Beauty

Hello all crafters!  Hope you are enjoying a nice relaxing and crafting weekend.  We got the chance to get out and enjoy some sunshine here in Florida and make a quick visit to the MFT boutique.  I am so glad I went,  during my visit I found out that they are relocating.  Not far (just around the corner) but its going to a bigger store with more stuff!  Of course while I was there I picked up a few things and was able to tie them into this weeks "the sweetest thing" card sketch challenge.   Its little different than the layout but very simple and clean.  I am finding a new fondness of simple layouts. 

Love this stamp set, love the dienamics.   The stamp set is called whimsical wishes, such a pretty sentiment and the dienamics is called peek a boo circle windows.  The DP is my minds eye love me.  I use this collection a lot gonna need to get me a another pad!  

Well thanks for stopping by enjoy your week and remember this challenge runs all week. 

Sweet Valentine

Hi all hope some of you are having decent weather today.   Although there is no snow here in Florida,  its been rainy and cold.   I know I know it could be worse.  :).

Today I did  the sweetest thing sketch challenge.   I really enjoyed doing this layout today,  its simple but oh so cute.   Perfect as I get back into crafting my cards.  I just love this little stamp and the My Favorite Things-Fluttering Hearts Dienamic.

If you haven't completed your Valentines card, then join in and play  along as there still is time to create and post.

thanks for stopping by and see you again soon :). 

Stampin it up! Cards Oh how I missed making these.

As I mentioned here are three of the cards I made from Beverly's studio.  New tools and new colors too.   You should hop on over and see all the new things added to the catalogue for this year.   The in colors are so pretty.   Here is the link Stampin Up with Bev stop on by!

Thank you for coming by and seeing my cute cards.   See ya soon again. :) 

Hello Hello!

Hi Folks!  How has everyone been?   Whats been happening?  Well as you can see once again it has been some time and I have most definitely neglected my crafting and my blog.   You know that saying that everything happens for a reason...    I spent a lot of time over the last year spreading myself thin due to some things within my control but others not so much. Lessons were learned and I grew as person, crafter, nurse, wife, pet owner etc happen :).   Much stronger in organizing my time and realizing time for myself and who I spend my time with is just as important as time  spent when doing for others.

During this period as I have mentioned before have no fear I was still being creative, crafting and taking photos (had too sanity much needed. Right?)  Just didn't take the time to post and blog what I was up to.  So lets see I took some more photography and cooking classes,  finished some big projects at work, read a lot of good books, journal ed, completely wrapped up redecorating  my craft room, fostered a few pups, helped out more with our rescue, joined a running club, ran my first 5k, celebrated my husband completing a college degree, traveled a little more with the husband and on a heavier note said goodbye to my beloved grandmother who was quite ill for a long time.

One of the things that usually kept me crafting in the past was the influence of other talented crafters and in the last year while I was experiencing all that life was presenting good and bad I noticed that some of those I follow had also gone a hiatus.  I remember thinking to myself we all have lives individually different, unique with some of the same characteristics,  responsibilities, challenges but we are human and during times like this things get altered and pushed aside.  So you do what you can when you can. Luckily timing wise it seems a lot of us are resurfacing and getting back into the world of arts and crafts!

Having said that  boy oh boy did I miss the card challenges,  split coast stampers, my favorite things boutique/classes and etc.  As much as I had to chose to spend my time elsewhere as important diet and exercise is to one health,  so is crafting for me!

On that note, yes I am back and ready to craft (and blog) to help keep with it I have made some commitments for the next couple months.

So here's what is cooking

• Next post -cards!!!!   I was able to hook with the great stamper Beverly Scott and make some adorable Stampin up cards in her studio.   Wait till you see the cards they are so cute and the new products are awesome.  To shop click on these link Stampin up Beverly Scott.
• Copic class-  I did the certification last year or maybe it was two years ago but they are back in Orlando and I am doing part two- intermediate.  PS the deal is pretty awesome for the price of 120 you get a case for 72 markers and learn all things shadowing, applying color, and improving design.   Its on a Saturday, but if you haven't taken the standard  class you can do so on the Friday before. I always have fun when I go and the instructors are really good.  Here is the link you are interested. Copic coloring. Come Color. 
• Scrapbook expo time!    Oh the fun.  So this year I am actually going to work it too.   Its a great way to walk around and help/view what other crafters are doing.   Talk about inspiration!  I have divided up my time between working a few hours and doing a class, a crop and time to shop.  You should come on out and see what the hype is all about if you aren't already addicted :) Here is the link for that as well. Scrapbook expo Orlando.

I will say we have a very busy summer as we plan to have loads of fun in the sun, but I will be looking for more events for the rest of Spring and Fall to continue my "Enspiration".

Ok so I end on this note.  I gave the eulogy at my grandmothers funeral and ending it by quoting my favorite poetic and writer as it sums up how my grandmother lived her life but should be in general how we all view to to live ours.  Wherever life takes you or happens to you........

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~Maya Angelou

Crafting, snapping and sewing

Hope everyone is enjoying their spring break.  As you can see I have been a tad busy and haven't had time to blog, I have however have been crafting and then some :).

