A Whale of a Project!

So, I ventured a little out of my comfort zone for a Whale themed swap.  We had to make something with Fabric and something with paper...all pertaining to whales :) Again, please excuse the unedited photos.

I decided to hand-sew a little whale friend for my Swap Recipient.

The fabric started to unravel after I turned him inside out, so I had to super-reinforce him> My supportive Mom said the stitches just looked like barnacles :)

Um...and he turned out a bit skinny...haha!

But, I hope his imperfection just adds to his charm :o)

For the paper project, I decided on a collage.  I decoupaged patterned papers and used acrylics to add more color.  The stamps that I carved were used to add a subtle wave pattern to the water and the tail stamp was cut out from cardstock and adhered under one of the layers of water....along with a surfacing friend that I made from cardstock also.

Of course, I used glitter...heehee!

I framed the piece in pieces of sea glass and added a ribbon for hanging.

Fun to do something different every now then.
All my best to you...thank you for checking back in with me...it tickles me to be able to share my projects with someone besides the cats!

I wish you all my best,
Cam

Night Magic

Just a quick entry to show you the ATC I finished for a swap...."Night Magic"

I'm doing this post from my parents' house because our computer is yet again, kapoot!  I think I had mentioned before that I felt that it was not truly "fixed"...simply waiting for the other shoe to drop...
Well, it ended up being a boot!

So, excuse the photos, please...they're more raw than usual since I usually crop and enhance them for your viewing pleasure :)

The theme for this ATC Swap was the Moon.

I painted 3 cards side by side again, but instead of painting different images, I painted the same one....then cut them and assembled it to give it a 3 Dimensional look :)

Of course, I used lots of irridescence and sparkle :p Though I don't think you can see it here.....

Hope the recipient enjoys it and that you liked it, too!

Best Wishes,
Cam

P.S. My meeting with the Metaphysical store went well....I now have some art, hair clips and my Mermaid ATC's on consignment.  Cross your fingers for me :)

Ummm....

Hello Everyone....

I'm having one of those days where your mental agenda spins like a hamster on a wheel...over and over again in your mind....

All the things that I need to do, want to do and should do, collide like bumper cars vying for position.... So, I'm gonna do things a little differently today.  I wanted to spend the morning creating a little something new to post here since I haven't shared anything with you since last week....(and I do SOOO Love sharing new things with you) but, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

I have a lot of new things going on, actually...here's the short list:
   
 -I have an appointment with the buyer at a metaphysical store called Visions & Dreams tomorrow....while I'm terribly excited about having my work available in a retail location, I'm not fond of leaving things on a consignment basis...so, I thought I'd mark things way down for Wholesale pricing just to have some cash in hand, not have to worry about keeping track of what sold and what didn't, and move out some older stock in favor of not storing it any longer (and making room for new creations ;o) 

I made peace with this decision, but my Hubby (who is out for the Summer already and shaking up my morning routine..haha) is telling me that I'm selling myself short and not making what I'm worth, etc, etc..... I think it's better to take what I can get now, than wait around for the possibility of more later...does that make sense?  I had a business in the past, and I have quite a few pieces left from way back then....out with the Old, eh? :)

     - I'm spending a few hours every weekend painting a mural on my daughter's preschool wall.  This is the big news I alluded to in an earlier post!  I'm actually doing 2 walls.  I'm getting near completion on the first :)
How this got started is a pretty funny little story that I'll share with you when I post the finished product.  Here's a sneak peek....hee hee!

     -I have committed to a whale themed Swap on Swap-bot and just finished carving some stamps to use in the project....alas, I haven't "tested" them yet.

     -Just bought materials to make some Plushies (stuffed dolls) and I'm at the stage of..."Okay, Cameron, you have everything now...get moving!" So, that'll be a future post, too.

    -Oh, and we finally have ripe tomatoes. (I'll just put a picture of them up right now and call you updated...lol)

So, as you can see, I have my fingers in lots of pots!  I hope to have some exciting pictures to put here for you all!

Thanks for reading my ramblings...I needed to check something off my list today!  Hope your week is productive and bright :o)

Off I go again, Cam

Pretty Paper Scraps!

So, My Friends, I hope your weekend was lovely....

I did a little scrapbooking and had a bunch of little scraps left over and decided that this time I wasn't going to throw them away :)

I made these!

Do you like them? I cut various shaped rectangles and rounded the top corners, glued them to cardstock and embellished with glitter, paper flowers and jewels....

I put these on another sheet of cardstock and attached a stamped message to the back.

