a house needs these chairs

I've always had a fondness for chairs...ones that are functional and others that are admired for the design gathering dust upon my shelves!  When I saw the challenge issued for the Moxie Fab pot pourri  Get Inspired Week, I just knew inspiration would fly!  Isn't this little montage of the chairs, crochet and the graphic pop of the initial the coolest ever?

t

Recently I've taken to cutting chairs out of ads for future use.  So these uber hip ones in a World Market ad were just waiting for the muse. I very carefully cut the spaces between the backs so that the Basic Grey 'Oxford'  Fencing paper would show behind the chairs. I used an epoxied 'C' as a pillow. The moulding, floor 'board' and the library all are various papers from the BG 'Oxford' group.  I cut a strip of the books and stacked vertically to create a bookcase.  The vintage trim for texture as well as the waxed string along the edge of the bookcase add to the illusion of my room.  And a finishing touch,  the lovely Henry David Thoreau quote:

                                       A house needs these chairs

                                          Ones for solitude,

                                             Ones for friendship

                                           Then those for society!

I'd love to have you come visit me...I'll even let you pick YOUR favorite chair.

As a side note, just last Wednesday, my dear teenager came home from youth group with a gift for me.

They had a white elephant exchange.  Knowing I collected chairs from all eras, he truly thought he was bringing home a treasure.  It is a colonial American delight, that's for sure...just got to find the perfect closet...to hide it in! There will always be a need for a white elephant gift.  Thank you dear &d for thinking of me.

Be a work of Art

It was easy to fall in love with the Moxie Fab World Get Inspired by Fashion Challenge.  What's not to love about this houndstooth jacket? I just had to dress this fabulous B Line Designs 'Anticipation'
lady in Basic Grey houndstooth.  She's ready to head out for a luncheon with her gloves and hat.
It's one last glance in the mirror and then out the door.







The driftwood mirror over on the at west end website  inspired me to create her reflection in my shell mirror using reflective paper and free handing her jacket top.  Of course having that Oscar Wilde quote was the perfect accessory, wouldn't you say?

May you have time for artful pursuits this weekend and time to pause for reflection, too.

Blessings,
Susan

12 Days of Tags, day 12

So here I am with the last tag, day 12.  And only off by one day in the actual posting.  That's some kind of record for me...big smile.  I have to say that Tim's final tag for 2011  was my favorite.  I loved all the shabby vintage goodness.  Music score, tinsel, German scrap, that heavenly blue 'home', foil Wish, and the porcelain doll. Lovely.

I thought on my interpretation for quite awhile, looking through papers and such.  The background of the tag sans his tissue paper is close.  I stamped the crackle element in random areas with a charcoal ink and then used the Picket Fence stain (that is one product I sprung for and love it!!!)  Next I stamped a music score along four horizontal  lines in Snow Cap ink embossing with Mystic embossing Powder (it's the most delicate pink iridescence ~~~ thank's K for that sample so long ago).  Then on top of all those elements I daubed Salmon paint that had been diluted with a bit of water.  Very pleased with this background and in only one attempt...maybe I am getting better.

My spirit model was inked on vellum and part of the words to 1 Corinthians 13 were placed behind the doll. Faith, hope, and love...a pearl heart button. Her dress is vintage lace part of a treasured stash of laces given to me by a artful friend.  I added the scalloped velvet band, a vintage German scarp pink bow and paper flower.  Along the edge is the rest of the verse...but the greatest of these is LOVE.

And to me Love is the most precious gift to be given in any season.  Is your heart overflowing...for in that, will others be blessed without speaking a single word.

Thanks so much for spending time with me.  I feel your gentle thoughts and love.

Susan

12 Days of Tags, day 11

Well, I am down to the last two...they're completed, the blog entries are all that remain to be done.  I adore the day 11 tag of Tim Holtz, rockin the retro '60's Santa that I remember.  And while I couldn't compete Santawise, I decide to carry the mid century feel with more of a graphic vibe.  These are some My Mind's Eye papers from several years ago...loved the groovy tree.  My background for the tag was again a three tag learning experience with the blending and water 'slinging'!  I do like the depth of the background and am encouraged with my progress.  I used the tattered snowflake die cut into upcycled packaging, daubed and snowed.  I manage to revive my years old daubers and rather like to play around with the mottled look.  Don't you think it adds a good deal of texture back behind the tree?  The pom pom ornaments were cut from some lime green trim.  And eyelash fiber wrapped at the bottom in yummy blue, yellow and green colors.  I must say I enjoyed the step by step tutorials and that shrinky melting pot with the larger die cuts is something I am going to attempt.

This one definitely fits my homestyle with the rockin' ocean, sea glass, midnight sky theme.

So how are you feeling on this next to last day of the 12?  Learned some new techniques...I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Blessings

12 Days of Tags, day 10

Here we are at day 10.  Oh my goodness...I loved the crystal facet ornaments Tim Holtz showed on his tag. In fact, I tried 4 times and was never happy with the clarity of my ornaments.  So instead, I used the Flourish set to create my ornaments as well as vintage Shiny Brites.

12 Days of Tags, day 9

It's day 9  tag, the 'simplest' technique I'd say Tim's done this season.  I was anxious to try this as I love embossed anything, really!  So again determined to use what I have, I spent some time in my stamped image book looking for something to 'stand' in for his candlestick. Doesn't this Eiffel Tower (Christina Renee) look smashing inked with VersaFine Smokey Grey and stamped on black cardstock.  My damask background is from Purple Onion Designs.  I used the Limited Edition Christmas colors of the distress inks.  So this was the Evergreen bough and Festive Berries. Still need lots of practice blending...but I am pleased with the enameled look of the overall tag.  My little jingle bell wreath gives some sparkle.  The PEACE is a font from Purple Onion Designs called 'Pink Flamingo' inked onto acetate with jet black Stazon. I used a bit of vintage velvet trim for the bow and the tag.

Thank you for stopping by today.  Hope you will find time in your week for artful pursuits.

Blessings, 

Susan

12 Days of Tags, day8

I'm late, I'm late, I'm very very late and the gentleman are keeping watch, literally over the clock!  I have to admit that I loved Tim's Steampunk tag for day 8 . And I don't dare think about how long this one took...this is my second tag though as I tried both surfaces from the first one, working on the coloring technique.  I was so frustrated with my blending abilities that I LONGED for finding a piece of DP to use instead...however I did persevere and in the end was happy with the results.

I began working on this the day of posting, but as I didn't have the Steampunk stamp set, I used the Judikins bolio 'Music' down the left side...it has wonderful men playing insturments.  They were stamp in Adirondack SnowCap and embossed with clear.  On the right side, attempted the ghosting with a map of the globe looking down.  I think I need a much lighter hand for the coloring.  The 'Joy' was taken from Thicker stickers that I inked with VersaFine and embossed in clear several times.  It was a challenge finding letters that were the correct scale. The pen nib was created from an unmounted rubber stamp (Invoke Arts)...used UTEE on the barrel and gold micro beads for the nib.  I 'drug' a needle through it to make the ridge. The clock was from TH sticker book again, UTEE'ed and the gears placed on top.  And so this sat on my desk for two days...just not knowing what I'd do for the men...and then a quick run to M's afterwork last night to use the last of my 40% off coupons...and what do I find, but the Stampers Anonymous  TH Visual Artistry set with the STEAMpunk Men....I couldn't believe it.

So those dudes were stamped on white cs, I colored their hats with a Sakura black puff pen, stapled them to the tag so the middle guy if popped.  Added a bit of vintage German red foil as a boutonniere as well as using the whole pattern of the foil under the pen nib.  It gives the nib more presence, I think. Finishing details are the tiny pocket watch in blue, the fabulous vintage license plate (Queen's Dresser Drawers) and the measuring tape cut at 2ft5 standing in the the metal 25 Tim used.  I am quite happy with how this all came together. And I definitely learned in the process, which is the best gift, I think!

If you've got time, I'd love to hear how you are doing with the new techniques.  I enjoy all the pictures Tim posts of the process...

Blessings to you and happy weekend.

Susan

12 Days of Tags, day 7

I have totally gone shabby with on this tag...Tim's day 7 was lovely in it's simplicity and invoked for me this very Victorian style.  My siren song these days is using what I have and as far as the glassine paper, I'll have to wait until we go to our favorite doughnut shop on the weekend...honestly I'm going to get the glassine bags they put the doughnut INTO...not the yummy crunchy, slightly burned apple fritter my husband dearly loves!  Opps, off track...

The base of my card is a 7 Gypsies scripty paper that I rubbed the Distress Stain (Picket Fence) all over.  I stamped the heavenly angel (Tin Can Mail) image directly onto the script paper.  She was colored with a combination of Copics and Dewent watercolor pencils.  That STAR has starlight Stickles laid over the top.  These beautiful beaded wings were a gift from across the pond. Flowers actually that I thought would make wonderful wings...perfect color and dimension.  The book is a Stampington image which I inked onto vintage sheet music paper from the '30's. I backed it with grungeboard adding the vintage German scrap foil along the edges.  The scripture from Luke 2 is a JRL Design stamp.  It was inked with VersaFine Onyx Black and embossed in clear.  I added 'oh happy day' (Wordsworth) along the upper left side of the tag.  Trims to match and a Tim key that has love written on the base.  The number 7 is an epoxy tag.

