See this mess...

Another reason I haven’t gotten around to crafting…

I’m embarrassed to admit it, it but this is what my little craft room has looked like since the beginning of the New Year.

I have a little reprieve from class work this week and hoping to get in there and clean it up.

I’m just itching to start crafting again.  It’s been way too long, which is why I spent a little time last evening drawing this in paint... 

I have Valentine’s Day on the brain.

Life Happens…

And sometimes gets in the way.

Life is what’s happened to me since starting this blog.

But it’s all good.

Started classes at the University this semester and since then, my time has no longer been my own.

I won’t go into the boring details of just how many waking hours I spend on class-work...

Suffice it to say that I’m hoping the (how to) study habits will kick in again and I won’t have to continue spending all my waking hours on class work so that I can get back to some crafting.

I'm starting to experience withdrawal...

Fabric + Origami = Boxes

I love making origami boxes.

I also love working with fabric.

Thus, Fabric Origami boxes....

I’ve seen the pattern a few times on the internet but I really like this tutorial by Nicole Heady of Inspired/Papertrey Ink (formerly “Capture the Moment”).

I have more fabrics...just haven't had the time to turn them into boxes.

Hopefully, soon though...

Caardvarak Sketch Challenge…

I didn’t think I would be able to make the deadline for this challenge…

I started classes at the University this week (after a 3 decade hiatus)...I forgot how much homework Professors can assign!

But…I had an image in my mind for this card when I drifted off to sleep last night…

using these fabrics that I had just purchased (at my newest favorite store in town) on Wednesday.

I don’t have classes today (just tons of homework) and decided to spend some time playing.

I love the color combination on the coffee mug/cup fabric…so soft…and had some leftover stripped paper from the Paper Source.

The coffee mugs, swirly fabric and the “steam” are attached using fusible web.

I like the card concept but feel it needs to be sharpened up a bit.

Thanks for letting me play….

A(nother) New Year’s Aspiration/Dream…

Along with the dream of designing paper, I would love to create some stamps...or images that could somehow be used in card making and crafting.

Some designs I created a few months ago using (mostly) the 'free form line' in auto shapes in MS Word’s “Draw” feature.

I had to “build” each outfit.  So...if I want to use the black dress with green strips, I have to cut and paste the lines individually.  Or, to pull the outfit with the red top, jacket (as well as the belt buckles and pockets, etc). I have to piece it all together. 

I found out too late (after I had already created these designs) that Paint would probably work better.

I have used a few of these and some of my other drawings/outfits on cards for family and friends and would now like to try and create some in Paint.

Fabric & Wood Tags

A few months ago I discovered Balsa wood at the local hardware store.

Since then, I’ve been using the thin sheets of wood to make cards and tags. (Also see first post.)

Since we just recently relocated to the western side of the U.S., I decided to make holiday tags with a western theme and using wood and fabric.

Below are just a few quickies I made for family and friends for the holidays.

I used pieces from two different fabrics on these tags for some little friends.

Used complementary fabric to create the jean/pants and some bling on the following tags.

This tag is my favorite...

Next time around I’ll add more fabric, paper, etc. for a more vintage, decoupage look.

So in love…

with this shop...



It’s located downtown in my new little home town.

There was a really large, wonderful fabric store near my home back east and I was worried…

But, I haven’t been disappointed…except for ribbon.

They don’t carry much in the way of ribbon, and I love ribbon, almost as much…if not more…than fabric.

Just a few of the fun fabrics they carry...

Best of The West II - Boots

Northcott Novelty Cowgirl Boots highlighted with metallic gold

Northcott Novelty Cowgirl Hats highlighted with metallic gold

Coming up...

A few tags made with these fabrics.