It's a Beautiful Life

Sending you all greetings of the season from the air ~ arriving in San Francisco. The city is so exciting and inviting from the air!
I am sure that the itinerary is packed with exciting adventures and new experiences.
Rose(my sister) and her family are such wonderful hosts, it's always a treat to be a guest in her home!
I am so thrilled to be able to live and share this wonderful life!

Scrap Book Party Winner

I want to thank everyone who took the time to
comment for the party booty.
The drum roll has sounded.......
And the winner is Sasha.
The best of all party loot will be arriving on your doorstep!
Congratulations!
Now you need to create some great layouts!

Through The Looking Glass

I do hope you enjoy this altered story told in collaborative style...

Thank you for your visit!

I thank the artists who participated in this collaborative art swap.

By: Aiyana Warner

by: Gigi

By: Melissa S.

by: Melissa S.

by: Alice S.

by: April Hall

by: Penny klaproth

by: Melissa Stocker

By: Melissa Stocker

by: April Hall

Through The Looking Glass

Hero Arts Make & Take

Hooray for Hero Arts! There was a lot of Makin' & Takin' going on today at the Hero Arts 2010 Catalog Launch! There are some really cute new products and stamps. This was the the card we made to celebrate the occasion. I met some fabulous women there, too. Debra and I chatted away as we stamped and assembled this little gem. The card is on the new paper in blue, stamped with an aqua ink, a pink panel was added stamped in a slightly darker ink followed by leaves that were stamped in black on green paper. The main feature was the big posie stamped in black ink and cut out with an added center cut out of the stamped image on lighter pink paper. The card was then assembled. The sentiment was stamped on a white panel and cut and folded with a small string bow tied to it and finally glued to the card!

The new stamps that I picked up at the event are just darling and I can hardly wait to create some special cards for my friends and family!

Mini Scrapbooks

This all began one night, as I was looking through my scraps and decided that I would make a Mini Book. A book that could be thrown in a bag to share in a moments notice.

One of my objectives was to practice punched flower layering for embellishments.

With this in mind materials were gathered and I began.

The covers of the book are recycled CD sleeves covered in Bazzill Blue Paper. The embellishments are Bazzill tan and a terracotta. I had some coordinating scraps so I began layering.

The pages are a blush white with the same coordinating papers and embellishment! (sweet)

I punched two holes in the left side and placed matching notebook rings in them to bind the pages together.

Now that the book is completed, I need to fill it up with a marvelous memorable event!

Scroll down and post a comment for the scrapbook contest to win a great collection of scrapbooking materials! I love to read your comments!

A Visit To Santa

He's making his list. Do you think he will need to check it twice?
I wonder what's on the list?
Do you think he's asking for a signed autograph
CD from Taylor Swift. Or a signed copy of one of his favorite stars with a DVD. Or do you think he's asking for tickets to the next Con that Vic is going to attend? Or do you think he's just asking for his autograph?
If you were sitting next to Santa what would you ask for?
Please leave a comment and let me know what you would ask Santa for.
I think it would be fun to know!

Vintage Winter

This week for the Tuesday Challenge, Vintage was the theme. I have added many snowflakes to this vintage lady. She sparkles and shimmers in the light, not only because of the stickles, but the stardust gel pen as well.
That shimmery pen is just one of my favorites.
My lady is dressed up in a Pastel Olive outfit, and is surrounded by pastel colored snowflakes.They sparkle and shimmer beautifully out in the sun.
Snowfkes are so much fun to use, especially when you add a lot of glitter!

Wish Upon A Star

There is a lot of scrapping going on here!
I wanted to play in Helga's Artchix Blog Challenge , and so I thought I would use these scraps and create something seasonal. To make this star, I started with twelve twinchies and created cones with them, glued them together, and added another set of red polka dotted cones inside the first set. I added a circle in the center cut from a vintage striped paper, and glued a collage image on top of it. I cut the heart from the image and added red stickles to it. To make it extra special I transformed a flower punch into two tiny rosettes. To finish the star a shimmery cord was attached to the top for hanging!

Happy Hanukkah!

Wishing my friends a Happy Hanukkah.

To commemorate this occasion the

Tuesday Challenge was to create an

ATC for Hanukkah!

This dazzling Star of David is for Mark, Bev, Jerry and

Sherrie and your families.

Happy Hanukkah!

Scrap Bookers Party!

Scrapbooking is so fun.....It has given me the opportunity to share in the wonderful moments of my family's life with a Gigi Flavor. I have enjoyed making scrapbooks for Gabrielle's exciting travels and for the wonderful occasions that Rose and her family have experienced. Living in the Scrapbook capital of the world , I have been privileged to be a guest of the most great parties! With great parties comes those goodie bags that you get to take home!...... Since I believe in sharing the loot, I want to give a selection of my bootie to someone! Leave a comment and next Saturday I will draw a winner of a fabulous selection of papers, stickers, rub-ons and other goodies to build a story around your memorable occasion!

