Another One Bites the Dust

 Today's decluttering produced 7 cards and a bookmark. The only reason I stopped was to feed and walk the dog, then jump on my spin bike! I now have two large bags of craft supplies for a budding new crafter, a full recycle bin, several more empty containers/drawers, and less anxiety knowing that my basement has a chance to be a livable space again.

I started with the bookmark since I found a watercolor that I had made last year. When I'm not happy with my watercolors. I cut out the part(s) that I like and keep them for future projects. Using leftover die-cut stars, macrame string and a die-cut butterfly, I finished off my bookmark with a sticker that reads dream.

I had two pre-cut cards and envies that I discovered in my decluttering and used leftover papers as card fronts. I cut out the birthday cake from a transparent sheet of scrapbook paper and added small paper flowers and a sticker  reading wish; I used a stamped Thanks sentiment on the other large card and added a die-cut paper butterfly.

The card in the very front has a pop-up vase of flowers in the middle. I created this card from a leftover card kit I had made for a workshop before Covid. The others are card and envie sets that I used patterned papers, ATCs, stickers and flowers to create feel-good note cards. The one on the very left is actually a three-fold; I decorated the front and left the inside clear in which wo write a note to someone special...

During this declutter so far, I have learned that:

I buy supplies impulsively, mostly when things are on clearance or offered at thrift stores. 

I am a paperholic and since decreasing the number of cards I make after Covid, is not a good trait.

I save too many "pieces" and "ripped" or "broken" supplies thinking I can find a use for them.

I don't have as much space as I have craft supplies.

I should have bought real crafting storage i/o thrifting for furniture/bins/shelving haphazardly.

Does this mean I won't visit a craft or thrift store or buy supplies before I really need them? Probably not, but I will have a good think before I get to the cash register and hand over the cash for it all!!

Keeping it real, crafting peeps!

Getting Frosty at the 12 Months of Christmas Blog

Happy New Year! It's a fresh new year, and a fresh new start to your Christmas card stash. If you happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere of this beautiful planet, January is one of the coldest months of the year. If you live in Chicago in the USA, then you have woken up on this first day of 2018 to a frosty, frigid, snow-covered scene as well. The ground might be layered with snow, icicles hanging from the eves and the windows decorated by Jack Frost himself. Of course, with Mother Nature off her meds, tomorrow could well be a moderate 50 degrees Fahrenheit with neighborhood kids riding the new bikes Santa gave them.

But let's say that January remains your normal "dead of winter month" with Jack Frost nipping at your nose. That is why this month the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog offers the optional challenge to have some sort of frosty element on your card (icicles, snowflakes, snow, frost, etc.). If you choose to create with this theme, you will be entered in the drawing for this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs. Please remember to place the letters FT after your name when linking your project so that we know you have followed the theme.

You don't have to follow the optional theme, and if you link up two or more cards this month, you will receive one of the featured patterned papers created by Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.

For my DT make, I got to play with a Scribbles Designs digi image called Jack Frost. If you've visited my blog lately, I've been making a lot of note card sets, and I don't expect it to go away soon. Today's note cards are again ATC-sized, perfect to add to a gift, slip into a book, or distribute to co-workers or party guests. The inside is blank so I can write personal holiday messages to those receiving my cards.

That's it for today, except to remind you to link up your Christmas cards to the 12 Months of Christmas Blog for your chance to win prizes (and to grow next year's Christmas card stash)!

Happy Crafting!

Photo Inspiration at Scribbles Designs

 I am loving these cute word art images from Scribbles Designs. They make the most awesome note cards, and who doesn't need a few dozen note cards to say Hi, Thinking of You, Let's Do Lunch or even Thank You?
Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog offers a photo for inspiration this month, and I have pulled the colors from it for my set of cards. The Scribbles image I used is called Fab Friend, and the designer papers are from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Bokeh Paper Kit. I think they're a perfect match, don't you?

You have until November 14th to find inspiration from the photo below and link your card or project up at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store. See you there!

Challenges I am Entering"
Crafting by Design - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - Owl about Me
Crafty Friends - Cute

Surround Yourself with Literature at the Path of Positivity

This month at the Path of Positivity challenge blog, we continue with the second challenge in a series of three, based on the concept of Surrounding Yourself with Positivity in the form of the Arts!  In September crafters were given the optional challenge to surround themselves with Art(work). This month the optional challenge series continues with the concept of Literature! 

Like art, there are many different types of literature. Stories, books, magazines, leaflets, etc. When you are heading to the library, the book store, or trolling through the Kindle store, are you off to find poetry, romance, self-help, history, biographies, hobby or instructions? 

A great piece of writing has a way of pulling us into another world and creating adventures beyond what we might imagine on our own.  Sometimes it is exciting to escape to another country, time, world, or life. Other times, good writing can teach us about other cultures and acceptance. It’s always beneficial to read about improving our skills or expanding what we know. Many times these literary journeys will inspire us to make changes in our day to day living. 

Whenever I become absorbed in a book, the real world no longer exists for me. I can wander wherever the book takes me, whether halfway across the globe or to mystical realms that can only be imagined...or in today's case, to a hidden refuge with a view of the sea.

 I was inspired to create a set of note cards using a digi image from Sparkle n Sprinkle called "Silhouettes".  While one image from the set has its own background, my other cards feature my own photography in the background, each with different sentiments. Framed in coordinating  cardstock, the flowers in my silhouettes are sporting shimmery black jewels.

Sparkle n Sprinkle is the exclusive guest sponsor this month at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. They are offering a $15 gift certificate in a random draw for one lucky crafter, as long as the project is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. 

If you would also like a chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation, you must follow the optional theme and share how you were inspired by literature. Be sure to add FT after your name when you link up at The Path of Positivity Challenge Blog so that you are included in the draw for a $15 gift certificate from Sparkle n Sprinkle for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.
Good luck and happy crafting!

Surround Yourself with ART on the Path of Positivity

SURROUND YOURSELF...with ART

This is the optional theme offered at the Path of Positivity challenge blog this month. ART has the power to pull you into its colors, its patterns and its moods. It can certainly make you cry or smile. It moves you emotionally.

One of the best things about having computers is the access to works of artistic masters and modern day artists at your fingertips! From acrylics to water colors, ceramics to wood, glass work to quilting, the world of art comes to your home.

I am an eclectic art lover. I like so many different styles of art that it's hard to pin me down when asked what my favorite is. My house is filled with a jumble of styles, colors and themes, almost like I imagine the basement of a small art museum would have collected over the years (without the dust and cobwebs).

Since I can't (won't) make up my mind and choose just one style, I chose to create a set of note cards in different styles. Of course, I had to put a Pat Martin-21st century spin on them, so be sure to read each sentiment on the cards.

I created my cards using images from Luna Girl. They are part of the collage sheet called Day Dream and can be found at their store HERE.

This month's challenge is to be inspired in a positive way by the art in which you surround yourself. Look around your house. What's hanging on your walls? What style does each room have? Often what we choose to hang on our walls or place on our shelves not only makes us feel happy and positive, it tells us something about our artistic tastes.

Use your own artistic preferences to create something for your chance to win the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation. We can’t wait to see what you create and learn about yourself on this journey!
Keep in mind, you are thinking about how different kinds of art affect us as individuals.  It’s not really about doing something “visually" art-related. For example, any positive image that reminds us of any piece of art work or use the style of a famous artist on any image.

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 for Most Inspirational. Also. please leave a comment letting us know how your creation relates to the concept of art and what you learned about yourself along the way, if it isn't clearly written somewhere else in your post. 

You don't need to follow this optional theme; if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $12 gift certificate from Bugaboo Stamps, one of our guest sponsors this month, make sure to create something positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. 

You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's Most Inspirational sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate from Lunagirl, provided by the second of our guest sponsors this month.

Whatever you choose to create, have fun!