Thank you

I am bust this afternoon making thank you cards. Most of the time, I tend to overthink my projects. I did not do that today, but opted for a simple design.

I started with this sketch from SketchNScrap



Scraps from previous layouts were perfect for this card!

Thank you for visiting. Have you sent your thank yous?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We spent Christmas in Phoenix with our daughter and son in law. My son and his wife joined us too. The best gift for me is having the entire family together. I don't need anything else.  We decorated gingerbread houses, celebrated with crazy socks and took in the Botanical Gardens.

I will be heading back to Phoenix several more times this spring as our daughter is expecting our first grandchild ( a girl) in April!

We are so blessed to have wonderful children who are happily married, have good jobs and own their own homes. Time with all of them is just precious to me.

Wishing you and your family all of the best in the new year!

ATC

Up until a year or so ago, I had no idea what an ATC (Artist's Trading Card) was.

There 2.3 x 3.5 cards are miniature works of art which are shared around the world. Artists create, trade and swap them! Some swaps have themes and for others you can do whatever you like.

This card is for a swap sponsored by Grumbacher  Official Fan Page and the theme is space.



Please head on over to Arnold Gummers to learn more about this card!!

Adding this to Mixed Media Monthly Challenge blog Merry and bright Challenge!

Christmas Cards

It is not too late to whip up a few Christmas cards.

I was inspired by the DCWV Mood board challenge. I used papers from the Embossed White and GArden Charm stacks to make my card!

I love how this turned out! 

Thank you for visiting and don't forget to take time for yourself during these hectic days!

Finishing up Last Year

I am trying to finish up last year's Christmas album! And, I just may do it!

 I used this sketch from Stuck?Sketches



I was able to use the two photos so I got everyone at the table except me:)

Whenever we ate in the dining room when my children were little, we had to do cheers. We continue that to this day!

Thank you for visiting. The holidays are quickly approaching. I hope you take a minute to enjoy the love and friendship of the season!

White Elephant Fun

Last year we did a White Elephant Exchange with my son, his wife and his mother in law. It was fun as the gifts were exchanged and stolen. Some were silly, some actually useful. I had bought this neck pillow which can be heated thinking it quite silly. My son got it and loved it. This might be a tradition that we carry on every year.

Adding this to Picture This Challenges December Challenge to use shapes. I have squares - photos, mats, journaling cards.

I might just finish last year's album before Christmas! Thank you for visiting. Your comments make me smile!

Holiday Candles

Join me today over at HELMAR and learn how to make these fun candles!!

Get the kids because they will love making these! 

Thank you and don't forget to stop over at Helmar for all you adhesive needs!!

Cleaning and Scrapping

We are hosting the neighborhood for an open house on Sunday. In between cleaning, I have been scrapping:) Trying to get last year's Christmas album finished.

I am using this sketch from Creative Scrappers



Here is my layout

It is so much fun when Jen's high school friends come over to catch up and play games. Lots of laughter and fun!

For you

What to give your sisters who really don't need much of anything? Homemade gifts of course.

This was a quick and easy project using Faber Castel Pens, Deco Art Paint, Canvas Corp Burlap.

I painted it then added it to a wood block that I painted with black Gesso.

Adding this SimonSays  Monday Challenge - Time for Gifts.

Thank you for stopping by on this cold snowy day in Michigan!

Finishing Layouts

I am working on finishing last year's Christmas layouts before Christmas this year:) I think I can do it!

Here is another. I used this sketch from  Sketch N Scrap


Here is my layout

Sketches really help me pull a layout together quickly!

Cards - Handmade Paper

Not only did I make cards --- I made the paper for the cards!

Come check out my post over at ArnoldGrummersPaperMaking!




This is a fun and easy project - great for recycling and kids would love it!

See you there!

Christmas 2015

I am trying to finish scrapping last year's Christmas before this year's:) Don't know why I didn't do it sooner!

Each year I give my children a dated ornament. When they got married, I gifted each of them the box of ornaments that had been given over the years. I am continuing the tradition but often it is now just one per couple.

My daughter and son in law live in Phoenix, so last year's ornament was a snowflake to remind them of Michigan!

 

Adding this to HIMCR #277 Any Holiday Challenge.

Thank you for visiting me. I appreciate your kind words!

Football and Scrapping

I am watching college football ( a big thing in the state of Michigan) and scrapping. I guess it is time for me to finish last year's Christmas:)

I am using this sketch from StuckSketches



And here is my layout

Each year I give each of my kids a dated ornament. This wedding cake ornament was the perfect one for 2015. It is a reminder of the year Rob and Beth  got married. 

Got messy with paint and modeling paste!

Adding this to HIMCR#277 . Visit Hiding in My Craft Room for more fun challenges!

Thank you for visiting and for leaving a comment. They make me smile! 

Thank you

Working on a few more thank you cards.

I used this sketch from SketchNScrap



Here is my card

I had this tag in my stash and it worked perfectly.

Thanks for visiting! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Part of the Team

I am so excited to announce that I will be returning as part of the Canvas Corp Brands Creative Team for 2017!!



Check around the 1 minute mark!!

CCB Creative Team

Are you familiar with  Canvas Corp Brands?

You should take a minute to visit their website, blog and store!

The home of Canvas Corp, Tattered Angels and 7gypsies, Canvas Corp Brands offers a wide variety craft supplies including papers, paints, mists, vintage supplies, burlap, canvas, denim, totes, aprons, clothespins, ropes, stamps, charms, trays and more. A majority of our products are made in the USA and are the perfect choice when looking for wholesale craft and maker supplies. For retail sales visit our online SHOP.

I look forward to another fun year! 

Here are some of my projects from this year:

Thanks for visiting me and be sure to visit Canvas Corp Brands too!

It's a Girl

My daughter is expecting our first grandchild and it is a GIRL!!!!

I wanted to make a card to announce it so went to work making paper!

Please visit me over at ArnoldGrummer's for all of the details!!

Thank you

                                                                           Thank you.

.Another card being mailed off this week!

                                                    Watercolor play and stamping.

                                     Adding this to Simonsays Monday Challenge - Thanks

Been Gone

For those who may not have heard the news shouted from the rooftops --- my daughter is expecting our first Grandchild in April. Unfortunately, Jennifer lives in Phoenix while I live in Michigan. I have to see my girl at this exciting time, so I  just got back from spending a week with her. At 20 weeks, she is looking pregnant! We shopped for maternity clothes, registered for baby goodies, and I cooked meals for her freezer as well as  cleaned and organized.

One afternoon, I had a bit of time so I got out the mixed media pad and some markers I brought.  I worked on loose sketches.

Now that I am back I am busy scrapping and finishing projects! Stay tuned!

Thank You

I love to send thank you notes - especially to people who do not expect one! I send one every time i win a prize. I appreciate giveaways so much and feel it is only right to thank the person sending it out!

Here is one I recently sent. I played with paint and created something a little different.

Sharing this with Simonsaysstamp Wednesday Challenge.

Thank you for visiting! I appreciate it!

Postcards!

I am up today over at ArnoldGrummer'sPapermaking with Postcards! This was something new I tired

I would love for you to see how I made my postcards out of handmade paper!

ArnoldGrummer

I am Pregnant Hear me Roar

My daughter is pregnant. She and her husband bought a box of donuts while grocery shopping. The idea was to make them last and for each of them to have some. Well, one night my son in law ate his donuts, then a bit later, ate the last ones which were earmarked as my daughter's.

The next day he sent us this text with the picture of the female lion roaring at the male lion. It triggered an entire text conversation between my daughter and son in law, my husband ,myself, my son and his wife.  My phone kept dinging and I could not stop from laughing.

I knew I wanted to document this for the baby's album. We already have one started and this deserves to be in there!!

Sketch from Stuck?Sketches

 

And here is my layout

I don't think this will happen again!:)

A little Painting

I created another little girl painting. This one was inspired by PCC's Magazine Monday Challenge.

Here is the magazine cover



And here is the card I made

I like how this turned out! 

Thanks Steph for another great week of inspiration!

A fun bookmark

I am up today over at Helmar with a bookmark I made. My husband teaches chemistry and I found a way to use elements from the Periodic table to spell teacher!

Would love for you to visit me over at Helmar!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Canvas Corp Brands at your local Meijer Stores!

Do you have a Meijer grocery store near you? If you do you are lucky, because they sell Canvas Corp Brands products. Need a canvas bag or banner to decorate, a Mix and Match Pad of scrapbook papers or Glimmer Mists? You can easily add them to the cart with your groceries.

Need to bring a bottle of wine to a holiday party? Going to a freind's house to watch the game? Don't just bring a plain bottle. Grab a canvas wine bag and decorate it! You could even personalize it with names and dates!



Using the Glimmer Mists Bights and stencils, I created a background. Once dry, I added additional stamping.

I cut out a bottle and wine glass from Tissuestock - French Script on Ivory. I misted them from the back and using Helmar's Decoupage adhered them to the canvas tote, I added a label and gift card from 7 Gypsies Wanderlust Paper pad.

The final touch was a piece of cork with twine and a metal charm. I just love how this came out!

 Here is a close up

The possibilities for decorating these bags are endless!

I am so glad I can get these kind of supplies at Meijer!

A little coloring

A quick thank you card  I stamped then water colored. I love how it turned out.

Adding this to HIMCR 273 - Freestyle/Anything Goes!

Thank you for your visit! 

Check it Out

I happy to report that I am the Crafter of the week over at Create and Craft!

Crafter of the Week

Create and Craft is a store but they also have a blog filled with wonderful ideas and techniques! Check them out!!

Work in Progress - Autumn

 I came late to the artistic world. I fought it for years. You see my twin sister got the art and music gene while I got the math and science. I love numbers and straight lines and perfect shapes. I would fight tooth and nail when ever I had to attempt to do anything involving painting or drawing. Yes, in 8th grade I even made my mom go talk to the art teacher to explain that I could not produce works like my sister.

Fast forward to last year, when the store I was working at closed. I signed up for a continuing education class - Learning to Paint. The idea was to experiment and try different mediums. It was just a 4 week class but after it ended a group of us continued meeting. Working, sharing tips, and experimenting. 

I finally shared a canvas I had made - a mixed media project filled with paint, paper, stamping, etc. To my surprise they loved it and encouraged me to join the local art association. A perk of being a member is selling your works at the three shows we have. I was shocked when I made a sale at the first show and actually sold 12 pieces that day. 

I still do the canvases but, at the same time, am trying to find my niche with different paints and mediums. I love the effect of watercolors but struggle with how to use them. I think my problem is not letting them try before adding more. I also still struggle with drawing. I din't have any schooling so do not know about perspective, proportions, etc. Also I tend to struggle with symmetry. If I draw a face each eye should be exactly the same, etc. 

But, I am trying. So today I am sharing a little watercolor of a girl I made. Inspired by Sandee Setliff who paints such gorgeous girls and faces as well as many other things, I tried to not worry  about perfection. I call her Autumn and her hair was inspired by the fall colors around us. 

If you have stayed with me through this long dissertation, I thank you! If you are a work in progress like me, let's make a pact to keep working on it! We can do this! 

Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. They mean more to mean than you could ever know!

Adding this to Simonssays Monday Challenge - Autumn.

Would love for you to visit Sandee and check out her wonderful art! Tell her hi from me!