Travelling Gypsy Wagon

Happy New Year's Eve Everyone!

As promised . . . the reveal!
I first spotted this Travelling Gypsy Wagon at the last winter CHA.  Laura Denison had created it for the Graphic 45 Booth.  My Travelling Caravan is a true Gypsy Wagon of days gone by advertising fortune telling, crystal ball reading, palm reading, & magic shows.  It is a store display at Treasured Memories.  Inside a cubby at the back of the wagon is a hiding spot for the matching Mini-Album.  Have a look!

Love the Industrial Chic embellishments!

Tomorrow I will show you the complete Mini-Album.

Have a Safe & Happy New Years Eve Everyone!

Tutorial - Tim Holtz Style Christmas Card

Hi, Everyone,
I've been busy making Christmas cards in, of course, Tim Holtz style.
I brought out Tim's Seasonal paper pack from last year & used the vintage Christmas images as the focal point on the card . . . can you spot the packaging?
Love "idea-iology" products & Glass glitter.  Check out my favourite Christmas verse!

To create this card:

- distress the edges of kraft cardstock then sewing it to an ivory card

- cut out a vintage Christmas image from Tim's Seasonal paper pack from last year & distress the edges

- cut out a coordinating solid from the same paper pack & distress the edges

- layer the image on the solid & sew onto the front of the card

- from white cardstock cut out On the Edge Doily Die

- tuck doily under edge of solid paper then staple top & bottom of doily to card

*Never through away Tim's packaging*

- trim any Tim's idea-ology packaging into a banner & glue to card over image & doily

- cut a 3" piece of Ruler Ribbon & glue to card below banner

- cut out a strip of sheet music from the Seasonal paper pack

- tuck folded sheet music under edge of Christmas image & glue to card

- cut a 22" piece of sheer tan ribbon & wrap around the card front, tying a bow at the banner

- attach a bobble to a jump ring then to the bow

- inside the card I glued my favourited Christmas quote on the left

- inside on the right is blank so you can write your special message

Have fun creating!

Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012 - December & last January

Hi, Everyone,
I have been working on Tim Holtz's "12 Tags of 2012" - December & the make up tag for last January.

This is my version of . . . Tags 11 & 12

December & last January.

December’s theme is tinsel & glitter

& January’s theme is snow, snowflakes & snowmen!

I will be teaching these 2 tags at Treasured Memories on December 16.

We will be playing with 8 different colours of Distress Inks & Distress Markers

& 3 different colours of Stickles to accentuate Tim’s Poinsettia & Joy to the World dies

 & his new Blueprint Stamps!

Come to class so you can play with these markers, inks & stickles!

Join me

Sunday, December 16

For the 11^th & 12^th Tags of 2012

1-3:00 p.m. $15

Supplies:Craft sheet, Fabri-tac, double-sided tape,
Scissors, Tweezers, Pop-dots, Ink Blending Tool,
Distress Inks: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Tumbled Glass, Broken China,
     Chipped Sapphire, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
Distress Markers: Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogany, Fired Brick, Barn Door,
     Tea Dye, Pumice Stone, Spiced Marmalade, Tumbled Glass

Winter Wonderland Layouts

Hi, Everyone,
I have been asked to do one of the December Month Kits at Treasured Memories.  The papers I have chosen are from G45 Nutcracker Sweet, Domestic Goddess, & Bo Bunny.  The kits will be available at Treasured Memories on Saturday, December 1st.  Everything you need to complete the 8 page layouts are included in the kit with the exception of:
- 2 12x12" Ivory Cardstock
- 2 12x12" White Cardstock
- My Minds Eye Doily Stamps
- Stormy Sky Distress Ink
- Tim Holtz On the Edge Doily Die
- Tim Holtz Ornament Die
- Martha Stewart Corner & Edge Punches

Have a look . . . I hope they inspire you!

My 1st Grandbaby has Arrived - early!

*** I do not intend to publish personal items on this blog . . . this is an exception***

It is with immense happiness that I announce the birth of my 1st Grandbaby!
Austin Douglas Socholotuik
born:  November 21, 2012  [4 1/2 weeks early]
at:  8:26 a.m.
weighing:  6 lbs. 10 oz.
measuring:  21" long

My Precious Grandson,
Before you were conceived . . . I Wanted you
Before you were born . . . I Loved you
Before you were here for 1 second . . . I would die for you
I Love you Unconditionally.

Tim Holtz Rolling Christmas Configuration Box!

Hi, Everyone,
I Love Configuration Boxes! 
Today you will see how to get the most space out of your configuration boxes.

We start with the smallest 5x5" Tim Holtz Configuration Box, only 1 of them.  Inside are 5 smaller boxes.  Using the base & the lid as 2 separate configuration boxes glued next to each other & stacking some of the smaller boxes outside the main boxes creates more surface area for you to embellish.  The 5x5" Configuration Box has now grown to 7x14"!  Now that's spending your money wisely.  Have a look.

Hope you expand your configuration boxes to get more bang for your buck.

Christmas is in the Air!

Hi, Everyone,
After  hosting a Christmas Card Blitz at my daughter's house Saturday night . . . Christmas is definitely in the Air.  Christmas Configuration Boxes top the list & that's what I will be working on first!  Have a look at the inspiration created by Memories Wholesale.  I will post my version as soon as it is created.

I'm off to Santa's Workshop . . .
The excitement of Christmas is just beginning!

