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!

Now Is the time to join Stampin' Up!!

Lots of great new things happening with Stampin' Up!
One is a Sizzix Die-Cut Machine... with exclusive SU! dies! It will be here September 1st!
Second... Stampin' Up! is offering a STARTER KIT BLOWOUT SPECIAL beginning August 11..... Join SU! for only $99 AND choose a mini starter kit of your choice!!! This is a great deal for those of you who already own a ton of SU stamps and supplies. You can choose one of 3 mini starter kits.... and just like our standard starter kit, you can customize your mini kit too! Choose from a Card Focused, Scrapbook Focused or Home Decor Focused Starter Kit! This deal is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! Now, if you are new to SU or stamping in general, and want to really beef up your crafting stash, you want the Standard Starter Kit. It is packed with tons of stamps and accessories that you can pick out, then you can purchase it for only $199 AND when you do, you get any additional stamp set from the new catalog for FREE! Want to know how you can get the NEW SIZZIX at 30% off? Well, when you join SU, your first order receives a 30% discount!!!! So you can order it from yourself, and get it at 30% off, as well as others items on your wish list AND all of your orders earn you rewards.
As always, please feel free to ask me any questions you may have. I can be contacted through my SU website:
http://www.gothamcityeileen.stampinup.net
or by my regular email:
eyeleeeen@optonline.net
or, simply leave a comment on this blog.

Stampin' Up Convention

I'm back from Salt Lake City, site of Stampin' Up's 20th anniversary convention: Celebrate '08. I went with most of the members of my team, The Gotham City Stampers, and we had a blast! We met some great stampers from all over the US and Canada, had so much fun swapping cards, and were greatly inspired by the non stop classes, workshops, displays, demonstrations, and make-n-takes. Our team is more solid than ever, and rumor has it that a few totally awesome people will be joining us soon. Sign me up for Convention 2009!

Gothic Arches

This week's challenge over at the Paper Imagery Design yahoo group ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paperimagerydesign/) is Gothic Arches. I usually do ATCs, but this time I decided to try a skinny (3x5"). I created the background by inking up the inside of a Cuttlebug embossing folder before inserting the paper. After running the folder through my Big Kick I had a 3x5 that was not only embossed, but had an interesting distressed green color as well. A few sprays of Olive Vine Glimmer Mist finished it off. I stamped an architectural Beeswax Stamp image next, into which a PID arch transparency fit perfectly. Some musical notes and the large crow stamp are from Quiet Fire, and the small birds on top are from A Muse Stamps. I'm not exactly sure where the quote stamp came from.

Things With Wings

Seems like great minds do think alike. I had two challenges this week. Heidi, team leader of Gotham City Stampers, my group of crafty friends, posted a "birds" challenge, and this week's PID challenge is called "Winged Things." For Heidi's challenge I first made an ATC using background paper from PID and stamped images from Quietfire Designs, and then ,matted it and used it to decorate a notecard. For the PID challenge, my ATC uses their "pretty lady" and "houses" images, plus wing stamps from Beeswax stamps and Invoke Arts. I chalked everything in sepia tones and then gave the whole piece a few good spritzes of latte colored Glimmer Mist. Oh, the Glimmer Mist is on the first piece as well. Gotta love that shimmer.

More From Paper Imagery Designs

I just don't have the time to visit all the blogs, message boards, yahoo groups that I love, so I've narrowed it down to one that I go to daily. OK, several times a day, and that is the Paper Imagery Designs yahoo group. I love the atmosphere there, the great art work that is posted, and the weekly challenges. They are specific enough to give me a focus, but broad enough to allow for creativity. The one and only rule is that at least one PID image is used on each piece. Not a problem for me; I love their collage sheets and was a big fan of their creations way before I joined the group. This week's challenge is black & white, and July's ATC Jackpot is, appropriately enough, red white and blue. Happy 4th everyone!

Paper Imagery Designs Weekly Challenge

This week's challenge at PID is a floral one. I decided to go against type, and use one of their boy images. I named it "bloomin' billy." Check out the site and join in the creative fun. If you do join, and I think you should (smile) mention that Eileen sent you.

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

Love Those Owls

I made these pendants on game pieces, using some wonderful owl images from Sideshow Stamps, a favorite of mine. They were colored with alcohol inks.

http://www.sideshowstamps.com/

More From Paper Imagery Designs

I love the images from PID, and have two more creations to share: another ATC and a pendant.

Paper Imagery Designs

Not long ago I joined a wonderful Yahoo group - paperimagerydesigns, which showcases work done featuring the incredible designs by the webshop of the same name. I love the vintage images, and the transparencies are beautiful as well. They sell collage sheets, and one of my favorites is George. I used him and a couple of the clock transparencies to create an ATC, which I posted on the group's photo section. Today I learned that my little work of art is now on the home page! The link is right here under the section called "My Yahoo Groups." Check it out.

And if you love collecting unique pictures and other goodies for your ATCs or collages, also visit the shop: http://paperimagerydesigns.com/

About my ATCs

The backgrounds for most of these are bits of photos that my cousin took in Pompeii. Some of the images are stamped, some are clip art. I've distressed the edges with brown inks, and done a lot of stippling with brown as well. Some of the words are stamped, some are typed, and some are rub-ons. And, of course, there is usually a little bling as well.

More ATCs

ATCs

This Saturday I'm going with some of my crafting buddies to a rubber stamp show in W. Springfield, MA. We've been told that the big thing at these shows is trading ATCs. I've made a few in the past, and really enjoy working with that size, so I immediately got busy creating a few new ones.

Recent Cards

I love hanging out with my crafty diva friends, sharing ideas and learning new techniques. These are some recent creations.

Altered Clock

Today some of the Big Apple Stampers met at Heidi's and worked on embellishing blank clock faces. Mine is a collage of various papers, rub-ons, and chipboard. It's great to have a clock in my craft room that reflects who I am -- as opposed to that green plastic one that hung there before. Here's my creation and those of Melissa and Heidi, two of my favorite partners in crafting madness.

Origami boxes with dahlia fold flowers

I learned how to do these beautiful paper boxes yesterday at a Meetup -- my friend Paola's (http://scrapbook.meetup.com/1848/). We made two boxes from a staggering choice of papers, and added notecards that matched. They make a wonderful gift, but I think I'm going to keep these for myself. Smiles.