My Stamping Playground

Getting My Groove Back

I finally feel like I'm getting back in the groove of things. After a six month hiatus, I was all thumbs at our Stampin' Up! party last week. But, Friday's crop seemed to get me going again. Here is a frame I made last night.

Art Frame

Yes, I'm still hooked on Wendi Vecchi. She is the one artist whose style is closest to my taste. Of all the products out on the market, my favorites come from Wendy Vecchi, Tim Holtz, Maya Road, and Graphic 45. But the style is all Wendy Vecchi. She is a true inspiration to me. I'm sure you will continue to see her style on many of my posts.

OMG, have you seen all of the previews for CHA. I'm going to have to get a second job just to pay for everything I HAVE to have. Wendy has 12 new stamp sets and a new idea book. Tim has so many things coming out, I'm not sure he's gotten any sleep in a while. I love his new Sizzix dies. Graphic 45 has a couple of really cute new lines. And, Maya Road has tons of cute new stuff coming out. I can't wait!

Happy Stamping!

Terry B. Lee

Playground Coach

1st Crop of 2010

Yay! Finally, the first crop of the year, and what fun we had. It was so great to see everyone again. I spent alot of time socializing and not alot of time working, but that's half the purpose of cropping with friends. I was able to get in one little project that turned out alot cuter than I expected.

Coupon Book - Cover

Coupon Book - Inside

I needed something cute to collect coupons in at work. The manilla envelope I've been using is pretty boring. So, I thought I would make something that would make me smile while doing my work. Mission accomplished. I love it. What do you think?

Thank you all for coming last night. I so enjoyed being with you all. I can't wait until the all day crop next Saturday. I hope to see you then.

Happy Stamping!

Terry B. Lee

Playground Coach

Happy New Year !

I'd like to start the New Year by sharing a piece I made a few months ago, but never got a chance to post. This piece is actually hanging in my house as a piece of art.

My Wendy Art

I absolutely love it, and what a surprise. I actually started out copying the piece below by Linda Elbourne.

Linda's Wendy Art

Similar, but yet so different. It always amazes me how I start copying a piece I fall in love with, and it turns out so different. But I love the new piece just as much. That's the great thing about this craft. People are always willing to share their work to inspire those of us with less artistic skills. Yes, it is true. I am not artistic by nature. But, I do have some great copying skills.

If you love "Wendy Art," do yourself a favor and check out Linda's blog, "A Crafting Journey." She is very creative and does some beautiful work. (Fans of Tim Holtz will be very pleased with her blog as well.) She just posted the cutest Valentine piece that hangs on a hanger. It may have to be my first project of the year. Check out her post titled "You can feel it in your fingers ..." Adorable!

Click Here to go to Linda's Blog -- A Crafting Journey

I wish you all the greatest, most artistic, and happiest year ever!

Happy Stamping!

Terry B. Lee

Playground Coach

Wendy Vecchi - Studio 490

I was doing a little blog surfing about 6 months ago, and fell in love with this little house that Wendy Vecchi of Studio 490 had made. As usual, I bought the house (Maya Road), but never made it. Well last weekend, I finally got it out and put it together. I totally love it! Check it out.

For any of you who have not seen Wendy's work, please do yourself a favor and check out her blog. Her work is amazing. I just got a bunch of her stamp sets from Stampers Anonymous, so I'm sure you will be seeing alot of her style in my upcoming blogs.

Wendy, thank you sooo... much for sharing your artwork, and creating those wonderful stamp sets. I absolutely love your work.

Click Here to go to Studio 490

Happy Stamping!

Terry B. Lee

Playground Coach

Recycling Pick-Me-Up

I went to Strawberry Fields in Ft. Myers this weekend with a few of my friends. While we were there, we saw a really cute wine bottle with some flowers in it. (There...the seed was planted.) Last night, my daughter was getting ready to throw out an empty bottle of Olive Oil. (There...the seed took root.) I cleaned out the bottle, removed the labels, and set it out to dry. After work today, I was feeling like I needed a little pick-me-up. (There...the seed grew.) I got the bottle, took out some Graphic-45 paper and some embelishements, and this is what I ended up with.

It was a great pick-me-up. I hope your week is going well. But, if you get a little down, just do a little shopping in your recycling bin, and see what you can create.

Happy Stamping!

Terry B. Lee

Playground Coach

Still Hooked on Tim

This week I've been playing with alcohol inks using Tim Holtz's demos. I've finally found a technique I like. I made some embelishments using fragments, alcohol inks, and stamps. Originally, I was going to make a tag like in Tim's demo. But, I loved them so much, I scrapped the whole tag idea, and used them on something a little longer lasting.

I saw one of these that Tim made a long time ago, and I've been wanting to make one ever since. These fragments gave me the perfect excuse to make the frame, and I love it. I'm so glad I never took any of those classes. It's so much more personal, when you make it at home with all the things you've collected over the years.

The girls at the crop tonight loved the fragments, so we are going to get together again next Saturday for another day of Tim Holtz. If you are interested, please let me know. We will limit the group to 6, so we all have plenty of room, and a good view of the screen. (I already have 3 confirmed, and 2 maybes.)

Tim, I think you've created some distress grunge monsters here at the playground. I can't wait to meet you at the class at Ruban Rouge in July.

Happy Stamping!

Terry B. Lee

Playground Coach

Christmas & the Current Economy

I know that the state of the economy has many of us wondering how we are going to pay for Christmas this year.  Well, this is the time to get creative.  Start perusing those blogs and galleries on line, and come up with some ideas for Christmas gifts that you can make this year.  Here are two projects I made using only materials I already had in hand.  The only thing I had to buy were the frames, and with Michaels sales and coupons, you can find frames fairly inexpensively.  Or, if your husband is handy, maybe he could make some frames for you at a fraction of the price.  Either way,  I think the recipients of these beautiful projects will appreciate them much more than any store bought items.

Project #1

Project #2

Don't forget to sign and date your projects for that added personalized touch.  I hope this helps to make your Christmas a little easier to afford.

Terry B. Lee

Playground Coach