The Owls Return - The 2nd Flock

Oh, just more owls!!  I am having so much fun with this little guys (and gals!)  My daughter loves the "giggling" owls!  I have to say that my favorite in this second group is my little white cross-eyed dude! :)

Next...... Xmas owls!! :)

Halloween Owls on Parade!!

Cute little guys!!

This is a punch from Stampin Up that I borrowed from my friend, Marci.  I must have punched out about 100 Halloween paper owls and about 40-50 Xmas paper owls.  All of the little pieces pop out at once.  You then put them together as you wish.......

I had a ton of fun making these little guys!

I'm hoping to make them into cards ...... we'll see what happens.  They may nest for a while on my desk!  LOL!!

Gotta love Stickles and the black and white pens!!

Here they are:

Well, Hello There!!! 2 Cute (gasp!) Xmas Cards!!

Hi There!!

I have missed you!!  Lots has been going on around here, just not much crafting.  I hope to get caught up and post a few project that I actually have made! 

Here are 2!! :)

I have a couple of cute cards to show you!!  They were made using Print and Cut on my Silhouette SD.  I used an image from Lettering Delights SVG set:  Eskimo Kisses.  I changed the color/texture of the hat and turned him into an Xmas Penguin!!  (using the Make-The-Cut Program)  (he is also inked on every layer!)  His hat is pop dotted for dimension.  I attached him to my card base using an Action Wobble.  So fun!!!!!!!!!!  :)

Here are pics and (I hope) vids of the penguins wobbling!

Ok, well, you have to turn sideways to see it (????)  But, it's still stinkin' cute!!!! :)

I Got my New Gazelle!!!!!

Hi All!!

As you know, I have been smitten with my Cricut for a while.  That being said, I have never liked the company that owns the Cricut...... Provo Craft.  There has been much bru-ha-ha over some of the most recent tactics by PC.  I have jumped on the Boycott Provo Craft wagon!!

I decided to "dump" my Cricut and get a different electronic cutting machine.  One that supports and embraces true creativity and does not try to restrict the owner on what they can produce/use.

That's all I'll go into......if you want more info, you can look here:  https://www.facebook.com/BoycottProvoCraft

Now, onto the good stuff! :)  After much research, I decided to purchase a BossKut Gazelle.  I got it this Tuesday!  Yippie!  It is so much more sturdy than the Cricut!  Makes super cuts and you can do so many different things with it!!  (eventhough it's pink....... LOL)  I have been playing around with making silhouettes of some old photos to make t-shirts.  This is my first one! 

I used the Heat Transfer Vinyl.  I set up the design using the software program:  Make the Cut.  You can import pre-made images, or you can make your own.  You can also import fonts to cut!  Very cooooooooooooool!!  Anywho,  I cut out the vinyl on my new Gazelle.  It worked REALLY well!!!  Very easy to use.

Here is my first shirt!!  :) :)  I'm really happy with it.  Yes, I know, it's pretty "Andy Warhol-ish", but that's OK with me!  I was going for that artsy fartsy look!  :) 

Here is the original pic:

Thanks for lookin'!!

A Bird Book

Well, I actually started AND finished a project!  LOL!  Big news, for me! :)  I had a paper "play date" with my friend, Marci.  I wanted to test out my new binding machine (The Cinch....... LOOOOOOOVE IT!)  I made two mini books and I actually completed this one today! :)

I have to interject here that the Cinch machine is fabulous!  It is super easy to use and very intuative.  Sizing is simple and you don't have to measure (unless you really WANT to!)  :)

Ok, the project.............

I have always wanted to make a little book out of shipping tags.  I decided to just wing it and make it up as I went along. (Although, I'm very sure that this has been done before, but all I did was fold over the pages and make pockets for the little tags.  Simple and fun! :)

I colored the tags by scrunching and covering with Distress Inks. (about 3-4 "coats")  I stamped some random flowers as the background.  Then I stamped the word TWEET (I know......soooooooooooooooo original) with the new Alpha Stamps by Ten Seconds Studio.  They are awesome!!  Colored the images with colored pencils. 

