Altered Book Swap Theme: Advice

I love... minibook swap

Along the lines of a little fat book swap, we used 8 1/2 x 11 cut in 4. Each player had to complete the phrase: "I Love...." There were a total 11 players and for each I made the cover. Thanks for playing ladies, they will be on their way to you today. See www.paperartistsonline.com for photos of everyone's pages.

Round Robin ATC- Rain Dance

Again, I was the last one to work on this one. Thanks to Hope for the Alcohol ink background and Holly for the focal.

Round Robin ATC- Kokopelli

I was the last to work on it. Thanks to Cheryl for the background and Dani for the focal.

Bead class: Success!

First, I would like to thank Tim at Ranger!! Second, kudos to everyone who attended! How much fun was that!?! Sounds like everyone was happy with the result and plans on making a lot more! If you missed it, here are the class list and video links:
craft sheet
melting pot
clear UTEE
Colored UTEE
bamboo skewers
Bedazzles
any small embellishments you have handy
Paper scraps
Paper trimmer or scissors

Here are the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH5BLfqOwxM -Gather Supplies and cutting instruction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX-C5d3EpCE -Rollin' rollin' rollin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utCPMHqiQuo -Clear and gold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh-E7dr5r_k -Beginning color
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MozkSopTSA4 -Color part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8gEo0hZ6Jw -Extra stuff, end.

Enjoy! Please post a link to your beads in the comments!

Bead class tonight 7pm CST

You can find the class and it's links at: http://www.paperartistsonline.com/PAOChat/beadclass.php

You must be a registered member to have access to the chat. I'll be posting video links starting at 7:30 CST, and I'll get them over here in a few days. Hope to see you there!

Special thanks to Tim at Ranger for making things possible!!

Bead Class preview

Here are a few of the beads (let's be honest, just the good ones) I've done so far to prep for next weekend's class. Gwen came over last night and we played and played. When I first learned to make them I was taught using the embossing gun, but after some trial and error I simplified the process immensely and really believe I've got a foolproof way for everyone to be successful and have a lot of fun.

If you're planning on participating Saturday night, I suggest you roll a bunch of beads ahead of time, so you're ready to go and not held up by the mundane. Don't worry, I'll go over it in class, but to get you started: roll strips of paper around a bamboo skewer securing with a dab of white glue. Text weight works best 1" x 3" or 1 1/2" x 3". If you're going to use patterned scrapbook cardstock it'll be trickier, but still work.

Cold weather + too many sweaters = the best blanket ever!

When I woke up this morning, I had dreams of the children at school and I have the entire day to FINALLY clean the house. I had motivation, I have good reason to get it clean, and I had the time....poof!

Reality, today was one of the coldest days in history and schools were closed. I went into my studio and tripped over a big box. What I found must have been part of a bigger plan. My collection of felted wool sweaters cut into workable pieces of felted fabric. Mittens? a Pill box hat? a blanket!

I spent the day cutting 6x6 squares, sewing them together and finishing them with some yummy Irish wool. I backed it with polyester fleece, so it's not so itchy and now am in love with my blanket! It's extremely heavy, incredibly warm and all mine! I was proud that I actually made something for myself, not a swap, not the kids, just for me. Then Allison found it. No worries, I'll take it back once she falls asleep, and sit down with a nice hot cup of tea. She got a new headband out of it, though.

Thanks for looking!

Little wooden pieces swap

A few months ago I was in Habitat for Humanity and saw boxes of little wooden pieces. I believe they were intended for finishing wooden furniature, but they just called to me. I thought they could be put to alternate uses.
After sending 10 boxes to friends I knew would enjoy the challenge, I was stumped. Today inspiration hit! I have destroyed the house rummaging through supplies that were packed away back in the end of November...remind me never to go that long without making anything...and this little girl was born. She will be on her way to Miss Lynn J. tomorrow. Thanks for looking!

Christmas card ATC speed swap!

OK, here we go, a speed swap!

Take those christmas cards you just got, and cut them into interesting ATCs. DO NOT EMBELLISH just send me cards 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. You will receive as many as you send Maximum 18.

Since there is no embellishment, just backgrounds, you can mail flat and regular envelope, please include stamps to return them to you, and an address sticker would be great!

I'll swap right away and get back to you before February.

I'm cleaning up after Christmas, thinking it's a waste to throw these cards away, but I don't have space to keep them.

If you don't have my address, pm me and I'll pm you back.

