Tabitha's Trinkets

I'm (Finally) Engaged!

2011-12-20T08:17:00.006-05:00

On Sunday, December 18th, 2011 Jeff and I took the train from Albany to Penn Station to spend the day in NYC. We saw the Rockettes, had lunch at TGIFridays, wandered and shopped, and then made our way back to Rockefeller Center when it got dark to see the Christmas tree. We settled on a bench across the street to look up at the twinkling lights and just enjoy the moment of being there together right before the holidays. It was here that he slid off the bench and down on one knee to ask me to marry him--and of course I said YES! To read the full details of our engagement day story, visit my new blog, which will chronicle my wedding planning adventure .

Super Simple Sculpey Snowman Ornament

2011-12-15T22:24:00.003-05:00

Last Friday I visited my grandma at her apartment before work, and I got to see her little Christmas tree all set up. She could include very few ornaments on this much smaller tree in her much smaller apartment this year, but she included a small Sculpey snowman ornament that I made for her over a decade ago. It was so sweet in it's simplicity and has such an adorable homespun look that I had to try to replicate what I had done all those years ago to give as special gifts. Hopefully my boyfriend's family members will enjoy them for years to come as my grandmother has.

To make your own gang of snowmen cuties you will need:

White Sculpey Polymer Clay
Acrylic paint in orange, red, and brown or black
fine detail paint brush
round tooth picks for noses
scissors and/or wire cutters
eye pins or small metal paper clips for hooks
whole cloves for "stick" arms
Paint the pointy ends of round tooth picks with orange acrylic paint and leave out to dry while completing the other steps.
Roll two small balls of white clay, one larger than the other and squish them together. The larger ball forms the body and the smaller ball, the head.
Push an eye pin or paper clip cut to size down into the top of the snowman's head to form a loop so it can be hung on the tree with a hook or ribbon. Hint: I like to leave my eye pin almost the full length of the head and body so that it keeps the two pieces together and there is less risk that it will come out of the clay after baking.
Push a clove into each side of the body ball of clay down at an angle from the top to form the snowman's arms. (These smell great while baking!)
Cut the painted end off one of the toothpicks (it should be dry by now) and push it into the head ball of clay to form the carrot nose.
Bake the snowmen on a glass baking dish that you have dedicated for use with polymer clay according to package instructions (I baked my snowmen for 17 minutes in a preheated oven at 275degrees).
After they have baked, take them off the glass and put them onto the counter to cool.
Once your snowmen have cooled, use the brown or black paint and a fine detail brush to add dots for eyes, mouth, and buttons. Also, paint the year on the "butt" of the snowman if desired.
Use red paint to add a small heart to the bottom right of your snowman's body for a sweet little touch.
Allow to dry and add a hook or ribbon and package for your lucky recipient or adorn your tree!
Happy Holidays! Enjoy!

Sappy. Sentimental. Surreal.

2011-12-15T00:21:00.005-05:00

My last graded assignment for grad class.

The rose my professor gave me on the podium in the Lally Forum at the College of Saint Rose.

Well, after a long journey, my grad classes finally came to a close this evening. I don't know if it's even really sunk in yet. I am almost officially a certified Literacy Specialist for grades 5-12, and I almost officially have a 4.0 in my program. My professor is amazing, and she was sensitive to the anti-climatic nature of us finishing off the course with presentations and just going on our way until the graduation ceremony in May--so she bought us all roses. A classy and fitting token to acknowledge our completion of a program at the College of Saint Rose.

It's bittersweet of course, because I'd like to celebrate my degree by putting it to good use in a classroom full of students ready to absorb my newly gained knowledge, my passion, enthusiasm, and creativity--but teaching jobs where I live in upstate NY are far and few between. To be honest, I've spent most of the last year questioning whether or not I need to choose a different career (although, if not a teacher, I have no clue what else I'd be). I'm worried that if I can even manage to bite and claw my way into a school somehow that I will be chewed up and spit back out trying to manage a sea of politics and negativity with little support or resources. I'm worried about what education has become, and that I'm not prepared for what I will need to become in order to survive it.

And yet, after over a year of feeling this way, I volunteered in a friend's 5th grade class today to help with a holiday project and I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I worked with some of her students last year as a TA, but stepping into a classroom for the first time this school year, and on the very same day I completed my grad program, I felt alive again. I felt like that was where I was supposed to be. I felt like those students looked to me for a hug, to answer a question, to give them a moment of positive attention--and in those moments, I felt I mattered--like I could make them smile or laugh, make them feel good about themselves, and make their day--and of course by doing so, they make mine!

With my rose-colored glasses on, that's what I feel teaching should be about: helping the students become better, more well-rounded people so that they can not just function in society, but contribute to it--helping them to develop a passion for learning and a zeal for knowledge and exploration--and helping them to develop compassion, creativity, and a positive sense of self.

My heart aches as I write this, because I have worked so long and so hard (and spent so much money) on my own education, so that I can have this opportunity to work with students, and it feels like my day will never come. So while it may seem that I should be celebrating my accomplishments--they may not have sunk in because the real celebration can happen only when my career begins with a teaching job and a classroom of my own.

I usually utilize this blog as a place to showcase my creative endeavors, but tonight it needed to be a journal. I needed to tell the world that passionate and qualified teachers are being forced to sit on the sidelines because of cuts to education. I'm wasting my degree by working in retail, and those students are in class sizes of 27--and worst of all, I feel powerless to do anything about it. I could vent about bureaucracy, and I could certainly continue to feel bitter, cynical, jaded, and defeated...but tonight driving home from my final grad class and thinking back on today in that classroom--I have a spark of hope left in me after all. Maybe it was rose, but I'm betting it was the hugs.

12 Tags of Christmas: Mission Accomplished

2011-12-13T12:42:00.002-05:00

The Inspiration by Tim Holtz -www.timholtz.typepad.com

My versions of the 12 Tags. Wow! What a wonderful burst of inspiration and creativity Tim has provided these past 12 days. I'm so proud of myself for keeping up and pushing myself to adapt what I have and to make them my own for the most part. I hope you enjoyed witnessing my journey!

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #12

2011-12-13T12:10:00.002-05:00

My version utilizes gold tissue for the flower, and a cherub print tissue for the background along with distress Rock Candy Stickles and frayed burlap distress inking. I used a vintage button and tinsel, a piece of paper lace, silver embossed a snowflake chipboard element, and stamped and embossed the wings and crown...

Perhaps the coolest part is I made my own frozen Charlotte doll to use on the tag. I have a real doll that I want to save for another project so I created a mold out of it using Amazing Mold Putty, and then made the duplicate out of translucent Sculpey clay and baked it according to package directions.

Once all the elements were hot glued or stapled into place, I printed, inked and glued on the "all is calm" phrase and added the dot border of Patina Stickles. This is one of my favorite, if not my favorite tag. I love the elegance and charm.

The inspiration: Tim's Tag #12--you can see more at www.timholtz.typepad.com

Close up of my handmade Frozen Charlotte doll.

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #11

2011-12-11T18:36:00.003-05:00

The inspiration: Tim's Tag #11--to see more visit www.timholtz.typepad.com

My version of today's tag, was again quite a challenge due to the need to adapt the materials used because I am missing so many of what Tim has in his collection! I loved the look of the vintage/retro Santa, but only had a small stamp, so I kind of shrunk down the design and shifted everything to the bottom of the tag which gave me the opportunity to showcase more of the background technique. I added snowflakes stamped with Blue Jean Distress Stain and embossed "Happy Holidays" in silver.

Without a melting pot and UTEE I was left to heating the shrink plastic with a heat gun and then inking with alcohol ink, painting white on the back, and then attaching to the tag with CTMH liquid glass (their version of Glossy Accents). Once I glued the pieces to the tag, I used the liquid glass in a thick layer on the pieces too, so that I could get the high shine plastic gloss look that Tim achieved by submerging the pieces in UTEE. I diecut the flower shape out of the shrink plastic, but had to handcut the holly leaves and branch because I do not have that die.

Again, Tim has challenged me--this time to pull out things I haven't played with in forever (i.e. shrink plastic) and things I've bought and haven't ever used (i.e. the little retro santa stamp) and make use of my own resources instead of buying new things (i.e. hand cutting pieces instead of buying more dies). I can't believe there is only one day left!

