Happy New Year

Hope everyone has a happy, sober New Year. May 2010 bring you happiness, good health and more creative time.

Another version of the same card

I made 8 of the first card and thought I would change it up a bit and make it a little different. Well...I think that is the end of my Christmas cards for this year.

Today's Christmas Card

I received a card similar to this yesterday from my good friend Debbie T from Port Alice, BC. I love it so much I just had to copy it, but I made enough changes to make it mine. hahahaa Thanks Debbie for the inspiration.

A beautiful card

This beautiful card came to me from Earla W. This is from the Christmas Music swap on yahoogroup. Thanks Earla.

More Vintage Ornaments

Here are a few more Vintage Balls and the boxes that I made for our church ladies group. Sure hope they like them.

First of my Christmas cards

I usually make 6 of each kind. So this time I made six but some with Olive green trees and some with the Melon Mambo trees. All supplies are by Stampin'Up.
Now that I have it up, I think it's missing something. I think I will have to add something to it.

Making use of my Spellbinder Nestabilities Poinsetta. I made 14 little red cards to hand out at an appreciation night at church. I will be making 60 Vintage balls using the poinsetta on the top, and the last one is just another way to use the poinsetta with the little folded card. The little round card was also using the Nestablities scalloped die.

More ornaments. I love painting ornaments. They are fast and cute to give away. I have a tree dedicated just to handmade ornaments from different exchanges I've been in over the years plus the hundreds I've painted for friends, family and my own tree.

Friday the 13th

This is the 3rd in a series of bird barrel staves I've painted over the years. I've been working on my wood stash with hope to reduce and not add anything more to it.

Dream Upon A Star

Everyone loves Elvis. So today I made this card called Dream Upon A Star. When we were kids I'm sure many of you dreamed of Elvis.. he was everyone's sweetheart.

Another card

This card I really did last week. It opens in the front. I love the look of Asian stamps.

My newest painting

I just completed this pen and ink with oil rouging. It's been quite a while since I did this kind of painting. It was great and easy to do. You can sit and watch tv and scratch away the inking portion. My friend Loreen and I have some projects that we want to complete this year together and this was one of them. Now we are on to the next project. You will have to wait and see what comes next in my painting studio. Back to doing more cards. To see what other things I've been doing you have to go to www.romancingtheartistwithin.blogspot.com

Getting caught

3 Samples of cards I created this month. I usually make 6 of each to send for birthdays.

Going on vacation

A couple of fun pieces I painted this week. They are both designs by Monika Brint. I also painted another piece which I will show you when I get back. It has to be assembled and I'm off on vacation for a few days. Have a creative day.

A little time to paint

Some little painting projects that I have been finishing up. I always have something to paint on my table. When I finish one thing I have to start something else. I'm trying to use up all my painting wood stash. I'll need another lifetime.

Still playing with fall cards

A couple more fall cards I made today. Same stamps just different variations. I love playing with paper, stamps and ink.

Just a little paint job

These have been lingering on my paint table for weeks so I finally finished them and started a couple more. I always seem to have a little painting project in the works. These little tags can also be used for ornaments on your tree. I love painting ornaments, but my mixed media is taking up more of my time.

Catching up

A fall card using to stamps from Stampin'Up. The cardstock was put through the Cuttlebug folder and then layered. I love the quick and simple cards. These are for a swap I'm on. I made 3 for the swap and more for raks or birthday cards.

Finally something to share.

This tag is done using glossy cardstock, stamped with orange pigment ink and SU stamp set. It is then embossed with clear embossing powder, brayered with black ink and rubbed the black away from the pumpkins.

Rak card from Liz B.

On the group we just finished an inchie grid swap. I was blessed to receive this Rak card from Liz. The colours of brown are rich and the flourishes are a lovely combination. Thanks Liz.

My September quick card

When I haven't been crafting for over a week and I feel stale, so I created this quick little card. The daisy and bees are painted with a wash on watercolour paper, cut out and layered on Stampin'Up cardstock. The flourish stamp in the corner is also from Stampin'Up. Now to get moving and doing more.

2 more cards

Two similar cards using Stampin'Up hostess set "Wings of Friendship" stamped with Bermuda Bay Ink, and Bermuda Bay and Dusty Durango cardstock. I just love these new colours. I also used a corner punch with butterflies. I like to pull out punches, or scissors that I haven't used in awhile. I also like the use of eyelets. They are not as easy to use as brads but I think they are worth the trouble.

another version

Here is another version using the same pear stamp. This is a very old stamp by Anita's Stamps. I like to pull out older stamps and do something with them now and then before I decide to get rid of them. Everyone can use a pear stamp. The cardstock and printed paper is by Stampin'Up.