Stop the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

What are we coming to when Grandma's baby quilt is considered controband? This is not only vulgar, but obscene. Here is a video from Youtube giving a synopsis:


What can you do? Formal complaints against must be lodged before January 20 2009 Comments must be labelled: Section 102 Mandatory Third-Party Testing of Component Parts'. Please send your complaint HERE

The BILL is located by clicking on this sentence

I'm teaching an online paper bead class January 24

It's paper fondue! I'm so excited, and hoping you'll join me!

This will be a really fun, freeing class! Try to get a few friends together, have each bring a few supplies and you'll really have a good time. We will be making paper beads and decorating them with UTEE. This is not intended to be a costly endeavour, rather use up your itty bitty scraps to create awesome chunky beads you can make into jewelry or decorate your paper creations.

Time of class will be determined closer to the date and I'll let you know. Class format will include videos via youtube, directions via PAO Forum and I'll be live and answering questions inPAO Live chat All class info will be available during and after class, so don't worry if you miss it, it'll be around for awhile.

Please collect and have the following materials ready to go at class time:
Mandatory: a melting pot, ultra thick embossing powder (UTEE), heat resistant craft sheet, skewers (metal or wooden, wood is easiest), varied paper scraps, scissors.

Optional : Colored & metallic embossing powders, micro beads, pearl ex powder, colored thread/fiber, anything itty bitty, colored markers, old book pages, markers, newspaper, magazines. Collect things that are very small and might be easily encorporated.

If you are not already registered at PAO, I suggest you do so before the day of class, and look around a bit to familiarize yourself with it. There is a lot of talent there as well as a gazillion active swaps and inspiration. Passwords must include numbers, little letters and big letters, it's tricky but keeps the spam out. You will need to be registered to have access to the links and videos.

I hope to see you in class!

time for a clean slate

I wish everyone a little more Sanity
a touch more Motivation
and moments of pure Joy
Have a Healthy 2009!








*photograph Copyright 2008 Tree-Nation

December is Lisa Vollrath month...

...at least at my blog it seems to be! Earlier this month she asked bloggers to tell her their Christmas wish, and 2 lucky people would be the winner of some lovely altered Altoid's tins. Guess what? I won! woo hoo! The best part is that I also got 6 months of her ezine too...hoot hoot holla! Thanks again Lisa!!! You really were my inspiration for December!

Now go visit her and go make something!

A great mixed media, quilting blog

Don't misunderstand, I do not quilt, but mixed media, now there's something that interests me! Pokey Bolton Editor of Cloth Paper Scissors, has a really great blog. I haven't looked at it in a while, but I reminded to today, and I have missed so much. Go check her out.

Lisa Vollrath, the creator of the awesome paper shoe pattern from an earlier post, has come up with possibly the best giveaway of the season this year! A FREE, and ya gotta love free, page of vintage ephemera every day from December 1st through Christmas day! Go visit her at TenTwoStudios to pick them up, and do look around while you're there. She posts a new project every Monday in honor of "Make it Monday" and of course the best deal going in the mixed media world is signing up for her monthly newsletter "The Monthly Muse" where she gives lots of great step by step directions for fun projects and of course extra ephemera pages!
Lots and lots of generosity and talent there!! don't miss her!

Tim Holtz and the 12 tags of christmas

Ah yes, the leaves have fallen, the heater has been turned on, snow is dusting the ground and Tim Holtz is at it again! Go see what he's up to Tim's blog and leave a comment. You never know, you just might win the supplies he's giving away!

On the 3rd day of Christmas, Tim taught me...

---that even an Emo Christmas can be fun!

On the first day of Christmas, Tim taught me...

How to use masks and grungeboard to make some festive tags!

sticky snowmen

Inspired by the cover of Cloth Paper Scissors November/December 2008 issue, these little snowman came to life. Aren't they sweet.




I tried to make 'regular' snowmen, but something unintentional made them look like skullys. hehehe

Christmas shoes

I was turned on to Lisa Vollrath and Ten Two Studios this week. She has a monthly e zine with projects and ephemera. Good stuff! This month includes the template to make these awesome little paper shoes. Go check her out, lots and lots of talent there.

Revitalize your spirit...altered book

Finally, I finished another journal that came to me. This time the theme was "What to do in Retirement?". I went with 'Revitalize your spirit'. Thanks for looking!

When life closes a door...

...you start a website!

