Donna Did It Giveaway

Lovely Donna, in Mexico, has reached her 100th follower and is celebrating with a giveaway. I don't seem to be able to use her button, but here is her address http://www.donnadidit.net/2011/10/giveaway-read-all-about-it.html

Help her celebrate and check out her fabulous creations.

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GC Challenge Black & Gray~Raven~ and Horror Stories

I started working on this GingerSnaps Creation Challenge and then realized that this tag would work in three different challenges.
Here is my GS124 Challenge for Black and Gray, http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/gc124-color-challenge-black-and-grays.html
This tag was also made for the GC121 Chestnut Challenge-Horror Stories. Poe's "The Raven", definitely qualifies in my mind for this catagory.http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/gc121-chestnut-challenge-horror-stories.html
I'm also including it in the GC123 Random Redhead Challenge-Ravens.
http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/gc123-random-redhead-challenge-ravens.html

This is my first time to be a part of the GingerSnaps Creations Challenges. What wonderful work on this site!
Enjoy!

October MailArt~Goth

Goth MailArt
Each month, I get so excited when I hear about our new MailArt theme...October was Goth.

Geez, what did I know about Goth except the kids walking around town with all black clothes, black nails, black lipstick, and black military boots? After a little research, I had a new understanding, subculture not much different from any other rejection of the main culture. It didn't help much until I looked at some Goth fashion magazines and hit on: Mona Lisa Goes Goth. It was a blast to make.

Alike, but different. One for Leslie and one for Jewels. Copied a picture of Mona Lisa. Drew in the eye makeup and colored purple hair. New lips, from someone in a magazine. Glued on image of mini tophat. I made the tophat veil out of onion bag mesh. Piercings and necklace was part of cells up-close from a Science mag. Added a gargoyle and a gothic picture frame. Da Vinci would roll over in his grave. LOL

Backside of my postcard. Eyeglasses...new dollar stamp from Joann's. I will add on as soon as I take pics of my peps's Mailart. Stay tuned.

Sunday Postcard using Tim Holtz techniques

Sunday Postcard challenge is bats. http://sundaypostcardart.wordpress.com/ So a bat it is!

I tried out the Tim Holtz techniques as shown in his video. http://www.rangerink.com/videos/videos_timperfectdistress.htm I used the TH clock stamps too. Background is Color Box Chalk Olive Pastel. I stamped with Ranger Distress Ink Rusty Hinge. Wet the surface, dried, and then brushed on Perfect Pearls Copper and then tried Pink Gumball. Metallic doesn't show up well in my photo. I added the clock image in black and the bat image. Finally I used my small alphabet stamps for the greetings and a small swirl stamp I got at Joann's. Looks like I need more practice. Thanks, TH for the informative video. http://studiol3.blogspot.com/2011/10/grungy-monday-24-plus-way-cool-prize.html

Vintage GlueBook~finished

Vintage GlueBook

Finished GlueBook

Does this look familiar?
I started on my Vintage GlueBook way back in June when I signed up for the Vintage GlueBook class given by Mary Green (She is still giving classes and you can sign up for the Christmas Vintage GlueBook http://greenpaper.typepad.com/)

The project's goal was to use nothing more than glue and vintage papers. I started out with pictures of me with my mom

and ended with me and the curls my mother saved and that I have saved all of these years. The curls are in the little brown air mail envelope.

Here are some of my other postings as my work progressed.
My mom

Mom and Dad

The last few pages are of both sets of grandparents celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries. How about that!!!

Grandpa Elmer and Grandma Clara Pierce
Urby and Clara Bancroft
I have some additional pictures of my Grandpa and Grandma Pierce (my mom's parents) because they were younger and very much a part of my life. My Grandpa and Grandma Bancroft passed when I was young.

I used as much vintage paper as possible, sometimes making copies of documents and copies of photos to achieve that old look. At first, I thought I would cover the outside with paper, but I decided to paint it black and add a sticker. I also made a slip-on paper wrap and tied it all up with twine.

Viola...I hope this is a book my family will keep and pass down. It is only a small part of my family rememberances. I have enjoyed thinking about this past and what it has given me. I'm proud to be a Pierce/Bancroft.

Winners of Giveaway

Winners of Giveaway

Drum roll, please. Just had enough visitors to match giveaway stuff.

Jewels~ Froggy tag

Steph~ Paper stash

Leigh~Mushroom ATC

Tammy~Rino ATC

Yvonne ~Cat ATC (I included because she was closest to the 500th visitor who left a comment.)

That was fun. Hope you enjoy your little creations.

Hugs.

Grungy Monday 22-A Holtz-ian Halloween

Zombie Goes Holtz-ian
I thought I would give my zombie the Tim Holtz treatment for Grungy Monday 22 celebrating all things Tim Holtz: http://www.timholtz.com/.

