Happy New Year!

 

Greetings! A special thank you to newest follower!  Well, we are only days away from Christmas now!  I am not completely ready, but it's okay.  How about you?  I wanted to share with you today a card I created for our new challenge over at Inkspirational where this time around we have a Photo to inspire you.  

 

I hope you will stop over to see what the rest of the Design Team have dreamed up for you with this awesome photo as inspiration.  For my own card, I used a new stencil of the New York City skyline by Sheena Douglass called "The Big Apple."  The couple and sentiment are images from Artistic Outpost.  I colored in the buildings with Pan Pastels.  I did not have any fireworks stamp images so I added mirrored stars by Tim Holtz Idea-ology, instead.

 

 

We look forward to seeing what you create and hope you will submit a project of your own.  Merry Christmas!  Hugs, Yvonne

 



 

 

Birthday Wishes

 

Greetings!  Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my blog today.  I truly appreciate your visit and comments.  Today, I am sharing with you a card I made for the new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.  Our theme this time is " to create a project that requires the use of a heat gun." 

 

 

For my own project, a birthday card for my granddaughter, I began by spraying Spun Sugar Distress Spray Stain onto an 8 x 8 inch card base.  I used my heat gun to dry the ink before overspraying with Squeezed Lemonade Distress Spray Stain so that the colors did not change.  The images and sentiments were stamped onto scrap card with Ranger Archival Ink in Black and were heat set with my heat gun.  The images were water colored with Distress Markers and Ranger Liquid Pearls and Stickles were added.  A seam binding bow completes my card.  I hope you will stop over at FSC to see what the rest of the Design Team have created to inspire you and then consider submitting a piece of your own for a possible chance to win a gift card for $20 from our gracious sponsor, FlonzCraft.  Please remember we are a stamping challenge, so stamping needs to the focal point of your piece!

 

 

Thanks again for stopping by! Hugs, Yvonne

An Angel Gets Her Wings

 

Greetings! It time for another challenge, already, over at Inkspirational.  This time, our challenge is to create a project around the theme of "Anything Goes with Gold." My design team sisters have outdone themselves with inkspiration for you.  I hope you will pop over to see what they have dreamed up.  For my own card, I began by spritzing Distress Stain in Chipped Sapphire and Tarnished Gold onto my card base.  I next stenciled Gold Texture Paste through a star stencil by Red Lead Paperworks.  The angel, sentiment and bells are also by Red Lead.  The wings, a portion of a doily, and the mesh bow are from my stash.  We hope you will delight us with a creation of your own!  Thanks for dropping by. Best wishes, Yvonne



May Your Christmas be Merry

 

 

Greetings!  Thank you for stopping by today!  My post today is for the latest challenge over at Inkspirational.  The theme, this time around, is to create a Christmas Card.  It is optional for you to create your project without red or green.  For an extra special twist, there is a prize up for grabs for one of the participants who creates their project with the optional twist thanks to Design Team members Kim and Sandie.  I hope you will stop by Inkspirational to see what the Design Team has created and then consider submitting a project of your own.  My card was created using Artistic Outpost images.  The card base was sprayed with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain.  The stamped images were inked with Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa.  The rusty tree is from Retro Art Café and the chipboard numbers were a thank you gift from the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Looking forward to seeing your creations.  Best,

Yvonne

Let there be "Peace on Earth"

 

Greetings! A special thank you to my new followers! Today, I am sharing at tag for the latest challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge where the theme is to create "A Christmas Tag."  I normally make 8 x 8 inch cards, so making tags is a bit uncomfortable for me but I gave it a go and was happy I did.  I began by stenciling a starry background using a stencil  be Red Lead Paperworks and Distress Spray Stains in Bronze Metallic.  All the stamped images are also by Red Lead.  The bronze stars are by Retro Art Café and the burlap string is by May Arts.  The edges of the tag and the wings of the angels were shined up with Stickles.  I hope that you will stop over to see what the rest of the Design Team has dreamed up for you and then give the challenge a go for a possible chance to win a gift voucher worth $20 from our generous sponsor, Flonzcraft.  Thank you for stopping by today! Hugs, Yvonne

