I still do not have a new computer and now my high speed modem has died as well. I should have a new computer by next week. I'm going crazy without one, I feel like I haven't posted on my blog for a year. It's amazing how dependent you become to your computer. But boy o' boy, they sure are a pain in the bum sometimes aren't they? Looking forward to getting back to the blogging world and visiting all my favorite, inspirational blogs. I miss all of your blogs so much as well. See you soon!!

My computer has died.........

well, in all actuality, it was my hard drive that died. My Dell computer is only four years old, you would think it would have lasted longer.

At any rate, I just wanted to mention it because I won't be able to scan and/or post to my blog until I get the new one. That will probably be sometime around October 3rd when I get my monthly paycheck.

I'm not the most "computer oriented" person there is, so if anyone has any helpful hints on buying a new computer or what to look for, etc, I would appreciate it very much. This will actually be the first computer I buy for myself on my own. The Dell computer was a very generous gift from my sister Stephanie a little over four years ago.

I'm kind of struggling between a desktop or a laptop. Basically I use the computer only for receiving and sending e-mails. Also, scanning, downloading &/or uploading pictures to save and edit for my blog. I would love to eventually try some digital art, however, for some reason I'm very intimidated by it.

This last computer has Microsoft Vista, which was a pain in the rear. There are lots of problems with Vista. I can't wait to get Microsoft 7. So, again, if anyone wants to point out anything I should look for, feel free. Also, I have no idea what brand is better than the next.

I look forward to doing a new art posting with my new computer the first week of October. I thank you in advance for any computer tips you might give me. Is it really the end of summer and the beginning of fall already? Wow!

This is a cute little piece I made using almost all Alpha Stamps goodies. The cute, good sized clown and the font for the sentiment is Alpha Stamps. The one sheet of scrapbooking paper with the words "Carte Postale" on it was also purchased at Alpha Stamps. She's got some of the greatest stamps and a lot of them you can't find anywhere else, check it out if you haven't already.

Happy Wednesday!! August 3rd already, where does the time go??

White Pen For Journaling &/or Mixed Media Artwork

I am calling out to all of you mixed media artist's to please help me find the "Ultimate White Pen", it would of course be for mixed media artwork.
I beg of you artist's out there in the mixed media world, please help me. One that doesn't run out with too much ink or paint so that you end up having a little puddle, one that doesn't skip as you're writing with it, one that works on any kind of paint or medium, basically one that just actually works well.
I am so frustrated, I swear I've bought every single one that is out there on the market (I think?), and they never seem to work right. In magazines like Stampington's "Art Journaling" I will read how those artist's suggest getting the Ranger Inkssentials white pen or the Sharpie Paint pens or whatever else that seems to work for them, but not me. HELP!!! Can anyone suggest a white pen to me that will actually work, I'm desperate?

I can't even believe it but this is my very first participation in one of the OCTOPODE challenges that Lily has. I'm such a fan of her stamps that I really am surprised by myself and that I don't have a bunch of cards made using her stamps. I'm a very slow starter , and of course better late than never right? So here is my first attempt.

I'm not that thrilled with the outcome of the background (we were suppose to have dots and dashes incorporated somehow), it doesn't look like it meshes well to me, but I don't have time to do another one now so there you have it. I do however like what I did with Marie Antoinette's hair. She was known for always having what we girls used to call "Big Texas Hair", and she always seem to have embellishments in her hair as well.
I used white yarn to do her hair and then I had to add some Pearl Ex to it so it went with her dress.

I'm looking forward to doing another challenge using Lily's amazing stamps. If you haven't bought yourself any, you are probably in the minority because it seems everyone has her products now. But if you don't, I say rush over to OCTOPODE and buy yourself some. The prices are extremely reasonable for what you get, and who wouldn't have fun with these images?

Talk to you soon and thank you very much for stopping by and for taking time out to write any comments. I appreciate it so very much.

This is a piece I made for the current Stampotique "Flower" Challenge. Lately I've been so in love with turquoise, silver and yellow together.
It's such a pretty combination I think. With these great Daniel T. characters, I love to add the larger heads to the bodies. I already had some of these flowers stamped out in turquoise from a previous project and I just didn't end up using them. So I got lucky because the flowers were mostly done already. Cutting the stamped images out sometimes can take forever. I have a box of stamped images that I've cut out for various projects over the years and I just didn't use them for whatever reason.
I dip into that box whenever I can, it comes in handy.

These are a few tags I made recently just for fun. These little art doll stamps are from Catslife Press. They have some pretty cute stamps for very reasonable prices over there.

The black and white bottle cap circles and the bubble wrap impressions have a very "Kate Crane" looking style to them, at least that's what I think (hopefully I'm not insulting her by saying that). Of course I don't have anything close to the talent she has, if you haven't visited her blog lately I highly recommend it http://thekathrynwheel.blogspot.com
She also has recently come out with a couple of DVDs that I'm sure are wonderful. I have yet to get them but they are at the top of my list.
I admire her style and talent so, so much.

At any rate that's all for now. Just trying to get through an Arizona summer, it was 117 degrees here today. Thank God for the pool and the air conditioning.

