WOODED SOLITUDE

My Latest Encaustic Paintings

2012-02-07T17:52:00.001-07:00

They are 12X12, 2 inch deep panels.

A More Contemporary/Abstract Encaustic Painting

2012-01-27T13:53:00.001-07:00

I painted this 8X8 for a friend. I was keeping the same color scheme of another one I did for her, so they could go side by side. Below I have a picture of them together. The second picture is a close up of part of the painting.

Encaustic Painting

2012-01-20T18:36:00.001-07:00

In this 8X8 Encaustic Painting, I used 4 colors of paint, along with the medium. I had been primarily using the medium with mixed media and some oil paint rubbed into etchings. I have been wanting to use more paint, so here it is. Still subtle. I also used a stamp with white encaustic gesso, rubbed with a bit of brown oil paint.
Here it is:

The second picture is a close up of the painting.

Some More Encaustic Art!

2011-12-08T07:34:00.003-07:00

Here are a few encaustic panels that I have painted recently. The second panel was donated to the Image Reborn Fundraiser. All are 8X8 inch panels.

HARVEST TIME

CHINESE MOON

IMAGE REBORN

PILGRIMAGE

More Encaustic Art!

2011-11-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 more 8X8 encaustic panels that I painted.

New Encaustic Art

2011-11-03T20:29:00.002-06:00

Here are some pictures of my new Encaustic Art. Encaustic involves using beeswax, mixed with damar resin(the medium) and then pigment for color. My art here incorporates stamping with encaustic gesso, embedding photos, horsehair, human hair, assorted papers, burnt paper and etching with different objects and filling them with oil paint. Most of these painting have 4-6 layers.

All are painted on 8X8 wood panels, except for the last painting. That is a 12X12 framed painting.

Encaustic Workshop

2011-03-28T14:57:00.000-06:00

I took a 2 day encaustic painting workshop in town this weekend. I had a blast! I have been playing with beeswax and wondering if I wanted to go the full encaustic route and invest in all the supplies. I am seriously mulling about it. Here are 2 works I made this weekend. The first one is 8X10 and the second is 8X8. The layering and nuances you can get with this meduim, not to mention the luminosity, is wonderful.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Friends!

2011-02-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

The tag challenge over at Louise's Kard Krazy blog is to use Friends as a theme.
Louise used a dog, which set me going too, since we have been giving ALOT of thought to getting another dog, which would be #2!
Here is my entry:

I used 2 blue and 1 orange distress ink on the tag. I stamped a few flowers in black and brown. I stamped the My Faithful Friend stamp by Magenta on a yellow colored scrapbook paper and ripped around the edges and added brown ink to the edges. I colored the stamp in a bit with inks. I restamped it on a piece of my handpainted paper and just cut our the postmark and glued over the original stamp. I added some ribbons to the back of the image. I stamped the dog stamp by Artistic Outpost on a piece of square chipboard that I had gessoed I added some inks, the rhinestone on the collar and outlined in gold. I attached some ribbons on the back of the chipboard and glued to the tag. I dotted some gold paint in the middle of the 2 top flowers.

Tuesday Tag Challenge

2011-02-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

This week's Challenge over at Louise's Blog is to design a tag on a tag. Here is my entry:

I folded over the top of the tag and put gesso on the whole card. Took pink and red ink and stamped with bubble wrap. Under the flower I used red ink on a piece of cardboard. I punched the bottom of the tag and outlined in gold krylon pen. The mini tag has a piece of my hand painted paper on it. I stamped love on it and outlined in gold. There is a white piece of mulberry paper under the mini tag, can't really see it. I added several tissue paper flowers and the brad. Simple and sweet.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Circles!

2011-02-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

This week at Louise's Tag Challenge is to use more than one circle in your tag. It was fun incorporating circles in different places.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Valentines!

2011-01-27T12:26:00.002-07:00

Louise's Tag Challenge for this week is to make a Valentine Tag!
I stamped part of a Magenta tag on dressmaking paper, ripped it and glued it to a wooden heart that had been sprayed with glimmer mists. I added some papers to it and bordered it with Krylon Gold pen. I cut out a bigger heart, covered it with paper, stamped stars on it, embossed the flourish in gold and glued on a piece of paper. I made an arrow out of the inside of a Starbucks sleeve, glued it to the heart and glued the wooden heart over it. Punched a hole in the top and added ribbons.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Winter!

2011-01-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

I did give a little groan when I saw the challenge topic this week at Louise's Tag Challenge! Even though I live in a snowy ski town, I just couldn't bear to do anything with snowmen, snowflakes etc. I have put all my Christmas stuff away, and was not going to go down in the garage to dig some of it out. So I decided to create something with birds and evergreens, a bit cheerier for me and hopeful. Here it is:

I stamped an evergreen stamp by Delta in 2 different color greens on the tag. I took a small piece of small bubble wrap, dipped it in gesso, whipped it off, and stamped it on to look like snow. I stamped the bird from Invoke on blue scrapbook paper, cut out, colored in, added gold and bronze paint and glued on. Cut out a bird from an Oxford Impressions sheet and glued it on. I stamped the music stanza in sepia. It is from the same Invoke set with birds. Brushed sepia ink on the edges and more gesso. Stuck 3 feathers through the hole and taped in back. Winter in Park City!

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Fabric!

2011-01-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

This week at Louise's Tag Challenge is the use of fabric on your tag. I wish she would do this theme for a few weeks running! I had a ton of fun making it. It is very vibrant and interesting in person.

I completely covered a tag with a piece of tea dyed muslin. I painted a whole bunch of deli papers last week, and kept the strips of paper I cut from them when I was trimming them down. So I glued 5 different pieces across the tag. I stamped a French Script stamp from Paperbag Studios. I stamped Torso Collage, a stamp from Acey Deucy on polka dotted vellum. I outlined it in copper Krylon pen and cut it into 3 pieces. I glued a piece of tea dyed lace on the bottom and "fringed" it. I glued the stamp pieces down and added 3 black beads on the bottom. The flower is punched from 3 of the painted papers, with a tissue paper flower on top and a hook.

Enjoy and thank you for your comments. They are all appreciated.

Tag Tuesday Challenge- Mosaic

2011-01-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

I had alot of fun making this tag for this weeks challenge at Louise's Blog. I took a square punch and punched out a bunch of different green papers. I glued them on the paper, cutting when necessary and filling in a spot, but leaving space between them like a true mosaic. For the "grout" I used a gold Polymark paint. I stamped Happiness on mulberry paper, ripped, distressed and glued to tag. I cut out the bird and glued on also. Raffia on the bottom, tissue paper and cork Prima flowers layered on top and 3 black beads on the side!! We have more than our share of snow here, so I think this was my Ode to Spring!

Tag Tuesday Challenge- Christmas Leftovers!

2010-12-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

Louise's Challenge this week is to use something left over from your Holiday celebration. I used scraps of some tissue paper that came in a present. Whimsy is a store here in Park City. T
heir name and the fleur de lis are on the tissue paper - I had kept it thinking I would use it in a collage. The background is stamped and distressed and the tissue paper is ripped and glued randomly. The square face is stamped on a piece of wood chipboard, colored the eyes and lips and covered with beeswax. I dripped blue crayon on the sides and melted them further to blend it in.There is a square of tea stained lace under the face. The clothespin has a piece of ripped cardboard under it with paint and dripped crayon on it. 2 orange round rhinestones and a punched fleur de lis complete the tag!

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Silver or Gold!

2010-12-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

I started to make this tag to adhere to a card and realized a little gold here and there and it would "qualify" for Louise's challenge. I just bought this lovely tacky tinsel today - I trimmed it down a bit. Here it is:

New Mounting!

2010-12-19T15:25:00.001-07:00

I decided to mount these 2 5X5 hardboard, covered with beeswax on 6X6 canvases, painted in Titan Buff, and backed with cardboard. I am loving cardboard for everything. What a great stamp it makes too!
I thought these 2 creations lent themselves well to the cardboard.

Tag Tuesday Challenge is Back!

2010-12-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Louise's Challenge this week is to use the colors of brown, yellow and green on a Christmas Tag. Here is my entry, Hope you enjoy. The stamp is Inkadinkadoo, available in Michaels now in a nice clear stamp set.

Abstract Beeswax Creations!

2010-12-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

I created 2 abstract 5X5 Hardboard with beeswax. The creation is a combination of my handpainted paper, bleeding tissue paper and other handmade papers. I did use sewing pattern paper on the purple on.

More Beeswax Fun!

2010-12-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

I have been playing around alot with beeswax. Not always an easy medium to manipulate.
Here are 2 5X5's on clayboard by Ampersand.
The woman with her head in her hands has green crayon melted in the beeswax which gives it that Wicked Witch of the West look!.

Butterfly in Beeswax

2010-11-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

This is my first canvas that I totally used beeswax as the adhesive and covered it all with beeswax.
There is a great video over at Stampington, under How to Videos, that illustrates this technique. I just loved it and plan to do more of the same. I have been using a little bit of beeswax in my work, but not this much. I am very drawn to encaustic, so this is my dabbling in that medium.

New Shrine Canvas!

2010-11-07T18:26:00.000-07:00

I have been busily creating canvases for my show, the weekend of Nov 20-21. I will be selling my new mixed media canvases. They are all pictured on the Flickr Photostream link, here on my blog.
I really like this new creation. I have been thinking about using some shrines in my work and using cardboard also. So I combined the two, and will make a few more.
Here is my latest creation: The picture of the woman in the shrine is a copy of a photograph I took years ago of a statue in the Glasgow Botanical Gardens. It still remains one of my favorite photographs.

New Hearts Canvas

2010-10-24T06:59:00.000-06:00

I made this 8X8 canvas for my friends birthday. She has a funky clock with the same color scheme, and wanted to hang it with that.

The base is a sheet of 90 lb watercolor paper. I added many different handmade papers and torn pages from books. I used white paint on a foam stamp, a heart stamp on paper, fabric, felt, button, beeswax over the music stanza. I glued it to a large piece of felt and then onto the canvas which was painted in Titan Buff. The sides were adorned with light molding paste applied through a stencil. Here is a side view of that. It is a fabulous look :) Thank you for your comments, always welcomed!

Mixed Media Monday Challenge - ART!

