Ok....a 3rd one done....

I've been playing some more and created this third Journal for my ETSY store!!! I wanted to use the three flowers I had made over the weekend so decided what best way to use them then on Journals.......This one isn't my favorite but I think it is nice to look at.......I did use a rubberstamp on the phrase and the black swirleys this time........(I just gotta say I like the look of the Laser Printer more.....) The flower I made this past weekend I wanted to give it more of a glossy look so I took it outside and sprayed 2 coats of Kryon High gloss coating on it....then I sprayed with some Ameretto Mister to give it even a bit more depth.....and wiped excess off with a paper towel...I am happy with the way this turned out......


You'll notice I also used some silk flower petals with rhinestone brads as well for additional accent around the large flower and some artificial leaves in the bronze and off white colors...they have a bit of a pearlized look to them........the contrast is nice....I also used some heart shaped rhinestones above the bow and on the upper right corner of the journal......an edge of wallpaper border trim cut down and a strip of lace.......and of course my large cream wired ribbon wrapped around the journal.....




So this is the latest creation....do you like it??? I'll be getting this one along with the other 2 and a Thank You card I've created and whatever else I can get created posted on my ETSY store by the end of the week.......feels good to be creating ART again......


Ok, that's it for me now....I did ALOT of blog browsing today and viewed some AMAZING ART others have created...I think that is so much fun to just browse everyone's blog....You all are SO talented!!! I would like to THANK YOU for stopping by to visit with me!!! I do hope you will come by again.....I hope you all have a very blessed evening....until next time....

I've been playin......

I had some ME time tonight and decided to try my hand at creating a "Shudder Card" template in Inkscape.......I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.......took a bit of tweeking but I finally have a result I'm happy with.....So I thought I would create a card with this template so you could see if it would be something you liked.........Here's my creation!!!




If you would like this template you know the routine...either click the image or the designated area below the image of the cut file......I also created a 3 tab file folder this evening for one of the ladies on a yahoo group I belong to and I thought perhaps other's might find this file helpful.......

Download: HERE


Download: HERE

I hope some of you find these files helpful....As always I want to THANK YOU for stopping by to visit with me!!!! Please come by again....and I hope you all have a very blessed Tuesday!!!

Added Note: I have had several requests about where I got the paper I used for this card......Unfortunately it's one of a kind......I took it from a wallpaper book that I had gotten....these books are AMAZING for using in your ART.....You may want to give your local paint store or wallpaper company to see if they will hold their discontinued books for you!!!!! THANK YOU EVERYONE for your WONDERFULLY touching comments!!!

OH MY....I was SO happy...

To create something OTHER than a scrapbook page for a change!!!!! I am still reveling in the completion of my last project!!! LOL, can you tell??!!!! I needed to work on a 1 on 1 swap I'm doing with a VERY special lady Kanan who will be moving back to her native country India in a very short time.....she had requested that I use the image you see below in a creation somehow as this is a very significate photograph to her culture.....I was honored that she asked me to do this.....I wanted to create something special that she would remember me by....so I decided on a Journal......

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way this turned out and I hope she will too......I took the image she sent me and printed it the size I wanted it....then I scanned it and brought the scanned image into Inkscape and traced the people to create a cut file...actually I did 2 traces...one of both of them and then one of just the baby.......In the pictures below you can see how the baby pops up off the top layer just a wee bit more.......Once I created the cut files I then brought the layers into SCAL and did my cuts.....Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my Cricut Expression!!! LOL (sorry, just had to put that in there....)

I then knew I wanted to put some type of a frame around the image so I started browsing through my graphics and found the frame I liked but I wanted it to be a cut file so I converted it to black and white saved it as a jpeg then Imported it into Inkscape and converted it to a cut file, saved it then brought it into SCAL to cut it......I used wallpaper to cut the frame so it would have a nice look to it......I then cut 2 more frames of it in off white cardstock to layer behind so it would give the frame more substance.....I used raised dots on the back to bring to the height I needed to accomodate for the depth of the photo....

