Thursday, July 30, 2015

Vintage Christmas in July! AND #Cards4Love




Here is my first Christmas Card for 2015!  The next couple of weeks I will be concentrating on Christmas and Thank You Cards for #Cards4Love event!  You can get more information about this wonderful card drive/challenge/*contest HERE.  I'm not sure this particular card will go, but I will be making some cards to go in that direction!  

Life is Good when we share a bit of ourselves with those in need of cheer!  This card drive is for our military and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. 

I started with a piece of CTMH Colonial White Cardstock and stenciled with the Craftwell eBrush.  I used a Prima Stencil and a Spectrum Noir TB8 marker.

I then rubbed over the CS with CTMH Sky ink.  I sprayed a few spots with homemade spray (CTMH Chocolate re-inker, CTMH Create a Shade Paint, and rubbing alcohol) and finished off the edges with Prima Color Bloom Tea Stain.

The flourish is CTMH Small Black Sparkles Flourishes.  The sentiment tag is heat embossed from the  CTMH stamp set Yuletide Carol Scrapbooking Workshop.  I used Bamboo Pigment Ink and embossing powder for the Merry Christmas.  For the outside of the tag, I used Star Spangled Blue (an older retired color) and Outdoor Denim.

My twine is from Darice and the flower is from Kaiser Craft and sprayed with Prima Color Bloom Tea Stain and glittered a bit!

If you would like to donate some cards, please check out #Cards4Love for all the details!  Oh, and it is my understanding this is a *contest.  That means one lucky crafter will win a great prize.  So.... you might want to check that out!

I'm also sending this off to the following challenges:

Heart 2 Heart:  Life is Good  and use CTMH  Because life is good when we share!  
613 Avenue Create:  Anything Goes with optional Shabby Chic
ABC Christmas Challenge:  O is for Off the Edge  My flourish goes off the edges
Christmas Card Challenges:  Anything Goes
Path of Positivity:  Sharing ~  Sharing the #Cards4Love event with everyone!  

Friday, July 24, 2015

5, 5, 5, 5, What's the number 5?

How many is 5?

Ok, I'm showing my age with the memory remnants of that Sesame Street song and the baker coming down the steps with the cakes and tripping!  Yep, I'm at the tail end of that Baby Boomer Generation!  

Anyway, over at Cut It Up it's all about numbers!  This challenge requires a number and of course a die cut!  I chose the number 5...…obviously!  Please visit Cut It Up for all the details of the challenge!  


I've never done a pocket style layout before, but I recently purchased a We R Memory Keepers Fuse Tool and I wanted to try this technique.  There are several videos out there and I encourage any of you who have one and are frustrated to check those out.  I feel there is a definite learning curve to this tool; but if we stick to it and find the technique that works for us, it'll be well worth it!


I know there are pocket pages out there to purchase, but I can never seem to go the conventional route.  I actually enjoy re-inventing the wheel when it comes to crafting.  For me, there is a certain joy in discovering my own way of doing it.  Ok, that's really my mature way of saying this:  Down deep I'm a 2-year old screaming, "I'll do it myself!"

This layout is a synopsis of my little grand-girl being 5.  The first picture was from her birthday when she received her art easel through a trip to the zoo right before her 6th birthday.  This sort of pocket layout is a perfect way to show off lots of unrelated pictures tied together with a number theme.  This layout is also perfect for using the last bits of retired/stashed papers and embellishments.

My die cuts are from the following Cricut Cartridges:
Text "When I was" - Birthday Bash
5 with Flower, "five" and square five - Graphically Speaking
Heart from DS

Papers and Cardstocks from CTMH:
Brushed
Lollydoodle
Dream Pop (2013 promotion)
Canary, Sweet Leaf, Pixie, Crystal Blue, Daisy White, Honey, and Fundamentals

Other CS:  DCWV Glitter

CTMH Embellishments:  White Shimmer Tape, Lagoon Washi Tape,  Flamingo Dots, Brushed Metal Flower, Pink Flower, Baker's Twine, Thick Pixie and Lagoon Twine

Other Embellishments:  Bo Bunny Gems and Spare Parts Sequins

Stash (Unknown) Embellishments:  Flower gems, Flower Button glued to Bo Bunny Gem,  Sparkle 5 Chipboard Piece, Heart Paperclip, Blue Stick-on Letters, Flower Gems and Purple Button

Inks:  CTMH Honey, Pixie, Sunset and Canary

Gel pens, adhesive, CTMH Page Protector, We R Memory Keepers Fuse Tool, Adhesives, CTMH Chevron Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, and Various CTMH Flower Stamps

Ok, so that's the #5!  That is how many 5 is!  5 Years Old -----Not yet 6, but more than 4!  You got it!

So, how will you interpret this challenge?  We can't wait to see what you do with this!  One Happy Cut is sponsoring our challenge!  Check them out for some really fun dies, stamps, stencils, etc!



Thursday, July 23, 2015

the 50's!


Here is a case where I made the layout before I took all the pictures! That means I'll be staging pictures to go with my layout.

Hey, you scrappers out there can't tell me you've never done that!  : )

Anyway, I made the outfit for my little grand-girl and the pics are in the layout, but I need some photographs of her in the clothes!

There will be more on the outfit itself in a post on August 7th!

The die cuts are all from Nifty Fifties and cut in Design Space.  The papers are all from the CTMH Seaside Collection.

I heat embossed the starbursts and the arrows.  I used embossing folders from CTMH as well as sequins and washi tape.

I embellished that little poodle with some Onyx beads and a leash.

I added a little fine glitter to the green stars for some sparkle on the black page.

My plan is a full length photo on page one.  Then a picture of her at the Back to the 50's Festival on the 2nd page.  Then I can journal on the "you rock" card.


 This 2 page layout is off to:

Color My Heart  Colors from the Seaside Collection

Scrap Our Stash
Poodle and polka dots
Heat embossing
Old record albums
Tape and tulle under the skirt
Onyx beads and leash
Starbursts and Sequins

Lasting Memories  Double Layout

613 Avenue Create  Anything Goes with opt/ Use moon or stars

Thanks for stopping by to visit!  As always, make yourself at home and feel free to browse other posts, ask a question or leave a comment!  It's always great to hear from you!




Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Fresh Brewed Designs Benefit!



This card is made from a very special Digi designed for a fundraiser to benefit Mrs. Debbie.  This is just one of the images of 9 in the set designed by Heather over at Fresh Brewed Designs.  This wonderful set is only $5.00 and all proceeds go toward the benefit!  It's a win/win!  You don't want to miss this opportunity!!  So head on over to Fresh Brewed Designs to check out the details and all the great images!

Now as for my card, I used the picture from the digi and typed in my own sentiment for my sister.  Then I colored with 'cheapie' colored pencils and masked off the heart around the sisters and inked with a dauber.  

I'm not a proficient 'colorer', but I did have fun!  I'm working on this skill, but find it difficult to shade and such.  I'll keep watching videos and practicing!  I'm in the process of deciding if I want to work with and invest in some better pencils or if I want to change mediums and go with Copics.  Hmmm......  Such decisions!  If anyone wants to share some advice/ experiences, I'm all ears!

I will share an artist I am following currently:  Sandy Allnock.  I am truly enjoying her style and attempting to pick up some hints.  

Thanks for stopping by today for a visit and be sure to check in on Friday for a new challenge post for Cut It Up!  I'm counting the days!


Saturday, July 11, 2015

Sharing.....

It's time for another Path of Positivity Post!

Usually my blog is a place where I share a project and describe all the details of said layout, card, canvas, etc.  Recently I have taken to a challenge blog where the idea is to share a project inspired by a positive theme.  The theme for July is  "sharing."  In this process, I personally enjoy telling my story as well as showing the inspired project.

So, grab a cup of coffee or a nice cold lemonade and join me for some thoughts!


I love quotes and I'm constantly combing the internet for quotes to use in cards and layouts.  As I was thinking about the idea of "sharing" I found this quote:  "Gaining knowledge, is the first step to wisdom.  Sharing it, is the first step to humanity." - Unknown

I was out working in the barn.  Now for those of you who have done lots of barn work, you know much of the work is done by rote and there is not a lot of thought needed.  Therefore, the mind wanders to many different ideas, lists, random thoughts.....well, you get the idea.  I have to admit, many of my creative ideas are born out there.  Maybe that explains why so many of my projects are nature/animal related!

I thought about some of the most selfless acts of sharing I'd seen. Then it came to me......5 of the 6 horses in my barn!  Yes, they must be the most selfless souls.  Now, this brings me back around to the quote.

Are humans the only beings able to share?

Working in the field of therapeutic horsemanship, my answer would have to be a resounding, "No!"

I can tell you story after story of amazing things I've seen these guys do!  They have an innate sense to live as herds and look after each other.  They figure out ways to get out of work, get back in the herd leader's good graces, and avoid confrontation.  They truly seem to want to be "community type" creatures who quickly learn to include humans in that community and vise versa.

I realize there are animal trainers out there who would say the domesticated horses are only acting the way they have been taught to behave through means of negative reinforcement.  Others would say I am simply exhibiting personification or anthropomorphism (the act of giving human qualities to animals, objects, etc.)  Yet others reading this will insist on coincidence and the imaginings of naive children.

Ok, this all being said, I want to share an incredible story about one amazing mare who lived in our barn.  Her given name was Doc's Silver Burro, but everyone called her Pony.  I say everyone because I think she belonged to just about every horse person in our county before she eventually ended up in our barn!

