Hope is the thing.... Design Team

I have been selected to be on the Gingersnap Creations Design Team, so today begins a new 6 month adventure with this amazing group of talented artists. This is my first Design Team; I am as happy as a clam. It is an honor and thrill to be among this creative team.

Here is a folding shrine project for my new group and it is "Ginger" inspired. The background paper is ink kissed and trimed with copper german scrap. The bird cages from TPC Studio were stamped on a transparency with Archival ink. The large center birdcage is from a picture of a real birdcage, I printed on a transparency. The lovely vintage women image is hand colored with pencils. Add some rhinestones,copper with blue trim and the stamped "Hope" sentiment also from TPC Studio and it's complete. Hope you will join in the fun at Gingersnap Creations, there's lots to see and do and its always inspiring and fun.
Take care dear friends, gerri.                                                                                                                                                                   



"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul."



A Fairy's Visit

This is my final entry as the March visiting artist at Gingersnap Creations.I am so flattered to have been chosen and have had a wonderful time this month. The additional art friends and their comments to my blog, have been wonderful. Whether you are regular followers, stop by occassionally or are new due to Gingersnap, I want you to know that you are all very precious to me, so Thank You very much.

Well, as my  final  visiting artist project I went all out this dimesional collage and tried to create something really special. The challenge was  to be inspired by a previous challenge and I choose GC59 Fairies. This  large collage is of a  darling fairy with her little house saying "Come into the garden, dear".  There are lots of layers of patterened paper, a butterfly diecut border, german scrap and a transparent watch face as her doorway. I also stamped some beetles, a happy catepillar and fern leaves with a script over stamp. There is also transparency ferns and fairy wings from Artchix Studio. Gold doilies are at the top and bottom and one for her sweet crown all add the shine. The final step is always to sprinkle rhinestones and then it is complete, just for you!
Artfully yours, Gerri

"Come to the garden, Love."

"Fairy Upclose"

You make me happy.

Been dreaming of going down the shore, I love going in the spring and fall when there are few people and we have the ocean and sand to ourselves. In New Jersey, whether  you live in the north, south, east or western part of the state, you always go... "down the shore." LOL. This thought made me turn to sea themed images for a Blogger Challenge sketch Challenge. ( another new site for me to play in). It was this  vintage bathing beauty at Artchixs Studio that started me on my beachy voyage. To create the watery background,  I used some Liquid Pearls  and ink on a Glossy Ranger card. I stamped the fan coral, the shells and the happy tag. The big shell images were painted with Liquid  Pearls too. The little bottles were Artchixs Studio and I added some cute little star fish. The stripe across the middle is made up of  different green fibers, to look like seaweed. With that final touch my bathing cutie was all set to jump in.
Till next time, you dear friends....you  make me happy! Gerri



"You make me happy."

 

"A happy detail."



"Here is the Sketch Challenge."

123 Go

Going to enter a new challenge for the first time at the Cheerful Stamp Pad , for #14 "Be a Sport".  I choose bicycling now that the weather is supposed to be nicer, except we got snow this week. Snow, snow, go away. Come again another day..... like next year. Some parts of New Jersey even got 12"!
Well, back to my project. I used a background from an old mechanical engineering book and layered a stamped cigar band graphic. The bicyclists are from an old Dover publication on Transportation, that I cut out. Note the stamping of "Treasure the moment" around the wheels. I added vintage numbers from Artchix Studio and stamped the word "GO" on an Artchix label. Added some stamped polka dot borders and I was off to the races. Gerri.

"1,2,3, Go"

I aint afraid

Now what would a modern day Little Red Riding Hood say today? ......I think she would be strong and powerful and say "I aint afraid of no wolf!".  LOL.  I made this for a Drunken Stampers Challenge called Twisted Fairy Tales #59. When I saw this image from Altered Artifacts of this sweet  little girl with the hood, I knew I had found my Red. I painted,colored her with pencils, added rhinestones and stamped her red cape. The wolfman image vintage studio card was from Altered Artifacts too. I added a little water colored postcard and stamped grandmas house and a tiny deer. All this is on Tim Holtz paper that is stamped with pointy things that I used as spears. I stamped the her strong message "I ain't afraid of no wolf!" to complete this. Now thats some twisted fairytale! Take care, Gerri.

"I ain't afraid of no wolf!"

Flowers for Mum and a big kiss

This cutie pie is just about to throw her mom a big kiss! The  Stampman Challenges blog has a Mothers Day or Floral challenge (#18), so I put them both together. This little cutie from Altered Artifacts was my starting point and I gussied her up with rhinestones, Stickles,  a striped ribbon sash and a  stamped rose.  Her frame is entwinned with organza ribbon, has a delicate thread border and the corners are jewelry gold findings (LOL) that I filled with stamped rose centers  with a Stickles dotted brad. The background script paper is edged with ink . I stamped "Happy Mothers day" over the image and detailed it with some markers and sparkles and my little sweetie was all done. Hope you enjoyed todays creation, Gerri.

"Happy Mother's Day"

No one but you, Ginger

This was my favorite  challenge as a visiting artist for March at Gingersnap Creations because it was a color challenge..."Copper, Ginger or Rust". Interesting enough, I found this picture of a copper spool in an old 1960's magazine and kept it around waiting to use it. For dimension I wrapped the spool with some fiber that included all the colors of the flowers. The lovely lady is  black and white clip art that I embellished with watercolor paints, pencils and a tiara with flower. The copper cardstock is stamped and layered with tulle which made it the perfect base to build upon. Vintage labels and transparencies , copper german scrap, dye cut flower trim with pencil detail, copper eyelet stickers and rhinestones were the additional layers of this collage.  Finally, the words "No one but you." complete this "Ginger" creation.
Till next time, Gerri


"No one but you."



I heart you

Just worked on a series of  "coasters"  for the Gingersnap Creations Yahoo Group "Heart Coaster Exchange". This is my first exchange (swap) with this delightful group. The requirements were only that they had to be about 4" in size with hearts. Now we are not really using them as coasters, so I decided to make mine very dimensional.
I choose to do variations on a theme using the same supplies but in different colors and techniques. The first two are my traditional vintage style in pretty colors using doilies, rhinestones, painted flower petals, a stamped image of a beautiful woman, a tiny matching heart brad, a glitter crown and paint/marker accents. The second series is done in darker metallic colors and the background is very smeary. I was trying for a more painterly effect and used Dimension Pearls and water. The rest of the details are the same but each of the coasters have a different  message snippet. Can't wait to see and receive the wonderful creative coasters from other artists. Don't you just love getting a surprise in the mail.
Till next time, Gerri


"Enjoy Yourself."



"The happiest moment of my life."

"Allow ourselves to dream."

"Dream as long as possible."

I'm hoppy today

We've had a few beautiful spring days in a row, so I've been very happy to be out in the sunshine and warm weather. It made me happy it was Spring and  I created a number of Hoppy Easter(LOL) themed creations in it's honor. The first is for Bella Creations, it's Impressionist Group which is about the art of collage and their March challenge is an Easter Egg Collage. You can see my pink egg shaped piece with two cute chicks,vintage images and a Happy Easter sign. There is lots of german scrap, rhinestones, Stickles glitter and tulle netting to set it off. While I had all these yummy sweet supplies out, I made a bunch of frilly stuff for my Etsy shop.  I made some baskets and some decorated bottles using the same techniques as the Easter collage. Come check it out. Till next time, Artfully yours....Gerri 





"Pink sparkley egg and details."

 

"Baskets Galore!"

Write Your Own Story

This weeks Gingersnap Creations inspiration for their "World of Work" challenge is the typewriter. In the background, can you spy my vintage  little Royal typewriter? It was my personal inspiration and I know some of you covet my cute machine. LOL. This card  did start with the vintage typewriter rub-on image that I cut out and  inserted the label with the words "Write your own story". The layered background is patterned paper that I doodled and stamped tiny red hearts on. The project is further embellished with  die cut trim, rhinestone hearts, glitter chipboard, german scrap, photo corners and of course vintage images from Artchix Studio.
So what will be written in your chapter this week?
Sincerely yours, Gerri



"Write your own story."