I decided to make them able to hang on gifts, as well as, come with envelopes large enough to hold them so they can be mailed or given that way! Finished, they are 5x6 inches. I hope to have these in my shop by the end of the day!

Sorry to run, but got called into work earlier than my regular shift today!

Talk to you soon :o)
Cameron

P.S. Yes, these sweeties are in the shop now!

Cards, Cards, Everywhere!

Hello Everyone...I'm so sorry I haven't been back sooner! A week really is too long between posts for my liking....especially when I have so many things to show you....

I think I mentioned last time that I'm trying out this Swap-bot thing.....you sign-up for a swap, get an envie together, then send to your "partner" all in the name of getting interesting little goodies coming to your mailbox. I love Trades and am always looking for more...(hint, hint).

Some are as simple as sending random stickers or other paper-crafting stuff...to actually creating things specifically for your partner's likes based on the theme of the swap.... I had entered a Mermaid ATC (trading card sized) swap and created some new paintings that I shared with you last post....

Well, there are now 3 more!
This is "Kelpie", a shy little mermaid that dwells in the seaweed beds in the colder waters....

...And, "Friends and Anemones"...I know, I know, but I love puns. I came up with the title and idea before I even started sketching.... I'm a bit of a goof, what can I say.

And if you still don't believe that...get a load of...




"Angelina Jellie"...Need I say more...haha :oP

Again, all watercolor and ink with touches of glitter and irridescent pigments....but wait, there's more!

A 6 card set of all these new cuties....super girly glittered...with stamped sentiments and imported envelopes.
All in the shop,  if you care to looksey :o)

I've also been making cards from my Paperback Page Art.

They're not in the shop yet....but let me know if you're interested...that goes for my International Friends, too...I'd be delighted to add a listing just for you with updated shipping if you find something you like!

Well, I think that's all for now...it's not actually, but I have so much to do today...busy, busy, busy!  Happiness all around ( I kinda feel like Ricardo Montalban from Fantasy Island, "Smiles, Everyone, Smiles" )
But it is Monday...and we may need a few extra :)

Til Later,
Cameron

Leopards and...Mermaids!

Hey Everyone!  Hope you had a great weekend! 

Ours was busy with birthday planning and celebrating.  My daughter's Jungle-themed Birthday Party was great fun (once the stress subsided)! We held it at a park near a lake and playground, had a craft and scavenger hunt for the kids, treat bags filled with inflatable animal shaped balls, stickers, stampers, etc...... but, by far, the hit of the event was the ....

.....Facepainting!

Good growl, there, Leopard Girl!


My daughter's best friend has this really amazing Grandma (she has 3, actually, but I'm just talking about one of them today :)....Lilly.  Remember Lilly? I've mentioned her before in this former blog post. She offered her services to us as a gift.... and, boy, was it ever!

She is extraordinarily talented.... The kids...and the adults, just adored being transformed!

She single-handedly turned a nice party into a FANTASTIC one!!  Thank you so much Lilly....your kindness is beyond words...your gifts beyond measure :)

Can you tell she matched the make-up to this little girl's shirt?!

After all the birthday hoopla....I needed to decompress a little...
I got those Gypsy Girls matted and put in my shop....

I added rub-ons to the corners of the outer mat....

Here I used sturdy patterned paper to create inner mats to allow it to fit an 11 x 14 mat with an 8 x 10 opening.  I love the marrakeshy feel to the pattern. In person, the green really compliments her eyes!

I also found a swapping site called   http://www.swap-bot.com/
Anyone out there participated in any swaps hosted here?  I'm in such a swappy/tradey mood these days after the great experience I had with Lauren at Fair Rosamund. I decided to look for more opportunities to create and keep fun things coming in the mail! So, I signed up for a few swaps....

One is for a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch Artist Trading Card (ATC) featuring a Mermaid Theme..... I've never painted ATC's before, but since working in a smaller format worked so well with the Gypsies, I decided to give going even smaller a try....

....And I worked on 3 at the same time!

....took about 4 hours to complete them...but they're done....and the swap isn't til June :)

Here's "Daydreamer"

"Starfish are a Girls' Best Friend"

...and "See Siren"

All watercolor and ink with irridescent pigmnets added here and there and white gel pen to highlight.

I don't know if I'll do more of these.....they are a bit too small for my liking.  My hands have gotten a bit more shakey since going into massage 6 years ago, so some of the detail work was challenging :)

I definately want to offer the 2 that I don't choose for the swap, in my Shop...any requests?

