Easter blessings

I know I was supposed to post Friday and show you the circus-themed art I'd made, but I didn't finish up until last night and then like a worn-out 5-yr-old promptly fell asleep without remembering my resposibilities. And the 2 margerita rocks-sugar rims that Hubs made me didn't help me stay awake, lol. But I did feel great! hehe

Then, this morning, still forgetting my promised post, I set about coloring and texturing this sweet little lamb and duck digital stamp from WinkWinkInk (see sidebar for link). I outlined the lamb in a light grey zig marker, then used my yellow and orange copics on the duck. I added pink Prisma pencil highlights to the lamb and then dotted his fur with Frosted Lace Stickles. I did the dotting twice, letting the first dotting dry first and seeing where there were bald spots for the second dotting. This gives it just enough dimension to scan in a wool-like look. In real life, my lamb's coat is quite glittery and shiny, but on a scan (which you are seeing), none of the glitter shows and instead gives off the textural monochrome look I want.

This can be done with any digital stamp or coloring book image, but remember to scan in before using. That way you have an image to print out again for future use.

I also played a bit with my Paint Shop Pro, framing this image and creating an "Art by Aimeslee" watermark, which I feel that I need to start adding to my art that I show online. Only problem is, it creates one more image of every piece that I have to save, but I guess that's the breaks.

Anyhoo, wanted to share that and convey my best wishes to you for a blessed Easter weekend. Now, on to the circus art...

I love this anniversary card! I began by stamping a background with yellow pigment ink using my Crossword Scrapblock stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms (see sidebar for link) and then heat embossing the entire thing with Ranger Holographic embossing powder. It ends up very sparkly and looking green in some places, gold in others. It was the only background stamp I had with checks, which is what I wanted. And it's a card for my stamping group so I wanted to have some stamping on it somewhere.

Then, I took white index cardstock and diecut the Sizzix Big Top lettering and the tent. I took the polkadot paper and diecut the Sizzix scalloped heart. I punched holes in each scallop and set the eyelets, and then outlined the scallops with a black Prisma pencil. I also outlined the tent after coloring it and the Big Top lettering with my zig markers. I outlined the lettering with my black Copic for a darker effect. I forget who makes the "Love" chipboard letters, but I used them straight out of the storage drawer. I threaded some tiny Doodlebug posies through the little clown guy's hand and all that was left was to arrange it all and adhere with a ton of foam tape. The guy and gal are very old collage scrap images from Inka's (now Scrollswork - see sidebar for link).

Here's the ATC that began the circus thing for me. I get the Dover email every Friday and have quite a large folder of saved images from it. I printed out the background image in black and white, and colored it with my Prisma pencils. Then, I cut out the little elephant from my Grace Drayton collection of paper doll images on stiff cardstock. He's called The Laughing Elephant and I think he's so cute in his little suit, don't you? The ball was cut out of a Melissa Frances vintage label that I had. I edged the little guy with a blue Copic which bled a bit but gave him a vintage definition I think looks good. I edged the ball with a black Copic and added some Chatterbox chipboard corners.

I have one more circus-themed idea in the works that is nowhere near complete, and that will have to wait until another time. But these two art pieces are good examples of the way I am playing now -- just letting my imagination lead my fingers. Okay, I'll never completely just let go and let loose completely, but hey, even a little free can be fun.

I'll leave you with a sketch card I made on the fly after all this, reminiscent still of a circus theme. While getting the ball for my laughing elephant above, I spied some vintage Melissa Frances toy chipboard images that I thought would work great on a birthday card. I remembered a card sketch from my stamping group that was great for using inchies, so I adapted it.  You can see how I added and embellished by comparing my finished card with the sketch it's based on:

I wanted to add some stamping to this, so I added a mat for the images. I used a Starving Artistamp background stamp that looks like screen door netting, but I had to limit the size of the mat to the stamp because I'm not expert enough in stamping to seamlessly continue a rubber stamp pattern. So, I added the sheer ribbon to the top and bottom of the red mat. I also added some Paper Salon Fancy Flourishes corners that I stamped onto some patterned paper and cut out. I also punched all paper corners with my new Fiskars 4-corner punch.