I shouldn't have favorites, but I think this one is mine.  It tells the whole reason for the season. It speaks of great love and indeed...it was a happy day~o.

Hope your day is filled with blessings,

Susan

another piece of the world...

It's been a very long time since I've hung around the Moxie Fab World, but I have to admit I couldn't resist the challenge Cath issued recently on  Get Inspired Week.   I've loved globes all my life and confess they're another thing that I collect.  Both the kind that are scattered on shelves around my house and red rubber images.  So it was fun to ponder which one to use on my card.

Recently my son asked if he could give a card I had given him to his Geography teacher.  How dear is that???  It had been another SplitCoast
Stampers sketch challenge card, YOU add.  I knew that I would have to repeat the theme as he so generously gave his away.  (That's a lesson there for me...)  Today over on SCS, the sketch challenge SC362 was perfect to
spotlight the I Brake for Stamps standing globe and the Sizzix puzzle die.
I used some very old map dp, Heidi Swapp map tape and the wonderfully vintage
My Mind's Eye Stella Rose 'Hattie Buddies' double sided paper.

Now while my son is sitting in class exercising his gray matter, I'm thinking that
no matter how far flung his life takes him,  I just have to give one of those globes
a spin and the memories will fill my heart...

Hope your day is overflowing with blessings,
Susan

12 Days of Tags, day 6

Totally not even in the Holtz ballpark with this one, folks!  I loved his metal, vintage tin look and even admit to using a piece of upcycled foil embossed with an ornament ef...but I had no daubers.  And we know in the spirit of using what we have...collage seemed the next best thing.  This 3 or 4 year old K&Co (I think) paper is wonderfully mid century moddy.  I love the nontraditional colors.  The various images are all carefully cut from one of the sheets...notice the hat and mittens at the top of the tag.  I added tiny gem brads and bits of silk ribbon.  Also upcycled is the acetate strip that flairs out and above the tag.  I dry embossed it with one of the slender Alternations folders.  I glued and sprinkled Martha's snow glitter.  The birdies on the branches were cut...tucked a "merry and bright" under.  And a tiny #6 in the right bottom corner.

Now we are halfway through these challenges.  I have enjoyed reading and watching the videos on Tim's blog.  There are many new techniques I hope to practice.  How about you...feeling creatively refreshed or rushed???

Blessings,

12 Days of Tags, day 5

I  loved the vivid color in Tim's tag today, which used reverse stamps, a transparent sheet and alcohol inks.  Amazing is what I say.  And I do hope to play around with the techniques when time allows...just not in the midst of a tag making session.  What that said, I let my Basic Grey Mistletoe and Pear paper stand in for the background. I love the scale of the pretty damask pattern.  The Gloria sentiment is from Wordsworth, inked in VersaColor and embossed with clear ep.  The trims on the right were 'built' with scraps from a decorator book cut with the Ornate Alterations die. I left one side frayed.  The black scallops draw the eye to the sentiment, don't you think?  The tiny wise men is a Rubber Monger stamp that I placed on an acetate panel using Stazon Jet Black.  I really like the scale of the image.  And then a red sticker for #5.

5 days, 5 tags..I must admit I am having such fun bringing my vision to life.  While this one is more of a CAS style, I am happy with the 'weight' of the elements.  Thank you for your encouraging comments.  And I do hope you are playing along.

12 Days of Tags, day 4

I am a day late with tag #4, but it's complete.  Would you believe me if I told you I have not a single snowman image...not one.  So it took me quite awhile to decide what to use for my tag.  This has nothing to do with Tim's challenge for #4, but I did keep on with my 'use what I had' theme.  I did love the frosty texture he created on the snowman and the luscious snowflake border...I seriously can't wait to try many of these techniques when I have lots of FREE time.

As I mentioned yesterday, I had been invited to attend my lss employee discount night where anything was 40%.  I had a list of practical things, you know, fresh glues and such.  And I had a budget which I stayed well within.  But what I did get that I am so excited about is the new KaiserCraft Valentine line of papers.  I used one of them for the background here and that fabulous TaLL birdcage...isn't it amazing. 

There are diecuts galore for creating fun vintage Valentines.  And all this to say, how my Day 4 tag ended up being vintage and not a snowman.  Now I did actually look for the snowpeeps at the store, but not a one of 'em melted my heart!!!  So here's what I did...