Shine Brightly

Greetings!  Back today with a new challenge over at Inkspirational!  This time, we are challenged to create a project around the word "Shine."  It is certainly a great time of year for shiny items, isn't it? I found myself going in many different directions and finally went in a direction that I never anticipated.  I recently printed out this beautiful Gecko Galz image.  I just am so drawn to a shiny moon and I love the deer on the ridge looking out over fresh snow.  I stenciled the card base with a star stencil and sentiment, both by Red Lead Paperworks, ink by Ranger Products.  At the bottom, I tore card stock to create a snowy blanket and added sparkle to the overall card with Rock Candy Distress Glitter.  The deer by Red Lead Paperworks and a seam binding bow from my stash complete my card.  I hope you will pop over to Inkspirational to see what the rest of the talented Design Team have come up with to inkspire you and then consider sharing one of your own creations with us!  Thanks, as always, for stopping by.  Hugs, Yvonne



Up on the House Top!

 

Welcome!  Thank you for stopping by my blog today. It is hard to believe that two weeks have flown by and it is already time for another new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge!  The new challenge is to create a project with "Animals."  With Christmas only 54 days away, as I craft this post, I decided I would incorporate reindeer into my own piece, Rudolf to be exact!  All images, sentiments and embellishments are by Red Lead Paperworks.  The background paper and Distress Inks used are by Tim Holtz/Ranger Products.  I hope you will stop over to FSC and see all the inspirational pieces from the rest of the Design Team and then get busy and create and share a project of your own with us.  Remember, we are a stamping challenge, so stamping needs to be the focal point of your piece.  As always, our generous sponsor FlonzCraft will offer at $20 gift voucher to one lucky winner.  Thanks so much for leaving your encouraging comments.  I savor each one.  Hugs, Yvonne

Who She had Always Been

 

Thank you, as always, for stopping by my blog today!  I especially want to thank each of you who have encouraged me through your warm, heartfelt comments concerning this passage of life my husband and I are experiencing.  We were in the emergency room again all day yesterday, but so happy to be back home today!  My card above is for the new challenge for the Pink Team over at Eclectic Ellapu for November. Our challenge is to create a project using our favorite color scheme.  I hope you will pop on over and see what each of the design team members dreamed up to inspire you! Oh to pick my favorite color scheme!  I confess, I just could not do it.  My card above was created with soothing Vintage Photo Distress Ink and warming Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.  I love these colors together, but refuse to commit to them being my absolute favorite!  Speaking of favorites, this newly inked up image by Donna Downey for Unity Stamps is at the top of my list, as are the sentiments included with the stamp!  The stenciling was done with Tim Holtz Stencils and the butterfly clusters, which were stamped repeatedly, are by Hampton Arts.  The lace and bit of ribbon were laying on my work table and the buttons are from my stash.  We cannot wait to see what you create!  Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Yvonne 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Hop!

Hello Everyone! 

I want to welcome everyone to the 9th destination of

Gecko Galz 4th Annual Blog Hop

If you started here you might want to go back and start at the beginning at the Gecko Galz blog so you won’t miss anything!  

We have 21 AMAZING blogs for you to visit this weekend, each with some gorgeous projects created using the Gecko Galz collage images, that we are giving you for FREE! Each blog you visit will have another free Gecko Galz Collage sheet for you to down load, The one here is

"ODE TO THE MUSE".  

Also make sure you collect all the “secret” words on each blog so at the end of the hop you can send in the phrase to enter our drawing for a wonderful treat.  So sit back, relax, take your time and enjoy the hop!

We have FOUR amazing prizes up for grabs:

·        First is the Kit Club for each month for an entire year. This is exclusive sets for club members which include a paper set, stamp set, and collage images in each set! That is 12 different sets! This is a $144 value!

