From A Mess to A Masterpiece

I have been playing with a technique I learned at the Kentuckiana Calligraphy Guild meeting. We do so much more than calligraphy or I could not be a member! It’s a collage technique.

 

It is an exercise to loosen up your creativity. You use up all your scraps.

It starts out looking like a mess really.

But from this mess came so many mini masterpieces. I cut it up into ATCs. The pictures don’t do them justice as the metallic paint just does not photograph in all its glory.

Never give up…if it’s a mess you just might be able to turn it into mini masterpieces.

 

In His Hand,

QP

Christmas Card done!

My Christmas Cards are all made! Yay, Yippy, Yahoo. I like to send them out the day after Thanksgiving. All I need to do now is address them…but that is for another day. I needed to rest my hands.

 

I made over 30. Those  MemoryBox Bianca Snowflakes could have been tedious but they weren’t thanks to the Spellbinder’s ToolNOne! I paired it with my old Coluzzle mat…remember those. Sadly they are no longer made. When I saw the mat that Spellbinders’ sells online, I thought that looks like my Coluzzle mat. I don’t know for certain that they are the same material but the Coluzzle mat did the trick see here:

 

This spared my hands for sure! Now that this task is complete I am free to pursue other crafty adventures.

Other supplies:

Paper Trey Ink – One Liners Die (peace)

Star Dream Paper from Macro’s Paper

Sequins from Simon Says Stamps

Stencils from MemoryBox

Small Snowflake Stamp: Rubber Stamp Tapestry

Delicata Ink in Shimmering Silver

Mat Silver Foil paper from Hollos

IN HIS HANDS,

QP

Faux-Dori Filo Fax Franklin

You may have seen the new craze going around with Midori, Filofaxes and planners of all sorts. Well not for me; well not as a planner any how. I could use a better wallet however. Was I missing a crafting opportunity? I was, so I jumped in.

 

Ok 2 Pam-Doris made. I plan to use mine more like a wallet. Before this, my system was a wristlet with all my loyalty cards; credit cards; drivers license and cash (folding and coin) thrown in. Not easy to find the coins you want nor the card you are looking for.

 

This one will be my wallet now (6in by 4in holds field notes size books 3.5 x 5.5). I am waiting on a zipper compartment from Amazon (for cash) and some self-adhesive business card holders to complete. I got the leather in Chicago at a discount fabric house.

 

Open from the outside.

 

DIY folio made with a file folder; place to hold coupons, receipts, etc.

 

Card holders (from file folders) will add 2 more on the other side once my supplies come.

 

DIY notebook. I used a file found on http://www.mylifeallinoneplace.com/. Added a pen holder.

 

My husband saw mine and ask for one with just a notebook and pen.

If I make more I will probably "art" them up.  I will be stamping the cover with those Melody Ross Chip Art tools. I rounded the corners with my Paper Gator.

 

In The Hands of the Creator,

 

QP

Inlaid Butterfly

Super easy card made following a Splitcoast Stampers tutorial.

I had the pleasure of meeting, in person, Sandy Mayfield while visiting my daughter in Chicago this past weekend. I have virtually know Sandy from Images of Color Stamp Art yahoo group and her blog (http://www.auntiesandy.blogspot.com/). Such a great artist and gracious host! I made this card to thank her.
Details:
The Butterfly is from Spellbinders and the Thank You die is from PaperTreyInk.
I used Prima Bloom Spray Summer Sky on the PTI cardstock.

Segway Love

I recently took a Segway Tour in Chicago….I fell in love and not off the Segway. I want to own one…note to self add to lottery dreams list!

 

You watch a safety video and get fitted for your helmet before heading out for a quick lesson on how to use the machines. I was a bit apprehensive at first as one the other riders was having trouble catching on (she did fine in the end until…I’ll get to that). I got the hang of it pretty quick surprising my daughter 1:17.

Shaky Start but ok after a minute.

we rode a bit before coming upon this installation of legs by this time I was comfortable enough to take pictures while riding.

ZoomZoom

then on through the Chicago Marathon setup…we were riding the day before the race; to the Field Museum,

And a brief rest and a Chicago Polish and no I did not “want that other sauce”.

Ketchup is frowned upon. I like mustard on my dogs so I was in good standing.

Oprah lives at the top of the building on the right. Better Look Below

 

The Alder Planetarium

does this Segway make my butt look big

Great time had with the Best Daughter Ever!

 

Oh yeah what happened to the other rider…she almost fell when I abruptly exited my Segway. Sorry!

In the hands of the creator,

 

QP

29 Faces Day 1

I saw on APG Jaime’s blog that the 29 Faces challenge is on again for September 2014!
I have seen this many times but never in time to participate! So since I am still enjoying the holiday I decided to jump in. I know I’m a day late I don’t care. I did a video to go with her and here she is. I added some details after the camera stopped. I think this challenge will help me with my goal of learning to draw in 2014.

Nib Nest

Last night at the Kentuckiana Calligraphy and Paper Art Guild meeting we learned how to make a nib nest. Details are in the Nest Nib video on my YouTube channel, including a link to the blog with the instructions. But I wanted to post some additional photos here. Click each one and it will enlarge.

To me it is so fun to get together with other crafters and create!

 

In the hands of the creator,

 

QP