Well, this is a full circle moment for me. So unhappy about losing my favorite place on the internet, a friend of mine contacted me and we made our own. Thinking we could host our swaps there, we would get a handful of friends to join us. Well, it's been 5 days and we have over 100 members, over 250 topics and over 3500 posts! I know, I know!?! One member created the banner for us (thank you Marianne)by digital collaging images from the first posts to our gallery, and another named us PAOists.

We have Scrapbooking, card making, altered arts of all kinds, a ton of swaps already in all catagories. There are a few online challenges to get you motivated if you're stuck, and a gallery filling up with great work from great people! We have a place for you to list your blog or the site of someone who inspires you and already there is talk of getting together for a PAO-WOW. The members have even started to inspire each other in a weight loss challenge! I couldn't ask for a better group of awesome, creative people!

If you want to come play with us paperartistsonline is where we hang out. Obviusly it's very new, and we're still working out kinks as they come up, but so far wow! The energy there is buzzzzzin'. At this time of year, when we stop and think of the things we are thankful for, I am unbelievebly thankful for my friends!

Hey Puzzle swappers...

I just got my paws on 36 puzzles. I know I said I wouldn't do it again, but so many of you asked me to and today I got a great deal on the blanks. I haven't figured out the cost yet, but it shouldn't be more than a few dollars per puzzle, I'm thinking $3 for each blank, which includes shipping to you. They are 8 1/2 x 11 and have 12 pieces each.

There will be 2 themes: 'Ode to Tim Holtz' and 'Anything goes'. You may use ANY supplies you have laying around, just no food products, please.

Once I have all 32 spoken for, I'll send them out. The deadline for these will be February 1st. I ask you include payment when you send them back to me in a reuseable padded envelope with enough loose postage stamps to cover shipping back to you.

I'm handling this same as before. If you haven't participated in one of my swaps, feel free to leave me your questions in the comments section of this post. If you would like to post a spoiler, please add the link in the comments section as well.

How do you sign up? I am now hosting this at paperartistsonline So feel free to hear over and join in. There are a few places left.

Fabric ATC swap

Here are my entries on their way to Australia this afternoon...I so hate to say goodbye! I started with some thin dyed cheesecloth. I attached a variety of fiber, thread and string, embellished with embroidery floss, glass beads and copper. I left one blank because I love the background as is. Already I have some ideas swirling around about a wall hanging. Thanks for looking, comments always welcomed!

Witchy box

While wandering the aisles of the thrift store the other day looking for a rack to store some new jars on, I came across an old spice rack. It was brown, but instantly I knew it held potential for a witchy box filled with potions and prized momentos!







Thanks for visiting, please leave a comment or constructive criticism!!!

a mime's nightmare

hehehe... he's in a box, get it? A box! bwahahaha. This silly little guy will be heading to live with Rachelle for a one/one altered tin swap. I'll have to make another to sit on my shelf.

Thanks for visiting!

What's in your envelope ATCs

Remember that cool pile of swag I received last week? Here are 3 ATCs. Thanks for looking!

Crusade No. 18

I decided to join the Green Pepper Press Street team this week by looking back and beginning the crusades from week one, spooky, halloween art. Fed up with my usual stamps I decided to carve some skullies. Oh how much fun is this! Allison was looking on all night, and finally asked if she could make one. Obviously I can't let a 6 year old carve erasers, but I had her draw on one and I carved it for her. Can you guess which one???



I received a book this week from my friend Ink-Pattie called Puro Muerto, Day of the Dead art and I decided to make some DOD skullies. Then I realized, carving stamps was Crusade #18, so here we are! I can see how addicting this could be, thank god I only bought one sheet of eraser today!! Excuse my inky fingerprints, I was obviously really excited to get these posted, all the ink schmeeeeeeerrd. Stay tuned for some ATCs with these this week. Please visit The GPP Street Team Crusade 18 and see what everyone else came up with.

Thanks for stopping by if this is your first visit here, and welcome back if you've been here before! Constructive criticism is always welcomed!

Green Pepper Press

Yummy yummy yummy! Green Pepper Press has the most amazing crow images anywhere! Go check them out for some good goodies! Look for a swap using these birds soon........ Tell Michelle I sent you!

Vintage Halloween ATCs

Ah yes, the leaves are beginning to change, the morning air is crisp and clean, Fall is upon us! I love Fall! I especially love Halloween! So what better way to welcome my favorite season than host another swap. Here is my take on Vintage Halloween.

Click image for a larger version and feel free to leave constructive criticism.

Lookie what I got!

