Photos of craft room so far

Keep in mind this is just the beginning.....lol.

On the left is storage for cutting station: cricut cartridges, spellbinders, sizzix, CM cutting system, etc.

short shelf unit has binders of notes from online classes, inventory of punches, stamps etc. And my cricut until I get the cutting table set up.

Shelf unit on right has my adhesives, totes for scraps, punches (these will move to the cutting shelf soon), a storage box for projects being worked on, and extra storage boxes for organizing things not sorted yet.

One side of the wardrobe is for papers, still have lots to get sorted but it started...lol.  

This side of the wardrobe is a work in progress also: a few storage boxes for quilling supplies, page kits and right now miscellaneous.

Playtime posting

Today I got to work on a few things which finished up a couple swaps.
First up is a set of Christmas cards and I went for a simple design.

I love the holly embosed cardstock.  This is from paper pad I bought a couple years ago.  I layered it on the red cs to draw out the red berries.  The green circle is a wreath pattern from the cricut lite cartridge JOLLY Holiday which I decorated with red stickles and cut out the doily from a spellbinders set.  The white flower is from the same set to finish it off I used a red pearl adhesive embellishment.

Next was a set of 6 gift tags:  I just love making my own gift tags.

I used a shimmer white cs that I embossed with a "Victoria" embossing folder then inked the edges with Brick Red distressing ink.  Used a small punch to make the flowers (two shades of red cs) and used a clear glitter stickle to outline the top flower for definition.  Cut a leaf from the Sizzix Susan's Garden set of hibicus.

Next is an ornament: For this I cut out the Christmas Tree 4 times and tore three of them at the different lengths and slightly curled the edge. Layered these onto the fourth tree, then used the stickles (clear) to give a slight "snowed" look.  I then used some adhesive pearls for the ornaments and a glittered star for the topper.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my little creations and now I'm off to watch a game between OU Sooners and Baylor Bears!  Have a great weekend and check back later for more creations.

New space

I have been working on a new space the last couple weeks and I must say I'm loving it!
Our daughter recently moved out and the room is being transformed into an office/craft room....okay more craft room but the desktop and printer will be located in the room also....lol.  Yes it is sad to have DD so far away (she is in Boynton Beach, FL) but she is happy and enjoying the sunshine, warmth and the boyfriend close.

So far the room has a cutting station organized for using my cricut and cuttlebug, and most of my papers organized.  Still working on the stamps and all the other things but it is coming along and I hope to have a work station set up with in the next week.
I'll post photos soon if anyone is interested in the grand tour....lol.

November already?

Wow October just flew by!
I just don't know where it went.  I did get a little crafting in for some swaps at Ourcreativetable@yahoogroups.com
First was a swap for Artist Trading Cards with the theme of sharing what we are thankful for.  I went with a general fall theme as I love the sesason with all it's rich colors and beauty.

Next was a mini "quilt" wall hanging and I chose to make one from scrapbook paper using the pattern of Hula Twist.  I'm hoping it brings the warmth of friendship to it's reciepient who should recieve it today.

The last swap was for an altered item: It could be anything that we altered. I did something I have been planning to do for so long.  I used a plastic case from an older sizzix die and made a mini fall album to go inside.

I think this is all the pages...but I might have missed a few.  I have  a few more of the cases and know I'll be making more for different events.

A little playtime today!

I love it when I get to craft something...today was no exception.
A paper piecing item that just brings a smile.

Part 2 of the first Lesson in the Sizzix 101 class at www.mycreativeclassroom.com I look forward to moving on to Lesson 2 soon.

Hope my little Santa buddy brings a smile to your face and helps to prepare you for the fast approaching Holidays.

Time to catch up!

Wow time has just flown and although nothing has been monumental just day to day busy!
Time to try and catch up:  Jaiden started school on 9/5/13 and loves it!  Her class seems to have a lot (almost half) of rhyming names!  More like a teacher's nightmare, but I'm sure the kids are all wonderful and the teacher feels blessed to have them all in her class.

I've gotten a little crafting done lately, although not quite as much as I would have liked but here goes with the sharing.

For the September swaps on OurCreativeTable (used to be ARTHavencreationsandfriendships) I participated in the Definition ATC, Halloween Tag, and Halloween Hangy Danglie.  I have sent my tag and Hangy Danglie off (this morning) to their new home and must say I like how they turned out.
The tag:

And the Hangy Danglie:

The Definition ATCs aren't quite ready yet but here are some of the other things I've finished since my last post.

A fall tag

8 Halloween cards from a kit that I am thinking will end up being hidden journaling cards for some fall scrapbook pages.

2 pages for the amusement park album but I might add some things to them, just not sure yet.

A small "basket" stand up card for a Sizzix 101 online class at www.mycreativeclassroom.com I'm taking and hoping to use my dies more often in my crafting.  This is the perfect size to be a placecard or small decoration.  Change the embellishments out and will be adorable for Easter, Christmas or just picnicing.  

I think that is about all of my crafting but who knows, I may be back later to add some more.

