Back from Retreat

It's been almost a week since I've been back from my retreat, but I've taken a long time to get back into the swing of reality!  Seventeen members of the online group were there, some from as far away as California, Washington State and Florida and several from Texas.

Every year we create a book based on the theme of the retreat. This year it was "The Roaring Twenties."  Several gals dressed in costume the last evening and we were elegantly served sparkling wine, cheese and grapes by the four twenty-something sons of one of our own, all in keeping with the theme. Our conference room was even decorated beautifully and we enjoyed the music of the era all weekend. It almost felt like we'd gone back in time!

Here are photos of my completed book. Six members (including me) each created a page or the cover and prepared the kits and instructions for everyone. Some "made it their own, " but since I design for teaching all the time, I wanted to relax and just went with the basic book as designed.

Front cover

Spine - my favorite part - a unique binding using buttons

First spread - celebrating the New Year, 1920 (acetate in the windows)

Music and theater - Speakeasy. The "door" is actually an old stamp which is cut apart and attached on separate sides (see below)

Center photo is a pocket holding two speakeasy photo tags (see below)

These sides of the "door" were plain. We had received these 10 wonderful photos of movie starlets along with information on the backs from one of the ladies attending and I wanted to incorporate them into the book somehow. Came up with this idea of a cascading flip using black tape so the backs can be read. The ten fit just perfectly!

Fashion/flapper page - the one I created. The chandelier is sparkly and the tops of the columns are shiny with Glossy Accents.

The top of the right page flips up to reveal a photo of a gorgeous flapper along with some fun information.

My favorite part was this flapper dress, created by stacking rows of red fringe fiber. The flapper stamp was perfect.

Gangster/prohibition spread with Al Capone on the left. The little booklet is sewn into the spread with pertinent facts of the period. Notice the bottle of "booze" on far left - crackle and alcohol inks on die cut acetate.

Elliott Ness on right spread.

Card that fits in a pocket formed between this page and the following page.

General facts spread with actual relatives on left page and a flag booklet on right.

Cover of flag booklet opens to reveal tags

Flag booklet opened fully with information tags

In my next post I will share some of the other projects we created.

Retreat

I've pre-scheduled this post since I am retreating with 18 other crafty ladies for several days. This is an online group I belong to and we've been having an annual get-together for about eight years.  Luckily for me, we meet only ten miles from my home, but others come from Washington state, California, Florida and the midwest. 

Each retreat has a theme and this year's is "Roaring Twenties."   We will be swapping small 3"x3" to 4"x6" art pieces which will be bound together on a ring. Each participant will sign the card she made with a note to the recipient.  This will serve as our retreat memento.  This is the artwork I created for everyone. It is always fun to see everyone's interpretation of the theme.

In addition, everyone brings little gifts to hand out.  It took me a long time to decide what to make, but I finally settled on little 2" square tile magnets.  These are small, plain white ceramic tiles sold on a sheet at home improvement stores. I stamped the image on white tissue paper and then adhered it to the tile with Future Floor Finish (yes, floor wax - works great as an adhesive and a sealer!). When it was dry, I sanded the edges, added more liquid wax and a few drops of alcohol ink. When that was dry, I edged the tile with a Krylon gold leafing pen and sealed it with a few more layers of wax.  Magnets are glued to the back.

While there, we will be creating a "Roaring Twenties" book. Six members (including me) created one page each and the pages will be bound together using a fun binding with buttons.  I will share those pages when I get back.

Meanwhile, I'm having lots of fun catching up with my online buddies, laughing, eating, and, of course, making lots of art!

More red, white and blue

This is the 2014 version of the God Bless the USA tag set. The large block has been added.

This was the star book I created last year and, due to popular demand, it is being repeated this summer. I love star books - they are really quite simple to make once you know the main structure. They look so cool opened up!

These classes are still available at the LBH.

Patriotic Projects

It's been such a busy June and July that I forgot to post some of my patriotic projects created for classes (there are still kits available even though it's past July 4 - we still have labor day coming up!).

This is a red, white and blue layout. The "license" tag on the sample layout says July 4, which is included in the kit, but I also added another one that is not specific to the 4th so it could be substituted.  These photos are of my grandson, Carl, from last year. I loved them and just had to create a layout to showcase them!

And here's another house mixed media canvas.  I've done a Halloween, Christmas, Spring and now a Summer house to complete the series. 

This one is fun. Notice the geraniums in the flower boxes and the cute bunting on the picket fences.

Totally Texture Class - repeat

Be Inspired!

Did you miss out on the June class for Totally Texture? Good news - I will be teaching two more sessions on Tuesday, July 15, 10-12:30 pm or 6-8:30 pm.  You will create this lovely canvas full of wonderful textures while learning many textural techniques. Call the LBH at 817-431-7930 to reserve your seat - only a few openings left!

Rolodex Art Journal Cards - June 2014, Part 2

The remaining art journaling cards for June.

Distress Paints background with heat embossed flowers, doodling

Distress Paints and stamping

Gelli print background, security envelope window, stamped eye sticker from mail art

Art Anthology Sorbet paint and stencil, collage images

Inked book text background, photo of my paternal grandparents at my parents' wedding printed on vellum

Sprayed ink background with collage images from Jodi Ohl

Art paper from Rae Missigman embellished with paint, cut papers and doodling

Inkjet image transfer and stamping

Spray inks and paints with ghosting technique, magazine image transfers

Scraps and old stamped "inchie"

Rolodex Art Journal Cards - June 2014

I was out of town for about ten days of June, so I have fewer Rolodex art journaling cards this month. But, despite the traveling, I was able to complete 20.  Here are the first ten.

Stencil with Art Anthology Sorbet paint and collage image from artist Jodi Ohl

Distress inks and Crafty Secrets art stamps

Inktense pencils blended over gesso; feather image transfer

Clear emboss resist with Adirondack inks on glossy paper

Dylusions spray ink, Whipped Spackle and stencil

"Mop up" paper towel background, slide mount with photo of me at age 3, top heart is 2 pcs dryer sheet Mod Podged together and painted and die cut

Homemade foam stamps, paint and white pen doodles

Background is artist paper from Rae Missigman, enhanced with paint and stitching rubons

Gelli print background, gold painted deli paper heart

Paint and spray ink "mop up" paper towel and papers, machine stitching

Come back tomorrow to see the remaining ten for June!

Happy Birthday Drew!

This little guy turns two today! How time flies - it seems like yesterday that we got the call that he was on his way and we jumped on a plane for Albuquerque, arriving shortly after he arrived. He is celebrating on an extended-family Caribbean cruise this week so hope he is having a ball getting spoiled by everyone!

 This is the card-in-a-box that I made him.  I had taught a class on how to make this kind of card "from scratch" but have since found a cut file in the Silhouette store (Design #56156) which makes it so much easier. I added a few things to "make it my own." I think he'll have fun opening and closing it.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July. We just returned from spending the weekend in Austin with our other grandson and I'm trying to catch up...