As most of you know, every month
Michelle Ward has a crusade, with last month being Crusade #18-carving stamps. Something I've never tried before & need to work on, my attempt was pretty dismal. But Gary decided to try it & promptly sat down and carved 3 stamps, he did the one inked in green, the red one, and a key which is on the backside of one of them. Mine is there, too-the blah looking one-lol! If I can't get the hang of it, maybe I can just get him to do it for me!
With the camera being "down" I didn't get it posted in time, but we're getting a jump start on the next challenge for April so shouldn't have that problem again.
Crusade #19 for April is to cut your own stencils, and MIchelle has a really great tutorial posted on it. As luck would have it, we stopped at Michael's the other night and they had spray paint on sale for $1.99/can! Perfect time to stock up & get ready for spray painting season (it's getting there!) and use the new stencils we'll make.
As mentioned yesterday, getting back into the studio was a priority. As always, to accomplish anything, it always seems like there's prep work to do. If I put it off, nothing gets made-does an excuse come any more lame than that one? So, besides making art I drilled pearls, and can now proudly say that I can use any color or kind of pearl now that I own:) It was one of those things that felt good to get done, busywork, keeping my hands busy & my wheels turning, good stuff can come from that:)
It's that time of year-things are growing in WI! It's like they know their time is limited and can't get out of the ground quick enough. Seems early for some of the little guys that are appearing, but I quess it really isn't. Brace yourselves, as anything pops up in the yard, it'll be popping up on here, too:) Oh, I almost forgot to tell you--- Jeanette Janson is having a moving sale over at her Etsy Shop , with 25% off everything she has listed. Now's your chance if you've been drooling over anything in her shop!
Can you see my eyes bugging out in surprise? You mentioned Gary was into it but you didn't say HE WAS INTO IT (with capital letters!) Wowee - you two are a dynamite team. Terrific stamps!! And check out your new paint colors - you are more adventurous than me with that. You should do a re-cap post on your leaf spraying (and plastic table runner) for the newbie stencil-cutting crusaders.
OH - and YOU DRILL PEARLS??? What? Don't they come pre-drilled? I saw in your post below that book....*runs to check it out now*
Thanks again Sue for sharing your stuff with the team - and a high-five for GARY!!! Tell him I said "Dude, you Rock!"
Posted by: michelle ward | April 09, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Ok, I am seriously jealous: beads AND home made stamps. Leah (Creative Every Day) has been making stamps too. I really have to trundle over and see how it's done. I bought a book over a year ago and it didn't help a bit. But this looks to good not to get in on. Congrats on two days in a row! I will let you be my inspiration today! xo
Posted by: tammy vitale | April 10, 2008 at 08:44 AM
See you did not make it and posted your stamps now, they LOOK GREAT! I haven't stopped carving since the last crusade and yesterday made a stencil (but no dinn't have time yet to make a post). WOW what a great colors of spray paint. Really makes me curious what those will loke like!
Posted by: hedwig | April 11, 2008 at 02:17 AM
that's a jam-packed message! Love the painting! The carvings are all neat. I think yours is great, just needs a bolder color maybe. I'll have to get moving on the next crusade, I shirked this last month a bit. Drilling pearls? Sounds very tedious! Wow, you've been a busy lady!
Posted by: Pam | April 11, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Great stamps! In case you decide to give up on stamp-carving, it's so nice to have an expert carver right there with you! Lucky you! You two are a great team! :)
Posted by: ArtKat | April 11, 2008 at 04:45 PM
I love your carved stamps... what a bonus that you both work together! Will have to watch out for your stencils...I'm intrigued now!!
Posted by: Rosie | April 11, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Your stamps ALL look great - good on you both! I can't believe how cheap spray paint is for you - here in NZ the cheap brands are $10 a can, and our $ is worth about 70c US. I should come shopping LOL
Posted by: Cath S | April 12, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Hi! You are one lucky lady, to have a husband who is so handy with a carving tool! I'm impressed (pun intended, sentiment sincere)! And hey, I have the exact same round, metal mesh table in my backyard... oh wait, it's not there anymore... hey! (Kidding w/you... my husband just took it to work for the guys to use... too funny seeing your table a day after mine left the yard!) :D
Carve on, sister!
Posted by: kathy McCreedy | April 12, 2008 at 07:43 AM
WOW! Gary did a fabulous job on the stamps!!
Posted by: Maija Lepore | April 18, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Those stamps are great! i think you BOTH did an amazing job. I look forward to seeing what you do for the current crusade, the colour of those spary paints are amazing!
Posted by: Ursula C | April 27, 2008 at 06:48 AM