Jesse Tree: 24 Tags of Christmas

Introduction = This is my launch into Tim Holtz' vintage/grunge technique and idea of "21 tags of Christmas," however, I will be using the symbolic images for a Jesse Tree along with scriptures from a new Advent devotional book called Anticipate written by Paul Shenemen and published by Beacon Hill Press. I believe I have many of the rubber stamps required for the tags, but a few I will probably have to use digital stamps to replace the ones I do not have from a resource mentioned in the book -- Advent Experience. As I do not have access to a computer on a daily basis, unless I visit the library every evening, I will post each tag below on the same day until all have been made, so please be patient with me. Thanks!

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 1: 
"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him -- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord--and he will delight in the fear of the LORD." (Isaiah 11:1-3)



Tim Holtz' Techniques: Wrinkle Free Distress, Distressed Edges and Hammered Grunge Board
Stamps: Laura Ashley Woodville Leaves Background Stamp, River City Rubber Works 3 Inch Ruler Stamp, Dress It Up Autumn Treasures (Tree)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 2:
"Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, my soul. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--he remains faithful forever. (Psalm 146:1,6) 



Tim Holtz' Technique: Scribble Stain Distress
Stamps: thread spool "stamp," Rubber Stampede "Let's Save the World #A1756 F" Stamp, Recollections Alphabet #171816 stamps
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 3:
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2) 



Tim Holtz Technique: Dauber Resist (I really, really like this technique!)
Stamps: Autumn Leaves Swirls #AL2587; Hero Arts Sentiment, Posh Duet Apple

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 4: 
"Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."
(Psalm 5:1-3) 

 


Tim Holtz' Technique: Wrinkle Free Distress Background
Stamps: Waves = Stampabilities Swirly Border, Dr1012; Ship = PSX G-3004; Anchor = PSX B-1095
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 5:  
"I see you with all my heart: do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees."
(Psalm 119:10-12)




Tim Holtz' Technique: sponged background with stamped & embossed stars, similar to his Inking Grunge technique except homemade tag is

constructed from heavy cardstock

Stamps: Star = PSX A-262; Sun = Hero Arts Serene Sun F253
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 6:  
"I love you, LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold."  (Psalm 18:1-2)



Stamps: Ram's Head = digital stamp (I didn't want the ink to run, so traced the head over a light box on another sheet of cardstock with a permanent fine line sharpie marker.)
Harlequin = Hero Arts Single Harlequin D3415
Music Notes = Posh
Sentiment = Michaels Wishful Thinking
Sheep = Stampabilities Lambie Pie D1154
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 7:  
"LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:5-8)



Tim Holtz Techniques: Masking (I made my own mask using a piece of clear flat packaging and a square punch) and finger glitter glue.
Stamps: Autumn Leaves Swirls AL2587

My niece married this last weekend and her colors were lavender and silver, so the colors on this tag and next is in commemoration of this event!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 8:  
"Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Psalm 20:6-7)



Tim Holtz Technique: Inked Background and Layered Stamp Images
Stamps: Background Script = Stampin' Up; Filigree = All Night Media/Anna Griffin 580D06; Filigree = Autumn Leaves Swirls AL2587, Sack = Anita's; Sentiment = Inkadinkado 8386-J;
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 9:

Postscript: I did not get to finish this series as my craft barn did not have a large heater
at the time and it became t0o cold to work out there.

Arts and Crafts Curriculum

I was thinking this morning about arts and crafts curriculum. While I feel blessed for having family and public school teachers who thought enough to teach me about the creative process of arts and crafts (ceramics, crochet, decorating cakes,  sewing, scrapbooking, painting, quilting, etc.), I know that's not so in all families and all schools.

When we began homeschooling our son, I wanted to include arts and crafts to give him a well-rounded education. At first I had to start with inexpensive crafts because I didn't know what curriculum was available to us. I'd go to the hobby/craft stores near us in the children's section and tear off a instruction sheet of every available kid's craft there, purchase the necessary items (what I didn't have already in my craft stash at home) to make up into zippy bag kits and put them into a basket along with the instruction sheet for him to choose from during his weekly arts and crafts instruction time. After completing the craft, he would then staple the instruction sheet to his daily log of schoolwork so that I would have a record of what he did that day.

Eventually we used a combination of resources -- encyclopedias, my college Art history reference book (History of Art. By H. W. Janson. Prentice-Hall, Inc; 1977.), art postcards and the internet.

We joined a homeschooling support group and their members often arranged field trips to various places around the metropolitan city. I remember visiting the Nelson-Atkins art gallery on one such field trip. Nothing like seeing the real deal! My son was really into the suite of armor on display and some of the Egyptian art (he & his father was into the Young Indiana Jones series at the time). We took photos of the kids standing next to the sculpture outside the museum for our homeschool scrapbook/yearbook and I visited the gift shop. Was I ever thrilled the following week when our son found an Egyptian rubber stamp set at our local thrift store for $5.99 that we had seen at the gift shop for $26.99 only the week before. It was added to our craft corner.

One disagreement I've had with our children's Sunday School department is the use of cartoon illustrated posters. They say our posters are old-fashioned, but I say kids get enough cartoon illustrations in the film and TV industry. They need to be exposed to the art of the masters and their stories, like Rembrant and Albrecht Durer. If you want modern, go with today's artists like Warner Sallman. The above quick photo of The Good Shepherd print is one I have hanging in my living room and is a favorite of mine. It was given to me by my paternal grandmother. Her Sunday School class purchased it for her as  thank you gift.. Expose them to George Caleb Bingham Thomas Kinkade, Samuel J.Butcher  Arthur John Elsley, Sandy Lynam Clough among others. What better place to expose children to fine art than church? After all, it was the church who drove the appreciation of fine art for centuries by sponsoring the creation of it.

 I found a book near the end of our homeschooling days that I wish I had had at the beginning as it would have facilitated the study of art so much better. It's called "Great Art and Children's Worship." By Jean Louise Smith. Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1948. If you can get your hands on a copy, grab it. I found my copy at a garage sale for a quarter. Each chapter is a lesson on a particular featured painting or sculpture, along with a bit of history on the artist and a short devotion. There are discussion questions to go along with the lesson as well. Ms. Smith has a resource list in the back of the book of suitable artwork to go with each lesson and a section on the symbolism of Christian art.

Quick Card

Hey Beginner Stampers, this quick card is for you! When you own only one or two stamps,

use images cut off the top of a dollar store notepad like I did here!

 

Or use wrapping paper like this card:

 

Purchase extra cupcake liners from the Dollar Store to use on your invitations,

 for your party cupcakes, and to scrapbook the memories!

This party set was published in the Just Invitations magazine by Scott Publications.

Frog Prince Birthday Party Invitation & Party Gear

Instructions:

1. Cut out frogs & crowns (Cuddlekids Milton Frog & Girly-Girl diecuts) and assemble.

2. Lily pads are punched two inch circles with a wedge cut out. Draw lines to indicate edges & veins on leaf.

 

3. Cut out an extra frog back for cupcake pick & glue toothpick & crown between the two back pieces.

4. Cut out pink invitation card (4 1/2” x 8 1/2”), scrapbook page (6” x 6”), ATC (2 1/2” x 3 1/2”) & strip for napkin ring. 

5. Iron cupcake paper liners, then tape to card  and scrapbook page.

6. Glue or tape assembled frogs & lily pads to invitation card, scrapbook page, ATC, goodie bag, straw, cupcake pick, & napkin ring.

7. Stamp frog tracks (Hero Arts) on invitation & scrapbook page. Place frog over fiber “tongue” on ATC frog & tape. Attach with a popdot. Glue on ribbon.

8. Finish birthday gear with solid lime green paper plates, cups, & napkins. Stick cupcake picks in pink or lime green iced cupcakes for birthday guests! Serve with lime koolaid with floating strawberry ice cream balls!

Outta My Way! I’m Going Shopping

The corner of 119^th Street and Metcalf Ave (69 Hwy) in Overland Park, KS. is a crafter’s paradise – there is Walmart, Joann’s and Salvation Army on one side. Directly across Metcalf is Archivers and Hobby Lobby. And across from Archivers is Michael’s. Now (I’m thinking to myself), be sure to grab your shopping list, D, and coupons before heading out the door and hit the clearance aisle before leaving the stores. I’m looking to get my craftin’ fix before long. Yippee, can’t wait!

I was checking out the clearance aisle at one of the stores, when I literally bumped into a nice lady looking at a die cut and I opened the conversation with “Are you a frugal crafter too?” *smile* She said yes and she  was buying clearanced fabric for her new resale shop, which, of course, piqued my interest being the frugal crafter that I am. So here’s my shameless plug for her new 3 story shop, full of furniture at the moment,  which, by the way, isn’t open yet, but hopefully will be soon (she’s supposed to let me know). It’s to be called “The Glittery Goose” and will be down by KU Med hospital on  W. 39^th street in the artsy part of Kansas City.

I was over at Lindsay’s blog (another Frugal Crafter) and spotted a new gadget by Inkadinkado I just have to have. I didn’t have a coupon with me and it wasn’t on sale at Hobby Lobby. Lindsay has the round one, but I saw an oval one also. Just be warned though – all the pieces come separately, so it’s gonna have to go on sale down 40% or more before I’d even consider it. The other thing I was thinking about is how can I make my own? I’m going to have to put my thinking cap on -- ah, ha! I have an idea for my stamping jig, but will it be feasible to make? Will have to play and experiment and twist my hubbin’s arm a teensie bit to get him to help me make it. But if I go that way, will it be cost effective?, because I’d have to buy something in order to make it. Ah, the condumdrum of making do versa frugal shopping.

Postscript = I never got my own version of Inkadinkado's stamping gear made, but here it is two years later and while my husband was waiting for me to come out of that necessary room in the back of Joann's, he poked around in the clearance aisle and found nearly the whole set of gears on clearance for $1.00 apiece. Woo hoo! I guess the old saying is true about good things come to those that wait!

Security Envelope Paper Backgrounds

These three cards were also made with security envelope paper. The light bulb paper came FREE wrapped around an electric company bill. Reminded me of those Posh Impression pear stamps I had in my stash. All the other stamps are also by Posh Impressions.

By Dolores J. Rush

Wishing You Well
 

Instructions:

1. Cut out black & white cardstock and strips of black & white security envelopes. Attach strips to white layer, then attach white layer to black.

2. Stamp sentiment on top white space with black dye ink. Stamp apple duet on white cardstock, cut out and layer on red cardstock. Attach apple & small ribbon bow to card.

~~ <> @ <> ~~

Fabulous!

Instructions:

1. A2 Card, punch holes along bottom edge. Layer a piece of electric company's security envelope over black cardstock & attach.

2. Stamp pear outlines from duet on white cardstock with black dye ink. Ink up brayer with Memories Soft Stone and roll over outline of pear. Lightly sponge black dye ink with dampened sea sponge, then cut out. Lightly color in pears with the lightest color of pastel brush markers you have (Stampin' Up). Then, with finger, spread Plaid's Treasure Gold to highlight pear. Attach pear to card.

3. Stamp sentiment, cut out and color edges with soft stone. Attach to card with popdots and add three brass brads.
~~ <> @ <> ~~

Celebrate!

Instructions:

1. A2 Card. Layer a piece of olive green security envelope over black cardstock & attach.

2. Stamp watermelon outline from duet on white cardstock with black dye ink. Ink up brayer with Memories Soft Stone and roll over outline of melon. Lightly sponge black dye ink with dampened sea sponge, then cut out. Lightly color in watermelon with the lightest color of pastel brush markers you have (Stampin' Up). Then, with finger, spread Plaid's Treasure Gold to highlight melon. Attach melon to card.

3. Stamp sentiment, cut out and color edges with soft stone. Layer to more of the security envelope background & trim. Attach to card with popdots and add three brass brads.

4. Stamp 6 stars in pale pink and lime green, outline with matching fine line markers Cut out and attach to card. Draw curvy lines from watermelon to stars and around security envelope layer to finish.

My First Signature Sewn Notebook

How many of you retired homeschooling moms keep up with friends you made in your homeschooling support group? Some of us have moved, some have continued teaching in other venues, but for the most part, we have stayed in touch with each other. We all learned how to not only teach our children together, but supported each other with prayers and hugs through hard times and rejoiced together when our children finally made it through high school! As a social activity, we moms rubber stamped when our children got together for family game night once a month. Those were some good times!

