Feel like getting organized?

Things getting a little out of control? You have to visit Creations by Christie to see how she organized tools and materials. Wow!! Lots of videos on projects too -

One week until flower pages are due...

... still looking for an idea? Jeffery Rudell shares some very simple instructions to make these beautiful flowers... simple flowers

Summer Treats on Hold... but...

I put the summer treats idea on hold to give the flower garden participants a larger window - but I did want to share Stampington & Company's free download of treats. Bring back some memories? E-Crafting is their digital download Web store- visit

In My Garden...

I sent off pages for another swap I participated in - these were tip-in pages. Tip-ins are a way for people to collaborate on an altered art book without the possibility of losing an entire sketchbook in the mail. Participants complete a certain number of pages in a predetermined layout (frontand back or facing). Everyone sends them to the hostess who redistributes and mails out.

Our theme was 'a different way of seeing.' Here is my page and the info I included:

A New Way of Seeing

Summer 2010

Outside of my kitchen window is a huge butterfly bush… so close to the house you have to duck when you go through the door. And it fills up the entire window. Our butterfly bush is a ‘fountain’ bush, where the loaded branches bend down like a waterfall effect. It reminds me of fireworks, especially with the glittering splash of Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, Zebra Swallowtails, Spicebush, Common buckeye, Great Spangled Fritillary and a few Monarchs. Sometimes if I am patient I catch a couple of hummingbirds fighting over the blossoms. But mostly it is the golden highlights of the Tiger Swallowtail I see dancing through my window.

I started by putting a thick layer of gesso on white drawing paper. I pressed a leaf stamp into the wet gesso and set the paper aside to dry. Using diluted acrylics (blues and greens) as washes, I went over the dried gesso... I let the page dry a little and used a damp paper towel to wipe some of the acrylics off. This highlighted theimpressions made by the stamp.

I diluted a pearl pink acrylic and used compressed air to ‘splatter’ it across the page, I added gold pen for the twinkle of the Tiger Swallowtail... this was my way to recreate the fireworks.

I spent a little time watching through the window and taking photos of the butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. I picked a Tiger Swallowtail, intensified the colors a bit, printed and trimmed to add to the page.

I added a strip of hummingbirds to the back of the page - a stop motion movie that catches the movement.

For last element, I edited a photo in Picnik. I used the special effect called ‘hexagonal tiling.’ I thought that must be what the blossoms looked like to the butterflies! That is my new way of seeing.

I inked up the edges of the pages - just to add a finishing touch.

Vintage Photo Swap

I belong to a Yahoo group called All Things Tim - (Tim Holtz products). We worked on a Vintage Photo Swap and I just received the pages. They were 6" x 6" and are they thick! I took some photos of the pages and created a VoiceThread. You can view the pages without signing in, if you want to leave a comment you will need to create an account and sign in. Want a closer look? Click on the image to zoom in -
Enjoy:
Vintage Photo VoiceThread

Altered Bits

Here is another blog to visit for inspiration - Altered Bits...click on the tab at the right for free templates, images, background sheets, textured backgrounds.... well you get the idea. These are for personal use in altered art and mixed media projects. Have fun!

Today Show, Trashion and Singed Flowers

Bobbie Thomas was on the Today show sharing some 'trashion' tips... I can skip the jean pocket catch-alls, using a tank top for a tote and cutting up old sweaters for necklaces... but the singed flowers were really cute... and from a viewer.

From the Today Show

Viewer idea: Fancy flowers
I was excited about this TODAY viewer submission sent in by Jennifer Ragan from Boston, Mass. There are certain articles of clothing that we assign emotional value (e.g., your senior prom dress or the bridesmaid gown you wore in your sister’s wedding). And while you may never have a reason to wear them again, you don’t want to give them up. Which is why I had to highlight Jennifer’s clever way of turning these old dresses into keepsake jewelry and hair accessories ( JLRY Designs; $9.50-$40).

What you'll need: Satin, tulle, organza or any polyester fabric, scissors, a candle or matches, beads, glue gun/sticks, and hair accessories you plan to use as the base.

Directions:

Cut fabric into circles of various sizes.

Using a candlestick, carefully singe the edges of fabric, barely touching to the flame.

Once slightly cooled, use your fingers to mold and shape the edges.

Layer pieces on top of one another.

When you like the look of your flowers, use a needle and thread to secure the layers together with beads.

Hot-glue or sew flowers onto hair accessories, such as bobby pins, headbands or brooch pin backs.

Here is a video I found that uses a heat gun: