Baby steps into the New Year

Yes, I have been busy. Mostly trying to get over a stupid cold/virus that I got caring for a client of mine. Although I have only had this for a week, I have been told that the lasting effects of it can last for 3 weeks (bah). Elder care does come with its problems.

I have managed a couple of cards and this clipboard for my husband and I to use in order to keep track of where our grocery list pad is (somehow we always misplace it just before we need to make a new list).

I also have other projects in the works, so keep an eye out for more coming up.

The New Year Has Come...

This year, where I live, came with its normal flurry of people shooting guns into the air. So I guess I could say it came in with several bangs, one after another, after another... I also got to spend part of my New Years Day at Bed Bath and Beyond (dangerous store for me) looking for a coffee pot. Our coffee pot decided to take a permanent "smoke" break on us on New Years Eve. For the fellow coffee drinkers out there, you know what it is like to be without good coffee in the morning.

Anyway, early last month while I was shopping in one of my favorite "off the wall" stamp, paper and trinket stores here called Papers, I ran across this 2009 Journal. Although it uses symbolism and I am not much for that, I thought it would be good for the goal setting and to keep me focused on my crafting and health (ie. working out for my back and knees). It has places for me to stamp, doodle, collage etc.., along with places for me to keep up with monthly focuses, affirmations, gratitude's, opportunities and so forth. I still have a lot to fill out and a lot to look forward to.

Belated Birthday Wishes to Me

Well, I'm another year older, and, as usual, I am late posting. I have finally finished up my physical therapy for my knees and back. I have also finished the series of injections into my knees. I now have the building blocks to continue working toward strengthening those muscles needed to keep me going, and the place to do that is the senior center near my house.

On a cheery note, I had a pretty good birthday. My husband and I bought a 32 inch LCD TV and I bought me a Wii (which I have wanted for awhile) to go with it. Now all I have to do is get the Balance Board... At least Christmas is around the corner He He He.

Oooh my aching back (and knees)...

For those who have been interested, and those who are not, as to why I have been somewhat out of the "crafting" scene lately, well, here's the answer...

I first noticed this last year when my husband and I returned from his daughter's wedding in Denver, we live in New Mexico. On the drive back, my back started hurting real bad during the drive back. I thought that I had pulled a muscle during the time we took to get out there and coming back. I decided to see my doctor. She suggested an X-ray and pain meds. Well, the X-ray showed arthritis (what a surprise). First I tried a program that is offered through my husband's work, going online and working with someone over the phone (that did not help). They lead me to a Chiropractor. That did not help. I finally went to a spinal pain clinic. I now have some answers and help. I have degeneration of the facet joints in my back and the doctor there at the pain clinic has given me some cortisone injections and sent me to physical therapy to help me work on a program to do at home.

Now for my knees. I suspect that my knees and back are linked together because my knee problems are a chronic problem. I have osteoarthritis in both of them and was told that I would have had to have new ones by now. Well, I do not want to do any surgeries yet so I am doing more physical therapy and now the Hyalgan Injections into my knees to help with the arthritis. Hopefully soon I can be released from PT to go off and work out in a senior center gym to build up my muscles and cardiovascular system on my own time. I do want to get back to creating.

Altered Hinged Canvases - "Friends"

This one took me awhile to complete. I was actually waiting for some inspiration for things to attach to the frames that surround the pictures and to find some hinges that were the right size. One of the ladies from a group that I belong to called "Contributing Artists" an ATC group sent me some hand made ornaments for my birthday this year (and last). Ahah, there was the idea. I attached three of them to it (the beads are also there). The cherub is from my mom and the other stuff is scrap stuff.

The frames are actually reversed and I worked on the back sides. I still did a wash over the "front" side and stamped on it. This side is covered with Light Molding Paste from Golden to cover up the unevenness of the wood versus canvas and the staples. Then I did a light blue wash over it, then rubbed dye ink pads over that in different colors and finally (after stamping some words with StazOn) I decided to go over that with some Moon Glow embossing powders.

October 2008, Progressive Card Class - Barelas S.S.

Every Saturday from 10-11:30am, I am teaching a Card Class at The Barelas Senior Center here in Albuquerque, NM, at 714 Seventh Street SW, 764-6436. Each week students learn new and progressive card techniques for $4 per card. The class is open to any and all seniors who want to create new and updated greeting cards.

d type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F" width="288" height="192">On the 4th, I will show students how to work with alcohol inks to create a swirled background with depth fit for stamping a balloon and clouds on.


