Some Christmas Cards for this year

Each year I make Christmas cards for family, close friends and a few other people whom I know appreciate them.

The first card is a simple one using a Hearts in Touch image. I did direct-to-paper with pigment inks and a Colorbox stylus. I stamped the image and coloured it with Lyra coloured pencils.

On the next two, the background is done with a technique where you "build your own Rollergraph" using clear acrylic stamps, a rollergraph and Fluid Chalk inks. The quote on the first one is stamped on vellum and embossed with glitter embossing powder. On the second card the frame is a piece of acrylic die cut then embossed with the Cutllebug and coloured with metallic paint.

On the next card the main images are stickers, which were attached then covered with clear embossing to protect them. After that the background was stamped with white pigment ink and embossed with white embossing powder, coloured with Fluid Chalk inks, sprayed with Alcohol sprays then ironed off to obtain the resist background.

The saying was stamped and embossed with pearl embossing powder. The main image of the deer was protected with a post-it note mask, and then the entire card was embossed with glitter embossing powder.

These last two cards are variations done in different colours. The background 0n the red one is the shaving cream technique. The Believe stamp was stamped directly on the stamped image with Stazon black.

The background on the green one is a technique called "stamp-smooshie" where you use your stamp as an applicator, and it was done with Fluid Chalk inks. I stamped the Believe stamp on acetate then covered it with clear micro beads on

I lightly coloured the little girl image on both with distress inks.

More Post-it Note pads

Dh and I are hosting a pre-Christmas supper this weekend, so I decided to make some Post-it note gifts for the ladies.

For the first two I used acrylic and stamped images on them with Stazon ink and then coloured the edges with permanent markers. My Freind Lea loves Hummingbirds and fortunately I had a stamp for hers, my other friend Sonny loves Roses, hence the rose on the second one.

I coloured the back of the vinyl with alcohol inks. The back pages were done with a technique called stamp-smooshie which I learned at a rubber stamping class.

The other two for my DH's siste and roomate were done on the Cuttlebug. The first one is vinyl, which I double embossed. The firs time was the top and bottom edges only, then I embossed the whole piece again with a different embossing folder. I ran some paint around the edges, then rubbed the Goldfinger antique gold over it.

The second one is simply embossed with the Cuttlebug, using Fibremark paper and adhered to chipboard.

Cuttlebug play

I have a Cuttlebug swap in CC swaps and made a notebook/post-it note holder.
I started by putting some of the plumbers silver tape over a piece of cardstock, then ran it through the Cuttlebug. I then attached it to 130Lb paper (doubled), and cut it down to size.


Then I coloured it with metallic paint and ran some Goldfinger antique gold (similar to rub-n-buff) over it, which resulted in kind of a verdigris look.



I wanted to make a little pocket to store items, so I cut down a page protector to fit. I found that if I put some scrap paper over each side I was able to make the holes with the cuttlebug, otherwise it was a problem and they did not cut properly.


I printed off an image I found in an advert onto a transparency and punched the holes and placed this at the end to cover the post-it notes and remain transparent. The final touch was to stamp the back with a saying.

SSSHHHHH! It's a Secret!!

On one of my groups we are doing a secret swap ( similar to the Secret Santa). We are to make a gift and also send a gift which costs a maximum of $10; handmade or store bought.


I decided that handmade gift would be a canvas. I started by painting the canvas with acrylic paints, lavendar, yellow and green. I added a couple of pieces ripped from an old dictionary. I then went over it with an iridescent violet using my PearlEXpress mica watercolours.

I stamped and embossed some flourishes (Hero Arts) around the edges. I then added some opals embossing powders around the the canvas to give it some texture.

I stamped the image (Stamps Happen "Harmony Angel) on tissue paper and colored with coloured pencils, then very carefully attached it to the canvas. I wanted to try something a wee bit different for the angel, so I painted her with my glass paints. after the paint dried I added the stars on and around the angel with gold stickles.

I also decided to make a necklace using the Faux Carnival Glass technique by Zeb Loray in addition to a store bought gift. (http://www.amstamps.com/fauxcarnival/index.html).

