Feng Shui this!

I am learning ( or renewing ) my Feng Shui knowledge again. I have been applying the principals of the Bagua more to my art studio but I am also doing some of them here in my craft room at my apartment.

FIRE ELEMENT - PASSION AND HIGH ENERGY 
A balanced fire feng shui element in your home or office will bring supporting energy to all your career efforts and will help achieve recognition. Fire element also nourishes one's sexual energy and inner warmth.

• Fire is the dominant feng shui element of South bagua area of your home or office.
• Northeast and Southwest feng shui areas also benefit from good fire element energy.
• Fire feng shui element colours are:
  • Red
  • Orange
  • Purple
  • Pink
  • Strong Yellow

You can see my tiny red canvas on the back wall which is my project over on the Helmar blog. It's also my word of the year too, which I like to display somewhere that I will see it everyday but because you stopped by my blog you are the only ones that know why it is red. It's our little secret, lol

They actually have articles on using Feng Shui in your art studio!

Sin City Design Team

I am very happy to announce that I am a new Design Team member of Sin City Stamps. I would love for you to visit their blog and greet the new team plus visit their store too!

Handmade paper addiction

I think I have found a new addiction!

Recycling scraps into paper!

I'm up on the Arnold Grummer blog today with a card I made using some of this yummy paper! stop by and say hi! I love your visits, your support means the world to me! Thank you, thank you!

Ready to join me for some paper making fun?

You can use the discount Jan20 and order your own papermaking supplies from the fabulous Arnold Grummer store!

Bookmark this event!

So I got some Buckle Boutique Dazzling Diamond rhinestone sheets and it is a lot of fun to play with. I admit I was a little skeptical about cutting it out on my Cricut, but it really does work and they have the instructions for the settings on your machine to use.

This is my first project using my Cricut, Paper Dolls p.41 cut at 1". 

 I did clean up a few edges using my scissors but overall was very pleased at how it cut through the sheet.

Added a small trim from the sheet at the bottom of the bookmark.

Now normally I would have covered the backside to conceal the cereal box that I used to create the bookmark with but seriously, I had to leave it alone because I had another quote (one of my favorites) to add. I think it goes along with the theme of the First Frost quote very well. :)

I made this whimsical bookmark for the author Sarah Addison Allen and the quote is from her newest book "First Frost". I was first introduced to her books by my friend Jamie on our 9 hour road trip to Florida with an audio book Garden Spells, which I liked so much that I immediately, upon returning home, went to the library and read all 4 of her books. I am looking forward to the latest book. So anyway, we had the opportunity to go see her and we came bearing small gifts. 

Here is a short video clip of the most darling story she told us about her Aunt Charlotte!

And a few pictures of Jamie and myself enjoying all the fun at the book signing. 

Sarah Addison Allen is a doll, sweet and charming and I hope you check out not only her newest book First Frost but her other books as well. She will enchant you with every page!

very CAS

Now I am beginning to experiment with how ink sprays do on my handmade paper. I think it accepted the ink very well, not sure why I was worried about it since I have been stamping on it, lol I like my very CAS card using the sketch prompt from Sketch Saturday. It even went through the printer with no problems...whew!!

handmade paper - Arnold Grummer's Papermill kit
Ranger's spray ink
Micron pen
Paper Smooches -  Autumn Groves
font - Traveling Typewriter

Sketch Saturday week #343 challenge

SKS -Why Do You Create?

Over on the {my sweet earth} blog you can see

1. the reasons why I create

2. pictures of my craft spaces ( 3 of them to be exact! )

3. find out what my favorite color is

4. find out what the name is to Susan's latest stamp release!

5. see my art journal page!

Now that you have plenty of reasons to visit me over there, I sure hope you can leave me a little love!

♥

effort: this card

 Paper Smooches Picture Perfect Picture challenge to be sparked by this:


I choose the  Autumn Groves stamp set for the birch trees and used an old stamp set for the pine cone. (If you are friends with me on Face Book then you saw the effort it took to find that old stamp set too, lol ) I used the papers to play up the gold metallic and the rhinestone for the silver.

I also had the devil of a time masking the tree, the pine cone and the snow bank. It took 3 attempts to get it right...or at least as close to right as I could. Which is more effort than I like to put into a card. The sentiment was printed off using my computer. 

And yes, for all wondering, I know that birch trees don't have pine cones so please imagine a huge pine tree growing next to the birch tree and it's pine cone dropped off and rolled over there, thank you! lol

color challenges galore!

MFT Color challenge


I decided on a different twist to the color challenge. My card is mainly a black and white cards with little pops of the colors used from the MFT board.

I first dotted the paper with molding paste and after the dots dried I used Ranger's stickles on top. The bunny was cut out from Cricut ( Winter Wonder cartridge p. 58 1" ) The  sentiment stamp is old  ( Fiskars ) and the cute birch trees are Paper Smooches Autumn Groves.

Unity{be inspired} challenge 


Although this color challenge screamed snowmen at me I decided to go a different route since I've made so many of them lately.

I used some old glittery embossed paper from DCWV and a new stamp from Unity called 3 Stick Chicks. Now a part of my inking didn't come out solid so I got out a Micron pen to fill in the area and made a boo boo. But when this happens, just go with it. I loosely outlined the entire stamp to make the scribbly outlines look intentional.

So, OK, maybe it's not a galore of color challenges, but what the heck, I just like using the word galore. So sue me. lol

completed mission!

I have just blatantly stolen a card idea from I'm in Haven, so I am linking my card back to her and am not entering it in any challenges, but it was just too perfect to not try and duplicate. Now I didn't have any of her die cuts or stamps but I made the best with what I could do. I love it!

I was going to link up Sue T.'s blog because her card gave me the inspiration to make my snowflake card but I cannot access her blog. :( Although I have seen this in many cards lately, so either it's a new trend or I am just lagging behind!

I resorted to casing my own cards last night as my deadline was approaching fast. lol At least I don't have to credit anyone.....oh wait....I guess I did credit myself, lmao

I also got REAL clean and simple....also known as fast and easy on this card.

And I took apart a sympathy card that didn't sell and used the feather on this card along with scraps of paper. Yeah, I'm not above remaking my own cards if they don't move!

So there you have it, 14 cards in 6 days ( aka my completed mission )....plus during the week I made a journal page and lots of paper molded charms but you will see those at a later date. Now to head off to the Art MoB and refill my inventory for the New Year. I've also added a basket of 40 "love" cards for a reduced price and switched out the "hello" cards for Valentine Day cards. whew....lots to do!

sending bear hugs

Paper Smooches - Anything Goes (wk1) Anything Goes

I could use this darling little bear from the Happy Camper stamp set...
all. day. long.
This is a simple little card, but the flocked background keeps it from being boring, I just love tactile cards! I hardly have any left of this paper, if anyone knows of a flocked sky background paper, please let me know!

I used my new Stabilos that I found at our local yART sale to color in the bear. 

(It was a great find, 60 barely used pencils for 15.00, I'm happy anyway, lol)

I didn't realize that there were 60 pencils in the set until I accidentally dropped them and they scattered all over the floor. That's when I saw it had a second tray...score!! 

2 cards and a plethora of challenges!

Hope you're ready for some Thank You cards, because I need to make 10 of them before Friday! Yikes!!

Word Art Wednesday - #165 Anything Goes

So I thought I was done for the night but then I noticed a spelling error! UGH!! Then you have to decide, trash it? re-do it? or fix it somehow!

I ended up with the last option, hope it looks as good....OK, maybe not, but the spelling for the word "kindness" is corrected anyway! lol

For the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge -  Something New
I used my new Akashiya Sai Japenese Watercolor Brush pens, (they have a remarkably fine tip) to color in the image. There is a learning curve to using them!


