A Friend's House

Here's my card for the Red Lead July Swap. The theme this month is "any kind of house." I love this sweet image...it was generously shared by chicks57 here.

Wednesday Lunch Swap

As much as I love all my online swap groups you just can't beat physically getting together with like minded women and chatting about art and ATC's, charms, techniques and everything else over lunch. I've been getting together for lunch once a month with this small group that I've just come to treasure...Grace, Lyneen, Cathy and Jo. I really look forward to seeing them...they're each so generous...there's always sharing...and they're all so talented! Here's the card I'm making to swap this week...the image is from an old greeting card I found at a garage sale last month. There's such a sweetness to the artwork on those old cards.

Red Lead June Swap

The theme for the June Red Lead swap was Americana. Here's mine...












And here are the nine I received in return...everything from the flag, to siblings, jazz, mom and apple pie. I love it!

Itty Bitty Friendship Book

Linda Smith at Red Lead has organized another book swap...she was the person behind the Spring Fatbook swap. This time the book is itty bitty...just 3.5 in tall x 2.75 in wide. There are 32 participants and the theme is Friendship. We should be receiving our books next week...I can't wait to see it! here's my page...I used an old photo of me and lambie. Even though she's my sister she'll always be the friend closest to my heart. Here's the front and back of my page...

July Inchies

Well, here is my final set of inchies for the aMUSEme 6 x 6 inchie swap. The idea was to send 6 inchies to a different partner once a month for 6 months. Margie has a grand finale of sorts up her sleeve when this last month's inchies all all swapped...I can't wait to see what she's dreamed up! These inchies are for Teri. The images are from Phenomenon1859...be sure to take a look...she has some great digital collage sheets. I love Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass so when I saw these little inchie images I just knew I had to use them!

Bird Swap

I really love bird images. I found a great stamp set from Inkadinkadoo called Birds Galore on sale recently and I used one of the stamps for this bird swap. I really loved seeing all the birds fly in when I received mine. That's one aspect of group swapping that I really love...each swap has a theme but each person will interpret it in their own unique way. Here's mine...









And here are the rest of the birdies...just click on the photo for more detail.

June Swap at SDA

Here's the card I made for the June ATC swap at SDA. We had several themes to choose from...I chose weddings because I just love this vintage wedding photo and wanted to use it again.














Here are the cards I received back...aren't they all gorgeous? Be sure to click on the picture so you can see some of the detail. This is such a talented group!


Created by:
Kris Dickinson, Julia Zieman, me
Louise Granlund, Sara Hemphill, Lyneen Jessee
Alice Hyde, Pam Sparks, Kathleen Miller

Red Lead Charm Swap

Red Lead Paperworks has started an ongoing charm swap. Anyone can join in so if you're interested just go to the Red Lead Yahoo group here and sign up. The next set of three charms is due the last day of July. These are the charms I made for this last swap. They're made out of old Scrabble tiles that I've collaged and sealed with diamond glaze. I'd seen an article on how to make them in a recent Somerset Studios Magazine. They were so easy and a lot of fun to make.

Here are the three charms I received in return from Kathy Lee, Linda Smith and Michelle Kasban...aren't they wonderful?

It' Summer!

Well, I can't believe I haven't posted for almost a month! Between Katie getting home from school, a short vacation, working, an art class, working...oh, right I said that...I've just been one busy girl! Wouldn't you love to be this girl in the canoe and spend the summer at camp? Ah well...let's all have a wonderful summer!

TMTA - Round

The challenge this week on TMTA is to use something round in your ATC. I love this silly photo of these two children dressed as clowns. The small one has such a sad look on her face! I imagine their parents took them to a studio and had them dressed in these elaborate costumes...what do you suppose she's thinking? This lovely background was created by Stars*Go*Blue who has generously shared her talents here.

Father's Day Countdown

Lisa Vollrath is starting a new countdown today. She's generously sharing her images here...so go take a look! Be sure to look around at all the other wonderful things she has to see and do on her sites.

June 6 x6 Inchie Swap

Here are my inchies for the aMUSEme June swap. I found these wonderful new inchie stamps at Carved Stamps and thought I'd use them for the swap this month. They have 36 inchie designs...I love the clean, simple look of them. I've stamped and embossed them on an alcohol ink background. These will be heading out to Ruth...hope she likes them!

Top Row: Support, Wisdom, Reflection
Bottom row: Pathways, Diversity, Love

Thrift store finds

There's a new thrift store in town and I've found it! I have to show you some of my recent finds....

Here's the first picture...some great old books, a lovely old stationery set, lots of old gold paper trim...with the 19 cent price tag still on it! a bundle of beautiful old lace trim, 4 polka dot cordial glass (holding the 2 plastic girls with eyes that open and close!) a final notice stamp and an old paperback "Calling Nurse Linda" which is very special indeed because if you flip it over it has a second novel starting from behind!



