Iris Folding

My new love in cardmaking is Iris Folding. The possibilities are endless. You can visit circleofcrafts.com for plenty of wonderful free patterns. It is so easy. Just one two three!

Working to get my etsy stock back up.

I have had health issues for now a year and a half, and it really limits my creativity.

I recently started a macrobiotic diet, and see if that at all will help.

I create so rarely and that is what bothers me the most. I wish I could sit down everyday and make 20 cards.

I love some new stamps coming out this year. I think if one gets stagnant for ideas, revert to your card magazines to get the creative juices flowing.

Our brains sometimes need a boost and regenerate thoughts, and ideas. I will probably put a special promotion, card challenge again at end of August and beginning of september around labor day. I will make this a special challenge you will enjoy.

take care and enjoy the summer

patricia

4th of July Cardmaking Startup Month

Summer is here. Start thinking ahead and monthly get ready for time goes fast. Before you know it the holidays, thanksgiving will be upon us. Start looking for those holiday stamps, getting ideas in focus. Are you going to stick to a certain theme, snowmen, whimsical Christmas Characters. What are your ideas, think Christmas in July.

You don't have to start them, unless you have nothing better or need on the summer horizons. Hone in on techniques. Have you tried something new? Take a class, and learn something that will be great for fall, and use with Halloween, and Holiday cards, for a special touch.

Get out of the rut, which we can do. I look through older Stamp and cardmaking magazines to get fresh ideas. New techniques, that make your cards stand out. Summer is a busy time, for gardening, and entertaining. Allow some hours of creativity and if nothing else bone up on some new skills. '

I put a card/envelope in a plastic sleeve, with removeable tape, which I sell them on Stampinstuffdiva.etsy.com they are 8 by 6 inches clear, and I start adding my papers, stamped image for the card, embellishments, and get about six or so together. then my groundwork is done, the initial planning and co ordinating of the color, pattern and design. When I have a little time I start them. I don't have to get my cardstock, look through papers, get an idea, and maybe get one card done. I have the basics for as many as I might have time for in a day or two. It seems to save alot of time, and use a creative day to plan your ideas and cards ahead.

I used to waste more time, and that time is precious to all of us, with a busy schedule.

Let me know your ideas for July.

Happy card and scrapbooking!

patricia

Tim Holtz Is Coming To Buffalo

Everyone is excited that Tim Holtz, master of Idealogy, and unique artsy styling. There is possibly some openings still for the Idealogy Jewelry class on Sunday. Buffalo Stamps and Stuff on Sheridan Drive and Sweet Home is where it will take place.
I think for anyone wanting to do artsy jewelry, this would be the class for you.
You can check out his style, by google Tim Holtz. Also go to Buffalo Stamps and Stuff.com for more information, and other classes available.
I recently took an Iris Folding Class this past week. Totally awesome, the possibilities are endless. I downloaded every free pattern online I could get. Just love it, my new fav of the cardmaking world. see pic of the Iris Folding cards I did.

Any questions, please send me a message.
patricia

Cardmaking Stamps

This is a few of the darling House Mouse Stamps. If not familiar you can search the company by putting in search bar, House Mouse Rubber Stamps;
Mine were done in colored pencil and gamasol which provides almost a painted smooth look. You have to play around with them and practice. Place your color light first around the edges, and with blending stub dip tip in gamasol. Then gently circular motion bring out the edge color to the center.
the colors are vivid and delightful. I am an avid user of watercolors, in most everything to do with art/coloring. I have since discovered the ease and mobile (take them with me to crops)

Tropical Drink and House Mouse Greeting Cards

Topical Drink is layered paper with a rectangle die cut drink. Stamped with memento ink and colored with copic markers on Beckett Paper. The House mouse was stamped and colored with watercolors. Thinking cheerful colorful cards to bring spring into the heart of others. Why is it truly, colorful cards make us feel good and lift our spirits.
Both cards are approx. 5 by 7 inches. For more information, please feel free to ask.
It was beautiful weather, perfect temp on sunday. It seems harder and harder to find the time to create. I had a couple custom orders and I need to get busy for father's day cards. Get a few up on Etsy. I love etsy, it has such good work, others create, run well, and very simple.
If you create think about putting your work on etsy. I have two sites, one for paintings and cards. Another for card and scrapbooking supplies. Items I love to use and can offer to others. We find things that work, by trial and error. I am always trying new scissors, papers, embellishments and of course stamps.
Please share your thoughts and comments of what works for you.
patricia
Have a splendid day!

