Inspired, creative art

Today I reconnected to a website  and artist that I really like, Donna Downey.  I enjoy Donna's bright colors, free flowing creativity, and her passion for the art she creates.  Donna is primarily a mixed media artist and focuses on Art Journals.  She uses many different techniques and is a good teacher.

Today, the video I watched was one of the most inspiring art I have seen in a long time.  It was posted on Donna's site which you can find in my favorite links, on 12-11-13 and called Inspired Wednesdays.

I don't know what words to use to describe what I saw.  It was the creative process from beginning to end.  Donna expressed doubt, encouragement, risk taking, passion, freedom, and pure bliss.  I don't want to say a lot more as this is a video that should be watched with an open mind and the ability to enjoy all the surprises that occur.

I highly recommend Donna's website.  It is fun, a little kooky, and filled with creative passion.  Go there and be inspired.

joyous and creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk

Pleased to hear

Yesterday, I saw one of the people for whom I made the holiday ornament.  She told me how happy she was to receive such a beautiful gift.  That made me happy.  Then she told me what she did with it.  I was amazed and wanted to share because it was so creative. 

She went and found a "shadow box" that the ornament would fit in.  She found some paper that would compliment the ornament and placed it as the background paper.  She then set the ornament in the box and pinned it so it wouldn't move.  Then she permanently attached it to the background paper and covered it with glass.  She now has it hanging as a decoration.  What a clever idea.  I wanted to post this here as information.  I will also post on Facebook.  I may post on Pinterest as well.  I wish I had a photo to share and I don't.  Let your mind go and you can see how it can be done.

Joyous and creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk

January Birthday Cards

Hey, I didn't disappear and I have been busy.  I have made some birthday cards, have designed and planned for a couple more cards.  And I am working on a springtime tag set.  I will post all that I do.

I am also taking a Writing as a Spiritual Practice class and it is inspiring me in many different ways.  Last night as I left my house, I looked in the sky and there was the full moon shining brightly with some wispy clouds behind it.  It was incredible.  I made a sketch before class started and hope to recreate the beauty using Stampscapes.  More to come soon.

Here are the three birthday cards I made earlier this week.

The first two cards were in a monochromatic theme.  I also used Anna Griffin paper for both cards.  I have loved Anna's paper for years.  She is an amazing artist and I love the color and botanical feel.  These are both older papers from my stash.  The Happy Birthday stamp is also Anna Griffin.  I used Stampin Up Wisteria Wonder ink on this first card.  I used Stampin Up Elegant and Itty Bitty butterfly punches.

The card and front of the envelope. 

Close up on the envelope.  I did put a liner in the envelope and didn't have a good photo of that.  It was Anna Griffin paper again.

 

I actually made this green card first.  I was inspired by the friend I was making it for.  She is a gardener and so I wanted to make the card floral.  Initially I was going to make the card in shades of green and purple.  I just couldn't come up with the right combination.  So, I said, "Why not go the monochromatic route?"   And so I did and made one green and one purple card.   Again, I used Anna Griffin botanical prints and stamps.  I used Stampin Up Old Olive ink.  Again, the Stampin Up butterfly punches.  I used two different stamps for the inside of the card shown below.



 











 
 



 

 

Here is card and front of the envelope which is different from the purple envelope.  I do like the purple envelope the best.  I would have stamped a second time on this one to cover the whole left side of the envelope.  Still it is pretty and gives you options.

 

 

 

Below is the front of the envelope and then the lined envelope.  I think lining an envelope adds class and a special touch.  I don't do it on all my cards and I do it on most of them.

 

 

 

 

I am having great difficulty with this post.  It seems to have a mind of its own and has decided to underline everything.  I am sorry about this, please bear with me. 

 

 

I really like this card.  I used an Anna Griffin botanical stamp again.  I also used Anna's Happy Birthday stamp again.  I embossed the flower in silver and then water colored it.  I used Stampin Up Calypso Coral and Old Olive to water color.  The lace behind the flower is from Stampin Up.  The lace butterfly is from Martha Stewart.  The print paper is from Stampin Up Twitterpatted paper set.









