The Altering Spot by Sharon

Baby steps into the New Year

2009-01-18T16:08:00.002-07:00

Yes, I have been busy. Mostly trying to get over a stupid cold/virus that I got caring for a client of mine. Although I have only had this for a week, I have been told that the lasting effects of it can last for 3 weeks (bah). Elder care does come with its problems.

I have managed a couple of cards and this clipboard for my husband and I to use in order to keep track of where our grocery list pad is (somehow we always misplace it just before we need to make a new list).

I also have other projects in the works, so keep an eye out for more coming up.

The New Year Has Come...

2009-01-02T11:48:00.002-07:00

This year, where I live, came with its normal flurry of people shooting guns into the air. So I guess I could say it came in with several bangs, one after another, after another... I also got to spend part of my New Years Day at Bed Bath and Beyond (dangerous store for me) looking for a coffee pot. Our coffee pot decided to take a permanent "smoke" break on us on New Years Eve. For the fellow coffee drinkers out there, you know what it is like to be without good coffee in the morning.

Anyway, early last month while I was shopping in one of my favorite "off the wall" stamp, paper and trinket stores here called Papers, I ran across this 2009 Journal. Although it uses symbolism and I am not much for that, I thought it would be good for the goal setting and to keep me focused on my crafting and health (ie. working out for my back and knees). It has places for me to stamp, doodle, collage etc.., along with places for me to keep up with monthly focuses, affirmations, gratitude's, opportunities and so forth. I still have a lot to fill out and a lot to look forward to.

Belated Birthday Wishes to Me

2008-12-15T13:32:00.007-07:00

Well, I'm another year older, and, as usual, I am late posting. I have finally finished up my physical therapy for my knees and back. I have also finished the series of injections into my knees. I now have the building blocks to continue working toward strengthening those muscles needed to keep me going, and the place to do that is the senior center near my house.

On a cheery note, I had a pretty good birthday. My husband and I bought a 32 inch LCD TV and I bought me a Wii (which I have wanted for awhile) to go with it. Now all I have to do is get the Balance Board... At least Christmas is around the corner He He He.

Oooh my aching back (and knees)...

2008-11-18T14:24:00.009-07:00

For those who have been interested, and those who are not, as to why I have been somewhat out of the "crafting" scene lately, well, here's the answer...

I first noticed this last year when my husband and I returned from his daughter's wedding in Denver, we live in New Mexico. On the drive back, my back started hurting real bad during the drive back. I thought that I had pulled a muscle during the time we took to get out there and coming back. I decided to see my doctor. She suggested an X-ray and pain meds. Well, the X-ray showed arthritis (what a surprise). First I tried a program that is offered through my husband's work, going online and working with someone over the phone (that did not help). They lead me to a Chiropractor. That did not help. I finally went to a spinal pain clinic. I now have some answers and help. I have degeneration of the facet joints in my back and the doctor there at the pain clinic has given me some cortisone injections and sent me to physical therapy to help me work on a program to do at home.

Now for my knees. I suspect that my knees and back are linked together because my knee problems are a chronic problem. I have osteoarthritis in both of them and was told that I would have had to have new ones by now. Well, I do not want to do any surgeries yet so I am doing more physical therapy and now the Hyalgan Injections into my knees to help with the arthritis. Hopefully soon I can be released from PT to go off and work out in a senior center gym to build up my muscles and cardiovascular system on my own time. I do want to get back to creating.

Altered Hinged Canvases - "Friends"

2008-11-18T14:05:00.002-07:00

This one took me awhile to complete. I was actually waiting for some inspiration for things to attach to the frames that surround the pictures and to find some hinges that were the right size. One of the ladies from a group that I belong to called "Contributing Artists" an ATC group sent me some hand made ornaments for my birthday this year (and last). Ahah, there was the idea. I attached three of them to it (the beads are also there). The cherub is from my mom and the other stuff is scrap stuff.

