WOYWW #10 (99) - Happy Hour

Happy Wednesday! This is it. The last Wednesday in April. I can't believe that in just a few short weeks the kiddos will be out of school. Sigh. My how time flies. Seeing as it's early 0149 here, this is going to be a short post. Processing postcard photos, so they will get posted no later than this weekend. Promise.

Haven't gotten a picture of the desk from today, but here's a recent photo (last Friday):

This was the night I was prepping for my card class at Simple Pleasures...making Magnolia cards. I was spritzing flowers for one of the cards. Love using glass. Pretty. Easy to clean. Useful...for more than drinking! I use this margarita glass and votive holder for dipping and drying my flowers among other creative tasks.

The well in the margarita glass is perfect for holding water. I dip the flowers in here first...then...

here. I spray the color into the votive glass, swirl wired flowers around in the glass and then hang them to dry on the glass edges.

Lovely, wouldn't you say?

Here are a couple of pics of the pups. Maverick has been his usual charming self and Box of Rocks is still queen. No competition here! These were taken shortly after they had been outside...in the snow! I don't usually equate snow with Spring. I'm dreaming of warmer weather and sunshine!

Well, if you've enjoyed the peek into my studio, make sure to stop by Julia's for more What's On Your Work desk Wednesday!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Postcard Swap [2] - More Layers

Busy week. So many things on the 'to do' list and not enough time to get them done. This post, however late, will be checked off the list! (note: picture heavy post! click the pictures to get a better view) In case you missed it, click HERE for my first 2011 ihanna postcard swap post.

Okay, so here's where we left off...layers of gesso and newspaper... I had no real plan as I was making these. I had an idea of what I wanted the finished piece to look like, but wasn't sure how I was going to get there. 'The Plan' evolved as I tried techniques, played with product and drank lots of hot chocolate with whipped cream (needed the caffeine - my excuse, anyway!)

I wanted more color, so out came my Adirondack Colorwashes. Sprayed a few times...loved the color, but somehow it wasn't enough. (using Eggplant) After a a bit of consideration, I had decided that my postcards would be different colors. (At this time I had 12 colorwashes. I only needed to complete 10 postcards, but hey, what's 2 more?!)

Thought it needed more texture. White acrylic paint...put a bit on the craft sheet and sprayed it with the colorwash. (I didn't mix it.)

Used cut up sponges dipped in the paint/colorwash mix and dabbed it over the entire card. (using Wild Plum) Don't forget you can pick up what's left on the craft sheet with a  manila tag, cardstock panel or even fabric and build up your stash of papers, tags and fabric for that next project!

I did forget to take a picture when I started to apply the shimmer sprays! After I applied the paint/colorwashes, I waited for them to dry overnight. (I could have used the heat gun to speed up the dry time, but I didn't want the paint to bubble, if it got too hot.) I sprayed each of the cards using a coordinating color of some kind of shimmer spray : Glimmer Mists and Perfect Pearls Mists. This added more colors and a wonderful depth and richness to the backgrounds!

The mists dry so quickly, so I hit them with the heat gun. Next, I got out the water and spritzed a piece of bubblewrap and 'stamped' it over a section on the card. Wetting the colorwash reactivates it and the color in the wet areas began to migrate, leaving the bubblewrap images. I left it for about 5-10 seconds (until I liked what I saw) and then dried it with my heat gun to stop the process and leave the imprint. (If you leave it to air dry, you will lose some of the definition as wet color tends to blend outward and will become softer in appearance - sometimes desirable!)

By not cleaning the bubblewrap between postcards, I was able to introduce more color onto the next postcard without much fuss. Notice the clean craft sheet? (check out the above photos, if you didn't...)

Bonus Picture! I've been asked many times just how easy is it to clean a teflon craft sheet...

You won't believe how easy!

Have a trash can nearby. Liberally spray the sheet with water. Give it a sec or two and then grab that used iTunes, gift or credit card and simply (gently) scrape off the mess! You won't need much elbow grease to move off whatever was on the mat.

Seriously. Melted embossing powder, glue, acrylic paint, adhesive...just scrape it off the mat into the can! Give it one more spray of water and wipe clean. (I use bar mop-type towels. Washable (in their own load) and reusable. I love using my artsy towels - they just add color to my studio!)

I was really liking how these were turning out! Tried a little more texture on a few postcards using gesso and some found items (that plastic ring is what's left when you finish off a roll of clear tape. And yes, that is a crayola...ahem...borrowed from my kids paintbrush...) but for the most part I was pretty pleased!

Another night to dry well. More texture. I was getting down to the wire on time, so I made the decision to finish off the cards in similar ways while making each one unique. Here I stamped the Paris collage, turning it various ways, not being careful to ink the entire stamp so that it left gaps and lighter text in some areas. (stamped in black Archival Ink) I only stamped over a portion of each postcard.

The Archival Ink is waterproof, so I was able to use a few more techniques on the cards before I called them done. I swiped some of the edges with extra spray, paint or gesso. Even added some drippage with the colorwashes...I flicked water or color onto some...basically just played around with each postcard until I loved what I saw.

Whew. Still with me? It's 0025. That's as in a.m. I'll get my finished postcards on here soon. And the rest of the postcards I received, too!

If you have any questions, let me know!

Inky hugs,

Angi

(If you're reading this post on Facebook, please visit my blog http://makingmayhem.blogspot.com to leave a comment!)

WOYWW #9 (98) - Beautiful Girl

Happy Wednesday! My ninth What's On Your Work desk Wednesday post...it's #98 for Julia! In just a few short weeks it will be WOYWW's anniversary and we're celebrating in a Pay It Forward kind of way. {Watch for post (104)}Want to know more about WOYWW or what's coming up? Check it out HERE.

(Looking for more info on my postcards? 2011 iHanna Postcard post coming tomorrow!)

This past weekend was the deadline for Simple Pleasures April Card Exchange. The theme was "Cards for Her" and this is what my desk looked like while I was putting my cards together...

Funny...just noticed that I have the cards in various states of progress. (Often times I take a photo and it's not until I'm ready to post or print it that I notice specific details...do you do this, too?) Here's a few detail shots...

Isn't she lovely? I stamped her in Black Soot (Distress Ink) and embossed her with clear powder. Distressed the edges first and then using the blending tool inked up the edges in Vintage Photo (DI). Simple Pleasures has an event called Trash 'n Treasure several times a year. Basically, it's a flea market of crafting goodness in the store. I found her there. LOVE her. There's something about this stamp that's a bit mysterious, lending itself to many ideas...thoughtfulness, dreams, tragedy, calm...

And then the sentiment. Lots of Vintage Photo distress inking going on with this card! To darken the edges quickly, I dragged the edges on the pad.

One of my favorite "new" texture techniques...using plastic wrap with colorwashes and glimmer mists. (more on this later.) Had to include that detail shot as you can't see the glimmer in the photo below. (Card base is manilla cardstock; edges are inked in Vintage Photo.)

In person, the shimmer on this card is just enough. At first, I thought some ribbon was needed, but after all was said and done, I really liked how this one turned out. What do you think?

Thanks for spending part of your day with me! Would love to see what you're up to, so leave me a comment, so I can visit you!

Inky hugs,

Angi

(If you're reading this post on Facebook, please visit my blog http://makingmayhem.blogspot.com to leave a comment!)

WOYWW #8 (97)

Yes - 3 weeks in a row! Welcome to another edition of What's On Your Work desk Wednesday! Where we get to be a little voyeuristic and peek into someone else's creative haven. Want to know more? Check out the Queen of Sharing - Julia Dunnit - and join in the fun!

I've been really busy, but wanted to make sure to get my post up on time. Prepping for my upcoming classes, helping the kids finish science projects, history projects, end of the year stuff...busy.

But not too busy to want to share my finished postcards and even a couple I've received! So, to start off here's my work desk...

If you've seen some of the older photos you'll notice that I've done a little rearranging. That blue shelf was made for me by The Big Guy when he built my punch shelves with the kids (thought I had posted a picture...guess not...maybe next WOYWW!) I've been wanting to move my Distress Inks and some things I use often to a place that was easily accessible and easy to put away. I'm really a bit of a piler/clear container kind of gal. Notice the glasses with the foam & felt? the one with my mini misters? the one with misc. ephemera? and what about my buttons? You get the idea...the other day I had been cleaning out one of my shrunks and found some French jelly jars...pulled those out and put them on a shelf. Will be filling those soon, too!

Pretty random stuff on the desk...needed to finish my planner pages for the next couple of months, so they are on the desktop, along with some IKEA votive holders (glass, of course! The IKEA in Denver is supposed to open this fall...woohoo! These ones are from Koln...)

I know some of you have been waiting to see the postcards. I have to finish processing my pictures, but here's one I received from Stephanie in New York.

She says, " ...This postcard began as a photo, which I took of the Empire State Building. I was driving home from work and was stuck in traffic on 34th St. near Macy's..."

Love that this postcard came with a story! Thanks, Stephanie A.

My second postcard has made quite the trip...all the way from the Netherlands! Isn't she pretty? This one is from Deezy. You can find her HERE.  She's busy!

I couldn't believe that the postcard had come with the ribbon on the front. Wondered how that went at the post office...

I did find out...when I went to mail my cards I learned a few things about mailing stuff. When I designed my cards, I was worried that they wouldn't mail it without an envelope if they were too thick or heavy. (What would be the point of that? I wanted my postcards to weather the process and look traveled!) Well, if it weighs too much or is too thick you are not required to put it in an envelope, but they will charge you as if it were an unusual sized letter. Most of my postcards cost a little over a dollar to send.

While I would love to show how I finished up my postcards it's almost 0100 here. That will have to wait for another post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Inky hugs,
Angi

WOYWW #7 (96) - Postcards, Puppies & Static

Yikes! It's already WOYWW again...sigh. I look forward to Wednesdays, even if I'm not able to get a post out. Why?

1. What's On Your Work desk Wednesday
(Stop by Julia's to see what this fuss is about...it's great fun and inspiration!)

2. It's not Monday.
There's just something about the first day getting back into the schedule that takes a little more oomph! to get that momentum going for the week.

3. It's Hump Day.
We're almost 1/2 way through the week. That puts us closer to the weekend. Obvious, I know. I really enjoy hanging out with my family.

Since I'm talking about family...here's an update of the puppy...he had The Surgery and is wearing The Cone of Shame also know as the Puppy Handle (as in "Grab him!" as he escapes the kitchen) or the "Can We Take the Stupid Collar Off?!" when he runs into you from behind, bumps the back of your leg and then clotheslines you as he attempts to apologize with kisses.

Don't you just love the 'electric puppy' look? It's bad enough when he runs into you, but it's downright funny to see him run into someone else & zap them! It's been a tough week for the puppy. We've got the bruises and scrapes to prove it!

Okay...on to the work desk pictures! I'm finishing up my Postcard Swap. Nothing like creating under pressure! If you want to see where I began, click HERE.

The desk...yes, I create in the middle of mayhem...almost always. I like having everything nearby and available. I try to do a quick clean up and a little reorganizing the night before I craft. (Most of the time I have to schedule in the play time.) Next upgrade to the studio will be a double sink & drainboard!

Still wearing gesso and ink on my fingers. My paper towels and baby wipes (I will one day post about how I upcycle those...), my postcards, a canvas I started (itching to get to that), a gift I'm working on...always something to do.

Here's a sneak peek at a few of the unfinished postcards...I'll post more about my process later this week.

As I was sitting here reading over the post, I see that my ink and dip pen are in the picture...before anyone asks...no, I did not write the script on the postcards! I have Tim Holtz to thank for that! It's one of the stamps from...okay...I thought I'd share the name of the set, but I can't find it on the desk! LOL

I think it's the Papillon set...the one with the butterflies...

Thanks for stopping by today!

Inky hugs,
Angi

New Adventure - Soul Restoration

This particular fortune rang true today! Today is the official start of Soul Restoration at The Brave Girls Club.

Feeling stuck? Wondering where your fun, life loving self has gone? Disconnected?

Me, too. So, I decided it was time to do something about it! I'm pretty nervous, wondering what and who I will find, but I'm excited, too! It's a community of people in the same place, working on learning the "...art of soul crafting..."

So, this is me, calling you. Sharing the good news!

It's not too late to register! You can do so at any time, during this session...if you do, look me up, so we can travel this road together. (Road trips are always better with friends!)

Inky hugs,
Angi

Postcard Swap [1]: In the Beginning - Base Layer

{Here's what I wanted to post for WOYWW #6 (95), but didn't have time to do! }

I have been debating whether or not to share the process of creating my postcards. This is my first postcard swap. Heck, these are my first altered postcards (not counting the recycled junk mail from my childhood...) and I have been overwhelmed with the wonderful posts and pictures I've already seen!

But...I really appreciate seeing how others get from start to finish...especially when they share what they've learned along the way. So, for good or bad...I'm sharing.

When I first thought about the swap, I wondered where I was going to find postcards to alter. It never occurred to me to just cut my own out of cardstock. I have a pretty sizable stash of alterable items, but I didn't remember keeping any postcards. I'm also in the middle of reorganizing my studio (I moved it in December) and figured if I did a little bit of picking up something might come to me. I moved piles of papers, boxes, wire baskets and somewhere under this mess was a Rubbermaid tub.

Hmmm...what could be in here?

For those of you who don't know, I used to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. In the box were old business forms, customer orders...and a 3" stack of invitations...postcards! Once I finished my happy dance I got busy with a foam brush and some gesso.

Getting started on the second layer of gesso...

2 days later, I was ready to start layering the paper. I knew that I wanted the postcards to  have texture, so I quietly lifted the Sunday comics from my son's room and began tearing the newspaper into strips, bits and pieces.

I randomly placed those strips, bits and pieces over the postcards and then adhered them using Claudine Hellmuth's Multi-medium (matte) and a foam brush. I didn't worry if the newspaper pieces were too long or hung over the sides. I would take care of those later.

To make sure that the pieces stayed flat, no bubbles or wrinkles, I used a mixing stick (it was an old stir stick from a box of hair color...did you think my color was real *wink* ) and used the flat edge, pressing from the center outwards to smooth it out. No worries if the multi-medium smooshed out!

When they were dried, I started tearing off the overhanging pieces of newspaper. I wanted the torn edges. At first I wasn't sure if I liked the look that I was getting...then I was sure I didn't like it! These postcards had a smooth shiny finish on them. When I started tearing off the newspaper, it started peeling off the gesso layer underneath and the shine was showing!

Should. Have. Sanded. First.

Lesson learned. So, I decided to wet the newspaper with water and peel, roll and rub off the original top layer. This technique leaves behind a very thin layer of newspaper and lots of yummy texture!

So there you have it...the base layer. I do have more to show you, but it's getting late and I want to keep my word regarding another post tonight! The next postcard post will be layering on the colors!

Inky hugs!

Angi