The Jewel Box Ballerinas - turned Art Dolls

My May baby had a birthday yesterday - and I bought her one of her favorite books, The Jewel Box Ballerinas. I decided to get crafty with it, and make her the two little girls from the story - Miranda and Mathilda.  I had a friend who suggested I sculpt the head for the girls, but after playing around with some clay I knew that wasn't going to happen!  So I stuck with what I kind of know - fabric.  I constructed the dolls OK, it was their dresses that gave me a headache!  And I had to make TWO!
I have a few more characters from other books in mind to make, we'll see if I ever get around to it!

May Calendar Post

Woo hoo!  I actually had the May calendar page before it was May!  This is seriously shocking news. So here it is. Again, not how I wanted it too look, but this is how it turned out.  I think I wanted something bolder.  I just can't get away from the style of painting the page with white paint and stamping on that as the background.

I love the quote and the wings, I guess they work together... 

I originally stopped before I painted the pink burst around the whole thing, but I think it needed more color.

April Showers...

bring umbrella inspired artwork!

Kids had a planned 2- hour delay, and I thought I'd hire my 6 year old to record me doing a simple technique on how I made the the umbrellas.  Really cute narration, but he only filmed the table.  Oh well.  I'll take some stills and make something up, I have had this idea for awhile, it's nothing complicated - I think sometimes it's nice to see simple techniques.

First I painted the paper with white and then used black and green stazon.  I did make the umbrellas on a separate piece of paper and then cut them out.  Stamps I used: the three of us, flower row, clouds, black umbrella, umbrella with handle.

What did that last post say?

October?  Well NOW it's February, and I really did create three calendar pages since then!  But who knows where those photos are.   I'm here to share my February calendar page and introduce a fun new stamp set!!!  I love it!!!

These are all 100 Proof Press Stamps.  I love the winged crown.  I also made a Mother Teresa quote into a stamp, because I love it  "do small things with great love."  I'm going to stamp it everywhere.  But the other stamps are from a new set we offer - Perfect for art journaling.

New STAMP SET!!

I AM going to try to get working in my art journal more.  

Ok, it's October already..

Hmm... I wonder why the 100 Proof Press newsletter is going out late this month... I'll tell you why.  I set that calendar goal - have one calendar page to show in the newsletter each month.  And let's just say September ended with some craziness.  But here's to a great October!  My daughter has been drawn to Frida Kahlo's art work and life for a few years now - so I think we are going to attempt to celebrate the Day of the Dead this year.  So I'm using that holiday (and a sweet new stamp we make) as the inspiration for the month of November.  Here's my November calendar page - very collage like and scrappy.

I suppose now I have to snap into action and write that newsletter.  Oh, and collect some books about the Day of the Dead- seeing as how I don't really  know how it's celebrated...

(I created the background with 3 colors of blue aquarelles, and thenI used the sketch for the background, some star clusters, Beauty & Love stamp (on twill tape THAT WOULD NOT LAY FLAT!) and the new lady sugar skull.  The birds are cut outs from Retro Art Cafe.)

Nevermore... and MOO cards

So my personal challenge has been met for two months - I've been trying to create a calendar page per month, in time for the 100 Proof Press Newsletter.  So far so good.  This is the one I stamped up for October.  Classic Poe stuff. You have your handwriting background, that large raven again, "Nevermore."  and the new small Poe stamp.  I got a little crazy on the background, but I couldn't leave it plain.  And what?  it's already time for me to get busy on next month!

And here's some fun little MOO cards.  They are really quick and fun to make.  See how I used a little scrap from the October calendar page?  Perfect for the owls!  Hoot hooT.  P.S.  MOO card contest going on at 100 Proof Press until November 8th!

Raven Parade Pocket (aka altered art skirt)

My sister and I have been making and selling a lot of the new large raven stamp, and we decided we'd run home and get crafty with it.  She happened to have enough pink linen to make a simple skirt, and I made a pocket with the raven stamp, and in no time she was ready for the Pony Wagon Parade.  (The Pony Wagon Parade is the parade that celebrates the Pony Wagon Festival in our little Ohio town.)

The top stamp is the "Nevermore " stamp and the bottom is the large raven.  Both were stamped with Black StAzon.  I stitched around the crow and added some buttons...
So we watched for the little soccer players in the parade to pass as my sister and son  filled up the pocket up with candy.. SO MUCH CANDY!

Nevermore...