That’s the Ticket Post Cards

I pulled out my watercolor pencils recently and remembered how much fun they are to play with. But what to color? I also love those Invoke Arts tickets, with inspirational messages and lots of spaces for different colors.  Put those two things together with a piece of torn tissue paper and a deckle-edge scissors and I have a bright, cheery postcard that anyone would be pleased to receive in the mail. Better hurry, I just heard the Post Office is in danger of going under. Yikes! Anyway, before that happens, please join me at Postcard Night, on a new night this month only: 6:30-8 p.m., Fri. Sept. 30, 2011, at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A., 310-391-0466 for directions. Cost is $10 and you get to make two cards. Materials supplied by instructor, Jessica Hollowell.  Hope to see you there.

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Grab Bag Postcards

Grab Bag post card, "Celebration"

Well, I apparently was not done playing with all the goodies in the grab bag that I got at Linda’s yard sale recently. Because today, I made two post cards that I just love mostly since they feature the pretty piece of bird paper that was included in the bag. And I seem to have gotten a little carried away because I pulled out the glitter!!!!! to spice up the birds a bit. By the way, the dried flowers and leaves in the bottom left corners are from a packet included in the grab bag, too. And I still have lots left. It really doesn’t take much to make me happy.

Grab Bag post card, "Destiny"

Art Journal Class

Becoming Brave Art Journal

I am interested in having another Art Journal Class at my home, perhaps in September or October (or both), as the summer has managed to slip past me. My idea is to do a journal called Becoming Brave (based on articles I saw in a two magazines recently). I don’t know about you, but my doubts and fears sometimes paralyze me and render me unable to move forward with what I want to do. So I thought it might be fun to explore that a little through the Art Journal process. We will build a very basic journal, paint some pages and then decorate at least a few of them to get started. If you are interested, please let me know.

To be held at my home, in late December from 1-4:30 p.m. Cost $35.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

What fears do I have that are holding me back?

What I would like to be able to do if I didn’t have this fear?

If I could pick an animal guide to inspire me, what would it be?

Now I’ve begun collecting some images (from magazines, photos or anything really) that I might want to use in my journal. And I’ll be experimenting with journal bindings to find the easiest one. I’m very excited, because usually I can’t think of anything to write about in my journals, I just like making them. It seems that Becoming Brave is a topic that gets my pen flowing because I already have 3 journal entries written, but (ha ha) I don’t have a journal yet. Go figure.

Grab Bag Wonders

ATC from Linda's grab bag

Well, I went to Linda and Ellie’s garage sale last week because I don’t have enough stamps, paper and other supplies and needed someone else’s stuff, too. I found some nice treasures there (isn’t there a saying about that?) and the other night decided to open up a Grab Bag that Linda had made up. Lots of goodies covered my table. I instantly, not exaggerating, made 2 ATCs and thought you’d like to see them.

Another Grab Bag ATC

Taking an ATC Journey

When I was a kid we always took our family vacations in August. So, I thought Journeys might be a good topic for this month’s Artist Trading Cards. There’s a lot going on in these 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 little masterpieces, layers of this and that and something else. And to me that’s the essence of travel. Join me for ATC Night on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A., (310-391-0466 for directions). We start right at 6:30 p.m. till 8 or so. Cost is $10, all materials are supplied. I hope to see you there. And as for the T in ATC, if you want to Trade with others in the group, please bring at least 10 cards (this includes one for me and one for Karen’s collection at the store). Any design of your choosing is OK. What’s an ATC? you may ask. See the Page at right for the answer to that question.

Steam Punk Post Cards

What is Steam Punk? I’m not sure but gears and mechanical things are usually involved and it looks old-fashioned and kinda funky, if those two things can be in the same sentence. I finally figured out a way to use a neat set of Steam Punk stamps we got at the latest Extravaganza. These post cards marry Steam Punk with Old World, and I kinda like the effect. It’s very different for me, and I hope you will take the plunge, too. Join me for Post Card Night on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A. (310-391-0466 for directions). We start right at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8 or so. Cost is $10, all materials are supplied.

All Things Francais (aka French) MITI

I kinda went wild on the subject of France for this month’s Make-It/Take-It and also got carried away with Tattered Angels sprays. They’re so colorful, I can’t resist them. But the surprise guest is wonderful glimmery, shimmery watercolors (like the ones we used for Extravaganza). J’adore these paints–so much fun and the combinations are endless. They add an unexpected bright spot on any card. Please join me for Make-It-Take-It, July 8, 2011, 6:30-8 p.m. or so, at Stampin’ From the Heart,11720 Washington Place, L.A. (310-391-0466 for directions), all materials supplied. Cost $5 per card, make as many as you wish while supplies last. Hope to see you there.

Luscious Lumiere ATCs

A few weeks ago I was opening jars of Lumiere paint for a project and, ugh, it had been sooooo long since I have used this wonderful color medium that everything needed a good stirring up. So I grabbed a stick and started in. But rather than waste the paint that clung to the stick with each jar, I decided to wipe it off, so to speak, on a piece of textured cardstock I found in the scrap basket. All tha is a very long way around the mulberry bush just to say, this month’s Artist Trading Cards will feature painting with sticks. Actually, we’ll be using the handles of paint brushes, which work very well, too. And then we’ll collage with Tattered Angels spray on stamped papers. Topped off with, what else? Birds!! All in all, these cards are great fun. I hope you will join me at ATC Night, July 21, 2011, 6:30-8 p.m., at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A. (310-391-0466 for directions). All materials supplied to make 2 cards. Cost $10. We start on time at 6:30 p.m. with an optional trade (the T in ATC is for Trading). Please bring 10-12 cards (as we never know how many will be trading) of your own design. Hope to see you there. What’s an ATC? you may ask. See the page by that name on this site for details. Very few rules–well, only one really.

Fleur de Lis Post Cards

I have a collection of fleur de lis stamps, but there’s one (by Stampers Anonymous) that stands out head and shoulders above the rest. And it is the star player in this month’s Postcard Night, July 22, 2011, at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A., (310-391-0466 for directions), 6:30-8 p.m., Cost $10. All materials supplied to make two cards. We start on time at 6:30 p.m. This card is all about colors. We’ll be playing with Tattered Angels sprays on textured cardstock by Bazzill and my favorite paints, Golden Fluid Acrylics. Many color themes will be available. Each card will contain a greeting of your choice (I sent my first of these as a Thank You note and I am happy to report that it survived the U.S. Postal Service intact!) I’ll also bring a few other stamps for the main image that you can use, if you prefer. Feel free to bring one of your own, but make sure it has lots of rubber and not much fine detail. Hope to see you there.

P.S. I’m giving this one to my friend Joanne, because she loves Piiink!

Extravaganza Is Almost Here

There’s still time to sign up for Extravaganza, Spring 2011, which is going to be at Stampin’ From the Heart, Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.— yes, a whole fabulous day of creating projects with ink, paint, glitter, stamps and much more. I will be one of four teachers offering classes that day. We all have access to the same stamps and papers, but each project is different. You’ll get food, too–breakfast and lunch. And a wonderful goodie bag, which includes many of the stamps we will be using. There also will be prize drawings throughout the day. It’s truly an experience to good to miss. Visit Karen’s blog (see link on this site) to find out more and sign up today. Seating is limited to 20. Hope to see you there!

P.S., I’d love to show you my project, but everything is top secret. But I will say that birds will be involved.