Where Bloggers Create 2012

Welcome, Friends to My Desert Cottage's "Where Bloggers Create" Studio hop!

(click the link to read about Karen Valentine and to see the linked list of all 2012's participants!)

I'm glad that you stopped by and hope you'll say 'hello' before you leave!

I'm so pleased to be able to participate this year! I'm on the road, so this post is picture heavy with a little commentary. I had hoped to be able to tell a little more of my story, but that'll have to wait for another post! Click the pictures for a better view.

This is the view from the entrance.

One of my favorite displays in my studio is the wire that holds cards and art from my husband (really!) and kids.

A closer view... 

I like to use vintage items to store the fun stuff.

There are 2 bars on the edge of my workbench. Custom designed and built by my DH.

(yep...I know I'm a lucky girl!)

Buttons in recycled glass containers...a few jars are jelly jars I picked up in France.

My favorite clock and my clothesline of Adirondack Color Washes.

My canvas board piece made during a Pan Pastels class with the very entertaining Donna Downey.

Artwork created by my youngest kids.

My spinner. Love how it keeps the blending tools organized.

Jars of collected vintage & found items.

Due to my procrastination, I was only able to take a few shots before we left, so I apologize for the lack of pretty photography! Something that was important to me when designing the area was to have a place for my kids to work on projects and a place to display my family's art along with mine. 

Certainly, my studio is a work in progress. I began this year to start thinking about how my studio could be more than just functional. So, not a lot of style right now, but I am working on making the storage pretty. I know that I will be inspired by stopping by the other blogs and seeing their studios and can't wait to get home to get back to making my studio a lovely place to create in!

 Thank you, Karen, for hosting this lovely online event!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Great Impressions DT - Release Week - 4 Squares of Summer

Hello, Friends!

This Thursday I've got my Great Impressions Stamps' project for you and a little something else...

It's Day 5 of Release Week at the Great Impressions Stamps blog!

I hope you've had a chance to stop by and see the projects our Design Team members have been sharing using the latest Great Impressions Stamps!

Want to win some Great prizes? It's easy...

1. Be a follower of the Great Impressions Stamps blog.

(I won't object if you follow me, too! Choose your media in the sidebar & let me know you're a new follower by leaving a comment!)

2. Leave some comment love.

You can leave comments EACH DAY of Release Week on the Great Impressions Stamps blog, here on my post and the Design Teams' own blogs during this week.

** The more comments you leave the better your chances to win! **

Okay...on to the Show & Tell! You ever see those stamps that have adorable multiple images and not know what to do with them?

Here's an idea!

This is a viewmaster card...remember those toys?! Simply use the tip of your finger to rotate the sidewheel and new pictures show up in the window!

This 4 Squares of Summer stamp was perfect for this card!

Using my current go-to coloring medium: Distress Markers and the direct to rubber technique, a little huff and viola! darling bitsy color images! These would be great for inchie art, too.

The Release Week stamps are available now - no waiting in line!

Visit the Great Impressions Stamps' online store!

If you can't order all you want now, use the wish list feature...

Don't forget to share your thoughts on the Release Weeks stamps, projects or just leave a comment to let us know how we're doing!

Inky hugs,

Angi

InLinkz.com

Supply notes:

Paper - Bo Bunny Sun Kissed - it's a 2010 release...didn't realize that until I tried to find a link for it; it was perfect for this card!

Sentiment - that's a rub on from my stash...I think it was from a Stampin' Up! set. Most likely retired. This Great Impressions Stamp would be a perfect substitute: Happy Summer Days! 

Great Impressions DT - Heaven Sent Spring Frame

Hope you had a great 4th of July! I don't know about you, but my summer has flown by! In only a few weeks my kiddos will be back in school and we will be working on getting back into that school routine.

I've been taking quite a few photos with my phone this summer and I'm always on the lookout for  a way to display those smaller pictures. Using a few dies, Great Impressions Stamps and some leftover chipboard I made a few clipboard type frames.

This one uses the Spring Floral Border (H228) and Heaven Sent (B221) to showcase those adorable memories!

Love the way this turned out - the vintage feel with the bits of color. Love it even more with a photo...

Click here to see one that my littlest one made for me for Mother's Day...

What have you colored lately? Don't forget to enter your "Stay in the Lines" coloring project in our monthly challenge!

And if you love Great Impressions Stamps, we're looking for one more Design Team member; check out the Design Team Call!

Stop by tomorrow for more Great Impressions Stamps inspiration!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Great Impressions DT - Cherish

Good morning! Nope I didn't mix up my days, I'm filling in for Jenny today, so there's a bonus Great Impressions Stamps project here on Making Mayhem!

There have been a few changes going on behind the scenes on the design team and the blog and Jenny has been working hard making sure everything goes smoothly...not to mention she's been doing a lot of the work while on the road! We look forward to seeing her creations again next week!

For now, I have a card for your viewing pleasure...

This is the Flower Flourish (K87) - such a simple and elegant stamp, large enough to use as a border or background, but with enough detail to use in smaller parts, too.

What? You haven't seen the word stamp before? Actually, you might have seen it... it's the Always Cherish Memories (E745) stamp!

There's a lot going on this month on the Great Impressions Stamps Blog:

Design Team Call - we're looking for one more member

and the monthly challenge - Coloring in the Lines!

Click the links for the details!

Hope your Tuesday includes some crafty fun!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Great Impressions Stamps July Challenge - Coloring in the Lines & Design Team Call

(This post didn't actually make it up on time. I was having trouble with Blogger. Glad to finally be able to get this posted! Hope you'll enter the challenge this month!)

It's time for another challenge at the Great Impressions Stamps blog! This month the theme is:

Show us your best 'stay in the lines' coloring!

You can use pencils, paints, Copics, markers...whatever coloring medium you prefer!

Remember you can get extra entries for the prize drawing by using a Great Impressions Stamp.

We want to see your best work! This month each design team member will be choosing their favorites to display, too!

For this card, I used Buford Feeling Poorly (G183) and On the Mend (E385). Isn't Buford a darling sickie? Love that the image has 'soup' in it - definitely my family's recipe for the blahs. Soup made with love makes everything better! 

I colored this image with the Distress Markers. I stamped the image twice in Memento Tuxedo Black. I used an acrylic block and colored the marker on to a section of the block. Then I wiped a wet (not dripping) brush through the color I needed and used it on the images. (I colored Buford in one image, then cut him out and popped him up on the other image where I had already colored the rest of the image.)

The tissue box is paper pieced using a scrap of patterned paper and white tissue paper.

Since the quilt was a main detail, I decided stitching was needed on the squares and I embossed part of the On the Mend stamp in black. (You've got to see the rest of that stamp!)

We are also holding a Design Team call for one new member! If you're interested, be sure to visit the Design Team Call post (all the details are here - deadline is July 14th), send Jenny an email and enter the July challenge. Can't wait to see what you color!

Inky hugs,

Angi