Squigglefly Sentiment Challenge

Time for another challenge over at Squigglefly!  This week players are asked to:
add some form of sentiment on your card. Think of those images that come with sentiments, all those great .99 Squigglefly sayings, even as embellishments with words or maybe your own clever computer-generated text.

Today I used a new September Squigglefly release called "witch in Pole" by artist Pamela Lehto.

  Isn't she cute?  I know I've seen this Halloween decoration around my neighborhood, and she makes just as cute a card, too.

My sentiment is my own brainchild, artistically created by Squigglefly's own Holly.  We came up with both "Don't Hex & Drive" as well as "Never Hex & Drive."

I again fussy-cut my image, framed it with a white cardstock circle to imitate the moon, and used 2 patterned papers, Stickles and sequins for embellishments.

The theme is Anything Goes, but I wanted to showcase one of the awesome September releases from Squigglefly, and Pammie's Witch in Pole was perfect for my mood.  What's your mood, or rather your muse, telling you to create.  Go ahead and enter it into Squigglefly's challenge this week for your chance to win!!

House Mouse Goes to School

With all the cool school supplies on sale this month, it's easy to snag some great deals on items to be altered, like this mini composition book.  It measures 4.5x3.5 inches and is perfect to showcase a House Mouse image like this one.

I belong to a crafting group on PaperCraftPlanet called House Mouse & Friends, and there is a swap going on for group members.  I finished mine and wanted to post it here.  I think the image is called "Morning Song" but I could be wrong.

I colored it with Copics and fussy-cut it so that it would fit on this small canvas.  I covered the notebook with some fun music sheet patterned paper and added some upholstery ribbon to the spine.
I distressed my page with distress ink and acrylic paint.

I added some leaves so that my tree stump would be anchored to the scene.  A couple musical acrylic stickers added to the song theme I had chosen, and then i stamped the sentiment "Just a Note."

A couple pebble stickers completes my altered mini composition notebook.  I had fun with this, and if I can get to Staples, will purchase more to alter!  This one is a little bigger than theirs, but it cost a dollar for just one, and Staples offers a pack for a dollar--nuff said! LOL

Whatever you do, whether scrapbook, make cards, sew, paint or make altered art, do it with a song in your heart!!

To Thine Own Self Be True

Today I want to share myself with you through a mixed media card I created.  After all, any artist will tell you that when you look at their work, you are seeing the artist.  When I look at what I've created, I feel like I'm looking in a mirror!
There's a wonderful and empowering blog in town called the Path of Positivity Blog.  I go there to get inspired, to lift my spirits when I feel down and to relax when I'm stressed.
How do they affect me this way?  By crafters and artists sharing their stories and projects and words! This month's theme is about Honesty.
To me, honesty is letting you see the parts of me that aren’t pretty.  Because, let’s face it, no one is perfect.  I snore at night.  I am overweight.  I am loud.  I have skeletons in my closet (and they’re not Halloween decorations).

When I create something—a card, a poem, a canvas—I am being honest.  I don’t know of a way to create without being honest, with both myself and with others.  My personality, my beliefs, my fears,my history, my strengths and weaknesses—it’s all there in living color for everyone to see. 

But mostly for ME to see, because even if I decided to discard something I made, it is still burned in my mind.  It can never be erased (just like putting something on the internet). 

So why throw it away, when it speaks honestly of ME – unique, imperfect, honest ME.
Whether you need a mood shift, inspiration or a new challenge for your art, check out the Path of Positivity Blog.

Give a Cheer, School Days are Here!

I'm upping the ante when it comes to 2013 Challenges.  I'd been feeling lazy and bored lately, so I promised myself I would try to join more challenges.

I made this card with The Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge in mind.  Their new weekly challenge Monday was Back to School theme.  While the outside of my card reads: "It's Time... Again?" the inside reads: "Give a Cheer, School Days are Here!"

So, what do you think--is my card for a child or for a mom? LOL  It could be both!!

After coloring my image with Copics, I cut him and a couple frames using my CM circle-cutting system to coordinate with the patterned paper I used.  Stickers created my sentiment, as well as the school bus one.  A few jewels and sequins finish off my card, and this family is ready for school!!

Ready to Fight for His Candy

Today I'm sharing a card I made using a Queen Kat Designs stamp called "A Very Charismatic Orc" by artist Coriander Shea Detwiler from her Phantom Rose collection.

I made the background scene using several patterned papers (leftovers), adding clouds cut from leftover pieces of same.  I colored my image with Copics and fussy cut him out to pop him into place, using a cardstock sticker to frame him (as well as another sticker to embellish).

The sentiment BOO finishes off my card.

Are you getting ready for Halloween yet?  If you are, QKD has some fun images to color and create with!!

Flower Challenge at Squigglefly

Good morning crafters!  This week's challenge over at the Squigglefly Blog is to Use a flower on your card-can be a Squigglefly image or sentiment, an embellishment, whatever!

Here is what I came up with.  The Squigglefly digi image is a new September release by artist Judith Hart called "Way Up High."  Isn't the rainbow so pretty?  The image has more to it, but I fussy-cut it out for my card.

You can see that my patterned paper sports flowers, as well as the two brads I used to create growing flowers.  Even the sentiment mentions flowers.

I colored my image with Copics, and embellished with adhesive lace ribbon and a couple more brads.

If you want to see the other new September releases, you'll have to visit the shop.  there are many talented artists who design for Squigglefly, so there's a little something for everyone's tastes.

Don't forget to use a Squigglefly image and play in their challenge this week!

Inspired by my Daughter to Paint

"Find your Wings and Fly..."  That's always been my wish for my daughter, but her wings seemed to be broken until she was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.  Even if her wings had been open and strong, she was frozen from flight by anxiety and fears.

During the last few months, she has been going to therapy sessions and taking meds.  Her fears were becoming manageable, her stress levels lowered, but the final acknowledgment that things were turning the corner came yesterday when she was challenged.

Her friend needed a ride from our hometown suburb to downtown Chicago, and when we weren't available to drive them, she took the Jeep (which she doesn't like to drive) and on the way home (expressway, merging & darkening skies), she battled bouts of nerves with each flash of lightning until she drove up the driveway (just before the storm hit).

I'm so proud of her!!  She not only made the decision to "find her wings" herself, but "took to the air" and made it through unexpected obstacles.  She faced her fears, gritted her teeth (and gripped the steering wheel) and FLEW!!!

So I had to create this mixed media canvas in celebration of her flight, and in anticipation of many more to come.  She will soar to newer and higher heights in her life, and that turns my own fears and doubts into Optimism with a capital "O."

I used an altered key I had made for a challenge, as well as a heart charm and handmade flowers from fabric, to embellish my canvas.  I painted, ModPodged, stamped, Stickled, smeared, and then hand-printed and painted the sentiment.

I'm entering this project in The Positivity Blog, where Optimism is the challenge theme this month, and positive and motivating vibes are the message there.  I just discovered this blog and LOVE their mission "...a place where you can come to see projects or posts that provide help, hope, courage, love, forgiveness, peace, motivation, encouragement, etc... A place to come especially on those days when the woes of the world just seem too much to bear."