November nuances

Welcome!

Autumn Wreath

“We still do not know

One thousandth of one percent

Of what nature has

Revealed to us.”

-Albert Einstein 

I love Fall.

I love the warm colors it gives us

after a sunny and bright summer.

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

I hope today finds you healthy, happy and safe.

I have friends that do not have all three of those things 

very frequently.

I am thinking of you today

from my heart.

Recently I have been making Christmas presents.

Don’t yell at me,

because I mentioned Christmas, in November!

Thanksgiving is an important holiday in our home,

BUT

if I plan on making presents to give in December

I need to start around July!

I would love to share some with you,

However I don’t want to spoil 

the gift surprise.

Dilemma!

Let me share a recent card I made using used postage stamps.

You can easily duplicate this with items you have already.

🧡

Greeting card made with used postage stamps by inkspired

Gather your materials first:

*used postage stamps cut to size you want.

(I usually try to cut just outside the perforations)

*scissors, glue or tape

*cardstock for card base

*cardstock scraps complimentary color

*saying

(Could be a cut out, sticker, die cut, stamped image -

Whatever you like)

🧡

Glue postage to scraps of cardstock.

Trim edges. Decorative scissors can be fun to use.

🧡

Arrange your layout BEFORE gluing.

Glue/tape squares in place.

🧡

Use a piece of double stick foam mounting tape

To stick one or more in place if desired.

This gives dimension and interest to your card.

🧡

Add sayings both inside/outside as you please.

VOILA!

You have a great handmade card to give to someone dear.

🧡

Repeat as desired!

Now you can start asking friends to save their used 

postage stamps for you.

Each stamp is like a miniature piece of art.

Another example of a card with a used postage stamp.

I hope you try this recycling card tip!

I love to see your work,

Please share!

🧡

Kaleidoscope using KaleidoCam app

And inkspired photo

Have a wonderful day

And look for the warmth and beauty

All around you.

🧡

‘Til next time,

inkspired

Greetings!
I have another post all ready to go, but I just don't feel it is right for today. Had a bad evening last night, but I know that God is in control, and He has a perfect plan for me and my loved ones.

As a mother, I have incredibly fierce feelings of protection for my son - he's 23! Sometimes I truly feel like a mama bear protecting her cubs.

Yet, he is 'grown up' whatever that means.  I have to let him deal with problems to strengthen him and mature him. But oh, I would so like to go and just punch someone in the face. Okay, it would be a slap because if I ever tried to punch someone I know I would end up with broken bones! Believe me I am not a violent person at all. I don't even like to yell, much less speak in a loud voice.

Yet, here are those protective mom feelings.
I can just pray, and it is so hard to not do more.

How dare someone deliberately injure my son! Perhaps I want to be part of a Tennessee clan, where the motto is: "you hurt one of us, you hurt all of us, and all of us will take care of the problem."

Well that brought a smile to my face. That's good.

Something else that brought a smile to my face was JT the visiting cat, and Tanner the resident Great Dane.

Tanner loves to hang out on the couch. He prefers our bed, but darn it, we just don't offer that to him very often. So he is sprawled on the couch, taking his morning snooze in the sun.

JT is an ornery little cat. Oh, that is, a big-22-pound cat who loves his mistress and would just as soon eat everyone else. He has to have his claws covered with vinyl protection nails. They put two on each claw in the front - and superglue them on. The vet staff has to put him asleep to do this as he is so mmmmm, well let's just say there are many scarred vet techs around that know JT by name, and would just as soon never see him again.

So this morning he was prowling around looking for mischief.
This could mean jumping up on to the counter (not allowed) or taking a bite out of one of my plants (not allowed) or jumping up on the side table in the LR (not allowed) or jumping up onto my big jigsaw table (otherwise known as a dining room table) and batting my puzzle pieces around (NOT ALLOWED)!

Well, he had tried all that and frankly he was just bored.
Wait, what is that? It is long and black and just sticking out from the couch!
So he took a swat at it. Tanner lifts his head thinking "what? I was sleeping!".
So JT swats it again. Tanner is looking at him now. Oh Fun! Let's do it again!

