The Gift of Music

Stamps by Magenta and Clearly Wordsworth

Music is one of the mysterious gifts we have been given, like sunsets and rainbows.  Earlier in December I went to the Westcoast Calligraphy Society's Christmas Tea.  I'm an introvert, and not a very social person, finding casual chit-chat difficult.  But I very happily spent an hour singing Christmas carols and I'm very grateful to the people who made this possible.  We had a talented pianist and carol sheets for all who wanted to join the fun.

Stamps by Stampin' Up

The added bonus from all of this was that I found myself in the Christmas spirit!

A flurry of Christmas card-making ensued.

Stamps by Stampin' Up

It seems that I couldn't get "Joy to the World" out of my head:

In Joined Hands There is Hope

ATC, Rubber Stamps, Inktense, Pen

This is a real mixed media extravaganza!  First I stamped various stamps on white cardstock, dripped Inktense Blocks, and collaged dyed napkin for a background.  

The focal point is stamped on tissue paper and the script added with a Platinum Carbon Ink Fountain Pen.  

I'm using gel medium for collage now and loving it!  Note to self:  Let delicate materials like napkins and tissue paper dry after using the first layer of gel medium to glue them down.  When they are dry, more layers can be added.

Wish It, Dream It, Do It

Mighty Oak

 

Pointed Pen and Gouache



A Fall Birthday Card

 

 

Just a bit of playing around with my leaf stamps; this one is by Stampin' Up.  The greeting is Studio G.

Counting

In this journal spread I "counted" a number of goals accomplished:

• I used two flower stamps for my "Use Your Stamps Challenge"
• I cleared a scrap off my desk which I created trying out a rubbing/resist technique using a glue stick
• I worked in a small journal I started in 2003.  I'm trying to finish off some of my old journals.

Girl in Pencils

My sister Dianne stamped this image for me using white ink.  I coloured it with Prismacolor pencil crayons.

Octagons

One of the October themes for the Vancouver Artist Trading Card Group is Octagons.  Using a hand carved octagon stamp for a background, I created some stamped ATC's for fall:

Never Too Early

It's never too early to start Christmas cards, especially when you've got new stamps!  (Well, they're new to me, and that's what counts.  I bought this set at a local community centre swap meet for $5 - it isn't complete, but I got 4 stamps - such a deal!)

This is definitely a "clean and graphic" card, right in my comfort zone.

I hope you're all enjoying a lovely long weekend!  We're off to Spain on Tuesday, for three weeks, but I've been so neglectful in posting that I might have some things scheduled in my absence.

Lazy Hazy Days of Summer

Grids are easy in this hot weather!

My office/studio/rubber room is only habitable until noon in this heat, so everything gets cut a bit short.  I guess that's why they're called the lazy, hazy days of summer!