A little anticipation.....

Tomorrow I am hosting our Christmas in July Crop at the Studio.
One of our attendees had to double check with "the boys" before confirming her attendence -- I have to share with you the email I received to tell me "She's In" (Hope she doesn't mind -- I just loved it so much)

The three wise men and
the angel we have heard on high
have sung to the mountains
to follow the shining star
to the art house
to deck the halls
with frankenscence ,myrr , seven gypsies and a little tim holtz.

See you tomorrow!

I love creative people!
I'll be in the studio today getting ready for the festivities.... Ho Ho Ho!

Some Girlie Time...

This weekend my dear friend Sheri came to the trailer to spend some much needed time away with me :) I was sooooooooooooooooooo excited to have her there!

Anyway -- true to form .... Sheri and I did a little crafting. One of the items I created was this vintage frame all decked out in GrungePaper Roses (youTube Tutorial coming soon). Still love my Grunge and the effect it gives. The roses were done using Wendy Vecchi's Dimensional Rose Art Stamp Images (the leaves were from that as well) and I used a Sizzix leaf flourish I had to create the Grunge Vines. Yummmmmmmmmmm... The Shaped cardstock in the middle of the frame was created with the new Tim Holtz Sizzix Shaper Die and the quote is one of his stamps!! I have it up at the studio now. Come on by to see it.

WHILE YOU"RE HERE.... remember that the studio is offering 30% off Sizzix Dies this week INCLUDING TIM HOLTZ ALTERATIONS dies, edgers, movers and shapers, embossing folders, etc etc. There are some other cool tools on sale this week too!! So if your itching for some Sizzix goodness -- come on by!!

I had lots of fun Vintage Shopping with Sheri this weekend too!! I can't wait to show you what I've been up to but that's for another post!!

Happy Creating!!!!!

Sitting Pretty...

This week's challenge at Something Completely Different was posted yesterday.... The theme: "Are you sitting comfortably?" Kinda fun -- and I had just the stamp. I'm been looking for an excuse to use it. "Listen Honey -- The dress is by Ralph Lauren - the Body by Chocolate Chip" Too fun.

It's not everyday I use a cutsie stamp. *smile* Thanks for the challenge!

Fabric Florals with the TOTMC

Have I told you how much I LOVE the Technique of the Month Club? I really enjoy having the ladies come to the studio to learn a new technique or two on the first Wednesday of the Month. Love spending time with you all!! We had a new member join us this month - Welcome Stacey!! So glad you could join us!

This month I was inspired by my class with Donna Downey that I took in June and I wanted to share some of that inspired wisdom with the girls! ....didn't think Donna would mind! *grin*

I love the way that Donna creates stems and leaves for her fabric and lace floral designs -- There is nothing really new to making your own Yo-Yo and bunch fabric flowers (we all just need to remember to re-visited them sometimes). It's amazing what a running stitch will produce *wink* -- What I loved was the technique that I showed the girls. Wet down strips of paper (loosen the starchy pulp in the paper) twist and dry for the stem. When the paper dries after being wet it will keep its shape. Eureka!! Donna's so smart!! Do the same for the leaf. Cut out a rough leaf shape, wet it down and fold a "vein" and crunch away -- shape your leaf the way you'd like. Dry and voila!! FABULOUS!


We made these cards by masking our paper off (with tape) white paper and spritzing the backgrounds with 3 colours of our DIY glimmery mists using Ranger's Mini Misters, Perfect Pearls and Distress Ink Reinkers (Broken China, Wild Honey, Forest Moss). We then stamped a script stamp using Jet Black Archival Ink and some of us added a saying or two to it to finish it off. Fun! Fun!
In total the girls learned 3 different ways to create fabric flowers, got a glimmery mist re-fresher and had lots of fun. BEST YET -- now that I think about it, no bandaids were needed!!! YAY girls!! Not bad for a group who hates to sew!! *wink*

All heart....

This week's challenge with Something Completely different was to make a TAG with a HEART Theme.

Over on Tim Holtzs blog.... he created a mini canvas with a heart so I thought I would take the base of his creation and work it into a tag for this challenge. Here's the link to Tim's Dimensional Grunge tutorial.

The base of my tag, as outlined on Tim's blog, is created by adhering a grunge heart using Claudine's Matte Medium. I applied the medium to the entire tag (also using Cut N Dry Foam) and added my signature sheet music. I then inked with Distress Inks but that's where the similarity ends. I continued by adding layers of watercolour paints, oil pastels and charcoal pencil to my tag. I love adding layers to layers.... I just can't seem to stop! (hehe)

The stamp is from Scrolls Work Stamps (#1641 Heart Sees), and the wire, who knows *wink*, just a little something I found in my tickle trunk.
Thanks for the challenge. I hope you like!! And enjoy Sir Tim's tutorial!! If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line. Love to hear from you

It IS Christmas!!!

The July/August issue of SOMERSET STUDIO has ARRIVED in the Art House Studio! HURRAY!!!!! I so love this art mag!!! And the artists and articles are incredibly inspiring!! Can't wait to discover it!!!

The Art House will be carrying Somerset Studio, Stamper's Sampler, Somerset Apprentice... and more. Eeeeekkkk... can you see me doing a happy dance?

Christmas in July......

begins in the studio today!

30% OFF all in stock STAMPS!
INCLUDING Tim Holtz, Wendy Vecchi and Scrolls Work too!

Stamps are on sale until SATURDAY

Next week.... Sizzix Dies (including Tim Holtz Alterations) and some other tools too!