Melissa Samuels Gift Certificate Giveaway!

Hello Everyone!

(Can you tell I'm excited!)

As I've been telling you in previous posts,

something Special was coming up on my blog,

and today is the day!

I'm so thrilled and pleased to be

co-hosting my very first

Gift Certificate Giveaway!

This has been in the works for the past

few weeks, and I don't know how I've

managed to keep it a secret, (grin)!

I'd like to present, (drumroll please),

(ok, so Oliver Howard isn't very good on the drum,

much better at barking:)

As one of my favourite things to do here on my blog

I'd like to give a 'Shout Out' to 

Melissa Samuels

'The Art of Scrapbooking'

Shop and Blog

who is now a 

Proud Distributor 

of one of my

Favourite Stamp Product Lines

'La Blanche' Stamps

(This is a picture of some of the 

La BlancheStamps 

I have in my personal collection:)

On Melissa's Shop Page

www.melissasamuels.net

(Link in my Favourite's Listing)

Melissa has this wonderful 

La Blanche Demo from

CHA Summer 2011

That absolutely grabbed my attention!

At CHA Melissa became a New Distributor

for the Entire La Blanche Stamp Product Line

in the U.S. and has brought in for her new

product line in her shop, 

so many of this years new stamps

from La Blanche!

So here's the 

Gift Certificate Giveaway

requirements:)

First: To enter into the Giveaway please

sign on as a 'Google Follower'

here on my blog at

then leave a 

'Comment' here on this Blog Post

telling me you've entered the

Giveaway 

then

Please go to 

Melissa Samuels Blog 

(Link in Favourite's Listing)

And sign on Melissa's Blog as a

'Google' Follower and

leave a 'Comment' on her 

La Blanche Page Blog Post

for your chance to Win a Free 

La Blanche Stamp from Melissa, and

where Melissa can show you 

examples and give you information

about this wonderful Stamp Product Line!

 Then 

You have officially entered in the

Gift Certificate Giveaway

to win a $25 Gift Certificate to

Melissa Samuels Shop!

I will be running the Giveaway

until September 2, 2011

and will announce the 

'Winner'

of the $25 Gift Certificate to

Melissa's Shop on that Friday!

I will then post who the Winner is and

ask you to email me your email address

so I can send your $25 Gift Certificate to you:)

Based on the wonderful Video that

Melissa has on her Shop Page that

she made from the CHA Convention

Summer 2011

And, Melissa's wonderful Talent with

Cards, Scrapbooking, and Journal Making,

I decided to post an example of one

of my projects, using the techniques

I learned from Melissa's Video that

would be a little different from the

normal use of the stamps.

In a previous blog post I showed you 

some wonderful wood cigar boxes that

had been gifted to me from dear friends:)

Well since that Blog post, I've looked at

this box, and came up with this.....

Now you're wondering...

what does this have to do with the 

La Blanche Stamps...well

The inside of the box is lined with

Stamped Images from my collection of the

La Blanche Stamps

and using the wonderful technique of using

UTEE to highlight the image with also

the use of Tim Holtz 'Distress Inks' by Ranger

This is what I came up with as an example:)

I love the texturing that using the UTEE

(Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel)

produces!

And the crisp colours that jump out at you with

these great detailed stamps!

The top of the box, using Tim Holtz 'Fragments'

I used many of my other collection of stamps

(also their Companies are listed in my Favourites Listing)

and hand inked and painted using 

Water-Soluble Crayons then pasted the images

to the bottom of the Fragments using 

Inkssentials 'Glossy Accents'.

I will say, the idea for the top of this box came

from Tim Holtz blog, where he created this

layered use of the Fragments:)

(Thanks Mr. Tim)

Using some of my other Favourite Embellishments

I inked, stamped, and used the tissue transfer

technique to create the 'labels'

And used the La Blanche Stamps again

using the UTEE to create a textured label 

for the sides of the cigar box.

So I hope you'll take the time to enter and

pass on the word to your friends,

into my First Giveaway!

And hope you'll take the time to go

to Melissa Samuels Blog and Shop

and watch her wonderful CHA Video!

Cheers!

(And have a great Weekend!)

Enjoy!

The 'Girls' just want to party! :)

BOO!

Hello Everyone!

First off, this is going to be a multipurpose 

blog post today, to make up for missing

a blog post last Friday:(

(So sorry, but 'real life' grabbed me and

I couldn't get back to 'blog land':)

Above is the one and only picture I've 

manipulated of my

dear 'Oliver Howard' with

a computer program to play around with

pictures......he's 'devil' dog in this for

Halloween:)

(grin)...

Now, down to business:)

I'd like to give a 'Shout Out' for

my dear friend Gail Schmidt, of

Shabby Cottage Studio

(link in my Favourites List)

at

www.shabbycottagestudio.com

who has been supplying me

with these wonderful 

body forms!