12 Tags of Christmas: Day 10

2011-12-11T11:17:00.002-05:00

Here's my version...with vintage music paper banner, vintage faceted flatbacked crystals (using Tim's technique see www.timholtz.typepad.com-but it didn't work as well for me because there were so many facets you can't see the image clearly through them, but it still looks pretty right?)...

Stampin' Up music note wheel stamp, CTMH holly stamp, santa cut from scrapbook paper and stickles added for glitter and shine...

pieces of a floral pick glued on under the banner...

a shot with the flash to show the glimmer mist background.

The inspiration: Tim's Tag #10

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #9

2011-12-09T23:34:00.003-05:00

my version of tag #9

The Inspiration: Tim's tag #9--see www.timholtz.typepad.com for more.

I think this may be one of my favorite tags so far. Instead of stamping the flourish like Tim did, I used an inked embossing folder and heat embossed the flourish design with white pearl embossing powder from CTMH. After that, I used Red Brick Distress stain over the whole tag and the pearl embossing powder acted as a resist, but picked up some of the stain. Then I swiped the whole tag with clear embossing ink and coated it in clear embossing powder and heated for an enamel look. I inked the edges of the tag in Burlap distress ink.

I am excited to say that I made my own embellishments from a candy cane stamp embossed with red, cut out, and inked with burlap. I used the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge to cut holly leaves, and I crumpled them, sanded them, then inked with burlap and glued them behind the candy cane and accented with red pearls from Queen & Co. My favorite embellishments are the tickets though...I diecut those from the cardboard packaging from candy canes! Then I sanded them to distress and added more burlap ink and stapled them on the tag with the Tiny Attacher. I used white seam binding ribbon and a bow of green and red bakers twine that mimics the look of the candy cane stripes.

I've enjoyed this 12 tag adventure for the inspiration its given me to take the time to sit down and play with some involved techniques that I usually don't allow myself the luxury of having the time for. Only 3 more days to go!

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #8

2011-12-08T23:23:00.002-05:00

My version... with lamp post and silhouettes cut from the Heritage Cricut Cartridge, Making Memories stamp, tags, and flowers, Tim's holiday kraft resist paper & inks...

with a vintage pen quill and antique key!

The inspiration: Tim's Tag #8 you can see more at www.timholtz.typepad.com

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #7

2011-12-08T00:30:00.002-05:00

The improvisation...misted tag inked with Tim Holtz distress inks and stamped with Stampin' Up music wheel stamp and burlap ink...

CTMH stamps, archival ink, and clear detail embossing powder...

no awesome kraft glasine for me to play with--crinkle olive wassau paper inked with shabby shutters instead, hand cut with a few Queen & Co red pearl gems.

The Inspiration: Tim's Version of Tag #7 see more at www.timholtz.typepad.com

My version of tag#7 :o)

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #6

2011-12-07T16:14:00.004-05:00

My version of tag #6...Tim's seasonal embossing folder, distress stain and inks, CTMH stamps and embossing powder in clear and silver....

floral pick accent with glittery leaf inked green...

The inspiration: Tim's Tag #6 see more at www.timholtz.typepad.com

Wow, I looked at this one all day yesterday but didn't attempt my version till this afternoon. I was stumped by the metal tape and paint daubers because I don't have any...how was I to make this work without going out to buy more new products? My solution was to emboss the design with the embossing folder, then swipe embossing ink over the top of the image and emboss it in silver to get the metal look. Then I inked the debossed parts with various holiday inks and covered the whole tag in clear detail embossing powder and heated again. I love the look, though not quite the same as Tim's.

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #5

2011-12-05T22:09:00.003-05:00

My version of tag #5 utilizing product packaging, Raisin and Pearl mixative alcohol inks, Tim's diamond stamp...

bow and pearls, along with two sizes of doily circle borders cut from Tim's Kraft Core cardstock with the CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge.

The inspiration: Tim's Tag #5--you can learn how to make this by visiting www.timholtz.typepad.com

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #4

2011-12-05T21:59:00.002-05:00

The inspiration: Tim's Tag #4-- to see more, visit www.timholtz.typepad.com

My version utilizing CTMH stamps, CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (for the numbers), CTMH buttons and waxy flax, CTMH spray pen, snowflake cuttlebug embossing folder on acetate/product packaging...

and Tim's rock candy distress paint, distress stain, Stampin' Up seam binding ribbon etc.

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #3

2011-12-03T10:37:00.003-05:00

The inspiration: Tim's Tag #3- you can see more at www.timholtz.typepad.com

My improvisation: Inkadinkado Stamp from my friend Peggy, cut'n'dry with Ranger and CTMH reinkers, CTMH and Tim Holtz distress inks...

CTMH JOY stamp, CTMH liquid glass, Cricut Art Philosophy holly leaves, Straight From the Nest Branches, Queen & Co Red Pearls, Stampendous Gold Embossing powder...

Ritzy Ditzy Glitz spray, gold bell, twine, and organza ribbon!

Now I can't wait for day 4!

12 Tags of Christmas: Day #2

2011-12-03T00:29:00.004-05:00

The Inspiration: Tim's Tag 2 you can see more at www.timholtz.typepad.com

my version of tag 2

I really had to improvise with this one....

CTMH stamps, gold embossing powder, Stampin Up Resist paper, Cricut CTMH Art Philosophy Border

Tim Holtz metal tag, Ranger Distress Ink Burlap & Walnut, CTMH Ink Red Barn, New England Ivy, Twilight...and my new favorite technique CTMH reinker and Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint mixed with water in a CTMH spray pen to get an awesome "Twilight Shimmer" across the background!

Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas: Day #1

2011-12-01T23:42:00.006-05:00

Cricut Holly Leaves and Flower Turned Pinecone (CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge) Flourish and Pine Branches (Straight From the Nest Cartridge)

my take on tag #1

Stamped, Embossed and Stickled CTMH Noel Stamp

Tim's Tag #1 & the inspiration. See more at www.timholtz.typepad.com

Tabitha's Trinkets Etsy Shop Giveaway!

2011-11-08T11:03:00.003-05:00

Altered Vintage Poker Chip Christmas Lapel Pins (Set of 3 for $9)

Post a comment on this blog post or my Tabitha's Trinkets Facebook Page by Sunday November 13th for a chance to win a free gift of your choice from my Etsy shop plus free shipping up to a $10 value. Share this giveaway with friends and if they mention your name in their comment then you have an additional chance to win!

The holidays are fast approaching and its a perfect time to start shopping for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, office grab bag items, or a trinket for that special someone! Check out my Etsy shop Tabitha's Trinkets for some fun ideas. Shop handmade this year and make holiday gift giving and receiving a unique and one of a kind experience.

Halloween is for the crows!

2011-10-09T15:36:00.002-04:00

I purchased some crows from the Dollar Tree to use as decorations for a Halloween themed CTMH gathering, and then I stumbled across this great idea to alter them on the flea market studio blog.

Breast Cancer Awareness Etsy Listings

2011-09-11T21:59:00.003-04:00

On Monday, September 5th, my Aunt Claudia celebrated 3 years cancer-free. As a breast cancer survivor she will walk in the Making Strides Walk in Washington Park, Albany, NY on Saturday October 16th. I will be right there with her--and in an effort to collect money for the American Cancer Society for the walk, I will be donating all of the proceeds of my breast cancer awareness themed items on Etsy. I appreciate your support, as this scary disease already has, or certainly will, touch all of our lives.

Esty Shop Listings-Halloween Pins w/ Charm Dangles

2011-09-11T21:53:00.003-04:00

My most recent Etsy shop sale was a pair of these adorable glass bead candy corn earrings--I have two pair left up for grabs so act fast!

Here are some the listings I posted yesterday for some altered art Halloween pins with witch hat and owl charm dangles. I've made about a dozen more (not pictures) for my October swap with my stamp camp ladies in place of a card for that month. I hope they will enjoy them. Some of those will have bat charms (once they arrive from my online order). I also made a few for my mom because Halloween is her favorite holiday! I used collage sheets from Lisa's Altered Art.

Fiber & Embellishment Packs NEW in my Etsy Shop!

