Near the sea we forget to count the days

By now blogger friends, you know I love the sea. Oh... to be a mermaid and swim thru the colorful depths of the watery blue. I love this sentiment for the piece because it is so true, whenever I am near the sea I forget to count the days.

This  5X5 collage piece was started quite awhile ago but needed something, so I got out my watercolor paints and Ranger Stickles. After using them, the sparkles reminded me of the sunlight shine on water and I knew it was finished. It started with patterned paper that I layered the sentiment rub on, shell /button stickers,  a vintage image of a swimmer/a blue fish/sand dollar transpariencies from Artchix Studio and a yellow drink umbrella. Yes, you must drink the cocktail first. LOL. Oh, check out the pink pattern on the lovely ladiy's swim suit...Can you guess how I did it? Some pastel shell diecuts were added. I do have a cuttlebug but only a handful of dies. A blue ribbon, an anchor brad,  a sprinkle of rhinestones and gold german scrap were the items that completed my finishing touches.

Hope you  find your special place, where you can forget to count the days.
always, gerri

"Near the sea we forget to count the days."

"Sunlit Details"

She whispered to me

Here is this week's piece for my 100 Proof Press Design team, it is an ATC.  Please  do check out their site, they have so many beautiful images to choose from. I used the stamp 3096W Double Archway stamp and stamped it on a transparency. I layered pink patterned paper, a lovely female image from Dezinaworld, pink german scrap around the edge, a sprinkle of rhinestones and the sentiment  "she whispered to me".

Who will you whisper to this week?
artfully yours, gerri

"she whispered to me"

"whispering details"

Desire in the land of ephemeral beauty

Yesterday, I had a delightful day with a new friend. We went to one of my most favorite places in New Jersey, the Presby Memorial Iris garden. It is such a  beautiful place to get in touch with Mother Nature. Did you know that the iris is associated with faith, hope, valor, promise in love and cherished friendship? I've included a few of the 100 (LOL) photos I took at this volunteer run iris garden. It was also this place that inspired my tag for lovely Linda at Studio L3 Grungy Monday 8 challenge. Please give Linda a visit she is an wonderful artist and hostess.The technique this week is based on Tims September 2008 Technique. Check out  the amazing Tim Holtz, my all time favorite artist.

This simple tag started with watercolory technique of flowers on printed paper.I layered a flower fairy from Artchix transparency. A deep pink ribbon, brown german scrap, brown rhinestones and a heart shaped charm complete the details. Some copper edging and the sentiment "desire, in the land of ephemeral beauty" were the finishing touches.

Hope you  walk in a land of ephemeral beauty this week.
sincerely, gerri

"Desire, in the land of ephemeral beauty"

"Desire Details"

 

Live in a Dream of Blog Candy and Pretty Pink Saturdays

Let's  celebrate today. It is Pink Saturday's 3rd birthday, if you have a chance, please go visit and see all the amazing "pink" things. There also will be a pink giveaway. Hoorah!

Blogger has been acting up for me,  it wouldn't show my 192  followers or some say allow any one new to follow. So sorry, nothing I could do about that.  The good news is that I have received all your comments saying you wanted to enter for my blogcandy giveaway, so rest assured I did count you in.  I used random generator but could not post it on my blog. So without further ado....the  winner of my 100 for 100 Blog Candy. Are you ready?????? is: Trisha too.

 Congratulations, dearie. Please email me your address. I will mail out your big box of over 100 different art supplies on Tuesday, since Monday is Memorial Day. Doing a giveaway was exciting , I've met all sorts of new wonderful friends in blogger land. But wait... I'm getting close to 200 followers, maybe just maybe, I will do another one. Stay tunned and please do check back.

