Lovely Lavender...an Altered Pages Challenge Post

Altered Pages is celebrating the coming of Spring with their latest challenge - Lavender Thoughts!

I missed last month's challenge, so I wanted to be sure to get in on the fun this month! And what better way than an ATB! 

An Artist Trading Block that is! 

What IS an ATB you ask...its a chunk of wood that you can spruce up with whatever strikes your fancy & trade it with other artists like ATC's or simply keep it for yourself to admire! 

I'm keepin' mine! LOL!!

First I covered the block with a couple of pieces of Bazzill's Antique papers. 

Then I painted over that with a mixture of white glitter paint & the lovely Eco Friendly Paint in "Matte Eggplant" to make a lavender color. Next, I added the cute fairy on her butterfly from the Children on the Wing collage sheet & butterflies from the Victorian Butterflies sheet; the picket fence & some other little treasures from my stash. 

Finally I used some Glitter Silk paper & the "Strings of Pennants" die to create the "Fairy Garden" banner.

Don't forget to vote on/after the 15th for your favorite DT project & enter your own for this FABULOUS prize pack...

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

Altered Pages Challenge #5: "Snow Dancing"

It's time for another AP challenge, using AP products...of course! Cuz they ROCK!!!

The theme this month is "Snow Dancing."

I am the first to admit that I am NOT a seamstress!

BUT, I LOVE to use my sewing machine when creating altered pieces & kinda feel that if it's just for me, I can get away with crooked lines!!

This one was inspired by our very own AP DT member, Tristan Robin Blakeman, who creates the most AMAZING altered fabric collage art!!! 

{Mine is nowhere near as lovely as his, but I like it anyway!}

I used an image from the "Vintage Ice Ballet" collage sheet sewn upon layers of linen, satin, some strange foil-like material, flowers, trim & mother of pearl buttons! I left a little pocket at the top so that I can slip a dowel through it later to hang.

I hope you will join in on the challenge this month! Jean is promising a big prize package with up to 10 products! The catch - more people need to sign up for the prizes to continue to grow! You can read more about the challenge here!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Cheers!

The G.R.I.T.S. Kit Series for Altered Pages

Hi y'all!!

I am channeling my inner Southern Belle these days & working on a series of fun mixed media wooden block kits for Altered Pages!

The G.R.I.T.S. Girls

aka "Girl Raised In The South"

The first one is up on the site already 

& I just finished #2 {but I can't share her yet, DANG-it!}

Meet Twyla Fay...

You get everything you need to make a block like this in the kit except paint & scissors! Including VERY detailed instructions with color pictures!! All for just $16.99!

Here's the backside...

I hope y'all will join in on the fun & create your own collection of G.R.I.T.S. Girls with little 'ol me!

Next one up is Ida Bell, & she's even more fun than Twyla!!

Y'all come back now, ya hear?!

It's time for a mint julep!

TTFN!

P.S. I plan to do a western/cowgirl series too! YEEE HAWWWWW!

Fairy Dreams - Altered Pages Post

Just a quick note tonight...almost Tuesday morning!

Gotta stop staying up so late! 

I spent the day running errands, so I've been creating away since late this afternoon!

I wanted to share my post over at Altered Pages with you...I just finished this collage tonight with some wonderful AP products. You can see the full post here.

I'll check-in in a few days with more work from my online & local class!

Cheers!

 

Tootin' My Own Horn...

Ok, not really tootin' my horn that much, but I just had to share that the folks over at Altered Arts Magazine mentioned my Altered Pages blog post on Facebook again the other day! Makes me feel all warm & fuzzy!!

In case you missed it, you can read the original post here.

*S*P*R*I*N*G* - An Altered Pages Kit

It's SpRiNg time!
The grass is getting greener. The tress have little green buds on them. The flowers are pushing through. I love spring time because everything is new & fresh! It makes me want to clean things out or start something new!

In the spirit of Spring, I made a banner kit for the Altered Pages site & it's already selling!!!

The kit is chock-full of amazing goodies to create a banner as close to mine as possible!!

Here's what the FABULOUS Jean has pulled together for the kit:

"You receive chipboard, tart tins, German Glass Glitter, collages, text pages, muslin and other fabric pieces.  You also get a foam paint brush, ink pad, paper flowers, lace, ribbon, beads and gems with additional embellishments.  The best part is the photos and complete instructions.  It's a HUGE kit with so many supplies!  (embellishments may vary)" 

And it's only $34.99!!! What a deal to create such a fun decor piece, right?!!

Here's a close up of a few of the "flags"...

I worked super hard on this kit & included with all the goodies are step-by-step instructions (with photos!) on what I did & where for the flags!

I hope you'll hop on over to Altered Pages & check it out, as well as all the other great products & collage sheets for your mixed media needs!!

Cheers!

