AEDM and Giraffes

I found a swap through ATCs for All for giraffes and as they are one of my favorite animals, I decided to go for it. I made two and used both the hubster and the daughter as sounding boards. They both chose the same one, so that is the one I will be trading.




The one on the right is a very textured background that I made long ago on 11 x 14 artist board and then cut into ATC sized pieces. The image transfer didn't work real well. The one on the left is painted, weathered and then stamped with a foam stamp. The other giraffe in the lower corner is hand drawn on watercolor paper and then cut out and colored with pencils.

On another note, a friend and I went into Jackson yesterday and I actually found some Sizzix dies and some Cuttlebug embossing folders ON SALE at JoAnn's. We also went to a second hand store, where I scored on books - found a novel written in German, several sheet music books, a travel scrabble set with wood letter squares that are quite a bit smaller than the regular size ones and some stencil books.

All in all a very productive shopping excursion.

The hubster and I are babysitting the little girls for the next 5 days, so my art time will have to be stolen in small chunks. That's it for now.

Have a great day, and don't forget to live in the moment.

A Day of Sharing Words

THE WAY

There must be a way
for me to say
all the things I feel.
If only this paper could slip
inside my mind
and Xerox all that's there.
Maybe even I would understand
what I'm trying to say.

Pauline J. Boyd

The Poetic Eye is hosting A Day of Sharing Words and even though I didn't know about it until this morning, I wanted to participate.

AEDM and Elephants

My friend wasn't able to go shopping with me yesterday, but I felt the need to get out of the house, so after posting my swaps I went to Hobby Lobby by myself. What fun! I was able to find some of the Cuttlebug embossing folders for $4.99 each and got 40% a Spellbinder die set. I also found a deckle-edged watercolor journal at 30% off, a water brush, and a stamp set of Encouraging Words for 50% off.

The three embossing folders were paisley, flowers, and music. I think the music one will look much better on larger paper.

Once I returned home I finished the elephant swap. A couple of them I had to start from scratch because after rearranging my work room, I couldn't find the two that were in progress. I am sure they will turn up sometime, but I needed to get these in the mail, so had to begin again. I took advantage of this little setback to do some image transfers using the Wizard. I have never been as pleased with transfers as I am with this amazing machine. Each of the elephant ATCs has an image transfer on it.



I also tried an image transfer on an embossed cardboard card that I had using a picture that I really liked. It turned out great. I don't know how this card is going to be finished, but so far I really like it.



Today I am going to stop at the post office to send off the elephants and go shopping with a non-artist friend. It is my turn to drive and her turn to buy lunch. I am going to stop in a couple of second hand shops and who knows - I just might find some arty stuff.

Bye for now, and don't forget to live in the moment.

AEDM and the Wizard

We got about 1/2" of snow yesterday - it's pretty, but I am really not ready for it yet. I am used to seeing snow this time of year, but it is seldom in evidence the next morning. I'm pretty sure I can no longer put off getting out my winter jacket and hat and gloves.

I am ready to get back to the elephant ATCs I was working on, but in my complete overhaul of my art room, somehow I have misplaced them. I really wanted to try using the Wizard for image transfers, so I took advantage of this setback to try it.



The one in the upper right is a scrapbook paper with a silvery stamp of an elephant and then an image transfer of the youngster. The one at the bottom is a textured painted background with a bit of cheesecloth adhered near the top and an image transfer of a young elephant. The vertical one is another scrapbook paper as background with an image transfer of a young elephant in water spouting through his trunk. He almost looks like he is laughing. These are not finished yet, but I am quite pleased with the transfers using the Wizard.


This is an embossed and painted piece of cardboard with an image transfer of some people behind a fence. I really liked this picture the first time I saw it. I haven't decided where I am going with this one (it is not for the elephant swap &-) obviously), but I am thrilled with how the transfer turned out.

This morning I am going to the post office to send off the previous two swaps and then driving to Holly Lobby with my 40% coupon to see if I can find some Cuttlebug embossing folders and a water brush and who knows what else. I can't wait to just wander around and see what I can see.

Right now I am going to take my coffee out in the living room and sit with my Tweetie Peetie and her little sister and chill. As for you, don't forget to live in the moment.

AEDM and 2 ATC swaps ready

It's Sunday morning and my paper has not been delivered yet. I have gotten used to going out when I arise and the paper is there, but we have a new carrier and the Sunday paper is usually later than I want it to be. And it is snowing out. It is pretty, but I am really not ready for it.

Last evening after the baby went to bed for the night, I finished the 2 ATC swaps I have been working on. All I have to do today is attach the backs and get the padded envelopes ready. I will take them to the post office on the way to Hobby Lobby tomorrow. An art friend is coming over in the morning and we are going up to East Lansing to do some shopping and out to lunch. I am looking forward to going and hope to find some dies and embossing folders for my new Wizard.

Here are the finished cards for the swaps:

This one is for a swap for the group ATCs For All called People Are People.

And this one is for the Yahoo! group arttechniquesatcs and is for a Show Me swap.

Going to be a busy day of babysitting and then I have tomorrow and Tuesday off. I have plans to really enjoy those two days as this time of year is really busy at my daughter's job and days off get to be fewer and farther between.

Until I see you again, don't forget to live in the moment.