My December Challenge Entry for Some Odd Girl!

Well, here she is, my first official challenge post! If you like Bright Lights Kaylee, be sure to check out the rest of Kristy's super cute images at SOG!

Time keeps on slippin'...into the future

Hello Lovlies,

Well, it's been over a year since my last post. Work has been crazy, we packed up and moved into a bigger place, got a puppy, lost my mojo, blah blah blah...the point is, I'm back and I'm making a lot of commitments to myself, my art and my blog.

Part of the problem at the old place was, it was so small! There was no dedicated place for anything. I got this spiffy contraption to give my stuff a home-but really it was just to get things put away and out of sight in cubbies. I've collected quite a few wonderful things for my crafting stash, but without a proper system in place to utilize everything. Then it got to the point where I could only craft for a few minutes here and there-which meant I spent most of my time LOOKING for what I wanted to craft with. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

While I'm getting myself organized, I'm also taking a step back to really think about where I've put my crafting money and where my heart is. I have been a Stampin' Up demonstrator for almost 2 years, and while there's plenty to love, there is still plenty that isn't quite doing it for me. I have a few companies that I adore everything they put out, so at this point I need to make a decision. In order to buy anything, I have to commit to participating in that company's online challenges, for use in my own crafty get-togethers, or because I have a specific person that I need to make something for. While that seems broad and full of loop-holes, I have already completed one card for the December Sketch Challenge at the Some Odd Girl blog, which I'll be posting shortly. I also have another challenge in the works, this time for Simply Betty Stamps. I can't wait to get started on that one!

More later on how I'm getting organized and what other challenges I'm up to. In the meantime, stay crafty!

Short 'N Sweet, kinda like me...on a good day.

Hey everybody! I hope you all are having a wonderful, joyous time this holiday season! Just a quick update to let you all know that yes, I'm still alive, and no, I haven't done much art lately. I am slowly turning that around, focusing more on attempting card making, and generally contemplating which direction I want to go in my personal and professional lives. Anywho, I'll be posting random pics on what I have (and haven't) been doing in the next day or two. Blogging is almost like exercising, isn't it? If you do it everyday, it's nothing but miss a week, and I'd rather schedule back-to-back dental appointments instead! LOL

In the meantime, check out this lovely lady's artwork! Her copic skills are dy-no-mite! I swoon over her cards and want to work towards perfecting my techniques! Check out her blog at The Ink Trap and if you love her work and commentary like I do, follow her and join in her AWESOME giveaway! I did!

Until next time!

They tried to make me go to rehab and I said no, no, no! Otherwise entitled, Me and my Alcohol...Inks!

Hello again! I'm back from my little break, sick but ready to dish about my latest projects from the craft table! Saturday I was able to FINALLY get back to my LSS (local scrapbooking store) to pickup my seasonal edition of Distress Stains (though I already got a set through a fellow ATT member) and take Richele Christensen's class, Spook-ology! I love taking classes with Richele and since delving into papercrafts, she is my go-to gal for artsy inspiration! Check out her blog here and show her some love! Ok, now to the pics!

My Spook-ology Configurations Tray! Richele prepped almost EVERYTHING for this class, leaving us to Distress Stain and pop our trinkets into their spooky little homes!

Close-up of the left side of the tray-I love the distress stain on top of rock candy  and using the Snow Cap Mixative with alcohol ink to color the metal corners...make my heart sing!

Middle of Tray: love the use of Stickles to jazz up grungepaper! Richele outdid herself with the prep for this class...from the melt and pour pieces to the embossed and cut letters-she even pre-cut and scored all of the background papers we used for the compartments-AND she was on T!m's crew for the cruise. She is a wonder woman!

Far Right of Tray: The goodness on this side is full of WOWOWOWEEE! From the Honey Stain Distress ink for the Moon, to the alcohol inked Halloween tokens to the INCREDIBLE house...Richele used Brushed Pewter Distress Crackle on the grungepaper die cut-we alcohol inked the piece with Black Soot and sanded for extra distress...Did I mention I was in Halloween Heaven?!?  

