Metal Work 101

Or maybe just "1"...?

Just starting out on this journey of learning to stamp metal and incorporate it into jewelry and other art. I've wanted to do this for OH so long. But didn't have the money to invest in supplies. Thanks to my mom and my in-laws I've been able to invest in several stamp sets, a stamping block and metal pieces. Enter the creations.

I've added metal stamping to a recent wedding shower card. (Sorry, forgot to take photos.) Additionally, I've made some necklaces.

This is my latest and is called "Who" Loves You?
You can find it on my etsy shop... see the sidebar.

I hammered the letters and distressed the metal.
I also wire wrapped a Czech glass pearl and dangled it on the pendant.

I love this darling owl. I have several...keep watching as I'm sure more will pop up.

I made this necklace yesterday.
I wanted to play with a tri-tone pendant. 

Someone suggested a Love, Hope, Faith necklace, but size of letters and sizes of blanks limited me.
So, I used a heart for the "Love"...

There's a gorgeous Czech glass bead that dangles over the heart... you catch glimpses of the heart as the bead sways. 

It's all hanging on a lovely copper ball chain. 

This is the one that started it all. A lovely sweet sixteen gift inspired by Miss Lydia.

I'll happily make necklaces to order. Initials, dates, thoughts, etc. You're limited by size and number of blanks, and size of letters. I have many many beads I can add... either as dangles or incorporated into the necklace itself. Chains range from ball chains to delicate chains. Just drop me a line and I'll do my best.

OH, and through Friday, February 14 there is 10% off at my Etsy shop... just use the coupon code
"happyheartday"!

Hope you enjoy!

Blessings, Kim

Journal Swap... Journal Number Two

Or, "Better late than never."


So sorry Joyce. I can cite all the excuses in the book, but I'm not going to. I just hope you can forgive the late posting. Because I DiD tRuLy LoVe My PaCkAgE!!!


As I noted in a previous post Heather, of Speckled Egg fame, hosted an altered journal swap. It was a lot of fun for a newbie at this swapping business to meet new people via email, try to figure out their "Style" and then create for them. Joyce, from Scrapforjoy, was my second partner and she offered me a whole different approach. She asked me to create something I would like so that she could have a piece of my art to enjoy. That was a FUN assignment!


But, when it came time for her to create for me based on the things I had shared she not only took the things she learned about me, but she also read a bit on my blog/s and figured out a few things about me that helped to make her journal for me OH SO SPECIAL!

Note the lovely colors. Although these were not the colors I had mentioned, they are some of my favorite spring colors because they remind of me of hyacinths, lilacs and violets. My FAVORITE flowers!

Scripture... that was the icing on the cake. TRULY! She figured out what I believed and what was important and incorporated that into my journal design.

The most darling wee envelope just inside to tuck away mementos and notes.

The back inside cover appeared to be a pile of post cards. I LOVE post cards. I have a drawer full of them from which I pick and choose to create my Christmas cards. She really paid attention.

And the extras... At first I saw three scrabble letters and couldn't figure it out. Hmmm... doesn't take a rocket scientist does it? My name! And some cute vintage playing cards to add to art pieces.

Vintage cards... a birthday card received on my birthday week! and  CHOCOLATE. YUM! Already enjoying that treat!

All in all this was an amazing time of meeting, planning, making, sending, waiting, receiving and gratitude. So grateful for my sweet partners and for Heather who began this all. 

Oh... and here's a glimpse of my creations for Joyce:

A Faerie Queen for Joyce's journal... all done in dusty roses and pinks, with a bit of coral, gold and blue.

I really loved this paper flower... walnut ink, glitter and a gorgeous metal floral brad in the middle makes this one of my favorite flower creations. And I also had fun adding words on ribbons as place markers.

This paper made me think of Marie Antoinette... obviously "royal" to match the Faerie Queen.

Every faerie should grant a wish!

 Ah yes... the wish fulfilled... some extra goodies.

Vintage mailers, vintage trim and a personal note just for Joyce.

 How about some old photos, a flower pin I made, and some truffles.

And a domino necklace... one I made... another faerie of course! 

Joyce, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Both you and Debra helped to make this a fabulous first swap! Thanks ever so much!

Blessings, 

Kim

Journal Swap... Journal Number One

Well, WOW!!!!

I just completed my first ever online swap and so far? YAHOOOOOO!!! It was fun. I've met some very sweet ladies and had lots of fun creating.

BUT... the first journal made FOR me arrived this week and I had to share! This was from Debra. And, might I add, it was wrapped in red and white candy striped tissue? How CuTe is that?!

Debra was the creator. She asked a few questions about color and style. She visited my blogs and she created BEAUTY. Not only that but she included eXtRaS!Oh yes, she did.

Here is a photo sampling of the fun, and it arrived the day before my birthday so it was just like a big wonderful surprise birthday!

I told her I liked pink, vintage, birds, solder, beads, and she picked up on the Victorian influences on  my blogs I guess.

Isn't this a sweet dangle? Debra made it! 

Inside the covers were pockets... and goodies!

And the lining was vintage sheet music! (She must have caught on from my bottle pictures... I used old sheet music on those!) She is so observant and detailed.

Here's the whole package... journal, necklace, boxes to make and alter, slides in frames, bingo cards (How did she know?!), playing pieces, sheet music, tag frames. WOW! 

Here are the bingo cards... I have tons of Blue, had a few red and dark green, but I 've never had this  color or size before. VeRy FuN!

