From Thrift Store to Living Room

 

Another day, another thrift store upcycle. I had stored this credenza in my garage, where it waited for inspiration to come. It came to me this week, so I had my daughter help me move it into the house, where I assessed the damage. Dirty, of course, with a few tears.

I decided to paint it white as a base color, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, purples splotches and dots, as if someone had shaken a bottle of purple hair dye and the cover slipped off! That dye or whatever it was bled thru three coats of white paint!!

I knew I had to either paint the whole thing purple (ugh) or figure a way to conceal the splotches. I had previously purchased some colored wax for just such an occasion, but did I have a viable color?? I found a teal wax. Wow, my living room furniture is teal (2 chairs and a couch), and the artwork on my walls have some teal in it.

I chose to try the teal wax, It came out lighter than expected, but it worked against the pale yellow walls. So now I have a credenza/cubby unit for my living room. The two bins on the right hold our winter accessories (top) and Honeycomb's winter wear (bottom). The rest of the bins hold our art supplies (pens, pencils, markers and assorted).

I originally had a four-cubby unit, which is now stuck behind one of the LR chairs awaiting its fate. Now I have storage for all the bins I keep in this room. And I am happy, which is what I strive to achieve on every art project I create. Does your artwork and crafting make you happy? I hope so!!

Photo Inspiration for Christmas Cards This Month

Hello there crafters! Welcome to another challenge at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. It is the first day of September and that means there are only four months left to add to the Holiday Card Pile, so let's continue with that goal in mind!
This month it's a holiday-photo inspiration challenge. The great thing about pictures is that one person can be moved by one aspect while another may see something totally different. So, whether you are inspired by the colors, the shapes or the objects themselves, it doesn't matter. 

For my card, I chose to pull the colors teal and red from the photo, along with the package's striped wrapping. They inspired me to create a non-traditionally colored but very modern greeting with Peace as the central theme. The image is from Sparkle n Sprinkle and it's called "70's Peace Sign." SNS is the guest sponsor this month at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up Blog. I also used papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles"

and

 In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your Christmas card is inspired somehow by the above picture. The inspiration can be showcased in your image or your papers but they must be used prominently.  If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize. You will also need to let us know what inspiration you took from the picture. You can simply write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge if it would be easier.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month, and have your name thrown into the year end draw for some extra digital goodies. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store.

Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

The Merry Christmas challenge - Anything Goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes

A Snowflakes Promise- Anything Goes

Finding Faith, Hope & Love on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

The last twelve years have been rough. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to treasure every minute with those you love. Yesterday is history, and the future is not promised. We only have today, we only have this moment.

Taking this lesson to heart, I won't wait until September 21, my wedding anniversary, to celebrate my marriage to hubby Bill. I tell him I love him every day. And today I created a card for him, an early anniversary card, if you will. He will be getting quite a few of these throughout the year.

I found the perfect sentiment, too. It's one I used when I made my son's wedding invitations. Both he and his wife loved it. It goes perfectly with the digi image from Pattie's Creaations that I hand colored with a combination of Copics, colored pencils and glitter pens. Because my craft supplies are boxed up, I created a hybrid card. I photographed my hand-colored image and created my card using digital papers and elements:   

Hybrid card uses:
A hand-colored Pattie's Creations Seashell Border 1 with

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Chasing Rainbows Falls PP, Bokeh Multicolor 1 PP and A Grungy Christmas Blue
DDD A Tag Grab Bag Bow 2
PixelScrapper Janet Scott's A Mother's Love Heart Border Doodle 2

My card was created for this month's challenge theme over at the Path of Positivity. June's theme is all about FAITH, HOPE & LOVE. They especially want to see wedding, anniversary and engagement cards. Of course, the challenge theme is optional, but in order to have a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, we want to see you create a wedding card, an engagement card or an anniversary card that reflects the concepts of faith, hope and/or love. Please remember to type in the letters FT after your name when you link your card up so we know you followed the theme. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of three images from Pattie's Creations, one of our guest sponsors this month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a scrapbooking kit from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles, provided by the second of our guest sponsors this month. One digital image is given from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

It's Still Cold at Scribbles Challenge Blog

Today is the MIDPOINT of the BABY IT'S COLD OUT THERE challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. I created a card using Scribbles' Snow Kisses. I love the snowmen and penguin characters that Sandy has created for her store. 
I also love the color teal, which is featured on my card by the light teal glitter paper, ric rac paper and my Copic coloring. The patterned paper is from a new paper kit from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. The set is called Angelic Nature.
I finished off my card with some glittery alphas to spell out Brrr (which happens to be the penguin's trade name if you go to Scribbles Designs). A spray of silver and a snowflake bow dipped in glitter and my card looks, well, like winter! ...which Chicago has returned to, after enjoying an unseasonable week of T-shirt weather.
This challenge runs through the 14th of March, so pull out your winter embellishments and come join the fun at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog.

