Happy New Year!

Hello lovelies!  Hope your all enjoying the New Year, and are trying not to break those resolutions yet!  I've chosen my new word of the year and it's change.  Change is hard, difficult, and really a pain in the butt!  I know from experience! I've made some major life changes and it's been a struggle.  I'm trying to embrace each experience as a learning one. I've tried to set boundaries, and priorities.   Let's just say it's a slow start, but by the end of the year I hope to look back and be proud of myself!  Even if I only change one thing, that will be better than nothing!

I do have exciting news!  I'm getting a craft room!  It's been so many years of working in the dining room, and mostly working on my bed.  Because of my health, I'm sure I'll still be doing a lot of bed crafting, but to have a craft room finally will be a dream come true.  A couple years back I thought I was going to have a craft room, had everything ready to go, then needed to let one of my children move back in.  Sometimes life throws you a curve!  Well, now I finally get to make my dreams come true!  I'll try and post some pictures along the process, but it's a major renovation, which will consist of new flooring, shelving, and so much more.  Keep your fingers crossed!

On to today's project!  I know Christmas is past, but I really wanted you all to see the handmade card I made for this past Christmas.  The right corner looks crooked in the picture, but it's really straight.  This is a stamp and dye set by Stampendous.  I used cardstock from Michael's in the background.  I stamped all the trees, and colored them in with alcohol ink markers.  Then added Ranger's stickles for the ornaments. I glued a star from Recollections onto the top of the tree.  I also applied Marvy Snow Marker, on top of the trees, then heat embossed that to give a raised appearance.  I stamped and colored over 15 of the trucks, as I needed over 40 cards.  A little tip for you.  It took forever to color all the trucks and packages, and after two solid days, I finally decided to take my finished one's to the local UPS store to get colored copies.  I brought my own cardstock that I wanted them printed on, and for under $5.00, I had perfect copies!  What a stress reliever!  The saying stamp was included in the stamp kit.  I just used my Spellbinders die to cut out the saying, edging it with Tim Holtz's distress ink.  I used a Gelly glitter pen on the door handle.  I cut a plain strip of white cardstock by hand into the shape of clouds, and used my Tim Holtz distress ink to smudge on the clouds onto my white cardstock.  I used a Martha Stewart stamp set for the snowflakes. Then, I applied black washi tape for the road.  I  attached all the pieces to the background scene with foam tape to make it pop up more.  Hope you all enjoy my latest project!  Happy crafting!!

Time Flies!

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Crafting Heaven

Hi everyone!!!!  Today I wanted to share a very cute collage that I did recently.  Of course I used my Julie Nutting stamps by Prima.  I think if you've seen any of my other blogs, you'll realize just how much I love those stamps!  Today I did something a little different, a steampunk theme.  Not everyone is into steampunk, but I definitely am.  My project started out with a 5x7 canvas mat board. I put a stencil down onto the canvas panel,and then used Ranger dye inks to spray onto the canvas.  Peel off the stencil, and bam!  Beautiful background.   I found these canvas panels at Michaels. 

I used an embossing folder with clocks on them to emboss onto yellow plastic.  Then I took brown chalk ink and highlighted the clocks with the ink.  It makes the clocks pop off the page.  I also embossed plain purple cardstock, which I then used ink again to bring out the definition.  Then I rubberstamped my image onto cardstock.  I colored her in with Copic markers.  I attached foam dots onto the back, in order to raise the image off the page.  Then I glued down some metal cogs, and a metal watch onto the right hand corner.  I sprayed a white flower with purple spray ink to help it match my design.  Then I applied Stickles glitter on the edges. I glued on a butterfly that I also added Stickles glitter to.  The word sayings are from Tim Holtz, that I used pop dots on.   I hope you all enjoy my latest creation, as I enjoyed sharing with you.  Thanks everyone!   Happy crafting!!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!

I know I'm a little early, but not sure if I will have time to post this weekend.  I thought I'd share with you guys the cards that I made for the grandkids.  I've got four grandchildren, and every holiday I send them handmade cards.  They love to get their own mail, and I know their Mama has a special box for each one of them to save all their special cards in.  I love thinking that long after I'm gone they'll have a little piece of my heart with them forever.  I know that may sound corny, but I do put a lot of my feelings and love into my handmade cards.  Especially for the very, very special people in my life.  On with the sharing.

