Art From The Heart

Food . . .

Set your recorders!

Once again . . .

Food Network will feature Chef Michael Symon in St. Louis for a gooey butter cake showdown.

Food Network

Saturday, July 2

3 a.m. (now you know why I typed *set your recorders*) Central Time

For those of you not in *The Lou*, gooey butter cake is a city favorite that began as a baker's mistake.  The mishap turned out so good, that it is now a St. Louis favorite and just one of the many foods that originated in my hometown!

NOTE: Original air date was December 2010

How cool is this!

Ellen Vargo, this is genius!

http://1036art.blogspot.com/2011/06/homemade-blending-tools.html

 

I can't show you everything . . .

that's on my desk for Stamping Grounds WOYWW. 

I can only show you a few things

because it's CHA time

and there's lots of secret projects going on

for Graphic 45

as well as DT work for

Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge blog.

Shhhhh . . .

 

I spy . . .

Graphic 45 Magic of Oz

Spellbinders

Imaginarium 

 

 

Simon Says choose a word . . .

If you know me then you know I love Paris.  What better word to choose for this week's theme at Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge blog.

 

The city of lights conjures up all sorts of fabulous images.

Pink Paislee's Daily Junque map paper allowed me to pinpoint Paris on this card front.

 

Using Tim Holtz Reflections, I stamped on a piece of mica with Tsukineko's Black Staz-On.  The stamp is printed backwards, which is fabulous to use on mica or anything that is transparent.  Once the ink dries, you can turn the piece over and the writing is in the correct order.

For Paris symbols, I turned to Stampers Anonymous Fleur de Lis stamp and Graphic 45's Paris stamp from the Curtain Call. Both images were stamped with Memento Black ink.  I then used a Copic Marker to color in the fleur de lis. (I like Memento ink for stamping whenever I'm going to use Copic Markers.)

I added my word by first die-cutting a banner with Spellbinders Banners Basic 2.   Maya Road mini letters were added to the banner and then finished off PARIS with Ice Stickles to replicate the *city of lights*.

Now it's your turn! 

Play along this week with Simon Says Stamp & Show's challenge

and

you may be the person who wins a $50 gift certificate from our generous sponsor  

or you may be chosen as one of the top 3 designers for the week!

Stop by

&

be inspired

to see what my Team Mates have come up with

as well as inspiring entries

for this week's challenge

on

Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge Blog.

 

 

More finds . . .

http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/06/and-many-more.html

 

http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/06/and-many-more.html

 

http://frenchcupboard.blogspot.com/2011/06/repurposed-vintage.html

 

Enjoy!

Found . . .

As I am playing working, I frequently run across work/art by others that just blows me away.  Here's a couple I saw this morning:

 

http://giogioscrap.blogspot.com/

 
 

 

http://starrgazercreates.blogspot.com/

 

http://justforoneday11.blogspot.com/

 

Pretties for you to enjoy this Saturday!

On The Boardwalk . . .

For today's Graphic 45 blog post, I decorated a wood birdhouse with On The Boardwalk papers.  I found this birdhouse at Michael's, way back in the corner with other wood pieces that were hugely discounted.  I had to have this as it reminded me of the lifeguard stand at Venice Beach.  Honestly, I think it cost about $3 or $4.  How could I possibly pass this up!

On the Boardwalk papers were just the thing this little stand needed to perk up the plain wood.  I sanded a bit and then made up a stain with acrylic paints.  The tutorial for this birdhouse can be found on the Graphic 45 blog.  Here's a few photos.

 

 

 

 

Now to find a beach in Missouri!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday . . .

 
It's been a couple of weeks since I played along but I'm back on track with WOYWW over at Stamping Ground.  It's fun to see everyone's workspace.  It never fails though . . . as much space as we may have to work with, we all end up working in a tiny bit of space.  It's because our supplies are alive and keep moving in on us.  They do such teeny moves that we can't see it.  But they are moving, very slowly, until we have only about a 6" x 6" square space to work in.

