It's All Treasure

Let them eat cakes

2012-03-03T00:10:00.004-05:00

Why it's Pink Saturday again and I thought you deserved something sweet. How about a taste of some sweet little cakes. These twincies (2x2") art pieces are something I made for the Gingersnap Creations current swap. I adore making tiny pieces of art from inchies, to twincies to moos and ATC's. It's surprising how much you can pack into such small spaces.

To make these darling pieces I started with some cross stitched printed paper and added some tiny rose stickers and pink rhinestones. A layer of pink tulle came next. They are topped with Retro Cafe Art Cakes images. The little cakes have Perfect Pearl accents and green tickles too.The sentiment is different on each one and expresses my feelings as I savor a sugary treat. A tiny hand dyed rosette with pink Perfect Pearl trim was the finishing sugar these little cakes needed.

Hope you will savor a sweet treat this week.
take care, gerri

"Let them eat cakes"

Missing You

2012-03-02T00:10:00.003-05:00

Love living in the south and during our last trip to NJ and NYC, we tied up all our loose ends and now we are officially southerners! That being said, I do miss my friends and will need to get out and about, to go about making new ones! It's wonderful to know I have you dear blogger friends no matter where I live!

Today's card is an inkwell template I created. I love to stamp on feathers and that always makes me think of ink quills. There's pink patterned and sparkle paper as the base of an pink ink kissed card. I stamped a swirl on the ink well and the pretty pink feather too. Some swirly black felt on the edges continue the stamping pattern on the ink well. Some pink Stickles, a "missing you" sentiment and a tiny tag tied to the bottle neck complete this card. Simon Says Stamp has an "Anything goes" challenge, so I'll enter this one.

Hope you will get to spend time with friends this week, so you don't miss them too much.
yours truly, gerri

"Missing you"

Smiling on the back of a bicycle

2012-03-01T10:13:00.001-05:00

Been biking around our new neighborhood and just loving looking at all the new plants and pretty birds. Soon I will be seeing flowers too, I can't wait. My bike rides inspired this card and I hope it makes you smile too. Fashionable Stamping is looking for "Make it for a child" #16 and Simon Stamp and show is looking for an Idea-ology. I was able to cover both challenges with this one creation.
To make this card I started by stamping words on the red frame piece and also stamped little circles too. The bicycle image was detailed with pens and red and white string streamers were added to the handlebars. The corners were rusted little houses, Ideology circles with brads put in some inked up bottle caps. A Tim little metal book plate with "smile" came next. The background is Tim Holtz's distressed bottle cap paper.

Hope you will smile this week.
take care, gerri

"Smile"

"Ideaology details"

Once upon a time

2012-02-28T08:32:00.001-05:00

Once upon a time....there lived a beautiful princess is the title for my Retro Cafe Art collage today. It is my way to pay homage to my new fav tv show "Once Upon a time". If you haven't seen it you should. Now I know it sounds silly, a tv show about fairy tales but it is quite good. The acting, the special effects and of course the story are so creative.

To make this collage piece which is 8 X 8", I layered all sorts of things on the glitter printed paper. There is the butterfly wings with the cameo frame and the darling best friend woman image from Retro Cafe Art all topped with their metal gold crown. Do check out RCA, they have fun contests, free giveaways and such cute stuff! So, the tickets came next and are painted and stamped with hearts with a gold heart charm embellishment. The third part is a black stamped image of a crown that I made using a foam board and added some pink rhinestones and gold ric rac. There's a sprinkling of gold and organza flowers, big bling rhinestones, tiny pink rhinestones, gold Stickles to finish this beauty.

Hope you will get to experience a fairy tale this week.
yours truly, gerri

"There lived a beautiful princess"

Enchanted Sisters

2012-02-27T00:10:00.001-05:00

Today for 100 Proof Press design team here is a little enchanted tag. I tried something different and stamped then water colored the background added the the darling sister image from Retro Cafe Art on a piece of chip board. Speaking of different, yesterday I took a class on soldering. I always wanted to learn how. It really is an art. Ill show you my first attempts soon. Please don't laugh. LOL.

The 100 Proof Press stamp was the gorgeous 3096 Double Arch stamp, then I added watercolor paint and the sister vintage image. The background on the tag is flocked paper with watercolor too. There is some shiny paper fringe, a glass heart, turq ribbon and some Stickles accents too. The sentiment reads "enchanted".

Hope you will have an enchanted week.
take care, gerri

"Enchanted"

"enchanted details"

You...hip hip hooray

2012-02-26T11:03:00.000-05:00

Here's a little tag inspired by the 12 tags of 2012 by Tim Holtz and its for you dear friends. Its all about the wonderful traits you have and I just wanted to celebrate you! Though I might not check in as often as I'd like on your blogs, I just wanted you to know that I do care...

I sorta followed Tim's inspiration with a dabbed paint background with distress inks. I do like the depth it creates. I added my own embellishments with a red flower, blue tissue paper and female image. Tim made his Valentine's day but I choose not too. I added some big heart sequins from Alpha Stamps, some turq hearts from Retro Cafe Art. The Y O U was covered with red Stickles. The ribbon is distress ink sprayed on twill tape and crinkled up. Some turq paint edges and it was complete!

Hope you will have a wonderful weeks with friends.
sincerely, gerri

"Y O U"

"you details"

The Story of our Journey Together

2012-02-25T07:49:00.000-05:00

Really enjoyed our trip to New York City last week. I am always energized and inspired by that location. I do miss it sometimes. Now when I arrive back here, it is beginning to feel like home....but it is such a departure from this little house in lowcountry with acres of open land, palm trees and water. LOL. Speaking of New York, this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show the challenge is "Show us your pick... London, Paris or New York."

Today's card is a book template I created that has a removable book mark in the middle. Its a gift within a card. For the book, there are two types of blue patterned paper as the background. I layered the tan paper with a stamped tiny map of the world. The route of our journey was added wit a heart at New York. Where I met my husband! A little biplane and clipper ship were stamped and fussy cut out too. A title on the spine..."Our journey" was stamped and layered. Some perfect pearls in copper, red Stickles, little red glitter hearts and a stamped border were added too. The book mark has "Togetherness" stamped, glittered and layered with a tiny stamped passport tied to the end.

Hope you will have a wonderful journey this week, no matter how close or far.
take care, gerri

"Our journey together from New York"

"Card with bookmark"

The joy of my desire

2012-02-24T07:55:00.000-05:00

I seem to be in a monochromatic phase these days...today's large ATC is another black and ivory piece but this time with a touch of gold bling. It must have been my trip to NYC this weekend that influenced me. We visited Brooklyn Heights and the bold graphic inspiration was everywhere and NYC always has a touch of shiny bling too! I'm posting this on Fashionable Stampers Challenge #15 Monochromatic plus one color and also Stampsmith TSC#27 Love and Lace challenges.

The gorgeous flapper stamp from Stampsmith was my inspiration. I stamped her on a painted Retro Cafe Art dimensional ATC center. This was layered on different patterned papers and a filigree paper border was added too. Some dyed lace, pearl and gold buttons are the sweet embellishments. It is ink kissed with gold sparkly ink, gold Stickles and cream colored pearls. The sentiment is from a book of poetry and says "The joy of my desire."

Hope you will find joy this week in whatever you desire.
artfully yours, gerri

"The joy of my desire"

""Joyful details"

I have someone

2012-02-22T00:10:00.002-05:00

This month at Gingersnap Creations it's "Tell it like it is" with a focus on faux techniques. This week's challenge is GC140: "Two colors only" and the month is being sponsored by Rouge Redhead Designs. They do have such pretty stamps. Check them out then, come play with us at Gingersnaps Creation, there's lots to see from the Design Team and you might even win a prize!

So this card is just cream and black. I knew that would be my color combo when I saw these cute silhouette profiles from Retro Cafe Art. I painted them black and spied the big text ledger stamp from the Relish Reading RougeRedhead Designs RRD001 sheet. I stamped the background scalloped square base and also a cream painted Retro Cafe Art ATC Fancy Frame insert with this text ledger sheet stamp. I layered some black paper cut to mimic the ATC insert and added some lace, black rose appliques, rhinestones and the sentiment "I have someone."

Hope you will be able to spend the week with your someone.
take care, gerri

"I have someone."

"Two color Details"

Beautiful Marie

2012-02-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

Here's a little hanging ATC sized piece featuring the beautiful Marie Antoinette collage sheet from Retro Cafe Art. One of my favorite movie sound tracks is Sofia Coppola's movie called Marie Antionette. If you get a chance give it a good listen.

To start this I used Cameo Frame as the base and painted it with that sparklie nail polish again! This time it was burgandy and I love the shiny bits. This was layered on a white piece of chip board edged in burgandy ink with sequins at the corner. I hung it with some beaded wire and added a pink tassle. The accents include pink Liquid pearl, rhinestones and a tiny bow.

Hope you will feel like royalty this week.
take care, gerri

I am fully occupied

2012-02-20T00:10:00.037-05:00

Today for 100 Proof Press here's a collage that I created using a Graphic Fairy image for Brag Monday. Can you find the stamping? Well its the Octagonal Design 6303 from 100 Proof Press on the woman's umbrella. LOL! I like to use stamps in unusual ways and thought over stamping a vintage image just fit the bill.

The base of this piece is over painted striped paper. Sometimes when I don't care for a piece of paper's print, I just paint right over it. It gives me so many more papers to choose from and it then can match any project you want. The Graphic Fairy's couple image came next with the umbrella over stamped and accented with paint, Stickles and a pretty blue button. The Bingo card was cut up and placed around the couple image. Some red roses in the corner, water colored areas and more Stickles were the final accent.

Hope you will be fully occupied this week.
yours truly, gerri

"Bingo, I am fully occupied."

"Umbrella details"

Ticket for Love

2012-02-18T00:10:00.005-05:00

It's Pink Saturday at Beverly's and today I'm showing another ticket Valentine's Day card. I received so many compliments on the originality of using a ticket that I thought I'd show you one more. I love that on the bottom of the ticket it say the company name "Paper Art". When I painted this I made sure to leave that name exposed.

This was a quick card using a paper doilies heart that is kissed with silver ink and accented with silver Stickles. The ticket was painted and stamped with a floral heart. The card was preprinted with the scallop design so I just added shiny stitches. A "LOVE" brad layered with Stickles and other little dots of silver Stickles were the final touches.

Hope you will "LOVE" doing "Paper Art" this week.
sincerely, gerri

"LOVE"

"Paper Art ticket detail"

My Heart Glows for you in Paris

2012-02-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

Yes, you will still be seeing a few more Valentine's Day cards, but I can't resist. I really get charged when I have to make a bunch and all kinds of creations are produced, so I just have to share. I adore Paris so when I printed out this clip art several years ago, I felt I would use it some day. Well this Valentines Day was the right day!

I took a piece of cardboard and put layers of glue and red tissue paper and let it dry. I swiped some silver ink that stamped a french script on top of the tissue paper. This base was taught to me by an artist friend back in New Jersey. I layered our Paris scene with a glitter cut out heart. Some glowing gold Stickles accents and gold heart corners finished this bright card.

