Mother Nature is the goddess!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

My first Design Team project for CS Designs is complete. Chris Stern's art work is so unique in nature that it is getting me out of my box. I so needed this! This exercise has also gotten me back to some of my roots…collage work with rubber stamps. I have always wanted to combine digi with rubber in a shadow box. Now I have.

The main image is a digi stamp from CS Designs titled Nature Goddess Montage.  I have colored with my Copics and embellished with Spica Pens and  a Gelly Roll in Clear Star. I then popped the image using black cardstock and foam tape. I have been asked if the black shinny frames and background shards are glass. No it is not glass. I have accomplished that effect with black cardstock and Glossy Accents, which is that clear, dimensional embellishment fluid. I love that stuff. It does take a while to dry, but it’s worth it. I also used it in the “nature” quote on the image.

The rubber stamps that I used are the background and the flowers. I embossed them with black pigment ink and Stamp Zia’s black embossing powder. The flowers I embellished with Glimmer Mist in Pearl. I seem to use the Pearl more often than any of the other colors.

The designer paper I used is from My Mind’s Eye in the Bloom and Grow collection.

Challenges I have entered:

Copic Creation Challenge #44 – Warm Colors

Tuesday Throw Down – 3D

One Stitch at a Time – Anything but square

Here’s a few other links for Chris Stern’s CS Designs. These links will also show art work from the other DT and group members. Come join us!

Doodle Pieces

CS Designs on CDAC

CS Designs on SNR

Also, check at the top of my blog for information about CS Designs's first contest. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate contacting me.

Thanks for stopping by,
Aletha

Waiting on the Sweet Peas…

I guess I am truly ready for spring. But we will still have to wait a while longer. Our local meteorologist keeps warning us not to get to use to the warm weather. Winter is still here. If we get more winter, I will just color more pink things! LOL

This is one of my favorites from Priscilla’s Styles.  The image is Sweet Peas Digital Stamp and is one of her new illustrations.

Also, have your ever heard of Crafter’s Digital Art Center? Here’s the link. You really need to check out all the digital artists and all the fun challenges. You will not be sorry.

Challenges that I have entered:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog – Distressing

Bearly Mine Challenges – Ribbon and Pearls

Sweet Stamps Blog - Flowers

Party Time Tuesdays – Anything Goes

The supplies I used:

Copics: RV02, 10, 17; YG17, 21, 23; W1, 4; E31, 35

Spicas: Melon, Olive, Pink, Chocolate, Garnet

CS: Stardream Gold, Cryogen 80#

DP: BasicGrey- June Bug and Sultry Collection

Ribbon: Vine Ribbon from Flourishes

Dies: Scalloped Circle and Square Nestibilities from StampingScrapping

Pearls: My stash, probably purchased from Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

Thanks again for reading and I hope everyone has a great week!
Aletha

Recipe Challenge at the House of Gilli

Hello everyone and I hope you are having a great weekend!

It’s my turn to show you my creation for our very first challenge at the House of Gilli.

This challenge is to

-Use some form of Sparkle

-Use 3 Patterned Papers

-Use at least 2 dies and/or punches

-You do not have to use a Gilli for this project

BUT IF you use a Gilli you get 2 chances okay ;)

(your entries must follow this recipe to be qualified)

The Gilli that I used is Asian Gilli. Gilli has some fun and imaginative personalities. I am sure you can find your favorite. The whole line of Gilli stamps (designed by anaRy Atelie) are available at StampingScrapping.  StampingScrapping is where I purchase the majority of my art supplies. And they keep adding more. Go check them out. Beware...they are enablers! LOL

The supplies I used are:

Stamps: Asian Gilli, and Anglaise Lace Stamps

Copics: R20, 22, 27, 89; E000, 11; C3, 5, 7, 9

Inks: Memento Lady Bug; Distress Black Soot

Pens: Spica Lipstick, Black; Gelly Roll Clear Start

DP: Cherry Art (I purchased at Michaels or Hobby Lobby)

CS: SU Basic Black, Real Red; Cryogen 80#

Charms/Bling: Asian fan, Asian coin, vine from

Frost Creek Charms; Swarovski Crystals; Stickles: Star Dust

Dies: Spellbinder’s Circle and Eyelet Circles

Flowers: My stash, but I did accent them with

Copics C9 and R27, and Pearl Glimmer Mist

The challenges that I am entering are:

Cute Card Thursday – Shiny Happy Cards

Papertake Weekly – Putting on the glitz
The Shabby Tea Room – Keeping Warm (Week #49)

Stamp Something – Something funky

I Did It Creations – Bling it up

Thanks so much for stopping by. Now it’s your turn to create with a Gilli (you don't have to use a Gilli stamp to enter this challenge) and enter the first challenge at the House of Gilli. Use the link available on Suzanne Dean’s top blog post.

Have fun!
Aletha

TSB and Etsy Inspiration

Good Saturday to everyone! Time again for another challenge. These challenges do keep me motivated.

