June's Antique Show Goodies

Sunday June 20, was the 3rd Sunday of the month and that meant it was time to go to the Burlington Antique Show. Even though it was Father's Day, the show was crowded. I arrived at around 10:00 a.m. and got started making my way to all the booths I usually go to and of course looking along the way at others. The show is at the Fairgrounds in Boone County, Ky., and it takes 2+ hours to go thru the show. Now mind you, I don't stop at each booth, if I did I would be there 4-5 hours. It was very hot today, 90 + degrees, and very sunny. I saw a few things that I didn't get this time and if it's there next month, I will get the items. You know, if it's meant to be, it will be there next time.
Here are the cool items I picked up this time.

This print was tucked in the book that's pictured next. This appears to be a pic of the Ohio River before the area was settled. and before the Suspension Bridge was built.

I spied this book in a small booth that I stop at each time I go to the show. This book was marked $5.00 and I got it for $2.50, what a deal. Here is the front cover and a few peeks at some of the pages inside. This is a  book that was published in 1966 to celebrate the Centennial year of the Suspension Bridge that connects Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Ky. Great pics and what looks to be a great read with a lot of historical info and only 31 pages. This bridge was designed and built by John Roebling, who also was responsible for the Brooklyn Bridge.

And last, but definitely not least, here are two items I picked up that satisfy my love of altered art. Now what will I do with these??? Not sure yet. The fence I will probably use at some time in the future. The angel is actually made of a wire form with more wire wrapped around the form and a smaller fence is used for the wings. This really was calling my name and I picked up both of these for the large sum of $10.00. What a bargain.

I will be going back next month so, stop back to see what I pick up next month.

That's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Sparkle N Sprinkle's Mystical Treasures Blog Hop Day 3

We've shared ideas with you for 3 days using the Dani’s Garden Umbrella, Dani’s Garden Swing, Fairy Dust, Dream Fairy, and Garden Fairies stamp sets. Please visit the blogs listed below and leave a comment on each blog, then your name will be entered once for each blog you comment on for a daily drawing of your choice of any of the 5 stamp sets on cling cushion.

Today is the last day of the Sparkle N Sprinkle 3 day blog hop. I hope you have gotten inspired and seen some new ideas.

For today's card I used 2 stamps from Dani's Garden, set 393, Dani Reading and the sentiment "Thanks". I used a border punch to make the mint green piece down the center. Next I used a corner adorner punch to make the circular yellow piece. After I punched this out it looked like a fancy sign, so, I used a die to cut out a bracket to use as a sign holder. I cut it out of dark brown cardstock. Next, I used white ink, in a direct to paper technique, to tone down the dark brown paper.I adhered the bracket over the mint green cardstock and used twine in the holes and tied it to the "fancy sign". I stamped Dani Reading, using Black StazOn and colored her with markers and cut the image out. Next I positioned her in the middle of the circular "sign". I stamped the sentiment "Thanks" then cut an oval shape using a Spellbinders die. I colored the words with various soft colors and then mounted it under the yellow "sign". To add a finishing touch I used a glue pen and traced the swirl portion of the yellow sign and added Lemonade Glitter to the sign.

This is my "Thanks" card to you for participating in the Blog Hop. Please leave a comment on my blog to be eligible for the last prize then click on the names and hop along to the other blogs for more inspiration and more chances to win.

Barbara - art & soul creations - You are here
Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog
Jill - Stampinhands
Julie - Just Write Designs
Eleanor - Stamping in Virginia

Sparkle N Sprinkle's Mystical Treasures Blog Hop Day 2

We will be sharing ideas with you for 3 days using the Dani’s Garden Umbrella, Dani’s Garden Swing, Fairy Dust, Dream Fairy, and Garden Fairies stamp sets. All you have to do is visit the blogs listed below and leave a comment on each blog, then your name will be entered once for each blog you comment on for a daily drawing of your choice of any of the 5 stamp sets on cling cushion.

Today I used two stamps from the Dream Fairy Set, set # 395. The Heart Fairy(3141-395M) and the sentiment, Missing You (3144-395AA). I used printed paper for the background and tore it to fit on the cardstock but still show a small frame area. Next I used another printed paper to compliment the first print and tore a rectangle shape and mounted it onto the square print. Using cardboard pieces, I tore a piece that fits on the front of the card and wrapped lace over the cardboard, added twine to the piece and mounted to the card front center. Used Spellbinders oval dies to cut a smaller oval out of printed cardstock and stamped the sentiment onto the oval. Cut out of cardboard a slightly larger scalloped oval from the Spellbinders Scalloped Ovals set  and mounted the sentiment onto the cardboard and then positioned on upper left of card.I stamped Heart Fairy onto white cardstock, colored her in, added Sparkling Snow Glitter(G1003) on to her wings and her dress and cut her out. Using the same printed cardstock used on the sentiment,  I cut a slightly larger Scalloped Oval and mounted the fairy to the scalloped oval. I placed the oval with fairy over the lace on the card.

