Halloween Greetings

Halloween art is the most fun for me whether it's with fabric or paper.  I love them equally.  But I've been obsessed with paper crafts lately.  Halloween greetings mostly.  My daughter has inspired me to make more cards.

Postcards are still a favorite mail art and I made a few variations of this one, because this raven stamp is such fun.

 

A couple of postcards were made similar to this one...made from notepaper I purchased in a gift shop for a Ghost Tour in Door County, Wisconsin.

This creepy Skeleton Lady envelope has been my favorite.  There are real addresses under the paper bits.  Addresses are a fun part of mail art, but privacy is an issue these days.  I like the bits as they add interest to the envelope while protecting the privacy of the innocent.

 

Wishing you a wickedly wonderful

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 

xxx

Annie

Butterfly Art Tag

I don't know what's happened to the Dragons Dream Tag Challenge blog.  But I do hope everyone behind the scenes is fine and just too busy to be challenging right now.  So, having tag art withdrawals, I've created a tag from an unofficial personal challenge.

This tag is another one sent to me by Donna.  She created the tag background with the textured Queen Ann's Lace.  I took over from there with the butterfly embossed with gold and watercolored with NeoColor II.  I gold embossed the alphabet stamp, added the letters for "ART", added the black background writing and added a faux postage stamp sticker that I distressed.  No easy task, this challenge, but I'm happy with the results.

And on the back is...

The tag back had no start.  I think I'm one of few people who design the back of tags along with the front.  Thanks Donna for the great tag start!  The last two tags have me completely baffled, so you may not see them for a very long time.  LoL

Even though it's only Fall at the moment, the butterfly makes me want to skip Winter and move right on to Spring.

xxx

Annie

September Calendar Journal

Sharing my September calendar journal.  I realize this journal style is going to look very similar every month.

Now that I am back into my temporary regular life lacking much excitement, I suspect many blocks will be open to creative decorating beginning in October.  This could be fun too.  I shall see.

Have a fun month

xxx

Annie

#4 Challenge Tag

The new tag challenge at Dragons Dream Tag It On is for the number 4.

I found four of Tim Holt's friends to add to this tag.

And three more of his friends to add to the back.

Hello to "my" friends.  You're welcome .... that I didn't put your faces in the negative slots.  LoL

And now I have a ...

Sometimes websites don't work quite how they are suppose to, so I have purchased two of these alphabet dies.  It is not worth my time to return them, so I will gladly send a set to one of my followers who uses a die cutting machine.

Each letter, when cut out, measures a nice 5/8" high.  I cut out "giveaway" with them to show how they look.  Let me know if you would be interested in finding this alphabet die in your mail.

xxx

Annie

#9 Tag Challenge

We are challenged to create with the number 9 this time around at the

DragonsDream Tag It On blog challenge.

I recently purchased a package of Tim Holtz Found Relatives cards.  Aren't they posing such an amazing gymnastic stunt. ????  LoL  Well worth a score of 9..... what?  You don't agree with the judges score?  

I've not finished the back side yet.  It's too close to traveling time and the tools and supplies had to be packed up.

I've had a great time making tags on vacation with old and new supplies and best of all with a fun playmate (daughter).

xxx

Annie

Bicycle Bag

IT'S MINE!

That's what I triumphantly said to my friend (and everyone else within hearing) after I found and paid for this awesome bicycle canvas bag at the Madison, Wisconsin Sewing Expo.

It's rustic looking and sturdy as all get out.  And I proceeded to go through that show having no problems with filling it up.  You can't even imagine the glee I felt all day playing in the awesome atmosphere of other quilters, shops displaying fabulous fabrics to sell me, every sewing machine you can think of, and a good friend to enjoy it all with.  It's been too many years since I've been to a sewing expo.  I stocked up.

They're all pre-washed and ready to cut into.  I obviously have a Halloween project in the making here that I can't wait to get started on. Actually there's a few new projects waiting in there.  This is most of my new pieces, but not all.  So I had a very good time.  And have I mentioned how I love this bag with a bicycle on it?! huh? huh? have I?  **tickled pink**  I love riding my bicycle.

xxx

Annie

#3 Tag Challenge

This time around at the DragonsDream Tag It On challenge we are to create a tag about the number 3.  Here is my take on the challenge for the number 3.

When I look at this tag, I always think ... "Every day at 3 o'clock..." and I'm so curious about where he goes and what he does every day at 3 o'clock.

And on the back is...

Happy playtime!

xxx

Annie

Calendar Journal

I keep saying this, but this time I think I've found the Calendar Journal system that will for sure work for me.  I found my inspiration on Pinterest.  The calendar is already made.  I just need to change it from a DayMinder into an AnnieMinder.

The cover is a work in progress still.

 Not just the outside but the inside too.

I, of course, couldn't wait to get started (especially since I'm spending these couple of months with my daughter) so I got a school year Minder.  The monthly pages are a work in progress as I think up ways to change it from a recognizable DayMinder to an AnnieMinder.

What I liked best about this idea was to just do an anything deco block on days where life is just ordinary.  I manage to mostly play a little bit artsy every day, but documenting it can become monotonous and boring.  

If you're doing some reading in the above photo, you might get confused.  I bought the minder but didn't actually work on/in it until the 27th.  From there I worked backward for the month of July.

Aren't the monthly tabys cute?  It's taken me almost 2 months, but I finally figured out how to Anniefy those ugly black tabs.

Just removing the pressure to document something worthwhile every single day has made this project so much more enjoyable.  And I even find myself looking to do something a little more worthwhile than ordinary life.  That, though, is easy with my daughter around.  I worry a little about a lot of blank squares once I return to Cali.  Will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Here's how August is going.

I can definitely see myself sticking with this calendar journal style.  Let's see how that goes for me. LoL

xxx

Annie

#2 Tag Challenge

This time it's all about the number 2 for the DragonsDream Tag It On challenge.

I set myself the challenge to actually use these large number foam stamps for this series of number challenges.  No easy task for me, that's for sure.

Nothing special for the back, just some scrapbook paper and the moth stamp again.

xxx

Annie

Crazy Fun Tote

I've done some tidying and purging lately and came across this crazy fun tote that I made so many years ago and it was a kick to make.  I don't think I have the pattern any longer and I don't remember the name of it either.  But if you're of a certain age, you may know or remember the pattern.  I thought it would be fun to share it with you.  It was always great fun using it.

The tote itself I made from Ultrasuede so it's quite durable and barely shows the use it's had.  There are all kinds of useful pockets inside as well.

The crazy legs on these dolls were really fun to make.

At the time I had a specialty sewing machine that stitched ribbons in a bunched up form.  I can't remember the name of it either.  I have enough trouble remembering the important stuff of today let alone what was 30 years ago.  Anyway, it was that machine that helped me create the doll's loopy hair. 

I hope you've enjoyed seeing this fun tote.  I don't think I've seen another tote pattern quite like this one since.  I think it would be hard to top.  I do wish I could remember the pattern name and creator so that I could give credit where credit is due.

Update: The pattern. 

xxx

Annie