Kamis, 31 Maret 2011

Bon Voyage

Eos - Sold. Thank you!
Retires 4/3/11

Phoenix - Sold. Thank You!
Retires 4/11/11


Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.
Free shipping on theses two items retiring from my Etsy shop.

CPS 211 Part 3


 Inside card:
Thanks...So Much!

Cardstock: Core'dinations
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Stickers: October Afternoon
Dimensional Embellishments: My Minds Eye
Pearls: Queen & Co
Tool: Scor-Pal
String: Coats and Clark



Sweet Baby
Designer Asela Hopkins
Ink- Memento Black
Cardstock - Neenah White, Basic Gray (Hopscotch Paper Pad)
Stamps- Kraftin' Kimmie
Markers - Copic

Zoom!
Designer Laura Williams

Supplies:
sticker - Echo Park (Little Boy)
cardstock - Discount Cardstock (Salt Dotted Swiss, Sunflower Medium Prismatic)
stamps - Close To My Heart (sans alpha)


Hi
Designed by Lisa Silver
Supplies:
Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie
Ink: Walnut Brown Distress ink by Ranger
Paper: Solar White by Neenah
Patterned Paper: Paper Girl by The Girls' Paperie
Other: Tiny Type Letters by Cosmo Cricket, clear embossing powder by Ranger, Nestabilities by Spellbinder, gingham fabric tape
Copic Markers: R81, R83, R85, R89, BG10, YG17, W1, E21, E23, E25, E27, Y23

Adore You
Designer Rae Barthel

supplies:
cardstock: Hobby Lobby
patterned paper, die cut tag: Teresa Collins
tulle: Hobby Lobby
orange braiding cord: Sulyn Industries
rhinestones: Hobby Lobby
cardstock alphabet stickers: Doodlebug Designs


Happy Birthday
designer: Jennifer Buck
supplies:
Stamp: Party Hat Wishes {Ippity}
Card Stock: Kiwi Kiss {SU}
Patterned Paper: Dutch Mustard Soup {Jillibean Soup}
Ribbon: Michaels
Button


This week's prize is sponsored by: KRAFTIN' KIMMIE. Be sure to check here each Wednesday to see what you could win along with some great samples from our sponsor.
To enter this week's random drawing simply share your design with the CPS readers. Simply click on this week's sketch image in the side bar. This will take you directly to the post where you can add your link. Please use a direct link to your card so the readers can easily find it.

My Big Love of Resin Announcement!!

I have had a secret for a whole month now!
I have wanted to drop little hints here and there but there did not seem to be an opportunity.
But here it is Thursday and my weekly jewelry themed post has this resin pendant I crafted.  I made several but today I decided that "a little bird in the air whispered the secret" was calling to me.
I need to tell you my secret!


So lean in close and I will whisper it to you!

I am going to be launching a brand new blog dedicated to all things resin!
I'll be working with the best products available: everything from Environmental Technologies Inc, the makers of Envirotex Lite! YIPPEE!!!

The blog is going to cover all types of resin crafts.  There will be so much information that I hope it will become a real resin resource centre.  My resin table is covered in projects!


So here is my finished necklace.  Perfect for a big day out tomorrow and this happy announcement!


The new blog will go live on Monday!  I can't wait to give you the link and welcome you to a brand new resin craft loving blog!  I'll have the opportunity to show you how I made this pendant on the new blog.  But for now, let me tell you this.  I made the mold that I poured three layers of resin into to create this pendant.

March Monthly Challenge Blog Tour

Welcome to the Art Bead Scene March Challenge Blog Tour!

This month we took to the islands with French post-impressionist painter Gaugin. With spring in the air and color returning to those of us emerging from the mantel of snow, this painting really was a wake-up call to the senses! Makes me long for the day when I can hop on the Bead Cruise with our own Miss Heather Powers. (Hi, Heather! Send us all a pocketful of sand and some sunshine, will ya?)

Cory at Create with Moxie (don't you just love that name?) created a stunning fiber bangle with some faux resin beads. This girl does have some designing moxie! Where can I get some of that? ;-)



AnnaJourCrafts used the prettiest of color palettes with pink and green. The swirly handmade polymer clay beads and the asymmetrical design are outstanding. I may not be able to read her words without the aid of Google Translator, but I know that great designs can come in any language.

Lesley of the Gossiping Goddess tells us that this is her very first blog post... and her very first entry into the Art Bead Scene!!! Welcome, Miss Lesley! We hope to see more of your stunning jewelry!

Sheila of Stone Designs made some absolutely beautiful lampwork glass beads for her challenge piece. I learned that the swirling colors come only from one particular rod of glass. Fascinating!


 BeeTreeByMe created polymer clay leaves that literally look as if they are floating in a tropical breeze with her necklace. So many interesting pieces.

There is an intricate simplicity to the lovely necklace that Molly Alexander of Beautifully Broken Me created in response to this challenge. The familiar shape of the butterfly etched with the words paired with the simple mechanics of the chain are really delightful.

I love the mixed media feel of Color Me Tahiti by Marian Hertzog of M's Place. She used upcycled seam binding woven into a tangle of leaves and some sweet polymer clay faces that she created just for this challenge.

Mallory of ForTheLoveOfBeads made a focal bead that burns with the intensity of the sun on a hot day and paired that with more muted colors representing those in Gaugin's tropical palette.

IslandGirl hand fabricated links from copper sheet and wire for an eclectic mix of energetic shapes. She pairs that with a beautiful glass focal bead that brings in all the island colors.

The ABS challenge helped encourage Susan White to get back in her studio to play with polymer clay again after a two year hiatus from blogging. I especially love the amazing toggle that complements the beauty of her hand made beads. We are so glad to have you on board, Miss Susan!

Desert Wind Designs made some hot hot hot polymer clay beads for a wild and wonderful bracelet because she is sick of winter. I think that if you can't take an island vacation, you should at least accessorize like you are!

Mary Jane Dodd has been playing with metal again! Her fold form earrings are roped in with a bright pop of blue waxed Irish linen for a pair of earrings that would look great with that little sundress.

I totally love that despite the fact that this color palette by Gaugin is Not Her Thing, Elaine of Too Aquarius Beads was able to get out of her parched and dry homeland and find some island inspiration that was already in her stash of beautiful handmade polymer clay beads! I love finding treasures in my stash!

Oh wow! That is all I can say about the seed bead extravaganza brought to us from Mackin-Art. The way she twists the inspiration from a tropical island to the Mackinac Island in Michigan is pure genius.

SilverRoseDesigns tussled with her Muse over the color palette to use for this painting... and lost! She wanted bright; the Muse wanted muted. The results are extraordinary with a blend of textures and shapes and colors that give your eye many places to look.

Penny at MyEarthlyJewels jumped right in with her first Art Bead Scene challenge featuring a handmade polymer clay focal that she made herself. The colors are sumptuous! Looking forward to seeing more of your entries in the future!

Jenn Judd grabbed a handful of beads and created something that is nothing short of fabulous. I would be proud to wear that bracelet any day!

Miss Malin over in Sweden is conjuring up the summer sun with her beautiful necklace. It just so happens that she had a beaded ring lying around the suiting this just fine as a clasp to complement the focal. She even created a wardrobe for the person who would wear this on the beach!

Kristi over at DreamSomeDesigns created a fantastically earthy and intriguing multi-strand necklace with turquoise, lucite, coconut shell heishi and one of her fabulous new bronzclay charms.

Another new designer on the ABS scene is Deb of Green Shoot Jewellery Design in the UK. She had to wait for just the perfect sari silk ribbon and paired that with some awesome links from MissFickle for a wonderfully bohemian necklace.

Creatively Kym found the perfect match to those serene faces in the painting with a Gaea face bead. A very clever way to frame this face using Vintaj filigree and some tasty tidbits from Pinocean draw the colors from the painting perfectly.

Heather from Aquariart pulled together a cascade of polymer clay in bright tropical colors with her Tahitian Dreams necklace. The fun tassels reminded her of wearing a lei.

It was really fun for me to put together this array of amazing talent this month. We had a wonderful response this month with new bloggers and some even jumping into their very first ABS challenge. Welcome one and all! (If I forgot your link, or you would like to add it to this post, please leave your link in the comments below and I will try to add it to the list!)

