June 2014 Tag - Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 Stencil Fun!

Can you believe it is already nearly the end of June?  This summer has been very busy for me and I am glad that I was able to get in my June tag for the 12 Tags of 2014 by Tim Holtz!  Can't believe I got it done today under the wire!

This month Tim showed us a fun technique using his stencils and distress inks.  I used a new arrow stencil by Tim that I just picked up this weekend and I thought would be fun to use. I incorporated some of Tim's rub-ons and a plastic arrow as a 3D element.  The sentiment I used was one from the Stampers Anonymous set called Hashtags.

Have you ever tried making one of these monthly tags?  If not, why not give it a try? I find I learn a lot of great techniques and interesting ways to use the supplies that I have on hand.  You can find the directions over at Tim's blog.

Hope you have a great day! Thanks for visiting!

Tea Time Tuesday - Little Dutch Girl Teapot

The summer is here and next month is my birthday, so, when going through my tea pots and cups, I decided to share a teapot my good friend Mariola gave me for my birthday a while back. She is a beauty!  I fell in love with her in a shop, and my friend saw it and picked it up for me.  I don't have any like her, and I just love that she is dressed in traditional clothes.  The handle is the basket of flowers and the pitcher is the spout.

She is so very dainty and sweet.  I love her facial features, and the fine hands.

I am sharing tea today at:

Tea Time Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Hope you have a tea-riffic day!

Dear Ol' Dad

I thought I would share the cards I made for my father and father-in-law for Father's Day.  I didn't post them beforehand as I wanted to make sure they had them before others saw them.

The first card up is the one I made for my father.  I decided to go with a vintage feel and use the fun Found Relative cards and other goodies that I have been enjoying lately.  I used Tim Holtz rub-ons directly on the cards for added accents.

For my father in-law I went with a vintage feel as well, but something softer and more distressed.  I know that he loves to watch birds, and one of my pen pals (and friend) sent me a beautiful stamp by Magenta and I knew it would be perfect for this card. The patterned paper and label sticker I used are both by Tim Holtz as well. Gathered Twigs Distressed ink was used to add the vintage and worn look.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these cards as much as I enjoyed making them.

Have a fabulous day!  Until next time!

WOYWW #263 - Letter Writing Underway

Today is Wednesday and I am sharing what is on my work desk with you!  You will see a nice pile of letters patiently waiting a reply (about 20!).  I love how some of my pen pals make their own envelopes using old calendars and papers.  Such a treat to receive.  I love to make envelopes but the amount of letters really gives me little time.  So, as a card maker (and someone who has a ton of stamps), I decorate my envelopes using fun stamps. You will see a bunch on the desk as well.  I am using one of my favorite color fountain pen inks (Edelstein Jade).

Off to make a nice cup of tea and continue answering these letters!  I have been on vacation and taking classes and it is funny how they pile up!

Thank you, Julia, for the desk hopping fun!  Why don't you join in and share what you are working on? Visit Julia and play along, you will enjoy it!

Until next time!

Let Freedom Ring! Happy Flag Day!

Today is Flag Day here in the U.S.!  You may remember if you have been following my blog a while that each year I make my sister a card for Flag Day.  It started years ago when she made a comment that I make cards for ANY reason, that I would even make one for Flag Day.  Well, my late husband reminded me of her comment, and from then on she gets a card on this day.  This year is the 10th year I am sending her one.

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Memento Black, Copic Markers, Fired Brick Distress Ink
Paper: Gina K Designs
Misc.:  Dreamweaver Silver Embossing Paste, Simon Says Stamp Stars Stencils, Ribbon

In all seriousness, there is nothing more beautiful that seeing our flag hung and waving in the breeze. Thank you to all who gave so much for us to be so lucky to live in freedom.  All you have to do is turn on the news and hear about so many that aren't as fortunate, and I thank my lucky stars for Old Glory.

If you live in the U.S. I hope you will join us in hanging your flag!

Until next time!

Distressed No Longer

It has been a whirlwind these past few weekends.  You may recall that I attended the Simon Says Create event a couple of weeks ago in Ohio.  I had a fabulous time and got to take my first classes with Tim Holtz.  Well, this past weekend he was teaching at our local scrapbook store Scrappers Playground and I was lucky enough to get into a class.  I took my sister along, and she is not a crafter, but was very curious to see why I was so excited.  She was very sweet and had a special t-shirt made for me.

What a fun time!  Maggie had a great time and got to learn about Distress Ink and products.  I knew it was successful when she decided to shop afterwards!  That is always a good sign!

Here is a picture of the folio I made.  I am just loving these Found Relative cards!  I can't wait to fill it up!

Tim surprised us all with a messenger bag and lots of goodies. I am looking forward to some down time so I can use some of them!

I am so thankful to Tim and Mario for the kindness and generosity they showed.  They take the time to speak with you and take pictures and are all around good guys.  All the years of waiting really were worth it.   If you get the chance to take a class with Tim,  I say go get inky!

Until next time!

