Recent ATCs

My PID yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paperimagerydesigns/) asked for projects done with the muslin transfer technique. The image was from one of PID's collage sheets, and was transfered onto muslin with gel medium. My friend Heidi (http://heididavenport.blogspot.com/) gave me the background for the card. It's a faux snakeskin technique from TJN (http://www.techniquejunkies.com), and I think the two techniques work well together.

This week's PID challenge was to make an ATC inspired by autumn -- autumn colors, leaves, etc. My friend Pat had sent me some beautiful feathers, and I also had some metal feather charms. The PID image is Lila (I gave her some bronze highlights!), and the background is the paper towel technique, to which I added some masking, and stenciling. After all my Halloween ATCs, I needed to do something a little more subtle!

Trick or Treat

I'm not quite finished with Halloween yet. Paper Imagery Designs's yahoo group(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paperimagerydesigns) has a Halloween challenge going on, and I had to submit something NEW for this one. Since I love their image of baby Abigail, I turned her into an adorable little witch.

Halloween ATC Swap

By now you know that I love making and trading ATCs, that I love the images from Paper Imagery Designs, and that I participate in just about every swap, mingle and jam that the PID yahoo group offers. Today I received 7 fabulous Halloween ATCs in a swap hosted by Dianna. The women in this group are incredibly talented, as the pictures show.

These lovely and funny little works of art are by (in order): Lori, Marcia, Shelly, Elena, Kim, and Dianna, who did the last two.

For someone who never really loved Halloween all that much, I am really enjoying all the spooky cards I've created and received.

There are a whole lot of other creative things happening at PID. Why not consider joining us?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paperimagerydesigns/

Making ATCs With Friends

On Tuesday I did a Halloween ATC workshop with Pat and Heidi, two of my Gotham City Stampers teammates. We used some great images and Halloween grab bag items from Paper Imagery Designs (http://www.paperimagerydesigns.com/). We each made several cards and then swapped with each other. I really enjoyed myself. What could be better than crafting with friends? The first two cards are mine, the next was done by Pat, and the fourth card is Heidi's.

New ATCs

I've been so busy crafting lately, I haven't had the chance to post anything. This past weekend I was on a creative retreat with my wonderful group, The Gotham City Stampers, but that is for a separate post, once I've uploaded my photos.

Back at home, I've been participating in so many challenges, swaps, mingles and jams with my Paper Imagery Designs yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paperimagerydesigns/).

These are just a few of my latest creations.

CD Art

No, I don't mean a CD full of art projects. I'm talking about recycling unwanted CDs and turning them into jewelry. First, use a sanding block to remove the silver from the CD surface. It comes off quite easily. I just held the CD over my kitchen sink, sanded away, and then washed the mess down the drain. Then, using regular scissors, cut the CD into whatever shapes you like. I found that it cuts easily, but you can hold the CD (with tongs!) in some hot water to soften it a bit if you have trouble. I rounded the edges of my shapes, again with plain scissors, and lightly sanded the edges as well.

Next step, paint the sanded side with acrylic or craft paint. One or two coats, depending on the thickness of the paint. Then I stamped (I used Stampin' Up stamps) with black pigment ink, applied clear embossing powder and heat set.

I next pressed the entire shape into a Versamark pad, applied more clear embossing powder and heat set again.

Final step, punch a hole (my Crop-A-Dile did this in a snap), attach a jump ring, and you have a pendant! I used four shapes for this necklace.

Big Sale at Paper Imagery Designs!

Anyone who reads this blog knows how much I love the images available at Paper Imagery Designs. You can see them used in so much of my art. The photos above show two recent projects done with PID's wonderful collage sheets. Mel and Lori are having an incredible sale right now....here is an excerpt from their blog (http://paperimagerydesigns.blogspot.com/):

"Until October 3rd 2008 we are offering 3 for the price of one! That's right! You buy one and get TWO free!! That makes our sheets $1.33 each! WOW!!! WE HAVE GONE CRAZY!!!!This offer is good only on our matte or card stock finish collage sheets. NO TRANSPARENCIES at this price (we are not that crazy!!!!). You MUST place your free sheets in the comment section of your order. Due to the overwhelming demand we will not be able to correct it. PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN YOU MARK YOUR FREE SHEETS!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS FOR THIS SALE!"

Their collage sheets are laser printed on high quality paper, are crisp and beautiful and are great for cards, ATCs, skinnies, moos....any paper project. There is less than a week to go on this sale, so check it out NOW!

1,000 hits -- woo hoo!!

