Christmas Wishes and Thanksgiving Leftovers!

Good morning and happy Wednesday!  I am sure that you, like myself, are in full holiday mode! I have been trying to sneak off to my craft room and create whenever I have a spare moment! These cards aren't going to make themselves people! ;)

I used this darling Santa from the Crafty Secret's stamp set called, Christmas Mail.  I colored it with Copic markers and added white liquid applique to his hat.  He was cut out using two different Spellbinder's dies. (Circles One and Lacey Circles)

I added a Lawn Fawn circle die cut to the background. The red designer paper is also from Crafty Secrets.  It is part of the Kitchen Memories digital paper pack. I added cream ribbon and brown satin ribbon tied with rusty jingle bells.  I added some sprigs of leaves and berries, and as a final finishing touch, I added several sequins.  

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I did manage to squeak out a few photos of our holiday. My hubby and I.......

I realized I always seem to take pictures where I look as though I have no eyeballs! Squinting seems to be my thing!

Our Thanksgiving was rather cold and the kids moaned about going outside for a quick picture, so we attempted it inside on the couch.  I kind of liked the picture except for all of the distracting reds and yellows of my living room......hence the black and white photo. ;) 

My mom and George braved the cold........

More moaning kids who didn't want to go outside......which means more couch pictures. My sister, BIL, niece and nephew.  I can't believe how the kids are growing up! Too fast for my taste! 

I have a workshop to attend today on using technology in the classroom.  I am hoping for a fun and interesting learning experience!  (And maybe a little lunch with my co-worker) ;) 

Have a great day!

Crafty Secret's Design Team Challenge and Linky Party! (And a Tutorial to boot!)

Good morning! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday  with your loved ones. I know I did!  I spent a lot of time with family, did all of Christmas decorating, shopped, and cleaned my house.  It was so nice being home for a few days. :)

It is the 1st of December and that means it is our Crafty Secret's monthly design team challenge.  

While scoping out Pinterest (which I do waaaaaay more than I should) I have seen lots of projects using Sharpie markers and dollar store mugs.

So, that got me thinking that maybe I could use one of the new Crafty Secret's images from the Kitchen Memories digital   collection.  It worked out pretty well!  And now I am itching to do more!

Here is my project. :)

First you will need a few supplies.

1. OIL BASED Sharpie markers, not the regular ones!

2. printed copy of what you want to transfer. 

3. scissors

4. Dollar store mug

5. tape

6. pencil

After a bit of trial and error it finally dawned on me that when you want to transfer words, you have to reverse the print.  I used Photoshop to do this. 

You want to trace over all of the lines with a soft pencil.  Do it fairly heavy so that you will be able to see the pencil marks on the mug.  For the tiny word, the, I just traced the center of the word because my marker was too thick to do such fine lettering. 

Then tape the image to your mug.  Be sure your mug is clean and grease free. 

Take your pencil and write over the entire image you had previously traced.  This will transfer the pencil to the mug on the other side of the paper.  

I know it may be difficult to see in this shot, but you can see my faint pencil marks. This will act as a guide, so you know where to trace with your Sharpie marker. 

I traced the lettering with black and added my fun details with the colors I had.  A bit of red and some fun polka dots for interest! 

I plan on creating more mugs to give as Christmas gifts.  I would love to fill them with Starbuck's gift cards and some chocolate to give to Cortney's teachers.  

Be sure to visit the rest of the design team. They are such a talented group of ladies and their projects will leave you feeling inspired! 

Kathy Clement Team Leader

Michele Kovack - 300+ Gallery!

Sheila Rumney

Darlene Pavlick

Elizabeth Lincoln

Gloria Stengel

Diane Hover

Melody Clement

Shantaie Caudill-Fowler

Bridget Norton - Guest Designer

Have a great day!

You're So Sweet!

 Maybe you were expecting a Thanksgiving post?  I should have some Thanksgiving cards prepared, but......I don't.  I could give you a bunch of excuses why I don't. Like life is really busy lately. Life isn't allowing me to craft as much as I'd like. But I won't bore you with the details. So instead of turkeys and cornucopias, you get a doughnut. Let's call it my Thanksgiving doughnut shall we? ;) 

I had created this card almost two years ago when I was part of Splitcoast Stamper's Dirty Dozen team. I had used my Cricut to cut the shaped card.

I cut an extra layer of the "frosting" and added a thick coat of glossy accents to it.  While it was wet, I strategically placed all of my "sprinkles."  

I added a little satin bow, a sentiment from My Craft Spot, and a little ball gem thingy. 

In just a bit I will be knee deep in cleaning and cooking for tomorrow.

Cort has school, but Kyle is home. He insists on going out to lunch with me.

I told him I don't really have time. You know, with all the cooking and cleaning I have to do. 