Tea Time Tuesday - Tea & Sympathy and a Visitor

Lately, I have been traveling and doing a lot of running around.  It was nice to have a few hours alone in the middle of Manhattan and I decided to have tea at a small tea shop called Tea & Sympathy.  Luck was on my side as there wasn't a wait and I got a corner table where I could enjoy my tea while I read my Kindle.  My favorite thing on the menu is their shepherd's pie.  It is really delicious.

The Alice in Wonderland teapot is one of my favorites.  A few years ago I picked one up here for my home.  It always makes me smile.

After a nice quiet dinner, I pulled into my driveway to find a visitor having his/her dinner!  I had to snap a photo as the bunny is in front of my newly painted garden sign!  The Distress Paint is holding up nicely with all the rain.

I am sharing tea today at:

Tea Time Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Hope you have a fabulous day,  and find some time for yourself!

Tattered Floral Birthday Card Using Gift Wrap

Remember a while back when I wrote about some lovely books of gift wrap that I received from my friend Ruth?  Well, I was asked by a co-worker to make Ruth a birthday card for her.  Ruth loved the gift wraps, and knew I would get use from them, so I thought: what better way to use them than make her a card? I remembered her favorite pattern from the book, so that was the one I used.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' Up
Paper: Gina K Designs
Ink: Archival
Misc.: Tattered Floral Die, Circle Punch, Button, Gift Wrap

I attached a piece of the floral gift wrap to a piece of card stock and then die cut it.  This gives the piece some weight and made it sturdy.

The leaves were made by cutting out them out using a circle punch and scoring and folding.

Wishing Ruth a very Happy Birthday!  She brings a lot of sunshine to those who know her!

#SimonSaysCreate (and I did!)

What a lucky lady I am!  I was able to attend the Simon Says Create event in Columbus, Ohio this weekend.  I thought I would share my thoughts and some of the photos I took and some of the "creating" I did.

I live in NYC, and always wanted to take classes with Tim Holtz and Jennifer McGuire, and haven't been able to take a class in my town.  When I saw they were teaching in Columbus, I knew I wanted to sign up.  I was so glad that I registered when it was announced as it sold out very, very quickly.  When I saw the rest of the teaching lineup, I knew I was in for a treat.  

Simon Says Stamp picked a great location and I stayed on premises and loved the ease of travel to and from as I traveled alone and didn't rent a car.  Lovely hotel room and amazing staff.

I have been asked how it was to attend a large event alone.  Crafters tend to be very kind and embracing to those alone.  Each meal someone included me with their group.  Very nice ladies.  When the hoopla got to be a bit much for me between classes, I just took a walk and got some tea and relaxed by the pool.  

Tim Holtz taught three classes. He was very kind, and his teaching style is very cool and he makes sure you understand and encourages people to ask questions if they are unsure.  He doesn't just plow along with some students sitting there lost. With such a large group (100 ladies), it amazed me how much information he was able to share and how many techniques he was able to cover! I am a card maker, so 3D items are not something I normally do, so these projects were out of my comfort zone at first, but boy, did I have fun and felt so free to try new things!

My folio underway!

Here is my Burlap Collage!  What fun and totally different than anything I normally do.  

My last piece from Tim's class is my Configurations box.  This was the longest class we took.  By working on the other two projects, we had the techniques already and were very familiar with a lot of the processes.  This was such a hoot, and I found out I am "wire" challenged, as for some reason I had problems following how it got used and Tim came to my assistance.  It holds the bottles and vials in the box.  You will notice my tags in the box are not done, but that is okay, as I plan to work on them now that I am home.  

You may notice there is an adorable lantern in the top left box.  It is fun, as it lights!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't art journal.  But I am happy to say that Shari Carroll taught an art journal course on the last evening and it was a lot of fun and very interesting to me.  We used Gelatos, Gesso, and Multi-Medium.    Here is the page I worked on.  For a first effort, I am rather pleased with it.

We made a lot of cards as well.  The instructors were amazing, and the Simon Says Stamp staff were incredibly helpful and they always had smiles on their faces.  Truly a great way to experience a weekend away!

Here are a few pictures of me with some very familiar faces!

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If you stayed with me this long, you are a trouper!  I sure hope Simon Says Stamp makes this a yearly event!  If they do, I highly recommend you join me there!

Until next time!

WOYWW #261 - Lots of Creative Goodies

Happy Wednesday!  As some of you know, I was away in Ohio for 3 days to attend the Simon Says Stamp Create event.  What a fun-filled time!  I was so excited to get to take my first classes with Tim Holtz, Jennifer McGuire and others.  I will write more about them later this week.  Since it is Wednesday, I am sharing what is on my work desk.  Well, you will see it is covered with lots of stamps, stencils, inks and lots of other goodies.  All these wonderful supplies were given to us over the course of the class.  I will be going through it and sorting and putting it away.

Isn't that very generous of all the manufacturers and Simon Says Stamp?  The classes alone were worth the trip, and meeting so many lovely crafters was a major bonus.  

Thank you, Julia, for the desk hopping fun!  I am looking forward to seeing what you are all working on!

I hope to share some of the projects I made while at the event.  I can tell you, my fingers were very inky and covered in paint most of the time.  I even got to take an art journaling class, and made my first page.

Until next time!