Magnolia Time Again!

It has been a year since last magnolia's bloomed. They just don't last long. Even cut in a bowl, they lasted a day. I love the colors of the crimson, pinks against the white.

Almost birthday, two days, April 30th. I love birthdays more than christmas or any holiday I can think of. I love my birthday because it is never too hot, perfect time of year. So far in my

life never too cold. Springtime and colorful, just perfect, would not want any other birthday.

The magnolias seemed more sparce this year, disappointing!

Anxious to have a wonderful summer, lots of company, cookouts, entertain, entertain!aa

Getting back to work on my cards, but no new art so far this year. I think last year made me lazy, when I was sick. I like to think of it more, I have slowed down. Good thing and a bad thing. Good I feel more relaxed, and bad I don't nearly get enough accomplished as I hope to.

Everyday seems like catchup, email-facebook, phone, and then what time is left to create.

A few new cards up on etsy.com--www.grandarts.etsy.com. The Butterfly Sympathy on top was a new addition to my card family on etsy.

come visit.

enjoy your spring day!

patricia

March 30th Birthdays

Today March 26, very cold in Buffalo, low 30's and tonight into the teens. Thought we were having an early spring. Guess Not! No snow though! That's a good thing
I have been working on Bridal and various invitations and never have gotten to Easter Cards. MY my, where do the days go. Faster than I need them to.
Tonight is my son-in-law's 50th birthday party. His birthday and my son and another family member's birthdays are March 30th.
Hopefully since I missed Easter cardmaking, I can now try for Mother's Day. Hopefully I will succeed.
The card above was fun, and easy. I die cut the white part with tea cups and You're Invited.
The cups are stamped, and I used a pink glitter pen to outline the black on the stack of cups.
This is a busy time for Bridal Showers and parties, from now til September.

I love Etsy.com, and if you are creative, you should check it out to buy or sell your beautiful creations.
I will post some of your creations, if you send them.
Happy Spring and hopefully you are warmer than being in Buffalo, New York
Patricia

alice in wonderland coloring pages - Google Search

alice in wonderland coloring pages - Google Search

Today Sunday march 21st, I would like to offer a $10.00 Gift Certificate to the best Alice In Wonderland, creative picture. Click on above link to printable pictures of Alice In Wonderland. Either watercolor, acrylic paints or beads, anything artful and unique. Foreward me the pictures on blog by March 30th deadline. The Best 25 Pictures will be posted for reviews of the best original colored picture. Use whatever Alice In wonderland picture/character you wish.
On April 5th, I will let you know the best, chosen best by those who responded. If that does not happen, I will get a vote from a panel of professional artisians and crafts people for their vote.
Any questions, please leave comment and I will respond.
thanks and happy creating!

"Oh wait! Don't go! Please!"

"Oh wait! Don't go! Please!"

Calla Lily and Weddings

Today, catching up or trying to at least on art projects in the working.

Ideas for the next couple of weeks:

An Alice In Wonderland Collage

Spring Flowers Watercolor--which hopefully are on the near horizon.

An eccentric colorful collage on large canvas.

Calla Lily seems to be the buzz for weddings this year. It is a classy and beautiful flower and if I had a wedding to do over, definitely would be my first choice.

They seem like serene bells, perfect for a wedding.

It is hard to find a stamp, but did eventually find one.

In the card shown I used a few tiny polymer clay like flowers found in the artificial flower department, things for weddings area.

Anyone done a oil or watercolor painting of calla lillies?

Pleasant sunny and clear day in Buffalo. Yes!

Take care and please share your work and ideas.

patricia

Condensed Milk Cardmaking Technique

This is a fun and easy technique and I am sure the results are endless. This technique uses canned condensed milk (not evaporated). The thick gooey kind.
Use a brayer and like you would in applying ink, apply room temperature condensed milk to whatever rubber stamp you think will get the results you want. I haven't tried it on anything
smaller.