December It-Girl

Jessie is December's It-girl for the ArtVenture Tag-it. Her theme is Time. I started off by making and completing a canvas, but I was not happy with the end result and started browsing some sites that I have in my favourites for some inspiration. One I recently came across has some great challenges and beautiful artwork http://bigartadventure.blogspot.com/

I have some little woodblocks in my stash, so decided to try one of the wood ATC's, although mine may not be the exact dimensions, I am fairly certain that Jessie won't be measuring it.

I sanded the woodblock then applied some yellow and green acrylic paints. I added a piece from an old dictionary definition of Time and did direct-to-paper with Mustard Seed Distress ink . I then stamped a Tim Holtz stamp in black Versafine. I added butterfly wings and the wonderful little girl's image http://thriftycollageartist.blogspot.com and the ruler. I had a sticker type clock embellishment and adhered a page pebble over it and attached it to the corner.

I thought it still needed "something" so spelled out "TIME" with the metal letters.

For the back I added a quote and a piece of a calendar stamp, an old ad ephemera and a little watch charm. The quotes and the calendar were rubbed with distress ink.

Each side has a quote on it as well.

I stamped a word stamp on top and the vintage ad piece is partially covering the bottom. I hope Jessie will be as happy with this as I am because I really enjoyed creating it for her.

Beadazzled Swap

I signed up for a swap on CCSwaps using beads. Since it did not specify what kind of beads I opted for the tiny seed beads for my creation.

I used a microscope slide and the faux sea glass technique http://www.juliaandrus.com/how-to

The microscope slide was dabbed with yellow, turquoise and lavendar pigment inks, then embossed with clear UTEE. I applied Perfect Medium and yellow, gold and pearl Perfect Pearls, covered with clear UTEE and embosssed it. I did not do the last step in Julia's instructions where you spray the slide with water and dab it.

While the UTEE was still hot I sprinkled red and turquoise seed beeds over the slide and heated it. I then added some Glossy Accents and added some gold seed beads. To finish it off I added a little starfish charm, then added the keyring.

November It-Girl

Fiona is the It-Girl for November on the ArtVenture group and the theme is inspiration. I guess my inspiration would be colour at the moment.

I decided to make her a notebook. The front cover is coloured with various acrylic paints then embossed with clear embossing powder. I know she loves Paper Artsy stamps and I just bought a couple of plates, so I used one of the images on the book.

The inside front cover is a transfer on transparency, and the image is from an ephemera book that I purchased about a year ago.

The inside back cover is just painted with acrylics and then stamped with a flourish stamp from Magenta then the images added.

The words are from one stamp which I cut into pieces and used on each page.

I hope Fiona will be pleased with her little gift.

More play

I belong to a Milliande's creativity group and many topics and ideas are discussed, as well as various tutorials. One that I recently looked at and decided to try was the "scanner art". You just place an object on the scanner bed, add things behind it ( if you wish) and scan with the lid open. Add a frame and or border around the art, even play with different textures etc in the photo program.


For the first one I laid some fabric autumn leaves on the scanner then added crumpled tinfoil over the top, cropped it and added a frame and border. The second one is the same pic done as the hot wax coating on the Artistic Effects in Corel PSPX. The third one was Neon Glow in the Artistic Effects in PSPX.

The last picture is a deoderizer block that I scanned and then distorted in the effects menu on PSPX, then added a frame and border.

This was great fun, and I think these would make great ATC's.

Play Day

Today I just decided to play with different things. I found a link to funky-dyed paper towels via one of my groups and gave it a try. Mine did not turn out with the "splotchy" look that the samples on the tutorial had on them, at http://ladycherie1.blogspot.com/. Not sure why, perhaps not enough water, different powered microwave? Will have to play more with this technique, however, I am still happy with the results.

It-girl for October

This month on Artventure Chrissy is the "It Girl" and she chose Nature as her theme. I am running out of ideas for something unique, but decided to do another canvas for this month.