A PEEK into Spring

It's time to SPRING forward!!!

Tonight is the night we change our clocks here in Colorado, so how appropriate that I share a little Sneak Peak at the latest project I am working on...hoping it will be my next kit for Altered Pages!

That's ALL you get today!!

I will share the rest soon!!

If you're feeling kinda "Springy" lately, be sure to check out all the beautiful collages & NEW products over at Altered Pages today!!

Happy Spring!!

An Altered Box, a little late in posting!

Well, I have been meaning to post pictures of the altered box I did for a Chinese New Year swap we had over at Altered Pages, but I just haven't been spending much time online lately!

SO! Here it is...This is the Year of the Dragon, so that was our theme for the altered boxes.

I used a shadow box from an AP set & decorated the outside with scraps of Joss papers, a Chinese restaurant menu & other scrap. For the lid, I brushed on Tim Holtz's Distress Paint in Antique Brass pretty heavily to get some texture. Then I punched holes in the sides to slide the chopsticks in.

Inside, I made a mini-accordian book that's attached to the box...

I used images from 3 different Dragon collages to fill in the pages of the mini, as well as more Joss papers & scraps - including some fortunes I had saved! I think it turned out pretty cool & was a lot of fun to do! I sure hope my swap partner liked it!!

I received this AMAZING one from fellow DT member, Tristan Robin Blakeman in the swap!

It's super cool! He even included a Chinese jewelry pendant inside!! Lucky me!!

There's ALWAYS a swap going on over at Altered Pages! 

You should join in on the fun too! The rules are simple - 50% of your project(s) supplies need to be from Altered Pages (That's INCLUDING all the wonderful collage sheets!!) & follow the parameters of the swap!

Check it out on the blog & the Yahoo Group! 

It's nice to receive a beautifully handmade goodie or two in the mail every now & then!!

That's it for now...

I will be posting a SNEAK PEEK at my next kit later today.

So I hope you'll come back later!

Cheers!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Hope you are all having a wonderful "Love Day" & sharing it with someone special...be it a friend, a spouse or just pampering yourself! Remember, you're worth it!!! Buy yourself some flowers if no one else will! I DO IT ALL THE TIME!! (My hubby only gives flowers occasionally because he thinks that they are a waste of money! Stinker! They are a waste of $$ since they wilt & don't look pretty for long, but I sure love to look at them!!)

So, today is one of those special days...I got flowers AND chocolate dipped strawberries (to share with Maggie OF COURSE!) AND, of course, great minds think alike & I had gone to the grocers this morning to either buy the makings to dip strawberries or, as luck would have it...

PRE-MADE ones! So, I guess we will be having a Strawberry Smorgasbord tonight!!

Off & on during the week, I have been sewing these little heart pillows. (Inspired by some adorable Cupid images from Altered Pages & a Valentine class that I am taking through Christy Tomlinson & the Gilded Stash Society!!) I only got a few of them finished & off to their final destinations! BUT , I plan to finish them anyway! Who wouldn't want a little after-Valentine surprise!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

TTFN!

Cut, Paste, Glue! Glitter 'n Paper too!

I spent a few wonderful hours in my studio today...

Do you remember making Valentine cards as a kid? I certainly do!!

It was so much fun to pick out the perfect one for the teacher & then another for that special someone!! I decided to transport myself back to a simpler time today, channel my inner child & get crafty with my Valentines this year!

{If get one of these in the mail & you're reading this: sorry for the spoiler!! XOXO}

Since Maggie can't really read yet {& she visits iCarly.com more than our blog!}, I can tell you all that I made the one above for her, because she is my Sweet Valentine after all!! {I already have a special bear & some goodies hidden away for her!!}

I can't tell you who's getting these two...the tag is actually a card though, so I didn't want to put any fibers in the hole like I usually would because it would be hard to open!

{images from same collage sheet as above}

Last, is this "smoldering" romantic card!

And you guessed it! It's for the hubby!!

You may recognize the image - I used it on my Bingo swap cards I posted the other day.

{You can see that post here.}

One of the things I like best about working with COLLAGE SHEETS is the instant gratification when I order them!

Meaning, I only have to wait for an email & not snail mail, before I get to play with them!

So, if you are in the Valentine card-making mood, be sure to check out what's available to spark your creativity over at Altered Pages!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

All the card bases are CHEAP packs from the $1 bins at Michael's!

All images: Altered Pages

Papers:

  Polka dots: Glitz; Music: The Paper Studio

Bingo Card - K & Co.

Paper Doilie - Michael's

Inks & Glimmer Mists in reds & pinks; Distress Crackle Paint in Antique Brass

Netting & lace trim: Glitz

Tinsel trim: Ashland Signature Accents (Michael's)
Various found objects - bingo number, heart-flower pick from my stash

"How Do I Love Thee" - a collage

Here's the collage I was telling you a little about yesterday!

