#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

#5 Tag Challenge

It seems the DragonsDream Tag It On is challenging us through the single digit numbers.  I jumped in on #5.

I had that cup and saucer stamp on my table, so take a 5 minute break was what came to mind.  Plus the use of new papers, new stencils, "new again" stamps and a new die cutting machine.  Any excuse to play is a good one....correct?!

The back has spilt coffee is all.

Take a break and enjoy!

xxx

Annie

Crafty Christmas Tree

My daughter and I are spending lots of time being crafty together.  What a JOY to be able to have this time together.  She is working on catching up on her scrapbooking, while I am flittering from one thing to another.  On this particular evening, I was working on Christmas postcards and she was working on a Christmas layout.  She was inspired to create a Christmas Tree after seeing the pine needles branch punch I purchased to use on my postcards.  I have not seen this idea anywhere before and I think it is a brilliant idea!  I just have to share it.

And here is how she created this fabulous Christmas Tree...

You need a tree stamp, a green and light brown ink pad, and a pine needles branch punch.

This tree foam stamp is a 5" stamp.  Ink the trunk with brown and the tree with green and stamp it on white cardstock paper.  Cut out the tree.

Punch out a whole bunch of pine needle branches.  She spray glued the pine branches then began layering them on the tree until coverage was pleasing.

For the bark on the trunk, she covered the tree and applied spray glue to the trunk.  She then dipped the trunk in a small pile of tobacco.  (Find someone that smokes and ask them for one of their cigarettes).

This cute tree looks so fantastic on her scrapbook layout.  I think it is such a clever idea.

Merry Christmas!

xxx

Annie

Quoth the Raven Tag

Still playing with my new Raven rubber stamp.  A tag to share this time.  I'm having such fun with this stamp and this background technique.

And on the back.

What I've done is scribble with a Tombow marker on a large candle mirror.  Sprintzed it with water.  Then placed the tag (or envelope) onto the ink, then immediately blotted it to a newsprint paper pad to take up the excess water.  Where it needed more, I repeated the process in that area.  I did one color at a time.

I've found a new tag challenge blog here:  Tag Along Challenge Tag Along is celebrating its 100th challenge and the theme to celebrate is Anything Goes.

Fall is coming, but I hope not too awfully soon,  I'm still loving Summer.

xxx

Annie

Vacation Mail Art

I am having a little visit at "home" for a couple of months.  I'm having the most marvelous time relaxing and thoroughly enjoying life for this short time.  

I have even had time to play with some mail art.

I dug through my old supplies which suddenly looked all new and exciting.  I decided to see what I could come up with after their long almost 5 year rest.  It just needed a little something extra, so I had to wait for the good mail day to bring me the brick wall stencil to finish it off.

Now I need help figuring out where to mail this envelope off to.  Any suggestions?

Then daughter and I went shopping and the raven stamp came home with us.  It turns out that we had both been contemplating that stamp for a while.

I wanted to send him out, but didn't think I could part with him.  So I attempted to recreate this envelope.

You cannot duplicate original art with that background technique.  Which is a very good thing.  I like him too.  But he will fly off to a sweet mail art friend.

I love the envelope mail art best when it has the recipients name and address on it.  That always adds the perfect finishing touch.  

Wishing everyone a good mail day.

xxx

Annie

A Feather in Her Cap

The theme at Sunday Postcard Art is HATS.  This vintage photo is either someone related to me somehow or a friend of someone related to me.  When I came across it in the family photos, I thought the long narrow shape was unusual and that it would be a fun photo to play with.  The hat doesn't seem all that clear, but it's there and it has a feather on it.  Actually, two feathers.  So I couldn't resist pointing it out and creating a collage with the photo.  She's quite proud of her accomplishment...whatever it may have been.

I'm happy to send this postcard off to someone who would like to find it in their mail.  Speak up.

Good Mail Day!

xxx

Annie

Postcard Swap

The swap started out as a beach theme and I think ended as a theme about anything having to do with summer.  My mind went to and stayed at the beach.  With colorful little huts to change into and out of your swimwear.

And my partner made her postcard based on the rafts of the local fishermen.  What a beautiful setting for fishing, eh?  She even shows the reflections of the sails in the water.  Isnt that the most clever creativity.  

This great postcard swap was hosted by Sheila of  Sheila's Quilt World  Thank you Sheila for all your hard work.

Happy Mail Day,

xxx

Annie

Air Mail

I have been following this Mail Art Projects blog.  I began to wonder why as most mail calls are either not very clear to me as to what they want, what they will do with it, etc.  However, I have now participated twice.  The first time was sending a mail art envelope to a woman celebrating her 55th birthday and was hoping to receive 55 pieces of mail art.  She sent in return a mass produced postcard art.  It was very cool.

Now the request is for mail art on the subject of the History of Mail Art.  I had no clue and could think of nothing that portrayed the history of mail art.  So I just did a little history of mail with some art.  I've no clue whether it will be accepted.  I only know the theme and that it had to be a 4X6 postcard mailed naked.  Right up my alley.