2011-09-11T21:49:00.000-04:00

I've been working hard the past several days to fill my Etsy shop with a variety of craft goods...from supply packs like these to handmade items you will see in the following post. Please take a moment to check out my shop if anything piques your interest. www.etsy.com/shop/tabithastrinkets

Naked Boxes--Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge

2011-09-04T00:04:00.003-04:00

Click on the photo to make it larger and you will see the projects pretty much actual size! I tested out my new exclusive Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge tonight on my little personal electronic cutter...and at their full sizes on that machine (5.5" setting) they come out pretty dainty and adorable if you ask me! The pillow box, heart box, and the box with the handles come out a decent size for party favors and treat holders. The other three are scarcely big enough to house a single chocolate--but for my jewelry gift giving the little chinese food box or tied up ribbon box would hold a ring or pair of earring and be a darling thing all decorated up for whatever the occasion. I can't see them working out if any of these were made any smaller...and I'm glad my friend has the Expression so we can get these beauties up to their full potential come time for our new monthly workshop club projects! I'm so excited! Right now they are plain naked white boxes...but just wait till you see the projects we turn out from this new cartridge--my mind is reeling with ideas!

August 2011 Mini Book

2011-08-24T14:56:00.004-04:00

I used this 6x6 mini album that I bought years ago at the Dollar Tree to house double page mini-spreads of all the fun things I was able to do with my family when they visited last week and the week before. It was great to see my cousin Mary and her beautiful family, my sister Elise was here for a week, my great Aunt was here for the month from CA, and my friends Ginger and Mike and my Aunt Claudia where able to join Jeff, Elise, and I for a trip to the Adirondack Museum on Blue Mountain Lake one rainy Monday. We got some icecream, did a few short hikes, relaxed and had smores by the lake and did some shopping in Speculator. I couldn't have asked for a better summer so I had to document it in this little book before the hecticness of my last grad semester and substitute teaching sets in next week.

Altered Art Collage Bottles

2011-08-10T23:03:00.004-04:00

I've been saving, collecting, hunting, and buying doo-dads, trinkets, and bottles for awhile now. Ideas and concontions have been brewing, and I've finally pulled some together to create these art pieces. I wanted to do a Mystery Workshop with this idea for the Vintage Room gals, but I just couldn't wait to get some done to display in my bedroom on the shelf over my tv. Now I can enjoy them every night instead of staring at them as empty bottles just waiting to be transformed into a bottle of wishes, wisdom, secrets, love potion, hopes, dreams, and more...

The bottle of Wishes was my first creation. It's a small blue tinted glass bottle I picked up at an antique shop or flea market. I filled it with a half strand of silver beads, some start confetti, small blue glass pebbles (the kind for floral arrangements), a wheat penny on each side, and a small handful of handmade origami wishing stars I made from strips of old music paper. I stuffed the top closed with a spool of varigated blue thread that I was able to remove the cardboard center from and force into the opening. I glued a minature well to the top and tied some blue seam binding ribbon and tan chunky thread around the neck of the bottle. Finally, I hung a blue rhinestone clip-on earring from the ribbon, and glued on the copper word tiles to spell "wish."

The bottle of Wisdom came next. I put a few cream colored pearls and amber toned seed and bugle beads inside, along with several black and yellow feathers. I cut the Wise Old Owl image from a vintage set of animal rummy playing cards and glued it on along with some metal wings and a plastic light bulb. The stopper of the bottle is a metal drawer pull with an ivory owl pendant glued on top. I used a mix of fibers and lace around the neck of the bottle and stuck in a few black stick pins. Finally, I attached a small tag to the loop of the owl pendant to dangle and say, "Ideas & Imagination take flight" on one side, and WISDOM on the back.

The final bottle I've completed so far is a bottle of Secrets. This one doesn't have much inside because the majority of it is collaged on the outside with music paper, the stamped word "secrets" and the phrase "with a smile, and a bit of mystery" pieced together from words cut out of a book, a little girl image, pompom trim, and a plastic dog. I used vintage flowers and pearl sprays, along with a few stick pins and pink lace around the bottle neck. The stopper is another drawer pull coated in silver glass glitter (there is also a little sprinkled inside the bottle) with a pink rhinestone earring piece on top.

Ta Da! More bottled creations to come...

Thank You Cards

2011-07-30T19:04:00.004-04:00

These are cards I made for this month's stamp camp card swap. I used the Basic Grey Out of Print paper line, Close To My Heart card stock, a random strip of corrigated cardboard, and Micheal's/Studio G thank you stamp and floral paper clip embellishments. The larger close up photo shows the embossing of the stamp pretty well.

Where is the Sock Monkey?

2011-07-30T18:51:00.005-04:00

Here is the sock monkey card that I made for my friend's son's 2nd birthday. It matched his gift, which I found at Big Lots--a cute game of Where is the Sock Monkey? I thought they would have fun hiding the little monkey around the house to play hide'n'seek. I printed out the sock monkey image off the internet, then I layered it onto some paper, added google eyes, and buttons. Voila! Simple. Adorable. Done! So fun to be apart of the party today as the official photographer. I got some great shots that I will post later.

June In My Vintage Room Swaps

2011-07-01T13:52:00.005-04:00

These are the swaps I finally completed for the June Swaps I hosted in my yahoo group. I have my June Altered Tag, front and back, my Steam Punk Dad LFB, front and back, and three Mermaid ATCs. The tag and LFB images were cut out and collaged from a 1953 magazine called The Saturday Evening Post. The ads and images in it are so retro/vintage and fun to read and look at. I combined several to create the tag and LFB. The mermaids are ladies from a Lisa's Altered Art collage sheet with their legs cut off, and I use pattered paper and metallic gel pens to create their fins. Miniature seashells, key charms, pearls, jewels, and champagne glass glitter (Stampin' Up), complete the pieces.

Create-A-Critter Cricut Gift Bags & Cards

2011-06-24T20:19:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile since I posted a new project. Here are the gift bags and matching birthday cards that I made for Jeff's niece and nephew. I used my Create-A-Critter Cricut Cartridge and the characters come out adorable. A little stamping, googly eyes and stickles bring them to life.

Mystery Mission 2011 Unveiled!

2011-04-04T19:08:00.006-04:00

What can $15 buy nowadays? Not much. In this case, it got the adventurous ladies in my art group a bag of "stuff" to inspire them to create a masterpiece for our 2nd Annual Mixed Media Mystery Mission. What everyone turned out for our exhibition yesterday ended up being priceless works of art that reflected bits and pieces of ourselves. I was so impressed by the array of talent. And my months of scouring ebay, antique stores, and trying to think outside of the box with the things I included in their mystery supply bag was all worth it.
Above you can see photos of my completed mission project. Each photo is of a different square in the collaged shadow box. What started out as a blank unfinished pine box, ended up telling my story. If you click on the bottom photo to enlarge it, you may be able to read the excerpt I included with the box at the exhibit yesterday.

Magazine Collage and Overpainting ATCs

2011-03-07T22:21:00.002-05:00

Step 1: Cut images, backgrounds, and words from magazines and layer onto ATC sized mat board.

Step 2: Choose portions of your image or background to coat with a thin layer of gesso. Brush on sheer enough to see the original image underneath.

Step 3: Take a fine line black marker or Sharpie to outline the image you see through the gesso layer. Leave "raw" for a textured line drawing look, or color in portions or whole image with markers or paint and Ta-Da!

March Stamp Camp Card Exchange

2011-03-07T21:34:00.005-05:00

I played with some new Stampin' Up products on these cards for the March Exchange. I used the Springtime Floral paper, and the flowers and seam binding ribbon are Stampin' Up too. The collage images are from Lisa's Altered Art. I always have fun making a set of cards to share every month, especially knowing I'll come home with a new set of cards from some great artists who I'm sure to get some ideas from every time!

Recycled Soda Can Pin Variations

2011-03-07T21:17:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share a variation of the soda can pins I made at Stamp Camp. I don't have the Big Shot or the Daisy Die that we created the top two pins with...so I came home and used my Cuttle Bug and my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die instead. All of the ladies at Stamp Camp made their pins out of different cans and we were all so excited by how each one came out differently. With this different flower shape there are even more options. More of the can design shows, which I happen to like and lends itself to being better able to recognize the recycled nature of the project. The possibilities are limitless! Check out Maura's Monster pin! Can you tell which soda brands my pins are made of?

