Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #58: Cozy Mouse in the House?

 Hello crafty freinds :o)  We are approaching the Holiday Season very fast, don't blink or you will miss it ... might not be a bad idea.  This post is for MLCCB, Anything Christmas is wanted.

Another Christmas card ready to send. If a mouse could be this cute, maybe it could stay cozy next to the fireplace in the house.  The image is Festival Mouse from Kit and Clowder, part of the bonus image for the month of September of 2023 coloring class.  Alyce usually has many of the older classes online, so you can still learn how to color and learn new techniques.  

This image was colored with my Prismacolor pencils following the class techniques.

 

Here is the inside.

Some crystals were place to give the card a little bling.

·         stamps: Kit and Clowder:  Festival Mouse (Sept 2023)    Simon Says Stamp: Winter Birds

·         paper:  Cardstock Warehouse: kraft, Recollections:  red, the Paper Studio: Merry Everything Happy Always

·         die-cuts: MFT: Oval Stax 1&2

·         embellishments: Recollections: snowflake brad, Bead Landing: Austrian Crystals

Mix It Up Challenge Blog #72: Smooshing

 Hello crafty friends :o)  Welcome to another fun challenge at MIUCB, this month is about smooshing.

Silly me didn't take a pic of how I smooshed. It's a very easy technique.  I have the special mat for distress inks, sprays and paints, everything wipes off very easily.  I stamped with distress ink pads and used some spray ink directly on my mat, wet with some water "smoosh" my paper.  Then you can "smoosh" on some clean paper and get another design.

I made this tag to go in a card slot in my junk journal.  I used some of the papers and stickers from the kit.  

thanks for looking and reading.

·         paper:  Soto Studio: Brewtiful Coffee Bundle

·         die-cuts:

·         embellishments: Soto Studio: Stickers

Love to Craft Challenge Blog #82: Fall is for Apples

 Hello crafty friends :o)  Welcome to new inspiration with a new challenge at LTCCB, Anything Crafty is Welcome.

This cute image is from All Dressed Up, called Apple Picker; colored with my Prismacolor pencils. The images are very cute from this artist.  I had to have the checker paper with this card, little picnic thought was going through my mind. For the most part, I kept this card very simple.

Here's the inside.

thanks for looking and reading.

·         stamps:  All Dressed Up: Apple Picker

·         paper:  Recollections:  Sans Acide double sided, red,

·         die-cuts:

·         embellishments: 3 Girl Jam: ribbon and lace, Stampin Up: Hodge Podge Hardware

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog #169: Coffee Junk Journal

 Hello crafty friends :o)  It's September ... pretty much Fall is here, at least close.  This year is just flying by without my permission.

This post is for LTSCB, where Anything Goes. 

I really didn't understand this "Junk Journal" phase that everyone is going through or why it was needed in the crafty world.  Until I got this kit from Soto Studios, it came with this leather book and everything needed to get started, just add your own inks, paints and creativity.

With stickers, papers and some stamps from the kit, junk journaling is about just playing with your crafty items.  Seeing what works and just having fun without pressure of perfection or rules. Playing with inks, paints and embossing to create new things. I will be creating more in this book.  It has lined pages too....maybe a good place to put some of my favorite quotes.

It has places for tags, which I created one in another post and will slowly fill these pockets up.

It also has storage for some of the stamps.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

·         stamps: Unity:    Soto Studios: coffee bundle

·         paper:  Soto Studios: coffee bundle

·         embellishments: Stampin Up: Hodge Podge Hardware, Soto Studios: Stickers, washi tape, ribbon, embossing powder

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #57: Wooden Snowmen Fun

 Hello Crafty Freinds :o)   I very aware of Christmas in July, but I was just in Illinois visiting my parents and a store (craft store...won't mention any names), already had Christmas up in their aisles in June.  I'm sorry, this is too soon. That's my rant ... let's move to the challenge.  This post is for MLCCB, anything Christmas is wanted.

