Oz-somestamps

Gimme an S!

Well this letter has been sitting in my studio just begging for some attention - and I finally found some time this morning while the fam was sleeping in!

I started with your standard Paper Mache letter.  I decoupaged dictionary pages to the front and painted the edges with black acrylic paint.  Then I grabbed my stamps - some old TAC images and a few from Amuse Studio too.   I stamped away with Pallette Noir ink - my fav! 

When I finished stamping I added the ribbon trim and pearls to both ends of the S.  I also fashioned a flower from some burlap ribbon - LOVE!!!  I made a bunch of those suckers when I was finished and will be adding them to my crosses soon. 

Now to find a spot for it in the living room!

Scallop Note Center Cuteness!

I started with a display easel from my demo days with A|S (the item is not available any longer I dont think but you can ask Seleise!)  I stuck on a piece of Petite Dot paper that I distressed the edges of with a sanding block.  I made a little box with the Chevron CS and attached it to the board with red line tape - I left a little extra room so the pen fits in there with the Post-it Notes too.  I used simple button magnets and resin flowers for the magnets - E6000 for sure!

I created a calendar file which you can download here:  Download 2014longnotecal
I wanted to be able to cut it with one of my nesties so they would all be perfectly sized.  That one goes from March 2014 to March 2015.

So it has been forever since I posted on my blog - and I am not saying I am gonna get back to that but you never know!  It is Spring Break so I had some time to get my studio cleaned up a bit so I can see my desk!  It also helps that it is getting warmer so it is not arctic in there!

I am planning an Angel Reunion in June 2014 - the first weekend in KC at the Four Points.  Email me if you want to join us!

Finally Sisters...She Art

"Finally Sisters, Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think on such things."  Phil 4:8

This is the very first verse I ever memorized intentionally.  It was at a Beth Moore Conference and it spoke to me then and everyday since!  I have wanted to create a canvas with this verse ever since that day and I finally did it!  I LOVE how it turned out and hope that it inspires you to dive into expressing yor faith in art like this!

I started with a 24x8 canvas.  I wanted to do a "She Art" inspired canvas with a girl figure and my verse.  I printed the main words each in a different font -  Download Phil4-8. Be sure you print them with a copy machine or with a laser printer so that the ink does not bleed when you add it to your canvas.  (or print it at home and take it to an office supply and make a copy!)

I say this because I did not do that - and mine bled!  SO I just went over them with a pen after it was all complete but I would have prefered to have them not bleed!  I cut out the words and sprayed them all with Papaya Splash from Amuse Studio.

I chose the Authentique Blissful 6x6 paper pad.  I also used my fav - dictionary pages!  I decoupaged them all to my canvas with Mod Podge and then added a little Gesso on top just to soften them a little. 

Next I sketched in my she.  This is probably the hardest most intimidating step - but it gets easier the  more you practice!  I sketched in pencil first on my canvas, then laid my bacground piece in top and re-sketched the dress shape on that paper.  Then I cut it out and played with it til I got it the right shape.  Next I took my flesh acrylic paint and filled in the arms and face of my sketch.  Then I decoupaged on the dress shape and added the accent belt piece.  I added the hair and shaded the face and arms a little.  I decided to add some white trim and a collar to the dress so I just painted those in with white acrylic paint.  After it was completely dry I went back in with my doodle pen and added all the details.

You can see my pen added most of the details to the hair - the white highlights I added later.

Next I placed all my words on my canvas and decided on placement.  I wrote the "Whatever is" in first then stamped the arrows - from I was here stamp set from Amuse Studio.

Than I decoupaged on the words themselves.  While that was drying I decoupaged on some butterflies that I cut with my Butterfly Trio Dies from Amuse Studio.  I also added a paper doily along the top edge.  Let it completely dry - and then the fun begins!  Doodling!  It is basically scribbling with a purpose!  LOL!  You just want to define the shapes and pieces that you want to draw attention to. Here you can see it around the word pieces.

