Christmas is almost here!

I spent today making Christmas gifts for some of my friends.

I created some mini Jar Fairies.

Below are the children I used to make my fairies. I left tabs on their feet so I could glue them onto the bottoms of the jars.



I made wings from gold and silver origami papers glued onto cardstock. This fairy is sharing her jar with some stamped snowmen.

I used glitter pipe cleaners to add some sparkle around the tops of the jars. And added some glittery beads and crystals into the fiberfil snow.

This fairy is decorating a tree in her jar.

The fairy below was supposed to be in a larger jar like the other two but when I unwrapped the jar I found that it was defective so I head back to the store only to find that they had sold out of all the larger jars. So, I had to settle for a much smaller jar.

Maybe that is why she looks sad. That or she is upset about sharing space with such huge gingerbread men.

To add interest, since the jar is so small, I tucked it into a handblown martini glass filled with Hershey Kiss Mint Truffles....yum! Now it looks like a giant ice cube!

I bought a new toy!

Ok, I will admit, I just don't "get" scrapbooking. I mean, spending hours on a single page just to show off one picture?!

Yes, Yes, I have seen wonderful layouts. And I know some fabulous artists that create beautiful pages. But it is just not for me. (just like I know lots of people that think my obsession with rubber stamps is nuts LOL)

But, this week, I gave in to the ultimate scrapbooking tool....I bought a Cricut machine!

I really think it has a lot of potential for what I do. I can now make tags, frames and labels from any paper and any size. Some of the font cartridges look pretty cool too (not that I use alphabets that often...my numerous unused sets of letter stamps can attest to that).

Ok, I was very depressed and stressed and shopping ALWAYS helps!

Once I get some time and figure out exactly how to use this thing, I will post some pictures.

(I have a Christmas cartridge coming very soon) heehee

I'm an Aristocrat!

Saw this on another blog and it cracked me up.

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Grace Lady Cheryl the Calm of Lower Bumhampton Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Calendar Page

I am in a "swap" of sorts. Everyone involved makes a page for a calendar, the hostess then assembles them and we have this fabulous calendar filled with gorgeous artwork.

My month is September.

I wanted to use the colors I think of when I think of fall. Deep reds, golds, copper. The theme of the calendar is Fashion. So, since I do love asian themed stuff, I made an asian page.

I started with an 8x10 sheet of black paper. I sponged copper acrylic paint onto it. I next tore a striped sheet of autumn colored paper and glued it over top.

Now the pictures. With the theme of fashion I searched for Asian fashion models. I also used pictures of the Great Wall at sunset as well as the Temple of Heaven at sunset. Both show the rich golds I wanted as well as the clear blue skies I think of for fall.

And who else is the epitomy of fashion but Barbie! Here is Chinese New Year Barbie with her rich red dress. She has olive colored leaves behind her to help her stand out against the background.

Finally, the writing down the right side is actually the wrapper off a pair of chop sticks from some restaurant. I have had that wrapper so long I couldn't even tell you where I got it.

Something Different

Ok, I took a break from altering black balls. :-)

I am in a Jar Fairy swap on the badbabyart group. I have never made a jar fairy before, as a matter of fact, I have never seen a jar fairy before. But it just sounded fun.

So I sat and thought about it and the idea of snow kept calling to me (or maybe it was just that huge bag of fiberfil stashed in the corner). Either way, I wanted a Snow Fairy.

I found my "fairy" image on a Vintage Postcards photo cd. She was all bundled up in furs and a blue dress and was just perfect for the snowy environment I envisioned.

I created her wings from a butterfly. I printed them on transparency film.

My snow is the fiberfil that was calling to me with a frosted white, glass ornament and a couple glitter covered snowflakes.

I painted the lid rim white and covered it with white lace topped with blue ribbon. I left off the lid and inserted a piece of sheer white fabric instead. This lets light fall down on the fairy so she shows up better. Her backdrop is a photograph of the Swiss Alps.

I created the icicles on the outside of the jar using tacky glue and transparent ultrafine glitter. I will be cleaning that stuff up for years I am sure!

Below is a close-up of the fairy in her jar. It is tough to get a good picture shooting through the glass but this isn't too bad.

Still Another!!!!

Ok, so, this is number 4. You are now asking yourself, just how many of those balls did that company give her? Well... once I figured out that I could create something cool out of them, I asked around my unit if anyone wanted to get rid of theirs. I ended up with about a dozen!

So, another raffle, this one online to benefit gorillas. See: http://atomicwarbride.blogspot.com/

I covered the ball with torn strips of book pages from some book I altered years ago. (still had the leftover pages in my stash)

Once dry, I used brown chalk to "antique" the paper.

