Sunflowers & Dragonflies

Thanks a Latte

Just heading out to my photography class, so I will make this a quick post.  It’s one of those cards that looks better in person than it appears on screen.  Hopefully I will learn tips and tricks at my class to take better photos.

Thanks for stopping by.

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RAK

After spending 14 years on Canada’s east coast, I moved to Sarnia, Ontario in 1999, and one of my first friends was Sue. The doctor I worked with, at the time, introduced us because we both love to sew and create “stuff.”   Little did I know the journey that Sue and I would take. We’ve quilting, scrapbooked, shopped, stamped, and now I am in her Red Hat Salsas Red Hat group.  I would like to add, I am not quite 50 so I am a “pink” hatter and can only wear light purple and pink clothes, and a pink hat.   When I opened up my gift bag, from Sue, I nearly fell over.  After spending so many years creating for others, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have something made for me.  And it isn’t just “anything.”  It is one huge quilt that took countless hours.   Thank you Sue, for your friendship, and for the wonderful gift.

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Tutorial Tuesday-Masking Tape Background

Many of us like to achieve something unique, but we are short on time.  Today’s tutorial helps you achieve a simple technique that is quick.  It is hard to tell from this picture, but the crackle background has three different pigment ink colours.  Although this look can be achieved by using small ink pads, this technique keeps your ink pads clean from other colours.

Supplies:

• Masking tape
• A variety of pigment ink pads

Ink masking tape well.

Here you can see the ink pad stamped with the first colour.  Next, tape your inked masking tape and press it into the open areas.  Repeat with a variety of colours until the background is completely covered.

Here you can see the variety of colours on the background.

That’s it in a nutshell.  Quick and simple.  Enjoy!

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There’s A Chill In The Air

There is a chill in the air, and before we know it, Canadians will be celebrating Thanksgiving.  To get you prepared for Thanksgiving, in a timely manner, students in my October class will be creating two Thanksgiving Day cards.  Students will learn to create a unique border around each card.  Once again, Hero Arts stamps will be used.  I love working with them, and I know you will too.  There will even be a few surprises for the students that sign up.  Let’s just say I’m cleaning out my studio and found some door prizes for you.

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Wild Flowers Against The Sunset

These are two of the four cards that I will be teaching next month at Lasting Impressions.  Students will learn to use the brayer to create a sunset for Hero Art’s wild flowers.

I have really been slack in posting, and I am really sorry.  Do you ever feel like you are on a treadmill to nowhere?  Well, I’m there.  I am busy with so many comitments, and wonder if my hobby is taking over my life too much.  Can you believe I even considered quitting it all–including my blog?!  I believe that once I teach my first class of this new year, all that will change.  My students give me a sense of purpose and I really enjoy teaching.

Tomorrow I will post two more cards that will be in October’s class.

Thank you for stopping by, and thanks for your patience with me.

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Ye Old Schoolhouse B&B

Recently, Donnie and I had a romantic getaway to Stratford to see Cabaret at the Stratford Festival.  Posted below are pics of the Bed & Breakfast we stayed at.  The owners are such nice people, and we’ll definately go back to stay with them again!  The owners shared stories of their renovations and told us about the days it was a one room schoolhouse.

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Tutorial Tuesday – Mixed Media Collage Background

Today’s tutorial was inspired by another one of my hobbies–mixed media in altered books. By combining Gesso, paint and an old song sheet, I created an interesting background for my rubber stamped image. Although I used Golden paints, you can substitute with an acrylic paint such as Jo Sonya (my fav) or Americana. If you do not have an old song sheet or book (one reason I love flea markets) you can use a newspaper. I love old paper because it is yellowed and thin. This is a very easy background–go ahead and try it out.

Mixed media collage background supplies:

Watercolor paper
Golden Gel Medium (or ModgePodge)
Gesso
Golden paint (you can substitute)
Paint brush
Stamps (foam and rubber)
Old musical sheets or paper from an old book

Paint Gesso onto one side of watercolour paper.

Paint over top of Gesso.  While the paint is still wet, stamp rubber stamp into paint in random pattern.   A hint of pattern can be seen on the far left of the painted piece above.  Stamping in this fashion adds interest.

Tear paper and adhere to paper with gel medium or modgepodge.  Paint around the edges of the paper and scrap paint so it smooshes onto paper.  This is done so the edges of the paper blend into the background.

Paint foam stamp and press stamp onto paper.

Close up of image.

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Tutorial Tuesday – Faux Rusted Metal

Well, I’m off to a very late start for you today, and I am so sorry. I had my tut ready for posting but needed some “foo foo” for behind the pumpkins. Mom and I went to all the thrift stores today, and I managed to find some good deals. Unfortunately, the “foo foo” can’t be seen very well. On a more positive note, today’s tutorial shows you how you can recycle coffee lids. Oh, how I hate to throw them out, so I have quite an accumulation. I take after my eccentric father who saved and recycled before it was cool to do so. I’m sure I was the only kid in my neighbourhood that got taken to farmer’s fields to dig holes so dad could place an accumulation of paper products to rot and save the environment. Yes indeed, my dad was a very eccentric man. Maybe I’ll share more stories with you. In the meantime, pull out your Cuttlebug and get creating rusted metal.

Supplies:

• Foil top from coffee or yogart
• Cuttlebug
• Cuttlebug embossing folder
• Orange acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Paper towel

With your Cuttlebug, emboss tin.

Paint acrylic paint onto tin.

Carefully, wipe away the acrylic paint from the popped out image.  You will also wipe some of the deeper set colour, but that is okay, just do not wipe it all away.  Your rusted metal is now ready to use in your project or card.

This card measures 5″ x 5″.  All paper is from K&Co.  Boo! was stamped onto black cardstock using a white ink pad.  Pumpkins were stamped onto orange paper, and the witch was stamped onto white   Bats were cut out from the paper.  The pumpkin on the right has pop dots added to the back.  Twigs on pumpkins came from “foo foo” at the Good Will shop.

More metal ideas can be viewed on Mel’s blog.

Thank you for stopping by.

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