·        Second prize is the monthly collage sets for an entire year! Each month you will receive all 4 sets absolutely FREE! This is a $96 value.

·        Third prize is all of the individual collage sheets each month for a year, this includes the jewel it sheets! This is a $90 value!

·        And our Grand Prize ONE FULL YEAR of Gecko Galz PRODUCTS!!! That will Kit Club Set, 4 individual collage sheets, Jewel it set and 4 collage sets each month for the entire year! This is a prize worth $330!

Read on to learn how you can win!

First of all, you will need to visit all 21 blogs and leave a comment on each blog :) **This is important so we know you have been to all the blogs **. Collect all 20 words (one on each blog site except the home site) and at the end of the blog on the Fripperies and Butterflies site there will be a link to email the phrase to Gecko Galz. This enters you in the contest. On November 3rd we will randomly draw the 4 winners and email each of you, then we will post the winning names on the Gecko Galz blog site. 

For an extra chance to win make a purchase from the Gecko Galz site and your name goes in again for a better chance of winning (each purchase you make that weekend gives you another chance to win) 

 

Your Secret Word is;

AND

Please enjoy this free Gecko Galz Collage sheet

“Ode To The Muse”

 as well as the samples I have made using the images!

 

(Just click on the picture for link to full size sheet)

 

Here are my samples:

 

 

 If You missed checking out one of the blogs or want to go through them again here is the rotation

Here is the Blog Hop Rotation

Sharon Rogers

Joan Liddle

Vicki Romain

Jules Eickmeier

Patti Fisher

Heather Hudson

Diane Bove

Yvonne Garner

Michele Storm

Jessica Moore

Helene Huber

Terri Burnette

Lisette Baker

Barbara Bird

Gerri Herbst

Amanda Phillips

Carol Salisbury

Wendy Waldorf

Leanne Seed 

 

Happy Hootin' Halloween

Hello! Thanks for dropping by today!  Today, I am finally rejoining the rest of the Design Team over at Inkspirational for the delightful Photo Inkspiration Challenge below!  Aren't the owls just so fun and colorful? 

 

 

As I considered my stamp images, I remember this gorgeous image I purchased recently from Red Lead Paperworks.  I am not real big into Halloween, but do love to celebrate fall and love birds of all kinds.  I decided to do a sort of "Andy Warhol" style card by selecting a variety of shades of Archival Ink and just stamped away!  I added a bit of Mustard Seed Distress Ink to the eyes.  Some of the ink ran a bit, but I remember Tim Holtz saying he likes to let the color go out past the lines, so I guess it has to be okay!  The sentiment is also by Red Lead Paperworks and the candy corn buttons have been in my stash for years.  I love CAS but don't feel comfortable doing it.  My card probably needs something else, but I decided to just stop here.  Please check out the cool cards by the rest of the Design Team and then share one of your own creations with us! Thanks for stopping by!  Hugs, Yvonne

 

Winter Wonderland

 



Greetings!  I am so delighted that you dropped by.  I am desperately trying to find my way back into my world of art as my husband continues to have health challenges and I continue to unpack and set up our new home!  This is my first post for Fashionable Stamping Challenge in some time.  I am so grateful to all of the Design Teams that I serve on for being so patient with me this year.  That said, the new theme for the FSC Challenge is "Weather."  It can be an autumn leaves falling card, a snow scene, or even a card with an umbrella on it.  The sky's the limit.  I hope you will pop on over to FSC to see all the gorgeous examples the design team have created to inspire you, and then we hope you will create a project of your own to share with us.  Remember one lucky participant will win a gift card from our generous sponsor "FlonzCraft."  As we are a stamping challenge, we need to see stamping as the focal image of your project.  For my own creation, I inked up an image by Crafty Individuals for the first time using Watering Can Archival Ink.  The scene was watercolored with Distress Markers.  The background of the card base was stamped with snowflakes from Artistic Outpost in Spruced Evergreen Distress Ink.  I found a few snowflakes in my stash to embellish my card.  Thanks for stopping by and for all your kind comments.  Have a great weekend.  Best, Yvonne