Isn't this sweet? I think I'll wear it to teaching tomorrow...

Thank you Debra! It was awesome!
And please stop by her blog sometime... she makes UBER cute stuff... she has these new bracelets... sooooo sweet!

 Here's a peek of what I made and packed for Debra...

This was fun. I learned this from "The Artistic Mother".... I painted  a background on paper. Then I scanned it into the computer and printed out a copy. I added stamps to it to fit the need. Then I scanned it again on the computer and altered the colors to match the theme and printed it out on card stock. Voila! I made my own paper for Debra's journal... it's made just for her!

What else would you put at the end?
Finis! Of course.

My dangle wasn't quite to the level of a soldered piece, but the colors were perfect and I'm happy.

This is trademark for me... a fairy with wings...

And every fairy should supply a wish. Of Course!

I had so much fun with the extras. Debra said she liked ephemera.

Cabinet photos, vintage printed envelopes, vintage trim, vintage buttons, a flower pin made from  a deconstructed vintage bridal hat and vintage leaf, a domino necklace and some chocolates.

I love making these and the colors matched the journal and the  flower  pin.

Peace Tree Mountain Truffles. Long story... but I was  part of the beginning of this business, although I don't work for them now. Just share the yummies. I hope Debra enjoyed her package as much as I enjoyed mine. This was so much fun!

Blessings, Kim

Newest Creations

Recreated an old line... some personal note cards. Spoiler alert.. Aunt Carol if you're reading this, please stop till after the box arrives. Aunt Sue, if you want some for your birthday just let me know. Your box contains something different.

There are two cards each with matching envelope liners/card trims, making for a total of 8 cards. The packet is wrapped in a vintage hankie. I'm so tickled. Had a lot of fun. My original line was made using tools available to me on "Crop Nights", but since that store is no longer open I had to rethink my designs.

I hope she enjoys. I would have rather done lavender as that is a favorite color, but I had pink, so that's what we went with.

Then, I finally started metal stamping/hammering tonight. This is my first attempt, made into a sweet necklace. I really like it.

Although it's hard to tell in this photo, I've used a brass/copper metal for the pendant and chain. The bead is a beautiful pink pearl glass bead. I've done the wire wrapping as well. All new skills since Art and Soul. 

If anyone is interested in ordering a personalized necklace just let me know. I'll happily oblige. Prices will vary depending on metals and beads used. 

Blessings and happy creating!
Kim

Garden Tea Party

Yes, I know it's winter. January to be precise. Yes, I know it's snowy outside. And in the 20s to boot. And yes, I know this is my art blog. But, this party was a fun party showing some wonderful artsiness (don't you LOVE that word?!) by my friend April, and her daughter Ava. I had a bit role as well... supplied a few things here and there.

the LoVeLy Miss Ava... oh, excuse me, Princess Ariel! She and her sister had their own personal tea party table set and ready to go.

Note the "Olivia" theme... Miss Tiny LOVES Olivia. 

So, I brought the Fostoria china... can you believe how beautiful it looks  here? I almost returned this to my mother-in-law. It belonged to Dear's Grammie. I'm so glad we kept it. It's GoRgEoUs! Worked well with April's stemware. Are you seeing the art in all of this? 

LOVE the hat! She brought many of her hats to share with us. I'm talking the vintage and antique hats, not the "wife, mother, Sister in Christ, teacher, chocolatier" hats...

Wish you could see the whole ensemble here. April's got  StYlE!

What about this hat?

Good choice!

Can't believe I caught this picture. Love it. 

Like mother like daughter. She has her very own fashion sense... pink, purple, Ariel, crowns, BLING... that's her style!

We had to be with her as she chose her "jewels" for the party.  Wait till you see the next picture... after all, she's also her mama's daughter, and where would she be without her ...

RED cowboy boots?!

This is my goddaughter. I really love her!

One small shot of April's amazing house. Go look this week. Quick. Next week it will be different. But always awesome and gorgeous. April has inspired me to seek beauty...spiritual, family, art, style... 

Another sister chick in her bonnet. 

I love it when I see this look on her face. She is so in the moment, watching and storing up memories. 

She ran over and held on tight. It was such a special moment.  My recent greetings have been seeing her fly down the steps yelling "Zee Mama" and then she leaps into my arms, holds on tight and gives me a huge hug. After that I get tours of all that is important in her life that day. 

Yes, berries and blooms in the middle of winter. I TOLD you it was a garden tea party!

With dainty pinkies and all!

"Yes Dahling... I told you. I'm FABULOUS!" (actually, I don't recall what she was saying, but it had that  "uppercrust" tone  to it. I love friends that can make me laugh and step outside the expected!) 

Our original dainty pinky questioner... "Does this mean I have to crook my little finger?"

Daddy Dawg got in on the act when he returned from training. I do believe Miss Tiny  might have had something to do with that! What a great dad to be able to play with his little girls!

Sometimes little hands need help with tea cups. Miss Olivia tea cups that is. 

And yes, the girls got him to try another hat as well.

Just wanted you to see how art plays out off canvas. Make your home your canvas, and your friends, think outside the box and have a garden party in the snow! Thanks April, I love your artistic side. And I love that not only are we BFFs, but that we are sisters in Christ. Thanks for the love, that is part of your art, making others feel beautiful and special and loved. Hope my art can make the same true for you!

Blessings, Kim