Now, true, I used a sketch, but only as a starting point for arranging my focus elements. (And, also true, I want to continue creating sketch card samples for my group. So, when the sketch fits...).

Fun with ink and gelpens

Supplies: 4x4 coaster, leftover white cardstock from which a Nestabilities was cut out, Posh Inkabilities reinkers, Ranger Tim Holtz distress inks, Glimmer Mists, stipple brushes and sponges, Ranger Inksentials white gel pen, Inkadinkado dancer stamp, misc. unknown flourish stamps, QK Sophisticate tiny clear alpha stamps, Sakura Gelly Roll pen, Stazon inks, heat gun

It's not every day that I have as much fun creating something as I did this. I knew 2 things when I began -- that I needed to make a 4x4 Dance-themed chunky page, and that I wanted to use the white cardstock saved from last week when I diecut a Nestability frame from it.

I had seen someone in my Technique Junkies group do a card using the Bandana Technique that morning and thought, okay, let's check that out. Still had my Posh reinkers out and incorporated them and my Glimmer Mists into the mix.

This technique forced me to use and use and use my white gel pen, and I discovered that I've been giving up on it too soon. It doesn't flow that well unless it gets a very good long workout, but then look out Lois! So, if your white gel pen acts like it's clogged or shy, take a dark piece of construction paper and just do some doodling...for about 5 solid minutes. If it still works, it will be primed up nicely by then. I also keep a little piece of paper towel in my other hand and "pinch" the pen tip with it to keep it clear of anything it might pick up from what I'm drawing on.

Rock star

An ATC for my weekly mingle group using the Tye Dye Wax Resist technique from Technique Junkies, using Posh Inkabilites reinkers, wax paper and Epson glossy photo paper. Inkadinkado stamp and 7Gypisies vellum alpha stickers.

Color fetish

Yes, I must confess...I think I have a color fetish. And, I have no plans to lose it.

I could probably color as a full-time job as long as my fingers, thumbs and hands would cooperate. It would certainly qualify as one of my dream jobs. I've always loved to do it and probably always will. I think being able to color digital stamps is why I'm developing a fondness for them. And Designed2Delight digital stamps are definitely delighting me.

Here's a birthday card I made using the latest D2D challenge stamp called "In Bloom". It's perfect for any Spring event. After the winter most of us have had, those blooms are a welcome sight especially for those still dealing with snow.

This time I added the birthday sentiment in my editing software before printing the image. Then, I used two coloring techniques that I learned from my Technique Junkies membership: Pencils Over Markers and Wisped Frames. Wish I could explain more, provide more details as to the processes, but the techniques are proprietory.

This is my 4th card to use a TJ technique, but I'm just now getting

comfortable enough to mention it. I know, how silly of me, but it was all a bit overwhelming at first learning my way around. Now, though, I'm like a fire's been lit underneath me. There are sooooo many coool technique tutorials and I want to do them all now.

In addition to the TJ techniques on this card, I also used the sketch from the Sweet Stop Saturdays for this week:

As you can see, didn't follow it to the letter, but I was definitely inspired by it.

The papers are DCWV slabbers, and the image was colored with Prismacolor pencils and Copic markers (the Pencils Over Markers technique). The edge of the image was sponged with Ancient Page Sandalwood dye ink (the Wisped Frames technique) while it was still sitting in the Spellbinders Nestie dye. I also got some good instruction over at Stamp TV ning where Gina K. has some excellent video tutes, one of which is called Nestabilities Highlighting. In that one, Gina K. shows how to ink the edges and leave that cool outer (white) rim.