Just glanced at the counter at the bottom of my blog, and was astounded to see that today I reached 1,000 hits. May not be a lot compared to some blogs I visit, where each posting generates dozens of comments, but that number seems special to me. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to come here and see what I do, and very special thanks to those who have left a comment. You may not realize it, but seeing those kind words just about makes my day. I recently installed neo counter, and it is a real kick to see that my visitors are from all over the world.

Packing Tape Transfer Technique

Technique Thursday at Paper Imagery Designs this week was making transfers with plain old packing tape (or clear contact paper). I had tried this before with very sad results, but Arlene's great tutorial (http://paperimagerydesigns.blogspot.com/2008/09/technique-thursday-packing-tape.html) made this a snap, and I love the results.

Pin Up Girl

Today I made another trip to Bowne & Co., the wonderful print shop that is part of NYC's South Street Seaport Museum. I went with two of my crafty friends, Corris and Cecilia. The make-n-take centered around this wonderful pin up girl. We treated her like a paper doll and dressed her using all sorts of fabulous vintage papers and letters. When I got home I added some stippling and a few sprays of glimmer mist. I just love my beautiful butterfly juggler!

PID Challenge

This week's challenge over at Paper Imagery Designs yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paperimagerydesigns) was to make a background with paint and paper towels and then use it for an art piece. This is what I came up with.

Stampin' Up Online Ordering is Here!

Attention night owls (and everyone else)! At last, Stampin' Up is offering 24/7 online ordering. If you have the urge to buy that special stamp or feed your paper cravings, and it's 2am or 7pm or any old time of the day or night, you can do that right here: http://gothamcityeileen.stampinup.net

Come to the site even if you're not ready to place an order. There is an online catalog full of awesome projects and ideas. There are samples for you to view, and I'm sure you'll find something to inspire you.

Hope you'll visit my Stampin' Up website soon!

I Won A Card Contest!

Whoo Hoo!!! Several weeks ago I entered a summer card contest sponsored by one of my favorite stamp companies, Sideshow Stamps ( http://sideshowstamps.blogspot.com/). Today I received word that I was the first place winner. In addition to just plain making me feel great, and seeing my entry on their blog, I will be getting their macho-sized stamp grab bag -- 30 unmounted stamps! Oh, and their stuff is just so cool -- in their own words, retro and funky. If you haven't checked them out yet, please do. I think their stamps are unique and the customer service is wonderful. http://www.sideshowstamps.com/

Cool Contest

One of my favorite bloggers, Lori Roberts is having a very cool contest, and the winner will get a package of Halloween goodies from Paper Imagery Designs, a wonderful company, and also the namesake of my favorite yahoo group. Here are the details:

"Ok here is the prize that you will win if you are the lucky winner picked from my Altered Art Expressions One Year Anniversary blog give-a-way!!Now I am adding a nice prize to the package! If you post about this give a way with the added stamp prize to your blog and a link back to Paper Imagery Designs and if your name is picked you will receive in addition to the Halloween sheets this sheet of Halloween stamps from the Tim Holtz Collection from Stampers Annoymous!! Now how sweet is that!?The winner of this Spooky Halloween Package will be chosen Sunday night on September 7th, make sure that you have a link to your site about this post linked back to Paper Imagery Designs and your email address so I can contact the winner!"

Lori's blog is: http://alteredartexpressions.blogspot.com/

An Amazing Crafting Day

Today was one of those days that makes me so very thankful that I'm a New Yorker! I visited Bowne & Co., Stationer and Printer in the South Street Seaport. Robert, the printer runs free make-n-takes every Sunday from 11-5, and I was there with several of my crafting buddies. This is a wonderful little shop and Robert and his assistant Fe La are two of the most warm and generous people I've ever met. We made fabulous little accordian-fold albums, and Robert just kept giving us vintage papers, postcards, old wallpaper, and we had the use of all his crafting supplies. The shop itself is a wonder, full of the most beautiful artifacts, not to mention gorgeous stationery and vintage postcards, tags, and collage packs for sale. And although it is a part of the South Street Seaport Museum, Bowne & Co. is also a working print shop, using old-school letter press machinery. I will never forget this day, and plan to go back many many times in the future.

Waterfalls in NYC!

What a fabulous day! A while back a friend sent me an email about free Circle Line tickets to view the temporary waterfall installations dotting the East River. My friend Heidi and I applied for tickets, and yesterday we went with some other members of one of our Meetup groups. The weather was glorious, the waterfalls and other NY sights were awesome, and I think we all left happy and inspired.

Inspiration

My friend Carla posted a piece in her blog (http://cardsofnyc.blogspot.com/) about inspiration coming from so many places, expected and otherwise. I couldn't agree more. No pictures of cards or ATCs today. Instead, some of my recent trip to the beautiful island of Curacao. Here's some colorful inspiration!