I LOVE STAMPING!!!!!!!!!!! July 9, 2009

Have I ever mentioned that before?  Well, if I have not I really should have.  It seems like everytime I turn around a new company is releasing stamps.  Let me say it now I am an equal opportunity stamper.  I love both red rubber and acrylic.  They each have their own merits.    Below are two new releases from American Crafts.  Who knew they had stamps too?  The little Christmas set is so darn cute.  I have a bazillion Christmas stamps, so who will notice if I add 13 more? 

 I really need them because I do not have any gingerbread people.

christmas set, american crafts, niki meiners

 

 

christmas set

Now the bottom one I need errr well should I say want is an adorable woodland creatures set.  I know they are all trendy and stuff but I still like them!  They are jsut so cute and there are 17 of them in the set.    I love the ric rac stamp too.  Think of all the possibilities……

I am still in crunch mode for CHA and will have somethings to post soon,

back from ohio July 6, 2009

Work hard play hard would describr this trip.  I was on a creative buzz and finished most of my upcoming magazine work.  This piece is part of a set.  The paper is cosmo cricket.  The stamps used to create the copper etching are from Cornish Heritage Farm.  I will show more work as I can.  Still in crunch time for CHA.

A few Cards June 23, 2009

Until I get back from Ohio I will be showing cards.  Many of them are very simple.  Sometimes simple is what is needed.  This one in particular is an Inchie.  I am hooked on them. 

The paper is last years fall line from Cosmo Cricket.  I love the Mr. Campy collection.  The stamp is from Unity and the ink is Clearsnap.  I have not forgotten about the give away.  I will take care of that first thing when I get back from Ohio in a few weeks.

so negected June 16, 2009

My blog has been on the back burner for a few weeks.  I am still going to do the give away.  I will have the pics posted by Saturday as I am leaving NC to head north for most of the summer.  My son and I are going to be like gypsies.  We have no set plans.  I have been on a creating frenzy so that I can actually be ahead of schedule.  This is not an easy task.  So until then I leave you with a vintage photo –  perfect for our roadtrip ahead.

Hi ya! June 1, 2009

  Did I say I was posting last week?    An overestimation of my spare time and a last minute assignment on top of my long weekend in Chicago caused the lapse.  I will have pictures of the give away very soon.  Promise. 

The piece  here is made from http://www.studiobysculpey.com/   and glaze.  I love the colors.  The jar topper is filled with Balsam and is so fragrant.

almost cover art? May 22, 2009

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         I made the eybrow of the  July issue of www.cardmakermagazine.com .  What is the eyebrow you ask?  Well it is the itty bity project they place in the upper right hand of a cover.  It is a teaser of what is to come in the inside.  See the card on the top right?  That is mine.  Hey it might be small but it is still there!

Sometime over the weekend I am going to post a blog giveaway.  I noticed I made over 2oK hits on my blog and I now have about 200 friends on twitter and facebook.  The numbers are similar they both start with 2’s so I thought I would give away 2 prizes.  I am not sure what they will be yet .  But I can guarantee they will have a bit of sparkle, a little ink and something to let you make your own cards or scrapbook pages.  So for now sit baack and wait.  I will have a new post up over the weekend.

Social Butterfly May 18, 2009

For those of you who do not know I also tweet and use Facebook.  I love the interaction of social media.  Random thoughts, insight into oepn conversation fascinate me.  NO, I am not a fan of those always promoting something or trying to sell me things.  (Those who are not embarrassed by their shameless self promotion quite frankly should be.)  I digressed, sorry about that.  What are your favorite forms of communication?  Do many of you Skype or belong to multiple chat groups?

Now as far as creativity goes… lately I have been expanding into photography of all sorts.  I have had a nice DSLR for about 5  years.  I thought I needed a newer version and wanted to update.  After a photo session this weekend where I participated as one of many photographers I realized I simply need to learn how to use what I have better.  I might even dig out one of my really old film cameras and try some manual shooting.   I learned so much during this shoot and it was so nice to interact with people who know what they are doing and willing to share and teach.  I took about 800 photos.  After uploading I deleted about a third of them.  They were garbage.  I was trying to shoot in full manual and learning what setting work with what what settings.  I also plan to work with the photos and do some digital editing and photoshop actions.  There are some amazing effects out there that can be achieved by the simple press of a buttom on the computer.

This photo is completely unedited.  I only made it smaller to take up less storage space on my blog.  These were two of the models.  The make up artist was Rachel Green and her work is fantastic.  She has some serious talent in the makeup department.  Kitty the gal on the right was the visionary for the whole shoot.  The props, concepts and creative vision was all hers.  I was mearly along for the ride and to gain some experience and knowledge.

I never would have had the photographic opportunity if it were not for social media.  So I will end this rather long winded post and say -

GO SOCIAL MEDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little off season May 12, 2009

Yes, I know it is Spring and the flowers are in full bloom.  Seasons are optional when you work for the print  publication.  Most projects are made 6-9 months ahead.  Plus Christmas is the one holiday that I work on year round.  The demand for Christmas designs is ongoing.    With this set I thought I would go a little non-traditional and cutesy.  The paper is GCD STUDIOS and the stamps are HANNA STAMPS.  Prima Flowers and Clearsnap ink.  Prism Cardstock.  I tend to gravitate towards earthtones even for Christmas.  What are your favorite colors for the holidays?

Baby got back May 8, 2009

No I am not talking about the song.  (I do like the song) This is the add on the back cover of RubberStampMadness Summer 2009 issue.  I cannot wait to see the actual copy and see my name in teeny tiny letters.    Chalk ink is one of my favorite items to use when crafting? Do you have a favorite that you cannot craft without?

Secret obsession May 6, 2009

Well, not so secret.  I have a thing for hands.  Vintage hands in particular.  I have hands placed randomly throughout my house.  Most people do not notice that I have a few dozen.  When I saw this picture from a Tim Holtz class I was smitten.  I love the idea behind the project.  I have a few of this style hand laying around and I think I might need to make my own version with items that are specific to me.  This one has Tim Holtz written all over it.