Flowering Mother's Day

This is my latest creation. I grabbed the sketch and some technique ideas from the latest Stamp It Techniques magazine. If you want to try something new or just need a refresher, I totally recommend this magazine. So this flowering creation is for my Mother's Day cards for this year. I know you are thinking Mother's Day, while yes. I have a list of cards that I create at the beginning of the year then work down on the list. I am excited to say that this is the last set of cards on that list to make. All this means is that I get to move onto the next project.

Copic markers - my new love and obsession. I used R22, R24, R27, and YG93 to create the flower oval, which was cut using the scalloped ovals from Spellbinders.

Next, I added Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the image to give it a more vintage look. Then the layering of ultra thick embossing enamel (UTEE) started. I keep layering on the UTEE until I got a thick layer that would nicely crack. The finishing touches were Jumbo Java Chalk Ink on the edges of the paper and some pearls to finish off the look.

Thank you for looking. Enjoy!

Waiting for the Right Tools...

Have you ever had one of those projects that just kept going to the back burner because you just didn;t have the right tools. Well this was one for me. I have sat with this stamp set in my arsnel for two years now. I know I am not the only one who has ever done this. Well now that I have Copic markers and the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher in my tool family, I was ready to start these cards.

For the praying hands, I used E02, E11, E51, and C1 for the sleeves of the robe.

These are the three color variations that I created for these beautiful notecards.

Have a great day!

Studio 2011

This is my studio. It is a 10 x 10 bedroom that we, my husband and I, converted to my studio. I spend a lot of time in here creating and I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures I have taken of it. Feel free to ask any question about anything that you see in my studio. Enjoy!

This is from the entry of my doorway of my studio.

Another shot from my doorway looking into my studio.

These next few shots are of the shelf unit that my husband built for me. I have loaded them up. The nicest feature of these shelves is that he made them adjustable.

This is the wall to the left of my desk. The layouts are hanging from inexpensive curtain rods and are in plastic sleeves to protect them from dust.

My Cricut cover...the work in progress. My uncle made the cover for me. Yes, my uncle. I do not sew unless it is on a scrapbook page or a card. I still need to make the fabric diecut flowers for the front of the cover.

Ah, yes, the Making Memories tool spinner. I love this little guy. I have had my tool in the AMM tote, but because I do not travel a lot, I  decided to put the full focus of tool storage on this spinner. Which I love!

Yes...my thread storage and colored pencil storage. My floss and thread storage is on wooden spools that I found at Michael's in the craft wood department and then I stuck them in a open vase. The colored pencils are in mini milk jugs that are twined together.

My pride and joy. I love my old typewriter. It gives me inspiration when I am looking for it. I love to add collectables and just things that represent me in my studio. The Standard spinner was a nice addition as well. Love to have access to the ink applicators and not be looking all over for things that I need.

The bird jewelry stand...yes, jewelry stand. Of course I am not using it for jewelry, but for some small embellishments that I like to use.

This is the shelf that I installed above my desk area that I can display finished projects and a reminder that I have unfinshed ones as well.

I created this photo hanger from a 12" piece of plywood and covered it with paper. The hardest part was getting something that would work the best to clip the pictures with. The clips from Making Memories was just the trick.

The wire basket from Ball. I found this adorable basket in the canning aisle at my local Walmart. It just adds character to jars that probably would be just sitting in a row.

My spice rack, converted to holding all my little embellisments.

My comfy chair for reading magazines or when I need to think about what to do next. But it is mostly where my two dachshunds takes naps at when I am scrapping.

A new addition to my studio...the Making Memories embellishment center. I got this for Christmas this past year. It goes so well with everything that is already in my studio. I love having it in here.

My dress form, another addition from Christmas. I have always wanted one and now I have one. I have not decided yet if I will be hanging ribbon on it. But keep an eye on my posts and you may see it some day.

My small dress form that hangs on my wall. This one is for ribbon storage. It gives a blast of color to the wall.

My cutting cart. This cart was repurposed from a kitchen cart to a cutting cart for my studio. I have my Big Shot, Texture Boutique, my Tonic trimmer, and loads of dies stored on this cart. The Pepsi cartons...the one has my distress inks and the other is waiting for it's purpose in life.

I snagged this old pyrex mugs from my aunt and uncle in florida. They adorn my cutting station now with tools that I usually need when I am working there.

This wine rack stores my Copic markers and makes them in hands reach. Plus I figure that it can hold all 346 colors that are available. A girl can always hope, right?

My closet - it is one of my favorite things about my studio. I can close the doors and the room is so spacious and when the doors are open it is total organization.

I hope that you enjoyed looking at these pictures as much as I enjoyed making my studio.

Happy Hedgehog

This is one of my first creations for the year using the Copic Markers that I received for Christmas. Next time, I will post the exact colors that I used. The stamp is part of a set from Close to my Heart. The "Happy Birthday" is from one of those $1 set I picked up a few years ago. The blue cardstock is embossed using the Swiss Dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug. The yellow shimmer cardstock's scalloped edge was created using the Scallop Border punch from Stampin' Up. I gave this card a lot of dimension by using pop dots. The hedgehog section is pop dotted up and the Happy Birthday circle is pop dotted on top of that section. Happy Hedgehog Birthday!

I didn't think I would do this...

There comes a time when you decide that I really was not going to do this but then something stirs you in the direction of doing it. Well this blog, this is it for me. I hope that I can bring to you some of my creations and some of my spunk. My closest friends know about the spunk already, but I hope to call you, friends, too.