Once in a Blue moon

Because there are 5 weeks in June, the fifth week at Gingersnap Creations is a called "Once in a blue moon". So what would you do once in a blue moon. Well here it's all about the recipe of 3 ...3 words, 3  papers and 3 buttons. Come join us to play or just come check out the creativity of the Design Team. Keeping with this month's "Shopping theme", I did include a round flower tag from a tee shirt I bought. LOL.

 So here's my hanging collage sign that says..."Make ART Today".  I used. 3 patterned papers, then layered on my rosette with the cute owls that were cut from one of the papers. I added the center button piece that says "ART" in sign language, which is ironic because I am partially deaf! Then added the Make and Today words,  blue ribbon, some butterflies,  rhinestones and  glitter and I had made art for the day

Hope you get to make some art today.
artfully yours, gerri

"Make ART Today."

"Cute Owls details"

"Button details"

Be true to yourself Announcement

Yes, I have been a tease lately, so today I will  finally tell you that I am on the new Design Team for a wonderful company called Retro Cafe Art. This company is run by the amazing artist Kristin Hubrick. She carries unique altered art supplies, collage sheets, digital collage sheets, handmade jewelry and so much more. You can also check out Kristens blog  and follow her as she travels about going to craft fairs and cool events with her art and supplies.

My first design project is a sweet little ATC with the sentiment "What did you learn here? You have to be true to yourself." The frame is a Retro Cafe Art ATC Fancy Frame that I crackle painted and edged in white paint. I just adore these ATC frames because they add dimension to your piece. The image is from their Best Friends Collage sheet and the tiny frame is a Shabby Vintage Resin Frame. I layered some sparklie sequins with tiny white  button brads in the corners. I cut the word snippets to create the sentiment from an old book and watercolored it to match each of the friends dresses to complete this ATC.

Till next time, hope you will true to yourself this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"What did you learn here? You have to be true to yourself."



"True Details"



Hope to see you even more

My daughter will arrive from college this week and we are so excited to see her even more. She is a true water gal, even swimming  in Maine where the ocean is very cold. Others may put in their toes, but she'll dive right in. The little tag below for my 100 Proof Press DT shows a Victorian gal in her bathing costume (2843-SC) sailing around on her glittering little boat.

The background marbleized paper reminded my of sea foam bubbles . For the background, there are stickers of a sparkly seahorse, (I used Stickles, of course), a glitter sea fan and a large conch rub-on. The Gibson girl is watercolored and sits on a boat in the sea on fiber ribbon. A sprinkle of colored star fish, shells and a paper sand dollar are additional accents.I tied on an ombre ribbon to complete my tiny beauty.

Is there someone you would like to see more of?
take care, gerri

"Hope to see you even more."

"More Details"

Shooting Stars in a Hot Night Adventure

Yes, I'm abit late with my post today, please forgive me, but  my shooting-stars in a hot night adventure kept me from it.... Not really, just relaxing and letting my mind wander this morning. I met with my women's art group this week and there was much wonderful sharing about their current trips abroad to France, Switzerland and Brazil. I really must save my pennies (LOL, dollars) and take a  Grand Tour. The collage today is my vision of that Grand Tour .

The lovely traveler is from Fripperies and Butterflies, where they are having a June challenge with lovely ladies. I started this piece with patterned paper trimmed in black and added a big travel sticker of Cairo. The suitcases and steamer trunk are cut out from a Moonlight Journey collage sheet. I think they should hold all the things that I would pack! Some gold foil little emblems of an airplane, palm tree and journey and my sentiment on a weathered tag came next. The fantastic metal elephant pendant and some dangling colored beads took this collage over the edge.

So what kind of adventure will you discover on your journey this week?
sincerely , gerri

"I have discovered shooting stars in a hot night adventure."

"Hot details"

Happy Artist, who am I to argue with destiny?

I am a happy artist these days, because soon I will announce a new design team I will be on for an amazing company! Yippee...The credit  is  also due to you my followers, for all your blog love, support and friendship. I'll be telling you sometime next week, so stay tuned.

For Pink Saturday today I made a little shrine that I'd like to call a "Tartlette Shrine" because I made it with a little tart pan. At my weekly summer yardsales adventures I can pick up little things that others cast off and make them into some new treasure.

To make this little treasure, I covered the heart shaped pan with Ranger alcohol ink and then dadded on some acrylic paint , then added a Stickles glitter edge. The rossette that I set inside has cut flowers,a black button with a Happy Artist image from Artchix,some white sequins and more Stickles. The topper is made by layering buttons and sequins and the base is more buttons from my button warehouse. LOL. A ticket painted white and stamped has the sentiment "Who am I to argue with destiny?"

