An Inkurable Shabby Christmas tag

Over at Inkurable Stampers they are having a Shabby Christmas challenge. Now that craft shows are over I can now play with paper and this is what I came up with for the challenge.

This is a manilla shipping tag which I used Dusty Concord (DI) distress ink and distressed the background. Then while that was drying I painted some  Tim Holtz grungeboard snowflakes with acylic paints, the top snowflake is a metallic and the darker is a flat dark purple. The background of the stamp I stamped again in Dusty Concord DI with a snowflake stamp from  Inkadinkado Ornate Christmas stamp collection. I also inked the edges of the tag with the same ink.

The image I used was from FlickR , a great source for art images, and, I used Starform glitter border to give it a bit of bling. I added some lace and button embellishments and the Let is Snow stamp was from Studio G Holiday stamps also stamped in Dusty Concord and it was mounted on a paint chip strip.

Well thanks for looking and stay tuned for Lesley's version of the 12 tags of Christmas.

I won some blog candy

The other week while I was taking a break from painting I was blog hopping and visiting some fellow artist sites.  I met Fee (Fiona) through Inkurable Stampers Gothic Arch Challenge and I have been visiting her blog.  Fee was having a 100th post anniversary and if you posted a comment on her blog you had a chance to win this......and.....I was the winner.
Thanks so much Fee and I so can't wait til my matchbox arrives. Just take a look at all the details, it is so shabby and I wonder what goodies she has stuffed inside. I am just busting to find out.
Will keep you posted when it arrives, it is coming from Australia so I have to be very very patient.

Been working on catch up with my Gothic Arches, and I am stitching a Christmas gift for a friend, an I am going to be making cards and Christmas cards/tags and the list goes on.
Thanks for dropping by.
=^..^=

Show report and now some down time

Hello blogger friends and family.
Craft show season is now over for another year. So much work and preparation and anticipation for what to expect. Rattled nerves and excitement. I survived it all with a few hitches here and there.
I had fun, I met some wonderfully talented people out there and I received many positive compliments on my work. To me that mean more than you can know.
Sales were not what I expected to be honest but the economy like many places is not the best here. Factories have closed down and most retail jobs hire people on four hour shifts so many people with families come to working more than one job. Too bad but that is the way it is.
I had some goals set but unfortunately they were not met but on the flip side I made a few contacts and even had a few ladies ask if I taught painting. I did a very long time ago to a few girls I knew when I was working and some neighbour friends but then painting sort of died out.
 I had really no competition at the show except for one girl who tole painted but she had totally different style and items than I did so really it wasn't that bad.
 Back to these women who asked if I taught I gave them my card that I made up and we will see if they call after the New Year. I am not really a pushy person so I will let them contact me and if they lose interest and don't want to bother then I don't have to go contacting and feeling like I am pressuring them.
I also met a girl at the show I had not seen in almost 20 years. We used to work in a retail store at the mall and when I hear Roseanne's voice then saw her face I immediately recognized her. Unfortunately we didn't get too much visiting in as she was volunteering in the kitchen plus she had a table to run with her family so I am sure I will hear from her via email. Please Roseanne if you read my blog contact me as I really want to keep in touch.
And.....through Facebook a girl I went to school with 30 years ago...yikes did I really type that???? Sherry contacted me and came to the show around noon then left just before the end of it. We chatted and had a good catch up visit. Sure made time go by and she looks the same and her smile is just so warm just like her personality. I know we will be keeping in touch.
Well during my show and Sherry was there I had to use the ladies room so I ventured off found the restrooms and walked in did my business and came out of the stall. I was washing my hands and to my horror I saw a reflection of urinals????? did I see that right??? I turned my head around and yup there they were all lined up....urinals. Well I never washed my hands so fast then I got to the entrance of the washroom and looked up and down the hall, the coast was clear, phew I will walk out real fast. No one noticed and all is good. Can you believe it??? I was sure I saw a skirt on that sign. Nope it didn't have one....I looked when I came out. Well that wasn't the first I can now say it was probably my second or so time I have been in the men's washroom but when you gotta go you gotta go.
And here is a pic of my friend Sherry and a pic of my table.
The table was 8 feet and I thought I could have had another one but maybe it was just as well I didn't. Peeps were looking, sales were low but nothing of one particular thing.
I sold a sled, some inchie tree ornies, wood ornies, canvas stocking, signs, canvases and many other things I can't remember them all, oh those wreaths with the snowmen with bird house hats all sold they were very popular this season. Must do some of them for next year.
Well thanks for dropping by. Now a bit of down time but Christmas is coming so I will be back to card making, sending gifts out very soon, catching up on ATC challenges and the like.
Stay tuned everyone and thanks for dropping by.

Pacing.......

I was up early this morning and found myself since pacing like I was expecting someone to have a baby. Well I am not expecting just pacing for pre jitter craft show nerves.

Somehow I remember all this years ago but as I get older seems I am more nervous now than I was back then.

Well here are a few items left I wanted to share with you all, more items for my show.

I am all packed and ready to go.

Ho Ho Ho sign by Kim Klassen

                                              
 
 

Angel pattern by Monika Bring on canvas. I added the verse, I used fun foam to make the music notes then stamped in black acrylic paint to stamp them on. I then antiqued the whole thing with Burnt Umber. I just love antiquing things. I know I made a lot of mud pies when I was a kid, something about grunge really appeals to me......

                                                        
  

This hanging canvas has a design by Monika Brint. I just purchase the e-pattern a few days ago and I did up 2 of these. If one doesn't sell I just might have to claim one. Again a lot of heavy dry shading and more antiquing. Turned out better than I imagined.

 Canvas stockings.... the first one here is a Monika Brint  snowman and the one below is a Terrye French Santa. My Mum gave me a bolt of canvas and I really put it to good use this year. I did cut out floorcloths but just didn't have time, Maybe next year, they are all sewn and ready to be painted on.

A thrift store find here, I got this little wood basket for next to nothing and thought I would make it a year round thing. I just painted some stars with vine and berries on it. The original painting was all plain wood with a stecilled heart in green on it. I painted both sides. This would look cute with a little dried arrangements and some battery operated tea lites in it. A great gift idea!!!!!

 And lastly some recycled jar trees. These are fun and sell well.

Well thanks for looking. Back to pacing and will be heading out soon for set up.

Show starts tonight from 5-9 and tomorrow 9-3.

I will be reporting back in my next post.

Have a super blessed day  and thanks for dropping by.

L

My wish list.....

1. More time

2. more hands

3. Wish I didn't have to eat

4. No sleep

5. blink and everything would be done

6. I want my Mumsy.....

this is just a short list I have compliled but gradually things are getting done for my next show. I have been at it pretty much  non stop since my last show and this show is supposed to be very busy with lots of peeps.

I had many items to complete, sewing involved, how did that happen? Sorry Mumsy but I had to use glue , you know that works great on hems, might have to try that on my jeans sometime. Making more tags and more painting was all packed in since 2 weeks ago.

I have some new items to show you and a couple more to add for another post. Lighting was not good this time of night and these stockings I made  I  am so happy with how they turned out. My Mum gave me a bolt of canvas last year and I made some cute stockings then painted on them. Unfortunately lighting was an issue and my pics turned out blurry so hopefully tomorrow I can do a better job.

Without further ado.....here are some more things to add to my stock for this next show.

Monika Brint is a huge fan of mine as well as Terrye French. Monika has always caught my interest with her snowmen designs and her angels I just love.

I added the wording and made a stamp out of fun foam and stamped the music notes in black acrylic paint.

I just received this e-pattern from Monika and enlarged it and put this cute snowman on canvas. It was a lot a bit more painting than I really had time for but I just loved this pattern. I enjoy the heavy dry brushing but it really does do a number on your brushes, but, much worth it in the end.

And here is a little design I put together which I was inspired by something I saw not too long ago but I put my own elements together.  I used a Katrina Roncin candy cane and Sandy Holman snowmen headsfor this and I added a wire to the snowpeep with the ear muffs. This was fun, I did 6 sets of these, I almost hope I have a set left over because I think it would look cute on a wall or door in our house. If not I can alway paint one, yeah right.....LOL

Well it is rather late and my eyes are tired, but my mind keeps busy thinking and organizing.

Only 2 things left to complete, 2 painted recycled jars with trees in them and the lights have to be strung on them. That can wait til tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping by and til next post,

be happy, be healthy, be creative

and enjoy the blessing of each day.

Each day is a gift from God.