I stamped lots of images for this one. The photo stamps are from Oxford Impressions, the gibson girl, the pen and a couple of the keys are from NonSequitor and the rest of the keys and the locks are from Stampin Up.

Again, I used permanent ink. The keys were all stamped on tissue paper, I wanted it to appear as if I had stamped them directly on the ball (which is does). All others were stamped on printer paper, colored with pencils and Mod Podged onto the ball.

I used glossy Mod Podge to seal. I like using the glossy just because these balls seem to be like a paperweight and the glossy seems to help impart that feeling more (to me anyway) :-)

Below is a close-up of the top of the ball.

Another Ball!

We are having a charity raffle at work. Each unit in our building creates a basket full of goodies to raffle off. The theme for our basket is "All that Glitters". We are filling it with glittery, sparkly items.

I was asked by a team member if I would take her black ball (you know, the ones I mentioned earlier that every loves) and make it into some sort of glittery item.

Below is what I made.

I covered the entire ball with tissue paper. I then sponged on white and blue acrylic paints to create a sky. I painted white around the bottom for the snowy ground.

Using two different Stampin Up sets, I stamped snowmen. The snow covered pine was a stamp I received in a grab bag somewhere. I stamped them all with permanent ink, colored them with pencils and using Mod Podge, attached them to the ball.

I sealed the ball with a coat of glossy Mod Podge and, when it was dry, I added ultra fine glitter. (it is for the glitter basket after all). You really can't see the glitter in the picture but trust me, this thing is sparkly! As is my desk, keyboard, chair, floor and Tucker's piggies!!!!!

It really turned out nice (even though "glitter" is not my thing) I may have to make one to add to my snowman collection I put out every January.

I showed my altered ball to everyone at work and found out that very few people really wanted that black ball sitting on their desk. So, they donated them to me. :-)

I now have about 10 of them to play with. My friend Crystal said I could have hers on the condition that I decorate it for Halloween and give it back to her as a birthday gift (she was born on Halloween).

Below is her Halloween ball.

This mummy is one of my favorites. He is from Stampin Up. I just love their Halloween sets!


This moon is a brand new, I picked him up at a scrapbooking expo last weekend from a company called "When The Rubber Hits the Road". Isn't he great?

Love this witch, she is from the same set as the mummy. I thought she went great with the cauldren which was from another Stampin Up set I just got this year.

I have had this house for ages (at least 15 years) It is still a favorite! It was from PSX.

Below is the top of the ball. I hand drew the web (and made it all cock-eyed on purpose). I added the spiders hanging down just because I love that spider. :-)

Here it is, all done. It was difficult to get a good picture because of the glossy sealer.

It really looks nice sitting on my desk at work! :-)

Trash (?) into Treasure

At work they gave us this black ball. It is sort of like a "Magic 8 Ball" only it says things like "Innovative" and "In Charge" describing our company philosophy. It is shiny and black and sits on our desks. I have no problem with the company ideals but having a big black ball on my desk was just not "me".

Here is the ball.....before. heehee



I took it home and sanded it. I then covered it with a coat of gesso.

I enjoy using an Asian theme in some of my artwork. I took some of an old Chinese newspaper we picked up years ago in San Francisco, tore it into pieces and using gel medium, collaged it all over the ball. My ball probably tells all about some murder or bank robbery LOL

I stamped some of my favorite Asian images with Memories permanent ink and colored them with pencils.

I used Mod Podge to adhere the stamped images. I ended up adding some additional smaller dragonflies that are not in the picture above.

I then sealed the entire ball with glossy Mod Podge. That smell took me back to 6th grade when I took what they called a "mini-course" on how to decopage. :-)

Currently the ball is drying. I will take some pics once it is dry.

Tomorrow morning the ball will again be sitting on my desk. Only now it will fit in with all the other art on my desk. :-)

Mini Lunchbox Swap

I joined a mini lunchbox swap at the badbabyart group.

We bought the mini lunchboxes at Target in their dollar section.

We have to alter them, fill them with art supplies and then send them to the hostess to swap out.

I went with an Asian theme.

I had a Chinese newspaper I picked up on my last trip to San Francisco. I tore it into pieces and used Mod Podge to apply them to the sides of the lunchbox.

I painted the middle strip with Red Pepper alcohol inks and then dabbed gold paint over top.

I stamped a butterfly collage on the back and colored it with Sharpies.

On the front I applied a woman I stamped and colored with pencils. I then stamped the symbols using acrylic paints.

Halloween is just around the corner!

This past week I found some wood mask cut-outs at JoAnn's. They were 99 cents and then 40% off. What a deal!

I bought Frankenstein, Dracula and the Mummy.