After a few swats Tanner just lays his head down again, hoping to sleep.
But JT wasn't finished. Swat! Swat swat! Swat! peeking at Tanner each time to see his reaction. So Tanner looks at him again, and then gives this little sigh of "I'm a Great Dane. I want to sleep. You are a runty little cat. Sigh. Whatever, I'll just ignore you." and puts his head back down.
JT does a few more swats, but he just isn't getting the desired results, so he wanders off.
Dog   1
Cat    0

RECYCLED CALENDARS:
Have your friends save their old calendars for you.
Carefully take apart a variety of envelopes and flatten them. Trace around the envelope shapes, and transfer to your favorite template material. Mine is the inside of cereal boxes. Cut out.
These will be your envelope templates. You should have one for a small notecard (but still mailable size), a regular note card, and a slightly over size card. If you want, you can certainly make other sizes for specialty cards. This will get you started!

If you have the material available, tracing the envelope pattern onto clear shrink plastic, crafting plastic etc. would be ideal.
Place your template over the picture side of the calendar page. Move it around so all the edges fit. Do you like what is in the center? The clear template really helps with this, but you can lift edges while holding page/template in place to adjust also.

Trace around with a ball point pen. I find marker type pens smear too much, and a pencil just doesn't show up enough. I also tried permanent ink, but it also smeared. Cut out. Lightly trace folding lines.
Using a scoreboard (if you don't have one, get one! They make a huge difference in how your cards fold, and so much more.) score on the envelope folding lines. My score board came with a round stylus. Bone folders are popular. I know one stamper that always uses the side of her fingernail!

Crease all seams and sharpen folds with a bone folder.
At this point, I usually stop and place the beautiful calendar envelope into a labeled box.

The next step is to place your card inside the folds. Make sure everything fits well. Sometimes things need a little adjustment, a fold here, a snip cut there.
After making a good fit, get out the double sided tape. Again, I really like VivaLasVegastamps miracle tape. It comes in several widths. For envelope making I like the skinny one.
Place tape on lower 2 side flaps, and fold up bottom over that. Make sure your tape is in a good position, and peel off backing. Press envelope pieces together. To close the envelope after adding card, you do the same for the top two flaps, bringing down the top flap to close.
TIP: Don't try to use glue or tape runners. They just don't seem to hold the envelope flaps in place, and glue has a tendency to run outside the lines, and you end up gluing your card to the envelope. Not cool.

TIP:For extra security, I like to add a folded over square of scotch tape to the top two edges where the post office will be running it through their machines - where you place your stamp and where you place your return address.

Now - to finish!
Place a blank address label somewhere on the front. This is where  you will print the "to" address. This does not have to be perfectly horizontal (sorry Hyacinth Bucket). Your return address does not have to be on the front either. Sometimes I use it as a sticker to the center of all flaps in the back as a 'seal'.
Sometimes I use a matching sticker.

These calendar page envelopes intrigue everyone. Make someone's postal deliverer day! Add a smile to a friend's blah...boring...bills mail!

That's it for today, I still have errands and appointments creeping up.
Thanks for letting me have a 'mommy fit'.
Hope JT and Tanner added some smiles to your day.

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.myinkspired.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

Kirigami, Rubber Stamping and How to build a Spray Box

Hello!
Welcome to my inkspired musings!

Here are some rubber stamping tips to get us started:

TIP: I love using egg cartons and glass custard cups to hold all my little embellishments while I'm creating. The cups have a wide enough base that they don't easily flip over or tip.
I have the custard cups from Pampered Chef, and they come with lids!

TIP: Keep a shoe box full of blank cards, prefolded. These are ready to grab and add a pre-stamped image or word....good to go!

TIP: Keep a shoe box full of stamped images that are ready to use as is or in need of coloring. I grab my shoe box and sit in front of the TV watching old westerns, and color quite a few of them at a time.

"Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters

cannot be trusted with important matters."

 - Albert Einstein

Here are some examples of using kirigami and rubber stamping together:

HOW TO BUILD A SPRAY BOX

Okay, you are going to think me ridiculous, but here goes...

Get a big box, slightly larger than a paper reams box!



HOW TO USE A SPRAY BOX

You need newspapers. Plenty of newspapers! If you are any bit messy, you want to cover your floor where you will be spraying. Sprays have a way of getting where you don't want them, so make sure any over spray will be onto newspapers.

The one time you are in a hurry, and don't want to put newspapers down will be the one time you have a humongous mess, and you'll be regretting it. So put the newspapers down!