Hope you will have a bright golden week.
au revoire, gerri

"My heart glows for you in Paris"

"Glowing details"

Now for something completely different.... cement

2012-02-16T00:01:00.002-05:00

Now for something completely different, always makes me think of Monty Python. They were a riot when I was in high school and college. I always laughed out loud whenever I watched them! But I hope you won't laugh when you see today's post. I'm going to show you some jewelry I made. Mary Lou is modeling two necklaces and their matching bracelets. Oh and now for the different..... some inspirational photos of beautiful colored cement, I saw on one of my walks. Yes, I said cement. So here goes ...

Hope you will do something different this week.
artfully yours, gerri

Happy Valentines Day, It's finally here

2012-02-14T08:27:00.000-05:00

Yes it's finally here, that being Valentine's Day that is. A day for love. I like to celebrate all kinds of love whether romantic, friendship or even passionate! I do that by creating cards. In our busy lives its nice to have a little celebration come our way and that's why I send them. So here are my cards I'm sending to you, just pick one. Happy Valentines Day, dearies!

These cards all started with the Retro Cafe Art heart burst stencil. It made such a versatile base. I added brads, appliques, chipboard, stickers or rhinestones, along with red Stickles details. My favorite is "In Love Forever" where I glued on the music paper and the Candy heart from Retro Cafe Art. Oh do check out Retro Cafe Arts on Facebook they have lots of giveawys, contests and art samples to make your heart go pitter patter too.

Hope you will celebrate love today.
sincerely, gerri

"Happy Valenties Day, dearies"

"In Love Forever"

"True Love details"

Mona, the talented feather dancer of the Moulin Rouge

2012-02-13T07:52:00.001-05:00

For today's 100 Proof Press design piece alittle something different. Is it a collage, mixed media piece altered giant ATC? I guess it is all of the above. Thought I'd make something steamy, since it is sooo cold here this morning, a very low 28 degrees! I used it being from the north, but I'm sure all the southern belles, alligators and pretty birds will be wearing their woolies today. Also over at Simon Says Stamp and Show this week's challenge is "Anything Goes", I'm sure this Mona would agree to that too! LOL.

I made this creation in pieces then assembled it. The small corset #5394 came first, after stamping and fussy cutting, I added water colored paint and Stickles, both red and gold. The ATC 2 pane frame from Retro Cafe Art came next and was filled with a vintage image of the Moulin Rouge, again paint and lots of Stickles.
The other images were cut out and now it was time for assembly. All the paper pieces were glued together, some red pearls were added and layered on a huge glitter feather used for Christmas decor. It was plastic, so I could bend it into a great shape. It represents the feathers on Mona's costume!

Hope you will dance up a storm this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Mona, the talented feather dancer"

"Mona's details"

If he soars on his own wings

2012-02-12T08:33:00.000-05:00

Living here in the low country has really given me the opportunity to enjoy nature especially all the variety of birds. My husband and I try to go on an organized walk with a naturalist every several weeks. The snowy egrets, kingfishers and my favorite the great blue heron are just a few we see here every day. This was the inspiration of today's collage. Don't know what kind of birds these chartreuse birds are today though? LOL. There's a weekly challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show for "Torn Edges, Distress Ink, Button and Wings", so I think this fits the bill. Over at Artchix Studio on face book they are having a "Birds, eggs, nests, chartreuse" challenge too.

The staring point actually for today was the little green chartreuse eggs from Artchix studio free collage sheet from there I was able to find bird stamps, the cute bird couple and a tiny nest image. These were all layered on torn music paper with lime tulle and finally a distressed kissed edge on a marblized back. A stamped bird cage on a transparency and the sentiment "No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings." came next. Some tiny buttons, gold Stickles accents and copper german scrap from Artchix studio add the highlights. My favorite part is the nest made from handmade paper torn scraps, shiny german scrap and metallic thread.

Hope you will soar on your wings this week.
Oh, if any one wants to play with my stash, I still have several packs left, just read yeaterdays post.
take care, gerri

"No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings."

Do you want to play with me?

2012-02-11T00:10:00.001-05:00

It's Pink Saturday at Beverly's and today I'm showing another Valentines Day card. All my Valentines Day cards are in the mail, 25 of them and I will probably be showing them to you over the next few weeks. I'm even entering this one at Inspiration Emporium where the monthly challenge is "put on heart on it". Now that's easy for me, since I'll put a heart on anything. LOL.

This sweet card reminded my husband of little children and yes, it is all soft pinks, white, yellow and a touch of baby blue. In his honor I would like to ask you like we did as children.... "Do you want to play with me?".

If you do, please email me, my email is in the right column. I will send you a packet of my play things for you to create. All you need to do is to email a photo of the finished piece back to me and I will put every bodies in one post with your blog links. I cant wait to see what everyone comes up with. I have about 10 packs of basically the same things, to include German scrap, vintage music paper, shiny paper, buttons, ribbons, appliques, sequins and other goodies, as seen below. I am shamelessly borrowing this idea from Trisha Too at easily amused hard to offend, who did "what would you make with my stuff" Thank you Trisha.

To make today's card, I built up the blue tickets with paint, stamps, silver Stickles, a punched music paper heart, paper flowers and heart buttons. This was layered on pink and silver lace. The lace was over a striped card with a watercolored center. To finish it off, everything was edged with a big fat silver pen.

Hope you will have fun this week and play!
take care, gerri

"Cherish Love"

"Pretty Baby Details"

"Do you want to play?"

Motoring Ahead, His heart so full of glee

2012-02-10T00:10:00.003-05:00

I like to switch it up every once in awhile and do a manly piece. It allows me to step away from the all the pink fluff and glitter. LOL. Don't worry, I have a charming pink creation and a surprise tomorrow to share with you. Stay Tuned. So when Fashionable Stamping had a challenge to "Make it a Guy thing.", I knew I had to enter it. They have such amazing Design team work there, it is very inspirational. Please do drop by. Val of Bastelmania-craftattack is the Guest Designer at Just for Fun and her challenge is about guys too called Vintage Men .

This tag started with the stamped Model T and sign post as the focal points, then I had to find what to put around it. I spied a pic in a magazine of the old factory and after cutting it out, I added watercolor paint to fill in the missing pieces. The car was stamped, fussy cut out and painted. A little man's head was put in the window. I used black fabric paint for the dimension this time. The sign post was the same with Liquid Pearls, copper German scrap and the sentiment "His heart, it was so full of glee." The little tag came next with "Motoring Ahead" with some Distress brown paint, lots of watercolor paint and copper German scrap. It was attached with some copper wire.

Hope you are motoring ahead this week with your heart so full of glee.
take care, gerri

"Motoring Ahead. His heart so full of glee."

"Motoring Details"

Read in order to Live

2012-02-08T00:10:00.034-05:00

This month at Gingersnap Creations it's "Tell it like it is" with a focus on faux techniques. This week's challenge is GC138: Masking Tape. The month is being sponsored by Rouge Redhead Designs. They have such wonderful stamps, as you will see. If you have a moment , please check them out. Come play with us at Gingersnaps Creation, there's lots to see from the Design Team and you might even win a prize! As you know, I'm always reading and that was my inspiration today Right now I'm reading "Wolf Hall'. Just started so, I haven't gotten my teeth into it yet. (get it wolf ...teeth?) LOL.

So this dimensional tag uses masking tape, can you see it? Well, it's the pretty blue ruffle! I wanted to do something different, so I made up with is tag template using some patterned paper and stamped the sentiment " Read in order to Live." on both side edges. The lady image is from a Retro Cafe Art collage sheet called Pretty Women. The books and the sentiment are from the Relish Reading RougeRedhead Designs RRD001 sheet. After stamping the books, I fussy cut them out and water colored them to match my piece. The bling on the tape and on the woman's wrap is actually chunky sparkle nail polish my daughter left behind. Hope she won't mind me using it for art projects. Some tiny rhinestones and silver Stickles add the additional needed shine. A crystal bead hanger and my reading beauty was all set..

Hope you will get to escape with a good book this week.
yours truly, gerri

"Read in order to Live."

Isn't It Romantic

2012-02-07T08:17:00.000-05:00

Guess I'm in an ATC type of mood this week so, for today's Retro Cafe Art design piece here's two little cards. The funny thing is that this originally was part of a larger piece but when I finished I wasn't happy with it, even my dear husband said it was just alright. When he says that ....I knew I was right to revamp it. It just so happened that when it was cut apart it was just the right ATC size. LOL! Have you ever just taken a part of a creation and found it was better as a smaller part?

Well, it was two collage sheets from Retro Cafe Art including Hello Dollie 2 and Love that I used inside some heart shaped punches in music pattern paper. The music paper was ink kissed with red ink. They are layered on black and red paper too. There's eyelet trim, red silver button stickers, lots of silver Stickles, red Stickles and a glitter heart as embellishments. The sentiments today are "romantic" and "kiss" me".

Hope you will get a little kiss this week.

take care, gerri

"Romantic ATCs"

Its almost like they know

2012-02-06T08:41:00.000-05:00

"It's almost like they know", that's what I think when I look at vintage images. Know what you ask? Well the secret of life. LOL. What was their lives really like was it filled with love, loss, hope, friendship, family, work, adventure or creativity. My paper arts are essentially a way of telling their story. So for 100 Proof Press design team I used their wonderful vintage folding camera stamp to "capture" these two gentlemen and their story on an ATC.

To begin, the background is Retro Cafe Art's Debrina Pratt ATC script background that was inked up.Some copper ink kissed black German scarp edges were layered next. The two gentle men are RCA fussy cut from the Edwardians collage sheet. The clock is from a transparent RCA sheet Steampunk Parts too .The corners are painted buttons, the folding camera stamp image fussy cut and colored and a metal tag. This tag that has been aged, the sentiment added, a black velvet ribbon and some wire added to it. Some copper Liquid Pearls for dimension and that completed this little ATC, so our gentlemen could continue looking into our future.

Hope you will discover a great story this week.
take care, gerri

"Its Almost Like They Know"

"Knowing Details"

Always Remember Time

2012-02-05T08:45:00.000-05:00

OK, enough of pink! LOL. Only kidding, if you follow my posts you know I adore working with pink, glitter and lacey things. But today I thought I'd go in a new direction with a patina green and aged brown creation for Studio L3 where the lovely Linda has a Grungy Monday 34 We're cracking up over here challenge. This is based on the amazing technique of the Crackle Resist technique of Tim Holtz. This was a two week challenge since every one seems to be at CHA, the Craft and Hobby trade show, and yes it is on my bucket list to go there! Maybe some day.....

Well, back to reality with this tag where I sprayed, inked used Distress crackle paints and inks to give a aged background to this tag. I added so many layers I don't even remember all I did! The Art Nouveau paper winged warrior from Graphic45 was fussy cut out next and detailed with copper Liquid Pearls and green Stickles from Ranger. Three little dictionary pieces saying Always, Remember, Time on vellum came next. A beautiful aged cabinet knob and some copper lace were the final finishing touches.

Hope you will always remember to cherish your time in all you do.
take care, gerri

"Always Enjoy Time"

"Paint Details"

"Winged Details"

Forever Pink Roses

2012-02-04T04:30:00.002-05:00

Yes, its Pink Saturday again. Come on over and see all the gorgeous pinkilicious creations at Beverly's blog I'm entering the Creative Belli Blog for their 136 Hearts challenge too. They ask that you use old or forgotten supplies. Well, just to let you know, I have had the shiny pink heart confetti used below for about 15 years! OMG. I am a bit of a magpie and do collect shiny things for my creations!

The rose images are from Retro Cafe Arts Victorian Collage Sheet were actually the starting point for this card. I punched out 3 hearts from an old music sheet, outlined in gold and placed them over the RCA collage sheet. This was glued on a striped paper that was edged in pink ink. I added the shiny Pink German scrap border next and then the ancient (LOL) pink heart confetti and centered it with Retro Cafe Art Pink Roses on top. A sprinkle of pink pearls, and a "forever "sentiment were added. The whole piece was layered on a edged green card.

Hope you will find that special someone for "forever".
sincerely , gerri

"Forever"

"Rosey Pink Details"

Look whos back! Sweet Mary Lou

2012-02-03T07:53:00.000-05:00

Look who's back...Mary Lou! So glad she could join us now that we have unpacked most of our belongings. So I created a girly pin for her to model today. I'm entering it at Anything Goes for #59 To the one I love challenge.

The romantic couple image of this pin is under UTEE in the shape of a heart. I added the sentiment " perfect" too. On the surface there are some Stickle dots for shine. The heart is layered on two fabric flowers, black organza and dark blue. Some blue Stickles edge these flowers too. And that was that!

Hope you will have a perfect week.
take care, gerri

"Perfect Pin"

"Perfect Details"

A Garden Carried In Your Pocket

2012-02-01T00:10:00.006-05:00

Its February already, where does the time go? This month at Gingersnap Creations it's "Tell it like it is" with a focus on faux techniques. This week's challenge is GC137: Words of Wisdom. The month is being sponored by Rouge Redhaed Designs. They have such pretty stamps. Check them out. Well my words of wisdom are about reading and gardening. I have always had a book in my hand and love gardening. They are my favorite things to do, so when I saw this quote. I knew I had to use it!

So this card is a my take on a faux watercolor technique. I used Photoshop on some rose photos I took. awhile ago. I fussy cut a big rose out and layered it with tulle netting and green braid trim. The stamped came next "A book is like a garden carried in your pocket." The little reading girl is stamped watercolored and fussy cut too. Both stamps are from the Relish Reading RougeRedhead Designs RRD001 sheet. Some rhinestones in each corner and a touches of Stickles add the glitter bits.

I am also entering this for a new challenge for me the PanPastel#3 Glitter and Glitz.

Hope you will get to read a new book this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"A book is like a garden carried in your pocket."

"Watercolored details"

Time Itself Meant Nothing When it Came to Love

2012-01-31T04:37:00.001-05:00

No alligator today.... thank goodness, just a nice peaceful day with lots of birds. My husband and I went on a bird walk with a naturalist at the beach recently. It was amazing, with his telescope we could see every feather on the birds. We just loved it.

Speaking of birds, I thought a project with wings would work today, so here's a tiny 3D project today for the Retro Cafe Art design team. It all started with the RCA Heart house shrine that I painted black and edged it in silver and red Stickles. I added the little word "Love". In the center there's a tiny RCA heart covered in Red Stickles. I poured in and covered it with Glossy accents. The wings are actual a RCA broken heart attached separately. LOL. They were painted silver and have red Stickles rubbed over them and dotted with silver too. The sentiment across the wings says "time itself meant nothing".

Hope you'll find timeless love this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Time Itself Meant Nothing"

"For scale"

Missing You Best Friends

2012-01-30T08:02:00.000-05:00

Well, one thing about moving here to the south is that I've l moved away from my best friends. Yes there is the phone, email etc but don't you just love sitting with your friends. You can have a conversation face to face, maybe sharing some lunch or running to a flea market or sharing a craft tip. I know I will be build new friendships here and I hope to get lots of visitors, but it's something on my mind today. So when I saw this cute Brownstone #3286-V house from 100 Proof Press and knew I had to make a card for a best friend.

To make this I stamped and fussy cut the house and colored and Stickled in red. The glitter red heart at the top is from Retro Cafe Art. I layered this on flocked heart paper that was attached with black photo corners.The whole card was edged with black and a label stamped with best friends was attached to the bottom. And that was that!

Hope you will get to spend time with your best friend this week.
take care, gerri

"Best Friend"

Too much is not even enough

2012-01-29T04:30:00.002-05:00

Guess what I saw on the across our pond yesterday??? Well a a big fat alligator! I've seen them before down here, but never thought they'd be in our pond. Ill try to get a photo of it to share with you. Guess I will be very careful when gardening! LOL. Anyway now that we are sorta settled, I'm trying some challenges again and today I'm entering the monthly challenge at Stampsmith TSC26 "Tags".

The wonderful image from the Flapper plate at Stampsmith was my inspiration. It was stamped on velum and underneath I stamped some french words on a white bookmark. I added the clear transparent frame on top of her image. On the bottom is layered the saying "Where love is concerned, too much is not even enough.", on a printed sticker with black 3D scroll details. Some black and white puffy rose appliques, black and white pearls and a stick pin I made came next. Some black edging and some sheer ties finish this Flapper tag.

Hope you too believe.... too much love is never enough.
sincerely, gerri

"Where love is concerned, too much is not even enough."

"Flapper details"

She flies upon the written word

2012-01-28T07:45:00.000-05:00

It's been warm here in the wilds of South Carolina, I'm getting kinda confused about what time of year it is. Being from the north I have to remind myself that it's winter here not spring or summer. I'm not complaining just a change to get used to. To set myself back on course, I thought I'd return to one of my favorite images today of this gorgeous woman's face. It's one of those go to stamps, I adore. I'm entering it in Fashionable Challenge #13 Butterflies or Bugs and of course Beverly's Pink Saturday.

I stamped the woman's face watercolored her eyes and lips and also stamped a teenie tiny pink heart on her cheek. The butterfly was stamped next on vellum and cut out. These were all layered on a hot pink feather butterfly that has rhinestones, glitter and Stickles accents. A rhinestone crown, lots of silver Stickles touches, ribbon and fiber streamers and a silver cord to hang up my pretty butterfly came next.

Hope you will fly away on written words this week
take care, gerri

"She flies away on written words"

Queen of Laugh Live and Love

2012-01-27T08:59:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel a little silly and like to experiment. It's fun getting out of your comfort zone. Don't you think? Today's piece is a collage using a crown template I developed. I use it from time to time because it can be used for any kind of look. It's going on my new studio's bulletin board. The starring role is the Retro Cafe Art Heart Burst stencil. There's a whole bunch of Valentine's Day cards I am making with this stencil too and will show you next week.

After cutting out the crown template I painted it with gold and red acrylic paints. I layered it on a larger purple crown template next. Using black acrylic paint, the points of the heart stencil came next then a purple Stickled interior . A tiny RCA red glitter heart was set in the center. The little words were printed and watercolored. The swirls, sparkly bits, and glitter hearts added the bling. Some edging and tiny gold Stickles dots came last.

Hope you will try something silly this wee.
yours truly, gerri

"Laugh, Live, Love"

"Live details"

Glorious Greens

2012-01-25T08:23:00.000-05:00

At Gingersnap Creations they are in the midst of winter weather with white and gray dominating the landscape. So what are they going to do? They're going to inject some "Glorious Green" for this week's GSC136 challenge. One randomly drawn winner from the qualifying participants for this challenge will become our new Home Page Artist for a week as well as winning a $30 voucher to the Stampotique Originals store. Now here's it is 70 degrees and sunny, so I'll give you some green photos of our palm trees for inspiration too. Don't be jealous! LOL.

To make today's card I used a mask to mist the first layer of green ink on the tag. It is over stamped with three different Parisian themed stamps. The tag was layered on a green dot background that has black ink kissed edges. The pretty embellishments were die cut corners, Stickled butterflies, green roses from Retro Cafe Art, green ribbon and black lace. The sentiment says "Thank You".

Hope you will see some glorious green this week.
take care, gerri

"Thank you"

"Thankful details"

"Our Green Palm Trees"

Cutie Pie Be Mine

2012-01-24T07:56:00.001-05:00

For Retro Cafe Art thought I'd continue on the pink theme...I promise tomorrow something completely different! LOL. Here's another Cutie Pie card for Valentine's Day. Did ya know that Retro Cafe Art has a Valentine's Day contest with prizes! You even get a free gift just for entering. Check it out here.

The cutie pie image is from the Hello Dollie2 collage sheet. I layered her on a pink background that was stenciled using the RCA heart stencil with red and pale blue acrylic paint. Some glitter swirls and a heart, two candy heart stamps, Stickles accents and a big pink bow and she was all done.

Hope you see something cute that make you smile this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Cutie Pie be mine"

"Cutie Pie details"

Hugs to all of you sweet friends

2012-01-23T04:06:00.003-05:00

Here's a big hug to all of my blogger friends. Even if I don't always get to visit as often as I'd like, I just want you all to know how special you are! My "hug" piece today is for 100 Proof Press and you know I just love this little Big Cutie Baby stamp #6235. As you can see I'm still in a pink kinda mood!

I started by doing the background of the tag with acrylic paint and lots of large cut glitter. I added the pink shiny flowers and layered a cut out the little (I mean big) cutie on the biggest flower. She was watercolor painted and Stickled accented. The other flower has a definition of "hug" and the final one just has Stickles dots. More Stickles and blue fiber were the finishing touches of this pinkalious tag.

Hope you get lots of hugs this week!
take care, gerri

"Hugs"

"Cutie Pie Details"

Sweetheart Hugs and Kisses

2012-01-21T08:16:00.000-05:00

I'm in a pink mood these days, so for Beverly's Pink Saturday I am showing a crazy little Valentine's creation. Some times you just gotta experiment, so this is a bit different for me but it still has my signature glitter and sparkle.

I used my Retro Cafe Art cute supplies to make today's piece. Their cool wooden ATC 3 pane frame was my starting point. I painted it pale aqua with a lavender back. It makes such nice little spaces for different images or findings. I put a different woven label in each position, that all have a heart theme. On top is layered a pink painted Sweetheart heart, some pink Stickled XO's (hugs and kisses) and finally some tiny beads that say "LOVE" on a pink shiny cord. Some decorative tiny clips and a pink cord hanger came next. Of course, some Stickles accents give it the needed sparkle.

Hope you will have sparkly week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Sweetheart Hugs and Kissses"

"Pink Details"

Big Red Glittery Hearts

2012-01-20T04:39:00.019-05:00

Thought I'd share one of my Valentine's Day cards with you today....who knows it might even be the one I send to you! Hearts are one of my favorite images, maybe that's the romantic in me. LOL.

To make my card I started with the Retro Art Cafe heart and painted it with red Stickles. I think I would like to do that extreme Stickles on the Ranger site, where they dip different things in Stickles. It would be alot of fun. Who knows what I would dip in the gorgeous glittery bucket of sparkles....Ummm. Well anyway, I put a jeweled brad into the hole in the heart and hung a gold cupid. I added the sentiment and edged that with red Stickles of course! This was layered on a gold paper doilie. The red background paper was stamped with a gold using a lace stamp. The corner edge details are sequins, with gold brad centers on pieces of a gold doilie. I layered this whole thing on an edged white card to finish up.

