To Thine Own Self Be True

Today I want to share myself with you through a mixed media card I created.  After all, any artist will tell you that when you look at their work, you are seeing the artist.  When I look at what I've created, I feel like I'm looking in a mirror!
There's a wonderful and empowering blog in town called the Path of Positivity Blog.  I go there to get inspired, to lift my spirits when I feel down and to relax when I'm stressed.
How do they affect me this way?  By crafters and artists sharing their stories and projects and words! This month's theme is about Honesty.
To me, honesty is letting you see the parts of me that aren’t pretty.  Because, let’s face it, no one is perfect.  I snore at night.  I am overweight.  I am loud.  I have skeletons in my closet (and they’re not Halloween decorations).

When I create something—a card, a poem, a canvas—I am being honest.  I don’t know of a way to create without being honest, with both myself and with others.  My personality, my beliefs, my fears,my history, my strengths and weaknesses—it’s all there in living color for everyone to see. 

But mostly for ME to see, because even if I decided to discard something I made, it is still burned in my mind.  It can never be erased (just like putting something on the internet). 

So why throw it away, when it speaks honestly of ME – unique, imperfect, honest ME.
Whether you need a mood shift, inspiration or a new challenge for your art, check out the Path of Positivity Blog.

You Color My World

Now that my son's wedding is past and the road trip to visit my mother-in-law has come to an end, and I have recovered from a sinus infection, I can breathe a sigh of relief and get back to crafting for pleasure!!  Not that it wasn't fun to hand-make so many things for the wedding, but it's nice to sit down to Pinterest or a crafting magazine and think, 'this looks cool, I think I want to try it', and actually have the time to do so!

I did look online at my favorite sites and blogs, and found inspiration in Hambo's newest challenge.  So I got out my trusty Copics and printed up a favorite Hambo digi image and went to play.

The image I used is called Pig Artist and comes with three sentiments!  I used the "You Color My World" sentiment on the inside of my tri-fold card.

I cut a 12x5 inch strip of cardstock and scored it at 4" and 8".  Then I cut a straight line from the first 4 " fold to a point 2 inches from the end on each side to make the diagonal shape of the card.  The point didn't work for me so I cut about 1/2" off.

Then I had fun using my stash of leftover patterned papers and covered each flap of my card.  I had to make sure to attach two eyelets and two snaps (I thought they were eyelets) before adhering the pp.

My Pig Artist image looked lost on all the colorful papers, so I cut out a circle with which to frame him. Here is my card in its open position.

I would have put a little more embellishment on the card front, but  I wanted to include it in my growing pile of cards for the Troops, which has some very specific guidelines for what you can put on your cards.

So here is my Pig-casso in all his colorful glory!  Check out the Hambo Hoedown for more inspiration on using your eyelets and Hambo images on your cards.  Each player is a winner, getting a digi image just by entering!!

And as always, crafters, have fun!!

Hambo's New Challenge is Cool Beans!

What's better than a handmade card?  A handmade card with a surprise!!

Today I made a Ribbon Pull Card.  I used the Hambo Stamps digi image called Kangaroo, colored it with my Copics and framed the image on cardstock.

I used my ScorPal to fold the card into a box and embellished the front with a border diecut and some small white roses.  I used CTMH Liquid Glass to put a little shine on the balloon.

I left my card base long enough to actually have a front that opens to an inner page.  That's where I placed one of the four sentiments that come with this digi purchase.

So, how did I get the gum in the box card and when the ribbon is pulled, it comes up through the top?

I punched holes in the front and back of the box.  I placed my ribbon around a package of gum, down the front and up the back, and then stuck the package into my box with the ribbon ends sticking out the top.

All I had to do then was pull each end of the ribbon through each hole, tying a bow to keep the gum in place.  So, when you pull up on the bow, the package of gum comes up with it!!

I was sorting through my birthday cards, trying to find a special one for my daughter, who turns 17 on the fourth of July.  She is my baby, my gift from God.  I lost my dad in 94 to lung cancer.  I hadn't taken birth control since my son was born nine years previously.  So, I lost him, and I got pregnant -- unexpectantly, joyously pregnant.  She was born in the Zodiac sign of Cancer.  That's why I know God gave her to me to replace my dad.

Back to my card.  My daughter loves this gum, so this card is the one for her.  We're celebrating her day the usual way, with fireworks and parades and a BBQ!!  That's what happens when you're born on your country's day of independence.

Go play at the Hambo Hoedown this week.  The challenge is to use a Hambo digi and a card with a pocket in it.  Happy holiday, crafters!

Dog Gone It--Hambo's Got Another Challenge!

I think my new favorite card to make has to be the easel card. I don't know why I didn't start making it when everyone else was! It's so easy to make, and fun to display. I made this one from two pieces of cardstock, one 4x8" and one 4x4", and scored the longer piece at 2" and 4".
I used a digi image from Hambo Stamps called Dog house Blues. I love their images, thay're so much FUN! You can see all of them HERE.
This week at the Hambo Hoedown, the challenge is to use this image or any other of theirs and incorporate a dog tag, dog bone, or metal charm! I used cardstock to build my cardbase, then tore a piece of leftover linen paper and some green grass patterned paper to make a background scene for my doghouse. I colored the image with Copics: E35,37,71; C1,3; B93,97; Y17; V04 & RV00,13,34. I wrote in the sentiment Dogone it! and adhered it onto a metal charm, and printed the sentiment Hope You're Feeling Better, which comes from the digi-image set, and placed it onto my bottom piece with pop dots, which holds the card in place like an easel.
It's dog-gone easy to play along in the Hoedown, and every player wins a free digi image!! So trot on over and start having FUN!

