Artful Illusions »

Be Yourself . . . .

Altered Art, Artful Illusions, Chipboard/Illustration Board, Dimensional Flowers, Grunge Paper/Board, Home Decor, Spellbinders, Stampers Anonymous, Studio 490, Techniques 14 Responses »

Nov 042010

it’s a tough act to follow!

Happy Thursday morning! I know I’ve been somewhat of a slacker this week, well slacking in work that I can show you . . . but not slacking in other work, or errands, or phone calls . . . . I’ve been busy but with what, I don’t know!

My project today is another one that I’ve had in mind for some time, just haven’t taken the time to put it to ink. I’m still not convinced that this will be the final version of this . . . I’ve ordered some supplies (little trinkets and such) that I’m waiting on.

Some 15 or 20 years ago, I ordered a sweatshirt from Virginia Slims. That’s when you could save the sides of your cigarette packs, send them in and receive free merchandise. This is it in its well worn and loved state.

Not only do I love it because it’s worn, soft, stained and a little holey, but I LOVE the sentiment on the front. That’s the type of sentiment that belongs on a card, wall hanging, anything you can think of!

I also have to say that I LOVE the new Spellbinders™ Grand Nestabilities™. I also received a Grand Calibur™ last week and trust me . . . . fabulous, especially for cutting GrungePaper with the Grand Nesties! NOW I can die cut my own backs for wall hanging, plaques, etc. I used the Grand Squares for today’s project, cutting the GrungePaper right at 6”. Oh and if you are like me . . . . that little white flip switch on the front of the Grand Calibur . . . that’s to enable the base suction so you aren’t trying to hold the thing in place with your still sore, freshly healed broken wrist, so that it doesn’t walk across your work surface!

The base and frame for the words, be yourself, are made by die cutting with #4 and #5 of the Mega Ovals placed together with a space between the two.

If you are wondering, all the GrungePaper has been covered with CosmoCricket Wanted, well all except the leaves and swirly things.

I couldn’t resist adding the image of the cowgirl doing her ACT on horseback, and a cowgirl wouldn’t be a cowgirl unless there were boots involved. Which reminds me of a sign my sister saw the other night at a local restaurant . . . . “No dancing on the table with spurs on.” Okay . . . that’s gonna be something one day!

The remainder of the sentiment . . . . it’s a tough act to follow . . . was generated on the computer and then die cut using Tags 5.

Stamps/Images: Studio 490 – Ticket to Art and Flower Art by Stampers Anonymous from eclectic Paperie; SU Wanted; Artasia Minis – Cowgirls 4 from Artful Illusions
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Wanted from eclectic Paperie; Tim Holtz idea-ology GrungePaper and GrungeBoard; Cream Cardstock
Ink/Paint: Ranger Black Soot, Tea Dye, Aged Mahogany, Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint and Crushed Olive Distress Inks, and Archival Jet Black
Accessories: Spellbinders™ LF-126 Grand Squares, S4-158 Sunflower Set Two, S4-157 Sunflower Set One, S5-023 Mega Ovals Large, S4-081 Tags 5 and Grand Calibur; Tim Holtz idea-ology Memo Pins; Maya Road Trinket Pins and Mini Chipboard Jonathan and Noah Alphabets; Vintage Button; Copic Multiliner; Illustration Board; Ranger Ink Blending Tool with Foam

I think that’s all for right now! I’ve so lost track of my thoughts . . . major brain fart!

Thanks for stopping by and remember . . . . life is short, make of the most of today’s adventure!

Her Pounding Heart!

Artful Illusions, Sewing/Stitching, Spellbinders, Techniques 21 Responses »

Oct 122010

Happy Tuesday! Either I’m a little late with my post or very early . . . take your pick. I had a brain storm (yes, it hurt!) this morning for a card and got started in the studio during The View.

Before I start with my card, I have to tell you . . . I went to the orthopedic doctor yesterday and the x-rays show that my wrist has healed. He told me I could go without the wristlet unless I was doing something where my wrist felt weak. I start PT next Monday! It feels so weird to finally have everything off my wrist.

Now . . . the cowgirl image I’ve used today is one I bought from Artful Illusions at StampAway recently. The sentiment, which is computer generated, is something I found in an advertisement from on of the magazines my uncle gave me. He loves all the western magazines and newspapers, so I get them pretty regularly, once he’s done with them. Especially if it is something he thinks I can draw inspiration from he will have them set out for me when I stop by.

