Wow, I didn't realize how long it's been since my last posting.  Sorry guys.  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, and a fun Black Friday.  I didn't do any shopping on Thanksgiving, I just feel that it should be a day devoted to family, and not to shopping.  I plan to continue to boycott shopping on Thanksgiving for years to come.  I really hope they don't do it again next year, but the way the power of the almighty dollar is, that is doubtful.  Well, I'll get off my soap box and get to sharing the crafty ideas. 

Today I decided to share a really cute gifting idea.  I saw this on the cover of a crafting magazine called Simply Handmade, done in very different shades, but I just loved the idea.  You can change the paper to be Christmas, or choose a more masculine look for the guys.  You can tuck in some great gifts into the bottom. 

I took a round paper mache box and covered it with a cute cheerful patterned paper.  I can't find the pack of paper I pulled it out of, but you can use anything to cover the box with.  I had to piece the paper around the box because it wouldn't fit all the way around, and that is why I added the stripped paper on it too. I cut the white border out of cardstock paper with a Sizzix border die.  I added Recollections bling on top of the border swirls.  I then glued paper on the top of the box, and added some fabric flowers that I got at a Rubberstamping show.  These are the types of flowers that you find that are sewn onto tulle, and are grouped together and sold by the yard.  I just cut them apart.  I made my own banner out of the same stripped paper, rubberstamped the celebration stamp on top of the banner and then applied it to a colored toothpick.   That's all there was to this cute gift box.  I hope this fills your head with all types of creative ideas.   Happy crafting!

 

A wet and soggy hello.  It's actually raining cats and dogs in sunny Arizona.  I'd like to share a recycling project that I made with a piece of corrugated cardboard.  I added colorbox chalk ink to the cardboard in black and red.  Then I added a piece of scrap paper that I had laying around and tore the edges to make it look shabby.  I then added some great pictures of my beautiful mom taken when she was a little girl, and when she turned sweet 16.  Underneath the picture of her as a little girl is a picture of her in her bathing suit.  I made it look like she had legs coming out of her head.  I have no idea why I did this, but I just liked the quirky look of it. 

I then added a clock face from Tim Holt's line, and antiqued it with black and brown ink.  Then I added some cute corner ladybugs on her picture.  I poked some holes in the cardboard to add a funky ribbon ball trim to hang it by.  I added a cute black butterfly in the corner that I found at a local rubber stamp show. Then I added an epoxy sign, and I decided to add a pop of color in the corner with some cute paper flowers. 

Since I lost my mom last year I've been trying to use some of the old family pictures a lot more in my crafting.  I guess it's my way of keeping her close to me.  This was another one of those recycling crafts that don't cost much, but looks really great.  I hope you all enjoy it, and happy crafting!

Good day everyone!  Today is a great day to share some more creative ideas.  I made this cute decoration to hang above my antique singer sewing machine.  I used brown paper bags to paint an image of an antique sewing machine (You can find cute images online). I used two pieces of brown paper bag and glued them together, but I left a small half inch opening to push fiberfill stuffing into it.  Don't use very much, you just want it to have a little dimension.  I then glued it closed.  Next I painted  the sewing machine onto the paper bag with acrylic paints.  I then used paint pens to write on it.  Then I cut all around the image with decorative scissors.  I punched a couple holes in it to thread some wire through.  Before I attached the other side I threaded on some cute wooden spools that I wrapped with embroidery thread.  Then I attached the other side of the wire.  I then tied on a cute bow with some sewing themed fabric.  This is a very inexpensive craft to make, and would be great for those craft bazaars.  You can use different images like snowmen, angels, or even Santa Claus.  I hope this gets those creative juices flowing!  Have fun, and happy crafting!

Happy Thursday everyone!  Hope your all having a fantastic day.  Today I'd like to share a collage I've done on a small 5x7" canvas board.  I first did a base coat of acrylic paints in tan, beige, ivory, white and a little light pink, dabbed on with a sea sponge.  Then I took a piece of music paper and sponged over it with rose colored chalk ink.  On top of that is a piece of mulberry paper.  I then cut out the images of the two beauties out of scrapbooking paper, and applied on top of the mulberry paper. 

