Can you draw Geraniums?

Sure you can! If you have been wondering what I've been up to lately this is a little peek.

Drawing Botanicals Class by Cindy Rippe at the Society of Dec Painters Convention.

I'll be teaching this class at the SDP Convention and look forward to the happy students that will learn techniques to create their own designs or just want to trace mine and finish it with blending and shading tools.

Cindy Rippe's Geraniums ready to be sketched at SDP 2011

What does that have to do with Art in Entertaining and Tablescapes?  Well, since I love to draw botanicals I've been working on a new website with Botanical, Inspirational and Seasonal Decor for the home and entertaining.  There will be projects and finished designs of all types for crafters will all skill levels.

Click FOLLOW on the right side of the page for up to date about the project that YOU can create to personalize your home and table.

"The 'Amen!' of Nature is always a flower."
-  Oliver Wendell Holmes

A Mother's Day Card - Free Pattern

We have finally been blessed with some beautiful weather and I have lots of gardening to catch up on.  Not much time for crafting but I designed this card for Pentel Arts and thought it might inspire you to make one for your Mom this week.

by Cindy Rippe for Pentel Arts

I used scrapbook papers, Aquash Watercolor crayons , Metallic Brush Pens , some ribbon and a charm. You'll find the free step by step instructions and rose pattern on the Pentel Arts Website.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life. ~Ephesians 6:1-3

I'm participating in the Designer Crafts Blog Connection this week.  Click through and enjoy the Creativity!

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Daffodils and Easter Inspiration

I love spring!  The flowers and plants coming back to life after a long winter. The sunshine and promise of warmer weather.  Soft rain showers that seem to wash away the gloom of February and crazy March winds.

Daffodils - Multimedia on Bristol Vellum - copyright Cindy Rippe 2011

I've been spending much of my time lately designing, sketching and painting.  There aren't many new tablescapes right now but my Holiday and Seasonal designs (mostly botanical and inspirational) are destined for dinnerware, table linens and stationery.  In addition to teaching at National Conventions I've gone back to creating original designs for multimedia art (graphite, acrylic wash, pen and ink and colored pencil), painting on glass, ceramic and fabric.

So...along with celebrating Easter this month I guess I'm celebrating a rebirth of my own creativity.
Wish me luck!  It will be interesting to see which direction this blog takes us. Click "Follow" on the right side of this page to keep in touch.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”  – John 11:25-26

I'm joining the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Connection again this month.  You can go to the main page at 365 Days of Crafts Blog Hop or click on the Logo below. Click forward to go to the next Designer's post.  Keep clicking until you get back here and you will have seen all the wonderful Easter/Spring ideas.

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Painted Wedding Shoes - Wedding Week Part Three

After I painted the Wedding Dress with Dahlias (previous post - Wedding Week Part Two) I decided to paint a pair of matching shoes.  What woman doesn't want a pair of beautiful shoes?  My SIL, Elena, very kindly gave me a pair of shoes to decorate.

Wedding Shoes painted with Dahlias-copyright Cindy Rippe 2011

I used the Pentel Red Gel Roller for Fabric again.  The only problem I had was that after I sketched the flower on the first shoe I had to get the pattern off of it and reverse it for the other shoe.  (Reminder to self: Don't free hand a design on an uneven surface if you need to repeat it.)

I added Black Satin Ribbon and a bow using my favorite glue for fabric -  Beacon Adhesive's Fabri-Tac.  It grabs hold right away and stays on.  Perfect for a pair of shoes that would probably see lots of dancing at the Wedding Reception!

Close up of Dahlia on Dyeable shoes - copyright Cindy Rippe 2011

The music may have stopped but my heart beats to another tune, this rhythm called love.  ~A.C. Van Cherub

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Painted Wedding Dress - Wedding Week Part Two

I decided to continue with Wedding Week for the DESIGNER CRAFTS Blog Connection.  There are so many great ideas.  Don't forget to click on the link below to see them all.