March Stamp Camp Projects

2011-03-07T20:59:00.004-05:00

It's about time that I update my blog! I've been posting a photo a day on Facebook as part of a year long Project 365. Alot of the photos I post there are of my art. But it's time to catch up here, and what better way to get back in the game than to share a few projects I've been involved in. The photo above is of the projects we worked on as part of a monthly Stampin' Up Stamp Camp. My Stampin' Up Demonstrator is tremendously generous, as well as awesomely creative so I know that every month I'm in store for something fun. This month was triple the fun because we made a card, decorated a ball jar, and created pins out of soda cans! The idea for the pins came from a YouTube Clip posted on Maura's blog, another member of the stamp group. You should check it out and give it a try!

ATC Christmas Ornament Swap

2011-01-11T22:42:00.003-05:00

These are the ornaments I created for the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group's XMAS ornaments swap. I made an extra one to keep for myself because I loved how they turned out. Pom-pom and rick-rack trims, vintage bells, glass glitter and stickles adorn these vintage santas. I used my holiday Tim Holtz tissue tape, Close To My Heart background paper, and some Magic Mesh for texture. I did my best to layer on the Christmas magic, and I love the photo of the ornament nestled in the branches. I think this will have to be an annual swap because everyone did a fantastic job!

Christmas Cocoa Jars

2011-01-11T22:35:00.004-05:00

I've gotten back into jewelry making in the past few months and I beaded a few dozen pairs of earrings and bracelets as Christmas gifts this year. For the teachers at work with families, or the male teachers/staff that would perhaps not appreciate my fine jewelry, I created Cozy Cocoa Jars. These were fairly inexpensive to do. The jars came from the Dollar Tree, the spoons were 4/$1 at Walmart, along with some large canisters of Swiss Miss, bags of marshmellows, peppermints, chocolate santas, all tied up with ribbons and a snowflake ornament. If this doesn't say "warm winter wishes" I don't know what does!

Vintage Button Rings

2010-11-22T21:50:00.004-05:00

I'm sorry it has been awhile since I last posted an entry. I've been creating, I just haven't had the patience to play with photos on my new laptop...the new Windows drives me crazy--I can't figure out where all my files are going! So much for organization. Anyway, pictured above are one of the few things I've been working on for Christmas gifts this year. I'd like a little something to put in all the teachers' mailboxes at the school where I TA and these ended up being simple and cute enough to produce in bulk. Jeff and I went on a trip to NYC several weekends ago and a vendor stand in Bryant Park was selling similar rings for $18 each. I came home and went on ebay to buy the silver plated adjustable ring blanks and scoured my button collection and a local antique store for interesting buttons to layer on. I used E6000 glue to attach the buttons to the ring base so they should hold up pretty well I hope. Now the hard part is just letting them go when I could have a different ring for every outfit and every day of the month now! :o) Hopefully the ladies at work will thing they are fun and enjoy them too.

Halloween ATCs

2010-10-23T19:47:00.002-04:00

These are the ATCs that I created for my Halloween Swap in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group. I used a collage sheet from Lisa's Altered Art along with various trims, papers, stickers, and doo-dads.

Summer Twinchies

2010-08-31T15:36:00.001-04:00

These are the twinchies that I created for my swap in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo group. Little pieces of summer in two inches square!

Day 1 of Beeswax Collage Spree

2010-08-17T11:07:00.002-04:00

8x10 Beeswax Collage Group Shot
Pansy Cupid 8x10 Beeswax Collage

Lilac Princess 8x10 Beeswax Collage

Garden Reader 8x10 Beeswax Collage

Dreamy Rider 8x10 Beeswax Collage

These are the 8x10 Beeswax Collages that I made to sell at Wisteria Lane Gift Shop in Galway,NY. I'm lucky I found someone so close to home that supports local artists and that my style fits into her shop. I'm hoping she'll meet with success in reselling these pieces and that someone will really enjoy displaying them in their homes! I think they all came out great, except Garden Reader--whose composition is actually my favorite--I tried something new and it caused some buckling of the image. Still lovely in person with the texture of the beeswax to hide some of the imperfections that the flash of the camera caught. I might have to keep that one for me.

Day 2 of Beeswax Collage Spree

2010-08-17T10:58:00.004-04:00

group shot of the 5x5 beeswax collages
Pondering Beauty 5x5 Beeswax Collage
Soar 5x5 Beeswax Collage

Post Card Robin 5x5 Beeswax Collage

Believe in the Beauty Bird 5x5 Beeswax Collage

These collages were created this morning to sell at the Wisteria Lane Gift Shop in Galway,NY. I couldn't sleep, so I decided it was a good morning for art. These are truly mixed media as they display a variety of german scrap, k&co die cuts, vintage french music paper, vintage keys, amusment park tickets and coin, buttons, tin letter, cameo and more. Fun to make, and I almost want to keep them all for myself!

Wisteria Lane Trinket Box Order Filled

2010-08-17T10:48:00.003-04:00

Puppy themed trinket boxes
Kitten themed trinket boxes

Bird & Butterfly themed trinket boxes

Circle Trinket Boxes

Wisteria Lane Gift shop in Galway,NY requested an additional order of a dozen trinket boxes and I happily made two dozen more thinking I'd let Karen pick out the ones she liked best to fill the order. She was so thrilled with them, she bought them all from me! They retail in her store for $4 each and come with a square of cotton batting inside to safely house your jewelry and treasures. If you see one you like, go pick it up soon, for a gift or for yourself, before its gone! I did not create these from collage sheets, I cut up the Cynthia Hart Victorian Calendars my grandmother gave me awhile back...so each trinket box is one of a kind as I will not repeat any of the images in the future.

Altered Domino Pendants

2010-07-31T20:55:00.002-04:00

I decorated ordinary white dominos with alcohol inks, vintage french music paper, and victorian die cuts. The two to the right are just stamped with staz-on after the alcohol ink dried. Something different to play with.

Mini Accordian Albums

2010-07-20T15:02:00.002-04:00

I made this album as part of Jeff's birthday gift so he could take it to work and display it on his desk. I used some more recent photos of us at the park with the dog, and others from this past winter outside, and made it a collection of photos of us and our pets, which for now in our lives, is our little family.

I made two of this album to send to my grandma and my aunt and her family as thank yous for our visit. Some great family photos that were ten years over due...since that was the last time I've seen this part of my family the time was very special. I got the idea for these adorable, affordable and easy accordian albums from Maura & Sheila's blog. These ladies are full of helpful tips and awesome ideas for paper crafting! I chose not to use the pockets in my album, but they are envelopes to store tags for journaling and extra photos!

Albums, Albums, Albums

2010-07-20T14:41:00.002-04:00

I may have disappeared from blogging for a few weeks, but I've definitely still been creating. From wedding cards to a wedding album, to birthday cards and birthday mini-book, to two travel albums and a few family photo mini books--I've been back to my scrapbooking roots for awhile. Above are photos of some of the layouts in the 8x8 wedding book that I made for my cousin Gabe and his new wife Kate for their wedding gift from me. Their colors were blue and green, and the wedding was outdoors on an old farm in Virginia, so I kept the look clean, simple, casual and elegant with pale blue, olive green, white and silver accents. I scrambled to take good photos at the wedding, went from the wedding to a CVS to print photos and make them a photo cd, put the photos in my other-wise pre-assembled album together that night, and had it sent back to them with my dad for his visit the next day. Whew! It was a little crazy, but I think they really enjoyed it.

CTMH Card Workshop @ Wisteria Lane

2010-06-28T11:45:00.003-04:00

My first card workshop at Wisteria Lane (1525 State Highway 29, Galway, NY) will be on Saturday July 31 from 1-3 p.m. Cost per person is $18 for all the materials to make 6 cards with envelopes and a surprise goody bag. I'm psyched. Space is limited to 10 people so I might have a follow up workshop the Friday after if I get enough response! Participants also will get 10% of any Wisteria Lane purchases on the day of the workshop. Call Wisteria Lane at (518) 495-5931 to sign up.