Hope your week is filled with big hearts.
yours truly, gerri

"Happy Valentine's Day"

"Red Details"

"Corner Details"

Life's a Journey

2012-01-18T15:01:00.000-05:00

Well, today's card really expresses how my life has been lately. "Life's a journey" especially since we have moved from the metropolitan northeast to the low country here in the south. I am getting use to the slower pace but sometimes it can be abit frustrating, but the nice weather, gorgeous flora and fauna make up for all that.

I made this card because at Gingersnap Creations, we're focusing on using our scraps this month as well as getting them all organized. We know you have some fabulous scraps just hanging around your craft table. For this challenge, GSC#135 we want you to grab a scrap of your favorite designer paper. There's a random prize given by Stampotique , who is this month's sponsor too. Come on over and join in the fun.
The background paper is from Italy and I have had it for 20 years, I do use it sparingly! I layered an old bicycle poster image from a calendar that I had kept since 2005. LOL. Some gold ribbon, 3 glitter flowers, gold edges and some layering of gold and green paper came next. The sentiment reads "Life's a journey." And I certainly agree with that!

Hope you will have a wonderful journey this week.
take care, gerri

"Life's a Journey"

"Flower details"

Dear husband, I'm yours

2012-01-17T04:34:00.001-05:00

Retro Cafe Art supplies always inspire me, especially their Valentine's items. Check out their cute stuff and while you're at it they also are having a Valentines Day contest on their blog, you can check it out here. You could win cool things. I made this card and my husband was totally in love with it. He said it reminded him of the distressed car art he makes. And you know, he's right it does! You can see more of his cars at his etsy shop called Classic Wrecks.

To make this card, I started by painting a RCA key hole heart with acrylic paints in red, brown and cream. I also painted a RCA antique skeleton key with gold, copper and rubbed it with brown ink. Both were edged with glittery Stickles. The background paper was watercolored, kissed with brown ink and detailed with pencil. Some heart rhinestones on the corners and a tiny sentiment in the key hole that reads 'I'm yours" came next. Oh, and that sentiment is for my DH.

Hope you will spend time with a "dear" this week.
sincerely, gerri

"I'm yours"

"Distressed heart details"

"DH distressed cars"

To Love is to Live

2012-01-16T09:07:00.000-05:00

It's my weekly 100 Proof Press Design team project today, so sorry it's a bit late. This Valentines Day season I am going to try to challenge myself to use different color combinations to represent this holiday. This time it's a black, cream and sepia combination. I think love and life you make you feel like dancing so when I saw this Can Can Girls #2973 stamp from 100 Proof Press I new I had to use it!

Well, I stamped the Can Can Girls image twice and fussy cut them out. I built up my background by layering Graphic45 paper from the Flying Unicorn store with a postcard image that I maded the stamp , rhinestones and black lace. The dancers were watercolored and glittered up with Stickles. The sentiment was added last and reads "To love is to live."

Hope you will feel like dancing about life or love this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"To Love is to Live"

"Dancing details"

Love is....a basket of roses

2012-01-14T20:04:00.000-05:00

I am posting at an unusual time for me cause our Internet has been acting up! I do love roses and here in the south there are still some blooming! I can't get over that. I'm also in a Valentines kinda mood so, this is my first Valentine card of the year. I have a bunch to make so I'd better get going....

To make this card I started with patterned paper and added the Artchix Studio white german scrap that I rubbed with some rosey shimmer paint. The cut out of the birds came next. They are detailed with pink Stickles, an organza bow and a tiny love epoxy piece that says "love".Some additional clear epoxy hearts and more pink Stickles and I was all done.

Hope you will see something you love this week!
take care, gerri

"Love"

"Lovely details"

What a Flower

2012-01-13T04:16:00.002-05:00

Just a little tag today, the first project from my new studio. Yipee! It's a bit crowed, but it is fun to be reunited with my stash. Oh how I missed it while it was in storage during our move. I used some wonderful paper flowers that I won awhile back from BlissHabits . It was an amazing surprise, you could choose from a number of etsy sites, what a fabulous prize. Jingle told me all about it, thank you so much! So, BlissHabits is an incredible site where they explore the 13 habits to help achieve bliss. Now who doesn't need that! Here's what the site is about....

"The Bliss Habits experiment is based loosely on Ben Franklin’s habit of concentrating on Thirteen Virtues which he felt would cause him to be a better person. Ben kept track of his virtues daily, giving himself a “black mark” in a small notebook when he failed to live up to that virtue. He also cycled through each of his virtues, spending a week, four times each year, concentrating on, studying and encouraging the particular virtue. This is the practice that Kathy at BlissHabits has duplicated for encouraging the habits of bliss."

The 13 habits are:

JOY - A source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something exceptionally festive or satisfying.
ORDER - Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
CREATIVITY - The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.
PASSION – a fervent or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything; experience of strong love or sexual desire.
WHIMSY – extravagant, fanciful, or excessively playful expression; an odd or fanciful notion.
SERENITY – the state or quality of being serene, calm, or tranquil; composure, peacefulness, peace.
INQUIRY – a seeking or request for truth, information, or knowledge; study, scrutiny, exploration.
COMMUNITY - Sharing, participation, and fellowship.
ROMANCE – To court or woo romantically; treat with ardor or chivalrousness; a strong fascination or enthusiasm for something.
GRATITUDE – warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; very thankful.
MOXIE - Possessing the attribute of ”coolness” and able to face difficulty with spirit and courage; sass, spunk, determination and attitude.
HUMILITY – The quality or condition of being humble; imitate Jesus and Socrates.
SURPRISE - A sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment; to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly.

Well ......now on to my my little tag. It has a tiny door, so I've shown it open and closed. I used darling Dezinaworld image. But since it's been a long post, I won't detail how I made it. You can just enjoy the photos, hope you enjoy them.

Hope your week is full of wonderful surprises.
take care, gerri

"Tag with door closed"

"Tag with door open"

"Details"

"BlissHabits giveaway"

Wishes, wishes,wishes

2012-01-11T04:42:00.002-05:00

This month at Gingersnap creations it's all about...Organization especially using scraps. This week's supply challenge GSC134 is about Ribbon Scraps. Come on over and paly there's a pretty prize or just come look at the gorgeous design team creations. So, if you're like me I just can't bear to throw away ribbon scraps. I keep them in a big clear bag and fish around whenever I need a little piece of somethin'. I know there must be a better way, maybe when I unpack my new scrap room, I'll figure out something!

To make my card today, I painted the pale blue background cardstock with black watercolor to give it some punch. The little bits of ribbon and lace came next; there are six different kinds used. I made the butterfly that was layered on the top too. I added gold stickers, Stickles, ink and rhinestones to a picture of a pretty blue butterfly. The rub-on sentiment of wishes, wishes, wishes completed this little card.

Hope all your wishes will come true this week.
take care, gerri

"Wishes, wishes,wishes"

"Scrappy details"

Enchanted Forest of Love

2012-01-10T04:33:00.001-05:00

For today's Retro Cafe Art I'm showing a little tag, it's for our new place. We were staying at the beach, it was a quick 15 minute walk but now we are on a pond in a wooded area. I like to call it our enchanted forest. I do miss all the herons and egrets but I'll have to get used to the new birds, once I figure out what they are! LOL.

So there are so many exciting and new supplies at Retro Cafe Art, it was easy to make this tag! I started by spraying Glimmer Mist then layering the tag on a flocked piece of brown paper. The flower came next with different fabric and paper flowers and covered them with glitter. The woman's face is from a lovely RCA collage sheet called Pretty Women. I added the RCA German Dresden gold antlers and bronze Stickles. The little RCA bronze hearts from a great mixed set came next. The final touches were the sentiment "Enchanted Forest of Love", more Stickles accents and a shiny bronze ribbon.

Hope you will have an enchanted week!
take care, gerri

"Enchanted Forest of Love"

"Enchanted details"

Tiny Castle Landscape

2012-01-09T04:40:00.003-05:00

For the 100 proof press design team, I tried something different and created this little stamped and watercolored circle pin. I started watercolor painting 2 years ago , but haven't painted since we have been on the move. Today we are getting settled into our new temporary place and I look forward to painting more! Once I finish unpacking that is...

In my yard sale hunts, I found this gold circle pin (1.5") and knew it would be the perfect frame for an image. The castle town scene #5431 landscape called out to me cause it had such wonderful buildings. I stamped it and watercolored it too. For my next jewelry project , I'll be able to have Mary Lou model it for you, since we are now united again! So, I covered the stamped image with Glossy accents to make it more permanent. I rubbed the gold pin across a Ranger Archival black ink pad to get that aged look.

Hope you will see apretty landscape , wherever you are this week.
sincerely, gerri

"Tiny landscape"

"Tiny details"

Amorous Engagement

2012-01-08T04:35:00.001-05:00

Just a quick post today....here's an engagement card that I made for no particular reason or person. LOL. I just liked the couple transparency image and had an engagement silver tag which I knew just went together.

The transparency from Artchix studio was my starting point and I layered over a flower bouquet with a little robin. I added silver filigree stickers, silver engagement tag, crystal blue flowers and then Stickles for their glittery effect. The card base was a silver edged photo card, so all I had to do was slip the collage into the slits!

Hope you will have an amorous week!
artfully yours, gerri

"Engagement"

"Amorous details"

Love Letters straight from the heart

2012-01-06T04:36:00.001-05:00

I just adore Paris themes. When I saw this little stamp that said "love letters straight from the heart" I knew it would be the perfect partner to my Parisian map. Speaking of maps, we're finally back from NYC where we used all sorts of maps to get our darling daughter settled and situated. LOL. It was thrilling to be back in NYC, we really enjoyed it!

So to make this card, I placed the Paris map on some blue floral patterned paper. Lots of embellishments like tiny hearts, love letters, postage stamps, an epoxy Oh la la and an old sign that I watercolored were layered too. Stickles added the all important bling. The stamped sentiment reads "love letters straight from the heart" and was the finishing touch.

Hope you will receive some wonderful mail this week.
take care, gerri

"Love letters straight from the heart."

"Parisian details"

Once Upon A Springtime

2012-01-03T04:30:00.001-05:00

We're off to NYC this week to bring my daughter to her internship, it's been a great holiday and we will miss her! I like to call her my little fairy so here's a tag for Retro Cafe Art in her honor.

I used RCA ATC trefoil gothic frame and coated it with copper glitter. The tag background is a Glimmer mist spray of orange, copper and green. The little fairy is from Graphic 45 paper, of course I added the Stickles allover her wings and petal skirts. I put a patterned paper of flowers in the ATC frame with Stickles too. The RCA colored roses in orange, lime and rust have some Stickles accents for a glittery touch. The sentiment is actual the name of the Graphics45 paper that had the fairy on it. Stickled dots were used as the final accents of this tag.

Hope you will see a little fairy this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Once upon a Springtime"

"Fairy details"

Wishing you a Steampunk Birthday

2012-01-02T04:30:00.051-05:00

For my 100 Proof Press design piece, I've created a Steampunk themed card for a friend's special 60th birthday. It's for a guy so, I've kept it all tans, grey and black. I used the 100 Proof Press stamps called #5365 Gears and #6386 Four Gears. I know that I will be using these stamps in other projects, they are so versatile.

I used these stamps on striped paper and also layered stickers of the phone, key hole and pocket watch. There is also a a herringbone tiny envelope that has a pull out message inside. All this is on a black grid of german scrap and highlighted with gold Stickles and black rhinestones.Some tiny details include mini metal gears and punched out gears too. The sentiment "wishing you" and "60" were the last details.

Hope you will get your wish this week!
take care, gerri

"Wishing You"

"Special details"

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T08:27:00.000-05:00

Here's wishing all of you a very Happy New Year! Hope this year is full of friendship, happiness, magic, adventure, love, learning and lots of creative time!

take care my friends,
gerri

Present for a Dear friend

2011-12-31T04:30:00.047-05:00

Today I am posting some pictures that were for a Christmas gift for a dear friend. All the members of the Creative team of Flying Unicorn were asked to create a 6" X 6" ....2 sided layout to thank Alda, the founder of the Flying Unicorn. These pages were then all assembled and given to Alda as a mini album. It was a wonderful way to say "thank you" and also for her to have a creative memory of all her designers. That being said, today is my last day on the Flying Unicorn Creative team. It has been an honor and a pleasure to create along with this talented group. I will certainly be checking in on the Flying Unicorn social group, but now as a friend and general member.

To make this piece I started with layering Pion paper that I found at the Flying Unicorn store, of course. After fussy cutting the butterflies, I watercolored them in pastel colors and added matching Stickles. Some flowers, clear clock faces, rhinestones, stamped sentiment and a pretty female image completed this side.

For the back it was the same layered Pion paper but also an ATC frame insert painted with crackle paint. I added a few cut out words that had meaning to me. On this I added the same details that I used on the front but there is also a pocket with a special message to Alda too.

Hope you have someone to be thankful for,
artfully yours, gerri

"Front"

"You are a dear."

"Back"

"For the song,the act, the dance was in itself a work of art."

She is more Precious than rubies

2011-12-30T04:17:00.002-05:00

For today's 100 Proof Press design piece here is a tag using a stamp that I just adore. The stamp is called Madame Birdcage Skirt 6392. I like how the shape of the skirt is represented by the bird cage with it's captive bird. Is this a symbol of this lovely ladies life? I wonder...

Enough heavy thinking for now.... So to make this tag, I sprayed it first with orange Glimmer mist then used a Tattered Angel plastic stencil and sprayed that with a green Glimmer Mist and used it as a stamp. The Madame Birdcage stamp in black came next. Some paper flowers, green organza ribbon and a golden key from Retro Cafe Art were put in the corner. On the lower right, a picture of a nest and the sentiment were glued. Some pink watercolor accents, gold dresden scrap and glittery Stickles helped finish this sparklie tag.

Hope you will find something precious this week.
take care, gerri

"She is more precious than rubies."

"Precious details"

Look Closely

2011-12-28T04:30:00.004-05:00

The final challenge at Gingersnap creations for the December Holiday Lights is one all about color. GSC#132 is all about the combination of soft yellow and white. Come on over and play with us or just stop by to see the amazing artwork of the brilliant design team. This month is sponsored by Pennywise Arts so check it out you could win a prize too!

To make today's tag I painted a sheet of already embossed card stock pale yellow, this made the swirls stand out. I added rub-ons of the opera glasses and the sentiment "Look Closely". The lovely female image was edged with white german scrap. Using my new favorite supply "Glubbers" I made the lace rose using scraps of different laces I had. Glubbers are big dots of glue that you can create flowers with! Some lace trim, pearls and white Stickles and my little yellow tag was all done!

Hope you will "Look closely" this wee.
sincerely, gerri

"Look Closely"

"Close details"

A Butterfly Cathedral

2011-12-27T04:38:00.001-05:00

For today's Retro Cafe Art Design team piece, I created a little hanging piece. Sorry for not posting yesterday, as we continue to settle into our new house, I just couldn't get anything done. I can't wait till I get to unpack my craft room, right now I am still using the supplies I put in a suitcase when we moved!

To make this piece, I started with an Fancy frame ATC insert and painted it silver and added silver glitter. The butterfly is cut out of the daguerrotype collage sheet using a butterfly ATC opening as my template. It was painted with pastel colors for dimension. Blue Stickles and pink rhinestones were added details. A medium gothic arch coated with silver glitter was layered on top. Sparkley pink tinsel and blue metallic ribbon were the finishing touches.

Hope you will spot something sparkley this week.
take care, gerri

Merry Christmas To You

2011-12-25T04:00:00.005-05:00

Here's wishing everyone who celebrates Christmas........
a very Merry Christmas today to you and your families!

take care my dear friends,
gerri

Snowflake Seasons Greeting

2011-12-24T04:19:00.003-05:00

During the holiday season I like using the icy blue color palette and this card is one using just that. I have already made and sent this out this year, thank goodness. Unpacking has not been fun! Also not everything has arrived from the movers, tomorrow should be the last bit. Hasn't really felt like Christmas, maybe we'll buy a tiny tree today and then we will feel better!

I used Pion Paper from the Flying Unicorn store for this card. It is such a delicate pretty paper. A punch created snowflakes, a tiny silver bow, filigree buttons and some Stickles all added the sparklie details. A Seasons greetings stamp from Inkadinkado gave me the sentiment.

Hope you have a sparklie week where ever you are!
artfully yours, gerri

"Seasons Greetings"

"Snowflake details"

Merriment with our Vintage Santa

2011-12-23T04:29:00.035-05:00

Here's a little card that I sent as a Christmas card. It's one of my favorite Tim Holtz stamps cause it has so many cool retro images and they have it at Retro Cafe Art. This project is all about my fav artist Tim. You'll see many of the products I used were designed by him.

I started with a RCA ATC frame , that I cut and then covered it with Tim Holtz Tidings tissue tape. Neat stuff! I rubbed it with a silver ink pad then highlighted with blue ink and silver Stickles. Tim's stamped Holiday image was colored in and rosy red cheeks were added, of course. A merriment muse token was rubbed with silver ink and tied to the frame for dimension. The silver card is wrapped with sparklie fiber then the ATC is glued on top. I think the blue fiber has a vintage feel too.

Hope you are feeling nostalgic this holiday season.
take care, gerri

"Merriment with our vintage Santa"

"Merry details"

May your days be Merry and Bright

2011-12-21T04:27:00.003-05:00

This month at Gingersnap Creations we continue our "holiday lights" with a challenge using chandeliers GC131. This challenge is sponsored by Pennywise Arts.Come join us and see the other design teams art or to enter this challenge for a RAK prize.

To make this card I used Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium and stenciled the chandelier with liquid pearls. I added gold german scrap. I added some details with rhinestones and gold filigree stickers. The final touch was the sentiment "May your days be Merry and bright."

Hope you will have a time of merry and bright this week.
sincerely, gerri

View of a Vintage Christmas Tree

2011-12-20T04:01:00.001-05:00

Just a quick post since we're still unpacking. So for Retro Cafe Art design team I created a fun vintage inspired tag with 3D items. It reminds me of our Christmas tree when I was little, with candy canes, colored bulbs and little toys.

To make this tag I painted the tag with red and gold paint. I stamped green pine branches next. The light bulbs, the candy canes and the ornaments, rocking horse are all from Retro Cafe Art. A big red bow and I was done.

Hope you will fondly remember a distant Christmas.
take care, gerri

Christmas Virgin and Child Earrings

2011-12-19T04:31:00.002-05:00

For my 100 Proof Press design team I tried something different today with a pair of Christmas glass pendant earrings. I would have shown them to you with MaryLou but unfortunately she is still away. We are finally moving tomorrow and all our belonging which have been in storage for three months will arrive. No more living out of suitcases. We are very excited! Talking about excited 100 Proof Press is having a fantastic contest, check it out here.

To make these earrings I stamped #3099 Virgin and Child Window on tissue paper and used ModgePodge to adhere it to the glass pendants. Some sequins and sparkle fiber completed these holiday accessories.

Hope you will see something sparkley this week.
artfully yours, gerri

On Golden Shimmering Angel Wings

2011-12-18T04:30:00.017-05:00

Here is a golden ornament with angels for my Retro Cafe Art design piece. I love the theme of angels, it makes me think of my mom. My mom loved angels and when she passed, my daughter would point to them and say, "Look mommy, there's grandma with her friends the angels." It made me smile everytime.

To make the ornament/tag, I started with a metal tag that I painted bright gold. The beautiful angels are from Retro Cafe Art collage sheet called Assorted Christmas by Debrina Pratt. Some sparklie paper trim, a bit of gold fiber and dots of silver and gold Stickles were all it needed to complete this sparklie remembrance.

Hope you will be greeted by an angel this week.
yours truly, gerri

"Angels Up Above"

"Angelic Details"

Have you been Naughty or Nice?

2011-12-17T04:26:00.004-05:00

I believe this is my favorite Christmas card this year and I've sent it to a special friend! It has all the things I love wrapped up in one card. First there's vintage as in the image from Retro Cafe Art, a wood door from Artchix Studio, then german scrap, gold glitter Stickle accents for shine and a punch of black for the background. Plus it tells a sweet story of the children peeking thru the door to catch a glimpse of St Nick!

So have you been naughty or nice this year?
artfully yours, gerri

ST Nicholas

Christmas Dreams Fulfilled

2011-12-16T04:59:00.002-05:00

Here's a wild extreme card for Flying Unicorn group that I design for. There is a challenge in December to use your Christmas trims in an extreme way. Come on over and play. I know my card is over the top, but I think it's fun!

There's layers of different papers, a 3d cuckoo clock and the sentiment "Christmas Dreams Fulfilled". For the extreme I added gold fiber trim, shiny copper ribbon, a gold leaf and gold german scrap! There are touches of gold Stickles and some tiny rhinestones too!

Hope you will have your dreams fulfilled this week!
sincerely, gerri

"Dreams fulfilled"

"Extreme details"

Pretty Pink Christmas

2011-12-14T04:15:00.005-05:00

Some times I like to use unusual colors for the holiday, instead of the traditional reg and green. When I saw this sweet Scrapcake paper from the Flying Unicorn store that was all pretty pink and mint, I knew I had to make something right away.

You know how I love to fussy cut so I cut out all the ornaments, stars and hearts. I used my favorite snowflake punch too. Some paper layering, pink Stickles and pink glitter letters were my added little touches. I also liked this paper so much I am making tags for Christmas, so I included a photo of that too.

Hope you are having a pretty holiday season.
take care, gerri

"Joy"

"Joyfelt details"

"Pretty Pink Tag"

Reindeer Extraganza

2011-12-13T04:04:00.002-05:00

This week I'll continue showing you my Christmas cards that I sent out. Today it's all about Retro Cafe Art and the cute "Hello Deer" Stencil. I did go kinda crazy with this because it was so versatile. Some of my cards are artsy, some elegant, some are natural and some are silly like my Rudolph and Clarice.Retro Cafe Art is also having a contest where you can win one of two $25 of their amazing supplies. Check it out here.