Here you can see my doodling around the butterflies - and also along the edge where I added some white paint in a scallop shape.  The doodling just set the elements off.  You can also see here that I added some more stamped images.  Modern Zinnia from Amuse Studio along the edge in Eucalyptus Ink (I did emboss the Zinnias with clear embossing powder just to add more texture)  as well as Script Background from Amuse Studio with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. I also used some old faves -my running stitches (TAC) and Punchinella (Unity).

The last thing I added was the flowers buttons and twine.  I used glue dots to adhere them all.  Buttercup Buttons, Flax Paper Flowers, and Seattle Bakers Cording all from Amuse Studio! 

I just LOVE the way it turned out - and cannot wait to do another one!  I am contemplating offering an art journaling bible study at our church and have been praying about it for a long long time!  What do you think?  Would you come to a class/study like that?  I know I would love to attend one myself!  It is not the creating part that makes me nervous it is the Bible Study part!   I know God would lead me through it all - and I just need to lift it up to him and he will provide all that I need!  I think I will talk to my pastors soon about it!

This canvas was hugely inspired by a fellow artist.  I have long been inspired by the works of Christy Tomlinson.  Last year I took the plunge and took an online class with her and Junelle Jacobsen "The Art of Wild Abandonment"  - I loved every minute of it!  If I could I would take every class offering by both this amazingly talented ladies - but alas my time and funding does not allow that!  Maybe someday!

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It's Canvas Time!

Floral Notes Box - DVD case

New stamps, NEW Products, new Art Retreats AND A SALE!!

Floral Notes Box - DVD case

I shared this project at the February Stamping Night Out - and it was a huge hit!  I wanted to make a case to keep a notepad in my purse out of the DVD cases we sell in the Amuse Studio Catalog.  I love having a notepad - but hate how they get tore up in my purse!

I started out with a Labels 8 Nestibilities and cut the largest die with Sugar cardstock.  I stamped my flowers with Memories Tuxedo black ink and colored it with Copic markers. 

***Copic Combos***
YR15, Y17, Y21

I then stamped my flowers onto regular paper and cut them out to make a set of masks for my flowers.  Did you know that our Tombow Multi Glue makes AWESOME masks?  You just apply some to your cut out mask pieces and let it air dry.  It dries as a repositional bond!  Then when you stick down your masks you can stamp away without slippage and remove them when you are done!  LOVE!

Once I had my masks in place I stamped my background leaves.  I used Sage ink and the Beautiful Botanicals stamp set.  I sponged on some Sage and Sky ink with Sponge Daubers.

Next I attached the label to a piece of Buttercup Petite Dot Cardstock.  I layered on a strip of sugar stamped with Sage ink and the Typeset Alphabet set.  I slipped my cover into the DVD case then wrapped a piece of Lime Chevron ribbon around the spine and tied a knot.

Inside my box I put a pen and a trimmed down Mini Legal pad.  I happen to have a big cutter that I can cut the pads with - but you can also have them trimmed at your local office supply store.  I trimmed about a half inch from the bottom edge and the right edge also to allow room for my pen!

We have just a few days left of 30% off retiring list - shop now before it is all gone for good!

Even more exciting - is the release of the 2013 Amuse Studio Catalog and Idea book!  I have seen it - and sneak peeks too - and it is awesome!  (email me and I can get you hooked up with a sneak peek too!)

I am looking forward to more studio time this weekend - so hopefully I will have more to share soon!

canvas #2

Here is my second attempt at the Canvas project - and this is the one I gave in our gift exchange.  I used basically all the same stamps and inks as yesterdays canvas - with the addition of Polka Dot and Gingham papers!

Here you can see some of the details - grateful for the everday was the saying I chose for this one.  Can you see I embossed the script background on the yellow of the house?  It is with Satin pearl Embossing powder - but it doesn't show up very well. 

Laney's canvas is coming along - she added some painting yesterday and all she has left now is the doodling!  When she finished it up I will make sure it is ok to share hers so you all can see it!  She is excited to hang it on her wall in her room.