Alice In Wonderland

Reliving childhood through art is so much fun.
It can even reveal parts of your own history!
When there was a a call for an Alice chunky book, I ran to sign up. I have always loved the characters in the story, in fact I even had a part as the Mad Hatter and the 10 of Hearts in a dance production of this story!
This is the cover of the book. I stayed with a vintage look look for the book cover and the back.
The sugar cubes on the tea spoon are barely visible but the give a promise that a Tea Party is not far away! Just follow the Rabbit!

Art Lottery

The Artchix Lottery occurs every two weeks, For this Lottery I created an ATC using the same background materials as this months Rolodex swap in a slightly different way. This ATC was created on a Bazzill White Bling Background to which I affixed a light blue panel by sewing . I distressed the edges by cutting with deckle scissors and using a blue and white ink. A pink circle was then stamped with silver snowflakes in Brilliance ink with the edge inked in frost white. While the ink was drying, lace and ribbon were sewn on the blue panel. After cutting out the women image from the collage sheet, it was affixed onto the blue panel. To finish the card, snowflakes were added followed by some iridescent glitter! The pastel colors really give the card a frosty feeling.
The Lottery has some wonderful entries, it's a very lucky Chixie that wins the pool!

Swap Time

This month the group is "in stitches" for the Rolodex Swap. I wanted to add some winter elements to those stitches, so I added some snowflakes and a little winter doll. The image used is by Hero Arts, she is sooooo cute and she has sisters. She is warm in her pink wool coat with the snowflake trim. To compliment the stitches , a little blue lace was added along with some coordinating blue ribbon. There is a little glitter highlighting the snowflakes and the image. Hidden among the layers are some silver snowflakes and a little wintry wind blowing for a cool effect.
It was fun using the sewing machine for added interest on the card. I think it can be very addicting!

Larger Than Life

It's wonderful when someone you know sees your name larger than life, and sends you a picture of it!

If anyone happens to be in Palo Alto this weekend, stop by the Stanford Theatre, you'll enjoy the entertainment!

Happy Thanksgiving

On this day for celebrating gratitude, I would like to thank all my family and friends who share my life with me.
I am so grateful for all the wonderful things in my life, and to have technology at my fingertips, that all people can stay connected, regardless of where they are in the world, at anytime, by phone, email or blog! It's so fun for my brothers and sisters, those by birth as well as those who I have adopted, can send me pictures, texts or comments at any time to share thoughts and experiences with them!
As I sit at the dinner table today,with both family members and good friends, enjoying the meal prepared lovingly by all, I will reflect upon all the blessings that I have bestowed throughout my life and go forth with an attitude of humility and service for those who are less fortunate.
And Congratulations Melissa.......You are the winner of the entertainment set!

That's Entertainment

It's Party Time!

I have this little set of Martha Stewart Dinner Party Stamps to give away!
Just in time for the party season!
If you like to host dinner parties these are the perfect set of stamps for you!
Please leave a comment about how you make your gatherings memorable for your guests.
I will have this contest open for the next week.
On Thanksgiving morning I will pick & post the winner!

Friendship

It was very exciting to receive this loot from the Hero Arts Friendship ATC Swap. These were all sent to Canada, and then redistributed. They come from all over,
even one from Australia! Cute stamps remind me of my friend, Bridgette, as she is cute and sweet! I love to use these stamps when I need a bit of cute!
My entry was posted earlier using the "Four Doll Stamps" I have loved the doll series from Hero Arts!
In fact I am thinking that I will use one to make a cute ATC for one of the upcoming swaps!

Friday Art

I haven't gone into Mystic Paper for over a week and I was missing the friends in the shop......... so I had to stop by at lunchtime to see the new displays I caught the ladies working on last week. They are really sweet. The new featured products in the front are themed Marie Antoinette. They have made dozens of decorated tags and they are all hanging from a vintage looking Christmas tree that's lit up in Pink! Oh, how cute! While I was there, Jennifer gave me an extra altered spoon. It's so pretty! I love the little birdie and the green leaf ribbon holding the twig in place. It is so creative! My spoon swap is now complete!

Spoon Swap

Here they are , the swapped spoons! Thank you, Jennifer, for encouraging me to join this swap! Thank you, Becky, Jennifer, and Sherry for the imaginative altered art . I love them all. It was challenging for me to alter the spoons, but I think it can be addictive!

Now if someone has a spoon that would like to swap with me....I do have a few extra fairytale spoons...Please just leave a comment! I would love for your spoon to join this creative collection.

While I was meeting her she did a little doodle.....Wow....It's me!

This is her famous series. The art work is incredible!

This is M. Alice LeGrow. Isn't this picture fabulous.....What a great picture for a collage!

Fantasy Weekend

While everyone was getting into the Trick or Treat Mode, I headed over to the airport to pick up Michael Jackson, aka, Shamim and we headed out to the Hilton for the Saboten-Con. It was so fun the hotel was filled with Lolita's, Fairies and Super Hero's of the Anime and Manga World.

We met the most wonderful people, artists of print and screen.

