pretty envelopes

I used a stamp of flowers and stamped on the edge. I then watercolored the flowers. So pretty!!
I blocked out all names and addresses, that's why it looks odd on the other side.

What an easy and pretty way to make someone smile. I know I would smile if I received mail like this. 

happy crafting!

Cards from paintings

I often paint flowers for practice. Sometimes they go well...sometimes not so much. When a less than wonderful painting presents itself, I often make it into a card. The cutting and cropping seems to add something to a 'less then' painting.  I like them much better as cards.

Happy crafting!

Springtime cards

I love these cards. I made them from the Heartfelt Creations Backyard Blossoms. So pretty! The paper and the stamps/dies are all flower related. I can never have too many flower stamps! There are a couple of non-Heartfelt here and there. I love the Nuvo Drops, they look like dew. The butterfly in the middle card is an old Martha Stewart punch.

Happy Crafting!

Fantasy Magnollias

Using the # Altenew stamp and die set "Magnolias", I made this card. The flower I stamped using a light color distress ink. I used the distress ink so that it would react with water when I painted the stamped image with watercolors. I used reds, oranges and browns for the flower. That way, there is no line of the flower stamp. 

Magnolias don't really appear in this color, but isn't that part of the fun- paint a magical fantasy color flower? The paper- I LOVE the background paper! It's from Stampin' Up, one of their designer papers. First I stamped the flower on 140# watercolor paper. Then I painted it and die cut it out. I also stamped and die cut the leaves. The stem I just drew, painted and fussy cut. The flower needed a little pop so I added a strip of washi tape and that did the trick. I picked up the orange in the designer paper with the orange cardstock. The "Thank You" is embossed white on vellum paper.

Happy Crafting!

making lots of flowers for springtime

 Winter is a quiet time for me, especially now that I live in lower, slower Delaware. Solitude is a wonderful thing I am finding. This is the first time in my life with extended alone time. I find I am loving this time.  Little things to focus on- like making paper flowers.

I recently discovered a new (to me) stamp company called Altenew I am LOVING their stamps! They are layered flowers mostly. I have one set currently, Vintage Flowers and am making lots of roses and cherry blossoms.  I posted a few here. They have glitter (but of course!), but you cant really see it in the photo.  

I have ordered several of the layering flower stamp and die sets. Can't wait to get them!  I'll post some cards when I have enough flowers.

So I had this idea...

I've had this old drawer forever. For years it's been in my studio on it's side and I used it as shelves. I re-decorated my studio and a lot went, including this drawer-turned-shelf. So I've re-purposed it as a little area to add plants on my deck. I love how it looks out there! I know it's wood and raw wood at that, but I don't care. When it goes it goes. I think I will be using these flowers as reference photos for some future paintings.

more paper flowers

These are Cherry Blossoms- which I love! I remember two years ago I took my granddaughter to Washington DC and it was the height of the Cherry Blossoms...what a beautiful time to be in D.C.

First I punched out flowers and then I painted them with watercolors. Once dry, I then shaped them into the cherry blossom shapes. For the stamens I used tiny pale pink seed beads. The beads add just a bit of subtle bling.

 I'll use these on greeting cards and mini photo albums.

A paper harbinger of Spring...

I love flowers. Real or paper, they just make be happy. I've been making paper flowers this month of March, which here in NY, is much more the Lion than the Lamb. Making flowers reminds me that soon the warmth will be here, the smell of the dirt, the warm sun, and the Flowers will bloom. It's all there, beneath the snow that currently blankets the ground. I am so ready for Spring!

I used different paper punches to make the flowers. Most started as cream or white card stock that I then colored with inks and glimmer mist. A paper harbinger of Spring...

mixed media - with a scrap twist

 I started with an old 8x10 canvas that I once painted with acrylics. To that I started collaging on torn book pages and tissue paper. I let it dry.

 The I added different pieces of lace, fabrics and stings I had in my stash. I also added some fabric I made to give it lots of texture and depth.

And from there I forgot to take more pictures! I got so involved with the process, I forgot...ah well. I am sort of happy with the result- it's a little over the top... I glued on the flowers, hearts, cherub, shells, bird of happiness, etc and then painted them all with white gesso.I added the photo then of my sweet granddaughter.  Once it dried, I then sprayed with different glimmer mists to create a pastel rainbow effect. I gave it to my daughter yesterday to hang in Gracie's room and she loved it, so that's all that mattered!

I like the technique and might do a second one of my other granddaughter...have to think on that- my other granddaughter is 12 and has definite decorating tastes for her bedroom.

art adventure

 

Here is another pastel painting of a poppy.

poppies in pastel

6" x 8"

 I then brought this into a photoediting program and made it very moody and dark...

been busy!

I've been happily making lots of mini scrapbooks- my newest obsession. I've been posting them over at You Tube, the latest one here.

Today I made some pretty paper flowers. They were made using 8 scallop punches of card stock. I saw the technique over at You Tube (can you tell I spend a lot of time over there?!?).  I added a little aqua glitter to the flowers so they sparkle. Love that! I'll use these in a mini scrapbook or on a card.

flowers = springtime

I did a HUGE purge in my studio recently and made a pile of STUFF and gave it all away to my local high school art department. They were happy with the donation and I was happy with the room! I had to get rid of something before I could bring anything else into my over stuffed studio.

So now that I had the room, I bought a die cutter and have been adding to my tiny collection of dies. Being new to me- I fell in love with Tim Holtz's tattered flowers die. I've been experimenting making flowers. Most of you have probably moved on from this die onto newer things- but it's new to me and I love it!

I used cheese cloth and cut them out and layered with paper.

same cheese cloth but I used glimmer mist on this one.
in process- today I will use these- I added distress inks-
frayed lipstick and vintage photo to them to grunge them up a bit.

finished flower 1

finished flower 2

I LOVE this flower!

Happy Easter!

Have a Glorious Easter!

first pastel - closeup

I've wanted to try pastels for years. My sweet husband gave me a gift certificate for Christmas from Dick Blick (!!!) and so I've purchased a landscape set of Pan Pastels to try. I absolutely love them! SOOOO different than watercolors. These are creamy and I can mix the colors right on the paper, using these very cool tools that come with the Pan Pastels.

I've never used regular soft stick pastels, but I didn't want to because of the dust mess. These- dust free!! That is what sold me on them in the first place- these are the closest thing to wet paint painting with out the mess or the smell. I am quite smitten with these Pan Pastels!