Etched Copper with Lauren Furguson

Since today is Halloween

I thought it would be a good day to share with you pictures of copper etching......
the above picture is from the class I took with Lauren,

our copper has been stamped and embossed then was put into the above container,

that has Lauren's Patent Pending non toxic formula for Copper Etching.
It started out as two liquid solutions and after awhile the foaming action began and the container was put outside so as not to get the solution bubbling everywhere......in a larger container the contents would be more contained, although the bubbling action shows the solutions are working together to etch the copper.
It truly was easy and amazing that in a couple hours we took our copper out and sanded it to get the beautiful etched copper shown in the picture below.

We put our etched copper piece on a book that we made in class while the copper was in the solution........it was an awesome class!

I will let you know when Lauren has her Copper Solution available for purchase......it is something you will want to try!

Everything Altered with Lauren Ferguson

Above is a picture of me with my friend and fellow CHA designer,
Lauren Ferguson
taken yesterday.

Lauren came to Alexandria, MN this past weekend, from GA
to teach some classes at

Scrapbooking up North .
Above is a picture of Andra Wheeler ,
the owner of Scrapbooking Up North with Lauren .
Andra and Lauren met while they were on the Ranger Design Team in 2007.
They are both fabulous designers so if you ever get the chance
to take a class taught by either of them be sure and do it!

Andra manufactures her own line of rubber stamps
called Wildflower Stamps
be sure to check them out!

Lauren taught 3 awesome classes 2 of which I attended.
The first was an Acrylic Album and
the second was an Etched Copper Book,
she gave me permission to use the photos from the classes here on my blog
so be sure and check back.

First coat of paint

Although I am not posting a picture of it as yet I do have the first coat of paint on the walls of my new studio. The color I picked is a shade of yellow and will be nice and bright compared to the dark paneling that was in there. I bought paint with one coat coverage, and was hoping since I put on two coats of the primer that I would only need one coat of the paint but alas two coats are needed. I will do the second coat of paint on Wednesday or Thursday this week, and will post a picture then. Although I think it may take longer to do the window trim as I have not decided what color to do theses as yet. They will not show to much since I will have curtains and do have have shades but still I have yet to decide on that color.....hoping to find something to inspire me for those!

Studio.....two coats of primer

The Studio is coming along and now has two coats of primer on the walls!
There are five windows in the room; they have some primer on them but are not completely covered yet. I have put vaseline on the glass of the window instead of taping them so that when I do prime them if anything gets on the glass I can just wipe it away......
hopefully I will get the windows done tomorrow!

I will also pick up the paint tomorrow.

I have some slat wall pieces at work that I will measure to see where they can go in the studio so I can get those up before painting as I will paint them the same color as the walls.

Lots to do but I have a good start!

The room has been emptied

the walls are bare and all that remains is John's desk, which I might try to paint, or something and have it somewhere in the room, I have not decided as yet. He packed away everything that he wanted into large totes so the would be easy for him to move once he knows where he will be stationed at the end of March 2009. The rest of the furniture has been moved out so I could transform the room into my new studio!

I have a gigantic piece of plastic covering the entire floor, to prevent spilling any primer or paint on the carpet. I would hate to have a huge stain from anything spilling while trying to do the walls.

The walls have dark paneling that I am going to try and cover. I will begin priming the walls tomorrow, I bought 2 gallons of grey primer that should cover the paneling well enough for me to be able to paint in some shade of yellow? I am not totally sure of the color as yet. I will go to the paint store tomorrow during my lunch break from work and check out some colors. The only thing I am sure on is that I really want to lighten the walls and make the room brighter. The carpet is grey and in great condition.

I will continue to post pictures of my Studio's progress over the next few weeks, hopefully not next few months.....but who knows!

ATC's for Halloween

Here are some Halloween ATC's I created today to trade with my "Altered Ladies" Group at our meeting this evening.

Here are the Halloween ATCs I received this evening at my "Altered Ladies" group.