In a great swap of Pass It Forward. All this awesome stuff to play with!!! I'm going to make ATC's all afternoon and see how much I can use up. Thanks Farley!

Use this foto ATC swap

Hey people out there...you wanna play a game?
Make 5 ATCs and get 4 back.
Keep them the same, or not.
I prefer you back them with chipboard to keep it sturdy too.
You MUST use the attached foto. If you click on her a new page will open and she'll be nice and big to download to your computer.
Due November 1st.

I think she is so beautiful, I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

English bulldog altered book page

hehehe.... I think I was channeling Traci Bautista on this one! I'm pseudo hosting a round robin for altered books, each with a new theme, and this is my take on "English Bulldog"

Constructive criticism always encouraged!

I broke my bone folder!

CRAP! That's not suppossed to happen! If you know what a bone folder is (and I'm going to assume you do if you're reading my blog) it actually snapped in half! the worst part: I got it so long ago, I can't find one the same size!

Someone please help....... I need a bone folder! Not bamboo, not the huge one, not the itty pitty one, the good one, made out of bone! ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!


Now doesn't that look like a great set of tools! I snagged the foto from Studio 5 book arts

Don't give up!

Yesterday was a HUGE day for my family!!! Emily, the youngest, has been blind all her life. Everywhere we go, she keeps her eyes closed, because she has nothing to look at. She keeps her head down, with no reason to hold it up. People always comment, "Awwww, she's sleeping". 'No, actually she's blind, but she can hear you' has always been my response, then they shudder away in some asinine attempt to avoid catching blindness.
I took her to yet another vision doctor, one who specializes in muscle disorders to get a final opinion, and hopefully some therapeutic advice, or the final confirmation of her diagnosis. Well, apparently, the other doctors wrote her off so quickly, they didn't bother to test her for nearsightedness. They looked for a medical anomaly to explain the lack of vision, always blaming it on Optic Nerve Atrophy, or Cortical Visual Impairment (Translation: I dont know why she can't see). Yesterday an incredibly patient, intelligent doctor took a look at her, asked me if we had a history of nearsightedness in the family, and when I said 'Yes, very much' she smiled and said "Well, she has some random muscular movements, but she is also very nearsighted!"....... WHAT?!?!?!
She said she wasn't going to guarantee glasses would help 100%, but she was sure that without them, there was no doubt Emily wasn't able to see!!!!
As if a miracle happened, my little babe put on her glasses, opened her eyes WIDE and started looking around and smiling!
The moral to this story: Don't give up! Unless there is no heartbeat there is hope! Things change, the brain begins to repair itself, people heal, emotionally and physically! This news couldn't come at a better time!

New ATCs

"Sunflower": Leafing pen resist with gold pen, yellow and red liquid watercolor on untextured side of watercolor paper blended with a watercolor brush. ribbon from stash and image from National Geographic.


"Go Fish": Intuitive watercolor with Yellow, red and orange liquid watercolors on the textured side of watercolor paper. Words with my DYMO, dry cleaning ticket, fish from a magazine.


"Peace": Intuitive watercolor. I wanted some darker colors, so I played around with mixing colors to get the darks I so love. Club Scrap roman numeral stamp over the liquid watercolors with pressure embossed copper flashing and magazine image. I so love this, I think I'm going to make it my new 'business card'.


"Harmony": This background came from night 1 with the colorwash and glossy paper. I added a DYMO tag, some copper, jumbo eyelet and Image from Art-e-zine.


"Cheap Monkey": hehehe-isn't he funny! Liquid watercolor baby wipe. Rather than coloring a baby wipe just for this, I took one out and have been wiping my craft sheet with it for a few days. Now that it dried, I adhered it to the cards and instant random background! Look closely you'll see the giraffe from Club stamp Serengheti.


"Tick Tock": More of the colored baby wipe with Rhapsody stamp over it in background, magazine images and DYMO.


"Angel lady" More colored baby wipe, highlighted with gold leafing pen. She's not quite done, but I am so here she is for today.

Please leave comments or constructive criticism...I love to hear what you have to say!

Paper quilting

Quilting as in a nice puffy quilt for your bed, instead these are made of paper and put on cards as embellishments. A friend of mine (Gwen) came over and gave me some awesome pointers the other night as we worked on all the teacher cards A&E are giving this year.

The pattern and red paper are from Hanko design, the other stuff came from a grab bag, so who knows. Gwen made the awesome little house and I did the Apple and T-shirts. Comments and constructive critiques always welcomed!