Yesterday, a group of us had lunch together at Trisha’s house and Julie showed us how to make notebooks. Julie cut 8.5 x 11 sheets of copy weight paper in half and we folded each half in half again width-wise, stacking six sheets together, fold to fold, in what’s called a “signature.” My little notebook consists of four such “signatures.” Then she showed us how to make templates for the holes (designate the top of the template—very important) and use, what she called a “pokey hole tool” (her fancy name for a piercing awl *smile*) and an open telephone book to make the holes in the center of the folds. Of course, mine was skewed off-center on a couple of the signatures, but I got better on the last two. Then we sewed the signatures together into one little notebook. She used pre-waxed linen bookmaker’s thread, but she said we could also use thin nylon cording, waxed crochet thread (make our own by pulling a thread over a cake of tailors wax), or dental floss. Being as how this is my first sewn book project, my seams aren’t very tight, so there are gaps between each of the signatures, but I was assured that the right tension comes with practice!

The cover is a 12 x 12 inch piece of scrapbook paper cut to size. It’s cute paper, but not very flexible.  The spine cracked when I scored it, so then I had to cut it completely apart and start over. I also misjudged the spacing of the double faced tape on the inside covers to attach the outside sheets of the first and last signatures. Julie said that talcum powder dusted across the tape would remove the stickiness. She was making a scribble notebook for her grand-daughter. I thought I would add a couple of eyelets to the back cover vertically along the open side with a piece of elastic to wrap around the front as a closure for the notebook like the commercial ones I’ve purchased from Walmart.

Now here’s a project I can sink my teeth into – Karen made her notebook signatures from paper printed on one side and covered tissue box tagboard pieces with brown parchment paper for her cover. These could be made as small gifts using brown grocery bags, cotton fabric, newspaper comics, or gift wrappers glued to tagboard or cardboard also for the covers. I think it’s time to make out my Christmas list! *smile*

Artist Hoarding Disorder

Is there a AA type meeting for junk crafters like me? Hi! I’m Dolores Rush and I’m a crafter who buys from thrift stores and garage sales. *smile*

A few years ago, I was at the heart of a stirred up hornet’s nest with my letter to the editor at Scrap & Stamp Arts Magazine concerning “Expired Stamp Companies.” Seems I was not the only thrifty soul and many said they wouldn’t mind seeing new ideas for their older rubber stamps. So I keep shopping and hoarding freebies and cheapies and trying to think of off-beat ways to reuse “last year’s models.”

Right now, I’m involved in a thread at Splitcoast Stampers forum ("Ways to Make Do Instead of Buy New" by Barbara Jay). It’s about 23 pages long at last count. I’ve been adding to it, but also mining everyone else’s ideas. You know, I just can’t get enough ideas on making do with what I have! Oh the thrill of the hunt!

Last night, I attended a FREE community program at our library on how to save money by shopping thrifty. The speaker, Lily Wolfgang, is an interior decorator who regularly shops for her store, A Breath of Fresh Flair .

I went hoping I would hear the names of new stores that I could excavate for low-cost craft goodies (see my link list of stores I shop at). Having champagne tastes on a beer budget, I’ve decorated our home, homeschooled and crafted on a shoestring budget for years. It might have been around Christmas when I last visited a department store at the mall and that was probably because somebody gave me a gift card. So here’s how I craft shop =

* I wear comfortable shoes!

* I have a general idea what things cost in the crafting world now, having browsed through scrapbook and stamping stores, the internet and enough Stampin’ Up parties to know a good bargain when I see it! Once I stopped in a new-to-us Goodwill and found a Cri-cut font cartridge for $4.00. It was unopened and one corner was slightly crinkled, but I took a chance on it anyway and bought it. Since I didn’t have a Cri-cut, I thought it might come in handy for the gift drawer. It wasn’t too long after that a friend at church purchased one. I gifted her with the font and guess what? The main gizmo inside wasn’t damaged in any way and she’s been blessing our church with “writing on the wall” taken straight from scripture ever since!

* I also stamped a inventory of all my stamps and glued punchies to an index card, so I have a general idea of what I have at home. Girlfriends got after me because I stayed up til 4:00 am working on it, but I knew if I didn’t do it then, I probably wouldn’t get it done. :) I also decided early in my stamping career that I do not like clear stamps. I like the concept, but not the reality, so steer clear of those kinds of stamps when out shopping. I do like the stamps that come pre-attached on a foam backing and can be mounted on an acrylic block to stamp from.