(If you want to know a little bit more about the FANASTIC-K SILLY tool I used yesterday, click here to see the full post on the Altered Pages blog!)

(image from AP "Young Lovers I" collage sheet)

I used a 12x12 panel board "canvas" to collage various papers (most from my stash, but a couple from the Glitz collections), paint, modeling paste (for texture), & ink.

 

 I LOVED working on this panel board (Michaels for like $15 w/o a coupon!) for collaging because it's HARD instead of soft like an actual canvas!! It made adhering the papers so much easier! Not to mention that when I stamped, the ENTIRE image would imprint & not just in the area that's the firmest! (I am thinking of getting a couple more & turning them around to use the INSIDE like a shadow box!!)

I like to collage, but sometimes I find it rather intimidating! You really just have to let go & not worry about where the paper, paints & inks land! You can always cover up what you don't like!! (Although, the pink "LOVE blob" was a mistake, but it's growing on me!) 

How about you? Do you find collaging easy or hard?

I would love to hear about it & what techniques you use to get the look you want!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Even Maggie gets into it!

I love that my daughter likes to craft!

She will come into my studio & start opening drawers & asking, "Can I have this...?" It's a pretty good way to de-stash, unless she reaches for something vintage or that I have a purpose in mind for!! Somethings are just too hard to give up!! LOL!!

One of the great things about using the collage sheets from Altered Pages, is that I can print as many as I want & share them with Maggie.

She really likes to collage & is becoming quite the mixed media artist!

Yesterday, we spent the day crafting with mom for a pre-birthday celebration - while we worked on a Christmas project (YES! I said Christmas project in January!!), Maggie made all sorts of fun items for mom's b-day! All with AP images of course!!

AP-1662 "A Visit to the Dollhouse" collage sheet

And, here's the canvas we did together...I tried to get her to collage some images on it too, but she had her own vision! (Wonder where she gets that from?)

She did a nice scene in the background with crayon (that's me, her & G-ma at the bottom); then we sprayed some various textures on it with fabric spray paints (a technique I learned from Traci Bautista last year at The Creative Connection).

Grandma was thrilled with it all!

I will share more photos from our Christmas project assembly & some "party" photos another day this week!

Off to get the Magpie from school!

TTFN!

Blogging, Schmogging! And a funny story of the Magpie!

For all those bloggers out there...do you ever have days where you could write forever on your blog? Like you have so many ideas & thoughts bursting out of you that you might be able to write a weeks worth of posts?

What about days when you can't seem to get a word onto the screen or just don't have the gumption to blog?

I've definitely been the latter lately! It's not that I don't have things to share, but rather I just didn't feel like sitting in front of the computer loading pix & writing all week long!

That didn't stop me from wasting time surfing the net for inspiration or reading the countless blogs I subscribe to though! ;) I also find that I just can't sit down to write & share with y'all unless I can truly focus...hard to do with my silly Magpie at home sometimes!!

So, please know that it's not that I don't love all of our readers & want to share! It's just that sometimes I get in a funk & don't know WHAT to share!

One of my "resolutions" this year is to set a schedule for myself to blog at least ONCE a week! You can help with that by leaving a comment if you've visited & seen that I have written anything in a week or longer! Help me be accountable! PLEASE!! :D

I did finish my first kit project for Altered Pages the other day & it's already up on the site! You can find it HERE. I will post more about it in a couple of weeks, but I have to share how SUPER thrilled when Jean (the lovely owner of AP) texted me to tell me that someone over at Altered Arts Magazine had come across the kit & showcased it on their Facebook page!! Very cool! It is so awesome & humbling to be recognized for you work - even just a little bit!

Thanks Altered Arts!!! 

(Which is a very cool online magazine geared towards mixed media & paper crafts!!) 

I am hoping to work up a few more Valentine-y projects this week & believe Kim will be doing the same! We'll share them when we can.

On the home front, I have a funny story to share with you about The Magpie...the other day, in her kindergarten class, they were learning how to count by 5's.

The teacher asked the class if it was quicker to count by 1's & gave an example. Then she asked if it was quicker to count by 5's, & as she began to give an example, my lovely Magpie raised her hand & blurted out,

"Miss Eggleston (teacher), liquor is quicker!" 

NICE!!! 

Now the teacher thinks one of 2 things, a) we're a bunch of booze-hounds at home (not too far off! LOL!!) OR b) she's seen original Charlie & The Chocolate Factory so many times, she can quote the movie!! 

Well, both of those were wrong & we can blame this little blunder on my mom...

You see the lovely Ann Taintor cocktail napkin under my margarita?? Well, those were in my stocking this Christmas from mom & Maggie just happened to latch onto the saying!

Oh, the funny things kids say! HA!

Hope y'all have a WONDERFUL, creative weekend!!

Cheers!