I thought I would share what I have been up to and let everyone know I am still doing my cards.  

As some may know I took a few photography classes, mostly so that I can take better pictures of my cards. However I am really enjoying it for other things as well.  Just this last weekend we went over to the beach and I took a few snap shots of the lighthouse, the jellyfish- all things Florida.   Here take a look.

Pretty neat? I hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.  

So onto the next project, which of course again was only motivated to help me do a better job with my cards.  Sewing!!!  I am ashamed to say that all these years I have been crafting I could not sew a single straight line and yup it took me getting to a class to learn how.  Such a simple technique too.  Our instructor had us use foam tape to mark the machine and use as a guide  Presto Magic, by George I got it now.  Of course I couldn't stop there and went on to make a pillow, two in fact and a pair of Pajamas.  

These are for my nephew who just started playing baseball.  

and oooh, these are for my neice,  we just welcomed her to the world 3.18.  Ms. Zoey Alexis! 

Ok so lastly I did squeeze in time to make a few cards.  Here is one below of the several I made. Sorry for the not so great picture I took at night and I am still mastering those night shots.  No sketch contest, no challenge just something I threw together on my own. Hope you like, thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.  

Cupcakes right out of the oven!

Well I just couldn't wait,  I have been playing with these all day and I just think they are so flipping cute.

A couple of years ago I came across a gal by the name Claudine Hellmuth.  I am not even sure I how I came across her name, or her blog, but I did.  I remembered watching a few of her tutorials on mixed media products, and after some time I realized that she lived roughly 20 minutes away from me.  She moved shortly after my discovery, so we never had the chance to meet but I continued to follow her blog being introduced to her stamp line, as well as other great products.  And then this happened....templates for all things good. She has cupcake holders, gift card holders, Christmas villages, cards, etc.  But you really have to take a look for yourself to fully understand my excitement.  As well as her blog (I linked to above) she also has an etsy store- Claudine Hellmuth Etsy shop. This is where I got ..........................this!!!!

How cute is this?  I have been printing, cutting and formatting these all day.  There is a super cute hot air balloon cupcake holder that is sure to be on my next list.   Now I wish I could say I also made the cupcakes but I didn't.  If you live locally let me tell you about my second excitement of the day!  Its call BCupcakes.

These cupcakes are out of this world.  Shelia is the owner/operator and she has some of the best tasting cupcakes.  There is this one cupcake called the CinnaB, it has bacon in it and is my husband favorite.  I personally like the original.  So good, so so good.  They have two locations, one on fairbanks and one in Apopka-Hunt Club.  You gotta check them out! 

Well thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great week :). 

So many crafts so little time.

Hi all hope you had great week.  I had a very good week in deed but got a little busy and ran out of time to post my other cards but on a side note let me you tell you what kept me so tied up.

First as I mentioned from my last post I made several other cards from last weeks sketch challenges. I had some pre-stamped images I used for those cards and when I went rooting through my stash to gather the "stamps used for this card" I realized I had lost some stamps :(.   Lost or misplaced?   Probably both.   Regardless because of this I went mad and reorganized/cleaned up my craft room. I purged like crazy!

Due to the misplaced stamps (which two were my favorite Whipper Snapper Stamps) I got online to order replacements and winded up ordering  a few more! Of course what else did I think would happen?  LOL. Actually I really don't have a lot of stamps per se in what would be considered a fair amount in the crafters world.  So it was just about time to add some to my current collection.

So secondly here is one of cards I made. This was from last weeks My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch 163.  I made this card for my sister who is having a little girl!  Yup I am gonna be an aunt again.  Woo Hoo.

I just love this stamp.  It is Bella from WSD.  And of course this layout was fun to do too.

And here is something I have never done before, I decorated the inside of the card using a My Favorite Things dienamic.   I really like it, I may be doing more of this :).

Thirdly (yeah back to why I have been so busy he he) ,  I made these bows.

A friend of mine called me and needed the yellow bow for her daughters Birthday party.  The conversation was something like "how much do you love me, can you make this, I need it like now!"  It had been a while since I made a girls head bow, but I impressed myself.  Not only did I make the bow she needed but I made an extra one as a birthday present in about 30 minutes. 

So lastly my final crafting project that has had me busy aside from my other everyday activities....  this one is a big deal...... at least for me.........    this girl got Copic certified!!!!  Yup me,  I completed the full 8 hours and got my certificate. Can I say what a fun training too.  Lori Craig was the instructor and she was just awesome.  What a great teacher and someone who truly wants you to learn all things that is Copic.   Although I initially wanted to take the class to learn how to color better, I came away with a better understanding about the Copic's numbering system which in the end impacts how I color. I revisited the coloring technique and was also introduced  to the new Copic airbrush.  Although I don't see myself doing much of it, that thing is super cool!  So many possibilities.  

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are enjoying your Sunday Funday.  I will be back to post what I am working on today.  I promise this time :).   I'll even give you a little hint.  It involves cupcakes.