Vintage Home Decor Tags 22, 23, 24

Hi, Everyone,

This Sunday at Treasured Memories

I am continuing with my "Vintage Finds" Home Décor Tags 22, 23, 24.

One of my regular ladies who has taken all these tag classes wants to make a calendar using these tags, so I will be creating a few more tags. 

After this Sunday, there are will be 2 more classes to add tags 25-31 to finish this Home Decor piece.

Have a look at the latest creations!

 

"Vintage Finds" Home Décor Tags

Inspired by 7Gypsies, & everything Vintage.

Come to class or phone to reserve a kit!

Join me at  Treasured Memories  for Tags 22, 23, 24

Sunday, November 18, 2012

11-2:00 p.m. $28

Please bring: Sepia Ink (or your favourite shade of brown)
Pumice Stone Distress Ink, Ink Blending Tool, Needle nose pliers, tweezers
Paper piercer, fussy cutting scissors, Pop-dots, double-sided tape, stapler
Ruler, Craft mat, Fabri-tac glue, Scotch Quick-Dry glue, Sanding tool

Vintage Home Decor Tags 19, 20, 21

Hi, Everyone,
I've been playing with tags, tickets, film strips, Bingo Cards, Tim Holtz tissue wrap, Industrial Chic charms, metal buttons, photo corners, keys, stamps, metal ribbon hangers, 1" glass pieces, crocheted trim, twill tape, ribbon, tulle & . . .  a tiny wooden Violin.  Have a look!

This Sunday at Treasured Memories

I am continuing with my "Vintage Finds" Home Décor Tags

Inspired by 7Gypsies, & everything Vintage

we are continuing to create tags for

this stunning Vintage Finds Home Decor Piece!

Come to class or phone to reserve a kit.

Join me for Tags 19, 20 & 21

Sunday, November 11, 2012

11-2:00 p.m. $28

Please bring: Sepia Ink (or your favourite shade of brown)
Pumice Stone Distress Ink, Ink Blending Tool, Needle nose pliers, tweezers
Paper piercer, fussy cutting scissors, Pop-dots, double-sided tape, Glossy Accents,
Ruler, Craft mat, Fabri-tac glue, Scotch Quick-Dry glue

Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012 - November

Hi, Everyone,

Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012
My Version of . . . Tag 10

November

This month features the wonderful earth tone colours of fall

& what better palette of greens, rusts, yellows & browns than distress!

The dramatic contrast of the embossed resist technique with colourful distress stains & ink

along with water stained distress & multiple layers of foliage

create a very rich luscious Tag.

Come to class or phone to reserve a kit!

Join me

Sunday, November 4

For the 10^th Tag of 2012

1-3:00 p.m. $10

Supplies:Craft sheet, Fabri-tac, double-sided tape,
Scissors, Tweezers, Pop-dots, Ink Blending Tool,
Distress Inks: Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Gathered Twigs,
Crushed Olive, Mustard Seed, Walnut
Distress Stains: Stormy Sky, Antique Linen, Peeled Paint, Fired Brick

She Art . . . Week 1

Hi, Everyone,
This past week I have been delving into Chrisy Tomlinson's form of She Art.  I am learning to create my own girls & my own She Art style.  This is an amazing journey.

My craft table is covered with tissue papers, patterned papers, gel medium, gesso, modeling paste & stencils, Golden brand paints, Adironbdack paint dabbers, Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens & Gelatos, Distress Markers, Prismacolor crayons, & Pigma Micron pens. 

The pages numbered 1, 2, 3 show the progression of a collaged background, stenciling with paint & modeling paste, then adding a girl, stamps & a quote.  Have a look at what I have created so far.

"She Loved to Play with Paper"

"She was an Artist"

"She Loved to Create"

She Art Cover & Title Page

Hi, Everyone,
Today I would like to show you the spiral book I altered specifically designated to my She Art journey.

I started off with a Strathmore Watercolour coiled book that I purchased at Michaels.  I removed the spiral coil it came with because I wanted to add additional space in the spine to allow for the most awesome thing in the world . . . embellishments!  The front & back covers of the coiled book came with thick chipboard, perfect for an altered book.  I covered them with Christy Tomlinson She Art paper, gaffer tape, & a felt flower. 

I cut 4 spine pieces from thick chipboard, added 2 attachment pieces to each side of the spine pieces, covered these spine pieces with Christy Tomlinsoin She Art paper, then glued them to the front & back covers with Scotch Quick-Dry glue.  By adding this spine extension, the spine grew from .75" to 2" allowing lots of room for future molding paste, paint, paper, & embellishents.

The spines of all of my altered books are decorated, so when they are lined up in the bookshelf they are very beautiful to look at.  The coils & empty holes are decorated with teal ribbon.

You can see how much room the spine extension will allow for a thickening book.

This is my cover page, simply entitled "She". . . announcing the faceless girls & inspiring sayings that will be adorning the upcoming pages of my She Art journey.  Note the packaging in the background - some packaging is just too beautiful to throw away & needs to be enjoyed in our Art.

Above I am practicing beautiful Hair.  We all develope our own style over time.  Mine seems to be a self-portrait . . . side bangs & flowing hair.   Pencil your hair in first, so you can erase it if need be, then go over it with a pen.  My favorite is the flow of the American Crafts Precision Pens & Pigma Micron Pens. 

Have fun creating!