Some Ustream Inspiration

Nearly everyday you'll

find me on Ustream or YouTube searching for inspiration. Yesterday I watched this show, then created this...

The background is

scraps from Basic Grey's 6x6 Basic Manila paper pad. I put this together following Limor's instruction only using the product I had on hand. I did have Golden's Cobalt Teal, but my Yellow Ochre is by Artist's Loft.

I stamped Unity's She

Was A Daughter onto a piece of copy paper and colored her up with Distress Ink... Bundled Sage, Evergreen Boughs, Peacock Feathers, Worn Lipstick, Vintage Photo and Tattered Rose. Fussy cut it and glued her to the page. I then did some stamping with Unity's She Art Doodles plus some of my own doodling with a Faber-Castell Pitt pen. Added some Black Soot DI around the edges and some using my Chevron Arrows stencil. 

I wanted to enter this

at Word Art Wednesday's weekly challenge, so I added the verse to my page. After it was totally done, I realized I had wrote Psalm 107:1-2 and of course, it is only 107:1. Am I asleep or what????? 

In spite of my mistake,

I'm still happy with the results... and I needed a day of journal play!

I'm linking my page at:

Balzer Designs - Art Journal Every Day/Use a Quote

Word Art Wednesday - God's Goodness/Anything Goes

Thanks for the visit today!

Hugs!

Linda

Compliments Of The Season Tag

The tag I want to show

you today is a combination of old and new. I inked this #8 manila tag with Ranger's Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose and Vintage Photo then gave it a spray with Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold. Then I proceeded to cover it all up???...

What's the point?

Well, I changed the image that I was going to use to something a bit larger. When going through my box of last Christmas's odds and ends, I found this piece from Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium and knew I had to use it on this tag!

I love this collection!

I had saved every tiny piece I had left over from my cards and tags last year. 

My tag wasn't quite

sturdy enough for all the embellishments I had planned, so I pulled out a sheet of cardboard from an old Pixie Dust Paperie kit, cut a square and glued it to the G45 image. Edged it with some Vintage Photo DI and added it to the tag layered on top of a paper doily.

I glued a section of 

American Craft crocheted lace to the bottom, then added I Am Roses flowers and leaves that were misted with Lindy's Stamp Gang Scintillating Silver Glitz Spritz. The time piece is from Prima and is topped with a My Mind's Eye brad.

I cut three snowflakes

from a scrap of white cardstock with Alterations Mini Snowflakes die. Adhered on red rhinestones from a pack from TPC Studio that is nearly empty, and popped them up with 3-D foam squares, the last of that pack, too.

A sheer bow at the

top completes my odds and ends Christmas tag... and I have a sense of satisfaction knowing that these bits and bobs haven't gone to waste.

I'm entering my tag at:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Tags

Crafting for All Seasons - Use Flowers

Shopping Our Stash - Odds and Ends and/or Waiting to be Used

Tuesday Throwdown - Lots of Layers

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda

Joy Tag

Another day on the go.

There's so much to do this time of year... decorate the house, shop for gifts, go to school programs, bake goodies... and make tags.

This is the last sheet

of that divine Lacrosse paper from Basic Grey's Oxford collection. How I hate to see this go... I LOVE this pattern.

I know this isn't a

traditional Christmas pattern, but just look at those colors... GORGEOUS!!!

I torn a piece from BG's 

Basic Manila 6x6 paper pad, stamped it with the trees from Stampers Anonymous Merry Christmas using Coffee Archival Ink, then sponged Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the edges. The round metal-edged tag is from Kraft Outlet. I used an old Sweet 'n Sassy sentiment stamp with Coffee Archival, added a My Mind's Eye brad and tied it with a bit of seam binding stained with Vintage Photo Distress Stain.

The die cuts were made 

from Alterations Mini Deer and Pine Tree. The tree is a double layer of chipboard and Core'dinations cardstock that I embossed with Pine Needles Distress EP. The trunk is wrapped with brown May Arts burlap string. Peeking out from under the tree is a bit of cheescloth I aged with Vintage Photo DS.

I'm entering my tag at:

Papercraft Star - Holiday Greenery

BasicGrey Challenges - A Tag for Your Presents
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Embossing

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs!

