Something Old, Something New

 

When I was growing up, my Gramma and Mom were always crafting. Gram because she was a frugal German, and my mom because she was a Girl Scout leader for several years. One of their earlier projects was a kitchen shadow box. It was filled with botanicals, uncooked beans and whatever else they could fit into the small cubbies. The beans (Pinto, Navy, Split peas, etc.) were coated in Mod Podge, an up & coming craft supply that quickly became a household name. Sealed behind glass, their boxes  made lovely, homemade decorations for the kitchen. In fact, after Gram passed, I inherited her shadowbox...

...which gave me the inspiration to create a new" shadow basket". Using a shallow basket (maybe it's the top to another container?), I gave it new life by adhering bright, blue tissue paper as a background (with Mod Podge, of course).  I then arranged flower blossoms and petals and blossoms and adhered them into my "garden."

To make it more earthy, I stuffed green moss, into the empty pockets between the flowers. To tweak the scene, I used a small piece of a succulent in the corner, and then added a butterfly to finish off my basket shadow box. It's now hanging on my own kitchen wall. I'd like to give a shout out to my Gram and my mom for passing down their crafting genes. Gram also had the greenest thumb in the county, and Mom wrote poetry as  well as crafting projects for family, Girl Scouts and in her later years, craft fairs. Love you both, miss you with all my heart...

Challenges I am Entering:

Dragonfly Dreams - Butterflies

We Love 2 Create - Anything Craft, Card making & Scrapbooking Mixed Media

Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Florals Goes with Optional Mood Board #29

Morgan's Art World - Anything Goes

The Crafting Challenge - Anything Goes

The Four Seasons - Summer season

Leaping into Inspiration

I was out walking Honey, my little terrier, and as I passed the house of a good friend and neighbor, I saw a rusty, older-than-dirt garden deco in the tiny patch of garden where the lamppost resides. He was one ugly toad, but he still managed a big smile. The "before" photo is below.

The photo above features the happy little frog after giving him a makeover. I sanded most of his surface and put on a layer of white gesso. The I pulled out my acrylics and gave him a healthy new look. I even painted the back of Mr. Happy (my name for him) so it would retard the rust. Then I sealed front and back with Gloss varnish and he now looks like he's leaping for joy. Below, he's pretending to be happy but I could tell he wanted a little help...

 Challenges I am Entering:

My Poet-tree

 I got a chance today to create in my art journal. No doodles this time, just some collaging and three of my copyrighted Haiku poems. The background paper was an online freebie, the dog cut from a magazine, and the bird and butterfly are die-cuts. I also used a word sticker, "dream".

I am attempting to e-publish my Haiku poetry. My cousin published hers and she's coaching me on how to set up pages, etc., Please tell me your honest opinion of any or all of these poems. Haiku is a type of poem originating in Japan, offering three stark lines in the  proportion of five syllables, 7 syllables and 5 again. You have to make your statement in just 17 syllables: difficult, but not impossible. I love creating these, and have about 50+ poems to share with others.

Challenges I am Entering:

 Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Creative Fingers - A/G

Paper Dragonfly Creative - #1 Anything Flies

Diecut Divas - A/G with at least one diecut (butterflies and bird)

Be Brave on the Path of Positivity

 Thinking about my experience of caring for my husband throughout his run with ALS, I realize how many emotions and challenges I went through -  fear, strength, humility, patience, hope, faith, loss. But in the end, I discovered a reserve of Courage that helped me stay beside him until his passing away. Being a caretaker for a dying loved one is extremely heart-breaking and difficult. Because this post is for the Path of Positivity, you can click on my personal blog, "Living with ALS", for a closer look at the everyday saints who take care of their spouses, siblings, parents, children, until the very end.

You may not know that the Sunflower is the national symbol for ALS Awareness: 

"The Sunflower," (Shirley Hoffman Schmezle) explained

“stands tall and strong, ever hopeful and ever reaching higher.