As a crafter, we all collect good finds and tend to make the craft ASAP.  Okay, I bought this kit in 1998, I have moved twice since I have bought it and the original paint that came with the kit was completely dried up. I meant to do it much sooner.  Going through some crafts, deciding what so good and what should stay, it was time to get some crafts done. This is the pic the was sent with the kit on how to finish the project. 

All the pieces were wooden and I primed all pieces with white primer.

They give you outlines that you have to trace on tracing paper and cut out.  Then try to line it up with the rubbing paper and trace again on the wood piece. (I had to buy the tracing paper and rubbing paper.)  You can see in this picture how it transferred to the wood.  It's great until you start painting and cover up the lines, so free hand painting to finish each one.  As you can it's easy to make your own lines of where everything should be.

Here is each piece after painting them.  My youngest son help me paint some of the smaller pieces that just needed one color.

The center piece finished.

The left side finished and in place.

The right side finished.

Here is the tri-fold completed.  The sticks came from our yard and a little bit of drilling for the holes was needed, but overall, it was a great project to do.  With painting and time allowed, it took me a month to complete this, with a few projects between drying and thinking about what colors I wanted to paint each piece.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

· Snowman Tri-Fold Kit: Wooden kit to paint and assemble by Laurie Speltz

Mix It Up Challenge Blog #71: Playing With Food

 Hello Crafty Friends :o)   Time for another challenge at MIUCB, this challenge we want you to play with your veggies.  Okay, so when I wrote down the challenge in my calendar, I put play with food.  I do eat veggies and love them, but I did this challenge with pasta. Playing with your Veggies is just an option to join the challenge, we will accept all creations.

Here is the pasta design.  I tried two different types, but the penne pasta did much better than the rotini.  Maybe if I used paint instead of inks, I might have had a better outcome with the rotini. Playing some more might be an option for the future.

Wanted to make sure the design was seen, so keep the design simple.  

Here is the inside, which I kept very light in order to stamp or write a message over the design.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

·         stamps: Cas-ual Fridays: Calm & Gentle

·         paper:  scraps

·         die-cuts: Craftin Desert Divas: Fancy Frames

·         embellishments: Celebrate It: ribbon, Bead Landing: crystals

Love to Craft Challenge Blog #81: Congrats Grad

 Hello Crafty Friends :o)  Hopefully you are able to enjoy some sunshine and good weather wherever you are.  This post is for LTCCB, anything crafty is wanted.

This card was made for my red headed step child twice removed from another mother... the neighbor kid that used to live here almost every weekend.  He is off to college and I'm not sure if him or his mother is having the hardest time with him leaving the nest.  This is a SVG file from Lori Whitlock, Curved Pop-Up Card Graduation.  I'm not one to cut and just put together.  I did ink up the edges, but also used my color pencils to make the books have pages and the scroll to look more 3D.  

Here is the side view of the pop -up curved.  There were panels to put on the back to write a message to the graduate.  

·         paper:  Bazzill, Recollections

·         die-cuts: Lori Whitlock: SVG File CurvedPop-Up Card Graduation

Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog #168: During Difficult Times

 Hello Crafty Friends!  Half the year is already gone, just seems to whizz by faster every year. Be safe and have fun during your summer vacations. Hopefully you have time to join us for a new challenge over at LTSCB , Anything Goes.

Sympathy cards can be hard. I try keeping them simple and finding the right image.  This image is from Polkadoodles Little Kingdom Collections and colored with my color pencils.

Here's the inside.

Thanks for looking and reading :o)

·         stamps: Polkadoodles: Little Kingdom di02, Sugar Pea Designs: Heartfelt Sympathy

·         paper:  Bazzill, Recollections

·         die-cuts: MFT, Craftin Divas

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #56: Exhausted Santa

 

Hello crafty friends :o)  It's Spring and Christmas will be here before you know it, so get some Christmas cards done.  Just don't forget where you stash them.

MLCC is always Anything Christmas.

