More Pretty Things

I did a huge card push yesterday. *No I didn't make 129 cards. I actually sent about half that. And no, they weren't all hand-made. However, I did embellish some store-bought cards and each and every one had a thoughtful, hand-written message.*

Here are some of the results. All made by me.

This tag is the size of an A2 (normal invitation size).
my design

Just a simple die cut and stamp. I also did this in green.
my design

I love this color combo. Again, a die cut. Just added stamps and ribbons.
my design

This was a square card from a Stampology class. Again, we used the "huffing" technique.
not my design

This was an Archiver's make & take. So. cute. Fits into a check envelope.
not my design

everyone else is getting an e-card! :)
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy New Year!

Another One

I took a class at Stampology and this card is one of four that I made. I can only take credit for assembling it. I didn't design it. I liked the techniques, though. I colored with water-based art markers and "huffed" on the rubber stamp snowflakes. I also used UTEE, or ultra-thick embossing enamel to make the snowflakes glossy. It was fun! I'm sending this one to my Archiver's secret santa girl. If she's savvy enough to figure out who I am by reading this blog, then she deserves to know!

One Down, 128 To Go

I have about 129 cards to send. Here's one that I made at work the other day. I am particularly proud of it because of the techniques I used. And I designed it myself!!

I stamped three flourishes in the corner (and one in the opposite diagonal corner) with Starlite Silver ink, then embossed with holographic embossing powder. Next I stamped "Believe" in Blue Chalk Ink and embossed with clear. I added four small gemstones to embellish. To create the mat, I edged the sides of the mat with the Blue Chalk Ink and then embossed with clear. (That was the coolest part!!) I adhered the message with four pop dots. Finally, I finished the bottom right corner with 3 pearls.

Shazam! It's fabulous. Sorry the scanner doesn't do it justice.

Glossary

My friend Eric told me that once you relegate "art" to "craft," you can't charge as much for it. Figuratively, and literally, a piece loses value, regardless of the skill needed to create the work. So, I'm trying out the whole calling it "art" thing. I am wondering if I have the right to grant my own work such stature. I am not sure if I'm comfortable with it, but it's fun to think about.

I'm not sure if my reluctance to call my work art is due to the tools/media I use, or if it's because of how I got started, maybe the fact that I never went to art school (or even took an art class outside of the general curriculum); I'm not that good at drawing... I could go on. I'm not sure why I'm so ambivalent, but all of this thinking has got me thinking. Is there a mid-ground between art and craft? Some kind of hybrid state where all of the elegance of art meets the commonness of craft?

For my wicked babes out there doin' it on the daily, I've got some new names for you to try on. Eschew the label of "crafter" and give these tones a try: Craftist, Craftista, Craftion, Craftala, Craftelle, Craftess, and even Crafthead. What the hell? Art? Craft? It's all fun anyway.

Journal

My best friend (who loves green) got a journal for her birthday! (It was a little late.)

That's the outside cover. Then there was a pocket.
Followed by some "chapters"

She loves the fall, too.

So do I, of course.

We're fall babies. She's a faerie, too.

And she likes eyelets and delicate things.

But I was sure she'd enjoy a walk on the wild side.
I incorporated some handmade papers, too.

There was even a page with spare buttons and a needle!

And this is the last page.

followed by the back cover.THE END

Calendar

So, here's some of the stuff I did. I made myself a calendar.

Front Cover

Inside pages...

yaknowyaluv the back cover...