Challenges I am Entering:

It's Furry-thing Goes Today!

There is a purr-fectly fun challenge blog called "Show Us Your Pussies," which allows cat lovers to create with their favorite feline craftiness. Any type of project is welcomed, so I created this fun sign to hang on my daughter's door. She is the real kitty lover in our house, as my allergies cannot take any kind of cat (poor thing).
I created the background paper with resources from Pixel Scrappers Janet Scott (Kitty Illustrations 02, Ball of Yarn) Sheila Reid (Furry Friends Silly Kitty), and Marisa Lerin (Pet Illustration 15, Small Paw Print).

The framed quote was created using Ike's Art digital image "Kitty Love." The borders are from Pixel Scrapper Sharon Grant (It's a Girl Thing Border 1) and Amanda Brown (Reflections Flower) There are awesome digital elements and papers to be had at pixelscrapper.com, and it's free to join their community of scrapbookers.
Now for a treat, I am offering my visitors the Playful Kitty digital paper that I created. This free paper is 12 inches by 12 inches (3600 pixels x 3600 pixels) in jpg format and published at 300 dpi. Credits include Pixel Scrapper Janet Scott’s Kitty Illustrations 02, Ball of Yarn; Pixel Scrapper Sheila Reid’s Furry Friends Silly Kitty; Pixel Scrapper Marisa Lerin’s Pet Illustration 15, Small Paw Print. TOU, please credit me if you use it. Since I don’t have a store, please use: Copyright 2016 Pat Martin, http://patacakespages.blogspot.com  As always, leaving a little love is always appreciated. Thank you! (Just right click on the image first to get the best resolution, then right click and save to your computer)

Having Pun at Ike's World Challenge Blog

I couldn't resist one more time! The theme is "Pun Intended" over at Ike's World Challenge blog, and I created not one, not two, but three cards for this challenge. For this card, I used two images from Ike's Art: "Shhh: and "Spring Fairy".I love puns (I think you can tell by now). This one is a little wordy, bu by splitting my pun in two, I was able to fit the following:

"A hole was discovered in the Nudist Camp wall..."

"The police are looking into it."

You have just two more days to make us groan over the puns you use to create your projects. Bring them on!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - I is for Inappropriate

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

Celebrate with the Quirky Challenge Blog

Another winter-y Sunday keeps me holed up in my craft room, warm and cozy. Not complaining!! Come on, Old Man Winter, bring it on! Any excuse to play in my craft room...

So today, the snow outside inspired me to play with this Stitchy Bear digi image for my DT make for the Quirky Crafts challenge blog. Stitchy Bear is the sponsor this month. The image is called Lake Winter, and I couldn't wait to use the lacy paper doilies I snagged at my local thrift store on this card. I gave the image a light teal color wash with Copic BG10 before framing it onto a card using assorted shades of teal. The bright white really makes my image pop!

I used a toothbrush  and some white acrylic paint to flick a flurry of snow over the lake. I found a floral spray of silver along with a tiny bow to add to my snowflake embellishments.A spray of tiny pearls "lifted" from an old flower arrangement and some hand-drawn stitching complete my card today.

Have you linked up your celebration card or project with the Quirky Crafts challenge blog yet? This is the midpoint, so you have plenty of time to come join the fun! Whether it's freezing outside, or starting to boil over, depending on your hemisphere, I hope you have some time to craft!

Stitchy Bear is offering some great prizes this month:

 1st prize: 3 images of choice from the entire Stitchy Bear store
 2nd prize: any 3 images used by the DT
 3rd Prize: any 2 images used by the DT

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafts & Me - Anything Goes/Optional Winter (linked to Facebook page)

Dream Factory - The Snow Queen

Stitchy Bear (on Facebook) - Anything Goes

BELIEVE in the Path of Positivity's Last Challenger of 2015

Welcome to the last challenge of 2015 at the Path of Positivity challenge blog!! It has been a wonderful year, filled with happiness, uniqueness, laughter, growth, serendipity, perseverance, opportunity, sharing, dedication, resiliency and gratefulness. The challenge themes have inspired cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages, altered art and mixed media projects. I am so blessed to be a part of the Design team!
This month's theme is "Believe." I believe that next year will be filled with just as much inspiration and creativity as 2015 has been. I also believe that the holiday season brings more chances to believe in a better future. So I created a card today that showcases my belief in a better world, with the sentiment, "Star light, Star bright, A wish for Peace on Earth tonight." Let's make it happen in 2016, shall we? I believe in us!!
This month we have TWO fabulous sponsors for our challenge:  Fresh Brewed Designs:

and Pickled Potpourri:

For my card today, I used a digi image from pickled Potpourri called Christmas Collage.