 

 

 
This is the inside of the card.  I love this saying by Helen Keller.

This is the card and now you can see the Happy Birthday on the front of the card.  Here is the front of the envelope too.

 

 

Another view of the front of the envelope and the underline is gone.  Who knows why.

 

I lined the envelope with the same paper I used on the front of the card.  I like to do this if I have enough paper.  I really like this paper set and so have three sets of all the papers.

 I hope you have enjoyed these three cards and they have inspired you to create your own.  Enjoy!

Joyous and creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk



More time on the computer being inspired

So, yesterday and today I have spent time watching You Tube videos on how to use Ranger's Alcohol Inks by Tim Holtz and other techniques.  Mostly Alcohol Inks...  I had forgotten the technique I learned in the early 2000's of how to use any ink, alcohol and cotton balls.  You took a cotton ball put a little alcohol on it, then added drops of ink (single color or more) on the cotton ball.  Then on glossy cardstock you would swirl the cotton ball and get beautiful background paper.  Now, you do this without the cotton ball.  I love this technique and forgot how much.  There are some artists who have taken it to a new level.  Judy Rollins in particular.  She is amazing.  I want to get her book or DVD's.

I want to share a wonderful memory about the time I learned the cotton ball technique.  My sister, her daughter and husband and their two oldest boys had come to visit me in CA.  My sister, niece and I were signed up for a weekend DaNami workshop in Medford, OR at Stampstruck.  My niece's husband and the boys were on their own.  We learned the cotton ball technique at the workshop.  We came back home and immediately went out and bought alcohol and cotton balls.  Then went to my kitchen table and started making all different colored background paper.  The two boys thought it looked cool and so they made background paper as well.  It was such a fun, spontaneous project.  It is a memory I cherish.  May you also have many creative and loving memories like this.

Joyous and creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk

Favorite Links

I am still learning how to design this website and am not sure how to list my Favorite Links.  So, I am listing them in this post.  In time I hope to learn how to have it appear at the sidebar. 


My Favorite Links:

This is my Stampin Up demonstrator's website.  She does more than Stampin Up and has been published in a number of Craft magazines.  She is great with simple and creative cards and layouts.

http://mykitchentablestudio.blogspot.com/

This is another Stampin Up Demonstrator who I follow.  I love her designs and videos on You Tube.  She is very creative and loves to share her designs.  She also does a lot more than Stampin Up as you will see on her site.

http://catherinepooler.com/

Yet another Stampin Up Demonstrator who has many videos on You Tube and has a fun and creative website.  There is a lot to learn from this website.

http://www.chicnscratch.com/

There is a pattern here as this too is another Stampin Up Demonstrator.  She has a lot of videos teaching special techniques.  I especially like her 10 cards in 20 minutes.  She does simple and beautiful cards.  She also holds workshops. 

http://brandyscards.com/

Since I have listed a number of Stampin Up Demonstrators, I had to list the Stampin Up website where you can shop for all their products.  You do need a demonstrator to do this.

http://www.stampinup.com/

I have used Stampscapes stamps and techniques since the early 90's.  This was one of my first classes that I took in the Bay Area.  I fell in love immediately and still use this technique today.

http://www.stampscapes.com/home.html

Fred B. Mullett is an amazing nature artist.  It was the late 90's, early 2000's that I first learned about Fred and took a class from him at Stampstruck in Medford, OR (this shop is now closed)  Stampstruck is where I truly became a paper artist and Fred Mullett was one of my teachers.  I still use his techniques and stamps today.

http://www.fredbmullett.com/



Please share any of your favorite links.  I hope you enjoy exploring some of my favorite links.  I will be adding more over time.

