My Creative Muse Is Back...

...and the art supplies are getting organized! Yah!!

The muse returns with a suitcase full of inspiration.

A little Spring cleaning in my craft room has brought about some new ideas and jump-started my imagination with the help of my muse, Andrea Maria Louisa Elena Serena Florencia Loca, whom I affectionately call "Selma"or "The Crazy Lady". As you can see by her latest photo, she is certainly Senora Loca these days!

I've been gluing, painting, inking and creating with a renewed enthusiasm and I wish to share some of these creative endeavors with you.

My online art group "AFTCM" challenged us to create an Oriental themed mini album using coffee filters. I love the different ideas they come up with to stretch our imaginations and push our artistic abilities! Here is my interpretation and techniques used:

The front cover is vellum over grunge board that has been stamped with cherry blossoms.

The filter pages were stamped and colored. I backed them with heavy cardstock to give them more stability. I  used vintage playing cards to accent the opposite side of the pages.

I utilized each filter page as a pocket for a fan-shaped tag embellished with Japanese ephemera. The tabs are brass jewelry parts that I dry brushed with acrylic paint. The cherry blossoms are stamped with permanent ink and then shadowed with dye ink.

I added a glass beaded tassel to the closure with another brass element and inked all of the edges of the paper with my favorite Distress Inks.

I sent my coffee filter album off to my swap partner wondering why I didn't make one for myself. For whatever reason, Senora Loca only believes in one of a kind originals.

Kind of just like her!!

Crafting away,
~Susan