My Illusive Muse

Winter Ice

2012-02-15T18:07:00.000-06:00

It's been such a mild winter so far, but I'm OK with that. The swap themes have enough snow for me. The ice and mountains are from Stampscapes.

Corn Harvest

2012-01-24T14:35:00.002-06:00

I'm finally out of the garden. I'll try to catch up with all the scenes from over the summer, but I'll start with the most recent and go back. Hope you enjoy them.

This scene is a photoscape with the corn stalks from Sutter and the mouse and corn from Stacey Stamps.

Seasonal Stampscapes.

2011-06-30T13:40:00.006-05:00

I've been pretty far behind adding to this blog. The garden- or I should say weeds - have taken over my life.
These scenes were from my copic class at MCC. They are basically the same, with a change of season color.

Barns

2011-05-14T23:38:00.007-05:00

Barn scenes are one of my favorite things to stamp. I wanted to share a few of them with you. My scenic copic class is just about over. I'll be sharing those finished scenes soon.

Scene class 102 Lesson 4 alternatives

2011-03-26T19:20:00.005-05:00

Here are the last scenes of the scenic classes. I have enjoyed every second of this class. Now I'm on my own again for a while. Thank you so much Sandy H. Now gardening prep time has arrived here in Wisconsin, so I will become quite busy with that.

Scenic class 102 Lesson 4 Maple Brook

2011-03-10T22:25:00.001-06:00

This is scenic stamping class - 102. We were to review all aspects of the previous lessons using Maple Brook as the new stamp.

Scene class 102 More Mountains

2011-03-06T19:43:00.002-06:00

Lesson 3 - extra mountain scenes

Scenic class 102 Lesson 3 Mountain

2011-03-03T18:57:00.004-06:00

Our assignment was to use the same stamps images and color them using a different color pallet. Here is spring, winter and autumn.

Scene class 102 - Lesson 2 The Chapel

2011-02-22T19:38:00.006-06:00

From Sandy's scenic class, here are 2 scenes using Stampscapes Country Chapel

Scenic 102 Lesson 1

2011-02-13T23:28:00.011-06:00

Here is the first lesson of the Scenic Class 102 from My Creative classroom. Our instructor is Sandy Hulsart. All stamps in these scenes are from Stampscapes.

Scenic class Lesson 4

2011-02-08T13:55:00.014-06:00

These are the last of the samples from the first scenic class. I am so happy that I took the class. I've had such a great time and I've learned so much. I'm starting Scenic 102, so you'll be seeing more of the scenes that come with this class.

Scenic class Lesson 3 ducks and bear family

2011-02-03T21:43:00.003-06:00

We were instructed to continue to do scenes and add some more animals. What a wonderful class.

Scenic class Lesson 3 Bear

2011-02-02T21:47:00.002-06:00

Lesson 3 -
We were to add animals with the correct perspective.

Scenic class lesson 3 part 1 Vultures and night

2011-02-01T18:19:00.002-06:00

I didn't have the heron stamp, so I used the vultures for a whimsical scene. The night scene is being shown as a bit of a mistake. The stamp was not cleaned and stamped darker than it should have. I used it for a night scene.

Scenic class lesson 2

2011-01-31T18:49:00.001-06:00

Scenic class lesson 2

2011-01-30T18:47:00.000-06:00

Scenic class Lesson 1 Moose

2011-01-29T18:43:00.001-06:00

Here are the second set of scenes from Lesson one for the scenic class that I'm taking from Sandy Hulsart through My Creative Classroom online scenic class. I am enjoying this class so much. I'm planning to continue the classes. If you want information on the classes, email me.

Scenic class - Lesson 1

2011-01-28T18:42:00.008-06:00

I decided to take some scenic stamping classes from Sandy H. through My Creative Classroom. I really felt that I need to get motivated again and to get rid of some bad habits and lazy ways. I can only say I am so happy I did. I will be sharing the weekly lessons.

Sutter Indian Princess

2011-01-23T15:07:00.001-06:00

I decided to share a scene from the past. All stamps are from Sutter stamps. The embellishment in her hair is an charm attached by a brad. As I looked back over my older scenes, I noticed how my shading of color has changed. All coloring was done with dye ink. I should redo this scene using some color lessons that I have learned over the years.

Whale sighting

2011-01-17T15:06:00.006-06:00

The whales are a Sutter Stamps image inked on a photo.

