When arts and crafts run into science

So.. as part of my Thirty Before Thirty list, I wanted to successfully carve a stamp. Because, you know, I'm a little stamp crazy.

This weekend, I picked up a few stamp carving supplies at the art store, including various cutting nibs and two different kinds of stamp base. Based on Julie's reccomendation, I picked up some Speedball Speedy Carve rubber, and also a block of this cheap white art store brand (for practice).

I decided to start with something a little complicated.

And... well... it started out pretty good, but I lost patience and this was the result. Craft failure.

Turns out the material I got to practice on was just too brittle for a finished stamp. Well, for one with curves and detail, anyway.

I'm not entirely disappointed though, as I plan to use the leftovers from the practice block to get the hang of my remaining cutting nibs. I figure once I master that a bit more I'll use the good rubber for my base and then start with something simple. Like a geometric design or a chevron or something ;)

Have you ever had a craft experiment that was pretty much a complete failure?

Sketchbook Project Art Journal: Part Eighteen

I loved doing the tilted journaling on the left page.

I heart Smash

Um, just found this and had to immediately share.

Thanks K&Co for making it even easier to art journal. (did you see that glue pen?!)
Big puffy heart of love.

Here's the blog: http://www.smashstoriesblog.com/

30 before 30

This is a super late post, but I'm cool with it.

At the beginning of this month I turned 29. Um, yikes.

No offense to anyone actually in their thirties or older, but I remember very clearly being 18 and thinking that my "scary age" was going to be 30. (Note: this is not currently the case. I am quite fine with the thought of being 30. I think at this point my scary age has been moved up to 40. Just kidding ;)

Big round birthdays may tend to make one think about things on a big picture scale though. What have I done with my life? Where did my twenties go? What am I going to accomplish in this next decade? How am I going to change? What choices am I going to make? Etc.

The last couple of years I've started taking self portraits on my birthday. So, this is me right now. (I really love how this turned out.. using the mirror and the Thickers as props.)

Inspired by bloggers the world over, I'm also going to post my wish list of accomplishments for the next year. And I'm even going to document it. I've already started a mini, so you know that means I'm locked in.

I'm also planning to share updates on the blog. I've created a new post label of  "30 before 30" to make the posts easier to find. :)

Some of the goals are silly, and some are serious. Mostly I tried to balance between things I wanted for myself and things I thought I could really achieve.

Here we go:

1.   Do something that puts me out of my comfort zone
2.   Finish the sketchbook project and mail it to the Brooklyn Art Library
3.   Do something selfless that only benefits another person
4.   Get to gold level on my Starbucks rewards 
5.   Visit a museum
6.   Visit the aquarium
7.   Buy a bike and use it
8.   Stick to exercise program and be active regularly
9.   Try a lighter shade of red or copper hair
10.  Finish 12 projects (1 per month is totally reasonable)
11.  Assemble a camera
12.  Carve a stamp
13.  Use my new Big Shot to emboss something
14.  Attend a street festival
15.  Go to the cabin for vacation
16.  Go to the coast for a long weekend
17.  Continue the search for a new house
18.  Attend social events and spend time with friends
19.  Have a party
20.  Go to Portland and/or Victoria again
21.  Attend a crafty event
22.  Ensure feet are cute (shoes, pedicures, whatever is necessary)
23.  Teach another class
24.  Source and wear a new signature scent
25.  Invest in better camera gear (get a new P&S and a new SLR lens)
26.  Submit photos to Puyallup Fair competition
27.  Work on something that involves fabric and/or stitchery
28.  Finish reading all of Sherlock Holmes
29.  Shoot 6 rolls of film (1 pack of polaroid = 1 roll)
30.  Redesign blog

So that's my list. Here's hoping I can get it all done. :)

Sketchbook Project Art Journal: Part Seventeen

Mmmm. I love this spread. Pretty cozy and homey. I loved using up bits of fabric and the bird here. I was also glad to use my old invoke arts dressform stamp.

CHA-W 2011 Favorites

It is once more time for the bi-annual Craft + Hobby Association trade show. This is a fancy way of saying, all the crafty companies are coming out with new stuff!

I know I could stop shopping completely and still have enough stuff for projects to keep me going for at least two years straight (at minimum). At this point I don't really buy anything (except my SC and Studio AE subscriptions) without a specific project in mind. But it doesn't mean I can't like the new stuff. Or want it. Or get it. ;) 

Looking at new stuff is still really exciting for me. Most of my favorite manufacturers have begun posting photos of their new products. Some haven't (I'm looking at you, Martha Stewart Crafts/EK Success).

I made some little collages of some of the things I found that were inspiring me the most right now.

Basic Grey Hello Luscious - It's like the lovechild of Lemonade and Nook & Pantry. It's girly, yet elegant. I like pretty much the whole line. The other lines in the release I like a few bits of here and there... but I like the combo of colors and patterns on Hello Luscious the best. 

Crate Paper Portrait - Um, yeah. This line is supposed to be a wedding line. Well, I wish it would marry ME. Seriously. I want all of it. Right now.

MME Stella & Rose - MME had a lovely giant release. I am  pretty much going to cherry pick through all of it. Some really good patterns and solid color palette. Also the texture on their paper is so thick and yummy.

Studio Calico State Fair and Countryside - I love the graphic type and the colors on these releases. I really want to do a Puyallup Fair mini with State Fair. And Countryside seems like a good fit for one of my mini weekend adventures. Is it wrong to want to plan a trip so you can scrapbook a paper line?

Cosmo Cricket Salt Air - I am such a sucker for that fish tales paper. Also, I think this would coordinate really well with that beach line that October Afternoon did. I have some Alki beach photos that this would go very well with.

7 Gypsies Lille - This is actually in my cart at 2 Peas right now. But I've been so good about buying that I haven't got enough stuff in there to qualify for free shipping yet. Hope it doesn't sell out in the meantime...but then again, neither the big journaling cards or the stamps are out yet, so maybe I should wait until then. Hmmm.

Collage Press Studio/Pink Paislee Hometown Summer - I have to say, this line is very October Afternoon to me. But I love that one paper with the thermostat and a few of the others, and the colors are very nice. It will be interesting to see what paper weight they go with. PP paper tends to be a bit thinner on than CP, in my opinion. 

Studio Calico Mr Huey mists - I'm a mist lover. These colors are great. Ship it.

MME Stella 7 Rose - Stamps. How cool are those labels? And the lacy borders? Great.

MME Lush 2- I loved the original Lush line for basics. I'm really excited for Navy and Orange additions. 

Glitz - Really loving the ornate designs on this stamp set. Also am kind of a sucker for lace patterns and these colors. I don't love everything, and I won't get anything unless I can brainstorm a specific project for them, but I like them, nonetheless.

Maya Road - Hands down the best base minibooks out  there. Amazing quality on everything they do. 

Tim Holtz - So much good innovation this time around. I'm loving the new texture plates and all the idea-ology stuff. 

Hambly - Washi tape. Um, yes. I wonder if the finish will be a true matt paper tape or more glossy like the stuff that Martha Stewart Crafts and Pink Paislee use. Also love the mustache and silhouette papers.

Sassafrass Lass - Um.. pretty much everything. I have to say, Sass is one of those companies that has really grown on me. When they first came out with product it was in the middle of that weird forest animal (deers and owls anyone?) craze. But now that they are all over the fabric textures and the nice vintage florals, I'm just wanting to make stuff with all of it.

House of Three for Pink Paislee - Daily Junque. I really love how this line looks online. I really want to see more videos and photos of it though, as I think that PP sometimes does not look the same in real life. Optimistic though.

The new October Afternoon lines also look a little intriguing.. but I want to see the whole thing. Also, they usually get so far behind on production that we won't see them in stores till end of summer, I'm sure.

So that's what I'm thinking about in terms of getting ready to make new projects for this year.

Are you into the whole new product craze?

Sketchbook Project Art Journal: Part Sixteen

One of the prompts I'm sharing today is about gratitude. 

In that spirit, thank you for being here and sharing my words and images with me. I am grateful to do so, and grateful to share it with kind like-minded folks. 

Happy Saturday.

Sketchbook Project Art Journal: Part Fifteen

I'm pretty sure that this one was inspired by Sabrina Ward Harrison. I think. I love her stuff, anyway. And I love that messy handwriting of hers. Good stuff.

Sketchbook Project Art Journal: Part Fourteen

This one is another favorite. I love the bright colors. And the florals and polka dots (let's me know I'm getting in the mood for spring).

The prompt is good too. Describe yourself in three words. Hard to pick, but in the moment thought these were good.

Also, I love love love that label stamp. And it was such a good price. You'll be seeing it on quite a few more projects. :)

Such Sweet Tierney Guest Designer

Once upon a time I used to shop at the cutest little scrapbook store (sadly now closed) way up north in Lynnwood. One time I was there I met a delightful young lady there named London. And aside from being a super nice person who loves pretty paper like I do, she is a fantastic artist and designer.

(Image is from her shop)

She has a really great etsy shop called Such Sweet Tierney and she makes the most delightful high quality chipboard buttons. She also has a really  cool blog. I'm a follower. ;)

And I was so excited when she asked me to guest design for her this month.

Oh that's right. I scrapbooked. Actual pages. Can you even handle it?

 

Not counting the cute buttons made by London, this layout was made with papers from K&Company, Graphic 45, Teresa Collins and 7 Gypsies. Punches were Martha Stewart Crafts and Spirelli. Tape is 7 Gypsies and Magic Mesh. Stamp (journaling block) is Studio Calico. Number stickers are Basic Grey. Also used: black embroidery floss and 10-ply twine from Angela Liguori

Background paper is Teresa Collins. Mist is from Studio Calico Mr Huey. Stamps are Studio Calico, 100 Proof Press, Stampers Anonymous and Catslife Press. Letter stickers are Making Memories and October Afternoon. Punches are Martha Stewart Crafts and EK Success.

I adored creating with these little mustache buttons. The color palette is so perfect for a bunch of different projects.

And then I made some seasonal layouts...

 

 

Patterned paper, ribbon, paint and little bat embellishment are all Making Memories. Letter stickers are American Crafts and Making Memories. Punch is from EK Success. Label is Jenni Bowlin. Stamped title is from Martha Stewart Crafts.

 

Stamp is Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous. Ink is Jenni Bowlin. Mist is from Studio Calico. Letter stickers are American Crafts. Stickers and patterned papers were Love Elsie for KI Memories. Punch was Martha Stewart Crafts. Staples were Tim Holtz (tiny attacher). Twine is from Crate & Barrel. Journaling was typed on my vintage 1920s Smith Corona typewriter. ;)

And I also made a minibook (are you surprised?). I really love it. It's girly and fussy and full of layers and detail. Just the way that tea shop experience was. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Minibook is Maya Road. Paint is Making Memories and Ranger (crackle). Patterned paper is Basic Grey Porcelain. Punches are Martha Stewart Crafts and Spirelli. Stamps are Basic Grey and Catslife Press. Paper die cuts are Amy Butler for K&Co. Leaf stick pin is Maya Road. Letter Stickers are October Afternoon and Jenni Bowlin.

 I really hope you liked these projects. I had a great time making them. Thanks again to the fabulous Miss London for the opportunity!

Happy Tuesday!