a lot of times when i get a new stamp, i like to try coloring it in different mediums to see the different "feel you can get from it"  This time i colored the karen lockhart stampw ith watercolor pencils, still one of my favorite mediums to use

today my crafty friend is joanne basile… she is on the My Favorite Things Design Team, and teaches classes I had the pleasure of teaching with her at stamping around in vermont  

be sure to stop on over to her blog… her project is going up for auction as well!!

"Is there a better feeling than wiggling your toes in the sand? Why is it that a tuna sandwich never tastes better than on the beach?  I'm looking forward to an extended weekend visiting with my parents on Nantucket, waking up to the sounds and smells of the ocean.  Explaining to my kids why the stars are SO much brighter out at the beach than they are at home. Hundreds of amazing photo ops while the boys build sand castles, ride the waves and defend their lunches from seagulls!  I can't wait….." 

using up my "bits" from this card… i created this one love getting all messy with colorwashes!! (janet mac is cringing right now!!) another creation ispired by fred mullett

and today cheiron has another AWESOME project for you hop on over to her blog to see the project

Another auction item today for Jenn's blog. Remember that all proceeds from this auction will go directly to Jenn's friend Christy's mom who was recently diagnosed with cancer. 
This time I was inspired in two ways by Jenn. She has a very artsy style that I love and I always learn so much from her. She inspired me to take an art journaling workshop this summer, and I have had a blast learning to work with all different types of gessos and mediums (I am usually just a stamper and colorer). I also love to see the different inspirational quotes that Jenn always finds-so I thought I would combine the ideas together to make my project. 
To make my canvas nautical, I gave it an "ocean" background with some texture from glass beads and opaque flake medums, and added the MAKE WAVES that I think could be ocean related, but that most people can relate to their lives as well. I know "making waves" can have a negative connotation, but sometimes it's just a necessary part of life!
It's my first try at something like this outside my journal. Hope you like it! Be sure to check out the rest of the items over on Jenn's blog and happy bidding!  

For today I wanted to share with you one of the cards I designed for  a Hero Arts & Basic Grey class.. I love how this card came out and it has such a beachy feel to it , i thought it would be perfect for this blog feature! For the palm tree stamp I just used H2o's directly on the stamp…. so fun! don't forget to place your bids here… taking bids until August 18th

and for my crafty friend today i have kristi prokopiak (formally contes) .. I miss seeing all her blog posts, and dares.. she is super inspiring!!! thank you for playing along kristi!!! (come visit the island!!!!!) she created this super fun layout!!

for todays project I have a card i made with the fred mullett "elegant mess" techniques I learned in a class from him way back. Using Ranger color washes, Luminarte H2o's and basic shapes you get these gorgeous papers to collage with  

for my crafty friend of the day… we have erin she worked at colorful creations with me we have had many fun shenanigans over the years!!
since erin is a blog slacker now… shes just posting here, she is even going to customize the canvas to who ever wins the bidding!!!!

When Jenn asked me to be part of her beachy blog extravaganza, I knew I wanted to participate but wasn't quite sure what I wanted to make. I was inspired by all of the canvases that she has been making as of late and decided to try out a few on my own. I first covered the canvases with a few different mediums – heavy gesso and a gritty, sand texture gesso. After the gesso had dried (I left mine out overnight as I had applied it pretty thick in some places) I started painting! I used a variety of Claudine Hellmuth paints, mixing and blending as I went along. In some spots I mixed the sand gesso in with the paint which turned out to be quite cool. When I was happy with the paint, I added Mud Puddles beach sand and rocks along the bottom of the canvas. I love how easy this product is to use – just scoop it up and plop it where you want it and let it dry! It's perfect for beachy projects like these When my canvas was completely dried, I added some shells and a quote. My parents are redecorating there room with a beachy theme (pefect timing!) so I made one canvas for them AND I made one canvas to be donated to Jenn's auction for Sue! The canvas with the quote is staying with me, but the other one is the one being donated! The canvas without a quote will be finished up after the auction ends with a quote/lyrics/whatever-else-you-might-want from the winner!

ok…. finishing up these july projects so you guys can finish up the bidding and we can see who the WINNER will be  

For this ATC I used one of the newer stampotique images. i just love the goth looking sea creatures they came out with!! I used copics to color him, and a bubble background from stampotique to add dimension in the back!

AND for my crafty friend of the day we have Kim, i worked with her on the stampotique design team.. and she has been a faithful blog read of mine over the years!!

She created a fun little mini book project and then an extra card to donate thank you kim!!! check out her blog!!!

just a quick little ATC i did….  ;) foil, glitter, kraft yumminess!!!

my crafty friend for today is Liz…. we were on the a muse instructor team together… before that and even now she partakes in a lot of my classes at ink about it ) always fun to have her!!! She's expecting a little one in the fall…..

here is what she had to say: "

When the amazing Jenn Shurkus offered up an opportunity to appear on her {creative chick} blog, I didn't wait one second to jump at the opportunity!  Ok, maybe I waited a little while, because I am so horribly backlogged on my email (hangs head in shame)… but as soon as she sent a reminder, THEN I didn't wait one second more!   

Anyway, this is a very exciting day!

Jenn's chosen theme for this guest post is ocean/nautical, and so you know I had to grab some of the awesome custom images designed by and sold at Colorful Creations.  I had picked up most of this custom collection last summer, but let's just say I hadn't necessarily used them as much as I had wanted… so I was thrilled to get to ink them up!

pop on over to her blog to see the card she is donating!!

Just a quick card i put together with some left over supplies i had on my crafty table from the projects i created for CHA summer… I inked the edges of these diecuts with vintage photo to give them more dimension!

Now onto Holly's creations… she is not only a talented papercrafter… shes a gifted potter as well!! I just love everything she creates with clay!! she is donating a tea light to the winning bidder!!! go place your bids!!

"Scallop Shell Tea Lights" by Holly Heaslip
These tea lights are one of my favorite pieces to make. Made on the potter's wheel, then altered to more of an oval shape, and hand carved with a scallop design. I use a white earthenware clay and each piece is fired to over 2000 degrees in two separate firings lasting 8 to 9 hours each. The thing I love most is when the tea light is lit and the light coming through the craving throws a beautiful shadow pattern on the table. They are most dramatic in groupings of two or more. A great gift or on the table at a "beach" theme wedding! One of my most popular items, these may be purchased by contacting me. check out my etsy shop here

Playing with some more creative imaginations goodies… i decided to jazz up another postcard of theirs…. I used more of the sticky 2 rubons and folils to make the shells, cut those out. I used some of the tim holtz ribbon, adding color to it with my luminarte color concentrate in ginger peach. I love how this came out… almost want to keep it for myself.. but i wont… i will give it to the winner of the silent auction  

and for todays creative friend i bring to you my OLDEST friend not in age.. but in years weve been friends… steph i am so so so proud of her photography, and i'll be sure to be ordering some of these prints for the island!! She is donating them to the highest bidder!!

I couldn't resist these fun little beachy playing cards from october afternoon, last time i was at ink about it teaching… I used a memory box printed notecard, some of their printed paper and then the lil card… I ended up rounding the corners for a different look.

Today my crafty friend is Mary Russo, she works and teaches at ink about it, and anytime she has a class i try my hardest to be there… she is always inspiring!!!
Here is what mary had to say: