This year's Annual holiday ornament debut!

For 7 or 8 years now - I make two dozen ornaments or something festive for my Grandmother every holiday season. Since I lived in Chicago as a teenager, she has been teaching oil painting and has a large following of students in 3-4 classes she teaches every week. She gives my annual handmade creations to her painting students.

This is a 6" handmade painted and collaged paper tree with a golden swirl that will hang from the top like a garland. I saw this on one of the crafty shows on tv a long, long time ago - and there wasn't a template online. So I put my math hat on, made many measurements...and made my own swirl on graph paper. For the trees I painted and collaged a large sheet of thick watercolor paper with torn tissue paper and magazine papers in green that were then cut into many triangles. With a slit halfway up one and halfway down a second one, you can join them together. Hope you like it. Happy Holidays Everyone!

Only two weeks until our roadtrip advernture to Chicago...YAY!!! Sb

Today is the Day!!!

After several weeks of waiting...and keeping my creative juices flowing...today is the day I am being featured as a Guest Designer for the weekly "Sketch it Saturday" post at Unscripted Sketches blog!

What fantastic item did I create for week # 81's sketch that will debut today??? I'm sworn to secrecy, but I promise it is a beauty.

Please go to: http://www.unscriptedsketches.com
to check it out.

I'll give you a hint..."I'm at the beach..."

Enjoy! Sb

Harvest Card -- Creating the Hive : Fall Challenge

Witch's Hat : theHive Creative Challenge - Autumn 2010

Trick - or - Treat!!! A stylish spooky hat to hang your treats...at this festive time of year...

I just made up and sent out two of my Witch Hat and Card Combos on Monday from my shop SalonDArte. This hat is perfect decor for the fall season, but not too Halloweeny. This My Mind's Eye paper is so beautiful, too : ) Sb

Diamond Glaze to the Rescue to mend torn fingernail until it grows out...

Craft supplies to the rescue!!! Hooray!

Over the weekend I tore my thumbnail in a way that way into the pink. Isn't that the worst??? So to patch it until it grows out I put on a layer of diamond glaze with a small piece of tissue to reinforce it and then a second coat after it dried [which is pretty quick]. This works so much better than Super glue since the diamond glaze stays a little flexible and doesn't make your nail dry and brittle. I'll change it out a couple times & I will keep this on for a couple weeks until it grows out naturally - and no nubby thumbmnail for me. Sb : )

Save the date! Unscripted Sketches #81

Great news!!! A few weeks back I applied to the call for the unscripted sketches design team. Though I wasn't selected to the team this time, their design team is awesomely creative - I was asked to be a guest designer for an upcoming week...yay!

I just received notification the week I will be an Unscripted Sketches guest designer. It will be sketch # 81 for sketch-it Saturdays weekly post coming mid November.

I'll keep you posted... Happy crafting!
; ) Sb

Five little tumbleweeds were hiding in a bush...

These five little cuties were found in the bushes next to my driveway. One was under my husbands car on Sunday morning squaking so loud [turned out he was the runt]. We thought the squealing was our ususal family of blue jays that live in our tree, feasting on they're abundant harvest of acorns, but it WAS kittens. Because they were so young, two of them couldn't see yet and because my husband is highly allergic to cats and dogs - I had to take these cuties to the animal rescue. That was heartbreaking, but so much better then just leaving them be. Later Sunday night, I trapped their stray mother and had her fixed yesterday. She's back home now, set free. I feel bad, but she was only a baby herself, but certainly well fed. Certainly too young to have 5 babies and fight off the raccoons, possums and other everglades critters among the nighcrawlers.

: ) Sb

Testing

Hello web wide world of artsy-crafters...did you know that you can set up blogger to have an e-mail address that allows you to email posts to your blog???

This was a test to see which blog the email went to - I have three blog pages...not the right one... so this is me {{{ WAVING }}}} Hello & Happy Crafting!!!
: ) Sb

Taking Recycling to a new ARTFORM

this is a really cool article on AmusingPlanet.com click here to read the full article on Anastassia Elias’s Tiny World Inside Toilet Paper Tubes

French painter and collage artist Anastassia Elias creates tiny scenes with paper inside cardboard toilet paper tubes...

WOW - now this is art and Thinking GREEN! Sb

I am particpating in "The Sketchbook Project"

I found out about this a month or two ago and I have been sitting on the fence trying to decide on a theme to choose and today I picked one and signed up for "The Sketchbook Project" which will tour the U.S. in 2011.

The theme list has changed a couple times as some spaces were filled, but new ones have been added and today a new one SCREAMED "PICK ME!!!"

Adhere to me {ooh this is a good one}

I have until Christmas to fill my journal with all of my nocturnal visions. I can't wait to get my Journal and see where it takes my creative muse...Sb

My Desktop Mess

All of the wee hours web crawling has resulted in this disaster on my laptop's desktop. A cluttered mess of downloads, screen captures, bookmarks and photos....oh my! One day I'm going to have to organize this...no today : ) Sb

Fabulous find while blog crawling...

I have been doing much research online this month to fulfill the challenge of posting Christmas in July every day in July for my SalonD'Arte studio blog. Wow, this was so much more work than I bargained for...and now 16 days in...I have gotten just rewards...

I purchased this on the description alone - and it was quite lengthly, but I was INSPIRED!!!

When I woke up, it was to find myself washed up on a beautiful, but empty beach. What was I suppose to do with myself until a rescue party came?! Because I KNEW they would come. I didn't have long to think, because just then a glint of something in a mass of seaweed caught me eye. I scurried over like a crab, to take a closer look.

It was a corked bottle! Was I dreaming? But no. It was real. Real cork and a fancy seal to protect the contents and catch the eye of a magpie artist like myself. The bottle was plastic so it wouldn't break on its long journey. How thoughtful! My dire situation suddenly forgotten, I went about opening the bottle to get at its amazing contents...

I was so inspired I was clicking buy before reading it fully. I came across rubyfloy [whose art was published in the latest issue of Somerset Studio Gallery (Summer 2010)] by way of another blog Alice and Camilla, a fantastic blog journal of art collage and all things altered - MY NEW FAVORITE artist! So inspirational...I will be reading every last post and visting your blogroll, too.

It is very interesting to read about other artists, their creative journey, and see who inspires them...the internet is weaving a new fabric joining artists literally everywhere.

NEW DIGI Stamps...

While hopping on the OWH Memorial Day Bloghop, I came across so many creative blogs, with so many great ideas and DIGI stamp images created by great illustrators. A lightbulb in my head went off - I, too have done this already, so I've started with these two and more to come. These are perfect for those Holiday cards we all try to get a jumpstart on in July. Please click on the image and it will take you to my zibbet shop for checkout. Thanks for looking and happy crafting : ) SMb

Operation Write Home 4th of July Blog Tour

Welcome to the next stop on the Operation Write Home's Independence Day Blog Tour. To start at the beginning, CLICK HERE to go to the OWH Star & Stamps Page. Thanks for dropping by.

For this card, I gathered up a blank card, some paper scraps, my scallop whale of a punches, a stamped birthday cake seal from a previous project and a scrap piece of white toole {did I spell this right}. The wide loopy satin ribbon really sets off this card like a real wrapped gift. Enjoy!

Have a Fun and Safe 4th of July Holiday everyone!!! Thanks for supporting Operation Write Home and all of our men & women in uniform : ) Sb

P.S. Check out Blog on Monday, July 5th for SNEEK PEEK of my new DIGI Stamps available...

The Magic Number is 15!!!

I first just want to say thanks to Sandy Allnock with Operation Write Home for her tireless efforts and dedication to this organization to organizing this event! A shout out to to all of the crafters who participated and who make cards for our men & women in the armed forces. I am proud to be joining their ranks.

I am so touched by all of the wonderful comments and hugs, love and prayers for my sister. I am going to print them all out and send them to her so that she can read them.

Now drumroll please....
the winner of my bloghop comment blog candy...ta-daaaa!!!!

Comment Number 15!!!!


Lisa at ML Design Works said...
I remember your sister's photos from last year! I hope she is well--a big thank you to her! Great card--beautiful! Lisa
May 29, 2010 4:41 PM

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I have gathered a collection of crafty goodness from my craft studio and will send out as soon as I receive your info. Please e-mail me at sbartist1107 at yahoo dot com to give me your address.
: ) Sb

Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop

Welcome "Hoppers" to my page "painting in the dark". My name is Susan and I am so proud to participate for the second year now.

Operation Write Home began in 2007 with just a few cards made by friends on a message board; what began as an outlet for a hobby has become a much larger mission to help heroes keep in touch with home - and the effort has been joined by thousands of cardmakers!

OWH receives handmade cards donated by crafters across America (and beyond!). Cardmakers range in age, location, and level of skill; cards are provided by individuals and groups, schools and scouts, companies and churches. All have one primary thing in common: a desire to serve those who defend our nation!

Cards are mailed to one of our volunteer shippers in quanities both small and large. The shippers process, sort, repair, and document each donation, and then pack and ship boxes of over 300 cards each to our contacts. Our heroes request cards (families may also request on their behalf; we serve all branches in all deployed locations. Click Here for info on how you can participate.


My youngest sister is in the National Guard [for 2 years now] and was officially deployed on Jan. 5, 2010 from Ft. Lauderdale to report to Fort Hood for preparations to Iraq. I spent the day with her on New Year's Day in Orlando - BUT - The really great thing is that I got to see her one last time. Because at the last minute, the night before, her group [not sure of lingo here] from Cocoa Beach was ordered to ship out with the South Florida deployees. YAY!!! There was a wonderful ceremony at Ft. Lauderdale Airport attended by many military brass and Florida's Governor, Charlie Crist. It was really nice and I was so grateful to have the opportunity to attend. It was just a couple hours on a Tuesday, but some priceless moments I won't soon forget with my baby sister. We shared her box lunch that was passed out to all the troops, which was pretty good: a Coke, bag of chips, an apple, and a ham & cheese sub. Since I live three hours away from my family, it was a pretty special "brunch". One of her comrades snapped this photo of us as we said goodbye & the troops lined up to start loading the planes. What a beautiful day it was.

I am so proud and grateful to all the men and women serving our country, and to their families, too - my thoughts and prayers are with you. Happy Memorial Day everyone! Thanks so much for taking the time to visit, please take the following link to the next blog on the hop:

Pretty Pressings by Claudia... pretty does not begin to describe her work! More like stunning!

DID SOMEBODY SAY BLOG CANDY!!! Please leave a comment to be entered to win some blog candy, consisting of some stamps, blank cards w/ envys and other crafty goodies to make your own cards for Operation Write Home. I am still completing my challenge from last year's hop to make one card for each comment left on each of my three blogs participating [over 300]. I am making cards and collecting cards from friends to send in that will be directed to my sister's deployed location - so cool. To take you back to the "Top of the Hop" click here.

Thanks again : ) Sb

More...Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop

Still hanging around "Hoppers"??? Thanks - you ROCK!!!

Here's is a link to my post in last year's OWH Memorial Day bloghop.

If you have any questions regarding any of my ramblings, please leave a comment & I'll respond ASAP.

How I DISTRESS...

T!m Holtz has been having a challenge with a giveaway on his blog this week asking us to show him "how do we distress?" So I thought I would submit something just in the knick of time...

I just love my distress inks - and as an all things PURPLE girl, especially the peeled paint distress ink! My fav way to distress is by crumpling paper, & applying distress inks directly to the paper, using 3-4 colors then spritzing with some water to work the colors around. I repeat this a couple times and the result is this real aged leather look. Very rugged and so DISTRESSED!

Love all the comments and great tips everyone is sharing...off to prime my stamps with the permanent ink : ) It will take me a while to read through the thousands of posted comments over the four days, but well worth it - everyone is so talented!

