Mother's Day Alert!

 

Head on over to the Sizzix Blog to see how I created this sweet Floating Butterfly Mother's Day card.

Mom -- you're not allowed! :-)

I'm sad to say that this is my last post with Sixxix -- I made the tough decision to leave the Sizzix Team. I've enjoyed my time with them but I'm ready -- it's been just over a year and there are many other designers that will love working for them! 

I'm excited and ready for new adventures! Thanks for dropping by, have a great day!

The Golden State of April, 2008

A lot of people are posting things from their archives, and I thought it would be fun to do that too -- but I'm going to put a little twist on it and post content that I have posted in previous years that, when possible falls on the same day or even in the month that we are currently in.

When I looked back to April 29, 2008 what I had to share wasn't to exciting -- but I liked this one. I was just starting to get interested in posting my work in challenges run by other artists, this might have been my first one.

It also looks like I was still scrapbooking in 2008, something I haven't done in I don't know when. I can see a transformation of my style towards mixed media. While it does seem that I was happier then -- and skinnier with less grey hair -- for the most part things haven't changed! Still collecting junk and making stuff with it.

The journaling says something about creating art being my Golden State, I can certainly attest to that. I'm more into art than crafts these days. 

 

I've been enjoying reading the Journal Revolution blog lately, that Linda Woods is hysterical - if you haven't visited, you must. Yesterday she posted a challenge for the members of Tally Scrapper to do a journal page and include a picture of yourself.

I'm not a member of Tally Scrapper and don't feel like joining another community and feeling my way around. so I just played along and posted it here and at 2PS, I was happy to see that I actually got some comments for a change over there too, that was a pleasant surprise because I usually don't get much for comments. Anyway, this page was a continuation of my Golden State challenge that I came up with for myself, only it's a scrapbook page and not an ATC...but I used something from the book....so in my eyes it still qualifies as meeting my rather LOOSE requirements! LOL.

anywhoo, this did take all of a half an hour. No laboring over elements and placement and straightness, and visual triangles and journaling or exact mat sizes and catalog numbers and writing instructions and signing photo releases. Just me, some paint, some scissors, some good vintage stuff and putting it all together to make this. {I DID NOT USE MY PAPER TRIMMER TO MAKE THIS PAGE, and it felt great!!}

I don't have any more of those airplanes and I'm bummed! Isn't that Daisy D's patterned paper just the best?

Thanks for dropping by ... and what were you doing in April, 2008?

Happy Easter with Sizzix

Head on over to the Sizzix blog and see how I created this easy Project Life card! Have a great Easter and see you next week!

Paper Mache Easter Eggs for Boys

Yesterday I shared a sweet little Easter Egg box that, frankly is strictly for girls. If I gave that to my 14 year old son I think he would disown me. Well, maybe that's a little harsh....but he wouldn't think it was cool at all.

So, how do you decorate eggs for boys? How about this idea. Wrap the ribbon just like I showed you yesterday, but instead of decorating with a pretty foofy pink bow -- add a bird nest, eggs and a cute little bird.

Now that I've got the base part created, I can add a few flowers and branches without making it look too girly. I also stuck with masculine colored ribbons and paint colors to help.

If you've got two boys, use different birds, or add a simple, hand written name tag so they know which egg belongs to them.

Now, I just need my husband to help me with the geo-caching thing and the hunt will be on!

Thanks for dropping by, come back tomorrow to see who is the winner of the Catherine Scanlon Designs / Art Gone Wild Blog Hop AND a sweet Easter Card!

Have a great day.

Easy Peasy Easter Eggs

Spring is here, even though we got a few inches of snow this morning. With the arrival of spring means Easter is right around the corner. Sunday to be exact. This Sunday.

Since, as you well know by now I'm a last minute kinda gal, I thought I'd share how to put this super easy and quick Easter egg together.

I started with a 6" Paper Mache Egg that I picked up in my travels and painted it green. Since I have three kids that I'm making them for I also painted the other two while I was in the mode.

When the paint was dry I used a hot glue gun to add some ribbon to the TOP of the egg. The first ribbon was just long enough to wrap once around the egg with no room for bows. The ends overlapped and are tucked under the second ribbon. 

The second ribbon was long enough to wrap around the egg, tie in a knot and make a single bow.

For a fuller look to my bow, I cut a second, shorter piece of ribbon and tied a second bow over the top. The base to my egg is complete.

 

For some added prettiness, I hot glued some flowers and leaves around the bow and a hand-lettered tag. It's ready -- and the hardest part was waiting for the paint to dry so I could add some decorations!

 

The 6" eggs are large enough for quite a few little trinkets and some paper grass as well. I can't wait to add them to the geo-cache pile, I hope the weather holds!

THANKS for dropping by today, have a great day!

The Whatevers 2: April

It's that time of the month --  APRIL Whatevers Two! We have a fun photo for you to play with this month. Hope you can join in. If you are not familiar with "Whatevers" You can read more about it here. But basically my friends...Vic, Nat, Cuchy, Martha and I have committed to a full year of bringing new life to forgotten photos. Each month we create a page and give it a story using that months photo. We share the photo with you in hopes that you will play along and join in the fun.