Rabu, 30 Maret 2011

Missing One of A Kind

I won't be an artisan at this year's spring One of The Kind show.  :(
Today, I would have had my van packed to the roof ready to join a long line of trucks and vehicles moving their final goods into the show buildings.  Opening Day is always so exciting!
I knew that this spring I would be exceptionally busy.
We are moving in a few months.
Looking for a new home and selling the one we are in is our major spring project.  There will be a studio to pack up and and a new one to set up.  The to-do lists are a mile long.
But, I'll be at the Christmas show!  As soon as my new studio is set up I'll be in full time Christmas card making mode!

Tax Time...

My worst nightmare, tax time. I am one of those artists who go in the category of "hate the business side of my art." I procrastinate, which only makes it worse and then of course I hate it even more.
About.com has all sorts of columns and articles for just about everything. I found this article written by Maire Loughran.

"One of the most baffling non-creative aspects of running an arts and crafts business is figuring out what to do about taxes. Owners who can face down extreme bargain hunting customers at a craft show or vendors shorting an order that was needed yesterday can adopt that deer-in-headlights look when trying to get their tax situation under control.
So, how can a busy self-employed arts and crafts business owner stay on top of the tax situation?"
Read the rest of the article here

Selasa, 29 Maret 2011

The Week as Art



One of the many ongoing features of Create Mixed Media is The Week as Art. Each week, one artist creates their own 'calendar' and it is used as one of the headers for the website. This week it is my turn. Interested in having your own week? Click here fore more information.

CHA Canada 2011 Spring Trade Exhibition


Yesterday's workshop was an excellent day out.  I came away from the event with a few favorites that I thought I would share today.  First, a Canadian rubber stamp company that is new for me:  Your Next Stamp.  They had the CUTEST collection of images!  I adored all the girls from around the world.  Their website is jam packed with sample art and I am adding their blog to my fun link list!

 These Irish dancers would make anyone smile.


The workshop “Maximizing the Media” with HGTV’s Wendy Russell, sponsored by Picture Keeper was excellent!  Following her workshop she explained the picture keeper an amazingly simple devise that grabs and backs up every jpeg file on your computer.  Most of us immediately ordered some!  Here is a link to their site.

kool tak is also a new glue tape product line for me.  I can't wait to try all the samples they gave me.

The item that really caught my eye is this clear foam tape...BRILLIANT!  Their website features many great products.

I won this box of Flower Soft from kool tak....something I have been meaning to try for a year now.

I opened the box when I got home and it is so pretty!  I'll come back to this product very soon!

CPS 211 Part 2



Ahoy!
Designer Tami Mayberry
Supplies:
Pirate Stamp: Kraftin Kimmie
Card stock: Bazzill
Pattern: Echo Park Paper
Banner die: Spellbinders
Markers: Copic




SKETCH 211 – JUMP PUFF card
Designer Linda Beeson
Materials:
Cardstock – Core Glitter Silk and Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper- All a Flutter/Togetherness Cosmo Cricket
Vintage image – scanned from a book I own
Spellbinder Nestabilities die
Distress stamp pad
Ranger Blending tool
Sand It Gadget – Core’dinations


Special Delivery
Designer Deb Felts
Designer paper:  Basic Grey Hopscotch
Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie's "Caroline"
Markers:  Copic
Ribbon:  American Crafts

Flipside
Designer: Latisha Yoast
Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie's "Richie"
Markers: Copic
Pattern Paper: Cosmo Cricket 6x6 Social Club mini deck
Card stock: Neenah
Misc: Brown May Arts Twine

For a Special Grandmother
Designer: Lea Lawson
Supplies: 
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics & Papertrey Ink
Paper: Cosmo Cricket & Sassafras
Vellum: The Paper Company
Stamps: WPlus9
Ink: Tsukineko
Twine: Darice Inc. 
Button: Doodlebug Designs
Jewels: International Greetings USA
Glitter: DecoArt
Colored Pencil: Heidi Swapp

This week's prize is sponsored by: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. Be sure to check here each Wednesday to see what you could win along with some great samples from our sponsor.

To enter this week's random drawing simply share your design with the CPS readers. Simply click on this week's sketch image in the side bar. This will take you directly to the post where you can add your link. Please use a direct link to your card so the readers can easily find it.

Wire Wrapped Pendant Project



Senin, 28 Maret 2011

Designer of The Week-Middle Earth


Each Monday the Art Bead Scene features the Designer of the Week. One of our editors picks her favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries. This week's featured designer is Middle Earth .

