A Creative Life

Bring creativity to the for front of your life with this nifty machine.
I discovered this machine on the Craft Gossip Blog. If you haven't discovered that blog, it is worth a visit. There are all kinds of crafts projects posted on a daily basis. If you are looking for a project, you will be sure to find something here.
I followed a link to the Grosgrain Blog and read about this amazing machine. There are a few more days to enter to win one of these fabulous cutters! Let me know what you think of the projects created by this digital cutting machine!

Art Day

This has been a great Saturday for art. The swap group was very fun......We swapped the ATC's from the Paris Stationary, pictured on a previous post. They are just beautiful. They are bright and shiny! This challenge was great fun.

Next month's challenge is even more fun. We were given a small stamp set of our choice and some paper to create our ATC's. This challenge is fabulous because stamping is so much fun! The creating has already. The paper began as two 12 x 12 sheets- and it's already cut down to ATC size!

After the live swap, it was off to Mystic Paper, where Trish of Vintage Bliss , had a class to create a mini scrap book from these darling 7 Gypsy booklets with pictures printed 6 up on the Selphy, it was so fun and there were such wonderful women at the class! Thank you Trish!

Print This

Paper Arts are a wonderful thing! I recently received this little printer as a gift from my husband, Don. He has seen it demoed a few times at Mystic Paper where my long time friend, Trish was showing what it can do. As I love creating mini books, I can now print off all kinds of pictures right from my memory card, anywhere I am. It is very easy to use and it creates the most beautiful, long lasting prints right before your eyes! Trish will be featuring this printer again, if you get the chance....come for a look, but don't forget your memory card!

Dog Days of Summer

It was doggy Night in Mesa on Friday Night. There were dogs of all sizes and they were walking their people up and down the street to the beat of the live bands. It was a hot night, but we had a good time. Mystic paper participates in the 2nd Friday Nights on Main, by hosting a live ATC swap. There were only three of us swapping during the event and what fun cards!

Thursday Night Art

Tomorrow is the 2nd Friday on Main Street Live ATC swap at Mystic Paper.
I thought I would create a cute card to swap with the currant theme "Raining Cats and Dogs" The dog in the ATC is a poodle , however Max looks very similar he being a Bichon Frise. Max sometimes joins me on these Friday Night Romps. He enjoys it! It's been so hot the last couple of months so we haven't really stayed very long!
It being a cat and dog night, I will bring Max along! I just have to get back to the table to add the additional elements to the cards....So please join me at the next post to see the completed card or create some cards and come out and join us!

Rolodex Swap

It seems likes its been ages since the last Rolodex swap. However it's only been one short month! This month the theme was fabric and I had every intention of doing some decorative stitching and I was quite looking forward to it. However life got in the way and before long the project was due. So I got our the stamps and some ink pads and did some painting with alcohol inks on fabric. To finish the card glitter and a ribbon on a safety pin were added. I really am anxious to explore more stamping and coloring on fabric, the Eiffel Tower Barbie was the start of it!
I think this design would look gorgeous with some stitching added to it, perhaps to add a little texture to the hair and then some metallic thread throughout the background for more color. The possibilities are endless....and isn't this what is what makes art fun and magical!

Live Swap Challenge

After a brief break of several weeks, the Saturday morning live swap group that I participate in has met up again. It was delightful to see everyone who attended with their latest creations ready to swap.
I love a live swap,(yes I usually always attend the Second Friday on Main Street Live ATC Swap, also)I am a big fan of collaborative projects! Working in a group is such a rich experience. The results are usually more rewarding, as well as being a lot of fun!
This past meeting we were given a challenge to create this month's ATC with this beautiful collection of Paris papers. The images on the papers are gorgeous and there are a lot of elements to use, I envisage a fabulous creation of a gilded vintage collage! It will be a beautiful collection of cards after the swap!

Stamp Club

I meet up with a group of women once a month for a fun night that I fondly refer to as "a cut and color"- however it's a night that we get together to learn some fun stamping and card making techniques.
The "Thanks Tin" was one of this months projects. It was so quick and simple to make. How fun would it be to create a tin to match a collection of ATC's for a live swap?
The supplies needed are: one tin, solid background paper, printed paper, a sentiment, three circles for the roses and one pointed flower cut into pieces, a little ink and some glue.
The result....A beautiful presentation for a gift card or a special gift!

Having Fun

Here they are! The finished Barbies....and Ken. Now they are Lady Gaga, Tim Holtz, I Love Paris,and the Pierrot. They were so much fun to plan and create.
Jennifer has the complete collection on display at Mystic Paper
If you happen to be in Mesa, go in and see them, there is some great dolls on display. My favorites in the collection are: The album cover Barbie, she is sure to bring a smile on your face! Jennifer created a great Frida, her sandals are fabulous. ( I didn't get to add shoes...have you ever noticed the shoes are either always missing or there is only one?) I love Kevyn's dolls they are out of this world!
It's funny, as a girl I never played with Barbies.....as an adult, I have grown to love Barbie. I have fallen in love with her through the many artists who created signature Barbies.
Do you want to play? The next swap will be in the fall, the details will be posted at Mystic Paper.

Current Events

It's really hot here in the valley. Not only is the thermostat rising, but Barbie , that little "hottie"Pin Up doll, manufactured by Mattel for girls of all ages to adore and dress has been the hottest topic at Mystic Paper in Downtown Mesa. It has been several weeks since Jennifer posted the Altered Barbie Swap and the shop has been filling up with long legged looks of all kinds! The Barbies will be featured in a display beginning on Saturday, July 24, so if you are in the area... stop and take a look. Jennifer is offering a sneak peek as well on the store blog too.
A few weeks ago I began the creative process when I saw the photo of this famous magazine cover:

I just had to create a Barbie of her. She was the my first one! I have to admit, I did use a few more bubbles!
My second barbie is not really a Barbie at all.... It's a Ken, my inspiration.....well let's just say he's that well known craft icon that we all know and love. Yes, you guessed it, I got my inspiration here.
The last two Barbies are not famous people, they were inspired from fun and fantasy. You can see a glimpse of one in the photo on the store post! If you see her, let me know what you think!
If you haven't altered a Barbie...try it, not only is it fun, it's addictive!

Swapping Is Hot

The heat isn't the only thing sizzling out here this summer, the live ATC swaps here in town have been really hot too. It has been a busy summer running around town to participate in the Live Swaps Events and it's also a lot of fun to see everyone around their trip and vacation schedules to share a little art. The themes have been perfect for summertime creativity! There has been Music, Summertime Fun, Gypsy, Ocean and Stamp themes! If your staying in town, come out and join us. Next weeks card theme is "Travel to a Another Land!

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue

The heat's up here in town and
this weekend there's a great line up for holiday
entertainment to enjoy for all.
But that's not all...
Those gorgeous pin up girl ATC's created for the
Red, White and Blue Pin Up swap have made

their way back to the wonderful participants!

Each participant received a star with a small

accordion book to hold their lovely beauties!

Let's open the book to see the fabulous ATC's created

to celebrate gorgeous women and this glorious nation!

I want thank everyone for participating in this wonderful swap!

The art is so much fun! Pictured from the top are cards designed by the fabulous: Melissa, Jennifer, Dawn, Charlotte and mine. Have a wonderful holiday, I hope that everyone enjoys the festivities in the towns and cities they live in and women who live in this wonderful nation contemplate on the fortunes of feedom to be the bombshells that they were born to be!