2010-10-01T13:04:00.001-06:00

This weeks Challenge at Mixed Media Monday is simply, ART! In creating this 5X5 collage, I decided to try, or add, a few different things. Here is my entry. Click on the image to enlarge:

5X5, one and a half inch wide mixed media canvas. Painted with Titan Buff. Stenciled on light molding paste on front. Glued some handmade pieces of paper over the stencil. Ripped up a piece of paper painted with acrylics, outlined in gold, and glued on top. Added a few stamps, buttons, lace and dragonfly punch. Glued on computer generated haiku by me, and covered with beeswax. The haiku was inspired after a bunch of friends had a prayer circle for another friend going through breast cancer. I also embellished the 4 sides.

Mixed Media Challenge - Buttons

2010-09-21T09:26:00.002-06:00

This weeks challenge at Mixed Media Monday is to use buttons in your work. Well......I use buttons in almost every collage I make, so this was not a big challenge for me! My good friend, Judy, said her favorite color was red, and I looked around at my collages and realized I had NO red! Warm colors are not what I gravitate to....but I do love orange. So I created a 5X5 with a bit of red. Here it is. Click on the image to enlarge.

I used 4 different kinds of hand made papers for the background. The pretty paper under the words JOY, is a bleeding tissue paper I just made. It has bits of pink, yellow, peach and white. Very pretty up close. Then I stamped a flourish with Titan Buff paint. I stamped the delphinium in black ink on a piece of pattern paper. I love that look! I used 2 Prima flowers with a button center and 2 other buttons in the left top corner. I stamped the letters for Joy on an ivory paper, edged them with sepia ink and glued them to the canvas.

Mixed Media Monday Challenge

2010-09-16T16:01:00.001-06:00

This weeks challenge at Mixed Media Monday, is to create your piece with something you have been wanting to try or use. I have been wanting to incorporate beeswax into my art. I saw a video this morning that made the technique a lot easier. So I gave it a whirl, here is my piece: Click on the picture to enlarge.

I started with a 5X5 canvas that is one and a half inches deep. I painted it with Titan Buff. I cut a piece of 4X4 paper and glued a handmade paper that had leaves embedded in it. I used a foam leaf stamp and used white acrylic paint on it. With sepia ink, I stamped a few flourishes. I glued it to the canvas using gel medium. I stamped the face in black in on muslin, brushed with sepia ink to make it look old and cut it out with pinking shears. I glued some batting to the back to give it a "puffed" look and glued it to the paper. I glued some pieces of white mulberry paper with holes and made the flower out of 2 different punches. I stamped the word journey on some mulberry paper and glued to the paper. I put several pieces of beeswax on the top and ironed them over the word. I added a few more to get a nice coat. I embellished with one button, 2 snaps and 2 brads. The beeswax is difficult to see on the photo, but it is really a nice look.

Mixed Media Monday Challenge - Warm it Up!

2010-09-07T15:50:00.001-06:00

This week the challenge at Mixed Media Monday is to use warm colors in your art. I realized I don't use alot of warm colors, gravitating more towards the cool colors. So it was fun to use all these vibrant, happy colors.
Here is my mixed media collage - click on the picture to enlarge it.

I started with a 4X4 inch piece of white bazilli paper and glued on many different handmade papers. I added a ripped scrap from a spanish novel and stamped a french post card in sepia ink. I stamped the woman in black on a translucent white piece of unryu paper with gold and silver specs. Tore the piece to make uneven edges and glued to the paper. I used gel medium to adhere the 4X4 to the 5X5 canvas that is 1 & half inches thick, which I had painted in Titan Buff. I added the lace, snaps, hooks, flowers, beads, heart. I used gold fabric paint to adorn the hair and the sun. I glued scraps to each side of the canvas and added snaps on top and bottom.

Mixed Media Monday Challenge

2010-08-30T07:49:00.000-06:00

This week at Mixed Media Monday, the challenge is to use cool colors in your art. I made these 5X5 mixed media collages on canvas this weekend. I could not decide which one to select, so I have posted both.

They both use a combination of many different papers. Believe is composed of several layers of bleeding tissue paper I made -with a piece of painted deli paper. Mosaic pieces, feathers, stamps, ribbon, buttons, sea glass are some of the embellishments. I have decorated the sides of the canvases also - sometimes with a corresponding stamp, pieces of paper, buttons, they vary. Hope you enjoy. Your comments are appreciated.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Scrapbook!

2010-08-24T14:48:00.000-06:00

Louise has a great challenge this week over at her blog. Create a tag that tells a story - that could be part of a family scrapbook. FUN! I used a copy of an old photo from my paternal grandmothers side of the family, The Brennans! It is taken somewhere around 1920-1930. They are on a boat - I pictured them off on some great cruise. It is taken in New York. I added a postcard paper as the backing, added an old stamp, old button and a piece of an old hanky! I happened to have the ribbon with the word journey on it -perfect. I distressed the perimeter of the tag with T.H.'s distress tool and sponged it lightly with tea dye ink. Enjoy. Thank you for your comments!

Mixed Media Monday

2010-08-19T07:30:00.000-06:00

This weeks challenge on Mixed Media Monday is to Embellish your art work. Well.....that is easy. That is my favorite part! Here is my piece.

