Vintage Inspired ATC case

Over the next few weeks I'll be participating in a blog hop. What's a blog hop, you ask. Well, Eileen Hull, a friend, artist and fellow CHA Designer has released a product line with Sizzix. Her soon-to-be-released ScoreBoards Dies are different than those we've seen before. They cut and score mat board to create sturdy three-dimensional objects, ready for assembly and embellishment. It is so much fun to "hop" through the blogs of the participating designers to see the ingenious ways these die-cuts can be used. I promise you'll be inspired by these amazing artists! Scroll down to the bottom of this post to find the links to begin the adventure as you find your way through participating blogs.

So here's my first entry...

A Scalloped Box turned Vintage Inspired ATC case. I recently participated in an awesome Artist Trading Card swap with a group of my local artist friends so when I noticed the size of this box I knew it would become a case to store a few of my favorites. What a fun little hostess gift to give a swap coordinator!



With the score line already made for you, this box is a cinch to assemble. Simply use red-liner tape to adhere the side tabs in place. Of course you know I can't make anything without a little "RockCandy," so for this project I used a couple sheets of our Vintage French Text to completely cover the box, inside and out. I inked the edges with Colorbox ink in Chestnut Roan and accented the edges with Krylon's Gold Leafing Pen. I embellished the box with some of our Dresden Foil trims and a vintage image from our "Girly Girls" Image CD. I came across a vintage typewriter "Lock" key and attached it to the scalloped flap. I wrapped the box with a long strand of black cording.

Now get to "Hopping" by visiting the following links:

Eileen Hull

Ann Butler

Bonnie Bruns

Candice Windham Designs

Cindi Bisson - Fat Cat Creations

Craftside - A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world

Designs by Roxi

JGoode Designs

Just a Thought or Two

Karen Burniston

Life Snippetts

Mel Designs Trendy Thank You Gifts

Niki Meiners

Pink Lemonade

Sizzix ScoreBoard blog Hop

Sparkle's Studio

Stampin' Queen Creations

Jenn Ellefson

Michelle Cummings

Brenda Pinnick

Carla Schauer

Marisa Pawelko

RockCandy Studios Haunted House Kit

Here it is... a fun project to get your creative mojo revved up and ready to go this Halloween season. We've assembled lots of interesting elements, collage images and a detailed instruction sheet! Just add your imagination, a few dabs of glue, a bit of ink and a couple other common supplies to create your own Halloween decor piece! Click here to purchase the kit for only $16!

CHA & Beaches!

I feel just a wee bit guilty for enjoying such beautiful weather in fabulous So. Cal. on spectacular beaches while so many of my peeps are literally freezing their butts off! Staying an extra day was truly a "happy accident!" We were picked up at our hotel by a bus with wood paneled sides and wood floors. When the driver opened the doors music of the Beach Boys spilled out to welcome us. We visited Long Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Although I'm not a huge fan of planned tours, I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and history lessons the driver shared as we drove along the Pacific Coast Highway. Since we were such a small group (4) he made a couple special stops just for us. We watched for migrating whales while we climbed on the rocks of the Newport Tidepools. The Pacific Ocean is truly spectacular. We ended our tour with a cup of clam chowder and a microbrew... priceless!

The show was smaller than normal for a winter show, but most of the people I'd hoped to meet were here.

While wearing my "designer hat," I was able to make quite a few good contacts, place several pieces for publication, and pick up several assignments.

While wearing our "RockCandy Studios buyer" hats, we discovered several really great products that we'll be adding to our line-up soon. We also learned some awesome techniques that we are excited to bring to the local area as classes, as well as possible online tutorials to add to the website/blog.

While wearing "Retreat Organizer" hats we were able to tell lots of people about our upcoming Mixed Media Melange. We heard repeatedly how great it is to see a new retreat in our area of the country. People were eager to check out our blog to learn the details and instructors/classes we'll be offering.

We'll be heading home tomorrow. I'll be posting pictures and more stories, so check back in a couple days.

Hugs to you all.....

Game Piece Swap

"Auntie UP".... get it? :)

Several years ago I started a Mixed-Media Yahoo! group called, "The Meeting of the Muses." It has grown into an awesome group of artists who enjoy creative kinship and artist swaps of all kinds. We have frequent ATC, inchie, Moo, book page, and technique swaps. You name it... if you can paint it, ink it, stamp it or glue it, we're likely to swap it! This time our fellow "Muse," Mary Ann, posted a swap for altered game pieces. I of course, jumped in with both feet. Mary Ann is creating an artistic game board for each of the participants. I can't wait to see what she's dreamed up for us this time! AND to top it off, she's reserved a spot at "The Melting Pot" where we'll indulge ourselves in all things dunked in melted chocolate! A perfect afternoon, if you ask me! Life is Good! Although we have participants from all ends of the earth, those of us in the Memphis area try to get together for "on the spot" swaps whenever we can... somehow these swaps always seem to revolve around food... and the more decadent the better!

I'm a bit premature in posting these as we usually wait 'til after the swap, but I can't resist this time. I had so much fun making these little treasures. Nearly everything I used is from our online store RockCandyStudios.com. The letterpress blocks, the collage images, the vintage buttons, the fabulous Baroque border, and the metallic Rub-on, all come from our store. Have I told you how much fun it is to have a store at your own home!?

Gothic Arch, Silhouette Challenge

My friend, Shelly Hickox, creates amazing art for challenges throughout the week. I thought I might do a few myself. Here's a simple project I created for the Gothic Arches group. I used printed paper, a bird punch, a favorite stamp image and of course, RockCandy Studios Dresden Foil trim around the edges.

I'm a cover girl!

I've been a centerfold before, been on book covers, but this is my first magazine cover! I can't wait to get the magazine in the mail! And today the UPS man is scheduled to bring my copies of two books that I created lots of projects for; Make It in Minutes: Wreaths and Make It in Minutes: Last Minute Gifts. Exciting times!

I'll post more on the books later.... for now I WILL finish a couple sets of instructions and step-outs, if they are the only things I get done today!

Yesterday, I posted up a bunch of awesome new products at RockCandyStudios.com Check them out under "new."

AND... watch for an upcoming drawing related to the project on the magazine cover! I'll post more on that in a day or two so check back.

Artfully Yours....