Stamp image on paper cardstock. Sprinkle embossing powder over the stamped wet condensed milk image. I used a clear embossing powder. Then use the heat gun and dry the wet condensed milk image. Now as it dries and more heat, be careful not to burn the paper, the image becomes browner and browner around the edges, almost giving it an antique look.

I chose after the light browning on the edges and dry, it give a light watercolor wash over the image here and there to give a little color.

Play with this technique and find your own special effects, I am sure you can achieve.

Enjoy

Bridal Shower Invitations

Bridal Shower Cards

Bridal Shower Cards are a special invitation, with the bride to be personality and feel of the whole wedding. You want to capture the whole event from showers to parties to the big event--The Wedding. Think outside the box when making a bridal shower card. What is in, for colors, flowers, the feel and look bride is trying to achieve.

Happy New Year 2010

Can you believe it's 2010. I'm getting started on my Valentine's Day cards for my site on etsy.com--www.grandarts.etsy.com. Take a look at all the cute cards
If you are in love with handmade quality items, etsy has a wonderful array of artists that offer
great items.
I find for me, art in any form is the best therapy, especially for the long dreary winters in Buffalo, New York. A great way to pass the time and have fun. When you create art of any kind you feel better. Take it from me, going through a long illness in 2009. It kept my sanity and
made me less depressed being indoors for so many months. I always felt better, when I could gather the strength to do some work, which wasn't always possible.
I am back to feeling good, and thrilled to start a new year with health and joy.
My cardmaking, came by accident, but for some reason the creative flow is easier than say doing a watercolor painting. For me inspiration comes easily just finding a stamp, papers and my brain seems to see it.
If you are looking for a connection to art, in a more simple form, try creating scrapbook pages for your life and now the beginning of new year perfect time to start.
Cardmaking is fun, and if you are fortunate to live in or new a town that has a stamp store, they usually offer classes, and crop night where you meet people and get inspired by them.
I have a wonderful store near me, that I could live at. Always something going on, and loads of inspiration, over 3000 stamps, wonderful papers, Buffalo Stamps and Stuff. Check them out online.
It's fun and good for the soul. Health is alot just getting and being happy. We can lose site of
what we have, if we lose it. I cherish life and it is about finding peace and enjoyment. The mental part of recovery is a healthy and happy mind, which helps wellness.
If there is a technique you are wanting to try, just leave a message.
Have a great new year, explore new possibilites and interests. Find your niche.
patricia

Yum Yum Turkey Day!

I hope everyone has a fine thanksgiving with all the trimmings. Hope everyone has someone to be with, and not be alone.

A day to be thankful and enjoy all the hard work with love, from those that provide the goodies.

I am thankful just to be here and enjoy my family. That is alot to be thankful for.

Every year is memorable, and different right. I feel guilty my daughter doing so much work.

I have been very ill this year and at times wondered if I would be here this Thanksgiving.

Health is one of the most important things to be thankful for, next to loved ones.

When we have our health sometimes we take it for granted.

I love doing my etsy, cards and holiday special things. It brings me alot of joy.

Hope you the best, and a wonderful day.

Patricia

Weakness--Health Is What You Make It!