Sunflowers grow in clusters and support each other

as they grow, just as family, friends and

community offer support to those who live with ALS"

  https://livingwithlougerhrigsdisease.blogspot.com/2019/06/courage-under-fire.html

My card today is for all those courageous caretakers who choose to love those with ALS until the very end, forced to watch them slowly leave their lives. I used a free digi image from Beccy's Place, one of the guest sponsors at the Path of Positivity challenge blog this month along with Scribbles Designs.

After coloring it with Copics, I framed it with a paper doily, then used a piece of leftover patterned paper that lets the colors of my image pop. I embellished simply with a sticker sentiment, a dir-cut butterfly and 2 tiny flower jewels. Inside the card, it reads: Be gentle with yourself. You're doing the best you can.

This month's optional Twist is Courage. The challenge runs until the end of the month. Crafters don't have to use the Twist, but I hope I have inspired you to create something that will help others' find their own courage. Here are the prize details:

• A $10.00AU gift certificate to Beccy's Place for the 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.

Happy crafting!

A Day for Daisies Sponsors the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

Life is short. Many people doubt their own worth (we are our worst critics). So if you are impressed by someone - her talent, his achievements, their generosity, her love - speak up! And since a picture is worth a thousand words, say it in a card like I did today.
Yes, the optional Twist for this month's Anything Goes challenge at the Path of Positivity is to create something to show your admiration for somebody. It can be a card, a scrapbook layout, a canvas - wherever your Muse takes you. 
I made a card for my daughter. Her strength, honesty and support have helped me through the process of grief. She is a ray of sunshine when my days are cloudy with loss, and is so very creative when it comes to showing me that grief is normal, but not to wallow in it. I hope she can say that I, in turn, am her rock of support and love when it comes to her days of grieving the loss of her dad.
I decided to print an image from A Day for Daisies, one of the guest sponsors this month for the challenge. The image is called "A Special Flower." I printed it directly onto my patterned  paper, a great piece from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles called "Poppy in Wheat Field" from the We Remember Set. I decided to also print the sentiment onto the paper as well.
Printing it twice gave me a second image to color and then pop onto the first using dimensional  tape. I framed it with a paper doily and blinged up a couple corners of the image itself. Since it's almost the end of the semester (and looking toward a killer Final soon), I used a ready-made card base from DCWV and attached a glittery butterfly. I used Stickles to leave a trail of butterfly magic behind it.
n order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, all projects must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. Prizes this month include: 

An $8 gift certificate from A Day for Daisies, 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

Remember what I said at the start of my post. This is an excellent opportunity to tell someone how much you admire them, while being creative and possible winning some prizes. Of course, the theme is optional. Either way, have fun and craft your heart out. Just don't forget to link your projects with the Path of Positivity blog!!

Your Scrapbook Place Marches on with Paper Nest Dolls

Welcome to a new month and a new challenge at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. It's always Anything Goes, and this month the guest sponsor is Paper Nest Dolls. I got to create with a pretty image called Amara with Lily. 
After digitally coloring her, I popped her onto a photograph I took in my backyard. A monarch butterfly decided to "hang out" for a little snack in our flower garden, so I grabbed my camera and got a few nice photos.
The bow is from Pixel Scrappers,and the font I use is called Papyrus.
What will you create this month? Whatever you do, have fun! And don't forget to link it  up at Your Scrapbook Place!!

Celebrate the Beauty of Nature along the Path of Positivity

Welcome, crafters, to the midway point of the challenge at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. The theme is Always Anything Goes, with this month's optional twist of the Beauty of Nature. The guest sponsor is Sparkle n Sprinkle

and I got to play with this cute digital image called Rainy Days. I'm always looking for rainbows when it rains here in Chicago. My family doesn't get alarmed when I leap out of my seat and run outside to catch the colors in the sky after a rainfall.
To capture my excitement and contentment with rainy days and rainbows, I used a scenic paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles called Chasing Rainbows.

The image is perfect for reflection on God's promise of blessings coming from stormy events in our own lives. To continue with the rainbow theme, I printed my sentiment (LD Handwritten Greetings) and water-colored a mini rainbow on it. There is so much color going on that I embellished simply with a bow and a butterfly sticker.
I hope you find your rainbow during the Spring season! And if you create and add your project to the Path of Positivity challenge blog, you can win big:
SPONSOR & PRIZE INFORMATION:

A $15.00 gift certificate from Sparkle n Sprinkle, our sole guest sponsor this month, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch.

 A $15.00 gift certificate from Sparkle n Sprinkle, our sole guest sponsor 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.

in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some manner. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $15 gift certificate from Sparkle N Sprinkle. If you do follow the Beauty of Nature theme, please add the letters FT after your name so you'll be in the draw for the prize for the Most Inspiring as voted on by the DT members.

Happy crafting!

The Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenges Us to Brighten Someone's Day

There's not a week that goes by that I can't think of someone who needs a pick-me-up, something that will brighten their day. So I was very happy to see the newest challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge this week. To brighten someone's day is to share with them your happiness, to lend them your smile, to give them hope.
My DT make this week is a Thank You card for one of the many caring and supportive staff at the VA Hines Hospital. My husband and I are veterans, and with me getting laid off, and my husband being handicapped now, we are spending one to two days a week at one appointment or another. We have yet to experience a "bad day" or discourteous staff member.
My card features a digital image from Sheepski Designs, this week's sponsor over at the Outlawz Greetings challenge. They are offering a prize of a $10 gift card toward a purchase at their Etsy Shop.

The image I used is called Annabell.  I colored her with Copics and colored up a little scene for her before framing and then placing her on my card. I embellished simply with Skittles and a K&Co sticker. My sentiment is on the acrylic heart I tied onto my card with some organza ribbon.

What will you create to brighten someone's day? A birthday card, a Thank You note, a funny note  card  that will  make him or her laugh out  loud? Whatever you create, remember to link up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings  challenge for your chance to win that Sheepski Designs gift card!

Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers - Lots of Layers

Ooh La La Creations - Anything Goes

Left of Center challenges - Butterfly

Geometry at Ike's World ChallengeBlog

Did I scare you with that title?!It's just my way of telling you that the theme over at Ike's World Challenge blog is to make a square card and add a circle! Here's my DT make:

I colored up two digi images from Ike's Store, Flower Square and Butterfly. The square card was easy; to add a circle I used a circle cutter and cut out my butterfly, although its wings were left to fly. I am continuing to wage war with my stash. I can finally see a slight difference in my pile of papers.
I am unfortunately in need of sympathy cards, so I thought the images and my design would make a nice one.  when needed.I really like this combo of images and will make several more of the same so that I can have a healthy stash of cards. You can make whatever inspires you to create, just make sure it is square and includes a circle. Go check out the blog for inspiration, and to link up your project for your chance to win free digis from the store!!
And as always, crafters, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Sunny Day Crafting -Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Anything Goes at Craft Your Passion

Good morning, crafters! Today sees a new challenge at Craft Your Passion challenge blog, where it's always Anything Goes. This week the challenge is sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy. I got to play with this little Happy Mouse.
I colored my image with Copics, and die-cut him onto a tag. I grabbed a circular card front and added a few pieces of patterned paper before adding my sentiment and a few embellishments (I love feathers, don't you?)
Whatever you create this week, make sure you link up at Craft Your Passion for your chance to win 3 free digis from our sponsor, Fabrika Fantasy.

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting with dragonflies - Animals

Craft Your Passion with Sasayuki Glitter This Week

When this post publishes, I will be sipping MaiTais on the beach, soaking up the sun and listening to the waves lap gently at the shore. You can call it a late Spring Break or an early summer vacation, but my family is on it!
I worked ahead and played with an image from Sasayaki Glitter, this week's sponsor over at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. It's called "Smile" and I can see why she's smiling. After a long, cold winter and a bipolar Spring, we finally entered Spring with a capital S. LOL
After coloring her with Copics, I colored a bit of a scene to let her sit in the grass. Patterned papers, flowers, stick pins, ribbon and a button embellish my card. I finished off my card with some faux stitches.
For lots more inspiration, visit Sasayaki Glitter on Etsy, and join us at Craft Your Passion challenge blog for your chance to win free digis! Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge Blog - Mother's Day (I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my mom, so I gave this card is to her on Mother's Day)

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Sponsors the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge

Good morning, crafters! It's finally Spring in the Midwestern United States. I have to admit that I didn't believe we would ever get to the point at which we arrived regarding the weather. April saw not only rain showers but snow showers. There were days when the weather would flip-flop from sunny and breezy to blizzard-worthy snows, often changing within five minutes of each other!

But it has arrived in all its colorful glory, which fits perfectly with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge theme of "Spring Has Sprung" and my sentiment. One of our sponsors this week is Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, and I can thank Lisa Decosse for her help in my newest crafting venture, digital art. I have used Adobe Photoshop and had a lovely time creating this digital card using papers and elements from the following sets:

 

The wonderful thing about digital elements and papers is that you don'y have to create a project digitally! You can print out the elements and papers just as you would digital images. My card is 100% digital, but I have the most fun with hybrid cards that use both hand-colored and crafted parts with digital elements. If you haven't tried this art form, check out Lisa's freebies and have fun crafting!! 

Our other sponsor is Di's Digi Stamps, whose digi image Daffodil Hedgehogs, is featured on my card below.

I decided to create a Thank You card in a Spring theme. Everyone could use Thank You cards, and my neighbor will be receiving this one with a gift to brighten her day, just like she brightened my day last month. After coloring my image with Copics, I used my Epic Six and Nestabilities die to frame it. I embellished simply because I want to mail it to my neighbor and chunky cards are expensive! LOL

Happy crafting, peeps! Don't forget to link your Spring Has Sprung project or card at the Outlawz Greetings challenge this week!

Getting Edgy at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge

Good morning, crafters! I thought I would create a card that embodies my feelings about Mondays. Or rather, how I used to feel about Mondays. Nowadays, I enjoy three-day weekends, AND I publish a couple DT projects on Mondays as well. So, this card is for all your crafters out there who still have to trudge to work on Mondays.
I used a digi image called Original Morning Goddess from Rick St Dennis, who, by the way, is sponsoring this week's challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings this week along with Bugaboo. The new theme for the this week's challenge is to use some edging on your project (along with a greeting or sentiment). I edged my CAS card with both real and faux stitching. I am not usually a lover of white space, so this card may seem "full"  to some, but it was definitely difficult to leave my card this clean and simple. I really like the vivid contrast of black and white on my card.

Challenges I am Entering:

CAS on Sunday - Real stitching  

Come & Get It - Card for a Woman

Since I have those lovely three-day weekends, I was able to create a second inspiration card using a digital image from Bugaboo called Ava Flowers.

For this card, I used adhesive-backed pearls to edge around my card. I colored my image with Copics, and punched a pretty border on my sentiment before backing it with cardstock. Isn't Ava so pretty? I love the Duncan and Ava collection of images that Bugaboo offers.
I hope you'll have time this week to drop in and join us at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge for your chance to win prizes. And have an awesome Monday!!

Challenges I am Entering:
Aud Sentiments - Animals & a Sentiment
Craft Rocket challenges - Pink & Pearlie
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - Photo Inspiration

Crafting by Design - Anything Goes

Mod Squad - April Showers Bring May Flowers

Deep Ocean Challenge blog - Flowers Everywhere

Having Fun with SLS Lines at Craft Your Passion

Hello, crafty peeps! Today I created my DT card for Craft Your Passion using an image from SLS Lines, this week's sponsor. She's called Art Nouveau Girl with Flowers and can be found HERE.
I tried to give my card a vintage look with shades of pink and brown, embellishing with flowers, pearls and lacy borders. I don't do vintage often, so I am still stretching my comfort zone.
Are you in a rut? WHat's a technique or tool that you have wanted to try or improve upon? Give it a shot this week, and share with us at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. It's always Anything Goes there!!

Five Little Froggies

Five little froggies sitting at the well,

One hopped off ‘cause he heard a bell.

The second one croaked “My mama’s calling me”

The next leaped after a buzzing bumble bee.

Another caught a fly and he left grinning

and the last frog sang, "Brr, I wish it were Spring!"

~Pat Martin, 2016

Five little froggies sitting at the well,

One got excited and down he fell.

The second one said, “Our brother’s in the drink!”

They all croaked loudly and started to think.

“I’ll get a ladder” and one hopped away

While the others jumped off to find another way.

The first one cried, “What’s all the fuss about?”

And he gave a mighty leap and hopped on out!

~Pat Martin, 2016

Good morning, crafters! Monday brings us a new challenge from the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge. The theme this week is Springtime! I created my card with leftover papers and embellishments to frame a Robyn's Fetish digi image called Five Little Froggies. Robyn's Fetish is this week's Guest Sponsor.

As soon as I laid eyes on this image, my mind started playing with rhymes and came up with the two ditties above. Which do you like better? Tell me in your comment and I'll pick one to mail this card to!
Sometimes an image inspires me, but most often words do. What inspires you? Whatever your muse, have fun creating, then link up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge this week!

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet Challenge blog - Y is for You Choose
Craft for the Craic challenges - Something to Make You Smile (please read the poems that go with the card)
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Resiliency Brings its Own Rewards

Today starts a new challenge at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The theme is Resiliency, and I have a personal story to tell:
 At the end of summer, my co-worker had to quit and find another job because the business manager pulled her benefits-eligibility. Then my boss opted to leave for a number of reasons. Except for a part-timer, I carried on despite lack of communication from the powers that be. While on scheduled vacation, my new boss arrived. Two months later, I still have no guarantee that my job will remain the same as far as being benefits-eligible. I wouldn't mind lesser hours, but let me keep my family's insurance please. It also seems that my part-time friend and I are in competition for remaining in the department. So we are both working our butts off to save our butts.
So, where does the theme of Resiliency come into play here?
Resiliency is defined as the ability to recover from or adjust to change. Change is a part of life, and success is measured by how resilient a person is throughout changes in life: growth, education, relationships, work, health, aging. A resilient person can learn from mistakes, adapt to changes in environment, work to maintain balance in their lives, and keep a positive attitude throughout it all.
Personally, this last change in my life has taken a toll on my own resiliency. I am learning from mistakes, adapting to the changes, and maintaining an outward appearance of calm and positivity. However, the stress of not knowing what tomorrow will bring is playing havoc with my emotional and spiritual balance.
But I am an optimist, and just need to work on returning to a healthy balance by letting go of fear and doubt. I started spinning to keep my energy levels up; I meditate and "shed" the stresses of each work day before I go to bed; I pray to remind myself that I am exactly where God wants me to be at this point in my life.
And of course, I spend tine crafting to relax. I used a digi image from Ike's Art called Muse 7. I chose to showcase the seasonal changes that Autumn brings. Crisper air, a bounty of color in the trees, a crunchy carpet of leaves underfoot--one would be hard put not to recognize all the beauty that Fall brings to our neck of the woods. And that's just what I need to remember. The Earth is resilient, and adapts itself to the changes of the seasons. And each season brings its own beauty into the world.
I, too, can be resilient, and bring forth my own beauty into my life.