Here's what I mean.  The desk top/island I work on measures 6' 8" long x 34" wide.  Granted, it is full of stuff I can just grab and work with like inks, some tools, buttons, etc.  However, that's still a big work area. My craft sheet is attached to the work top and measures 18" wide x 15" tall. 

As you may be able to tell from these photos, I am working in a space on my craft sheet that is 6" x 6".  The project I'm working on is bigger than that!

See . . . legs are on everything.  Even though we may not be able to see them.

Working on samples for Graphic 45's booth at CHA-S so this is all I can show you.  I can't wait until you see what Graphic 45 has come up with for your crafting pleasure.  You are going to be blown away!

Can't make it to CHA-S?  No worries.  Keep a watch on Graphic 45's blog where you will see all the amazing new designs and samples once CHA-S unfolds.

This week's challenge . . .

at Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge blog is all about metal.

My Team Mates have come up with some super ways to use metal in projects:

Candy used Foil Tape sheets.

Nancy C used Tiara Stickles.

Dan used an Ornate Plate.

Lynne altered a metal lantern.

Kim & Lori composed their pieces using Ten Seconds Studio metals

as did Sarah & Linda.

And Terry used metal Philosphy Tags.

So many interpretations with just one little word: METAL.

Gotta love challenges!

Here's how I used metal:

This card is in celebration of all June weddings. Using Graphic 45's Le Romantique images along with Spellbinders Precious Metals foil, I die cut a border with Spellbinders Parisian and added a circular sentiment with Marvy 3" Scallop Circle punch and Marvy 2" Scallop Circle Punch. To finish off the design, tiny pearls were added here and there.

How easy is that!

 

Hope you can play along this week with Simon Says Stamp & Show's challenge. 

It's sure to get your creative mojo going!

You may be the person who wins a $50 gift certificate from our generous sponsor  

or you may be chosen as one of the top 3 designers for the week!

Stop by

&

be inspired

to see what my Team Mates have come up with

as well as inspiring entries

for this week's challenge

on

Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge Blog.

 

 

My ABCers . . .

Fair warning:  long personal story ensues.

(and I'm not one for personal stories on blogs but here goes anyway).

I'm taking you back to January 1970.

I was in college and had just met my future husband

who hung out with a group of guys he had just met upon his return from Nam.

We had mutual friends (although we didn't know it yet)

and these friends were

fun

had great girlfriends

fabulous dancers (and I loved to dance).

We all hung out.

And the girlfriends became great friends.

We called our group of guy and gal pals *The Armadillos*

because you had to be thick skinned to hang out with us. 

(We even have a stuffed Armadillo as a mascot.  He's been with us since the '70's . . . but I digress.)

I will say

I have never had so much fun,

laughed so hard

or partied as much as we did *back in the day*.

Some of us even worked together at TWA

therefore

we traveled together.

We became family.

Some of the boyfriends, husbands, whatevers came and went

(and some have stayed and put up with us)

and one of our best pals passed away from ALS.

But no matter what, the gals have stuck together.

Many moons ago, us gals named ourselves the *ABC's* - Armadillo Babes Club.

 
Here are some of us circa 1982

We got together last weekend and had a blast.  No matter how long it is between visits, we never lose a beat when we're together.  Like I said . . . family.

One of my ABC buddies has been battling cancer.  She is such a fighter and full of inspiration.  She was able to join us Friday night and even had a few sips of a cocktail.  It was so good to see her.

I made this Graphic 45 tri-fold for Kathy.  From start to finish, I had her in mind.  Looking at Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante and Renaissance Faire reminded me of Kathy.  The women depicted in those papers are beautiful and strong, just like Kathy. I hope it reminds her that, no matter what, she's in my thoughts and prayers daily.

 

 

 

 

Armadillo Babes, I love you all

and Kathy, you know we're here when you need us (and even if you don't).

PS: If you'd like, there's more photos of this project on Graphic 45's blog.