Another Mini Canvas

Here is what I played with today. Another 3x3 canvas with Spiced Marmalade Crackle Paint.(I will forever remember Tim making Rachel Greig say "marmalade" every time I use that stuff!) Stamps and vintage pictures are from Julie van Oosten's Collections. The wire hanger is just some wire I twisted and stuck in the side of the frame. The crackle has brown acrylic paint rubbed into it as I again had spots fall off my canvas. Don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I ended up really liking the affect of the paint. I think it's the gesso on the stretched canvas giving me the trouble.

So, I primed my board canvas, shown underneath, with black acrylic and then used the ever popular Peeled Paint over that. And it did not come off!!! Love it! Yea!!! Haven't figured out what to put on that canvas, just like looking at the crackle for awhile....sick person that I am.... and so easily amused.

MiniCanvas Collage

Got to play for awhile today. This is what I accomplished for the entire afternoon....along with buying 5 songs with my new iTune card! (Had to call the grandkid twice, but I made it!)
This is a Collections vintage photo. This little 3x3 inch stretched canvas was painted with Crackle paint and stamped with the wings stamp from Stampers Anonymous when dry. Glossy accents adheres the little girl to canvas. I used Adirondack acrylics paint to add dimension and a miniMARKS rub-on at the bottom. Metal accents and ribbons top it off. Fun time!

Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!

Erin, the blond with the Santa hat in yesterday's pic, and I had to play with tags today. She HAD to wrap hers and take it before I could scan it, so, alas, only mine is in the blog today. She REALLY loves to emboss...it's so magical when you first learn it! And yes, I am rather addicted to the Stamper's Anonymous Santa. Sorry....the metal number 25 is embossed metal from Ten Seconds Studio. I used distress inks, embossed snowflakes, and painted the hat and holly around Santa. Some Stickles for glitz and a foam stamp from Making Memories.
Be safe, be well.

Frannie's Christmas Card Tag

Must show you what I received yesterday! Isn't she beautiful?!?!?!? I'm so proud of what my friend Fran did with this tag. She is the one who got me "hooked" on stamping after a class reunion a few years ago, and this is STUNNING! The German Glitter Glass is so wonderful. The picture of course does not do it justice. The holographic snowflake and beads really make for a great glitzy look and she anchored it so well with the gold German scrap. It was surely my lucky day....all quiet here on the homefront....grandkids are with the other grandparents today.

Thanks again, Frannie!

***New information!!!!

Check out her blog at http://theartisticspirit.blogspot.com/

And the wonderful little ATC Christmas card arrived from Greta Young in Australia! Isn't she a beauty?!?!?!? Her backgrounds are sooooo wonderful! The holly is 3D and really adds so much to this little gem. Thank you Greta, again, my lucky day!

Happy Birthday Michelle!

Today is my oldest daughter, Michelle's Bday! And we did Christmas, too, since we have people in the service sector that have to work on Christmas Eve. Here I am with the 3 oldest grandkids in my studio CREATING!!! We used Grundgeboard, Crackle Paints, flowers, brads and painted wood boxes, frames and a mini clipboard. Alex LOVED the Crackle paint, especially when he finally got to hit it with the heat tool!

We have our good duds covered with our paint shirts so we don't get in trouble with the mom's. Emma, the 3yr old, has already done her "Aut Prawject" and is back with Dora the Mermaid doll. Erin is the master of dots with paint and Brit has the designing eye for color and simplicity. We had a GREAT time and they were Nana's little angels all day!

Gift Card Holder

Well, everything seems to have the same looks right now since it's Christmas and I'm possessed with Grungeboard. This is a giftcard holder. It's a wooden box painted with Metallic Red paint..looks somewhat orange here but it's not. Then the paper by Basic Grey is stamped with snowflakes and embossed in copper. Ribbons, wire, brads from Imaginisce and jingle bells make it a bit more festive.

Be well. Be safe.