Now back to the project for this special Pink Saturday  ,  a pink painted box (a Brie cheese box. LOL) that I covered with music paper that I painted with pearlized acrylic paint and misted over with a stencil. A pink chipboard frame was covered with pink Ranger Stickles and tiny pearls. The image is the Artchix Studio muse, and I had to use her, she had on a pink head band. I used a picture of a peony for her background. The corner embellishments were old doilies I cut up then added pearl swirls, vellum printed butterflies, and finally, a plastic pink flower with a button center. Added the finishing touches of a rope pearl border, more pink Stickles, a tiny pearl earring and the word snippets "live in a dream."

Hope you get the chance to feel that you are living in a beautiful dream.
sincerely, gerri

"live in a dream"

"Dreamy details"

Lovers strolling the Boulevard

Continuing with my weekend in Paris theme started by my bookmarks on Tuesday...here's a watercolor painting of how I imagine the view would be strolling down a Boulevard in Paris. While I was running around before painting class, I spied these tiny Paris store front sculptures in our entryway and decided to paint them. My husband and I  bought the first one in Paris many years ago. I really like how the painting came out and will definitely try painting different ones next time. I'm showing them at Paint Party Friday , come have a look at all the beautiful paintings. I've included a picture of out entry way, can you find the tiny sculptures on our little table?


Till next week, try to take a stroll with someone you love this weekend.
artfully yours, gerri

"Paris Boulevard"



"Our Entry"



Kisses on the Praire wind

The color challenge at Gingersnap Creations this week is Denim, Rust and Dust (Tan) GC104 continuing with the month of May's "Wild West" theme. Mosie on down and join in the fun. Please check out the other Design team members delightful creations too. So, can you image a world before  phones  and just how precious receiving a letter would be. Having to wait for it would have been so hard, but finally getting it would have been ecstasy and that's what this week story is about.

My design team project started with the image of our cowgirl writing a letter to her sweetheart. I took the color challenge literally..... using real denim fabric and rusted metal stars and wire. For the tan color,  I used the leather embossed printed paper background. The metal wire is twisted and tied with navy ribbon to look like barbed wire, but a "sweet" barbed wire. Detailed her vest with color and rhinestones and finally, added the phrase  "I think of you and send you kisses on the prairie wind."

Send someone you love kisses this week.
Artfully yours, gerri

"I think of you and send you kisses on the prairie wind."

"Prairie details"

A weekend in Paris

Bet your thinking ahh,  gerri's off to Paris this weekend. Sorry to say, that's only in my silly little imagination. My husband and I did go when we were first married and I can still remember minute of it. With this location on my mind, I created  these book marks for the Gingersnap Creations yahoo group where the theme was "Geographical Location". Also submitting to  a couple of new sites for me, The Rubber Cafe TRCC #18 Vintage,  Polkadoodle wk20 Anything but a card and Paper Romance #51 Anything but a card. (Here's a shout out to Trisha too, thanks for showing them to me.)

I happened to have some white diecut bookmarks that I used for my base. I inked them up and edged them in gold. Started layering transparencies of Lady Actresses from Graphics Fairy with colored pictures of Paris. There is handstamping of  Paris images from Cavallini also. Some real French postage stamps from one of my wonderful fleamarket finds added some detail and color. A touch of gold german scrap, a knotted strand  of lovely gold ribbon and c'est fini.

Hope you'll take a weekend trip with your  imagination this week.
yours truly, gerri

"Paris book marks - front"

"Paris bookmarks - back"

Wonderful Surprise

Today I am pleased to announce that I am now a member of the 100 Proof Press Design Team.

 Several weeks ago, I was contacted by Sara the owner, who said she admired my work and asked would I want to be on her first ever Design team. Of course I jumped at the idea and immediately said YES. I couldn't believe she contacted me! This  rubber stamp company has an extensive line of over three thousand detailed  images  with something for every taste. You can check out their website here, they offer stamps three ways: mounted, unmounted and unmounted trimmed on a cushion. . They  have a blog and have started a facebook page too. Each week, I will look forward to showing you my treasures when using their amazing stamps.