The bird on the front cover is a Sizzix die cut (from a shipping tag)  distressed and colored with Distress Inks.  I embossed w/ a Tim Holtz folder and then highlighted some areas with Glossy Accents.  It is "pop-dotted" onto the front cover.

The tags are just small shipping tags distressed with ink and then stamped with random bird images and topped off with some pretty fibers.

Tied the binding coils with fabric and lace strips........

Voila!  'tis finished!! :) 

These are the tags (front and back) inside the book:



Too Stinkin' Cute!! LOL

Hi All!

Here is another Valentine's Card I made using my Paper Pups Cricut Cartridge.  I just love all of the cute doggies on this cart!! :)  I had fun putting this card together!  :)

Front:

Inside

Edited Feb 2, 2011 -- Added doll of my son, too! :)

Now, I have never been one into paper dolls.  Not really even as a kid.  I, of course, bought the Cricut Paper Dolls Cartridge more for the accessories and borders.  Well, after looking around at other dolls made with this cart, I had an epiphany.  Duh!  Make dolls of my kids!!!  :) :)

Here is my first........ my daughter in her Cross Country uniform.  

TOO STINKIN' CUTE!  

(even SHE likes it.........that says something!)

The cute little face with glasses is a stamp from Peachy Keen Stamps.  Love 'em! 

(I added Kyle to the mix! :)  He is almost 6 yrs younger than Becca.  He wanted a Spongebob shirt and jeans.  I used a blue paper for his jeans and then smeared black chalk over them...... I think they look "jean-like" :)

Cute Owl Valentine's Card

I just recently got the Wild Card Cricut Cartridge.  Thanks to some FABULOUS videos on YouTube by Creations with Christina, I feel confident putting these cards together after they are cut! :)

Here is my first one. 

The Owl Card (Valentine's style! :)

I think he turned out pretty cute! :)  I glittah'd up his eyes and beak and inked up the edges of the paper pieces.

Here is the front of the card and the matching envie.

Here is the inside of the card. (ok. HOW do I get these long pics to NOT be sideways......grrrrrrrrrr)

Thanks for looking!!!!

Back in the Saddle...........

Howdy!!  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!!  Happy New Year and all that jazz!

I have been having fun playing with my Digi Scrapping software and my new cutting toys!  I bought a Gypsy to go with my Cricut Expression.  (How sad is this...... it was so cheap [$49.99] that I bought it without REALLY knowing what it did....... LOL)  For some reason Michael's had a Cricut blowout... cartridges for $9.99, the Gypsy and Create for $49.99, and some other accessories super cheap.  So, I indulged and have been playing! :)

Here are 2 little projects that I have done.

The "Chick Card" is for my girlfriend that moved away to Colorado.  She raises and shows chickens.  I think she'll get a big kick out of it:

This next project is my first Wordbook.  My daughter is going to her best friends B-day party tomorrow.  She wanted a mini album to give her.  I designed this wordbook in the Gypsy and cut on my Cricut.  I embossed the top layer of the letter with a Sizzix Texture Impression folder.  I think it give it a little "somethin'"  :)

My daughter will decorate/embellish/add photos for Brianne.  (I figure you already know her name!  LOL)

Close up of embossed texture. 

Book open.  I made sure to have decorative paper on both sides and I also did the letter on both sides.  :)

Overall I'm pretty happy with it.  Some things I would definately do differently next time...... but, I appreciate my daughter chosing her best buddy as my guinea pig!  :) :) :)

Wow!! Something productive! :)

I participated in a Ten Seconds Studio Yahoo Group Holiday Ornament Swap!  Whew!  What a mouthful!! :)  I'm pretty happy with my results!

I used my Sizzix X-mas tree die and cut out 2 chipboard pieces, 1 paper piece, and 1 metal piece.  I embossed the metal, sanded, and then flattened.  I glued everything together, inked the edges w/ Distress Ink, punched a hole for the ribbon, and added some glitter glue and bling! :) 

I hope the recipients enjoy them!! :)

Oh, Mr. Mojo??!!!! Where are you???