If you have never made an ATC before, they are Artist Trading Cards (ATC for short). They are small works of ART on a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" base. The base can be card stock, mat board or cardboard. From an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of card stock you can get 10 ATC's. I like to use card stock and attach it to a base of cardboard for strength. You can cut up cereal boxes or other light weight boxes to get your cardboard pieces, which is a great base and you are thinking GREEN!

Artist Trading Cards are just that for trading!

They are a wonderful way to give a piece of ART you have made and can be quick and easy to make. You can use Rubber Stamps, Collage, Fabric, Ephemera, or anything that comes to mind to create these little pieces of ART. This is a perfect way to use up all of those tiny scraps we all have in our studios.

Try making some ATC's and see what you come up with!

ZNE See it Say it Saturday

As a ZNE Design Team Member each of us were asked to pick 4 ZNE members ART from the ZNE Gallery to challenge others to be inspired and create a "response" piece of art.

Here is the Mixed Media response ART piece that I have done for the ART work by Suzanne Glazier. Please check out her beautiful work at the ZNE Design Team Blog

Have you checked out the 2nd Issue of Totally Creative eZine

The newest issue of Totally Creative is available now!

There are 94 pages in the 2nd issue and over 50 holiday projects.

Check out this list of projects in the eZine:

KEEP THE CARDS COMING…
Quick and Easy Christmas Cards

Beaded Wreath Card

Tree Card

Mommy & Me Gift Bags

D’Esignworks

Get those Gifts Going…

Pincushion Rings and Bracelets

Felting a Pen

Cha-Cha Ring

Polar Bear Bead Pen

Crimson and Copper Necklace & Earrings

Sweater Monkey

Be Jeweled for the Holidays

Scrap Wire Jewelry Extravaganza:

Cell Phone Case -Black Velvet

Red Work Gift Box

Felted Star Necklace

Deck those Halls…

The Apron Chronicles: Santa Baby

Felt Christmas Stockings

Christmas Chenille Pillow

JOY

Sophisticated Snowflake Mats

Glitter Mosaic Snowman

Easy Mosaic Ornaments

Santas & Snowballs Wreath

Crimped & Quilled 10" Snowflake

Altered Techniques 101: Deep Niche

Altered Book Picture Frame

Christmas Snowman Chair

Easy Felt Table Square
Rock It Your Way Vol.2 T-shirt and Shoes
ORNAMENTS…

Beaded Star Ornament

Mini Dresden Plate Quilted Ornament

Plaster Starman Ornament

Vintage Jewelry Yo-Yo Ornament

Simple Sparkly Candle Jars

Paper Scrap Star

Snow-mates Felt Ornament

Coaster Ornament ~ Baby's 1st Christmas

Snowman Paint Can & Pin

Stitched with Joy Bear

Rolly Polly Snowman

Sno-Cone Ornament

Antique Batting Angel

Antique Batting St. Nick

Teaspoon Angels

Christmas Bird

Matryoshka Doll Ornament

And For all of those Holiday Memories…

Wintery Paper Bag Book

When visiting the Totally Creative site click on current issue to order the 2nd issue or click on free issue to get the first issue (early fall issue) free!
Enjoy!

C&T Publishing has a New BLOG be sure to check it out

Over the past few years I have done some designing for C&T Publishing. I have a some projects on packaging for their products and in multi-authored books. I am happy to tell you about their new blog here and to let you know about the SPECIAL Deal they are offering to other blogger's be sure to check it out:

Leading craft publisher C&T Publishing announced the launch of its new blog, www.ctpubblog.com.

Blog Topics Share a Common Theme: Creativity

The blog will feature a wide range of topics, including free quilting and crafts projects, news about authors and events in quilting, fiber arts, needle arts, and papercrafts, behind-the-scenes views of the publishing process, updates on the company's ongoing efforts to green its operations, and postings by C&T Publishing authors and employees on their current creative projects.

"We're excited about blogging, because it gives us a much more personal and fluid way to share creative ideas with our customers and other arts and crafts enthusiasts," says Amy Marson, Publisher of C&T Publishing. "Most of our products take months or even years to develop and reach the public. A new idea can go live on the blog in just a few minutes. It's a whole new level of creative communication."

25% Discount for Bloggers Who Add C&T Blog to their Blogrolls

The first 100 bloggers who link to the C&T Publishing blog from their own blogs will receive a special 25% discount on an order placed by October 31, 2008. Click here [link to http://www.ctpubblog.com/2008/10/07/sweet-deal-25-percent-off-for-bloggers/] to get full details of the offer.

About C&T Publishing

For 25 years, C&T Publishing has been the industry leader providing exceptional books and products to the papercrafting, quilting, and fiber art markets throughout the United States and internationally. C&T books, products and authors have won numerous awards including Craftrends Award of Excellence, International Quilt Association Silver Star Award, Scientific American Young Reader's Book Award, and numerous other industry recognitions. C&T Publishing is a privately held company located in Concord, CA.

C&T Publishing's books and products are available in bookstores, quilt, fabric and papercraft stores or from www.ctpub.com, www.createandtreasure.com, or 800/284-1114.

Have you ever?

Taken a fall and quickly looked around to be sure no one saw?

Monday morning I was leaving for work; I walked out of my house heading toward the garage.....I was looking back at the house at the second floor windows because there were allot of birds around; when I fell. It seemed that my foot went off of the sidewalk, I must have lost my footing, my ankle twisted and I was on the ground. I quickly looked around to be sure no one saw how ridiculous I must have looked.

Somehow it was my right foot that went off the sidewalk and twisted but my left knee that that was bleeding in several places and banged up????? I quickly got up, made sure my pants were still clean, thank goodness they were black, as I did not have time to go back into the house and find another outfit......I got into my car and drove to work with my left pants leg pulled up so I would not get blood on them.

Two days later my knee is bruised, swollen and trying to scab. It hurts to keep it straight, to bend it and to have clothing touch it........

Lesson learned:
Always watch where you are walking,
do not look back at something without stopping to look.......

Think Green in your ART with Earth Safe Finishes!

Earth Safe Finishes has opened it's door to it's new products with a tremendous amount of excitement over the future of providing safe products to the world of ART, fine ART Crafting, Mixed Media, Altered Art, Stamping and other specialty areas!

Nancy Burkhart, (formally of Terra Bella Finishes which has recently closed it's doors) is the founder of

Earth Safe Finishes , a GREEN company that will fill a void in the ART and Crafting market. Nancy is focusing all of her energy and talent into developing and marketing these new and improved paint products that are not only safe for us bu for the earth as well!

The quality of these products is top of the line from any vantage point, offering great coverage and a nice range of colors. There are gels, glazes, metallics, texture mediums and more! To add to the excitement each product may be mixed with any other Earth Safe Finishes to give you endless possibilities!

In addition to fine are and crafting products Earth Safe Finishes manufactures non-toxic and zero VOC products for mariners, faux finishers and the building trade!

Check them out for your next project!

Makin's Clay Memory Frames

I wanted to share a Memory Frame I did for Makin's Clay that I really enjoyed making!

This is a Double Turning Frame so it had 4 sides to work on. The top picture is Michelle's Graduation Picture on the right side, the left side has a white card stock background and letters made from blue Makin's Clay that had been textured with Makin's Texture Sheets to say Class of 2004.

The bottom picture has a sheet of Makin's Clay on the right side that was made by rolling white in blue together until it was blended and thin. Then I made the graduation hat from black clay and thin blue clay for the tassel. I rolled out some natural clay extremely thin, then rolled it to form a diploma and glued a piece of blue clay for the band. On the left side is a couple pictures that were taken of Michelle during the graduation and some die-cut letters for the date.

These Double Turning Frames from Makin's Clay are a wonderful way to capture memories!