Todays project is a tiered box. I  used the Longtower Row (5391-ZC) stamp and stamped it on paper and glued it to two boxes of different sizes. I then watercolored the boxes and added some silver german scrap. Three feet on each box  and the tiny topper completed the piece and are made of some tiered black and white buttons from my huge button stash.

Hope you will discover a wonderful surprise (no matter how big or small) this  week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Cityscape Tiered Tower Boxes"

Faithful Friend

Friday, I had a great day with a faithful friend. She has been my friend for.....( gulp) 30 years. We went to see her secret crush, Capt Jack in the new Pirate of the Caribbean movie (LOL), shared a wonderful dinner and talked and talked. This image from Dezinaworld reminded me of a 1980s cool chick and of my  friend. I know the style is different than my usual, being bold and graphic but change is good. Don't you think? The technique is from Tim Holtz and part of the Grungy Monday #7 Distress ink color blocking challenge.The lovely Linda hosts this challenge at Studio L3. Come visit and have some fun too.

To make this I color blocked the tag then attached the transparency image after using a hole punch. Added the faithful friend vellum. Made a square rosette and centered it with a distressed big  turq brad, paper circle and 3 square gems. Edged the tag with a sharpie, tied on some dotted ribbon and she was off to go clubbing.

Remember to take time with a faithful friend this week.
always, gerri

"Faithful friend"

"Friend Details"

Thinking of you, dear

Well, I 'm thinking about all of you dear people who read my blog. I want you to know how happy it makes me. It really pushes me to be creative and innovative, so I can make beautiful projects to share with you!
This simple card is mostly pink for Pink Saturday . I am also entering it at Get Creative for Birthday Cards for the lovely month of May and City Crafter 57 Polka Dots and Stripes.

The background was fun stamping tiny pink than big black dots all over. Stripes of black and white dotted ribbons are layered with pink tulle to soften their appeal in the center. A flower rosette is topped with a darling image from Graphics Fairy. I like how the umbrella just expands out to the flower petals. Some pink ink kissed German scrap, the sentiment "thinking of you, dear" and some glitter and rhinestones and this sweet card was finished.

Hope you will think of someone dear this week.
sincerely, gerri

"Thinking of you, dear."

"Dear Details"

Glorious Pink Peony

My dear friend gave me a marvelous present for helping do some arranging in her home....a glorious pink peony from her garden. No running around before painting class last week, since I knew that it would be the most beautiful subject. Here's my watercolor painting  for Painting Party Friday. I will also post it to Pink Saturday.  The flower was wonderfully large and such a glorious pink, I took way too many photos but just had to share one with you. There's a picture of my kitchen table where I blog everyday with the pretty peony to look at.
Till next time enjoy nature's beauty.
Always, gerri

"Glorious Pink Peony"

"The entire painting"

"Our kitchen, where I blog"

Count your Blessing

Over at Gingersnap Creations, we are continuing with the "Wild West theme". The challenge is "Scene Stamping" GC103. Come visit Gingersnap Creations and join the wild west fun. My scene is way out west, of course.  I think the America west has colors and scenery that are so inspiring. I understand why Georgia O'Keeffe painted and loved it so much.
Just about all the stamps are from from Inkadinkado and are over 20 years old! I always said that I should get rid of them, since I've only used them a couple of times. Now, I am so glad I kept them. The cowgirl, tiny house and trees are from Stampendous. I started with a desert orange colored background using a sponge and reinkers. Over stamped the scene in black and colored the cactus with pencil. Edged this with little skulls, a button and ombre ribbon. The background stamps are Indian pottery and blanket patterns. I put this completed scene in a frame, I pivked up this weekend at a church sale. I  added the corner silver buttons for some western shine.
Count your blessing everyone,
Sincerely, gerri

"Count your blessing with altered frame"

"Blessing details"

Rhythm of my heart

Here's another Bella Creations challenge for the month of May in the OOh La La Group. This group is focused on smaller projects like tags, bookmarks and ATC's. Come join in the fun there is an awesome gallery of member creations to check out too. So, the image for the challenge was this fabulous butterfly costumed woman with the incredible top hat! When I saw here I thought "Chorus Line", so I printed her three times and kicked up her legs, that's why I had to make her frilly ribbon little skirts! LOL. I will also submit it to Really Reasonable Ribbon (RRR24).