The frames are actually reversed and I worked on the back sides. I still did a wash over the "front" side and stamped on it. This side is covered with Light Molding Paste from Golden to cover up the unevenness of the wood versus canvas and the staples. Then I did a light blue wash over it, then rubbed dye ink pads over that in different colors and finally (after stamping some words with StazOn) I decided to go over that with some Moon Glow embossing powders.

October 2008, Progressive Card Class - Barelas S.S.

2008-09-14T12:50:00.005-06:00

Every Saturday from 10-11:30am, I am teaching a Card Class at The Barelas Senior Center here in Albuquerque, NM, at 714 Seventh Street SW, 764-6436. Each week students learn new and progressive card techniques for $4 per card. The class is open to any and all seniors who want to create new and updated greeting cards.

On the 4th, I will show students how to work with alcohol inks to create a swirled background with depth fit for stamping a balloon and clouds on.

Then on the 11th, we will create a pleated card fit for a ghoul complete with stamped skulls and skeletons.

Come the 18th, we will play with Prisma's colored pencils in a simple grid.

Finally, on the 25th, we will play around with Oil Pastels when we "scrape" the colors for a spider's web.

SOYBS - Double pane transparency frame

2008-07-20T10:58:00.005-06:00

I saw this done in Somerset Studio and had been wanting to try it. It uses a transparency from the computer, Xyron or sheet of double sided tape, background paper, two glass pieces and the etc..

The image I chose was of my step daughter. I actually had to do some fiddling with it, because I could only use her. I wanted some writing along with it, so I scanned just her and a background of just writing onto a transparency.

On the back of the second glass is the background paper I made using torn papers, gesso and Glimmer Mists. This gets taped facing forward. The back transparency of my step daughter was taped on the against the first glass piece on the front of it. Between the two pieces of glass are some stamped papers that are taped to the front of the second piece of glass. The two pieces of glass are then placed together and set into the frame.

SOYBS - Life is Blue - Dress form

2008-07-20T10:39:00.004-06:00

Boy has my life been busy for someone who works part time. Aside from having a "hiccup" in my family, work has been crazy. I am surprised to even know my name these days.

"Life is Blue" incorporates different shades of blue paints some regular and some metallic for the base of the form and then a mixture of an iridescent blue and Diamond Glaze as a coating over the punched flowers and gold butterfly (to help them to adhere). I began the form by using a glue stick to adhere torn music sheets to it in varying placements before painting it.

The frame is one of those that have points that dig into the paper then fold over, so I cut 4 little notches into the form and used "The Ultimate" to glue it into place over a picture that was glue sticked into place, then I applied Diamond Glaze over the picture. The feathers and flowers are glued together with The Ultimate then dried, then glued into place using E6000.

The base it is on was done using unused rubber stamp blocks from Stampin Up. I painted them first with copper paint then with iridescent green. They are then glued together with E6000.

SOYBS - What is it's meaning? What is it pertaining to??

2008-06-18T17:21:00.003-06:00

I actually did this awhile ago. I am a big fan of masks. I think it stems from Phantom of the Opera, one of my favorite movies (the classic and the new one). I also just enjoy all the glamorous things you can do with decorating a mask, whether it be a stamped one or a real one.

I am also a fan of the wooden mannequins that artists use. They are so versatile and easy to paint.

The meaning behind this for me, though, is to remind me to let go and have some fun in my life. I think I need to move that doll into a place where I can see it more clearly.

My First Oil Painting

2008-06-01T11:35:00.003-06:00

I have been wanting to learn about oil paints, so I decided to give it a try at one of the senior centers close to my house. Now, although I am not quite old enough to be a member, my husband is, so I am able to be "grand mothered" in (so to speak). The center has an oil painting group that meets once a week and the teacher has been working in oils for 16 years. I can only go to the group every other week due to work, gotta pay for my crafting somehow.

The teacher usually starts the beginners off with a desert scene so they get the benefit of all the brush strokes and how the paint moves on the canvas. Considering I have no depth perception and my hands are about as steady as an addict in withdrawal, not to mention I can't draw if my life depended on it, I think my first painting came out fairly well.