Place box on top of newspapers, on its' side, with all flaps open to give your more controlled space.

TIP: you need a well ventilated area - garage, porch, patio, driveway, etc.

If you are spraying inside, be sure to open a window or two.

Things you will need:

Small spray bottles- My friend Shelly uses the small travel size  hairspray bottles; when empty she cleans them and has a perfect spray bottle!

Paper to spray on to - stationery, cardstock, blank paper, stamped paper or cardstock, brown bags, lunch bags, blank boxes...

Stencils - KIRIGAMI!! Opened and laid flat.

Paper doilies of all sizes and patterns.

Skeleton Leaves. Vintage keys. Dried flowers.

You can also find a number of rubber stamping sites that sell delicate patterned frosty plastic stencils that are just gorgeous.

Things to spray with:

Just a few ideas: 

Acrylic paint watered down and in a spray bottle

Glimmer Mists, as many colors as you can afford!

http://mytatteredangels.com/

A mixture of water, powdered pearl ex, a bit of arabic gum (no you don't chew it, it's powdered!)

Spray webbing, sold at many craft stores

Diluted re-inkers, of the dye variety, not of the pigment family.

Okay, let's play!

Place your desired paper inside the box, on top of the newspapers. Place your kirigami cut out on top of paper. Let it hang over the edge. Start with one color of, let's say, Glimmer Mist. Do a light passover spray to get the hang of how the bottle sprays, where the spray lands, etc.

Be a bit more aggresive, and spray over your paper a couple of times. Not too much though, we are going for a light, misty look here. Just enough so you can see the outline of your stencil.

Remove your kirigami carefully. You can now add a couple of skeleton leaves or part of the edge of a paper doiley.  Choose a different color of Glimmer Mist, and again do a light pass over with the spray to get the feel of the bottle. Spray until you like the look, but remember:

If you spray over the first stencil too much, it will disappear. So keep a light spray hand! Just think about coloring Easter eggs - you dip once for allover color, then dip again for a second color or stripe. You put stickers on your egg before dipping, and after the dip, you peel the stickers off, and reveal the original color of the egg below. But if you continue to dip again and again, you end up with a brown, muddy looking Easter egg.

TIP: When layering colors of ink, always start with the lightest color. Then the middle color and last just a bit of dark color.

TIP: Choose no more than 3 colors to combine. Any more and the colors just get muddy.

Okay, you're done with that sheet, set it aside to dry. On the newspapers is ideal in case any of the ink wants to puddle. Your paper will want to curl up. That is okay, as long as the sprayed side is not touching itself.

Time to play some more!

Oops, there goes an hour!

How time flies when you are having fun crafting, or getting messy!

Once your papers are dry, you can set them under heavy books - like big dictionaries - and leave them overnight. 

Still curly? When you are ready to use them, you can use a dry iron to smooth out the sheets more.

You should have quite a pile of beautiful papers, card stock, and whatever else you chose to spray on.

After you return from the store to get more spray bottles and Glimmer Mist, you will be well supplied to use your spray box whenever you want!

Here are a few more picture examples of how to use your kirigami with rubber stamping:

Here are a few more kirigami patterns to inspire you:

with tip pointing up.

with tip pointing down.

That's all for today. Let me leave you with a favorite quote:

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments

when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

 - Thornton Wilder

Beginning Altered Art Paper Doll tutorial, Kirigami intro and quotes

Hello!  Here is a great quote to start your day:

Like snowflakes, the human pattern is never cast twice.

We are uncommonly and marvelously intricate in thought and action.."

........Alice Childress

Altered Art Paper Doll Tutorial:

I moved around quite a bit as a child. I was blessed with parents who thoughfully provided me with the perfect portable toy - paperdolls! They went everywhere with me.

I cherished each and every one. I had Lucille Ball, Hayley Mills, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, 5 Ballerinas, 3 Nurses, Little Women, it's a small world..the list goes on and on!

So...you might say I have had a love affair with paperdolls for a very long time. In the past few years I have been very interested in altered paper dolls. By using paper dolls as a vehicle for creative release, you might say I'm STILL playing with my paperdolls!

Sounds good to me!

Getting Started:

You already have!  Using all that wonderful found treasure from you backyard, sewing kit, scrapbooking box, game room, etc. you are well on your way.

Decide what you doll will be.

