Sharing Montana

 Photo 2 of the series
.  Have you ever wondered what an abandoned gold mine looks like?  All Photos copyrighted.  

Sharing Montana

 First photo of a new series.  This will be an on-going series of photos by my DH, Michael, which spotlight our gorgeous state.  This one was taken near Great Falls, through the window of a moving car.  All photos are copyrighted.  

 

 My guests are sleeping in this morning, so I'm spending some time in the studio.  I needed more tickets for my ephemera stash, so I put together these 32.  

Using a complete 12x12 Paper

 Still working on restocking my ephemera stash. I first made the paper clip pockets I posted a couple of days ago. Now, I wanted some paper clips pockets in a shorter version to fit into a new journal in progress. So...I started with a 12x12 sheet of paper, as before. This time I cut off 4 inches across the top of the page and set it aside. With the remaining 8x12 piece, I cut it vertically into 6 strips, each 2x8. These were then scored at 2 1/2 inches and again at 2 inches. Folding these, the 2 1/2 inch portion overlaps the 2 inch folded piece. I notched added a shallow finger notch to the longer one. I then paper punched hole at the folded edge of the shorter folded piece (half the depth of the punch so it would be even on the front and back). Slide a paper clip into the hole with the shorter end on the outside of the top. Glue the top flap down to secure the clip. Fold the lower flap us and glue the sides fo form a pocket. Dry. Insert your tag or other items (tickets, papers, whatever) into the pocket. Add any desired decorations to the tip of the paper clip. Done! Here are the pictures.

Unloved 12x12 paper Now Lovely

 

I had an unused sheet of 12x12 double-sided paper; one side was something I'd never use, the other floral side was more busy than I wanted. So...I made these seven paper clip pockets. The paper clip does show on the back. Then I made little tags to go in the pockets from a couple of large tags that I'd used to mop up extra watercolor paint, added a faux bird stamp, a tiny bead dangle to the tip of the paper clip and done. It was fun and took very little time.   And the scraps?  Only a single 2x2 piece.  A win!

Just Uploaded: Mass Making Altered Playing Cards

 Many of you requested that I show you how I make altered playing cards.  I promised to create a video for you.  This long-awaited video tutorial on how to mass make altered playing cards is now on my YouTube channel.  they are easy and fun to make.  Here's the link: 

More Altered Playing Cards

 My ephemera stash is once again running low, so more altered playing cards were on the list for this week.  I made 32 of them, so they should last a while...

Busy, Busy Week!

This last week has been a really busy one.  I've uploaded a number of videos (links below) and completed several new journals.  

The first is Pillbox 4 - Summer Fades to Autumn

another, PicketPocket 4 - A Bird in Hand:  

and another, PicketPocket 1 - Migration:

and threw in an old one, too, Junk Journal 1:

:  

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 31

 Day 31 of the challenge. The last entry is fittingly a return to a winter scene. Background is a gel print, with added stamping and shading. This challenge has been great fun and I'd like to thank Griffiths for hosting this challenge. Doing so much gel printing has truly been a challenge for me, and I am learning so much from it. Tomorrow, I'll post a little video on my channel to recap all 31 of my challenge cards. #GelyPostcardPlay

New YouTube Video, Dominoes

 I've added a new video to my YouTube channel.  This one is called Dominoes and features my hand-painted common, run of the mill dominoes.  

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 30

 Day 30 of the challenge. I can't believe the challenge will be finished tomorrow. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 29

 Day 29 of the challenge. Gel print background, cluster on top. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 28

 Day 28 of the challenge. Another mixed media offering, again atop a gel print background. The fish is a piece of fabric, fussy cut and surrounded by yarns. A few snail charms finish off the piece. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 27

 Day 27 of the challenge. Gel print background. Early morning fog with pen and ink sketching, enhanced with a bit of color on the birds. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 26

 Day 26 of the challenge. Number sits atop gel print. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 25

 Day 25 of the challenge. Not quite sure who the explorer is -- the noble sits atop his fine horse and his assistant has to walk every mile (and do all the chores, too!) so maybe we should consider the assistant as the real explorer. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 24

 Day 24 of the challenge.  Gel Print background.  #GelyPostcardPlay  

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 23

 Day 23 of the challenge. Gel print background with stamping, pen and ink drawing, stickers and a wonderful frog. #GelyPostcardPlay

And, Even More Paper Clips

 I saw a You Tube Video of someone making clips similar to these.  She used 3x5 index cards, but I chose to use scrap papers.  The top one is my prototype, the rest followed.  Size varies, depending on the scraps, but is generally around 3 inches wide and 2 inches top to bottom, not including the tassel.  

More Hidden Paper Clips

 I prefer to remain busy, so...more hidden Paper clips. These are actually magnetic, no no clip inside, just tiny magnets. The 2nd row down, left item is the back of a clip, for illustration. Size is 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches.