Angie Blom - Array of Bottles stamp
Close to my heart - butterfly stamp ( old )

MFT Card Challenge - First Sketch Challenge
So happy to see Susan Opel back in action with the blog My Favorite Things

And this is my take on the sketch:

Teresa Collins - You are my Happy papers, letters and memo circle

P.S, I just love the word plethora, Isn't it a fun word?

Making paper art - Pulp painting

Today is my first post with the Arnold Grummer paper making kit team. I have to admit I was a little nervous about making my own paper ( I haven't made paper this since I was a kid ). So I watched tons of Arnold Grummer videos and was very intrigued by paper pulp painting so I began my new adventure by first making jars of paper pulp. 

This is a video of Arnold Grummer's version of paper pulp painting :

Which just fascinated me so I created my version using his technique. Here is a sneak peak of my "Butterflies are Free" canvas. I would love for you to stop by the Arnold Grummer blog and leave me some love! 

Thank you!

Ready to join me for some paper making fun?
You can use the discount Jan20 and order your own papermaking supplies from the fabulous Arnold Grummer store!

Whimsical wedding card

Yes, it's that time again for me to highlight my most favorite glue of all...

Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots

I'm addicted....seriously!

Believe it or not, this is a wedding card, hop on over to the Helmar blog to check it out....please!!
Leave me a comment so I know you stopped by.
Love you!

Glittery colors are the best

House of Cards  - week one - glittery color challenge

I love glitter and I love these colors so how could I not play along? I haven't visited House of Cards in ages, so I am long over due for some great challenges! I made a snowman birthday card using some of the suggested colors and of course the glitter.

  

The snowman stamp ( one of a kind winter ) is stamped onto some handmade paper using my Arnold Grummer paper mill kit and then cut out. I added some Ranger's stickles to the snow and some Sakura glitter pen to the ends of his scarf, plus I just had to add some rhinestones to the snowflakes!

SinCity Design Team submission

I am entering my card in Simon Says Monday challenge - Make new friends, but keep the old...

I really like this challenge because I like to buy new products but at the same time I am determined to use what I have too. So I am using a new stamp along with my old techniques. :)

The first step in making a cute card is having great stamps to choose from: 

cake stamp - Damn...you're old

 

I chose a pennant design as the main focal point to my card, stamping one sentiment over the top of the image. For a little extra flair I cut a small portion of the tail of the pennant off which I'll reattach back on top of the pennant.

After adhering the cut off tail to the pennant I then matted it and the second sentiment with pink paper.

I used watercolors as the base layer of colors for a translucent look and then glued the  second sentiment over the top of the pennant adding a small matching pink gemstone to the cut out piece.

Next I added another layer of colors with my PITT pens for the candles and little dots of stickles gives the flames some extra umph.

I combined some pattern papers underneath for texture playing up on the pink, blue and yellow color combinations.

I am submitting this to SinCity Stamps for the second part of their Design Team call. They have an awesome collection of stamps, masks and stencils, plus a whole lot more! I think you should check out their store, I certainly have!

Life is too short

Shake your head,, laugh all you want at me, but making handmade paper has been the most fun I have had in a long time. I have ventured into the casting molds section and used the Arnold Grummer mold called Mini Assortment and cast these little beauties in a lavender pulp. 

Once dry they popped right out of their molds!

  

Next I heated up my Ranger's UTEE melting pot and dipped them in. It was a surprise how dark they came out but I think they look great.

The next step was deciding what to do with them so I first tried to see if I could pierce them with a needle and found out that it worked! I had two strips of handmade paper that I adhered with my trusty Helmar Tacky glue and then sewed one onto the bottom. I stamped a cute stamp from Unity called Matching Socks which fit because the two sides to the bookmark don't match! lol

I think I am going to make some more bookmarks and give them to my girlfriends for Valentine's Day ( the ones who do not have a significant other in their life might appreciate a small gift ). In the meantime I am entering my bookmark in:

Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Anything Goes ( 5th entry )

Word Art Wednesday #164 - Anything Goes ( 3rd entry )