Up to our ears in rubber stamps and art supplies!

It's a beautiful thing!

Everyone, this time of the year, gets so excited about the holidays. It is hard not to just light a fire, dim the lights, and gather around all your favorite art supplies and just play! But alas, there are orders to fill, organizing to do, and webs to surf! If you find yourself wading into the web water, there is a great little blog you should put on you short list to visit.

That blog is....doboldthings.blogspot.com. Amy has been working on journal pages...they are really well done...It will spark a creative flame....I saw it last night (really early this morning) and visions of journals danced in my head! I have some samples from her to post in a few days.

OH!

We have also received not one but two sets of new samples!

'Tis the season!

Bobbey in NC has sent a bundle of great samples....which will be posted tonight/ tomorrow. They are featured in this months VSN

(Vamp Stamp News)

So Bobbey is the centerfold! Go Bobbey Go! The cards she sent....AMAZING! (as always!) Check back in the morning for this yummy eye candy!

(breakfast of champions!)

Hello again. It has been a bit since my last blog, but I'mmmmm back! The photos above are samples from Bobbey. She has made an illuminating three sided, totally cute box, using cardstock and velum. The stamps she used are Pressed EL 42 F (This stamp was made using a photo of real pressed flowers) and Fern corner (lg) NT 62 E. Pressed flowers is stamped onto velum. Color is added using pencils. Fern corner is stamped to the corners to accent the hole that was cut in the cardstock. Bobbey found, and sent me, some battery operated candles My description (and photos for that matter) do not do it justice. What an awesome idea for the upcoming holiday season. Thanks again to Bobbey for her samples! (As always they are fantastic!!!)

Tiles abound

Okay, here are several beautiful and classic tiles from Bobbey....yes, I will show more in a day or two, this is just little pieces of eye candy to start off your day ( or at least mine).....The stamps that used are;

Top tile

Glass and bottle

VN 10 F

from our vino stamps (main catalog)

Middle tile

Cup o joe

DL 39 E

from our domestic life stamps (main catalog)

Bottom tile

Swallowtail butterfly

NT 44 F

from our nature stamps (main catalog)

and

Script

TR 66 G

from our travel stamps (supplement #1)

Like I sais Bobbey is soooooo talented and her work is always so amazing....more to come....until then....go create something

(or at least think about creating something).

And the beat goes on........

As promised, here are three more pieces of artwork by Bobbey. I am totally in love with these new samples. They are yummy! If you are anywhere near the Oklahoma City area, they are on display (in person) at And Bear Makes 3 located in Moore, Oklahoma. We are having a big 8 day trunk show at the store (call Vicki for more details website: www.andbearmakes3.com). Their number is (405) 912-3245
tell Vicki I sent you.....tee hee hee. Just a hint about the next post......tiles...yes, awesome tiles....be looking for them....soon.

It's Christmas time in October!

So I went to the post office to check my mail....plus I had received an email from Bobbey Sakoman (in NC). She is one of or most excellent sponsored artist! She said she had sent some samples...but holy moly! She sent a box full of the most amazing samples....and I will be sharing these with you over the next few weeks!
They truly blew me away.....I called Bobbey as I was driving away from the Post office...I am sure I freaked her out a little...but really......WOW! The three I posted here are cards. The stamps used are; The pinkish colored card:Wild flowers, Swirl background and Thank you.

The red and white card has Iron round large (it comes in three

sizes).

The sunset card is made with Tall trees.

If you would like to order any of these stamps check your local stamp store or contact us at dpartworks1@yahoo.com. We can hook you up with them.

So a big thank you goes out to Bobbey for sharing these fantastic samples....And check back soon we will have more soon.....and not just cards!

The craft show in Norman, OK....wow

Wow!

The Norman arts and craft show was amazing! I now have a better idea of how many local people are reading my blog....

We gave away 57 bags. It was a great show and it was wonderful to talk to everyone who stopped by. There is another show in November...dates for that show will be posted soon. We hope to see you all again. We will have more Christmas items and gift ideas for you. I will be bringing rubber stamps to the show as well.

Not done being random....

This is Max in Cincinnati, Ohio handin' with The Lady. Just couldn't pass up a photo op.

Random thoughts

Well...I needed to post something so guess what...here is a random photo I took last night. It is an unaltered photo. It was taken at night on the candle light setting. There was a light source behind the branches. So there is your random photo and thought.

This weekend

These are some of the leather covered books that Tressa made to sell at the shows this season. Yummy!

Well, it's that time of year when we start doing shows...arts and crafts. Our next show is in Norman, OK at the Cleveland Co. fairgrounds (off of Robinson street). It is a nice one day show. We will have some of our Oklahoma rubber stamps there. Besides the stamps we will have handmade books some with leather covers (They are yummy), cards, polymer clay figures, bead work and metal work jewelry. If you go, don't forget to support the handmade arts and craft. I have seen so many commercial items popping up in the last few years....and hey, these shows are promoted as a handmade....(she jumps off her soapbox). On Oct. 17th we will be in Cincinnati, OH. The Church, St. Gertrude Catholic church, is in Madeira. The church is located on the corner of Shawnee Run Rd. and Miami Rd. (You can always google map it.) It is a one day show as well. (A great little show!) I will be posting photos of some of the items over the weekend.....so be looking for them. Come see us and we will have something special for you....but you have to tell us you read it here on the blog....More later! Deena

Life is busy, busy, busy!