She Loves Christmas

 

 

Greetings! It seems like forever since I have been on my blog.  Life continues to be challenging, but my husband keeps encouraging me to return to my art!  The sample above was created for Gecko Galz for their October 2014 release of digital images.  The focal image above is from the Snow Babies collection.  Isn't she dreamy?  I added a stamped sentiment by Red Lead Paperworks that seemed to work well.  The bottle brush tree and star charm are by Red Lead, as well.  The background paper is also by Gecko Galz and is part of their gorgeous Mayflower Paper Pack, also released in October.  Thanks for dropping by.  Your visits and comments continue to encourage me.  Best, Yvonne

 

 



Flowers Everywhere!

Greetings!  This is my very first card created in my new home, from my new art studio.  I finally found my paper cutter in the middle of the night last night in another room of the house!  It really felt good to get inky again, though a bit uncomfortable as I try to relearn where all my supplies are in my new space.  This card is for the challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu where the challenge theme for the Pink Team is "Flowers."  The flowers can be a focal point, an embellishment, the background, or whatever you like.  I chose to use them as my background.  The large flower is by Paper Artsy and was stamped with Black Archival Ink.  The smaller gold flowers were embossed with Gold Embossing Paste and a stencil, both by Wendy Vecchi.  The focal image by Tim Holtz was stamped several times, trimmed and pieced together using Archival Ink.  The edges were distressed lightly with Distress Ink.  A simple black and white piece of twine was fashioned into a bow at the top of the card. Thanks so much for stopping by and for all your kind comments.  I hope you will stop over to EE to see all the beautiful inspiration pieces by the Pink Team and then share a piece of your own with us.  Best, Yvonne

Sparkle

Back again with another card I made with some of the new digital images from Gecko Galz announced at the beginning of September. The image of this pony in the vintage color scheme really caught my eye.  What to do with it?  I really liked the sentiment above in another offering by Gecko Galz and paired them both up with digital paper also by Gecko Galz.  A subtle but cheerful card!  

Supplies used:  Gecko Galz Chalkboard Sentiments 2, September Splendor, Marie Laveau from the Coven Paper Pack, scraps of paper, card stock buttons and twine from my stash. 

Just a few more boxes to unpack in my new art studio! I cannot wait to get inky again. Hope you having a great day.  I thank you for stopping by and please know that I cherish every visit and comment.  Hugs, Yvonne

Pumpkin Faces!

Greetings!  Well, we are officially moved!  I am knee deep in boxes and cannot find much of anything.  When we do find something, it is quite a celebration.  The card above was created just before we moved for the roll out of the September release of Gecko Galz digital images.  This specific piece was created for our monthly Cross Promotion with other companies to show you how well their products blend with Gecko Galz.  This month, we are featuring digital art by The Paper Seamstress. To create my card, I followed the instructions below:

Instructions: Create card base form white card (8"x8"). Print background paper from Coven Paper Pack (The Sepreme), trim, mat with black paper and mount to card front.  Print Paper Seamtress (HP15 Bella Front and Back), trim and mount Lizzy Borden and turn key to card front. Print Paper Seamstress (HP15 Other) trim arms, garlic basket and wheels and adhere to card front as shown. Print Gecko Galz Haunted Ephemera 2, trim cat and moon, add wheels and another turn key from Paper Seamstress as shown.  Stamp sentiment onto scrap white card, distress edges with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink and mount to card front.  Tie scrap bakers twine into bow and add. 

Supplies:On hand:  white card, bakers twine,Gecko Galz: Haunted Ephemera 2,  Coven Paper Pack (The Sepreme), Paper Seamstress (HP15 Bella) and (HP15 Other). Sentiment by Red Lead Paperworks. Ink:  Ranger Distress Ink.  Black Archival Ink, also by Ranger. 

