More Cards

Happy Holidays!  I'm finally on Christmas vacation and am looking forward to getting caught up on some things and taking better care of myself.  I hope to make blogging a big part of my vacation - we'll just have to wait and see.  I wanted to post a few more cards today from the cards I gave my mom.  Again, I have a cluster of three very similar cards (almost identical actually).  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope everyone has a great Wednesday.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

 

 

 

 

I tried to do an accent cluster on this card.  I like the effect - I was trying to channel the work of Christine Middlecamp (see links in sidebar).  I think I have quite a bit to go before I feel comfortable with the cluster technique.  I'm glad I took the leap on this card.

 

Bad Blogger

I want to start out this post by saying I've been a bad blogger.  I'm sorry for being gone so long.  In all honesty, I will probably be pretty sporadic through the end of the year.  However, I will be back in full force in January - or at least that's what I'm telling myself right now.  I sent my mom's box of cards for her friends last Friday and I have a few to post here today.  I took 13 pictures in all - so I'm going to post over a few days.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

 

 

I think the three branch out cards would be perfect to submit for Variation of a Theme to Take Ten magazine.  Too bad they need originals!

 

This was my favorite card hands down.  I love coloring images and Basic Grey paper - a match made in heaven.

 

This card was completely out of comfort zone but I LOVE the end result.  Sometimes it's good to color outside the lines.

Happy Thanksgiving

Just a quick post to say Happy Thanksgiving!  I'm going to visit a dear friend and will be MIA for a little while.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

Memory Box Love

Today is going to be another quick post.  I'm not feeling well and debating whether I will be going to trivia tonight.  It's to support a good cause and I would like to go - but am not sure how it will impact my recovery.  I also have a ticket to New Moon tomorrow and I'm going there come hell or high water - so I feel like I should be the same with trivia.  I'm super good at blowing these things up in mind and giving myself a guilt trip.  Today is going to be a long day of should I or shouldn't I.

On the crafting front - I have one card to share with you today.  The stamp is from Memory Box and is definitely in my top 3 favorite nature stamps.  This card represents one of those times I've just went with it despite "mistakes."  Coloring the tree didn't go how I expected.  So in a moment of hope, I continued to color and just accepted not everything is perfect.  I like the end result.

In other news, I received the Tree Trimming Trio set from Papertrey Ink in a sweet little package from my Mom.  I'm making Christmas cards for her this year - and the stamps were part of our rockin' deal.  Gotta love that.  I hope everyone has a great weekend.  If you're not feeling well - my heart goes out to you.  I hope you like the card.  Until then...Happy Crafting

Weekend Sketch Challenge

I have a card to share today for the weekend sketch challenge on Beate John's blog.  She is another blogger with a mass of tutorials on her blog.  They're all technique driven.  In fact, I used a tutorial from her blog to make this joy fold card.  I highly recommend popping on over to her blog and trying a tutorial.  So without further ado...here is my card:

 So I really want to emphasize that everything about this card is out of my comfort zone.  I used my cat inchies from Inkadinkado.  I used patterned paper with bold, primary colors - not my style at all.  I absolutely love the ribbon.  Not sure how I feel about the finished product - but it's good to try new things.  That's all for now.  Have a great Thursday!  Until then...Happy Crafting!

Humpday Challenge

It feels so good to write that title - it's been a long time since I've posted a humpday challenge.  Not much to report here.  I'm dealing with quite a bit of stress right now but I'm working hard to stay positive.  I have a really simple card to share with you today.  I completed the challenge from the Stamp Something blog.  I used a stamped image from Hero Arts and paper from Cosmo Cricket.

I also have some fun finds to share from the blog world.  I love to search for new ideas, techniques, and interesting artists.  I found four wonderful blogs yesterday - one for the second time around.  I added three to the links on the side!  I liked them so much. :)

*Smile and Wave by Rachel Denbow

*Polka Dot Robot by Vivianna

*Freckled Nest by Leigh-Ann

*Freedom in Creativity by Michelle Zindorf

I want to make a very large plug to Michelle's site.  She is an expert in brayering techniques and has over 290 tutorials on her blog.  Definitely a must see.  So that's it for now.  I hope everyone has a lovely Wednesday.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

New Day...New Challenge

As promised, I am posting another challenge card today.  To be perfectly honest, it makes me so happy that I have a big project going right now.  It gives me the opportunity to do a lot of creative work: plus it helps me have plenty of material for the blog.  Gotta love that.  So this post is going to be quick and dirty.  I made this card using the Friday Sketchers challenge.  It's really not my color pallet at all - but I went for it willfully!  For the stamped image I distressed the paper then stamped the bird bath image.  I then embossed it.  While embossing a curious accident happened.  The distress ink was was still wet so the powder adhered to the entire paper.  I decided to go with it instead of doing my normal freaking out.  I think it was a happy accident in the end because I do like the look.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday!  Until then...Happy Crafting!