I then covered the journal with coordinating wallpaper top and bottom layer, inside and outside.....I used a strip of beaded ribbon then some shear ribbon over that tied into a bow......put the journal back together.....then I used glossy accents on the jewels on the headdresses and some of the jewelry to give the picture more of a dimensional look and feel.......Whola!!

I'm so excited over Kanan receiving this and hope she receives it with all the love I've put into it.....I'm sharing the frame I created below if anyone is interested in the file.....It cut BEAUTIFULLY by the way!!!!

Download: HERE

It felt SO good to create and I'm going to be working on some cards today that I owe on swaps I'm late on..........

THEN.....My day got even better when I was given this award by not 1 but 2 VERY SPECIAL LADIES!!! Rita Loyd and Christina Lytle These ladies are what one would truly describe as TRUE friends!!! When you can have disagreements and some very hurtful things be said and then be adult enough to face the issues and be willing to face them and come out on the other end with stronger friendships because of it....that's what a true friend is in my opinion.....So this award to me has a very special meaning to me.........

LEMONADE STAND AWARD!!

Here are the rules for this award.

1. Comment on this blog.
2. Cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog.
3. Nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show great attitude and gratitude.
4. Link to your nominees within your blog post.
5. Comment on their blogs to let them know they received the award.
6. Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation

Ok, now for the wonderful blogs I would like to share with you.......these little stinkers have already snagged a couple of the ones I wanted to share so I shall move to the others that I love!!!

1.) June McFarlane - I love her Mixed Media ART she creates and especially love her sweet personality
2.) Lora Washburn - She creates some wonderful cut files and beautiful scrapbook pages and has a very giving spirt from what I've come to know about her
3.) Wanda Davis - SUCH a sweet sweet lady......I'm so thrilled to have found her friendship and she does beautiful creations for just starting to play with paper!!!
4.) Shelly Wood - SIMPLY GIFTED ARTist.....I've know her along time and she has amazing talent!!
5.) Chrystal Schilling - When you think of handmade paper.....Chrystal is the 1st name that comes to my mind....she is amazingly gifted on making handmade paper and is a wonderful person to boot!!!
6.) Creations by Cheri - I LOVE the fun whimsy of her cards and she does a wonderful job on sketch challenges...and a very sweet lady!!
7.) Angie Hall Haviland - Hummmmmmm there are no words that best describe this WONDERFUL lady!!! I have been blessed to know Angie for MANY years and she is SUCH an inspiration to me with her gift of ART and her loving personality...I SO strive to have my ART Haven to be remotely close to her Studio!!!
8.) Bonnie's Craft Bits - I have met her through some SCAL groups we belong to and she is the sweetest lady and creates some wonderful scrapbook pages......
9.) Ilena - I Scrap Designs - I as well have found her blog through the SCAL groups and love her creations...I visit there often!!!
10.) Erin Bassett - I happened by her blog one day through someone elses and just LOVE her ART.....I visit there often love seeing what she comes up with...

Ok, guess I better stop....I could go on and on there are SO many wonderful blogs out there with wonderful owners behind them!!! To imagine my life with out my computer and blog would be terrible!!! :)

I want to THANK YOU all for taking from your day to stop by and visit with me!!!! I love hearing from you and I hope you will stop by again.....I pray you all have a VERY blessed day...until next time....

Oh what fun I've been having.....

Why do I always do it to myself....I always seem to wait til the last minute to create swaps I've commited myself to....You'd think I would learn my lesson but I think I've realized I just enjoy the pressure I put on myself....NOT..... :) Anyway, I was determined to get 6 pieces of ART created today that I had commited to doing and just wanted to share with you what I came up with.......

This first one is for the ATC Swap with CraftyCardCreators @ Yahoo Groups.......It's a choose your own theme swap.....so I decided to personalize the ATC for the recipient.....I did design my layout in Inkscape and cut with my Cricut Expression.......as well as rubberstamped, stippled and layered......I think it is a very cheery ATC!!!!

