More of Grace's Art

I published an interview with Grace about her art on my Humor and Doings site. I wanted to add more pictures and just moved over to my crafting blog to share. I think Grace has such a talent. It is something that she has just learned by herself. She just picked up pen and ink and started sketching on a sketch pad. Then someone gave her a gourd and she started working on that. She has read books and playing around with her talent, doodling she calls it. I know there is lots more doodling in her future.

Grace does her art to be doing it. It is for fun. I think the artist in her just must doodle. Only in the last year or so has she realized that her art is of value to others as well. She had to be pushed gently and prodded into timidly taking her art to a designer. The designer saw what I did and is selling her work. Grace always seems to be amazed when someone buys her art. I think that is humility coming out in Grace.

Well, I like it, and I just wanted to put some on my blog for you to see. I realize the photography isn't the best in the world. I'm not professional. I just went armed with my little point and shoot camera and did the best I could. I think Grace's art stands on its own, photography wonder or not.

Just Like You Card

With the purchase of this SU Just Like You set, Stampin Up donates $2 to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
I got busy yesterday and put this card together. I used Bold Bright Gable Green for the background paper and ink for stems on the flowers and butterfly. I used BB Pixie Pink ink for the flowers. I love the little ticket punch from SU. It is nice to trim up the squares. I also took a Green Gable marker and and edged the white square with it. I will admit that the squared decorative paper is one I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I like to put a little something on the inside of the card as well.

Birthday Card

I've been playing with my new Birthday Whimsy set from SU. It was one of those free sets with a purchase of $50 during Sale-A-Bration. I LOVE this set.

I decided to try out my new Cuttlebug embossing folder as well. This is one of the new right off the press ones: Beautifully Boxed 3 inch x 3 inch tag team set. I also got out my SU Bold Bright paper and markers and had a good time. I just happened to have one of those quilling strips that matched the paper, so added that for my very thin line.

I added a little dimension on the front by using a SU pop up to give a little depth to the pink balloon. The SU ticket corner punch was used around the birthday cake. It is hard to see here, but I did use VersaMark and stamped balloons on the front as a watermark before adding anything else to the front.

I'm thinking how smart I am to take a picture of the inside and outside before I adhere to outside to the white paper. I must have taken a think pill or something this morning.

How'd They Do That?

It always amazes me when something totally unexpected happens on the Internet. I have one little line under 'A Little Bit of Happiness' about using a quilling strip. Today I was graced by someone posting a comment there. They included an address to their website. I, of course, visited and was amazed at the beautiful work of quilling. I will admit that I had no idea what quilling was when I pulled the quilling strips off the shelves at Hobby Lobby. I just thought they might be useful on cards.

The lady who left a comment has been quilling for over thirty years. A visit to her site will show you how involved she is in this art. I'm including a link here as think it would be well worth the time to head on over and take a look for yourself. After arriving at her site index page, just scroll down and click on the words 'gallery pictures'. Prepare to be amazed. I especially loved the beautiful embellishments to her photo frames.

Head on over to Whimsiquills
You may wonder too..... How'd they do that?
Perhaps I should add a warning. Looking might be dangerous to your addiction.

Little Bit of Happiness

I've been playing today with the new Level 1 SU hostess set
'A Little Bit of Happiness'.
I stamped the hearts in black and colored with pencils. I added red and white ribbon, then decided to also add a little turquoise ribbon. The pink strips on the outside and inside are quilling. I adhered the quilling with the new Tombo Multi Purpose glue from SU. It has a large and small tip. The small was perfect to put a bead of glue for the quilling.

Inside: Phrase stamp is from SU Friendship Blooms, one of the Sale-A-Bration choices.
I used a flower pot from Blooming With Love and hearts from Loads of Love Accessories.
I made several and there are people who are going to get these. Ta Dah

New Birthday Whimsy

I love getting my new toys from Stampin Up! I got busy this morning using Birthday Whimsy, which is one of the free sets that you can get with a purchase of $50. I've been playing and must get back to that hard job.

Matching Inks Tip

Crafting Ida blessed me with Printworks ink when she was luring me into this whole card making thing. She had gone over to Stampin Up and decided to share her old inks. Ida is good that way. I loved her little tip to me about how to keep track of ink and match it to paper.

She took a piece of white cardstock and sectioned off the paper adding labels: Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple, and Brown. Then she took each of her stamp pads and grouped them together. Starting with Red, she numbered them on the stamp pads themselves with permanent blank ink. The matching numbers went on the cardstock. With a little heart stamp, she carefully inked each color.

Ida put her ink pads into plastic containers. One plastic container is labeled Red... another Green... etc. When I want one of the inks, I just look on this paper and can match exactly what I need. Then I dig in the appropriate container and pick out the Number. It is so simple and such a time saver.

I only have four Stampin Up pads so far, so my numbers will fall in different places. I got busy the other day and dug out my four SU inks and got my page ready to go. I really like this idea and it isn't hard to do. I'll continue that as I add more ink pads.