Garden Party

 

I had fun creating this whimsical garden of flowers and mushrooms. Maybe it's because I started with that swervy base line. I drew the garden above the line and used colored pencils to give my scene some highlights. I found the perfect sentiment, "Your words can plant gardens OR burn down whole Forests". I am a lover of words, metaphors, similes, antonyms, homonyms, phrases and onomatopoeia. Words have so much power, and I strive (and sometimes succeed) to think before I speak.

My "troll" is from Ike's Art, one of a set of Gnomes available at her store. I chose the plain gnome so that I could color in clothes. After I did that, he looked more like a Troll than a gnome. So of course I added the HAIR! LOL I had some leftover tie-dye fur from a previous project and used it for his "up-do".

Then the page below that swervy line looked awful, so empty and white. So I had to stick in a bit of doodling, which I think improves the overall look.

 

Exercise?!! Not Me

How is everybody dealing with Covid-19 and its demands on society? My daughter just got back from road trip, passing though states where NO ONE wore masks, inside nor out. She is isolating in the basement for another week before she shares her breathing with me. The basement is made up for her to be comfortable - TV, fridge, microwave, bathroom - but it gets lonely, for both of us. Can't wait until she "returns" to me.
Meanwhile, I've started creating cards again. It looks like the repercussions from this virus will continue for months. So I need to revamp my outlook and plan a couple more months ahead. I'll be sharing my goals and expectations with you in a later post, but for now I colored up an image I had already printed to make today's card.
It's one of those unusual fold, slanted cards. I actually created 2 different cards with the same paper that I cut on the diagonal. My image is a digi from Ike's Art called "Basket Case". I thought this kitty's expression worked perfectly with my sentiment. On the inside, another sentiment asks "Meow's it going?"

 It will go into my box saved for neighbors and friends, to keep their spirits up. Every other week I deliver handmade cards to a few neighbors, since we can't really socialize. In fact, it's time to pass out a few more...

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - ANything w/a Critter Goes

Classic Design - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - NOT Square!

Crafty Creations - ANything Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything w/an Animal Goes

Creative Moments - ANything Goes

Show Us Your Pussy Cats - Furrything Goes

12 months of xmas

Today's card is a DT make for the 12 months of Christmas Challenge Blog. This month's guest sponsor is Ike's Art,and I have colored an Ike's Art digi image called "High Five". I added the Santa hat to make him more merry, and created a scene using papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.The sentiment is also from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.
Doesn't he look like the part of Santa's helper? He's ready to give out those presents! If you haven't done so already, now's a good tie to start your Christmas card stash.After all, the year is almost half over! And if you create 2 cards a month and link them to the 12 Months of Christmas blog, you'll receive a free digi holiday paper. You will also be put into a drawing for prizes from our guest sponsor and our regular sponsor, Scribbles Designs.
I'm looking forward to seeing your cards at the 12 Months of Christmas blog. Happy crafting!
Ike's Art High Five image
DDD Papers from: Snowy Bokeh Trees Backgrounds in blue, Grungy Christmas in yellow,
DDD Sentiment "From our Home to Yours"

Challenges I am Entering:

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Goes

I Love (Virtual) Cats

I do love cats, real cats, but they don't like me. At least, they don't like my sinuses. I'm allergic to them. So this is unfortunately as near as I can get to these cute bundles of furry love. And my card today features an Ike's Art digi image called Chillin'.
I colored this precious puss with Copics and fussy cut her to pop her onto my background. I created the background with three patterned papers and a strip of ribbon. I have been de-cluttering my craft stash and all unorganized supplies have been going into a box. I am creating cards and projects from this box only, and this is my newest "use your stash" creation.
My sentiment is a two-parter; here's the second (inside) part:

I think that I am part cat! How about you? LOL
I am entering the following challenges:

Show Us Your Pussycats - Anything Goes

Ike's World Challenge Blog - Anything Goes (and a belated Happy Birthday, Ike!)

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything w/a Critter Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Goes w/an Animal

Fixing a Creative Problem

Have you ever created a project, and although it looked, well, okay, you just didn't like it? Something about it just bothered you to the point that you put it away, not quite ready to trash it, but not quite knowing how to fix it?
I created a mixed media canvas for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog a few years back, using an Ike's Art image called Robot 2. Here it is BELOW:

It's nice, but it bothered me. I didn't hang it up with the rest of my canvases; I put it in a pile of my non-favorites, where it collected dust...until the quarantine, when I suddenly had the time to do a thorough cleaning out of every nook and cranny in my house. I have found so many things I never knew I still had!! And you should see the pile of donation bags stacked up in the basement, waiting for the thrift stores and schools to reopen so I can get them out of the house...
Anyway, I found this original canvas and decided NOW was the time to pitch it or fix it. And I fixed it. Here's the new and improved canvas,with a few tweaks here and there. It went from a 6x6 foam board canvas to a 12x12 stretched canvas.