I rubber stamped the sayings (which I believe is Tim Holtz's stamps) onto different colored cardstock, then put foam tape underneath and applied it onto another piece of cardstock.  I took stickles glitter and applied it to the edge of the sayings.  The felt cloud and plane are by Pebbles (I believe).

The beautiful roses are by Recollections, and I applied stickles glitter to the tops of these.  Don't you love the sparkle?  The cute little butterflies are by Recollections.  I used a kite sticker by Martha Stewart, and then applied Rangers gloss accents on top of the kite.  Let dry well and apply to the collage.  I added extra bling around the neckline, and arm, along with a cute heart sticker.   I really think this came out so cute, and if you think so, let me know.  

 

Good afternoon everyone!  I can't believe that Halloween is just around the corner.  The older I get the faster time seems to fly by.  Today I've got a really cute rubberstamping project to share.  This stamp is so cute!  I'm still trying to find the stamp so I can share the manufacture with all of you.   I put it away somewhere where I could find it, and of course I can't find it!  When and if I do find it, I'll try and update my blog with the name of the manufacture.  If anyone knows who makes this stamp, please feel free to share, so it will save what little bit of sanity that I have left.  I truly need to have a yard/crafting sale to weed out a lot of my things. 

I rubberstamped this design with memento black ink, onto white cardstock.  Then I cut it out.  I left a little bit of a white border around the edges, I think this helps it to pop out a little.  It doesn't matter if it's even, no one will notice if it's not.  Then I used my colored pencils to fill it in.  When I was done, I went back over the design with my black Sharpie ink pen.  I don't worry about it being perfectly outlined, I like the look of handmade.  I glued on a cute heart trim I got at Hancock Fabrics, then embellished the lace with some crystal bling by Recollections.  I glued on some cute bling trim that I also got at Hancock's, to accentuate the waist area.  I put some silver round dots on the bottom of the corset, and then glued on various types of ribbon.  I also used some ribbon to glue on the top in order to hang this up.  I hope you all enjoyed this project as much as I loved making it.

  

Wow, it's been awhile, and I'm sorry about that, my computer has been down, and it's been a challenge to get it up and running.  I finally got it all figured out, so now I'm ready to start sharing.  Today I've got a recycling project for you all.

This project is from an altoid tin.  I had more of these tins than I care to admit.  These would be great to use as a small sewing kit.  I've also seen in a book called Upcycling, Celebrations by Danny Seo, that he's used them as a hangover kit.  He put small pouches of asprin, alka seltzer, eye drops, and other great items in them.  I think the possibilities are endless.  Let me know what you all can come up with. 

Well, so much for good intentions.  I had hoped to post sooner than this, but life seems to keep getting in the way.  Today I'll share my latest steampunk creation.  I used Graphic 45 paper, which I love, love, love!  I just got their newest steampunk paper line and I can't wait to see what I come up with.  I found this cute house at the thrift store, and it was only 99 cents!  Wait a deal!  I used some of Tim Holtz's products to embellish with.  The cute little car was found in the jewelry section of Michaels.  I hope this gives you all inspiration to go out to your local thrift stores, and look for the things you can form trash to treasure!  By the way, I hope you like the new design of my website.  It took forever, and I haven't quite worked out all the kinks, but I can't believe I did it myself!  Let me know if you like the new design.  I'd love to hear from you!

It's been a little while since I posted new creations, and I'll try and get a couple posted this week.  Hope your all having a great day!  Today I wanted to post a cute collage I did awhile ago, that I won first prize in an art show.  This was the very first collage that I ever created.  The purse opens up and is a little memo book.  I can't tell you all much more about the papers and products, it's just been too long since I did this.  I did copy the basic design of the lady out of a children's coloring book.  I hope that you all look in different areas for ideas and supplies.  Sometimes you end up finding the coolest things by surprise.

Today I thought I'd share something a little different.  Years ago I was very into tole painting.  I really loved painting on wood, and am surprised that I stopped doing it.  I felt like sharing a very cute project that I made.  Let me know if there's still any tole painting going on out there, or if you'd like to see more of my painting projects.

