Retro Easter Card

I made this card using the sketch challenge on Retro Sketches Challenge Site.  I think it makes a cute Easter card since I put this border strip of bunnies on the layered banners.  I used paper from a 6x6 pad from MME called Blush.  I'm thinking MME is a Michael's store brand.  This pad has gorgeous pink vintage papers.

The sketch is pretty simple and I kept it pretty simple.  I will confess.  After I glued everything to the card base and then picked it up, I realized the card opens on the left instead of the right.  At first I thought to cut it off the card base and just double up on another and then I realized a little bit of quirky never hurt anyone.  I'm sure my nephews will get a kick out of it when I send it to them for Easter.

Here's the link to the challenge blog and here's my picture:Retro Sketches

You're a Blast

The Curious George stamps was gifted from Rubber Paws awhile back but I completely forgot that I had them.  I'm taking part of a Teapot Tuesday challenge on Splitcoaststampers and this week was a monkey teapot.  I searched my collection of stamps for a monkey, but could not find any until I remembered I had these.  So cute!
So I am also using the sketch from Let's Scrap challenge site.  The world stamp is from CTMH and the rocket is an old Stampin' Up stamp.

Here's the original sketch:

  http://www.letsscrapsketches.blogspot.com


I'm excited to report I won the sketch challenge on the Let's Scrap website!  Woo Hoo!

Foxy Scene

Another entry in my Art Journal based on the mixed media challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  This one is MIX180.

Start with a brown paper bag or kraft paper.  I just happened to bring home some kraft paper from work the other day.  So first I used white paint and sponged it along the bottom trying to emulate a snowy hill.  Then I sponged blue ink on the top half with some touches of white.  I then cut strips of paper from an old Spanish dictionary and glued them as trees.  I added the branches as an afterthought.  I stamped some stars using the same blue ink and put white dots using a liquid paper correction pen - to make snow.

I stamped the foxes and stump on the same dictionary paper.  This stamp set is Wild About Love set from CTMH.  I added some accents and of course shading to give them more life.  Same with the trees.  I used a charcoal pencil and smudged with my finger.

I randomly drew lines as twigs, sprouting grass, etc around the tree trunks and pitted some snow spots as if planted into the snow.

I used white ink and stamped some splotches (SU! Gorgeous Grunge set) all over and used the same blue ink with the lines in this same set very lightly on the left hand lower corner.

The birds were an afterthought too.  I don't remember where I got that stamp.

Oh, one thing I wanted to mention.  The top half with the blue ink started as a mistake.  I accidently dropped the stamp pad on the paper and it left a great impression of a rectange.  I tried to sponge it into a shape I wanted, but it didn't work.  So...I basically stamped the pad (rectangle) all over as if that was the patterned paper I wanted all along.  It actually looks really good.  LOL  My friend and mentor Terry would love that I used my "mistake" as an opportunity to be creative!

Here is the final page:

I hope you like it!

Scrapbook Expo

I am so excited that the Expo is coming to town this weekend!  I really do not need anything, but it's so fun to look at the displays and samples that these experts post up for us to drool over!  I started off thinking I'd take a ton of classes, but now I decided I'd rather spend my money on STUFF.  So, this time I hope to come prepared with a list of items I actually need and some that I want to try.  I told myself I want to buy something I really DO NOT think I'd ever use - something outside of my norm.  This will (hopefully) encourage me to work outside my comfort zone. 


Last year we received these cute little stars on wire and Carly said, what in the heck would we ever use these for...?  Well, guess what, she used all hers and even said the other day that she wants to buy more.  LOL


You just never know what you're going to love.


So Saturday will be spent at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds.  We are excited!

Scrapbook Paradise in Reno, NV

I was so excited to visit a Local Scrapbook Store in Reno last weekend.  It's been a long time since I've gone to any.  It seems they are obsolete here in Central CA.  I took a Julie Nutting paper dolls class which I loved!  Although I have played with her stamps before, it was fun to pick out four different dolls to make into myself and my three sisters.


Kenny dropped me off for the class and shopping while he went back to downtown Reno to do some gambling.  I had the perfect amount of time with the class project and some shopping.  The ladies were super nice and I brought back some fun goodies.  Click here to go to their website.


Oh, I got to play with Copic markers too. 


Here's my class project:

And my goodies:

I didn't spend any more than I would have "lost" if I stayed at the casinos!

