A Year of Cards...

Well, I've been utterly atrocious about updating my blog for a quite a while now.  I have every hope that I can get back on track in the new year, but that remains to be seen.  It's been so crazy at work, I just haven't had the time or energy to keep it current.  On the other hand, I recognize more daily that I need to figure out a way to MAKE time for it...for my sanity's sake.  So that'll probably be in my New Years' Intentions list for 2014 when I make one.  Anyway, I DID do some crafty stuff this year...I got my project life done up through the middle of October...and I completed all my cards for all the major holidays!  I didn't want to post the cards before people received them, so I decided to wait till the end of the year and post them all...here we go!

New Year's Card

Valentine's Day

St. Patrick's Day

Easter

4th of July

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Excuse the photography...it's all on my phone, and I just didn't have the heart to run them all through photoshop!  lol :)  Anyway...Merry Christmas all...more blogging again soon...hopefully :)

Crafty Chicks September Blog Hop...

It's that time again!

Time for the Crafty Chicks "School" Hop!

 

Haven't been to a Hop before?  Here's the deal:  Every month we have a different theme, and offer a prize to one lucky winner.  If you would like to qualify to win the prize, just leave a comment on each blogger's site.  Then, on the rafflecopter below, click "did it."  That's it!  After you do that, a bunch of other options to earn more entries will appear, if you feel so inclined.  After a week of entries, the prize winner will be announced on Jessica's Page.  We will also contact the winner, so make sure your comment includes your contact info.  The winner will have one week to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.

 

The prize this month is a $25 gift certificate at 3 Girl Jam!  That's a lot of adorable ribbons and flair, my friends :)  Check out their Facebook Fan Page too if you have a chance :)

 

 

And now, on with the Crafty Chicks School Hop! 

 

******{{You're probably coming from Elizabeth's Blog, but if you stumbled across this page, and you want to start at the beginning of our Hop, you can head back to Jessica's Page and start there!}}****** 

 

 So, I'm massively obsessed with this whole chalkboard trend.  I've been adding bits of chalkboard paper and chalkboard tape to everything...jam jars, cards, pages, meat and cheese trays...you name it, and I have a chalkboard accessory for it.  I even bought a chalkboard wall decal AND a chalkboard easel for WORK...because I'm just that crazy about chalkboards.  Here's how my extreme love of chalkboards evolved:  I spent my entire youth writing all of my Mom's planned assignments etc. on the chalkboard in her classroom...and then...they switched over to the dreaded whiteboard.  Yes, it's less messy.  Yes, it's easier to read.  Yes, it means your hands don't get all dry and powdery.  But there's something so perfectly charming about an ACTUAL chalkboard.  Yep.  :)

 

Anyway, so I made a little school-themed card for my project.  The chalkboard pieces are Fancy Pants chalkboard stickers.  The stamps are some older Stampendous wooden stamps.  I find occasion to use these little guys almost every year at back-to-school time...they're so cute!  The paper is just some cork patterned paper I had laying around (sorry...I didn't have the strip anymore...I'm guessing it was a Simple Stories one, but I've been collecting an awful lot of cork patterned paper lately).  I used a Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to staple on the ribbon (it's from American Crafts), and then I pop-dotted on the top pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may notice (or maybe not...as someone who is not always particularly observant, I'll totally give you a pass if you didn't) that the writing on the two chalkboard pieces look different.  On the top one, I used a white bistro marker...something about the finish on the chalkboard stickers wasn't really agreeing with the drying time on the bistro pen though.  I wound up liking the broken look it finished with anyway, so I left it as is.  For the inside though, I wanted something cleaner, so I switched to a white Recollections chalk marker.  Oh, and I colored the little characters with Copic markers :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, I'm super happy with how it turned out.  I like that it could  be for someone with first-day-of-school jitters, or it could  just be a cute school-themed card for anyone who's having some trepidation about what they're working on.  Anyway, that's all I've got for the hop this month...hope you enjoy it and the rest of the girls' great projects!  More craftiness coming soon!

 

******{{If you're continuing on the hop, head on over to Nicole's Page.  And don't forget to follow any of the blogs you like on the hop...we'd love to have you stick around!}}******
 



 

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August Crafty Chicks Blog Hop...

It's that time again! 

Time for the Crafty Chicks "Travel" Hop!

 

Haven't been to a Hop before?  Here's the deal:  Every month we have a different theme, and offer a prize to one lucky winner.  If you would like to qualify to win the prize, just leave a comment on each blogger's site.  Then, on the rafflecopter below, click "did it."  That's it!  After you do that, a bunch of other options to earn more entries will appear, if you feel so inclined.  After a week of entries, the prize winner will be announced on Elizabeth's page.  We will also contact the winner, so make sure your comment includes your contact info.  The winner will have one week to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.

The prize being offered this month is a $30 giftcard from Linnie Blooms Designs sponsored by Linda Barutha!  You can see even more of her super adorable products and ideas at Linda's Pinterest Page. 

 

 And now, on with the Crafty Chicks Travel Hop! 

