Stampfest Fun!

We're back from Stampfest , in Lakeland, Florida, and what fun we both had!  Jeff and I each took a workshop class on Friday, shopped our heads and pocketbooks off and Saturday, and had an adventure filled drive home afterwards.

The vendor fair today was VERY busy.  Many booths and many shoppers.  I made a few make-and-takes, watched some demos, and spent far too much money.

Believe it or not, Tim Holtz had a huge booth at the show AND was there IN PERSON demo'ing his many different products and techniques.

Jeff took a card making class Friday but hasn't taken photos yet of the 8 cards he made so you're stuck seeing only bits and pieces of what I started making in the mail art class I took.  Linda Crofton taught the class.  She's a fabulously talented artist and all around lively and friendly person and teacher.  While she was giving her introduction she mentioned she swaps mail art on Swap-Bot.com .  As soon as she mentioned her swap name I realized she'd been a partner of mine in a swap!  What fun it was to learn this.  I couldn't wait to get back home and find the envelope she'd sent me.

So here are a few of my works in progress ....

                                      One stamp using multi colored inks, overstamped with
                                                         black circles and phrases.

Envelope front .... address will go in center blank space

Return address will be written next to the little bird

Envelope back in progress.

We also made some altered, collaged, stamped postcards.  The postcards were cut from used cardboard cereal boxes.  So easy to make! m I still have to color the dress on the altered little girl and maybe add some sponged inking around the edges.

Mail art is so easy and fun to do.  It's so much fun that's it's worth it to start paying my bills by regular mail again!  Actually, I've been doing mail art in one form or fashion for years, decorating envelopes of the letters I write to my 25+ penpals.  I even make my own decorated stationery when I have the time.

Tomorrow (or Monday), I'll post pictures of the cards Jeff made.  Later this week, too, I'll post pics of some of the things we bought as well as our "walking" adventure home Saturday afternoon!  In the meantime, thanks for reading!

Drooling Over Flow

The new Flow magazine is on the stands.  I saw it a couple of weeks ago at my local Barnes and Noble.  A treasure chest of creativity, intelligent and interesting writing, wit, and artistic delight, Flow is jam packed with articles to read, crafts to do, and creative tidbits to collect.  Based in The Netherlands, Flow is everything you might imagine The Netherlands to look and feel.  Flow Magazine makes me smile and feel good.  It sparks my creativity.  It makes me think.  I wish it were a monthly publication, I feel so good while reading it and playing with it.   Look for a copy at your local bookstore or order a subscription from their website.  You won't be disappointed!

Summer Stampfest 2015

Road trip!  Road trip!  Jeff and I will be attending Summer Stampfest 2015 in Lakeland, Florida.  I am VERY excited!  I'll be taking a mail art class

as well as spending time at the exhibits, hopefully not spending too much money.

We'll be staying at the local LaQuinta, just a few miles from the event venue.  Thanks to my AAA discount, the room rate is more than reasonable.

It's been a year since we went on a road trip, let alone an art related one.  Last year we traveled to Sarasota, Florida to take a journal making workshop.  It, too, was a lot of fun.  Next post, I'll share with you details of the journaling workshop I took a few weeks ago at the Jaffe Center for Book Arts at Florida Atlantic University.  I'll be taking a gelli plate printing class there next month as well.  All good things starting to happen again as we get our creative mojo back in motion!

Junk Journal and Bookcraft

It's been forever since I last posted.  Work, family, and especially time spent with grandchildren have been my focus however today, Jeff and I made the time to play and focus on paper crafting.  Jeff worked on two beautiful blank journals, one of which you can see here (the other one is still under construction):

The journaling paper is beautifully textured.  I wanted to run my pen across a page as soon as I saw it but no, no... this journal is for our Etsy shop (www.paperowlartists.etsy.com) .  It will be in the shop soon, along with some fabulous new postage stamp note cards.

My day was spent making a fun multi file folder junk journal.  Made from three cut file folders, there are three parts to the construction of the journal:  1) making the file folder "bones" of the journal, 2) papering the journal, and 3) embellishing the journal.  I've made the bones, papered the pages and pockets, and am in the process now of embellishing.  Here's a few of the pages:

                                                                             Cover

                                       Library pocket, tags, and page yet to be embellished

                                          Page yet to be embellished and a side pocket page
                                                                       with tag insert

                                             Journaling page, photo mat and bottom pocket

                                                        Four "waterfall" photo mats and
                                                          page yet to be embellished

The journal is great fun to make.  I can't wait to use it!  Full instructions for making one of you own will soon be for sale in our Etsy shop.

So I think we're getting our papercrafting mojo back.  Now we just need to make regular time to indulge ourselves!

Watercoloring for Penpals

Made a couple of rubber stamped watercolors today to insert into Penpal letters I'm writing.  Hope they like them!

A Burst of Cardinal Red Color

I'm playing with a new stamp set today.  I'm also gathering my energy to break out of my fear and belief I can't draw, even simple lines.  Here's a card Last night and this morning.  The intense red flower color influenced I'm sure by the photo of a beautiful cardinal I saw posted on facebook yesterday.  Not too bad for a first go at this style card, don't you think?

It's a Rubber Stamping Wrap!

Jeff's daughter's birthday was this week. She LOVES cats (so does Jeff).  What better way to wrap a gift than wig handmade, rubber stamped and colored cat wrapping paper!  Toooo cute, don't you think? And so easy to make.  Just take a large sheet of plain drawing paper and stamp away with your favorite stamp(s).  If your package is larger than he paper, you can tape a few sheets together.  Here's a look at Jen's gift all wrapped and ready to be open.  I hope she saves a piece of the wrapping paper for her journal or memory box.