I was talking to my mom yesterday about when I was younger and drawing.  I have a memory of drawing those "Art Instruction School" art tests - remember those?  They were in our newspaper I think - lots of places I think.   I remember drawing the turtle first and then another time doing the pirate and the bear.  I asked my mom how old I was the first time and she said I was 6!  Her and I sat down together to draw the turtle.  My drawing was really good - mom said better than hers and alot like the test image.  That was the beginning of my love of drawing and art in general.  I did not think I was so young - I was thinking 10 or so like Laney.  I will have to get the drawings from my mom next time I am home.

We got sneak peeks to the new a*muse catalog that will be out at the end of the month - so exciting!  Besides new stamps - we have new colors too!  Don't forget to email me to pre-order a new catalog so I have one for you ASAP!

Collaged Canvas #1 - make your heart sing

I have been so excited to share this project - which I was the start of my gift exchange for last night's stamping group meeting.  All the girls brought AMAZING gifts - I am so inspired by each and every one of them!  I have been itching to give this a try - I have seen them on pinterest and some blogs I follow for awhile now and I finally got up the courage to try.  I can already say that I am addicted! 

This one is 16x8 canvas that I pirchased at Hobby Lobby in their clearance area - it was a home decor item and I just covered it right up!  I started by decoupaging dictionary pages over the whole canvas and wrapping the edges.  Then I gesso's over top to make it a little more subtle.

Then I went to town with my ink pads, paints and stamps!  I used all stamps from a*muse studio - I especially LOVE the addition of the words and birds from the Clever Girls stamp set.  I did not expect that set to become as much of a go to set for me as it has!  the two phrases are:

"Isn't it amazing what Clever girls can do?" and "Dreams come a size too big so we can grow into them"

 I also used stamps from Ornate Elements (the edge fancy stuff) Rock Star (the flowers), Harlequin Background, Script Background, Sheet Music Background, Mad for Plaids (stitches) and Polka Dot Patterns.

The ink colors I used were Sky, Grass, Orange, Heather, Slate and Stazon Black.

I stamped and embossed the pieces for my house with Script Background and white embossing powder then I decoupaged them onto the canvas.  I decided to accent the roof and door with paper doily pieces and ribbon.  Then I printed my saying on my printer and cut them out and decoupaged them on top.  When Decoupaging on top of the inks you have to be careful not to over work them or the ink will smear - so use alot of medium and few strokes!

I made this one intentionally for the gift exchange but then decided I should keep it because it was my first one -  so I had to make another one.  Laney joined me and she is in the process of making one too.  I will share those tomorrow!

I chose the saying "Everyday do something that makes your heart sing" because that is how I feel about my art and creating.  Whether it is a simple card or a bigger project like this - the process of creating makes me happy and feeds my soul.  This is one of my major resolutions/goals for this year and I hope to really sink my teeth into my art journal in that process too.  I have been tinkering with that over the last few months but not as much as I want to, so hopefully I can make that a real priority.  The most exciting thing about that whole resolution for me is the fact that Laney will be joining me on the journey.  I am over the moon excited about her and I really connecting and creating together.

Last night she told Eric to tell me to wake her up early this morning.  Just 15 minutes early.  I asked her why and she didn't want to tell me why.  When I finally got it out of her it was so that she could draw more this morning before school.  Talk about a heart swell for me.  I got up 15 minutes early to wake her up - and she actually got up 15 minutes late!  She could not muster early - but I am sure she will come home from school ready to roll.  We have a canvas to finish!

Have a blessed day - and do something that makes YOUR heart sing!

TAC Dream Team Call - my entries

TAC is running a designer call for the "TAC Dream Team" and I have been wanting to apply.  I have had the projects done - but have not had a chance to get in my studio and get them into a blog post - I am so close to not making the cut off for applications!  I am a big baby about the heat in my studio which has been cutting into my studio and computer time -  but am rejoicing that my hero hubbster FIXED my heater!!!  WHOO HOO!

So on to my entries for the TAC Dream Team!  I wanted to feature a couple things that I recently can't seem to get put away off mt studio table:  Labels 4 Nestabilities, Belle Rose Pallette Ink, and Copic Markers.  I didn't use them all on all the projects - but they pop up here and there!

I am starting off with a bit of a technique card - Emboss resisit!  I have a love affair with Belle Rose as of late - so of course it was the first ink I thought of - especially since our Caboodle Passionate cardstock matches it to perfection!  (all Caboodle cardstocks are Bazzill brand cardstock!)

 
I wanted a toile background so I stamped the peony first with Belle Rose onto ivory cardstock.  Then I cut it into strips and added some sponging around the edges to soften them.  Then I stamped and embossed the peony onto a labels 4 die cut with clear embossing powder.  Let cool then sponge Belle Rose ringt on top - voila!
 

Here is my next entry...

 
For this card I started with a green card and only embossed a labels 4 shape onto the front of the card.  Then I masked that area off and stamped all around - adding some inking with a sponge to make it really pop.  Then I grabbed that Belle rose again and stamped my butterflies onto an oval piece of White Ultrasmooth CS  - attached it with a pop dpt and embellished with a flower and a greeting.
 

For my last card I wanted to go simple and clean - with a POP of color...

 
I stamped and colored my bear with Copic markers - and was really striving for a smooth blend.  I think I got it don't you?  
 

I cut off my label to fit my image a little closer, then I simply added a black scallop strip - which was cut from a scrap - and some pop dots!   It created a unique shape that is appealing all my it's self - don't you think?  
 

For my last entry we had to do a "project".   I recently made two of these as gifts for gift exchanges I was participating in. 

I started with a glass Coaster purchased at a craft store for about $5.  I wanted to use Maggie papers and make something inspirational.  SO I picked my stamps and went to work.  I colored the image with my Copic's and attached it to a corrugated cardboard cut out that had been painted and distressed with Violette ink.   
I layered it all to a piece of Maggie pattern paper and then backed it all with cork.  I tied a ribbon around the whole thing and adhered it with 1/8" Scor-tape just to be sure it would not slip.

So there you have it - my TAC Dream Team Entries!  They are picking this team to be featured as guest bloggers on the TAC Savvy Progets Blog every month and will require several posts a month.  It is very exciting - and I hope I make the cut!   Cross your fingers for me k?

Watercolor Plants - shabby-licious!

Holly Mays is the guest designer over at the Savvy Projects blog today - and her featured stamp set is Watercolor Plants - one of my all time FAV's!   You have to go check out the 6 different cards she made using this set - such diversity of color and style!   They are hosting a blog hop (in which you can WIN BLOG CANDY!) so I decided to hop right along!  Be sure to join in the blog hop if you have the stamp set - do it by Sunday and you will be entered to win $50 in TAC products!  (join in at the bottom of this post)

I love to make calendars - especially mini ones!  I know January is already passed us by but I just gotta make one more!   Here is my shabby-licious creation...

 
 
 

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Like what you see? Click these links to shop my secure TAC website - and don't forget you can get ANYTHING for up to half price as a hostess with $100 in orders from you and your friends!

Stamps: Watercolor Plants- FREE Hostess set stamp from The Angel Company
Ink: Ballet Blue Palette Ink, Cote D'azure Pallette Ink Pad, Burnt Umber Palette Ink Pad
Papers: White Cardstock
Accessories: Giga Scallop Square Punch, Brites Board Clips, Polo Mini Blossom Mix, Zip Dry Glue, Sponges, Doily, ribbon

Be sure that if your order totals $30 or more youtake a look at the Purchase with Purchase stamps!

