Mixed Media Canvas Class

I had a SO MUCH FUN creating this mixed media canvas for a class that I'll be teaching at Weekend Memories at the end of the month. Usually I create and teach mini album classes, but I thought that I'd do something different this time.

In March I took a wonderful class, taught by Logan at Camp Crop-A-Lot, where we used the "SHE was a daughter" Christy Tomlinson stamp made by Unity Stamp Company. I fell in love with it and had to get one for myself.

Embedded on the dress of the stamp is "she was a daughter of God." But by utilizing the "Box Word Set" by Rubbernecker Stamps I was able to change the words to impart what I wanted to convey.

You can even can even print and cut your own words and stick them on the dress... the possibilities are endless!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

It's time to get your crop on! For those of you (like me) that didn't make plans to celebrate National Scrapbook Day at a crop, do not despair.  Big Picture Classes is hosting an online Creative Crop for FREE today.  You can click here to read the full story in an Examiner article that I wrote about it.

I have a few things to do today that I committed to -- not putting the date and NSD together (or looking at my calendar), when I agreed.  So, luckily, in the hours that I do not have places to be, I will be getting my crop on with the crazy talented instructors hosting Creative Crop!

I love the fact that you can just jump in at the top of every hour...it totally fits with my sporadic schedule today.  I'm looking forward to participating in the challenges, seeing everyone's creations, and maybe even winning a fab prize (if I'm lucky)!

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY!

iPhone cover – "It’s Time" Challenge

I am very excited to share that I have been selected to be a member of the Scraps of Color E:spire Blog Creative Team.  My first assignment was to create a project for the quarterly challenge called "It's Time!"

So, I decided to create an iPhone cover to remind myself to remember to make time to create something every day.

Supplies: Graphic 45 - Hallowe'en In Wonderland Collection "Jabberwocky," Times Nouveau Collection "Hip to the Jive"; Paper Arts - Black cardstock; The Girl's Paperie - Vintage Whimsy "Sticker Market"; Ranger - Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Vintage Photo"

I had SO MUCH FUN creating this project for the "It's Time" Challenge!  The challenge is open to everyone.  Be sure to check out the SOC E:Spire Blog for the particulars and to link your project. I can't wait to see what you create!

Good luck!

Craft On - R.A.K.

Have you ever had one of those days when you've just had enough and think, "If one more person...?!" Well, I had one of those days yesterday and it was EPIC! I was literally at the end of my rope when a random act of kindness brought me to my knees.

I was walking in a crowd when I felt a tug on my arm. Before I turned to look, I thought, "Geez, what now?!"

Imagine my surprise when a very thoughtful lady said to me, "I had to take my son to the store last night to get some things for his school project and I saw this and it made me think of you. I instantly thought of you and just had to get it!"

Then she handed me the following:

I almost started crying when she handed me this tin. The thought that she was out shopping with her child after a long day at work and thought of me...words cannot convey just how much that meant to me. I was truly not in a happy place and in an instant she reminded me that there was some sunshine in my forecast (because a stormy sky was all that I could see).

It goes to show that you may never realize just how much something that you may perceive as a small token can truly impact the life of another in a HUGE way.

This tin now has a prominent place in my studio and will continue to serve as a reminder that there's sunshine, even on a stormy day. I have to focus on the "keep calm" and get back to crafting on!

Non-traditional Valentine

Scraps of Color has weekly Friday Night Challenges (FNC). The first challenge of the evening was to create a Valentine tag and not use traditional colors -- red or pink. I thought I'd give it a shot and this is what I made:

I know what you're thinking -- is that butterfly red? No, it's orange...I know how to follow the rules (most of the time)!

It was a lot of fun (and challenging) trying to create the tag in the time allotted. Let's just say I need to work on my time management skills. I wasn't even close to finishing in time, but I did have a great time and I plan to participate in FNC again soon. 

Supplies: Ranger: Manilla Tag, Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber; Tim Holtz: Tissue Tape, Grungepaper, Findngs, Tissue Paper, Distress Inks, Distress Stain; Wendi Vecchi: Stamp (butterfly); Tattered Angels: Glimmer Mist; Heidi Swapp: Bling; Scrabble Tiles; Miscellaneous: rub-ons, stamp, ribbon.

Tip: Use alcohol ink pens (I used Copic) to change the color of your bling!

Weekend Memories

What a wonderful weekend I had at Weekend Memories! It was great hanging out and catching up with old friends and fun getting to know new ones. I always enjoy walking around and seeing what everyone is working on. People are so talented.

Years ago when I'd come home from crops my son would ask, "How many pages did you make?" Just thinking about that makes me chuckle. Now he says, "Did you have a good time?" This always warms my heart.

I am thankful that over the years he has learned that it's not about the quantity of what you create while you're at a crop, it's about the quality of the time that you get to spend with people that have the same passion that you have for creating. Priceless.

So, you probably want to know what I created, right? That's not so easy to explain because I created a lot of elements.

These elements (and a lot of other things) will be put together to create a Steampunk themed mini album.

Doesn't this look cool?! I cut chipboard from packaging using the Tim Holtz Weathered Clock die, then used Distress Inks and Distress Stains before using UTEE to emboss.

Have a great week!

Amazing Steampunk Die Cuts

Look at these AMAZING die cuts that I was lucky enough to have sent to me by my dear friend --the fabulous and crazy wicked talented designer, Candy Rosenberg.

She designed these incredible Steampunk die cuts for Want 2 Scrap. I can't wait to use these!

My pictures don't do them justice. You have to see these in person to appreciate the magnificent detail.