Now, Pony was NOT a pony, she was a horse; she was named Pony by the first little girl who owned her.  Pony originally was a prize winning reigning horse who was retired and sold  for young kids to ride.  This mare seemed to go from barn to barn teaching and sharing her knowledge with kids of multiple generations.  She was a gentle, flea-bitten grey horse.  (Note to non-horse people: That basically means she was white with specks all over here.  This color of horse is born white and the specks turn darker with age.  So when these horses are young they have a white appearance.  Important detail for later in the story!)

Pony came to live with us after our big Quarter Horse had dumped our son, Keith, for the 'umpteenth' time.  Keith's confidence was shattered and he refused to get on a horse ever again.  We took Pony and Keith to a western trainer where they worked together for a short summer before it was time to fully retire Pony due to some serious arthritis.  Her pain worsened and not long after we had to make that decision no one wants to make.

During that summer we saw the mare struggle in the pasture, but anytime Keith would go to get her she would put on her "game face" and rise to the occasion.  He would saddle her and put on the bridle and she would stand proud.  Her movement was graceful, sound and balanced.  Her frame was impeccable!  He gained confidence, but she had to leave him before he was ready to ride another horse.

The fall and winter were difficult for Keith, but by the next spring he seemed ready to get on another horse.  He went to the trainer and rode beautifully.  The trainer asked how he knew many of the things he was doing.  His reply was, "I just know."  We were all perplexed and a few lessons later the trainer asked him to do something she knew he didn't know.

He did it with ease and smiled at her.  She looked at me and asked if he had taken other lessons over the winter and I told her he had not.  Finally he said, "I had lessons all winter!"  We both looked at this 10 year old boy as if he were crazy.  He continued with this statement, "Pony has been teaching me all winter.  She came to me at night in dreams.  She was so beautiful, young, muscled, white, and sparkled.  She showed me new things and I just knew how to do them in the dreams.  Then she just stopped coming when I started lessons on this horse."

The trainer cried because she had once owned this horse and it was her own daughter who had named the horse Pony.  She knew the sharing nature of this mare.

Fast forward 10 or so years.  We now have a sweet little grand girl who came to us through marriage; she is the light of our lives!  We were sitting around the campfire one evening when I told her she had a great ride that day!  I asked her how she knew how to do something?  I was actually just kidding around with her when she replied, "I did it in a dream!"  Her Uncle Keith (now in his early 20's) looked at her with the biggest grin.  He knew what was coming.  I had to ask.  She replied, "I rode the most beautiful white horse with sparkly diamonds all over her!  She showed me how to ride fast and not be afraid anymore!  I love her!"

Yes, Old Pony was still sharing her gifts with children who needed her.  Her selfless act reminds me of the Dalai Lama quote, "Share your knowledge.  It is a way to achieve immortality."  Pony still lives in the hearts and minds of all those children she taught to love, respect and ride horses!  Her compassionate, sharing nature cannot be matched.

Yes, here is a horse, an equine creature, livestock who took many steps toward humanity; or maybe it is we as humans who take the steps to achieve what many other creatures already know as the act of sharing.

Oh yeah, and what do I think flea bitten grey horses look like in heaven!?  My guess is they are white and sparkle like diamonds!

My layout is off to:

Path of Positivity:  Sharing
Sketchabilities:  Sketch
Lasting Memories:  Together

Thanks for stopping by to visit today!  Make yourself at home and checkout other posts, ask a question or leave me a comment if you like!


Friday, July 10, 2015

The Sentiment


Sometimes a card is all about the words....the sentiment....the written expression!  Happy birthday sort of says it all, doesn't it?

We are focusing on The Word! at Cut It Up this time.  Of course, you still need to include some sort of die cut -- my cut is the sentiment!  You'll want to link up for this one because we have a wonderful sponsor -- Cute As A Button!  They have some adorable buttons over there for your sewing/crafting!  Check them out!


My sentiment is from Cricut Design Studio and the cartridge is Birthday Cake.  

My card base is from the Fundamental CS CTMH.  I layered a piece of photo paper I had cut off from  printing.  This is a great way to use that left over photo paper if you don't fill your sheet.  

My next layer is Daisy White CS inked with CTMH Inks:  Canary, Sunset, and Pixie.  I then cut a circle stencil in DS and put in some Daisy White Pigment Ink circles to give it a Bokeh Effect.  I'm not so sure I fully achieved that look, but it still has a festive look suitable for a celebration!  My husband thought it looked like an abstract balloon picture......ok, that works, too!  

I cut the sentiment out of Black Fundamental CS from CTMH and a Baker's Twine bow wraps it up!

Head over to Cut It Up for challenge details!