Thanks so much for dropping by.  Looking forward to getting past the unpacking stage!  Hugs, Yvonne

Love Rocks.

Greetings!  It's a new month and time for a new challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu!  Our theme for the Pink Team for the month of September is "Hearts."  I immediately think of Valentine's Day, but realize that you can use hearts in your art all year long.  I began by creating a background using Distress Inks and various stencils by Tim Hotlz for Ranger and Rebekah Meier for The Crafters Workshop.  The focal image is by Pam Carriker for Stampington and was also colored with Distress Inks.  The sentiments are by Dina Wakley for Ranger.  I hope you will check out what the rest of the talented Design Team have created to inspire you and then consider sharing a project of your own with us.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, Yvonne

Anything for a Friend

Greetings! Thank you for dropping by my blog today.  I am a few hours late, but it is time for a new challenge over at Inkspirational! It is a photo challenge this time and isn't it a beauty?  I love all the different approaches the Design Team took on this photo and hope you will take a few minutes to check out their designs!  As most of my art studio is boxed up for our move next Wednesday, I was not able to grab the first image that came to mind to use.  Oh well, I just had to break into my new stash of Oxford Impression images instead!  On my card base, I used Distress Paint to create the sky and grass.  The focal images and sentiment were inked with Ranger Watering Can Archival Ink and water colored with Distress Inks, trimmed and mounted to the card front. A few pearl gems and a seam binding bow complete my card.  We cannot wait to see what you create!  Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, Yvonne

A Very Special Birthday

Greetings!  It is time, once again, for a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge!  Our theme this time is to create a card or project for a "Special Birthday."  My son and I both have a birthday during the month of September, so I decided to make a card for him.  I had originally thought I would ink up this gorgeous Paper Artsy stamp for Mother's Day, given the sentiment along the side, but it works for this occasion, as well.  I began by creating my background using various Distress Paints and Distress Inks.  The colors were a bit deeper than I wanted, so I brushed a very light layer of Gesso over the top and it muted it beautifully.  Next using Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks, I stenciled feathers around the edges using a stencil from The Crafters Workshop.  The focal image was stamped with Watering Can Archival Ink.  The sentiment by Artistic Outpost was also stamped with the same ink.  Some black and white twine and vintage buttons complete my card.  I hope you will pop on over to FSC to see what the rest of the Design Team have created to inspire you and then we hope you will share one of your own creations with us, as well. Please remember we are a stamping challenge, so no digis.  As always, our sponsor FlonzCraft has a $20 gift voucher for one lucky participant.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, Yvonne

On a Roll, with Comedy...

Greetings!  The weeks they do fly by, don't they!  It is time for a new challenge over at Inkspirational and this time it is a colour challenge!  A great color combo of Red, Orange and Yellow to be exact.  Please pop over to Inkspirational for the fine details about adding neutrals to your project and to see the WIDE range of projects the Design Team have come up with to Inspire you!

Two posts in a row, I sought comedy for my posts.  How unusual!  I recently acquired some quirky sentiments from Dylusions by Ranger and remembered this focal image by Lost Coast Designs that was begging to be inked up for the first time, and came across when I was considering images for last week's post and everything seem to fall into place. The stencils are from Red Lead Paperworks and were inked with Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks.  I thought they gave the impression of coffee rings!  The focal image was stamped with Archival Ink, trimmed and mounted over the stenciling.  The sentiment was stamped with Black Archival Ink and then trimmed, distressed with Pumice Stone Distress Ink and added to the card front.  I also lightly distressed the edges of the card with  Pumice Stone Distress Ink.  A repurposed sheer red and white dotted ribbon was fashioned into a simple bow and added to the top right corner of my card.  I hope you will get inky and share your own creation with us!  On another note, my husband and I settled on our new home in my home town yesterday!  I have been away for over a decade and am so excited to move back home and be just two miles from all of my children, grandchildren and extended family.  We plan to move in early September.  As you might expect, I am holding out my art supplies to the bitter end for packing! I'll share photos of my new art studio when it is set up! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs, Yvonne