Goddess Zentangle ATCs

2010-06-28T11:41:00.002-04:00

These are Goddess ATCs that I created for my In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group Gods & Goddesses ATC swap. I used the Zentangle technique for the the first time and enjoyed trying something different and outside of my vintage-feel comfort zone.

LFB Inspired by The Beatles

2010-06-28T11:37:00.002-04:00

Miriam, from In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group hosted a Beatles LFB swap this month. Her hope was that the titles of the songs and the lyrics would create some great art...and it was a neat idea for sure! I created these LFBs with a 12x12 collage technique at our Captured Moments LFB club...then it worked out that the Blackbird lyrics fit perfectly with them.

Fun at Captured Moments LFB Club

2010-06-28T11:18:00.002-04:00

This is the LFB page that I created during this month's meeting of of Little Fat Book Club. Peggy brought in these clear little chalk boxes which we filled with beads and doo-dads and inchies we created from Melanie's collage sheets. It was a ton of fun, and I'm so pleased with how mine turned out! I layered papers, images, and patterned napkins with gel medium for the lfb base.

Another Collage Sheet!

2010-06-16T03:59:00.000-04:00

These images and ads are from The Housewife September 1913.

More June Birthdays

2010-06-14T17:52:00.002-04:00

This is for my boyfriend's sister's boyfriend Matt. I used my Cricut to cut out the Happy Birthday sentiment, but I hand cut and inked the bowling pins and turned a large black brad into a bowling ball to dot the "i" in birthday.

This card is working double-duty as my dad's birthday card and Father's day card because I'm sending him an I.O.U for when I get to visit him and my mom and Elise in July. I used a page out of a book about game trivia as background paper and brayered on inks that coordinated with the word fetti and metal stickers.

I made my own Collage Sheets!!!

2010-06-13T22:07:00.004-04:00

Earlier this week, I went with my sister to an antique store in Ballston Spa, NY and we happened across a drawer full of century old women's magazines. Immediately I thought of cutting them up for collage ephemera, but as I flipped through them I found the ads and articles too fascinating, and such a glimpse of women's lives of the time, that I won't be able to bear cutting them up. I purchased them anyway five for $10, figuring I'd bring them home and scan in the pictures I'd like to make my own collage sheets. Above are some of my results so far. Both collage sheets were created from images that I found in the October 1903 Woman's Home Companion. I still have four more magazines to go through, and now that I've gotten the hang of my scanner, I believe I will have a ball creating more to share in the future. Stay tuned!

Cricut Critter Creations

2010-06-11T00:03:00.004-04:00

"Bee Yourself" LFB Page Front & Back

"Smile Squirrel" Card for Aly

Well, I have a very generous friend who came to acquire a Cricut machine that she did not need and passed on to me. I won three cartridges on Ebay, and we decided we would share our collection between the two of us...and two of the cartridges that I ordered came in the mail today so I pulled it out to play. I figured it out pretty quickly and made a pile of cut-outs for future use, and put a few to work on the card and little fat book page above. The trees, branch, and clouds are from the "Serenade" cartridge, and the Smile sentiment and animals are from the "Create A Critter" cartridge. The Bee Yourself stamp and bee and hive are a CTMH Petite Perks incentive stamp set.

I NEVER thought I'd own a Cricut because I never wanted (or really could afford) to foot the expense. I'm so lucky to have someone to share my passion with, and someone who knows I will put to good use and appreciate "hand-me-down" items. I feel very blessed. I've enjoyed exploring some of the creative options of the machine today.

Cards for Co-workers

2010-06-04T12:32:00.002-04:00

Birthday card for Josh Duell, former Siena Saints Basketball player, and current CVS co-worker. It's amazing the pictures you can find of someone when you google their name on the internet!

Graduation card for Michelle Anderson, CVS co-worker. Instead of her school's colors, I used the colors and style that matched her prom dress. The background was embossed with my new Cuttlebug "Textile" embossing folder that I ordered from www.hobbylobby.com.

Stamp Camp Card Exchange #2

2010-05-28T21:33:00.003-04:00

I made 14 cards to exchange next week at stamp camp. I used my new Stampin' Up "Peddling Past" stamp set along with a Hero Arts sentiment set I won from Maura & Sheila. I also used CTMH papers, K & Co paper lace ribbon, Avery shipping tags, and some buttons. I hope the ladies will like them!

Summer Birthday Cards!

2010-05-26T21:39:00.004-04:00

Summery birthday card for Jeff's best friend's sister, Kim, using Basic Grey patterned paper, pom pom trim from Walmart, EK Success punch, G Studio Sweet Stamp.

Birthday card for Jeff's niece, Jenna, using Cuttlebug die and embossing folder, foam sticker, googly eyes, CTMH birthday stamp, and my new Smooch shimmer spritz.

Birthday card for Jeff's nephew, Justin, using cuttlebug embossing folder, CTMH birthday stamp, foam sticker, and Colorbok wheel brads.

Birds, Bees & Winged Things ATCs

2010-05-26T17:29:00.003-04:00

Here are the Birds & Bees ATCs that I made for my May swap in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo group. I love the DCWV Mariposa paper stack...along with some gel medium, prima flowers, some bird cage diecuts courtesy of Ginger's Cricut machine spritzed with my new Smooch Log Cabin Spray from Stampin' Up, other random doo-dads, ric-rack, and lovely bits, and some bird images from a Cosmo Cricket sheet of paper turned into these beauties. I even made an extra for me to add to my own collection. :o)

Festival of Windmills!

2010-05-22T21:56:00.002-04:00

Well, Ginger and I got to St. Mary's in Amsterdam to set up around 9:15 am....and around 4:30 began to pack up. We were a little disappointed (yet again) at the turnout, but at least we got to visit with each other. We got alot of nice compliments on our work and a good response in general, but not a great sell through at all. Again, at least we won't have to do much to replenish our inventory for the next one, whenever that will be. These craft fairs seem like a lot of work for little return on time and investment--but I guess that's why you have to love your craft and just enjoy sharing it with others any way that you can--and I thankfully do. :o)

More Craft Fair Creations!

2010-05-22T21:52:00.002-04:00

Here are more twinchie boxes and circle tile pendants that I made for the Festival of Windmills Craft Fair in Amsterdam, NY. I only sold one of my boxes and have quite a few pendants left, so if you happen to see one you like, feel free to post a message and I'd be happy to mail them out. I was charging $3.00 per trinket box, or 2 for $5.00 and $8.00 per necklace on a ball chain or 2 for $12.00.

April Showers LFB

2010-05-22T21:47:00.002-04:00

Here is the little fat book page that I made for Fran's April Showers swap in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group. The pink umbrella paper on the back is actually vintage wrapping paper from the Washington County Antique Show, and its flocked! I have to admit, the back is a bit lame otherwise because I just put a few spring-y Jolee's boutique stickers on it to finish it off. I didn't want to cover too much of the pretty paper!

November LFBs

2010-05-18T13:56:00.002-04:00

Here are the dozen November LFBs I created for Ginger's In My Vintage Room Yahoo group's 12 Months of LFBs swap. I got assigned November and decided to commemorate Veteran's Day instead of going with perhaps the more obvious Thanksgiving theme. We will each get one of each month out of this swap, completing a whole year's worth of LFBs into one cute little book. Glad I finished in time for the exchange, June 5th.

Exciting News! My first Twinchie Box Custom Order!

2010-05-15T23:38:00.002-04:00

After the Galway Fire Department craft fair last Saturday, I stopped at a small antique store on Rt 29 in Galway called Wisteria Lane. It's a sweet shabby chic store and I came to find out that the owner is very supportive of local artists and always looking for new and interesting things that fit in with the look and feel of her store. It just so happened that she loved my little trinket boxes and ordered a dozen for me to tailor to what appeals to her customers most: birds, cats, dogs, flappers and older vintage women. I'm so excited to have my first custom order to fill. I finished these and plan to drop them off on my way to work tomorrow. I'm hoping they will be just what she envisioned and more!

Mystery Blog Giveway goes to....