Labor of Love

Today was a day of creating a single card for a much beloved Aunt. My beloved Uncle James (we called him Uncle Beige) passed away a few days ago. He was such a kind and peaceful man, I never heard a single unkind word from him.

I have always loved butterflies and always thought them to be special. A few years ago a dear friend who had lost her grown daughter shared with me what she told her grandchildren how they could communicate with their Mother. Butterflies, are a messenger from God to carry all our messages to our loved ones and back. Sent from God to keep watch over us and help us in our times of sorrow and joy.

With this in mind I created this card using Pergamano for my Aunt Cleo.

I only dabble in Pergamano and lately only seem to make cards with it for sympathy cards. It takes me a little while to find the design I want to use as it must speak to me and about the person the card is for. Once selected as I work I think of the person and what they are going through. I also say prayers for them and the healing for their heartache.
The length of time I spend working on these cards are my way of sending hugs, and lots to love to the person receiving them.

A few finishes for the week

I spent some time finishing up a few swaps this week, and here they are.
First not for a swap but my pumpkin Patch kit for August. The top left is the way the instructions had you make it but I changed it up for the other three cards.

Next is the Garden themed card. I knew I wanted to make a garden gate card even before the swap came up, so thought it the perfect thing when the theme was announced. After I cut the gate card I felt I needed to back the gate with something, so I used vellum. Then I felt it needed something for the vellum to "frost" (not sure what to call it......maybe "hide") so I stamped small flowers and leaves in a climbing vine type of pattern. Then decided something else was needed so I quilled some wildflowers (Quilled creations dies) and fixed on the front side with a punched butterfly. The gate was inked with multiple inks and embossed multiple times to give it a shiny aged gold look (this was done right after cutting out).

Next is the butterfly ATC: I really like how these turned out. I first cut my cardstock 2.5" x 3.5" (white) then stamped leaves and roses from the Stampin' Up! stamp set Cottage Rose (definitely decorative stamp set) then I embossed them with the Victoria embossing folder (Cuttlebug....I think) and inked the raised design with Stampin' Up! Pistachio Pudding ink pad. Then I added glitter to the detailed edges of the flowers. Punched the butterfly and glittered the edges of the detail punch and faux stitched the dark pink solid punch, layered it on to a flourished square which I faux stitched. Added the smoked topaz 3mm crystals for the butterfly body.

Playtime

Over the past few days I have gotten to play....I mean create!
On last Friday, a friend lost her Mom and as I thought of her I prayed for the Lord to lift her up and give her strength during this time of grief.
I tend to make Parchment craft (Pergamano) cards for these special times when someone needs that lifting up and love during difficult times. Here is the card I made for her.


Next was finishing off some ATCs for a swap with a butterfly theme. One of my favorite things...butterflies! Which I still have to take photos of...I can't believe I haven't yet....lol. Oh well those will be posted at a later time.

Yesterday I had a chance to make a Thank you card for my friend Paula. Last week she gave me an embossing folder for my birthday and a couple nights ago an idea popped into my head on exactly what I wanted to do with it.

Unfortunately the photo isn't the best and doesn't really show the vibrant colors. I love how it turned out!

Today I received my Paper Pumpkins kit for August (from Stampin' Up!) and it was a kit for 4 cards. According to the instructions you make them the same...well not me.
Although simple in design I think they are cute and just holler summertime. The one in the top left corner is the way the instructions said to make them.
Anyhow...it is time for me to head to bed. Tomorrow will be a busy day; I'm heading to a Phillies baseball game with a meal before hand at Xfinity. Hopefully they win!
Good night and God Bless you All!

Amazing alignment

I love how every once in a while things just align so perfectly.
On Aug 1st, I was going through my email and checked on challenges on Colorful Creations to see things I would hope to work on. Several of the current ones sounded like fun to try, but one really popped out at me. Anything Goes Challenge: Steam punk! I have never tried using steampunk style anything before but know others have and do a wonderful job mixing the Victorian era with the invention era.
My daughter later that day was telling me how she wanted to have a Steampunk costume for Halloween and her boyfriend thought she should make it. HA she doesn't know how to sew and since he doesn't either and there is no way they will learn before then. Guess who is making the costume...ME!
I thought about how this would be my subject for my LO...our journey of making her costume. This is the first page.
The paper is some Paula gave me a few months ago, but I thought was perfect for it with the copper foil accents in it. I then used some copper foil cardstock and embossed with TH SteamPunk embossing folder and my Cuttlebug. Almost perfect...just needed some aging, so I used TH alcohol ink Black Soot and added the aging. Layered this on black to make it pop from the background a bit.
I also thought the photo viewer wheel would be a nice addition. This I cut with a pale yellow (cream) colored cardstock and then used Distress Inks (black soot and tea dye) and Dewdrop copper to age it and the tag. I used some alpha stickers I've had for a few years and added some TH metal embellishments. The photo on the tag is of the pattern we are using and the other photos show the fabrics and a head piece I found to dress up for the occasion.
Now to get the pieces cut out and sewn together.
Watch for our progress along the way.