Linda

Donuts And Coffee

Every Tuesday morning

the Penmaker and I jump in the car and head to Walnut Creek to do our grocery shopping. It's about a twenty-five minute drive over to Amish country, and we pass several less expensive stores on our way there. So why do it??? Well, a couple reasons... delicious coffee and melt in your mouth fresh, glazed donuts (both free to shoppers), cozy tables on the balcony, over-looking the store where we can sit and discuss our plans for the day, and friendly, unhurried people!

So, now that I'm fortified

with sugar and caffeine, I'll show you another tag...

This is made with the

smaller #5 manilla tag that I covered with a scrap of "Chevron" paper from My Mind's Eye All Is Bright collection. The edges were sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

The vintage image is from

The Graphics Fairy. I get my seam binding for my bows from Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy. This one is topped with a button and a chipboard piece from MME's Follow Your Heart button pack. It's tied on with a piece of aqua Baker's twine from my stash.

The other two chipboard 

elements are from the MME All Is Bright 12x12 chipboard accessories sheet. I added a couple TPC Studio rhinestones for some sparkle.

I am lovin' this collection!

I'm entering my tag at:
Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Tags
Sugar Creek Hollow - Vintage Christmas

Now I want you to

think about joining the Penmaker and me for a donut and coffee next week!

Thanks for the lovely visit!

Hugs!

Linda

Yuletide Tag

I am happy to report,

I'm fine and dandy today with no sign of a headache. Thank you so much for your well wishes. It's a blessing to receive caring comments when you're not feeling well.

I embossed this tag

with Alterations Snow Flurries Texture Fade. I tore up a scrap of dark red cardstock and applied Clear Rock Candy Stickles to the edges... then layered it with a scrap of a white paper doily and a Graphics Fairy image I edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Put a bit of the Stickles

on the image and the snowflake that I cut with Alterations Mini Snowflake Set. Topped it with a clear Teresa Collins rhinestone from her 2011 Christmas collection .

Glued on two rows of

American Crafts crocheted lace at the bottom. I found this Prima flower in my stash, but the color wasn't quite right. I gave it a spritz with Lindy's Stamp Gang Rudolph's Nose Red Starburst and teamed it with leaves cut with Alterations Mini Holly die. Tied on some red shabby wrinkled seam binding.

I stamped the sentiment

using Artistic Outposts Midwinter onto a scrap of white cardstock. Trimmed it fish-tail style and glued it in place. Yes... I'm on a roll! Just might get them all done before Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda

May You Have A Merry Christmas Tag

Even with this three day 

headache in full swing, I have been able to get a few more tags done. Still don't have our tree decorated, although it's been up since last Wednesday, but I have attempted a few ornaments here and there. I'm okay as long as I'm sitting still, just not too good on my feet. Here is one I made yesterday...

This one has that

old fashioned look... just made from scraps and another lovely image from The Graphics Fairy.

The wreath and garland

are from a vintage set that my son-in-law JD gave me. I think this just may be my favorite one so far.

Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda

Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving,

or Black Friday. Did you hit the stores for all the amazing bargains? This is certainly the day to do it! I was suppose to be working... a bit of seasonal work at the warehouse where our son Ethan is employed... but instead I'm at home so dizzy I can't do anything but sit. Our weather made a drastic change, so I imagine that's the reason. 

I was able to finish a tag...

thankfully! I hate to have a non-productive day.

I made this one more 

masculine, still sticking to the Distress Inks... Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Evergreen Boughs... and Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold Mist.

The reindeer is from

the Artistic Outpost Midwinter stamp set and Merry Christmas is from Stampers Anonymous, both done in Coffee Archival ink.

The rosette was cut

with Alterations Mini Rosette Decorative Strip and topped with their mini Snowflake, plus a button from my stash. I also used Idea-ology Long Fasteners and Ball Chain, brown May Arts burlap string, 3-D foam adhesive.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda

Give Thanks!

Wishing our friends

and family a most Happy Thanksgiving!

Linda & The Penmaker

Busy Times At Thanksgiving

As with me, I'm sure

you're busy getting ready for tomorrow... if you're in the U.S., that is! So this will be brief. 

I have another of my Christmas tags completed...

This beautiful image 

came from The Graphics Fairy. My background is lots of heavenly Distress Inks and Perfect Pearls Mist... love 'em!