Fruit Card for today

I love the way these pears turned out. I stamped in basic black on Whisper White cardstock, then coloured them with SU watercolour crayons. These crayons blend so well. I stamped several images and coloured them, then I cut out different leaves and the center pear and used a pop up to layer them. I masked the pears and stamped a script image using SU new colour Dusty Durango. It was then layered on Dusty Durango cardstock. I also used some Crystal Effects on some of the leaves and the stock. It's a simple but classy I think!

Using the same stamp set

Here are two more cards using the same Stampin'Up stamp set called Friendship Blooms (retired).

August renderings

I had fun doing this card this afternoon. It's been a few days since my last card creation. I bounce between mixed media and card making. This card is made with Stampin'Up cardstock, paper, ribbon and stamps. I hope you enjoy this bright card. The colours kind of lift your spirits. The bling on the rhinstone brads gives it a pop.

Cards for July

The first two cards I used Stampin'Up cardstock and stamps. Cuttlebug Embossing Folders for texture.
The 3rd card, the stamp is by Cornish Heritage Farms using SU ink Close to Cocoa. Distressed the edges with Tim Holtz Distressed inks. Cardstock is by Stampin'Up.

Dog Days of Summer

This summer we really didn't have dog days of summer, those unbearable hot and humid days. The card is layered with cut out dog with a coat, flowers punchies and a die cut layer, background stamps with bees from Stampin'Up.

My last tag for the swap

This is my 2nd tag for the Christmas In July Tag swap on the group. I will be sending 2 tags to the 2 people on my list. Design is by Prudy Vannier.

More chatter

I've been working on improving my new blog and if you haven't seen it yet...then head over to romancingtheartistwithin@blogspot.com. I am going to keep that one just for mixed media and keep this one for cards, painted art and personal happenings. I hope you will enjoy both venues. I will try very hard to keep up with both. I guess I better start producing some new cards with Stampin'Up new colours of cardstock and stamps. I love the new dies for the Big Shot. Great little machine. If you haven't seen the new catalogue and idea book, take a peak here. Click on the icon and see for yourself.
I had a chance to peak at the new holiday mini cat. coming in September. Oh my, you will love all the new stuff.

My new blog

I've decided to switch my mixed media and altered art over to a new blog. It is called Romancing the Artist Within. Art for the creative mind blog will be more for card and other more rubber stamping related.

Pretty Little Girl

I was first introduced to paper art through rubber stamping and card making, but as time has gone on, I fell in love with altered art, collages, but I still love working with the card size base. I love the colour of green and it works out well in this card. The little girl I'm calling Belle from a collage sheet by ArtChix Studios. The cardstock and button are from Stampin'Up, the clear acrylic stamps and flowers are unknown.

Saturday musings

I'm afraid I wasn't inspired this week. Nothing seemed to come to me. I love looking at other blogs though. If you haven't been to Creative Whispers, you need to take a look. Laura is a wonderful artist. Her speciality is art dolls and boy she can really create them. I think Laura's blog is one of my favourites. I also love to see what Gayle is up too. She is another of my favourites.
I promise I will be back this week with something new. I have some swaps to do on the Art For The Creative Mind group which I need to finish. Maybe I will see you there.

Today's atcs

These ATCs were fun to do. I just love the garden one. That little child is so sweet with his basket of flowers.

Saturday was a sad day

Sometime ago I posted the book I made for my friend Marj. She was diagnosed with cancer in February. The book spelled friend and she was all that to me. She was my best friend and it's hard to get friends like that. We did so much together. She was an artist too. Her love was watercolour. The walls in her home reflected her love of art. She was a fabulous Miniaturist. I can't tell you how many doll houses she had, but there were lots of them. Her basement showcased them. She made all the furniture and everything that goes into a real house, but in miniature. I will miss our days together. Days we went off touring the countryside to visit antiques shops, old book stores, craft and gift shops and always had lunch at some ethnic restaurant. Well, Saturday Marj left this earth for her higher home. I'm sure she is building houses and painting and doing all the things she loved to do. We will always be friends and we will meet again. I'm sure she will continue to inspire me and encourage me to do my best in my artwork. I love you Marj. "Til we meet again"

Wednesday offerings

I love doing cards that are quick and easy. I did a bunch yesterday but I mailed them off without taking pictures. Today I did more and I am posting them here. I usually make 6 of each kind. So I'm posting a different ones that I made. These are quick..about 10 mins each. I use Stampin'Up cardstock because I love the weight. The stamps are from SU also.

Atc Monday

The key to Pandora's Box. I don't know where I got this picture, had it kicking around for along time, so I thought I would use it for this ATC. It's kind of cute, don't you think?

Next on my list

Here are two cards made from ArtChix Inchie Sheets. I like the grid look and it's a great way to use up your inchies. Sorry if they are blurry.