It's a New Day

It's a new day and I'm trying to be faithful to my blog!  I know I sound like a broken record - but it's what I'm dealing with now.  It's a rainy Monday here and I really want nothing more than to stay at home with my diva kitty (who happens to be right next to me stretching).  Alas, being a grown-up means going to work and making a living.  I'm really not a fan of Mondays.  I'm more of a Tuesday/Thursday/Friday girl.  Anyhoo...I have a few cards that were not created for a challenge so I thought I'd share one of those today.  I hope you like the card (and the pic of diva Tonks).  Until then...Happy Crafting!

One more thing.  I found making this card to be very easy.  I had just finished a bunch of cards (6 to be exact) and was pulling ideas from the previous sketches to make something from scratch.  It worked out pretty well for me.  I really enjoyed coloring the stamped image because I was able to pull from so many colors in the patterned paper.  Just another way sketches and challenges help me - even when I don't have one in front of me.  Very cool.

It's All About the Challenge

The parade of cards continue.  I'm still working on Christmas gifts.  I'm also trying to figure out a new plan for the 3 boys I buy for.  No idea what to do for them.  I don't think they'll be down with the cards so I need to rethink my plan for them.  So - this means my goal for cards is down by 15 which is a huge load off my shoulders.  I love cardmaking - but the number was a little daunting.  Originally I was going to make 10 cards for everyone starting in November - clearly I had lost my mind.

I've still been using challenges to make my cards because they are really my life's blood when it comes to crafting.  I was listening to Craftcast recently with Alison Lee.  She was interviewing Claudine Hellmuth and they were discussing Project Runway and how the rules of the challenge allows people to create more freely.  The basic theory was the creative brain longs for some structure.  So many people are able to create their own structure.  But for me - challenges give me that structure.  And - it's a good fit until I'm ready to take the next step.

I've made 8 cards in the last two days and unfortunately will not be posting any for some time.  I'm working on my mom and sister's cards (they know they're getting some).  They check the blog regularly so I need to keep their cards hidden.  I'll try to throw in a few of my own for good measure.  So on to the challenges...

Card Patterns

Color Throwdown

So that's it for today.  There will be more coming later this week.  I'm going to try spreading the cards over a few days.  I'm halting Monday Madness and Reading Corner until the new year.  I need to focus less on spending and more on using/reading what I have.  Trust me - there's plenty!  Anyhoo, I hope everyone has a lovely week.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

Reluctant

I'm trying to keep my commitment to this blog and post a few items I did over the weekend.  I have to say it's been pretty hard to get my butt in the chair and post.  To be honest, it's been pretty hard to do anything lately.  When I made my blog public - I had to remove items.  Part of what I removed was my musings on my daily life - and that has started to feel wrong.  There will still be a few parts of my life that will be separate - but not everything - not anymore.  Things here have been like a roller coaster ride.   I had something amazing happen - a big step forward in my career.  But...it seems the everyday things have been getting me down.  I'm going to try and turn that around this week.

It was super nice to focus on something different this weekend.  I have quite a few cards to make for Christmas.  I'm making 45 cards for personal gifts.  I'm making 25 other cards for a family member.  My first order for cards.  It's a little daunting right now - but I'm having fun.  Here's what I was able to knock out today.  The first card is for The Pink Elephant Challenge.

 The Pink Elephant Challenge #39

That's all for now - I hope everyone has a nice weekend.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

MIA AGAIN!

I know...I know, I've been a horrendous blogger lately.  I've been a little busy and overwhelmed in the last two weeks.  However, I hope to change that over this weekend.  I have a long date with my craft table.  I got the Branch Out stamp set from Stampin' Up.  I was able to unmount them - now what to do with those wood blocks.  If you are interested in unmounting your Stampin' Up rubber stamps, check out this video.  It was a huge help for me.  I'm excited to use this new stamp set.  I should have some examples on Saturday or Sunday.  I'm hoping for a challenge extravaganza!  That's really all of I have to report here.  I hope everyone has a happy Friday.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

One More Card

Here's the card that was being extremely uncooperative this morning.  I have to say - I'm not a big fan.  I used this bird during craft weekend and ended up giving the card to my friend.  I'm going to keep plugging away at this bird until I'm satisfied - God help me.  I hope everyone had a great day.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

MIA

I'm sorry I've been MIA this week.  Life seems to be getting in the way of my creativity right now and the blog has also suffered.  I have something big I need to take care of in the next few days.  I should be blogging back at full force by next Tuesday.  Here's hoping.  I am finally posting the cards from last weekend.  I also got the Basic Grey Cakey set in the mail yesterday.  I'm very excited.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday & weekend.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

BTW: Only one photo would cooperate.  I will try to make time to post the other card over the weekend!