This next swap is entitled "Butterfly Crossing" doesn't that sound like such a pretty pretty theme!!! Well I again designed my layout in Inkscape and cut with my Cricut Expression....this card had ALOT of cutting in it and I am totally thrilled with the outcome..It is a shaker card which is my new favorite card to make!!! The possibilities are so out there with this type design!!! I love EVERYTHING about this card!!!

Ok......now the next one....the theme for this card was "Country Days".......I wanted to do something that shouted Country.....I do believe I achieved that!!! Can you believe I didn't use my Cricut on this card...LOL.....boy was it tough to hold myself back!!! hehehe.....but I do still indeed like the outcome of this card!!!! It has a nice warmth to it and I love the addition of the buttons to it!!!!

Now the next theme was "Happy Birthday".....I tried to think a little outside the box on this one...perhaps I didn't achieve that goal but I do like what I came up with!!!! I again used my Cricut for parts on this card....embossing sleeve and I cleverly (at least to me anyway) cut a circle with my Cricut (NO that's not the clever part!!!) :) but then I placed it perfectly on my paper and ran through my printer and printed happy birthday in different fonts on the circle....I really like this technique and know I will use it more in the future!!!!

Ok....This next one is the "Sketch Swap".......I wanted something extremely cheerful and I think I achieved that!!!! I love the colors yellow and green together.......I used my Cricut Expression on the words but the rest was the good old fashion way of cutting!!!!

And then finally....there's the "Image Swap".......I don't like just making a card each month with the different images which are chosen to use so I always try to create something different....This time I came up with the idea of a Pin........I used the Cricut Expression to cut several Ovals that I then layered together....I then ran one of the ovals through my printer and printed the image I prepared.......rubbed the edges and sides with some green distress ink....punched some holes at the bottom then put several layers of modge podge over the piece to seal and coat.....once dried I placed the beads to the pin then glued the pin back to the back.......I really like the vintagy look of this and to think....it's made with cardstock.......

I felt I was on a roll today and certainly had fun......however I wish I would handle my creative time better......It's not like I don't have alot of me time!!! :) Thank you SO much for stopping by to visit with me and allowing me to share my ART with you!!! I hope you enjoyed what I've created and perhaps gain a few ideas!!! Please come by again....until then....

It's another day to celebrate!!!

Someone else's birthday is coming up and I had another request for some Birthday Cards!!!! They are both for the same person......I'm hoping the first one is enough of a masculine look....I think so, so I'm going with it...I love the way this turned out....I sorta made my own nestabilities type scallop circles.......I used a RS for the birthday image on the top layer of scallops.....I embossed with black embossing powder then used some of my Distress Ink Pads and then spritzed with water..the colors blend so pretty!!! The very top embellishment is just a round piece of cardboard that I covered with Distress Ink pad and then covered with clear embossing ink and clear embossing powder and embossed......the perfect shade to blend in with the card.....I cut SEVERAL of the "E" monogram from regular cardstock and then glued together to give the effect of chipboard letters....the top layer I cut with some of the wallpaper the background layer is........


The background layer of wallpaper I actually sliced in half and then embossed each half with different embossing sleeves then taped back together and that's where my ribbon is placed to help cover the seam.......I used some of my sizzix dies for the corner pieces that I cut from one of the coordinating wallpapers I'ved used on the scallops.....lined a piece of burgandy cardstock behind the background then mounted to a kelly green cardbase.......