Wonderful Love

Starting an Art Journal may be the best decision I've ever made!  LOL  I love that scribbles and splotches and a whole lot of mistakes can become the most amazing pieces of art.  I finished this page  by using the colorful hearts challenge MIX106 on Splitcoaststampers.com

The page started with me writing the lyrics to my all time favorite song, "Some Kind of Wonderful" by Grand Funk Railroad.  It sat for awhile until I decided to use gold glimmer mist with a doily as a stencil.  It did not turn out well, so here comes some torn dictionary pages, yellow acrylic paint on bubble wrap, and an assortment of paint, markers, ink, etc.

The  heart is painted with watercolor paint and then outlined with black watercolor paint and a silver paint pen.  LOVE is handwritten using a white marker.

The black lines are added using the edges of sample credit cards.  You know, the ones you get in the mail.  So do you "love" it?  LOL

Truth

I'm posting this to participate in two different challenge sites.  One is the Triple the Scraps: Glory Art Scripture Challenge 2015 Study and Art Links

This week's study is based on scriptures on TRUTH.

I love any kind of bible study as it helps guide me when reading the bible and this study combines the study with art.  Cool!

I decided to work on a page in my Art Journal.

Here's the final page:

I've been waiting to use this tag on a page.  I added some pink scraps, pounced some white paint on it  and then stamped the word "Truth".  I didn't like the original "T", so I pulled my leftover letters and grabbed a new "T" to use.  I outlined it in black and glued it down.  The little black squigglies were added last.  The page is a combination of acrylic paint, watercolor pencils, watercolor paint, black ink, texture paste and stencil, washi tape and a doily.  Click on the Glory Art badge on the right to go to this website.

I'm also linking this to P.S. I Love You Craft Therapy Thursday Linky.  My friend Pam's blog.  I'll put a link here too.
Thanks!

Love is Everywhere/Blind Date

Just a little framed art for the front room...

I made this alphabet framed art awhile ago but figured it was perfect to put out during February.

Now for the Blind Date....I went to the library today and they had lots of wrapped books ready for checking out.  The idea, Go on a Blind Date with a Book for Valentine's Day.  They did give a hint with the basic type of book on the cover...suspense, romance, historical fiction, which is what I went for.  They were all decorated really pretty and all a little different.  I can't wait to open this up on Saturday!  So, I'm going on my first blind date ever!

I will write up something after I'm done.

Oh, and that little cutie is my "granddaughter" LeAnna.  Isn't she adorable?!

Cubicle Decor

I bought this photo  board half off right after Christmas thinking I would use it in my cubicle at work.  Then I realized that I'm not a red person and didn't really like it for me so...redo!

Here's the before:

and here's the now:

I basically used all the mixed media collage techniques I've been using all along.  It started off with a bright pink with some teal and it was really, really bright.  So, after doing a lot of random painting, inking, sponging, etc., I knew I didn't like it so I painted over it with white gesso.  I loved the way the teal ink still showed through and even some of the yellow circles, and more.  Then I added the black circles and pink circles.  Sprayed some gold glittermist and inked some lines using black ink and an old credit card.  I can't wait to bring it to work on Monday!       

Supplies:  white gesso, white and fuchsia acrylic paint, black and teal reinkers from Stampin' Up.  Scrap papers, washi tape, stencils, script stamp and gold glittermist from Ranger.  Oh, I almost forgot, I also splattered yellow drips/paint and black ink with a toothbrush.  (an old one LOL)                                 

Rain Drop Challenge

I like my card, but I do not like my  rain drops.  This Friday's challenge was to draw rain/water drops on your work using the tutorial.  The tutorial seemed easy enough, but I just couldn't get them right.  This definitely will need practice and I want to continue to practice because they look so realistic when done right.

Here's the link to the challenge blog:
Here's the photo of the card:

The base of the art work is my scrap sheet that stays on the side of my work area.  You know all the sloshes and marks, slips and spills.  I added the yellow circles for flowers and doodled the rest.  If   you look real close, you can see the light blue drops.

I'm also linking this to the Craft Therapy Thiursday blog.  Get to the site by clicking http://www.psiloveyouscrapbooking.com/craft-therapy-thursday-link-party-4/

Mixed Media:  paints, ink, watercolor pencils, glimmermist, stenciling with texture paste, markers, stamping, etc.