 

******{{You're probably coming from Julie's Page, but if you stumbled across this page, and you want to start at the beginning of our Hop, go here }}******

 

So, I took a sort of non-traditional approach to travel/vacation, I guess.  Normally, I would probably have done a scrapbook page.  And I DID just finish a Smashbook for my Michigan trip, but I decided I wanted to make something especially for the hop, and I was trying to use stamps I've purchased and haven't actually used yet (oops!). 

 

Now that I've established the premise that I'm thinking out-of-the-box this month, remember a few (okay, a lot) of years ago when people were taking pictures of gnomes all over the place when they were on vacation?  I've been sort of in love with that idea ever since I saw it in the movie Amelie (love that movie, by the way).  If you haven't seen it, she kidnapped her dad's prized gnome and took pictures of it all over the country and then mailed them to her dad anonymously.  I mean seriously...it's still hilarious.  Meanwhile, that idea has since morphed into the Travelocity "roaming gnome", which is also pretty adorable if you ask me. 

 

So when I think vacations, I think gnomes.  Call me a weirdo (go ahead, do it...I don't mind...lol).  And I also tend to think about people that I wish were on vacation with me (OR, alternatively, I think of people I'd like to remind that I'M on vacation and THEY'RE stuck at home...what?  Don't pretend you don't think about it.).  So that's where this card came from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The houses are a Technique Tuesday stamp, and the polaroid and gnome are from two different Lawn Fawn stamp sets.  I colored the gnome with Copics, and wrote in the hello with a Copic multiliner.  Then I just added some washi tape to finish up the front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the inside, I added a sentiment from the same Technique Tuesday set and added some more washi tape.  See?  Easy peasy, right?

 

And that's all I've got for this month...hope you like it...more craftiness soon :)

 

And now you've reached the end of our Hop...hope you enjoyed it, and hope to see you again next month!  (P.S.  Don't forget to follow any of the blogs you like from the hop!)



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Copic Practice...

Ashley is here all weekend, and I got a couple of books about Copics so I could practice during our super scrap weekend!  I'm making progress :)  I actually got a ton of stuff done, but can't post a lot of it because either a) I'll be posting it later, or b) it's for holiday cards that I'm sending people who read this blog, so I try not to post them before they actually get sent out.  I think I'll actually just post all of my holiday cards at once at the end of the year after Christmas goes out :)  Anyway, here's a couple of finished cards that I CAN post, and then I'll post some pics of my Copic progress...

Wine theme?  Why yes...don't mind if I do...(with Stamping Bella Stamps)...

And now for the practice (with Prima Doll Stamps)...

Before I read through the Copic book...

First attempt after reading through the Copic book (figuring out the hair thing)...

Second attempt after reading through the Copic book (getting more successful with the highlights on the clothing)...

All three together...

Not too shabby, methinks.   Gonna take some more practice for sure, but I'm making progress :)  Yay!  More posts soon with my other projects!

Copics and a Cause...

Not that I needed an excuse to play with my new Copics (yes, I had a moment of temporary insanity and bought into Copic-mania yesterday), but I wound up having a really good reason to.  The other day I got an email about a child of an acquaintance of mine who was recently diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer, and all he wants is cards from all over the country to wallpaper his room with.  So they're reaching out to people they know to see if they wouldn't mind sending something.  I figure that's the least I can do, so I threw together a few cards tonight (and I might still do some more), and I'm going to bring them to work and have a bunch of people sign them.  The cards turned out cute, and I'm glad to help bring a little happiness where I'm sure it's needed.  If anyone is interested in sending cards to this little guy, let me know in the comments section and I'll get back to you soon...I'm going to try to find out if this is an open invitation to send cards (since it's a personal address and not a P.O. Box, I didn't just want to post it).

Anyway, I did a few cards, and they're not all particularly kid-centric.  I decided the point of this whole thing is variety...all sorts of different things from all over the country.  Also, I'm in the midst of a re-org in my crafting center, and about 2/3 of my stamps are buried at the moment.  So yeah...working with what's available.  The farm animals are a Stampendous stamp set, the girl leaning on the counter is from Rubber Romance (that Heather let me steal from her stash last time I was there!), the gnome (remember him from the last post?) is from Stampabilities, and the girl with the suitcase is from Stamping Bella.  Here they are:

Have a good night all...and remember to leave some love if you want to participate and I'll get you the info if I get the okay to do so :) 

Birthday Round-up...

Well, my other project from my scrap weekend (besides Easter cards, which I'm not posting right now, but caused quite a Cameo ordeal) was making some birthday cards.  I got a quite a few finished, and have ideas for some more, when I get a free moment to continue.  I love how I get so much done on these weekends, cuz I'm not constantly walking dogs, getting phonecalls, thinking about what else I should be doing at my house, etc. etc...I can just focus on craftiness.  <3  A big thank you to Heather for another lovely trip!!!  Anyway, here's my birthday card round-up:

Tim Holtz Birthday Set Cards
Colored with Tombow markers, and embellished with paper, pearls, and stickles.

