Guest Designer Susan Killam

Filed under Art Projects, Guest Designers, Susan Killam

The very talented Miz Susan Killam is the Alpha Stamps Guest Designer for April (who, by the way, also happens to also be the sister of Design Team Member Lora Mahaffey)!

Susan caught our eye when we saw some of the art blocks that she had been creating and we thought they were simply fabulous. As it just so happens Alpha Stamps is releasing art blocks with additional cute little wooden enhancements to go along with the them so it was a perfect match!

I am an artist, paper crafter and collector of sparkly things. I am also a chronic hoarder of “scrapbook” paper. Mostly I collect it and plan on my next paper purchase! Sometimes I use it to alter tins, boxes and thrift store finds. I’ve also been know to over-embellish greeting cards, mini albums and mixed media projects.

I make chainmaille jewelry from raw silver wire and collect vintage rhinestone jewelry from the heyday of affordable bling. I’m probably wearing a trio of brooches right now!

My husband and I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with the sweetest Doberman on the planet. We’re working on a move to Baltimore, if I can only get out of the studio long enough to put the house on the market!

Susan mounted an ATB Wood Block on a wooden Candlestick Holder. The block is covered with the gorgeous paper from the Botanical Tea 8×8 Paper Pad, as well as images from the Seed Catalog ATCs and the Birds Bees and Butterflies Collage Sheets.

Glossy Accents enhance the bees’ wings, Diamond Stickles add bling to the floral images and if you notice at the top of the block — the woman planted a little garden! Isn’t it cute?! The garden pillars are actually Wood Finial Chess Pawns that Susan painted and topped off with a Large Wood Block Roof that is also covered in paper from the Botanical Tea Collection. Some of the paper flowers that you see in the “garden” and on the front of the art block are Tiny Paper Roses – Creamy Yellow, Small White Apple Blossoms, and 1/2″ Pink Paper Roses.

Now, my darlings, you know that I myself am a bit, shall we say… touched in the head. Not wanting to just assume someone is crazy, but there is no doubt that Susan and Lora are indeed related and quite crazy. I wonder if Susan cackles, hoots and drinks champagne like Lora does? I’m digressing!

Look at the top of that rooftop. The pattern is quite lovely with its matching medallion, don’t you think? Well, guess what?! Susan fussy cut that “medallion” out of the pattered paper and attached it to the rooftop. If you’ve never “fussy cut” before I can tell you that it is very time consuming and if you’re not obsessive about cutting before you start, you will be once you’ve tried it out. Susan and Lora both fussy cut. There’s my proof!

Here’s a link to Susan’s Supply List. Visit Susan’s blog for more pictures and a walk-through of how she created her art block.