At the Stampotique Designer Challenge Blog right now, the challenge that Joanne came up with is "Clean & Simple." I usually have a tenancy to embellish and to keep adding stuff onto my cards and projects until I'm satisfied, so doing a "Clean & Simple" card was actually a big challenge for me. That being said, this is what I came up with. I used the TOBY and MINKYGIRL stamps and then I just hand drew a quick border and a heart in the middle.

My gosh do I feel guilty about not blogging since April. I've had a lot on my plate however, I really do want to get back to creating and blogging at least a few times a month if not a lot more. I swear, I've said it a million times but I don't know how some of you girls do it? Some of you have full time jobs, families to take care of when you get home from your jobs and then you post to your blog every other day, you are miracle workers, no question. I admire all of you.

These little tags or whatever you want to call them are part of my STAMPINGTON AOC samples using the "Divinata" stamps. I recycled the main panel from Prima packaging materials, the absolutely adorable and so fun to use kraft Eco Embellishment Birds and Crowns are from ARTCHIX STUDIO. Recycled some leftover bags I had from a local shop that had kraft newsprint on their bags, a little stitching added, some color coordinated rub-ons, a MAYA ROAD kraft ticket and some words of wisdom and there you have it. I also stitched up this little bag to hold them, sprayed the bag with some Adirondack Color Washes from Ranger. I thought they turned out kind of cute, hope you like them.

I hope everyone is well and I apologize if I haven't visited your blogs lately and left comments, I plan to get caught up on my little inspirational blog hopping that I like to do very soon.

Happy Summer to all my wonderful blog friends. Be safe, relax and have fun.

I don't know which is worse.......the US Mail or the Royal Mail. Mailers Beware!!! If you need to send something overseas that is of any importance at all, send it either by UPS,FED X or even DHL.

A friend of mine has sent me something twice from the UK and twice it's gotten lost. The more I hear from other people over there sending items to the US, the more I hear about packages getting lost and never showing up again. I lost a lot of faith in the US mail awhile ago, I think I have finally lost all faith in all of the US Mail and the Royal Post (or whatever it's called).

Just be cautious when sending items of any value. Make sure you take out insurance if you do use the regular mail.

I completely forgot to post this on St.Pattys Day (March 17th). It was just something I made up really quick for fun, the stamps are from Stampin Up.

You know how Tim Holtz uses the size #8 tag for so much of his artwork? What I've been buying lately from the Office Supply store is the manila 8x5 index cards (forget what they are actually called). You get something like 100 of them for $5 and they are perfect for quick pieces of artwork. If you want to make an art journal with several of them you can do that too, you can do lots of stuff with them, they just come in handy so much and you get plenty for your money. And if you don't like the tab, you just cut it off.

I can't even believe we are almost to April already, can you? This happens to me every year now, all of sudden Christmas is over, then the New Year starts, and before you know it spring is practically over. It just goes by so quickly anymore, and I know I say that all the time too.

There are a couple sites I wanted to promote today if I could, I'd love it if you're not familiar with them that you take the time to check them out for me please.
#1) Crafty Individuals out of the UK is such an amazing stamp company. They make the most beautiful stamps, and then on top of that, they make stunning papers, amazing glossy images to use in your artwork, and now they are making these tags that are so, so gorgeous. I can't even explain to you how pretty these tags are, you have to check it out yourself. http://craftyindividuals.com On top of all of that, the two people who run the company (Malcolm and Jean), they have to honestly be some of the most sweetest, kindest people I've met over the Internet since I started on this art journey of mine.

#2) I'm sure you all have heard of LILY CHILVERS by now, and if you haven't, you should have. Her blog is http://frillyunderwear.blogspot.com I mean, how cute is that title any way? The blog is called Octopode and she is this truly AMAZING artist. I'm not sure of her exact age, but I think she's either 17 or 18. When you look at her artwork you just know she is going places in the art world. I can see her ten years down the road having her artwork everywhere and doing just awesome things with it. I just received her newest line of stamps and they are so cool, I mean, they are so, so cool. You have to get them!! They are quirky, they are like nothing else you've seen before and I am so in love with them. She also does digital collage sheets and you can also order tangible collage sheets. Check her out just as soon as you can!!

#3) AlphaStamps.com is a web company here in the States run by the wonderful Leslie. She carries a little bit of this and a little bit of that. She has really great collage sheets, she has an extensive collection of metal charms and metal trinkets for your artwork (items that I have not seen anywhere else). She sells great products for jewelry making. She also has great swaps to partake in on the Yahoo Group they have and it's just a fun community of artists to play with. Go on over and browse around the site.

These are a few quick, little stamped cards I made on the corrugated cardboard. I added some coordinated pearl embellishments, matching twine and cute little sayings and viola.......you have a few quick and easy cards to send to someone.

These are some ATCs I made a bit ago for an ArtChix Studio swap. I always really liked how they turned out. I never did post them on my blog so I thought I would do that now. Aside from the torn pages from old books, the rest of the materials are from ArtChix Studios.

This is just a simple little ATC I made for AlphaStamps (using their collage images and Dresden blue birds) for Easter. I just thought it was sweet.