I've ordered some Opal-colored iridescent Easter grass / shredded gift bag fill and am looking forward to it arriving. Yep, it's for a card technique -- seriously. It's called "Oh-So-Fru-Fru". A few other strange supplies on my list are spray starch, Future Floor Wax and L.A. Colors nail polish. So, stay tuned. You never know what weird stuff makes up a great art technique!

Pop-Tart

Just popping in to show this recent anniversary card creation --

This card began with two things: a clear vellum sentiment sticker and this sketch from over at Paper Craft Planet:

Then, I finally purchased some rainbow ink pads (one Kaleidoscope and 4 Ranger Big n Juicy pads). So, I'm trying to think of an integrated way to incorporate that sentiment sticker...without it looking like a sticker. And then it occurs to me to brayer some rainbow ink over the stamped gate and then stick the sticker down over that. So, that's what I did. Cool, huh?

I've had that stamp for ages and long ago forgot who made it, but I do know that the dancing border is a Dee Gruenig Posh stamp called Estruscan Joy. I also rainbow-brayered the stamped border. And I used my brick wall background stamp by I Brake for Stamps to stamp a little bit of the piece behind the sticker focal image.

I'm usually not so dimensional with mail art, nor very mixed media minded when creating greeting cards, but the Muse moved me to gather up embroidery thread, a K&Co. chipboard heart, a MM blossom and silver lock and key charms, and make a little embellie.

I inked both the blossom and the heart beforehand, and I used my CropaDile to punch holes for attaching the charms. It turned out kinda weird but kinda cool, so no harm done. Best of all, I bashed a little stash.

I have to say I love brayering ink. I've never done it before because I didn't want to have to clean up the brayer, but then somewhere I saw someone open the top of her baby-wipe container and roll the ink off onto the top of the wipe stack. Doh! Why didn't I think of that? I am envisioning several lab experiments with my new tools. Happy Happy Joy Joy! winkwink

Down in my bones

(birthday greetings card by me, using some papers I found in a page protector already put together for a future card...my minds eye star and brade embellie that I colored red with my Copic; creative imaginations ribbon; Pow Bam Star stationary border paper from Office Depot; American Crafts striped paper; DCWV yellow cardstock cuttlebug-embossing with Allegro folder; Elvis birthday stamp by IBFS stamped with black Ranger archival ink on Wausau 110# index stock and diecut with Spellbinders Labels #9, then colored with Copics and Prismacolors.)

It's been pain 24/7 in my hips all week long and when episodes like that consume me there is little energy left for creativity. So I didn't get as much done as I wanted to. And the weather yesterday didn't help. My folks live in NE Arkansas and were afraid yesterday's slammer cold front / blizzard was going to be a redux of that horrid ice storm exactly one year ago. Blessedly, they fared okay this time, no power lost. I feel badly for the folks in Oklahoma...I think they received the brunt of it.

Wow, I just remembered, a few years ago, it was Missourians sitting in the dark and cold for a few weeks. January is really the cruelest month for weather.

So, anyway, my Elvis card was fun to make, using this week's sketch at Stepping Stones Designs. I am perhaps addicted to using sketches for cards now, I think. The other day I almost made a card without a sketch at all and stopped myself. I mean, why do that when there are about a zillion sketches out there? (See what I mean? LOL)

Okay, I've had a ton of people ask me how I made that red foofy flower on this card. I thought about writing a tutorial, except that it's just too simple for all that.

What I did was take some ironed rayon fabric (and I am pretty sure that any other similar fabric would work -- if it's too flimsy, try starching it lightly) and I diecut a dozen of a Sizzix flower shape with it. (I used just one diecut so all of the layers were identical.) I also diecut a circle shape out of Bazzill card stock that was just a tad smaller in diameter than my flower.

Then I cut a little x in the center of each one with my fabric scissors as a hole for the brad. Then I assembled it: card stock  circle, fabric flower layers, brad.

Several people wondered what made it poof up. I did nothing to assist that. I think it is just what lightweight silky material like that does on its own. And yes, I used I know close to a dozen of those layers. You just keep adding layers until you get the foofy you want.