* My hubbin parks our car in the handicap area in the parking lot and yes, I have a legal handicap placard. I don’t usually need it going in; it’s the coming out I appreciate the car close by. A couple of years ago, I herniated a disc in my lower back and was diagnosed with arthritis and vertigo at the same time, so my standing and walking times are limited to short spans without pain. I can shop longer if given a chance to sit down and stretch the back muscles periodically, so I cruise the aisles hanging onto a grocery cart and quickly scan the shelves looking for craft candy in the usual places and not so usual spots. Recently I scored a huge bag of vintage scrapbook supplies at one thrift store over in a section that held mostly men’s hardware and tools. By the way, the sack had two photo albums, several pads of Anna Griffith scrapbook paper that had only a few sheets ripped out, stickers, a box of Stampin’ Up eyelets, and more, all for $12.00! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our PT cruiser (2018-Jeep). Our previous car was tiny and had barely any room to pack people and stuff in like recyclables, a sack of stuff to donate to the thrift store, groceries, and maybe furniture all in one trip. The way gas prices are now, it just makes sense to have a roomier car, make all the numerous errands we have to run at once and I also like it because it’s easy for me to climb in and out of.

* At thrift stores, if you think you want it, put it in your cart. You can always take it out later if you find something better or decide against it. If you take a large item to the front of the store to the cash register, be sure to tell the cashier you are purchasing this item or someone may swoop in and “steal” it from you. Knowing this, I’ve stood by big items until my hubbin has paid for it and gotten store personnel to help him move it to our car.

* I got this idea from Emilie Barnes = carry a small spiral notebook with a pocket inside along with a pen. I have ADD (really!) and as one of my coping skills, I would write down lists of things I needed to do or buy on scraps of paper, but then would lose the scrap of paper. This has organized my life so much by keeping it all together in one place. I keep it in my two pocket zippered purse with a handle long enough to go over my head and across my chest. The pocket in the notebook is handy for keeping the coupons I get in the mail from my local hobby stores.

* I learned a long time ago to carry a measuring tape around with me.

* I never leave a store without first cruising down the clearance aisle especially after the holidays.

* I almost never turn away a crafty hand-me-down from a friend. Another woman’s junk is often my treasure! However, if I find that I have too much of a good thing or decide later I don’t care for it, I try to think of a way of reusing it first or I regift it to a thrift store or the Children’s Museum Resource Center. They are usually delighted to take it off my hands because they sell donated items low-priced to finance their museum.

* If I’m looking for a craft book or magazine, I first check out my library, World Cat inner-library loan or visit Half-Price Books, a new/used bookstore in the city. I have found craft books and magazines at thrift stores, liquidation/salvage stores and garage sales too!  And I check out the little pads of free tutorials that hobby stores sometimes hang and grab a sheet or two. When I homeschooled, I sometimes used these as an art assignment which I stapled to our son’s assignment notebook  Also our local conservation office has free patterns for bug barns and birdhouses if I’m in a nature craftin’ mode so I’ll make a point to stop in and ask. They even have free craft classes from time to time – like a leaf printing class and a sun print making one.

* When we go on vacation, we check out the tourist information office for not only historical points of interest, but also craft stores in the area and thrift stores. I’ve even picked up free scrapbook store postcards there to mail home to my friends.

* I try to go for the gold and buy the good stuff. And as my mother often makes a point of telling me, if you don’t like it or need it, then it isn’t a bargain no matter how inexpensive it is.

* And last but not least, I scout out the front entryway of any place of business we visit on the way out for freebies. Those magazines, catalogs and newspapers one can pick up sometimes yield a wealth of information!

Tea Party Favor Doll

You’ve got them invited to your tea party and you know what you are going to serve them, but you don’t know what to give them to retain those warm fuzzies to remember you by. Make these little cuties to send  home with them.

 

Stamps:

Artful Illusions, 316.262.0600, www.mrsolearysart.com (moon face)
Qwik Art Stamps, 816-313-1566, www.qwikart.com (hat)

 

Instructions:
1. Cut out a piece of cardstock 2 1/2 inches by 3 inches and scallop edges.

2. Cut a six inch long piece of ribbon, knot ends and tape to cardstock for doll arms. Cut another piece of ribbon, ten inches long, knot ends, fold in half and tape legs to cardstock. Attach to the back of an unopened tea envelope.

3. Attach tag to shoulder area with tiny safety pin.

4. Thread a hand sewing needle with sewing thread to match three-quarter inch wide lace cut to six-inches long. Gather lace with a running stitch - - - - - and pull to make a yo-yo collar for tea doll favor. Knot off. Attach lace yo-yo to top of tea bag with a piece of foam tape.

5. Stamp moon face and hat. Color in. Glue hat to top of head and attach to lace collar with a tiny piece of foam tape.

Iris-Folded Teapot Cards

I have a huge stash of security envelopes that my sweet hubbin has been saving for me. I put some to good use in making these iris-folded teapot cards.

The blue-and-white card kinda reminded me of Victoria Magazine’s annual blue and white issue. I found the iris-folding technique directions and using a template from another craft, I made my own blue and white version.

 Then to switch gears, I tried it in another color.  Instead of using the holographic paper for the opening in the back as the website suggested, I made the opening big enough to receive a teabag envie and taped it into position. I had to squish the cards with a couple of heavy books to get them a little flatter to mail.

You’re Invited to Tea.

Have you ever looked at the designs on the sides of the store bags you get when you purchase something? The “window” on this tea invitation came from a drug store sack that bagged up my prescription drugs. It was kinda translucent and the retro design reminded me of early 1960s era drapes which gave me the idea to use it on a tea invitation as part of a scene. I had a little difficulty deciding just how to make it appear as though it were drapes, then I got the idea to “back” it with window panes, hence rubbing an inkpad on folds on the backside of the paper. Viola! It worked!

By Dolores J. Rush


Stamps:
Artful Illusions, 316.262.0600 (clock face)
Close to My Heart (tea set) 
Kollette Hall for Studio G, Medford, NY 11763 (invitation sentiment)

Instructions:

1. Cut out interesting portion of waxy drugstore sack design (CVS).
2. Accordian fold it. Direct-to-folds ink it with ice blue chalk inkpad
(Clearsnap Colorbox). Unfold & accordian fold it horizonally.
Direct-to-folds ink it again. Unfold and mount on a white square.
3. Attach piece of paper doily to corner, trim off. Stamp teapot, teacup,
clock face, and sentiment in various blue inks. Cut out and attach to
card.
4. Outline whole card with a straightedge & navy blue marker.

Do You Know?

Do you know how many USA place names are related to arts and crafts?

I read a book called “A Place Called Peculiar: Stories About Unusual American Place-Names” by Frank K. Gallant. Merriam-Webster, 1998 recently. He listed some cities with names related to the arts & crafts. He had only so much room to list the most peculiar names, so I had to go dig out my 2003 atlas and see what other ones I could find. .

Here’s the towns listed in Mr. Gallant’s book =

Alaska (AK) = Candle and Circle
Arkansas (AR) = Ink, Inky, Nail, and Stamps
Georgia (GA) = Social Circle
Illinois (IL) = New Design
Louisiana (LA) = Cut Off
Mississippi (MI) = Ecru
Missouri (MO) = Ink
New York (NY) = Painted Post
North Carolina (NC) = Silk Hope
North Dakota (ND) = Concrete
Ohio (OH) = Charm and Novelty
Texas (TX) = Grayburg
Vermont (VT) = Chiselville
Virginia (VI) = Dot and Triangle
Washington (WA) = Beaux Arts

And the ones I found (2 to 3 from each state) =

Alabama (AL) = Greenville and Paint Rock
Arizona (AR) = Apron Crossing, Greenspot, Rare Metals, and Tanners Crossing
Arkansas (AR) = Magazine and Stamps
California (CA) = Button-Willow and Needles
Colorado (CO) = Brush, Dolores, and Marble
Connecticut (CT) = Mechanicsville and Mixville
Delaware (DE) = Carpenters Corner and Taylors Corner
Florida (FL) = Golden Gate and Greenacres
Georgia (GA) = Copperhill and Lumber City
Hawaii (HI) = Pearl City
Idaho (ID) = Filer and McCall
Illinois (IL) = Clay City, Industry, and Vermilion
Indiana (IN) = Mulberry, Poseyville, and Spiceland
Iowa (IA) = Glidden, Marble Rock, and Walnut
Kansas (KS) = Bazaar, Lone Star, Monument, and Potter
Kentucky (KY) = Fleming-Neon, Paintsville, Stamping Ground, Wheelwright, and Woodburn
Louisiana (LA) = Cottonport and Red River
Maine (ME) = Grindstone, Slab City, and Wilsons Mill
Maryland (MD) = Furnace Branch Bus and Putty Hill
Massachusetts (MA) = Blackstone, Carver, Marblehead, Sterling
Michigan (MI) = Alabaster, Coopersville, Inkster, Sawyer
Minnesota (MN) = Brushvale and Black Hammer
Mississippi (MS) = Ecru, Golden, Ruleville, Wool Market
Missouri (MO) = Cardwell, Chamois, Diamond, Irondale, & Leadwood
Montana (MT) = Electric, Goldstone, Lustre, Miller Colony, Stryker, Sweetgrass
Nebraska (NE) = Silver Creek, Steele City, Sterling, Table Rock
Nevada (NV) = Blue Diamond, Fitting, Pyramid
New Hampshire (NH) = Bow Mills, Five Corners, Goose Hollow
New Jersey (NJ) = Jersey City, Milltown, Yardville
New Mexico (NM) = Cotton City and Pie Town
New York (NY) = Brushton, Cooperstown, Copenhagen, Painted Post
North Carolina (NC) = Brasstown, Clayton, Coats, Marble
North Dakota (ND) = Crystal, Dazey, Inkster, Sawyer, Taylor
Ohio (OH) = Boardman, Circleville, Cherry Fork
Oklahoma (OK) = Amber, Big Cabin, Broken Arrow, Marble City, Pink
Oregon (OR) = Mill City, Paisley, Pendleton
Pennsylvania (PA) = Cherry Valley, Garden View, Old Forge, Paint, Picture Rocks, Wampum
Rhode Island (RI) = Arkwright and Potter Hill
South Carolina (SC) = Cottageville, Goose Creek, Holly Hill, Ruby, Silverstreet
South Dakota (SD) = Draper and Vermillion
Tennessee (TN) = Brush Creek, Center Star, Crooked Creek, Ivory, Lovelace, Yellow Creek
Texas (TX) = Argyle, China, Cut And Shoot, Goldsmith, Lone Star, Paint Rock
Utah (UT) = American Fork and Orangeville
Vermont (VT) = Lower Waterford, The Four Corners, Tinmouth, Wrightsville
Virginia (VA) = Columbia Furnace, Flat Iron, Ladysmith, Paint Bank
Washington (WA) = Cashmere, La Center, Lacey, Mats Mats
West Virginia (WV) = Acme, Calico, Cameo, Red Jacket
Wisconsin (WI) = Butternut, Hazel Green, Spring Green, Star Prairie
Wyoming (WY) = Carpenter, Saddlestring, and Wright

Some of these towns sounded like quilt pattern names. I noticed a lot of woodworking, masonry, and metalsmithing city names. Very few needleworking names. Lots of colorful names. And a few brand names here and there.

Invitation to Tea 4 Two

I challenged myself to make another invitation this time using teabag envies as pockets for the tag invitations. I didn’t want a folded card, but a postcard-like card instead, so that the tag invitations would be the center of attention. I’m not real keen on the design surrounding the pockets as I was playing around with this particular punch, but I do like the placement of the pockets and tags.

 By Dolores J. Rush

Stamps:
Inkadinkado, www.inkadinkado.com (4060-D) tea cup
Kolette Hall/Studio G, Medford, NY 11763 (invitation sentiment)
PSX (A-262) Star
see~d’s lil stamps, www.inqueboutique.com or www.goinque.com (50886)
Once Upon a Time flourish

Instructions:

1. Cut out cardstock. Make brown slightly smaller. Punch out ribbon slots
along left side, then draw several straight lines with gold & brown markers.
Make dots between slots with turquoise marker.
2. Heat emboss gold stars as indicated on both brown and blue cardstock.
Attach brown paper to lower left-hand corner.
3. Tape tea bag envelope pockets to front.
4. Stamp invitation to tea on tags. Antique tags with brown ink (ink pad
direct-to-paper). Thread ribbon through holes in tags and insert tags into
pockets.