Monday Madness

It's very early Monday morning and I can't hold my excitement until later.  Recently - my sister and I were looking online for the t-shirt "Make Cupcakes Not War."  During our search, we found two super cool shirts, "Keep Calm and have a Cupcake" and "With Cupcakes and Xanax You Can Conquer the World."  We loved both slogans so much.  I immediately started to look for a stamp set for the first slogan and came up empty.  Saturday (after a trip to Archivers) I found the cutest Finally Friday video by Kristina Werner on Two Peas and a Bucket's channel on You Tube.  And...what do you know!  There's my slogan - Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake.  I immediately ordered the Cake Bitsy set by Basic Grey from scrapbook.com (2 peas was out).  I can't wait to have this new set.  So there it is - another perfect find - another great product for Monday Madness.  I absolutely can't wait until I can show you some cards with this set.  I hope everyone has a great Monday!  I will post a few projects this afternoon.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

BTW: Attention Family!  I'm not still awake - I just woke up in the middle of the night.  :)

Tired

It's been a pretty busy weekend.  I don't have any cards to post today - however, there will be some posted tomorrow afternoon. I'm so tired now that I'm just biding my time until I can go to bed.  That being said - I hate that feeling on a Sunday night (wishing for bedtime).  I want to try and enjoy every last moment of the weekend.  So here's to a few more hours of the weekend.  I'll have crafty goodness in tomorrow's post.  I hope everyone has had a nice weekend.  Until then...Happy Crafting.

It's Been a Long Day

Today was a long day.  I worked a modified day and am super tired.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be a pleasant person if I had to work midnights or swing.  God bless anyone able to work those hours.  So - instead of whining - I wanted to share a card I did this morning.  It's for another challenge site - Mojo Monday.  In case anyone is wondering, I love using challenges as a starting point.  It gives me the structured environment I need to be creative.  I sometimes have greater difficulties when I have infinite possibilities before me.  Challenges work for me.  They are conducive to my creativity.  Eventually - I hope to be able to start from scratch without getting down on myself.  For now - I will do mostly challenges unless my creativity drives me elsewhere.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thursday.  Until then...Happy Crafting.

BTW: The scrapbooking the single life posts have been pushed back.  I will begin these posts the first week of November.

Reading Corner

I really debated skipping the Reading Corner this week.  It's not at ALL about not feeling excited about the book this week.  It's more about being dead dog tired.  Since I've found that skipping posts is a slippery slope - I've decided to go on with it.  I'm very excited to announce that Elizabeth Kartcher has written a follow up to Elsie Flannigan's 52 Scrapbooking Challenges.  The new book, called ( you guessed it) 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges is coming out November 1st.  I'm sure most of you have realized that I love challenges of all kinds.  I think I should maybe write a card challenge book - wouldn't that be great? Or, even better, how about one of those famous card makers write a card challenge book.  I already have some people in mind!  I digress, I have big plans to pre-order this book over the weekend.  I'll post more information when this little gem is in my hand.  For now, you can find a sneak peek here on the CK website.

In these economic times, it's important to cut costs.  Yes, I just said it was important to cut costs for those of you who know me way too well.  I have found that using Amazon Marketplace is a big saver.  I have found at least three craft books with prices ranging from $0.91 to $4.99 for brand new craft books ranging from $19.99 to $24.99.  Just a tip for those people crazy about craft books and about staying on budget.  Personally, I can't get enough of craft books - love them so much.  In case anyone is wondering, my downfall comes in the fact that I want four cheap books and the full price newer book.  Not a good idea at all.  I hope everyone had a nice day.  I have a date with Bumblebee tonight (the new movie just came out).  So until then...Happy Reading. 

Monday Madness

This weekend, I felt a little stressed about what products I was going to present for Monday Madness.  I think this is a telltale sign that I've spent way too much money in the past few weeks.  I have a few patterned papers that I'm coveting right now and a few books (more on that tomorrow) - but I've been really struggling with other products.  Enter My Favorite Things stamp company.  I'm absolutely in love with their stamps.  They are good quality and allow me to represent different ethnic groups in my cards.   Since diversity is a big part of my process when picking stamps with people - they are definitely one of the best companies out there.  I found a cornucopia of amazing products and want to share a few with you today.  I hope you enjoy the stamps and have a rockin' Monday.  Until then...Happy Crafting.