After class and some rest, I got to work finishing up my charms for the ATT Charm Swap that need to go out in Monday's mail. This is the first time I make charms, and I like them but I'm not sure if I'm good at it! I used Graphic 45 paper, TH Charm Fragments and on the back I used adhesive metal that I embossed and alcohol inked. Hope my fellow swappers like them!

If you know me, you know that I'm DEATHLY afraid of cardmaking...and yes, I realize I sell Stampin' Up products to myself. My sister asked me to do up some invites for her End of the Summer BBQ. Yep, we are in October-but we live in California so until it rains, it's Summer lol! I was actually pleasantly surprised with how these came out. Paper is from Pink Paislee-I got in on their warehouse sale (yay me!) and the image is from Stampin' Up's "My Digital Studio". I love digital stamps that I can just print out and color in-these images were colored using my Prismacolor pencils and turpenoid.

Finally, a reason to use my EK punch! I love the look of pulled out rolodex cards and  paper bound by those spiral coils! Here's just a peek at the inside of the invite.

And here is how I'm going to end my weekend...practicing my Copic marker coloring! I was super excited to find out that I would be able to get into the Copic Certification class that is coming to town! Here is my unfinished image from The Greeting Farm. I love printing out a sheet of these stamps and just coloring away!

So that is how I crafted away my weekend...instead of drinking alcohol, I was tipsy over what alcohol ink can do to enhance my art! What about you guys? What did you do this weekend to spark your creativity and replenish your soul? I'd love to hear what you have to say, leave me a comment below! Until next time, stay crafty, peeps!

Button, Button, who's got the button?

Hello my fellow Crafties! So, this past weekend was a whirlwind of activity and this week has has been no different. Last weekend was the first of 2 weekends which I won't accomplish the completion of an art project. But, never fear, I still played and played and even got my sister to join in the fun! She needed help making a decorative Halloween piece for her office-so I packed up my Crop in Style XL and headed on over making a quick stop at Michael's to pick up a T!m Configuration Box. Nothing beats crafting, except crafting with loved ones! At first Sis wasn't into T!m's style, but Halloween just isn't Halloween without DISTRESSING!!!! She hasn't quite finished her project so I will post pics next weekend.

I did get started on my Steampunk tags, and I'm really having a ball. I usually make completely identical tags for my swaps, but this time, I wanted to try a bunch of different things because I was just in a playful mood. I also wanted to try out a really neat technique featured on YouTube by Dawn Olchefske. So I also made a card using the heat embossing technique and some neato-mosquito embossing powder.

Here are my backgrounds-embossed using my TH folders and various powders

Stampendous! Deco Lady Stamp called "Steampunk" to me. I used my Acrylic Paint Dabber to ink it up, stamped image onto white cardstock and used my ink blending tool to color the background. Glossy Accents adheres the gears to her hair and more gears are stamped on either side of her.

That beautiful bold orange is the Limited Edition Fall Distress Ink color, Ripe Persimmon!

Well, the tag is on it's side, but hopefully you can get the idea. I think my Steampunk  lady needs some lace so I may add that for trim to finish off my tag. 1 down, 6 more to go for my swap-and if I'm not mistaken, one is getting shipped off to T!m Holtz! No pressure!!

So right in line with my tags, here is the front of my card-pay no attention to the mess behind  it! LOL I'm down to a  10x10" workspace! I used Ranger's Holographic embossing powder and unfortunately couldn't capture the effect with my camera and lighting...but it's very pretty. I couldn't write in the card as my handwriting leaves much to be desired, so instead I just lined the inside with matching paper from Graphic45 and Glossy Accent'd some of the flowers for that WOW factor.

This coming weekend, I'm taking some much needed time off and spending it at the Happiest Place on Earth. Celebrating my cousin's birthday, trick or treating a month early and taking in the sights and sounds is just what this girl needs! I'm hoping to be back in full crafty force upon my return. Until then, be crafty!