This first one is my favorite cause I love the real acorn caps that I added the glittered jingle bells as the acorns. I used RCA german scrap and the center of a Fancy ATC frame for the deer stencil.

Here is another.... I added a pine tree stamp and lots of Stickles.

This one is a bit more elegant with flocked paper, glitter leaves and gold swirly stickers.

This one is for my husband, who's favorite holiday movie is "Rudolph , the red nose reindeer". See his shiny red nose?

The final one is simple, just the black stencil, a big swirl stamp and white Stickles as snow.

Hope you will see someone deer this week!

take care, gerri

Christmas Tree O'Christmas Tree

2011-12-12T04:16:00.002-05:00

Well everyone, I finished all my Christmas cards and sent them out today. Hoorah! So for today's 100 Proof Press Design team post, I'll show you a few. I used the Big Black Tree #6218 to make the ones shown today. This year I sent cards and sometimes tags. I liked this stamp because it was so much fun to add the little details. Next year I have more ideas for this stamp. Even if I use the same stamp, each one is a little different.....so which version do you like?

These are very simple with watercolor paint and Stickles accents. Can't really get the shininess of the glitter in the photos and you know I can't live without some Bling. LOL.

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!
sincerely, gerri

Version 1

Version 2

Version 3

Baby Its Cold Outside

2011-12-11T04:23:00.003-05:00

Here's an icy blue card for the Stampsmith Challenge called Shimmer Sparkle and Shine tsc#25. This Stampsmith stamp of the Flapper with the fur trim coat made me think of her wearing it in a snow storm of snowflakes that shimmer, sparkle and shine and wondering where she was off to?

Well to make this card, I added icy Stickles to her fur, watercolored makeup to her face and added a pretty shimmery icy corsage to her coat. It was layered on two different pale blue Fabscraps Heritage Script papers, the solid and the script side. To this paper I added silver and blue sparkley snowflake trim and pretty shiny two tone fiber tinsel. Clusters of glitter snow flakes were added to the corners. The sentiment "Baby it's cold outside" was the final touch.

Hope you'll be nice and warm this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Baby It's cold outside"

"Icy details"

Santa's Workshop- Doilie Angel Ornament

2011-12-10T04:43:00.001-05:00

Again today at Flying Unicorn there's a Santa's workshop where the creative team is doing a different tutorial everyday for 24 days. There are even prizes given away if you make something and post it on the site using the tutorials. Today its my turn again and I am going to show you how to make my Doilie Angel Ornaments. I was asked to do a tutorial and I didn't know what to do so....... I said doilie angel . I hadn't even created anything yet. LOL. Well ,I'm always up for a challenge and this is what I came up with!

First you need two doilies, one I cut into wings by folding the doilie in half and then cutting a free form wing shape. Save the scraps, you will use it later in the project. The other doilie I folded in the sides , as the picture in on the right. You can use any size or color doilie you have. Imagine how pretty a gold angel would be if you used a gold doilie.

On the body doilie, take a gold ink pad and swipe it down the front and across the bottom. For the darker detail I used a gold marker to highlight the details.

Do the same gold ink details on the wings and add gold dew drops, then put this aside. You could also use rhinestones, Stickles or even beads.

To the body, add gold fiber and also a lady image for the face before gluing shut. You could use lace trim and could even personalize your angel with photos of loved ones. In the right hand corner, you'll see that I took a few ribbon roses and surrounded them with a doilie scrap, to create a bouquet. I also added a bit of doilie for a gold crown.

Next assemble your angel by gluing the wings to the body. Detail the angels robe with gold dewdrops or whatever bling you have on hand just like the wings. You can add a sparklie flower behind her crown, if you'd like. Add a bit of gold ribbon around the bouquet and glue down. The final touch is to glue on the gold ribbon hanger. Now your angel is all set for your tree.

Hope you will meet an angel this week.
sincerely, gerri

Santas Workshop - The Snowflake Ornament Tutorial

2011-12-09T04:30:00.001-05:00

Today at Flying Unicorn there's a Santa's workshop where the creative team is doing a different tutorial everyday. There are even prizes given away if you make something and post it on the site using the tutorials. Today its my turn and I am going to show you how to make my Snowflake encrusted Christmas ornament. This will give you an idea of how I create...its all about glitter and shine for me .LOL.

To begin I used the postcard page from the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium paper found at the Flying Unicorn store. You will need a front and a back. (A fun idea would also be to make a postcard if you didn't have this paper.) One additional piece of paper is needed to make a snowflake stencil. Use your snowflake punch to create this . Remember to save these punched out snowflakes to be used later in our project.

After placing the punched stencil on the postcard, use a blue ink pad and dab on top creating a snowflake patter. Then overstamped with a Tim Holtz Christmas stamp in black ink. You could use any Christmas stamp you wanted here.

The next step is to take some plastic snowflake confetti and put them in a plastic bag. I used Alcohol ink to color these . Using the plastic bag is a great way to color little items without getting your fingers too inky! You could also use solid colored punches and color them anyway you'd like also.

Add some Blue Stickles accents to both of your snowflakes. The Flying Unicorn store carries lots of colors.

Add some shiny blue metallic ribbon to your postcard front. Just glue the ends to the back of the card since we will be adding a back so they will be hidden.

Also add some silver tinsel ribbon to attach as your hanger. You could use any ribbon you have on hand too. Add some Stickles accents to your stamped image.

Place the another postcard image on the back to hide the shiny ribbon and silver tinsel ends. They will now be sandwiched in between the two postcard layers. This way your ornament will look good from the front and the back.

Turn the ornament over to the front and glue on your snowflakes remembering to mix up the solid and the patterns as you go around.

To finish the piece add some a nice sprinkle of rhinestones for additional shine.

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial...I will be back tomorrow with another one, called The Doilie Angel.

Take care, gerri

Sew Lovely Now and Forever and that is the truth

2011-12-08T04:30:00.001-05:00

Haven't been doing any challenges lately. so when I saw the Fashionable Stamper Challenge #10 with dressmaking,corsets and accessories I knew I had just the right stamp. I've used this stamp before and just adore it. There is also a Craft Your Day Away #34 Buttons and Bows challenge, so thought I would enter that too! It's a pretty simple card but I thought we needed a rest from Christmas cards. I'm almost done making of mine, thank goodness!

So first, the dressmakers dummy was stamped on a patterned beige and white paper. I added some gingham and white embossed paper trim. Some vintage tickets, labels and a sew lovely tag came next. I outlined everything in red and edged the card in black for some more detail. A sprinkle of small red buttons and tiny hearts and I had this card all stitched up!

Hope you see something so lovely this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Sew Lovely Now and Forever"

Starry Night

2011-12-07T04:30:00.030-05:00

This month at Gingersnap Creations it's all about "Holiday Lights". This week's challenge is "Starry night" GSC# 129. It is being sponsored by Pennywise Art who is offering a prize of micro beads to a random selected artist who enters. Come step into the light and join us in this bright challenge. There is also alot of amazing art from my fellow Gingersnap Design Team members to see there too. My creation this week is a glittery holiday card. Don't know who I will send it to yet...it might even be you!

I used the beautiful pale Pion papers from the Flying Unicorn store as the base for this creation.They are layered with a little gold edged frame from Retro Cafe Art. A sprinkling of gold stars and a pretty angel were layered around the Christmas tree image. Some Stickles, gold ribbon and the sentiment "Star" complete this little card.

Hope you will enjoy a starry night this week.
sincerely, gerro

"Starry Night"

"Starry details"

Silver Sparklie Greetings to You

2011-12-06T04:46:00.003-05:00

Here's a Holiday ATC today for my Retro Cafe Art design post. I'm really into the holiday mood and am crafting up a Christmas storm. I even went to a charity event this weekend, where you visited homes decorated for the holidays. All I can say is that it was amazing. Trees, Santas, glass balls, ribbons and greenery everywhere. I went with my dear husband, he likes that stuff too.LOL.

To make this I started with the 6 Pane Frame ATC and painted it silver then edged it with silver Stickles. The angel image a Debrina Pratt was from Retro Cafe Art too and was touched with silver paint . The trims added include some shiny silver Christmas fiber, coral sequins, silver snowflakes and silver dew drops. And that was that!

Hope you will have a merry week.
yours truly, gerri

"Christmas and New Year Greetings"

"Angel details"

Celebrate the Happy Voyage

2011-12-05T04:33:00.004-05:00

Here's a card for today's post. I think it's kinda manly, so I will be giving it to my dear husband on his birthday. He doesn't read my posts, so he won't see it till he opens it. LOL. I used the old compass rose stamp from 100 Proof Press. I have lots of ideas for this stamp and you'll see it in future 100 Proof Press design posts.

To make this card I layered patterned papers including dots and a map, then came all the stickers like the word "voyage" and "celebrate the past". The stamping came next of the compass rose, its not perfect but it adds to the vintage feel. A layer of postage stamps, a happy ticket and gold foil travel images are the next step. A touch of gold Stickles and edging ink and this little card was all set to sail away to my husband's birthday.

Hope you will start a happy voyage this week.
take care, gerri

"Happy Voyage"

"Happy Details"

Christmas Cardinal

2011-12-04T04:30:00.002-05:00

Working on my Christmas cards, so I will give you some sneak peeks along the way. Cardinals are my favorite bird, so when I saw these little red glittery buttons I just had to get them. That bright red bird against a green pine tree or crystal white snow is truly amazing.

To make this card I used Graphic 45 Christmas paper that I found at the Flying Unicorn store. I added a little red door, so the sentiment hides inside. "Best wishes". There is a lot of Stickles but I just can't get a good photo of that. Oh well.....some red fiber trim and touches of gold paint were added as the final details.

Hope you will see a truly amazing sight this wee.
sincerely, gerri

"Christmas Cardinal"

A Fairy's Sweet Tune

2011-12-03T07:26:00.000-05:00

Today for Pink Saturday here is a tiny pink glittered pendant for a necklace. I still need to add the jump ring, but wanted to show it to you anyway. Stop on by Pink Saturday if you get a chance, there are so many amazing artists to visits, doing all kinds of projects.

To make this little pendant I painted a chipboard shape from Retro Cafe Art cream with a gold edge. It is covered with pink Stickles. The image of the fairy is from a graphic 45 paper from the Flying Unicorn store and has gold and pink fairy dust (really Stickles...LOL). A glittery gold flower and a tiny pink flower button were the final touches.

Hope you will hear a pretty tune this week.
take care, gerri

"A Fairys Sweet Tune"

A Christmas Rose for Lucy

2011-12-02T04:30:00.003-05:00

Today's project is a sweet little ATC for Retro Cafe Art . I'm getting into the Christmas spirit cause I have to get going on my Christmas cards.I make about 100 of them and each on is unique. It's alot of work, but I love the challenge. I know I'm kinda crazy that way. LOL.