Here is a wonderful framed woven tapestry of a raven, a kitschy wooden owl wall hanging, two old Avon perfume owls (still had that old lady smelly rub on perfume in them) a gnome family and some music books.




And the last thing is this fun old owl clock which the salesperson assured me would work once I put a battery in it (it doesn't) which has already found a home on my craft room wall. I'll get a new clock movement for it some time but for now I just love seeing it hanging on my wall...it makes me smile every time I look at it!

Well, there you have it...won't you go thrifting with me?

TMTA - Towers

The theme this week on TMTA is towers. Of course, living near Seattle, I had to choose the Space Needle! The Space Needle is an amazing structure...it was built for the 1962 World Fair. I love this old vintage poster...it has such a futuristic yet retro look to it. The Space Needle is still here of course as is the monorail pictured beneath it. I'm still waiting for my personal hovercraft though!

Gothic Arches - Spain

Spain is the theme this week on the Gothic Arches challenge site. I've always dreamed of going to Spain. I had a wonderful Spanish teacher in high school...Tio Fred. During the three years I spent in his classes I came to love the language and the country. I still hope to get there some day...

Skinny Saturday

I couldn't resist the challenge this week on Skinny Saturday...I love birds! Birdsong...what a different world it would be without the sounds of the birds. I love watching the birds at our backyard feeders and listening to them first thing in the morning...

Make a Moo or Two

The theme this week is Brown, Beige and Cream. I love these little moos...I've had so much fun making them and giving them away.

Stampin D'Amour Swap

I had a treat waiting for me when I got home from work today...the May ATC swap from the Stampin D' Amour group. This is such a talented group...each card is simply wonderful! I love how Kris has set it up so that there are several themes to choose from each month so you never know what you're going to get until they arrive! Aren't these just great?


Top: Kris Dickinson, Lyneen Jesse, Louise Granlund
Center: Pam Sparks, Julia Zieman, Alice Hyde
Bottom: Sarah Hemphill, mine, Kathleen Miller


If you think you'd like to swap with this great group take a look here...there's still a few spots open for the June swap!

Wednesday Stamper

The challenge this week on Wednesday Stamper is to alter playing cards. I love the expression on this woman. The stamp is by 1 Stamp Dreamer. I apologize for the quality of the scan...those little dew drops make it a bit blurry.

TMTA - Diptych

This week's theme on TMTA was "Diptych." The challenge was to make two ATC's with at least one image connecting the two. Plus, the two cards should also be able to stand alone. Here's mine. These stamps are all by A Stamp in the Hand.

aMUSEme

Over at my aMUSEme group it was time for another round of of the 6 x 6 Inchie Swap. I used a charming inchie collage sheet from Inka Stamps. Be sure to check out her site...she has wonderful stamps and collage sheets and a weekly giveaway! These little inchies flew over to Jami this month and I received the most adorable set from Vicki Chow. I'm not posting those though because we're keeping them under wraps until the 6 months are over. Two more to go!

Now, I also finished up my 4 Card Stud ATC's. The theme this month was "sew-n-sew" and I had alot of fun making this one. I used a photo of an actual old pattern...I love the illustrations on the old patterns...and a bit of the lace that I found recently at a local thrift shop.

Red Lead Pink Swap

Here's the ATC I made for the monthly swap at Red Lead Paperworks. This is another great group of swappers and one of my FAVORITE sites for rubber stamps, charms, buttons, collage sheets and inspiration. The theme this month was pink. It's really amazing how many shades of pink there are...I just got my cards back the other day and I'm still looking them over! Aren't they wonderful?

Stampin D' Amour Swap

I've been so busy this past week that I've hardly had a chance to post. So, I'm going to play a little catch up and add some of the things I've been working on. Here's the card I made for the May swap on Stampin D' Amour. Last month was my first swap with this group and every card I received was just wonderful. There are several different themes each month to choose from so it's easy to feel inspired. This month I chose "circus" as my theme. I had so much fun adding some glitter to my circus girl's dress and shoes...it doesn't show up well in the scan but in person I think it adds the perfect touch! I can't wait to see what will come back to me this month.

Red Lead Charm Swap 2

Well, I finally got my charms all ready to mail in for the second Red Lead charms swap. This is a great little swap...only three charms (one extra for the hostess) and it's so much fun. I used old Scrabble tiles and added a little collage and covered it with Diamond Glaze. There was an article on these in a recent Somerset Studios Magazine. I can't wait to see which ones are coming my way!

TMTA - Women in Art

One of my favorite women in art is Beatrix Potter. I've always loved her illustrations of the wonderful characters in the Peter Rabbit series...Hunka Munka, Jemima Puddle Duck, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and many others. I know I've spent hours reading these stories and admiring her illustrations with my three daughters and I still pull her books off the shelf now and then just to enjoy that gentle world again myself!

Wednesday Stamper - Art it up!

The challenge this week on Wednesday Stamper is to "ART it up" and use the word art somewhere in the piece. Here's what I came up with....