First I aged the edges of my postcard with Tim Holtz Distress Ink~Rusty Hinge. The zombie's head is a vintage map of Paris and the hand has been cut to look boney with jagged fingernails. I used Tim Holtz stamps from the Visual Artistry Collection for the zombie's crown and the birds/bats flying above his head. I took part of the Tim Holtz stamp"Not all who wander are lost" and cut off the "All" making it more appropriate for a zombie saying. I added the cutesy pumpkin glasses as if to put our villan incongnito. Finally, I used the Tim Holtz film stamp at the bottom to give a little more texture. To make my tag grungy, I added some twine. Wah haha!

http://studiol3.blogspot.com/2011/10/grungy-monday-22.html

Uncommon Entry 12 x 12 Collage on Canvas

"Spirits Set Free" is my 12 x 12 collage on canvas entry in the Uncommon : Exploring the Grand Traverse Commons competition. The Grand Traverse Commons is a renewed, refurbished set of beautiful buildings that formerly housed the Traverse City State Hospital /(insane asylum...old terms). When the state closed the hospital, the patients and residents were transfered or sent out into society. The buildings sat empty and derelict for a number of years until a group of people got together to restore them, make them places of business, condominiums, and set them to a better purpose.

Even though all of this has been done, and I do praise the effort, the place holds an ominous spot in my heart. My collage is dedicated to a school classmate who had a sad childhood and tormented youth. He finally collapsed in our Senior year and was taken to the State Hospital. As young people, we hardly understood his struggles. He was released, but never fully recovered. Witnessing his breakdown and trauma has always stuck in my mind. My picture is dark and distorted, but the cages are open and the birds (spirits) have taken flight. The robins continue to sing and bluebirds rest on the fence showing hope and happiness. Pretty heavy, I know.

The exhibit will be held in th Rinaldo Hall Gallery, Grand Traverse Commons , November 5- January 1.

500 Visitors Giveaway!!

500 Visitors Giveaway!!

It's wonderful to have 1,000 followers, some have 2,000 visitors, I've heard of Tweets that have in the millions, but since July 1, 2011, I have had 500 visitors. (Probably half of them are my checking to see who has visited...no matter). My cluster map shows where folks live and since I love geography, I love to look at those maps and the flags. I am thrilled that so many people have taken the time to see what I have posted. The comments and interest has keep me motivated and eager to post more on this site. I have met fabulous artists and learned about artwork from Australia to Vancouver to Brazil to Finland, and so many other places around the world. To each of you, thank you.

In honor of the 500 visitors, I will be giving away 5 items. Nothing fancy or expensive, but something I have made or collected. If you would like to win, you have to post a comment here. It will last for the next few days ending Sunday ( I extended to get more winners). I will randomly draw out 5 names and put them with the 5 prizes. Check back to see if you have won and make sure I have your e-mail address so I can find you mailing address. This should be fun!!!

ATC Giveaway #1:

ATC Giveaway #2:

ATC Giveaway #3:

Tag Giveaway #4:

Surprise package of paper Giveaway #5:

?????????? From children's books, an atlas, homemade, store bought, from my paper stash.:))

So, again, thank you and I hope you enjoy this little giveaway.

Sunday Postcard Art Challenge~Zombies

Zombies...couldn't resist this zombie postcard which is a take off of some greeting cards I made my son for Christmas. He's into zombies. Antique map of Paris for the head, cutout letters, a hand with jagged nails and cut paper eyeballs. Perfectly ugly Zombie. Check out the Sunday Postcart Art at: http://sundaypostcardart.wordpress.com/

September Paper Swap

(Paper I sent to Chris)
Paper Swap hostess at http://paper-swap.blogspot.com/ will explain all about her Paper Swaps. I signed up for the September paper swap not knowing what to expect. But...such fun...a paper swap with a lady who lives in Wales.

I saved and saved, created paper I thought she might like, found pictures in some children's books, added US postage stamps, tissue paper, vintage cards, some victorian seals, paper doilies, a page or two from a shorthand book, a few cards I have made, book end papers, pages from a vintage Sears catalogue, gampi tissue I had printed on, pieces from some of my favorite papers from a paper store in Ann Arbor, and I don't know what other paper I managed to slip in. Once I started, I just couldn't figure out what to remove. My friend loves rust and is into textiles, so I couldn't resist sending her some rust dyed doilies, sari ribbon, and antique embroidry floss in her favorite colors. Not paper, but a bonus. I made a mailart envelope and sent it off with my fingers crossed that everything would get there safely.

And then, that same week, I received her package. I raced all the way up the driveway and opened it. I scoured through the paper she sent before I left for the weekend and I'm now going back to check it out more closely. WOW! (pictures to come soon)

Check out the above website to find out more about the upcoming October Swap "Ordinary Paper". I did. It is a wonderful idea and mucho fun.