Making You Laugh

Greetings! First, I want to thank each of my followers who reached out to me recently concerning the loss of my beloved, Josephine.  I really appreciated your support.  My post today is for the new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge, which is entitled "Make Us Laugh."  Now, those who are close to me know that I am about as sober as they come, however, even fewer know that when I am on a roll, I truly do have a very dry sense of humor and it would not take much for me to accept a gig as a stand up comedian, even if it were for one evening!  But, I digress!  As humor is not really my thing, I was a bit worried at how to go about creating my design sample.  I decided to look through my stamp images and came across this image, including sentiment from Lost Coast Designs. Now I try to be very sensitive to others, to a fault, and would not want to offend ANYONE, and I hope my card does not do so.  I can honestly say, as someone who has struggled with my weight my entire life, that when I purchased this stamp, I related.  I can remember as a teenager, trying on clothes at the department store and asking my best friend if the outfit made me look "fat." The funny thing is, I look back at photos of myself now, and I was a bean pole, as a young woman.  The world has not done women and young girls any favors have they with their propaganda?  Anyhow, the young woman above, is obviously a very healthy weight. Okay, enough of being philosophical.  The card was created using the Sea Star Stencil by Red Lead Paperworks and various shades of Distress Ink for the background.  The wave stencil is also by Red Lead Paperworks. Simple embellishments include a wood charm by Red Lead Paperworks and a real starfish. Definitely, out of my comfort zone on this one!  I hope you will stop over and see what the rest of the FSC Design Team has created for your laughing pleasure and then, perhaps, you might create and submit a project of your own to be in the running to be selected for a $20 gift voucher by our sponsor FlonzCraft.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, Yvonne

Tweet, Tweet, Chirp, Chirp!

Greetings!  The weeks are flying by, aren't they? Already it is time for another challenge over at Inkspirational!  This time around, the challenge is to create a card using Markers or Pencils.  I rarely work with Markers of Pencils, so this was indeed a challenge for me!  It was further complicated by the fact that we are in the process of getting ready to move, and some time ago I packed up items in my craft room that are seldom used, and as you guessed it, that included markers and pencils!  Golly gee, what to do....

I just happened to need to go over to the Office Supply Store as my computer was on the blink, and while there, checked out the fine arts aisle and treated myself to some new Watercolor Colored Pencils!  (The ones in storage were just inexpensive ones, purchased in the toy aisle at the drug store, so I was really excited about opening these up and getting creative.)

I have been wanting to ink up my new Scribbly Birds by Dina Wakely and they seemed just right for this challenge.  I stamped them with Black Archival Ink onto scrap white card, trimmed them and then colored them with a variety of colored pencils. Afterwards, I spritzed a bit of water onto my craft mat and blended the coloring with a small paint brush dipped in water.  I really like how they turned out!

For my card base, I chose stencils by Red Lead Paperworks and stenciled the feathers and eggs with Distress Ink in colors I thought blended well with the birds.  I next flicked drops of water onto the card base and removed bits of ink to mottle the card front.  I finished with a stencil of Tim Hotlz's in Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The edges of the card were distressed with Broken China and Vintage Photo Distress Ink, too.  The birds were also distressed with a bit of VP DI and mounted to the card front.  I decided to mount the bluebird on foam dots.  The sentiments are also by Dina Wakely.  The top of the card is wrapped with ivory burlap string by May Arts and the twigs are from my back yard!

I hope you will pop over to Inkspirational and check out the gorgeous projects the Design Team created for you and then consider sharing a project of your own.

On a personal note, I wanted to share with you that we lost our dear sweet Standard Poodle, Josephine, earlier this week. She was in good health, though 14.5 years of age.  It was quite a shock for us, and we miss her terribly.  She was such a part of our family and gave us unconditional love and great joy. Here's to you, our dear Jojobean!