This month's PRIZES are from two of my favorite sponsors:

Ike's Art 

and The Stamping Boutique (TSB)

A $10 gift certificate from Ike's Art, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• 2 images from The Stamping Boutique (3 if you use a TSB image), 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 person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge timeframe.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

Besides inspiration from the DT, we are very fortunate to have for our guest DT member Hanne from Handmade by Hanne. Hanne has been playing along at the challenge blog when she is able to. We've seen many of her wonderful projects throughout the year. Please be sure to check out her blog when you enter your project this month.

Challenges I am Entering:
Colouring in Scrapland - Toda vale (Anything Goes)
House of Cards - Add texture (felt leaves, burlap bow) &/or color challenge (autumn palette)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Robyn's Fetish - Add Leaves, Faux or Real

2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes

Found a Happy Place

Today I decided to create a scrapbook page for my last guest DT project for DeeDee's Digis. I have had a lot of creative fun while playing with some awesome image sets. Everyone who participates in their progressive challenges has a chance of becoming a Guest DT member. AND when you use the digi of the month, you will receive next month's digi for free!

Pictured above is my hubby during our road trip vacation to Siesta Key back in 2009. We tried Siesta Key again this Spring, but only my daughter and he enjoyed the vacation. I ended up with acute bronchitis and a sinus infection the day we got to our luxurious condo on the beach, and spent most of the time in bed.

I created this page using the following in Adobe Photoshop:

Elements from the following DeeDee’s Digis sets:

Monkey Business/ Paper Dots patterned paper

Beachy State of Mind/4 pre-colored images & sentiment

Elements from Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles:

Christmas Grunge Textured papers/Royal Blue & Chocolate Brown

Button 2

Elements from Mischief Circus:

Rucola Designs freebie/Summertime poster

Clipart:

Newsprint Butterfly

Palm tree

Challenges I am Entering:

Anything But a Card challenges - Anything Goes (no cards) 

Allsorts challenges - Add a Butterfly

Splendiferous Creations - B is for...(Beach)

The Path of Perseverance is Worth Every Step

I was browsing my digi images (which is so much easier than sorting through my rubber stamps) and re-discovered this little cutie from Ike's Art. She's called Back to School, and I bet you think my internal calendar is way off, as kids all over are counting the days until summer break.
But this month's theme at the Path of Positivity blog is Perseverance, and Ike's image struck a chord with me. When my soon-to-graduate-college daughter was in Kindergarten, I was informed by her school that her reading skills were lagging behind.
I jumped at the chance to have her tutored, spending even more time with her and her favorite books than I ever had before. There were days when she would cry in frustration (me too) but she persevered. After just the one year, she no longer needed extra help, and by fifth grade she was reading at a high school level!
So my card, whose sentiment reads, "So many books, so little time," is in memory of her perseverance and success. I am so proud of her!
Prizes for this month are:
       *A $10 gift certificate from Ike's Art, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or                     project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

• A $25 gift certificate from Deedee's Digis, 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 image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.
• One digital designer paper (made to order in a few 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.

My card uses: Ike's Art image called Back to School

                        DCWV card base

                        Digital background patterned paper, shaped frame, bow, brads and flowers from                                   Decosse's Dynamite Doodles

                        miscellaneous peals, sequins, lace border and paper doily

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting When We Can - One for the Kids

Cupcake Inspirations - Inspiration Photo

Sentimental Sundays - Cute or Funny sentiment (So many Books, So little Time)

Sister Act - Anything Goes 

Creative Artiste challenge - Design Seeds color board

Let the Sun In!

