Do you believe in the magic of Christmas? I have a 3 year old grand daughter that certainly does.
By Julie Shoemaker
I have used this stamp from Inkadinkadoo, a few different ways and think he is always beautiful. This is a Technique Junkie technique, Over and Under, I believe. Rudolph was embossed with Bridal Tinsel embossing powder, which you can't really see in the picture. After playing around with this embossing powder the effect you get of actually over heating it, is awesome. The background is monostamped and spritzed with perfect pearls for a little glow.

Do you believe in the magic of Christmas? I have a 3 year old grand daughter that certainly does.
Do you believe in the magic of Christmas? I have a 3 year old grand daughter that certainly does.
Category:
Cards,
Christmas
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By Julie Shoemaker
A few more Christmas cards I finished and am getting ready to put in the mail. All easy and postage friendly. The stamps are from Pink Paislee and Club Scrap along with a Club Scrap stencil. I usually make about 50 cards to mail, so keeping the designs simple are a must, plus to be honest, I tend to get a little bored.

Category:
Cards,
Christmas
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By Julie Shoemaker
I have done the Tim Holtz 12 days of Christmas tags for the past couple of years and still had many squirreled away. If you look at my previous post, you will see how I was inspired to use some of these tags to turn them into small hangers for gifts.
The tags themselves were not all that wonderful, a practice of technique I would say. But rather than letting them collect dust, I thought it would be nice to make quick gifts. The bases are 3.75" x 6.50" and are made from bookboard.

The tags themselves were not all that wonderful, a practice of technique I would say. But rather than letting them collect dust, I thought it would be nice to make quick gifts. The bases are 3.75" x 6.50" and are made from bookboard.
Category:
Christmas,
Holtz technique,
Mixed Media,
Tags
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By Julie Shoemaker
I was inspired to make these little tag hangers from the Ranger blog. They are approximately 3.75" x 6.5" and the bases are made of book board. I used color wash spray and distress inks on the backgrounds. The trick is to scrape the bases with gesso and use the sprays while the gesso is still wet. Makes for an interesting look.

Category:
Mixed Media
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By Julie Shoemaker
I really can't believe it is December all ready and Christmas is just around the corner. I did finish up about 50 cards this year. Most of them very simple. These cards were made using an old PSX stamp and Tombow markers on watercolor paper. I chose non-traditional Christmas colors and added a little bling.

I have a few Christmas cards and Tim Holtz tag hangers to share this year, one day at a time.
Are you finding time for a little craftiness this holiday season? It seems to come so quickly any more.
I have a few Christmas cards and Tim Holtz tag hangers to share this year, one day at a time.
Are you finding time for a little craftiness this holiday season? It seems to come so quickly any more.
Category:
Cards,
Christmas
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By Julie Shoemaker
Another art journal piece I made using techniques from Dina Wakleys AJ103 class. This is a phrase my mother said to me many times when I was a child, and I found myself repeating it (to myself) the other day. It's funny, because I say these same things to my children yet.
Advice for the day...'Think Happy Thoughts'. Have a wonderful week!
Advice for the day...'Think Happy Thoughts'. Have a wonderful week!
Category:
Mixed Media
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By Julie Shoemaker
Just a few of the reasons I have to give thanks.

I hope you and yours enjoy a wonderful holiday!
Happy Thanksgiving.