A Sweet Reward and a View of Paris

Today I received a sweet reward called “Stylish Blogger” from a new blogger friend. This little reward is a way to show someone you like their blog and for the recipient to pass on the love. I received this from Kathy at” Inkin it up” today, but I must admit that Donna at “Flyingsolotravelinglight” sent it to me first. When I received it from Donna, I was a brand new blogger and didn’t act on it. Now after 6 month blogging, I just knew I had to pass it on. The kind words and support from the creative blog community has been amazing. You really are a caring bunch. So...Thank you to everyone and especially Kathy and Donna.

The details of this award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. You share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 7 recently discovered new blogs and contact them to let them know they've been awarded.

Here are 7 things about me:

1. I collect sea shells from around the world and rock crystals too. (many of these I have from my childhood.)

2. There is not a “color” I don’t like.

3. I will read absolutely anything. My husband and daughter love to read to, so we are attempting to complete the “1001 Books to Read before You Die” book. We each have a different color sticky note, so we can mark off what we read.

4. I think all alcoholic drinks should be sweet and taste like dessert. My favorite is a Key Lime Martini with meringue foam and a graham cracker rimmed glass.

5. I decorate for every holiday, whether it’s just my dining room or kitchen table or a grand Christmas Extravaganza with trees, tables, mantel, banister, and doors all done up.

6. My family and I love to travel. Many years ago, I saw a man with a bear on a chain on the back streets of Istanbul, Turkey. The bear was wearing a tiny red hat and an embroidered vest.I will never forget it.

7. For the past year I have been taking my first watercolor class with an amazing teacher, named Nancy. (soon, I promise to post some of my paintings.)

Here are my 7 awards. They may not all be new blogs but I like them…

Lucy at True Colours

Terry at Terry’s Work in Process

Anjas at Anjas Artefaktotum

Cindy at Whimsical Musings

Lynn at Trash to Treasure

Rhonda at It’s a little bit French

Fiona at MagickDiva

You know I can’t post with a picture. Here are some shots I took last week at the Philadelphia Flower show. The theme was Paris…City of Lights.

Bon Nuit mes amis,

Gerri



They moved the Eiffel Tower .LOL

 

Look at the Tin Cans that made the Can Can Silhouette

Beautiful Lamps

What a colorful selection.

Close Up of a Floral Arrangement

Peacock Carousel



Unicorn Carousel Animal



A Street View

The Little Duchess's Secret

I tried something crazy this week and looked up a bunch of challenges from around the web and made one project that covered all their requirements. It really tested by creativity and I must admit, it's one of my all time favorites. This Little Duchess Tag started with a lady image from Moonlightjourney and using a "Woman" was the Tuesday Taggers challenge. I began by hand coloring with water colors  and colored pencils the image with a kelly green coat, the fur muff  of black and detailing her lovely face. I created the feathers on her hat by stamping, adding additional colors and cutting each one out.  "Hats" was the  Theme Thursday challenge. The necklace was made by making a tiny locket book stamped and gold embossed with the letter "V". Wednesday Stamper asked for you to  "Pick a letter" this week for their challenge. This little locket book  holds a  surprise message....."She is a little vixen.", so this is the  surprise for "Surprise me" by Kardkrazy  for Tag Tuesday.The background uses one my go to items,  a vintage music sheet . It was trimmed in gold ink and gold foil stickers. I added organza ribbon and  the rhinestone bling as earrings and buttons and  then my Duchess was all done.
Hope you enjoyed my creative challenge.
Artfully yours, Gerri

"The Little Duchess."

"She's a little vixen."

"The finer details, close up."

I thank you with a tender heart

Today I want to send out a "thank you with a tender heart" to Linda at Studio L3, who has been hosting the past 35 weeks of the Compendium of Curiosities challenges based on Tim Holtz's book. This week is the last week with CCC#35 Design Details .(sigh). I did improvise alittle using a thin ribbon instead of wire or thread but, I really like the effect. Lets see, I created dimension on the mannequin based on the paper piecing challenge by Moxie Fab World. I stamped the mannequin on three different papers and  then cut out and layered the corset image. The vintage scisssor image is from Graphics Fairy printed on a clear transparency. The word snippet  is applied to a black fabric label. All these elements are under tulle netting to soften up the the colors.  I also added some ink kissed edges, photo corners and a teenie tiny bow. Continuing the sewing theme,  I added tiny ivory buttons to the top and bottom.  Now this project is finally all sewn up.
Till next time, Gerri.