Joyous and creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk

Inspired

Today when I was on Pinterest I saw a Tri-fold Shutter card done with Stampscapes.  It was beautiful.  One of the first classes I ever took was from Ken the creator and owner of Stampscapes.  I felt like my life was opened to a whole new way of being creative.  I could bring my love of nature to my cards by creating beautiful landscapes.   There was a time when I did a lot of Stampscape cards and now it is only occasionally.  I have been watching more of Ken's video's on You Tube and am thinking of doing more of these cards.  I am thinking about doing one for Christmas 2014.  Yes, I am crazy and I am already thinking about Christmas cards.  Keep your eyes pealed.

Then I explored more Tri-fold shutter cards on Pinterest and You Tube.  It seems these were popular a few years back.  I still think they are fun and very unique.  I am thinking of making my niece one for her birthday in February.

So many ideas, I better get started creating and spreading the joy.

Joyous and creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk

Sharing other cards I made in 2013

I have been making cards since the early 1980's.  I want to share some of the other cards or paper art I have made in 2013 and earlier.  I hope you enjoy them.

My great nephew turned 18 in December 2013, a momentous birthday.  This is the card I made for him.

This is the card I made for my great nephew who turned 15 in October.  I used old leaf stamps I have and Stampin Ups French Foliage.  I used a brayer to create the background with a number of inks and then stamped on top of the background.

This is the card and envelope together.

My youngest nephew got married in September.  This is the background for the front of their wedding card.  I used a silver patterned cardstock and then covered most of it with Washi tape.  I really like this technique.

 

This is the finished front of the wedding card.  I did many layers.  I cut strips of an embossed ivory cardstock and rounded the bottoms.  I cut them in different lengths and then spaced them across the front of the card.  This is a 5.5 x 5.5 card.  The middle section is silver cardstock, gray floral paper and then a white embossed section all covered with vellum saying with pearl dots and flowers on the four corners.  There is a floral vine to the left that is embroidered.  On the right two butterflies punched out from the same cardstock as the strips with an oval pearl in the middle.  I had fun making this card using the different layers and techniques.

 

This is the inside of the card.  Silver, then the embossed cardstock used on the front, and topped with the vellum saying.

 

This is the envelope using washi tape on the side and bottom.

 

 This is the birthday card I made for my nephew in-law in January 2013.  Much more complex than the one I made this year.  It just depends on my mood.  I like the collage technique I used on this card.  I like it as a masculine card and you could change the colors and background paper and make it for a woman as well.  I love when another card inspires me to make my own version.  I hope you do too.

Just another view of this card.

This is the 2013 birthday card I made for my great niece.  She is a girly girl and was into purple and pink back in May 2013.  Now, her favorite color is red.  Who knows what it will be when I am ready to make her card this year.  I will post it in June.  I do love butterflies which you will begin to see in my cards over time.

This is the envelope that went with the card above.

I made this card for a friend in May 2013.  Similar to my great niece, I used flowers and butterflies.  I made them about the same time and that was my mood.  I do love the colors and textures in this card.

Joyous and creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk

Starting on Birthday cards for January 2014

I started making my January birthday cards today.  I have three family birthdays in January; my two sister-in-laws and my nephew in-law.  I also have a friend with a January birthday.  So, today I finished my husbands sister's card and my nephew in-law.  Their birthdays are this week.  The cards are posted below.  Enjoy!

This is my card for my sister-in-law and friend.  She likes purple.  This is a 5x7 card.  I have a huge stash of paper and used scraps for most of this card, basically in shades of purple.  I used Stampin Up stamps, ink and punches on this card.  I used the Simply Sketched stamp set.  All three stamps are from that set, it's a hostess gift.  The punches I used are Elegant Butterfly, Itty bitty butterfly, scallop oval, and large oval.  I used a watercolor technique on the flower using Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade and Old Olive inks.  Be inspired and be creative; make your own cards.

 

 

Here is the envelope I made to go with the card.  I believe in sending a little joy through the mail and decorate my envelopes.  I also use envelope liners on many of my cards.