Saturday Workout - Linen

I know it's Tuesday and this is a Saturday Challenge but I was looking at a friend's entry and became intrigued with the challenge...using the faux linen technique. I've never tried this so I thought I'd have a go. It's really easy...sand glossy card stock first one way then another then add ink and take it from there. My scanner doesn't pick up the grain really well but in person there's a lovely linen effect. I love learning a new technique!

TMTA - Heroes

The theme this week on TMTA is Heroes. I have several personal heroes but today I wanted to honor a woman who was still so young (only 16) when her heroic moment presented itself. I've always admired Elizabeth Eckford...she was one of the Little Rock Nine...high school students who were among the first African Americans to attend previously segregated schools in Arkansas. I've always been fascinated by this photo...such grace in the presence of hatred. While this photo was taken in Arkansas the map I've used highlights three cities in Alabama...where I grew up.

Bonjour

Today has been a lovely day! It actually turned warmer...low 60's...and was sunny and bright for much of the day. I'm off as usual on Monday so I got to run around getting errands done and enjoying the sun. This afternoon I put together two book shelves Quinn picked up for me from Ikea. They're now in my craft room and I've started filling them up! Woohoo...storage space! While I was sorting through things to put away I saw this picture I had printed the other day and suddenly I was making an ATC for my one for one trade with Val. Does that happen to you? I was going along so well, sorting, cleaning, throwing away when suddenly I find myself cutting, gluing, looking for the French word stamps...ah well! Here it is Val....

Mother's Day Challenge

The weekly challenge on Stampin D'Amour was to make a Mother's Day themed piece and include letters or words. Here's my entry. This is my favorite photo of my mom so I've used it once again...this time in an ATC. Two of my mom's favorite things are flowers and the color purple so I've used them both here. I love you Mumma!

TMTA - Black and White

The theme this week on TMTA is black and White. I used this lovely stamp from Stamper's Anonymous.

4 x 4 Friday - Vintage Bride

I love vintage wedding photos...the gowns and lace not to mention the brides and grooms are so gorgeous. For the Vintage Bride theme on 4 x 4 Friday I've framed one of these lovely old photos and layered it with a little lace onto a photo of an old Marriage frame page generously shared by the Graphics Fairy here.

Make a Moo or Two

The challenge this week on Make a Moo or Two is to use gold somewhere on your moo. Here I've used stream, butterscotch and wild plum alcohol inks along with the gold additive for the background then edged it with gold embossing powder. The stamp is from Crafty Individuals.

Wednesday Stamper

The theme this week on the Wednesday Stamper challenge is stripes. I love this double sided paper from Cosmo Cricket and it just seemed to suit these cowgirls.

Stampin D' Amour Swap

Well, I've had a lovely mail day today...I received the ATC's from my first swap with the group from Stampin D' Amour and they're all wonderful! The themes were gardens/mothers/travel/children and games and there were cards representing each one. Thank you to Kris for hosting and to everyone who swapped...bravo!



Row one: Kris, Pam, Kathleen
Row two: mine, Louise, Lyneen
Row three: Julia, Alice, Sarah

TMTA - Walpurgisnacht

Today's theme on TMTA is Walpurgisnacht. This is "the night of the witches" in Germanic tradition and falls on the evening of April 30th. Here'a my witch...

Gothic Arches

The theme this week on the Gothic Arches site is Garden Fairies. It was perfect to work on this today since its so cold and rainy outside...I could at least imagine being in a lovely garden, smelling the grass, hearing the bees buzzing. I know spring will come soon!

Make a Moo or Two

The theme this week on Make a Moo or Two is "girls". I have three girls of my own so this is a subject near to my heart. We often chatted about what they wanted to do when they grew up. It was always something different each time we talked except my youngest daughter Katie who always used to say she wanted to be a blueberry pie maker...she knew that was her Dad's favorite pie! So...here's my moo asking the question "what will the girl become?"

aMUSEme 4 Card Stud Swap

Here's my card for the April swap...the theme is shoes. I know we all adore that special pair of shoes don't we? Sorry for the blurry scan...it always does that with a dimensional embellishment!

TMTA - Mermaids

The theme this week on TMTA is Mermaids or Water Sprites. This category is another one which I have very few stamps...I have a fish or two, some shells, but no mermaids. I did have this lovely image of a mermaid...I can't decide if she's perplexed as to what the shoe actually is or longing to have feet to slip inside that delicate small shoe. What do you think? The background was made with Ranger Distress Inks in Faded Jeans and Worn Lipstick. The coral stamp is by Cavallini.

Saturday's Workout

I've just discovered this new challenge site called Saturday's Workout. The challenge is presented as new technique each Saturday. The first challenge is called "It's all Distressed..." and we're asked to present a "distressed creation." I've made a distressed tag using Ranger Shabby Shutters, Faded Jean and Tea Dye distress inks. Take a look at all the entries here.

Make a Moo or Two

The theme this week for the Make a Moo or Two challenge is vintage which is always fun. I love these old sailor dresses and big hats.