Now off to the next blog for more inspirations:) just click on the names and hop along!

Barbara - art & soul creations -You are here
Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog
Jill - Stampinhands
Julie - Just Write Designs
Eleanor - Stamping in Virginia

Sparkle N Sprinkle's Mystical Treasures Blog Hop Day 1

Straight from the Garden Fairies Set (Set 396), the Garden Fairy is sitting in the Mystical Mushroom Garden that I designed for you. I stamped the Garden Fairy and the mushroom images. Next I colored the stamped images with markers and applied Versamark over the colored images using the Versamark marker and covered the images with clear embossing powder and heat set. Next using a brayer I applied the green grass and the sunset sky background colors to the cardstock. Lastly I used the Fairy Willow Tree stamp to make the forest.

We will be sharing ideas with you for 3 days using the Dani’s Garden Umbrella, Dani’s Garden Swing, Fairy Dust, Dream Fairy, and Garden Fairies stamp sets. All you have to do is visit the blogs listed below and leave a comment on each blog, then your name will be entered once for each blog you comment on for a daily drawing of your choice of any of the 5 stamp sets on cling cushion.

Now off to the next blog for more inspirations:) just click on the names and hop along!

Barbara - art & soul creations -You are here
Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog
Jill - Stampinhands
Julie - Just Write Designs
Eleanor - Stamping in Virginia


I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for another card and inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by,

Barbara

Mystical Treasures Blog Hop

Join us for another Blog Hop.  Sparkle N Sprinkle is giving away 1 stamp set each day for the 3 days.

That's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Brayers and ink

Today I taught a great brayer class. Making a background using a brayer and a sponge or two to apply the inks to the cardstock is really pretty easy and the results are really nice. I think its so amazing the a brayer can give the results that it does. After showing how to use the brayer, the ladies were then shown how to make the mountains. Easy Peasy. Stamping the foreground and the background images came next  and then the framing was added last and the 1st masterpiece was done.

The next card was made by using a direct to paper technique. Using 2 different stamps, ribbon and a few pieces of cardstock for layering, card number 2 was completed.

 Pat's masterpieces,

         

Priscilla's masterpieces.

The ladies loved the class and an advanced class is coming in July. So the brayer journey continues.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Zentangle

Are you familiar with Zentangle? No??
Well click here to see more info on an interesting art form. I happen to really like it and I worked one up but used a stamp instead of drawing a freeform design. Sometimes zentangle reminds me of  Paula Best.
Here is the stamp and the image that I started from. I stamped using a permanent black ink, I happened to use India Ink.

Next I drew lines within the image to further define areas. After that, I used Micron and Spica pens in various colors to color the different areas of the butterfly.Here is the finished image.

 And here is a close up of the finished Zentangle butterfly. There is no right or wrong to this art form. I love it and it is really kind of relaxing when making your designs. I guess that is where is the name comes from.

Try one and see what you get. These really look great in black and white so you don't need to use colors at all.

Have fun with this!!

That is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,
Barbara

The Westie's

Last week I went to West Springfield Mass.  to work in the Sparkle N Sprinkle booth at the Heirloom Rubber Stamp Show. In my travels, I saw some really cute dogs on display in the town of West Springfield. So I thought you might like to see these cute little guys. And they really aren't so little. They are probably at least knee high or so.

These guys look like little guard dogs. These were all decorated by different people and organizations. So each one has a different "personality" so to speak.

As we drove thru the area where these cute little guys were sitting, we also passed an area that was set aside for the Taste of West Springfield. Looked like a lot of good food was available. And they had a great crowd.

It's time to get back to the straightening up of my studio.

Well, that is it for now, thanks for stopping by and see you soon,

Have a great day!

Barbara

Glitter.... Glitter.... Everywhere

Hi Everyone
Thought I would make a few cards using glitter and a brass stencil. I have quite a few brass stencils from the days that dry embossing was done by hand. Back then we used a brass stencil, a stylus and a light box. The results were quite nice. Since I am one who rarely gets rid of my craft stuff, now I have found another use for those stencils.

