Kat Ancheta at Close To My Heart

Ok, so something really cool happened!  I met Kat Ancheta through/on one of the lists I belong to.  She asked me to participate in a Design Team activity for her new business at Close To My Heart (visit Kat at katancheta.ctmh.com to check out all the really neat products she has available!).  Two weeks later I received a randomly picked design team package with nautical themed paper and some great stamps. 

Now, you may have seen from previous posts on my blog that I 1) do not design things men would normally admire or want and 2) I tend to design vintage type things SO... what did this mean for Kat's challenge?  I really had to sit down and let the paper draw me in and tell me what it wanted to be! So here comes the cool part... I started out and made a card (a challenge for me since I struggle with cards for some bizarre reason).  Then, feeling that I did not do Kat's Close To My Heart package justice it was back to the drawing board.  Second project, a simple, neat little spiral bound note book that my husband could easily fit in his pocket.  At that point I was still dissatisfied with my work product - the items were nice but I felt I owed Kat MORE. 

Finally, this last week inspiration hit me on the back of the head like a well aimed smack!  From scratch, referencing no tutorials, I made the COOLEST 3-D sailboat that includes all things great - colorful paper, raised stamped images, pinwheels, streamers, crepe paper, and of course GLITTER. :)  So please stick with me through the photos that follow. I really want to share my sailboat with everyone but not before I show you photos of my DT package and the shutter-fold card as well as the note pad.  I hope you will be able to see the progression!

   

 This paper pack from Kat's Close To My Heart store is called "Tommy" and includes an assortment of color-coordinated paper.

These great stamps came in with my DT package from Kat as well and are titled PinWheel.  May I just add that these really are very nice clear acrylic stamps - I had no problem getting clean, crisp images with them for which I am terribly grateful as I am not a gifted stamper!

 So I definitely watched a YouTube tutorial on how to make a shutter fold card. Surprisingly, it was not as difficult as it might look!  The wonderful thing was that all of the card stock from Kat's design team package coordinated beautifully and all I added was some Glossy Accents!

Throughout the little note pad that follows I have included random decorative accents from Kat at Close To My Heart. Also, to let my husband know that I am thinking of him when he is out moving cattle or checking horses I have written short little messages like, "I am thinking about you!" randomly throughout the pages (photos of messages not included! lol).

 You see the yellow flap sticking up here?  This is the closure on this little notebook.  I used small magnetic discs from Basic Grey to ensure that this would hold itself closed when not in use.

Now, for my piece de resistance!!  :::: drum roll ::::  Hoist the anchors, untie the ropes, and drop the sails...

 So the neat thing about this boat is that it is actually a gift box. :)  You simply lift up the top part (seen below) and you can insert candies or a small gift in the little box on the bottom.  There is also room to actually put candy (or teeny tiny passengers) in the boat!

 Once I figured out what I wanted to make, the construction of this boat was great fun!  Both sides could be displayed as the back is directed exactly the same as the front - the only difference being that my "masts" (inked popsicle sticks) show more on the back side. 

I painted the outside of the box with some Liberty Blue Accent brand paint I just happened to have on hand and lined the inside of the box with craft colored card stock as well as some of the patterned paper from my DT kit.  The banner on the outside is actually a piece of yellow organza type ribbon that I inked red and the printed border that was on the top of one of the 12 x 12 designer papers.

If you've hung in there this long I truly appreciate it. Kat has a lot of great products available on her website at katancheta.ctmh.com - please take a minute to check it out!

Best,

MistiRose

Got Cake?

Good Morning!

I had a very productive weekend and wanted to share my newest project with everyone.  My new Sizzix Bigz and XL dies arrived on Friday so I just had to put them to use.  Mind you, I've had my Big Shot Pro for awhile but continued to use dies that would run through my Vagabond machine.

If you are hesitant about spending the money to purchase a Big Shot Pro, I can assure you it is well worth it!  While heavy, the machine is easy to use and you do not have to hold it in place with one hand while cutting your dies.  Not to mention the fact that you can make LARGE die cuts. Be prepared to set it up in a permanent location, however, as it is heavy and large.  This is not a piece of equipment you would want to have to drag in and out of the closet or on and off a lower shelf.

The two dies that I used for this project are the Cupcake Stand and the Cake Box.  Photos follow! :)

Marie and her cakes stand 14" tall and approximately 4" wide.

The top cake does not open; however, the bottom one does!

German glitter? Yes! Flower bases made out of the bottom of water bottles? Yes!

No worthy queen is complete without her jewels.

Thank you for stopping by to take a look.  Perhaps Wednesday or Thursday I can put up photos of the Easter 3D Teacups I made!

Best wishes,
Misti

Laura at Artfully Musing

Good day, all!

I have posted information about Laura's blog at Artfully Musing before (she makes amazing altered bottles!).  With her permission, I wanted to post a photo of some of Laura's fabulous bottles and direct you to her tutorial.

The direct link to Laura's bottle tutorial is: Artfully Musing Bottle Tutorial.  As if that weren't enough, Laura has created a tutorial on the most fabulous chests made out of matchboxes.  Oh to be so creative!  I have not asked Laura if I could post a photo of her Marie Antoinette Chest (I'll do that today!); however, I am sure she would not mind if I share the link with you:  Artfully Musing Matchbox Chest Tutorial.  While you are visiting Laura's blog, be sure to take a look at all of the unique tutorials she offers.

Disclaimer:  I am in no way affiliated with Laura at Artfully Musing but I find her work inspiring and simply want to share her genius with everyone!

Have a great day!
Misti

Swaps :)

I have not been working on that Graphic 45 album without taking breaks to create for swaps in some of the great groups I belong to!  Since the photos have been taken and the exposure has been adjusted, I thought I would include a couple of pictures of some other things I've been working on.

First, a magazine collage that I did for a trading partner in Australia (how cool is that?) over at Paper Traders:

I have also made a couple of little art dolls for the wonderful Ms. Shelly that makes the wheel go round over at the Yahoo Altered Books' group site:

This was my first doll that I made; then realized I was supposed to make a ribbon doll! So, effort #2 follows...

By far my favorite!  This little doll started out as tan card stock and one of my Art Doll stamps. :)

I've also swapped bookmarks on a Yahoo group I recently joined called Art for the Creative Mind. Sadly, I did not take photos of those but they are winging their way to my partner as we speak.

I challenge you to try something "outside the box" this week. 

Best,
Misti

Graphic 45 Album & Other Happenings

Ok so, I think I put this post off for two weeks because of the photographs that needed to be taken.  I've been working on a Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe gate fold album that is 99% finished.  Because my eyes are always larger than my stomach, I put way TOO MANY pages in this album and it is taking FOR-EVAH to finish.  However, since there are so many photos I thought I had probably better post at least the first 11 pages. lol

So... here ya go!

The cover is started but definitely NOT finished. I'm all about junking it up!

This page has photo mats as well as a mini-journal included.

I need to do something else with this page - it just hasn't hit me in the back of the head yet.

Envelope pocket mounted on a chip board covered page.

Last photo for now... more to follow!

I hope this finds you all creating amazing things!
Best wishes,
Misti

Random Act of Kindness

As promised, I am posting more!  Have you noticed that the world seems to lack a little gentility these days? In our rush to get through our lists, care for the important others in our life, etc., it seems as though we have very little time to do a random act of kindness for strangers.  Stepping outside our established relationships and helping others becomes something of a miracle due to the many constraints placed on our time. This week, I was on the receiving end of one such miracle!  I wanted to share with you the lovely mail art envelope that I received from Susan at Paper Art Team. Not only did she take the time to decorate the envelope but she also .... (insert drum roll here) filled it with envelopes!! 

I have been watching tutorials on envelope pockets, envelope mini-albums, altered envelopes ... You get the idea!  Unfortunately, I did not have any envelopes and have spent a fortune on craft and art supplies lately so it was a purchase I just continued to put off.  Susan was the cure to my desperate need of a solution.  I have already started using these envelopes to help build the pages for the Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe gate-fold album I am using.

So first, I would like to send Susan a giant heartfelt THANK YOU!  Second, I would like to encourage you to visit her blog.  Last, but certainly not least, I would like to share my treasure with you. Remember, art is in your heART. :)

Mistakes are Proof That You're Trying ... isn't that the truth?!

WANTED: A few good blogs

I am currently working on a gate-fold album using Graphic 45's Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper.  The album is well under way but i am afraid I made too many pages and am struggling to find unique ways to format each page  Since I am constantly looking for good ways to improve the organization of all my supplies, I thought I would share a photo of my desk in the throes of creativity.

I'd like to say it's not always this bad... but that would just be dishonest!

Are you the owner of a blog with amazing tutorials?  Do you have creativity bursting out of your seams?  If so, let me know! I am always looking for new techniques and have, for some reason, a difficult time locating great blogs!  I am going to start a list to share with everyone who may be blog hopping across the universe. (If you host weekly or monthly challenges I would love to hear from you as well! ) Please leave a comment with a link to your blog.

And so, without any further ado:
FAB-YOU-LOUS BLOGS:
Please visit Susan Mc at AuntieSisters. (Note: Susan, I would love to see some tutorials on how you alter all that fabulous furniture!

TUTORIALS:
Laura has the neatest tutorials on her sit for altered bottles. See her genius at: Artfully Musing
Andrea Walford does a very nice art journaling tutorial here: Art Journaling Video Tutorial
Roni hosts Ink Stains with Roni. Take a look at her site for genius tutorials using what else - ink!

CHALLENGES:
Visit Lee Anne for monthly challenges using free images on her blog at:

Fripperies and Butterflies

Upcycling Cardboard Box

I promised I would post more of the projects I am working on (or at least more often!).  For over a year now I have had a perfect box that I have used to store my Glimmer Mists in.  Sick of looking at it in its original form (it was the box our GPS came in), I decided it was time to do something with it.  I just thought I would share how the box progressed!  I think it turned out quite nicely and while I would change the adhesive I used originally, I am quite pleased with it! 

Original box, cut-down (top flaps removed)

Interior of box painted with pink acrylic (notice that the Modge Podge used to seal interior is still wet!)

Front of box

Box finished and returned to storing treasures! 

By the way, Pattie, my partner in the Tip-In Envelope exchange at Paper Traders loved the envelope that she received in the post below so that is good news!  I have to say I should have made one for myself as well.  Isn't that always the way it goes?

Glitter and Roses,
Misti

Tip-In Envelope Challenge

Wow! So I have not posted to my blog since August of last year. Does this mean I have not been creating anything? Absolutely not!  Perhaps this is why I only have one blog follower who is a friend. ;)  One of many things I need to put on my to-do list - BLOG MORE OFTEN.

I love participating in challenges. Why? It forces me to create on a deadline (for some reason I perform better under pressure).  I often participate in challenges set-up by PaperTraders; if you are not familiar with this group I would encourage you to check them out. 

In the meantime, some photos of a tip-in envelope challenge that I have completed:

Envelope filled with ephemera and treats for my trading partner.

Envelope with flap open.

The back of the envelope

I just have to vent...

Ok, so I need to vent just a little.  I am in the process of trying to clean up my office and optimize my storage. What inspired me to do this ridiculous task is two things: 1) there were some ladies I discovered during my blog hopping that had an on-line event where they all posted before and after photos of their crafting areas. Unfortunately, I cannot recall the name of this event - perhaps someone reading this can?  It was truly tremendous. The women that participated really have some truly amazing ... just a cotton picking minute. Why is it when I sit down to write, the only freaking fly my husband has let in the house is landing on me every 10 seconds??!!!! brb...

Murder Accomplished!  Now then, :::smoothing my skirt and pulling up my elbow length opera gloves::: as I was saying...  The women that participated in that event started out with very nice craft spaces but ended up with crafting spaces that were sublime. We are talking "Where Women Create" worthy. I saw a common trend of "white on white." (Something I admire, think is absolutely fabulous, but somehow cannot master even in an 5 x 7 challenge (see photo below)).  This may be, perhaps, because I am a person drawn to the various hues of pink in a cabbage rose and the silver of German Glitter.  (We would not want to say it is simply because I lack talent, that would be utterly discouraging.)  So, I am not to the venting part yet (in case you were wondering).

In my on again, lazy again, attempt to organize my office, I have an issue with a very large, quite old banker's desk that I sit at. It was a gift from a friend who had to move and she kindly gave it to me because it was her father's and it was quite sentimental to her. It is one of those lovely old wooden desks that has slide pull-outs on both the left- and right-hand side.  I am limited to using the one on the right side for work space because I have a very large bookshelf at my left side.  What tends to happen is that... perhaps you can foresee this... the right slider serves as a crafting workspace and then turns in to, shall we say, storage for projects, ephemera, and currently a fly swatter. This stack, which would be deemed hazardous to by-standers by a visiting team from OSHA, has in fact leapt out and and grabbed me by the buttocks when I have squeezed between it and the stand that holds my Tim-Holtz Vagabond machine, a dress mannequin, an assorted stack of ephemera, and other sundry items.  While my husband does not feel so, I believe it is entirely reasonable to walk between two warring towers of ephemera with a space of approximately 24 inches of clearance. So my vent here, perhaps, is that I hate it when my husband thinks it funny that paper attacks me.  Today, I cleaned off the stack on the right slide-out.

Do you know that required me to actually open the very large storage drawer under the slide-out!  In that large file drawer I actually found ephemera I bought more than three years ago (before I started my graduate degree).  It was neatly separated by holiday, subject, etc., and placed in fancy file folders, who could have known? Additionally, I apparently used to travel abroad and bring home things like tickets, brochures, photographs, little bits of this and that, and all of that is stored in this file drawer as well?  Absolute insanity!!

I said I had two rants. In fact, I do.  I believe I have shared enough today, however. I encourage you to take a look at the website ATCSforAll.com.  They have an active ATC trading forum if you are looking to join swaps and there is no cost for this site!

Have a great day... and never ever let your ephemera stacks grab you in an inappropriate place!

Best always,
Misti

Sewing Technique Challenge at Paper Traders

Paper Traders is having yet another swap - this time it needs to be 5" x 7" and include some type of sewing technique.  I, alas, am not a girl who sews.  Yes, I can stitch a random button on but actually remember how to set up my brand new sewing machine that's been in the box for 10 years? Not a chance!  What to do, what to do?

My solution to the "sewing" requirement? A hole punch and ribbon that I hand stamped! ;)  Sadly, my ability to photograph this piece is right up there with my sewing techniques.  That's ok, at least I'm creating.

Until next time...

Best wishes,

Misti

Pinterest... absolutely fascinating!

So, you may (or may not) know that I am a visual person - I like to see pictures of other people's art, I subscribe to certain magazines for the dreamy photos and advertisements, and find inspiration in images.  This week, while struggling with my 5 x 7 Paper Traders challenge (which meant I started blog hopping), I discovered Pinterest.  Can I get a "yeah, baby?!?"  Amazing images there and all kinds of gadgets I do not know how to work yet because... well... I rarely read the "how to" included on web pages. 

Having shared all that... until I manage to create something worthy of sharing (because trust me when I tell you I have three totally unrelated, unfinished projects on my desk), check out things I've pinned on Pinterest.  Some great images there!  I think you can view what I like by clicking on: http://pinterest.com/mistiroses (but I'm not sure... it's that researching the directions issue again).  In any case, check it out!

Best wishes,
Misti

Colored Zentangles Challenge at Paper Traders

I have finally found the time to quit lurking on the Paper Traders list and start participating!  Fortunately, I had time to sign up for the Colored Zentangles swap hosted by Beckie (thanks, Beckie!).  Zentangles, I learned, is simply a fancy name for the random doodling that I already do.  Who knew it was an art form?

The challenge was to prepare four 3.5 x 3.5 Zentangles using original art.  Lucky me! This meant doodling in my Gratitude Journal and cutting the pages down to size.  I am including pictures of what I will be forwarding for the swap. 

Best Wishes,
Misti

What's up with fashion for fluffy girls?

I know that my blog usually focuses on altered art or the accomplishments of friends... and I'm going to acknowledge to you now that I've been mysteriously absent for awhile (ok, ok, TWO years... but I have been constructively engaged and obtained my Masters degree in Business Administration with a 4.0 gpa ([insert self-congratulatory pat on the back here]). During that time I have discontinued my magazine subscriptions, discontinued riding, discontinued reading for pleasure, let my gardens go to seed, said au 'voir to international travel... you get the idea. My husband and son were fortunate... I kept them. :)

Having said all that, I would like to ask that in the few times I purchased fashion magazines to quickly flip through in my rare moments of spare time, WHAT IS UP WITH FASHION FOR WOMEN WHO ARE not built like a clothes hanger? We all know women like this - people like my beautiful friend Brenda - built like a wire clothes hanger - who was born to drape designer clothes on and looks fabulous in a feed sack as long as she has a pair of six inch Christian Louboutins on (and she can afford them). And then we have those designers who deign to make XL clothes... in you know a whopping size 10, for women who are built like a sturdy wooden clothes hangers meant to hang vintage minks on.

Really designers? A 10 is as big as you can stand to see your clothes so that they maintain your visionary integrity? Give me a break. Does it occur to you that women who wear a size 10 blouse probably actually have busts bigger than 30" (I mean, after all we're not talking about her bra size here... we're actually talking about the part of her bust that protrudes... the actual part that *requires* a bra?) And while I certainly don't wear a size 10 blouse, let's just address those designers that really live on the edge and make their XL blouses for GIANT women [insert sarcasm]... who wear a 14-16 blouse. Women who wear a 14-16 blouse do not have busts that are 38-40 inches. So while I can get these blouses on I can button them to precisely - you guessed it - right beneath where my bra starts and then I have a glorious 8 inch gap. While this would probably do if I worked in other, better paying professions, I can hardly artfully cover that with a scarf, a pin, or one of your equally poorly proportioned jackets on a job search. Before I'm accused of having implants, I will share that these are my small bubbies... the ones I had surgically reduced because my God-given EEEs were so large that no one but Seattle Tent and Awning could make a blouse that fit me.

During my studies in the last two years, I had to conduct an in-depth research paper comparing two women's clothing retail giants and the reasons they were struggling in today's global market. The average American woman, at the time I did my research, was 5'4" tall, ranged between 140 - 165 lbs, and wore a size 14. None of these describe me, but my search for fashion as I attempt to reenter the workforce being a busty, tall girl, who falls in between sizes makes me want to rip my hair out. I am definitely price-conscious (after all I haven't worked in two years), I am fashion conscious (who doesn't want to look their best), and I always fall in between misses and plus sizes depending how the manufacturer cuts their clothes (really is standard sizing among one label too much to ask??). Anyway, I know this post is getting long but let me just end it by saying to anyone who is listening... and to designers in particular... NO ONE looks good in 6 yards of loosely flowing fabric that you call a blouse/tunic/dress, not even my aforementioned friend Brenda who was blessed with the genes of a Whippet and the non-seeing eyes of a Saint when she assumes I wear sizes similar to hears.

I am fed-up with designers and manufacturers thinking that the answer to larger fashions is to drown women in flowing cover ups or dress them in clothing only appropriate for club-going attire. (Some of us, alas, are past our club-going days or are at least past the days when we thought it was appropriate to wear club-going attire to the office!). I have CANCELLED the many fashion magazines I received that continuously posted photo spreads of fashion outfits put together for this and that occasion that when I went to seek out those items on-line they were sold out - a season or two ago. Who pays these people? Oh that's right, we do.

We are all built differently. Some of us are apples, some of us are pears, some of us are rectangles (that's me... not a curve to me - you hourglass girls are blessed!). All of us want to look the very best we can with what we have to work with. There are clothes out there for all of us... what we do not look good is 30 yards of $1,000 polyester spandex mix from a very expensive department store. Tip of the Day: If it makes the model look fat ladies, it won't do you any favors either. :)

On the Hunt for Fashion,

Misti Rose

Create A Vintage Valentine Party & NYC Here I Come!

The Queens From Faraway Lands gathered at my home to create a vintage Valentine for the ones their hearts desired! A great time was had by all and some lovely Valentine cards were created. I thought I would take a second to post an image of the one I created for the one I love. My husband is a career firefighter, raises and trains rope horses, and in his spare time enjoys being in the outdoors. I thought he would enjoy this vintage Valentine.


The Valentine features an antique image of a red stag that I colored with water color pencils applied to cardstock in a soft forest green color. I highlighted the "horns" (he always sighs and tells me they are *antlers*) with German glitter, and antiqued the paper the stag was on with Ranger ink pads. The heart behind the stag started out as a white paper doily but I embossed it with black to make it more "manly." :) On the left of the Valentine are peacock feathers tied with a silver lame bow and on the right are some leaves I had from some silk roses that had come loose that I sugared with German glitter and applied to the card with E-6000 adhesive. In the center of the card is an old paper tag that I had that I hand lettered to read "Oh my deer! Please say you "wood" be my Valentine!" The back of the Valentine is lined with a photocopy of blank antique sheet music on which I hand lettered a personal message to the one my heart desires. Voila! A very personal, masculine Valentine, for the one I love!

Things have been very busy here. I leave this Saturday for New York City, having been invited to attend the Westminster Kennel Club dog show with my friend Linda McCutcheon who owns the Number One AKC and All Systems Lhasa Apso in the United States, Champion Rushmar's Charmer. With limited showing, this beautiful little Lhasa has firmly held on to the Number One title from March, 2008, until present - an amazing fete.

Linda has been breeding Lhasas for 20 years but this is a prestigious invitation for her since only 5 Lhasa Apsos in the United States are invited to the Madison Square Gardens to participate in the annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show. "Buzz," as her beautiful little dog is lovingly called, shows on Monday, February 9th. Please join me in crossing your fingers for Linda, Linda's Handler Lois DeMere's and Champion Rushmar's Charmer as they exhibit against the very best Lhasas from around the world. You may visit Linda's dogs on her website at http://www.rushmarlhasas.com/.

In the meantime, I hope everyone is filled with the Valentine spirit and is looking forward to finding that perfect Valentine gift for the one they love (even if that someone is their self... because we all know girls that if we don't love ourselves first then we can't truly love anyone else!).

Au 'voir for now,

~Misti Rose

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year... All that Jazz!

Well it's been AGES since I've posted. I've had two computers melt down, purchased a new one that had to be returned, and had a custom one built since my last blog post. I've had an un-birthday, we've celebrated Christmas, and even had a Happy New Year!

Today I was going to catch up with all of my old friends, provide some witty quips about all that has been going on in the world and marvel you with pictures of the holidays; however, I've learned that a blogging friend has had a tragedy in her family and I'm afraid that my witticism (a masterful blend of sarcasm and wit ... NOT the Webster definition of the word I assure you!) has abandoned me.

The dining room was decorated and awaiting guests. My son-in-law kindly donated his trophy deer to stand watch during the holiday season. He didn't even wince when I draped him in Christmas greenery, lights, and white roses. Thank you Jacob, I love you!

I have tales to share... but that shall be for another day.

And so, an Au 'voir for now.

~Misti Rose