Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Happy Birthday To Me

Thanks for all the birthday wishes that have arrived by email, Facebook, text messages, snail mail and hand delivery!  I really appreciate them all because it makes me feel remembered, important and special.  And birthdays really should always be that.

My friend Yvonne made this gorgeous card for me:

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And all I can say is WOW!  I’ve tried doing the label technique and it’s definitely not for the faint hearted, especially not when O’So Sticky Tape is involved! 

Yvonne colored the labels with Staz On ink and sponges then stamped the image in black over the top.  Her transfer technique uses blue painters tape to pick up the labels in rows so they stay aligned as she places them onto the (gasp here!) exposed O’So Sticky Tape.  Once all the labels are in place she fills in the gaps with micro beads.  The effect is quite stunning!  Thanks Yvonne and Happy Birthday To Me!!  Ü

Sunday, November 15, 2009

And Softly Fell The Silent Snow

Annette Lanker is another talented artist that designs for Pennywise Arts. I’ve had the opportunity to create side by side with Annette on play days and it’s amazing to watch her process. Fearless, free-spirited and unconcerned about the outcome, Annette creates from a deep place of self acceptance and love of all things paper.

In the first card shown Annette used green paper to make the base and she covered the front of the card with two different decorative papers. The creative fold that really makes this card unique is actually a pleat made of two folds. The first diagonal fold takes the cover backwards and the second fold brings it forward again. To keep it in place Annette punched two holes through all of the cover layers and knotted red and kraft colored hemp fibers together on the front.

DT - Annette - Xmas2

Stamped with brown ink in the bottom right corner is a reindeer that has an oval of O’So Sticky Tape over the top of it. The card has been finished with clear micro beads on the tape. The image is hard to see in the photo due to the reflective nature of the clear beads when being photographed.

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Last week I went shopping at a large department store and of course the glittery and festive holiday displays caught my eye. I couldn’t help but be drawn in to see what what fun and new things I might find down THOSE aisles. I’ll admit I was even wondering what ideas and inspiration I could “borrow” for my own holiday creations. This year blue and green seem to be the new Christmas colors and Annette’s second card fits right in with the trend.

DT - Annette - Xmas

This top fold card was cut 11” tall by 4.25” wide and folded down. Snowflakes were stamped randomly with VersaMark ink over the blue paper. Basic Grey patterned paper was added to one side with the verse stamped in green. The scallop oval was punched from coordinating patterned paper and Annette created the delicate lacy look by using her 1/8” hole punch inside of each scallop. Slits were then punched on each side of the scallop to feed the blue ribbon through. Annette wrapped the ribbon around to the inside of the card and hid the ends behind the scallop for a finished look.

A micro beaded snowflake was the final touch on this card. Annette punched a snowflake with her QuicKutz and O’So Sticky Paperback Tape. She peeled off one side of the tape liner to add the snowflake to the oval and then removed the top liner to cover the tape with blue translucent micro beads.

When I grow up, I want to be as fearless and free spirited in my artwork as my dear friend Annette is in hers.

Stamp Credits: DeNami, Serendipity Stamps