Card Patterns sketch 96, Creative inspirations inspired by my dream vacation

2010-12-31T14:23:00.008-06:00

Tonight's card fits two challenges for this week. The sketch itself is from "Card Patterns", a new sketch challenge that I decided to join. The second challenge is from Creative Inspirations who asked us to create something that is inspired by a dream vacation - now that the stresses of Christmas are over. I used iced blue paint on the water.

Cheerful stamp pad - O Holy Night Challenge

2010-12-18T15:55:00.005-06:00

Challenge #7 from the Cheerful Stamp Pad was to emphasize the true meaning of Christmas. To bring it truly home, I used a photoscape of a sunset taken from my back yard. I used a digital image of the tree and the 3 Wisemen and embossed it in black.

Critter Challenge #44

2010-12-15T21:15:00.006-06:00

The Critter sketch challenge for this week was to make a card without using pattern paper. The vintage Santa is an Artistic Outpost stamp on a background using a Tim Holtz embossing fade on core dinations paper lightly sanded.

Creative Inspiration - snow globes

2010-12-08T22:53:00.005-06:00

The challenge at Creative Inspirations for this week is snow globe. I used Creative Inspirations Paint "fairy dust" on the mountain. The background used a cuttlebug folder. The mountain is from Stampscapes.

Critter Challenge #42

2010-12-05T21:38:00.002-06:00

We had to follow a sketch for this week's Critter challenge #42 . I decided to make a simple Christmas Card to use for this year.

Creative Inspiration - The Midas Touch

2010-12-03T14:09:00.005-06:00

This week's theme is the Midas Touch. I painted Fairy Dust Paint over the entire card to give the overall card a shimmery look. The pinecone was embossed with gold glitter.

Cheerful stamp pad - deck the halls

2010-12-01T14:58:00.003-06:00

The Challenge for the Cheerful Stamp Pad was to think about
how we are going to decorate the house for Christmas without using any trees. I made this ornament card and embellished it with metal ivy leaves.

Critter Sketch Challenge #41

2010-11-27T16:22:00.000-06:00

Food! The Critter Sketch challenge #41 for this week is food. How about a nice glass of wine and maybe a fire in the fireplace after all the food that was consumed over the holiday.

Creative Inspiration Paints - Spreading your wings

2010-11-25T16:48:00.005-06:00

This card was made for the Creative Inspirations Paint: Inspired by challenge. This weeks challenge is Spreading Your Wings. It was simply done by using a cuttlebug embossing folder. I reversed the embossing so I could stamp the butterflies in green going in the right direction. . I used fairy dust Creative Inspirations Paint to highlight the butterflies. I added the ribbon, but wish I hadn't. Too late now.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2010-11-25T12:47:00.007-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope everyone has enjoyed a wonderful day with family and friends. I wanted to share a couple fall cards before the snows fall. The Thanksgiving card was made for a good friend with Sutter stamps and colored with copic markers and embellished with metal leaves. The pumpkin chair was made for a swap and a challenge. It was also colored with copic markers and embellished with punched metal leaves.

The garden is gone.

2010-11-22T23:52:00.003-06:00

The summer has come and gone. The leaves have fallen and the snow is on it's way. It time to get back to the ink and paper. Well it's not like I haven't touched ink, I just haven't done it on a routine basis. I'll try to catch up a little and share what I've done over the last few months. It's good to get back into the stamping area. I will need to reorganize so I can find my supplies. I've managed to buy a few things. Now I'll get to play with them.

Peoplescape

2010-05-14T01:19:00.004-05:00

The Stampscape swap theme was to do a peoplescape. These ladies seem to be enjoying their day.

Critter challenge

2010-05-12T23:30:00.005-05:00

This is my first totally digital card. I did this for this week's Critter Sketch challenge. The image I used was from Doodle Dragon Studios. I decided to do a graduation card for one of the many graduations for this year. I used Creative Memories background with the Doodle Dragon Studio's image.

Critter Sketch Challenge #11

2010-04-30T00:17:00.002-05:00

This weeks Critter Sketch Challenge was to use a button in the card somewhere. I wanted to use a Victorian image. I don't know who makes the stamp. I cut it out with a nestability and used some lace and buttons from my stash.

Critter Sketch Challenge #10

2010-04-25T18:50:00.005-05:00

This is week 10 of the Critter Sketch Challenge. The challenge this week was to use ten items on the card. I used 2 flowers with brads, 3 leaves, a popped pear, a Martha Stewart fence punch, a Nestability scalloped square frame around the original stamped image and a ribbon.

Photoscapes

2010-04-24T20:56:00.007-05:00

I wanted to share these photoscapes that I made for a friend. After this long and snowy winter these were photos she shared of some of the winter views outside her home. They were copied on glossy paper and colored with dye inks.