A Ton of Fun This Weekend

Got a fun weekend planned with my mom and sisters, but I wanted to make sure I created a new card for the Hambo Hoedown before I left. Every week they offer a new challenge, and ALL players in the challenge receive a free digi! This weekend is extra special, as they are hosting a blog hop. I made some special movie-themed cards for the hop, so be sure to check them out tomorrow HERE.
Meanwhile, I wanted to share this funny card with you. I used Sumo-digi image from Hambo Stamps. This week's challenge was to use a Hambo image along with a sentiment, and use CHIPBOARD. I colored my chipboard black with Copics and framed my image with it, as well as using a small circle to frame out the sentiment. I am in love right now with all shades teal, so my card has teal, black and browns. I colored Mr. Sumo with the following Copics: 100; E00; YR61 & BG10. His, uh, fig leaf (?), is two layers of colored image. I had an ATC (in teal, how convenient is that?) in an oriental theme, so used it behind his image. I also had a leftover lantern from a Cricut swap I was in. I glammed up my chipboard frame with punched hearts and Black Stickles. I used some paper from a Card makers kit, as well as leftovers from my stash. I penned in some faux stitching between the solid and striped background papers.
I have a wooden purse box with a bamboo handle that I'd like to use him on and make a gift for a friend who loves the asian theme, but I didn't have time to put that together (yet). Maybe when I get back next week!
Meanwhile, don't forget to check out two great blogs this weekend. The first is Hambo, and the second is Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. I've authored two posts this week over there, and hope you get a couple good ideas on saving money as you craft.

Living the Good Life

Our school is losing a fine coach to retirement, and his party is tonight. Talk about waiting until the last minute!! I knew I had this Hambo Stamps digi-image in my growing Hambo collection, and thought it would be a perfect image for a Congratulations card.
I used Paper Trey cardstocks in coordinating colors to frame out my front and inside card faces. The patterned paper is called "Fish Wishes" from Paper Pizzazz. I stamped the sentiments from a Stampin Up set with CTMH Black ink.
The image is the most fun to work with! I printed my cool pool cat twice on white cardstock, once on tellow and once on patterned paper. I colored my image with Copics: YR02,61; Y15; RV13; R29 & G21
I pieced the colored image together with the patterned paper, all on top of a layer of yellow cardstock. Altogether there are three layers to him! I am fairly new to paper piecing and have been having a BLAST with this technique.
I hope my good buddy Vic will like the card. I know he will like the gift card to Home Depot that will go inside of it!!
This card is the first of many I plan on making this weekend in celebrtation of National Scrapbooking Day! So get out your supplies, lock the doors and craft to your heart's content!! And go check out Your Scrapbook Place Blog for some challenges and prizes!

A Tisket, a Tasket a Heart-filled Basket

After working Sunday at two First Communion liturgies, my heart is filled with love and hope and faith. So I colored another Heart Basket digi image from Hambo Stamps and made a card. There's a young girl who made her First Communion yesterday who holds a special place in my heart. Her name is Reggie and she is battling Juvenile Diabetes. We started getting to know each other better when I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Now that classes are over, I'm going to miss her, and look forward to seeing how much she has grown when classes resume in the Fall.
Meqanwhile, I made this card using her and the Hambo digi image as my inspiration. I just caught a wonderful packm of patterned papers at a rummage sale and found this delectable paper of purple flowers (I call them snowballs) to use as the background. Her dress was full of lace with tiny white flowers all over, so I added the lace in spots and added some handmade flowers (thank you, Anna).
I colored my image with COpics: E00; V09; RV09,11,34; R29 AND B63
I pieced three layers of the image together for dimension, and glitzed the hearts with CTMH Liquid Glass and Stickles brand clear glitter.
The inside of the card carries the sentiment "Sending All My Love", which is also a digi image that cpomes with the heart basket from Hambo Stamps.
This card is entered in their Hambo Hoedown challenge this week, which asked for one of their images, along with lots of lace and flowers. i think I got the lace and flowers down, don't you??

Can't Stop Coloring this Midget King

I was asked to make treats for my granddaughter's dance class next week. I found a bag of these cute round plastic containers that are a perfect size for small treats, and couldn't resist coloring up a few more King-digis from Hambo Stamps. I printed them as small as I could while still giving me room to fill in with color, which I of course did with my Copics (100, E00, E35, Y17, B12) and my new fave, a Zig Brushables in English Lavender, perfect for creating shadow and dimension.
The beautiful flower was created by a crafting friend from Scrapbook PlaCE Yahoo Group. You should check them out, we're a group a friendly creative women who enjoy making new friends, swapping materials and having fun.
The rest of the items used were leftovers from my stash. I am REALLY trying hard to use my things and not buy new, but it is SOOOOOO difficult when companies like Queen kat and Hambo and Crafter's Companion and SOOO many others keep presenting lovely new items to buy, buy, buy!!!! LOL Did I mention I am in love with Mami Doodles and Whiff of Joy and...well, check out the list on the right, there are some great links there!
Back to my project, there are six girls in the dance class, and I have just enough containers for them. I think I should make a larger item for the instructor!