09 Oct. 10 Card

09 Oct. 10 Card
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I made it to Cherish The Thought yesterday and had a great time making this card and adding items to my cloth Cherish bag for the40% off sale. For this card we were given 3 precut pieces of patterned paper and the embellished paper is glossy cardstock. We added the peel off snowflakes, rubbed grey ink around on the card then brayered blue ink over that. My grey didn't show through much, but it was fun trying this out. We the repositioned some of the snowflakes ( did only 1) and stamped and embossed the "Let it Snow", added the ribbon and glued all the layers together.

Oct ATCs

I've made some ATCs today and here are a couple of the ones I've titled "Pumpkin Search". I used a digital scrapbook paper for the background and added the larger footprints from the same digital kit. The pumpkins are mounted on cardstock and the edge rubbed with Vintage Photo distress ink. The number 1 is stamped with Ancient Page coal black. I edged the card with Tea Dye distress ink and then applied Distress Stickles spiced marmalade to the front edge. On the second card I punched holes and added a wire and bead hanger.

Knit Amulet Bags

Knit Amulet Bags
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I've been doing a bit more knitting lately and have gotten a little addicted to these little knit amulet bags, and getting quite a lot of this and other knitting done while listening to the cd Donna sent to me. I've been experimenting knitting with sock yarn, novelty yarns and have included beads on some. The centre bag on the table is waiting to have the chain added and I have several others in various stages of completion. You'll probably see more in a later post, but for now I need to get back to making gifts for a 12 Days of Christmas swap. I can't show you those, they have to remain secret until they are swapped and opened.

Snowflakes Card 1

Snowflakes Card 1
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I used the new "Snowflakes" quite stamp from Quietfire Design, stamped with purple dye ink on white paper mounted on purple cardstock. The image is a combinations of a Dover fairy and an ice background from my Print shop programe. This is mounted on light purple cardstock which is then mounted onto Kraft cardstock and the whole piece is mounted to the pale purple cardstock. The quote is added with pop dots for a bit of dimension.

Sept ATCs for Grind and Byhandartists Swaps

I've just finished a bunch of bird themed ATCs and when I finish up a few more I'm working on I should have enough to mail to Beth for the Byhandartist swap and for the Swap at the Grind this coming Sunday. The first batch is titled "Sweet tweet" and started with some designer printer paper I found at a dollar store. What luck, there are a row of bird images down one side of one of the papers and the other looks like handmade paper with petals in it. Perfect for this month bird theme. I cut out the bird images and layered them with various papers also using Cuttlebug embossing folders. For the text I used a word stamp from a set of typewriter word stamps and stamped "Sweet" on a separate piece of paper, then I masked out the S and stamped weet and then masked and added the t for "tweet". these were torn, coloured with distressed inks and glued on. The bird images are all mounted with foam tape for some dimention.



The second set is "take wing and fly" and is using my quote stamp from Quietfire Design and the Catslife Press bird in flight on my own digital paper background.

The third set "Birds" uses 2 more of the Catslife Press bird stamps on brown cardstock. The first has "finger print" eggs stamped with pigment ink and outlined with Pitt artist pen. The branch is another stamp coloured with Pitt brush pens. The second of this group is another Catslife Press bird stamp, this time with a birds nest stamp, eggs coloured with a q-tip and pale blue pigment ink and a hand drawn branch drawn and coloured with Pitt pens. I used a distressing tool on the second one and sponged distress inks on the edges of both.

New Treasures From Ruby Dog's Art House

Well on Sat Sept 12 I didn't make it to the card project at Cherish The Thought because that was the day for the grand re-opening of Ruby Dog's Art House. Of course I missed this store and Leanne so I just had to go check it out. Saw lots of people I used to see at the old store and grabbed some great new stuff including some great bargains on elements rubber stamps, from Lazar Studio Werx which Leanne sold for a very good price since Lazar closed down.
Aren't those just the cutest little bottles, lovely beads too? The white shapes in the bag turned out to be 2 part buttons which I can see using as seperate pieces as well. I also got 10 more of the small black boxes which are just the right size to hold ATCs. I made an ATC shrine out of one of these before, I have plans for some more now.
I have updated the Altered Board Book slide show with a spread I left out until my friend received her copy, the second one I made. You just might like to check it out.

Follow Your Dreams Card Collection

I received the new full sheet of rubber from Quietfire Design today and just had to create some cards from my quote that Suzanne beautifully lettered into a rubber stamp. I used a Catslife Press bird stamp I got on Sat., Cuttlebug folders, a scan of one of my backgrounds printed on cardstock and the Follow your dreams stamp.

Fairytale Greeting Card

Fairytale Greeting Card
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I managed to take me and my tendinitis foot all the way to Port Moody yesterday with just a bit of pain by the time I got home, yeah. This is the card project for Sat. Sept. 5, 2009 at Cherish The Thought
We were given the pre-cut pieces to assemble this card and then were shown how to use part of a cuttlebug embossing folder on the beige cardstock. We then rubbed ink on the embossed piece, I didn't get as much on as I would like, and on the small blue and white pieces. The quote was already stamped for us and I didn't think to ask where the stamp comes from, but it sure is a lovely quote. The quote piece is glued to the small blue piece which is added with pop dots. The ribbon is wrapped around to the back of the beige piece and stuck down withe the double sided tape which then applies this piece to the card. This was a quick and fun project and you might want to check out Jessie's blog and read about this lovely little scrapbooking shop. Oh and I got my Birthday Club coupon for a free class to use between now and next years birthday.

August ATCs For The Monthly Swap

I have been trying some paper-cloth projects out for the last while so I decided to continue with that technique for this months swap. One of the themes was pets so I did a variation on the 52 Quilts Page I did awhile back. For the first set I used a photo of my brother and the first ATC I tried the effect of Royal Coat Decoupage Finish Sepia on a black and white print. I used decoupage finish to glue the photo to a piece of gauze bandage (relax it is new) and then brushed with 3 coats of finish, allowing each to dry before adding the next coat. I rubber stamped "Love my dog" with StazOn Blazing Red ink. The gauze didn't exactly unravel but I distressed it by pulling on the threads with an awl. The centre photo is the original print of the black and white photo applied with matt gell medium again brushing on 3 coats over the top. The last photo is digitally altered to sepia tone and again applied with matt medium. The second set of ATCs is a photo of my sister taken by me with a very simple little box camera I had. I used the same procedure as above with a black and white and sepia decoupage finish, a black and white with matt medium and a digitally altered sepia print with matt medium.

Blog Candy Winner

Well here it is, and the winner of her choice of the amulet bags is Judy in Penticton. This is her lovely comment:

"Joanne, I really would like to have one of your bags because ...hmm they are soo beautiful and I just love them and want to see one in person soooooo hope you pick my message and congrats on the blog anniversary! Lovely knitting as usual girl, love them both!
Judy in Penticton"

However I used a random number generator to select the winner (bribing doesn't work). As soon as I hear from Judy which one she would like it will be sent to her.
Thanks to everyone who became or already were followers and all the comments are very much appreciated. Keep watching for more blog candy in the future, next time just may be your turn.

Altered Board Book Completed

Well I told you when I finished my altered board book I would go wild with fibres, beads and charms, and I think that is exactly what I did. I thought I'd share the finished book as a slide show. Many of the rubber stamps used are from Quietfire Design.
edit: I added the missing page spread which I didn't want to show until my friend received her book and gave permission to post the photo.

Blog Candy and Amulet Bags

Well I seem to get a flurry of stuff done, then it takes me awhile to get something more finished. I finally assembled "Blue Waters" bead knit amulet bag and I had started another little bag and it is also finished. So here they are. You can see the work in progress Of "Blue Waters" here. I finished this amulet bag off with a 3 strand chain and added little beaded tassels on each side.

For the new amulet bag, I didn't take photos until it was finished. I used up a bunch of assorted sizes and colours of beads left over from other projects, I love doing that. I again used a 3 strand beaded chain but this time I made a beaded pendant on the point of the flap.

Now to the blog candy. My visit counter is fast approaching the 3000 mark so I think a celebration is in order. Between now and reaching the 3000 mark (I may go over that a little since my injured foot keeps me off the computer sometimes) anyone who leaves a comment on this post telling me why they would like to win their choice of either one of the amulet bags will be entered in a random draw. For an extra entry become a follower of my blog or let me know if you already are a follower.
Remember you will have your choice of one of the amulet bags pictured in this post, I want you to be happy with your prize.

Altered Board Book Butterfly Page

Altered Board Book Butterfly Page
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

For this page I used one of my own painted backgrounds scanned it and printed my quote. I then rubber stamped the butterflies and flourish stamps. The edges are sanded and rubbed with distress ink.

Altered Board Book Art Page

Altered Board Book Art Page
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This spread is digital collage using scrapbook background paper, a photo of me and my altered heads, which I made translucent to five the impression of thoughts. I took a photo of my "Spirit Dreams" canvas and added it with brads. The hand and "Art" stamps are from Quietfire Design.

Altered Board Book

My first altered board book. The front and back cover is scanned fabric samples printed on copy paper and glued on the cover with matt medium.

I used various digital scrapbook papers to make the background and pocket. The images are from Instant Memories Family Ready-To-Use Scrapbook Pages book and disk. The quote on vellum is from Quietfire Design.

This shows the tag out of the pocket with another Quietfire Design rubber stamp quote.

Knit Bead Amulet Bag "Blue Waters"

Knit Bead Amulet Bag
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I showed you the first bit, now the knitting is done now on with sewing it into a bag and adding the strap.

52 Quilts Journal Week 15

52 Quilts Journal Week 15
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

The background is a fabric sample and the pendant is a piece from a metal steamer. This was painted with bright bronze and espresso metal paint. I glued the flat round bead on and then wrapped it with specialty yarn and maple coloured cotton. The fringe at the bottom has some odds and ends of black and white beads knotted on.

Bead Knit Amulet Bag "Blue Waters"

Bead Knit Amulet Bag
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This work in progress is another of my bead knit amulet bags. This is a pre-mixed aquamarine size 10/0 seed beads and a denim colour cotton thread knit on 1.25mm needles.

52 Quilts Journal Week 14

52 Quilts Journal Week 14
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Another of my endless fabric samples, love this one, and glass leaf charms. I did a bit of machine stitching with rayon thread following the outline of some of the squares in the print.

52 Quilts Journal Week 13

52 Quilts Journal Week 13
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

More fabric sample, rubber stamping on coffee stained cotton scrap, jewelry findings and odd beads, some from my art friend Beth. Check out those legs, should have given her a bit more of a high stepping kick. I did a random meandering line of straight stitch to give the feel of motion and stitched the stamped fabric with rayon thread.