 

 

Here are the card and envelope together.  I hope you enjoy viewing my paper art.

 

 

 

This is a very simple card that I made for my nephew in-law.  I used khaki paper for the card and the wood grain piece.  The wood grain is embossed on the Big Shot and then inked with Stampin Up Crumb Cake ink.  I used red and blue scraps for the two edge pieces.  I used Stampin Up Itty Bitty die cuts and the Happy Birthday stamp.  I cut out a plain blue banner, cut it in half and put at each end of the red banner.  I learned this trick from another Stampin Up person.  I used blue and khaki twine on the left.  The stars are dies that I have.  I have a huge stash of die cuts, alphabets, etc.  Paul loves baseball, especially the Yankees and this reminded me a little of baseball.  I need to collect some Yankee paper dies, stickers, etc.  This is an A2 card 5 1/2 x 4 1/4.

 

 

This is the card and envelope together.  Just a simple envelope and no lining for this one.



 



Another view of the card.   This is so simple and another way to make a masculine card.  They are hard to find.

 

 

Joyful and creative blessings,

 

Sher@SistersInk





Archiver's Closing

Today I found out that one of my favorite craft stores, Archiver's is closing over the next three to six months.  I was sad to see this happen.  It seems to be what is happening to many of the paper craft stores over the last six years.  Even big chain stores have closed or have severely reduced their product lines.

Archiver's said part of the reason for closing is that many people who scrapbook are using online media to complete their projects.  I do like the convenience of  online media and it is much more expensive to do the printing.  Plus, I am a hands on crafter.  I like touching the paper, ink, and stamps.  I guess I am old school.

Thank you Archiver's for all you have done for the paper crafter world.  I will miss having you as a touchstone place to go.

joyful & creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk

Snowman holder

Okay, I know the holidays are over.  Still, I want to share one more project.  I did a 12 Days of Christmas for my niece and her family this year.  They had a rough year and Santa wanted them to know the joy of the season. 

I cut two tags from Cricut's George and Basic Shapes in the blue paper.  I cut the snowman and accessories from Cricut's Joyous Noel.  You fold the tags at the bottom and glue/tape them together.  Put the Snowman on the front.  Tie the top with a ribbon and insert the gum.  You can also put mini candy bars as well.

2013 Christmas Cards

I know the holidays are over and I am already starting to think about next year so wanted to share with you what I did this year.  I hope you are inspired to create your own unique expression through paper, ink, stamps, etc.

I always make different styles of cards because I make so many and quite frankly I get bored after about 25 cards.  All the cards are A2 size cards (51/2 x 41/4); some are turned and folded at the top rather than the side (those are the Joy at Christmas and the Snowman cards)

These first two cards are the same except for the background paper.  I ran out of the SEI Holly paper and so used another SEI paper that I had.  The center stamp is from Stampin Up and the holly in the corner is from Teresa Collins Cricut Holiday collection.  As you can tell I am eclectic in my supplies and designs.  This card made me happy when I was making it.  I was inspired by other Stampin Up artists on Pinterest.  I spend a lot of time on that site.

Sorry about this card sitting on its side.  I really had fun making this card.  It is made with a variety of stamps; older ones that I have in my stash.

This is a Stampin Up inspired card that I saw on Pinterest.  It is made from an older stamp set and is quite simple. 

This was a fun card too.  The stockings are cut from Teresa Collins Cricut holiday collection.  The background is embossed on the Big Shot with the wood grain folder as it the brown mantle.  It is a simple card and you can be creative in choosing the papers and designs on the cuff.

Another Pinterest inspired card.  I see cards on the site and then design my own.  The blue background is embossed with the Sizzix tree plate.  I cut out three ornaments with the Stampin Up 2012 ornaments die cuts.  Then I chose random paper for each ornament and added a crystal to the middle ornament and silver glitter to the right ornament.  The left ornament had enough design in its pattern.