Hello!  Hope you all had a fantastic week, I sure did!  I've been practicing drawing birds and butterflies through a course I'm taking on the Brave Girls Club website.  It's called Brave Girl Art School 2, wings.  This is such a fun class, and I've been so excited to be trying to draw butterflies, birds, wings, along with many other great projects. Notice how I said trying.  I'm not very good, but practice makes perfect.  You all should check it out.  It's a great site that really encourages everyone to change their lives through art.  The website is Bravegirlsclub.com.  I think I've mentioned them before, but please check them out.

Well, on to the crafting project!  Today I wanted to show you all a really easy project made with Prima's new doll stamps designed by Julie Nutting.  These are my all time favorite stamps.  Their all cute ladies, and it reminds me of playing with paper dolls. 

I started with a 4x6 mat board that I decided to just plop on acrylic paint in random areas, with a brush.  After that dried, I then applied flexible modeling paste through a butterfly and flower stencil, then I let that dry. I decided to not add any coloring to the paste, I like how it took on the color of the acrylic paints that I used underneath.   I then rubberstamped some cute rubber stamp swirls on with Stazon ink.  This ink is permanent and it doesn't get messed up with any other layers you apply.  Then I rubberstamped the lady onto white cardstock and colored her in with Copic markers.  I cut her out and rubbed chalk ink around the edges.  I applied her to the mat board  with foam dots.  I then added the different embellishments with more foam dots.  I like to use different thickness to make them seem more dimensional.  Then your finished!  Isn't she cute?  Like I said, I love these stamps!

  

Good afternoon everyone!  Today I'd like to share a great recycling idea with you all.  This cute ornament was created by toilet paper rolls.  Yes, toilet paper rolls.  I'm not sure where I got this idea, if it was Pinterest,  a craft magazine, or just saw it online, but I put my own twist on it. 

All you have to do is take the toilet paper roll and smash it flat.  Then cut it into 1/4" strips, or wider depending on how wide you want your strips to be.  Then I just layed them flat, and glued them onto a circle, and continued to decorate.  I punched out my flowers with a cute punch made by the Paper Studio.  I also used some premade flowers made by Recollections.  I then rubberstamped the image.  I just love this rubberstamp.  Then I put tacky glue on the edges, and applied mica flakes by Melissa Frances.  Hang with some frilly ribbon, and that's all there is to it.

This would be a very inexpensive project for craft fairs.  Once you start to alter toilet paper rolls, you'd be surprised by how many amazing ideas there are out there.  Hope you all have a fantastic, crafty day!

Hello everyone, I hope you have all had a wonderful week.  My week has been very productive.  I've been able to work on some crafts, and that always raises my spirits.  I have been trying to make my own light box.  I've been following instructions for a "MacGyver" light box created by Ivy Demos, that I found in an old Studios magazine.   It's still a work in progress, but I hope some of my pictures come out a little better.

I wanted to share a piece that I did for my mom a couple of years ago.  My mom passed away last year, and I've been thinking about her a lot lately.  I made her this collage to remind her of our special relationship.  I hope you all enjoy, although some of the pictures are a little embarrassing!

Wow, it's been awhile since I posted, so I guess I better get busy.  Today I thought I'd share a project that I did from inspiration on Pinterest.  Yes, I too am addicted to Pinterest.  If you haven't been on their website, beware!  You lose all sense of time when your on there, and get more ideas than you'll ever have time to create.

This is such an easy project to do.  I took a 12x12 canvas and painted it with black acrylic paint.  Then I cut out a flower leaf shape in many different pieces of scrap paper.  This is a great project to use up all those little scraps of paper that you never know what to do with.  I used Recollections paper for this project.  I glued down the flower shapes with Mod Podge.  After it dried I decided to write some inspirations with a white gel pen.  I then applied some bling in the center of the flower.  I'm not sure if I'm done with this yet or not, I may add more doodles, let me know what you all think.  I hope you enjoy this project, and have a great day!

Today I thought I'd share a tutorial on a really easy project that anyone can do.  Even kids!  Get yourselves an empty glass jar.  I used a pickle jar.  I have tons of them around since my son loves pickle juice.  Yes, the juice only.  I can't tell you all how many jars of pickles are in my fridge with no juice whatsoever in them. Weird right?

I like to get my decorative napkins at Tuesday Mornings.  Any napkins will do that have some type of design on them.  You can also use tissue paper.  Wash the jar out, and dry.  Cut out your designs.  If your using napkins, then most napkins have 2-3 layers of paper.  Separate these layers till just your design is left.  You can skip this step if you don't want your design to be more transparent.  Next, gather your Mod Podge, and a small paint brush and a cup of water.   Layer a thin application of Mod Podge on the inside of your pickle jar.  I do a small area at a time.  Then take your napkin and rip it into 1-2 inch size pieces.  Apply the napkin design to the inside of your jar with the decorative side facing out.  I then apply a  crumpled layer of tissue paper over the top of the napkin design.  This tissue paper is designed by Brave Girls Club.  You want to overlap the tissue paper.  Apply it anyway you want.  You can't make a mistake.  Just be careful to be gentle, you don't want to move your first layer of napkin around.

 

Continue to do this a small area at a time.  Makes sure you rinse your brush out as you go.  You don't want to end up with glue dried in your paintbrush.  You can use white tissue paper, or even colored tissue paper, over your napkin design.  Continue all the way around your jar.  Then allow your piece to dry.  I wait overnight just to make sure.  Then I check to see if I've missed any spots.  If not, all I do is drop in a battery operated tea light candle, and decorate the rim with ribbons.

That's all there is to it.  The ideas are endless with this project.  You could do one for your children with Disney characters, pirates, or whatever.  These make great night lights for children as it's a very faint glow.  I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial.  If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below.  

Good afternoon everyone!  It's been a yucky week for me sick in bed, for over four days now,  and it's the first chance I've felt up to posting on my blog.  I surely hope your week has been better.   I wanted to share a creation I did awhile ago for my son's birthday.  He's gotten into the hiking and backpacking thing and I loved making this card for him. 

Some of the supplies on this card are from Jolee's Boutique by EK Success.  I love using their products because everything is done for you.  I used cardstock to create the grass with Martha Stewart's fringe scissors.  These are amazing and so fun to use.  I just love the look you get with these. 

I tore the brown cardstock and inked the edges with chalk ink.  I then used many different rubberstamps to add character to the card.  Notice how I rubberstamped over the fringes, I think it adds great texture.  My son loved this card, and I hope you all do as well.  Have a great weekend!

Hello to all my crafty friends!  Today I wanted to share a new project I did with some new doll stamps that Prima has put out.  Their designed by Julie Nutting.  If you've read my previous blogs you'll find out that I'm a huge fan of hers.  I can't believe that there are now stamps of some of her designs, and unfortunately for my wallet, I have most of them. 


I created the background with spray inks.  I rubber stamped the swirls on with Versamark ink, and then used clear embossing powder with my heat gun to emboss them to the canvas.  Then I used more spray inks.  I  created the flowers and butterfly with  Martha Stewart Stencils and acrylic paint.   I used Plaid stencils to make the large cloud, and the smaller clouds I sketched myself.  I used Prima stamps to stamp the darling lady with Memento ink.  I colored her in with colored pencils.  The airplane, and dog, are stickers from Claudine Hellmuth.  The kite is by Martha Stewart.  The flowers are a mixture of companies, like Recollections, & Brides by Michaels.  The brads are by Recollections.  I put Stickles glitter on the dog.  I created the banner myself with scrap paper, and rubber stamps. The bling swirls are by Recollections. 

I took many different pictures so you can see the dimension you can get by using foam adhesive.  I have different thickness of foam, and several layers of paper that I used to create depth.  I hope you all noticed that some of my designs are messy and have glitter and ink all over them.  I think this adds to the charm and makes your creations seem more homemade.  I hope you all enjoy my latest creation, and have a great day!

Thank goodness it's Friday!  Although each day just seems to run into the other anymore.  Today I thought I'd share a project that I decided to make because I got these flowers at Michaels, in the bridal department, and thought they looked so beautiful just the way they are.  They were already arranged, so the hard part was done.