I have used this image before, but it's one of my favorites.  Last time is was colored all sepia tones, this time with color.  It's called December 26 from The Paper Shelter. Little Christmas sheet music for the background and a snowflake, sweet and simple.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

·         stamps: The Paper Shelter: December 26

·         paper: Cardstock Warehouse: paper bag, Recollections: red, the Paper Studio: Christmas Sheet Music

·         die-cuts: MFT

·         embellishments: Recollections: brad, twine

Mix It Up Challenge Blog #70: Brew-tiful Coffee Friend

 

Hello crafty friends :o)

This post is for MIUCB, looking for Inlaid Die-Cuts or anything crafty.

Out of the sea of die-cuts, that I know many crafters have, this little cutie was the one.  I have done some of flower ones a few other times, so I wanted something different.  The little TINY face, can be difficult.  So just put the glue down for the whole coffee and face was the easiest way to handle those very tiny pieces.  I just kept everything simple.

Here's the inside. 

thanks for looking and reading :o)

·         stamps: Sugar Pea Designs: brew-tiful sentiments

·         paper:  Cardstock Warehouse: paper bag, Recollections, scraps

·         die-cuts: Sugar Pea Designs: Coffee Cuties

·         embellishments: Bead Landing: cording, Tim Holtz: oxide sprays

Love to Craft Challenge Blog #80: Lost Boats

Hello crafty friends.  Welcome to Spring and allergies. 

This post is for LTCCB, anything crafty goes.  Please check out the sisters blogs for more inspiration.

This hanger was made as a birthday gift for a nature lover and someone that likes boats.  Out of all the images I have, for some reason this one popped in my head as one that needed to be done.  The image is called In the Harbour by Delicious Doodles (which I believe is no longer in business). The metal hanger I found at Hobby Lobby ... I think.  

I colored the image with my prismacolored pencils.  Some of the projects I make will get an UV sealant applied to protect against sunlight.  This is one of those projects.  

A layer of gesso went on the metal hanger before painting.  It was difficult, but I tried to match most of the paints to the color pencils... even though in the pics it doesn't seem that way.  It's hard to say this as a crafter, I didn't want to go out and BUY paint to match, so I mixed paints to get the colors I wanted.  Shame on me, but I'm trying very hard to use what I have in stock.

The two metal sentiments I thought were perfect for this project and for the person it was given to.  Sometimes we need a little reminder that we need to do things for ourselves to be happy and healthy. 

thanks for looking and reading :o)

• stamps: Delicious Doodles:  In The Harbour
• paper:  Clear Path Paper: Cherry Veneer
•  embellishments:  Tim Holtz: word bands, Myartc: hooks, Bead Landing: heartline charms and cord, the Paper Studio: burlap ribbon,  brads, shells, metal hanging plate

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog #167: Happy Birthday Handyman

 Hello Crafty Friends !!  Hard to believe how fast this year is flying by.  I do love the Spring and all the flowers and bees pollinating.  

This post is for LTSCB, Anything Goes.  Make sure to check out all sister blogs for more inspiration and challenges to enter.

 I made this card for a special birthday using an image from Polkadoodles Work and Play 1 bundle, Handyman Dave.  The image is colored with my prismacolor pencils.  Some paper, die cuts and a stamp later ...it's complete.

Here's the inside.

Sometimes you have all these cool die-cuts and just want to use them.  That's what happened to me, I cut them out and thought about using them on the front of the card, but it was too busy. So inside they went and maybe one on the envelope.  

thanks for looking and reading :o)

   ·        stamps: Polkadoodles: Work and Play 1 Handyman Dave, Unity: party all day, MFT: Sweet Surprise
·         paper:  Bazzill, Tim Holtz,
·         die-cuts: MFT
·         embellishments: Spare Parts: mustache brads

Mix It Up Challenge Blog #69: Little Note Card

 Hello crafty friends. 

This post is for MIUCB, this month we would like to see some folds.

There are some many beautiful multi folded cards, but I went for something for simple and easy.  I used Lori Whitlocks, Tabbed Card svg.  If you are a true crafter, you have more scrap pieces of paper that just needs to be used.  This whole card was made from scraps :o)

I decided to put white on both sides.  That way I can stamp on the side that faces outward and write a personal message on the other side.  

thanks for reading and looking :o)

·         paper:  scraps

·         die-cuts: Lori Whitlock: Tabbed Card svg file

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #55: Christmas Gift Tags

 Hello Crafty Friends :o)  There's always time to make Christmas crafts ... in hopes to be ahead when the time comes.

