Whimsy stamping tryout

This little pink elephant represents my entry for the Whimsy design team. I originally heard about the call through The Card Universe and the link to the call can be found here:
Whimsy Design Call


I used Bazzill cardstock, the elephant image is Stampendous and stamped on plain white cardstock with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black soot and colored in with my Mulberry and Violet Prismacolor pencils. I placed it on a piece of Making Memories paper (from the (Sydney) line) and cut by my Fiskars Threading Water punch.
I stamped the enjoy sentiment using a Hero Arts clear acrylic stamp (from the ClearDesign: Tree, Birds And Messages sheet) with the black soot ink.
I embellished the whole thing with a paper flower that I had in my embellishment drawer and I adhered the petals together to let it stand up and made the middle glittery (a critical component!) with a dot of Goldenrod Stickles.
I plan on giving this card to someone with a baked good--to be a bit neighborly. Yum!

Pardon the lighting and angle of the photo. My camera isn't being cooperative (need a firmware update), so I had to use the cellphone. Eeek!

Being Good is So Hard!!!!

I've resisted the urge to buy supplies for a bit. I ran out of adhesive a couple of days ago and was planning a painful trip to the 'pretty' store (meaning anything scrappy), but I was going through my photobox and found the forgotten refill I had put there (I store refills there on occasion because I use them when I scrap and of course I use photos when I scrap!)--a very welcome and happy surprise, but not a surprise.
Tonight I'm going to work on some layouts and some cards. I've gotten a few ideas that I scribble on the margins of my notepad, and ideas to try. There are so many inspirations around us, seriously, the internet is wonderful. It's the best place to share ideas and inspirations and learn new things!
For example, in the last couple of days, I've signed up for some new sites to help inspire me.
www.monamememories.com
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/
http://snrcardiverse.ning.com/

I'd heard of splitcoaststampers.com a long time ago, but I'd never actually signed up for an account. WOW! It's wonderful. There is so much to look at and to read. It's definitely a project for this weekend--getting accustomed to their massive site.
SnrCardIverse was something I heard about from a friend, and I like the tutorials it has, I also like a lot of the onboard video applications. It seems like it'll be really easy to upload the videos, so that's really cool. Mon Ame Memories is a really cool forum and store. There's a real sense of community there, and no drama, which is really cool. They're even having a design team call until tomorrow. I would suggest stopping there and seeing some of the wonderful work. There are a lot of talented artists there, and a lot of diverse projects.

Of course, I still visit Stamphaven (and you really should too) and TwoPeas (mostly to talk to people and to participate in swaps)...Seriously, there is SO MUCH out there on the internet. And, I faithfully follow a lot of creators online, both through blogger and through bloglines (an RSS reader). We're living in a great time I tell you.

Wishlist

I've been tagged on another journal, and I decided to post it here because I think it will help me stay good. In the next few weeks, I'm trying to abstain from buying anything scrap related except:

• Adhesive
• Photos
• Some crafty stuff purchased from a contact selling Stamping Up

Other than that, I'm really going to be cutting back and NOT getting a bunch of stuff that i don't need. However, if it's a good price, or I've been really good, I can buy things off my wishlist after next month.

My wishlist includes:

(aren't hero arts stamps awesome?)
(Repeat sentiment above)
(again, repeat!)
I've got a bit of a bird phobia, but I love the two below:




(I don't have one, but there are a lot of things I want to try, and apparently it's a good tool to have!)
(A bone folder is a great tool for cardmaking!)

I'm thinking I also need some sentiments (which I might get from stamping up) and some embossing powders (gold, silver) from there, too. Eventually I want more colors of ink, but that can wait...
And there's one other thing that's on my wishlist, which should not be a surprise to those of you who have read my blog as of late:

Yes, I've caught the Prisma bug, maybe I'd get some copics at some point, but I think at this point my money would be much better spent with the colored pencils. I've even got a little list of what I want to pick up the next time I'm in the store with some money. Which would also mean getting more stamps that I can color (because I have a lot of stamps that aren't open and blendable, I used to choose stamps I fell in love with to watercolor versus ones for blending... They have a lot of small detail areas, very closed space, KWIM?)...

Oh, and I have a new stamp company love--Anya by the Greeting Farm. Within minutes of discovering this company, I bought some digi-stamps and can't wait to buy more. Also hoping to buy some physical stamps, after this spending ban I have has been lifted--it's so HARD! Be prepared to fall in love.
I'm not posting all of the stamps here that I really love, because it would be the entire site! There's something adorable about all of the stamps, and the Anyas (the little girls) are so adorable!!!!! I love this company... And look forward to seeing new things from them.


So what's on your crafty wishlist??? This inquiring mind wants to know...

So much to do, so little time

I have a lot of things on my to-do list right now. I want to develop my site a bit better, work on a creative resume and also finish up some design team applications. And it looks like I'll have a bit of time to do that this week...
My SO is going to be out of the state for about a week, come home for a day, then leave for another week, come home for a day and then leave for a week. He should be back for a bit on March 20. Craziness!
So look for some creative stuff this week from me. I'm working on a video, and going through some other things--and cleaning off my work area to make a really awesome spot where I can craft and scrap and card-make to my hearts content. Yay!

So, what have you been up to?

Blog Candy from Marks Paper Company

Marks Paper Company is having an awesome blog candy giveaway. You can win papers from their August or Old Fashioned courtship collection. They even have a facebook group.
For more details, please click the link--good luck!

Post and Win!

Head on over here to the Everyday Scrapper and pick up your own button (mine is in my Pieces of Flair box down to the right) and link up to this great scrappy resource!
You can enter to win a great album from one of my favorite sites. The contest rules are in the above link. Go on now, and check it out!

**Original post was eaten by the Blogger monster, eek!**

Brand New Coloring Technique

So, as I said in my last post, the Coloring Challenge over at Stamp Haven's Winter Haven, has you submit two pieces, one featuring something you usually do (mine was twinkling H2Os) and the other that you've never done.
I knew once I saw Sandy's Amazing video on Magic Coloring that I had to do it. And so I experimented the better part of the week and just didn't get it right. So then I saw a webisode on Hero Arts, where she explained it as well. Then I watched Sandy's video again, and I GOT it! Finally!!!
Now, let me point out that if I were to read about it, I would have been fine because I can learn anything from a book. The video took me some time. At first, I was just using once color, and then last night, it was like a creative wind ran through the house, inspiring me--I was supposed to use 2 colors!!!!
Here's a link to Sandy's wonderful video. I like hers a bit better than the one at HA. Why? Well, first off, the kitty is wonderful, and secondly, I like that she keeps her points sharp.
I am unable to keep all my points sharp, however. My four favorite colors of my prismacolors (Mulberry, Crimson Red, Tuscan Red and one other one) seem to keep breaking, which I've heard could be a fault with the pencil themselves.
I love this Hero Arts Peacock! It took a while to color it, but I LOVE the result, which I thought I wouldn't be able to do. So I turned on a Netflix movie (Shelley DuVal's Fairie Tale Theatre Disc 6--anyone else remember this early 80s ABC staple?) and kept at it. I took my time, didn't rush through, and I was really pleased with how it turned out. So pleased, in fact, that I'm giving the card to someone at a birthday party tonight (shh!).
It's on the same glittery cardstock from DCWV as my other one. With BG's Urban Prarie Buttons, and some green ribbon that I had a piece of. I really like this ribbon, but have no idea who made it.

So, what's the moral of this little blog entry? If you're nervous to try something, try it any way. And if it doesn't turn out, it's a learning experience. If it does turn out, you'll love it...Good luck and Happy Creating!

The Coloring Technique I Know

So I was trying to do a few challenges for Winterhaven, over at Stamp Haven, and I spent a LOT of time last night working on one--the coloring challenge!
I love color. I love crayons. I love colored pencils. I love markers. I feel, truly, as if the world is a better, more colorful place thanks to my Caran D'Ache watercolor pencils (Which I was introduced to in Switzerland when I was 13). I finally got my second tin 15 years later, they last long and they seem to have the best color, in my opinion.
Well, instead of watercolors, I decided to do something else that I tend to use a lot, Twinkling H2Os. I can't remember which colors I used for this Hero Arts stamp, but I added a dot of Glossy Accents by ranger to a lot of the circles. The card is a DCWV glitter card and the accent paper is BG Urban Prarie, with the buttons from the same line (I LOVE BG lately, and I love their buttons, too).
The basic principle of the Coloring challenge is to do something you're used to doing, as well as something new. And I LOVE the something new that I did... Check it out in the next post.

Cricut in the workplace

I made a valentine for my nametag at work.

12 x 12 Basic Grey Offbeat Swap Master LO

This is my master layout for the BG swap on TwoPeas. I used pictures from my Chinatown trip. The little pictures are from the index sheet you get when you develop photos-- not my idea, it was actually something I saw at The Scrapbook Garden on beach Blvd. In Huntington beach, CA.

I challenge You!

Yes, that's right. I challenge you...

To what?

To Create something for one of the challenges at StampHaven's WinterHaven...



It's a great site, filled with wonderful and creative people, and you will most definitely have a great time, work on something that will impress you and learn something. So go on, check out the forums at Stamp Haven and make a commitment to do something creative!

Chance to win some Candy!

Everyone loves blog candy, and for readers of your memories, it's an opportunity to win some awesome stamps of your choice!

Check out the rules here and be sure to join the contest!!!

Good luck, the contest runs all throughout Feb and you can win multiple entries.... Be sure to read the blog posted in the link carefully for full details!

CPS Sketch 103

Card Positioning systems has a sketch contest this week, using the following image:

I keep telling myself that I'm going to do more sketch based things and not rely so much on my own layouts. So, without further ado, this is MY take on the sketch:

I used an a2 card base from DCWV's glitter card (Got it from Archiver's--a set of 5 is in their $1.99 spot), the ribbon at the sides is green and it's from making memories (it said friendship on the side, so I flipped it over and, voila, green ribbon that matches the basic grey paper I used as a base--it's from their porcelain line and the name of the paper is Windermere--I REALLY like it). The button is basic gray, the buttons are from the urban prairie line. Then I used some cardstock (random stuff bought at Archiver's for the pink and green elements that I had in the stash) and cut out the flower (it's the shift key and the letter a), Thank you and the green piece behind the Thank you (again, it's a shift and the accent blackout key) all from the Storybook Cartridge on my Expression.

Hilariously enough, this is the FIRST time I've used the Cricut Expression to make a card, and it was awesomely easy. I think it only took me five minutes to cut out everything after I found the paper. Yay!

Anyway, be sure to check out Card Positioning systems and submit your own card. It's a LOT of fun!

testing

I am excited to be testng this. If you can read this, I am posting from my AT&T tilt! Keep on crafting, people!

Overwhelmed and Appreciative

Okay, so the Akron Reading Festival happened, and we gave away 3,288 bookcrossed books. Wow, right? So many wonderful people helped—people from all over the world sent books and people from all around the Akron area came to help out to work the festival (10 AM to 4 PM). So many wonderful people came, I met lots of awesome people and was touched by the fact that they all read. Reading really can build bridges and unite people.

So, now it’s time to turn this blog back into the crafty blog it was meant to be. I still have lots of things on my creative plate, but they’re getting done and I’m clearing some time to do more.

First off, I have a swap of a 2 page 12x12 layout that I’ve got to finish. I’ve made the first layout, but now I have 5 identical ones to do and send out on Friday. Then there’s stamp projects to do at Stamp Haven—which I can’t wait to do. And there’s always organizing a workspace and getting things taken care of in that way. My creative room has 274 less books in it (thanks to the festival), so I have a little more ‘wiggle’ room. YAY!

I also became a Fiskateer! Yay! Now I am proud to be Fiskateer #5674. What is a Fiskateer, you may ask? Well, a Fiskateer is a crafter who promises to spread the word about the awesome-ness of Fiskars (and by the way, they’re wonderful!)… I’m over simplifying everything, but if you want to learn more about them, please check out the site—www.fiskateers.com.