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 22

 Day 22 of the challenge.  Here, I'm using a few "leftovers" from my just finished Steampunk journal.  I'll be posting a video of the journal on my YouTube channel soon (but first, the edits and uploading need completion)    #GelyPostcardPlay

New Video: Rotary Cards, Part 1

 I've posted a new video to my YouTube channel.  It showcases the first group of my on-going creation of rolodex-style rotary cards.  I make these cards from scraps of paper and other bits and bobs.  Enjoy.

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 21

 Day 21 of the challenge. Gel print background, stamping, stenciling, collage. #GelyPostcardPlay

New Life for Unwanted Paper: Masterboards

 As usual, the battle of scraps continues. This is a 12 x 12 inch masterboard I made today. And the scraps are still piled high. This will be cut into smaller pieces such as tags and journal cards. The base is a 12x12 piece of paper that I got in a paper pad, and it was not something I would otherwise use. I then covered it with book page and layered embellishments atop that. Rotating the page insures that there will be no "right side up issues" when it is cut.

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 20

 Day 20 of the challenge. This one has a background of fragile old music paper, covered with vellum I printed, and a pair of butterflies drifting across it. The gel print element is backing the number. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 19

 Day 19 of the challenge. Gel print with a foiled water lily motif and a few stems. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 18

 Day 18 of the challenge. Gel print background, with a printed vellum overlay, lace and a digital picture. #gelypostcardplay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 17

Day 17 of the challenge.  I seem to really like forests.  #GelyPostcardPlay

 

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 16

 Day 16 of the challenge. This one really qualifies as mixed media: gel print, pin and ink (water bugs), collage, fiber, and a charm. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 15

 Day 15 of the challenge. The background was just screaming for cave paintings. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 14

Day 14 of the challenge.  #GelyPostcardPlay  

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 13

 Day 13 of the challenge. The background is a gel print that I used some scrunched paper to remove parts of the blue acrylic paint before pulling the print. I like that it looks somewhat organic. #GelyPostcardPlay

Steampunk Altered Playing Cards

 Between working on the daily challenge postcards, I'm working on a Steampunk journal. I've made these altered playing cards to serve as journaling cards to insert in the journal's signatures. The backs are plain coffee-dyed paper.

 Day 12 of the challenge.  The sentiment seems to suit the grumpy-looking owl.  #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay

 Day 11 of the challenge. The gel print is hiding under the hook and eye ad at top left. Background music paper is covered with a printed sheet (digital, but I can't remember from whom -- it may have been from Shabbydabbydoday on ETST) of vellum. #GelyPostcard Play

#GelyPostcardPlay

 Day 10 of the challenge. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 9

 Day 9 of the challenge. The only gel print element is the scraps used as backing for the number. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 8

 Day 8 of the challenge. All gel print except the number. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 7

 Day 7 of the challenge. Background is done with alcohol inks on vellum. All the irregular black lines are actually gold foil (it scanned as black). Number is perched on a bit of gel print. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 6

 Here's my postcard for day 6 of the challenge.  #GelyPosatcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 5

 Here is my Day 5 for the challenge.  I went with something easy after yesterday's fest.  #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 4

 Here's my Day 4 postcard for the challenge. A young girl celebrated the Fourth of July.  #GelyPostcardPlay  

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 3

 Here's my Day 3 postcard for the challenge. A small child sits outside a formidable home. Gel Print, collage, shading. #GelyPostcardPlay

#GelyPostcardPlay, Day 2

 Here's my Day 2 postcard for the #GelyPostcardPlay challenge.  

GelyPostcardPlay, Day 1

 I've jumped right into the fray and have decided to enter the challenge hosted by Ceri Griffiths (Ceri the Crafter) on You Tube.  The challenge, #GelyPostcardPlay ,  is to create a postcard each day during the month of July 2024.   Each postcard must be 4x6 inches in size and contain elements from Gel Printing and be numbered to match the day of the month.  I've finished the first one and here is my July 1, 2024 card:  

 I've uploaded Parts 2, 3 and 5 of the 3x5 Index Cart Art series.  

Part 2:   

And, Part 3: 

And, Part 4:

 

YouTube Video: 3x5 Card Art, Part 1

 I've added a new video to You Tube. This one looks at the first group of my many 3x5 cards and is accompanied by very soothing music. I'll be the typical You Tuber and say: "Please click like" but I won't beg for subscriptions. Here's the link:

Decorating Playing Cards

Today,  I decided to make some decorated playing cards to use as journaling cards.  I used some alcohol ink splattered vellum to give them a bit of a twist.  These were fun and I will definitely do more in the future.  They are backed with hand-dyed paper to create a writing surface.  Here's the group.  

Some Easy Belly Bands

 I made 6 belly bands for my journals today.  Each started with a book page and went on from there.  Many of them are making good use of a snippet roll I did a few weeks ago (and used it all).  I make snipped rolls and clusters often, using the scraps that are always to be found on my desk.  The backing for them is a partial roll of leftover drywall tape (the paper-y kind) so basically all of the items used are scraps.  Here are the belly bands, each measures about 2x8 inches.