Ustream & Postcards

For a while now, I've been watching YouTube videos of artists showing their art journals, stamped projects and various papercrafts. It's been great for inspiration while I'm trying to get back into stamping and just beginning art journaling. There are so many talented people, I could watch their videos 24 hours a day! Somehow (and I wish I remembered how) I was directed to Ustream where some of the same artists I've watched on Youtube were arting live at various times. I lurked as a guest a few times, then got brave and signed up for an account and actually signed into one of the Ustream chats and said a meek "hi" ..... everyone was so friendly and welcoming! Long story short, I have so enjoyed this community, it's hard to describe. I am totally out of my league art-wise, but the inspiration and motivation I get is worth me feeling inadequate LOL.

On one of the streams, inkwell (Dede) proposed a Postcard "Share your Art" challenge (better named "Tonnage of Funnage"!) She picks a snippet of ribbon out of her huge stash, a random magazine page and sends those and a plain white postcard to you to make something with. The color of the ribbon and the page are just for a bit of inspiration to get you started. After making your postcard, you send it back to her and on future streams, she will draw a name from that shows' chat list and she will send that person one of these postcards we've made. It's been a blast seeing what everyone has made with their ribbon, magazine page & white postcard! She shows them on her streams & also posts them to the flickr here) - . I decided to just jump in and do this challenge and I got a black ribbon, and a magazine page of a Dagwood & Blondie comic.

This is what I received:


This is the postcard I came up with:


I can't get the colors quite right with my scanner, but it's close enough. I used the ribbon as the curtains (stamped & embossed) and the fringe on the rug. I really should have reinforced the little magazine images as they are quite fragile - I'll know next time! It was really fun to make and later on I'll probably have Dede send another postcard, ribbon & magazine page and challenge myself again.

I also made a card for Dede to thank her for all that she does for her Ustream folks. Her muse is Mona Lisa, I just had to use my crazy Mona Lisa cat. After Dede showed the card on her show, kerri came up with the perfect name..... Meowna Lisa! Too funny!
Anyway, this is the card I sent:



I've needed to get out of my shell & comfort zone and this community of Ustreamers has helped a lot in that. I can tend to get into a "mood" where I withdraw from everything, but I've tried to ignore that feeling and keep pushing myself. I'm very thankful that I found Ustream LOL. It can be very addicting though!

Here are some of the ustream channels that I try my best to watch. You can just click on their name and it will take you to their channel. I'm sure I'll be adding more :)
Make sure to catch one of their shows or watch their recorded shows - you won't regret it!

inkwell
JournalArtista
ikerrilove
Rach0113
Blade21292
LaurelfromNJ
mitzicurry
lindaisrael
SarahAllan
ArtJourney

Thank you Ustreamers!

Unicorns & Rainbows

Well, not quite....but a little less whine than the previous entry!

I did want to post a few things that I've made lately.

I was fortunate to find a wonderful Stampin Up! demonstrator (Stamping Sharon) who has a get together once a month where you make 6 different cards. She has the cardstock & paper cut for you so you stamp and assemble the cards from her designs. It's really great for when you're in a creative slump to be able to have the idea already there for you....plus it's fun meeting new people and getting out of the house! I've gone 3 times now and have really enjoyed it (while spending money lol). I am pretty much a plain and simple stamper and I like Sharon's designs as they are simple, yet always have a special touch to them. Here are some of the cards we've made.

All stamps by Stampin' Up!







Another couple of things I have made lately are an ATC and a card to go along with it. These were sent to Dale http://daleannepotter.com/blog/ right around Mardi Gras..... she was nice enough to ask if I wanted to trade an ATC with her. I hadn't made an ATC in a very long time, so it was fun working with that size again. I guess I really didn't realize how long I had put stamping on the back burner and it has been both challenging and rewarding to get back into it. I have a very noisy inner critic and I'm trying to shut her up these days by just pushing through and enjoying the process of creating something. The more I do it, the easier it will become..right?


The card:
Mask stamp: unknown at this time
Text stamp: Stubby Stampers

The ATC:
paint, collage, stamps

Jumping In With Both Feet (at least dipping a toe in!)

I've started this blog several times and I always go back and delete anything I've written or posted. This is not going to happen again. I've decided to just go with it and try to share my "art" (I still have trouble calling anything I do art). I've wasted too much time being afraid and critical of myself that it's time to get over it already! In addition to posting a few of my creations, I will probably just ramble on about who knows what. Not sure what all of the correct blog etiquette is, so I hope I never offend anyone or just plain make a fool of myself - although I have a feeling the latter will happen more than once!