Tuesday, October 22, 2013

STEAMPUNK SPELLS

                                                             

A couple of months ago I saw a very interesting tutorial video for a pocket book, created by designer Arlene Cuevas for Graphic 45.  I was intrigued and must have watched it at least three times while making notes.  The book is very charming, to say the least.  Arlene used the Bird Song papers for her book, but I wanted to make a Halloween themed book for my sister, so decided to use the new Steampunk Spells.  The book was fun to make, but my biggest challenge was the spine, as the measurements have to be exact for the pages to fit and be in alignment (I got it right the third time!).  This is a wonderful project and in case you are wondering, my sister Anabel received the book today and I am glad to say she loves it!
                                                           
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, August 12, 2013

Flutterby Femmes (ATCs)

            
                                      ATC 1                                                         ATC 2


It's been more than a year since I have made any Artist Trading Cards (ATCs), and I guess I took a hiatus because of so many other things going on in my life.  Last week I posted a new series of greeting cards I named Flutterby Femmes (just scroll down), and after looking at them I thought how nice it would be to make ATC's to complement them, which I then proceeded to do.  I felt I had lost my touch, but I think they came out rather nicely, and I'm pleased with them. 

Comments and feedback are always welcome - I hope you like these latest cards and I look forward to trading!

             
                                     ATC 3                                                          ATC 4

 
         
                                 ATC 5                                                           ATC 6


          
                                 ATC 7                                                         ATC 8


         
                                  ATC 9                                                        ATC 10

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Flutterby Femmes

                                                           
Yes, this is Marilyn!


Sometimes I come up with ideas from looking at collage sheets, and this is what happened to me last week when I came across several collage sheets in Etsy.  I did not realize there was so much talent out there, and I was just amazed the more I looked at all these artistic creations.  I came across two shops - ArtCult and Pink Vintage Studio - with collages that impressed me very much.  I used images from both of these different artists and came up with these cards I call Flutterby Femmes.  I used glitter paper and Spellbinder dies for the wings.  Since there is so much color and detail, I felt a black background was best, thus one can see how the colors just pop!

I hope you like this latest collection of mine, and I appreciate all comments and feedback.

Thank you for looking!
                                           
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, July 29, 2013

If The Shoe Fits

                                                             

It seems like to some degree we each have a symbiotic relationship with shoes, and this came to the forefront when I attended the Heirloom Productions rubberstamp and paper crafts show in Grapevine the weekend of the 20th-21st.  I saw these wonderful packs of dimensional images called 3D Toppers, and as soon as I saw the shoes knew I had to get them, as images of cards showcasing them came into my head.  These are made by Hearty Crafts, and each pack contains 10 images. As soon as I got home, I came up with all sorts of ideas for cards.  It must have been Kismet that I found several shoe related sentiment stamps at Rubbernecker Stamps complement the cards very well.  These cards can be for birthdays or almost any occasion, but I find they are perfect "girlfriend cards".  After all, if the shoe fits, why not wear it, and wear it well?

                                         
Cinderella....proof that a pair of shoes can change your life!
 
 
Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world!
 
 
Animal print shoes seem to strike a chord with almost everyone.... I guess deep down inside we all want to be a Femme Fatale....(in other words, a bad girl LOL!)
 
 
There is nothing like Pink Power.....!
 
 
There is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of character than finding the perfect pair of shoes and getting them FIRST!
 
 
In conclusion....life is short, so buy the shoes (and you won't live to regret it) LOL!
 

Monday, June 10, 2013

Bonjour from Paris

                                                                     
     



Hello everyone,
Lately I have been making cards using silhouettes, which I really love, as I think they add an elegant touch to any card.  The silhouettes I use come from different sources.  I have two silhouette dies from Marianne Designs, and have silhouette images from Dover Pictura.  For the Bonjour cards, I used silhouette stickers from Dazzles which work beautifully.  I call these cards Bonjour because the Kaisercraft papers are from a collection by the same name.  Those of you that know me well know I am very much taken with Paris and all French themes, especially if it's vintage and/or Victorian.  I hope you like these cards as much as I enjoyed making them, and I don't think these will be the last, as I am also working on a series of silhouette cards using the Secret Garden papers by Graphic 45.

