A New Challenge and Journey for "My Self"

This is my Journal cover. I used some card board from a packing from one of my 12 x 12 pack, cut it down and decorated with some "distressed ink and some stickers. It says " Explore and Enjoy the Journey" 

 Hi everyone. Today I want to take a little time out from my "normal" day to day challenge post to share a little something New for me. We have all seen that the newest and latest craze right now is "Mix Media or some might call in "Art Journaling. I have seen quite a few of these and of course thought that "there is No way I can do this and I "wish" I could and so on and so on with the "self doubt". That is basically how I live my life.. Want so bad to try something New. But always afraid to take that first step. And I know that I have limit my self from soo Much with this behavior. Because the TRUTH is once I take that leap I often find that I can do just about any thing I set my mind to and I am the one holding my self back.
So this brings me to my "Art Journal". Marie and Jess over at The Greeting Farm as started an Amazing 23 weeks project. Were are are challenge to participate in a class type setting where we get a weekly assignment of a project layout for us to use in our Art Journal. We don't have to over think any thing on this; it is mainly for us to open up our "creative buttons" and inspire our self to think outside the box.

It took me a week to make up my mind  or to actually send the email saying I wanted to sign up for the class. And even after I did I thought I won't be as good as everyone else and I can't create and so on and so on. That is until Yesterday when I knew that our 1st assignment was going to be due today. For our 1st week we are to create something or anything with "Wings". I did not even have a good "Art Journal" was my first excuse as to why it would not work for me).. Even though I had bought this little spiral note book from Michael's for a $1.00 last week.  I knew that I wanted to challenge my self to "challenge my self so I just sat down, pulled out some "distress ink, card stock, and come "chalk ink" with a couple stamps that I had But never use and before I knew it, my little 2 page layout was coming together. :0) and it was soo much FUN. I just thru Ink on my page and how ever it came out that was my "creation".

So Now that I know I can do it I feel like I am well on my way. This process is for NO other challenge than my weekly assignment as I get them from TGF. I will not "Edit" my pictures in any way shape or form. hehehe So what you see is just as I have created it, and I know that in a few weeks I will look back on this first layout and be excited just to see how far I have come and hopefully along the way I will help me with being able to take those "Leap of Faith" that we call LIFE and just to live and GO FOR IT..

I know a lot of this blogging will be "Me" just talking to me and even though it will be put in to words for others to read this Journey will be "MY Journey.

More Christmas N July

 This is my card for the challenge over at All That Scraps Wednesday challenge as well as this week's Greeting Challenge over at The Outlawz.

Image is Neva from the Sweet November line, I just love this set from Sweet November, Neva has several other sisters.. But she happens to be my favorite. This card is also with me continue with my Monthly challenge of my Christmas ornament.

Challenges

Designed to Delight- Christmas N July

Creative Inspirations- Christmas N July

Summer Time with Honey

 Hello everyone, since we R still enjoying some gorgeous weather here wanted to get in a few more "summer themed" cards. I am a "huge" fan of All that Scraps and the Honey line.  This Is "Bikini Honey" I believe I got her at the beginning of the year from an "on line store that was going out of business and had all of their Rubber stamp at an incredible price of like $3.00 so I grabbed a few and she was one of them.. She really likes lounging around in her bathing suite doesn't she :0).
I had to pick my designed  paper out before I colored her and soo when going thru my stash I found that I had 3 sheets of 12 x 12 EK Success "Day at the Beach" that I had not used as of yet ( saving them for a good image like "honey". So when I saw all the purple ( my favorite color) I knew that I wanted to use it for making my card.
for the Sketch I used this week's one from There she Goes

I colored hone with my Prisma and OMS. and added stickles to her bow and her glasses ( she likes to be all glammed up no matter where she is. 

Card Stock is from PTI,I ran the Purple card stock thru my cuttle bug to get a little "wave action going and then used my Stardust glitter pen to high light the waves. Ribbon is from Wal-mart bling was some left over in my stash and star and sea shells are from EK Success.

Challenges:

The Crazy Challenge- Ribbon

Paper Playtime- Summertime

The Pink Elephant- Fun N the Sun

The Crafty Pad- Embossing

Gingerloft Challenge-Make it Sparkle

Paper Sundaes- Beachy or Summer

Happy Scrapping,

WOW with Ryan and the Greeting Farm

 Hi everyone. Tuesday is here.. yes we say it But time "stands still for no one" :0).. I am not soo big with doing masculine cards.. I love them, but just don't do them as much as I love coloring up my cute Ladies. ( just a girly, girl I guess. But I do love all my friends from "The Greeting Farm" and since I got this handsome, but rugged little guy here when I was a "guess DT" and only used him once I thought it was time to bring him out again.

As you can see I used the sketch from this week WOW from TGF Farm Fresh challenge. I love it and was soo easy and simple. My Designer Paper is from 'Echo Park"- Little Boy I love all the bright colors of the buttons. and I also used some scraps from my American Crafts paper pack. Buttons are from Wal-mart. and I used my white gell pen to add some "faux stitching"

He is colored with my Prisma pencils and OMS. I used my largest "oval" Nesti to cut him out and added some "broken china distress ink to the edges.

Challenges:

Stamp & Fun- No sentiments

Squigglefly- Kraft (card stock) 

Simon Says Stamp and Share- Any Thing Goes

Make it Monday- ATG

Kaboodle Doodles- Stitching

Happy Scrapping,

Flowers N Hair

 Here is the Other Image I purchased from Crafts and Me. Let me say that all 3 images that I showed where ALL digi's. ( love that I can download right after purchase.. especially because Crafts and me is Located in the UK. Nothing like Not having to wait :0).

 This Beauty is named "Aliah"  she is soo Beautiful to me.. just look at those eyes, and lips... and did I mention the Hair.. talk about not having a "bad hair day".. She was amazing to color. because her hair already had so much details it was easy to go in and add my colors and find all her highlights. just "gorgeous"

 

I was so happy when I got my mail yesterday because my New sampler pack form Claudia and Co. I posted on my blog that Claudia was having an amazing sale on just about everything in the store.. and her paper  packs where a steal at 40 % off.. I had been eyeing these gorgeous and yummy paper from Basic Grey "Hopscotch" for a while so I had to grab a pack while they were on sale. I LOVE them such pretty pattern and colors. ( You know when you have your really GOOD stash you try to be as "frugal" with it as you can. hehehe...  that's why I only used One sheet for my card. The Lace/doily is from K & Co. Blings was last in my stash,, I have to get me some more!!! Flower is from Prima I had sprayed it with some "glimmer mist" a while back but never got a chance to use it.  

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these gorgeous ladies as I have enjoyed coloring them.

Challenges:

2 Sisters- Any Thing Goes

Allsorts- Free and Easy

PaperCutz- Any Thing Goes

Digi W Attitude- ATG

Craft Us Crazy- ATG

Shelly's Images- ATG

Happy Scrapping,

Christmas N July

 Happy Saturday all my wonderful "Crafty friends".. I hope you all had an awesome day and hopefully got some crafting done..Well since we are rapidly coming to the end of July..  (Wow after this we will have 4 more months until the big day) I thought I would get a jump on some of my Christmas cards. hehehe..

 I had such a great time coloring up "forever" Rose from "Crafts and Me" I had to go back and get a few more of their Beautiful Images.. I have always been a huge fan of these "Mystical Images", but was always a little scared with coloring them.. Just because most of them have soo much details, But once I did my first one naturally I am now hook on them. I think they are just "perfect" it you are like me and love to color hair.
This sweet little "Christmas Fairy" is called " Irish Christmas Fae".  and She is soo ready to come and spread a little Christmas to All". I colored her with my Prisma and OMS. Decided I wanted to go really Red for her and I like it!!! for her fur I used my Stardust clear glitter pen, and for her wings I added lots of stickles ( also to her cute flower reef.

Challenges:

Sketch- The Sweet Stop

Christmas Stamin All Year- Christmas

Jellypark Challenge- Christmas N July

Polka Doodles- Christmas N July

Totally Gorjuss- Punch or Die

Our Creative Corner- B's Black, Bling, and Bow

Little Claire's Designs- Things with Wings

DYSU- Wings

Happy Crafting,

Hair Coloring

Hi everyone. Wow half way thru the week already. Boy School starts for my Oldest son in about 2 weeks...It's still soo hot and they will be sitting in side a class room.. Ohh well that's just how it goes right!!!.

Today I want to share a card with your that I have been having the best time with for the last couple of day.. 

I really am a Huge fan of coloring, and love to do it my self.. Now mind you if you asked me anything about it may be a year and a half I would look at you like your crazy; especially when you start talking about "shading, and color choices and blending I  would think you are speaking another language. (which it can feel like sometimes.) Getting back to what  I was saying. Even though I do love it and think that I am getting "better and better" with it.. I still have a LOT to learn.. (hardest thing for me is to find a light source) So when I see tutorials or video I am soo happy and drawn to them,, Because I know that I will pick up somthing or learn something that I had not thought of or really knew how to do before.

So that brings me to my card, This is" Forever Rose" and she is a digi from Crafts and Me ( she is soo Beautiful.. don't you agree??.. She was used in a tutorial for "skin and hair" coloring that I got from a "Super talented "Crafter" Dana from "Dana's Inspiration". Dana has some really great Tutorial for both Prisma Pencils and Copic Markers.. You should really check out her blog.. and let me just say that she is such a "sweet" person.. Hi Dana :0))))

So showing my coloring skills I decided to think outside the box of the Normal hair colors "black, brown, blonds"0).. ( I have colored her in those shades as part of my practice.. But wanted to try out different color combo,, and that is how I came up with this.. "Hot Pink Raspberry" at least that's what I'm calling it.

I followed the sketch for this week "The Sweet Stop"

Supplies:

Card stock: PTI

DP: from my stash

Black Card stock ran Thur my Cuttle Bug and using my Embossing  folder

Prisma Color Pencils: 1030,1029,1031,994,037,1078

Flower: 912,909,1005

Used Some stickles on Rose and her Shadow.

Challenges:

Make it Colorful- Hair with a Different color

The Outlawaz- Color challenge 

Crafts and Me Challenge- Add a Flower ( and yes I used a C&M image)

Make it Monday- ATG

Stamps & Fund- digi

Happy Scrapping,

Showcasing with The Cutting Cafe

 Hi everyone I hope that you are enjoying your Sunday as much as I am.. It is pretty Warm/hot today.. but not as Bad as it has been.. As a matter of fact we had cool down quite a bit over the last week. So actually today is the first "hot" day that we have had.. But I am sitting under my fan and the window is open soo I can't complain too much.

Today I want to showcase a few cards that I made using some Awesome images and "cutting files" that I got from The Cutting Cafe.. If you have seen Regina's Blog and "on line store" then you know that she has the Best SVG and PDF files and images you can imagine. 

If that was not Awesome enough Regina has just launched a "Cutting Cafe Blog" Wow soo excited. On the new blog we will get to participate in some great challenges, giveaway and best of all some Amazing inspiration from her and her DT. If you have "never" visited "The Cutting Cafe" you don't know what you are missing out on.

 This Little cutie is "Elisha Jean" and she is a Digi and cutting file set from TCC. She comes in 3 different set (each of a different nationality.. so there is something for "everyone" and they are just as cute as the want to be.  Now if you look at Elisha Jean you can see that I "paper pieced" her dress.. That is the best part of this set.. She comes with a separate file for her dress and all the accessories that come with it.
My DD has a birthday coming up in a few days. Right now she is away working at "summer" camp.. So for the last few week's I have been sending her a little package to celebrate her Birthday.. So this "easel" card that I made is for her.. It will be going out Tomorrow with the Mail..

I just went really Fun and bright and of course "bling and sparkly with this one.. Balloons and cupcake are from EK Success "Jolee's Boutique". Sentiment is from PTI and so is the card stock. DP is from We R Memory.. they where from my "scrap" stash soo I was happy to use them up. and my I-Rock and Bling :0)

<<<>>>>

Birthday Sundaes- Birthday Sentiment

Gingerloft- make is sparkle

Just some Lines- Easel card

Bling it on- ATG

Wags N Whiskers- Birthdays

Cute Card Thursday- Going around N circles

Now my next design is also from TCC. This Dress is also a template and cutting file. When I saw Regina's example on her 'blog I knew that I wanted it for my self. Now I do own a "cricut" But I don't own any of the SVG software. But that's fine because you get it in several different format including PDF ( which is what I use)

 This template came with soo many different template with in it's self including a "matching envelope" and a "Party Invitation" insert for you to use for the inside .. Great for any girls or party favors.

Again my card stock is from PTI. DP is more from my We R memory. I added some button and a Prima to the front of my dress.. ( I am not so good at cutting at all. you can tell if you look at the neck line :0)).. So I decided to add some "liquid Pearls" ( was not too good with those too.. But I think it's still pretty cute :0)))

<<>>

Joyful Stampers- ATG Fridays

Phindy's Place- Pretty Pastels

Totally PaperCrafts- Girly Girl

Last But not least I have show cased my little crafter before too ( my DD Lynette- 5 yrs) she is an avid card maker like her mom, and when I told her I was making my card for her sister. Of course she had to make her one too.. beside cutting out the dress for her ( when I printed it was 2 on the sheet).. Everything else is done by her and her alone. 

She is a "big" fan of Stickers too hehehe :0)

This is ALWAYS my favorite.. because I stamp the back of my cards and sign my name.. She does it too.. Just love having someone to share my passion with.

Happy Scrapping,

A deconstructed Sketch

 Happy Hump Day everyone.. I am back with a little "deconstructed Sketch and a card. I am entering this card into this week's "deconstructing jen challenge. I Love Jen Shults and her amazing talent. and this sketch was no exception.