I painted up the Mummy in the middle of the week and took it to work without taking his picture. Now I have to remember to either take my camera to work or bring it home for a photo.

Saturday I painted up Frank and the Count. You can see them below. They are heading to work with me in the morning. They will be great peeking over the edge of my cubicle.

For my sister's birthday I created a "cookbook". I took some of my favorite Weight Watcher recipes and created pages for them. I broke it down by season, one entree for each season. For some I added a side dish or a dessert.

I also found lots of inspirational and/or funny quotes relating to food.

Below is the front cover.


Here is the first page. Just some quotes and pictures.


Winter:
I chose Deep Dish Pizza Casserole. A very hearty, easy meal.


Spring:
Sweet and Sour Shrimp and Baked Won Ton Crisps

A "spring" dessert, Pineapple Yogurt Pie.

Summer:

Grilled Tomato Basil Chicken. This stuff is awesome! All those fresh garden tomatoes and basil straight out of my herb patch! Plus, make extra marinade and use it for a salad dressing!!

Also, Grilled Veggies. Slice up that zucchini and squash and throw it on the grill.

Summer Dessert:

Country Peach Tart. Delish!!!!

Autumn:

Taco Soup. So thick and yummy! Warms you up on those cool evenings and super easy to make!

Some final quotes.

The back cover.

Flat Stanley

The BadBabyArt group decided to do their own version of Flat Stanley. We are doing a Flat BadBaby project.


We each made a flat version of ourselves and a travel journal, added a disposible camera and mailed our selves to the next person on the list.


I am currently in the state of Washington. :-)


When I eventually return home, I will have traveled clear across the country!


Below is the only digital picture I took of myself. I made myself a full wardrobe because I don't like to wear the same thing day after day. :-) I tucked all my clothes into a little suitcase, stamped a travel journal, popped myself into an envelope and hit the dusty trail.

I made a bathing suit from velcro and then added a strip of velcro to the back of each clothing item so everything fits nicely.

Don't I look cute?

ATC swap

I joined an ATC swap where you have to use techniques from the new Bernie Berlin book "Artist Trading Card Workshop".

We have to create 6 cards for swapping.

I chose the "gesso and magazine images" technique. You select an image of a person from a magazine, lightly dry brush a layer of gesso over it to soften but not completely obliterate the image. Then you alter it.

The hostess suggested we create 7 cards so that we have 6 to swap and one to keep. But, since each of mine are different I only did 6. Mainly because I fell in love with each one and if I did 7 it would take me days to figure out which one I wanted to keep. This way I have to send them all and if I want one of my own I will create it after the others are mailed.

I used Photoshop to make each picture into a "before and after" image so you can see the magazine picture that I altered.

I am still on my ATC kick. I used some more of the yarn/ribbon I picked up at Michael's. This time I used the blue skein and created a completely woven background.

Then I had to figure out what to put on it.

I stamped several images but nothing seemed right so I dug out some of my clip art cds. This woman just seemed to call out to me.

The clock is a stamp from NonSequitor.

I colored the woman's "dress" with pencils but used Twinkling H2Os to hightlight her hairpiece. I also used them for the blue on the clock. The silver, which also highlights the woman's arm, is JoSonja's non tarnishing Silver paint.

I received some new stamps from Oxford Impressions yesterday! I just love their stamps. :-)

This girl, words and numbers all came from the School Days plate. The bicycle is from Art Impressions.

I stamped the words and numbers with chalk inks. The girl is stamped with Memories permanent black, heat set and then colored with water color pencils.

Photo stamps are so cool! If you stamp them on glossy or semi-glossy card stock they look just like a photograph!

ATCs

I have been in the mood to make some ATCs but just haven't been able to find the time.

So, the last 2 days I managed to find a couple minutes to create a couple ATCs.

On Wednesday I made this one I call "circus". I have no idea who makes the little girl stamp. I received it in a goodie box swap (someone starts a box full of goodies....stamps, papers, embellishments... and each person then takes out what they want and adds more goodies to the box and passes it to the next person)

My little animals are from a set I bought about 15-20 years ago. It is called "Animal Stamps" by Hero Arts. There are 12 in the set and I just love them. They are so cute! :-)

I colored the girl with Twinkling H2Os and colored pencils. I "antiqued" the edges with inks and chalks.

On Thursday, my friend Mary came back from lunch with a bag of goodies she bought at Michael's. They had this ribbon/yarn stuff on clearance. Such vibrant colors! After work I had to go get some!!! On the drive home I came up with the idea of "weaving" some strips and adding some stamping.

I love how striking the colors are! The rubber stamp is from StoneHouse Stamps. I colored her with pencils.

The paper scrap in the corner is also from StoneHouse Stamps. They have a fabulous collection of asian papers!