I also have to admit, I could not stop myself from altering some of it. I just had to find out if there was a way to protect the oils from being smudged before they were dry, I am so darn impatient. I decided to cover it with embossing powder. Guess what, it worked. Three layers later and I could put brads and the banner on it. Now what?? Hmmmmm...

SOYBS - Pour it & 4 x 4 Friday - Favoite Color(s)

2008-05-24T18:34:00.003-06:00

I thought I would take care of two challenges with one piece this time. Step Out of Your Box Saturday's theme was "Pour It," and 4 x 4 Friday's theme was Favorite Color. Well, my favorite color is pink, but I also like purple and blue. I decided to use some watered down Folk Art paints that I have in little "squeeze" bottles and squeeze those colors down a black painted coaster. I also added an image from a Somerset disc that I got and stamped "Dream" on it.

I feel as if she is/I am emerging from a colorful dream. Maybe I will give this to my niece for all the work she has been doing to help me get my website up and going.

SOYBS - Depth without Texture

2008-05-18T11:45:00.003-06:00

After a peaceful and crafty weekend (must be a blue moon out), I managed to create this... I enjoy using transfers, so that is what the middle is. The other papers are mulberry and scrap something from my stash. I did try to use tissue paper set with Modge Podge and even after sitting over night, the stuff peeled off this morning. Other than that, I used paints, stamps and StazOn inks. Oh yeah, a no 2 pencil and a couple of Prisma pencils. I wish the picture had come out better.

4 x 4 Friday - Masks

2008-05-18T11:34:00.002-06:00

This happens to be my first time posting to 4 x 4 Friday and I hope I do myself proud. This creation was done using Encaustic Wax, a JudiKins mask stamp, an After Midnight word stamp and brads to affix the semigloss paper to a 4 x 4 coaster for stability.
I stamped the image and word first with permanent ink and let them dry, then loaded the Encaustic iron up with various waxes and went to town. The flowers, leaves and lips were done with a Stylus iron (for more control of the colors).

Catch up day

2008-05-18T11:25:00.002-06:00

I spent some time today catching up on my work area and happened upon this one. It was a past SOYBS, "Abstract," that I wanted to add some stuff to. Well, I added a painted over picture of a couple of baby twins and a wooden ornament that was given to me by a fellow ATC swapper for my birthday.

SOYBS - Assemblege - Butterfly Book Box

2008-05-15T18:58:00.003-06:00

I have to say, I did this one awhile ago. I have been spending my time lately trying to work on my website (that has been a challenge). Anyway, this was an idea that came to me when I ran across a wire butterfly ornament I bought ages ago from one of my favorite stores, Cost Plus World Market, and I also had a doll house window I purchased from Michael's of which I wanted to pull together in some sort of a piece of art. I then remembered the paper mache' book box I had (bingo). I used papers I made from Technique Junkies and from my scrap booking pile for various parts. I also needed to add some "depth" to the inside of the cover so the doll house window frame did not stick out like a sore thumb so I painted some Fun Foam with Lumiere Paint to give it some pizazz. I added some flowers, rubber stamped butterflies (colored and cut out) and other embellishments and voila.... By the way, the wire ornament is suspended with wire from the top of the box.

My Hired Girl

2008-05-11T15:47:00.004-06:00

Ha, you thought I was moving up in the world. Actually, that is what my hubby calls it. I believe the name comes from a sci-fi book that he read at one point. Seriously though, this little robot has helped me out immensely, especially since I really dislike vacuuming the floors and at my house it seems that that is all I do (besides keeping the kitchen counters wiped off). We have 2 dogs and 2 cats, one of which (mine) is a long haired Maine Coon cross who leaves his hair all over the place. Then there is where we live, New Mexico, dirt, leaves and my personal favorite...rye grass. All I have to do now is put "Hired Girl" in one room and I can do something else in another, or nothing, if I want to. Speaking of which...

Painted acetate over Oil paints

2008-05-11T15:19:00.003-06:00

I did this card for my niece and her husband for their birthdays (they are only a couple of weeks apart). I have been wanting to give oil painting a try and this was the perfect opportunity for me. The very back is a piece of canvas card that is covered with gesso then painted with the oils, which, of course, took almost a week to dry. I decided to "slap" some VersaMark on it and emboss it with clear powder, just to make sure that it is preserved. The 2 acetate pieces are stamped with StazOn. The middle layer with Cherry Pink (sun) and Azure (bird), then I colored the back with Sharpies. The couple on the front layer is stamped with black StazOn and the bird, again, with Saddle Brown. I then painted them with acrylics. To bring the piece together, I used foam tape between the layers and roof flashing tape for a frame. I also put silver corners on it for a splash of style.

SOYBS - Altered Book - Girlz

2008-05-02T11:02:00.004-06:00

I actually started this book awhile ago, but hit a mental road block and put it aside. As ideas and embellishments came to me, I put with it and then life got in the way. Well, thanks to "Queen Lisa," I finally got off me backside and (for the most part) think I have it finished. As for what I did to it.., it is a premade book from (??) with windows cut in various places. I used watercolor paper and dye and Distress inks and water with brushes to move it around. Some stamps for backgrounds. When I printed the pictures, however, I did not have photo ink for my printer and when I went to alter the photos, they reacted somewhat poorly. After I put the watercolor paper and photos in, I decided I wanted to add some Glimmer Mists and Radiant Rain to the pages. More distress on the photos (oh well). Anyway, this is what I came up with (not all pages are here, too much space)...

SOYBS - Abstract - Flowers

2008-04-19T13:49:00.002-06:00

My take on being abstract this week includes using texture. I have also been wanting and wishing that the winds here in the Southwest would mellow out, it has reeked nothing but misery on my husband and I's allergies and sinuses. I used my favorite color for the background and then added a piece of deeply embossed paper that I got from ??? I wanted it to match the background then for the flowers on it to stand out in antiqued ways, so I used those rub on metallic waxes. Just for the wishful thinking of the warmer (less windy) days to come, I added a couple of fun flowers. Since this is in my Art Journal, I will be adding to it.

Metallic Ink Transfer - Pure

2008-04-13T08:08:00.002-06:00

I thought I would have some more fun with transfers. This one is a Dover image that I transferred using Folk Art's Metallic Pearl White, of which I then I highlighted using various other paints and some Crystal Effects. I also used some Soft Gel Medium to glue down some older lace I got from my mom, then I painted it with some Turquoise Lumiere. I also decided to add some "aged" stickers and glued on some gemstones.

SOYBS - Color Your World...Differently - Return to the 60's

2008-04-07T09:53:00.003-06:00

For this one I decided to go back to the 60's. Although I was born later in them, I have 2 older sisters that made sure I would never forget them. Also, I bought a movie called "Across the Universe" after seeing it on Oprah and thought it was fab. It uses the Beatles music and I am a big fan of theirs.

Anyway, the background got messed up when I tried to apply the bright colors to it using a transparency to make blobs of color. It pulled the paper up at the same time. I tried to save it by painting the colors directly to the paper, and they sort of got muddied. OOPS. I then covered it with gesso and sanded it down. Oh well, I stamped the lady onto a transparency and scanned her into my computer to enlarge her then printed her out onto another one, then I painted the back of it. I stamped funky flowers with some of my bright StazOn. The other pieces are chipboard that I embossed with various powders I have. The transparency is on the top.

SOYBS - Transfers "Flattery"

2008-03-22T18:50:00.002-06:00

Well, I am still working on Lisa Bebe's idea of painting magazine ads. On this one, I messed up the mouth (actually the whole face and had to stamp a face on her). I decided to add a cut out of the word "flattery" to cover up my boo boo. My transfer is a packing tape on to cover up her funky hand. Other than that, the painting is getting rather intriguing. This time I used some of my interference colors and tried to add some more colors to the flesh tones. Not to bad if I say so myself...