Critter Challenge with gingham

2010-04-11T23:26:00.005-05:00

This is an entry for the Critter Sketch Challenge. The theme was to use gingham somewhere on the card.

Paddleboat Trip

2010-04-04T16:31:00.005-05:00

I did this scene for my Sutter Group Homepage Challenge. It was stamped on glossy and colored with Adirondack dye inks with stipple brushes. . The actual scene is 8 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches.

Critter Sketch Challenge #5

2010-03-21T22:19:00.005-05:00

This is the fifth sketch challenge for the critter Sketch challenge. The stamp is from Artistic Outpost. The ball was stamped and then popped.

Critter Sketch Challenge 4

2010-03-13T01:25:00.005-06:00

I made this card for the Critter Challenge #4. We had to use blue, green and yellow and the card had to have some flowers. I used the Martha Stewart Deco punch.

Critter Sketch Challenge Window sketch

2010-03-07T23:19:00.008-06:00

I made this card for the Critter Sketch Challenge for this week. The scene seen through the window is made from stamps from Sutter. The background is a cuttlebug folder turned sideways. I needed to line it up and run it through twice.

Ctitter Sketch Challenge - crocus

2010-02-23T23:07:00.010-06:00

I decided to try something new and different for me and enter into a sketch challenge. My personal goal is to expand my card design skills. This card is for a Sketch Challenge. I used design paper, stash ribbon and the crocus stamp is from Sugarloaf.

Stampscapes photoscape swap

2010-02-13T23:46:00.004-06:00

This is from a Stampscapes photoscape swap. My swap partner has received it, so I can share it here in my blog. I took this photo during a cruise to Alaska several years ago. I added the cabin, the boater, the pines on the rocks in the bottom right corner and the mountains in the top right corner. All of the stamp images are Stampscapes.

Valentine Challenge - Sutter

2010-02-12T21:52:00.004-06:00

Happy Valentines Day.

I'm sharing 3 cards made for a Valentine challenge from Sutter. Shhhh The couple card is for my hubs. I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day

Stampscapes Northern Lights photoscape

2010-02-07T23:44:00.003-06:00

This scene was made for a Northern Lights photoscape challenge. The images were stamped over a photo of the Northern Lights.

Stampscapes sentiment swap

2010-01-22T21:43:00.000-06:00

This was done for a Stampscape swap a while ago, using the sentiments by Stampscapes.

Sutter

2010-01-20T21:35:00.001-06:00

This is a scene created for the winter Homepage Challenge for the Sutter group. All Sutter images were used. A friend, Klee, has a bobcat mix cat that she has befriended and is caring for. This is for Mr. C.

Sutter

2010-01-09T21:34:00.005-06:00

This winter scene was done as a swap for the Sutter group that I belong to. All of the images were from Sutter. I colored with Copics and airbrushed the sky. The wolves were two different stamp images. A chilly scene for the cold winter that we are having.

Favorite Image Challenge

2009-12-29T18:31:00.013-06:00

These scenes were made for a challenge for the Stampscapes II group. We were challenged to use our favorite image in 3 scenes and change something about each one. I chose to change the seasons. The skaters were from Stamping Sensations. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Wishing you well in 2010. I'll post again after the new year.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-26T00:41:00.003-06:00

I'm hoping everyone had a great day and a Merry Christmas.

2009-11-24T23:14:00.005-06:00

I've shown you the cards I've made for my nephew, so tonight I am going to add to the JR series. He loves dinosaurs and the dragon was the closest I came. The dragon was a cricut image. The helicoptor is from Doodlebug and the rocks and trees are from stampscapes. This was one of those fun cards you just had to make.

Postcards

2009-11-15T21:50:00.006-06:00

It's time to show you another postcard. This was all one stamp that I used while stamping at a friend's house. I don't know who makes it. If anyone knows, let me know and I'll edit this post. The postcard swap is a monthly swap in the Wisconsin Stampers group. I used Copics to color and I airbrushed the sky. The clouds in the sky was done using a technique that I was practicing.

It's going to be a long night. Halloween

2009-11-05T21:26:00.004-06:00

Before Halloween gets too far past us, I decided to post this Halloween scene that was made for Wisconsin Stampers Swap. The witch and the cemetary is from I Brake For Stamps. The tree is from Stamps by Judith.

Sarah Kay

2009-09-24T21:15:00.006-05:00

It's been way too long since I have posted any scenes. Now if I can show you green beans, we'd be up to date. Here is a little girl by Sarah Kay on her bike in front of her house by Serendipity.