The envelope...I modified a premade one and then embellished with wallpaper and ribbon that matches the card....I really like the way this card set turned out!!! Of course having the opportunity to use my cricut makes it all the more better!!! :)


This next card is from the gentleman's daughters.....he loves the Chicago Cubs and I was asked to incorporate Wrigley Field somehow in the card.......So here's my version........where the displayboard is supposed to be I cut that area out.....used my cricut to cut some metallic black cardstock with the phrase "Happy Birthday Dad".......backed a sticky sheet of cardstock behind the cutouto and then the layer of the phrase in the middle of the opening...I carefully covered the perimeter with black glitter then covered the words with antique gold glitter...doesn't it look like a live billboard!!! :)

Here's a shot of what I did for the inside....I took an image of the field with a crowd and cut it out to match the front of the card.....I did put the phrase in...I thought it fit perfectly for the nature of the card!!!

I really am looking forward to hearing what he thinks of this card.....I believe it will probably be one of his favorites!!!! He's a real cool guy and he has an amazing relationship with his two awesome daughters!!!!

So now I believe I'm completed with everyone's requests for cards for a bit and now I get to begin working on several swaps I'm signed up for!!!! I can at least relax a bit!!! I, as always....want to THANK YOU for stopping by to visit with me.....and taking time to share my ART with me!!! I do hope you will stop by again soon!!!! I hope you all have a very blessed day....until next time...

Oh My Goodness...I made it!!!!

Talk about a LONG night!!! But boy did I have fun!!! I have definately gotten my fix of paper the last 2 days!!! Feel like I've done a Marathon!!! I had requests for a total of 7 cards for Valentine's Day!! Can you say WOW!!! I had completed 3 of them on Wednesday which I shared with you yesterday morning......Well, while at work yesterday I received a request for an additional 3 cards!! Talk about making me feel good!!!

So, here's the first one...This is for a little girl I believe is 6 years old.....I love the soft loving colors don't you......

The next is for a little boy I believe is 3!! Doesn't ALL boys love Monster Trucks!!! Hopefully he'll enjoy this card too!!

Ok...This next one is for a co-worker....He and his finace' are getting married in a couple of months.....they own a chincilla (sp?) so if you look carefully inside you'll see a surprise of confetti of pictures of their Chichi!! This card is very deep but would be a great card to frame after Valentine's Day as a rememberance of this special time in their lives!!

And this last one is for another co-worker....it's for his wife and I have to say I love this card!! The soft delicate colors of the card with the ribbon and butterfly I think set off this card!!!

I must say I am above myself thrilled with the outcome of these cards!!! Very labor intensive but oh so worth it to me!!! I love detail and embellishment.....and I believe each of these cards I've created have exactly that...They are each one of a kind and I pray they are as special to the recipients as they are for me to have made them!!!

The Muse is Coming Back!!!

I have been feeling rather poorly this week and had lost my muse!!! What a better way to get it back then to get some card orders!!!! :) I've received an order for 4 cards......I have been able to complete three of the 4.......did them last night and this morning........1 masculine & 2 kids Valentine Cards........Once I came up with the ideas in my head I had alot of fun with them!!!


This first one is a Shaker Card and it's for a man..........the script reads..."You are my Everything Happy Valentine's Day" I created the layer with wallpaper and my cricut expression with the Inkscape and SCAL software....I just LOVE my cricut and the software...I know I've said it before but I just have to say it again....Possibilities are absolutely endless!!!!

This next card is for a girl....she's 9 and a sweetheart...I used of course my Cricut Expression, CDS, embossing sleeves and more!!! I HAVE to share with you the gorgeous green strip with the red ribbon threaded through it is some of one of my really good friend's handmade paper....you've got to check out her store..Chrystal Schilling she is VERY gifted with her ART of handmade papers.....The inside of the card will have a very cute phrase which I shall complete this evening...





This 3rd card is also for a girl whom I believe is 12......she's a very mature 12 and I thought these colors would make her smile!!! I did alot of layering with this card and I love the soft colors....It will as well have a cute saying on the inside in reference to the ballons.......

All in all I'm thrilled with these 3 cards and look forward to finishing them up and creating one more this evening....The last one I have to create will be for a female...I'll be sure to share it with you!!! Thanks for stopping by to visit with me....PLEASE come by again...until then....