Mom's 80th Birthday Party-palooza!

This year my mo turns 80!  Actually at the end of this week! Now some people would want a big party with lots of friends and family, balloons, decorations, presents, cake.  But at 80, sometimes it's nicer to run away from home, and that's what my mo and sisters and I are doing this weekend--running away!
But presents and surprises will abound, and I have been super busy making toppers for a number of goodie bags filled with favorite treats.  Each baggie will have 80 pieces of each item, like caramel popcorn, m&m's, pistacchios, etc.

Most of the toppers showcase HouseMouse images, but there are a couple other stamp companies used as well.  My sisters and I have probably 20 bags of goodies, all filled with 80 pieces of something, and I'll be stapling them all to the toppers in the car ride up to Port Washington this weekend.

There's a new Micro Brewery/restaurant there and we'll have the birthday dinner and then whip out the gigantic gift bag filled with these fun creations.  Oh, and cake, too! LOL

So, my lesson today, crafters, is to try something new!  You never know when inspiration will hit, and you need to be ready to grab it by the horns and ride it into the sunset!!
Have fun!!

Spring Is Around the Corner

It's hard to imagine, what with the 3 foot high snow banks surrounding us in Chicago, but it IS March, and according to the calendar, Spring is just around the corner.  March certainly came in like alion, so it should hopefully go out like a lamb with warmer weather and a little sunshine.

Meanwhile, other parts of the world are enjoying the timid beginnings of Spring, so I wanted to make a card in celebration.  The Outlawz Challenge for Friday is Spring or Easter, using any kind of alcohol-based coloring.  I pulled out my Copics and here he is!

I used a March QKD release from Artist Terrell Dorfeo called Dragon Riders.  I must say this little guy is adorable, and he doesn't complain when I color him pink and orange.  I used a negative cut of hot pink cardstock to frame my image.  I also used a leftover piece of K & Co Border, using the back of it to color the coordinating green (YG03) for my card.

For some more Springtime inspiration, check out the QKD Shop!  For your chance in the Outlawz Friday Copic Challenge, click HERE!

80 Years Young

When my dad proposed to my mom, he said, "Marry me and you'll always be young."  It was a play on words, since his last name was young (the German spelling, Jung).  She accepted, and here I am, showing off a card I made for her birthday.  She is 80 years young this week!!

My mom has the best genes!  Her mom is still alive at 102!  She (her mom) is in her own home, has trouble with her eyes and hearing, but the doctor this month pronounced her "healthy as a horse." Hopefully I inherited some of those genes!

I know my mom did.  She looks fantastic for her age, so I decided to make a funny card for her.  She in no way looks anything like Gramma Knitting, a Squigglefly digi image from artist Gemma Mortlock.  In fact, she still bowls, takes cruises and bus trips, and leads an active life.  So imagine her surprise when she reads the front of my easel card!  The sentiment reads, "Mom, on your birthday I wanted to make a truly personal card, but you're just not at this point in your life..."

 Of course, when she opens it, she'll see the second image I used, a Squigglefly digi called Badonkadonk.  The sentiment here reads, "...then again, you're not exactly at this stage of your life anyway."

So, mom, have a wonderful birthday--you look awesome whatever your age!

Meanwhile, crafters, there's a new Squigglefly Challenge on the blog, and it's ANYTHING GOES!!  That's right, use a Squigglefly image and let your creativity soar.  One random winner will win free digi's!!

Far Out!!

Groovy baby, far out, Right on, Let’s book, what a fox, Bummer, Doobie, Funky, Trippin’, take a Chill pill...
The time was the seventies, the scene was where it was at,.  Bad was good, a fox was sexy, and bookin was getting out of there.

Queen Kat Designs released some groovy, funky, far out stamps, one of which blew my mind, it was like, psychedelic.  It's called Patches the Hippie Chick and it was designed by the grooviest of designers, Terrell Dorfeo.
The stamp brought out some very funny but cool memories of my high school years (yes, I am that old, just chill).  There was a head shop, I mean a music store, that sold patches specifically to cover your jeans, didn't matter if there were a rip or hole or tear, you sewed them on to look cool.  There was a song called Patches that came out in 1970 by singer Clarence Carter, and I used to listen to it ALL the time.
So this little cutie and I have a connection, and I thought I would make her a nice card to decorate.  I might just send it to one of my high school friends with whom I am still in touch.  Bet she'd get a kick out of it!!
For those of you who understand what I'm saying, hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane.  Check out those elephant bells!! LOL

Song-Inspired Card for Squigglefly Challenge

I made a card today for this week's Squigglefly challenge, which is to make something using a Squigglefly digi image and inspired by a song.  The digi image I used is by artist Cheryl Alger and it's called "Pencil Girl".  It's a March release.

So my card comes with a story (as most of my projects do).  One of the dangers of the Internet is that you may communicate with people who are not what they say they are.  Ever watch a reality show on MTV called Catfish?  This guy takes people who have met and "fallen in love" with people they met only through the Internet  Some people have turned out to be the other gender, sexually-oriented in the opposite direction, married, or worse predators.
So, what if we never got a chance to see the songwriters who have penned those amazing songs?  What if, like the Internet (or adult entertainment phone call operators), they were totally opposite what we thing they are?
And here is where rerality turns to fantasy, because we all know who Barry Manilow is, or have seen his photo, or have (several of) his albums/cd's.  Right?
So, when you here the song "I Write The Songs", it can't possibly be the author in the card, holding her pencil proudly, music dripping from the pointy tip.  But, if you think about it, there are song writers out there whose work is sung by others, and we never get to see the authors.  So maybe my idea isn't too fantastical!
Either way, I was inspired by this image and Barry Manilow's hit "I Write The Songs" to make this card for the Squigglefly challenge this week.
I used some gorgeous patterned paper that I picked up on clearance at Michael's (I know, but I couldn't pass it up!) called Collections "Bird Page Glitter".  I colored my image on glossy paper with Copics and framed it with brown cardstock.  I inked the edges of my card base, as well as used the ink pad to blot/distress the white space of my image.  After adding a diecut flourish and adding pearls to the ends of a few tendrils (I colored the pearls with E37 Copic to coordiinate), I added the tiny musical notes, causing them to drip from the pencil's end and into the sheet music paper.
I hope you like my card--and Cheryl's digi "Pencil Girl".  You can find it and all her images at the Squigglefly store.  Go on and take a look, grab a freebie and join in the challenge for your chance to win free digi's!
Want more inspiration and a freebie??  Like Squigglefly on Facebook and when they reach 300 (only 16 more to go) they'll release a new digi just for their fans!!

Consumed by Canvas

Time to show off another canvas!  I am absolutely in love with mixed media canvas art, and manage to spend time on projects about once a week.  I have to wait until inspiration strikes, though.  The last canvas I created just didn't have that spark that drove me.  I had just wanted to create something.

Well, I sparked today, and I love what I created!  The background is a mix of paint, patterned tissue paper and ink.  The focus is a black & white photo of a woman in two halves.  The top half is kind of a glamorous 50's look, while the bottom is an Angelina Jolie-kickin'-ass kind of look. Embellishments include metal charms, paper doilies, ribbon roses, stamped ink, lace and paper, and a feather (fast becoming my signature embellishment).
All women have both glamour as well as toughness inside them.  The secret is to find your own balance, the one that makes you happy.  I'm still searching for mine, but the journey is part of the fun!  Enjoy your journey, and happy crafting!

Sing Your Own Song

Thought I would try another mixed media canvas art.  This is a 6x6 on which I used patterned paper from the Recollections line called Bird Page Glitter, some acrylic paint, CTMH stamps, and chipboard letters.

I added a chipboard bird to bring home the message, along with some musical notes, jewels, trim and a feather.

I am still finding my way through this world of mixed media.  The first time I photographed my canvas for my blog, I noticed a decided lack of color and that the phrase "Sing Your Own Song" was lost on the canvas.

So, I took my "finished" piece of art and tweaked it, giving it a little more color and pulling the letters out toward the eye.  There was no red in my first attempt, and I think that color helps my piece.  I still think the letters are too big for this work, but I can't alter that--they are stuck on there for good and all!

But I say, live and learn.  Art is a process, just like life, and you take from it what you can, and you give to it what you are able, and in the end there is a balance of sorts.  Hope your day, as well as your art, brings balance to you, too!  Happy crafting!