Wild animal challenge - Sutter

2009-09-13T21:29:00.001-05:00

In another entry for the wild animal challenge for Sutter, I used this cute little fawn stamped in a nestability frame. The cardstock front was watermarked with some leaf images.

Wild animal challenge - Sutter

2009-08-15T21:26:00.001-05:00

I can't believe summer is coming to an end. I have plenty to show you, but I haven't gotten to update my blog. This scene is from a wild animal challenge.

Bear sighting

2009-07-24T23:38:00.002-05:00

It's been a month since I last posted in my blog. I have some new scenes, but playing in the garden has gotten in the way of playing with my inks. Hopefully I can show some more soon. Tonight I wanted to share a swap card that I made. These bears were sighted at the farm pond playing in the water. This was made for a Sutter swap with Adirondack dye inks.

Design cards

2009-06-25T23:56:00.000-05:00

I originally intended for this blog to include only scenic stamping, but I have created or CASED some design cards that I'd like to share with you for ideas and inspiration. I will post them on occasion. My primary stamping passion is scenic stamping. Outside of stamping, my passion is my yard and garden and it is that time of year. If you don't catch me on the blog, I'll be working the garden.

Cornish Heritage Pirate Boy

2009-06-25T23:43:00.006-05:00

I found that as I looked through my blog, I had not shown you the pirate boy from Cornish Heritage. I made this one for a friend this summer.

Birds

2009-06-14T21:20:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I shared anything with you. Summer gardening has kept me so busy. This is one stamp from Coronado Island Stamps that I used to practice my coloring with copics.

my sister's grandson

2009-05-27T21:46:00.001-05:00

I made some note cards depicting my sister's grandson doing some fun little boy things. The child stamp is from Art Impressions.

Tropical huts

2009-04-29T23:40:00.002-05:00

Here is a tropical scene using Stampscapes and Beeswax stamps. I colored with Copics and did the sky with Adirondack dye inks using the paper towel technique. I use that sky technique often. The scene is done on cryogen paper. Here is another scene I stamped, then colored later.

Stampscapes watermill

2009-04-28T23:30:00.000-05:00

During a Stampscapes weekend in Chicago some time ago, I stamped this image while watching and learning from Kevin, the owner of Stampscapes. It was an amazing weekend. I met many amazing artists and friends. I finally colored the scene with Adirondack inks on glossy paper.

Lion in the Wild

2009-04-26T23:16:00.001-05:00

During a stamping get together with friends a while ago, I stamped this scene. I finally finished with the coloring using Adirondack inks on glossy paper. The cracked earth is from Stampscapes and I believe the building and the lion are from Beeswax.

Postcards

2009-04-20T23:08:00.003-05:00

Another postcard has been sent. Sending postcards through the mail has been so much fun. I wonder what the post office personnel really think. You'll be seeing more postcards in the future.

10 minute card

2009-04-13T22:01:00.009-05:00

I hope everyone had a good Easter. I wanted to share this card because it was quick to do. This time of year becomes very busy with the beginning of yardwork and working in the garden. The stamping slows down considerably. The sky is done using dye inks and a stipple brush. I estimated where I wanted the color changes to be. The stamp is from Cornish Heritage. I just stamped in black on top of the sky. The card front was embossed with a cuttlebug and the scene framed and attached to the front. It might make a good man's card or perhaps a sympathy card.

Die cut challenge

2009-04-01T23:54:00.004-05:00

These two scene cards were made for a Stampscapes die cut challenge. I used the Nestabilities Labels One die cut. I don't think you can tell from the image, but the waterfall scene was placed on top of the embossed Cuttlebug Swiss dots. In the cabin scene, the window was cut out and embossed with the Swiss dots and the scene was placed under so it would appear in the opening.

Sutter stinky challenge

2009-03-25T00:29:00.013-05:00

We had a fun challenge through Sutter to create a stinky scene. I added two of my older scenes for the stinky challenge.

The end of the winter cold

2009-03-19T02:02:00.045-05:00

At last, the long. cold and snowy winter is finally at a close. But before the temperatures rise, I want to share my penguin scenes that I've done for various challenges and swaps this winter. The main penguin image on the left is from Coronado Island. In the next scene, the main penguins are from Lasting Impressions and the group in the distance is from the Stamping Place. The mountain and the cracked ice are from Stampscapes. The penguins in the third scene are from House Mouse with some mountains from Stampscapes.