2010-05-14T11:20:00.003-04:00

Helen Bosherini, thanks for reading my blog! Your package containing a little bit of trendy and a little bit of vintage will go in the mail today! Trendy includes Colorbok Rub Ons, DCWV Butterflies & Blossoms Glitter and Foil paper, Prima flowers, and buttons. It should all coordinate to make beautiful cards. Vintage includes antique music papers in French and English, Russian and English children's primer pages, old year book and movie book pages, manilla tags, and a handmade glass tile necklace with a vintage image. Enjoy!

My New, Shabby Chic Bathroom Decor

2010-05-13T11:07:00.005-04:00

I just purchased this 11x14 vintage ad from Wisteria Lane Antique Store on Route 29 in Galway on Saturday and it inspired my whole design. It's a 1926 ad in Ladies' Home Journal for Mum Deodorant and I thought it was so cute and has all the colors I wanted to incorporate for a nice light summery bathroom redo.

I purchased the frame, vase, flowers, green moss, burlap fabric scrap, candles and soap holder at Walmart yesterday to put together a little grouping of knickknacks for decoration.

The shower curtain, bath mats, and yellow hand towels came from Kmart. And over all the look is the light shabby chic decor I was going for. I'm so happy with how this came out! Best of all, I was able to freshen up the look of the room without the tediousness of repainting it.

My First Craft Show!

2010-05-08T20:15:00.006-04:00

It feels like I've spent every spare waking minute in the last week preparing for this day...and while, I tried not to get my hopes up, the weather and the turn out for my first craft show in Galway today left much to be desired. Ginger, and a few other friends turned out to support me, but even my supporters were fewer in numbers than I'd hoped. It's Mother's day weekend and alot of other events around neighboring communities probably effected the lack of people arriving, as well as all the chilly rain. I guess at least now I won't have as much work to catch myself up in replenishing inventory for May 22nd's Festival of Windmills Craft Fair in Amsterdam with Ginger! Here are some photos of how my table looked all set up!

More Greeting Cards for tomorrow's craft fair!

2010-05-07T13:43:00.005-04:00

I've been at it all day...and here are some more cards for my craft fair tomorrow. I sold all but two of my Mother's Day cards on Tuesday night so I focused on those for the most part...this time around using all different brands of stamps, papers, and supplies.

Twinchie Trinket Boxes for Craft Fair

2010-05-07T09:32:00.008-04:00

I started with these blank two inch paper mache boxes that came in kraft and cream. Then I punched patterned paper or images into two inch squares to decorate the tops of the little boxes.

These are the tops of all 34 trinket boxes after the decorative paper has been trimmed closer to size and attached and sealed on with matte gel medium.

After the gel medium dried, the fun part was choosing various jewels, buttons, flowers and doo-dads to adorn the tops of the boxes.

Finally, I cut squares of quilter's batting to fit inside each one to cushion and protect the necklaces customers may or may not choose to put inside.

And voila! In one day I have a great set of little trinket boxes to sell at Galway's craft show tomorrow!

My first vendor fair!!!

2010-05-07T09:28:00.003-04:00

Ginger was kind enough to go along with me to Burnt Hills this past Tuesday night and lug a table and chairs and her beautiful CTMH product inspired demo creations for me to use to set up my first vendor fair table. I had a great first time out, and although I would have liked to sell more of course, I am even more psyched to see how everything goes at tomorrow's craft fair in Galway. It was definitely a fun Ladies Night!

It's a Mystery! Blog Giveaway

2010-05-05T11:58:00.004-04:00

I'm excited, because I don't win things often, but I won Maura & Sheila's National Scrapbooking Day blog giveway which was an adorable and versatile sentiment stamp set from Hero Arts. In the spirit of giving and celebrating the hobbies we all love so much, I would like to pay it forward and share with one lucky winner a mystery supply package. All you have to do is leave a comment connected to this blog entry by Friday May 14th at 12pm eastern time.
In your comment, answer the following question: If you won the mystery package, which of the following would you be most excited to find inside: A one of a kind packet of vintage ephemera for collage and altered art, or some trendy more mainstream goodies for scrapping and stamping projects (or a little of both!) ?
Good luck and Happy creating!

Treasure Hunting

2010-05-03T16:09:00.004-04:00

Here's a group shot of all the great treasures I found at the Washington County Antique Show and Flea Market on Saturday. Each item has already found a home in my kitchen, on my dining room hutch, or my living room fireplace mantel.
But some of my most exciting finds lie within the pages of those beat up old books. Photos of early movie stars, a child's primer in Russian, sheet music with the lyrics in French, an early 1900s Speller, and an unused workbook. The ephermera motherload, I might call it. I can't wait to post the creations I come up inspired by those hundred year old sheets of history.

Vendor Fair Cards Round 3

2010-04-30T21:42:00.004-04:00

Cards made from Grace paper pack
Cards made from Life Delights paper pack

Cards made from Perfect Day paper pack

I have been a busy bee again...another day of cardmaking puts me at a total of 60 cards, and 30 scrap pack card kits to sell at my vendor fair Tuesday night! Whew!

Vendor Fair Cards Round 2

2010-04-30T09:57:00.005-04:00

Cards made from Veranda paper pack
Cards make from Notebook paper pack

Cards made from Free Spirit paper pack

These are the next round of cards I've created for Tuesday night's vendor fair in Burnt Hills, NY. I've once again used exclusively Close to My Heart papers, inks, stamps, and this time the only exception are some of the embellishments. I created the flowers for the Notebook set from my Cuttlebug with Tim Holtz die and vintage papers, and used CTMH ink and brads to give them color and dimension and to add centers. The flowers on the Veranda set are similar to ones Close To My Heart sells, but I ran out of CTMH and used Prima instead.

Glass Pendants Created for Galway Craft Fair

2010-04-29T14:05:00.002-04:00

Here is a sample of some of the trinkets I will have up for sale at Saturday May 8th Galway craft fair. I'm so excited! I've been a busy bee. The pendants in the top picture are 1" glass tiles. The bottom picture are approx. 2" circle pebble pendants. I will include a ball chain necklace with each purchase and purchase of a decorated paper mache trinket/jewelry box or small organza draw string bag for gift giving is optional.

My New Toy(s)...

2010-04-29T13:56:00.005-04:00

Tattered Florals Die cut outs from vintage book pages, yearbook pages, and sheet music
Leaves die cut outs from sticky backed felt and sheets of cork

Tattered florals die cut outs from sticky backed felt (note the circles are not part of the die, but I cut them out of the excess sticker felt to use for polka dots or flower centers)

As I believe I mentioned in a previous post, I recently purchased the Cuttlebug with embossing folder set from HSN. When I discovered that it was compatible with Sizzix dies, I was so excited because I love the new Alterations line from Tim Holtz. I have never really done much with die cuts or been very interested in die-cutting machines before, but so far I'm having a ton of fun. I only have 3 dies, but here are a few examples of the materials I've been cutting with today. I can't wait to make greeting cards decorated with my very own handmade embellishments!

Wait! Are those really MY boys?!

2010-04-28T21:54:00.004-04:00

More and more often lately I have been noticing Casper, my cat, following around Brinkley, my dog. Every time Brinkley is let outside, Casper faithfully waits for him on the inside of the door to come back in. And he seems ever more curious about Brinkley's toys, food, etc. They have lived together since we brought Brinkley home two summers ago, and while Gracie, my female cat, still seems to loathe the dog for his very existence, I dare say Casper is giving in to his big bro and now strives to be his little buddy. Imagine my surprise when I got out of bed this morning and found them laying together on Brinkley's new bed on my way to the bathroom. I was thrilled to have my camera close enough at hand to snap these photos before Brinkley got up and stretched. I'm not sure how Brinkley feels about having to share his bed, but its pretty darn cute anyhow. Gotta love my boys!

Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow

2010-04-26T11:14:00.003-04:00

I never considered myself a gardener, until yesterday morning when I pulled out from my driveway and saw that the tulip bulbs I planted last Spring have finally started to bloom along my front sidewalk. Last year, after Easter, we had pots and pots of them that we were supposed to throw away at CVS after they died and couldn't be sold. It made me sad to see all those bulbs go in the dumpster. So even though I'd never planted anything before, and didn't much enjoy digging up worms, I made a home for all those cast away flower bulbs along my front sidewalk. I didn't know how deep to plant them, or if it was too late in the season, or how far apart they needed to go or anything. I just painstakingly spaded out one hole after another and placed those bulbs in the ground with the blind faith that this Spring, something might bloom and I'd be rewarded for my efforts with a burst of color. While I've looked around the neighborhood at all the lush tulips and daffodils that have long ago started to bloom, while all I had were leaves...I began to wonder...and then I saw buds of color, and then yesterday whole flowers! How exciting to have created life where there was none! To have added yellows and oranges and reds where there was only green before! Can I call myself a gardener now, perhaps not. But I am happy that I planted a seed and had the chance to watch it grow. Happy Spring!

Round 1 of Vendor Fair Cards

2010-04-24T15:56:00.006-04:00

Serendipity Promo Paper
More To Adore Paper

Floral Tapestry Paper

Emporium Paper

Other than my new Cuttlebug Embossing folders that I used to add texture to each background paper in the cards, I used exclusively CTMH paper, inks, stamps, and embellishments to create these cards that I will have up for sale and my first vendor fair May 4th. I still have alot of work ahead of me but I think these came out great. Two sittings over two nights, about 7 hours of work. Whew! Now let's hope I can sell them! Click photos to enlarge and see details.

Good Fortune Times 2

2010-04-21T22:53:00.002-04:00

Jeff and I got chinese food the other night and there were four fortune cookies in our take out bag. I think they are always my favorite part, and imagine my delight and surprise to have both of my fortunes not only say the same thing, but also be such a nice message "You are original and creative." I'm hoping shoppers will think so too at my upcoming vendor/craft fair endeavors. I have a vendor fair in Burnt Hills on Tues. May 4th from 5:30-8 at Site Solutions across from Gil's Garage on Route 50. And on Sat. May 8th I'm doing my first craft show at the Galway Fire House on Route 147 from 10-4pm. I'm so excited. I have a ton of creating to do in between school assignments the next few weeks. Luckily my semester is almost over! :o)

April Swaps for In My Vintage Room

2010-04-21T22:47:00.006-04:00

Storybook LFB front
Storybook LFB back

Glasses/Sunglasses ATCs

Happy Birthday Ginger!

2010-04-10T22:27:00.003-04:00

Here are the handmade items that I created for Ginger's birthday on Monday to go with her gift full of bought goodies and trinkets for crafting. I can post this because we already celebrated on Thursday with a shopping trip and lunch at Panera Bread. We've been friends for years, since we met at Memory Lane before it closed and sat together for every bus trip to scrapbook stores and Expos. It's been fun getting to know such a talented and creative person and I hope she has the best birthday ever!

Carrot Oatmeal Muffin Recipe LFB

2010-04-07T12:45:00.005-04:00

Front
detail

back

This is the LFB that I made for Elise's first monthly recipe LFB exchange in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group. She set this first month's theme to breads/muffins. I found this recipe online and it sounds delicious, though I've never made it before. I'm not much of a cooker or baker...she is, so I know she'll love this one. I only wish she still lived here so when she makes it I can try it! The 3x5 recipe cards slide out of a pocket I created in the back.

More Greeting Cards

2010-04-07T12:38:00.005-04:00

Making Memories paper, alpha stickers, and jewels
Close To My Heart stamps & pattern paper

Close To My Heart Stamps and patterned paper

I took advantage of a rare and brief few hours of free time before class this afternoon to create another half dozen cards (I made 2 of each design). I had so much fun with my itunes playing this season's American Idol downloads and replicating designs from my current Paper Crafts magazine with my twist and my supplies.

Stamp Camp Card Exchange #1

2010-04-04T23:22:00.006-04:00

I was invited to attend a monthly Stamp Camp/class this past Thursday and I went in spite of being sick. It's easier to do something you want to do when you feel icky than it is to sit at home and be miserable. Tissues, Sudafed, and tool bag in hand, and armed with my GPS, I went to someone's house I didn't even know, to hang out with people I had never even met before. I have to say, I had a blast, and it always amazes me how welcoming, generous, and wonderful crafters truly are. Where else can you walk into a room of strangers and feel like you've made instant friends?! These ladies are so talented and friendly, and we made two greeting cards using Stampin' Up supplies. They do a monthly Greeting Card swap which I was unprepared to participate in, but they were kind enough to let me take a few home with me anyhow and they were all lovely! I came home inspired and refreshed (though still very sick), and I finally got to sit down last night after finishing my paper to make some cards for next month's exchange.

I created fourteen Owl Thank You's using CTMH paper, ink, and liquid glass, a Studio G owl stamp, K & Co. diecuts, yellow ric-rac, and Offray ribbon flowers. I hope the girls will enjoy them, and it will feel good to contribute to their creative circle! I can't wait to visit with them again!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T23:15:00.003-04:00

Here is the Easter card that I made for my grandma, with a close of up shot of the rain detail that I made look "wet" with CTMH's liquid glass. I was disappointed to only have time to make just THREE Easter cards this year. One for Jeff, this one for my grandma, and my parents/Elise/other grandma all got lumped together since it went to the same place. Things have been so hectic for me...with school, subbing, work at CVS, being sick, having a sick cat, school work...the hour drive to EVERYTHING...so I've been pretty down. But SPRING is finally here and I'm at least enjoying the sunshine and have decided not to take summer classes so I have some down time to recover mentally.

All The World's A Stage LFB

2010-03-27T18:49:00.003-04:00

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I created this Little Fat Book page last night for my "Curtain Call" LFB swap. I knew I would be swapping them out today and wanted to be able to participate even though life has been incredibly hectic. I wasn't sure what would come together, if anything, because I was so exhausted, but I managed this. I played with some images from a collage sheet I purchased from Lisa's Altered Art, some old book paper, Making Memories acrylic frame, Tim Holtz adage ticket and game spinner, printed tissue paper, sequin trim, a print out of a stage, and some new Golden Mediums and Molding Pastes from a sampler box I bought at Michael's. My favorite thing about the backside was using the old paper, which was a page out of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. I mixed red paint into light molding paste and gooped up the edges and then stamped with bubble wrap for some interest and texture. But what was even more fun was picking out words in the play to put a box around with fine line marker and then color in to highlight. I almost made my own poem out of the highlighed words in the text: "Henceforth, Juliet, is my lady. Too bold the fairest stars, her eyes were stars."

"Fly" Card for Daddy

2010-03-27T17:06:00.003-04:00

Okay, I admit, I knew this card would make my dad cry, but I had to send it. I miss my parents so much since they moved to Virginia in December, and I know they are having a hard time getting established there so these lyrics have a double meaning. Dad and mom prepared me to be on my own and survive in the world, but the lyrics are also about me being proud and appreciative of them too. I cry everytime I hear this song and think of my dad. And I love to look at this photo of us when I was little (I have had it posted on the bulletin board over my desk since I stole it from their house before they moved). I combined both the lyrics and the photo to make a meaningful message for my father; I want you to soar too! You guys will make it! And I'll be okay (even though I miss you so much it hurts sometimes!) I love this photo and the lyrics because they represent a simpler time in our lives, where a rope swing in the woods on a sunny afternoon was pure bliss.

Birthday Card for Grandma

2010-03-27T17:01:00.001-04:00

Here is the birthday card that I created for my grandma using my new CTMH Veranda Paper Pack and CTMH birthday stamp as well as victorian scrap of a flower fairy...her favorite AND mine!

Famous Women ATCs

2010-03-19T20:31:00.005-04:00

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Queen Victoria Fact (on back): National Pride connected with the name of Victoria-the term Victorian England stemmed from the Queen's ethics and personal tastes which generally reflected those of the middle class.

Princess Diana Fact (on back): Diana's interest in helping young people led to the establishment of the Diana Memorial Award, awarded to youths that show unselfish devotion to causes that were advocated by the Princess.

Jane Austen Fact (on back): Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction have earned her a place as one of the most widely read and beloved writers in English literature.

I was inspired by a piece of artwork in the Winter Somerset Gallery magazine where an artist used images of women throughout history and celebrated them through the piece. I thought this would translate into a fun ATC swap theme for the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group. These are my picks for women to celebrate, for no other reason than their images inspired some creativity for me and their stories of power, strength, charity and individuality mark them as women all of us can be proud of.

