00

I spent part of a rainy afternoon creating backgrounds. It's fun experimenting and just playing around. In one of my swap groups I found "shabby chic" background recipes (thanks Adrienne) and decided to try them before joining the swap. The first set is SHABBY GESSO CHIC, the second set is IRRESISTIBLE GESSO (the pink is just a test of the gesso as a resist) . I still want to sand the shabby gesso chic backgrounds to give them the finishing touch. Take a peek.
#1 SHABBY GESSO CHIC IN PINK AND PURPLE

#2 IRRESISTIBLE GESSO & GESSO RESIST

Altered Beer Mat "Cameo Encourage"

2007-07-02T13:45:00.001-04:00

This is a Altered Beer Mat I made for a swap called "Cameo Encourage". It's made with a beer mat, gesso, heart bead, vintage image, ribbon, word stamp, paints and distressed ink.

Queen for a Day Bookmark

2007-06-28T08:57:00.000-04:00

What a crazy morning... I had a chance to work a bookmark for a swap group last night and again this morning. I've been playing around with alcohol inks again. I swirled them around on the glossy card stock and used that inked up sponge to ink my shell stamp. I smushed the stamp into the pattern and heat set it. Next I use black ink and stamped text on top and heat set it. Found a vintage image I wanted to add. Still needed something so I dug through my stamps and came across "Queen for a Day' - - perfect! Stamped that on black card stock in sliver. Next I placed the bookmark on black background and attached "Queen for a Day". I added now is ribbons for the top and a star brad at the top!

More Updates

2007-06-27T08:36:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone,
Today I posted the final outcome of my ABS2 - "Natures Treasure" for a swap I'm doing. Scroll down and take a look at it. I'm pleased with it. I hope you will leave me feedback. Thanks for popping in.

Updated My Altered Book Shrines

2007-06-20T11:16:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone.
I finished my Summertime ABS and posted the inside page below in the original post. I also finished the cover of my altered book shrine #2 and posted that below. Please take a look. I would love to hear from you.

Wacky and Weird - Disjointed Figures ATCs

2007-06-18T08:24:00.000-04:00

For one of my swap groups we are making ATC's - Disjointed Figures. The basic instructions are cut a sheet of book paper to ATC size and attached to the front of an ATC card. Next stamp a face onto a seperate sheet of paper and cut it out. Then cut out a silly dress shape from magazine paper of your choosing. Now assemble the strange looking person together onto the background text page. Add some excitement to the page using watercolor, pens,and stamps to create your Disjointed Figure.

These are Wacky and Weird and a lot of fun to create. I added watercolor wash to the text page and also to the stamped face. Cut out a cute little birdie and a dress. Added a tree stamp to the background and colored that. Once it was assembled I added arms and legs.

Altered Books Shrine #2 - Nature's Treasure

2007-06-15T20:30:00.001-04:00

I started a new altered shrine books. This one is for one of my swap groups. I picked a black book and went through the usual process of cutting the shrine box and pasting the pages along the sides. The first page has the title TREASURES so I went with that a part of the title and cut the box just below it. I think it pretty cool like that. I added various paints to the inside going for orange shades. I plan to use birds and eggs as key elements in this book.
Next I added some stamped images to the inside - feathers and bees. Love the little black bees. Added a strip of paper on the left side of the book and a matching frame around the shrine box. I also added a small amount of paint to the cover and stamped more feathers. I like the black background so I didn't over do it.
Now it's time to dig through the papers and images and decide what to add. And what about the shrine box? I've gotta find something for that spot. To be continued...

6/20: Fihished the cover still have to work on the inside. Here's the cover below. It's a little dark...

6/27: I finished the book and have posted the final pages. Going with the Nautre theme I added clippings, images, fabric, buttons, pen bird tracks and inside the nook is a wire nest taht I made with eggs posted behind it (hard to see in the picture). The nook also has a 3-D fairy looking into the nest. For the final touch I added the title to the cover and side " NATURES TREASURE" I'm very happy with this one and will be a little sad when it flies away for the swap.

Watercolor wash on text

2007-06-15T20:24:00.000-04:00

This is a card I made for a swap using a text sheet that I water colored a rainbow of colors and stamp an image of a girl with buterflies. I pasted the title jouful flying friends on to it. I really like the water color wash on text and plan to use it on more projects.

Altered book shrine "Summertime"

2007-06-13T06:49:00.000-04:00

This is my very first altered book shrines I am working on. My theme is Summertime after the song "Summertime and the living is easy. Fish are jumping..."

I love listening to Rene Olstead sing the song...because I'm a beach girl I find it so inspiring.

Step one cutting the shrine box inside and glueing the pages to bind the side is done and now I started painting the cover and adding a stamped design. Next I started painting the inside.

Looks dark and scary in there but it's just the scan.

Now I've moved on to the inside adding images, sand (yes real beach sand..oh I can feel the warmth under my toes now...), text and shells.

I glued sand and real shells in the shrine box and wrote on the hand drawn wave "Summertime and the living is easy" ...here it is so far. hummm...I think it needs more.

I'll move on to the cover and think on the inside for a while. Added my Summertime title, images and what not. Take a look. What do you think? More to come on this.

6/20: I finished my Summertime ABS. I added more images and some bubbles. Now I'm happy with it!

2007-06-12T14:33:00.000-04:00

Well, it's official I have my very own blog for my artsy stuff. Maybe tonight I figure out how to post some of my artwork. Could be a long night.