Hugs, Yvonne

Seaside Greetings!

Hello, again! This post is for the new challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu, which beginning August 1 goes to once a month challenges (Pink and Purple)! I picked the theme for the Pink Team, this time, which is "Seaside or Nautical."  Given the time of year, perhaps you are already working on something that would fit this theme.  We sure hope you consider sharing with us over at EE!  If you need some inspiration, why not stop over to EE and see all the gorgeous samples the Pink Team has created for you?  For my own project, I gravitated to an 8" x 8" card.  The card front was stamped repeatedly using Ranger Black Archival Ink with gorgeous sea shells images from Red Lead Paperworks.  The shells were than hand tinted using Distress Inks in a variety of soft shell-like colors.  The black and white images and sentiments are from a collage sheet, also by Red Lead Paperworks.  Embroidered ribbon, a bit of lace, some burlap string, a gold shell charm and photo corners complete my card.  Thanks for stopping by and for you encouraging comments.  They are each read and treasured.  Hugs, Yvonne

She Sells Sea Shells

Greetings!  Thanks for dropping by today!  Today I am sharing with you a card made completely with Digital Images from Gecko Galz, featuring the She Sells Sea Shells Collage Sheet and the La Isla Bonita Paper Set released at the beginning of July.  Probably like many of you, I have been a rubber stamp purist for nearly 18 years. By fortune, Leanne, the owner of Gecko Galz, reached out to me and asked me to consider being a guest designer several years ago. Not being one to turn down an opportunity to grow, I said yes, and admitted I had never worked with digital images before.  I still rely heavily on my rubber stamp images, and probably always will, but I have finally become absolutely comfortable and feel very creative working with the stunning images featured at GG!  They are easy to re-size, take up no shelf space, and no matter how much I increase the size, the clarity remains perfect.  If you have not had the opportunity to visit Gecko Galz, I hope you will!  There's a great sale going on during July, too! Best, Yvonne

Child's Play

Greetings!  Thank you to my faithful followers and friends for continuing to visit my blog and encourage me in my artful journey! Already, two weeks have gone by and it is time for another challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.  Our challenge this time is around the theme of "Child's Play!"  

For my creation, I immediately knew I wanted to work with some images I picked up last year from Lost Coast Designs.  They were all stamped with Black Archival Ink onto scrap card, trimmed, lightly tinted with Distress Inks and mounted to my card front, which was first stenciled with Pumice Stone and Spun Sugar Distress Inks using stencils by The Crafters Workshop. The sentiments and "Jacks" are by Artistic Outpost.  A repurposed scrap of sheer ribbon was fashioned into a bow and added as the sole embellishment.  You will certainly want to view the other inspiration pieces of the rest of the Design Team over at FSC and we do hope you will share a creation of your own with us for a chance to win a $20 gift voucher from our gracious sponsor, FlonzCraft.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Best, Yvonne 

Splish Splash

Greetings! It's time for a new challenge over at Inkspirational and this time it's a Word Challenge!  The word is "Splash!"  Now there are lots of ways to go with this word, and if you pop over to Inkspirational, you will see how each of the Design Team interpreted the word!  For my own canvas, I decided to work with a gorgeous image released recently by Gecko Galz from a file called Splish Splash!  Isn't she a beauty?  I began by selecting various shades of greens and blues from my stash of Ranger Distress Paints and applying them to my Craft Mat, spritzing with water and dragging my canvas through the soupy colors.  When the spritzes appeared toward the top of the canvas I thought it looked a lot like ocean spray and so my design immediately fell into place.  I decided to cut away the background of my GG image and focus on just the girl.  I think she looks like she is swimming in the ocean!  Then it occurred to me that we are not alone while swimming in the ocean!  So, I added some fish (by Red Lead Stamps) stamped on tissue paper and colored with Distress Inks and stenciled some dolphins and a sea horse (also by Red Lead Stamps).  To add dimension and texture, I wrapped the bottom of my canvas with some of the very last of my star embroidered ribbon and adhered some starfish and seashells and some gold sea related charms (by Red Lead Stamps).  We cannot wait to see what you dream up for our Word Challenge at Inkspirational! Thanks for dropping by! Hugs, Yvonne

Get Your Kicks on Route 66!