I started out by doing a canvas which represented a misty day...i.e. the saying I used. This is my first attempt, however, I was not completely happy with the whole thing. The saying stuck out like a sore thumb and all attempts to make it better failed.

So back to the drawing board!! I love autumn because where I live all the leaves change colour and they are just beautiful. This made me think of another idea for the It-Girl canvas. I gessoed over the original one, then painted it with yellow, green and orange paint.

When it dried, I added tree trunks then the "leaves" with a larger paint brush using red, orange

and green arcylics; I added brown and yellow on the bottom to simulate the forest ground. Added some bushes with the green acrylic.

Still not quite right, so I printed off some birds and squirrels and added them, because anytime I have been in a forest they are always around. I think I am finally happy with it and hope Chrissy will like it.

So what do you think? Any comments or critiques would be appreciated.

A surprise for Jessie

My friend Jessie has had lot on her plate lately and our group decided to plan a surprise book and each of us made a page and mailed them off to be made into a chunky book.

Jessie has received the book now so I can post the pictures. I was happy to participate in this book as Jessie is so encouraging and such an inspiration to me.

I know Jessie loves colour, grunge, texture...well just about anything goes in her creative world. I decided to make my page in reds hues as I had a freebie image that I really liked.

I started off by painting the page and added the image when it dried. I then took some cheesecloth and soaked it in some decoupage type glue and draped it around the right side of the picture. I added some red acrylic paint over the top, then added some acrylic gold mica flakes over parts of it.

The left side still needed "something" so I added some crackle paste and again coloured it with red and brown acrylic paint. As a finishing touch I dabbed some light gold acrylic paint around the whole piece.

I completed the page with the little heart button and some velvet ribbon in a ribbon slide.

The back is just painted with acrylics. I ripped out a piece of Mulberry Paper and stamped the sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black ink and added it. I was going to do more with the back but feel the sentiment says it all.

Board book Spread 5

Step 1. Pages were sponged with gesso, then painted with black acrylic paint. Various metallic paints were dripped on the pages and then the pages were closed and held shut; I smoothed the pages down to distribute the paint over the pages. Opened up the pages...what magic .!! Love this technique-the paint looks like ferns and branches and a big bug right in the centre. LOL

Board Book Page 4

While waiting for the page to dry I made an embellishment. The instruction was to use stamps that were not Asian but to end up with something which looked Asian. I made mine from air dried clay and painted it with acrylic and metallic paints. You will see this further along in this post.

Step 1: A layer of Gesso was sponged then cheap glue added randomly over the page. When dry another coat of gesso was applied, dried again red paint was brushed on. Gold acrylic paint was rubbed over the pages to accent the ridges from the glue.

Step 2: Stamped a fern stamp (Hero Arts) around the perimeter of the pages.
Step 3: A strip of the faux washi paper (see previous post) was added to the right page. We were to add a Haiku to the page "A Japanese poem usually written in 3 lines". I found several online and finally chose one that I liked and printed it on parchment coloured paper in red ink, then cut out and glued the word over the washi paper. Final touch was to add the handmade embellishment. In hindsight, maybe I should have added a moon somewhere on the page to match the Haiku?

NGS Art Lottery

Although I have already won this lottery I am continuing to make art for it as I feel the next person should also be lucky enough to receive a bunch of entries.

This month the theme is Asian. I decided to make an ATC for it.

The background is my Faux Washi paper that I made for one of my board book pages. I then added some Cool Glitter Ritz around the border. On the image (from Above the Mark) I added Warm Glitter Ritz. I stamped three butterflies (Hero Arts) on some scrap cardstock that I had coloured and attached them with double-sided foam tape.

I have to tell you that if you like glitter, you will LOVE this brand. It feels like velvet when you touch it!!

