Hester Prynne

Published in Somerset Studio Gallery Winter 2012

The letter "A" is the prompt for Monday's blog challenge at Simon Says Stamp. This entry may not qualify for the random drawing because I made it two years ago, but I've never blogged about it and linked it anyway.

It seems many others do not enter "new" work because less than one hour after the post, there will be like 10 or 20 entries already of real elaborate items that I just know took longer than one hour to make.

So I'm guilty as charged because I wanted to have my post appear higher on the list so maybe more people would come visit and see what I made. How desperate and pathetic is that? I do enjoy the challenge of creating new work based on the prompts and will try my best not to post things made prior to the challenge date just to be first in line. There, now I feel better and it's good to get things off your chest (sorry Hester, no pun intended). She also chose not to conform to rules and beliefs, so I guess this piece is rather appropriate for today's post.

(Hester Prynne is the main character in a classic work of literary fiction written by Nathanial Hawthorne titled, The Scarlet Letter.)

Anna

I watch very little television (I'd rather spend my free time crafting) but I am absolutely smitten with a PBS series called Downton Abbey along with millions of others who've made it the most-watched drama on TV right now.

Last night's episode was another gem with lavish costumes and great dialogue but also included a story line that must have taken everyone by surprise. I should have known something was up--it was the first time the network gave a pre-show warning that some content may not be appropriate for all viewers.

Poor lovely, kind, helpful, Anna. Her behavior after the attack isn't surprising given the taboos of this era but I'm sure her husband will get wind of it and go after the perpetrator even if it means a lifetime jail sentence or death.

I made this tag in response to last night's show and am linking it to the Simon Says Stamp Monday blog challenge where the theme is "anything goes."

The stamp (face) is a LaBlanche, the teacup was cut from a Trader Joe's grocery bag, a hand made stencil was used to embellish, the background is a paper from Idea-ology, and the color scheme was influenced by design team member Tracy Evans' recycled packaging design.

Ice Ice Baby

The Wednesday blog challenge at Simon Says Stamp is "ice inspiration."

So I made this tag.

The ice cube faces were stamped (Hampton Art, Paris Moments) as well as the table top (Inkadinkado, News Print) and the rest was drawn by hand using a permanent fine-tipped marker.

For color, I used Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans, Spun Sugar, Vintage Photo, and Black Soot Distress inks.

The bubbles were made with the Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow stencil.

Cocktails anyone?