New Store at Cafepress.com!

I've been busy playing the last few days creating items for my store at Cafepress.com. It's kind of fun to see your own art on a journal or made into notecards. Here are two items that I've added with my art on them.

I blogged about the House in the Sky collage last month. I have to say I think it's darling. (Of course I have to say that! It's like saying you think your children are beautiful.)

This card/collage was made using a copy of a picture of my great-grandma. I made it last year for a family reunion auction, and I decided to keep it. (If you read about my birdhouse, you might think that's common for me. I'm just a little possesive. Again, my art is like a child, I guess.) But now everyone can enjoy the piece on a notecard! Fun, fun, fun!

Quilt Detail--Shades of Inspiration

Quilt Detail--Shades of Inspiration
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

This is the detail of a quilt that I saw at the Quilt Museum at This Is the Place Heritage Park. I'm awed by this person's talent.

Vintage Green and Flamenco Pink--Shades of Inspiration

Vintage Green and Flamenco Pink--Shades of Inspiration
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

A vintage green Avon decanter and a Royal Doulton figurine match up nicely! These are going to be the colors of my new bedroom!

Arm Candy--Shades of Inspiration

Arm Candy--Shades of Inspiration
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

I made this bracelet last summer and decided to show it off. Of course, as I go to take the picture, the clasp falls off. Guess I'll be restringing it now.

Brigham Young Farmhouse-Shades of Inspiration

Brigham Young Farmhouse
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

So, I found my dream house this weekend. Unfortunately, it's at This is the Place Heritage Park and I don't think they'll sell it to me. But I don't think Great-great Grandpa Brigham would mind if I moved in!

A Sunday Surprise--Shades of Inspiration

A Sunday Surprise
Originally uploaded by La Dama de Collage

Yesterday, I was running into the apartment to change my clothes before going to my parents' house, when I saw this flower. I've lived in this apartment for 2 1/2 years, and this is the first time that I've seen this flower blossom.

Romance Magnets and Back to School for Yvonne

Here are some new items available in my Etsy store.

The marble magnets combine two things I love: Fluffy romance novels and making collage magnets. I used text from one of my own previously read fluffy romance novels as I made the magnets. I have to admit that I also read the book again (at least the good parts!) as I was searching for the perfect words to match the images. Once again, the images for the magnets were from takeabreak's Flickr page.





Below, we have Yvonne again. You may remember her from her day as the Queen of the 4th of July Parade. Now she's heading back to school. And she's not very excited. Poor Yvonne. At least she has a cool lunchbox and some fun new dresses!

La Dama's Christmas in July Gift-a-Way

Hello, everybody. And a Merry Christmas in July to you all!

I know that a lot of people are shocked to already find Halloween items in our favorite craft stores, and in some ways, I feel the same way. However, I love Christmas and I really am ready to start thinking about it now. So, I'm going to start celebrating now by having a gift-a-way for you all, my friends. On July 25th, I will have a drawing for 3 lucky people to win something handcrafted by me. All you have to do to enter the drawing is to leave a comment to this post about what you would like for Christmas (and if you also tell me what items I make that you like, if you win, I can tailor your present to your likes!). This contest is open to close friends and family members as well to people whom I have never had the pleasure of meeting.

So, let's get in the holiday spirit. And to all, a good night!

Queen of the 4th of July Parade

Happy 4th of July, everybody!

This little collage idea just came to me about two hours ago. It's amazing how sometimes I'll go days and weeks (or even longer!) without creating something and then BAM!! inspiration hits and I can't wait to play. This is my first holiday inspired collage.

I first started thinking about making a collage with a picture of a child holding a sparkler and then I started looking for an appropriate picture. I stumbled across this little girl, Yvonne, on divas and dunces Flickr photostream and she called to me. I thought that she would look fabulous with not only a sparkler in her hand but an American flag in her other hand as well. The background is a copy of "America the Beautiful" and cool papers. I colored Yvonne's dress with chalks and enhanced it with a gold pen. Her flag is made of an image I found online and a toothpick while her sparkler is hand-drawn (that's about the extent of my drawing ability!). The buttons are ones that my mother-in-law let me have, and the trims are from Marilyn at Outside the Lines (check out her Etsy shop; it has lots of fun things to create with). Um, as I finished up, I knew that the little girl would need a crown, but I don't know where my little crowns are, so, I, um, took one off an ATC I got awhile back. *gulp* Sorry! As soon as I find my crowns, I'll put it back, I swear, but Yvonne needed a crown!

So, I hope you enjoy your 4th of July, if it's a holiday you celebrate. If it isn't, I still hope you have a lovely day!

These magnets are now available in my Etsy shop. Keep your eyes out for more fun-filled items.