Will it be a self portrait?
Will it be for your eyes only, or will you share it?
What do you want her/him to say?
Does your paperdoll represent a theme?
An emotion?
A certain time in history?
Or is she just to be a fun and quirky piece of creative art?

Now that you have started thinking about your altered paper doll, sort through your "treasures" that you picked out in the last few days. Does anything strike you for a base? This will be a head, a head with a torso, or a complete base with head, arms, legs and torso.

You can find paperdoll bases at many places on the internet for free:

Here's one:
 http://familycrafts.about.com/od/paperdolls/ig/Paper-Doll-Accessories/Paper-Doll-Body.htm

and another:
http://www.box.net/shared/n2o0zxx0rf

and another
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/TCR/0615_57-59.pdf

You can also take a paper doll that you already own, and trace around the outside of the doll, to give you a good base.
I have also had success with cutting out full length photos of someone from magazines. I also snag photographs with great body parts in them - a good set of legs, a good arm or two, etc.

You can either choose your head first or your torso first to get started.
Let's look at things that you might want to use for a head:

* doll head
* paper doll head from a tattered set
* matchbox
* copy of a paper doll head, or of a photo of someone in your family
* a sticker
* a copy of a famous painting
* small shrine box
* game piece

TIP: a doll head does not have to have 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 nose or 1 mouth!

Here are a few things that you could use for your torso:

* any of the above items!
* silk flower head
* playing card, or tarot card
* card stock figure
* mentos tin
* small computer component

Getting the idea?   :0)

Re-arrange and play with your pieces.
Do you want arms or legs?
Do you want your paperdoll to be moveable, or glued into one position?

Here are some photos of other talented artists' work:

The first is from ArtByDebora, an etsy artist.

This one is from dadadreams, on etsy.

This one is made by penniesfromheaven, another etsy artist and shop:

TIP: There are so many options for limbs - thread beds onto wire stiff enough to stay in place. Or use chenille stems! Be sure to loop one end of the wire to the beads don't fall off!  Thread the top of the wire through grommets, eyelets or punched holes on the body base. For a foot or a hand, make another loop at the end of the wire/chenille stem.

Get ready for tomorrow:

Look through your stacks of magazines, and catalogs. If you don't have any, go ask a neighbor to donate to your project. It beats asking for a cup of sugar!
Variety will make this next part so much more fun.
You can start clipping and tearing out body parts if you still need them. Cut out fanciful hats, or colored, textured parts to cut your own hat out of. Same goes for interesting necklaces, bracelets, earrings, shoes, skirts, etc.

Let your imagination soar into silliness!

Baking tip:
After unwrapping a stick of butter or margarine, use the wrapper to butter the inside of pans/muffin cups, etc. Anywhere that you have to "grease" the surface.

Here are some photos of kirigami that I have done. It is to whet your appetite for the next few blogs!

"If you don't like where you are,

change it!

You're not a tree."

...Jim Rohn

Have a wonderful, serendipity day!

Share your creations and thoughts with me!

hugs,

inkspired

Mermaids & Altered Paper Dolls

"I sat upon a promontory,

And heard a mermaid, on a dolphin's back,

Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath,

That the rude sea grew civil at her song;

And certain stars shot madly from their spheres,

To hear the sea-maid's music."

...William Shakespeare

Waterhouse



I love mermaids, and thought I would share a couple today.

This next one is by Howard Pyle, a fantastic painter.

Here's a vintage ad:

For the past couple of days you have been treasure hunting, and gathered supplies to make a pretty little fairy basket.

The leftover treasures are to make your very own altered paperdoll.

Here are a few samples, just to help spark your creativity:

For more pictures, check out my store on etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/13073636/paula-abdul-ooak-paper-doll-playing-card

Here are two more from my etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/13084656/sharon-osbourne-paper-doll-playing-card?ref=v1_other_1

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54063154/a-computer-winky-altered-art-paper-doll

The following is a menagerie of dolls from b-muse

Check out her wonderful collage sheets and more at:

http://b-muse.com/collage-sheets-AltdFash.htm

This one is from the enchanted gallery.

http://www.theenchantedgallery.com/doll112.html

Hope this triggers some creative thoughts.

See you tomorrow!

sending Great Dane hugs,

inkspired

inkspired musings labels

Yes! I think I found out how to add labels to each post!
Let's see if it works...