August Tag- Tags of 2012

Getting in just under the wire, I have finally had time to play along and make my tag. My order has shipped that contains my stamps for this tag, but time is running out, so improvise I did! My granddaughter also made one along with me. Hers is the one with the lavender rose on it. I love the simplicity of this tag and have always had a soft-spot for silhouettes. i used Prima flowers and punched my leaves to make it quick. Sunflower Sprkle for my Perfect Pearls mist.

Tip-In Pages

On the end of my second week off now and just finished up my tip-in pages for my partner finally. I also made myself a spread for my book. Fran's is the large one with the green patterned paper and mine is the smaller one with the tan. Her theme is Christmas and mine is Vintage/shabby chic. I try to always make myself a page or spread also when I have everything out and making theirs. Doesn't seem to take any longer and it's all out anyway. i used LaBlanche stamps on Ranger's new specialty stamping paper for the images and then used the new distress markers to color the images. Picket Fence for Santa's beard and hair. Then used a blending tool to color the edges in red and some browns after that. Distressed the edges of the patterned paper and inked in browns also. Die-cut the Noel and 25 in glitter paper and then the snow-flakes with the movers and shapers dies. I had the snowflake tree trimmings on the left in my stash and added a piece to the image on the left for some dimension.

Clean Studio, At Last

Well, I finally have a clean and organized studio; well, almost. Still have lots of drawers and cupboards to go through and completely sort and gre tid of lots of stamps and such that are no longer loved and just not my style any more. So before it gets any messier, here are a few pics. Victoria's desk, the guest table, my desk, the cutting station, die storage and stacking turn-tables storage, Tim's die storage, embossing folders, etc., my wireless printer and Tim cupboard. There is also a loarge closet in the room; no, you are not seeing that baby! And a large bathroom with shower. It is really the master bedroom in the basement.It used to be Savanna's room when she was in high school but when she left the nest, I claimed it. Then, when she came back after a year, I made her take the guest bedroom upstairs at the end of our hall.

Making Canvases with the Grands

Today was a relaxing play-day in the new, clean studio with two of my grandkids, Victoria, 11, and AJ, 7. We decided to try our hand at making canvases. They are 5" x 7" in size. First we gessoed them, then after drying, added Distress stains and then sprayed the top with water and let them run down. AJ definately had the coolest background! Then after some more drying, we stamped a few background stamps of Tim's and Dyan's in several Archival Ink colors. They had a lot of fun with that. Next we stamped our images of Tim's for AJ's, Dyan's for Victoria's, and Wendy's for mine onto white tissue paper and then adhered it to the canvas with Mod Podge. Dawned on me afterwards, to add some distress ink on a blending tool for some depth so AJ's got that but not mine. LOL, So I added it after the mod podge dried. Then we added some tissue tape and the word tickets on pop-dot foams. They were very pleased with their art and I will be entering mine on the challenge on the Everything Wendy Vecchi group this time where we had to use some canvas and at least one of Wendy's stamps. Still don't have my swaps done but we sure had a fun time making these! There's always tomorrow.......

Birthday Cards for tomorrow-Done

Tomorrow is my oldest daughter, Angela's 30th birthday and also my hubby, Jay's 53rd birthday. (He catches up to me again) I spent the afternoon making cards for them and an extra one so I can remember what I did. now to change clothes, pick up AJ, my grandson(7), and head to Eau Claire to see their semi-pro team, The Express, play a good game of baseball. Jay was the pitcher in school and AJ started plying Rookie ball this year and is quite smitten with baseball, so I am surprising him and taking him with us. Will get a meal first and then head to the field. Take me out to the ball-game..... Here's the three cards I got made:

Rolodex Swap- Gears

This month our theme for the Rolodex card swap is gears. I used black cardstock and embossed it after cutting it first. I used my telephone card die and ran it part way through to get the notches and backed it out. I then put the gears on the edge die in and lined it up to the size I wanted and rean it through. I just used my Tim scissors to trim it up after that. On the first three I made, I used my good old Metallic Rub-ons. Remember these, ladies! I swear I am going to start using some of this stuff I have hoarded!!! Then I decided,to try some of my Lumierre paints, again, hoarded. Had to add water to most of them and one of them couldn't be saved even with it. *Note to self- STOP BUYING, START USING*, Right! Anyway, I just kept painting colors on randomly until they were covered. Then I got out the Specialty stamping paper by Ranger and stamped my images and die cut them with a Nesties set. (Dozens of these sets, again hoarded) Why don't I use these! So cool! Added some distress ink to the edges and die-cut the shape again on black a little larger. Then used the movers and shapers gears die and cut gears from scraps of black; embossed with silver detail but left a few patchy areas in some places to grunge them up a bit. Layered it all onto the card, used glossy accents to add the gears. The backs are plain except for my info sticker and I ran an Opalite pad across the black embossed area for some gorgeous colorful shimmer. I thought the Lumiere ones were over the top, with too much color, but once all the elements were added, I really liked them.

COC2- #16/ SSSS, What Do You Say, tip-in page swap

Oh my God! I am posting again! LOL, I have been so swamped and stressed out lately, I haven't created anything or posted in forever! Well, I finally took the time to get my tip-in page done for my partner this month, Michelle, and her theme is Vintage. I am also using one side of the page for my challenge over at Studio L3, for COC2- #16, misted pearls,on page 54, where I chose Tim's option #3 on my page. Yum! Love these things. Hard to tell in the picture, but the doily has been inked and sprayed.I love Tim's books, packed full of inspiration and instructions to make so many wonderful projects. Great investment! I am using the other side of the page for the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show, where this week's challenge is, "What do you say?".

I used a quote about music for mine, since the image I stamped is playing the piano. I used some of my hoarded specialty stamping paper by Ranger.OMG, I LOVE this stuff!!! I need to stock up on this stuff. Don't ever see it in the stores.It was so nice to get inky yesterday and todaym, that In am working on my Rolodex swap pages also. Have several steps done, so there's hope yet.