This week, embrace your destiny and see where it just might lead you!
artfully yours, gerri

"Happy artist, who am I to argue with destiny?"

"Happy Details"

A special friend's blooming garden

A dear friend had me over to paint in her garden. It was a wonderful day, the birds were chirping, the bees were buzzing and the sun was shining. I know this sounds like an early Disney animated movie, LOL, but it really was that kind of special day. So here's a tiny painting of a quick impression of her beautiful garden with pretty pink peonies, yellow  and purple iris and blue stokesia. I'm putting this up for Painting Party Friday, come joint the fun and check out all the amazing talent at this party.

Hope you'll get to live in a Disney movie tis week, even if only for a few minutes.
take care, gerri



"A special friend's blooming garden."

"A tiny visitor in our garden."

This is my beloved and this is my friend

My hubbie has been a darling lately, so I made him this collage. It might just be because I helped him set up a new Etsy shop to sell his car art! LOL. When it's all set up,  I  will give you a peek on my blog. After making this piece, I saw that The Stampsmith challenge blog is looking for  Friends TSC#16  for their bi weekly challenge and Simon Says Stamp and Show  is on the hunt for "Metal" in their weekly challenge.  So I said what the heck and entered them both!

I used a Stampsmith stamp from the Flapper series #3 and watercolored it. There ia a layer of patterned paper, music notes, transparency and a vellum sentiment. I added a chipboard frame and butterflies. Some metal flowers colored with Ranger Alcohol ink and some green ribbons finish this  piece for my best friend!

Hope you can spend some time with a  best friend this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"This is my beloved and this is my best friend."



"Best friend details"



So, what's wrong with that

Continuing with the shopping theme at Gingersnap Creations, this week the color challenge is the "Color of Money". I choose to include  currencies from around the world, so I could include all colors and shop where ever I pleased! LOL. Please stop by Gingersnap Creations to enter your projects or just see the amazing Design Teams pieces.

I used our June sponsor Altered Pages collage sheet "Currency 105D' for the colorful money and the large money sentiment. The vintage woman image is from Graphics Fairy ...and it's one of my favorites. The background is a navy patterned paper layered with a black floral trim and german scrap. I added a large black glitter swirl , black ribbon roses, black  and gold rhinestones and gold doily trim. The tiny word sentiment, I added says "What's wrong with that!".  Don't you agree?

This week why not say "so, what's wrong with that !" whenever you want too.
till next time, gerri

"Money is the root of all evil so, what's wrong with that?"

"So what details"

As Precious as a Shimmering Sea Pearl

Though I'd try something totally new, so recently  I participated in my first match book swap at Vintage Dragonfly Altered Matchbook Group on Flickr. The matchbox theme was "The Sea". Its surprising what you can do with such a tiny little box only 2" by 1 1/2". The good news is that besides the outside of the box, there's the interior and I added a little stand. I enjoyed this so much that I actually made one for myself too. LOL. Think I will save that little matchbox to show you in a future post.

The pastel plaid exterior was decorated with a colorful fish image dotted with "Stickles" glitter which is the challenge at Inspiration Emporium this month. There are lots of sea details with die cuts of shells and a seahorse, a shell image, a plastic starfish and tiny real seashells and pearls. (the pearls are not real!). Some sparkly fiber and glitter and more Stickles give it the sparkles of the sea. The interior aquarium as all the same type of details but with an acrylic window and pretty pink german scrap. The little pastel plaid stand has button and shell feet with more glitter. I did include a lot of pics today cause this is definitely my new favorite sea piece!

Hope you will see something  as precious as a sea pearl this week.
artfully yours, gerri



"Precious Pearl Matchbox Exterior, Interior and Stand"



She smiled...the last time we talked.

Had a wonderful weekend going to yard sales with a new friend and we had a fabulous time together. I also had time to create all sorts of pieces. I like to keep at least one or two projects completed on the side in case life interrupts my blogging and I realized I didn't have any. I really worked hard to make some. LOL.It's hardly work at all. This week for 100 proof press, I decided to make a collage when I saw this beauty  from Dezinaworld. There is a spot prize at Dezinaworld "celebrate your homeland." and this Victorian street scene is my homeland in another life.....

