On a card making binge

So this week, I’m in a bit of a card making binge. This is because I’m teaching a card making workshop at the Ink Pad next week. I frankly was not feeling the mojo at all, and went so far as to tell Barbara (at the ink pad) that I in fact, was not feeling the card mojo. She of course, informed me that it would not be very nice to cancel a class, so I decided to just muster up the mojo however I could. That’s what crafting books are good for, right? So here, I made a couple cards.

If you are interested in making cards with me, learning the basics of cardmaking, and working with watercolors and a heat gun, you can call the folks at the Ink Pad at 212-463-9876.

The Class is on April 13th, at around 7pm or so. So come by after work!

I should mention that I have different approach to card making. You know, if you go to flickr, lots of folks make the cards in a similar fashion. I kind of like them to look a bit more interesting, simple and not so much clutter. So that’s that.

What else? This of course, got me into a card making binge this week. I made jewelry, don’t worry. But I like to mix it up here on my blog, and keep you interested.

Oh, and I bought some owl pendants on Ebay. AND….I think I’m going to teach myself chaine maille. My best friend Miyoshi is teaching herself, and thanks to ebay, I found some very cheap jump ring suppliers. So I think I want to teach myself chaine maille. That’d be fun, right?

And the Owl pendants. Oh my, I cannot wait to work with them. Having jewelry making considered a fine art, I do have to say, I enjoy it very much. I do draw and paint, but of all the fine arts, I love making jewelry. I’ve been drawing a lot recently. YES. I have. I do draw. In the words of my favorite artist (Basquiat), “Believe it or not, I really can draw”. I can. I’m sort of private about it, mostly because it’s sort of a strange style. There’s a book out, called “Zentangles” that is a bit up the alley to my style of drawing, only I’ve been drawing that way since I was in high school.

Oh! And I wanted to let you all know that I’m working on a web show. It won’t be live, sorry. It’s going to be pre-recorded, and put up on youtube. I’m excited. That’ll happen soon. Gimme about a month or two, to set it all up. And maybe a live show, not sure yet.

 

The Craftaholic

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Pretty Paper Flowers

Here’s a fun item. The one thing I love is those beautiful paper flowers that are a bit expensive for my modest art supply budget. But they are pretty for making cards, or altered art.

I made a few of my own, here’s a few pics.

I’ll be making this for Andrea Currie’s Craftastic Live, and I do hope you’ll watch, so you too can save money by making your own supplies! You’ll learn how to make your own glimmer mist also.

Fun, right?

 

The Craftaholic

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A Pair of Wish Jars

One of the new companies I design for is Blockhead Stamps. Recently they sent me some new goods and treats to play with. Here’s a new item I just recently finished making, their stamps, and acrylic paint daubbers that they sell. I love those paint daubers! How cool!

I used Mod Podge with dictionary paper, and then went over it with mod podge, waited for it to dry, and then went over it with the paint daubers. Then, I used this “Joker” stamp set, for the little hats there, and a stamp sentiment that I had. Cute, right? And of course, lacey ribbon finishes the items nicely.

These are wish jars. Write down your wishes on a full moon, and set it on your windowsill until your wish comes true. Or, if you’re not a superstitious person, just make one for vanity’s sake.  It’s cute.

Oh, and no, I can’t remember where I got the bottles, at all. Sorry. I litterally had that in my stash for a year or more.

 

The Craftaholic

 

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Trumpet King Embossed Card

Here’s a set of cards I’m working on today. I finished the first one, and realized I ran out of embossing powder. So I’m off to Michael’s. But you don’t have to wait for that, so here’s a pic of it:

It’s from the set of stamps that I have for sale, in my shop.

I embossed him with versamark and black embossing ink. Then, I colored in his crown and trumpet with a gold marker.I also used a Tim Holtz embossing folder for the background paper, which is textured Stampin up paper. Then, I rubbed some green PAN Pastels on it.

You like it?

The Craftaholic

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Christmas Cards, Batch #2

Here’s the second batch of Xmas cards that I made.

These are a variation of the first batch.

