Check out KC Willis...

KC Willis Studio offers on-line workshops where she teaches the basics of her techniques and inspires you to new creative heights: www.collagecamp.ning.com

There's also Mixed Media Mania where you take what you learned at Collage Camp and in these workshops KC teaches Altars and Shrines, Altered Books, and Works on Paper: www.mixedmediamania.ning.com

And for those of you already making art and wanting to know how you take it to the next level and get yourself a regional or national audience, she also has the super exciting Marketing Mindset: www.marketingmindset.ning.com

And if video workshops aren't your thing, how about KC Willis Live! You can take a multi-day class with KC in her very sweet Victorian studio house in Longmont, Colorado. Check it out at www.studioretreats.ning.com. (I'd really love to go there!)

(Okay, so if you've checked out KC's site, you'll see that this shameless little promo is my way of getting my hands on one of her FABULOUS hand-crafted creations... but I really am a fan of this gal's work =) Check out her blog, Lipstick Ranch, here: http://www.kcwillis.blogspot.com/

Apologies

For all my dear friends and those of you who have been kind and generous with your time... I realize that I have lately been slow to acknowledge and respond to your posts. After reading Rice's post on etiquette today, this really was brought to my attention:

"...Respond to correspondence in a timely manner. RSVP, for [goodness] sake. They sent you an invitation; the least you can do is let them know whether or not you plan to attend. Answer your emails, return the phone calls, respond to the texts. If you don’t have time to do these things, you must let people know ahead of time, as in, “Here’s my email address, Sally, and you may use it at your will, but you’re not important enough to me to make it likely that I’ll respond any time in the foreseeable future. Just so you know.” Like that. This is one of the toughest for me, as I always leave The Fun Email, the personal correspondence, for last. Like cake. I do all the work stuff first. So sometimes the wonderful personal emails languish in the inbox for days and days while I take care of work. And that’s a shame. And I’m going to try to do better. Really I am. Am I too stuck in my ways to learn to, at least sometimes, go ahead and eat dessert first? Or, sheesh: to even begin to eat dessert at all?"

This blog - and all of the people I have connected with through it - are my candy, the sweet treat that I save to give it the time to formulate a well thought out reply. And I look at my inbox and realize that I am very far behind! I am sorry. Life has been very busy for me lately but I will try to do better. Please know that I truly do appreciate every single comment I receive and I hope you will continue to come and visit me here =)

ARTIVITY Giveaway

My Paper Trader friend, Lorri has had quite a creative frenzy and is sharing some of her resulting treasures... check it out!

http://auslorri.blogspot.com/2010/01/giveaway-for-my-blog-followers.html

Cool Clip

The other day, while taking out the trash, I noticed this clip laying on the ground near the dumpster. I don't know exactly what it is for but I thought it was cool so I snagged it. If you have any clever ideas for what I should do with it, I'm open to suggestions... otherwise I'll just add it to my art stash until some future date when the perfect project presents itself =)

Not Quite Beach Weather!

I made this ATC just for fun... a take on the record cold temperatures this year!

Secret Valentine Birdie

I'm just barely finishing up all the Christmas candies and treats and now the stores are full of tempting valentine sweetness! Makes it very hard to stick to my healthy eating goals...

In our Paper Traders group, we are having a secret valentine swap and this is the front of the card I made:
I made the background by tearing pieces of vintage text and music and layering them with some Perfect Paper Adhesive (love this stuff!). Then I covered it all with a layer of flower-printed tissue paper and added some rub-ons from EK Success. The little birdie was a pre-made embellishment from Prima but I made the lacy heart myself.

This background technique is my favorite - I've used it on several projects - it's super easy and always turns out so pretty!

Graffiti

While I don't think it is ever okay to deface property, I do think that some forms of graffiti are very artistic. That was the inspiration for an ATC swap I'm hosting on Paper Traders. My rules were that it must be hand-drawn and not contain any profanity or nudity. These are the cards that I made. I colored the letters using a combination of oil pastels and Marvy markers... and a lot of elbow grease with my paper stumps.