Just thought I’d drop in real quick to share pictures of the potion bottles I made for a recent Alpha Stamps swap. I started with three plain chipboard bottles and let my imagination run wild.
Here they are:
My favorite of the three. I do so LOVE froggies!
Hmmmmmmm, wonder what this one contains?
This one is currently in the running for Best in Show on the Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group!
Until later……………………. 
Here’s something a little different from what you normally see me create. I’m expanding my horizons (always a good thing to do) plus it’s my first project for Basically Bare! I started with one of their cardboard album pages as my base, covering it with some Bella Blvd paper.
I did a little experimenting. Since I wanted the chipboard house (BB Happy Houses) to have a brick look, I took a piece of acrylic and ran it through my Sizzix using the TH Checkerboard texture fade. Next I used several layers of Cranberry alcohol ink to give it a brick color. I cut it down to size and applied it with Glossy Accents. It’s still slightly transparent and the Glossy Accents dries crystal clear. I left the chipboard unpainted under the acrylic since it adds to the “brick effect” I was aiming for.
A Prima branch, some foam leaves from the Dollar Tree, acorns from my backyard, and a BB bird colored (how about SOAKED) with Dylusions and it’s done!
I hope you enjoyed! Until later…………………
Just a couple little ATCs I created for The Altered Paper’s Alphabet ATC Swap. I have the “A” and “B” themes somewhere, just have to find the pictures (probably in my other camera).
I was in the Halloween mood for the “C” theme.
I had the Diner sticker in my stash and thought it would work great for the “D” theme.
Hmmmm, wonder what I will come up with for “E”?
Until later………………………………….
I just wanted to take a moment to announce I am now a member of the Basically Bare Design Team!
In a moment of what I thought was sheer lunacy, I answered a Facebook call for design team applicants Basically Bare had put out in mid-October. The next day, I heard from Angela, the owner, asking if I would like to try out for the team. After picking my jaw up of the ground and tying a bandage around my head to keep it from repeatedly dropping, I emailed with a resounding YES, then promptly started panicking.
A few days later, a box of wonderful goodies arrived for me to use and off I went. I had been out of town to visit family, so gouged time out from my weekday evenings and most of one Saturday pouring my heart into the project (drying time about drove me nuts!). Here’s is a sneak peek:
I tried some new techniques, used a few new products that were lying around my studio, and plundered some paper I’d been saving for a special project. This definitely qualified as special as I wanted this to really reflect who I am and what I can do.
While still stunned from such being offered such an awesome opportunity to try out, I again heard from Angela, this time with an offer of a place on the team. Oh yeah, I was doing the Snoopy Dance!
Yes, this was definitely a dream; one that came true!
Until later……………………………
I recently got a chance to play with some stamps from 100 Proof Press. Let me tell you, they have some AWESOME stamps!
Here is an Altered Tag and an ATC I came up with for Halloween using their stamps.
“Fancy” was was made using fabric and embellishments from Gauche Alchemy’s Limited Edition Halloween Mixed Media Color Kit, a plastic spider ring, fiber, Dylusions Mists, and Toasting Skeletons from 100 Proof Press Stamps.
“EEK” was made using embellishments from Gauche’s Limited Edition Halloween Mixed Media Color Kit, confetti spiders and sticky-back gems, Dylusions Mists and Jumping Skeleton from 100 Proof Press Stamps. I like the thought of a skeleton being afraid of spiders!
I had a blast with these stamps. My goal was to come up with something funny to go with the skeletons instead of the normal Halloween creepy. I think I succeeded.
Until later………….
I’m at it again, playing around with Photoshop and digital images. This time, I created the following for the So Artful Challenges blog. If you have time, stop by there and have a look around. We would love to have you participate.
Credits: DeviantScrap: Cryztal Rain’s Halloween and All Hallows Eve sets
Until later…………………..
Recently, May Arts and Helmar joined forces to hold an “Ink It” Challenge. 25 lucky people were chosen to turn an idea into reality with only two caveats: 1) the May Arts Ribbon had to be inked in some way & 2) Helmar 450 Adhesive had to be used to hold everything down.
Well, YAY ME!, I was chosen! So, here’s my project. I chose the Net Ribbon, Suede Leaves, and Mini Pom Pom Ribbon.