I hate that I didn't notice that I should have lined the letter in his mouth so that his body couldn't be seen through it!

I love this fat carrier pigeon.  I'm sure I stole the bird shape from some talented artist.  Then I looked up aviator caps and drew one on the bird, then added goggles to guard his little eyes from the wind during flight.  As I am not a drawing artist, I was darn pleased with his cap and goggles!  This drawing has been sitting around here for more than a year.  (But, you might remember him as a birthday party bird a while back, wearing a birthday party hat.)

I really struggled with sending him off to no one I know.  But I've done it for one single reason.  Simply to see if he sells.  He's flown to a for profit exhibit where all received mail art (on the history of mail art) will be for sale to the public.  Half the sale price goes to the artist, the other half to the gallery.  

Back to the part about not knowing enough specifics on the projects, I had no clue if I should price the postcard or if they do.  I left it to them.  Now I wait and see what happens.  Either way, my curiosity will be satisfied sometime shortly after October 2015, which is when this project opens to the public.

Good Mail Day to all!

xxx

Annie

Classy...but

The tag challenge this time is 

GREEN and a QUOTE.

Yes, it's true.

It's not a famous quote.  I saw it on a T-Shirt.  And I figured I'm "quoting" what someone else said.  That makes it a quote.  Right?  

I had to laugh at myself as I painted her dress the "dreaded purple".  (Quoting myself)  I didn't want to make it red or orange, so dreaded purple it must be.  

I haven't decided what to add to the back, so it might be finished or might only temporarily be finished.  It could take me months to decide.

You can check out the tag challenge at DragonsDream Tag It On

Go forth and be classy.

xxx

Annie

A Fiber Grounded Birdie

Now why didn't I think of that?!  My friend, Inky and Quirky, Donna commented on my paper Grounded Birdies thinking they were fabric.  That they were stitched to their background must have led her to believe they were fabric.  A fabric grounded birdie...why didn't I think of that?  So I immediately had to make him in fabric and mail him off to Donna.

I thought what a cute eye that button would make.  With his Route 66 eye, he couldn't help but be a good traveler.

I pressed freezer paper to the back of the background fabric and rolled it into my typewriter and typed "lovely day" right on the fabric.  I loved how nicely that worked!  This fabric is magic fabric that I printed a scrapbook paper to.  It is quite tightly woven which is most likely why I could type on it so nicely.

On the back.....

*** I had to crop off the top as I forgot to cover my own address ***

.....I wanted to write just a wee bit more than the postcard space allowed.  So I made a tiny/ envelope and glued it tightly to the space, putting my little note inside.  

Happy Mail Day to you,

xxx

Annie

The Dreaded Purple

Purple!  It's my least favorite color.  And it's the challenge color this time at the DragonsDream Tag It On along with circles.  I do have a few purple supplies though.  So here is my purple and circles collage tag.

I usually have a name for my tags, but not this one.  Maybe I would call it thoughtful.  I think she looks thoughtful.  Wait, maybe she looks annoyed.  I guess this is why no tag name.  I had no idea for the back, so I just used the scrapbook paper background and stamped a circles stamp.

Hugs,

Annie

Touring Red Bird

My tinyest scrap play yet has taken the form of a wild red bird postcard who has flown off to Scotland to be friends with a tame pheasant and keep company with Maureen.

Oh, the sites he will see on his journey.

I really do try not to bind every postcard with this black and white stripe.  But more times than not it comes to be the best choice in the end.  And that doesn't bother me in the least...obviously.  

And here is one last bottle wrap...I promise. 

I like these B&J Malt Coolers and I needed a custom wrap for them. I didn't think my plan would work out so I kept putting it off. 

But now it was time to clean up my play space because someone is going to see it pretty soon. But I wanted this wrap done OR over with before cleaning up. I didn't want to be thinking about it anymore. 

It pretty much worked like a dream. But I don't want to make any more. So only my Marg cooler will have a wrap around it. 

I really tried not to add a swirl. But I just couldn't resist. 

CHEERS!

xxx

Annie

Rapid Transit Tag

This fortnight tag challenge from DragonsDream Tag It On is to have TEXTURE and use the color YELLOW and as always, to use one rubber stamp.

I don't use texture paste, so I had to figure out another way to add texture.  The bee is embossed with black and I added stitches all around.  I hope those count for texture.

The background on the front and back is scrapbook paper.

I was really stumped for an idea for this challenge. 

Here's what I have done with my tags.

Do you see that old skate key hanging there too?  Yes, from my actual steel wheel skates from my youth.  For the youngens, you needed that key to tighten the skate clamps to your shoe soles.  We didn't realise it at the time, but skating was a lot work.  Those wheels weren't made for coasting very far.  

It hasn't taken long to fill that dowel.  So I went looking for more display places.

I love these two old suitcases and the new Hobby Lobby trunks where I keep my precious received mail art.

Have a happy day.

Hugs,

Annie