The birdbath in the backyard...so peaceful.

Holy moly,

It is so crazy busy around here. We are all working to get out all the stamp orders ( yippy, we love the orders!). I have not had time to do any blogging, fun art work, class samples, blah, blah, blah. But I do love my life right now. The temps. here in Oklahoma have been in the 80's....I love it when it is in the lower 80's! So stick around and soon there will be new blogs, and photos about the classes that I will be teaching. Thank you all for all your emails! Wow....more soon!

Deena and the folks at DP Artworks

Playing with playing cards....inspiration.....

Okay, so here is something I have wanted to do for many years and just have not taken the time. They are playing cards. These are some in their first stages. So far I have started the kings, queens and jacks. I (needless to say) am the Queen of Heart! The card images are my family members ( not all of them but, it is set #1) . I will be adding crowns and more fun stuff. I am really excited about them....I work on them a little every day. I am making a set for my mother and myself.....Hey, Christmas is only 107 days away. Hmmmm.... ponder...If you have never done this...oh my gosh....FUN!

A new day

Fall is a great time of the year. I enjoy it when it is cooler outside. We, here in Oklahoma, are on the edge of fall...it is not as warm as it has been...we haven't hit 90 degrees in a few days. The evenings cool down faster and in the morning it is pleasant. So, yes, bring it on Mother Nature....I'm ready!

A recycling idea...What do you think?

So here is what I have been thinking about for the last few weeks.....
My friend Beverly and I go and get a coke nearly everyday after we workout...I know this sounds crazy...but when you make stamps all day long...what can I say. Anyway, the drinks come in styrene cups. I did some research (and will do more) on where I can recycle styrene. I only found 6 places in the US. So that got me thinking...what else can I do with these cup to do my part to reuse, renew, recycle (you know green up a bit). And here is what I came up with. I send out orders all the time using different packing materials in the boxes (bubble wrap, paper, cardboard). What if I washed and dried these cups, cut them into 1" squares, and put them in a freezer zippey bag (and taped the bag shut). I could put a note one the outside of the bag explaining what this is, and use it as packing material. Think about this and let me know what you think.

Nature on parade!

This card is a 3" by 3" card after matting. Before matting it is a ATC ( 2.5" by 3.5") Okay, here is a cute and easy little card. First we made a mask of Cy MO 20 E. Basically what this means is that we stamped Cy on a piece of copy paper or a post it note, and then cut it out. We placed the cut out on the white card stock. Grab your Corner curl stamp NT 75 G and using a Marvy ink pad (Ochre) stamp the background. Lift off your mask and stamp Cy (we used Memories Black) in the space left from the mask. Next we stamped Sprig NT 85 B in Cy's hand (again we used Memories black). We could have made a mask for the sprig, but alas, we did not. The color was added with colored pencils. We matted it a few times and tah dah....another card- done.

children at play

This finished card is a 5 1/4" by 5 1/4" Well, here is another eye candy card. This is fun and easy to make. First we used a black Memories inkpad and stamped all the images. We used a mask on Dion and the pinwheel. By doing this it looks like she is holding the pinwheel in her hand. The stamps used are listed below. The images are all colored with colored pencils. We stamped (on a piece white cardstock) the teddy bear and Scout (the dog) and colored them. Cutting both of them out, we used pop dots behind them and placed them over where we stamped them originally. This makes them "pop" off the page. We finished the card by adding color with stipple brushes (around each image).
Stamps used:
Dion MO 17 F
Toy duo MO 18 C
Scout MO 19 C
Tim MO 22 E
Pinwheel MO 24 A
Children GT 64 E This is the quote

New cards

This is a 5 1/2" by 4 1/4" card

Here is a card made by Tressa....a great artist....and...my mom. And here is how she made it. First she grabbed the Tea for two stamp DL 24 G, and stamped it on acetate. You could stamp it and take it to the copy shop and copy it on to acetate. Next find a piece of paper to use as a background. This floral is a great background that harkens back to the 1940's. She ran the acetate through the xyron or you could use some double sided tape...hidden of course. Find paper that complements the background colors. Take a circle cutter and cut a circle in the front of your card. Adhere the Tea for two image/background so you can see it through the circle (that you cut out earlier)...center it. Stamp Good friends, EL 03 B, onto an extra piece of the some cardstock that you used for your card. Trim around your Good friends stamped image. Matte it on white and position it under the Tea for two image. tah dahhhh you are finished....beautiful!

Stampaway 2009 slide show!

Here is a slide show from Stampaway 2009....Both my mom and I are in it from our class. Yippy....how fun is that!