I adore the Lucy collage sheet from Retro Cafe Art. She's so sweet, that's why you've seen her before in my art. I added some pouty lips and rosy cheeks for fun. She is layered on an Fancy Frame ATC interior piece that I stamped with a Merry Christmas collage and added glitter nail polish to the pointsetta. Two gold edged cardstock papers are underneath. Bright red Stickles and a deep wine paper rose kissed with gold are the finishing touches.

Hope you're getting in to the holiday spirit.
sincerely, gerri

"Merry Christmas Lucy"

"Lucy details"

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it snow

2011-12-01T08:16:00.000-05:00

At Flying Unicorn group for my December challenge that I'm hosting, it's all about snow! I'm calling it "Let it snow, Let it snow, Let is snow". All you have to do to enter is create any paper product using "snow". It could be punched snow flakes, pictures of snow, white glitter or even stamped snowflakes. Just don't use the real thing. LOL. If you join Flying Unicorn and enter this challenge, there's an amazing RAK prize too!

To make this silver painted tag I used Pion papers from the Flying Unicorn store. The pretty blue challk ink called cold ice was used for the stamped tiny snowflakes and silver Stickle accents add shine. Both are from Flying Unicorn too. I added some snow flake buttons, a frosty tag and pretty pale blue organza ribbon.

"Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow"

Here's the RAK prize from Alda at Flying Unicorn given at the end of the month. There's 12 sheets of embossed 110lb weight Fancy Pants paper and embellies too!

Hope you'll enjoy snow this week, whether real or in your mind this week.
artfully yours, gerri

Flying Unicorns Santa's Workshop

2011-11-30T21:32:00.000-05:00

The Creative Team, aka Alda and her elves(that includes me!), at the Flying Unicorn has been hard at work behind the scenes, getting ready for the month of December. We’re bringing you a technique loaded, fun-filled, December!! Everyday, through December 24th, there will be a new technique tutorial posted for you to try. Some will be simple, others a little more complex, but there will be something for everyone! Look for the Santa’s Workshop thread in the forum to find the daily tutorials. Be sure to post a picture of your creations using any of the tutorials to be eligble for a prize drawing on December 31st. There will be 9 different prizes awarded, one from each of Santa’s reindeer!

Hope you'll stop by!
take care, gerri

A Joyful Red Robin

2011-11-29T04:30:00.001-05:00

For today's Retro Cafe Art design piece, I've made a bright holiday tag. I love making tags for Christmas, some will go on simply wrapped packages with big tied ribbon bows and others will be made into cards. When I saw this Debrina Pratt collage sheet from Retro Cafe Art I just had to use it. I loved the cheery red robin mixed with the Christmas theme. I will also use it for a challenge at Art with No boundaries calling for "Red and Green".

To make this tag I painted the tag red them brushed gold paint over it. It looks like wood...don't you think? I fussy cut the robin and surrounded it with a glitter leaf. The "joyful Christmas was put on a piece of chipboard that was painted too. The green, red and yellow epoxy circles came next, to add shine. A red grosgrain ribbon tie completed this colorful tag.

Hope you will have a joyful week.
artfully yours, gerri

"A Joyful Christmas"

"Joyful details"

Let's Have Fun

2011-11-28T08:40:00.000-05:00

For today's 100 Proof Press design I made this little stamped pendant. It reminds of the fun week I had with our daughter and family during the holiday. Sorry, Mary Lou could not model this but she is busy getting ready for our big move. More about that later....

To make this piece I stamped the Cabaret Line with Signs # 2971and fussy cut out only three ladies.I glued them to a small piece of masonite, you could use chipboard to. The masonite is painted white and the edges are ink kissed with pink ink. I added some purple german dresden scrap too. The ladies were colored with pencil and some Stickles were added for shine. The pink glitter letters came last to spell "FUN".

Hope you will have fun this week.
take care, gerri

"FUN"

Happiness is

2011-11-26T04:30:00.001-05:00

My daughter was home for the holiday and this little shrine sums up my feeling "Happiness is being with you". We're taking her to the airport and she'll be off to the university again.

The little shrine was made using "Studio of Memories "Pion papers from Flying Unicorn store. I layered different patterns on light blue netting. There's lt blue Stickles for glitz, some fussy cut butterflies and shiny silver filigree buttons. The sentiment reads"Happiness is being with you".

Hope you will find happiness this wee.
sincerely, gerri

"Happiness is being with you"

Flying Unicorn Silent Auction Begins Tomorrow

2011-11-25T21:22:00.000-05:00

Please join us November 26th through November 28th for Flying Unicorn’s First Annual Silent Auction of all things scrapbook, all from the private stashes of the Flying Unicorn Creative Team. All proceeds from the auction will go to benefit Women in Distress. Some of us are putting together kits, some of us are destashing. There’s bound to be something you’ll want; place your bid, and it might be yours. Bids will be accepted until midnight November 28th and auction winners will be notified the next day.

As the month draws to a close, we want to thank all of you who posted your lovely work in the gallery, sent in your donations and made purchases in the store. We met our goal of 1,000 uploads to the gallery on November 16th, thereby earning a $1,000 donation from the Flying Unicorn store to Women in Distress. Remember that throughout November 5% of all sales will be donated to Women in Distress.

The Silent Auction is our last fundraiser for Women in Distress this year; we hope you’ll help us help our sisters who have suffered so much by placing a bid. You can peruse the items up for auction by visiting here.

Timeless Parisian Steampunk Beauty

2011-11-25T04:30:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone had a pleasant day yesterday. Here's the third tag in my recent Steampunk series using the amazing Graphic45 Steampunk Debutante from Flying Unicorn Store. With butterflies, Art Nouveau and tiny gears....how can you go wrong! LOL.

To make this tag I painted the ATC frame from Retro Cafe Art with gold and white paint, then distressed it.. Underneath is the Steampunk Debutante paper and a split tag for the top and bottom. I used gold and green Stickles to add the needed bling. A watch face, tiny gears, some paper gears and butterflies add additional dimension and interest.

Hope you will approach a timeless beauty this week.
artfully yours, gerri

We Give Thanks

2011-11-23T04:30:00.001-05:00

We are continuing this month "On the farm" at Gingersnap Creations. My Design Team post this week is all about autumn color. The colors are Yellow, Red and Brown and the challenge is GC#128. Come join the fun with us. One randomly drawn winner from the qualifying participants for this challenge will become a Gingersnap Creation Home Page Artist for a week as well as winning a $15.00 US voucher at the Rogue Redhead Designs store. It's their 1st anniversary this month so there are lots of great deals to be had until December 30, 2011 at their brand-new website! Also come see all the inspiring creations from my other Design Team members.

My card this week is for Thanksgiving and says "Thanks". I started with my fav turkey stamp and layered it on red and yellow(gold) burlap fabric. These layers were put on a red ticking patterned paper. Some cream painted alphabets, a big ivory button, brown grosgrain ribbon and some brown Stickles complete this card.

Hope you will have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. Enjoy your time with you families and friends.
yours truly, gerri

"Thanks"

"Turkey details"

Christmas Ornament Tutorial

2011-11-22T04:30:00.002-05:00

Hello everybody, today's post is a tutorial for a Christmas ornament using Retro Cafe Art products. Hope you enjoy it.

I started by painting both the top and one side of the bottom of the RCA Classic Gothic Arch ATC frame cream.

The next step was to glue the RCA Madonna and Angel image from the Christmas Collage sheet by Debrina Pratt to the inside of the open part. I did have to piece it abit. I also painted the top portion of the bottom piece of the ATC frame with gold paint so you can see it thru the top opening.

Using a white glue, I glued the top and bottom of the ATC together. Using gold paint I brushed it over the image as well as, the frame leaving some of the cream exposed.

I added gold Stickles for shine, then came the angel button. I punched a hole with a Crop-a-dile thru the ATC and attached the gold tassel.

Next I added gold sequins and gold dew drops to the corners for dimension. The final touch was to add a cut gold sequin for the Madonna's pretty crown.

Hope you create something angelic this week.
take care, gerri

Dancing Fairies in the Cherry Blossoms

2011-11-20T04:30:00.030-05:00

For the 100 Proof Press Design team creation today, I'm posting a dimension flower card. The inspiration for this card was the pretty Dancing Girls #6294 stamp from 100 Proof Press. They reminded me of dancing fairies which made me think of this paper from the Flying Unicorn store. It's from Graphic 45 called Once Upon A Springtime.

After stamping and layering the papers, I fussy cut out all the cherry blossom flowers. I know I'm kinda crazy when it comes to cutting out, but I do enjoy doing it. LOL. It is to really hard to see the dimension with the photo, but the flowers do pop. I added my fav...Stickles and rhinestones to complete my dancing fairy girls.

Hope you will dance this week.
yours truly, gerri

"Dancing Fairies in the Cherry Blossoms"

Orange Pumpkin Tag

2011-11-20T04:30:00.027-05:00

Here's a little tag to get us in the mood for Thanksgiving on Thursday. I just adore this turkey stamp! I have never used it before but you will probably see it later this week too! LOL.

An orange tag using Echo Park Paper "Apothecary Emporium" paper is the base. It can be found at the Flying Unicorn store. It was ink kissed with brown edges. I stamped the turkey and added orange and lime Stickles accents. The layered flowers are from Flying Unicorn too. The cute little wooden pumpkins are from Retro Cafe Art, they were stamped. A printed paper border and an orange ribbon complete the tag.

Hope you will be in the mood this week.
artfully yours, gerri

"Orange Pumpkins"

The Pretty Pink Cathedral

2011-11-19T04:26:00.007-05:00

For Pink Saturday here's a little pink ATC. I'm calling it "Pretty Pink Cathedral" in honor of my daughter, who is coming home this weekend. We haven't seen her since Sept 1 when we went off to college, so we cant wait! Like her mother she likes to visit historic churches, houses and museums, so here's a Pink Cathedral!

I used one of my favorite supplies.... a Retro Cafe Art ATC Frames. It's called Classic Quatrefoil Gothic Arch and I painted it pink and gold. The image underneath is actually a block of cancelled stamps. You know how I like to recycle stuff! LOL. The medieval manuscripts fit the frame and the top part of the stamps looked like stained glass. The finishing touches were the pink Stickles, foil flourish, little angel and of course, rhinestones.

Hope you get a visit from someone special this week.
take care, gerri

"Pretty Pink Cathedral"

Speakeasy Rendezvous

2011-11-18T04:30:00.001-05:00

I love the images, fashions and music from the 20s and 30s. With that in mind, today's creation is a gift card holder I made for Flying Unicorn Creative Team. It's made from Curtain Call paper from Graphic45 and you can find it in the Flying Unicorn store. I adore this paper, it has such fantastic graphics and that Jazz age theme.

I am also showing you one of my dear husbands Classic Wrecks that he makes and sells on Etsy. He was asked to create a custom automobile for an actress in the Broadway show to open soon called "Bonnie and Clyde" . It's a replica of the Bonnie and Clyde bullet ridden car! Thought it went nicely with the theme of today's post.

To make the card, I layered different Curtain call papers. I cut out a heart and the piano keys. I added some black lace, a Burgundy Black rose from from the Flying Unicorn store, a stick pin and some Dimensional Pearls. The two sided paper made decorating the interior of the card easy. I made a pocket then cut out the little tickets, the gift card can just slip into the pocket.With that... I was all ready to dance!