So, I stamped and embossed with gold, the 100 proof press large gilded picture frame (4058-WC) to highlight this beauty with attitude. I added a black skeleton leaf and a gold charm to her picture frame. This was layered upon a vintage city scene with corner flourishes and put on patterned paper. Some black german scrap, a sprinkle of rhinestones and the sentiment. "She smiled, the last time we talked you didn't want me to go at all." and my beauty was ready to go.

Hope you will smile with attitude this week.
yours truly, gerri

"She laughed."
"The last time we talked you didn't want me to go at all."

"Smile details"

Little Fairy, you'll discover the way.

This is my second post today and yes, I have fairies on my mind. On Wednesday, I was honored to be a feature crafter at the wonderful Karen's fabulous Graphics Fairy blog. You can see the post here. So with fairies flying around before my eyes, I created this little fairy tag for Grungy Monday. This challenge is hosted by the lovely Linda at Studio L3 based on the techniques of the incredibly fabulous Tim. It is a challenge called Tim Holtz January 2008 technique. Please check out both of these wonderful sites to learn more.

After trying the technique to produce the dragon flies, which came out a bit faint. I inked the printed paper tag with Distress inks. I then over stamped a tiny vine and leaf detail in lime. I added a Graphics Fairy vintage mushroom image and an Artchix Studio transparent fairy. Some fiber, fabric leaves edged in copper and ribbons were added to make the forest floor. Scalloped edges inked with copper were added to the sides. A sparkle ribbon was tied to the tag. The Fairy name plaque is from Artchix Studio too and is attached with copper brads. I water colored in some additional grass to add some dimension. The sentiment reads... "little fairy, You'll discover the  way".

Hope you'll  find your way, no matter where you are going this week.
take care, gerri


"little fairy, you'll discover the way."



"fairy details"

You're One in a Million



Today is a special day for all Dad's in the US because it's  Father's Day. I never really knew my father...but my dearest husband is a wonderful dad to our darling daughter. So let's celebrate all those special guys in your life. Happy Father's Day.

always, gerri

"You're one in the million."

Run after Butterflies

For Pink Saturday, I'm thinking about grand gardens. Yesterday you had a chance to see some of my garden, but today I'm dreaming of a water feature. We don't have one and I always wanted to build one. The card today started with a black and white image of the Swan House in Atlanta and it has the most amazing fountain. I am also entering it in Fripperies and Butterflies  for June  because the lovely lady on the front of this card is part of their colorful lady challenge.

I started by water coloring the postcard and of course added some dripping water. LOL. The lovely lady came next with all the green german scrap details. A thick glittery pink trim and  pink rhinestones were layered on the edges. The finishing touches were a butterfly charm with a pink ribbon and the sentiment "Love of my life...run after butterflies."

Hope you will run after butterflies this week.
sincerely, gerri

"Love of my life....run after butterflies."

Lovely lady in pink details"

A day in our blooming garden

For today's Painting Party Friday, here are two small watercolors straight from our garden. Yes, I did run around outside in my pajamas cutting flowers like a crazy person before class, but it's worth it. LOL. I love painting our garden's colorful blooms.The first is of our rose bushes next to the shed and the second, is our magnificent blue hydrangeas. This week, I tried something different and just painted and did no sketching at all. I'm trying to be much more fluid in my painting. I included some photos of our garden shots so you could enjoy them too.

Hope you can visit a blooming garden this week.

yours truly, gerri

"Our Roses"

"Hydrangea and roses"

The Fragrance of Roses in Paris

This week at Gingersnap Creations based on our "Shopping" theme, we are exploring "Bags and Tags" for our weekely challenge. Come join us and use our themes to spark your creativity. There's always so much to see and do, especially the other Ginger Design teams members creations. Well, last week I told you I save interesting garment tags and when I saw these rough canvas ones with a rose imagine I tucked it away for a special project. When I think of shopping and fashion, my mind immediately dreams of Paris and these tags were perfect.

This dimensional collage has lots of textural layers and  the canvas tag was my color inspiration. The background is three layers of paper. The top paper is of the streets of Paris and I stamped the roses by Rubber Stampede and watercolored them.The K & Company butterflies are stamped on transparencies. The tags were painted with white acrylic paint . One was stamped with the Eiffel tower by Inkadinkado, the other has the word "Paris" tiny alphabet tags 568D  from  our sponsor Altered pages. A Fabric rose, some ribbon and a dusting of rhinestomes and I was off to dream of visiting the gardens of Paris.

Hope you can dream of a faraway place this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Roses of Paris"

"Garment Tag Details"

"Rose Details"

Oh Boy! What A Party!