My sweet little boy is from clip art printed from my computer. I applied UTEE in four layers and then cracked the surface (which does not show here)  He is holding a dove in his arms, hence the use of my NEW birdcage.  I did take Tim's cue with the buttons and trinkets...they are from my stash, an assortment of glass, crystal, and shell buttons, vintage trims.  The felt reverse scallop frame is scraps from PTI's scallop diecut.  I used a Hero Arts 'treasure' and 7 Gypsies 'memories' tag. 

After one so very complex, I am gain for a rather simple day 5.  How are you holding up??? Having fun, yet...started yet???  If not, would you if you had the time???  Thanks for stopping by,

Be Blessed today and always

Susan

12 Days of Tags, day 3

Hey out there, are your fingers inky with this days' tag...I am hoping to learn some new ways of using all these distressed products. The making of your own custom stamp is quite intriguing.  I am making a list and checking it twice...I get to go to my lss customer appreciation night later in the week and everything is 40% off....the cut and dry felt is at the top of the list...well that and more reinkers!  In the spirit of using what I have...I got out my many boxes of Alphas to create similar words as Tim used on his day3 tag.

I had to stamp three times to find the right proportions.  The JoY is a combination of ornate scripted letters with Purple Onion Designs' Vintage Postmark Date set. I LOVE this set and have used it many, many times.  You will find so many uses for this.  The ink is Nick Bantock Sapmoss Green.  The BElieve is a font called 'Playful Heart'.  It was stamped in Deep Turquoise and embossed with clear ep.
The third Purple Onion Designs alpha is the Great Circus, which I used to stamp Peace, in Chrome Yellow.  And the Christ is a calligraphy type script that I have no name for.  It was inked in TH di Barn Door.  I added vintage buttons to the right side and a red arrow pointing to the word, BE~lieve. The trim is old fibers and a vintage red button.

Thanks so much for your comments, hope you are having a wonderfully cozy weekend.

Blessings,
Susan

12 Days of Tags, day 2

I feel like a marathoner...running to get this posted before I head off for the 'real' world.  Usually the time  benefit us Pacific Time zoners, but not with these challengers. Tim Holtz's tags are always an inspiration. Today I've kept the theme, but mixed it up a bit, using 3 or 4 year old Basic Grey Christmas Paper that I think was a Michael's special.  I used a mixed sheet that had an elegant deer frolicking across floral fields.  I cut a second piece for the deer, used Pewter crackle paint, popped on dimensionals. I added a pearl necklace and a felt floral headdress.  On the right side I stamped the "PEACE" with TH walnut stain and lightly embossed.  The left side top has a Christmas script with postmark inked with TH pumice stone directly to the designer paper.  For my bottom interest, I used the fence diecut in a lovely Basic Grey aqua blue that I stapled (tiny TH stapler, of course!)  Greenery from a Martha Stewart punch was place behind and through the fence.  The #2  is just above the fence.

So is anyone else running a hectic pace today?  I am off...have a fabulous day.

Blessings for today
Susan

12 Days of Tags, day 1

It's December, can you tell me how we could possibly be in the last month of 2011!  I could be decorating the tree, or baking, or even cleaning the house, but what am I doing?  Playing in the Tim 12 Days tag challenge. I've enjoyed seeing the past years inspiration...so I thought I would give it a go.  I'm not much of a technique junkie so this will be a bit out of my comfort zone.

For this first tag, I did emboss, distress, sand, glitter, die cut, and staple.  I liked what Tim wrote in his first posting of this years challenge:  "when it comes to shopping, there is no doubt none of us need anymore reasons to buy more stuff - so USE what you HAVE!  of course if that just doesn't satisfy the urge,"..!  I did rummage through my stuff and mostly used what I had.  I do confess I did buy the pinecone/needle die recently, what with all the after turkey day coupons...I had a feeling it would come in handy.


Ellen Hutson  is spring boarding off the Holtz challenge with her own more feminine side of 12 Days.  I think my card fits nicely right in between.  I used a vintage cherub image from River City Rubber that I inked with TH distress old paper , colored with Copics, added a bit of stickles on the window panes. My NOEL is hand stamped from the Calamity Jane Alpha (Technique Tuesday) and coated with Martha's snow glitter. The snowflakes are both dry embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and the more ornate snowflakes are from Stampers Anonymous stamped with VersaMark and embossed with Winter Wonderland embossing powder. Those cranberries are tiny felt trim I inked with Adirondack Cranberry. 


I hope you'll play along these 12 days...it'll give you a chance to step away from the chaos and do something artful...and let me know, I'd love to see what inspired you.


Blessings today and always