Coffee/Tea?

Stephanie Fizer - Grow Love Plant a Tree

 Reading Flopsey

Stephanie Fizer - An Owl for All Seasons

BTW: I absolutely love the last set.  I love the look of the owls!

It's All About the Challenge

It's Sunday evening and I'm feeling very content with the crafting I have done this weekend.  I love being in this phase of the creativity cycle when my ideas are flowing.  It feels good having my mojo back.  On the other hand - I'm stockpiling a lot of cards.  I think I might need to consider selling them.  I'm just not sure of the best way to do it.  I have completed five cards for five challenges.  It makes me so happy.  So without further ado...here come the cards!

Color Throwdown

*This is a joy fold card.  I found a great tutorial here.  I really hope the addition of orange is okay.

Cinema Saturday Challenge

Mojo Monday

Friday Sketchers

Card Positioning Systems 138

I hope everyone has a lovely week.  I for one am hoping it's goes by quickly and without much notice.  I hope you liked the cards.  Please leave a comment if you have any suggestions for what to do with my ever growing card stash.  Until then...Happy Crafting!

52 Book Challenge

I have great news to report for those of you even remotely interested in my 52 book challenge.  I have FINALLY finished Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  I have moved on to a new book - Piece of Work by Laura Zigman.  It's been a pretty quick read so far.  I've been obsessing about catching up - so I am changing things yet again.  My new goal is to read 34 books in the 52 week time period.  I picked the number 34 because it is one of my favorite numbers and because it gives me some leeway for larger books and hard reads.  This way - I can veto as much as I flippin want.  Currently, I have read 3 books.  So that's the update.  I hope everyone has a great Saturday!  I will be back tomorrow to post  my take on a few challenges.  Until then...Happy Reading & Crafting.

Craft Weekend #2

Today is going to be short and quick. I'm on the lookout for a new technique so I hope to post some links and a few examples from other crafters (and maybe myself). Today is going to be a pretty low-key day. It's time to get the lead out and start studying for a big exam I have coming up. So - I might start looking at those materials tonight. Fun, heh? I hope everyone has a beautiful Thursday. I'm going to leave you with the remaining cards from Craft Weekend. Until then...Happy Crafting!

Craft Weekend #1

Today I wanted to show a few of the cards I made during my craft weekend. I also thought I'd give a short recap of my craft shopping. My friend and I only went to local scrapbooking stores in the area - which makes me feel a lot better about my spending. In fact, I haven't set foot in a corporate store in about a month. Trust me - that's great for me. The first store we went to was an absolute paper fest. I bought at least 25 pieces of patterned paper including the new Nutmeg line from Cosmo Cricket. I absolutely must have a mini-deck and possibly a larger paper pack from this line. It's that good. I also got pieces of paper from Bo Bunny and Basic Grey. I got the new Rock Candy Distress Crackle from Ranger. I really want the Rock Candy Stickles - I had no luck finding it. At the next store - I got 2 amazing stamps from Hero Arts - 3 birds & Modern Lines. There were more purchases - but these were the most exciting. I'm including photos of four cards I made over the weekend - one using the three birds stamp. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday! Until then...Happy Crafting.

Twisted Tuesday

Hello. It's been a little while - at least longer than I would like. I've been MIA since last Thursday - but it was for a good cause...crafting. I visited a good friend in a neighboring state and got the opportunity to catch up, meet her gorgeous new daughter, and craft. So - I'm back now and I need to make up Monday Madness. So without further ado...
I found this gem while reading my most recent copy of Scrapbook Inspirations. I fell in love with the city scene immediately. The stamp set is from Yellow Owl Workshop. They have five stamp sets available. This is my favorite by far. I'm a big fan of city skylines. I'm also a huge fan of New York City. This stamp set reminds me of all the goodness that can be found in a big city. For those who are curious, the stamp set is in the September 2009 issue. I can't wait to add this set to my ever-growing supplies.


Today's Reading Corner is going to be short and sweet. I read about this book in my Scrapbook Inspirations magazine and am very keen on buying it. The book is by Katherine Duncan Aimone. She has written a number of books on arts & crafts. I own her book, The Art of Jewelry: Polymer Clay. She has a very unique style and tons of projects in her Polymer Clay book. I'm hoping this book follows the same structure. I'm excited to get a look at this book and make a decision about taking it home with me. For me, I never have too many craft books.

I did get some projects done over the weekend. I will be posting those pictures on Wednesday and Thursday. I also plan on introducing a new topic on Thursdays starting next week: scrapping the single/newly married-committed life. I hope to include topics and post layouts. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday. Until then...Happy Reading & Crafting.