I began with the idea I would print and cut out all these cups, then attach them to my used file folder. But my hand started to cramp just imagining all those cups I would have to cut!
It didn't take me long to realize that wasn't going to happen, so I hatched "Plan B." Had I realized I was going to use the printed page in its entirety, I would not have printed these cups in "draft mode." Plan B was to use some of my handmade shimmering mists to color the cups. I love these colors together, and really like how they blend well together.
I decided to stamp the cups using stamps I made several years ago from erasers. I don't have the proper tools to make stamps, so I use a paring knife to cut the images. Please note that, although I'm anal about my rubber stamps, I have never cleaned the stamps I made. Not sure why, but I feel no need to for some reason. 
I quickly learned the stamps I chose were mostly all too large for the small cups. So of course I had to improvise.
For the large cup, I sewed the number 32, but of course it's very difficult to tell, since I have no feed dogs on my sewing machine. I wish I'd at least penciled in the numbers before I began, because I had NO idea where I was once I started sewing. Live and learn seems to be my motto!I used some pop-dot remnants my dear friend Kathy gave me to lift the focal cup off the page.
I took this photo since I knew the cup wouldn't look raised in the scan.
Shocking as it may seem, I actually wrote the words "Coffee forever" on the journal page. I had planned to find some stickers, but decided to actually JOURNAL two words for a change!
Details of my stamping,
my sewing, 
and my journalingconfirm beyond all doubt I am in sad need of coffee this afternoon!Please remember this is the only place you'll see my coffee obsession, since I'm not on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, or any other social media site. Thanks for stopping by and looking, because I sure appreciate it.
Loved all the ins and outs of your coffee cup art with the very creative recoveries and improvisations. Great result too, in the end.
ReplyDeleteThere was a day ...not that long ago that I could have said coffee was my favorite food too. Now I rarely drink it... Had to give it up a over a year ago while having some health issues and now that they are resolved I've restrained from resuming my former addiction. I do miss it greatly :(
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!! Oh Elizabeth this is a wonderful page, love the colors of sprays you used. I'm glad you didn't cut all the cups out, now they look like they are all lined up on shelves. Great idea to stamp designs on them......yes, I saw the rockers too.
ReplyDeleteI think this may be my favorite so far.......but then again it has to do with coffee.....LOL
A fantastic page and I love this idea for making patterns! GREAT!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend Elzabeth!
xxx
Susi
Love that rocking horse stamp cup. Cute idea to give them all a stamping look. Great colors on your mists. I bet you needed a cup after all those cups were done. xox
ReplyDeleteWell this was fun to see step by step and how you rolled with it.
ReplyDeleteGreat colors and the cups on the page are very pleasing and extra interesting with your carved stamp highlights!
Your stitches definitely add that certain something too...now I want/need coffee :-)
oxo
It was fun to see this piece from start to finish and how you overcame what you might have considered obstacles. I'm chuckling at the repeating cup image because just now I made a second cup of tea right after the first one--something I rarely do.
ReplyDeleteA Tribute to Coffee! Yes! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the layout, you are so clever to have used the stamps like that I would never of thought of it that way. The shimmer certainly makes a difference too. Oh and I am a coffee girl through and through but it has to be the proper stuff not the instant crap. Otherwise I will drink Tea which really comes in as last runner, I really love coffee.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend and give Bluebeard a saucer of warm milk from me.
Hugs Eliza & Yoda
LOVE this Elizabeth!! I wish i could be this free when creating... I would have been very anal about it and colored each one individually...staying in the lines....and so on... Love how you did this . You always encourage me to be a little more free with my art.
ReplyDeleteDid you draw that tea cup?? Or whereever did you find it? Hugs! deb
When I saw the page with all the coffee cups I winced at the thought of cutting them out. Great way to solve the problem. I am also glad that the Challenge is Favorite Foods, plural, as I have too many Favorites.
ReplyDeleteI love what you've done :) and making use of your very own, interesting, stamps is cool :)
ReplyDeleteI'm almost disappointed when I don't have to execute plan B....or C :)
ah, coffee the life blood of so many of us!! :-)
ReplyDeletekyla
Fabulous colours and great subject matter although I would need a cheese sandwich in the other hand!! I think I've finally caught up with you Elizabeth! I have left comments some way back, sorry!!! Hugs, Chrisx
ReplyDeleteWow wonderful page Elizabeth! I love the seeing all these colourful cups - you always say you aren't a very good stamper but you always prove yourself wrong - I think your stamping is wonderful in this piece. And your sewing was spot on too. And your lettering was great too! I like to use stickers and stencils and stamps as much as the next person but I do think that adding my (very) imperfect hand lettering adds a personal touch and I would say that was a great choice for this personal page. I would probably do my page about chocolate or tea. :)
ReplyDeleteLooooooooooooove this my friend!
ReplyDeleteLooooooooooooove this my friend!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Love this.
ReplyDeleteFrom a fellow coffee addict. ;)
I didn't know coffee was considered a food. I would be lost without mine. Totally lost. Love all the experimentation and adapting on this project!
ReplyDelete