stampotique challenge

there is a stampotique designer's challenge going on and the call is for tags. You are allowed to use stamps from any company for this challenge, but i recommend you grab your favorite stampotique stamps and get stamping.
to make this tag i used a manilla tag and used distress inks to color the background. i stiched a circle on the tag and then cut it out and pushed the edges up and out. i stamped three in a round on white cardstock and used a gray marker to create some shadows. i stamped the image on black cardstock and then mounted the white images on top of the black cardstock and glued it to the back of the tag so it showed through the opening i created in the tag. i stamped the word boo using the alphabitties stamp . then i used the spirit definition stamp on orange cardstock and restamped it and cut out some words i wanted to highlight and glued those blocks on top to create dimension. i sewed a piece of green silk ribbon across the bottom and added a piece of spider halloween ribbon trim.

making some journals

i've been working on some new ideas for making and binding journals. here is one of the journal covers i made. i've been on a roll and have made quite a few in various sizes. so i'm sure i'll be sharing some more of the different covers in future posts.

the big journal

i'm continuing to work in that REALLY big journal i shared with you on a previous blog post. i cannot tell you how much i love working in it. so i'm happy to share another peek into it. here is one part of one the pages in it.

journal pages

on sept. 29th's blog post i posted this page as i was just starting it. here is what the completed journal spread looks like. i am thankful that my friend, terri, started this journal idea. i had started a gratitude journal a few years ago and i might have used it a couple days and then it just got pushed to the wayside. this has been a very good reminder to be grateful for all our blessings, no matter how big or how small.

another sneak peek

here is a journal i made that is being featured in the cloth paper scissors gifts issue for 2011/12. i gutted the book and hand stitched the inside pages. when that was finished i constructed a cover to fit out of the contact collage paper. i added some lace trim, jewelry pieces and edging for some textural elements.

gratitude journal

my friend, terri, had a great idea to start a gratitude journal. i am not sure why it took me so long to actually start it, but i finally did a couple of days ago, because i have SO many things to be grateful for. now that i started i sit down every night at the end of my day and think about all the positive things that happened to me. what a terrific way to end a day!

contact paper collage

as promised in an earlier blog posts i am going to share a sneak peek of one of the projects that made it into publication in the 2011 cloth paper scissors gift issue. it is a tote bag that i made with the contact paper collage. gosh i love using that material to make things. it is super sturdy and has endless possibilities.
i will give you a look at another piece that will be featured, too, in a later post.

altered envelope for stampotique

there is something about making altered envelopes that i love, so i decided to make one as a project for the stampotique guest designer spot for october.

i used distress inks and acrylic paints to create the background. i used spirit definition and stamped it in the lower left hand corner of the envelope. i stamped the tree on a hand drawn knoll, and also stamped 2 pumpkins over the spirit definition to create some visual interest in the background. i stamped another pumpkin on white cardstock, used markers to color it and then cut it out and glued it to the envelope. i stamped relaxin, once on the envelope where i wanted the image to be (omitting ink from the umbrella), and then once on white cardstock. i used watercolors and markers to color the image in and then cut it out. instead of using the umbrella i made a happy halloween sign and glued it down and used a marker to make a stick coming from her hand. i then used markers to do other decorative marks and make the address label.

stampotique

i was selected to be a guest designer for stampotique for the month of october. i love their stamps! i really enjoyed making my projects for the upcoming challenges. you can check out the design team blog here to read more about the stampotique designers challenges. i encourage you to join in on the fun.

cloth paper scissors gift issue 2011

i am honored to announce that i have an article on contact paper collage on page 68. there are so many great gift ideas so if you have a chance to pick up a copy i recommend it highly. i will post some other photos of my projects included in future posts.