Weekend Inspiration: Etsy Treasuries

I had some fun this week creating a couple of treasury lists on Etsy this week. If you're not familiar with Treasury, is a member-curated shopping gallery comprised of lists of items. Each treasury list can feature your favorite items or those based on a theme. For my lists, I chose color themes.

Some of the photography on Etsy is so inspiring - I think these lists are great inspiration for whatever artwork you're creating - cards, journal pages, scrapbook layouts, altered book projects etc. Enoy!

Aqua & Orange

Silver & Garnet

Pink

You can click on any of the items if you need to take a closer look at them.

Weekend Inspiration

Happy weekend! It's so warm and sunny here in New England - it feels like summer. I think we're being lulled into a false sense of security before all the snow comes!

I haven't had time to stamp any more this week because I've been wicked busy with my Etsy store filling orders and getting ready for the holidays. I listed some adorable (well I think so) mini journals this week:

And my products have been featured in over a dozen Etsy Treasury List this week - it's been amazing! My Halloween Treat Boxes were featured on Design Wotcha and my Gothic Halloween paper was shown on the Spanish language site, Bueno, Bonito y Barato. Both sites have lots of eye candy!

Here's the final installment of Halloween inspiration for you. Next week we'll move onto other Fall themes - promise!

Check out this awesome Book Page Pumpkin - just up my street. Click on the link below for the tutorial.

Source: Creations by Kara

Aren't these strawberry ghosts a riot? Click on the link below for the recipe.

Source: Taste of Home

We are definitely making these Mummy Candy bars in our house this year - Hershey Bars are my girl's favorite :)

Source: The Idea Room

Who would have thunk it? Cover Dixie cups with paper, attach some lights and you've got an inexpensive holiday light fixture. Just change it out the cups for each holiday - very clever!

Source: Good Housekeeping

If you're hosting a party, this would be the hilarious to play!

Source: Jeanetics

Last but not least for us paper crafters, check out this awesome wreath! Sigh......

Source: Vacuuming in High Heels and Pearls

Enjoy your Halloween preparation!

Clean and Simple Halloween Card

I've been away all weekend in Vermont scouring antique stores for vintage paper goodies :) And man, did I get some beauties. I can't wait to photograph them and put them in the store. They are so awesome! I've been busy catching up on emails and orders and didn't think I'd have to stamp, but.....

I couldn't resist today's Splitcoast Clean and Simple challenge because it was a really great CAS sketch. My desk was still covered in Halloween items, so I pulled this together this afternoon.

The main image is from an SU set called House of Haunts and so is all the c/stock. The strip of text is the gothic text from my Etsy store and the main image is stamped on this too (an edge piece with no text on it).

Note: I don't have many of these packs of gothic text left. Get 'em while you can :)

I created the moon in the background by creating a reverse circle mask from a 1 1/4" circle punch and a post-it note, then sponged Dusty Durango ink to create the moon.

I was also intrigued by today's Ways to Use It challenge, which was to use a #2 or HB pencil on your project. I immediately thought of fog and mist with this image, you can see the close up here (hopefully). I shaded with the pencil and then used a blending stump to blur it.

Hope you're having a good start to your week :)

Ali

Halloween Weekend Inspiration

In keeping with the Poe piece yesterday, I have some spooky inspiration for you today from Etsy. Etsy is just filled to the brim with amazing Halloween items and I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you.

This cute little guy makes me smile every time I look at him. He's definitely on my Halloween wish list! Lisa from Anna Belle Arts created him and a whole host of adorable needle felted creatures, pumpkins and acorns.

Needle Felted Jack-O-Lantern Assemblage

This skull pendant would be such a cool Halloween gift for a teen or preteen instead of candy. It was created by Sarah-Lambert Cook of Tuckoo and Moo Cow

Día de los Muertos Hand Painted Pendant

If you decorate your home for Halloween, then this bat covered pillow, created by Rachel from Out on a Limb, would be an awesome addition.

Halloween Bat Pillow

How much fun is this guy? or gal? Sallie from That Sallie creates the most adorable primitive dolls and this Raggedy Mummy really caught my eye!

Raggedy Mummy Primitive Country Doll

Lots of you are already familiar with Lynn Steven's work. When I saw her Halloween Collage Box, it really blew me away! I love how she included those half burned candles. You can see more of her work in her store Trash to Treasure and her blog of the same name.

