Summer Distress

In more ways than one....
Please Pray for and hold in the Light cousin Jeff with a troublesome tumor and Diane walking through the sudden death of her Dad.

Then there is the garden, lots of rain and now heatwave and soon to be 16+ folks coming and going in July.

I challenged myself to use just the new Summer Distress and the new clear stamps I got as a gift.
Both cards were made from the same puddle of ink on the craft sheet, sprayed, inked over and sprayed some more with both water and Perfect Pearls Mist.
I found these watercolor postcards when I was looking for something else,and enjoyed knowing when I was done, I didn't have to make an envelope!

 More living- less distress.

This is totally hammock weather!

Love you Diane and Jeff!

Comments and questions always welcomed.

To read what is on my heart please visit  Still Waters Refuge

GLITTER Byhand Artists Spring 2012 Rolodex Card Mingle

Here is the full set of this Springs swap/mingle.
Amazing what seven different artist do with the same theme.
I am always inspired by participating in swaps. Great slump buster!

To read more about the swap and my card in detail click here to Go to the previous blog post.

I invite you to join in the fun of Byhand Artists,by clicking here to visit the Yahoo Group.

comments and questions-please leave them below.

Drifts of One, Swaps and Rant on Process and Projects

 Byhand Artists have wonderful Swap/Mingles. A theme is announced, folks sign up and you create art,as many as the number of participants, send them off to a hostess with return postage ( I always include a little something extra for the hostess-scrap, an ATC, ribbon) and she mingles them and you get back an amazing inspirational package of creations- all different.

I'm currently hosting the Spring Rolodex Swap, 'Glitter'.

Here is my cover card I will send out with the complete mingle.

I covered all the cards with antique Linen Distress Stain , dried and stamped with Old Paper Distress Ink. The sheet music stamp is from the  Crows set.
Hand lettered(just get it done!) with a Sharper Metallic poster pen, cornered with Goldenrod Stickles and sprayed the whole thing with Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls Mist, which I wish I hadn't-oh well. It's glittery!

My cards have the same base.

The focal image is created with a couple of stamps colored with Distress Markers-worth every penny-.

Weed Love thermal embossed with Ranger Embossing Tinsel. Caution-this is a challenge to use. Shake it up well, use an anti -static pad and pick off any stray bits.

The mini harlequin border is from the Mini Images Collection- another must have-.
I custom blended Perfect Pearls, stamped with Perfect Medium and touched the PP powder to the stamped image and polished it off with a soft brush. This gives a subtle gilded effect,  hard to see on camera- give it a try- you will like it.

To  bee or not to bee- I wanted to include the Bee from the new Garden Delights set and couldn't place it on the front so I stamped a swarm on the back with the swap info.

I blended the color for the stamp from Distress markers on the craft sheet and painted the ink onto the stamp.
Some black lines for detail would be nice ( see the practice sheet)- remember I had to make 7, so players- feel free to add some!

All the above is project- now for process!

These are practice sheets.

Every finished project has lots of these. It helps me get where I am going to just start, get some ink down on paper and not worry about where I am going or what it's going to look like, or will anyone like it.
I keep working on the practice sheets as the project evolves. I also use acrylic to overlay idea on my piece to see how it will look without marking on it.

 When I teach, my intention is for you to understand what we are doing , rather than for you to be able to copy what I am doing and make what I am making.
My classes are full of all kinds of papers and paints tools and inspiration. Try to teach as little as possible and stand back and see what comes from your inside creativity.
My job is to help you integrate what you feel and see inside with what you hope to project to others that they can see and feel outside.
This is an environment for creating with out limits! Yes! there is a stamp for that!

Now a bit about swaps.
My first publishing on the web was challenges. A theme is posted and you post your take on the theme. No physical swapping takes place- just visual. you don't even have to finish the back and you can Photoshop out mistakes!
Next came ATC swaps, one on one, sending and ATC to one person and getting one back. fun fun fun.

My first mingle, I made one and loved it! Then.... HORRORS! I had to make 10 more.

I even plant my garden in drifts of one.

WHAT was I THINKING???
 Over time I have come to love the challenge of  the multiple.
Some hints:

• Make at least 2 more than you need. I end up liking the last two more than the first two, and this will cover mistakes and someone extra joins the group at the last minute.
• Keep it simple. Remember whatever your concept is, multiply it by the number you have to make plus 2.
• They don't all have to be exactly alike- only the hostess will know. Send her a gift. She won't tell.
• Enjoy the process. If not, don't do this type of swap.

I do hope you enjoy and are inspired by this mingle and find ways to share your creativity.

If you are interested in arranging a class/ retreat with me, get in touch and be sure to leave contact info.
I respond to all comments and questions if I can. Anonymous comments do not have contact info.

Comments and questions always welcome.

Rangerinklink Challenge

Rankerinklink was a longtime Yahoo group run by a bunch of very dedicated ladies who tirelessly shared info, ran swaps and challenges and more based around the Ranger product line.
Ranger, in their wisdom decided to shut down the group and some group members opened a new group,
InkyRangers to keep the info flowing.
I enjoy learning from and participating with these groups . Lots of inspiration and creativity and open sharing.

The first challenge was to create gift cards for the list moms.

I was happy to participate and show my appreciation and, I won a prize!!!

I used distress inks and markers on tags and you can find the thermal embossed    Quote at Quietfire Design.

Comments and questions welcomed.

Christmas in June

Click on this Flip Book and you will have fun seeing all the Quietfire Design stamps of the letter 'A'.
Suzanne was looking for this stamp in action and I finally found one in my collection.
I had never posted it before, so let's get the ball rolling for Christmas cards.

The die cut is a Spellbinder poinsettia die that may be retired. I cut and embossed and used the die as a stencil.

The Quote is themal embossed on card stock and then I masked it and thermal embossed the poinsettia stamp over it and watercolored. Lots of glimmer that you can't see.

If  you've been good maybe you will be on my list and get it in the mail!

Today also has a Christmas feel as my oldest son called to say he is going to swing by ( maybe 500 miles) on his bike, to drive me up and back to PA ( another 500) to go to a Memorial service I was really wanting to go it.

I've been good!

Comments and questions always welcomed.