Here is what ABS editor, Jennifer Heynen had to say about this week's design,
"This bracelet grabbed my attention because of the many elements. I love all of the mediums used to create this bracelet. Be sure to visit Middle Earths blog for even more inspiration, it's wonderful."

Want to see your work here next week? Enter our monthly challenge for a chance to be featured!

I'm at a Trade Show Today!

CANADIAN CRAFT AND HOBBY ASSOCIATION
 
CHA Canada 2011 Spring Trade Exhibition:

For Paper Arts

Monday, March 28, 2011

Join CHA Canada for this one day “Trade Only” event for Canadian craft
businesses. Enjoy 5 hours of workshops, a business seminar and exhibitors.
Take a class with Donna Downey, Frogs Whiskers Ink, Susiebee Studios Inc & attend a business seminar on
“Maximizing the Media” with HGTV’s Wendy Russell, (sponsored by Picture Keeper, www.picturekeeper.com)

Exhibiting Sponsors:
Acme United Ltd Canada/Westcott. http://www.acmeunited.ca/
Stix2-  Kool Tak Canada http://www.stix2kooltak.com/_home
            Distributors for Flower Soft, Copic, Charlies Ark,
INTRODUCING A BRAND NEW CANADIAN MANUFACTUER
SusieBee Studios Inc. http://www.susiebeestudios.com/

Minggu, 27 Maret 2011

Sundays with Cindy


Good Sunday to you!  Let's see what the bead bloggers have been up to this week....

A Bead A Day
Interested in learning more about decopauging your jewelry projects? In response to a reader question, Lisa provides some info to help you get started.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy combines wire, chain, and crystal teardrops for some dramatic earrings.

Art Bead Scene
The ABS is serving up a free project courtesy of Ornamentea.

Beading & Books
Enter a jewelry, beading, or mixed media contest or challenge this spring. Michelle shares links to nearly a dozen opportunities.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a two part beaded sachet tuorial this week on her blog.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
This week's Tuesday Tangle is about taking up a challenge!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean writes about a book she was given years ago concerning Elizabeth Taylor's astounding jewelry collection

The Bead Dreamer
Charlene creates earring from humble materials and simple design

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
To celebrate National Craft Month, Andrew guest blogs for Beaducation.

Sunday Links

 There are so many great french words that are are universally understood.
I loved this collection of stones and thought it was a wonderful backdrop for this glass beaded necklace.

Enjoy my Sunday bead Blogger Links!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy combines wire, chain, and crystal teardrops for some dramatic earrings.

Art Bead Scene
The ABS is serving up a free project courtesy of Ornamentea.

Beads & Books
Enter a jewelry, beading, or mixed media contest or challenge this spring. Michelle shares links to nearly a dozen opportunities.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a two part beaded sachet tutorial this week on her blog.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
This week's Tuesday Tangle is about taking up a challenge!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean writes about a book she was given years ago concerning Elizabeth Taylor's astounding jewelry collection

To celebrate National Craft Month, Andrew guest blogs for Beaducation.

CPS 211 Part 1

CPS 211

CPS Designer Ideas



Thank You
Designer: Angie Hagist

Supplies:
Cardstock - Discount Cardstock
Patterned Papers - DCWV
Thickers - American Crafts
Marker - Sharpie



~Friend~
Designer: Carla Peicheff

Supplies:
Sheer Cardbase: ShortCuts
Paper & tag: Bella Blvd
Brad: WRMK
Rhinestone: Doodlebug
Punches: Stampin' Up!
Die Cut: Cricut Graphically Speaking (provo-craft)

Sweet Little One
Designer Jeanne Streiff

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps (Diana)
Cardstock: DiscountCardstock.com
Patterned papers:Echo Park
Inks: Memento, Vivid
Dies: Spellbinders
Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (EZ Runner, 3D Foam Squares)
Other: Copic markers, sponge, sewing machine



This week's prize is sponsored by: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. Be sure to check here each Wednesday to see what you could win along with some great samples from our sponsor.
To enter this week's random drawing simply share your design with the CPS readers. Simply click on this week's sketch image in the side bar. This will take you directly to the post where you can add your link. Please use a direct link to your card so the readers can easily find it.