Board book Spread 3

Step 1: Tore up various strips of leftover scrapbook papers and attached them overlapping each other and lighty gessoed over them after the glued dried. Rubbed Vintage distress inks over both pages to age it a bit. Step 2:Ripped a wide piece of masking tape and stamped a background image on it with black stazon ink, then attached it to the left hand page. Made a heart shaped image out of airdry clay and stamped it with a text stamp. When dry I added red paint and then gold paint over the top. Attached a piece of magic mesh and attached the heart. Printed off a Heart quote and added it to the left page. Now there were no instructions to add anything else, but since this is my book I decided to add some images to go with the quote..guess I am just a rebel at heart!!

Faux Washi Paper

As part of the board book project we were to make some faux washi paper. The "how-to" can be found at http://trishbee.co.uk/techniqueszone/archives/fauxwashibackgrounds.html

I got a bit carried away with the water on the second piece so it ended up ripping, but I was able to salvage most of it.

This is a messy project so if you don't like inky hands you may want to wear rubber gloves. I ended up with bright fuschia hands after doing this one. However the final result was well worth it.

Board Book Spread 2

Page two Step 1:

Made a wavy line with a pencil, then coloured the page with orange on top and lime green on the bottom.

Step two. Add a wavy red line between the orange and lime green. Took a pencil with an eraser on the end and made dots in white gesso. Ripped sections from a previously gessoed book page and adhered them to the bottom in strips.

Step 3: Coloured the pages all over with distress ink (Frayed Burlap) Made hand made flowers to add to the pages. I did mine with strips of cardstock coloured with fluid chalk inks and stamped a small background stamp on them. I cheated with the one flower as I had a bunch of punchie from newspaper left from another project. Added a flower quote then a bird image printed on vellum to complete the page.

Fish Tip-in

The latest Tip-In theme was Fish and I chose to go whimsical, a I am sure it was not meant to be a page with fish and water.

I started out by colouring the page with Brilliance Sky Blue ink then added the Inkadinkadoo stamp around the edges in Versafine Black. I didn't like the look, so I then added a dark blue pigment ink over it.


I had some Cuttlebug embossed pieces that I had done a few weeks ago and chose the circle one to colour with the Brilliance Sky Blue ink and put it in the middle. I then added the fish image and the little girl talking on the phone.

This reverse side was painted with some turquoise metallic paint. I added the Jelly Fish image from Dover Arts. I Then glued a fish to the little girl and attached it to the Jelly Fish.

Made some bubbles with a dot stamp and white pigment ink. Added fake sand at the bottom and some fish swimming above the little girl.

Board Book Project

On NGS Trish has challenged us to do a board book project. I could not find one that was just plain with no cut outs, but Melissa very kindly sent me one all the way from Australia.
The instructions for this project can be found at

http://artbuzz.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/12-altered-board-book-project/

I have been busy with other projects and have been away a couple of times, but finally got started on this project and am thoroughly enjoying it. We are only to use items we have on hand; no buying new stuff for this project.

The first thing we had to do was sand or gesso the pages. I opted for sanding as I have only a small amount of gesso left.



Spread one, step one was to paint the page with cobalt blue paint or whatever blue we had on hand. When that dried we were to dip a credit card in black paint and make lines criss-crossing around both pages. Next we added white cloud-like pieces over the pages by dabbing gesso on with a damp sponge. We then added a white line in gesso, (anywhere we wanted) on one of the pages and then a bold magazine image was torn out, applied and gessoed over.
The next step was to stamp an image with a mettalic paint along one edge. I chose a turquoise paint and a Fleur-de-lis foam stamp. Next, we added a piece of paper torn from a cheap pocketbook on on the opposite page from the magazine portion. We then were to stencil a letter of the alphabet on the magazine side with black paint and draw around it with white ink/pen or paint.
Last and final steps.

1. We had to find a quotation that started with the letter we chose, and also an image to go along with it. I am an avid reader and found lots of quotes about reading but chose this one, because I truly believe we can travel anywhere in a book, only limited by our imagination.


2. I searched for a picture to go along with the quote and stumbled upon one which really "spoke" to me on the Morgue Files site taken by Clara Natoli of Rome. I downloaded the picture and then matted it with black cardtsock as instructed by Trish.


3. Final step was to add 3 silver embellishments wherever we chose.