Just wanted to share

 this with you and say hi. I so appreciate our time together! Have a lovely day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda

Rejoice! Christmas Tag

This tag began by

being drug through Distress Inks... Peeled Paint, Evergreen Bough and Vintage Photo... that had been laid down on my craft mat then spritzed with water. After a drying with my heat tool, I sponged on more inks then gave it a spray with Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold, and distressed the edges with Tonic's Paper Distresser.

I stamped on Jet Black

Archival ink with the music score stamp from Skipping Stones Design "Timeless Textures" set. I pierced a row of holes across the bottom using the Idea-ology Design Ruler and Tonic Craft Pick, and put in Idea-ology Mini Fasteners in the Old Gold finish.

I cut the shanks off of

three vintage gold buttons and applied with Tombow Mono glue. The banner is made with Spellbinders  Ribbon Banners die and a piece of My Mind's Eye paper from my scrap box. I edged it with my Zig Painty Pen in Gold and stamped it with JB Archival and an old sentiment set from Sweet 'n Sassy.

I made the rosette using

Alterations Mini Rosette Decorative Strip, spritzed it with Golden Sleigh Bells Starburst spray from Lindy's Stamp Gang and glued on a piece of tinsel trim. It's topped with two snowflakes cut with Alterations Mini Snowflakes. I added gold rhinestones to the snowflakes, the banner and one of the buttons for a shot of bling.

I colored the seam binding
with the same three Distress Inks and teamed it with a piece of fiber from my stash. Ahhhh good! Now I have two tags done. I'd better get moving... so many more to do!

Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs!
Linda

Home! Sweet Home! Christmas Card

The Penmaker and I

made a stop at Walmart yesterday, to pick up a little something for our granddaughter, Dixie who is celebrating her third birthday today. Afterward, we swung through Starbucks for their 2-5pm special. Are you aware of this...

We both went for the Carmel Burlee Latte. It was delicious! After, which being in a Christmas mood, I went home and made another card. 

It's made with the

backsides of these two papers from My Mind's Eye All Is Bright collection...

 "Joy"

"Christmas Tag"

The base is Recollections

Kraft cardstock, which is extremely sturdy, and a dark red scrap from my leftovers for the mats. I applied a bit of Clear Rock Candy Stickles to the torn edge of the piece under the image, which, by the way, is from The Graphics Fairy.

My paper doily stash

has just been replenished. This beauty came from Etsy. The flowers and leaves on the right, are all I Am Roses, the tags are Idea-ology, and the 25 brad is from MME Kraft Funday pack (a surprise to me, also!). The metal corner piece is Momenta (I am soooo loving these things!).

This sticker is from the 

MME All Is Bright 12x12 Chipboard Accessories. The red Ruffle Blossom is from Maya Road. All my lace and pearl trims are from my box of scraps... can't remember now where most of them have come from, but the piece across the bottom looks like it could be Prima or Webster's Pages.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda

Smiles

I recently got a free

printable from Zorana on her beautiful blog here. Unfortunately, I printed it on regular copy paper, and the inks underneath bled through. So my lovely lady has a bluish-pink complexion. Definitely not what I wanted, but another learning experience. Here she is...

The page had left over

ink from the project opposite. I covered it with star tissue paper and gel medium.

I stamped on Jet Black 

Archival ink with my Stampers Anonymous Bitty Grunge set. Then sponged on Distress Ink in Picked Raspberry and Spun Sugar using Crafters Workshop Mini Tile Texture stencil.

Now came Zorana's

lady. I adhered some lace across her bodice and a section in her hair.

I sketched around

her form with soft charcoal, and rubbed it out with my finger creating a shadow effect.

I brushed over her lips

with Worn Lipstick DI and her eyes with Weathered Wood. I wrote Psalm 43:5 in the upper right corner, boxing it in with a Black Fine Sharpie.

I stamped the sentiment

from the Donna Downey Insightful Meadows set by Unity, onto white cardstock, cut it out, and adhered it with gel medium. A bit more shadowing around the sentiment, around the star at the bottom of the page and around all the page edges.

I'm linking my page at:
Balzer Designs - Art Journal Every Day

Now have a look at the Penmakers latest...

A very unique

fountain pen in one of his new showcases.

Made of wood burl

and stablized with various shades of resins.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda