Making Lists

Are you a list maker?  I am!  I like to cross off the things I've listed on my to-do list.  I like to make sure I get everything on my grocery list when I go shopping.  I  like to know what I've got stashed in my closet during those last few shopping days before Christmas.
I love lists!!  And I get tired of having to buy pretty little books to keep my lists in, so I made a few this week and wanted to show them off.

The first notebook I made uses a Queen Kat Designs April release from artist Sandra Caldwell.  It's called "Four-Eyed Flower.  I colored it with Copics and, after making the "cover" from patterned paper, I fussy-cut the image and popped it onto the front flap.

Here's the inside:

I didn't do much to the inside.  I just added a few stickers and some gold lace border.

The next notebook I made is for a challenge from my Yahoo group, Your Scrapbook Place.  Every day this month, we receive a new challenge and have 24 hours to finish and post a photo of our projects.

This challenge was to make a special notebook called Purse Papers.  There is a tutorial on Split Coast Stampers with instructions and a template, if you click on the link.



Anyway, I tweaked the instructions a bit.  Instead of stamping on white cardstock, I used double-sided patterned paper.  My booklet opens the opposite direction, too.  But I like what I created!

Please don't laugh at my Christmas theme!  I just happened to have the paper in front of me.  And the box of Christmas embellies was just an arm's length away.

The booklet stays closed with the help of the ribbon. tied into a nice neat bow.  I added some die-cut pine trees and the sentiment sticker.  To really get into the whole winter thing, I used white acrylic paint for some snow effects.

When opened, a pretty pocket holds some sheets of paper, decorated with a (of course) Christmas-themed stamp.  I inked the edges and added a few candy cane hearts.

So I am in notebook heaven, ready to make more lists, and cross items off of them.  I should save up all my old lists and place them in a time capsule.  It would certainly showcase how I have lived my life!!

Spring is All A-Flutter

Today I made some Springtime ATC's, using up my overabundant stash of papers and stickers.

It seems that every time I give away or use up some of my paper stash, I am "gifted" with more of the same  from my crafting friends!  Two weeks ago I was bragging about giving away and using up about 3 inches of 12x12 paper; the next day a dear friend gifted me with a goodie bag filled with crafting items, including two NIP paper stacks from DCWV!!
Last week I found a bag of 12x12 loose patterned papers in front of my office door, left to me from a fellow crafter who teaches at the school I work at!!  I love the gifts, but I swear I am never going to have to buy paper this whole year--ever again (secretly rubbing my hands together like Mr. Burns from The Simpsons and going mwa-ha-ha//or is it more like Gollum holding the "One Ring That Binds Them All" and whispering over and over "my Precious, precious")?
Either way I'm beginning to feel like a hoarder!!  I MUST get my crafting room to rights, and I will never do so if I keep adding to it!  Time to "gift" my own crafting friends (mwahaha, so there).  I wish paper weren't so heavy or I'd mail off a ton to every cardmaker I know!!

Perspective on Paradise

I never claimed to be a painter, but I sure am having fun with mixed media canvas!!  Today's canvas is a picture of paradise, but where do your eyes find it?  under the sea, floating along the waves or on the distant island?  It's all a matter of perspective!

The Little Mermaid gave up her voice in order to live on dry land.  Tom Hanks gave up his business and his brother to swim alongside Darryl Hannah in the movie Splash.  Where would you rather be?  What is your idea of paradise?

The canvas is a 12x12.  I painted it, covered it with patterned tissue papers, stamped and inked it, Stickled and Mod-Podged it.  It boasts jewels and seashells and fringe and feathers.  The color is a little off on my camera, but you can even catch a glimpse of a fast-fading sunset.

I've been so busy with a commission of Cotillion invitations and my DT responsibilities that I have had no time to paint, and thought I would take a break from my work (and my work) to let the muse ran away with me (or rather swim away with me).  Do you ever take your Muse out for a walk (or a run)?  You may be surprised where it leads you!!

Keep crafting, friends!

Pretty in Pink

April is quickly winding down, and before you know it, Mother's Day will be here!  So I made a Mom's Day card for my own mom, who turned 80 at the end of March.

I colored a QKD April release called "Just Breathe"  by artist   Nora Blansett.  I used my trusty Copics and a Sakura twinkle gel pen.  I then framed it in dark gray, popped it onto some leftover patterned paper, then framed that in grey again.

I had some leftover patterned paper with the word mom printed out in several variations, which worked perfectly with my image.  Do you color an image and then search for coordinating papers and embellishments?  Or do you find some paper and embellies and then color the image to coordinate with them?  I used to color a bunch of images, then hunt for an hour to match them up with papers, etc.  Now it's much easier to find my paper and then color the images.

I used a lovely handmade flower I received from my crafting friend, Shannon.  Other embellies include the lace, sequins, ribbon rose and jewel.  To finish off my card, I inked the edges.  I hope you like this look!

And if you like Nora's image, you can find it and many others in the SHOPPE.  Need some inspiration?  Check out the QKD Facebook page!!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Of course, in Chicago, we say April Snow brings happy utility companies!  That's right, here in the suburbs of Chicago, we have had massive flooding, impassable roads, school cancellations, and then, within 24 hours, SNOW!!  Not just snow, but Snow Thunder!!  Go figure!

So to be a polar opposite of our weird and wacky weather, I made a card to match the new Squigglefly Challenge this week, and offer up a flowery card.  The image, an April digi release called Have You Heard by artist Cheryl Alger, was colored with Copics and then fussy-cut and adhered to a piece of patterned paper.  Some pearls, sequins, a lace border and a K & Co sentiment sticker finish off my card.

And it is a very welcome sight in my craft room, much better than the one that was outside my window this a.m. when I woke up.  However, the snow has melted, as it is just above freezing, close to 40 degrees.  This day last year we were enjoying an early day in the low 80's.  Go figure!!

So whether you have rain or snow or are dry as a bone, decorate your life with a card that showcases April Showers or May Flowers and a Squigglefly image.  then join in the challenge fun for a chance to win free digis!!

Bloomin' Bookmark

Hello, crafters!  Today I have a pretty bookmark using a Queen Kat Design's April release called "Four-eyed Flower".  The image is designed by the talented artist Sandra Caldwell.

I thought this glasses-wearing posy would look great in a book.  I used a magnetic bookmark base from Stampin Up and created an ATC-sized card base that fits well on the magnet.  I kept my embellishments to a minimum so that it would lay flat in the books I read.

DO you like to read?  I love mysteries by Joann Fluke and Carol Higgins Clark, as well as biographies and the witty writings of Carl Hiasson.  But my all-time favorite books are The Stand by Stephen King, The Number of the Beast by Robert Heinlein, and The Crystal Singer trilogy by Anne McCaffrey.

Do you have a favorite book you like to read more than once?  Tell me what your favorite reads are and I'll choose a random commenter and send you my Bloomin' Bookmark.

Meanwhile, Four-Eyed Flower would look perfect on your own bookmark!!  Or you could make a card with Sandra's image and put it with a book to give to a friend!  For her image, and the rest of the new releases this month, check out the Shoppe.  There's nothing like some new images to make your day bloom!

Grateful to and for my Mom

Today I made a card for this week's challenge over at Squigglefly.  I used Diana Garrison's new April release digi, one called "Dove."  The image lends itself to so many different themes.  I made a couple Communion cards, a Birthday card and now a Mother's Day card, which is the theme of the challenge starting today!!
I rifled through my leftover pieces of paper, just so I could showcase how even the smallest pieces can be used on your projects.  After tearing strips of several shades of pink, i adhered them together and cut to fit my "mat".  All I had to do then was to adhere it onto my card base and give it a little embellishing love with the pearls and the sentiment "Grateful."  Inside, the sentiment reads "Happy Mother's Day from one very grateful daughter."
Not only am I grateful to my mom, but I am grateful for my mom.  She turned 80 last month and I'm glad she is still around for me.  then again, she has great genes.  HER mom is 102 years old and still kicking!  Hope I get some of those genes, too!
Do you like FREE?  Well, you can snag a couple FREE digis and enter the challenge at Squigglefly for your chance at free digis!!  It's a win-win situation, so go on over there and start crafting!!