From the Archives

Hello All!

I've got a rare treat for you today!  A little looksie into the Archives of my old Handmade Card Biz I owned a decade (WOW, a decade!) ago :) I didn't even know (or just plain forgot) these existed!

You see....as most of you already know.....I've been running Bare Bones computer-wise for a few months now....no access to Desktop, External Hardrives, USB Port, Scanner, Printer.....Nuttin....not even sound!  While this makes sharing and uploading pics of new work challenging, it hasn't been impossible.  I type all the content of my posts here at home, snap the photos, etc. then I take them to my Parents' house.  My Dad puts them on his computer for me, and I transfer them to the post from there.  It works....but I don't get to manipulate my photos, so my camera skills have been tested, too!

Anyways....while I was there yesterday, I was looking for copies of my work in his files to use on another website...when....lo and behold.....

I stumbled across these! What a blast from the past! Thank goodness parents think all their kid's stuff is worth keeping...haha!

I handwrote all that Japanese in the background! No, I don't know how to speak it.....I copied it. But my Grandmother was Japanese...my Middle name is Shizuko, which was her name. Just a little tidbit about me :)

I started making handmade cards 11 years ago at my kitchen table. I was working as a waitress back then, and I'd load the cards up into a basket and show my regular customers my creations....

I called my biz Art 2 Heart.

I've always loved sets of things......separate pieces that belong together.

Here is my first Shell Set painted in watercolor. My gosh, how could I forget these!

These Swan Cards blew me away! I vaguely remember doing these...but, if my Dad hadn't insisted  on scanning every piece I've ever done....then these would have still been lost in the dark recesses of that peanut I call a brain, too...lol!

This next one is my favorite in this set <3

And here's 2 more for fun!

Oh, and matching envelopes! I think they make such a nice statement that can make the Receiver smile even before it's opened...and ties everything together :)

Hope you enjoyed these...I know I did.  A trip down crafting memory lane has been a nice way to gain new ideas from old projects...and takes the pressure off not having anything more recent to share...haha!

Of course...it can make one feel a little OLD, uggh...

What's lying around in your archives?

Smiles :)

Cam

Owls and Pussycats...and Ravens, too

Hello All!

So happy to have so many new friends tuning in to see what Lil Ol Me has been up to lately....heehee

I've been having so much fun with the Swaps I've been doing on Swap-bot.com, that I took the leap from just participating in them....to Hosting them!  This means I get to decide what kind of swap it will be, make up the guidelines, etc....too fun!

My latest swap is entitled Black Cats, Ravens or Owls, Oh My!  The object is to give your swap partner 4 things that have either of those animals featured on it....and send it all in a black cat, raven or owl decorated envie.  I don't know, I guess I'm just in a Magical kinda mood  ;-)

I made these tags with shipping labels that I hand-dyed.  This stamp is from the $1 section at Joann's!

I got the text from a children's music book I found at the Thrift Store for 29 cents with a cute Halloween song in it. (Though this is dictionary text shown above.)

Now, I always decorate my envies before I send them, dressing them up with stamps and/or doodles....

...but I'm particularly proud of these!

We each have 2 partners, so I created one whimsical owl one....

...and one darker version for my Goth Lovin' Swap Sista' :oP

 

I dripped diluted black watercolor paints onto the envie first and let it dry.....

Then I used ink pen to draw cute black kitties....

....accented with white gel pen and given rich gazes with colored pencil.

I'll be thrilled to send these out tomorrow!  If anyone out there wants to do any trades or swaps, please let me know!

Thanks for taking a gander at my little corner of cyberspace....I love it when you stop by :-D

My best to you,

Cameron

*UPDATE* After posting these pics, my Mom fell in love with the cat envelope and was so distraught to think I was just going to mail them....and she works at the Post Office...haha! I might have to either create another envie and give her this one, or create something special just for her...hmmmm.

Latest Projects

Hello All!  It appears the mild Summer we have been having in So. California is officially over!  I've been so drained during the heat of the day....but as soon as it cools down at night, I perk right up, like a wilted plant revived by a deep watering....ready to create into the wee hours ;)

Here's what I've been working on....

These are some bookmarks made for a Woodland Bookmark Swap on Swap-bot.

I used cardboard...covered with bits of paper and acrylic paints.....

I used some pretty rub-ons of birds and soft colored foliage.

Here's the back of one...just a fun little project :)

Here's another project I just finished last night.....

"Gliding Koi" 8x10 inches, acrylic and paper collage

I'm learning a lot about this technique with each completed piece...really fun to be doing something different!

Thanks for visiting me.  I hope you know how much I love your thoughts and comments ;-p

What is something new that you're doing lately?

Talk to you soon,

Cam

Things You Never Saw Before

I hope everyone's been having a wonderful day! As, I mentioned last post....I actually have some new art to share with you ( I love it when I can say that...heehee!)

This is watercolor and pigment inks on a paperback page.  The circled words say, "I emerged into the garden".  I painted flowers and vines and then stamped over them to give a lush, layered, heavily planted look.  I also added some irridescence to the blooms.  I did this right when I got back from vacation....while visions of meandering streams and brambles of berry vines and wildflowers were still on my mind :)

This is my first attempt at a mixed media collage piece....

"A Friend Knows" 9x12 on Canvas

I enjoyed the whole process of ripping and adhering various patterned papers, then brushing on coats of acrylic paints...I used corrugated cardboard to "stamp" a line pattern on the background, too...

I sealed it all in a glossy finish that gives it kind of a "museum" quality that I really like....oh, and can you see the hearts on the paper behind the words?

I just bought a bunch more canvases and was asked to take part in another Art Walk in October...Cool, huh!

Can't wait to make more!

....And, in the event you weren't having the best of days, finding a large spider in your bathroom probably wouldn't cheer you up at all.....

...Or, maybe it would....if it was smiling at you?!

Have you ever seen that before?  It was worth sharing!!

Keep creating and smile often ;-D

My Best,

Cameron

Inspiring Sea Glass

Hello Everyone!  So, my intention was to take pics of the sea glass I collected on our vacation....to share with you some truly unique little pieces....

I wanted to inform you of the belief that sea glass will become harder and harder to come by (due to recycling efforts and new disposal methods). 

I wanted to give you a pretty picture in your mind of sand and glass intermingling in the surf....

But, alas....  Even though I put these photos on this post a week ago, so all I had to do was write something incredibly riveting, Life has swayed me in other directions :)

So, I'll just show you the Hair Accessories I made with the glass, and let them speak for themselves.

This one features milk glass, olive green glass and blue mussel shell.

This is the 1 and only I had to force myself to keep just for me. (Do you have trouble keeping stuff, too?  I always want to just make them for everyone else)

I just love the crackly finish and pretty colors of sea tumbled pottery.

Shades of browns.

These were lovely...5 different shades of glass together...and they're sold already!

It must be true what they are saying about sea glass becoming more scarce.  I first visited that beach about 6 years ago and there was glass everywhere.  Big half dollar sized pieces, too....this year, the largest pieces I could find are no larger than my thumbnail.  Imagine me sitting in the sand for 3 hours sifting through all those tiny bits :)

I'm a bit obsessed when I get my "Crafty Blinders" on!

I love those twisted shell pieces.

Pretty minty shades of green.

More milk glass.

Ah, and one of my favorites.

I promised to show these to you....and I always try to keep my promises ;-p

Some are still available in my shop!

In other news, I have a new paperback page watercolor to share with you....and I attempted one of those "oh, so in right now" mixed media collages that everyone seems to be doing...and you know what?   I LOVED it! Let me get them photographed and get myself to my Dad's house to use his computer (still working in Safe Mode in my house, with no access to the scanner, printer, speakers, Desktop....nuthin') And I'll give you an eyefull!

Thanks for being my Bestest Blog Buddies!

Until later,

Cam