PagesPat's Ponderings

Showing posts with label blog hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog hop. Show all posts

Monday, August 4, 2014

A Blog Hop with a Difference

I was invited to this blog hop with a difference by Lisa from the Path of Positivity. This hop gives me free rein to write and showcase any of my work, as well as answer four questions about my creativity. In turn, I have chosen three bloggers and their links who I have "tagged" to continue this blog hop with a difference. Those are below. Now for the answers to the questions:
1. What am I working on?
I just sent off a personal essay for the Path of Positivity. I love to write. I've been having a torrid love affair with the English language since the second grade, when Sister Carlene applauded my short story and told me I was destined to be a writer. On the crafty front, I design for Squigglefly Designs as well as for Lisa at the Path of Positivity, and join in challenges on a regular basis. Above is a card I created for the Digi Stamps 4 Joy Progressive Christmas Card challenge using Snowglobe by Margy from DS4J. I created an easel card after fussy-cutting the image. The faux snow on the image is homemade "SoftSnow." It's easy to make--all you need is two balls of styrofoam and rub them together, then gather it all into a container. 
I'm also into watercolors. I started with kids' water paints and cardstock, and graduated to cold pressed paper with lots of tooth and liquid water colors.  Here's one I recently painted from a photo taken while visiting Seattle, Washington. Between my photos and Pinterest, I'll run out of paints before I run out of inspiration.  
The last project to show you is a shadowbox I made of my son's wedding last July. My mom liked it so much I decided to make one for her as well, and it is sitting on my craft table until I get the time to put hers together. This is what it will look like. And let me tell you, if I had gone around the world looking for the perfect wife for my son, I couldn't have done better than the one he chose for himself!! 
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Every artist puts his or her sweat, emotions and heart into each work, whether it's a card, a layout, a canvas or journaling. I am an eclectic artist in that I am all over the place. The companies for whom I design never know if I will give them a fancy-fold card or a piece of altered art, a piece of room decor or a mini album. I like it that way--keeps them on their toes. LOL
3. Why do I do what I do?
Why do birds sing? Why do stars twinkle in the sky? I do what I love and love what I do. I feel blessed to be able to create with paper and paint and words. I was never one to look a gift in the horse's mouth (or is it a gift horse in the mouth?), so if I can do it, I will do it. End of story!
4. How do I come up with stuff?
I very rarely have a sketch or plan when I sit down to make a card. I just root around my craft room with an image I want to use and wait for the muse to attack me. And you know what? She never ever fails to do so! There is so much inspiration out there if you only keep your eyes and heart open to all the endless possibilities. Color, texture, scents, memories, music--they're all I need...that and a tall cool glass of iced tea. 
Now on to the crafters I've "tagged" that I think you might find interesting. Please check them out and leave a little love.

JOYCE GUTHRIDGE - Joyce and I are co-administrators of Your Scrapbook Place Challenge blog, and both members of SBP Yahoo Group. She crafts from sketches and templates so we are totally opposites and yet great crafting friends. Her projects always inspire me, and I know they will you, too!
VIOLET - Violet is a writer, and her blog posts shout passionately about self-respect, loving yourself and psoitivity. I enjoy her youthful and colorful discoveries, experiments and exercises she shares with her readers to help them over the hump of self-criticism, doubt and depression. 
VIRGINIA - Virginia is an avid cardmaker and talented crafter. She has a brand new blog and would love to see more crafters checking out her art and leaving some love.

That's all for now, my crafty peeps! Happy hopping!


Sunday, July 1, 2012

Let Freedom Ring!


It's that time of year when watermelons are chillin', grills are heating up, firecrackers are ready to light, and Americans celebrate with "Star-spangled happiness and banner waves of pride" (Cherishe Archer)!

Welcome to Your Scrapbook Place Patriotic Blog Hop!  

