Eyelet Set Winner!

The random number generator picked Kelley from Kelley's Kreatvie Korner as the winner of the eyelet set. Thanks to everyone who played! I think I have one more to giveaway - please check back :).

Somerset Memories

I want to give a BIG THANKS to Audrey Hernandez for writing this wonderful article in the latest Somerset Memories and giving me the chance to be included! I created three "Chunky ATCs" as part of this challenge, and to my surprise all three appeared in the article! These ATCs are very special to me, as the pictures are family members that have passed. Several other fantastic artists appear in the article, so be sure to check it out!

(you can click on the pictures to enlarge)

The picture in the above ATC is of my great aunt "Nina". She was always my favorite, and many people say I look like her. Also, a friend at work told me that the word "Caline" that appears at the top of the piece actually means "hug" - I learned that after the fact.

Above, at the bottom of the page, you see my grandfather and grandmother. I used their wedding pictures, and as part of the backgrounds, I used scanned images of their marriage license and my grandmother's birth certificate. The dates you see on the rusty bits are their birth years. Audrey's amazing piece also graces this page!

I really loved this project, and if you haven't tried Chunky ATCs, you're missing out. Be sure to get the magazine to read the full article. As Audrey points out, these are so fun to work with because you can nail and staple objects into the wood!

Jackie B.'s Sample

Check out this adorable sample Jackie B. made using the Hello Dollie Collage Sheet. What is extra special about this piece, is that Jackie used tin as the background piece. She then created some magnets by gluing craft magnets to some buttons etc. and viola! A beautiful message board!

New Goodies!

Hi everyone! I just listed lots of new goodies on the site. Below is just a small sampling!

The new Tim Holtz Fragments! Charm pack and oval/circle pack.

Yummy metal keyholes!

Muse Tokens

Faux Mosaic Kit (this is too fun!)

And Masks! Watch the video below and you'll want some! They are really cheap too (especially since they are reuseable).

Find all the new goodies HERE!!!

Brand New Christmas Birds and Nest Collage Sheets!

I've been hard at work to create these 4 new Christmas Bird and Nest Collage Sheets! I have one more coming in the next day or so, but wanted to get these listed ASAP for the holidays!

You can find them all HERE.

As always, available in digital or printed sheets. I would love to hear what you think!

To Do List

This is fun!
I got this from Dawn's blog. You’re supposed to bold the things you’ve done. I had 54/100.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

So tell me what you've done? What else would you like to do? So many things left to do.....
I should have been packing orders, but this sounded like more fun :).

Wow Sherry!

As you know, I've really been enjoying sharing the gorgeous samples created with the Hello Dollie German Doll Heads Collage Sheet. These beauties were created by the talented Sherry Goodloe and it looks like she sold some already!

Wow Viola!

I had to share this GORGEOUS piece that Viola from the DT created using the Hello Dollie German Doll Heads Collage Sheet. You can also purchase the sheet on fabric here in my store. She printed her digital sheet on fabric and whipped up this beauty. It's even an ATC holder! Wow! An art doll that's lovely and functional!

Memory Frame Ornaments

I created these ornaments for a store in Irvington that carries my jewelry and other goodies. They are a bit more simple that my usual work, but that's what was needed.

I used the Memory Frames and Memory Glass for this project and found them SO easy to work with. For someone who normally solders, this was so simple, and the ornaments came out very sweet. These would make great Christmas presents, especially if you personalized them.

A few tips: If you don't want the glass to "jiggle" around in your completed piece, sandwich two or three pieces of card stock between your images. Also, if you want the little flap on the frame to be permanently closed, dab on a small amount of jewelry adhesive on the bottom of the flap and secure with a rubber band to hold it down until it's dry :). I think the 2" x 2" frames and glass would make great ornaments too.

I really do love these Memory Frames! Quick, easy, and lovely!