Yes, folks.  It's me!!  I'm still here!  I have been seriously lacking in the "mojo" department.  I just have not been able to create much of anything!!!  The one outlet that I have been enjoying lately is my new Digital Scrapping software.  I have been putting together some fun pages and that has at least allowed me to feel a little creative!

As far as "artwork and crafting", I just don't know where my Mr. Mojo has gone..... :(

I finally made a cute little post it note holder last night.  Maybe my Mojo is going to show back up again.  :)

Here are a few of my digi scrapping pages...... and my cute little Post It Note Holder at the end of the post.   The software I'm using for the scrapping is called My Memories Suite 2.  Super easy and fun to use! :)

Here is my Post It Note Holder.  I found a few fun tutorials online.  This one is a little too big for the pad, but I found another tutorial w/ smaller dimensions.  I used up some scraps that I had and I think it turned out cute! :)

Off to make a couple more quickie Post It Note holders.  Hopefully Mr. M will come roaring back home soon!! :)

xoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxo

My Last 2 Fair Entries! :) We are off to turn them all in today!

Here we are!!  My last 2 entries for this year's Fair.  You have already seen this piece.  I did add more color to the UTEE pieces and I changed the picture display.  (I don't really like to display the kid's pictures in such a public venue)  Plus, I always get such a kick out of this image!  Isn't she great?!!! :)  Of course, I sealed the piece with PYMII.  If you'd like to read my process for making the mosaic pieces, you can see my blog post here:  "Mosaic Frame"

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My final piece is a "Secret Necklace".  My art is usually "lost" on most of the fair judges.  They just don't get me.  But, I enter stuff anyway.  :)  This is modeled from a piece I made in a class I took with Tim Holtz.  It's all Ideaology goodies, Distress Stickles, and Glossy Accents.  You have to look really hard, but you can see the "secret" through the keyhole.  :)

(click any picture for a closer look)

It is a little easier to see in person.  It just doesn't photograph that well.

Anywho, thanks for looking!!  We are off to turn stuff in.  Our fair runs the last week of July and the first week of August.  I'll let you know how we do after we attend the fair on the first day!

Hey, I'm just happy to have the free entry tickets!! :)

Toodles!!

More Fair Projects...... Kid's Turn! :)

Hi Again!!

Here are the kid's entries for this year. 

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My daughter, Rebecca,  wrote 2 poems and made one Mixed Media Drawing.  The Retainer poem was actually done for her English class.  They had to write an insult poem using some medieval language.  It was written about 2 weeks after she accidentally tossed her retainer into a Costco trash can...........never to be seen again!

(click for a larger view)

This poem was written this summer.  I really like this one.... great message!!

(click for a larger view)

This is her Mixed Media drawing.  Pencil and Felt Pen.  Slightly "Zentangle-like"

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Here are Kyle's entries! 

First up, the Andean Condor!  Clothes hanger, duct tape, foil, feathers, and paint!  :)

(oh, and a plastic margarita glass for a stand)

A Wilbur drawing done in class this year... check out Charlotte in the corner! :)

No fair is complete without some Legos!!  "Freestyle under 200 Pieces".  Some sort of Jet Tank with Escape Pods (as it was explained to me)

And, the mother of all Solar System projects.  Another entry courtesy of 3rd grade curriculum!  Hey!  We know when to double dip!! :)  Yes, we included Pluto!

So, they are all tagged and ready to drop off tomorrow.  It really is great because all of the kids that enter "stuff" in the fair are guaranteed at least a 3rd Place Ribbon.  The kids look forward to seeing all of their creations displayed at the Fair!!  Lots of Kodak moments modeling in front of their entries and ribbons! :)Every kid (and adult) also gets a free entry ticket into the Fair. 

Tomorrow I'll post my last 2 entries.  One is still drying!  LOL!!!!!!!

Toodles...........