Sorry awhile since I posted. This blog today is not about art, but
is a strong part of my art life, I have delt with for 8 months. I hope this can inspire others that
have been unhealthy, not being able to live a normal life, and no answers.
I have been going to doctors since March when I was experiencing extreme weakness
and could barely function in my everyday life.
I had blood test after blood test, and had to live, if you call it that. I felt like the life force
in my body was being drained out of me, getting weaker by the weak. I could not even
perform simple tasks like making the bed, or putting in a load of laundry.
It was so frustrating, doctors not really understanding the extreme weakness and the extent.
I think because of my age 63 they thought I just tired easily.
I began taking supplements that did help a little, but nothing to get me to what I call a normal
day. You begin thinking the worst and as the months go on imagine all sorts of things.
I felt so bad, like I was dying, but no pain, no organs shutting down, that I started putting
my affairs and things to do, for my kids, not knowing.
I think now that it was the incompetient doctors not looking at blood tests, and knowing simple things to look for that can change a person's life.
It makes one so depressed, and a few weeks ago, thought I just couldn't take much more. I went from a very active woman, always on the go to homebound and dependent on my family to take me to a store.
Low and behold someone looked at a blood test and found I had an extreme Vitamin D deficiency. All these months of every supplement, and seaching the internet for answers. The one thing I wasn't taking in a regular or required even daily amount, was Vit. D.
I thank God, for prayers answered finally. It is not always in our time, and realize always that God sometimes wants us to really get it. Health and feeling of well being we can take for granted. I got it now, and the things I did with nutrition and vit. supplements, I will always continue now. What I did do on my own sustained my life I believe, or I don't think I would be here now.
My vit. d was 11.1 and should be 30 to 50. Well when they told me to take vit d mega dose they prescribed 50,000 iu a day, I thought they were nuts. Then I started before getting prescription, over the counter even 5,000 iu, I saw a slight improvement every day. They I got the prescribed amount and the first day I took one, my life changed. All these months, of feeling like I was dying, and it brought me back to life.
I am only on the 3rd day of being back to normal, not ready to run a marathon yet, but able to walk up 3 steps and not feeling like it took everything out of me.
I hope this will help someone, to keep digging, and follow your soul when you know it isn't what doctors are telling you, or no one listens, or does anything.
Be persistent, and not give up. and feel free to post a question.
love , prayers and good health.
patricia

Enjoy! Happy Halloween

All Things Fall

Fall is in the air in Buffalo, NY.

I love this time of year as it is

an awakening of new things,

that only happen and seen in

the fall.

I have lived in other areas of the

country that just don't seem to

celebrate the many things that fall has to offer. Of course there is Halloween everywhere, but

there is something about the cool days and nights that just gives it a different feeling and mood.

In a creative aspect it seems generating, the cool days when the air flows through my studio and

the heat isn't making my brain not function. I feel more inspired in cooler weather. Now winter is a little different, it gets old real quick. I am just at the beginning phase of cool weather and the nights are longer and no snow, just the wonderful smell of autumn in the air.

I am starting to put up my Halloween and Holiday cards on etsy.com (grandarts). They are

so much fun to do. I would suggest to anyone that is bored, time on there hands, create cards.

Even if it is just for your friends and family. You will find them a true expression of your

creativity. I find ideas and look through rubber stamping magazines, then get inspired.

I do something different, but something usually grabs me, and my brain goes wild with ideas.

To me they are each inventions, a different form of art, than painting. I sometimes get as much

if not more satisfaction doing them. To me, they are therapy. I don't get as frustrated with

cards. They just seem to take on their own character.

The fall and winter is long, I have to admit. If you live in a region, facing the same long seasons

until spring, a hobby is a great way to pass time. I never have enough hours in the day to

do what I want.

Let me know your ideas, what you do to pass the time and enjoy every minute.

Take care, Happy Fall!

Patricia

Almost the end of summer and all the color abounds. Just the beginning of September, but I hate the thought of the flowers soon disappearing and the snow flurries starting.

I lived so many years in the south, and just never seem to acclimate to the winter, and being indoors so many months of the year.

But I think of the fall and winter and rejuevinating my creative juices and bring color to my world and life from inside. My love of painting, and creating is what abounds my life. I love my family and they too are the most important element of my life. The creative process makes for richness in the soul, at least for me.

I know others that are artists, probably share and know what I mean. It is a satisfaction that just can't be duplicated. It is the individual expression, soley mine, that no one on the earth can do exact as me. I mean there are good artists that can copy and do similiar, and I conside that a compliment. They are impressed and doing something that stirs the expression and art in them.

I am never offended by someone being inspired by my work.

I enjoying selling my artwork, that is the ultimate, when someone else loves and needs in their life something I have created.

I have been struggling with health for over 6 months, and I push, and keep a positive mind and outlook and never give up.

Keep always, everyday doing what you love and enjoy. Work is not work, when you do what you love.

Enjoy the last days of summer, and inhale the color into your mind and soul.

Have a great day and please feel free to email, art comments and questions

patrica