Fairytales Can Come True

The spoons are now completed! I am really thrilled with the results. To finish the spoons I added a stamped image of a fairy. Stickles was added to shine her up a bit. Then came the ribbon flower that had the pearls and crystal preattached to it. Then I added the ribbon streamers, completed with beads and bells as well as a little key charm to the ends of them. To finish off the spoon I created a tag out of bazzil bling pink paper, stamped the word fairytale and a few tiny flowers and butterflies in green ink, punched out some green leaves and a few pink flowers and glued them in place. Added some diamond stickles for some shimmer and edged the tag with silver paint pen. By accident I punched an extra hole at the bottom, but I really loved the way it looked with the added ribbon so I did that to the whole collection!
There are six players in this spoon swap, I wonder what other delights have been created!

A Little Bling

The spoons have gone through more transformation.

Moss has been added to the bottom green portion.

And there is now a clear tear drop crystal hanging

from the bottom. The next step will be to add the image.

The big question is--Will they be completed this evening,

so that I can take them to Mystic Paper tomorrow?

Distressed

Now that the spoons have holes, it is high time that they were colored.

The spoons were tinted a lovely shade of stonewash and celery.

It took a day for the spoons to dry completely. The ink remained sticky for quite a while. There may be a secret to the application, but I had the best success by pouring it over the the surface of the spoons and letting it dry naturally.

Spoon Event

I sent the spoons to work with the DH. He was thrilled to participate in the project. If you look carefully you will see that there are holes both at the top and on the bottom. Now the are ready for threading or hanging!

Spoon Art

The spoon challenge!

I was very hesitant to join this swap,

it's so different from the regular type of swap I've participated

in. I'm giving it a shot! When the decision was made I ran to the Goodwill and bought these beauties for a whole .39.

This is view 1 !

Stay tune for the next view.

A Little Cute

I have taken a cute break from Halloween and joined a friendship swap. This little cutie will be travelling to Canada tomorrow.

I just love a little cute, and these little Japanese dolls

are the cutest. I had been hoarding this paper for a while thinking it needed something with with Asian cute......well here she is . She is colored with chalks and gel pens. I planned to use a layer of black crepe paper for her hair, but I chose the black flock instead. Adding texture to the doll adds more dimension to this little cutie!

Wicked Woman

Something wicked to add to the Artchix Lottery.

I called it "She's a Black Magic Women".

The Zombie body works really well as a Witch Dress.

I think that she was thinking of a Love Spell!

It's Spooky In Scottsdale

It has been a fabulous day of swaps today!

It began in Scottsdale this morning.

The ATC swap was fabulous. This group is so wonderful and their ATC's are so creative. I enjoy meeting with these talented artists as they share their talent with the group.

Today there was an added bonus. I had participated in my first Halloween book swap. This is the page that I created! It was so much fun. I call it Doriana Gray. I just love the image on the Zombie Collage sheet. I thought it was perfect for this scene.

At the Frenzy stamper there was a great class going on, it was Jane Eileen's Halloween Book. She is such a talented artist. You may recall that she was published on the cover of Sew Somerset not long ago, and yes, congratulations are in order again, as she has another beautiful project being published in an upcoming issue.

Congratulations Jane! You can view her book here....

http://janeeileen.blogspot.com/

Finished ATC

Ta DA! The finished ATC's from the 9 up masterboard that was posted yesterday. It was so fun. Please don't look to close, Max(my little Bichon Frise wanted to rearrange it more to his liking).

This was so much fun. I was hesitant to start, but once I got started I didn't want to quit! I may have even added more if time allowed!

I hope my swapping friends enjoy this project!

Live ATC Swap

Saturday is the live ATC swap at my favorite local stamp store, Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale.

The theme this month is "Our Choice".

So I ran to plate when asked to bring in a technique to share, so I thought I would create my ATC using this technique. I set out to do the 9 up ATC that was shown on Saturday's Workout. Well here is my master board. I have created a double flower to add as another layer, however, I decided to cut them apart first.

To create this masterboard, I used watercolors in green and purple, added the girl,swirls, hearts , spiders, hats, birds and text-then I removed watercolor in the hearts with bleach- added the lavender glitter and colored my girls with Prisma colored pencils. Now to cut it apart and add the flowers.

Creative Blog

Linda, across the pond, is an avid artist. She creates the most brilliant art.

If you have a creative block and need ideas, hers is the most wonderful blog to visit. She posts everyday, and if you leave her a comment she replies!

She is off on a creative journey for the week-end and she will not be able to post....so she is having a delightful blog giveaway!

Visit Linda and get acquainted with her art and enter to win her blog giveaway! http://acraftingjourney.blogspot.com

Rolodex Swap

Halloween is so frightful and delightful.

It's a great time to participate in swaps and trades. There is so much material to choose from.

For this Rolodex swap I selected a vintage image, the pumpkin choir, conducted by a black cat. I cut this out of a larger image. I then added the full moon and the flying bats. I adhered them to a back ground shaded with distress ink in marmalade and then the lightest amount for dark green chalk ink. I added music in black ink and the word delightful. The gingham ribbon in black and white was the finishing touch!

What a sweet treat!