Altered TP roll treat holder

For one of the July swaps at Arthavencreationsandfriendships@yahoogroups.com we were to alter a roll from toilet paper. This was alot of fun, and there really are so many ideas out there for toilet paper rolls. One of the ideas that intrigued me the most I found at

The theme from the swap is summer: here is my interpretation of this. I hope Penny really likes this. I plan to add a bit of a treat for her as well.

Another of the swaps was a personalized wall hanging for our partner. Mine is for a lovely lady (Rita) in Texas who loves the colors blue and brown and beige flowers. This is what I made for her. I hope she likes it.

Next to work on is finishing up the ATCs. Look for them soon.

A crafty week so far

This has been quite a crafty week for me so far and it is only Wednesday.

First was the Ice cream cone shaped card (previously written about) on Sunday, then on Monday I made some paper flowers.

These turned out so nice I think. Always in the past mine would turn out only slightly dimensional and still pretty much be flat no matter what I did to them. I used the TH Alterations Tattered flowers sizzix die. To give them more depth I also inked the edges with TH tea dye distressing ink. I love inking the edges!
These were for a wall hanging for a swap I'm in which I completed Tuesday. I would love to share a photo at this time; as I love the way it turned out, but I feel the wonderful lady it is for should see it first. I plan to mail it out tomorrow and hopefully by the beginning of next week will have it in her little hands.

Yesterday I also embarked on a just for fun project with my sister Cyndi. As we rarely get to see each and both would love to travel and vacation together, we have started (today) having fantasy vacations. You didn't know I'm really on a cruise ship right now...lol.
For our little "trips" I even made a passport!

Although this is silly to some, we are exploring the world from our houses and sharing the memories of our inexpensive vacations. We have both been to several places in the world but not the same ones, we will be sharing these with the other and are both looking forward to our excursions. Who knows where we will "go" next. Europe or Hawaii are both on the list.

Who wants Ice Cream?

After all the heat this summer and knowing more is to come...I'm ready.

For a swap I'm in on Arthavencreationsandfriendships@yahoogroup.com I needed to make a shaped card. I had many ideas tossing around in my head for a few weeks and just couldn't quite decide on one.
Last night during a thunderstorm and power outage I kept thinking of ice cream. Temperatures were still really hot and with no AC the humidity levels were rising in the house. Ice cream would have tasted so nice.
Power finally came back on around 1am and at 5:30 when I got up I still wanted Ice cream!
The house is now cooled back down; even with more temperate temperatures (around 90) outside the heat index is near 100. Since the freezer is Ice cream free I made my shaped card in the shape of an Ice Cream Cone.


The lady (Rita) who is to receive this is in Texas; I'm sure she could use some cooling off. Hope she likes strawberry ice cream!

A few more items

I worked on a few other cards in the past few weeks.  The first four are from a Paper Pumpkin kit by Stampin' Up!  Since making them I did add a few fabric flowers to some of them.  Today I received the July Paper Pumpkin kit so look for something added in the next few days (they are not always cards).

Next was a card for a friend who got married a month ago (and didn't tell anyone right away) and held a reception party this past weekend.  I embossed the printed cardstock with the Victoria embossing folder by Cuttlebug.  This gave a raised texture to a beautiful cardstock (white background with a gray floral print).  I edged it on both ends with the art deco fan border punch (Martha Stewart) and inked the edges with Going Grey ink by Stampin' Up!  Cut out a block with the LOVE printed on it from a piece of cardstock from the same paper pack.  The inside is the same cardstock but black background with the gray printed floral pattern.  I then printed the sentiment in black on a piece of the lighter patterned cardstock and punched the same border on this and inked the edges again.  The card is a tri-fold design and I used a sheer ribbon to tie it closed.

Once again I had so much fun creating these cards, crafting is a relaxing endeavor for me.  I hope items I make bring as much joy to others as it does for me.  Thanks for taking the time to take a peek.

A little crafting ... just late posting.

In June I was participating in 3 swaps for a yahoogroup Arthavencreationsandfriendships, the theme was BEACH.  The 3 swaps for Postcard, Embossed Card, and Mermaid.
For the Postcard, I was inspired by one of the other ladies (Lucy) who uses photos for her cards.  These are photos that she has taken herself and have special memories.  The photo I used was one I took at the North Shore on the island of Oahu.  Then added some dimensional stickers.  Simple but I like the way it turned out.

For my Embossed card:
I borrowed a swirl embossing folder from my friend Paula, then used glue and glitter to trace over the raised swirls.  Added some twine and shell sticker and a small trim punched with an art deco fan punch.  Stamped Thinking of You (Stampin' Up!) on a coral pink card stock that I tore to distress the edge.  Mounted this on some white handmade paper (purchased from Michael's) torn the edges of this as well.

    

The Mermaid:  This I found as a coloring page (can't remember the website at the moment but will look) and printed her as a 5x7 picture.  I then used metallic colored pencils to color the features.  Her glitzy tail is covered by some turquoise glitter ribbon I found and had to have with this project in mind.  I then used stickers of shells and pearls to add the embellishments.  I love how she turned out.

These were such fun swaps to make and were well received by the other wonderfully talented ladies at Arthavencreationsandfriendships.