3-D Zots

When I was at the stamp show in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho last month I took a class from Mary Jo McGraw and she used a new to me “beadnique”.  Imagine that!  So simple too!  Got 3-D Zots?  Julie Imsland does!   I borrowed hers to show you what the box looks like.

All you need to do to be successful with this technique is stick the Zots on something,( in this case I used flowers) and put the sticky dot in the centers.  Once in place just smush micro beads into the Zot and tap off the excess, viola! 

Both of the flowers above were done using stamps from Outlines.

This next example was made using the Tim Holtz Tattered Floral die cut with fabric and the plastic packaging that the die came in.  Following the tutorial from Laura Denison’s Following the Paper Trail YouTube video I glued the fabric to the plastic and let the glue dry.  Then I heated the plastic until it was soft enough to mold.  A 3-D Zot in the center finishes it off quite nicely. Besides the obviously cool design look, I love that they resemble those old time jelly candies with the little crunchy colored dots on the outside that my grandma used to keep in her candy jar. Does anyone know what they were called?  

Another fun thing about the Zots is that they stay gooey underneath so you can poke them and they squish a little.  It’s a tactile thing, I just can’t help myself.  Ü

Hugs,  Suzanne

Cowgirl Chunky ATC

The Pennywise Arts annual retreats are always a “shoebox party” which means everyone that attends brings the components of a specific project to share and we all move around the room making each project over the course of the weekend.  It’s really a great way to get to try new products and techniques!

This year I decided to share my first chunky atc!  I really like the chunky aspect because it opens so many doors for embellishing.  I also like that it’s something that can stand alone on display rather than get tucked into a collection binder.

I apologize in advance because I’m going to be teasing you just a little by sharing this project.  A couple of the items are brand new and not even on our website yet. 

The focus on my chunky atc is the shaker box window filled with a mix of micro beads.  The window is a clear plastic bubble that comes with a strip of adhesive on the edges.  We just got in a case of many different shapes and sizes of windows and this was my first sample using one.  Several members of our design team are hard at work making samples with them so we’ll have more to share soon.

Inside the window is an image from a new collage sheet created by Michele Aiello-Zendejas of Swing Shift Designs.  I love these sheets and look forward to sharing the western collection with you soon!

Since it’s a perfect fit for the Cowboys and Cowgirls challenge on Gingersnap, I’m sharing this project with the gals over there! Gingersnap Creations Chestnut Theme Challenge - Cowboys and Cowgirls  Check it out for lots of fun wild west inspiration!  (I even recognize an artist or two there as PWA Beadie Buddies!  Ü)

Hugs,  Sheriff Suzanne

PWA Retreat Recap

It’s hard to believe that another retreat has come and gone.  This was our 8th event celebrating our 8th year in the bead biz.  Wow!

Twenty-two ladies converged on The Big House Lodge  in

Cle Elum, WA where the accommodations were just perfect for our crafty gang.   Everyone loved the sleeping wing that was secluded and quiet.  Chowtime was fun!  We had a mess hall that could seat us all together separate from the rest of the house.  Having the meals catered was new for us and we definitely plan to do that again!   Jorge and Vicki Chow really did a nice job and we were all well fed.  Thank you!!

Then there was the great room which we decked out for a weekend of shoebox projects and kept open 24 hours a day.  morning! 

 

What girls only event would be complete without a SHOPPING trip?  Even a tiny town like Cle Elum has it’s own rubberstamp and scrapbook store!  Ruby of Ruby’s spoiled us all rotten with

yummy treats, a store discount, goodie bags AND a very generous gift basket donated to our event and awarded to Kris D.!  If you’re ever in Cle Elum, WA Ruby’s is a must stop store!

Entertainment seems to happen spontaneously with this group of gals and the echoes of laughter rang throughout the house all weekend long.

Great food, great fun and great projects made for an amazing and memorable weekend!  Thanks to all who came to spend the weekend with me!!