I used sticky paper and attached my stencil over that. I allowed for a border beyond the stencil and then I cut the sticky paper.Next I carefully applied glitter around the edge to make the gold border. I also added gold glitter to the star at the end of Santa's hat. I happened to have a glitter that is a flesh color and used that to "color " in his face. Next, I used a bridal glitter to cover the white areas and then added the red for the hat. I pealed the brass template off the sticker paper and added the blue to the remaining sticky area, which makes the background. I mounted the finished glittered image to cardstock for stability. Next, I assembled the card. The star at the end of the hat was calling to me, so, I have a small star hand punch and used that to punch stars on the card front. I closed the card and using a glue pen, I traced those punched stars and added gold glitter. When the card is opened you will see the glittery star theme on the inside.This turned out so nice.

Here is another card that I made using a beautiful flower stencil.Perfect for this time of year. This technique is really quite easy to do and the results are stunning.

And now you have a use for those stencils that you have laying around.

The background on this card itself, was made using an embossing folder from the UK. I picked a few of the UK folders at the Heirloom show last weekend.

The hardest thing when doing these cards, was taking the picture without a glare. Hope you enjoyed these cards.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by and see you soon,
Barbara

Club Meeting

Went to the monthly stamp club meeting last night. I had 2 cards I needed to make for the meeting, one was using a stamped image of a cupcake to design a card around, the other was a theme, Girlfriends.

The stamped image we were given last month was the cupcake on the front of this card. We were given 2 cupcake stamped images and here is the card I came up with.

Next, the theme of girlfriends seemed so challenging at first, but since I just received a stamp set from Art Impressions with this exact theme, I used the stamp of girls in the set and then used a frame from Spellbinders and wove ribbon to  achieve the background. They are "babes" aren't they!!!

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Heirloom Stamp Show, West Springfield, Mass.

Did you go to the Sparkle N  Sprinkle Blog to see who won the Blog Hop?? The winner of the Dani Blog Hop was Ola!! Congratulations, Ola!!!

Speaking of Sparkle N Sprinkle, I worked at their booth at the West Springfield Mass. Heirloom Rubber Stamp Show

Here are some pic's of spots I saw on the way up to the show.

The pictures on the slide show were all taken from the vehicle as Margaret drove. You may see a reflection from a newspaper on the dash. Sorry about that. I was so busy getting some of these pic's that I didn't notice the reflection.

At the show I shopped on my lunch break and picked up a new punch from Just Imagine Crafts and will be playing with that to see how this works. More on that later. I also picked up 3 Cover a Card sets and the Mega Mount handle at the Impression Obsession booth.The stamps are 6" X 6" and that Mega Mount Handle accommodates those large stamps.  Not much time for more shopping but there is always the next show.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon
Barbara

Christmas Ornaments

Christmas.... Ornaments.........OK, OK, I know, it is only the first week of  June. But you will probably agree with me, Christmas will be here before we know it. So if you have the time now, why not get started and you will have more time as the holiday season starts, to sit back and enjoy yourself and your family and not be stressed. It will all be done. Doesn't that sound great. You know these make great gifts for those special people also.
These medallions are from Sparkle N Sprinkle. There are 4 medallion sets, set 144, set 182,set 208,set 350. Click here to go to the page on the Sparkle N Sprinkle website for sets 144, 182 and 208. Click here for website page for set 350.
If you attended the West Springfield, Mass. Heirloom show, Sparkle N Sprinkle  had these on display. Hope you were at the show and got to see them. If not, well, the pictures here are the next best thing.

  

Can you just picture these on your tree?? How about when your best friend opens up one of the boxes you have given her, and there it is, this beautiful ornament. The moment will be priceless. Trust me.

Well that is it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara

Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop Day 4

It's Day 4 of the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop, and that means it's the last day of this Blog Hop. I hope you enjoy this last card that I made for you. And I hope you've enjoyed the Blog Hop. Please make sure you check out all the other designers to see what they have in store for you on this last day. Don't forget to leave comments, that will enter you in the drawing for the prize.
The stamp I used on this card is also from set 393, Dani's Garden Swing. Featured today, on this card, is Dani's Garden Swing. I love the way this swing is depicted. There are so many stamps in this set that will inspire you. Now its time for you to get creative and make cards from these two new sets. Don't forget to leave a comment here before you hop over to the other blogs. Make sure to comment on the other designers blogs as well, More chances for you to win!!! Scroll down, their links are below.
By the way, if you are in the area, Sparkle N Sprinkle is at the Heirloom Stamp Show in West Springfield Mass. I will be working in the booth this weekend. The show is Saturday, 10-5 and Sunday 11-4. So if you come to the show stop by and say "hi" to me and Margaret.





Set 392 Dani's Garden Umbrella Set

Set 393 Dani's Garden Swing

LEAVE A COMMENT AND WIN!!!

