the word that would best describe this feeling would be haunted

 while the studio is closed for a little trickery,

here is a treat in the form of a link, my dearie.

 

click below if you dare…

 ready, set…carve!

 

happy halloween…

glitter soup studio

harvest festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

she prepared the soil

with rocks

and scattered seeds

of mistrust.

 

“sow what!?!” she hissed,

watering liberally

for years

with piss and tears,

the angry weeds

growing rampant

under her feet

into thick

twisted

and

enraged

vines.

 

come, Farmer A. Hole…

it’s time to reap

your hearty crop.

shoot now, point later

just about everyone these days has access to some sort of point-and-shoot camera. there are a wide variety of compact models available, as well as camera phones, ipods, and other small electronic devices containing imaging sensors.

while some higher-end “super” compact cameras are capable of producing images that are comparable to many digital SLR cameras, most of the compact cameras have some disadvantages when it comes to photographic quality:

• wide-angle lenses that are fixed-focus can limit the creative control that the photographer has over the final image.
• a small sensor (made to fit these compact devices) can lead to a lot of “noise” or grain in the photograph.
• zoom lenses sometimes exacerbate the noise levels even further.
• “shutter lag” or shutter delay can cause the photographer to miss out on a photo opportunity.
• exposure is automatic in most cases.
• what you see isn’t always what you get. lenses are placed separate from the viewfinder, which creates an image different from what you are viewing as you press the shutter.

does this mean that good images cannot be obtained with these compact cameras? of course not.

the key to using one of these types of compact cameras is to know its features and limitations. being aware of the disadvantages and taking corrective steps will greatly improve your success, because ultimately it is the photographers’ knowledge of their equipment and their individual vision that creates what is seen in the final image.

on the other hand, point-and-shoot cameras are very easy to use and most are fully automatic, making even a beginning photographer capable of producing a quality image. the small size makes it simple to carry in a pocket or purse to have available at a moment’s notice. point-and-shoot cameras are lightweight, not very intrusive, and are also relatively low in cost.  in addition, technology has improved their imaging sensors a great deal over the last few years, which has increased their ability to produce good quality 4″ x 6″ prints.

before you venture out, you will need to decide what kind of image you want to capture and what that image will be used for. if you’re not a professional, it isn’t necessary to go overboard…sometimes all you need is a camera that is convenient and can do a reasonably good job.

blackboard singin’ in the dead of night

ah, Cosmo Cricket Blackboard.  those who know me well know that i wear black on a daily basis to cheer myself up. 

blackbirds love me and i love blackbirds.

black is where it’s at.

so when the blackboard came out, you can only imagine how excited was i to learn that i would no longer need to paint the edges of my chipboard when crafting!  yeah, my life really is that dull. 

the Blackboard shapes and alphabets are wonderfully designed, and they pop out from the panels with none of the ugly edges that need to be sanded. the coordinating die cuts are whimsical and fun.  you can use Blackboard simply as black silhouette shapes, with no embellishment at all. but just like other chipboard, these shapes look amazing when embellished. here are just a few ways to embellish your blackboard:

stamp a word or design. i love the high contrast of black and white on a project, and the Blackboard is perfect when paired with white pigment ink.

heat emboss a design with clear powder, which gives a subtle enhancement to your shape. a similar technique is to use a glossy medium to cover the entire Blackboard shape.

give your shapes some shine and glimmer with stickles or glitter. If using stickles, remember that the black will show through the glitter.

doodle or draw designs on your Blackboard with a white pen, again achieving high contrast.

pull out your chalks, pencils, pastels or metallic rub-ons…the surface of Blackboard is a perfect canvas for these mediums.  and metallic rub-ons against the black? my heart beats faster.

embellish with brads or eyelets. Blackboard is just the right thickness for brads and eyelets.

use rub-ons as a quick and easy way to dress up your Blackboard…just be sure to use lighter colored rub-ons so they show up.

handstitch with embroidery thread. use a paper piercer to make holes in your Blackboard and then sew with a standard needle.

if you’re looking for a larger Blackboard canvas, try one of the eight differently shaped albums that are available.  my favorite is the house album with the doorway cut out on the cover.  the Blackboard photo box and memory bosx are also great fun for decorating and filling with sweet treats or a small gift.

there is no end to the imaginative ways you can use this fantastic product in your artwork.

it’s a beautiful day

 

U2 tickets on the fuzzy brain

for six months now

two could have easily been mine

even held them in my hand

for a brief moment

 

to see U2 perform again

in my own backyard

third time

would certainly

have been

a charm 

 

i relished the opportunity

fantasized about it

rolled it around in my hands

for a while

closed my eyes

and saw the strobes

heard the din

lost in a bouncing

swaying

throbbing

pulsating

sea of bodies

far as the eye can see

 

but then

but then

sweet tweenager erin

enters the picture

desperate to see

her “favorite band…just once”.