The 'girls' arrived today, and I'm 

thrilled to be thinking up more ideas

for creating further assemblages:)

(I'm sure Gail won't mind sharing this post)

as previously posted

Gail's wonderful body form from her shop at

Shabby Cottage Studios

was used in this previously blog posted piece

that is also highlighted at

Retro Cafe Art 

(also listed in my Favourite's Listing:)

www.RetroCafeArt.com

as the 'wings' are one

of Kristin's wonderful products, as previously 

mentioned, and she currently still has in 

stock, so....

Please go check out both of these wonderful 

Internet Shops 

Shabby Cottage Studios for these great body

forms and other wonderful treats, 

and Retro Cafe Art for the beautiful paper

wing selection (as they also come in

gold and silver!) and check out

Kristin's wonderful selection of 

Coffee Break Design 'goodies too!

for these supplies that you

will be able to create with!

Now all that being said:)

A couple of quick journal pages

I've been playing around with...

The stamps that I used were from

the wonderful shop Redlead, 

I love their stamp line:)

And a couple of extra mini projects

I put together to add to the journal I'm

currently working on. I find that

I ping pong between projects but when

the 'creative bug' hits, I run with it, 

even if it means for something I'm not

currently working on, it gets put to the

side until time later on to add to.

(Love the birdcage graphic from Graphic's Fairy)

Used the tissue transfer technique.

So my next blog post which will be this coming

Friday, August 19th is something really special!

I will be 'hosting' a Giveaway right 

here on my blog, in conjunction with someone

really special that most of you already 

know in the industry, who will be coordinating

a Giveaway along with me on her blog as well!

I'm keeping it secret until Friday:)

So you'll have to make sure by Friday Night

to check in as see what all the excitement is about:)

So until then.....

Hope to see you Friday Night!

Enjoy!!!!

Filler Post...but busy in the art room!!!

Hello Everyone:)

Just wanted to let you know, that I'm currently

working on two major pieces to be posted later

this week, but in the meantime, (as I've been a

bit late in my posts), was my last post, (my entry for

Retro Cafe Arts 'Shrine Contest' which is coming

up to the closing date of September 2nd, so there's still

time for you to enter! ), was such a major project,

that I thought I'd wear myself out, but the two pieces

I'm working on now, will be just as involved and intricate,

so I'm in hopes of them being interesting posts for you all.

So I'm referring to this post as a 'filler' post, in hopes

that you'll see a bit of eye candy, and to update you

on all that is going on 'behind the scenes' :)

So, no, it's not Christmas in July, as I've been seeing on other blogs and such lately....

It's Halloween in August :)

(This is Jake, our Animatronic Butler, 1 of many of

my husbands animatronic collection)

There are so many Holidays and events in peoples lives,

but my husband and I celebrate only a few days

a year. Always our birthdays, our Anniversary,

usually Christmas, and the occasional Valentine's Day,

as we've been married 24 years this September, and

do not have children, ( or much family anymore),

but Halloween is one Holiday we both relish 

with complete abandon, 

and enjoy like a couple of kids. 

Our home ends up being the 'dumping ground'

for all things 'tacky and wonderful'

in Halloween decorations, mostly inside,

but outside in our yard as well.

My husband's collections of Animatronic witches,

goblins, skeletons that overtake our home each year

(some are as tall as 6 feet!), is always backed up

with his incredible collection of 'Michaels Craft Stores'

'Halloween Lighted Village' pieces...

( that's a whole other post down the road!),

but my thing is my collection of Halloween Art Dolls

and Primitive Halloween Dolls, that end up all over

the place along with every other Halloween goodies

we spot each year to add to our collection.

(Not the greatest picture, sorry)

But this is to prove, that I do know how to sew:)

Each year it gets hung up, and I'm always 

motivated to drag the sewing machine out, but

the last couple of years that's usually forgotten

about by December, (grin).

Anyway here's a couple of Halloween projects that

I completed...

From my Vintage Photo Collection...

I find I don't collect very many photos of men,

but this one is one of my favourites...

Can you imagine kissing that fur under his nose!

Halloween 'Story Board'

It was a fun piece to make, using all the great

Halloween embellishments that the stores fill up

with, and no matter how many boxes I have

left over each year, I always end up seeing something

new, and getting more for the next round of crafting.

Another little 'goofy' piece that I enjoyed playing with:)

So, behind the scene's, I'm also working on a few

'Giveaway Contests'

that I'm currently working out the details for

to host on my blog in the coming weeks with

some of my Favourite Suppliers!

 With Prizes

of Gift Certificates, and Products 

for the winners!

