Mistakes - and living with them in Art

I made this card for someone who is recovering from surgery.  I really need to invest in the one of the stamp positioning tools because my sentiment Get Well Soon didn't quite ink as well as I wanted to on the card stock (it's slightly textured).  So I tried to fix it but that ink pen didn't like the texture either.  

But I liked the card and so - I just let it go as it is because it is art and art is not perfect.

One of the things I did want to find now is grass bundles (stamp and die set will be cool) Dies R Us  has a few I like - so I definitely want to invest in them after this card became clear - making grass with those tiny leaves was a bit of a challenge.

Another mistake card - that turned out beautiful is this one - 25th Anniversary Celebrate card.

Funny thing is the mistake was wanting to use specific 12x12 card stock that the rose border was not on the edge of the paper and I had to actually cut the paper in a way to get that pretty border, leaving me with two pieces that I needed to figure out how to glue together to make a card body.  This mistake had been sitting in my What to Do pile for two years, then I watched this Youtube video on glues and learned about different glues for different purposes.  And I solved that problem, added a cute pink ribbon and dazzle border to make it look seamless.

I've started on the Kickstarter cards, got some materials that I want to use for them.  But in the mean time - making other cards - another Sympathy Card.  I really love how this turned out.  Trying new techniques in the chalking and embossing on dies.  And playing with colors.

Anyway my Frantic Stamper package has arrived that contains materials for K1a and K8a cards.  Going to take pictures of the materials and post tomorrow about the designs.  SO EXCITED

Dies dies dies and more dies

I love dies.  I have a Cuttlebug  and I plan on getting a large machine (actually 3 but that's another topic post in of itself.)  I love utilizing dies and combination dies to make new and exciting art cards.

But what frustrates me about dies is that designers/companies comes out with a template or frame die that you can use to create say a lantern, basket, container, or book, and additional dies to create a specific holiday look, but then don't come out with other additional dies for other holidays.

I love the Halloween Spellbinders Trick or Treat set.  I made several of these in different cardstock, glitterstock and textured papers.  They were awesome!!!

I took the base frame and created several awesome lanterns with it for Christmas and Valentines Day.

But at you can see I used other dies that were not squares to create different sets.

I bought another square looking die set last month - Shapeabilities Calligraphy Flourish Tiles Etched Dies Ooh La La Collection by Stacey Caron.  It looked like it would fit the frame.  However the square is literally 1/16 of an inch bigger than the frame for the Lantern can hold.  So now I get to do something else - tweak the frame to support these squares.

Going to try that today since I thought they would be a nice lantern set.

And no a Cricut machine will not solve this problem.  Though I do plan on getting one this year because I really love lacy elements (especially words).  And they are a pain to do in the manual die cutting machine.

Teach me to not organize things...... finally getting the Facebook VampKitty Studios organized

1st note:  Still a few days left for folks to commission their valentine cards :)

If you need any ideas see my previous post or the first part of my AlaCard Card Gallery II.

2nd note:  I've got a Gallery for Pre-Ordering for Christmas Art Cards up.  I have a bunch of Card Bodies already started for this year and will be expanding my Paper Victorian Christmas Ornaments selection especially now that I have the space to work with these beauties.

Still debating with myself whether to enter this year for a designer position with Heartfelt Creations or wait another year.  My style isn't their style but I love their products.  Have a few more days to ponder on this.

Kickstarter phase II is now underway.  I sent a message to the backers.  Need to finish the surveys and send them out.  I can't wait until I start blogging about each creation.  I plan on documenting each one and then send the person the digital pics so they can have something to remember the experience with.

Monday tip for making your space work in your studio - Think about what you use regularly and put that within a foot or two of your work space.  Then from there set up the supporting tools behind it.  This makes it easy to work but not hard to get the tools.  And you don't feel so claustrophobic.

Looking for something very unique for Valentines - Still time for Commission

Day 1 of the VampKitty Studio Project (03/04/2019)

I have decided to blog about creating my new studio at our new home in Cleveland Heights. I felt it was needed, and I want to capture the experience of creating a workable, creative, friendly, fun studio in our basement. This is yesterday's Facebook post, but now I am going to document things here so I can add pictures and details with formatting!!

I didn't get to go downstairs today - it was 14 degrees outside and that was a wee bit chilly down in the basement.

Instead I started my pinterest board

I started looking over the stuff I've washed, started organizing things that are going downstairs.

I have many many projects in my trello board - most are just one or two sentences.

I plan on doing a lot of upcycling, re-claiming, creative usage of old furniture from tree-lawn diving.