Over the Flu Hump

I'm doing better, finally. Since I last posted, The Hubster came down with it, too. He even took a day off work, which is shocking in itself if you know him. I think he had perfect attendance grades 4 through 12 (grades 1-3 had a few days of absence due to mumps, measles and chicken pox, or he'd have had perfect attendance there, too). Anyway, he's back at it and recovering slowly but surely as well.

Oh, where to start catching up? Ah, oldest first. Here's my next art journal page, back in March (looks Halloween-ish, doesn't it? It's the Marah Johnson skull rub-ons):

The rest of today's photos are creations made last month. Here is a 4x6 artist postcard. I do not know what came over me to draw this...acute bravery, I guess (my courage isn't cute, just strong hehe). I guess it was time for me to play with the shabby whimsical portraits I've been learning to draw in Suziblu's class.

I call it Jane's New Dress because it looks like she's modeling it a little shyly. I used a charcoal pencil rubbed in with rubbing alcohol (it earned its name) and watersoluble oil pastels using watercolors as the wetting medium:

After it was finished, I realized I'd used Halloween colors, and she would have made a great Good Witch with the addition of a black hat or broom. Oh well, next time.

Next, how about an artist trading card?

The weekly mingle theme was purple power, so this is titled Purple Marie. I took a dusty mauve purple card base and rubbed in some w/s oil pastels. Then I stamped in purple around three corners and heat embossed in sparkly clear powder before adhering the images, from a collage sheet by Collage Visions.

Finally, a greeting card, made for another one of my nephews for his birthday:

I used sketch #160 from my yahoo group Stampers Corner and some ancient Scrapworks papers and diecut.

A little Darkness never hurts

I've been up all night, creating, packaging traded mail art to new homes, working on 3 different projects an hour here, an hour there. And then it occurred to me that October was almost over and I hadn't done Michelle's GPP Street Team Challenge #34, which was to start with a black journal page.

Since I had my inks and embossing powders already out, I decided to use them. I took my Ranger Inksentials white gel pen, hurriedly wrote what was on my mind in a stream-of-consciousness way, unedited and in very sloppy handwriting, until the page was filled with white cursive. Then I rubbed in some watersoluble oil pastels, and stamped over that with pigment inks and heat embossed.

I like the results so much that I scanned it in to use in the future as a background. Click on the photo to enlarge it -- you can really see all the embossing and different colors. And if you like it, you are more than welcome to snag it for yourself. It's my Dark Side gift to you.

It seems like only yesterday it was the beginning of the month -- time is moving much faster to me than it used to -- and I had planned to do dry pastels or embossing ink and Perfect Pearls for the challenge. So much for that.

I still want to do dry chalk pastels on black paper someday soon. I recently read you can *burn them in* with rubbing alcohol so that they won't rub off. Don't know if that is true, haven't tried it yet (I did manage to have fun doing that with a charcoal pencil the other day, though, so the alcohol does do something along those lines).

Black paper definitely has possiblities I never seem to remember to utilize. I'm glad I took a few moments to *Challenge 34* myself and Come Over to the Dark Side. :-)))

Bookmark Tutorial

Here is a classy and easy way to mark your place in that hot book you are reading. I made a couple of these bookmarks today and decided to snap a few pics during the process for you and do a little tutorial. First, you need to get this:

Next, turn the paper over and:

Then:

Now, do this:

Then:

Next:

Finally:

Here is the other bookmark I made, for my homework in my Taking Flight class:

I used rub-ons from Marah Johnson's Travel Designs and Love Struck booklets (Creative Imaginations).

September = School Daze

When I taught 3rd grade almost 2 decades ago, the staff always used to call the beginning of the year "school daze" because it reflected the way we felt for the first few weeks.  This is my homage to that annual tradition, just from a teacher's point of view, lol.