This is prepared on a 5X7 canvas. I chose around 5 handmade papers to glue on - purposely having them go off the canvas. Then I glued the definition of Peace from an old dictionary. I added the bamboo sticks tied in twine and the gold threads under the sea glass. I tea stained a tag and stamped two stamps on it - you cannot see the tumbled glass french script under the statue. The script is from Paperbag Studios and the statue is from Oxford Impressions. I outlined it in gold and added the button and the other 2 buttons. Glued a small piece from a sheet of music.

Gingersnap Creations Challenge

2010-08-14T20:06:00.000-06:00

They have a current challenge at Gingersnap Creations blog to use paint in your art. I have recently started using more paint in my collages. Here are 2 pieces that I put on 6X6 canvases.

I painted the canvases with Titan Buff. Then I used gel medium to glue down a wonderful white Unryu paper with gold threads. For both of them, I used a piece of my painted deli papers that were stamped with flourishes and had pieces of paper already glued to them. Then I embellished them with stamped images of birds. The stamps are from Paperbag Studios and Invoke Arts. I glued the top one directly on the canvas. The bottom one I glued to a piece of bazzili paper and outlined in bronze leaf pen. I added buttons and lace.
They are pretty wall hangings. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Christmas in July!

2010-07-27T21:47:00.001-06:00

This weeks Tag Challenge over at Louise's Blog is to use Christmas colors in your tag! It was a bit hard for me to get into red and green and gold, or even blue and white, but once I got going, it was OK.
Here is my entry:

The beautiful ballet dancer is from Lost Coast Designs. The background is corrugated cardboard painted with gesso, stamped with red ink and then I drizzled red and gold paint on it. I outlined the whole tag in kryon gold pen. The ribbons are green and gold with white polka dots. I put 3 rhinestones on the left and added the punch hearts and fleur de ly, and the heart button.

Thursday Challenge

2010-07-22T18:53:00.000-06:00

Here is my entry for the Thursday Challenge - Vintage Tags!

I glued a page from an old book to a tag and sponged white gesso to it. I inked some scrolls on the tag with bundled sage - hard to see. I glued a piece from an old music sheet and then stamped the pne of the new Gibson Girl stamps from Lost Coast Designs. I inked in some vintage sepia and straw in her hair. I glued a piece of lace to the bottom of the tag. I used the same lace to place under the tag and then glued. I added the vintage button on top and stamped the flowers and heart. I used a dab of bronze paint in the middel of the flowers and on the top of the heart. I glued 2 buttons to the bottom of the card.

Paperbag Studios Challenge

2010-07-22T17:22:00.000-06:00

Paperbag Studios' July Challenge is about Flowers. Use one of their flower stamps, or one of their other stamps and some kind of flower on a card.

Here is my entry:

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Faces!

2010-07-20T16:11:00.000-06:00

Louise's Tag Challenge this week is to include at least one face on your tag. I recently purchased a series of different size faces from Invoke Arts and was excited to use them.
I used vintage glass ink as the base of the tag. I stamped some bubble wrap in brown and added a script stamp from Paperbag Studios in purple and black. The terrific raven border is from Lost Coast Designs. I stamped 2 small Invoke Art face stamps in purple and then a big face on a separate piece of paper which I outlined in bronze metallic pen. I glued Holtz's film strip to the tag, taped the feather and glued the face on top. I added 3 light blue rhinestones for bling. The whole tag is outlined in bronze also.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Hearts!

2010-07-15T09:07:00.003-06:00

This weeks Tag Challenge at Louise's Blog is to use at least one heart on your tag. I decided to use the flaming heart stamp from Lost Coast Designs. I stamped it in pink and then cut it out. I added a little bit of blue ink to the heart, added some pinks, blue and gold fabric paint to give it dimension. Then I punched another heart using a page from a spanish book and spritzed gold glimmer mist on it and outlined it in kryon gold. On the tag, I used 2 colors of distress ink and spritzed the same gold glimmer mist. I used the distressing tool on the perimeter of the tag to give it a shabby look. The heart border stamp is from LC Designs and the french script is Paperbag Studios. Then I added 2 ribbons and 3 faux rhinestones.

New Cards!

2010-07-12T15:50:00.000-06:00

I made these cards using the multi handmade paper background - torn into different shapes and glued on.
I then stamped an image on with black ink. Sometimes I do a little coloring. Then I add embellishments of buttons, lace, paint etc.

Silhouette Series

2010-06-27T20:28:00.000-06:00

I bought these great stamps from Starving Art Stamps at the W. Springfield convention this June. She said that was the last set available, their rights ran out on them and that was all they had left. So of course, that made them even more special. I thought they would be great background and accent stamps - subdued or bold. Anyway.....I made one card and really liked it....the rest is history. The backgrounds are all handpainted by me and I have added vintage linens, lace, buttons, some old, snaps etc. One stamp I stamped on a piece of clothing pattern paper(#8) - that was fun. Here they are: I would love feedback on them - let me know your favorites # 1-9.

Theme Thursday Challenge - Collage!

2010-06-27T17:07:00.003-06:00

I have not participated in a Theme Thursday for a while. But how could I resist the theme of collage?? I just created this card a week ago and had not posted it yet. I used 4 different handmade papers - the green is a piece of bleeding tissue paper I created awhile ago - I just loved the colors! The flower is from Stampington & Company - not sure about the swirl. They are both stamped in black. The flower is colored with distress inks, using a Q-tip. I used bronze fabric paint to dab on the swirls and added buttons. I outlined the inside card with bronze leaf pen. Hope you enjoy, I plan to make more of this style card.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Postage!

2010-06-23T16:32:00.004-06:00

Louise's Tag Challenge for this week is to use a stamp on your tag. I have a large assortment of older cancelled stamps from my Dad's collection, when he was a kid. I decided to use this one from Italy - mainly, because I wanted to use the new stamps I got from Lost Coast Design. They are the ancient Roman women's faces - maybe from Pompeii. I used 3 different faces on this tag. I used a green paper background, stamped the burlap stamp from Oxford Impressions in brown and stamped script from Paperbag Studios in black on the lower left hand corner. I used a piece of handmade paper behind the middle stamp, and stamped the garland border in black, also from LC Designs. Stamped the main face on parchment type paper in purple and bordered with gold leaf. In the upper right hand corner, I ripped a floral piece of vellum, glued it to the corner and attached the leaves and brad. I bordered the whole tag in gold leaf pen also. The background is greener than the scanned picture of it!

Tag Tuesday Challenge - My Signatures

2010-06-09T17:51:00.002-06:00

This week Louise's Tag Challenge is to create a tag using some of your own signature elements. I thought that was very clever, and, very fun. It was great to have such carte blanche on my tag! Here is my creation:

Some of my favorite things to do or use are:
1. collage
2. lace/fabric
3. buttons
4. layering
5. faces
6. birds
7. pages from books - especially old ones!
8. beads.
9. gesso
10. flowers
11. texture
12. tags

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Music!

2010-06-01T13:31:00.002-06:00

This week at Louise's Tag Challenge is to use music in your tag. I use music scores, notes etc alot in my collaging cards, so this was fun for me. I glued 4 different papers in each corner of the tag and then stamped the bike stamp(Inkadinkadoo) in black ink. I colored it a little, but wanted to leave it mostly black. I glued the music sheet in the upper left hand corner, glued the flower and leaf and then stapled the ribbons and added a button and a bead. Click on image to enlarge!

Tag Tuesday Challenge

2010-05-25T16:04:00.001-06:00

OK......this week's challenge was really a challenge for me. I had fun with the tag, but wimped out a bit on the hand drawn part!! I wrote the two "moo's" and I drew in the white feathers on the rooster.Just as Louise said, I do not like my handwriting and must have written MOO a million times. Enough already. What can I say?? I used my two new stamp sets from Oxford Impressions - Farm Boy and Country Girl. The center of the flower is a lady bug, a bit hard to see.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - 52nd Birthday

2010-05-19T09:10:00.000-06:00

Louise's Challenge this week over at her blog, is to use the numbers 52 in your tag to commemerate the year celebration of the Challenge. This is truly my favorite Challenge and I appreciate all the hard work she puts into it. Thank you Louise! Here is my Tag. The stamp is from Lost Coast Designs.

May Artistic Outpost Submission!

2010-05-14T15:21:00.001-06:00

Just made this card with an Artistic Outpost stamp from the Home sheet. I love those stamps! I stamped the truck and the saying on a page from an old dictionary and glued it to one of my handpainted backgrounds. I added a piece of ribbon on the right side of the card and looped a clear plastic ring through it and put one of those brass button-thingies in the middle. I added some black beads and mounted in on a background of fiber/grass paper.

Theme Thursday Challenge - Butterflies

2010-05-14T15:13:00.000-06:00

I have not participated in a Thursday Challenge in a while. I love butterflies, so I thought it was a good one to get back into it. I used my handpainted background and then stamped on muslin, colored and sewed it on. I stamped Dream on mulberry paper and glued it on the card. I found these interesting brass type buttons that were in among my mothers assorted stash. I love them and decided to use it for the center of the flower.
The Dream stamp is from Acey Duecy, the Butterfly stamp is Paperbag Studios and the flower is Prima.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Ticket!

2010-05-08T16:58:00.000-06:00

Louise's Tag Challenge this week was to use a ticket on the tag. I have a bunch of tickets left over from the Sundance Film Festival that I have saved. So I decided to use a piece of a Sundance ticket and a great stamp from Magenta. The background is one of my hand painted deli papers and a few flowers. The top of the tag is metallic, so it was tricky to scan. I played with the colors a bit, but it still looks washed out. Oh well. Enjoy!

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Glitter!

2010-04-29T10:26:00.002-06:00

This week's challenge over at Louise's blog is to use some glitter in your tag. I just bought the Oxford Impressions Farm Boy and Country Girl stamp sets and really wanted to use them. I adore the rooster and decided to use him as the focal point. I stamped him on muslin, colored with pencils and sewed him on with the burlap. The chicks I stamped, colored, cut out and glued on. The chicken wire background on my tag is from Lost Coast Designs. I used that one, instead of the OI stamp, because it was alot bigger and I had a big stamp this week. I added glitter to the chicks and rooster. Unfortunately, I have not been able to scan cards/tags when I stamp on muslin, it just doesn't come out clear for me. So I have to take a picture, which is not as crisp :( Enjoy! Thanks for your comments.