I used Dylusions Black Marble on the Net Ribbon and Pom Pom Fringe, & Dylusions Squeezed Orange on the Suede Leaves. The ribbon took the sprays like a dream and the Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive held everything in place without me having to allow for drying time!
The cutouts are from Retro Café Art Gallery and the house and skull came from Michaels.
I’m so happy I was given this chance. Thank you May Arts & Helmar!
Just in case anyone is interested, I did link to their blogs, stores, and the products used. It’s the least I can do in the way of a Thank You to both companies. I’m affiliated with neither.
Until later…………………………………
I have the honor of hosting October’s Challenge over on the So Artful Challenges blog. The theme I chose was Harvest Moon or the colors Black, Yellow, and Orange.
Here’s my contribution to the Design Team efforts, “The Manse”:
Credits: Deviant Scrap Designers CryztalRain & Holliewood Studios
Hope you like the latest installment of my attempt at digital art. The printed size would be 5 x 7.
Until later………………………
Okay, I know I’m sooooo far behind. I have swaps piling up that I need to take pictures of and share, projects I’ve completed and need to blog about, and just things I want to say!
PLEASE (on hands and knees begging) bear with me. I plan to get this poor, sad, neglected blog back up and working soon. I always try and post at least once a week, but once again, LIFE has jumped up and bitten me on the butt.
Hopefully, things will slow down in another week or so and I’ll be able to take pictures and share all the wonderful things I’ve received in recent swaps and also show you some of the projects I’ve been working on. And possibly tell you about the rank odor in my son’s room and what was discovered to be causing it *Sigh* or about the cool stuff I ended up with at a recent auction .
Until later…………………
A few weekends ago, I attended a wonderful Miniature Fun Day hosted by the Mobile Miniatures Club. While I didn’t complete my project (1/2 scale wine cellar scene), I had a wonderful time and reconnected with miniaturists I had lost touch with.
I wish I could show you a completed project, but it is currently waiting on me to glue it together. So, instead, I’m going to share a photo collage that the Mobile Club put together. If you are interested, I’m the one in the brightly striped tank top!
The pictures in the bottom left hand and right hand corners are of the project.
Until later………………………… 
My September contribution to the So Artful Inspiration Design Team.
My Magical Garden Digital ATC
Images from Art by January
If you would like to take part in this month’s Challenge, Magic Garden, please visit So Artful Challenges for more information.
I was picked by my Art Association to be Artist of the Month. I went yesterday to a local plantation’s gift shop where RRAA has floor space to set everything up.
Talk about intimidated! All of the other art ( & I knew this) is what you would call “normal” or “fine” art. I’m talking watercolors, acrylics, oil, photographs, jewelry, and sculptures. No altered/mixed media anywhere to be found! Yep, I’m it. The lone altered/mixed media artist in the mix.
Unfortunately, I forgot my camera (face-palm) so I used my camera phone to take pictures. I apologize in advance for their substandard quality.
If you click on the pictures, it will open up a new window where you can see them clearly.
It was a struggle to find things to display. I swap most of my art away and had sold most of my miniature dolls so I scrounged around until I found enough to make a decent display.
Thank you for looking!
Until Later………………………………. 
I’ve been waiting for this call for a while now and YAY! it’s finally time. VLVS is having a Design Team call and I would LOVE to be part of their team. I believe they have the coolest stamps ever!
So, I would like to present my three project entries.
This 4 x 6 card was made with Viva Las Vegas Stamps’ Charred Wood Background stamp, emerald embossing powder, white fringe, and fussy-cut images.
For this 4 x 6, I used their Parasol Lady in Chair stamp which I stamped and colored with pencils. I then used alcohol ink (for the background), colored seashells, netting, and glitter, along with sequins, birds, and a paper umbrella from Gauche Alchemy’s Blue Streak kit.
These pair of matching tags were made from several Tim Holtz stamps. I used Distress Ink in Weathered Wood for the background and Fired Brick, Weathered Wood and Tattered Rose along with Martha Stewart’s Black ink pad to stamp the images . These were one of my more “grungier” projects.
Working with stamps are a blast!
Until later…………….. 
