HA - Cuter in real life...

Had this idea in my head all week long, but only just got to execute it this evening.

It didn’t come out how I envisioned and it really does looks better in real life.

It’s a Mother’s Day card/gift, with a note attached to the back, to say thanks for being such a great mom.

I don’t have many Hero Arts Stamps, so I have to work with what I have.

I stamped the image on heavy muslin, outlined it with a copic marker and embroidery thread and then attached it to a canvas I had painted/washed with acrylic paint.

Thanks for looking…

Sweet Sixteen, and all that...

I wasn’t sure where I was going when I first started working on this tag/card, but somewhere along the line it turned into a birthday card.

I think I’ll add “Sweet Sixteen” somewhere.

The charm is too big, but it turned into a little “gift” tag (or card) for that sweet special someone.

The lace was an afterthought (and I see from the photo that it is way too white), but I wanted to give her a bit of a younger look.

The heart and the gold filigree are actually from this wonderful wrapping paper and the fabric is from some samples I purchased at a “going out of business” sale.

The young lady is from a 1975 Needleworks magazine (and I hope it’s okay to use!)

Thanks for stopping by…

Hero Arts Spring Challenge

No, this isn’t a spring color combo…

but it is bright and cheery, which is something we need in our neck of the woods today since we’ve had snow, ice and wind the past two days.

I used the Happy Hello clear stamp set (Cl231).

Since I have yet to venture into the world of “Copic-ing,” I decided instead to use some Prima Daisy Doodles to add color.

Happy Spring everyone…

I love the concept of the wood tags and cards, so I think I'm going to stick with them for a while.

I'm not happy with this one and would love to re-work it.

Problem is, it's covered with decoupage sealer.

At least I didn't use my original...

Caardvarks Challenge

Ditto for this photo...

Again, sorry to be reposting this photo from yesterday's "Frontier Lace" series, but I just went to visit the Caarvark's site and saw their current challenge, and well...I just couldn't resist.

Again, don't know if this tag qualifies...

Caardvarks Challenge...

Sorry to be reposting this photo from yesterday's posting of my "Frontier Lace" series, but I just went to visit the Caarvark's site and saw their current challenge, and well...I just couldn't resist.

Don't know if this tag qualifies...

What fun!

Thanks, Caardvarks!

Forgot one...

Frontier Lace

It took me a bit longer to get around to it, but I finally got the craft room cleaned up.

It took me all day Thursday and on Friday,  I stared crafting again...my first time in months.

I call them Frontier Lace…

I used this fabric, which I  love.

I hope this is just the beginning...

Something this way is coming…

I can’t believe it’s almost been a month since I last posted.

School just took over my life.

It’s gotten better, though, and Spring Break starts this Friday…yea!

So I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll do some crafting.

I STILL have to get that craft room cleaned up.

Now, the only times I go in there is to get something I need for other, non-craft stuff.

But see these...

Something is a coming.

I figure, if I put myself out here, in a public sort of way, then I WILL have to do something.

Hope to be back nest week…

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.

Making no New Year’s Resolutions…

Instead...I’m jotting down some dreams and aspirations for this new and exciting decade (i.e. see previous post).

(Who am I kidding…isn’t it all one and the same?!)

I’m in a new place as we begin this New Year…literally and figuratively.

We moved cross country this past summer so my husband could take up a new job…his dream job.

We left behind friends and family and moved to a place where we know…no one.

But it’s all been fine and good and I’m amazed how much I’m enjoying my new life…even though there have been times when I’ve been so incredibly lonely.

But it’s been a time of reflection: Where have I been…and where am I going…with/in my life.

It’s also afforded an opportunity to “reinvent” myself…of sorts.

I’m going back to school…

I’m putting my “crafts” out there…something I’ve not really (comfortably) done before, because back where I come from everyone knew “me” before they knew of my crafts.

Know what I mean?

Here…I meet people because I “craft.”

And because it’s a small town, new friends and acquaintances see me as I put forth my craft (at fairs or at shops) and so they see my craft as being a part of who I am, right off the bat…

And not as an after-effect as in…”Oh…you craft…Yada…Yada…Yada.”

Am I making any sense?

That’s okay…as long as it makes sense to me.

Who knew moving to a new place could be so…

Exciting…

Adventurous…and

Liberating!

I certainly didn’t!

Happy New Year to you as you find/start your own new adventures…

Fooling around...with Paint

I want to explore designing my own paper...but I have no idea how to go about doing that.

Something I created in Paint...

I would love to print and use it...

But then it would use all the ink from the printer cartridge...and I know the colors won't be as vibrant.

Back to the library and the internet...

Do I dare?

Yes...

Definitely.

My first post...

Christmas Tags

Phew...