I think my colors are more cohesive, and my words are more clearly portrayed. I have several "triangles" of color that lead the eye across the canvas to take in the full picture, and more layers and texture.
This year I am focusing on Balance in my life-in my health, my creativity, my finances, my social relationships (what are those, huh?), my family, new experiences, travel, etc. I have made huge inroads in de-cluttering my house and organizing my crafts, as well as experimenting with new art techniques and media. I've also got another 2 months before my physical so I continue to MOVE IT and lose some weight while keeping my A1C and cholesterol numbers down.
Balance is my mantra, every day, every way. As my canvas advocates, Balance is the Key to Everything...

Challenges I am Entering:

Bleeding Art - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Ike's World - Anything Goes w/optional Paper Piecing

A Plaid Christmas at the 12 Months of Christmas blog

Hello, crafters! My DT make today is for the 12 Months of Christmas. Their challenge twist this month (which is optional) is Christmas Plaids. I used some lovely papers from Decosse's Dynamite doodles for my card, and an paw-some, I mean awesome, digi image from this month's sponsor, Ike's Art. It's called Waiting for Santa, which I thought made the perfect sentiment for my card.

I printed the uncolored image onto a Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' paper from the set below to create an outdoor scene for my cats to look out on.

Once it was printed, I colored the image with Copics and gel pens. How do you think my carpet turned out? I used 4 different markers for that! Once I was finished coloring, I framed it with red cardstock (not really-I'm out of red! so I colored white cardstock with my red Copic marker) and popped it onto my Christmas plaid paper, also from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. This is from the set below. 

I hand lettered my sentiment since my printer decided to run out of ink, and wouldn't you know it, I bought the wrong cartridge series, so I got to practice my calligraphy. A little bit of lace, some jewels and a bow complete my card.

Although the Twist is Christmas Plaids, you don't need to follow the twist to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month, or for a chance to win a gift certificate from Ike's Art. You do, however, have to remember to link your card up with the 12 Months of Christmas blog to get your chance of winning prizes. Challenge ends the end of the month, so good luck and have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Critter Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Animal Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Papers - Anything PP Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Double Trouble - Christmas in July & Make It Square
Sheepski Designs - Early Christmas

Inspired while on the Path of Positivity

What inspires you to  create? Is it the list of challenges on Paper Play? A new image from your favorite store? A favorite quote, a catchy tune or something someone says to you in passing?
When I started crafting, I met a great woman online who inspired me to explore more than I was doing at the time. My style exploded, my techniques expanded and suddenly my comfort zone had no boundaries.

Her name is Holley Barnhart, and if not for a brilliant surgeon, she would not be around to share and inspire anyone, let alone me! So once a year she celebrates her "new life" with a blog bonanza. I am so happy for her, and so happy that she is in my life. Thank you Holley.

The Path of Positivity is always pointing the way toward positivity, acknowledgment and encouragement. This month's optional theme at the challenge blog is INSPIRATION. What better way to feature this theme than by using a unique, limited image from Ike's Art called "Holley's Brain."

I created a mixed media canvas with whatever I could find in my scrap pile that I felt matched Holley's personality and soul. Then I took a picture of it and mailed it to her as a thank you for helping me become the artist that I am today.

In order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes at the Path of Positivity, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. Prizes this month include:

A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.

ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.

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

Challenges I am Entering:

Moving along with the Times - Have a Heart

Bleeding Art - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - ANything Mixed media Goes

Splashy Mix - ANything Goes

Get Inspired on the Path of Positivity

The Path of Positivity Challenge Blog is offering an optional twist on its Anything Goes theme: focus on INSPIRATION. If you would like to challenge yourself, create a project to uplift and/or motivate someone in your life. However, remember that the optional twist is just for fun.

This card is for my neighbor. She adopted a dog around this time a year ago. He is a rescue, a cute senior beagle (except when he howls). LOL She had lost her husband a few years ago and decided to fill her empty house with barks and dog hair. She also got cuddles and licks and unconditional love.
Using an Ike's Art image called "Kindness", I colored it with Copics and placed it onto a card front created from embossed and stitched metallic paper. The greeting didn't show up well against that background, so I crimped some red (for love) to back up the words, "Happy Adoptiversary!" I helped my image pop out from the background paper by using dimensional tape and a die-cut snowflake peeking out from behind it.
So I made this card to celebrate her dog's Adoptiversary! We rescued our dog, Wilson, a senior Silkie Terrier, three years ago. He's one of the family now, and we couldn't be happier. If and when we're ready to adopt again, my daughter and I agreed to look for another senior dog. It makes your heart melt to see their blank stares turn into looks of love after they know they have found what it is to be loved and cared for (again or sometimes for the first time). Don't we all need just that?
If you're trying to decide if you're ready to get a dog, please consider adoption from a shelter. They have dogs and cats from 4 weeks old to seniors, playful to mellow, all of them just looking to be loved and to love in return. Go ahead and, "make their day!" 
And if you're interested in playing along with the challenge at the Path of Positivity, please note that ALL projects must be positive, encouraging or uplifting in some way (so make sure you mention you are following the theme this month).
 Prizes this month include:

A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.

ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.

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

You have until February 3rd to link up to three projects to the first challenge of 2019 at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog!  Go for it, crafters!

Challenges I am Entering:

Get Creative - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes w/a Critter

Happy Craft - Anything Goes

Celebrate the YOU-niqueness of YOU

Following your own path is sometimes very difficult to do. There's peer pressure, family pressure, unpopularity, fear, indecision.
At other times, that path is lit with bright lights, helping you every step of the way to achieve inner peace, happiness, self-respect, and pride.
And sometimes, there is no path. You are forced to push obstacles aside, dig up unpleasant growth and smooth the way for others.
Every time you step out, you have a choice. Will you trudge along as others have? Will you skip lightly along the path? Or will you blaze your own path, allowing others to follow if they wish?
Obviously, the challenge this month at the Path of Positivity is Uniqueness. I have created a mixed media canvas with an image from Ike's Art called "Shhh!" I colored her with Copics, and placed her onto a washed out background of peoples' images. My sentiment is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles and is perfect for the feel of my canvas.
This month our sponsors and prizes are:

• A prize package worth $10 of digi images (digital papers not applicable) from Scribbles Designs, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $10 gift certificate from Ike's Art, one of our guest sponsors this month, 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.

There will also be:

• One digital designer paper (made to order in a couple different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

The Uniqueness Challenge runs from January 5 through February 1. As always crafters, have fun!

 http://buyscribblesdesigns.blogspot.ca/

 http://suzy-ikesworld.blogspot.ca/

Time to Get Your Spooky On

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, at least when it comes to crafting. That's why I love SBP's Challenge blog theme this month - Halloween!!  Ike's Art is sponsoring the challenge, and she's offering five free digis to a random winner. Woo hoo!
I played with an image from Ike's Art called Genie.

Isn't she adorable? I colored her with Copics, framed her with gold paper, and popped her onto DCWV Once Upon a Time patterned paper. My sentiment is a two-parter. Here's the inside

LOL! One year my sister wore a genie costume to a Girl Scout Halloween party at which I was the leader. I saw some disapproving looks from some of the moms, but I think they were just jealous that she could wear it "so well."

Anyway, I hope you get a chance to check out Ike's Art amazing images, and to play along at SBP's Halloween challenge. Ike's Art Challenge blog has a freebie for crafters to play with. PLUS, their theme is Ike's Art Around the World. I'm entering this card as my "Ike's Art in the Middle East" (Turkey maybe?) LOL One lucky winner will receive a free digi of her choice.

DREAMS Midway Challenge from Path of Positivity

Dreams is the theme for the Path of Positivity Challenge blog this month. Although many would interpret the theme to mean "hopes and aspirations," I took it literally and created a mixed media canvas.

Between my new interest in water colors and my new passion for mixed media canvas, I am spreading my craftiness thin, but still make more cards than anything else. However, I do so love to dabble and experiment, and that's really what ART is all about. And of course, where would ART be without dreamers?

For today's project, I got to color up a digi image from Ike's Art. It's called "Poe Bust." I love Edgar Allen Poe, have his poems and stories, read his bio, and took a 3-credit Independent Study at college on Mr. Poe and his writings (got an A, too).

I used a combination of Copics and Spectrum Noir to color my image (I didn't have enough Copics in the black family).  Before adding it to a canvas, I Mod Podged (homemade), gessoed (again homemade), painted and inked a base onto my blank canvas. I gathered together assorted charms, flowers, photos, diecuts, etc, and played around with it all until I found a pattern I liked. I even handwrote words about dreaming and waking from them.

The sentiment is a digi from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. I distressed it by folding and ripping the paper, then adding distress inks. I hope you take some time to check out all the little embellishments that complete my canvas. Then I hope you are inspired to try it yourself.

Whether you paint or make cards, don't forget to play in the Path of Positivity's challenge this month. Create with a Dream theme and link up your project. Great prizes to several winners, as always!!

• For Challenge 16, prizes will be the following:
• £15 voucher from Scribble and Scrap, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• Three digital images from Ike's Art for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.
• There will also be:
• One digital designer paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.