Ribbon Storage

I am constantly looking for great storage and organizing options. I have tried several different methods of storing my many spools of ribbon: on dowels suspended between two lengths of chain mounted on the back of my studio door (I liked this, but it wasn't portable enough); on a long dowel on two hooks hung on my wire shelves above my art desk; in Iris cart drawers (too messy); in the cardboard display racks used by the craft stores (I really liked this but just don't have much wall space to spare); and, most recently, I had them in four plastic ribbon boxes from Target (like shoeboxes with holes in side for ribbons to thread through). Again, this took up shelf space

Yesterday I found a pants hanger at Target and came home and organized my ribbons. This hanger is made for hanging 5 pairs of pants with four swing-arm bars. I was able to fit all my ribbons except the whites and metallics. As you can see, it's very compact, will take up little space on a hook or in the closet and is easily transportable. I used tiny sequin pins to secure the ends of the ribbons so they won't become a tangled mess. And, it was only $5.00! I think this is going to be a very compact and portable solution!

Woo hoo!

My art and blog are getting noticed! I was chosen as "Featured Artist" on the Yahoo Group pARTs-a-la-carte for this week. And, the moderator of that same group nominated my blog for the "Blog Award of the Week"! I didn't win, but just knowing that someone thought enough of my blog to make the nomination is very affirming.

Also, Zneart.com is creating a new homepage for ZNE members to link to for showing off their Podcasts, YouTube videos and Slideshows. I don't think this has gone public yet, but portions of two of my art pieces were chosen for the page header! (They are the two on the far right.) You can check this out at www.zne-store.citymax.com/Teatro.html. There is something really, really cool about opening a website and seeing your own art pop up!

Thanks to Chel and Katherine for these opportunities!

May Design Team Assignment

I've finished the ZNE Design Team assignment for May. We had to make two whimsical ATCs using a letter of the alphabet, lavendar "dymo" labels for each letter plus a word beginning with that letter, a collage or image of the chosen word and one of four given backgrounds. I chose "H" and "Home" and "Q" and "Queen." Check out this cool site for making your own "dymo" labels in any color: http://www.acme.com/labelmaker

More make and takes

Recollections had two more "make and takes" today. These were designed by Heidi Swapp using the Recollections papers. Both are quick and easy cards using her acrylic stamp "Fabulous" - one is stamped on cardstock and the other on acetate. Aren't they cute?

National Scrapbooking Day

The local scrapbook store, Recollections (where I work), is celebrating National Scrapbook Day with events all three days this weekend. I attended two of the make-and-takes today.

The first is an "idea folder" designed by Ali Edwards exclusively for Recollections with the Papillon paper line. Two chipboard squares were covered with paper and Making Memories paint was swiped on the edges of both squares as well as the card-size white folder. The third chipboard square was painted. The words are on acetate and were run through a
Xyron and adhered to the painted square and the file tab. Very cute and easy!

The second (and my favorite) is a tag designed by Tim Holtz exclusively for Recollections. The manilla tag was first stamped with a swirl stamp (Stampers Anonymous) and Ranger Paint Dabber. Then various Distress Inks were sponged on the tag and a square of the Papillon paper. Droplets of water were "flicked" at the tag and blotted with a paper towel after sitting for a few minutes (this creates a bleached look - the water dilutes the ink - and doesn't work with other inks). This doesn't show up well in the scan, even when you click for the larger picture.

Then the script stamp (also Stampers Anon) was stamped and let dry. The tag was wiped with a damp paper towel which removed some of the script over the previously stamped swirl (the paint acts like a resist). The paper square was folded in half diagonally and glued over a similarly folded manilla scrap. All edges were distressed and inked with a brown ink. The paper triangle was glued to the bottom of the tag to form a pocket and ribbon tied through the top of the tag. Great techniques to use!

Another collage

I finished another collage for a friend's birthday a few weeks ago, but waited to post until she received it. This one is on an 8" x 10" canvas, painted, stamped and collaged with several papers and images. I trimmed the edges of the canvas with black rayon ribbon and covered the back with cardstock to give it a finished look. The scan came out greener than the actual piece.

Life and Art

Life sometimes gets in the way of art. I can't believe it's been more than a week since posting here - and I had been so good at posting almost daily! I've been working more hours at the scrapbook store - this is National Scrapbook Weekend! And my husband and I just spent several days in Chicago helping one of our daughters move to a new apartment. Lots of work but the move went smoothly and she is now settled several blocks from her old apartment but closer to her other sister who also lives there.

Today our son, who lives in San Francisco, had a three-hour layover in Dallas on his way to Jordan and Syria so we picked him up, fed him and returned him in time for his connection. On Monday and Tuesday we will be driving to Lubbock to pack up and pick up our youngest daughter from her first year at Texas Tech. Hopefully everyone will then stay put for awhile.

So, my art projects are getting nowhere right now!