I hope you and yours enjoy a wonderful holiday!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Category:
Photos
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By Julie Shoemaker
Here in northern Michigan people take their deer hunting season seriously. They even close the school districts for the day...really. My husband and son hunt, and I prefer not to be within hearing distance of gunshot on opening weekend, so I usually make the trek to my girlfriends house in Ann Arbor to avoid the whole situation. This usually transpires into some crafty goodness and this trip was no exception. My friend had a stack of unfinished wood products, trays, frames, boxes and a lovely set of drawers, which she allowed me to play with.
I also covered a tray for the holidays.
It was a wonderful relaxing weekend, thanks Bon. Nothing like spending some time with a friend doing what you love most...playing. Thanks for stopping by.
Category:
Altered art
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By Julie Shoemaker
I received so many kind and encouraging words in my previous post, and I just want to say thank you, kindness always helps, doesn't it? Now on to brighter days...
This is an art journal page that I created for Dina Wakley's, Art Journaling 103 Class - a study in Composition and Color.
The journaling reads 'Sometimes, you have to let them fly away.' I was trying to capture what it felt like when my children grew up and the process of letting them go.
The class has been fantastic so far. The lesson plans have been quite comprehensive, offered in PDF and a video format. I have never had any formal art/design training of any type and I felt that it would be very helpful, and I can see that it will be. The background was created using a scraped paint technique using stencils as design elements. Dina offers several art journaling courses, you may want to go take a peek.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're looking forward to a great weekend.
This is an art journal page that I created for Dina Wakley's, Art Journaling 103 Class - a study in Composition and Color.
The journaling reads 'Sometimes, you have to let them fly away.' I was trying to capture what it felt like when my children grew up and the process of letting them go.
The class has been fantastic so far. The lesson plans have been quite comprehensive, offered in PDF and a video format. I have never had any formal art/design training of any type and I felt that it would be very helpful, and I can see that it will be. The background was created using a scraped paint technique using stencils as design elements. Dina offers several art journaling courses, you may want to go take a peek.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're looking forward to a great weekend.
Category:
Mixed Media
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By Julie Shoemaker
If you're not a fur baby lover, you will probably just want to skip this post.
I've owned one dog in my life and he was my best friend. I had to say good bye to him on October 25th, and it has taken me this long to be able to write a post. Overcome with sadness, loss and a huge empty space in my heart and in my house, but Ben deserves to be mentioned here.
I've owned one dog in my life and he was my best friend. I had to say good bye to him on October 25th, and it has taken me this long to be able to write a post. Overcome with sadness, loss and a huge empty space in my heart and in my house, but Ben deserves to be mentioned here.
Ben spent endless hours with me in my craft room and everywhere else life has taken me the past 14.5 years. We shared endless adventures, he and I...and literally thousands of walks. He swam in the Mississippi River and ran through the mountains in Colorado, Arizonia and Idaho. I think he has swam in most every state I've ever traveled. He lay at my feet every hour of the day in our various homes. Ben laid by my side if I were ill, once for almost 3 days straight, and wiped my tears if I were sad. He was my youngest child and he is missed.
Yes, he had a wonderful life, the best actually, and this does console me. I don't think anything could ever replace the joy I've had with him in my life. His spot in my heart, was a very special place and I was lucky to have known him. My time with him was a gift, good bye my sweet boy.
Category:
Photos
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By Julie Shoemaker
My grandson is turning 12 next week and of course I needed to make him a birthday card. What do you make for a 12 year old boy? I don't have a rock guitar stamp, but I did own this Club Scrap stamp that I thought was kind of rockin'. I used a piece of plastic acetate that was recovered from the trash to stencil the oval design, did a little masking after I stamped the crown. To be honest, I raised two girls and really have no idea what pre-teen boys are into these days. Hope this works for him.
Happy Birthday Skylar...hope it's the best!
By the way, what do you think of the new blog layout? My daughter Katrina hooked me up...thanks hon.
Have a really great week.
Category:
Cards
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By Julie Shoemaker
There was a challenge last month at the Gingersnap Creation site to make a paper quilt and then create art using the paper. If you go to Mccallsquilting.com there is a plethora of wonderful quilting patterns. I used the Crystals pattern to create this quilt.
The paper are from Echo Park. I chose a simple pattern and was glad that I did. For my project, I made color copies of the paper and saved my masterboard.
I signed up for a swap to make pennants for a Christmas banner that will spell JOY. I created the three J's for this project. I decided that a quilt should have a little sewing on it, so I got out my machine and did a little outline sewing on the paper.
This is my finished pennant, that went in the mail this week to my swap partners.
and a close up...
I made a couple variations for my partners and myself. The scraps were used to create a few cards. The first J's I made, were not large enough for this project, but worked great for cards.
I was too late to enter the challenge, but it was a creative blast for me. I've traveled so much this fall, my creative mojo was in a slump.
Changing subjects here...I've never liked my blogspot background since I've changed it...anyone have any suggestions?
Category:
Cards,
Christmas,
Paper Arts
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