We are so excited to announce the Grand Opening of Layers of Color Art Stamps Online Boutique, Sunday, June 1, 2008! So let’s turn this challenge into a Celebration Art Party! Invite your friends to join us in creating art, sharing, celebrating each other’s creations, and expecting some Surprise Goodie Bags at the end of the party!

The theme this week for the Grand Opening is to Create Something That Opens as part of your artwork. Add a window or door, a card with something special inside, or a hinged object d’art. And…since this is a party, if you wish you can also add any Party Style element to your artwork. Create a celebration theme or add extra sparkle! We look forward to opening your link and discovering your festive creation!

Starting our family-run art stamp business is a big step towards making our dreams come true. So, I made a Celebration Cinderella in all her party finery, (of course, after she married her prince and lived happily ever after). I used several stamps from each of the eight sets that we’re putting on Layers of Color’s ’store shelves’. The gown is made with tissue paper, Audubon birds, and music from an old Psalter. Untie the front of her gown and she reveals the Layers of Color Art Stamps Logo!

Everyone who enters this week’s challenge will be entered in a random drawing in which I will choose TWO WINNERS! I’ll announce the winners on Thursday, June 5th. Each winner will receive a Surprise Goodie Bag that will have a Layers of Color Art Stamp Set along with other arty surprise goodies! Thank you for being our guests at our Grand Opening Celebration Art Party!!

Since parties and surprise presents go together, we have a gift to give away today! The winner of last week’s challenge will receive a Layers of Color Architectural Blocks stamp set! Congratulations, Heather, you’re the winner! We’re so glad you joined us!

And a big, “THANK YOU!” to everyone who participated in last week’s Umbrella’s Challenge. Wow, I was blown away by the extraordinary artwork! Be sure to visit the Umbrella’s! Gallery for fabulous inspiration!

Enjoy the artwork presented in this gallery featuring Umbrellas! Challenge May 23, 2008:

Umbrellas! Gallery

Ang

Anne

Cora

Daisy

Dawne

Eija

Emi

Filetta

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I love umbrellas! I love their shape, clever engineering, and how practical, yet romantic they can be. So, choose one for the beach or a rainy day, or a parasol to flirt with the sunshine. Then, let’s use at least one stamp, and add an umbrella to our artwork for this week’s challenge!

For today’s challenge I used stamped and folded paper to turn a cane into a colorful 3-D umbrella and a shop awning. All stamps used are Layers of Color Architectural Blocks.

For your inspiration, I’ve created a tutorial for making these paper umbrellas.
Would you love to own the Layers of Color Architectural Stamp set featured in today’s artwork? It will be available for sale at the end of May, but you could win it FREE! Just enter your artwork for this week’s challenge, and you will be added to the random drawing. The winner will be announced Friday, May 30th.

Last week’s theme to make paper crowns was a real challenge! I applaud the artists that participated! I was blown away by the talent generated from all of you! Bravo! I’ve enhanced the challenge this week with the addition of a tutorial. Thank you for your devotion in returning for the next challenge! I adore creating this community for us all to meet and share what we love.

Meanwhile, I have winners to announce from last week’s Paper Crown challenge…Since there were only a few participants in last week’s difficult challenge…I want to award all of you!! Congratulations goes to, Ilonka for winning the random drawing for the Layers of Color Garden Borders stamp set!…and Carol, Filetta, Heather, Marci and Rosie will receive a surprise Layers of Color stamp set in the mail!!

Thank you everyone for joining all our challenges! We look forward to seeing your new creations!

Enjoy the artwork presented in this gallery featuring Paper Crown Challenge May 16, 2008:

Royal Work of Art Gallery

Carol

Filetta

Heather

Ilonka

Dove

Jessica

Laura

laura

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Paper umbrellas are easier to make than they look. Remember folding fans when you were a child? This is similar, but smaller and more detailed. Follow the steps to make a stamped and colored paper umbrella, then step out and experiment with the basic idea.

SUPPLIES Plain white paper Circle punch (2 1/2″ scalloped circle shown) Scissors Colored pencils Stamp (Layers of Color Architectural Blocks shown) Ink pad

Punch (or cut out) a circle. Fold in half twice so you have four sections. Stamp each section until completely stamped. Use whole or cut in half and make two.

Color stamped image as desired (as shown: colored pencil with marker on edge). Fold like a fan, alternating mountain and valley folds all radiating from center of straight edge.

For 3-D umbrella, glue only straight edges to artwork. Decorate or color inside of umbrella if whole circle was used (as shown). Try different sizes and edging with decorative scissors. Experiment with crepe paper, printed napkin, paper doily or book pages.

Joyous Creating,