  

 

 

 

 

Hope to see ya’ll next time!

Hugs, Suzanne

Will Spring Ever Get Here?

I keep waiting for spring to show up to share this beautiful daisy box from PWA designer Michelle McCarthy.  Now I think maybe Spring is just waiting for me to share it so it can show up!

I’ll let Michelle tell you about it in her own words.

 

“Here's a simple box I put together using a mix of Green, Black and Gold micro beads and the new Iridescent Bubble Beads.”  

 

I started with a dollar store find of two boxes with two drawers each and glued them together to form the four drawer box.  After adding the varied papers and a tiny bit of stamping, I edged all the side edges of the box with the mix of beads.  For the drawer faces, I just glued ribbon down  on paper and then cut to size of the drawer front.  Bubble beads for the centers of the daisies were tacked down with Crystal Effects.  I added a couple silk daisies and a ribbon and called it good.

 

Michelle, I should say “good” is better than good here!  Thanks for the great contribution this month!

Belated Blogger

Poor Stephanie got hopped right out of our blog hop when Blogger wouldn't let her upload her project over the weekend.

I'm just adding the link here for you to give Steph a visit! 

http://mrsl-dramateach.blogspot.com/2011/04/pwa-blog-hop.html

You are going to love the incredible jewelry that she has been creating!! 

We'll be featuring more of it on the PWA blog real soon!

Hugs!
Suzanne
Pennywise Arts, where your favorite color can be clear! www.PennywiseArts.Com

Yay! It’s PWA Blog Hop Day!

I love blog hops!  The energy that swirls around this annual event is incredible!  I have to admit that the response really took me by surprise last year – in a huge and wonderful way!

This weekend you’ll have the opportunity to hippety-hop through some amazing creativity.  The artists have all worked hard to bring you their best and some are even awarding it as blog candy.  COOL BEANS!

WIN!

I’ll be cruising through the blogs each day and selecting at least one winner per day from the comments to receive an extra special handmade gift from one of our designers.  If you want to win here’s a tip – leave a comment that is thoughtful and personal in some way.  ;0)

But wait there’s more!

In ADDITION to the prize drawings EVERY SINGLE order placed on the PWA website over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) will receive a piece of FREE blog candy created by one of our design team members!  WOWEE!!  Just look through our archives to see what you might receive!  Ü

Let’s kick this thing off! 

PWA designer Jean Sunderman brings some western influenced artwork to the party in honor of the Pennywise Arts annual crafting retreat that is taking place the end of this month in Cle Elum, Washington.

Jean’s first card has a handsome fellow on the cover with three silver micro beaded stars for embellishment.  Inside the card says “Save a horse, ride a cowboy” oh my!  ;0)

I love Jean’s atc “I always get my man”.  It’s a sweet little shaker card that used one of the free PWA templates: 

  Also from our shaker card files, Jean’s finale is a sassy lassie who’s good with a rope!   

Thanks for stopping by Pardner!  Now it’s time to mosey on over to my friend Jennifer’s blog.  She’s bursting with creativity and so excited to share with ya’ll!  I heard tell she may be giving away some goodies too!  Ü

Oh, and Yey!  If you’re interested in joining up with a fun group of wild women at the PWA retreat there are still a few spots left and we’d love to have ya!

It’s Coming!! PWA Blog Hop 2011!!

I am really excited about our 2011 blog hop lineup!  There are so many talented artists in our midst and I love showing off their fabulous creations – especially the ones that have micro beads on them!  Ü

 

The hop starts THIS Saturday and there will be gobs of prizes and random drawings (aka blog candy) along the trail – some from me and some from the participating bloggers – O’so much FUN!!

In ADDITION to the daily prize drawings EVERY SINGLE order placed on the PWA website over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) will receive a piece of blog candy created by one of our design team members!  WOWEE!!  Just look back through our archives to see what possibilities could land in YOUR mailbox!!

See you Saturday!!

Hugs,  Suzanne