I misted my tag with Glimmermist and a fleur de lis mask, then layered some blue sheer ribbon and my three cuties. Some dimensional glittered flowers, silver paint edges and a silver ribbon came next. More rhinestones and the words "Move one's body and feet to the rhythm of my heart." were added to complete this little tag.

Hope you get to move to the rhythm  of your heart this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Move one's body and feet to the rhythm of my heart."

"Rhythm Details"

Always Together

There's a wonderfully supportive art group I belong to called Bella Creations. Please come check us out, there's so much to see and do, even prizes to be won! For the May "Bella Muse" challenge, we were asked to create something with the darling image of the two friends together in the grass. I created this card using some pressed flowers that I have had for years. For the past several years, I am following this motto: if I have it... USE it and then I tell myself, what are you waiting for? LOL. These sweet roses were just the thing I needed to use!

This  simple little card started with framing the image that I colored with pencils and put in an ink kissed embossed frame. I layered red lace, old postage stamps and some labels from Artchix Studio. On a ticket I stamped "Always together" and added the pressed flowers.If you read the tag very closely it says Always together, paper art and that makes me think of you!
Hope you are always together with a dear friend.
Yours Truly, gerri

"Always Together"

"Pressed Roses Details"

"Tag Details"

Wonder

Have been taking alot of walks lately based on the beautiful weather here in Jersey. I usually bring my camera, but didn't have it when two huge tom turkeys ran across my path last week! LOL. I always have loved the beauty of mother nature, that's why I use lots of flowers, shells, birds and general natural themes. My tag today reminds me of a "vintage" woodland scene. This tag is for Grungy Monday 6  sponsored by the lovely Linda at Studio L3. The technique is based on Tim Holtz's 12 Day of Christmas 2007 Day 8. Come on over and join the fun. I am also submitting it to a new challenge site for me,  Paperminutes #165 Wings.

 I did the weathered wood technique with whatever color, Ranger acrylic dabbers I had and I do like how it came out! I stamped on some background ferns, which didnt come out so well, then added some corner stickers and insect stickers. I had a detailed plaque with flowers that I layered with an Artchix Studio transparent fairy image. I added the word "wonder", then some pen details, copper ink edges and a pretty velvet ribbon to finish this creation.
Hope your week is full of the wonder of nature.
yours truly, gerri

"Wonder"

"Wonder details"

Show me , Let me , Tell me

It's Pink Saturday time.... so here's my pretty pink trees submission. These are for an Altered Eco Embellishments Swap at Artchix Studio. This was the first Internet group I joined , that was the fall of 2009. It will always hold a special place in my artful heart. It took me a year to get the courage up to start a blog and that was the fall of 2010. I have been blogging for 8 months and just adore it and appreciate all of you reading this.

For this cute swap, I started with the eco trees from Artchix  (they are only about 3" tall) and painted them with Ranger Distress crackle paint Pink of course. This is the first time I used it and  it has a wonderful effect. The female image is the Artchix Muse. A little thank you with her image on it  comes with your order and  is already  pink, so all I had to do is cut them out! I added german scrap, rhinestones, some rub ones and my little story words. Together they read Show me, Let me and Tell me.

Hope you're in the "pink" this week.

Artfully yours, gerri

"Tell me, Show me, Let me."

"Crackle Details."

 

Graphics Fairy,Unicorns and Poppies, oh my

Well, I have been going  thru withdrawal with no Blogger yesterday and today. My Painting Party Friday post disappeared and so did all comments from May 12th, I guess I will save it for next week. So, if I don't answer your comments from that time, please do forgive me. During that time I also saw that I was featured at the Graphics Fairy-craft blog...WOO-HOO. I had to call my girlfriend and daughter frantically to see it because my blogger wasn't working! Here's the link to check it out: Exceptional Fairy Collage. It was my piece " Somebody dreams of me".