Tomorrow I make a map of the space and then decide where each of the big areas will reside (Paper, Bead, Fabric, Workbench for tools and repair center)

After that my first project is to sort the boxes into their areas.

Then get my beading station and fabric area up and running.

Upcoming Fairs I am selling at this year

This year I have decided/accepted in 4 Holiday faires, and to host 2 open house parties.

I am excited, scared, nervous, worried, frantic, optimistic at the same time pessimistic but all of this rolled up into - I CAN DO THIS.

Here is this upcoming schedule - I look forward to seeing folks, stopping by and buying something - And if you say you saw this on my blog you can get 15% off your purchase. 

We look forward to seeing you at these fine Holiday Faire events.

Holiday Sip and Shop
Hosted by: Savannah-Chanelle Winery
Friday - November 7th 2014, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
RSVP requested  - Katie@savannahchanelle.com
23600 Congress Springs Road
Saratoga, CA 95070

http://www.savannahchanelle.com/sip-shop/



Casa de Amigos Holiday Craft Boutique
Hosted by: Casa De Amigos COA
Saturday - November 8th 2014, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Casa de Amigos Mobile Home Park - 1085 Tasman Drive
Main Community Center
Sunnyvale CA 94089
Main Club House Map



Open House - Feast or Famine
Hosted by: Vampkitty Designs
Sunday - November 23rd 2014, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
RSVP requested - vampkittydesigns@vampkitty.com
1085 Tasman Drive, Space 859 (N Street)
Sunnyvale California 94089
Please park in one of the many parking lots in the park



HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE!
Hosted by: Girl Scouts of Northern California, Coyote Hills Service Unit
Saturday - November 29th 2014, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Fremont/Niles Veterans Hall
37154 Second St.

Fremont, CA 94536



Holiday Craft Faire
Hosted by: The Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends
Saturday - December 6th 2014, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Santa Clara City Library (Rooms Redwood and Margie Edinger)
2635 Homestead Rd  
Santa Clara, CA


Open House - Last minute goodies
Hosted by: Vampkitty Designs
Sunday - December 14th 2014, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
RSVP requested - vampkittydesigns@vampkitty.com
1085 Tasman Drive, Space 859 (N Street)
Sunnyvale California 94089
Please park in one of the many parking lots in the park

Completely off topic - sorta - Following one's passion - A story of a Young Lady and her dream

It hasn't been until recently, like in the last three years, that I strongly believed that we must follow our passions in life, both personal (a given) and career. Doing something without passion for it, really destroys happiness


I've been following piece by piece my own passion of becoming a known Artist, crafts-person, as well as at some point want to open up an Institute to preserve and teach historical bead, paper, sewing craft techniques. Focusing on low to middle income folks who want to get into a trade.


I've known the Williams family since 1997. I have watched Elizabeth (Bear as she was called in the earlier years) grow up to be one very amazing person (thanks to her parents Cat Williams and Matt K Kringle Williams and her sibling, JA, Amber, Joil, Bryin, Cartwright).

Elizabeth has always had a passion for caring for animals, and a gentleness that I have only seen in a few folks when it comes to all animals. It her life goal to be a Veterinarian.


I know my daughter Chrystiana Lynn wanted to do that, and it is NOT cheap. I also know how long and hard road to achieve. Elizabeth has a lot of hurdles, Sciences, Math, Medical school, all ahead of her to achieve this goal. But, like her parents - she is a feisty, tenacious, determined young lady.

The Williams have always been a generous family, opening their doors to strangers, adopting an entire set of siblings who lost both their mother and father in a short period of time (They were exchange students), helping others out when they lost everything with Katrina, the list goes on. They believe, like I do, in pay forward and it shall return when you most need it.

Last few years - the Williams have experienced a serious life changing set of events, including Matt's heart attack. Both Matt and Cat are working towards their degrees themselves, making another great positive contribution to society with what they plan on doing with their degrees. But the money is extremely tight with them. And because they had no insurance = they are still paying off Matt's medical bills.

Now; why am I writing this


Thanks to the twinkiness of the government, Elizabeth's funding for her college education took a significant south turn. This has jeopardized her starting this fall and being able to even continue.

If some clown can get 55k for wanting to make potato salad, all because of social media passing around, and the link went viral, I figured why not see if we can get this to go viral!


I know there are those who will help contribute to something far more reaching, far more important, strangers out there who believe the same - Pay forward and this definitely is something that Pays forward.


Help us Help Elizabeth fulfill her dreams.
Please share (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elizabeth-veterinarian-to-be)


Thank you

Ronni Eloff