From my blog post you might think that I am having a roaring good time...the truth is things here are pretty quiet. Except for my 200 + followers, I've just been creating.

I made this card for The Stampsmith Challenge  TSC15 Birthdays, thought I'd try a new color combo for me being Black, Cream and Magenta. I do think it works, do you? I made the three stamped pieces first... Happy Birthday, The Dance Steps-Inkadinkado and the Oh Boy-Inkadinkado, by stamping, coloring and putting them on magenta or black paper. The ladies face-Hero Arts was stamped on an acrylic tile and colored with alcohol ink and for the flesh tone......I used nail polish! I layered all these pieces on vintage music sheets then added black german scrap from Artchix Studio for shine. The finishing touch were  the sparklie black and magenta layered sequins with a black brad center.

Hope you will dance up a storm this week,
sincerely, gerri

"Oh Boy! What a Party!"

"Party details"

A Garden Sweetly Told

For my 100 Proof Press piece this week I tried something different and made a necklace. Costume jewelry is one of my guilty pleasures.... making it and buying it too! LOL. I had this little hinged pendant from an old Christmas decoration and thought it'd make just the right base for a stamped image.

I used Elwain's walkway gate 2594N stamp and them water colored a peaceful garden scene with roses and a rose arch. I had some metal flowers, bugs and a hummingbird charm, so I used Ranger Alcohol ink and painted them all pretty colors. To tone down the colors I wiped on white acrylic paint. Glued on my sentiment "a garden sweetly told" and I was already to string it on a silver chain. I also have shown you a photo of this necklace on my dressform called Mary Lou.

Hope you can take a walk in a sweet garden this week.
always, gerri



 

"A garden sweetly told"

Giveaway Thank Yous Everyday

Today I want to thank several special people who have recently sent me some beautiful artwork. These little presents, swaps or gifties mean the world to me. I keep them in my studio to look at everyday on a huge bulletin board with all  the things that inspire me and make me happy.

The three artists I want to thank are;  lovely Lynne whose blog is Adorn for her precious aqua peacock tag. I can always tell her beautiful style by the subtle color palette, feminine images and touches of  beautiful lace. Then there is sweet Lisa at Love Lee Notes for her beautiful box of  tea conversation cards. Being a tea drinker myself , this was the prefect giftie. She is hosting an amazing tea party that you can read about at her blog. Finally, delightful Shelly  at My creative rumbling, where I won a delightful giveaway, but who also sent me a gorgeous surprise card with a vintage corset image. Thank you dearest friends.

In return, I would like to do another giveaway because I have passed 200 followers. I am so thrilled to have so many follow and support my work and adore your precious comments each day. I am blessed with a large stash and love giving away pieces of it to make others happy. There will be ribbons , flowers, stamps, sequins, a blank journal, stickers, game pieces,  tiny glass bottle, clock faces, metal buckles, paper, fiber, brads, epoxy letters, images ...just to to name a few. During the next few weeks I will also add more, I can't help it, it's so much fun to give.
The rules are pretty basic:
1.be a follower for one chance to win.
2.post a picture of my blog candy and link to this post on your blog for another chance.

Please just leave me a comment on this post  and tell me how you are entered and I will pick a lucky winner on
July 1st.

Hope your week is full of thank yous.
thankfully yours, gerri

"Thank you dear friends"



"My inspiration and giftie board"



"My favorite art quote too"

"Blogcandy thank you for 200+ followers"

Laugh to the Skies

Well it's Pink Saturday .... and here is my  pretty pink tag with a sparkly rose covered birdhouse. I adore birds and collect all sorts of things like nests, eggs, prints and even dishes. We keep them in our sun room and thank goodness, my husband has a thing for birdies too! At Simon Says Stamp and Show this week they are looking for "tags" so here is my jumbo   5.5" by 8" tag. For the June challenge at Crafty Calendar Challenge it's "things with wings". Finally, at the Tuesday weekly challenge at Creative Card crew they are looking for "Wings" too.

I started with a birdhouse cut out of patterned pink paper and added the polka dot and blue paper trim.Stamped and assembled three little  Asta Arts birdies on striped paper and trimmed them with Ranger Stickles. Stamped and cut out pink Rubber Stamp Tapestry roses and added more Stickles. Added pink and lt blue shiny german scrap for shine.A sprinkle of rhinestones and and the birdhouse was done. I attached it to a blue edged pink tag and tied on some pale blue organza ribbon.

Hope you get to look to the skies and laugh this week.
take care, gerri

"Laugh to the skies"

"Hello my sweet"