 I tore out pages of paper from My Minds Eye paper pack, along with pieces from old sewing patterns, that I found at the thrift store for only $1.00!  Then I glued them down with Mod Podge.  I then applied decorative rolled paper over the torn pieces.  Then I glued the ribbon trim around all the edges, and glued pom pom ribbon on top of that.  I antiqued the paper a little with chalk ink, and a paper towel.  Then I simply glued down the flowers, and then shaped the wrapped wire into a heart shape.  I glued this down with a glue gun.  That's all there was to it.  Very easy project to do.  I found the wrapped wire in Michaels in the moss, garden area.  I always look all over Michaels in every department because you would be surprised at some of the cool things you find in other areas that you never thought you could live without.  Hope you all have a safe & crafty weekend!

Hello everyone!  Hope you all had a great weekend.  I know I did, a very lazy one, watching movies all weekend, and working on my doodling.  I'm taking a class online by Cathy Bluteau on the website CathyB.typepad.com.  I'm taking the class on Doodling Faces & Flora, and the Paper Pretty Girls class.  I'm learning a lot, and right now she has a sale going on until the end of July.  Check her out, she's amazing.

I'm hoping to post some pictures later this month where I'm demonstrating how I do the background on my collages.  I think you all might like more instructions on how I do my collages, and things like that.  I'd love to hear from you guys to see what you all might like. 

Today I thought I'd post a card that I made for my son-in-law.  This was a very easy card to create, I used Tim Holtz's paper for the background.  The lettering was done with an old fashioned label maker that I found at a yard sale.  I hope you all enjoy this card, and try and stay cool!

Art Fair

Great news, we have water!  We finally got our water back on last friday, on the 28th.  Thank goodness, and thank you for all your prayers.  You never realize you miss something until it's not there.  Especially water! 

I wanted to share a collage that I did for a craft show that was last fall.  I entered this collage in the art show and low and behold I won first place for this collage!  This is the second year I entered this show, last year I also won first place for a different collage.  I was so stunned when I won again this year.  I'm my own worst critic, and I thought I'd never have a chance with all the other talented artist who entered.  Imagine my surprise.  I really hope you enjoy this collage.  It's funny that this was a collage that I did really fast, and didn't take a lot of time to think about what I was creating. 

I used my Cricut machine to cut the ladies out of black cardstock.  The flowers, butterflies and kite are from Martha Stewart.  The blinged scroll, and the bird are by Recollections.  I'm not really sure who made the patterened paper, but if your really interested I can search through my huge paper pile and try and figure it out if you need me to.  Just post a comment, and I'll be glad to.  The crotcheted flower is made by me.  I used bubble wrap with acrylic paint on the background.  This is such a cool technique, and if you'd like a tutorial then just let me know.  I hope you all have a great day!

Good afternoon everyone!  I've been suffering from heat exhaustion the last few days.  Were on a well with 40 other families and on Saturday our pump went out.  We've been suffering without water since then.  I live in Tucson, AZ and it's 108 degrees outside today, and will continue to be all week.  In Arizona a lot of us use swamp coolers, which means that our houses are cooled with water dripping onto straw pads, that then, blows into our houses.  They work great normally, and costs a lot less to use than air conditioning.  They don't work at all with no water.  Needless to say the inside of our house is over 95 degrees.  We've been so miserable.  Our well company has delivered one truck full of water so far, and hopefully will deliver another truck load tomorrow.  Unfortunantly, when they delivered the water they didn't tell anyone that the well was still broken and to stock up with the water they gave us.  So no one knew to store any water.  Did I tell you that I just love our well company?  Their supposed to start working on the pump tomorrow.  This happened last year and we were without water for over 5 days in the same kind of heat.  Very miserable.

Unfortunantly with the heat I haven't got much crafting done.  I did make a card last year for my mom's 81st birthday.  I just love the rubber stamp of the roses that I used.  The stamps are from Sweet Stamps.  You can't tell in the picture, but I stamped mutiple images of the roses, and cut out different areas and elevated them with foam adhesive, which give the roses a lot of dimension.  I believe the paper is by My Minds Eye.  Roses are my favorite flower, and I just love this card.  I think my mom loved it to.  Please keep us in your prayers, we could sure use it.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!

Today I thought I'd share a collage piece that I did through a course I took through the Brave Girls Club. Melody Ross teaches these classes called, Brave Girl Art School 1, through her website.  You can find her at bravegirlsclub.com.  These classes have changed my life.  She tries to teach you to alter the course of your life for the better.  She teaches so many creative techniques.  She's so inspiring, and I hope you all check her out.  It could change your life.  It did mine.

This collage is made on a 11x14 canvas that I textured with paint.  The butterflies and the flowers are by Martha Stewart, and I used bakers twine for the stem.  The small framed area to the right is a embroidered piece I did that I bought at Michaels.  I mounted this onto cardboard, then applied foam adhesive dots to the back to pop it up some.  The letters are wood magnets that I painted, then applied a dimensional glaze to the top.  I just love the colors of this collage, and it just reminds me to continue to grow, and try new things.  I hope your all inspired to go out of your comfort zone and try something new.  You'll be pleasantly surprised if you do.

Today I wanted to share a canvas collage that I did that was inspired by Julie Nutting.  She has a book out called Collage Couture.  It's such an inspiring book, and she teaches you so many techniques.  I just love everything that she creates, and have been inspired to create some of my own.  I used Martha Stewart paper, and used my Cricut expression 2 to cut the trees out of old book pages.  The large flower was made by me with some flower punches.  The kite and birds are from Martha.  The clouds, sun, and small felt flowers are by Pebbles. If you like this style then take a look at her book, you will learn a lot.  You can find it on Amazon.   

I thought I'd share a masculine card that I made recently.  It's so hard to come up with cards for the guys in our lives.  That's why I love Tim Holtz and his products.  The car die cuts is from Sizzix, and is made by Time Holtz.  The patterned paper is from Tim Holtz Ideaology.  The door lock is just a small brad that I smashed with a screwdriver.  The birthday banner was from an old fashion label maker that I found at a yard sale.  This was a joy to make, and I hope it gives you all some ideas of your own.

Since I'm finally starting to feel better, I wanted to post a card that I did for my sweet mother in law.  She has been a second mom to me, and I can't thank her enough for always being there for me.  I think she even likes me more than her son at times!  Just don't tell anyone!  I used My Mind's Eye, and GCD Studio patterned paper, along with Recollections lettering, and the roses are by K & Co., I think.  Oops I threw away the package so I hope I'm right.  The doily is by Wilton.  The ink I used is by Color Box Chalk Inks.  I was inspired by a card I saw on Polly's Paper Studio.  Her blog site is Polly'sPaper.wordpress.com.  I just love her style. 

Well, I'm still sick in bed, trying to do some crafting, but I wanted to share a card I made awhile ago.  This was my first attempt at paper quilling, and I think it came out pretty cute. I'm pretty sure the small card is from GCD, and is designed by Melody Ross.  I just love her stuff.  The leaf ribbon is by Martha Stewart.  If you've never tried paper quilling, please do.  It looks intimidating, but it's so easy, and one of the most inexpensive crafts to get started in. Enjoy your day!

I've been sick in bed for the last 4 days, so not much crafting has been going on, but I do have something that I made awhile ago that I'd love to share.  Hope you enjoy!

 

I used old book pages, and then I punched out some small flowers out of glittered paper, then covered all the seams with twine.  This was made with a children's book called Fashion Forms, made by Klutz books.  You'll find this book in Michaels in the children's section of craft books.  This was so fun to make, and it came with the plastic stand to hold up the dress.  I'm addicted to this book and I hope to make many more designs.  Give it a try, it was easy and fun to make.  Good luck! 

 

Hi Everyone!  Wow it's been a long time since I've blogged, but I really want to try and get my blog up and running.  I've been very busy working on some new projects.  I have a new Grandson, and to celebrate I made him a cute card.  The baby images are from Graphic 45.  Hope you like it!

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