Oxford Impressions Stamps

2010-04-28T17:54:00.001-06:00

I just got the Farm Boy and Country Girl series of stamps from Oxford Impressions. They are a great set and look like they are going to be a lot of fun to play with. I made this card today for my brother-in-laws birthday. The boys are stamped on muslin, colored in with pencils and sewn on to the card along with the burlap piece. The background is one of my hand painted pieces. Enjoy!

New Cards

2010-04-28T16:43:00.000-06:00

Here are 5 more cards made with a handpainted background. Most of the stamps are stamped on a type of mulberry paper and then glued to the background.

Alice in Wonderland Cards

2010-04-24T08:21:00.001-06:00

I just created these Alice cards from the new Alice in Wonderland series from Lost Coast Designs. They were a lot of fun to make and really got my creative juices flowing!

Stamping on Muslin

2010-04-16T13:21:00.002-06:00

I had seen a card of Lynn Stevens that I loved where she had used a transfer of a stamp with gel medium on muslin. I loved the look and have been using more fabrics and sewing in my cards. So I bought some muslin and just stamped this face on it. I colored it in slightly - lips and eyes and sewed it to my card. The background is, of course, the ND Handpainted Paper that has pieces of the telephone book in the background. I just LOVE the gesso on these backgrounds. I glued on some prima flowers, beads and a red heart. I wanted to tie in the subtle red that is in the background paper. The first background is different than the latter two cards.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Inspire Me!

2010-04-15T09:11:00.000-06:00

Louise's Challenge this week was to use an inspiring quote on your tag. My Mom had this quote on her desk and I always loved it. I used a piece of my New Delhi Handpainted paper for the background. The butterfly stamp is from Savvy Stamps. I bought these pretty corsage pins the other day and decided to use it on my tag with a piece of lace. Enjoy!

Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee

2010-04-14T14:27:00.004-06:00

From this point forward, the deli paper will be referred to as New Delhi Handpainted Paper to make it sound more exotic!!!
I used the ND paper for this card as the background. The T Dum and T Dee stamp is from Lost Coast Stamps.
I colored them in, cut them out and glued them to a ripped piece of lavender mulberry paper that I had glued onto my background. I added the pom poms, yarn, flower and Happy Birthday! This card is for my Dad's birthday on friday.

Shabby Tea Room

2010-04-03T11:55:00.003-06:00

I decided to enter The Shabby Tea Room's week 3 Challenge - Lets Get Scrappy! I was inspired by Jean Franks Beck's entry on her blog. It was fun to go through my scraps and decide what to put together. The stamp is from Oxford Impressions and is stamped on a glossy sheet.
Here it is:

And yet more Painted Deli Paper Cards!

2010-04-03T11:04:00.002-06:00

I am bitten by the deli paper card bug!! You have not seen the last of them!! Here are 2 more.
Storm Warning reminded me of a rain storm. The white tulle has small beads glued to it - difficult to see in a scan.

Theme Thursday Challenge - Favorite Letter!

2010-03-31T16:45:00.000-06:00

For the Theme Thursday Challenge I decided to use "R", just because I wanted to use the Ravens. I also think I may give this to my friend, Rochelle, for her birthday! I used a piece of a deli paper that I painted as a background. It has a flourish and hands stamped on it and some gesso and parts of a piece of newspaper. The raven stamps are from the terrific party raven set from Lost Coast Designs. The are stamped on glossy stock and colored with ink. I sewed on the piece of handmade paper on the right. I have a flourish punch which I used to punch out 2 images from a page of a book. The tag is tea-stained and stamped. Faux rhinestone and scrabble piece added. Enjoy!

Tag Tuesday Challenge

2010-03-30T16:32:00.002-06:00

This weeks Tag Challenge is to make a collage tag and use at least one sticker. I decided to build it around the cute picture of the child and dog that Marilyn Rock sent me last week. I also love the dog stamp that I have and wanted to use that too. My child is a Jack Russell Terrier, named Sophie. These images make me think of her and make me happy! She is the dog in the photo with the pumpkin on my profile. The stickers I used are the paw prints. Enjoy!

Think Monday, Think ATC - Bud, Flowering

2010-03-29T13:56:00.005-06:00

The Monday ATC Challenge this week is to use a bud or flowering in your ATC.
Here is my entry. The sweet Easter girls are Eleanor and June.

More Deli Paper Cards

2010-03-28T13:42:00.000-06:00

Here are 4 more cards I created using the painted deli paper as a background.
I added stamped images, paper, buttons, words etc.

Deli Paper Cards

2010-03-25T15:53:00.000-06:00

Here are the 4 cards I made with the deli paper I painted. I am having so much fun with this and really love the new look of my cards. More to come............

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Black & White

2010-03-23T15:47:00.001-06:00

For this weeks Tag Challenge the theme is Black and White ONLY! Boy, that was a challenge for me. I kept wanting to put a dash of color somewhere!! What discipline!!

Deli Paper Fun

2010-03-22T18:34:00.006-06:00

Here is an envelope I made using the deli paper technique by Marilyn Rock, that I referenced in the last blog. SO MUCH FUN! Please check it out. I sewed the sides like she did in her video. Here are 2 other sheets I made, which I then cut up and made 2 cards.

I stamped with gesso and sepia ink and also placed newspaper print and sheet music on wet paint, and then ripped it off, so that some of it would stay.