The first card has made a boy stamp made by Prima, by Julie Nutting. All the other children stamps were purchased from HSN, (I think)  For some reason I didn't write down the name of the company who manufactures these stamps.  I always write down the names, so I don't know why I didn't write it down this time.  Sorry guys.  If I can figure out who makes them, then I'll post it back on here later.  I'm sure some of you can relate to my brain fart!  Oh well.  Hope you like these cards, I know I enjoyed sharing them with you.  Happy crafting!!

Heated Hello!

Good afternoon crafty friends!  I've been busy creating some cute guy cards lately, so I thought I'd share a couple.  I know it's been awhile since I posted, so I decided to show you a couple of cards today.  The first is one that I made for my grandson.  He turned 3, and is into monster trucks.  This card has a digital stamp from Kenny K designs.  One of the problems with digital stamps is that if you use your ink jet printer to print them out, then sometimes when you color them in they can tend to run.  I solve this by spraying them with a workable fixative by Grumbacher.  I found this at Aaron Brother's and used my 50% off coupon.  Then I colored the design in with copic markers.  The patterned paper is from Tim Holtz.  I used an embossing folder from Hot off the Press, to get the diamond plate design on grey cardstock.    The piston cup sticker is from a Cars sticker set that I found at Michaels.  The happy birthday stamp is from Anna Griffin and HSN.  I try and use very little embellishments with young children.  I put tons of glue on them, so in case they try and pull them off, they'll have a hard time.  I hope you enjoy this card, I know my grandson did!

Next is a card that I made for my son.  He's an avid dirt bike rider, and this is one of my favorite cards that I've made for him.  The  dirt bike sticker is from a sticker set I found in Michaels.  It was one that I've had for many years, so I'm not sure if they still have them or not, but I'm sure you can find something similar.  I hope you all enjoy these cards, and try and create some version of it yourselves!  Keep cool and happy crafting!!!!!

Spring Crafting!

Hello!  Hope your all doing fantastic today!  I'm excited to share a cute card that I made for my Grandson for his birthday.  My passion is making crafts, but one of my ultimate favorites is card making.  I just love to give handmade cards to family and friends.  Everyone is always telling me that they hang onto every card I've made them, and that makes me feel good.  I love knowing that someone that I love and care about has a little piece of my heart to remind them of me.

Of course my other favorite is the paper doll stamps from Prima, which are made by Julie Nutting.  If you've seen my blog you'll know that I'm obsessed with these stamps.  It's very hard to make cards for guys, let alone young ones.  That's why I love these stamps.  They can apply to all ages and whether your male or female, there is a paper doll stamp that can relate.

The paper is from Hot off the Press.  The gears are from a die from Tim Holtz.  I cut out the gears out of silver glitter paper, then I backed the black gears with the glitter paper as well.  I colored in the boy stamp with Copic markers.  I'm still learning how to color with these special artist markers, but I do love the way they look.  They give so much dimension to your coloring.  I applied all this to a card blank that I got through a craft company that has shows on dishnetwork called Create and Craft.  I love their shows!  I have to stop myself from watching, because it never fails that I find something else that I can't live without.  Check them out, their from London and have only been on in the U.S. for a little over a year.  Just beware, you'll become addicted to their show very easily.  Now onto sharing my card.  Hope you all love it, and happy crafting!

Hi everyone!!  Hope all's well with all of you!  I'm doing good.  Better now that my arm is finally healed.  I've been busy working on a lot of various crafts.  I've been learning how to do draw whimsical ladies.  I've been taking online classes by Christy Tomlinson, Cathy Bluteau, Jane Davenport, and Tamara Laporte.  One of these days I'll post some pictures of my latest creations.  I've been practicing for about a year now.  I hear all the time from people that they could never do that.  Believe me when I say that I NEVER thought I could draw.  I just started watching youtube videos, and practicing a lot.  Low and behold I started to get a little better.  Not much, but a little.  At least twice a week I try and draw.  It's made such a difference.  All you need to do is practice!  I'm so proud of myself for trying.  I have to get that negative voice in my head to be quiet, because I'm my own worst critic.

On to the crafts!  Today I wanted to share another village collage that I did recently.  This is in the same style as another collage I did here a couple of months ago.  I took a class from Cathy Bluteau, called It Takes a Village.  She even has a free class once a month.  Love that!  I love her style.  You can find her at Cathyb.typepad.com.  My collage is done with a shabby chic look.  Most of the paper is from Die Cuts With a View.  Some of the pieces I used foam dots to add some dimension.  Then I highlighted everything with a black pen, and added extra doodling with a white pen.  I hope you like it!  Happy crafting!!!!

Hello everyone!!!  Just a quick note to let you all see what I've been working on.  This is a lovely card that I made recently.  I'm not sure who makes the stamp, it is packed away in a box, and I have no desire to try and find it right now.  I'm pretty sure the umbrella is from K&Co.  I hope you all enjoy it.  Happy Crafting!!!

Time sure flies.  Someday's I can't believe that all this time has passed.  Hope you all had great holidays.  Mine could have been better.  My son was in the hospital for a solid month throughout  all of the holidays in December, and January.  He was in intensive care for six days, and  it was terrifying.  Your life can change in an instant.  We all go about our days assuming that everyone that we love will be there tomorrow, and they just might not be.  Luckily my son pulled through.  He's in for a long rehab, but thank God it didn't turn out differently.  I did manage to do my homemade Christmas cards while balancing them on my lap.   I know in times of stress I don't know what I'd do without my artistic endeavors.  It is such a stress reliever.  It's how I've managed to stay sane throughout any stress, and throughout all my chronic pain issues.  Well on to crafting!

I know it's late, but I thought I'd share my Christmas card.  I'm a huge snoopy fan.  I saw this stamp and couldn't resist.  Hope you all like it!  I'll try and blog again in a couple of days.  Happy crafting!!

Hello from sunny Arizona!  I'm so happy that you've come to my blog.  I've been doing a different type of collage lately.  I've taken several classes by Cathy Bluteau.  Her website is Cathyb.typepad.com.  I've been making some cute house collages.  I've had such a blast doing them.  It enables me to try something different.  It's important as an artist to always try new challenges.  I try to never say that I can't do something, or that it's too hard.  I've learned that although I may not know how to do something, usually I can find a class or instructions on line, then all I need to do is to try and teach myself a new procedure.  Then I just keep practicing, practicing, and finally more practicing.  As they say, practice makes perfect.  So never say never!  Try new things!  You'll be surprised!

Well enough of the pep talk and let's get down to sharing.  I made this collage with paper made by The Paper Studio, available at Hobby Lobby.  Almost all of this collage is made with paper only.  This would be a very inexpensive collage to complete.  When I took this picture the collage was bent a little.  Not sure if you can tell, but that was a technical error.  I hope you like this collage.  Please let me know what you all think.  Happy crafting!!!

 

My goodness it's been a long time.  Still experiencing computer issues, and can't quite afford a new one, so trying to make do with what I have.  I've told all of you before that once a year I enter a city wide art show.  I've done it for the last 4-5 years.  This year I entered three pieces.  One of my pieces won first prize in the collage category!!!!  So exciting!!!!!  I thought I'd share my winning piece with all of you.  Hopefully I can show you my other entries in another blog post, just keep your fingers crossed that my computer will allow me to do that.

This piece is 11x14.  I collaged the paper onto watercolor paper.  The paper is made by Anna Griffin that I got at HSN.  The girls are from a coloring book for children that I picked up at Aaron Brothers.  Their clothes are cut from My Minds Eye paper.  Some of the embellishments are from Recollections.  I'm not sure if you can tell, but this piece has a lot of dimension to it.  A lot of the pieces have been lifted up with the help of foam dots.  I hope you all enjoy this piece.  I was so thrilled and honored to have won first prize. Since I have a lot of health issues, I'm home in bed a lot, so it makes it a great thrill to be able to share my creations with all of you!  Thanks for checking in on me!  Happy crafting!!!!

How's everyone doing today?  I'm doing good, still suffering from a sore arm, trying not to craft, but that's like telling me not to breathe.  I've got my annual art show coming up in September, and I need to get busy creating my submissions.  Can't wait.

Today I thought I'd show all of you the cute sewing spools I made from paper towel tubes, and aluminum foil tubes.  I've used my favorite paper by My Mind's Eye.  You may have seen it on a few other things I've shared.  In fact I think my last blog post showed a card using the same paper.  I've used some small decorative buttons made by Jesse James.  The photos are of my Grandfather, Grandmother, and my mom as a little girl.  I just love being able to use my own family photos.  I used flowers by Recollections, seam binding by Tim Holtz, and the large quilled butterfly is by Martha Stewart.  I hope you all enjoy my latest project, and I wish all of you happy crafting.!!!

Hey Everyone!  Hello from a hot and soggy Arizona!  We've been getting some rain lately and our humidity is sky high!  Not fun if you don't have air conditioning!  I don't, ask you might have guessed.  I've survived the hot summers with a swamp cooler.  It just doesn't work with humidity.  Looking forward to the end of monsoons.

I'm sharing a cute card that I made using a template from Hot Off The Press.  It's a plastic 12x12 template that you use to cut out the card shape.  It's a lot cheaper than a die cut, it's a little old school, but so am I.  As usual I'm once again using stamps by Prima that was created by Julie Nutting.  The paper that I used is by My Minds Eye.  It's my all time favorite paper, and you'll probably see it a lot.  I colored in the young lady with alcohol markers.  Here is the card I made:

I hope you all stay cool for the next few weeks.  I know I'm looking forward to some cooler, dryer weather!  Happy Crafting!!!!!

Hot Summer Days!

Hope your all doing well.  I'm doing pretty good except that I pulled a muscle in my right arm and it's taking a long time to heal.  I seem to get better than I do something simple and I've injured it all over again.  Of course that's my crafting arm.  Which means I've had to slow down on my projects for now.  Hopefully it will get better soon so I can start more projects.

I thought I'd share a really cute project that I made recently.  As most of you know I'm a huge fan of Prima's Julie Nutting paper doll stamps.  I seem to use these a lot in my crafting projects.  Todays example is so freaking cute!  Sorry, I'm a little bias.  Hope you enjoy it! 

 

 

 

Not sure if you can tell, but I used Tim Holt's crackle over the brown ink on the door.  It's a subtle look, but really makes the door a little more authenticate.  I found the door in the wood section at Michael's.  The bird is by Martha Stewart.  The large flower is by the Paper Studio, and the small flowers are by Recollections. 

 

 

I hope you all enjoy this project as much as I enjoy sharing it with all of you.  I'm so honored to be able to share it with you guys, because as a person who suffers from chronic pain, which can make me isolated, I don't get to share my art with many people.   I hope you all know how much it means to me to be able to share my art with all of you guys.  Even if it's only one person who see this blog, it really means the world to me.  Thank you all for checking in with me.  Happy crafting!!!!

Computer Issues

It seems lately that I've been plagued with one computer issue after another.  So very frustrating!  Thank you everyone for being so patient with my infrequent blogging.  Hopefully I'll get this all taken care of soon.

I just found out today that I didn't win the Michael's trip to Paris.  Oh well.  I'm still glad that I entered.  The person who won did a beautiful painting of her daughter seeing Paris for the first time.  A lot of people were upset because she is a professional artist.  I understand their feelings, but unfortunately Michael's didn't have any separate entries for professional or amateur crafters.  They really should have.  Hopefully they will learn from their mistakes, and do better in their future contests.

Lately I've been in bed quite a bit with my pain issues, and that makes it hard to get crafting done as much as I'd like.  A few things I did accomplish was a couple of cards that I created using some cardmaking kits that are made by Anna Griffin, and distributed by HSN.  I love anything Anna Griffin, and HSN is the best place to find her items at a really reasonable price.  Just about everything is included in the kits except the glue.  You should check out HSN when they have crafting on.  Last week they had on 24 hours of crafting items.  Good for me, not good for my wallet!  These are a few of the cards I made with the Anna Griffin kits:

The inside of the card above:

The inside of the above card:

As you can all see these are beautiful cards.  I love the pop ups!  As I said everything is included in these kits.  All you need is a little imagination of where to place the items, and the possibilities are endless.  Give it a try!  Happy crafting!