I tore this place apart looking for rhinestones and apparently, I don’t have any. I will definitely remedy that situation! So instead, for some added adornment I added some pearls around the scallops on the circles. Other than that . . . I think the sentiment pretty much sums up everything!

Stamps: Sassy Lassy Cowgals #1389 from Artful Illusions
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Wanted from eclectic Paperie; Cream; Dark Brown, Sage
Ink: Ranger Archival Coffee and Antique Linen Distress Inks
Accessories: Spellbinders™ S4-249 Big Scalloped Circles – Large, S4-114 Standard Circles – Large, S4-116 Standard Circles – Small and S3-028 Standard Tags; May Arts Cream !00% Jute from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; 7 Gypsies paper fasteners; Coat Room Check Tags from Artful Illusions; Papertrey Ribbon; KaiserCraft Champagne Pearls; Tim Holtz idea-ology Trinket Pin; Sewing Machine; Foam Mounting Tape; Computer

Thanks for stopping by and remember . . . life is short, take advantage of the adventures that come your way today!

Queen of the Rodeo!

Altered Art, Artful Illusions, Chipboard/Illustration Board, Dimensional Flowers, eclectic Paperie, Grunge Paper/Board, Home Decor, Spellbinders, Stampers Anonymous, Stampin' UP!, Studio 490, Techniques, Wrinkle-Free Distress 32 Responses »

Aug 212010

Y’all know how I’ve been wanting some images of cowgirls, right? Well, I found some!! When I went to StampAway a couple of weekends ago, the first booth I went into was Artful Illusions. It’s my favorite booth and I spend most of my time there. For those of you who attend the show . . . you know the one I’m talking about . . . first floor, first booth when you walk in the door!

Friday night before the show, I was browsing the vendors who were going to be there and decided to check out some websites. Surprisingly enough, Artful Illusions finally started a site and I was able to download the stamp catalog. There, in the catalog, was a section . . . Cowgirls . . . . oh my BADness, I was drooling! Needless to say, my first stop I spent half my shopping funds and I purchased a few cowgirl images . . . along with some other things.

I found myself yesterday with no pressing time frames or deadlines . . . highly unusual actually! It was a perfect time to break out some of my new rubber and have some fun . . . just for myself stamping! It’s always the best creating process in my opinion.

Here’s what I came up with . . . a new wall hanging for my studio!

OH and what inspired this wall hanging along with the cowgirl images . . . Cosmo Cricket Wanted in 6×6 Mini Pads! YES, you read correctly!!!!!! Cosmo Cricket was brought back the Wanted paper and it’s in 6×6 pads. I no longer need to hoard my Wanted paper . . . . so guess what? I used it for the wall hanging. You can bet your booty that I will be ordering a few pads of this paper from eclectic Paperie!

You can see my two new cowgirl images on the left. They were stamped and embossed in black Distress Embossing Powder for that aged look. The sentiment on the tag is a new set by Wendy Vecchi and Studio 490 that my friend Daisy brought me at CHA. I added some Spiced Marmalade Distress Stickles to the flowers just for the heck of it and to add a little shimmer to the project.

I’m rather tickled with the whole project and love how it turned out! Isn’t it great to do some FUN stamping!

Stamps: Studio 490 Ticket to Art and Seriously Art by Stampers Anonymous from eclectic Paperie; SU Wanted and Bronc Buster; Cowgirls #1536 and #1388 from Artful Illusions
Paper: Manila Shipping Tag; Cosmo Cricket Wanted; Tim Holtz idea-ology Grungepaper and Grungeboard; Maya Road Square Banner/Coaster Book
Ink: Ranger Archival Coffee and Jet Black; Ranger Distress Inks: Embossing, Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive, Old Paper, Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Wild Honey, Brushed Corduroy and Tea Dye; Ranger Gold, Black and White Acrylic Paint Dabbers, and Spiced Marmalade Distress Stickles
Accessories: Spellbinders™ S4-058 Daisy Heads, S4-140 Petite Ovals – Small, and S4-109 Flower Creations Three; Ranger Ink Blending Tools, Black Distress Embossing Powder, Matte Accents; Tim Holtz idea-ology Memo Pins; Copper Brads; Black Cord; Hobby Wood Braided Trim; Button;