Know what happens when you bury yourself in the studio to continue with the ongoing never-ending clean-out, purge and organize task? Nothing real creative. It's Halloween month and as I unbury more and more Halloween stuff, I am working to resist the want to stop the organizing and start the Halloween fun. I have managed to organize all of my dies from Memory Box, PoppyStamps, Elizabeth Craft Designs and most of the Spellbinder dies. I still have the dies from Savvy, Penny Bl

I feel quite good that I've managed to complete 4 more of the Spirit Doll cards from Vesta Abel's class at Art 'n Soul weekend before last. I only used bits and pieces left from the card class and the journal cover class, and anything I could find laying around in the studio. I did not create anything new for any of the cards; shows you how many die cuts I have boxed up! All of the polymer clay faces were made by Vesta for the cards. If this is the first time you've seen thes

The sun is shining and it's a beautiful spring day in the Pacific Northwest. The day after a holiday weekend means lots of errands. And I'm still wanting a leisure holiday pace. What to do? Make a very simple card. I had 3 squares of handmade paper intended for another unknown use. I had a new die from JustRite. With a panel of white linen card stock, I used the new die which cut 3 stitched square openings. I stamped the brushstroke with Electric Pink ink and took the heat gu

It was a not-so-wild weekend in Las Vegas. We arrived at 9:30 in the morning on Saturday and we immediately hit the gambling tables. I'm not a big gambler; so, I felt quite proud that from a $10 deposit into the video machine, I cashed out with $18. It was time for lunch! I'm lately finding myself drawn to butterflies and fish. When I returned home yesterday afternoon, I dug out some butterfly dies and started in. Die cut butterfly frame on white linen card stock with Stick I

Yesterday's Easter celebration with family was a wonderful time spent. My 2 year-old great granddaughter provided us with lots of love and loads of entertainment. The food was yummy, too! Easter has always been filled with children; in addition to my great-granddaughter, we had 4 other small ones to prepare an Easter "basket" for. On Saturday, I discovered the sweetest stencil from Echo Park Paper Co. I had to purchase it because it was perfect to make Easter cards for the li

Yesterday was another day of not a lot of time in the studio for anything. So, I spent a good deal of time last night into the wee hours continuing to undo what is visible in the main area of the house from my organization and purging project. My dear husband is getting somewhat anxious because we have a St. Paddy's dinner party for 12 on Thursday. In between clearing away, I had to do something in the studio. I had come across these mixed media boards we had worked on at a M

Another slow day. My back is better but has little twinges now and then, especially if I lean over to pick something up. What to do? Clean out some paper piles (i.e., receipts, statements, etc.) and find a little play time in the studio. In the same British magazine that I discovered how to make yesterday's card with washi tape, I also came upon a technique to use powdered watercolors with clear plastic wrap. Coincidentally, Dianne Johnson also used a similar technique in the

While undertaking the major cleaning of my studio, I came across a catalog from Gump's; it's a fabulous store in downtown San Francisco that brings the terms yummy and luscious to the home decor conversation. Several items were decorated in such rich color combinations. I was inspired. A friend of mine is about two-thirds of the way through a major medical ordeal with her husband; he's been a fighter and so has she. I've wanted to send a card to recognize her brave and tirele

At the suggestion of a friend, I ordered Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils; they're made in Switzerland. I only ordered a set of 20 because they're a little spendy. They're a permanent pencil with a smooth lead and exceptional lightfastness, according to their literature. I had purchased 11 of them earleir but I think I left them in LaQuinta; of course, the resort cannot find anything left behind in our room. I'm so glad I re-ordered because I like the smoothness. The co

I've always loved the stamp designs from Magenta. Luckily, Art 'n Soul has been Magenta's Retailer of the Year for the past several years, which means there is always a fresh inventory of their stamps and other quality products available at the store. A while back, I purchased this vase stamp. I pulled it out again today and I combined it with Magenta's Nuance powdered watercolors. Magenta "Potted Plant" 0723.O Magenta word stamp: 07.818.H Magenta's Nuance in Raspberry (MNU0

More fun making Christmas cards! This first one was very easy. I used the Hero Arts' Ombre`Ink (Pool to Navy -- AF3008) on 118# Conqueror Card Stock in Diamond White. by Debbie Gaetz IMPRESSION OBSESSION Holiday Row Houses E16124 MAGENTA There is Magic 07807.I Versamark & White Embossing Powder by Stampendous Dark Red Sakura Glaze Pen for lights on Christmas trees & wreaths Silver Glitter Pen for Star on house Yellow Glitter Pen for candle lights Sentiment stamped with VersaF

One of the fun artsy activities is to stroll around the internet and see what folks are up to by looking at the various blogs. I've always had my favorite "route", and occasionally I would discover a new site. You'll never be disappointed. You just have to be careful how long your stroll takes; sometimes, you'll find hours have passed. One of my favorite blogs to visit each and every day is Magenta's blog . . . Magenta Style. I love this Christmas card by Carole Dion. by Caro

Thank you for stopping in to visit my new blog now that I'm on my own. Does it seem possible that Christmas cards will soon go out in less than a month's time? The stamping group that I belong to, Olympia Paper Dolls, is continuing its tradition of making handmade Christmas cards for residents in a local nursing home. Each of us will make 20 cards. Here's my start . . . Spellbinders Holiday Die: Candy Cane Card Front S4-556 Magenta Stamp: "There is magic all around us . . . "