Mini-Houses Swap

These are a few of the houses done for a swap with some wonderful girls across the pond. Most have elements in them from Julie vanOostens great Collections products. All have been Distress inked and dotted with pens. They were wonderfully fun. Can't wait for the swap to make it here.

****Update****

You have GOT to check out Gaby's houses for this swap. They are absolutely STUNNING!!!!

http://colorfuladventures.blogspot.com/2007/11/little-houses-made-for-swap.html

Nasty Weather in the Midwest

OK. I had an epiphany. I turned off the new energy saving lights and used the Ott light and window light, and it gave me the true colors..the new lights have green neon hues to them, hence the lack of blue in my shots!

Ice and more ice on the way. Guess it's a good day to stay in and make art! The class for tomorrow in Bloomington is moved to Sunday. That's a good thing...DH is glad to hear that.He made me a holder for my mini-misters yesterday. What a handy dude! May get it filled up and loaded later.
Stay warm, and you guys in Australia....we are very jealous of the warm beach.

****Update...bad ice storm on the way tonight. Went and got supplies so we don't starve! Made this mini clipboard this afternoon. I love the stamp from Stampers Anonymous and the Grungeboard!!!! FUN!! Used alcohol inks on the metal to antique it a bit. Stickles add a bit of glitz. The large brad from Imaginisce is ice blue and the blue in the paper does not show up...my pics lack a lot!

My Attempt at a Tag

Well, I've been working on this all day...I tend to overthink things, but if I don't, I trash them later. Didn't like the bird after I posted it. That's life.....so here is my attempt to do a "Tim Tag" with some of the things he has taught us so far. I inked the Santa stamp -Stampers Anonymous -with different colors and then embossed. The main tag is from the tutorial today..ink, emboss, then ink again. I used the clear powder on all of it. Got a book of rubons by miniMarks (no link on the package) that's what's on the chipboard with 25. Added a few more white dots for balance. Distress inks Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Frayed Burlap, and Black Soot were used. Added some ribbons, ephemera, and distressed the edges. The German Scrap gives just a touch of glitz. The little holly leaves are from See D's. Now, I'm off to drool over the package that came from Julie vanOosten in Austalia today!!! Her Collections chipboard, stamps, and collage elements are truly wonderful. Check them out...please.

Bird on Canvas

Crackle paint on Maya Road bird and branch. I used Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, and Peeled Paint for this project. The stamp is See D's page corners. Distress Embossing powder Vintage Photo is used on the edges. Somewhat simple projects take me more time than the ones with gobs of things on them. Hope you like this...what do you think...is simple much harder to do?

Anniversary Card

Well, let's hope Mr. Blogger has corrected the problem with clicking on the pictures. Wendy's is OK, so I hope mine will be, too!

This is an anniversary card for my SIL and BIL. We have the same date only 34 years later! 60 YEARS for them!!!! WOW.

Here is the ever popular Grundgeboard letter, Imaginisce papers, flowers and center brads. See d's corner stamps and Crackle Paint...love that stuff! Distressed as usual, used the Bind-It-All to put it together, added ribbons and we're off like a prom dress! HA..little humor.

All Crackled out for the day!

Here are just a few of the things I crackled late last night. Still thinking about what to put on canvas, it's way too cool to cover up!!! Will maybe just look at it for awhile first....and enjoy...as no one else could! HA! The colors are not very true, no matter what I did, the Mahogany Crackle Paint looked burnt orange. But those of you who know the true colors will understand. The green star looks gold...not understanding this at all...Rachel where are you?!??! The Faded Jeans crackle REALLY looks faded! Thought I'd take it with some daylight today, but there is nothing but sheets of rain coming down...absolutely no sun today!

Be sure to check out Tim's blog...it's a gift in unto itself!!!!

Tim Holtz Blog!!! Check it out!

OK, we all know Tim is the best, but he's even outdone himself here. His 12 days of Christmas is gonna send the artists out there into cardiac arrest. It is a wonderful gift to his followers, but that's just t!m. Gotta love him.
http://timholtz.typepad.com/