And now, drumroll please, I am honored to have received my first ever award for blogging on this blog! It’s called the ‘Your Blog is Fabulous Award’ and it was given to me by Anne, who is gracious and totally awesome in her own right. She’s always got really great blog posts that make you think and she’s one of the nicest people I’ve never met, but follow her online faithfully. You won’t regret a visit to her site. Thank you so much, Anne. This award is truly appreciated.

Your Blog is Fabulous Award:

To pick up the Your Blog is Fabulous Award:
List 5 addictions
Cut and paste the award logo and use it in your own blog
Nominate 5 other blogs you think are fabulous
Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award
Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation

So, here are my 5 addictions:
1. Reading—Can it be called an addiction if I panic when I realize I forgot a book I was reading at home, or is it truly an addiction because I’ve stashed five others in various places as backups?
2. Writing—I just can’t seem to help myself. I want to be a writer when I grow up, people. I’m constantly working on a story or two and have scraps of paper (and notes on my smartphone) about plotpoints.
3. Creating—I LOVE stamps and inks and paper. To me, there are infinite possibilities when you add these to the mix, and I really hope that at some point I clear some time to do more…because I just bought a few stamps I’ve been eyeing for a while and I’m just itching to start playing around!
4. Twitter—I tweet, therefore I am. Yes, I twitter quite often. What’s Twitter? It’s telling the internet (in 140 character bursts) your thoughts. I follow a lot of people and love hearing their thoughts, but I also use it sometimes when I need to vent. Not about my creative friends, but about the non-creatives…
5. Chocolate Covered Strawberries—Okay, I love chocolate (Good chocolate people, not old ‘found in a drawer foil covered hearts from 4 years ago’) and added the chocolate covered strawberries because they’re fantastic. I can eat 2 or 3 and just smile with happiness.
So in order to get this award, I am to nominate 5 other blogs for the ‘Your Blog is Fabulous’ Award. Now, I’m not trying to be picky, but I just went to the five people who I thought best embodied the Award.
Gwensmom: Sarah is amazing. And one of the first people I got to share my creative side with (from Nervousness.org). This woman is a genius with found cloth as well as sewing machines. Her work inspires me and her felted catnip mice are still my cat’s favorite toys. And her daughter Gwen is beautiful and amazing--and a little bit of a rebel as well (check out the cellphone post!).
Emilie: A virtual celebrity in the scrapping world! She has such wonderful photos and layouts that reading her is like opening a Christmas present every day—there are always surprises. And she’s blogged about her awesome shoes, which is a plus in my book.
Elaine: Elaine and I used to work for the same company. We went to our first rubber stamping show together and she got me to knit. She’s one of my favorite people on the planet and she’s wonderfully gifted and 100% grounded. And her birthday is Saturday (Feb 14) so that’s probably another reason she’s so sweet and wonderful. Stop by and read her tasty recipes or check out the sneak peek at some of her newly developed products. She’s got some pieces that are sure to be at a store near you. And be sure to ask her about Crazy D’s… J
Kristin: I met Kristin through 2Peas, and reading her blog is very inspiring. She is detailing her creative journey and she’s taking risks that turn out amazingly and she’s showing pieces of her art journal that just floor me because I knew that if I attempted it, it wouldn’t turn out as well. She’s wonderful and you need to go tell her so!
Samantha: Another creative I met through TwoPeas, you may have heard of Samantha through her work on her fabulous site, The Everyday Scrapper. Her personal blog includes links to her etsy site as well as great pictures and videos of things featuring her fun style and spirit. She’s been influenced by Elsie, but Samantha’s work is all her own.

I hope you’ll stop by these blogs and say hello to these wonderful people (including Anne)—within seconds you’ll see why I include these under my ‘must check’ blogs of the day. They’re wonderful. And very deserving of recognition.
Again, thank you so much, Anne, for my very first award. I’m touched. You totally rock!