I'm Stuck

Well over a month ago, Liz Mathews posted this project on her blog, she had at the bottom of the post said she would send her leftover heart pieces to the first commenter. I was the first commenter, I got them around Valentine's Day.

Here's my project so far:

I originally wasn't going to make a big piece like she had, but I couldn't find an smaller artist canvas to use. I started gluing the hearts on, then had to add hearts from my collection. When I was done with that, I thought I'd "lightly" go over it with alcohol inks, but I got too much on it. Then I tried fixing it by rubbing a red ink pad over it, and adding some vellum pieces to lighten up the color.

This is where I am, I don't know where I'm going from here. Anyone have any advice?

Remember this post? I got the return package in the mail today. And let me tell you, it made my day, I've been having a trying day at work, and this definitely helped.

Here's what was in the package: 

Some extra tags to use as I wish

 Starting at the left top corner, here's who these are from: Mags, Ragina Wells, Cheryl and Christal Gill

Teri Galen,  Cheryl Reese, no name, and Marlys.

 Suzanne Reese Cave

Stacy Boyd, Shelley, me and Mary.

There were also a bunch of quotes about art. There was a note in the package informing us that we could add to the ring throughout the year.

Very cool, thanks ladies.

Inspiration Rings Swap

On one of my Yahoo groups, I joined an Inspiration Ring Swap. We were sent 12 kraft paper rings that we were supposed to decoration in any way. Here are my rings:
I first glued them to various pieces of vintage paper, and then watercolored them, after that they all got different details.

Starting at the top left: Purple, I added a piece of ribbon and a circle cut out of some Egyptian money; Flowers, I love flowers and the brightness they add to things, so I used various forms of flowers on this one; Fabric, I love using fabric for my art, so I added a lace flower to this one.

Starting at the top left: Dress, this started with the dress, I added the head and some yarn for hair; Bling, this started with the adhesive jewels at the bottom, the bird is from a Valentine kit and I thought the heart just went with it; "Send a boy to camp", this one all started with the green stamp that says "Send a boy to camp", I then found other stamps that went with it; Bliss, everything on this one is rub-ons, I love the lady under her umbrella; Buttons, I love collecting and using buttons in my artwork, so I had to use some here, they're all vintage buttons.

Starting at the top left: Leaves, there are paper punches, a glittered plastic leaf, and a leaf button; Ribbons, this is my favorite (so much that I made an extra, so I could keep it), I layered some bright colored ribbons, a feather and some buttons; Birds, I used a dictionary bird, one out of wallpaper, and a sticker; Butterflies, I may add something 3D to this one, there are paper punches, a sticker and a plastic butterfly; Flower, I love the simplicity of this one, the flower sticker just goes so well with the yellow background.

These will be going out in the mail tomorrow, I hope everyone likes them. As I mentioned above, I couldn't part with Ribbons, so I created a 13th circle to send in. I seem to do that a lot with my work, when I make something I try to keep one for myself.

new stuff

Mom and I went to Memory Bound yesterday. I spent less than $30, I'm very proud of myself, here's what I bought:
A tri fold arch paper display (my most expensive purchase at $11), a pack of chipboard butterflies, guinea pig stickers, peacock stickers, a pack of alphabet stickers.

and three pieces of paper. I bought the top left one solely for the "Beautiful Dreamer" square, I bought the top right one for the alphabet, and the bottom one for the butterflies.

My plan is to decorate the tri fold with bright colors, butterflies and the beautiful dreamer piece.

It all began with an owl...

I've had creative block lately. Yesterday, I made the following:
I think it will be a wall hanging. It all started with the owl pendant I received in a swap. I knew, when I saw it that it wouldn't be a necklace. Sunday night, I got it and a piece of fabric that looked like a tree branch, then I decided he needed to be sitting in a night sky. The background fabric has black sparkles in it too, but I decided to add some of my vintage buttons as stars. Then I needed a moon, I couldn't find exactly what I wanted until I found a napkin in my stash. Now it's all sewn together but I still need to add a hanger, something to stiffen it up and a backing.

What do you think?

Valentines

I received a great Valentine tag from Terri the other day, and that made me want to make some. I decided to rip hearts out of dictionary pages instead of using the dictionary page for the background (as I tend to do), after ripping out the hearts, I glued them onto cardstock with chipboard underneath. I then added some sort of trim to the bottom, and some kind of embellishment to the heart that reflected the word I was ripping out. After I made those I had leftover cardstock, so I took some of the outer parts of the dictionary pages and made tags with those too. Here they are:
The left one was cupid, I created the cupid with some German foil wings, a photograph and a pink heart bead. I mailed that one to a friend, who would appreciate the cupid. The one in the middle is heart, so I added a cardstock and button heart to it. The one on the right just has a ribbon rose in it.

The left one was the outer part of the cupid page, so I made another cupid out of a troll and some more German foil wings, I also added some vintage buttons to the edge. This one is my favorite, I will be keeping it. The middle one is rose, the rose on the left was orignally a stick pin, the rose picture is from a vintage Valentine, that I got in a swap from Lynne. The right one has pink beads on top of the black trim, so I added black and pink vintage buttons, and the vintage looking girl to it. I mailed this one to a friend.

The left one is flower, the flowers in the left corner are punches, the flowers in the right corner are vintage buttons, I love the pom pom trim on this one, I will be hunting out more. The middle is Valentine, I had the hardest time figuring out this one, I finally added the rub on scroll and words, and then added some heart charms. The right one is pink, the leaves are punches, the circle is an old clip on earring and I once again added pink beads to the trim. I mailed this one to a friend.

The left one is red, I added red gems to the trim, the leaves are punches, and the circle is a vintage button. The middle one, I added a clear butterfly and some vintage buttons. The right one has a poufy fabric heart and some vintage buttons. These three are all going out to friends.

The left one is valentine, I added the clear "LOVE" piece to it. The last one has a piece of chocolate in the middle, and some vintage buttons.

I had such a fun time making these. I love seeing the tags that Lulu makes on her blog and have been wanting to make some especially with the trim hanging off for awhile. Now, mine aren't near as cool as hers, but I still think they're neat.

I chose to mail some to friends, and a couple to family. I'm not sure what to do with the rest.

Have you all made any valentines?

Thank you cards

This past Sunday, I attended a baby shower for a coworker. As we were packing up to leave, she was going to throw away the wrapping paper. I asked if I could have it, and said I'd make thank you cards out of it for her. I used the solid color paper for backgrounds, then layered a piece of cardstock and then images from the patterned papers.
I also added some of my button collection.

I love the images on baby wrapping paper.

I used two different stamps for the sentiment.

My favorite paper was the metallic blue, but it showed my double stick tape through it, which is why I added the cardstock. I love extra piece of paper, though, it really pulls the cards together.

I may not have a lot on here because my Yahoo group decided we'd take a break in December, and I haven't heard of any interest for a swap yet. I also haven't signed up for any swaps lately.