The theme is love of America and the color RED.  If you've come from Teresa's blog, you're hot on the trail!  If not, start at Your Scrapbook Place, and if you get lost the blog hop order is below.
Leave a comment on each blog, and you get a chance to win an awesome digital image, along with a patriotic-themed goodie bag!
My card is made with the digi, an original work of art by the talented Pammie Lehto.  I colored her image with my trusty Copics, added a little distress ink to tone down the white background, and framed it with blue cardstock.
I colored a mini paper doily with my RED Copic and slipped it behind my image.  I found the beaded trim in my holiday stash.  I finished my card off with a diecut dogtag sticker and leftover strips of white cardstock folded into little "ribbons" that I stapled onto the image's sides.
I hope you like my card.  I have a lot of embellishments for 4th of July and Army because my son is in Army Reserves, and I just finished updating his Army album.
Now, it's time to hop on over to Shannon's blog, where she's sure to have an awesome project for you.  Remember to leave a little love before you go!



Blog hop order



Friday, May 27, 2011

April Showers Bring May Flowers SPB Blog Hop

Welcome to Scrapbook Place's Spring Blog Hop! Our theme this month is "April Showers Bring May Flowers" so you will see FLOWERS featured in everyone's creations.

My card features layered flowers with a Hambo Stamps digi image (Heart Basket). I have collected so many different colors and sizes and shapes of flowers, it's hard to keep up with them! Sometimes I just want to baggie them up and give them away and start fresh, but then that would cost money and I'm all for saving money and using up my stash. However, for this special Blog hop, I think I will gift one lucky person who leaves me love in the comments section a nice-sized baggie of assorted flowers!

I joined SBP Yahoo Group a few years ago, and don't know a nicer group of friends who share the same passion for crafting that I do. Their blog is new, but gaining speed fast. If you've a mind to meet new friends, play games, challenge yourself artistically and have fun, click here and we'll be sure to shoot you an invite!

If you just happened upon my blog, you will want to go back to the beginning of the hop - Lindsy's blog - and follow through to see all the beautiful creations! Have fun hopping along with us and if you get stuck, here's the blog hop order: >
Lindsy
Leti
Allie
Annette
Shannon
Linda
Debbie
Teresa
Diane
Donna
Pat M
Anna
Rhonda
Holley
Jinky
Scrapbook Place Group Blog
Don't forget to leave some love if you'd like a chance for some special flowers!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

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.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Never Ending Card for SBP Blog Hop

I just discovered the Never-Ending Card, and thought it would be a perfect project to share during Scrapbook Place's Blog Hop! If you're a hopper, and haven't been directed here from Anna's Blog, then you probably need to start at the beginning, Your Scapbook Place blog.
Now, I’m sure this card has been out there forever, but I just discovered it and wanted to share it with you, just in case you’ve never seen one of these before. The card consists of only four pieces of cardstock, cut at 3”x6”. I used double-sided My Mind’s Eye Bohemia line Bella “Pretty Little Girl” patterned cardstock.
You simply score 1-1/2” from each end while placing the pieces of paper horizontally in front of you. How east is that???

Then, laying the first two pieces side by side horizontally (makes a 6x6 square), place dbl-sided tape in each corner and attach the other two pieces of paper, but laying them vertically on top of your first layer.

Far be it for me to tell my crafting buds how to embellish their own cards! The real beauty of this card is all in the way it’s folded! Here is a video of folding a card after it's been embellished. Each time you fold it, the card reveals a new "face" with a totally different look:

There are lots of YouTube tutorials out there for any and all to watch and learn. Just type in Never Ending card in the YouTube search bar and prepare to be amazed. I love this new (to me) card, which I hear is from Stampin Up originally!
Now that I have amazed you with my new card, it's time to go on to the next stop on the hop! That would be _______'s. Don't forget to leave some love!!
Btw, if you get stuck and need a blog roll, here it is:
Linda
Annette
Allie
Donna
Lindsy
Anna
Pat