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I have been stockpiling cardboard.  It feels like the right time to confess.  I have been drooling over the projects that Donna Salazar makes with it - and then when I laid my eyes on the cutest shabby ornament project by Kim Sears that did it.  I broke down and started obsessively peeling cardboard.  No box was safe.  I peeled every box I could get my hands on - til my finger tips were sore.  But not I have a pile of cardboard - perfectly sized to go thru my big shot.  And I have been hoarding it - big surprise right?   Actually I did make ornaments with a picture of my kiddos in it for Christmas, so I did use SOME.  (just a little though!)

So Stamping night out is tonight - and I want to really knock their socks off with a cool project.  I already have 2 cards so I wanted to do SOMETHING.  Thus my shabby calendar!  I have used the Mini Calendar download for TONS of projects.  If you have the Giga Scallop square punch it is just a dream to punch them out and go straight to your project.  For this one I printed them out double sided!  SO my stack of months would not be as thick.  Then attach them all with the Brites Boards clips - LOVE!  Especially when you dress them up a bit with the Polo Mini Blossoms!

I wish  you all could come tonight and make one!   I hope you get a chance to join in the blog hop - but I hope I win the prize!  LOL!!!  (I think I am stir crazy from 3 snow days people!)

Keepsake Album Idea - Pocket Album

A week or so ago I got a call from our Head Pastor at church.  Here is how our conversation went...

Heather, you know Diana is leaving us and we are having a going away luncheon for her next week?  Well we were talking in the office and some one said we should collect all the cards and notes for her and put them in some kind of book or something.  A Keepsake Album of sorts.  Then someone said 'If she had time I bet Heather Scott could do something cool!' 

And I said "Ya I bet if she had time she could!"  LOL!!!

I mean seriously - isn't summer supposed to be relaxing and laid back time?  Where is my time to chill by the pool and drink frozen Margheritas?  I want a refund! 

I was actually thinking though when she asked me, well VBS doesn't start til next week, and I have Stamping night out on Thursday.  Could I use the album as my Stamping Night out Demo?  Yep!

Yes Pastor Kay - I do have time and I will do something cool!

So off to figure out what to do for a keepsake album, a pocket album of sorts.  A book to keep notes and cards - which would be great for graduations, milestone birthdays, retirements, job transitions.   It will be a great gift idea for any of those occasions.

Thinking about what to do - I wanted to make pockets to slip cards and notes and pictures into.  It had to be able to be added to if necessary and the pockets needed to accomodate full sized greeting cards.  I started with a regular linen 8x8 album.  You can get the just about everywhere - I happened to have had one left over from way back when The Angel Company carried linen albums.  Yeah! 

I printed the words onto vellum and embossed them in gold.  The red center of the flower is a piece of scarlet CS that I stamped and then added crystal lacquer on top. 

Now for the pockets...

I took a sheet of Kraft 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock and trimmed off a little off the long side - my page protectors actually heldp 8 1/4 x 8.  I then scored the piece at 8" along the short edge and folded over.  Then I used my corrugator to crimp just that flap.  When inserted into the page protector the flap acts to close the pocket - so nothing slips out.

 I REALLY like how it turned out.  I didn't want to do too much because it will be very "busy" once you get all the cards and notes added to the pockets.  I think it will serve the purpose of collecting all the notes and cards - and if she wants to she can also add pictures and journalling to the back side of the pockets.

So what do you think?  Won't that make the perfect keepsake album?  What a great gift idea for graduations, milestone birthdays and retirements too!   I am very excited and am pondering offering them on etsy for sale - made in custom colors.   How much would you pay for an album like that - or a better question how much would you see one for sale at?  :-) 
  
  

Domino Pendants

I just LOVE how they turned out - and think I will like them even better on a satin ribbon rather than a Ball Chain. 

This one is my FAV...

I did some Differnt images too - I found an old Cheeta background stamp - that looks SO cool on that Pink!  I have lots made up - so if the etsy shop runs out just let me know and I will add more.

TAC shipped out the Spring Serendipty Street - and there are some images in it that will be SO AWESOME for these pendants - I can't wait to get them to play.   When I have something I can show you I will share it - but the SS is available to order from on February 1st!