ArtsyMama is having an Artful Blogging Party today, partly to celebrate the new Artful Blogging Magazine by Stampington & Company (in which she is featured!) and also “to applaud artful bloggers everywhere.” She encourages participants from all over the world to post anything “artsy,” from tutorials, instructions for a project, “pictures of how you display your own art or vignettes of art you’ve received from others. Anything goes… whatever artful blogging means to you.” Then go to this post and put up the information about your post as per her instructions, and she will create a link to your post. Whether or not you want to add a post of your own, I am sure you’ll be inspired and delighted by all the neat information and artsy, crafty eye candy.
I wasn’t going to post anything of my mine because I’m way out of my league here, having just ventured back into crafting after a long absence. But…I just wanted to! So here are a few of my offerings.
I’ve really enjoyed the new (to me) art form of various paper crafts that I have seen around, and I’ve just started making cards, bookmarks, and a few other things.
Here are some tools of the trade:
These are some leftover hearts from our ladies luncheon several weeks ago.
Here is a little plaque I made:
Here are a few cards and bookmarks:
The last picture came from some bookmarks we made for missionaries our church supports to use in their ministry.
I used to do a lot of stitchery and would like to start back up (after getting my eyes checked. 🙂 ) This is one of my favorite pieces, made 23 years ago when expecting my firstborn.
I loved the detail, the little raised cookies and french knot cupcakes and fringe on the blanket:
Paper crafts are definitely a lot faster!
One other craft I’ve dabbled in a little recently has been button crafts. These are my favorite products of that:
I didn’t make the plaque underneath, though I have thought of making similar ones.
For the button wreath, basically you just glue buttons on to whatever shape you want. The base can be cut our of lightweight cardboard (for something small like ornaments you could use probably use heavy cardstock). I found the heart shape just by searching for “heart shape” online and finding a coloring-book style heart. I started with flat, plain buttons and added the shaped and decorative ones on top as I filled in spaces. I used a small hot glue gun. I imagine craft glue or tacky glue would work, but would take longer to dry and work with. I glued a ribbon for hanging it on the back, then backed it with white felt (I read that some other used decorative paper for backing).
I was going to also post some favorite art around the house, but this post is way long already! I have posted some of it on my Show and Tell Friday posts.
Stray Thoughts 
I’m glad you had the courage to join the party. I think your things are beautiful! I use that same varigated silk ivy (the one that’s in with your hearts) in so many of my things. The touch of white softens it a bit and it just seems to go with everything! I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Charity
Very Beautiful!! You are very talented and I love your art projects. The bears having a picnic is my favorite 🙂
Beautiful items and gorgeous BLOG! Thanks so much for your visit and I know I’ll be back!
Many Blessings,
Sandy
I love your heart bouquet and the heart button wreath!!! Very pretty!
Oh I love all of your heart projects!! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
I am glad you didn’t listen to your original thoughts of not posting today because you would be “out of your league”! That is the great thing about our “community, everyone has a place. I personally loved your paper hearts, especially the way you displayed them, and the bookmarks are lovely. I am working to start an art group at our church and if we get going, that may be a project we try. Thanks for coming by my blog party and to answer your question…ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards. They are cards the exact size of a sports trading card (2.5x 3.5 inch) and you can do anything on them…collage, draw, paint, I have even received ones that were quilted or beaded! Then you trade them with others for their cards. I started about 2 years ago and already have two small binders full, made by children and over-the-top talented ladies alike. It is a wonderful hobby! Let me know if you would be interested in a trade, I haven’t done one in awhile, so I would be game.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Love the hearts and the button wreath. I keep thinking I going to make one of those but never get around to it.:)
You’ve made a lovely contribution to the party! I love the buttons. I know what you mean with paper being so much faster to work with!
I love your bookmarks!!! The one on the far left has my all-time favorite paper on it; it’s the one I keep in my stash all the time because it’s just so pretty and feminine!
I love seeing some of your arts and crafts
your very clever
and they are beautiful
That heart bouquet is beautiful! I bet I could turn that into a project my daughter could do as a birthday present for her grandmother. Thanks for sharing.
Love the little heart bouquet! So sweet!!!
Thanks again for coming by my blog, nice to meet cha.
Your work is lovely! I especially liked your heart bouquet, button heart, and the bookmarks. And your teddy stitchery is adorable!
Oh posh! I liked it all 🙂
Many thanks for the sweet comment on my make for the party !
I have loads of buttons i`m not using , so i`ll have a go at the heart button wreath . It looks gorgeous !
I just saw your post on my blog and I too am just finally making it through the party list! I love your button heart! I think I will have to try that, thanks for sharing 🙂
It’s great that you incorporate Bible passages into your artwork. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Wow — what amazing stitched cupcakes! I just love needlework. I’m definitely going to have to try those sweet paper hearts on stems. Thanks for sharing!
All the best,
Rosalyn-Sue