Greetings!  Thanks for stopping by.  My post today is an 8" x 10" canvas that I created for the new challenge that starts today over at Eclectic Ellapu.  Our theme is "Around the World, Land, Country or Holiday." After looking through my stamp images, I decided to stay in the USA this time, and pulled out this vintage set of images from Artistic Outpost called Route 66. My canvas is a "Road Trip" on Route 66! There is a song call "Get Your Kicks on Route 66 from 1946 that has been recorded by numerous artists and pays homage to US Route 66 highway, which used to run a long distance across the US, from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA.  I began by selecting Ranger Distress Paints in colors that reminded me of the desert.  I stenciled some Wendy Vecchi Black Embossing Paste using a Tim Holtz Stencil in the bottom corner.  Images from Artistic Outpost were stamped with Ranger Archival Ink on tissue paper or scrap card stock and water colored with Ranger Distress Inks and adhered to the canvas.  A bit of burlap and some mini sprockets by Idea-ology add a bit of dimension.  I hope you will visit EE and check out all the other inspiration samples by the talented Design Team and then consider submitting a piece of your own for us to enjoy!  Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, Yvonne

Dreaming of my Summer Vacation

Greetings! It is hard to believe that two weeks have flown by so soon and it is already time for a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge (FSC)!  Our challenge this time is "Dreaming of Summer."  When I started thinking about my own project, the first thing that comes to mind when summer approaches is vacation.  I LOVE to travel all over the place and see new things, try new foods, learn the history of a region, meet new people, but just now with my husband's health, we are staying much closer to home.  If I had to pick my most favorite place, hands down it would be the beach!  I was so excited a couple of years ago when Artistic Outpost released their Boardwalk Stamp Plate.  As a young girl and even a young adult, Atlantic City, NJ, was our vacation spot. I have fond memories of the Steel Pier, the Diving Bell, the white, sandy beach, getting dressed in the evening and promenading on the gigantic, wide boardwalk.  It was almost like being in Hollywood!  But I digress...For my card, I stenciled various Tim Holtz Stencils with Distress Inks onto the card front. The images were stamped either directly onto the card front or onto scrap card stock and watercolored with more Distress Inks. The edges of the card were also distressed with Distress Inks. Some of the images were popped up with foam dots.  I had fun digging through my stash of preserved, miniature starfish and sand dollars and adding them to the front as well.  To finish off my card I tied a scrap of gauzy cheese cloth to the top of the card and added a metal sand dollar charm by Red Lead Stamps for a bit of shine. I hope you will pop on over to FSC to see what else the Design Team has dreamed up for you and submit a creation of your own.  Remember, we are a stamping challenge, so your focal images need to be stamped.  One lucky submitter will be selected to win a $20 gift voucher from our sponsor, FlonzCraft.  Best wishes, Yvonne 

British Summertime at Inkspirational

Greetings!  I am so excited to share with you my first project after getting back into the swing of things over at Inkspirational Challenge!  We are creating projects, as we are inspired by this gorgeous picture below:

I was immediately drawn to this picture!  I love the colors, the ocean, the balloon, the sailor, the mermaid, the whale and the sailboats!  For my own card, I began by spritzing several shades of Dylusions Spray Ink onto my card base.  Next I stamped some new images from Red Lead Stamps onto scrap card stock, trimmed and water colored them with Ranger Distress Inks.  The ship in the top right is by Paper Artsy and was stamped directly to the card front.  A few bits of cheese cloth and a snippet of ribbon tape complete my card.  I hope you will stop over to see the rest of the projects the Design Team has come up with to inspire you and then submit one of your own!