So for today, I will show you something I made for Soartful challenges. The challenge was to use the picture of the Spanish alley. You know my crazy printer, well it printed it out in black and white not color, so I just went with it.I stamped the unicorn and cut it out. I also cut out poppy images and a poppy fairy from Artchix Studio and glued them down. To finish it I water colored on top of everything. To complete it, I added the sentiment "Through the dancing poppies stole a breeze most softly lulling on my soul" and put some red tulle around the frame.
Hope you'll find something to lull your soul this week.
Sincerely, gerri

"Through the dancing poppies stole a breeze most softly lulling on my soul"

"Poppy and John Keats Details"

Lasso your heart

This week at Gingersnap creations,  they are continuing the Wild West theme with a supply challenge GC102. That's right partner the supply is a lasso!  No really, the supply is twine. Tee Hee. Come visit and join the rootin' tootin fun, or just view the Design Teams artful creations. So, this little cowgirl from 1880s in her fancy buckskin dress and big floppy straw hat just spoke to me. I gussied her up to lasso a cowboy's heart and used her for my design team submission.

This card started with painting the image with Alcohol inks from Ranger and then I added some silver star stickers from the dollar store. (I find some of my greatest embellishments there.) Layered her on some turq and pink paper that was edge kissed with lime ink. Then it was time for the silver flouish stickers, gems and a silver doily rosette. Every cowgirl needs a rosette; don't ya think. Painted the twine silver and added the word snippets and our little cow girl was ready to round herself up a partner.
Follow your heart this week,
Always, gerri

"The little cowgirl will lasso your heart."

"Cowgirl details"

Sweet as a Fairy

The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing so, it's nature that is inspiring me lately. I also have had all my bright supplies out so you may be seeing some colorful creations.
The starting point of this card was a photo of coneflowers from our garden.  I love taking photos and used to print everything, so I have a lot of pictures especially of flowers, landscapes and places we have visited. I used markers and added additional color to this photo, then I actually used sand paper to roughed it up!  I put the photo on a colorful paper and added green german scrap. Made some layered flowers with buttons. (Someday I will show you my extensive button stash.) I painted the wooden houses and assembled the corners adding a little purple felt bird. The fairy was a transparency from Artchix Studio that I colored with Ranger Alcohol inks on the back then painted with acrylic paint. I also added Ranger Dimensional Pearl dots on the wings. The final touch was the sentiment "sweet as a fairy".
Hope you will meet special people this week, who are "sweet as a fairy".
Artfully yours, gerri

"Sweet as a Fairy"

"Sweet details"

Ponder Happiness

Yesterday was Mothers Day and I had a wonderful time. My dearest daughter was away at school, but she did wake up quite early for a college student, that being 10:30 am (LOL) to call me .  My  husband asked what  would make me happy for my day, so I pondered and decided to go to a huge flea market/ rummage sale that was a long drive away from our home. It was a glorious sunny warm day and we had a beautiful drive in the country together. We spent very little and got some yummy finds like doilies, hand embroidered tablecloths, waxed thread, milk glass, a depression glass top hat and some perfume bottles. You will definitely see some of these in my future creations.

Speaking of happiness, the project today is for an Artchix Studio Eco Embellishment swap and is made in very bright and happy colors. The little paper pieces are fun shapes so I choose the flowers and decided to make them into tags. I painted and drew little details on them. I used rub ons for the fun flowers and birds. Added some rhinestones and glitter too. I glued them to blue plastic belt buckles, (you know how I like to use unusual stuff) and added some rainbow ribbon. Their finished size is only about 2 1/4".  On the ribbon are some brads that I threaded thru and some daisy brads pressed and glued on the ends. My little tags were then all done.
Hope you will ponder happiness this week.
Always, gerri

"Promise and Ponder, Happiness"

"Details"