 

This card is my favorite card for this season and probably for many other seasons.  Yes, I was once again inspired by a card on Pinterest.  I made many slight changes to the cards and like mine better.  The snowflakes are cut on silver paper from the Teresa Collins Cricut holiday collection.  I added silver glitter to the large and medium snowflake.  All the rest comes from Stampin Up.  The iridescent paper is embossed with the Snow Flurry embossing folder.  Notice the same accessory on my holiday ornaments are also on this snowflake.  I happen to really like this accessory.

 

 

I hope you are inspired and make your own cards from designs you see other paper artists create.  I think it is fun to take something and change it up.  Be inspired and share your joy.

 

 

Joyful and creative blessings,

 

Sher@SistersInk

Variations on Stampin Up 2012 Holiday Ornament

I have wanted to make the Stampin Up 2012 Holiday Ornament for over a year.  I finally was able to do it in 2013.  I made a number of the ornaments and I want to warn you, you need a lot of lead time to do this.  I also wanted to be creative and make each one a little different.  So you will see posted below the different styles I used and this is only a few of them.  So, if you decide to make these, be creative and let your imagination soar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This first ornament is made with Wisteria large ornaments and Silver Pearl small ornaments.  I added cut up Christmas picks in silver to give it a different look.  You can also change the rosette paper and the accessory on top of the rosette.  This one was for my sister because she loves all shades of  purple.

 

 

This ornament was made with embossed Silver large ornaments and embossed with Opal Black small ornaments.  It is perfect for someone who likes a simple, modern design in their home and for the holidays.  Again I used cut up silver Christmas picks to accessorize.  This one was made for my nephew and his family.

The third ornament is more basic with no additional accessories added in.  The large ornament is Island Indigo and the small ornament is embossed Silver.  This is my favorite combination of colors.

Another Wisteria and Silver Pearl without the additional accessories.  It is still beautiful and I love the soft color combination.

This ornament is closer to the original 2012 Holiday Ornament.  The large ornament is Old Olive and the small ornament is Cherry Cobbler.  I made a number of the original as I do like it and think it is beautiful.  Many people do like the traditional Christmas colors.

This is another of the Island Indigo and embossed Silver Holiday ornament with cut up Christmas picks.  This one is bright and cheery.  I made it for another of my nephews and his wife.  It is their first Christmas.  I used silver toile on this ornament rather than white.

Can you tell I really like this combination.  I hope you find a fun color combination that you really like.

I made this one for my niece to go with her Christmas tree that is decorated in silver, black and red.  It is beautiful and this is a nice addition to her tree.  The large ornament is embossed Silver and the small ornament is embossed Opal Black.  The rosette adds with a pop of red and I cut up long silver trim as the accessory.

Again the traditional ornament with a different rosette, green this time.  I also made one of these with green toile instead of the red.

This is another take on the purple and silver theme.  The large ornament is embossed Silver and the small ornament is Eggplant.  A reverse of the other purple ornament.  It was so much fun making all the different ornaments.  Each one had a different rosette to distinguish it from the other ornaments that were in the same colors.

Okay, did I say I really like the Island Indigo and Silver ornament?  Yes, I do.  Here is another different look with a blue and green rosette.  It pops and gives the ornament a different look.

Here is one more of the traditional Red and Green holiday ornament so you can see how the rosette makes a difference.  Some people will want to use the same paper and I did think about that.  My problem is that I couldn't make up my mind which paper I liked best.  So, I used different ones on each ornament.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the different ways to make the 2012 Stampin Up Holiday Ornament.  Maybe you will be inspired to make some of your own next year.  There are many You Tube Videos out there with directions.  Catherine Pooler's and Chic-N-Scratch are two of the best.

I'm thinking of creating new and different ornaments for next year or maybe for different holidays.  I will share with you if I do.  I hope you will share what you have done with me.

Joyful & Creative blessings,

Sher@SistersInk