Think Monday, Think ATC - All In A Row

2010-03-22T18:20:00.003-06:00

I decided to pick a row of trees for my ATC Challenge Submission this week. I guess with the blog name of Wooded Solitude, it makes sense that it would resonate with me. The stamp is from Artistic Outpost. I kept thinking I should embellish it, but I like it simple. The background is a piece of acrylic painted/collage deli paper that I made yesterday. The technique I learned from a video from Marilyn Rock. Here is the link to the second video. The first video is in the righthand sidebar. The bird is from Oxford Impressions collage sheet.

Artistic Outpost March Referral Program

2010-03-19T14:47:00.000-06:00

I just completed this card for the Artistic Outpost March Referral Program. The theme is Party and Celebration. I chose a stamp from the Bluebird Collection which I stamped in black, embossed in clear powder and then colored with inks and pencils. I layered it on a cool fiber paper, that I inked blue ink on the edges to help it stand out. Then glued it on a patterned craft paper with a piece of a music score added. Embellished with buttons, beads and lace and a computer generated saying.

Hey............Good Looking!

2010-03-18T07:07:00.002-06:00

I made this card a month or so ago and just love it. It was a bit labor intensive, but worth it. One of my friends bought it from me, so now I need to make another.

The men are an old 1903ish photo that I copied on glossy paper and cut them out and apart. The door is a stamp from B Line Designs. I cut out the windows and put a piece of vellum in back of them, that I had stamped with a chicken wire background(Lost Coast Designs). The border is also LC Designs and the hand is from River City Rubber Works.The stamp is an old cancelled stamp and the background script is from Paperbag Studios. I used a bit of everybody! The watch is plastic.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Spring

2010-03-16T14:51:00.000-06:00

Here is my entry for the Tag Tuesday Challenge this week - subject SPRING!! Not a lot of sign of that here in Park City, Utah.

All the stamps are from Oxford Impressions.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Arches

2010-03-14T14:38:00.000-06:00

Here is my entry for the Tag Tuesday Challenge using an arch in the tag. I decided to go tropical/sea scape today. The seahorse stamp is B Line Designs.

Gingersnap Creations

2010-03-06T07:44:00.004-07:00

Gingersnap Creations is having a fabulous giveaway this month. Be sure to check it out.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Brown and Blue

2010-03-02T12:02:00.002-07:00

This weeks challenge is to use brown and another color in a tag - I chose blue.
The face tag is Hampton Art Stamps, the gate is Paperbag Studios and the wrought iron border on the bottom is Lost Coast Designs. They have alot of great borders.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Orange

2010-03-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

This weeks ATC Challenge is to use the color orange predominantly in the ATC. I think I accomplished this! I wanted to keep it simple, yet pretty.

Thursday Challenge - Flourish

2010-03-01T08:46:00.001-07:00

Here is my entry for the Flourish Challenge. I think the flourish is from Stampology. The car is embossed in black with the windows cut out. The car is from B Line Designs. The giraffe is from Lost Coast Designs.
A bit tricky scanning with the pom poms and having it come out clear. Enjoy!

Prima Contest

2010-02-28T14:52:00.002-07:00

Prima is having a big surprise giveaway. Check out their website and post a comment to win!!

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Shamrocks!

2010-02-24T18:13:00.002-07:00

This weeks Tag Challenge subject is Shamrocks. I used a stamp from Oxford Impressions. I cut him out and colored him. The music sheet is a stamp by Stampington. I did not have a shamrock stamp, so thank you Louise, for the heart trick! I scrunched up white crepe paper, that I had cut in half length wise, and glued it under the phrase, also from O. Impressions. The border behind the boy is from Lost Coast Designs.

Monday ATC Challenge - Let's Dance

2010-02-23T15:23:00.001-07:00

The ATC Challenge theme this week is Let's Dance. I used part of a stamp from Queen Dresser Drawers that I cut out and colored. I used a heart and flower punch, lace, music score paper and brads for embellishments.

Theme Thursday Challenge - Girls!

2010-02-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

What a great subject - I was excited to start. I used the Paperbag Studios stamp of the 2 girls. I always felt that they were sisters. I am not a lavender fan, but I used Milled Lavender Distress Ink as one of the background inks, and it just went from there. My first time using staples - it has taken me a while to get used to the "look", but I like it.

Theme Thursday Challenge - Flowers!

2010-02-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

I just bought these new flowers today, so they fit right in with the Theme Thursday Challenge. I also loved the color combinations. I used 3 different inks on the background and stamped the flourish and flowers. The stamp is from Lost Coast Designs., it is called Flying Ballerina. It is stamped on glossy paper and colored with ink.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Monogram

2010-02-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

I decided to create a tribute to my Mom, Priscilla. She loved everything creative and beautiful. She loved gardening, arranging flowers, making dolls and beading. She was accomplished in many arts and loved nature. After she passed away, I got this stamp from her stash. It always reminds me of her. I really loved how the colors came out in this tag - soft and dreamy

Monday ATC Challenge - Eternity

2010-02-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

This weeks challenge was to interpret Eternity in your ATC. It is a great concept to ponder and I found it brought up more questions than answers. That is why I decided to use the woman "pondering" as a focal point. It is a beautiful stamp that also includes a butterfly beneath her hands. It is made by Lost Coast Designs. I also included the sky and stars and the ocean.

