When I attended Michelle Zindorf's class on brayering, she had us practice on a card using green ink. I brought mine home and decided yesterday to use it in some fashion as part of my goal to use up scraps, etc.

I added some warm hues to the top of the green card with my brayer and added the verse from Scrolls Work along with the Lady Flourish Silhouette, stamp #2558.

The digital challenge this week at Digital Whisper was MOVEMENT which reminded me of an image from Scrolls Work, #3521 Harlequin Jesters. I think you will agree that this image is full of movement and very fun to use for cards, journals, etc.

The sad thing . . . I used red foil on the card forgetting that foil does not scan well. It is a pretty card as well as a fun one. Who wouldn't want a card with lively dancing jesters.

Today was our monthly meeting of the Artistic Souls, Circle of Friends. The image I had for the swap card was the peony by Beeswax (photo to the left).

It was also my turn to prepare and present the monthly project so I decided to attempt to pass on the information I learned in Michelle Zindorf's class and the group created three cards (two below) and a third very similar to the Divas swap card called 'FRIENDS' featured further down on my blog. It was an extra fun day because Karen from Texas was in town and joined us for a full day of chit chat and a lot of ink brayering.

The theme for this week's ATC at Alterdesign is "open." I had some die cuts with a Mexican theme and used them along with a sunburst stamp by Magenta for my card.

Mindi, at our monthly meeting of the Designing Divas, presented a very fun project and demonstrated how we could cut fabric using our die cuts. She brought all of the supplies for us to make these darling pin cushions, and we cut all of the layers from various sizes and designs. Thanks to other Divas who brought machines, we were able to stitch them together.

I cut sufficient for two...aren't they terrific!

Her project partner, Deb, was unable to attend due to a death in the family so it was a big assignment for one, but being well prepared was the answer. Thanks, Mindi, and sincere condolences to Deb and Family.

I worked in my flower beds yesterday so last night I decided to work on the upcoming ATC for TGIF at Altered Designs. The theme for this upcoming week is BIRDS. I had a piece of Sheer Heaven that I had printed on my inkjet printer for a transfer to fabric and maintianed the original because the image was still vibrant. I used it for my ATC. The bottom portion of the card is green feathers for the leaves. It is great to be a week ahead for a change.

Today is grocery shopping and then I'll tackle more yard work in the morning. My body needs a day in between to let muscles relax and recover. Getting older is the pits!

The ATC theme at Altered Designs for this week is Royalty - Kings and Queens. This is what I came up with.

I have been practicing my brayer technique based on a recent class I attended presented by Michelle Zindorf. I made this card for tonight's swap at our local Divas stamp club.

The family gave our granddaughter, Jillian, a surprise birthday party last Saturday and this was the card I mailed off to her.

The template for the doll is from Inka at

Altered Artifacts

and she sells the templates and offers custom designs in her etsy shop

Lynn, on her blog, Trash to Treasure, is having a giveaway. THERE IS ONLY ONE DAY LEFT so check out her blog and jump over there to get the details.

You will need some time because Lynn has so much for you to view with new pieces created and added almost daily. She is one talented lady.

The theme for the May lottery at Altered Designs is Vintage Gothic Arch shape. I elected to use a rubber stamp by Scrolls Work for the bottom design, a downloaded image of a lady of fashion 1920s style all mounted to a background paper I had made a long time ago. I cut an arch out of a piece of chip board and added a little gold scrap around the top.

I copied these photos from Michelle's blog and the photos were tiny so it was difficult to get some really good uploads. However, I wanted to share how pleased I was to attend. My friend, Cathy Thomlinson, sat next to me (photo on the left) and Michelle and I are in the photo to the right.

It was a very inspiring day!

Lots of experiments to create this card. I embossed the Zia image first with white EP and heated. I filled the inside of the leaves with dye ink on a wet surface using reinkers. I used liquid transparent watercolor for the blue section around the leaves. As a final touch I swiped a turquoise dye ink pad across the entire card; reheated the embossing and edged with a gold leafing pen. The verse was stamped and embossed in gold and is from Jim Stephan.

The ATC theme for this upcoming week at Altered Designs is flowers.


I used a wallpaper sunflower design for the base, a bouquet image by Ink'n Rubber and a verse by Moonlight.