Check back tomorrow for the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop that starts at 10am Saturday! There is over 150 blogs participating - WOW! I participated last year and it was a blast. See you then : ) Sb

Operation Write Home

I am participating this weekend in the annual Memorial Day Operation Write Home Bloghop. Check back Saturday AM for my Patriotic Card and some blog candy to giveaway, too.
See you then : ) Sb

2010 Lake Worth Street Painting Festival

This is the painting I will be recreating for the Annual Lake Worth Street Painting Festival in Lake Worth, FL on Feb. 20-21st, 2010.

It is by artist Bruno Zapan, entitled "Barges Under Pont des Arts, Summer Light" an Oil on canvas, 32 x 25 1/2". Part of the recent exhibition "en plein air" at the Galerie D'Orsay - which I stumbled upon from searching for a painting on the web. Bruno Zapan is a living artist who work is a modern incarnation of Impressionist & Post Impressionist masters. "Zupan’s inspiration comes from spending his life in the pursuit of light. He prefers to paint en plein air rather than in his studio, and his locations of choice are Mallorca, Venice, and Paris. Picturesque vistas, the haphazard growth of flowers along stucco walls or well-worn footpaths, and the golden tones of sunset on Venetian architecture all owe their inspiration to Zupan’s observance of light and the recognition of the varied yet simple manifestations of its beauty. Bruno Zupan was born in 1939 in Slovenia. Once his studies in Zagreb, Croatia were completed, he immigrated to Paris in 1962 where he enjoyed a bohemian lifestyle. He traveled to the United States in 1964 and became an American citizen in 1969."

Special Thanks to the Galerie D'Orsay | 33 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116 Ph. 617-266-8001 | for their beautiful website and featured online exibitions. One day I have to plan a trip to Boston and visit this Gallery myself.

I am so enticed by this painting and I am excited to be paying homage to a 'living master' painter. Sb

2010 Lake Worth Street Painting Festival

This is the painting I will be recreating for the Annual Lake Worth Street Painting Festival in Lake Worth, FL on Feb. 20-21st, 2010.

It is by artist Bruno Zapan, entitled "Barges Under Pont des Arts, Summer Light" an Oil on canvas, 32 x 25 1/2". Part of the recent exhibition "en plein air" at the Galerie D'Orsay - which I stumbled upon from searching for a painting on the web. Bruno Zapan is a living artist who work is a modern incarnation of Impressionist & Post Impressionist masters. "Zupan’s inspiration comes from spending his life in the pursuit of light. He prefers to paint en plein air rather than in his studio, and his locations of choice are Mallorca, Venice, and Paris. Picturesque vistas, the haphazard growth of flowers along stucco walls or well-worn footpaths, and the golden tones of sunset on Venetian architecture all owe their inspiration to Zupan’s observance of light and the recognition of the varied yet simple manifestations of its beauty. Bruno Zupan was born in 1939 in Slovenia. Once his studies in Zagreb, Croatia were completed, he immigrated to Paris in 1962 where he enjoyed a bohemian lifestyle. He traveled to the United States in 1964 and became an American citizen in 1969."

Special Thanks to the Galerie D'Orsay | 33 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116 Ph. 617-266-8001 | for their beautiful website and featured online exibitions. One day I have to plan a trip to Boston and visit this Gallery myself.

I am so enticed by this painting and I am excited to be paying homage to a 'living master' painter. Sb

Home "Mantra"

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be USEFUL or believe to be beautiful." A quote by William Morris that is on a set of Technique Tuesday clear stamps. I've been catching up on leftover projects that have not been completed...and this one fit perfectly with this Mystery Stamped Image Swap. The mystery stamped image I received was the ornate border I used for the large roof. So I used it to make a "throwaway collage" - a collage made from leftover bits of this and that...

In this new Year, my goal is to let go of some of the un-necessary things, and unclutter my life. Sb

Andrea's Batallion Send-off Jan. 5 in Ft. Lauderdale