This piece is only 4x6 inches, but I loaded it up. The base is chipboard packaging from a box of granola bars, with strips of dictionary paper glued down and painted white. Then, I applied very old alphabet rub-ons all over the front, even at times rubbing on the entire portion of the sheet that was left, all at once. Then, the painting layers a la Kelly Kilmer.

Next, some stamping of foliage and addition of little punched leaves, topped off by the borders. The focal image, The Thinker, was a laser copy that I did a gel image transfer on and made a skin that I then adhered to the base. I tried out my Omni-Gel stuff. So-so for the effort. I could have done the same thing with heavy gel mediun, but the thickness of this stuff does make it easier. Oh well, ya win some, ya lose some, and learn a lesson or two along the way.

Anyway, I love the way you can see the letters through the image transfer. I've kinda gone crazy printing out laser copies of images to gel up and make skins with.

I am almost finished with my Sept. calendar and will try to post tomorrow. Until then, remember to slow down in school zones!

emo faces: crusade #32

Having finally finished the exhausting Lesson 3 in my Decorated Page workshop, I needed a break, a distraction, before beginning a very comprehensive Lesson 4.



As serendipity would have it, I checked out Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team to see what the current crusade was. You can read about it here: Crusade #32 - Knock Yourself Off.

Turns out this was something that fit perfectly into a solution for another little problem I was having. I'd done a set of atc's for an emotive faces swap at my Paper Traders yahoo group, but I didn't like them and they just sat there as the deadline grew closer.

The first set of cards had been done by finding faces of models in magazines, scanning them in, desaturating the color out, printing them and then altering them with paints and pens.

Here are each of the 5 cards I made back in June (I named each model), next to the printed image I started each card with. First up is Ursula:
Ursula, desaturated original
Ursula, painted

Next, we have Rayma:
Rayma, desaturated original

Rayma, painted

Next I present Stacy:
Stacy, desaturated original
Stacy, painted

Okay, the painted Ursula, Rayma and Stacy were the best ones. These next two I had problems because I tried painting their skin. I discovered that I shouldn't have done that, so I had to try to make lemonade out of lemons, as you will see.

So, here is Rika, who I ended up making into a Geisha wannabe:
Rika, desaturated original
Rika, painted, the Geisha Wannabe

And here is Emily, who I should rename Jackobea, because she appears to be a Michael Jackson wannabe (Note - you may notice the original is that Padma chick from Top Chef):
Emily, desaturated original
Emily, painted - the MJ Wannabe

So, anyway...I made this set and wasn't happy with the last two, so I put them aside, waiting for... what-I-do-not-know.

It was then that I read the new Crusade #32, and another idea came to me -- to do them over and *knock myself off*. I decided to go back to those original magazine pages and this time use some tracing paper parchment, trace the major lines of the faces in pencil, outline in Pitt Pen, fill in with colored pencils. and adhere to the back of adhesive cardstock.

Here is the new set I made for Crusade #32, along with the original color pages from the magazines that I traced (Ursula was in black n white in the magazine).

Here's Ursula:
Ursula, magazine original
Ursula, trace-sketched

And Rayma:
Rayma, magazine original
Rayma, trace-sketched

And Stacy:
Stacy, magazine original
Stacy, trace-sketched

And Rika, this time NOT a Geisha but a woman of color:
Ria, magazine original
Rika, trace-sketched

And finally, Emily (who is no longer trying to emulate MJ):
Emily, magazine original
Emily, trace-sketched

SOoooooo, what do you think? I'd love to know, who is your favorite, and what process do you think is more interesting or artistic?

It's a funny thing how even with tracing, these are every bit my own creations. Notice how each are different...it's like I've created 10 different women with 5 different names!

I ended up liking my *knock offs* so well that it made me take another look at my painted set and now I like them all, even the skin-challenged Rika and Emily. Funny how that worked. But if I know Michelle's genius, she had it planned all along.... *winkwink*

Until next time,