This week actually I get to show case two of my favorite blog site. Jen and By Lori Designs. You all know that I am a Huge fan of By Lori Designs, and feel soo honored that I was a part of the last Design Team. For my card today I used "Puddle Jumper Regan". I went out of my comfort zone for this one as you can see and I did not use any "color for my Image. I just simply stamped her on some PTI 80 lbs card stock with my "memento Rich cocoa stamp. I added some Tim Holtz "antique linen" to the edges and left her as that. Just another way of showing what you can do with your images. 

Challenges

The Kraft Journal Make it Monday- Kraft and Blue

Make it Monday- ATG

Use It Tuesday- Animals

Happy Scrapping,

Thinking of you with Honey

 Hi everyone just a very quick post. Today I am showcasing my lil Honey "August" from C. C. designs. I have had her in my stash for quite sometimes But this is the first time I have stamped and colored her up. I just love All That Scraps and the C.C Designs Honey collection. I bought about 4 or 5 of them from an online site that was going out of business. So I got them for around $3.00 dollars. each :0) She is soo gorgeous with her little expression on her face. and her hair Wow so beautiful for coloring.

 This week's challenge over at the "All that Scraps challenge is "Any Thing Goes"; you know those are by far my favorite challenges. August is so cute and summery in her little short set and is just ready for a beautiful summer day.

I used this week's Sketch from "Critter Sketch ) I changed it up just a little but not too much.

I also got a chance to use some more of my gorgeous "Echo Park" Lil girl Designer paper. Love the butterfly on this page. I used my Martha Stewart butterfly punch and punched out some of the scrap paper. Sentiment is from "studio g" and I used my M.S pen to continue with the little stitch lines to connect the paper and the sentiments.

Challenges:

Clear it Out- Wings

OutLawz- Color challenge

Shopping Our Stash- Out with the Old

Kaboodle Doodles Challenges- Use those scissors ( used them to cu Honey out with)
KB Cute Monday- Something Cute

Happy Scrapping,

Hi There Monday

 Wow It's Monday already..where did the weekend go. I bet we will wake up tomorrow saying TGIF.. hehehe. Maybe I will just be saying "hi there" with TGF .Of course I  it will be me speaking of my card that I am featuring today. This is Wild Sprout Dee Dee. and she is just about my favorite in the W.S. line her and "Ebony". Love them All!!!. For this week's WOW challenge (Which One Wednesday) over at TGF Farm Fresh challenge it is a  fabulous "sketch" challenge.. How wonderful and easy is that.

When I started coloring Dee Dee I just felt that she was feeling a little "royal" with her cute little outfit and boots. and what says royalty better than "Purple"?? that and it is my absolute favorite color. I colored her with Prisma and OMS. and used lots of stickles for her bow and the trim on her little vest. I knew that  I wanted to use lots of Purple because it gave me a chance to use my Gorgeous Design Paper from Echo Park."Little Girl". I had purchased a 6 x6 pack a while back from "Claudia and Co.But came across a great sale the other day Where Simple Betty had Echo Park brand on sale at 50 % off. Soo I could not pass up on the great deal.  I just love these paper and so to be able to get the entire 12x 12 pack for less that $7.00 WoW!!!

Card stock and Ribbon and Sentiment are all from PTI. Now if you noticed that cute little charm; I was digging in my Bling drawer and found it. It is a charm from an old nickles or bracelet or something as I literary just found it laying around one day and it was just soo cute I could not bring my self to trowing it away. I thought that it would make a cute little charm and that my be I would use it one day on a project of mine.. And that is just what I did. All I did was add a "brad" to it and placed it on my Ribbon. I love recycling items that I can use (again I say.. "use what you have :0)))

Challenges:

Stamp Insanity- ATG

House of Gilli- Lots of Sparkle

Squigglefly- Heavy Metal

One Stitch at a Time- ATG

Happy Scrapping,

HUGE SALE going on at Claudia and Co.

Now if you are a follower of my Blog you all know that I try to give as much details about my cards and the supplies that I use.. AS with my DP .. Designer Paper I love the fact that I can get a sample pack of 6x6 papers from my "favorite" on line store "Claudia and Co. and as you can see Claudia is getting ready for CHA.. ( so sad that they did not have the trade show this year in Anaheim CA back to this Awesome sale. Claudia is clearing her shelves to make room for more goodies that she will be bring back for us from CHA.. So this week Now Thur July 15 she is having a Huge sale on almost everything in the store. I mean 25% to 40 %. Now that's a BIG SALE. As for me I don't really shop unless it's a 'Sale". So you know where I am headed too.. If you want to see more and getting on this then please visit her store here. and if you visit Please let her know that I sent you..

Thank you All