Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Tuesday's Musings

   Here we are once again for another Tuesday to share our beverage of choice and anything else we want over at Altered Book Lover where Elizabeth hosts T Stands for Tuesday. I also want to wish

  A VERY HAPPY B"EARTH"DAY TO YOU, ELIZABETH !!!

  We had an absolutely GLORIOUS weekend!! The sun shone brightly and it reached 82 F Saturday. The gas grill was thoroughly scrubbed, the grass got cut for the first time this season, the garden plot got tilled, I sat in the sun for just over an hour browsing thru magazines, and we even sat out until late with music and wine:) I hope you all had wonderful weather where you live too.

 Last week my friend LuAnn and I got together for a day of fun that included a stop at Hobby Lobby (just got some watercolor cardstock and two stencils), lunch at Panera Bread, and then the rest of the afternoon stamping up a storm!
                                                                                               



One end of the table with my green tea


another view with LuAnn's lemonade


ready, set, stamp!


some of LuAnn's papers


some of my papers


this card has 4 layers of inks and stamping


I tried to capture the shimmer of the gold Pan Pastel we used on some of the cards.


 I just had to show this pattern-isn't it gorgeous??? This stamp belongs to LuAnn and it was my favorite! It's called Ornate Floral, and the stamped dots (done with gold Pan Pastel) is Scattered Dots. All of our new "Cover a Card " series of stamps are from Impression Obsession. I made two cards and listed more of the patterns here. We saw the demo at the stamp convention the other week and fell in love with the designs and technique! I did bring some of my older stamps but we never used them-the new ones were much more fun:)
 
 This is the easy technique:
 
 Stamp your first design onto card stock using a good juicy inkpad (the Fluid Chalk inks by Clearsnap are recommended and since I always buy reinkers with my stamp pads I reinked them all before stamping). Choose another pattern if you wish and stamp over the first one with another ink color. Lastly, stamp the last pattern (this pattern should be small in scale - like dots, or lines, a more open pattern if you will) using a Versamark inkpad (Tsukineko) over top. Sponge gold (or any color you prefer-but the metallic light gold is most versatile) Pan Pastel over the card and watch the magic! That's it. You certainly can use stamps you have on hand but these  large -about 5 3/4" x 5 3/4" stamps allow you to cover a piece of equally sized card stock. Perfect for creating quick custom designs in colors you wish to use on your cards.
 
 And my last artful offering today is this journal page:
 
                                                
                                                               "Spring in Provence"
 
 This is how it began:
 

 I had taken out the decorative napkin (seen in the finished page)) which I was planning on gluing to a blank page. I just happened to set it over my opened book and loved the way it looked over this gelli plate printed deli paper. The markings that showed through really added interest-and it made me think of a Spring rain in Provence. To bring out the imagery a bit more I used a fine point black Sharpie pen and lightly sketched over the shapes on the napkin. Ahh, to really be there in the springtime...
 
 Linking to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #11 for the theme of "April Showers", and to Mix It Monthly for the theme of "city/village" .
 
 
 Have a great day, and a happy Earth Day Wednesday!
 
 " Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."      Rachel Carson
 
 







 

28 comments:

  1. Those designs are so intricate and beautifully combined and stamped! I stamp very little but can appreciate the still and strength it takes to make these. Just lovely!
    Thanks for sharing them on T Day!

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  2. Gosh so much to Love here as always dear Linda.
    Fabulous fun with your friend making those gorgeous papers which look like official scrapbook papers and I mean that as a high compliment!
    AND your Spring in Provence piece is amazing!!! Wowee!
    and your quote really speaks for me too...I adore Spring ♥
    Happy T Day
    oxo

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  3. Gorgeous stamps. I'm always afraid of stamps that are intricate since I have trouble getting a crisp image. Love your technique!

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  4. I used to use stamps a bit, but I never made anything as lovely as these combinations of yours. Beautiful!

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  5. I was impressed with your stamping. I'm not that good at stamping, but I really like what you made. I actually prefer to buy reinkers only, then I can use a cosmetic sponge to add ink to the stamp. May be why I'm not much of a stamper (grin).

    I can't believe that beautiful piece of art came originally from a napkin. You altered it a LOT.

    Thank you for the lovely bEARTHday wish. You are so sweet to do that. And thanks for sharing your stamping, your tea, and your artistic skills with us for T this Tuesday.

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  6. Wow .. amazing designs ! Your journal page is lovely as well Linda!
    Happy happy T-Day ♥♥♥

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  7. I love those stamps, not very expensive yet so many beautiful designs. Love all the pattern papers you both have created. Your journal page looks wonderful! I love everything about it, the print and the colors.
    Happy Tuesday to you
    Susan

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  8. Gorgeous papers, Linda! And, you springtime in Paris creation is just stunning!!

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  9. Lovely designs ~ My favorite is Spring in Provence ~ Beautiful post!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  10. Lovely stampings Linda, looks like fun!

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  11. I didn't realize it was Elizabeth's birthday? Happy birthday to her!!
    I love a crafting party! That sure looks like a lot of fun learning new techniques. :)
    Happy T-Day!

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  12. Looks like you and LuAnn and you had a gorgeous stamping day together, and I love what you did with the napkin. The perfect combination.

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  13. "Spring in Provence" beautifully captures the essence of village life!

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  14. Thanks so much for info on the stamps and what product you used with each. I don't have the pan pastels yet, but I have a huge amount of regular soft pastels. And using one stamp over another is new to me, too. Great ideas and beautiful end results! Love your "Provence" page, too.

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  15. I love the art!!!! A day with friends doing what you love is the best ♥

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  16. Linda! Those papers are so beautiful. A few years back I bought some wonderful and hugely expensive handprinted papers in Italy and these have the same feel to them. I like your journal spread too.

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  17. You are so right Linda, the background that is showing through gives such a decent and hot summer feeling to this wonderful scene! I wish I could go right into this colorful world and enjoy the heat! ♥ Conny Mix It Monthly

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  18. Beautiful!! I love the huge stamps and only wish I had a green tea at the table there next to you! xoox

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  19. what a good idea love the landscape

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  20. Beautiful journal spread and paper work!

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  21. You have the BEST days arting with friends!

    Love your journal page :)

    xx

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  22. Wow! Loved your layered stamping and your beautiful Provence landscape.... I want to get stamping!!!

    Karen x

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  23. Your hand-made papers are superb. I see printed papers in shops and never buy them because I think I can make them and then don't, but you have.

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  24. I envy your day with the stamps :) Everything looks so amazing.

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  25. Linda, I love your 'Spring in Provence'. Your papers look fantastic and inspiring. Thank you for sharing your creativity!

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  26. Your journal page is stunning!! And your papers are beautiful. Thanks for joining us this month at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

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  27. Beautiful journal page! Love the mix of colors and the beautiful scene you created. Thanks for joining us at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!