I'm really stoked about this, as I am not a

business, or actively selling my art and crafts,

but want to help promote some of the

wonderful Internet Shops that have given me

such great service, and great support! 

(As well as promote my blog with 'followers' 

as down the road, I may be considering an 

Etsy Shop, or something along that line as

I am being encouraged to do).

So do check back often, as I can see a flurry

of posts in the near future!!

Cheers to you all!

Enjoy!

Shrine Contest Entry:) for Retro Cafe Art:)

Hello Everyone:)

Well, in my last post just last Thursday,

I had stated that I was attempting to get

some quality art time in my art room this weekend.

I'm pleased to report, that here it is

Sunday morning, and I can honestly

say I've worked hard 

in the art room since Friday night:) 

Matter of fact....I haven't been to sleep

since Saturday morning!

Yes, I've pulled a 24 hour art

marathon!

(Husband and dogs quite happy watching any movies they want, eating tons of treats, and dozing whenever! What a great trade off for some quality art time!)

(I'm sick of coffee at the moment, grin).

But for all the effort, to finish up my

latest project, I'm quite pleased to show

you my entry for 

Retro Cafe Art's Shrine Contest that

Kristin Hubick is hosting!

Yes, the Contest Diva is having another

wonderful opportunity for all of us

to enter into another fun contest!

Go to Retro Cafe Art's Blog Gallery

(Link in my Favourites List:)

and there's still time for you to enter!!!

This is one of Kristin's big Shrine Kits

by Coffee Break Design

called 'La Guardarropa Shrine'

and you can purchase your own kit at

Retro Cafe Art:)

I painted the masonite kit, once I put it all together with 

Claudine Hellmuth's ,Studio Paint, Charcoal Black.

Then I took plain computer paper, used my favourite 

selection on script stamps, and used Distress Inks

 for the base paper covering the shrine. I again

used the same coloured Distress Inks, on computer

paper I had run through my Tim Holtz Vagabond, with

a 5 x 7 Cuttlebug Embossing folder, to create the paper

for the door panels.

The 'knobs' are Tim Holtz 'Hitches' that I like to

use as feet for these kits, but this time I also used

them for the door knobs. I used Glossy Accents

to set them into paper lined mini shrine pieces,

(also from Retro Cafe Art:).

Embellished the top of the shrine with 

a vintage watch face, and the word 'wish'

with Red Lead Alphabet beads:)

Then on the inside...

I took more of the embellished paper and made

bottle caps using the paper lining, to spell out

my 'wish':)

Further embellishment from Retro Cafe Art,

Masonite gears, (LOVE these!)

A small birds nest with a pearl, 

(suppose to be for wisdom, LOL),

and more of Kristin's new brass charms!

I love these charms, the great Brass Frame and Bee

from Kristin:)

(Vintage watch face with Tim Holtz 'Game Spinner'

and Red Lead's Beads:)

Also the cool Rusted Tile and the 

Brass Bird from Kristin:)

Then the back of the shrine...

I had so much fun making up these little

brass frames, that I decided I'd sign my

piece a bit differently this time:)

So now that I've finished my project and

posted it on my blog for all of you to see

something new....I'm off 

to enjoy some 'Husband and dog time'

for what is left of the weekend:)

Maybe even get a little nap in, and

watch some movies, and eat some treats:)

If 'they' left me any:)

Enjoy!

Old and New:)

Hello Everyone:)

So this week I'm posting a little earlier than Friday as I have great hopes of being in my art room all weekend:)

In this household with all the pets, you never know if there will be time to grab for some art time, so I find if I announce that I'm scheduling time, usual the husband will take note and deal with the 'motley crew' and other creatures in our zoo:)

First off, it's become apparent to me, that all over

the Internet, Halloween projects are popping up.

I've even seen Christmas projects already being

posted, now usually I wouldn't get on the 'early train', 

but from an earlier post of mine, I've had this little

pile of goodies sitting on my art desk.

I tend to 'pile' things on my desk, in an effort

to get 'inspired' by usually a group of things

that don't quite make sense to me. It isn't until

I add something, or find something that triggers

an idea, that it begins to make sense. All I knew a few

weeks ago, is 'Halloween' when I saw this little group...

So, I purchased this little cardboard ornament from

Chris and Sharon at Red Lead a while back.

(Link to their wonderful shop in my Favourite's List).

I painted the ornament with Claudine Hellmuth's 

Studio Paint, Charcoal Black.

Using one of my favourite tools in my art room,

Glossy Accents by Inkssentials,

I glued the ribbon all around the outside edge of

the ornament.

I then took a plain mini paper doily, and used

Tim Holtz 'Distress Ink' Wild Honey and Walnut Stain

to cover the entire doily.

I used a paintbrush to cover a thin coat

of the Glossy Accents over the face of the

cardboard ornament, and placed the doily

on the painted ornament. Used a quick 

brush with my brayer to make sure that

it was sealed. After it was dry....

I chose one of my very favourite 

Vintage Photographs from my collection

You'll see these two girls from time to time,

as they're from my own collection, and they

print up on the printer really well:)

(A small project like this I wouldn't want to

use the original photograph. I'd only do that 

for a very special project piece).

I took a moon graphic and the 'girls' photograph

and printed them up, cut them out and placed them

on the doily along with picking out some head gear 

for them to wear:)

And of course, Fashion being what it is,

they also had to have other embellishments...

these are Kristin Hubick's new line of 

embellishment made by Coffee Break Design and

these were purchased from

Retro Cafe Art:)

(Kristin Hubick's Link in my Favourites List:)

(They're so fun to play with!)

I added a bit of Distress 'Stickles' to the glasses

'Picket Fence'

(Love the horn rim pair!)

And a couple of the pop out stars from the glasses.

(Even the salvage bits  can be used from these cut-outs!)

Next up...a greeting....

I LOVE THESE BEADS!!

Every time I place an order with Chris and Sharon

at Red Lead, I always try to remember to purchase

an extra couple of bags of these beads. If I could

afford it, I'd buy a case of them, as I love how

they make a statement in the black and white:)

So there you go, I'm officially taking the 

'Early Train'

on Halloween:)

I'll wait awhile before posting any more Halloween projects,

but then, Halloween is my absolute favourite of Holidays,

so don't hold me to that! :)

So that was the 'New' in this weeks blog post, and here's a bit of 

'Old' as I want to add more eye-candy for your enjoyment:)

It's been long enough now, that I feel I can post this past project that I did a few months ago.

We had a wonderful pet parrot named 'Connie' a few months

ago, pass away without warning. She's was a very special

pet of mine, as she was a gift to me soon after the loss of my mum.

We have had dozens of different species of parrots and other birds come through our home over the years. At one time we actually had 18 birds, 9 different species living with us.

Anyway Connie, was a Black-Capped Conure

And we referred to her as the 'Kitchen Conure'

as she was the only one that was allowed to live

in my kitchen, as she became a constant source 

of entertainment to me as she grew, and her vocabulary

was really out of this world!

(Most of our birds are rescue birds, and usually are difficult to be handled, but Connie was only 12 weeks old when she arrived, totally pliable and willing to learn).

I owed this little creature something really special

as she certainly was a main reason for dealing with

the grief of losing my mum.

So Connie the Kitchen Conure inspired this...

14x20 Mixed Media Canvas.

Caption says: 'Everyone who meets her,

marvels about her vocabulary.

What they don't hear or see,

is what she has taught me.'

I didn't know it at the time, that it would be just

a few months later that I would lose Connie as well.

Now, I'm so glad that she inspired me to give the canvas

a try, as it reminds me everyday of her, as I still

expect every morning when I go into my kitchen

to hear, 'wanna peanut!'

(Ok, so she was a little demanding once she figured

out the meaning of the words, but that's because she

was so brilliant!)

Anyway, now there's another parrot in the kitchen, our

dear old, (20+ year old), Chico who is a Maroon-bellied Conure,

and has her own vocabulary:) I figured it was time for

Chico to have a 'retirement' from the flock, and get real

one on one time. Now I hear, 'Kiss the beak' every morning, (grin).

And just so you know, the rest of the flock 

are actually in our living room:) 

We gave it over to the birds years ago, 

as we're suckers for a needy creature:)

So hope you've enjoyed the blog posting for this coming week.

It's a particularly long one, but hope you find it of interest:)

Have a great weekend!

Enjoy!

Saturday Night Quickie:)

Hello Everyone:)

I hadn't expected to do a blog posting

this weekend, but I've had a great

Saturday afternoon in the art room

and decided to take a break and

show you the latest:)

It's another ATC Holder from

Retro Cafe Art

that I've put together since I still had

all the wonderful bits and pieces out

from the last one that I made.

And of course....bird related:)

As you remember the previous one that I made

that all the entries in Kristin's Contest won!

I've had a slew of wonderful comments

on these already, and even a offer of a

commissioned piece for holding business cards!

I'm really pleased, and have great fun making these:)

And a quick Shout Out for

 Kristin Hubick

at Retro Cafe Art Gallery as

she's gone 'Bonkers' with

I believe 3 Contests going all at once!

Please check out her Gallery Page

(Link is in my Favourites List:)

for all the information!

Also, while you're there,

please check out her 

New Design Team

Jennifer

Gerri  and Bianca's

Wonderful examples of their

Altered Art!

What Talent!

Enjoy!