Then on the 11th, we will create a pleated card fit for a ghoul complete with stamped skulls and skeletons.


Come the 18th, we will play with Prisma's colored pencils in a simple grid.


Finally, on the 25th, we will play around with Oil Pastels when we "scrape" the colors for a spider's web.

SOYBS - Double pane transparency frame

I saw this done in Somerset Studio and had been wanting to try it. It uses a transparency from the computer, Xyron or sheet of double sided tape, background paper, two glass pieces and the etc..

The image I chose was of my step daughter. I actually had to do some fiddling with it, because I could only use her. I wanted some writing along with it, so I scanned just her and a background of just writing onto a transparency.

On the back of the second glass is the background paper I made using torn papers, gesso and Glimmer Mists. This gets taped facing forward. The back transparency of my step daughter was taped on the against the first glass piece on the front of it. Between the two pieces of glass are some stamped papers that are taped to the front of the second piece of glass. The two pieces of glass are then placed together and set into the frame.

SOYBS - Life is Blue - Dress form

Boy has my life been busy for someone who works part time. Aside from having a "hiccup" in my family, work has been crazy. I am surprised to even know my name these days.

"Life is Blue" incorporates different shades of blue paints some regular and some metallic for the base of the form and then a mixture of an iridescent blue and Diamond Glaze as a coating over the punched flowers and gold butterfly (to help them to adhere). I began the form by using a glue stick to adhere torn music sheets to it in varying placements before painting it.

The frame is one of those that have points that dig into the paper then fold over, so I cut 4 little notches into the form and used "The Ultimate" to glue it into place over a picture that was glue sticked into place, then I applied Diamond Glaze over the picture. The feathers and flowers are glued together with The Ultimate then dried, then glued into place using E6000.

The base it is on was done using unused rubber stamp blocks from Stampin Up. I painted them first with copper paint then with iridescent green. They are then glued together with E6000.

SOYBS - What is it's meaning? What is it pertaining to??

I actually did this awhile ago. I am a big fan of masks. I think it stems from Phantom of the Opera, one of my favorite movies (the classic and the new one). I also just enjoy all the glamorous things you can do with decorating a mask, whether it be a stamped one or a real one.

I am also a fan of the wooden mannequins that artists use. They are so versatile and easy to paint.

The meaning behind this for me, though, is to remind me to let go and have some fun in my life. I think I need to move that doll into a place where I can see it more clearly.

My First Oil Painting

I have been wanting to learn about oil paints, so I decided to give it a try at one of the senior centers close to my house. Now, although I am not quite old enough to be a member, my husband is, so I am able to be "grand mothered" in (so to speak). The center has an oil painting group that meets once a week and the teacher has been working in oils for 16 years. I can only go to the group every other week due to work, gotta pay for my crafting somehow.

The teacher usually starts the beginners off with a desert scene so they get the benefit of all the brush strokes and how the paint moves on the canvas. Considering I have no depth perception and my hands are about as steady as an addict in withdrawal, not to mention I can't draw if my life depended on it, I think my first painting came out fairly well.

I also have to admit, I could not stop myself from altering some of it. I just had to find out if there was a way to protect the oils from being smudged before they were dry, I am so darn impatient. I decided to cover it with embossing powder. Guess what, it worked. Three layers later and I could put brads and the banner on it. Now what?? Hmmmmm...

SOYBS - Pour it & 4 x 4 Friday - Favoite Color(s)

I thought I would take care of two challenges with one piece this time. Step Out of Your Box Saturday's theme was "Pour It," and 4 x 4 Friday's theme was Favorite Color. Well, my favorite color is pink, but I also like purple and blue. I decided to use some watered down Folk Art paints that I have in little "squeeze" bottles and squeeze those colors down a black painted coaster. I also added an image from a Somerset disc that I got and stamped "Dream" on it.

I feel as if she is/I am emerging from a colorful dream. Maybe I will give this to my niece for all the work she has been doing to help me get my website up and going.

SOYBS - Depth without Texture

After a peaceful and crafty weekend (must be a blue moon out), I managed to create this... I enjoy using transfers, so that is what the middle is. The other papers are mulberry and scrap something from my stash. I did try to use tissue paper set with Modge Podge and even after sitting over night, the stuff peeled off this morning. Other than that, I used paints, stamps and StazOn inks. Oh yeah, a no 2 pencil and a couple of Prisma pencils. I wish the picture had come out better.

4 x 4 Friday - Masks

This happens to be my first time posting to 4 x 4 Friday and I hope I do myself proud. This creation was done using Encaustic Wax, a JudiKins mask stamp, an After Midnight word stamp and brads to affix the semigloss paper to a 4 x 4 coaster for stability.
I stamped the image and word first with permanent ink and let them dry, then loaded the Encaustic iron up with various waxes and went to town. The flowers, leaves and lips were done with a Stylus iron (for more control of the colors).

Catch up day

I spent some time today catching up on my work area and happened upon this one. It was a past SOYBS, "Abstract," that I wanted to add some stuff to. Well, I added a painted over picture of a couple of baby twins and a wooden ornament that was given to me by a fellow ATC swapper for my birthday.

SOYBS - Assemblege - Butterfly Book Box

I have to say, I did this one awhile ago. I have been spending my time lately trying to work on my website (that has been a challenge). Anyway, this was an idea that came to me when I ran across a wire butterfly ornament I bought ages ago from one of my favorite stores, Cost Plus World Market, and I also had a doll house window I purchased from Michael's of which I wanted to pull together in some sort of a piece of art. I then remembered the paper mache' book box I had (bingo). I used papers I made from Technique Junkies and from my scrap booking pile for various parts. I also needed to add some "depth" to the inside of the cover so the doll house window frame did not stick out like a sore thumb so I painted some Fun Foam with Lumiere Paint to give it some pizazz. I added some flowers, rubber stamped butterflies (colored and cut out) and other embellishments and voila.... By the way, the wire ornament is suspended with wire from the top of the box.

My Hired Girl

Ha, you thought I was moving up in the world. Actually, that is what my hubby calls it. I believe the name comes from a sci-fi book that he read at one point. Seriously though, this little robot has helped me out immensely, especially since I really dislike vacuuming the floors and at my house it seems that that is all I do (besides keeping the kitchen counters wiped off). We have 2 dogs and 2 cats, one of which (mine) is a long haired Maine Coon cross who leaves his hair all over the place. Then there is where we live, New Mexico, dirt, leaves and my personal favorite...rye grass. All I have to do now is put "Hired Girl" in one room and I can do something else in another, or nothing, if I want to. Speaking of which...

Painted acetate over Oil paints

I did this card for my niece and her husband for their birthdays (they are only a couple of weeks apart). I have been wanting to give oil painting a try and this was the perfect opportunity for me. The very back is a piece of canvas card that is covered with gesso then painted with the oils, which, of course, took almost a week to dry. I decided to "slap" some VersaMark on it and emboss it with clear powder, just to make sure that it is preserved. The 2 acetate pieces are stamped with StazOn. The middle layer with Cherry Pink (sun) and Azure (bird), then I colored the back with Sharpies. The couple on the front layer is stamped with black StazOn and the bird, again, with Saddle Brown. I then painted them with acrylics. To bring the piece together, I used foam tape between the layers and roof flashing tape for a frame. I also put silver corners on it for a splash of style.

SOYBS - Altered Book - Girlz

I actually started this book awhile ago, but hit a mental road block and put it aside. As ideas and embellishments came to me, I put with it and then life got in the way. Well, thanks to "Queen Lisa," I finally got off me backside and (for the most part) think I have it finished. As for what I did to it.., it is a premade book from (??) with windows cut in various places. I used watercolor paper and dye and Distress inks and water with brushes to move it around. Some stamps for backgrounds. When I printed the pictures, however, I did not have photo ink for my printer and when I went to alter the photos, they reacted somewhat poorly. After I put the watercolor paper and photos in, I decided I wanted to add some Glimmer Mists and Radiant Rain to the pages. More distress on the photos (oh well). Anyway, this is what I came up with (not all pages are here, too much space)...

SOYBS - Abstract - Flowers

My take on being abstract this week includes using texture. I have also been wanting and wishing that the winds here in the Southwest would mellow out, it has reeked nothing but misery on my husband and I's allergies and sinuses. I used my favorite color for the background and then added a piece of deeply embossed paper that I got from ??? I wanted it to match the background then for the flowers on it to stand out in antiqued ways, so I used those rub on metallic waxes. Just for the wishful thinking of the warmer (less windy) days to come, I added a couple of fun flowers. Since this is in my Art Journal, I will be adding to it.

Metallic Ink Transfer - Pure

I thought I would have some more fun with transfers. This one is a Dover image that I transferred using Folk Art's Metallic Pearl White, of which I then I highlighted using various other paints and some Crystal Effects. I also used some Soft Gel Medium to glue down some older lace I got from my mom, then I painted it with some Turquoise Lumiere. I also decided to add some "aged" stickers and glued on some gemstones.