Gothic Arch project, parts 1 & 2

Roni at Inkstains is such an amazing wealth of information and talent! I found her when I purchased her book on altered art.

She's doing a series of technique tutorials in a 10 page gothic arch shaped book.  Check out her blog for details and to join in.

Real life got in the way so I'm a little behind but am moving right along.

Arch #1 is a segmented collage...

Arch #2 is inchies...

One of the great things about Roni is that she encourages you to use what you already have-no need to go out and try to find products that nobody local carries-and she encourages you to do your own thing to make the project your own.

I've got #3 started...off to work on it :)

Thank you card

Just finished a special thank you card for my sister...Peg, if you're checking in-click off until you get this in the mail :P

Sister, Peg, and her husband, Ralph, were my wonderful hosts for a visit to their home in the freezing state of NH.  Peg and I grew up there but it's been many, many years since I've been back.  Now that I've been in FL for over 30 years, I can't handle the breath-taking cold of the north and don't understand why/how people live up there.  Bless all of you that do!

I was lovin this card until I decided to go overboard and add the sunshine - now I think it looks like an elementary piece. Oh well - learn and move on :)

Arden's Mini

I needed to work in bright, happy colors so I decided to do a girly mini for a friend's baby girl.

I tried some new products and techniques and am fairly happy with the end result.  I learn by doing and from my mistakes so I have to embrace them and push my type A personality aside sometimes :)

It was hard not to grunge and be messy but Arden's mom isn't the grunge type so I had to pull myself back.

I have loads of ideas floating around in my head but have to do 2 more quickie cards first....

Altered spiral notebook

I can't live without my spiral notebook at work.  It's with me at all times and I usually start a new one every three months.  Why, I ask, should it be plain and boring??  It shouldn't!

The girl image is colored with colored pencils and was a free download from e-crafting. If you're not a subscriber, you're missing out!  Wings are from Tim Holtz and stamped on newspaper.  I used some Prima flowers and a Sizzix die cut from an old dictionary.  Added some bling, Stickles, an old heart shaped doily and lots of Glimmer Mist.  The background paper is from My Mind's Eye.

I used Mod Podge as my adhesive and am, again, disappointed.  I want to love it but have bumpy, wrinkled results every time.

Overall, I think it came out pretty nice.

2011 calendar

I had fun with this one and am so happy with how it turned out.  I purchased the 4x4 coasters a while ago from Michael's with intention of making a mini think it was perfect for the calendar. I used bits and pieces and odds and ends from my stash.

My scrappy daughter

Daughter, Sarah, came for a visit and spent some time in my scrap room.  While she was busy making note pad holders we were busy playing with the kids - everybody wins!

I made a few of these as gifties for Christmas but never got around to making one for Sarah or myself - isn't that always the way?  Sarah fell in love with them.  She ended up making 8 as gifts for her fellow teachers and was able to make one for herself, YAY!

The instructions for these are all over the internet.  They're fast, very inexpensive and fun to make with whatever you have in your leftover bins.  Had to purchase the acrylic frames ($1.00 at Walmart and the post-it notes) but still an inexpensive, cute and functional project.

Here's a few of what she made

My apologies for the glare - my picture taking skills are a bit lacking.

Happy Tuesday!

Thank you cards are done.

Well - they're created, stamped, glued and glittered anyway.  Now to sit and write them; sometimes that's the hardest part.  I feel like I have to do them all at once so I can keep track of who's done and who isn't (I suppose a list would come in handy for that but that would be yet another thing to do!).

I got the basic design idea from someone on the Hero Art's design team (I can't remember who-ugh) and am happy with how they came out. I started with 8 and ended up making another 12 to have some extras.

Have been working on a 4" coaster calendar all day - I love paid holidays!  Off to finish - would like to get it done today.