OHMYGOSH! I fell in LOVE with this Leonardo da Vinci bronze pendant!

OHMYGOSH!!!! I totally fell in LOVE with this Leonardo da Vinci Pendant (Bronze Metal Pendants) from ArtBeads.com . . . Please click onto the highlighted words to link to their website . . . I even broke into my stash of Swarovski Crystals to design a piece with it . . . those of you who know how much I hoard my good stuff know this is a big break through for me!! LOL! I hope you like it! Excuse me while I dash . . . I have to take advantage of the ArtBeads.com Dollar Days Sale . . . up to 60% off on selected items through Tuesday, April 28, 2009 . . . Eeeeee-YAOW! I love to go shopping!!!! LOL!!!!!

MIL#2's Caregiver's Cards!!!!

MIL#2 and we are so fortunate to have such caring and gentle caregivers for my 85-year-old MIL#2 who suffers from Alzheimer's and a bad heart . . . recently I showed Audrey how to do some beading and card stitching and folding to pass the many hours she and the other caregivers spend being there for MIL#2 . . . here's a photo of Audrey (in the glasses) and myself from today . . . the cards she made this week-end are on top of the fireplace mantle . . .

This wonderful book, Classic Cards by Marrian Piers, recommended by my stamping teacher, Sylvia Valle, has allowed me to give condensed instructions to our wonderful caregivers and let them learn mostly on their own . . .

Here are samples of Audrey's work . . . she did all of these this week-end!!!! I think she did a FABULOUS job!!!!

What a combination . . . talented AND kind!!!!!!!!

Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Splatter Technique

One of my 43 Yahoo Groups (not all active, of course! LOL!!!) had a Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Splatter Technique Mingle . . . Please click on the blue underlined title to link to video . . .
I used a cocktail stirrer instead of a can of compressed air to "blow" the ink around . . . the ink I used was Pinata Alcohol Ink from USArtQuest . . . the "cloud" stamp is from A Stamp in the Hand . . . the "butterfly and flourish stamps" are from a $9.99 inexpensive set of 5 clear stamp sets I bought at Costco that were made by Inkadinkado . . . the bird stamp is from Impression Obsession . . . the adorable birdhouse die cut is from Printworks Collection . . .

I seem to be obsessed with bird houses and birds lately . . . hmmmmmmmm . . . LOL!!!!!!

Have fun!!!!!!

Mulberry Paper Collage Technique

This is an oldie but goodie technique using Mulberry Paper collage backgrounds . . . it can be used to make surreal landscape images . . . or not!!! LOL!!!! I purchase mulberry paper from craft stores . . . Asian stores . . . and stamp conventions . . .
First . . . I laid out some pieces of mulberry paper to see which colors might look well together . . .
After that decision . . . I traced a path with my aqua-brush (using a brush with water works just as well) . . . That makes it easier to tear the delicate mulberry paper . . .
I continue the procedure to all my colors until I'm done . . .

I brush Elmer's glue (or PVA glue) onto the first piece with a sponge brush . . .

I carefully lay the mulberry paper down on the bottom of the cardstock . . . I like to "push" the fibers outward from the paper for more texture . . .

Here you see me "pushing" more fibers outward from the paper to create a "stringy" effect . . .

After all the layers are added to the cardstock . . . I sponged on Scribbles Glittering Crystal . . . it's a fabric paint from the craft store . . . let dry . . .
Before I stamp my clear acetate . . . I make a "template" by outlining the same size cardstock so that I can see where I'm stamping onto the clear acetate . . .

I like to use Black Staz On ink to stamp images (this one is a Kodomo Inc. set Bamboo Lake 6868-001) on my clear acetate . . . I purchase ordinary transparencies that you write on from the office supply stores . . . they're less expensive than the heat-sensitive kind . . . I have yet to find an ink that can stamp a "perfect" image on the shiny surface, and I DO have to go back and fill in "holes" with a black Sharpie marker, at times . . . but I find that this product does the best job for my purposes . . .Careful . . . the inked stamp slips easily on the shiny surface . . . press gently and lift straight up . . . Now . . . you probably never make a mistake like I do . . . but when I do with the Staz On ink on clear acetate . . . it's easy to fix with a spritz of ordinary rubbing alcohol and a paper towel . . . I even use rubbing alcohol to clean my sticky fingers . . When I am happy with my image . . . I am ready to adhere it to my mulberry paper collage background.
My Xyron machine works nicely to put sticky stuff on the back of my clear acetate image . . . I understand that JudiKins Diamond Glaze and Ranger Glossy Accents work, as well . . .
I hope you liked this technique . . . Have fun!!!!!