I used several papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, one if the Path's regular sponsors (and why not, as Lisa of DDD is the owner of this fabulous blog). She has a paper kit called Glitterati that is so fun and sparkly and in several colors that I couldn't resist using it as my card base, framed with a paper from her 12 Months of Christmas paper pack. I also use papers from her Christmas Grunge pack, especially to frame all my images and sentiments. The pack comes in a variety of colors as well. The strip of patterned paper in dark teal of Santa's sled and reindeer is one from a new set called "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and is available here.

Before I go into the prize details, please check out Teresa, from Tickell Expressions.  Teresa has been a supporter of the Path of Positivity and plays along quite often, and is our Guest Design team member for December. Don;t forget to leave her a little love.

Here we go:

PRIZES:

•A $7 gift certificate from Pickled Potpourri Designs for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

•Three images from Fresh Brewed Designs for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

•One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

ALSO:

•A small selection of digital designer papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge time frame.

•One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge. 

So, crafters, what do you Believe?  Show us in a card, an art project, a photo, a layout or tell us in a post. And as always, have fun!!

Anything Goes with SLS Lines and the Outlawz Greetings Challenge

It's my favorite theme time at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges--Anything Goes!! One of our sponsors is SLS Lines, and their Etsy Store is full of gorgeous images to color and create with.
My card features an image called Air Fairy. After I colored and fussy cut her out, I discovered a Tim Holtz Idealogy Cabinet card that I covered with shimmer paper (in teal, my fave color). I found a leftover piece of beach scene paper and embossed my sentiment onto the front, where my fairy is hovering in the clouds. To create the look of soft movement, I added  few pearl leftover flourishes around her. All that was left to do was add a shimmery border to the bottom of my card, and a soft dove for good measure.
What will your project be? The sky's the limit with just a few guidelines: make sure to use a sentiment or quote on the front of your project, and link up your project post (not your whole blog), making sure that you didn't post it before the start of the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge.
Other than that, the world is your oyster, and the DT look forward to seeing what you create!

Two-fer Wednesday!

I love when I can make two different cards with the same design and the same image! Above is a birthday card I made for my sweet hubby. He is now officially two years older than I. In April, I celebrate my own birthday and we go back to his being only one year older (hey, gotta take it when it's there). LOL
I used a gorgeous image from Art by Miran called "Winter Sofia." Since I adore the color teal, I drenched my card in that color, using Copics to color up Sofia, and papers to enhance the tone. I added a bit of shimmer with Stickles. I'm entering my card into the Art by Miran Challenge blog, where every challenge is Anything Goes, my fave kind of challenge! Check out the inspiration there, and go play!

My second card is almost identical, with just a tweak of coloring, and a little less sparkle. Don't you love the lace I used? I got lucky at this summer's rummage sale and found a small box of various laces. This card is for the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge blog. It's a progressive challenge with prizes for participating each month. I'm a little behind, as this month is past the midway mark, but better late than never!
Other Challenges I am entering:
Fab & Gunky Challenges - Buttons! (my snowflakes are buttons w/the hanks cut off)
Frilly & Funky Challenges - Winter
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - All Wrapped Up
Scrapper's Delights Challenges - Favorite Colors (mmm, teal & pink!)
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenges - Something Old, Something New (old lace, new image)

Teal is my Go-To Color

Teal is my go-to color, and that's what I used to create this card for the new Anything Goes challenge over at Art by Miran challenge blog. I found some gorgeous patterned papers while cleaning out my closet and used a piece as my card base. Using Copics, I colored this pretty image called "A Rainy Day" and framed it with black cardstock. I then framed it again with embossed Coredinations paperand popped it on my card.
I used an adhesive flourish border, a line of pearls a flower and a ribbon bow to complete my card.
This is one of my favorite images from Art by MiRan. I think I'll give this to hubby for a Father's Day card!

Life Would Be Unbearable...

Friday was my wedding anniversary. Hubby and I have been married 36 years (of course I got married when I was 12). We met in California when we were both attached to the 54th Military Police Company at Fort Ord.

So I made this anniversary card for hubby. I used a Squigglefly digi image called Polar Bears by artist Deena Parreault. I used it because the inside of my card has the sentiment: "Life would be unbearable without you in it!"
I love using all shades of teal, so I decided to go with a color-blocking card design. It really is a very simple clean card, which I do very rarely, but sometimes you know you have to change up your style so you don't get into a slump.
Have a Squigglefly image and an idea for a card? Come join the new challenge at the Squigglefly Challenge Blog:
"Go to the Corner! Ever get told that by your teacher? Well I am telling you now because that is the challenge this week! Let's see a wonderful card and top it off some fun decor in the corner. A die cut, embellishment, punch? I can't wait to check out what you make!"
As you can see, I used both white and black pearls in my corners to jazz up the blocks of color. So, what are YOU going to put into your corners for this challenge? Whatever you decide on, have fun and keep crafting!