2 Sonoma County Fair Entries

It's Sonoma County Fair time again!! :)  The kids and I have been entering "stuff" in the fair for several years now.  We are putting the finishing touches on our entries.  This kid's stuff is almost ready.  My stuff???.......  I am blowing on my glue and trying to make it dry before we have to turn stuff in tomorrow!  LOL

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Here are 2 of my projects.  First, a copper leaf "sculpture".  I stamped the copper with real grape leaves. (used black acrylic paint)   I cut out the leaves by hand.  I used the Ten Seconds Studio Salt and Vinegar Chips Patina method.  Then I ran all of the leaves through my Big Shot with a different Tim Holtz Texture Fade folder.  I did a little sanding.......... sealed with PYMII......... 

Then I glued all 4 leaves onto a grape branch. (the branch has been treated with 2 coats of glossy wood sealer)

and......... voila!

Copper Sculpture! ;)

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(you can click on picture for a close up)

Close up of Leaf 1

Close up of Leaf 2

Close up of Leaf 3

Close up of Leaf 4

My second entry this year is a UTEE/Idea-ology Magnet.  I used a UTEE piece that I made a long time ago and added some Tim Holtz goodies.  :)  A quick and fun piece!!

I have 2 more entries that are still drying!    I'll post pics of those shortly! :)

Toodles for now!

Colored Pencils on Metal!!?? Why not!! :)

Yeppers.  Another metal experiment.  I am a little disappointed in the outcome of this experiment. But, I do think with a few adjustments, it can turn out much better.  So........ let me tell you what I did (and show the results) and then I'll tell you what I think it will take to turn out better! :)

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First, I have been smitten by the notion of drawing on metal with colored pencils.  I have seen a matte black metal that is designed for drawing.  I have not ordered any of the metal because it is rather expensive.  Then I thought, why not try and make some out of what I have??!! 

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I took some of my Rock Star Black metal from Ten Seconds Studio and sprayed 2 medium coats of PYMII on it.  (PYMII is an acrylic sealer.... super fabulous stuff!  Great for sealing all sorts of projects, including metal!!)  This gives the metal some "tooth" to take the colored pencil.

On the top, the PYMII coated metal.  Below (on the scrap piece of metal) colored pencil over untreated metal.

I ran the coated metal through my Big Shot Machine. (used a Cuttlebug folder.... Holly)  You can see (sorta) that I debossed the metal. (i.e. the pattern is sunk in on the front and puffed out in the back)

Then I colored in the debossed areas with colored pencil.  This is what it looks like unaltered after coloring.

This is the effect you can get if you sand the pattern after coloring. (Obviously you need to be a little more careful with your sanding!! :)

So.  Overall, I think the technique has possibilities!!  Now, how to make it better??

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1) Freehand embossing should give better results.  The 90 degree (almost) angle of the Cuttlebug folder image is too sharp.  It is very difficult to color the entire image w/out getting it on the edge of the image.  You could try to use extremely sharp pencils to try and avoid this problem.  So, next time I will try to do a freehand image and I bet the results will "pop" more off the metal.

2) Two additional coats of PYMII should give a more even coloring surface.  I think the pencils will take better with a couple more coats of sealer.  Also, using lighter colors obviously will make the image contrast more w/ the black surface.

3)  Improve my coloring skills!  LOL!!  I think this technique could look really beautiful if colored by someone with a little more talent! :)

4) Just a note.  This technique could also be done with the Brrrrrrr Blue, Dark Chocolate, Barn Red, and Plum metals.  (The darker colors of metal) 

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Now, I did try a little somethin' somethin' with a couple of leftover scraps.  I think these would make really cool embellishment pieces!!

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I took a piece of the coated metal and used my colored pencil to emboss the image (instead of my paper stump) 

Then I sanded the image.  You can see the cool colored bits of metal under the sanded image.  I think it looks pretty nifty!

Here is another example using a very light blue pencil over the coated black metal.  Again, coooooooooooool! :)

So, overall I think my experiment has possibilities! :)   Another medium that could be used:  Chalk pencils! 

Remember that you will have to seal over the colored pencil or chalk after you finish your piece.  You can use the PYMII over non-permanent mediums.