Tag! You're it!

I've been tagged by my blogging friend Kiara Lee at Stamping Cafe! This seems to be spreading super fast around the blog world... All you need to do is go to the place where you keep your pictures, choose the 6th folder and the 6th picture, post it onto your blog and explain. Easy as that!

Since I only have ONE SET, I counted to 6 and voila!


Now's my chance to tag someone else... my finger goes round and round and tags....

Debbie... http://dominodebi.typepad.com/
LysaQ... http://lysaq.blogspot.com/
Suzz... http://www.suzzstampingspot.blogspot.com/
Gaal Creative at http://gaalcreative.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-candy-2009-one-world-one-heart.html - be sure to visit and participate - blog candy!
Andi... http://www.andisperfectgravy.blogspot.com/
Pia... http://piaovergaard.blogspot.com/

Medallion Flowers

I was browsing and found a clever way to make flowers using basic materials that most of us have at home. Visit Katy Did Creativity to make a beautiful designer flower. I just found this site and wanted to post right away. I loved her submission on the Caardvarks site. This card caught my eye immediately, red, black and white, graceful and obviously I love it.

I'm going to hopefully play some today. Have fun stamping!

Valentine Doll

Valentine Doll,
originally uploaded by Clarian's Hawk * Arlene.

Last week at the Hero Arts (HA) blog was a week of hearts in all shapes and sizes for Valentine's Day. I also wanted to enter a challenge to post on Caardvarks - polka dots... and I couldn't think of anything polka dottsy... (I'm sure that's not a word) without being too cutesy for me...

I looked for papers with dots and when I happened onto the red paper with black polka dots, I knew I had my paper. I had just stamped the HA doll from HA Four Dolls clear set and knew that was the second item going on my card. I had glued red glitter to a couple hearts I had cut with my Cuttlebug and they were still out.. I was on a roll. Ok, Valentine stamp... yes and what ribbons...? I liked both the black and red, so I knew right away how I wanted the design to go and it came together so quickly - the bottom of the doll stuck outside the heart - but not for long.

I am very happy with this card.... I'm waiting for the doll behind the heart to step out...

Zodiac ATCs

Zodiac trade Feb 2009,
originally uploaded by Clarian's Hawk * Arlene.

This was a new experience for me - not really stamping, per se.

I belong to a Flickr group, ATC Beginners and after several wonderful trades with people across the globe, decided to join the swap group. I liked trading in a one-on-one situation as I was able to select something I liked or loved and hopefully, so did the other person. I have not been disappointed in a single swap. I don't know how many I've traded, but it's now over 10. I just don't have the time to make them as I usually concentrate on cards and rubber stamping those same cards.

The theme for this swap was "Zodiac" and I was without a single zodiac thought to my mind. Before raising my hand in class... I wanted to be sure I could produce for a partner at least SOMETHING. So, I guess I did this backwards - made the two cards and then raised my hand. Although when you usually raise your hand, it's because you have the answer... moving on... I used Wikipedia to find out what all the signs of the zodiac were. Seek and ye shall find... right... found the background I wanted on Wikipedia, printed that as well as the titles and signs of the zodiac, and then went into my stach of pre-inked/pre-colored cut-outs and found fish... ok.. one down and oh, what do I have that could in any way, shape, or form have anything to do with the zodiac. I found a piece of a stamped image and decided she looked like she would be the lady with the scales - Libra. I had a lot of fun creating these.

I find that I really liked these little momentos of the zodiac.

ATCs - Asian Dolls

ATCs Asian Dolls (middle ATC reserved for Poet Boy),
originally uploaded by Clarian's Hawk * Arlene.

I used some new Hero Arts stamps for my ATCs, listed below:

All cards Slanted Tree-K5094
Starting from left:
1. Arigato - CL308 (doll), Four Dolls - CL297 (lantern & fan)
2. Four Dolls - CL297 (doll & fan), Arigato - CL308 (lantern)
3. Four Dolls - CL297 (doll & fan), Arigato - CL308 (lantern

I love the new stamp sets and absolutely the new Slanted Tree. A little bling is all that's needed.

I sponged the background with distressed inks, stamped and colored the images with markers.

I can see where I'm going to be using "Slanted Tree" often. Love it..

Asian circle

Asian circle,
originally uploaded by Clarian's Hawk.

The Four Dolls stamp set by Hero Arts is one of my favorites as well as the Slanted Tree shown here. The Japanese Doll Message also features this same doll in a diminuative form. Not too much difference height-wise.

This circle scalloped card was shown on the Hero Arts blog by Shari on January 14th, 2009 on a video and I loved the style for a pull out card. This was my take on Shari's lovely card. It's so easy - 3 cut circles and you're in business... well a small punch helps for the scalloped edges.

I used my Cuttlebug to die-cut the circles - I have the small set of Nestabilities circles and I used the biggest circle - ran all three cardstock papers (same white cardstock cut in blocks) at one time with no problem. I used about an inch punch and used three pieces of paper - a patterned and two scrap pieces of light blue and orange red. You can check out the video at Hero Arts blog. You can check the blog for the day and date of the video - remember 1/14/09. This is so simple and easy, you will love it and the result is wonderful whether you keep the results as a card or put it on another card.

Making a card with Dawn Griffin

A wonderful place to stop off for ideas - pull-out and also stay tuned for her to begin her Valentine's card.

Very easy to follow.

Doves fly - ATC

Doves fly,
originally uploaded by Clarian's Hawk.

This is one of my favorite Artist Trading Cards (ATC)s I have made. I'm learning as I go.

I made these the same way I made my first card using acetate, but I think in the future I may paint the acrylics first. How I created this ATC using Inkadinkadoo stamp set (Asian Influence - 97616), Stampers Anonymous for the doves (M1-1252 - Tim Holtz Collection) and Hero Arts for the dragonfly (Just wanted to say - CL175):

1. Cut black matte cardstock, thin cardboard, pre-printed label for back, and clear acetate into 2 1/2" X 3 1/2" (" = inch) pieces. (Put acryllic pieces into a holder because they are very difficult to see and easy to lose).
2. Stamp with Doves stamp in clear or black pigment ink.
3. Pour and tap off clear or black embossing powder.
4. Heat emboss with heat tool.
5. Cover with three shades of blue acrylic paint (used dauber to blend. Let dry. Piece may curl some.
6. Take a damp towel and rub the acrylic paint off embossed doves. (You can lay a book on top or continue).
7. Take a clear acryllic piece and place over the painted and stamped black cardstock. You can see where you would like to set your next stamps.
8. Using white Staz-on ink, stamp the next stamps onto the clear acetate piece (I stamped on a flat surface near the cardstock, overlaying after each time I stamped to see where I wanted to place the next stamp. I used the upper part of a pagoda and just parts of the Dove stamp.
9. I used a very thin strip of tape on back of the white stamped pieces to adhere the card so the tape would not show through. There is tape for acetate, but I haven't used it. I have also used decorative brads to connect the two pieces.
10. Adhere the finished piece to the cardboard - I used two sided tape and a glue stick.
11. Adhere label to back. Label includes your name, date when ATC was made, assorted information as an email address, if this is a series and what number of that series the ATC is (e.g. Faces, 1 of 4).

Thank you for looking.