 

devil on the left screams

keep the tickets

you were singing their songs

before she was even born

goddammit

 

angel on the right whispers

share the experience

the joy

the magic

the inspiration

that only bono can bring

when he belts it out

and puts his stink on it

like nobody’s business

 

gotta listen when angel sings

and you give,

and you give,

and you give your tickets away…

 

maybe next time, devil.

and as for you mr. bono, sir:

baby, baby baby,

i hope you lit erin’s way.

to see what erin saw last night, click here

just like a brayer, your voice can take me there…

 

 

i love looking at the sky—contemplating its vastness and marveling at all the vivid and differing shades of blues, greys, pinks, reds and oranges. 

 

when it comes to capturing this depth of color in your artwork, the brayered sky technique works very well. 

 

 

materials needed to create this card:

• 3 different shades of dye-based ink
• rubber brayer
• glossy white paper or cardstock 
• post-it notes or something similar for masking
• sponge applicator
• stamp and black ink or a die-cut picture

how to:

cut your glossy paper a little larger than you need before beginning this technique – this ensures you’ll get even coverage all over your design and you can trim off any unwanted color. tear the your post-it notes randomly and place them on the bottom half of the glossy paper. (this is done to mask the area that you do not want to brayer—in this case, the snow).

using the lightest shade of dye ink, brayer across your entire glossy paper using a back and forth motion. you should be left with a random base for your sky.

repeat this process, using a darker shade of dye ink. roll the brayer back and forth, but don’t cover the whole area…you want to be able to see some of the first ink color showing through.

repeat again, this time using the darkest shade of dye ink. try to keep the color towards the top part of your sky. don’t panic if it looks too dark; it changes its appearance once you get your stamped image on there.

using the sponge applicator, dab a small amount of the darkest dye ink across the edge of the post-it notes. this will form the sky’s horizon.

after leaving the ink to dry for a few minutes, carefully peel away the post-it notes to reveal the finished sky.  now  stamp an image onto the glossy paper using black ink.

trim the finished image down to size and finish off your card as desired. this one is mounted onto cardstock and layered onto a card, and an embellishment of ribbons, brads and words were added.

 

 

 

this technique is very versatile and when you get the hang of it, you can use it in a variety of ways!

350 project

october 24 marks the international day of climate action, where people all over the world will join together to take a stand for a safe climate future.  what will you be doing to celebrate?  i’m attending the reception at zinnia in south pasadena where my artwork will be displayed!

what’s happening? – this is an unusual art exhibit to bring attention to the environmental cause of “350”.  it is an installation of 350 pieces of art that are 350 picas square (5″x5″) which will each sell for 350 pesos ($26.55).  350 cents per artwork will go to the cause and all 350 art panels will be available for sale at exactly 3:50 p.m. on oct 24, 2009.
  
who are the participating artists? - artists from around the united states—known and unknown, including yours truly!  the identity of each artist will remain anonymous until their piece of art is purchased and taken off the wall.

350 amazing pieces of art displayed as one continuous piece of artwork will be deconstructed for sale at 3:50pm…so if you’re in the area of south Pasadena, why not stop in, check out this fabulous store, and pick up a wonderful piece of art? 

here’s a sneak peak at zinna’s wall with many of the 5″x5″ panels already up:

and here’s a look at my two panels, up close and personal:

good times right there.  hope you can make it!

malevolent intentions

 

 

although i am known

for putting the fun in funeral,

i will hold no vigil

for a vigilante

who

for all these years

has vivisected

the vigilant.

paper, glorious paper!

Horizontal Paper Dividers 

these paper trays from Display Dynamics are the perfect mix for display, protection, and organization for your 12” x 12” cardstock and paper collections.  best of all, they’re also available in an 8.5” x 11” version! 

the design allows you to easily add and remove paper, even from the bottom of each stack. dividers which aid in sorting, loading and unloading are also available. trays can be stacked 30 high in a double or single stack wheeled base if shelf space is limited.  or if you just dig dragging your paper around with you.

another option is to use 12” x 12” wire cubes. make a cube and then use additional side pieces as “shelves”, securing them into place with zip ties. cube systems are available at costco, walmart or sam’s club.

these flexible plastic paper holders from Cropper Hopper (sold unassembled or assembled in a value pack) are another way to organize cardstock and paper. add dividers to them to separate colors or to sort patterned paper from cardstock. you can also clip Paper Holders together using slide clips.

each container holds up to 200 sheets of 12 x 12 cardstock. use smaller Paper Pouches for smaller groups of paper—four Paper Pouches fit into one paper holder. 

it’s easy to find the papers you are looking for without having to remove all of the papers from the holder. large Holders come in clear and black, but the narrow Paper Pouches are only available in clear. 

your local scrapbook store would be delighted to help you figure out what works best for your paper storage needs!

gatefold greeting cards

a gatefold card (folds on each side and meets in the middle) is quick to make and a sight to behold.  i’ve always found gatefold cards so fun, and dig the fanciness of how it opens up in two directions to reveal the greeting or note inside.

how to:

sizing the card:  a gatefold card can be made in a variety of sizes. the only measurement that must be maintained is that the two folds must be each a quarter the size of the entire width of the card. if you want to match a certain envelope size. start your project by measuring the envelope. in this project, the envelope measures 5 ½” x 4 ½”.

first, cut the paper the height of the project, (which here is 4 ½”).  next, double the width of the envelope and cut your paper to that width. (in this example, the width is 5 ½”, which is 11″ doubled—so you’d cut the paper to that width.) now you’ve got a piece of 5 ½” x 11″ paper. what’s next?

creating the gate. to create the overlapping portion of the gatefold, divide the width of the paper by four. for this 11″ wide example, the number would be 2 ¾”. mark 2 ¾” from each end of the paper. fold at those two marks, and  the edges will meet in the middle. to get a good crease, use either a bone folder or a scoring tool.

decorate the inside and outside. use stamps, rub-ons, patterned paper, stickers, chipboard, etc. to decorate the inside and outside of the card. inking the edges of the card is a nice touch.

create the gatefold flap. to cover the gatefold, create a flap. as shown here, two circles are overlapped and an epoxy sticker was added.  to attach the flap, use adhesive on half of the back side and attach that to the card. the flap can also be made as a square, or you can use a fun shaped piece of chipboard.

optional attachment. to keep the fold from flapping open, an attachment can be added, such as a fancy paperclip. other attachment ideas include photo anchors and 3-dimensional objects that the flap can tuck underneath, or some eyelets and ribbon. 

hybrid options. gatefold cards can also be made using digital items printed on cardstock. the same process for creating the card would be followed after printing.  in this hybrid project, open a new document with the same measurements as your paper project, and use gridlines to mark where the paper will be folded after printing. then design the inside of the card and print it on cardstock.  the back of this card is a hybrid:

good times.

anti-discrimination policy

 

 

“what’s her type?”

 

she doesn’t have one.

if you’ve got a jugular,

she’ll cut it.

corner bookmarks

making a corner bookmark is fun, fast and makes a great gift for a reader of any age! 

materials needed:

magnetic disc

patterned paper or cardstock

flowers

buttons

rickrack

stamps and ink

how to:

cut a 3 1/4″ square piece of patterned paper or cardstock.

fold the upper left and right hand corners to the center. this will be the front of your bookmark, and it should look like this:

close the seam with a strip of paper or with photo tabs, and hide the seam or tabs with a large flower or other embellishment.  add some rickrack and round the corners, if you’re so inclined.

adhere a magnetic disc to one of the lower corners.  if you make them without the magnet, the bookmark will more than likely fall off your page, so don’t skip it.  

turn over and embellish the back to complete!

notice how the magnet is used on the page:

yeah, it’s really that simple.  think of how many quick gifts you can whip up family, friends, teachers, etc.  enjoy!

an inchoate, apoplectic quiver of rage

 

 

 

mirror, mirror

up her ass

tell me…will she ever have class?

will she ever think of another,

or has she turned out

just like her mother?

show-off wallet

what’s a show off wallet?  it’s basically a piece of paper folded up and closed like a wallet… you can use it for photos, sketches, fabric swatches, just about anything you’d like to keep with you to show off!  

materials needed:

2 sheets of double-sided patterned paper or 2 sheets of cardstock

adhesive

paper trimmer 

how to:

start off with a 12″ x 12″ piece of double-sided patterned paper. placing your item, say a photo, on the paper, and measure where to cut by leaving a nice bit of space around the photo for other papers and embellishments. if you don’t have a photo as a guide, cut your paper to 12″x6″…this will create a 3”x5” space to fit a photograph.

score the paper and fold it at 3.5″, 7″, and 10.5″. there should leave a little piece left over which will become the “flap” for the wallet.

holding your second sheet of paper, place it on your show-off wallet. (you’re using the wallet as a template of where to fold the paper…remember you want a nice mat around the paper…fold it in half, leaving the same distance around the three edges (bottom, left and right). see photo for visual.

once folded, cut your paper at 3″, 6″ and 9″. this will give you four pieces of folded paper. put one aside. glue your folded pieces of paper inside the show-off wallet as shown. if you want to journal or write notes on the inside of the folded papers, make the flaps face in different directions so it’s not too visually overwhelming.

now glue your photos (or whatever you want to show off!) inside the folded pieces of paper. you can mat your photos if you want, and if you have room. embellish as desired. keep in mind that the wallet will still need to fold closed, so  don’t make your pages too lumpy.

remember the extra folded paper you set aside? pull it out and unfold it. cut a vertical strip 1″ wide from it. it will be long and skinny.

wrap this strip around your closed show-off wallet and secure it with glue. be sure not to glue to the show-off wallet itself…you’re just adhering the strip to itself to make a “band” around the wallet!

stick an embellishment on the spot where you glued the band together. pull the band off and decorate as you wish. slide the decorated band back onto the show-off wallet and you’re done!

this is a fun and easy project…takes only two sheets of paper and about 10 minutes! this project was so fun and easy to make. you could make this an interactive greeting card (no photos needed). you could even rotate the wallet to open like a portfolio for your vertical photographs. it only takes two sheets of paper!

that’s right…$1.50 for a gift, and 10 minutes to make!

the joy of self destruction

she inserts herself where not invited

and asserts herself

where there is every reasonable

expectation of privacy and solitude.

a raging buffalo

plowing through the quietest of libraries,

not satiated until

all books are off the shelves

and everyone

is maimed beyond repair.