"I thank you with a tender heart."

"Design Detail"

That magic hour, bounded by love

Continuing the "World of Work" theme at  Gingersnap Creations, this week's challenge is to use  an office supply. I choose colored paperclips and turned them into darling book marks. The colors of the paperclips were the inspirational spark for the project. After stamping each image twice on patterned paper adding shiny German scrap, rhinestones and word snippets, I sandwiched the clips between the paper. I added some sparkley thread and tiny charms to complete the bookmarks. There is a closeup of the Paris clip, so you can get a better look. Now who doesn't have some paperclips in their junk drawer, so go ahead and use them up.

Till next time, artfully yours Gerri



"Paris ,thrill me. .......Oh, if I a birdie I might be......That magic hour, bounded by love."



"Paris close-up."

At least for today!

Worked on a project for Bella Creations for the March "Bella Muse" challenge. The challenge was to use this vintage image of a smiling woman with cherries in her month. For the first piece, I watercolored the lady and layered her under a transparency of a document. Added my usual germans scrap, stickles glitter, rhinestones, bow and a little floating tag that says "Wishful thinking" and she was complete. After I finished her, she just told me she wanted to be a St Patricks day lady and so I hand colored her with red hair and green eyes. My art friend gave me a new set of stamps and I choose Kiss me I'm Irish.... at least for today. LOL. Thought I'd enter this at The Stampsmith challengeTSC9- "Try Something new". This green creation is very glittered up with a green shamrock shiny doiley, two colors of glitter 4 leaf clovers, silver 4 leaf clover stickers and tiny yellow rhinestones. To top it off , I added green ribbon around the edge and a gold ribbon accent to the top. It also is suitable for the Really Reasonable Ribbon challenge #19, to use green ribbon. Now that I have all those green supplies all over my studio, I better get going and start make some St Patricks day cards!
May luck be with you, Gerri

"Wishful Thinking"

"At least for today."

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it

Today starts my visiting artist stay at Gingersnap Creations website for the month of March. This is the first time I have been asked to be a part of someone elses website so... I'm so excited , I just can't hide it. It is an honor to be asked by such a talented and inspiring group of artists. Here's what you'll see this month with Gingersnap Creations: the first week is a theme, the second a supply item, the third will be an inspirational image, the fourth a specific color and the fifth week will be random choice. Come take a peak at their site and join in on all the fun, laughter and creativity.

This week's theme is "Get to Work".  I found the quote first, " Is this official business or strictly a social  call.?", and then the image of  the lovely woman with a subtle smile on the old-fashioned telephone from the Graphics Fairy . I just knew they should go together. Some chipboard accents, german scrap, rhinestones, satin roses, tiny flouish stamp and doodled on patterned paper were all added to complete  the piece. My favorite part are the tiny pink rhinestone buttons.

Ok well that's enough of that, I have to "Get to Work" on my next Gingersnap "Creation". LOL.
Artfully yours, Gerri

"Is this official business, or strictly a social call?"

Who lies beneath your spell?

Todays post is a little one with only one card. You know I love the story telling element of my craft and today  the sentiment  I found said  "Who lies beneath your spell?"   Imagine what the story could be, especially when you see the image I used and the fragments with the numbers...maybe she's a fortune teller?
The jewel tone colors and the gold filagree (from an upside down doiley and german scrap) fit the color challenge for Gingersnap Creations GC# 92. This week I painted the background, not something I usually do, a shimmer green color and added glitter, plus I colored the gold papers to add additional jeweled accents. Using the plastic fragments was for the "Compendium of Curiosities" Challenge at Studio L3 CCC#34 called Dimensional Collage Fragments check out page 63 from Tim Holtz's book. Well that's my little project for today, hope you found it mesmerizing........  Artfully yours, Gerri.

"Who lies beneath your spell?"