This post is for MLCCB, anything Christmas is wanted. 

I bought some little gift cards years ago to create ... something I'm sure. I created gifts cards using scrap pieces of paper.  At least getting rid of some of those small pieces of paper that seem to multiple.

The inside I used a Unity stamp from a Kit of the Month.

·         stamps: Unity Stamps: OCT 2012 KOM (Labeled)

·         paper:  scraps

Love to Craft Challenge Blog #79: Wide Eye Owl

 Hello Crafty Friends and March!!!  

This post is for LTCCB, anything crafty goes.

First, this image was provided by Alyce from Kit and Clowder, for the bonus coloring class for the month.  It's just adorable and if you have animals, this owl looks like it's giving your the saddest eyes because it wants something...most likely your food. Colored with my favorite Prisamcolor pencils.

Here's the inside.

thanks for reading and looking :o)

·         stamps: Kit and Clowder: Owl

·         paper:  K&Company: Que Sera sera. Recollections: Light Blue

·         die-cuts:  MFT: Mini Album Brackets, Fishtail Flag

·         embellishments: DCWV: burlap, the Paper Studio: Friends brad

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog #166: Gothic Birthday

Hello crafty friends.  Hard to believe Spring is almost here and just happening with the flowers blooming outside already.  Also the allergies have started.

This post is for LTSCB, where anything goes. 

This birthday card was made for my son's girlfriend. The image colored with my Prismacolor pencils.  If you look closely, you can see her age on the card.

Here is the inside.

thanks for reading and looking :o)

·         stamps: JadeDragonne

·         paper:  Recollections, Brazzill, MFT: Bubblegum

·         die-cuts: Craftin Desert Divas: Fancy Frames, Tim Holtz: celebrate

·         embellishments: Recollections: bling on a roll, adhesive rhinestones, Bead Landing: found objects, netting

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #54: Garden Stocking

 Hello and Happy New Year!!!  May you have a beautiful and blessed 2024 !!

This post is for Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog, Anything Christmas is welcomed.

    It's no secret that I love Power Poppy images for their details. I fell in love with this Garden Stocking, that I colored with my prismacolor pencils.  This old fashion background paper was perfect.  I know many don't think brown is a Christmas color, but I really love the way this turned out.

Here's the inside.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

·         stamps: Power Poppy: Garden Stocking, Unity: (sentiment from an Unity grab bag)

·         paper:  Bazzill, Recollections, Carta Bella: Christmas Day

·         die-cuts: MFT, Craftin Desert Divas

·         embellishments: Recollections: Pearl Stickers

Mix It Up Challenge Blog #68: Secret Flower Garden

Hello and Happy New Year Crafty Friends!!  Wishing you a blessed and crafty 2024.

This post is from Mix It Up Challenge Blog, for this challenge, we would like to see some mixed media creations.  

This is my inspiration project of mixed media, which I really love getting messy.  Mixed media can be fun and a good stress reliever.

The image is from Alyce at Kit and Clowder, Enchanted Fairy House Door.  This is a monthly pencil class from September 2023.  Colored by me with prismacolor pencils.

I painted the canvas with some gesso white paint, like a primer to get things started.  Using spray inks to achieve the background colors, which I match to the image's background.  Then I used two different stencil with modeling paste to get some added details, which the paste soaks up the ink and blends in nicely (you see in the finished project).

Going through some Tim Holtz embellishments, I found this address label.  Distressed with some inks and placed it surrounded by the moss.

Just some of the added details and sparkle that is needed.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

·         stamps:   Kit and Clowder: Enchanted Fairy House Door

·         embellishments: Range: Distress Oxide Spray Ink, Tim Holtz: Distress Spray Stain, Number Strips, Gothic Stencil  Recollections: Wooden birds, Wooden Keys, Glitter balls,  Ashland: Moss, Balzer Designs: Mini Believe Script Stencil…Flowers: Prima Flowers, the Paper Studio, Wild Orchid