Hope you will get to dance this week.
take care, gerri

"Speakeasy Rendezvous"

"Speakeasy Rendezvous Interior"

"Bonnie and Clyde Automobile"

She Took a Pleasant Walk on the Beach

2011-11-16T04:39:00.013-05:00

For today's 100 Proof Press Design Team project, it's all about the beach. You know that the sea this is one of my favorite themes, so I thought I'd visit it again.

The start of this card was the wonderful 100 Proof Press, Lady with Umbrella and Hat stamp #6371. I do adore her little umbrella. It was stamped on patterned shell paper then colored it with pencils. The cut out pictures of shells, die cuts, assorted real sea shells, star fish and plastic dew drops came next to frame the image. I just discovered Dew Drops in a local Scrapbook store clearance bin and I love them. They come in all kinds of colors, clear, pearlized and metallic too. Don't know where I've been since they came out. LOL. This detailed page was then layered on the pale blue picnic plaid background that was ink kissed with pink ink. Some light blue netting, a forever friend tag finished up this card.

Hope you will get to take a pleasant walk this week.
sincerely, gerri

"A Walk on the Beach"

"Beachy Details"

They Were Both Vocal Beauties

2011-11-15T04:07:00.002-05:00

For today's Retro Cafe Art Design Team piece, I created an ATC that makes me think of best friends. I've been thinking of some dear friends and this is for them.

So, I used the RCA Best Friends XOXO Vintage Ladies Collage Sheet to represent my best friends! The Butterfly ATC Frame sets it off the ladies wonderfully. I painted it black and accented with silver Stickles and turq then silver marker. I used the Jewel Tone Vintage ATC Background too. I added some rhinestones for a bit of sparkle.

Hope you will think about a best friend this week.
yours truly, gerri

"Vocal Beauties"

"Vocal Details"

Pretty Autumn Leaves

2011-11-14T04:31:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! Today over at Gingersnap Creations I have a about stamp kissing. It's a great way to make a fabulous new stamp image by combining two of your stamps! I used this technique as the base of my Autumn leaf collage tag.

Let's start with our stamping supplies. You'll need a stamp that has very little detail as your base. I'm using the big autumn leaf. The other detail stamp will be the "Kissing" stamp and provides the texture. I used the tiny leaf stamp on the block. I will be using a variety of ink colors.

The first step is to cover you base stamp - big leaf - with ink. I did a mottled look, but you could use just one color too.Try to keep it a lighter color than what you will use for your detail stamp.

The next step is to quickly ink your detail stamp -tiny leaf - and kiss it (stamp) it onto your base stamp - big leaf. You need to do this rather quickly so the inks don't dry out.

Here is a photo of the stamped leaf image.

After cutting the stamped leaf out, I will add the embellishments. First, there are some velvet leaves touched with ink and Stickles. There's also a chipboard bird that I covered with green and red ink, then stamped my detail tiny leaf stamp. A few shiny colored flowers were layered too.

Here are the embellishments placed on the tag.

This is the finished tag with the embellishments.It needed a little something more so I layered some sparkly green leaves, a Stickles edge and a tiny rhinestone eye on the bird. A pretty orange organza ribbon allows me to hang this autumn tag.

Here's a close-up of the pretty bird.

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial today and I hope you will be kissing, I mean stamp kissing this week!

take care, gerri

Yes my love, I was moved

2011-11-12T04:30:00.007-05:00

For today's post at Pink Saturday I've made an ATC in hot pink. It was this expressive female image from Dezinaworld that inspired me to create this. I love to add details so I overcolored the image with pink and blue metallic marker. With a marker or paint in hand I can make all papers, embellishments or images coordinate. LOL.

The pretty paper tree is from Artchix Studio and is painted pink and covered with glitter. The top of the tree has a silver metal swirl top and a blue paper flower with a hot pink center. The background is blue paper kissed with a pink inked edge. The fantastic fiber trim is from my friend Donna , in Mexico. You can visit her blog to see her fabulous painted goddess canvases. Finally, the blue dots, blue headpiece and sentiment came last and it says "She nodded, Yes my love I was moved."

So what will "move" you this week?
take care, gerri

"She nodded. Yes my love, I was moved."

"Moving details"

Delight and Domestic Happiness

2011-11-11T04:41:00.002-05:00

You might wonder what today's post title has to do with my watercolor painting of yellow roses for Paint Party Friday. I must tell you yellow roses reminds me of my husband. While I was working my dear husband would send me yellow roses for special occasions. Did you know that "yellow" roses mean delight, joy, gladness, familiar love and domestic happiness? Isn't that a beautiful sentiment from a spouse? One Valentine's Day, I did ask my husband why he sent yellow and not red. He said he wanted them to stand out and not to get lost in a sea of red roses. LOL. So, yellow roses will always be special to me.

Hope someone will make you feel special this week.
sincerely, gerri

"A basket of yellow roses"

"Rosey details"

Little Rabbit you are truly special

2011-11-09T04:30:00.008-05:00

For the month of November, Gingersnap Creations' theme is "On the Farm" and this week the challenge is to use "Raffia" (#GC126). Come on over to plant your creation, sow the seeds of friendship and harvest ideas from my fellow Design Team members.

This card started with the adorable musical rabbit paper by October Afternoon called Thrift Shop Good Junk. You can find this paper at Flying Unicorn. I layered it on green burlap added some pretty ribbon and put it on yellow paper that was ink kissed with green ink. The embellishments are layered paper flowers that I added the musical centers and pink pearls. The grass around the little rabbit is painted raffia. LOL. The "You are truly special" sentiment completes this card.

Hope you will be able to spend time with someone truly special this week.
sincerely, gerri

"You are truly special"

Early Vintage Holiday Greetings

2011-11-08T04:30:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm still in a Christmas mood, so here's a little ATC that I made. I will use as an ornament for our tree this year. It's for my Retro Cafe Art Design Team piece this week. You really should check out Retro Cafe Art besides the great supplies they are having a contest and a giveaway.

The contest is called "I love Retro Cafe Art Gallery". They teamed up with 100 Proof Press, and they are going to be a guest judge for the contest. Their team will be selecting their favorite to win a $30 100 Proof Press Gift Certificate! How cool is that. They have amazing stamps so this is a great prize!There will also be two $50 Retro Cafe Art Gallery Gift Certificates and two Coffee Break Design goodie packs! Not to mention everyone who enters will get a fabulous Digital Collage Sheet plus we will be adding prizes as we receive entries (see below). And it's so easy to enter. All you have to do is submit art that incorporates at least 1 product from Retro Cafe Art Gallery! You don't even have to purchase it from us. As long as we currently carry it, you are qualified! We have SO many goodies in the shop, you are bound to have something at home. Check out the rules here.

But wait there's more how about a Retro Cafe Art's giveaway of there new shrine kits.Check it out here.

So the vintage Christmas image I used is Debrina Pratt. The 5 pane ATC frame was painted red and edged in gold. It was trimmed with gold German Dresden Foil. The corners have gold snowflake confetti and red sequins topped with a red button. The sparkle accents are rhinestones and red Stickles. The finishing touch was the red ribbon hanger.

Hope you will see some sparkle this week.
take care, gerri

"A Merry Christmas to you"

"Christmas details"

Yes, its time to begin

2011-11-07T07:29:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's time to begin my Christmas cards. I make over 100 unique cards and like to start early making a few at a time. My friends and family expect a "Gerri card" and now I can't possibly buy any! LOL. Today's Design team card for 100 Proof Press is a bit crazy, but still has my trademark bling, glitter and vintage image.

The stamp used for the sign language "Merry Christmas" letters is One Hand Signing #5685 from 100 Proof Press. It is very versatile since you can spell any word. I stamped and cut out each letter and dotted them with green walnut ink. The vintage image is from Retro Cafe Art on the cute Christmas collage sheet called Christmas Cuties 2. This is layered on two holiday papers. Some some big red and green buttons, candy cane twine, rhinestones and Stickles were added for dimension.

Hope you will get to start a new project this week.
yours truly, gerri

"Merry Xmas"

"Merry Details"

Dragonfly Trash to Steampunk Treasure

2011-11-06T03:30:00.001-05:00

Been in a Steampunk kinda mood lately, so today's creation is a Steampunk tag. You know how I love to recycle, so I must tell you that I've actually been saving this broken hair clip from my daughter for years! LOL. When I started making this tag I knew I needed a 3D item and this pretty clip fit the bill. I think butterflies and dragonflies complement this paper with it's gears and Art Nouveau ladies. I am also entering it in a new challenge site that I found called Sugar Creek Hollow Challenge "Trash to Vintage Treasure.

To make this tag I used Glimmermist and sprayed it on a Tattered Angel plastic screen to print it. I edged the tag with gold acrylic paint and Stickles. The lovely lady and her butterflies are from the Flying Unicorn store on a paper called Steampunk Debutante from Graphic45. There are rhinestones, tiny gears and glitter Stickle accents.The dragonfly came next with the same accents. A green ribbon tied this project all up.

Hope you will discover something you have been saving.
artfully yours, gerri

"Steampunk Dragonfly"

"Dragonfly details"

Imagine what you will

2011-11-05T04:48:00.002-04:00

I'm trying something different today because..... this creation has no sentiment! Usually the image tells me what they want to say, but this sassy lady was quiet today. So what do you imagine what she is saying? What she might be saying dear friends is "sorry". I am in the process of moving, so I have not been visiting you as much as I really should. I hope to catch up soon and get back on a regular schedule, so please forgive me.
It's incredibly pink card, so I am entering it at Pink Saturday.

Hope you will be in the pink this week.
yours truly, gerri

Pretty Little Sea Shells

2011-11-04T05:30:00.002-04:00

Just a quick little post for Paint Party Friday today. Come visit the site and see what everyone is painting these days. I'm showing a watercolor painting I did earlier this year; it's one of my favorite subjects, sea shells. They were placed on a wild patterned brown batik tablecloth. Not sure I like how it came out when I first painted it, but it has grown on me.....so I decided to finally share it with you.

Hope you will get to see some pretty things this week.
take care, gerri

"Pretty Little Sea Shells"

Home Sweet Home

2011-11-02T04:27:00.001-04:00

For the month of November, Gingersnap Creations' theme is "On the Farm" and this week the challenge is titled "Farm Fresh" GC125. Come on over to plant your creation, sow the seeds of friendship and harvest ideas from my fellow Design Team members. My Design team piece is a card that combines several farmy items like red burlap, blue gingham and red rick rack.

The sweet farm girl image might look familiar...she's actually Dorthy from the Magic of Oz paper by Graphic45. Remember, she was a farm girl from Kansas. LOL. I removed her bow, painted her ruby slippers black and cut out little Toto from her basket. I drew and painted a pile of apples and put them in her basket instead. I layered the matching Graphic 45 papers for the background. You can find this paper at Flying Unicorn. Some red burlap, painted rick rack, a blue flower, red Stickles accents and a Home Sweet Home sign complete today's card.

Hope you will be able to visit your Home Sweet Home this week.
sincerely, gerri

"Home Sweet Home"

"Sweet details"