The snowflakes are from a stamp set by stampin up. I don’t know which one, because it doesn’t have the container anymore. I love that they keep their stamps in containers because they are so much easier to store that way.

I went over the snowflakes with a Martha Stewart glue pen and glitter. The letters are from a stamp set by All Night Media, called Ornamental.

The pop up dots are also by All Night Media.

Now, to make the gift tags!

The Craftaholic

Pinecone Holiday Gift Tags

I just made this pretty set of holiday gift tags.

You like them? I used a stamp by 100 Proof Press, and rubbed some Pan Pastels along the edges, for a little extra pop.

These are for sale, in my shop.

The Craftaholic

A Gingerbread Card

Here’s a  holiday card I’ve made.

I used the Dazzler’s glitter and glue by art institute glitter, for the snow on top.

This is a retired stamp by stampin up. Hero arts has a similar one, but this is nice because it comes in a set, with the little gingerbread men.

You see the glittery goodness?

That’s what I love about the holidays-the glitter.

I really have to try this year, to make my Xmas cards early. I have to. So I’m trying to find some holiday inspiration, so I can make these cards and send them out!

I did order some new stamps from stampin up. But I hate waiting for things to come in the mail. I’m off to Michael’s today, since I have some last minute supplies to purchase for a kid’s party I was hired to do tomorrow.

What else? I hope to have my Christmas inspiration, so I can get cracking this weekend!

The Craftaholic

Handmade Swap Cards

As I stated yesterday, this week is all about me getting my swaps done. Today I made some swap cards for a swap. I had to make twenty! Holy Moly!

These have a asian letter background, inked in a red ink pad, so it doesn’t stand out too much. Scallop flowers and an embossed lotus from my collection of hand carved stamps is used on this set. I made two designs.

This is from a clear stamp set, I think it’s from Inkadinkado, but I am not sure. This one has music sheets stamped on the background. The pink paper is handmade, from Kate’s Paperie.

All of them have the same back, and here’s what it looks like:

This stamp is by 100 Proof Press, and the background is a retired stampin up stamp.

Speaking of retired stampin up, I actually ordered a bunch of retired Xmas stamps on ebay! I almost want to get Halloween over with, so I can start using my nice new Xmas stamps. But I have to still make a few decorations for Xmas. I ordered a Star die from Papertreyink, so I was thinking of making some black and orange stars to hang around the house.

Must finish my swap crafting.

The Craftaholic

TUTORIAL: Mixed Media Beeswax Tag

Here’s a quick and fun project for you.

I don’t know about you, but I love using jumbo sized tags as bookmarks. Don’t you? I put them in crafting books and fiction books that I read on the train.

Anyway, here’s what I made:

AND, here’s how to make it:

1. Cut out a 3″x6″ square, and snip off the two top edges, so that it looks like a tag.\

2. Glue some newspaper onto the paper so that it covers the paper.

3. Rub some Tim Holtz Distress Ink over it, and on the edges.

4. Cut out some vintage pictures (I got mine from Alpha Stamps).

5. Get out your Fantasy Fiber in “Cotton Cloud” and iron lightly, making a pretty fabric. Glue it over the newspaper paper.

6. Glue the pictures over the fantasy fiber.

7. Get some beeswax pellets, and melt them with your embossing gun.

8. While the beeswax is still wet, sprinkle on some glitter by Art Institute-I used the color “Confection” from their Dazzlers line.

9. Punch a hole on the top, and add a tassel. I used some pretty sparkley yarn by Lion Brand Yarn.

C’est fini!

The Craftaholic

that’s it! Poke a

A Memory Book For Luna

Here’s a book I made for a friend of mine, Dawn, who just had a little baby girl. I’m headed over there, and just wanted to share with you the book I made.

You’ll notice there’s no quote today or philosophical quote. That’s because I decided I’m going to do them as separate posts, once a week. I hope you don’t mind waiting.

Anyway, here’s the book I made:

It’s just a quick little book I made, really. The baby’s name is Luna Love.

You like? I can make these books in my sleep.

The Craftaholic