Halloween Collage Box

Robin from rrizzart creates mixed media art and jewelry - don't you love this funky coffin jewelry box?

Coffin Jewelry Box

Are you planning a Fright Night party? These cup cake toppers would make the evening really special. Debbie at Ephemera's Vintage Garden created this fun vintage collage sheet and she has lots more spooky fun in her store.

Cup Cake Toppers/Treat Bag Stickers

I saved my favorite for last. Isn't he adorable? His name is Hal and he's a Zombie Sock Monster. I know my 5 year old niece would love this guy just as much as I do! Melinda from Maddie's Minions created him plus lots of other quirky, one-of-a kind creatures.

Halloween Zombie Sock Monster

I hope this post put you in the mood for a little Halloween fun! Enjoy your weekend,

Ali

What's New & Weekend Inspiration

Blog candy reminder: you have until midnight tonight to enter for a chance to win my blog candy. Just click on this link and scroll down to the end of the post to enter. I'll post the winner tomorrow.

I've been having fun this week making more goodies for my Etsy store, including more of the Music Notebooks and Halloween kits, both of which were featured in several Treasuries! But it's these little babies I'm super excited about today, my mini accordion journals. If you have a chance, stop by the store and check out the other pictures of them.


And of course, they're made with vintage book pages! Talking of old books, here's some jaw dropping weekend inspiration for you. Enjoy!

Isn't Sue Blackwell's art stunning? Check out her more of her amazing book sculptures.


Here is more butterfly inspired art by Louise Richardson. Check out more of her work on Flickr.

I've tried my hand at altered books, but not quite in this league!! This beauty was created by Jennifer Hibbard.

Source: Painted Fish Studio

I came across this amazing piece of couture on Katie's Rose Cottage blog. Ain't it pretty!

And for the girl who has everything - a pair of shoes to match! I really encourage you to visit Jennifer Collier's site and check out everything - you'll be amazed - really!

Source: Jennifer Collier

Enjoy your Sunday!

Ali

Vintage Dictionary Butterflies

Blog candy reminder: you have until midnight tomorrow, September 18, 2011 to enter for a chance to win my blog candy, which includes some of the dictionary pages you'll see below. Just click on this link and scroll down to the end of the post to enter. Thanks :)

Here's a card I made this week using the Vintage French/English dictionary pages from my store. I sponged various shades of Stampin' Up! and Distress inks in blue, green and yellow onto half a sheet and punched out a bunch of butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch. Pretty simple, but it's just the kind of card I like - lots of white space!


Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Fabriano watercolor cards, vintage French/English dictionary, watercolor paper
Ink: Various shades of blue, green and yellow dye inks, black
Embellishments: rhinestones (Stampin' up!)
Tools: Nestabilities, butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), Big Shot, Word Window punch

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ali

Candy, Store & Coupon

I'm really excited to announce that I opened my new Etsy store this week - Vintage Page Designs!


If you follow my blog you'll know that I love to create things with old book pages. I have a real passion for collecting interesting old books, illustrations and ephemera. Trouble is, these things just seem to follow me home from flea markets and thrift stores, and now my house is full :) So, "why not share the love on Etsy?", I asked myself.


I've only just begun to fill the store, but the kinds of items you can expect to find are vintage book pages of all kinds, ephemera, old photographs, kits and pre-made journals and cards. I plan to offer some digital content in the near future. I put new items in every day, so you never know what you might find!

As a thank you to those of you who visit my blog, I'm offering up some blog candy and a special 20% coupon for the store. The code is newenglandstamper and you enter it at check out. It applies to all items in the store, but not on shipping. The code will be valid for one week until midnight on Sunday, September 18th, 2011.

And now to the blog candy.....I'm giving away a selection items from my store and some stamps (because it's all about the stamping, right?)

The package includes: packages of my vintage French and school dictionary pages, vintage botanical illustrations, three Victorian children cabinet cards, some vintage lace and pink buttons plus one my handmade sheet music notebooks.

Plus, two sets of acrylic stamps from Inkadinkadoo and 6 unmounted rubber stamps from Crafty Individuals.


All y0u need to do is visit the Vintage Page Designs store and select your favorite item. Leave a comment here letting me know what your fave item is and you'll be in with a chance to win the blog candy. I'll randomly draw the winner next Sunday and announce it on the blog on Monday, September 19, 2011 . Good luck!