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/WS8dM7cF

Who is Max?

Okay, I have had many e-mails about Max....and who is he? Max is a stuffed boy doll. He is a character from Where the wild things are. I bought him when I lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is with me on my travels. He has been to Europe a few times, and from coast to coast here in the USA. He has been to Stampaway, Artfest, and when I teach...he is there. It's a lot of fun. So now you know who Max is. My mother has a bear named London Bear...or LB for short. By the way, she bought it in London while we were there.

And bear makes 3

And bear makes 3.....our local store

I know, I talk a lot about And bear makes 3, however, it is our wonderful local stamp store. They are located in Moore, Oklahoma. Hanging out there is a lot of fun. Vicki and the customers are great. I took some photos ( big shock there ) and I had Max with me as well. (another shocker!)

Making rubber stamps....

The saw, Max, and a bowl full of cherries......

This is the double sided cushion the rubber and.....Max.

After 11 minutes the rubber is vulcanized (cooked) and ready to be trimmed and cushioned (See photo above). The cushion is double sided.....sticky on both sides. Next stop the saw (See photo above). I cut out the rubber/cushion. Our stamps are wood mounted. We grab the wood...that we cut ourselves....index them....stick on a price code....We place the rubber on the wood then it is ready to be sent to you.

B line design stamps (out of Mustang, Oklahoma) have been such great friends. They were a lot of help when we were getting ready for Stampaway. (and always for that matter) xoxo

So I hope this has given you all a little look at how we make our stamps.

How to make a rubber stamp?

Max with my matrix boards>

Raw rubber on a matrix board...and Max>

Raw rubber and Max>

This is the vulcanizer with Max>

Okay, here is a little info on how rubber stamps are made...a little simplified....of course....I am leaving out the blood, sweat, and tears....I do not want to give you nightmares. I start with the images I like and the ones that speak to me. Some of these images are pre-1920ish images, some are sketched by friends and customers....and me. We have some carved images and some are from my travels. I take them, all arranged on a 7x11 sheet of paper, to a place in the city (OKC). They make me a matrix board...a mold see photo above. After a nifty phone call and a 12 mile trek...Yes.... I have my boards!( It's a lot like Christmas every time I get new boards.) I rush to the vulcanizer ( an oven with a car jack) flip the on button and wait patiently for it to warm up to nearly 300 degrees. When it is ready I grab some raw rubber (photo above) and lay it out on top on the board and pop it into the vulcanizer.

Blogging...100 posts

This is a photo I took the other day in my backyard.

So I visited a random blogspot earlier...I do like to surf.....anyway, she was celebrating her 100th post....well....I am not there yet. I am working on some new things...classes, samples, polymer clay objects, zines, and a supplement....busy, busy, busy. The last few days I have been doing some orrrr..., orrrrr...., organizing...shwoooo.... I typed it....the "O" word.

Take a look at my post tomorrow, I have something planned....It should be good....and interesting....to some.

Branching out

Well, it's time to make some new art and create some new classes. I've got eight or so new ideas rolling around in my mind. ( They are making lots of clacking and buzzing noises so I ought to do something about it.;) So soon I will be posting new samples....yippy!

Demo at Stampaway 2009!

Ashley "The Demo Queen" hard at work! She rocked! You go girly! Thanks a bunch Sweet!

Stamp Your Art Out

Some photos from Stamp Your Art Out! in Blue Ash, Ohio. Oh, and that is Max....my traveling buddy.

Here are some photos from Stampaway 2009.

This is our booth. The samples this year totally rocked

Stampaway 2009....The fun never ended!

Stampaway was a blast!

We started our adventure on Tuesday night at the wine and cheese fund raiser at the store (Stamp Your Art Out! ) , Fun was had by all. There were prizes, wine cheese, fruit and fun! We taught the class on Thursday. It was a card blitz class. Eight cards in 3 hours....everyone seem to enjoy the class. The students were awesome!

Friday night was "wear your art out" night. We had made shirts and wore them. We spent the day setting up. And then, before we knew it, the adventure started at 7:45pm. There was a rush of people, and excitement was in the air. The gentleman they had singing this year was really great! The food they served was good, as well. We were busy, busy, busy! It was non stop until 11pm. Wow what a night! I got to see student and former customers, which is always so much fun. We were back to the convention center bright and early Saturday morning to restock and get ready for the new day. If you have not attended this show....mark your calendars for next year! Thank you to all of you who stopped by. We had such a great time!

Stampaway 2009 sweet treats!

Don't forget... the first 100 people that buy $25 worth of stamps and/or products in our booth will receive a great gift bag. It will have an assortment of goodies, including a cool stamp, a coupon and more! Come and get yours before they are all gone. They will go fast!

More peeks

Here are a few more samples using our new images.

New images for Stampaway 2009

Many of you received the e-mail update from Stamp Your Art Out! about our new images. Well.....here is just a sneak peek of a couple of the images. We are all hard at work getting these stamps ready. One week, from right now, we will all be in Cincinnati, Ohio. Excitement is in the air!