Rise and shine, crafters! I have a mixed media project to "shed some light" on my Birthday Blowout Blog Candy today. For those of you just joining me, from April 1 through April 15, I am celebrating another trip around the sun by thanking all the crafters whose art I have admired and been inspired by. I'm doing that by offering some awesome prizes and blog candy throughout those two weeks, and you can go back to the very first post to "catch up."
All I ask is that you are or become a Follower of my blog, display my Party badge in your sidebar, and if a question is asked that day, that you answer it. I may ask you your preferences in technique, or maybe to check out a sponsor's store for your favorite image or paper.
So today I decided it would be fun to try a new technique. One should never be averse to stretching out of our comfort zones. Betty from Simply Betty created a YouTube video of a project using melted crayons. Not the drippy ones on canvas, but ones you cut into small shavings and add to a surface to give it new color and texture. You can click HERE to view it.
I started with broken crayons (slated for the trash can at the school I work at) in various shades of yellow, orange and pink. Do you see that off-white sun shape next to the foil? I got that sorry looking piece of acrylic from a Goodwill Store for 49 cents! It originally had a mirror in it, but hubby dropped it on the way into the house! Silly man, he was going to throw it away (gasp)! I let hi clean up the broken glass and remove any leftover from the base, and locked myself in my craft room (mwa-ha-ha).

I shaved those outcast crayons with a manual pencil sharpener. After a base coat of yellow acrylic paint, I used adhesive glue spray and dropped and mashed in my pink shavings. I heated the whole thing with my heat gun, then did the same for the yellow and orange. I think in doing the pink first, I lost a lot of it, and didn't have enough to add to it. Next time I will hire, I mean ask, my daughter to start shaving the crayons I need to use a couple days before I plan to start the project, using a hand sharpener took some time!
After I got the melty, textured look I wanted, I held a white crayon over my sun and let a few drops fall randomly for a little highlighting. Then I sprayed everything with homemade shimmer mist, giving it a subtle shine.
The most difficult part of this project was deciding what to place in the center. I found a great quote from the book Anne of Green Gables and misquoted it for my project, which reads, "Life is new every morning, and I feel as if I washed my very soul in that bath of earliest sunshine."
Once the quote was in place, I embellished with a ring of pearls around the sentiment and a ring of Stickles around the diameter of my sun. Too plain! So I added a butterfly and a flourish of pearls, then balanced my "canvas" with a flurry of white flowers. And I like it!!
I hope you do too, and you make that decision to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.
Now on to today's prize. I have a rubber stamp from Simply Betty from her Teen Scene collection that I want to give to someone today. So why don't you go check out her YouTube video (link above) and leave her some love?! Let me know you've done this, and you will be in the running for one amazing stamp!
Thanks all for stopping by !!

Challenges I am Entering:

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes (no cards/ATCs)
Recycle, Re-purpose & Re-invent - Anything Goes
2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes (no cards)
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes (mixed media)

Scrapbooker PhD - Focus on the Sentiment
Decorate to Celebrate #97 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations challenges - Anything Goes w/a Twist of Flowers
All Crafts challenges - Anything Goes (no cards)

Get Well Theme This Week at Outlawz Greetings Challenges

I need to get busy making several Get Well cards for the many friends who seem to be feeling off this week. Besides a couple girlfriends with long term illnesses, I have a friend who came down with the flu and could use some cheering up. So I pulled out a lovely image from All Dressed Up called "Little Dreamer."
All Dressed Up has the most delectable images to color and create with, and the Outlawz Greetings challenges is so lucky to have them as one of this month's sponsors. This week, the challenge is to create a Get Well card, and I thought this little dreamer would be perfect to do so.
I cut up a piece of leftover patterned paper from my stash into several smaller pieces, then framed them with dark card stock and moved them around my card front until I liked the arrangement. After coloring her with Copics, I popped Little Dreamer onto the same card stock and adhered her to my card. The sentiment is from a vellum sticker stack from K&Co (also on same card stock.
There wasn't much room to embellish, but I found a space for a couple paper flowers, as well as my butterfly. That should definitely cheer her up, don't you think?
I hope you have some time to create this week. If so, come join us at the Outlawz Greetings Challenges. 

Other Challenges I am Entering:

All Dressed Up _ Anything Goes
Card Mania challenges - #66 Spring

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots - Spring

Crafty Cardmakers -  Spring Has Sprung
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
Mema's Crafts - Anything Goes
Ooh La La challenges - Fashion
Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes
the Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes