Inspiration is Everywhere

There is something about the Christmas season that sends me right back to traditions. I think it's about the only thing that does, but I do miss Tim Holtz's 12 tags of Christmas. So the other day I went bopping about the internet (I love the internet--I must say this at least once a day) and found Ellen Houston's 12 Feminine Tags of Christmas. I was inspired by Rhonda's Palazzari's tag.

I started with a tag, attached vintage music paper and then did a marble swirl with distress paints - sorry, can't remember which ones - I didn't have her colors. But I did apply a layer of matte medium over the paints which Rhonda did. Brilliant. The best part was that I could wipe away all the extra glossy accents I had to use the to attach Joyeux Noel!

Attaching that was such a pain, I wondered what else I could put there. Another AHA. Simon Says Stamp challenge this week is flourishes. Love flourishes. So searching in my supplies I went. And what do you know? I found one (big shock.....lol). 

I started with holly leaves from a Tim Holtz die, colored them with two green colors of Distress Stains, spritzed a bit of water, dried them and then applied a generous layer of Perfect Pearls in Pearl. I love what this does to paper - not only do you get sparkle, the paper becomes sturdier. 

I cut the star from cardboard, peeled away some of a layer, and used some silk acrylic gold paint. So lustrous. While I was rummaging I found some little wreaths which I thought could be modified into a perch. 

A little smeared stickles (making a come-back in my Christmas crafting this year), a few vintage holly leaves, and A LOT of glue --- finally just resorted to the ole' glue gun --- and I was done. One for me, and another for a Christmas card. 

 It was a great time in the Fun Room.  Thanks for stopping by.

What's on Your Work Desk Wednesday #195

Julia is too funny. Each week she hosts this marvelous event which connects people literally all around the world so we can see what one and other are up to. This week Julia is having a just a wonderful time rolling up her ribbons. Or not. Still every once in a while it must be done. It being the organizing thing. So more power to her and good luck.

What I'm doing is getting ready for a couple of other things. The blue green paper will eventually be my March calendar for the challenge which Kate Crane hosts monthly on her blog. I started last year and found it to be lots of fun. Turns out I have very definite ideas about what colors go with what months. I just got one the new Dylusions Fish Stamps - well actually I got the background seaweed but I'm happy to have that. So I have printed out several on white paper ready to be colored in tomorrow after work. That's what the white piece of paper is. The red page was me trying different inks on the fish stamp to see which one I want to use on the calendar. And lastly among the general paraphernalia on the desk is my small art journal with the first step in Dina Wakely's intuitive painting technique. Don't know what it will turn out to be yet.

Just finished up the February class over at the Stamp Cache where we did tags this month. Here are a couple I made up for the class. I think I might like the name True Bunny Love better than the actual tag!

And then there is the Not So Caged Bird. I cut  a folded piece of manilla with Tim's Tag and Book Plate Die but moved it in a hair so it didn't cut on the left side - and Viola, I got a tag that opens like a card!

We're pretty excited up here in Alaska, the daylight is coming back by leaps and bounds - actually we're gaining almost 6 minutes a day. That means it's almost light in the morning when we go to work and plenty of light in afternoons when we come home. Now if the north wind would shift, we'd have it made. Hope all is well in your world!