The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring the Etsy Inspired Challenge Blog.  Tracey, Owner/Artist of The Stamping Boutique, is offering five digis of your choice as the prize. FIVE DIGIS!!!

My Etsy Inspiration for this challenge is GlowGirl16. And her piece for my inspiration are the colors in this Coupon Organizer. 

Go check out this wonderful shop. Her inventory includes coupon organizers that are in two sizes, grocery totes, sandwich snack baggies, Mommy and Me bags, and she will also do custom orders. I did purchase the “Cat” Coupon Organizer. I can’t wait to get it.

The digi image from The Stamping Boutique that I have created with is She Who Paints the Forest.  Isn’t she just adorable?

My recipe for this project:

Copics: YR00, 02, 18; E000, 07, 11; YG00, 17, 23; and B21,24.

Inks/Pens: Spica in melon, baby blue, and sky blue; Gelly Roll glitter pens; Sharpie, Memento Black Tuxedo.

DP: Kaiser Kraft-Tea as Elsies collection

CS: SU in Night of Navy and Kraft; Cryogen 80#

Sentiment Stamp: Verve

Accessories: Peals from Kaiser Kraft, Stickles, Flowers from Prima and Wild Orchid; Ribbon from SU.

If you have any questions, contact me. And thanks for stopping by!

Aletha

Good news all around!

I hope everyone has had a good week. I know that I have been very busy and a lot of things are happening.

First, part of the good news. I have been selected to be on the House of Gilli’s Design Team. I am so honored to be a member of this very talented group. And we get to work with Gillis! What’s a Gilli, you say? Take a look here.  This little lady, and her many personalities, was designed by Anary Atelie. Check out her blog.  I am so anxious to get started.

Now, the other good news. The House of Gilli is having a kick-off celebration with a Blog Hop on Sunday, Feb. 13. Most of the House of Gilli’s DT will be participating, but also the StampingScrapping DT. This should be fun. And there will be PRIZES! So on Feb. 13 you will need to visit House of Gilli.  All the details for the Blog Hop will be posted there.

We also have a House of Gilli group at Yahoo.  Please join here also, and share your creations and just chat.

On Feb. 14 will be the House of Gilli’s FIRST challenge blog.  It is going to be hosted by Suzanne Dean. You all know Suzanne, don’t ya? And she has a doozy of a challenge. We will have a new challenge every two weeks. But, for every challenge, there will be new inspiration from a DT member posted every day for that particular challenge. It’s a happenin’!!!

Have fun ya’ all! And thanks for stopping by!
Aletha

A Flower at Midnight Madness

I was ready for Spring, now I will take the Oklahoma heat of August. We still have almost 16” of snow on the ground. And we’re getting ready for another 5”-10” again on Wednesday. This is nothing for people living up North, but Oklahoma? We are used to maybe a blizzard for 24 hours, but the next day could be 50º. The snow would be gone in 48 hours. It’s just sticking around. Darn that “global warming.” LOL

Anyway, on to my creation.

First the sketch. This is Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #90. This sketch was wonderful to work with. I so love sketches or what I would call a “layout.” You can make it fancy or plain. The deadline for your creation is Feb. 14.

The image that I used is from Priscilla’s Digi Store. Priscilla’s wonderful illustration is from the Sunflower set (a set of 3)  I did morph it a little and I have never seen a pink sunflower. But that is the beauty of digi stamps and our imaginations. I printed the sunflower three different times in three different sizes. I then colored each one. I cut and layered the first complete sunflower. The other two layers are the bloom only in two different sizes. Hope you like it!

My recipe:

Copics: RV00; R81, 83, 85, 89; YG91, 93, 95, 99

Pens: Spicas in Pink and Olive; Gelly Roll in Clear Star
Inks: Distress in Peeled Paint

DP: Prima Marketing in Fairy Flora

Cardstock: SU Kraft; Cryogen 80#

Pearls: Stash from Hobby Lobby Wedding Department

Ribbon: Stamping’ Up!

Other challenges that I have entered:

Aly’s Sunday Challenge – bling, make it flashy

2 Sisters Challenge Blog – The World is our Oyster (use pearls)
Color Me Creative Classroom - Flowers 

If you have any questions contact me. Everyone have a great week!
Aletha

A Very Important Announcement

I have a very important announcement (well, it’s important to me!) to make. I have the pleasure of saying that I have been accepted as an Honorary Designer for Chris Stern, Owner/Artist, of CS Designs. I am so honored to be a part of her very talented team.

Chris’s artwork is some of the most unique and interesting images that I have seen in the digital world. And she just explained to the design team how she goes about drawing her images. She does not use pen and paper and her scanner. She uses her computer and several graphic programs. I am in awe! Really! The images on my blog are just a few samples. Go check out her other art pieces.

 And now meet her team:

CS Designs Design Team Members

JenLee/Jenneke Leeflang

Marilyn Webb

Melissa Oeters

Sharon Rogers

Honorary Designer

Aletha Jane Williams (me)

Hope everyone has a great week! If you are getting this blizzard, don’t go out, stay in and create! And don’t forget to feed the birds!

Aletha