As always, thank you for stopping by....Your visits make me smile! (much like the thrill of eating the last bit of cake right out of the box!)

Great Big Hugs,
Cameron

P.S. I have a huge project I've commited to that I can't wait to reveal!  Cross your fingers for me that it all goes as planned :)

Be talkin to you again soon ;-P

That a Gold Star, not a Zit, on my Forehead!

Guess What! I have been awarded a little prize from my friend Athena over at Experiments in Authenticity!

Kinda cool to be given a pat on the back...so sweet to hear nice words from your peers!

Along with this swell button, Athena requested I answer these 10 "get-to-know-you-better" questions! My understanding is that I must answer them and then choose 4 more wonderful recipients to award....but they won't be announced til the end....so don't cheat and skip ahead...I'm not that boring..lol!

Without further ado:

1. What is your favorite book of all time?

Y’know, I’m much more of a magazine person these days…Artful Blogging and Somerset Life are 2 of my faves right now. But there is a series of books by Kim Harrison about a Witch named Rachel and her adventures as a P.I. with her Vampire and Pixie partners…”Dead Witch Walking” and “Every Witch Way but Dead” to name a couple in that series….really great, entertaining reads!

2. Where in the world do you most want to visit? Why?

I’d love to see Tibet or Thailand. Those images of the sacred buildings covered in ancient tree roots looks like a Magical Fairy tale come to life…. The rainforests are supposed to be incredible there and in South America, also. I’d like to take a walk in one before they don’t exist anymore.

                                                                This photo courtesy of  Greta Lorenz from Flickr

3. Craziest thing you've ever done?

Started Blogging…at least that’s what my non-blogging friends and family would say!

4. One celebrity you absolutely cannot stand?

Joan Rivers….She’s so rude and confrontational…and the overboard plastic surgery has made her look as ugly as her words :(

5. What do you most like about yourself?

My belief that I can find a way to accomplish anything I set my mind to....though I usually let everything else fall to the wayside til I accomplish it...hmmm, both good and bad.


6. What do you wish you could change about yourself?

Maybe I should change the above....naaaaa, then nothing would ever get done...haha. What I really wish I could do is just let go sometimes…not worry about what others think of me so much!


7. What job would you love to have for a day?

Dessert Food Critic! Do they have those?

                                                                     Courtesy of La Tartine Gourmand from Flickr

8. What superhero power would you like to possess?

I’d love to be able to freeze time…oh, and have endless energy! (Minus the tights!)

9. What person (living or dead) would you most like to meet?

Ralph Waldo Emerson…just to hang out with him on Walden Pond talking about personal philosophy, Nature and daydreaming!

                                                                           Courtesy of Phillip Klinger at Flickr

10. What was one of the best moments of your life?

Being pregnant was one of the best moments…a whole 9 month period of excitement, anticipation, new discoveries, feeling like you have a special purpose in life and bonding with the Hubby! I loved being pregnant. I was walking around with a “Little Buddy” each and everyday…and when you are showing, everyone smiles at you and is so nice! Now, I have an active 4 year old and the looks are very different…haha!

So now, to announce the Wonderful people I want to pass this award to (and learn more about in the process) yay!

Jamie

at Hybrid J

She is constantly working to improve her talents and inspiring me to strive for better in the process...

all while being unapologetically herself!  Thanks Jamie!

Peggy

at Middle Age Ramblings

She always has profound and nice things to say about the world around her and those in it! I've been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of those words a few times :)

Betty

at PinkGlitterFae Art

I'm just recently a follower of her blog...but I love her art and spirit!

and Poetees

at N.Q.T (Not Quite Twins)

For being a Mom of 3 and showing the rest of us that it is possible to be a Great Mom

 and excel at so many other things at the same time!

And here are my 10 Questions to you Ladies!

1.  Tell us something about yourself only your closest friend would know.

2.  What's the first thing you do in the morning?

3.  What inspires you the most?

4.  Any tattoos? Meanings/ locations...details, please :)

5.  Do you have a totem animal?

6.  Favorite quote?

7.  Favorite leisure activity?

8.  Hair up or down?

9.  What's your secret to Happiness?

10.Song that gets you into a creative mood?

I can't wait to see the answers...I tried to throw a few oddballs in there to mix it up a little!

Well, thanks again, Athena for the chance to do a little digging in my Soul Garden...

Off I go to finish hot glueing toilet paper rolls together...

Yes....you read that right! For the binocular craft at my daughter's Jungle themed Party...haha!

Have a Great Weekend, Everyone :)

Cam