Thursday Challenge - Pink and Black

2010-02-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

I decided to make a valentine using the pink and black theme.The square stamp is from Paperbag Studios - I embossed it in black.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - A Bit of Red

2010-02-02T14:04:00.001-07:00

The Tag Tuesday Challenge called for a bit of red in the tag.The only red in this tag is the bead inside the flower - maybe a bit too subtle!!The girl stamp in from Paperbag Studios and the bird is from Oxford Impressions. I dribbled a bit of gold paint on the crepe paper. The background is a sheet of music inked with blue and green. Krylon gold around the tag.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Circus Challenge

2010-02-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

This weeks ATC Challenge subject is Circus. I used 2 stamps that I love from Lost Coast Designs - the giraffe and the crow. The background is composed of several colors of glimmer mist. The stars are from an Oxford Impressions collection and the harlequin stamp is from A Muse Artstamps.

Theme Thursday Challenge - Busy!

2010-01-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

This was a bit of a stretch for me. But once I got going it was fun and I just wanted to make sure it stayed cohesive and didn't get sloppy and fall apart. Anyway, here it is featuring a stamp from Stampington & Co called Santa Matilde. The butterfly is a beautiful stamp from Savvy Stamps.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - Time!

2010-01-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

Here is my challenge entry for this week. The women smelling the roses is from an Oxford Impressions collection.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Morning Ritual Challenge

2010-01-25T13:15:00.002-07:00

For this weeks challenge about morning rituals, I chose my habitual cup of tea and my cherished quiet time to think about anything. Everything is possible and new before the dawn. The woman is a new stamp from Lost Coast Designs, called the Coat Lady. I stamped her on photo paper and colored her lightly.

Tag Tuesday Challenge - A Doll

2010-01-19T14:56:00.001-07:00

I had a lot of fun with this tag. I am calling her the Bird Lady. The woman stamp is from Paperbag Studios and all the multi bird stamp is from Artistic Outpost. The single bird, eggs and bird on her head are from a stamp and collage sheet from Oxford Impressions. I used branches for her arms, feathers for her skirt and some moss for her hair. What fun!

Think Monday, Think ATC - Button Challenge

2010-01-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

This is my first ATC entry into the Think Monday Challenge. Buttons are one of my favorite embellishment, so this was a no-brainer! The girl stamp is from Paperbag Studios and the tea cup is Tin Can Mail.

Happy Sunday!

2010-01-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

I got a bunch of new stamps over the holidays, so I have started making cards with them.
The first one I am calling Ghost. It seemed to me that she was watching over her family house - in a wistful way. I used a combination of stamp companies in this one. Coat lady and tree branches Background(very cool) is Lost Coast Designs. The house is River City Rubber Works. The bird is from Oxford Impressions and "Home" is from Artistic Outpost.
The second card gives you a better idea of the tree branches background from Lost Coast Designs.The 2 men are from LC Designs also. Dream is from Process of Illumination and the birds are from Artistic Outpost.

Theme Thursday Challenge - Hearts!

2010-01-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

I just made this card last night, so that was great timing. Both the Flaming Heart and Chicken Wire stamp are from Lost Coast Designs. I stamped the heart on paper that had been sprayed with different glimmer mists. I cut it out and added some acrylic paint and beads to the heart. Topped off with a gold painted bottle cap, stamp and rhinestones. I wanted to give it a Mexican/folk art flare. Mi Corazon is "my heart" in spanish. This is definitely one of those cards that are better in person.

Christmas Card Contest

2010-01-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

Okay....I admit that I was disappointed that I was not one of the 5 winners in the Oxford Impressions Christmas Card Contest. And then I logged onto Suzanne's Blog today, and there was my card. I was so psyched! She was showcasing a few of the ones she liked using the non-traditional stamps for the card, a great challenge. I guess runner-up isn't so bad!
Here is the card:

Tuesday Tag Challenge

2010-01-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

This Tuesdays Tag Challenge by Kard Krazy was so much fun! I had alot of choices, but decided on The Princess of Everything stamp from Lost Coast Design. She is stamped on glossy card stock and colored.The suit of cards border is from L C Design also. The cake is from Inkadinkadoo.

Tuesday Tag Challenge

2010-01-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here is my entry for the Kard Krazy Tuesday Tag Challenge - Polka Dots and Stripes. The background paper is white with light pink polka dots and subtle black lines. The dog stamp is on photo paper and is from Rubber Stamps of America, which I ordered from Stamp Diva. The ball is a stamp from Artistic Outpost. The dog stamp is a new one for me - I love it! It reminds me of my Jack Russell Terrier, Sophie Lou.

Old Photo Card

2010-01-04T16:17:00.000-07:00

I have many old photos from my Dad's side of the family. They lived in NY near the beach. These were taken around 1920's or so. I copy them on photo paper and sometimes color them a bit. These girls are on a boardwalk arms around each other, bending over. The background paper is some Ralph Lauren wallpaper. I used real shells and sea glass.

Route 66

2010-01-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

This is a card i made from the Artistic Outpost stamp set called Route 66. It is a great stamp collection for collaging and i have made many different cards with it. The men especially love these cards.

Lost Coast Designs Card

2010-01-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a card with the new stamps i got from Lost Coast Designs. The 2 small tags say "Happy Birthday". Enjoy!