Monday, December 23, 2013

Estate Sale Bargains

Back when I lived in New York State, my friend and I explored garage sales, looking for bargains on the weekends. After moving to Florida I check out a few garage sales, but never really got into it.

My husband and I recently discovered the fun of estate sales. We’ve gotten some lovely items to use in our home and also some wonderful pieces to use as gifts.

When people have too much stuff, and want to get rid of old possessions to make room for the new, they hold a garage sale. But some times it is necessary to get rid of a whole house full of items all at once. Usually it’s when a family member dies. The process is overwhelming, so professionals are hired who help organize an estate sale.

Estate sales can also be necessary because of long-distance moves, divorce and bankruptcy. These sales can be a good way to pay off debt or make money off unwanted possessions. Shoppers often find bargains, antiques and unusual items.

Estate sales are different from garage sales, because they're usually run by a professional company, and the goal is to sell all the items remaining in the home. In most estate sales, the public is invited into the house and can browse through the entire house. Many times the house is up for sale too. Prices are displayed on the items, but it's acceptable to bargain for lower prices.

Well, one Saturday, we walked into a house that had a number of miniature carousels. I have a small collection of carousels and did a college thesis for my Master Degree on the art of the carousel. You could say, I have a soft spot for them.

I hadn’t thought of expanding my collection, but the prices and quality was too good to pass up, on three of these. I had a problem with one the three which was 14” across, large and expensive. I went home with the other two small ones and to think about the large one.  I did get a good price, but had trouble deciding. When I did get home I called one of the sales staff at the house. She didn’t answer, so I left a message. Not hearing back from her, I assumed the carousel was sold.
The two carousels I bought that day. 

I didn't realize it at the time but not only does this carousel go around and play music, but it goes up and down too. None of my others go up and down.
When I bought the girl (right) on the carousel that day, I knew I had one home similar to it, with a boy (left). They are not the same year, but were manufactured by the same company.

The following weekend I walked into another house to check out the estate sale…there was that same staff person! She had not received the message on her phone until the following weekend and had not sold the carousel. There it was, she had moved it to the current sale! My hubby bought it for me for Xmas at a good price and put it on its’ own table in our living room. All week long I had told myself, I didn’t want it anyway!

Here's a fun find...My husband Sandy's real name is Anthony and while looking over some small collector buildings I spotted one with Anthony's Cafe printed on it in two places. Of course we had to have it and hang it in our kitchen.

Here are a few more of our finds:

We look forward to the new year going on the hunt!

Friday, December 20, 2013

Discovering Digi Stamps Part 2


I so enjoy the way digital stamps work along with my rubber stamps. The backgrounds of my scenes with Tilda and Edwin (Magnolia stamps) are enhanced with the use of these wonderful digital drawings. They fit right into my general theme of plants and kids.

I can adjust the digi stamps to the size I need to fit each of my rubber Magnolia stamps. You can't adjust the rubber stamps, so it adds another element to my creative hobby. I've adjusted the size of the potting bench used with each of my Magnolia stamps.

Tilda and Edwin are colored with Prisma colored pencils and odorless mineral spirits. The potting bench is done in Marvy Markers and a water brush. The bench was printed on Canson 90 pound water color paper. The children were stamped on card stock. Each of the children is on pop dots.


The following is an example of Edwin sitting on the bench showing how I can use the sizes to fit the rubber stamps.
These cards used digi stamps called the "Potting Bench" by Mo's Digital Pencil. I have entered the card with Tilda in the challenge at Mo's digital Pencil.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Discovering Digi Stamps

For as long as I have done watercolors, scenic compositions always gave me great pleasure to paint. Lately I have begun to use my rubber stamps to design scenes featuring my Tilda and Edwin stamps by the Magnolia Rubber Stamp Company. Floral and farm scenes look especially nice with those kids. I use my Marvy Markers (water based), water brush and plastic palette. The markers are used not only to color the images, but to print the grass too. Edwin is colored in Prisma Colored pencils and I used Oderless Mineral Spirits to blend the colors. He is on pop dots adding dimension to the picture.

I recently discovered digital stamps! I love the scenes that I can buy online and have them sent to my computer. I have a digi file and can open them and adjust them in my Word program. I use Canson 90 lb. cold press watercolor paper to print the designs on my printer. From there the fun starts, coloring and adding more to an already delightful composition. I have always enjoyed coloring and painting more than drawing, so this is a great find for me! Maybe you will think so too!

The card I am displaying used a digi stamp called "Potting Shed" designed by Mo's Digital Pencil. I love how Edwin (Cool Edwin), looks standing way into the foreground. He looks like, he just visited with the gardener at a wonderful colorful shed. I liked Mo's original colors so much, I copied them in my own version.

I have entered this card in the challenge at Mo's digital Pencil.
Come back again and see my other digital stamping discoveries!

To find more wonderful digital stamps go to: http://mosdigitalpencil.com/


Thursday, December 5, 2013

Santa's Chimney Card




As I promised a while ago here is a second card using the Santa back n front rubber stamps by Art Impressions.

Supply List
Christmas with Presents stamp (OR1059) by Stampabilities
Santa (U1792) back n front stamps by Art Impressions Stamp Co.
Ranger Jet black Archival Ink Pad
Inktensive pencils by Derwent or use an other coloring medium
Water brush
Cuttlebug
Martha Stewart edge punch Drippy Goo
Glitter Paper
Watercolor Paper 140 lb.
Card Base
Glue
Gold Metallic Gelly Roll Pen
White Med. Gelly Roll Pen
Pear Fabric Paint by Tulip

Stickles Glitter Glue
Measure about 2" up from the bottom of the card and draw a line.
Cut top square from front of card.


Color with Inktense pencils.

Washer color wash the Inktense pencil colors.
Add gold gell marker for added trim on tree.
Use the Cuddlebug to embossed card stock with brick surface.
Brick embossed cardstock.
Color brick embossed surfaced with markers.
Bricks for front and back of card front.
Adhere brick surface to front and back of short card front.
Cut paper for top of chimney and icicles (Martha Stewart punch is shown here).

Inktense pencils and other embellishments for the fur and Santa's hair.
Color Santa with pencils and other embellishments.
Glue to 2 sides of Santa together and adhere to card. Now Santa is looking at the tree inside the card!
Add a greeting cut from the Cricut and you have a wonderful 3D effect for a Christmas card. This set of 8 card was bought almost immediately! I guess you can see why. Come back again and I will treat you to some more Xmas card ideas.