His reply to me was, "This may be the last time, Mom. Next year I will be away at college and you are going to miss me."

Good point kid.

Guess my house won't pass the white glove test.

;)

Have a wonderful blessed holiday my crafty friends!

Hugs to you all!

Art Impression's Blog Hop!

Good morning!  I am excited to participate in the Art Impression's and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L blog hop! I got to work with this fun little gal! She is part of the Birthday Love set. She was colored with Copic markers. 

I wanted to air brush the background so I masked her off and added blue, yellow, and brown.  I tied ribbon to the top and added a heart button tied with hot pink string.  The sentiment was stamped in black and cut into a banner shape.  I used Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Tape in between the layers for added depth.

Do you remember the little pom pom socks we used to wear in the 70's?  Well this lady has them, so I knew I had to add a pink pom pom!  ;) 

Tonight are parent teacher conferences.  It is hard to believe we are finished with the first trimester already!  This year is flying by! 

Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping!

Product Partner Holiday Blog Hop!

Hi friends! I am thrilled to participate in the Spellbinder's Holiday Blog Hop partnering with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, as well as several other great companies! There are prizes to be had and tutorials to view! There is lots of holiday inspiration to get your creative mojo going! 

Be sure to hop over to the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L blog for all of the contest rules. 

I have two Christmas cards using the same technique, but a different color scheme for each. My first card is the more simple of the two.

It uses my new Derwent Artbar water colors and watercolor paper.  I cut it out using Spellbinder's new Diagonal Chevron Stripe die cut. I also used their Conversation Bubble for the sentiment.

I used Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam tape to pop up the stripes.  I added a sentiment by SRM Stickers, some ribbon, jingle bells, and a few sequins to finish it off.  

My second card stepped it up a notch and has a few added details that the first card didn't have. The layout is the same though. The stripes were still popped up, but I added a coating of glossy accents to add a bit of shine. 

The cluster of pretties was a bit more involved for this card.  I die cut a couple of snowflakes using a Spellbinder's die. I added silk flowers coated with glossy accents and then dipped in gold glitter. Pretty glittery jingle bells were also added. 

 

I have a step by step photo tutorial on the

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Blog! You also want to be sure to visit for your chance to win some amazing prizes!  

Thanks for popping by!

It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like Christmas!

Good morning friends! It is a frigid morning here with temperatures only in the teens. It certainly feels more like January than November.  With Christmas surrounding me everywhere I turn, my creative mojo has been holiday focused!

I used this gorgeous St. Nick image from Crafty Secret's Vintage Christmas set.  He was stamped in brown. His face and cheeks were colored with Copic markers.  I added white flocking to his beard and hair.  I cut the image out with a Spellbinder's die. While the die was in place I sponged a bit of brown ink around the edges.

I wanted to "frame' the image with a pretty poinsettia.  I used my Silhouette to cut it out. I cut it with cream cardstock, misted it with water and shaped it with a mat and stylus.  I added a bit of pink with my Inktense pencils.  Before I assembled the flower I added glossy accents and sprinkled glitter to it.  Once it was dry I assembled the flower.  I glued it to the corner along with pretty coordinating ribbon and a few vellum leaves, also cut from my Silhouette.

As you know, Cortney loves to model.  Every single weekend she asks to model. So if we have nothing for an Etsy shop or boutique lined up, we play around in front of the camera.

Just a white backdrop with white tank top on.

And this is what I got.

:) 

Even with a spot of drool, I adore this picture of my girl.

Could her hand be posed any better than that? 

If you know anyone looking for a teen model, please let me know.

This is a tough business and even tougher for a girl with a disability. 

And if you haven't already, I would love it if you followed Cortney's new Facebook page!

I am off to bundle up and face the cold!

BRRRRRR!

Have a great (warm) day!

Happy Fall....

There are certain crafters out there that tend to enable others to buy new products.  I don't want to mention any names....ahem... (Lydia Fiedler)....but she just happened to mention a great sale for these awesome Artbars  over at Amazon, and I knew I just HAD to purchase them.  I mean, I couldn't let a fellow crafter down, could I? 

 Of course I don't have a clue as to what I am doing!  I guess a bit of playing, trial and error, or whatever you want to call it is in order. 

So for today's card I simply stamped my pumpkins from the JustRite set called,Fall Applique, with Versamark.  I embossed it in black.  I watercolored the pumpkins with various shades of red, orange, and yellow.  I wanted a more artsy look, but think I failed in that department.

But I do like the vibrancy of the colors. 

So that's a win.

I added a flower I cut using my Spellbinder's Rose die. 

I watercolored that too.

I also added a sentiment from my label maker.  

I will continue to play with these new toys of mine. I will let you know what I discover and pass my knowledge on to you.  Because crafters are sharing people. ;)

Enjoy the rest of your day!