Whale cove Lighthouse

2009-03-07T18:34:00.009-06:00

I pulled out these scenes from a couple months ago. Both scenes use Impression Obsession's Whale Cove. The left scene uses Sutter stamps and right scene uses stamps from Stampscapes. I colored both with Adirondack dye inks on glossy paper.

Wood Fairy

2009-03-07T18:25:00.002-06:00

This little wood fairy scene was created for a Sutter stamp only challenge. I used dye inks on glossy paper.

Watering the Garden

2009-03-05T00:59:00.006-06:00

I may be rushing the gardening season a bit. It's time to water the garden and do some transplanting. This scene uses the stamps from the gardening sheet from Rare Image Rubber stamps. The hills in back are from Stampscapes.

2009-03-05T00:40:00.005-06:00

Charlie is back today. They were planning to go fishing, but when they arrived at the lake they found that there was a hot air balloon rally. They parked up on the ridge to watch. The hot air balloon is from Club Scrap. I don't remember where the truck and the surrounding landscape came from. If anyone knows, please let me know so I correct this. The front landscape is from Stampscapes. Of course Charlie is from Rare Image Rubber stamps.

Sutter - Bird and water challenge

2009-03-02T20:20:00.004-06:00

Tonight I'm going to share a scene which was done the the water/bird challenge for Sutter. All stamps are from Sutter. It was colored with Adirondack dye inks.

Postcards

2009-02-22T22:25:00.027-06:00

I worked on 2 postcards to actually send in the mail this month. Both were sealed with Krylon Workable fixative to protect it for the journey across the state. In the Harmony postcard I used Sutter stamps. The ART postcard was a one stamp scene from Beeswax with some pen altering. I wonder what the postal service folks think when they see this come across their work stations. I hope they enjoy it.

Charlie and the flag

2009-02-16T21:33:00.006-06:00

It's President's Day and Charlie and his little feline friend wanted to show their respect to the flag. The animals are from Rare Image rubber stamps. The house with flag is from Serendipity.

Heading Home

2009-02-16T21:05:00.005-06:00

I made this scene for my hubs. He tells me he want a log cabin and a pontoon boat. I guess I made his dreams come true. The stamps used are Stampscape, I don't know who makes the pontoon boat.

Underwater scene

2009-02-15T21:51:00.006-06:00

This was from a challenge to use Sutter stamps in an underwater scene. I used a photo of some clouds that I thought looked like it was underwater and created this photoscape. The photo was printed on Cryogen White paper, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with copics.

Rare Image Sutter farm

2009-02-08T16:48:00.009-06:00

Here is another scene using the pet sheet from Rare Image rubber stamps. The landscape is Stampscapes, the house with windmill and fences is from Sutter.

Into Mischief

2009-02-08T16:39:00.006-06:00

The scene today was made using the pet and garden sheets from Rare Image rubber stamps. It's been fun using them in a scene. This little guy a little scamp - always into mischief. The fence is from Beeswax, the landscape is Stampscapes, the hydrant is from Stampcraft and the grass and plants are from Sutter.

Flower Bridge

2009-02-08T02:06:00.006-06:00

What are Charlie and Pudgie waiting for? The flower bridge is there for them to cross. All landscape stamps are from Stampscapes.

The Outhouse

2009-02-08T01:55:00.008-06:00

The next new scene using Rare Image Rubber Stamps includes some cats waiting for their favorite gardener to take a little break. There is still another plant to put into the garden. The gardener left her shovel and watering can along the walkway. The outhouse is from Rubber Cottage, the stone walk is fromI Brake for Stamps and the landscape and little rocks are from Stampscapes. The plants along the walkway and the little grasses are from Sutter.

2009-02-08T01:10:00.015-06:00

I've been working with some images from Rare Image Rubber Stamps. I love the pet sheets and the garden sheets. Nancy J. from Inkblocks has asked me to do some scenes using those images. What fun. Charlie and the lighthouse was done using the Pet sheet . The rocks and the branches from Stampscapes and the lighthouse from Repeat Impressions

Sutter 8x10 swap

2009-02-04T20:45:00.008-06:00

The challenge was to make an 8x10 scene for a Sutter swap. I used copics to color on cryogen white paper. I used the airbrush to color the sky and enhanced it with some stippling. I also stippled the edges of the scene.

My Journey begins.....

2009-02-04T14:39:00.002-06:00

I've been wanting to begin a blog for a while now. I hit the button that says create a blog and before I knew it, I had a blog. My intention is to journal my way thru my art. I plan to try to catch up with the last several years as well as keep up with my present day art.