You will find more info and details at the bottom of this post.

Here are the links to the other girls blogs so you can see their creations this month.

Martha Richardson

Vicki Chrisman

Nat Kalbach

Carmen Sanchez

When Winston was a young man and thought about what his life would be he never imagined what it would be like to grow old with Morning Glory. There was always a different woman sitting beside him on the porch.

 

While he couldn’t make out her features, he always knew she would wear brightly colored clothes and have hair to match. In his thoughts he felt like he was pretty happy with her.

He would always felt guilty about that, especially after reality set in that she had passed away and he REALLY wasn't going to grow old with her. Through all that he had experienced in his life, this one fact seemed to bother him the most. He never doubted his love for either woman, and as Newton and Winnie grew could hardly remember his life with Morning Glory. With each passing day she had faded farther and farther away from his mind.

Now that he had been forcibly reacquainted with his and Morning Glory's children he couldn't stop imagining what his life would have been like if the fire had never happened.

Here is how it works

• Vicki, Cat, Cuchy (Carmen), Martha and I and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.

• Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.

• If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you to download and show us your version of The Whatevers. The photo will be posted at the end of our blogposts- not on Facebook!

• There are no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
  There are no rules on the length or the form of the story- it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER

• There are no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER

• Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us and show us your story.
   
• These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission

• If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.

You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

An InLinkz Link-up

Blog Hop with Catherine Scanlon Designs + Art Gone Wild!

I'm super excited to share a fun project that I've been organizing over the last few weeks -- and I'm even more excited that I've got some amazing friends joining me!

Not only will you be inspired by some really beautiful projects created by these very talented artists friends of mine using my stamps and stencils but I'm happy to announce that I've got a few prizes to give out at the end as well!

I'm happy to finally announce my very first blog hop using my stamps from Art Gone Wild and Friends! This has been quite a journey -- from drawing designs in my notebooks and sketchbooks to seeing them as products -- a total dream come true. It's funny, the first time I realized that I had achieved one of my largest dreams -- I couldn't stop the tears from running down my face. it's amazing to see the fruits of your labors finally pay off -- when you realize it it's the most amazing feeling!

You can see out the entire catalog with the Winter release at Art Gone Wild by clicking on the catalog image.

• You can also see the Summer, 2013 release here (Direct LINK to Catalog: http://agwstamps.com/catalogs/winter_2013_pdfs/Catherine_Scanlon_late_2013.pdf). 
• For wholesales inquiries you can contact Art Gone Wild at sales@royalacme.com
• To see a list of stores (on-line and in person) that carry my stamps you can go to my blog and look at this link: Places-you-can-buy-my-stamps and stencils

So let's get this party started and get on with the fun!! I'm so happy to have these amazingly talented ladies joining me for this blog hop and even more excited to see what they've created using my stamps and stencils.

I used this set, Flower Stamps 2.

To create a funky Journal Page with Private Journaling and some fun color adding and subtracting techniques.

I started out by covering the entire page with journaling, in pencil about what motivates me. To add the flower designs, I stamped and random pattern with the Flower Stamps 2 set using VersaMark Ink and sprinkled White Embossing Powder over. 

 

After they were heat set I added color with Red and Yellow Distress Paint and LOTS of water. I let that dry and then added a layer of blue Distress Paint. Where the red and blue met you can see a beautiful purple color. When those colors were dry I used black paint to hide some of the journaling that was more private and I didn't want people to be able to make out what the words were.

 

To finish up I enhanced the colors with colored pencil and added journaling with a white Gel Pen. The top of the page was kind of lonesome so I filled in around the flowers with leaves and stems. It turned out pretty nice, and it felt good to get that off my chest!

Well, that's ALL I've got today, make sure you HOP on over to everyone else and see what they are up to. Make sure you leave a comment ON THIS blog for a chance to win a Clear Stamp Set, courtesy of Art Gone Wild!

• Art from the Heart by Catherine Scanlon Designs < --- You are here!

• This Art that Makes me Happy by Vicki Chrisman 

• The Mermaid's Closet by Martha Richardson 

• Pearl Maple by Mandy Collins

• Kooky Delucy by Kathie DeLuca

• n*Studio by Nat Kalbach

• Live the Dream by Jennie Atkinson

I mentioned that I had a few prizes to give out -- to be eligible to win, leave a comment on Catherine's (www.cmscanlon.blogspot.com) blog by Friday, April 18th.

• The two Winners will be chosen on April 18th, and will be posted on the Art from the Heart by Catherine Scanlon Designs blog. 
• The two winners will be emailed that they have won, so please remember, when commenting make sure to leave an email address where you may be reached so I can email you that you've won and get your mailing address. 
• New winners will be chosen after a few days, so be sure to reply right away. 
• This is Give Away is OPEN to International Readers! 

THANKS for joining me today, I'll share where I've been the last few weeks pretty soon, just waiting on a few results to be sent over! Good LUCK!