Wednesday, July 30, 2008

ATC Books



I have always wanted to do some ATC's, but never seemed to get around to trying them out. Recently a stamping pal of mine sent me an ATC challenge type thing where you send so many to the next person on the list, and then you are supposed to somehow end up with a bunch in the end! It looked like fun, so I have decided to participate! Anything new I try I seem to look for a book on it first to get some basic tips and hints. I found this book while in Pittsburgh the other day, and decided I had to have it. My favorite thing about this book is it describes the history of the ATC's and how they came to be! It also shows the basic materials which luckily I already have, and then naturally some fabulous artwork! So.....if you are a big fan of ATC's this book is great! I'd also love to hear from readers that can suggest some other great books on ATC's!

Monday, July 28, 2008

New Book








Tonight I was playing around with the Adirondak colorwash sprays, and decided I would make a little book. I love Tim Holtz stuff as well as Stampers Anonymous stamps, and I tried to mainly use those here.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Recent trip goodies




My latest love is rubber stamp and mixed media artist Tim Holtz. I love all his tools and techniques. This summer is they first time I have ever tried something he came out with called Grungeboard! It's a flexible sheet of material that can be painted, inked, hammered, or grunged! It's so much fun. It feel like thin leather, but it's actually paper based. It amazes me because you can't tear it! On a recent trip to Huntington, WV I found several packs of grungeboard, and it was on sale!!! I bought a couple of packs with the sheets of numbers, but with different textures. I also bought a couple of packs with only the texture, and you can use any cutting machine you have such as the Big Shot etc. to cut a shape that you want. Since Tim also came out with this cute little texture hammer for grungeboard I had to have that as well. I love that it comes with various tips to use for different textures. Next was some of Tim's stamps I have had my eye on for a bit, and natureally as soon as I buy these I hear he has just released some new ones that I am also drooling over!
Also, while in the Huntington, WV area my boyfriend surprised me with a little trip over to Kenova, WV where we had lunch at an old time soda fountain. It's been updated over the years, but still has that old time feel, and there's still a real running pharmacy inside! The food was yummy, and looking at the pictures of the area all along the walls was great! I even spotted one of The Pumpkin House, and found out the same man who owns the pharmacy lives in The Pumpkin House. The Pumpkin House is my favorite place to go see near Halloween! Each Halloween there are over 3,000 jack-o-lanterns that cover this house. The designs and creativity are just amazing to see. People from miles away come year after year to see this amazing place! Last year we were even able to take a tour out back which in the fall is set up almost like a production line. Everyone in the family helps out with some aspect of it all, and it's just a dream for a Halloween lover like me!!!

New SU sample



Here's a sample I did tonight with one of the sets that will be in the new SU catalog that's coming out in August!!! The set is called Deer Friends. Rudolph is my favorite stamp in this set.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Building A Bird House



Woo hoo...just got in an order from Frantic Stamper, and I can't wait to build my bird house...out of paper that is! I can't wait to se this template on cardstock, and then use all the little stitch holes to start sewing. I don't normally sew, but lately the hot trend in cardmaking is to sew on your cards. My aunt bought me a small sewing machine just for this purpose, so this week I am going to try my hand at it and see how it goes. I can't help but think back my my high school home economics class when we were sewing and I made that terribel crooked apron! Wish me luck!!!! haha