Altered Blocks

2010-03-11T11:49:00.008-05:00

Step One: Choose coordinating patterned paper and cut to size to fit your alphabet blocks (I purchased a set of 50 at Walmart for $12). Adhere patterned paper to each side of the block using gel medium or decoupage glue. Trim any paper overhang away with scissor blade close to the block edge for a crisp neat finish.

Step Two: Use a sanding block or sand paper to "rough up" the edges of the block and blend the paper into it. Sand the front with the letter to dull the paint finish to match the paper as well. (I used a rough grit sandpaper).

Step Three: Choose an ink or paint to distress and color the block edges and letter front that you just sanded. (I chose an antique gold metallic ink to coordinate with the metallic finish of some of the patterned papers.)

Step Four: Embellish your blocks as desired. I chose to add rhinstones and small Prima flowers to adorn the front of the blocks and dress up the letter sides. You may also want to add word strips, collage images, or stamped images depending on the look you want to achieve.

Have fun with it!

Birthday Art for Lori

2010-03-03T19:46:00.007-05:00

Birthday Card

Altered Blocks

Little Fat Book Page

ATC

Celebrating 26 Layout

2010-03-03T18:40:00.005-05:00

I wanted to do a scrapbook layout to commemorate the beautiful showing of friendship and artistic talent that I received for my 26th birthday from the ladies in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group. When I found this Making Memories page kit on clearance at Target I knew it would be perfect. Now it's a permanent memory in my scrapbook, as if I could ever forget such a wonderful day!

Recycle It! LFB

2010-02-24T16:41:00.002-05:00

This is the LFB that I made for my Recycle It! Swap in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group. The challenge was to create a piece of art predominantly comprised of recycled materials from around your home. I saved the waxed paper image of the lady from egg roll packaging, punched circles from the Chinese food Menu, used the gold coins from an old card I was given, beads and ribbon from an old sewing box etc. It was a challenge that took me outside of my Vintage realm.

Snow Day Snowman

2010-02-24T13:17:00.006-05:00

Well, it worked out that everything I was supposed to do got cancelled today and I enjoyed myself outside in the snow with Aly and Brinkley and Jeff. What do you think of our Snow Friend?

A Winter Wonderland @ Midnight

2010-02-24T09:35:00.005-05:00

Jeff and I were looking out the window of our bedroom last night admiring the way the snow was coating the world outside. I wanted to grab my camera and attempt to capture some of natures beauty...but I still haven't quite mastered those night settings and snow was still falling heavily causing me some anxiety about getting my camera wet. Nevertheless, I snapped these shots and then we walked Brinkley around the block and threw snowballs for him to catch in his mouth. It was a sweet spontaneous little moment that ended with cold noses, wet socks, and happy hearts.

Saint Patrick's Day Twinchies

2010-02-22T10:17:00.003-05:00

Here are the twichies that I made for Fran's St. Patty's Day Twinchie Swap in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group. I hope they will be lucky charms for whoever receives them!

Will You Be Mine? Check Yes or No

2010-02-19T12:53:00.004-05:00

It's hard to explain my relationship with my boyfriend Jeff. We have been dating for almost 3 and a half years and we have a house, a dog, and two cats. Essentially, we have our little fur family, our jobs and school, our house...and tending to those things, and taking care of our responsibilities is our life. It unfortunately has left little time and energy left for each other. It's hard to know whether it is by our own neglect and fault of ours, or by the pace of our lives and circumstances whether we have let the flame of our love fizzle to a dull ember. Is this what it is to be in an adult relationship, to get comfortable and to grow apathetic? Or are we taking forgranted what we have and letting it die? These were the questions I posed to him the week before Valentine's day, as I felt my unrest intensify when I tried to find the words to describe how I felt in his Valentine card and nothing seemed right. My heart felt like it was breaking, and I questioned how much he really cared for me and me for him. How could this be when on the surface we co-exist so peacefully and take care of our home and our pets and our responsibilities so balanced and seamlessly? What more could I want? Emotion. Passion. And a true reminder that I was loved.

On Valentine's Day morning, Jeff was sleeping for his night shift, and I was getting ready to work the day. We literally got to see each other for 15 waking minutes, but somehow he managed to make the day seem special. With a singing greeting card, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a stamp set with the words love, always, grin, and imagine, and a silver jewelry box containing a white gold heart pendent. I felt so pleasantly surprised and relieved that he had thought of me and put such effort into the day that we wouldn't even get to spend together. The best part came when I got home though; I found a letter on my pillow explaining why I received each gift and what it represented for him. He even revealed that I was supposed to have received roses too, but the florist closed before he could pick them up. The letter was in an envelope that read "Will you be my Valentine? Check Yes or No." It made me smile, and my heart soared with the emotions that I've missed for a long time. I checked yes, and put the envelope on his side of the bed for when he came home in the morning.

I'm not a jewelry person and I don't expect lavish gifts or large expensive tokens of affection, but this occassion called for a special reminder, and he made me feel special. Now when I wear his necklace I play with the pendant throughout the day and think of him with a smile, just as he said in his letter that he hoped I would.

One More Valentine

2010-02-19T12:48:00.003-05:00

I must confess, I did not make this Valentine this year. It has been sitting in my small stash of pre-done cards waiting for the occassion. I made it a few years ago when I was living in my apartment with Jeff in Schenectady. I can still remember having all my supplies spread out on the floor of the circular room that was our living room in the touret of the old victorian house on Union Street. I don't know why this card never found a recipient that year, but this year it found a worthy one. I decided to give my cooperating teacher from student teaching this card along with a box of chocolates when I went back to the middle school this week to help her with Yearbook club. It's nice to get back into a school now that I am done with my student teaching and she has been a great mentor and profound support. It made her day. And I'm glad she appreciated my hand-stamped, hand-cut, and hand decorated chocolates as much as the real ones I brought her.

Cupid LFB

2010-02-11T19:14:00.002-05:00

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This is the final little fat book page that I will be making for the Stampassion Little Fat Book Club. Sadly, the owner of the store where the club has been offered has decided to close her doors. I was taken aback by the news and will miss my monthly get-togethers with the group of ladies there. I remember the first time I went to Stampassion when I walked to the store from my college campus my first semester of school. It seems like the store has been there as long as I can remember, so its sad to see it go. Rumor has it that some of the girls are thinking of alternate locations to continue the group so hopefully it will all work out anyway.

This page is for the "Cupid/Angel/Winged-Person" Swap that we decided to do for February. I decided to depart a little from the pinks and reds and I think the blues and golds are just as elegant and lovely. This page is pretty simple but I wanted the focus to be on the pretty victorian images that I cut from a Cynthia Hart victorian calendar. I embossed the words "struck by LOVE" on the front using a CTMH stamp, but its not as legible as I would have liked.

A Half Dozen Valentines

2010-02-08T12:56:00.008-05:00

Well, I have been in Valentine mode for weeks now between inchies, twinchies, LFBs, secret packages etc...but when it came time to actually sit down and make Valentines themselves...I've felt drained and overwhelmed. I wanted to make some for co-workers, and my art friends in the In My Vintage Room Yahoo Group, but its not going to happen. Too much to do, and time has run out. Today I at least got this half dozen done for some family. My grandmas and my great aunt always love recieving handmade cards from me, and I think that the Kiss card will be for Jeff. I used some shimmer paper and the Gossamer Memory Box paper that I bought at Stampassion a few weeks ago, and the stamps and ink are Close To My Heart.

5x5 Beeswax Canvases

2010-02-05T20:56:00.002-05:00

I busted out the crockpot of beeswax to work on some collages for gifts today. I used patterned papers, vintage book pages, antique buttons, dress making pattern tissue, paper lace doilies, and images printed from this website.

I purchased the metal heart on the top canvas from Walmart the other day. It is a pin that I cut the back off of. The bottom canvas has an old cigar label for an accent. It was fun to go back to this beeswax collage technique that the talented Marilyn Rock taught me this summer.

Secret Valentine Beeswax LFB

2010-02-05T20:51:00.003-05:00

Here's a LFB I made for my Secret Valentine while I had my beeswax out today working on 5x5 canvases (see next blog entry).