Red is such a strong color trend I thought you'd enjoy seeing a Re-purposed Wedding Dress that I painted.

Ivory Wedding Dress Painted with DecoArt Fabric Paints - copyright Cindy Rippe

I really had fun with this project.  I used DecoArt So Soft Fabric Paints and and a Gel Roller for Fabric Pen by Pentel Arts.  After I sketched the flowers with the pen, I used the fabric paint to add shading and reinforce thick lines.  I also painted few of the flowers on the bodice and made a wide sash to update the look. (one of my few sewing projects)

Close up of Dahlia - copyright Cindy Rippe

Border Close up - copyright Cindy Rippe

This design would be nice for a Bride born in August.  It's the Flower of the August Birth month.

True love stories never have endings.  ~Richard Bach

Follow Me at   FAVECRAFTS - Finished on the 15th
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What's New? Products from the CHA Show, a Cricut Expression Giveaway and a New Blog Hop!

Introducing the Designer Crafts Connection and 365 Days of Crafts!

A group of Designers from the Creative Industry and a monthly Blog Party full of inspiration. 

One lucky Blog Hopper will win a fantastic prize (the info is at the bottom of the page) and you'll get a sneak peek into what goes on at the world's largest Craft & Hobby Trade Show. So appropriate for National Craft Month!

This week the Designers are sharing their reviews and photos from the Winter CHA Show and Conference. I wasn't able to attend but checked with a few of the companies that I've worked with in the past to see what new products they introduced at the show.  I paint and draw on a variety of surfaces for and these are the new products that I'll be using in my designs this year.

New Americana Acrylic Paint Colors for 2011

The Americana Acrylics work great as Acrylic Wash in Pen and Ink Designs and as base coats under colored pencil in my Multimedia Botanical drawings.

Transparent Gloss Enamels

I've been using the original Gloss Enamels and look forward to painting on dinnerware with the new Translucent Colors.

SoSoft Fabric Paints

The SoSoft Fabric Paints are really nice on Table Linens and Baby Clothes.  I really like them and wonder how the Fine glitter will work. 

Walnut Hollow Innkeeper Sign

Wood pieces for my "Front Door Decor" designs. 

Basswood Canvas

Walnut Hollow is also making a nice Basswood Canvas surface that looks similar to the size of stretched canvases.  I've always loved the quality of their wood products so I'm sure I'll like these.

Loew Cornell Sketching Set

I've used the Drawing Sets from Loew Cornell for my Drawing Classes in the past.  This one looks good too.

I was only able to share new products from the companies that I currently use in my designs after searching for "New Products" on their web sites and following the blog posts of my CHA Designer friends that did attend the show. (disclosure note: I did not get paid for this post)

For more information please continue through the entire Blog Hop.  There are 36 Designers participating.  You can go to the main page at 365 Days of Crafts Blog Hop

or on the Designer Crafts Blog Connection Logo below. Click forward to go to the next Designer's post.  Keep clicking until you get back here and you will have seen all the wonderful ideas this week.

Be sure to check Julie McGuffee's Blog Life in the Craft Lane  for an exciting
Cricut GIVEAWAY

and come back on March 13 when the Theme will be WEDDINGS with wide variety of projects suitable for weddings and anything connected with weddings.

The world is but a canvas to the imagination.
-- Henry David Thoreau

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Daffodils for Valentine's Day

Well...who says that a Valentine's Day Tablescape needs to include Pink and Red?  I was feeling desperate for a touch of Spring after our trip to Sid's Greenhouse and pulled out my Daffodil Altered Book.  I created the design one year after seeing a few of my daffodils "kissing" between the fence in the yard.

 I glued several pages together and cut out heart shapes with a craft knife.  1. Rubber stamped letters on a sheet of clear acetate is glued between the pages.  2. The back side of the large heart showing the pages of the book.  3. The daffodil sketch was painted with water color, colored pencil and inked lines. A few pieces of Scrapbook paper, my garden statue photo, ribbon and a tassel decorate the rest of the piece.  It's designed to sit on an easel which works out nicely for a tablescape centerpiece.

