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)

Patterns Are Fun!

The optional twist at the Path of Positivity challenge blog is to use pattern. I pulled a digi paper from my collection of Decosse's Digital Doodles. This is paper you can print out and/or create a digital card. I printed mine out.

Using dimensional tape, I gave my Scribbles Image some pop. The image is called F185 Wooly Wink and can be found HERE. I created the sentiment on Photoshop Elements (I finally upgraded to the 2022 version). The font is called Postino Std Italic.

The paper's polka dots really sang to me, so I wanted to continue the dots with the five adhesive re d pearls. The card seemed very simplistic to me, so I added a paper doily behind the dotted aper and added a strip of cording.

The Path of Positivity offers monthly challenges and the twists are always optional. I hope to see you at the challenge blog!

Getting Kraft-y at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Welcome to a new challenge at Scribbles Designs! This month the theme is to us KRAFT PAPER. I'm not a fan of Kraft paper, but I dug deep in my paper stash and found a piece of Kraft paper with a wood-grain design. I felt more at ease. Besides, themes are meant to challenge a person...
Anyway, I used 2 images from the Scribbles Store. They are called F#08  Acorn (a Freebie) and F#93 Nut and Bolt (another freebie). I only used the nut, because, well, read the sentiment on  my card! LOL
This is a fun friendship card (or anniversary card) for any couple. It's for a friend who needs some cheering up. I'm seeing her this week, so I won't have to mail it. After coloring the 2 nuts, I popped them onto a piece of Kraft paper, framing them first with a black paper doily. I drew on faces myself, as well as their hands holding. And yes, the sentiment is supposed to be tilted, just like our friendship!
I embellished simply with a couple banner stickers and my card is finished. Are you inspired to create something with Kraft paper? Whether you make something with the theme or not, Scribbles Designs challenge blog would love to see your projects. Link up at the main blog for your chance to win awesome images at the Scribbles Store!

Challenges I am Entering:

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

The Creative Crafters - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Friends - Autumn Colors

Creative with Stamps - Autumn

Yum! Yum! Scribbles Deigns Challenges the Foodie in You!

This month Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog celebrates something we all can't live without -- FOOD! Crafters are asked to create a project featuring some kind of food (or drinks). My daughter works at a bakery called "Nothing Bundt Cakes". They literally sell Bundt cakes only, but they are SO,SO YUMMY, that we've both gained a few pounds here and there (and all over, so if you've lost weight, you know where to find it).
I played with a Scribbles Designs image called "Jujubes". It is a free image so click on the link to get your free image! Well, the candies looked liked the little "bundtini's" that the bakery sells, and I wanted to thank the owner, Cindi, so I made her a card with some of the cakes. Unfortunately, I kept messing up the still-wet white puffy paint I used to "frost" my bundtini's.
They say you should  learn something from every mistake you make, so I came up with a clever (I  think) pun for the sentiment:

"I'm no froster, bundt I can still..."

The inside reads:                                  "...give you Sweet Thanks"

By the way, the froster is "one who frosts the bundts". LOL And I sure made a mess of mine (good thing I'm not employed there).

I colored my image with Copics, framed it with a doily inked in SU Lemonade Yellow, adhered it with dimensional tape to leftover designer paper and added the pink flourish border because it reminded me of frosting. The first part of my sentiment and a single paper flower finishes off my card front.

Whether you create a card, altered art, or something else, don't forget to link it up to Scribbles designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store (and don't forget to grab some freebies while you're there).

Where in the World at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Hallo, meine Freunde!

We've reached the midway point of the newest challenge at Ike's World Challenge blog, and the theme is Travel. If I could go anywhere in the world right now, it would be GERMANY. That's where my sister lives now, with her new husband. So as inspiration today I offer a card using images from the Germany Bundle offered at Ike's Art Store. The images used are Stein and Lederhosen Bear. I even ripped a page from a German-language magazine to create my background.

In hopes of getting to Germany some day, I am learning German, so that I can sling the lingo when I get there. I already know how to greet someone, tell them where I'm from, ask after their health, and find out where the bathroom is (very important LOL).
Join us at Ike's World Challenge Blog as the DT inspire us with their dreams of travel and adventure!!
Und wie immer , Bastler , Spaß haben!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Cardz4Guys - Include a Furry Friend

Critters & Creatures - must include a furry  critter

Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Holidays, Travel, Summer

The Crazy Challenge bog - Birthday

New Challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Mason jars are all the rage now where I live. You see them at restaurants, parties and stores. They're painted, be-ribboned and decorated.They hold flowers, candy, fireflies, jams and vegetables, and iced tea.
This month the challenge theme at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog is to create with a mason jar. There are quite a few fun and whimsical images at Scribbles Designs store, but you aren't required to use a Scribbles image for the challenge.
I used two images, Mason Jar (which is empty) and Crayons, which was a freebie on the challenge bog a couple months ago. After coloring three sets of the Crayons digi, I "placed"them in my jar and fussy cut the filled jar. Everything on my card is from my stash--the good news is I haven't had to go to a craft store in months as I have owed to use up my stash. The bad news is I haven't been able to justify going to a craft store in months... LOL
What will you put into your mason jar? Or how will you decorate your jar? What will you create this month for Scribbles Designs Challenge blog??

Anything Goes at the Outlawz Greetings Challenge This Week

Welcome to the last Monday of the month, where it's Anything Goes at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges. This week's guest sponsor is SLS Lines, and I got to play with a digi image called Goth Girl w/Goldfish & Balloons.  She looks a little sad, or at least thoughtful, so I created a "Thinking of You" card that I can personalize for a long-distance friend I am missing, someone who needs a cheerful note, or even a get-well card.
I colored my image with Copics, using white and metallic gel pens for a little shimmer. Then I fussy-cut her out and framed her with a paper doily. I placed an embossed piece of cardstock on my card face to pull the colors together, adding some black ink on parts of the embossed "bumps." 
I embellished simply with pearls, ribbon and a single black square jewel.
So, what are you going to create for the Anything Goes theme this week? whatever it is, don't forget to link up at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge for your chance to win some awesome prizes from our sponsor, SLS Lines. and as always, crafters, have fun!

Hats Off to Ike's World Challenge Blog

 I mean, Hats On at Ike's world Challenge blog, as in the theme for this fortnight is Easter Bonnets/Hats.

I created a card in soft pastels for my DT make, using Ike's Art "Hat 1." Pulling out leftover papers, I built up my card face. After coloring my image with Copics, I used a little Stickles on the bow and framed it with a paper doily. I used the yellow felt flower border to pull the yellow onto the rest of the card. I embellished simply after popping on my sentiment and my card is ready to be mailed.

As Judy Garland sang, 

"In your Easter bonnet, 

with all the frills upon it, 

You'll be the finest lady (or gent) 

in the Easter Parade."

-song by Irving Berlin from the movie "Easter Parade"

We've reached the midway point of the challenge, so get cracking and link up your projects HERE.

Challenges I am Entering:
The Crafters' Cafe - Easter
Paper Creator's challenges - Spring Colors
Just Add Ink - Just Add "E" (Easter bonnet)

Anything Goes with Limited Runs at Your Scrapbook Place

Welcome to a new challenge over at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. Our sponsor is Limited Runs, and I colored up this digital image called Birdhouses 5. After fussy-cutting my bird houses, I framed it with a paper doily. I did the same for my sentiment, using bits of leftover doily. Since the patterned paper I used is a tad busy, I embellished simply with a jeweled flourish, as well as a leftover felt-and-jeweled flower. Just a simple card with a simple wish--for Spring!

What will you create this month? Whatever you make, link it up at Your Scrapbook Place for your chance to win awesome prizes from Limited Runs.

Challenges I am Entering:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges - Spring

Prosperity Fairy Promises a Good Year

Today I created a wall hanging for my house. It's a mixed media on wood that I call The Prosperity Fairy. She is my reminder to keep hope alive and believe in good things to come this year.
We ended 2015 very poorly, and yet we had a wonderful Christmas with family, my sister got married, my grandson started talking babbling to me online (he's only 4 months), and my boss made an offer which, while dropping hours, allowed me to keep the family insurance. On the down side, my husband came home and let me know that he had been let go!
So 2015 went out with a balance of good and bad, stress and the power of love. My artwork will be a constant reminder that life is a balancing act of good times and bad, pain and peace, sadness and joy. Without that bit of adversity in our lives, we could not appreciate the prosperity headed our way.
So I will hang my Prosperity Fairy in my bedroom, so that I can go to sleep under her watchful eye, as well as waken to her promise to come.
How do you balance your life between the good times and the bad? The Path of Positivity challenge blog offers the theme of Prosperity this month to all crafters. Carve out some time to create and then link up at the challenge blog for your chances to win prizes from the guest sponsors, The Stamping Boutique and Limited Runs. My artwork uses a digi image from the Stamping Boutique called I Love you This Much Cynthia Fairy.

Challenges I Am Entering:

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Sparkle n Sprinkle - Anything Goes w/loose glitter (around the edge of my wooden frame)

That Craft Place - Anything Goes

Crafty Time challenges - Make It Sparkly

Rhedd's Creative SPirit - Anything Goes

Creaine challenges - Bingo grid

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

Use Fabric Today at the Outlawz Geetings Challenge

Today brings a new challenge from the Outlawz Greetings, one with a little (or a lot of) fabric on our projects. That's right, my crafty peeps, the challenge is to drag out any type of fabric to use on your card, tag, ATC, canvas, anything your little crafting heart desires to create. Of course, the Numero Uno requirement is to make sure there's a sentiment on the front of your project. That is, of course, why we are called the GREETINGS challenge group. LOL
I am not a sewing person. The only fabric I have on hand is fleece, because I make those cute blankets with the tied edges for children's hospitals. And believe me, fleece did not play well with my card!
So I rummaged through drawers and closets and finally found a piece of fabric I could use. (I really wanted some nice burlap so I could pull on the edges and get all fringe-y with my card) What I found was a tattoo sleeve leftover from a Halloween past, as in a few years past. It's (or rather was) made of stretchy nylon material, so I cut cardboard and cardstock and adhered my fabric to its "frame," then placed it on a card base of cardstock and white-dotted vellum.
Did I mention that the sponsor this week at the Outlawz Greetings challenge is the fabulous Dee Dee's Digis? I got to play with "In Season.", which includes outline, layering and colored images of trees in all four seasons and several sentiments! I used the colored version of Spring tree and one of the sentiments for my card. I framed each on red cardstock before placing them on my fabric-colored card. A small white paper doily sprinkled with pink shimmery flowers decorate my little "canvas. I also added some fibers  and glittered the tiny flowers on the just-blossoming tree.

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Creative Knockouts - Texture
Creative Moments - Anything Goes - Spring or Easter
Try It on Tuesdays - New Beginnings (buds on trees)
Naughty or Nice challenges - In Bloom (I chose to use a "budding" tree)
Recycle, Re-purpose & Re-invent - Anything Goes/must re-cycle (recycled my Halloween accessory into a project background)
Open-Minded challenges - Recycle something (Halloween tattoo sleeve)
A Gem of a Challenge - Spring is in the Air
Dragonfly Dreams challenges- Let's See Spring
Krafty Hands blog - Nature's Work
My Creative Moments - Colorful Creations
Moo Mania challenges - Feelings of Spring
Our Creative Corner - Color Your World
The Crazy Challenge blog - Springtime
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes w/Diamonds (optional)

Paper Piecing is Not My Thing, but...

Paper piecing is generally not my thing, but I don't back down on a challenge-not when it gives me a chance to stretch out of my comfort zone and grow in creativity. So I DIDN'T color up an image from Ike's Art called "New Baby." What I did was printed it on patterned papers, and pieced it together.
After frantically searching for papers that would try to realistically feature the mother's hand and baby's feet, I stopped, took a breath and laughed at myself. "Come on Pat," I told myself. "You are reaching out of your little creative box, so why bother with realism?" my goodness, I didn't know I was so wise! LOL
So I picked a paper with word art themed around the entity we call mom; then I chose another paper to coordinate, and my image is pieced! I added a sweet sentiment and framed it with a paper doily. Hmm, too plain on that card stock background (my next battle will be with white space). So I popped on some cute baby-themed buttons, that lovely border of trim. Not enough! so I doodled a few tiny white hearts on any un-embellished space and my card was finished.
I am entering my card in Ike's World Challenges blog. The theme is paper piecing and I double dog dare you to play along!! LOL
And remember, crafters--have fun!!
Other Challenges I am Entering:
Hiding in My Craft Room - Free Style
Alphabet Challenge blog - B is for Beautiful Babies
Scribble & Scrap Challenges - Always Anything Goes
Sister Act card challenge - Anything Goes
That's Crafty challenge blog - Oodles of Doodles

Wedding Shower Card

This weekend I am taking time out of my frantic life to sit and relax and wish luck and happiness to the daughter of my friend and boss.  Her wedding shower is Sunday, and I just realized that I needed to make a card for the event.

I have been collecting photos and ideas on Pinterest for my son's wedding later this month, and found a lovely tutorial for making a wedding dress from a paper doily (HERE).  I think the presentation is gorgeous, so I planned a completely white card for her.  But...
I do not do two things well--white space, and absence of color.  So, I had to add a dash of color (navy, which is the color of her bridesmaids' dresses) to her wedding dress (two small snippets of grossgrain ribbon) and a bit of embellishment in the form of a border at the top of my card.  It started out as a red diecut border from K&Co that I turned around so only the white back shows.  Then I laced the navy organza ribbon through it and finished it off with a bow.

The card does not use a colored image from any stamp company, which is also very unusual for me, but I love the dress as the main focus on the card, and I hope you will too.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp from Stampin Up but I don't know the name of the set, as I got it from Goodwill for--wait for it--99 cents!!  I love Goodwill Stores!
Speaking of Goodwill, there are about three stores locally where I live.  I've been to all of them, and have snagged a dozen of these tropical drink glasses in heavy duty acrylic.  They were only 49 cents a piece!!
You know I am going to make glass tags for them so people will be able to ID their own glasses when they set them down, but they're for another post!

We have run into two setbacks with the wedding:  our DJ cancelled, and so did our minister!!  I have CDs but it's not the same.  And my sister, whose friend was the minister marrying them, felt so badly that she went online and "became a legal ordained minister" just so she can marry them!!!  (Yes, it's that easy)
But she would prefer to be my son's aunt and godmother only.  The ability to marry them is just the back-up plan.  Now I need to find someone quick!!!