Not ready for Winter, yet!

Winter's Muse LS-011-V

In the depths of winter I finally leaned there was in me an invincible summer --Albert Camus

So...this invinvible summer I try to make my house into the depths of winter.....we're never content.

 

 

Prismacolor pencils are my tools of choice these days. At only $1.25 each, you can get a lot more color for your buck!( no refilling or drying out!) I blended this with the pencils, I didn't use any "gamsol". Use a very light or gray tone of the colors you are using to help blend.

 

Third Coast Design Team Blog

Happy Birthday, Rick!

July 15 is my husband, Rick's birthday! Thanks for everything you do and the great way you help take care of your parents! Have a great day! Love you!

Third Coast Rubber Stamps: FA-529-M Steam Train

Image stamped on white card stock with Graphite Black Brilliance Ink. As usual I have photographed the image and edited it with my iPhone, and assorted apps: photo wizard, square ready, picfx, vintage and impression. I just keep playing until I like what I see. Then I did a little more tweeking with Photoshop Elements.

I figure if "stampers" can take digital stamps and make them into hard copy art, I can take a hard copy stamped image and turn it into digital art. It's a big world out there, room for everyone!

http://www.thirdcoastcoterie.com/

Steampunk Christmas in July

FA-529-M Steam Train

WT-003-M Traveling Tessa

ES-192-L Snowy Pines

It's time to cool off and think about some snow! Third Coast Rubber Stamps just started a new challenge blog! July is "Deck Our Blog With Boughs of Holly!"

So, I've been experimenting with my new stash of stamps from TCRS. Lots of Steampunk coming your way, and I hope this has a holiday or winter feel to it. I'm learning to use "masks" to layer the stamped images to make a scene.

Begin by  stamping an image on scrap copy paper, cut it out, then stamp your image on your regular cardstock. Place your "mask" over the image and then stamp another stamp, make a mask of the new image, and continue to stamp additional images. I started with the girl, added the train, and the last image was the tree. The mask protects the image from the new stamp you add to your.

I layered my double masked girl on to a scrap of Daisy D designer paper, took a photo with the iphone and edited it through Photowizard, Picfx, and Impressions ( which adds the text). I email it to myself and sharpen it a bit more with Photoshop Elements.

Be sure to check out the Third Coast Rubber Stamp Challenge Blog!

Good Morning, America. How Are You?

“The true meaning of America, you ask? It's in a Texas rodeo, in a policeman's badge, in the sound of laughing children, in a political rally, in a newspaper... In all these things, and many more, you'll find America. In all these things, you'll find freedom. And freedom is what America means to the world. And to me.”

Audie Murphy

My turn on the Third Coast Design Team blog.

http://www.thirdcoastcoterie.com/

1. Stamp the image on a piece of scrap cardstock.
2. Color with Derwent Inktense Watersoluable Ink Pencils.
3. Cut out image and layer onto a flag image cut from a magazine or travel brochure. My flag is the "Star Spangled Banner" in the American History Museum in Washington, DC, cut from the museum brochure.
4. I took a photo with my iPhone and edited it with various photo apps. The letters are added with the Ransom App.
5. After uploading to my laptop, I edited it with Photoshop Elements, using various "paint brushes" to add distressed elements to the edges as well as white star shapes.

Got Steampunk?

Third Coast Rubber Stamps

WS-186-BB - Got Steampunk?

CO-276-EE Solid Single Gear Sm

FA-520-H Clockworks Light (masked background)

It's time to catch up with rubber stamping art projects. Here's a fun card with some of the Third Coast Rubber Stamps newest images. I used a bit of Basic Gray paper. Stamp the Clockworks image, a medium sized round stamp, on some scrap copy paper, cut out image to make a mask.Stamp the image onto your designer paper, cover image with one of the masks, and stamp the image over and over, masking as you go, to create a layered effect. This is really easy to do, especially with a simple shape. Works well with complex images, also, just a bit more cutting work.

Stamp Single Gear onto vintage business labels, layer onto striped paper, cut out scanned vintage photo image. Attach to card. Stamp "Got Steampunk" tear edges, attach to card. Attach small silver circles from Hero Arts.

http://thirdcoastcreativecoterie.blogspot.com/

African Elephant Portrait

African Elephant Portrait

AP-219-L

The elephant is stamped on a scrap of decorative paper bag I received at a local scrapbooking store, I couldn't throw it away. Layer on to orchid cardstock. Use a piece of sequin waste and sponge dark ink around the edges of the card. Cut out the word "explore" from magazines and brochures. Scan or take a photo and add some paint brush effects with photo editing software.

http://thirdcoastcreativecoterie.blogspot.com/

Photoshop Elements Brushes by Obsidian Dawn

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Merry Christmas

My big brother, Jim, and me at Southtown Famous Barr, 1957.

Greetings of the Season, to you!

Greetings of the Season to everyone! Whatever holiday you celebrate, stay happy, healthy and safe.






I stamped the Nutcracker from "Reflections" on to a scrap of "very vanilla" cardstock. I picked up this very cool set at Michael's, just yesterday. ( $9.99 set for only $2.99, I had to buy it!) Joann's had Christmas/Holiday goodies for 70% off. So much for shopping restraint.

I colored the Nutcracker with  prismacolor pencils. Crimson red, copenhagen blue, bronze.....

I'm enjoying layering the stamped image on designer paper, and taking photos and manipulating the image. This one was taken on a Holiday sack recylced from last season. ( I think my niece gave it to me!) It doesn't have a manufacturers label, but I think she may have gotten it from a school fund raiser.

Of course I took the photo with the iPhone and processed it through Picfx, Impression, and Lens Flare.





Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog during the 12 Days of Halloween! Be sure to check out the other fabulous artists participating as Jolly Bloggers, you'll find their links on the blog roll on the right.

Check out the assorted winter festivals celebrated throughout the world! I love a party! I'll be celebrating Christmas, and hope you enjoy your special festival!


PS This is my 300th blog post!
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The rest of the week is all down hill!

Ah, the Sledding Bunny is on the down hill side of the 12 days of Christmas! You can find "Sleding Bunny" (VB-231-I) at ThirdCoast Rubber Stamps. The moon is also from Third Coast ( Cloudy Moon On Horizon CH-155-C)

This little guy was fun to color in with prismacolor pencils to match the designer sky paper. Stamp both the bunny and moon on scrap of white cardstock and cut out.Punch some circles from scraps of sky paper. Design a snow covered slope from the inside of a business envelope. Print text from your computer word processing program, cut and layer on scrap of black paper.

Be sure to check out the fabulous Jolly Bloggers in the blog roll on the right! Friday is the last day of our hop! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Merry & Bright - Part 2

I used this stamp before for the 12 Days of Christmas. I found another card element in my stash. I had stamped the image on velum and colored with water color crayons. I layered the velum over "pretty in pink" card stock and added brads to the corners.





Winter's not here yet, and I'm already missing the light. The days do start getting longer after the 21st, so maybe I can hold out. But it does make photography tough. The best light in the house right now in in the basement stair well, on top of the handrail post. There is a bright light in the stair way. I balance the project on the post and hope for the best.

I wanted to add some color to the card, so I layered it on my scraf, it wasn't balancing so well, so I used a flat rate priority mailing box and then the scarf and card element. ( Isn't that silly?)





The photo above before rotating and editing.






Be sure to check out the other 12 Day bloggers at the links on the right!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Star of Wonder

Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beaming light ....

I enjoy using this "Artifacts " star from Stampin'UP! It is reminiscent of the support rod ends in the old brick homes in St.Louis.

I've been struggling to pull projects together for the 12 Days , and have been determined to get something posted.

This stated out as a leftover card element from a swap several years ago. It's been shoved around in my scrap paper bin waiting for a project. I picked it up and found it went well with some printed Christmas tissue paper. I took its picture and edited it through several iPhone apps. Picture Show, Picfx, and Impression ( it adds the text).

This photo shows editing in progress after Picture Show App.




I love using the iPhone as a creative tool and in my head I pretend the monthly fee is part of what I would spend on art supplies during that month.

Funny thought!

Here's the original "capture ".

Check out the other 12 Day Bloggers, they're the best!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

12 Days Of Christmas

I'm almost late!




I made this a while back! One of my puppies! I stamped the dog with the tree hat and used water color crayons ( I think!!) added some brads for ornies, some fiber bows, scraps of designer paper! IPhone photo edited with doodle buddy for paws, birds, holly, and ransom letters app for "woof" !

Running out the door now! See you later, gators!


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Angels Paint With Music

Mixed media collage with assorted papers, Dover clip art, stamped letters, scraps of music and Christmas Carol words from a vintage Hymnal.

It's the 12 Days of Christmas at Smeared Ink. check out the other Jolly Bloggers on the links at the right!

Come back December 15!