You've met Dani and her Garden Friends in your local stores, now they are available for you to purchase online. You also have the opportunity to win a free set of your choice on cling cushion by leaving a comment on the participating blogs (make sure to leave your email so we can contact you if you win). Comments will be open until June 5 at 5:00p.m. At that time all the names of the comments will be put in a hat for a drawing. I will post the winner on June 6. It's that easy!


Be ready to be inspirited by all the wonderful ideas!

You can follow the blog hop by clicking on the participating designers names below:
Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog

Barbara - Art and Soul Creations YOU ARE HERE

Eleanor- Stamping in Virginia

Jill - Stampinhands

JP -Stampinslippers

Well, that's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,
Barbara

Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop. Here is the card I made from a stamp in set 393, Dani's Garden Swing. Featured today, on this card, is Dani Reading. Doesn't she look so relaxed reading her book. The stamps on this set are so versitle, borders, stamps that will make cool backgrounds and words.  Please make sure you stop back tomorrow for the last card using stamps from this delightful new set. Get your creative juices flowing with the new sets. I know you will come up with some really cool cards with these sets. Make sure you hop over to the other designers who are taking part in this hop. Their links are below.

Set 392 Dani's Garden Umbrella

Set 393 Dani's Garden Swing

LEAVE A COMMENT AND WIN!!!

You've met Dani and her Garden Friends in your local stores, now they are available for you to purchase online. You also have the opportunity to win a free set of your choice on cling cushion by leaving a comment on the participating blogs (make sure to leave your email so we can contact you if you win). Comments will be open until June 5 at 5:00p.m. At that time all the names of the comments will be put in a hat for a drawing. I will post the winner on June 6. It's that easy!

Be ready to be inspirited by all the wonderful ideas!

You can follow the blog hop by clicking on the participating designers names below:
Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog
Barbara - Art and Soul Creations YOU ARE HERE
Eleanor- Stamping in Virginia
Jill - Stampinhands
JP -Stampinslippers


Well, that's it for now, thanks for stopping, hope to see you tomorrow,

Barbara

Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop. Here is the card I made from a few of the stamps in set 392, Dani's Garden Umbrella. Featured today, on this card, is Dani's Ladybug. Everyone loves ladybugs. Please make sure you stop back tomorrow for another new card spotlighting stamps from the other new stamp set,  Dani's Garden Swing (Set 393). I know you will come up with some really cool cards with these sets. Make sure you hop over to the other designers who are taking part in this hop. Their links are below.

Set 392 Dani's Garden Umbrella

                                                               

Set 393 Dani's Garden Swing

LEAVE A COMMENT AND WIN!!!

You've met Dani and her Garden Friends in your local stores, now they are available for you to purchase online. You also have the opportunity to win a free set of your choice on cling cushion by leaving a comment on the participating blogs (make sure to leave your email so we can contact you if you win). Comments will be open until June 5 at 5:00p.m. At that time all the names of the comments will be put in a hat for a drawing. I will post the winner on June 6. It's that easy!

Be ready to be inspirited by all the wonderful ideas!

You can follow the blog hop by clicking on the participating designers names below:
Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog
Barbara - Art and Soul Creations   YOU ARE HERE
Eleanor- Stamping in Virginia
Jill - Stampinhands
JP -Stampinslippers


Well, that's it for now, thanks for stopping, hope to see you tomorrow,
Barbara

Blog Hop Day 1

Set 392 Dani's Garden Umbrella

Welcome to Day 1 of the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop. You will want to stop in each day for the next 4 days to see cards I've made with 2 new stamp sets, Set 392 - Dani's Garden Umbrella and Set 393 Dani's Garden Swing. I love these new sets and think you will too. I had so much fun making the cards you will be seeing over the next four days here on my blog. Also make sure you hop over to the other designers who are taking part in this hop. Their links are below.

                                                    Set 393 Dani's Garden Swing

Here is my Day 1 card from Set 392. The main stamp on my card is called Dani's Umbrella. Isn't she cute.





LEAVE A COMMENT AND WIN!!!

You've met Dani and her Garden Friends in your local stores, now they are available for you to purchase online. You also have the opportunity to win a free set of your choice on cling cushion by leaving a comment on the participating blogs (make sure to leave your email so we can contact you if you win). Comments will be open until June 5 at 5:00p.m. At that time all the names of the comments will be put in a hat for a drawing. I will post the winner on June 6. It's that easy!

Be ready to be inspirited by all the wonderful ideas!
You can follow the blog hop by clicking on the participating designers names below:

Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog
Barbara - Art and Soul Creations YOU ARE HERE
Eleanor- Stamping in Virginia
Jill - Stampinhands
JP -Stampinslippers
DeeDee - http://www.ciaobellablog.com/


Well, that's it for now, thanks for stopping, hope to see you tomorrow,

Barbara