SOYBS - Fashion Mag. Ads on Canvas

2008-03-12T16:59:00.005-06:00

Although this is my second try at doing this, I got the idea from a Somerset Article done by Lisa Bebi. I do know that I have a long way to go to get the skin tones and backgrounds correct (according to my up and coming standards). My work with acrylics is slowly developing and I am excited about learning and practicing more. I did try to use Liquitex's Glass Beads over 2 gel medium transfers and did not get it smooth enough for the transfers to show clearly enough (oops). Other than that and the skin tones, I did enjoy working on this, and look forward to doing more...

The first image is from a catalog, the second is the canvas that I created from that catalog paper.

Catch a Painted Pony

2008-03-01T15:09:00.005-07:00

I created this birthday card and posted it to one of my Yahoo groups, and a few of the group asked if I would explain how I did it. Well, I decided to post it here. It is called the painted pony and it is really simple to do. I requires making a reverse mask.

To begin, stamp the pony onto your card stock and then onto a piece of scrap paper the size of the card stock of the original stamping. Using an exacto knife, cut around the inside of the pony's body where you want to stamp, this is your reverse mask. Next, line up the mask with the fisrt stamping and decide what other stamps will work inside the mask to create the "painted" effect.

I also masked the legs and hooves and stamped the grass, sand and yucca plants using markers on the stamps.

The pony stamp came from B & J Art Stamps of which I have a link here on this site.

Step Outside Your Box Saturdays - Art Dolls

2008-02-17T09:49:00.003-07:00

Art dolls have always intriged me, but lately I have been busy with work and, lucky me, I caught the upper respiratory crud. Not to mention I have had more birthdays to deal with this month than any other. At any rate, about a year ago, I was fascinated by a doll project in Somerset Studio's Workshop book and I decided to try it and made 4 dolls. The idea behind it uses foam board and heavy card board cut in a certain shape. Two are done that way, and two are done using Character Construction stamps for the upper body. Other than that, the rest is done by wrapping paper around the foam board body.

New Book - Altered Surfaces

2008-02-17T09:37:00.002-07:00

While at my favorite rubber stamp store the other day, I purchased this book. I was not sure what it would have in it, but I am always out for more info. Boy did I ever get it. Chris Cozen, the author, uses the "Golden" line of products and her info is fab!! I am now to the point of raiding one of my city's best art supply stores for more of their goodies. They have some stuff called "Glass Bead Gel" that makes images covered by it look frosty, and if you tint it, you get suprising results. You can even use it for transfers (yes, madame Queen). Then there is "Fiber Paste"... I could go on, but I think I will let you all judge for yourselves. Besides, I have some Golden products that I have not used because I was not sure what to do with them, now I need to find the time to work with them...

Step Outside Your Box Saturdays - Texture

2008-02-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

I opted to go for a 5 x 7 inch canvas for this one. The theme I chose was Under the C. I used crumpled up tissue paper, some crumpled oriental paper, and mulberry paper (of which I forgot to crumple). That, of course, took out most of the texture (lesson learned, again). The mullberry paper was stampled and embossed with a white mermaid and some circles to represent bubbles. To replace some of the texture, I added stenceled embellishments in seashells and a sea horse. Over the bubbles, I added some foiling glue and silver foil. I had to over stamp the mermaid (which did not help) to bring her out a little. I added the tiles, some netting over the horse and then the "C." Finally, I added some glitter glue to represent under sea plant life.

Update to 3 Color Paint Post Challenge

2008-01-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

I thought the page needed more pizzaz, so I started by dry brushing some gesso on it (had to tone down some of those colors). Then I added some oriental papers. One is crinkly gold that I accented with Diamond Glaze mixed with Pearl Ex powders to give it some color boost (blue and purple). I made a pocket out of the other one. Then for a tag I had some Aspen Wood tags from the American Tag Co. and I embossed the funky girl (from Terry Medaris) on the tag then colored her with Tombow markers. Finally, I used some pictures from Dover clipart and made a transfer of a geisha onto the text clipart then crumpled it up and sprayed it with some Glimmer Mists. I am sure there will be more to this page. I just ran out of ideas for it at the moment.

