/* */ Beulah Bee: November 2014

November 20, 2014

Murmuration


A flock of starlings is called a murmuration and they gather at dusk in great numbers to perform an incredible ballet before resting. I didn't know about this (starlings don't inhabit the Americas) until I saw a You Tube video (gone viral) and my tag made me think of it so I gave it this title.

I was inspired by Emma Williams' post over at Simon Says Stamp where she shared a technique for creating a moonlit sky as part of this week's Monday blog challenge which is To the Moon.

I got a bit hung up during the rendering of clouds so I improvised thanks to the painterly quality of distress inks. I used a stamp called Winter Ledge by Penny Black.

I thought I'd share my own tip for getting a mask to stay put while you are inking around it:  Martha Stewart's ballpoint tip glue pen creates a permanent bond when used wet but if you let it dry it creates a temporary bond (says so right on the pen). So I just dab a little on the back of the mask, let it dry, then stick it to my artwork knowing that it will be easy to peel off and will leave no residue behind.

Also, applying Antique Linen as a first layer helped a great deal with blending-in the Dusty Concord. It's probably because that first layer of ink (still somewhat wet) provides a slick surface for adding the second layer.

And now, if you've never seen a murmuration, prepared to be amazed!



November 13, 2014

Duchess

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My post is titled "Duchess" because it is the name of the scrapbook paper (by Kaiser Craft) that I used to make this greeting card. There's no sense providing a link to it as I bought it awhile ago and it is now out of production.

But I can show you what the paper originally looked like:


I cut out one of the design elements and pasted it to metallic bronze card stock after creating a border with a paper punch. Then I went to task embellishing it with colored pencils, Stickles and Scribbles (a 3-D paint). I mounted it to olive green card stock which was folded for use as a greeting card.



I plan to use it as a Christmas card and have linked it to the Monday blog challenge at SSS where the theme is ornaments.  I will admit, I'm getting excited about the upcoming holiday season because there's no better time to use my Stickles and I do love them so!

November 08, 2014

Good Old Days


Oh, how I wish for the good old days! If I'd been born 150 years ago--
I just may have been happier. I'd be a pioneer woman with lots of kids, have a rifle for hunting and a garden. I'd bake the best bread and pies, go to church every Sunday and sleep soundly at night. I would most certainly appreciate all the little things that make life sweet.

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So to commemorate my blissful thinking, I've linked this tag to the Monday blog challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

It was made with a variety of pasted papers including a Tim Holtz "found relative."  Washes of acrylic paint and swipes of distress ink provide the color.

I used stamps to fill in some blank spaces and the flowers were cut from Tim's Wallflower paper stash.

November 07, 2014

Remember Paris


Inspired by Tim's November tag, I created this one using some of his techniques and also everything but the kitchen sink.

Oh wait! I did use the sink to wash off some ink at one point...

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It all started when I hand-cut a flower shape from corrugated cardboard, filled it in with paste medium and after it dried, added an image transfer on top which was then covered with clear crackle paint.

Ink pens, acrylic paint, oil pastels, and colored pencils were used to add color along with some splatters of gold embossing. The letters were hand-cut and then distressed with paint and crackle.

Tim's tag reminded me of inlaid parquetry and I was inspired to experiment!