I wanted to tie the napkin with raffia but didn't have any so I improvised with embroidery floss.

1. Accordion fold the napkin. 2. DMC brand embrodery floss. 3. Spread the skein of floss into a circle.
4. Slip it on to the end of the folded napkin.  5. Twist and wrap it around one more time. 6. Adjust the threads if needed. 7. Tuck a few flowers into the floss napkin ring.

I can't forget the cookies!  They are made using the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe but I used Peanut Butter chips and Mini Chocolate Chips mixed together.  "Deelicious!" as Isabella would say.

For more Valentine's Day Tablescapes visit this week's Tablescape Thursday at  BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH.  Beautiful!




I'm partying with CRAFTY CHICA for her Saturday "Post Your Craft" Link Party.Check it out!
Oh...for those of you that can't imagine a Valentine's Day Tablescape without pink I found out that there are several varieties of Pink Daffodils.  Who knew??

Daffodil 'Chromacolor'

Finished On the 15th Blog Hop

Snowmen on the Table and Mary Jo Leisure

The Christmas decorations are all put away except for the snowmen.  I keep them up until Valentine's Day and then I'm ready for the Spring countdown! For the time being though I like to use the snowmen wherever I can.

I designed this snowman plaque "Pudgy" a few years ago while at an annual Design Seminar with Mary Jo Leisure.  It's usually perched on the shelf in my front entryway. Today, I decided to use it as part of this simple tablescape.

Each day, during the week of "Design" in our beautiful surroundings at CedarCrest Lodge, Mary Jo reviewed the Elements of Design and planned opportunities for us to create original sketches using Daily Assignments. In addition to the classroom experience, Mary Jo taught us to Live Creatively and see beauty in many ways. Meals were provided for us during the week and the beautiful tablescape would include the design she created from that day's assignment (a wood surface or theme).  There's was always anticipation as we waited to see what she came up with when the dinner bell would ring. So this one's for you Mary Jo!

By placing the Banana Bread on a clear glass plate you can see the painting underneath.

I took a few minutes to shape the butter into a snowball shape and used fabric with dots that look like snowballs to carry through the theme.

 

 Here's Pudgy as he looks when he's sitting on the shelf.

You'll find the recipe for the Banana Bread HERE on my Recipe Blog.

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepts thy works.- Ecclesiastes 9:7

I participate in the following Blog Hops.  Check them out for lots of creative inspiration!

125th Tablescape Thursday

January Blog Hop - favecrafts

 

Hot Beverage Bar - Follow up for Sizzix Blog Hop Week 7 post

I went through some photos during my Christmas break and found the pictures from the Hot Beverage Bar that I created for the Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop - Week 7 in a previous post.   I made signs for each beverage with matboard shapes cut out with the Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Treat Bag Toppers that were designed by Eileen Hull.

The signs were simply decorated with a little pen and ink with a wash of color and one thin coat of Craft Twinkles glitter using DecoArt Americana acrylics.  I printed sign on the computer to identify each beverage.  The coffee flavor is Winter Frost  made by Coffee Masters. I'm lucky to have a local resource for specialty and gourmet foods - D'Masti Catering Inc.  They also carry a variety of wonderful Hot Chocolate flavors!
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Hot Cocoa stays warm in my thrift store find Thermos pot.  You could also fill the Thermos with hot water and offer a basket filled with an assortment of Coffee Masters flavored Cocoa Amore.  (Also available at DMasti.com) my favorite is Chocolate Creme Bruelee)  This tag is easier than the others and I painted the holly berries painted pink to match the pointsettia.  I attached all the labels and ribbon with Glue Dots.

The recipe for the Spiced Apple Cider in the crock pot can be found HERE.  I used a soft chenille fabric (found in the baby section) for the tablecloth because the bumps look like little snowballs.  A green fabric napkin and my snowmen finish the display.

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. Edith Sitwell