Enjoy, and I appreciate your feedback....
                                                      
 
 
 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Girls' Night Out

                                                       

Hello everyone,
I hope you are all enjoying this Memorial Day weekend, although not everyone has Monday off.  A few weeks ago I came across some online photos of Origami dresses that I thought were very cute and eyecatching.  I decided to try making some to use on cards, as I figured these would make great cards for birthdays, Mother's Day, or even just to send to a girlfriend (thus the title "Girls' Night Out").  I practiced (and practiced) on ordinary paper before using the Chiyogami Yuzen paper, which is considered the high end of Origami papers.  For those who are not aware, Chiyogami prints are patterned from designs used for kimonos, thus they can be quite elaborate.  The paper is beautiful with gold accents, and has a feel of tissue material.  As you can see, these papers make the dresses come to life!                                                        
                                                  

I learned how to make two dress styles.  The full skirt with the little cap sleeves was the first, and is relatively simple to learn.  These are cute and look like dresses little girls wore in the 50's and early 60's.           
                                              

The second style is definitely a more contemporary and sophisticated style of dress, and with the Chiyogami paper, looks like a cocktail dress LOL!  This was a more complicated dress to make, but with everything, all it takes is patience and practice. 
                                               
I gave the above card to my sister, as she favored blue over the reds

                                             
                                                 
Although bright colors tend to showcase the dresses, I tried pastel colors and they work just as nicely.  The above card went to my mother.

                                                 
One of my coworkers fell in love with this card, and later she told me she might keep it instead of sending it to a friend LOL!  I can't ask for higher praise....!

                                            
These little dresses make charming cards and I hope you decide to try making some for yourself, as they will make unforgettable cards for whoever receives one!              
                             

                               
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, May 17, 2013

Place in TIme Calendar

                                                        
January


Hello everyone!
I can't believe my last post was in March, but between work and recuperating from shingles, I feel like I hardly have time to do all the paper things I love.  It's ironic, but I have been busy the last few weeks with all kinds of ideas.  My Muse has been a busy lady lately.... I just need to find time to post what I've been working on LOL!

Anyway... let's talk about Mother's Day.... I hope all of you who are mothers - and those of you with mothers - had a nice day.  My mother lives in Puerto Rico, so I don't remember the last Mother's Day I actually spent with her.  Distance does make the heart grow fonder, and this year I wanted to make something very special for her.  I had been thinking for some time now of using the Place in Time papers from Graphic 45 to make an easel calendar.  I used the papers from the 8 x 8 pack, although the rectangular calendar on each page is from the 12 x 12 set. I worked on it every moment I could and managed to complete it in time to send for Mother's Day.  I showed it to Melody Winston, a dear friend of mine that works at Stamp Asylum (in Plano, Texas), and she loved everything about it.  Melody is quite a mixed-media artist herself, so this was high praise coming from her. I am happy to say my mother was delighted with the calendar when she opened it.

Sometime on my agenda for later this year is to make one for my sister Anabel.... and the beat goes on and on and on.... Enjoy the photos, and I would appreciate your feedback!

Thank you for looking and have a nice evening!
                                                             
February is for love, kisses, and chocolates!
 
                                      
March is for St Patrick and kite flying
(this is my mother's birth month)

                                   
                                        
April is for showers
(my sister Anabel's birth month)
 
                                          
May is for flowers and Mother's Day

                                            
June is for brides and Father's Day
 
 
July is for the 4th!
 
 
August is for summer sun
(my birth month!)
 
 
September is for back to School and Autumn leaves
 
 
October is for Halloween and little black cats!
 
 
November is for Thamksgiving and turkey!
 
 
December
(the most wonderful time of the year!)
 
 
 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Curtain Call (Part I)

                                                              
Hello everyone.... I was on a roll this past weekend making several cards using the Curtain Call collection papers from Graphic 45.  This series has been discontinued, so I consider myself very fortunate I was able to find so many papers.  I admire Gloris Stengel's paper designs very much, so I was inspired by her.  I have a long way to go before reaching her level, but all in all I think these cards came out nicely. 

                                         The inside of each card was also decorated                                        

I call these first four cards Part I because I plan to later make more.  There is so much to do with this collection!  I focused on the Harlem Renaissance jazz musicians and dancing for these cards, but the Silent Screen is also represented, so I will later be adding this element to my cards. 

I just love the style and flair of this image, and it makes me feel like dancing LOL!
                                          
                                           
I love Paris and everything French, so this is my personal favorite. The die cut of the Eiffel Tower is from La-La Crafts, and it works great, as the image easily pops out.
                                                                   

The great Satchmo
 
                                         
I hope you like these cards and I always welcome hearing your feedback.

With Easter just around the corner, now I have to get busy making Easter themed cards (as I'm sure most of you are doing).