This and That

This is what I've been up to lately.  I was too tired yesterday to blog, so I posted some of these on FB.  But, there is something new here.  :)

One of the many gifts from Elena at Keys4Art was the complete collection of Julie Nutting's whimsical doll stamps.  Even a confirmed old anti-cutenik like me finds them irresistible.  I used them on a tag and a card.

Stamped on Ranger's Specialty Paper, colored with distress markers, doodled on with glaze pens and souffle pens, and cut out.  The conversation bubbles were traced and cut from a template of various sized and shaped bubbles I've had for years.  The words are all bits of two different (and very old) Stampin' Up stamps.



 

 

The tag (from Prima's tag book, the perfect size for Julie's stamps) was inked a bit.  Instead of coloring all of this doll, I stamped the clothing (and headband) on various papers from Jenni Bowlin mini paper pads, cut them out and attached them to the doll.  I added the bouquet of flowers and the two flowers in her hair.  The sentiments are also old Stampin' Up stamps.

 

The challenge at Everything Wendy Vecchi was to use distress embossing powder and at least one of Wendy's stamps.  I did that and then some on a journal page.

 

 

 

The two striped flowers are Wendy's stencil, filled with her gold embossing paste.  The third flower is from Stencil Girl, and that was embossed with broken china embossing powder.  More distress embossing on the leaves, and the rest is stamping.....Wendy's and even a few I've cut myself.

 

Remember my polymer clay mouse from last weekend?  The oil paint we used finally dried enough for me to add some embellishments.  Striped stockings, polka dotted sleeves, and some pretty shocking shoes.  And you can't see it, but....I filled her crown with gold micro beads.  As befits a royal mouse.

 

 

 

I received another book in the Kindred Souls round robin.  This one is Deb's, and her theme is "vintage feminine."  I used one of my favorite images.

 

 

 

By using both Tim's regular sized and mini cabinet card die as an insert, I was able to create the frame, which was embossed with Cuttlebug's vintage wallpaper folder.  It was cut from a piece of Ranger's foil tape sheet, and altered with a mix of Ranger/Vintaj patinas and distress paints.

 

The flourishes on the left are not stamps....they're Tim's rub-ons.  The flowers (sprayed with perfect pearls mists) are Primas, and the stick pins were made by my friend Carla.....she gifted everyone with a set of them at Keys4Art.  The pearls and lace are from my stash.

 

So, I'm caught up again.....just waiting for the next journal delivery.







Keys4Art 2013, Part V

The Last Installment

(this time I mean it, really)

 

I know I said I was finished with the Keys retreat, but a funny thing happened.  Carla, who does NOT blog, shared her photos with us, and there are some amazing ones I just had to show you.  I mean, just look at this perspective.  (I never did; me + heights = unhappy me)

 

 

Every table laden with gifts.

 

 

 

One special gift from Karen to all of us was a supply holder.  It didn't make it into my first blog post because it was packed in a box that has not yet arrived.  (No worries.....it only just got mailed yesterday!)

 

 

 

See the mug covered with fabric, holding the paintbrushes?  So pretty, so useful.  Thanks again, Karen!

 

A couple of my housemates thought they were in Vegas or something.

 

 

 

Just to give you an idea of how much everyone loved making gelli plate prints.  At one point every bit of floor space was filled with drying prints.

 

 

 

Another gift (thank you Elena!) that was packed in that delinquent box was EVERY single one of Julie Nutting's new stamps.....a set for each of us!  Thanks to Julie too.

 

 

 

All of us (except Jacquie, who was called away for a family emergency.....but she came back for our farewell dinner at The Marlin).

 

 

Daisy, Teri, Lill, Karen, Pat, Elena, Me, Carla, Jen, Sue

 

 

Some random shots.

 

 

 

 

 

As I said, Jacquie drove down from Miami for our farewell party, and she brought her adorable son Luca.

 

 

 

 



 

 

Me and my tablemates.  What a fun week, making art and laughing together.

 

Well, that's it.  I think.  LOL!



















Glamour Girls

Keys4Art2011 -- Day 3

Earlier this year (or maybe it was late last year) Elena saw an article in Somerset Studios featuring the paper pretties of Julie Nutting.  Being Elena, she immediately emailed Julie with some questions, including whether it would be OK if she taught us the techniques when we all arrived in Key Largo.  On thing led to another, and we suddenly went from Elena showing us how the paper dolls were created, to having Julie herself come and spend the week with us.  Yesterday Julie was a student in Ingrid's classroom, but today we would all be blown away by Julie's creativity and great instruction.

These photos were taken mid-class.  I wish I had more of each stage of the project, but when you're busy DOING, it's easy to forget about the camera.

What I found most interesting is that while we pretty much all began with the exact same materials, there was nothing cookie cutter about the results.  The backgrounds are all black and white and our glamour girls were all created from the same pattern.  The biggest difference was the accent color(s) we each chose.  But at the end of the day, no two looked alike.

This is a sample that Julie brought to show us, followed by a picture of Julie herself:

Julie made this tropical glamour girl as a gift for Elena:

Sue, a retired french teacher and lover of all things french, commissioned Julie to do this beauty for her:

This one is mine.  I thought I was finished, but when I came home I added a few little details not seen here.  Some buttons on the skirt.  A little more sparkle.  Haven't photographed the revised one yet, but this is close:

Some more of our creations:

I know not everyone's canvas is here.  I think some may have been put away before pictures could be taken.

Now, I just want to point out some similarities between artist and creation.  Check out the hair:

Now, check out the attitude:

(I could learn to hate Jen......she NEVER takes a bad photo.)

Make sure you visit Julie's blog and etsy shop to see all of her "girls."
Tomorrow......an all day workshop at The Paper Niche in Plantation, making canvas albums with the talented Beatriz Guzman.