Step Outside Your Box Saturdays - Beeswax

2008-01-26T16:09:00.000-07:00

After starting a new job (gotta pay for this hobby somehow), and being run ragged for my first week (egads), I was looking forward to this challenge. This was my first time playing with beeswax in the pot form. I have, sort of, played with encaustic wax, but not a bunch. Anyway, I did a 4 x 4. Painted it with a wash of metallic blue for a background, then used a Impression Obsession heart stamp over that. Then came the beeswax (gulp), a layer of beeswax, some white tissue, a layer of beeswax (disaster) it looked funky. I tried my heat gun, no good; okay, get out the quilting iron. In the meantime, trim the tissue down to the 4 x 4. Ahha, more control with the iron (I can even smooth out the edges of the project. I layered everything else on there. Had some problems with the dimensional stuff, but with practice I can get that one down. I decided to add some encaustic wax, gold; oops, dribbled in the wrong place (right over the man's frame). Lesson learned, highlight wax first then embellishments. I will have to do this again...

Step Outside Your Box Saturday - Rusty Things

2008-01-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

I decided to alter a slide mailer for my stepson for his birthday. He enjoys anything Japanese. For this Saturday's challenge, we are supposed to use rusted stuff, but I have nothing rusted, so I rusted the outside of the slide mailer with Sofisticated Finishes. Then, to keep it from being overly "rusted" in appearance, I dry brushed some pink acrylic paint over it and then stamped some text on it with Cherry Pink StazOn. The Geisha is my first attempt at a gel medium transfer (not bad if I say so myself).

All in all, it was easy to do, just time consuming (waiting for paint/glue to dry).

Step Outside your Box Saturdays - Magazine Pics

2008-01-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

I am one who does not have many magazines around. I do, however have the Time/Life puzzle book (the one where you spot the differences in the pictures). I found this pic. of the henna tattooed hands. I took it and put it on a laminate sheet then soaked it in water and rubbed off the magazine stuff. What was left was the ink negative. On this I painted the back with gold paint and ran it through my xyron and put a backing on it (for stiffness) then outlined it with gold pen.

I needed something that looked "Persian." Ha, Cuttlebug folder, scrap mauve paper and Eggplant ink. The other background paper is actually scrap wallpaper. The stamped image is from Eclectic Omnibus. I figure this is not bad for someone getting over the "nightmare" flu/virus that hit me early Friday morning. Inspriation is slowly coming back to this pathetic soul.

Missing Mom

2008-01-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

I made this in early November, that tells you how up I am on posting anywhere, to post to Technique Junkies, however, I was having "issues" with finding a good spot to use my digital camera in the house (lousy lighting). I think I have solved that problem, now for the scanner...

This canvas has many different acrylic paints and sprays over torn music paper (peeled paint style). I used a couple of graduation pictures of her and her Rosary from school. Although she went to a Catholic school, she did not practice it later in life. She was, however, a very wise and wonderful woman and I miss her very much.

Who is She??

2008-01-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite pictures. All we know is that she is a relative on my dad's side of the family. The box is antiqued with Sophisticated Finishes and topped with some spare papers and lace I have. The copy of the picture was gone over with Encaustic Wax of various light colors. The pose and calmness of her makes me jealous for times like that.

Step Outside Your Box Saturday - 3 Paint Colors

2008-01-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

I decided to give art journals a try. With 3 colors of acrylic paint (dioxazine purple mixed with some gesso, metallic blue topaz and some pink), a few oriental stamps, some ribbon and a few brads I think I am off to a good start with this one. Let's see how it goes...

I got the nerve up...

2008-01-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

Well, after seeing other "junkies" giving this a try, I decided to jump into the pond also. Although I haven't a thing, recently to show, I have one of those wooden mannequins I altered awhile ago.. Painted with dye reinkers and metalic paints, embellished with gemstones and beaded ribbon and topped off with a mask from After Midnight rubber stamps she is ready for anything.