Art Studio “Spring” Clean and Reorganization

I am excited to report that the “spring” cleaning in my art studio is done and it has been reorganized!

It turns out that I will not be moving this year (and that makes me very happy).  The property manager will be doing an inspection of the condo this week before issuing a new lease and that prompted me to really dig in and clean my art studio.   Even after the packing that I had already done in anticipation of moving, I still spent at least 3 hours in there last Sunday.  I tossed a lot of scrap paper and other stuff that I know I will never use.

I had a small Iris cart in my bedroom closet that didn’t have much in it, so I emptied it & moved it to my art studio closet. It now holds my Stickles & reinkers. Two of the drawers are still empty, but that probably won’t last long! I’m sure I will find something to store in there.

I didn’t unpack everything that belongs in my studio. I figured those were things I don’t use often, so I put the boxes in the storage room.  If I need something, I can get it from the box, use it, & then decide if it needs to stay in the studio.

When I was finished, it was a relief as well as a huge sense of accomplishment!  Now, I don’t want to make anything because I don’t want to mess up my studio!  Last night, I just sat in there for a few minutes and enjoyed the cleanliness. Every time I walk past the door, I pause, look in the room, and smile.  J

Fun Stamper’s Journey Coach Challenge for September 2015

I am a Journey Coach (#382) for Fun Stamper’s Journey.  I am also the winner for my upline’s September coaches’ challenge.   My choices are to make a card with a stamp set that I have not used yet or to hold a party either online or in person.   Since I am in the process of finding a new place to live & move by the end of next month AND planning a 60^th anniversary party for my parents, it is easier for me to create a card (or two!) with a previously unused stamp set.

This is the first card that I created:

I used bits and pieces of cardstock and designer papers from several monthly kits to create this card. The oval die cut piece as well as both pieces of designer paper came from kits.  I stamped the image onto vellum paper using Black Licorice ink.  After it dried, I flipped the image over and colored on the backside by dipping a blender pen onto the ink pad to pick up the colors.

After the inks were dry, I glued the piece onto the backside of the die cut piece of Whipped Cream cardstock and glued that on top of the piece of designer paper.  The edges on the piece of orange striped designer paper was distressed and then the design element was glued on.  This entire assembly was glued to the A2 card base. The finished size of this card is 4-1/4” x 5-1/2”.

I used the following stamp sets:   

     
Here is the recipe for this card:

Stamp sets: Wish in a Bottle (sentiment) Spring Days (image)

Ink: Fun Stamper’s Journey Licorice Black and Pineapple, Cat’s Eye olive green and rust

Paper / Cardstock:  Whipped Cream (white), Vellum, various Fun Stampers Journey designer papers, vellum       

Here is the second card that I made for this challenge:

I recently received the snowman and matching die but haven’t had an opportunity to use it yet. He is a cheery fellow and using the die makes it quick and easy to cut him out!     

I used a pierced rectangle die and next smaller size to die cut the rectangle frame. I stamped the snowman in Black Licorice ink on Whipped Cream cardstock, the die cut him out. He is colored using a blender pen dipped in inks.  I just cut a scrap of white cardstock in a curvy fashion to create the hillside.

After gluing the hillside to the back of the frame, I glued it down onto the navy blue cardstock (unfortunately, not Fun Stamper’s Journey cardstock).  I used a Sakura clear glitter pen to make the stars and then glued the frame assembly on top, stamped the sentiment, then glued on the snowman.   This was then glued onto an A2 card base; the finished size of the card is 4-1/4” by 5-1/2”.

I used the following stamp set and dies:

Here is the recipe for this card:

Stamp sets: Frosty Fun (image), Wish in a Bottle (sentiment), pictured above
Ink: Fun Stamper’s Journey Black Licorice, Cat’s Eye red, green, orange
Cardstock: Whipped Cream, unknown brand navy