A Couple Cute Birdies
Both AI Zoo Crew stamps, colored with Tombow markers, washi tape rosette on the owl card, and don't forget to check out the inside of the vulture card :)

House Mouse Birthday Cards
Colored with Tombow markers, embellished with paper, washi tape, etc.

Miscellaneous Birthday Cards
The cat is Penny Black, and the Mouse is Whimsy Doodles (I think?  I can't remember), both colored with Tombow markers.  Did some doodling on the border of the mouse card, and added ribbon and doodling to the cat :)

And that's all for tonight!  Have a good weekend all :)

House Mouse Monday Challenge (HMFMC 140)

Woot...made it back in time from my scrapping weekend to enter my card for the House Mouse Monday Challenge (#HMFMC 140).  This time the inspiration was ribbons and pearls.  Also, I'm newly obsessed with my silver Sharpies for doodling :)  Other featured items were Stickles and my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to do the ribbon detail.  Anyway, here's what I came up with:

House Mouse Monday Challenge (HMFMC139)...

It's time for another House Mouse Monday Challenge!  :)  This one is Things With Wings (HMFMC139).  I found this stamp on clearance once upon a time ago for $4, and hadn't used it yet!  I thought it would be perfect, and added a little K&Co ladybug and bee to meet the wings portion of the challege.  I even added...wait for it...glitter!  I never add glitter, but it felt like a glittery kind of day, so I just went with it.  I really like how it turned out.  And now, I best get back to my journaling homework.  Everybody have a lovely Friday!

House Mouse Monday Challenge (HMFMC138)...

Well, after much talking about blog challenges at work, I got to thinking it was a pretty good idea to start getting my creativity working by trying one out.  All this crafting with prompts with my scrapbooking workshops has been a new experience, so why not apply it to cards too?  Anyway, I'm obsessed with House Mouse stamps, so I figured that was as good a place to start as any!  So I'm starting with the House Mouse Monday Challenge - HMFMC138 - I Love You *Sew* Much, in which you're supposed to either use stiching, faux stitching, or a stamp that relates to sewing in some way.  I went to dig out my stamping supplies tonight, since I've been doing mostly Project Life stuff for the last few weeks, and nearly had a stroke thinking I lost my FAVORITE acrylic block for stamping.  Nevermind that I don't actually need an acrylic block for this project, since the stamp's mounted on a wooden block already.  Don't worry...the crisis was averted when I found it hiding with some washi tape in the wrong drawer of my craft center...tsk...bad acrylic block! So yeah... I think it's possible I may have a bit of a crafting problem...soon I may need an intervention of some kind...but until then, here's what I came up with for my first challenge!

Okay, so I haven't decided yet if I'm totally in love with it, but it's cute and it was fun to get out my colored pencils and gamsol for the evening. I can't ever seem to get House Mouse stamps to look right with Copics...the lines are too fine, and I'm apparently a bit of a bull in a china shop when it comes to coloring fine line images. But I love the results I get with pencils, so I'll stick with that. I used random scraps of paper I had lying around (hooray for using up scraps!), gems, twine, and some buttons from my gigantic stash that I hardly ever use. All in all, a productive use of supplies that I haven't touched in a while. Everyone have a good night!

Feeling Crafty and Inspired...

If I didn't have to work in the morning (and all dang day at that), I would totally be up till dawn crafting.  I finally really got the bug again, and I got a quite a few cards done tonight, and would be perfectly content in continuing.  However, since I DO have to work in the morning, I'll just post what I've gotten done this evening, and hope the creative streak continues through tomorrow :)  Here we go!

Just Keep Swimming Card - Inkadinkadoo Cling Stamps, BoBunny Paper, Watercolor Pencils, American Crafts Ribbon and Twine, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, Zig Millenium Pen

Phone Me Card - Unity Stamps, EcoPark Paper & Sticker Sheets, American Crafts Ribbon, Gems

Trying to Relax Card - Stamping Bella Stamps, BoBunny Paper, Watercolor Pencils

A Good Day Card - Unity Stamps, My Mind's Eye Paper

And that's all for tonight...not too shabby :)  Hopefully more to come tomorrow night!

Stamp addiction...

Okay, so we're all aware that I've developed myself a pretty major stamping problem.  I was at Hobby Lobby last weekend...mind you, I don't even LIKE Hobby Lobby, but I was convinced to go.  Obviously, I found adorable stuff and wound up spending $45 on stamps and other random things I certainly didn't need.  Whoops.  So I found these Stampabilities woodblock stamps and positively fell in love with them.  Here's what I've come up with so far:

Thinking of You Card - Stampabilities Stamp, Eco Park Paper, Watercolor Pencils

Happy Birthday Card - Stampabilities Stamp, BoBunny Paper, Watercolor Pencils

Feel Better Soon Card - Stampabilities Stamp, BoBunny Paper, Watercolor Pencils

That's all for tonight :)  I swear I'm going to try to get better about posting again!  It's just been crazy lately!