Paper Bird

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

As I have mentioned, I have been working with pigment powders to prepare for a demonstration that I will be doing. So much fun! I decided to try this terrific die by Tim Holtz called "Paper Bird" together with one of the backgrounds I crated.

I added some flowers from Tim's "Funky Flowers" dies and a cool diecut greeting by Tim for Sizzix. I love how it all came together.

I was inspired to use this cover plate die by one of my most talented mentors, Cheiron Brandon. Be sure to check out her blog at http://www.cheironbrandon.typepad.com. I absolutely love her style and I have learned so much from her over the years. I'd sure love to take a class from her someday, but she is in the New York area - darn!

Isn't it cool that we can have a community of carmakers without borders? I have card making pals all over the country and the world! Thanks for the visit and have a great week,

Maureen does Mixed Media

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have been doing lots of work lately with  pigment powders. I've been comparing and contrasting the different brands, trying lots of techniques, using different applications, different papers, etc. It has been fun. I've learned so much and gotten so messy! I'm actually preparing for a demonstration I'll be doing at my Paper Arts group.

The most difficult thing for me using this medium is the lack of control. I am a real "control freak" and these powders just explode, mix and delight all on their own!

For this card I used a combination of Color Burst and Cosmic Shimmer Shakes in a wet-on-dry technique on watercolor paper. Sometimes the backgrounds become so busy and bright that it is difficult to pair them with images and sentiments. This is one of those.

I used Concord & 9th products here. I love this "Friend Like You" die because can be used in so many different ways. That just wasn't enough on this colorful background; I felt I needed some images to ground my design. I stamped and die cut some of the smaller images from the "Wonderful Florals" set, also by Concord & 9th, using Delicata silver ink. I added silver Wink Of Stella and Glossy Accents to the word "friends" to help it pop.

This is headed for the current challenge at the Where Creativity Meets C9 Blog which is "Mixed Media".

I hope you will challenge yourself with some new techniques and products - it is so rewarding. Thanks for the visit and have a terrific week,

Oh, Hollyhocks!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I'm using one of my all-time favorite dies today (and I'm not even a "flower person" - but I was in the 1960's - ha!). It is the Hollyhocks Die DIE1690-R from Impression Obsession. I cut it out twice, once in light purple and one is a deep green - one of my happiest color combos! These look great on the background I made with Distress Oxide Inks. I used a stencil and the "smooching" technique on watercolor paper, again in my happy color combination! I paired this with a lovely sentiment called "Near to My Heart" by Kowal for Impression Obsession.

Yes, these are happy colors for me. So, this is appropriately headed to the current Impression Obsession challenge, "Happy Colors!".

Actually most colors make me happy, how about you?

Thanks for the visit and have a great week!

HELLO!

Hi, Blogging Buddies!

My crafty pals and I have playing with pigment powders - lots of brands. Having a grand (and dirty!) time. Today I made a card using Color Burst pigment powder mixed with embossing paste and pressed through a stencil.

This was the perfect background for a fun die by Concord & 9th called "Everyday Circles" I added wash tape, Glossy Accents and some glittery stars to add to the "mixed media" concept.

The texture here is much more pronounced in person.

This is headed to the current challenge at Where Creativity meets Concord & 9th - "Mixed Media".

I hope you are having a wonderful summer weekend. Thanks for the visit,

Lick It!

Hi, bloggin' Buddies!

I used this Hero Arts stamp set the other day and I just couldn't put that sweet face way without making another summertime card. Too cute, eh?

The set is "Life of the Party" from 2011. I also used the "Life of the Party Words" background stamp. Fun, cool and simple! I added a little pom-pon to his hat, some pearls and a small bow to compete the look.

I am sending this off to the challenge at A Blog Named Hero - "Summertime Fun". I'd love to keep playing, but we are packing up and heading on a little summertime fun adventure later today, so I wish you a wonderful week filled with lots of summertime fun!

Thanks for the visit,

Give Me a Hand!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Finding a little time to craft again today - summer is such a fun and busy time! Yesterday I kind of told you my history with Hero Arts and the older classic stamps that I cherish. Well, I am also crazy about all the new layering sets. They make getting great dimension on our cards an easy task (most of the time!).

I am a big fan of the ocean, so this Color Layering Octopus (CM 104) is a favorite of mine and just perfect to reflect summertime fun. I don't often make shaker cards, but I did today. I added some Pearl Pen for a shiny eye and some Wink of Stella for sparkle.

This is headed to the current challenge at A Blog Named Hero - "Summertime Fun" . You have time to play along and celebrate summer.

Thanks so much for the visit,

I Scream!

Hi, Blogging Buddies!

Summer has seriously hit here and I can't stop thinking about the current challenge at "A Blog Named Hero". Now, I've been making cards since the late 1960's (no, I'm really not too old - I was in high school then!). I actually used office stamps ("fragile" "post-dated", etc.) to create fun backgrounds and a few rubber stamps from some small "underground" companies that I hunted in the San Francisco Bay Area.

But it wasn't until Hero Arts came about (in 1974) that I really understood quality stamps and what all that could be done. I loved that it was a Bay Area company and their designers were top-notch. I became an advocate, and I still am. While I typically cycle through my stamp sets from year to year, there are some older Hero Arts wood stamps and sets with which I will NEVER part.

This is one of them - it's not that old - from 2011. But, who couldn't love the theme (ice cream) and that adorable smile and cute hat????? I bet I've used it 100 times! I've taught classes  and crafted with kids using it, too. It gives a smile to everybody! This is called "Life of the Party" - perfect, eh?

I stamped it, heat embossed the cone, used some festive paper and added some vintage elements - the crepe paper was found at an estate sale (it is actually a bit yellowed) and the rick-rack was among some of my Mom's old sewing stuff. I added the sweet rose cheeks and some rhinestones and it is a party in itself!

So, yes, this is headed to the "A Blog Named Hero" challenge, which is "Summertime Fun". I hope you have lots of fun (and some ice cream, too!)

Thanks for the sweet visit,

Summertime Fun!

Hello and Happy Summer, Bloggin' Buddies!

I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. Life happens! What can I say? But summer has hit, and hit hot where I am! Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the season.

Here is a card I made awhile ago featuring the Hero Arts Layering Bird stamp and die set. Of all of these sets that I have used to date, this one is the easiest to line up! I tried a funky  summer color combo and I like it.

I lifted him with dimensional and embellished him with punched flowers, leaves, twine and some sparkly sequins. The cardstock is some cool woodgrain paper from one of my favorite stores, the paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento, CA.

I am submitting this to A Blog Named Hero's current challenge, Summertime Fun.

Thanks for the visit and have a safe and happy summer,