Ink Stained Roni - An Interview and Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I wanted to invite you to go check out the amazing blog of Ink Stained Roni! Not only is Roni a fellow Hoosier, she's a fantastic artist and writer! She's in the process of writing a book as we speak! When Roni asked me if I would be interested in an interview, I immediately jumped at the chance. You can read the interview HERE and if you comment, you have a chance to win a FREE DIGITAL COLLAGE SHEET from my site, Retro Cafe' Art Gallery! We will pick three winners on November 25th, so go on over and play. You must comment on Roni's blog to be eligible. While you're there, be sure to catch up on Roni's other happenings! She is one happening chic!

Another Blog Candy Eyelet Giveaway!

It's time once again! As I said, I have another one of these wonderful sets to give away!

(Click on the photo for a larger view)

Okay, this is one giveaway you will DEFINITELY want to enter - Courtesy of Coffee Break Design.

I have for you an INCREDIBLE eyelet setting kit full of scrumptious eyelets that have been discontinued! If you win, you will get:
An eyelet setter, THREE leather punches, and 1200 unique eyelets (these are EZ set aluminum eyelets that set beautifully and don't split on the backs)

the types and shapes of eyelets include heart mixture, angel mixture, triangle mixture, teddy bear mixture, halloween mixture, pastel yellow, star mixture, diamond mixture, lavender mixture, square mixture, butterfly mixture, and holiday mix.

To Enter the drawing: Post about this giveaway on your blog and link back to my blog (a giveaway like this should be shared), and then leave me a comment.

I will draw one lucky winner (using a number randomizer) on Sunday, November 30th.

xoxo,

Kristin

More Hello Dollie Samples

I'm really enjoying the samples from the new Hello Dollie Collage Sheet, so I wanted to share! I think the images would also work great for Christmas ornaments.

I love these sample from Gayle Page-Robak! Such creative uses.

Kelly Burton created this lovely ATC. The colors and the layout are perfect!

Sherry's Sample

The talented Sherry Smyth just whipped up this tag using the new Hello Dollie Collage Sheet!

So lovely!

German Doll Head Collage Sheet

I just listed the new German Doll Head Collage Sheet!

Click HERE for the paper versions

and HERE for digital!

And I couldn't wait to play so I created this sample,

which I also listed HERE on the site :).

IUK Craft Fair

I vended at another craft fair this weekend. It was cooold outside, but nice and toasty inside :). Lots of people were gearing up for Christmas - my how time flies!

The Birds are Back and More!

It's taken me a bit to get these back from the supplier, but the Rusty Tin Birds are finally back in stock!

I also wanted to share these very cool Rusty Tin Distressed House Ornament Blanks! The first batch sold out instantly, but I managed to get a few more. The supplier is discontinuing them and I bought up the last they had. Perfect for Christmas!

Been Tagged

I've been tagged by my dear friend Mossy (Joanna Pierotti)!

So here are the rules:

* Link to the person who tagged you.
* Mention the rules.
* Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
* Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.
* Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are my quirky things:

1. I wrote before that I like to drink pickle juice from the jar, and this is still true, but lately I’ve progressed to drinking the juice from jars of hot peppers! I love the burning sensation as it travels down my throat.
2. I’m really paranoid about my car being hit by other car doors so I park REALLY far away at all stores/restaurants/etc. But it’s good exercise I suppose!
3. I can’t stand to wear regular clothes when I’m at home. Even if I’m only going to be home for a few hours, I put on pajamas. I’m only truly comfy at home when I’m in my pajamas.
4. I have this “rule” that when I bring something new into the house, I have to get rid of something else. For example, I added a shelving unit to one of my art rooms, so I got rid of a fake tree that I’ve had for almost 10 years. It’s my way of keeping down the clutter.
5. I can’t stand to touch silk – I feel like it sticks to my fingers and just thinking of touching it makes my lips curl!
6. I hate shopping unless it’s for art supplies.

And I would like to tag: Avalon Rose Design, Bev Froese, Bev Crawford, Kaz, Patty V., and Viola