Peace Dove

This seemed like a good Christmas in July card for a Sunday.  I'm kinda glad I didn't get around to posting these past few card until now.  It has been fun to look back at these Christmas cards and get a little excited about making new ones! The woodgrain washi is my ALL TIME FAV.  It goes with everything- I think I need to stock up!!! The washi came as part of a monthly kit club I joined locally. 

I'm getting together with the local gals this week, so I better get something done to share!  It isn't a requirement or anything, but gosh it is nice to get real time feedback from crafty friends. ;-) It's also soooo inspiring to see everything everyone else made.  I always come back from those gatherings (when I can get to them) totally energized for creativity.  It doesn't hurt that I leave with new goodies to use while exploring that creativity.

I was moved by a post on Monday by Duni at Duni's Studio.  She posts Monday Moodboard's that are always creative eye candy.  You really must stop by and check her out!  This past Monday she posted a beautiful Cheyenne Prayer that I haven't heard in a while.  Seems appropriate for this post so I will share it as well.

Let us know peace.
For as long as the moon shall rise,
For as long as the rivers shall flow,
For as long as the sun shall shine,
For as long as the grass shall grow,
Let us know peace.
 - Cheyenne Prayer

Have a soothingly simple Sunday. Peace and love be with you today.

Bird Sympathy

Sadly, it seems like I have needed sympathy cards more often lately.  While I lost my parents quite a few years ago, I am getting to the age where more of my friends seem to be losing a parent.

These two use an image from Memory Box and let the Copic makers doing the color layering work.  The sentiment is from Amuse and the papers are from a variety of 6x6 pads I had in my stash.  I chose the blues, khaki, and yellow for the calming hues.

I realized I have had this and a few others from this line of bird silhouette scenes, so I went back through my posts and found a bunch of Memory Box birds from over the years.  Click here to see more!

Hope this inspired you today!

Wishing Peace

Thought I'd pop in and share a quartet of Christmas cards I made to send out this year.  I'm tickled with these (and most of my stash) because I used oodles of goods from my hoard stash!  These cards use a stamp I've never used before from a set from PTI. 

The little aqua doilies were a treat from a crafty friend.  They were the super-perfect extra touch of pop for these.  I'm gonna have to get more of these!!!!!!

I'll be lucky if these make it in mailboxes before Christmas.  We haven't started writing, signing, or addressing any them yet.  I ran into a friend when I was out running errands today and we both agree that Friday Christmas' are not our favorite.  Feels like it makes things more rushed because we have only this weekend to get things finished.  Oh well.  I guess that means that what gets done, gets done and what doesn't get done wasn't that important to begin with- right?

Have a good final-weekend-before-the-big-day!

2013- A Look Back

Hiya Folks!  Wowzers, this past holiday season was BUSY.  Now that things have calmed down I'm taking a look back at my favorite creations.  Join me for a stroll down Memory Lane. :)

 January

February

 March

 April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I made a bunch of stuff in December, but looks like I never got around to posting any of it.  Oh well, maybe one of these snowy days I go through all the pics and get some of them up here for y'all to see. :)

Hope you had a wonderful 2013 and here's to an amazing 2014!!!

I'm strolling here to share the reflections:

Autumn Sunset for a Birthday

My mojo has gone AWOL of late. :(  I decided the lift a couple of my previous creations that I really enjoyed. :)

The image is a favorite of mine from Memory Box and I decided to use a favorite technique to go with it.  I used a variety of Copics and blended them together after stamping the image with Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  This was so easy to make that I made something like more versions, but since I didn't have anymore of the orange ribbon or navy paper they each have different bottoms.  With 8 birthdays and 4 anniversaries coming up in the next 6 weeks these will be great to have in the stash!!

I'm in the process of cleaning out my studio for a garage sale happening at the end of the month at Ink About It in Westford MA.  Stop by for AMAZING deals- I'll be practically giving stamps and paper away.  Fingers crossed that the clean sweep of my space will help me find my inspiration again. :)

For a tutorial on this technique, pop over here.

My birdies and I have flown here to tweet greetings:
Moxie Fab Challenge: Tuesday Trigger Apache Tears in Shades of Autumn (I saw the image and thought of this card's colors)

One Year Celebration

Today is the one year anniversary for Top Tip Tuesday's Challenge Blog!  To celebrate we are hosting a huge bash full of prizes.

You need to make and easel card or an easel topped box to qualify to win one of about 10 prizes.  I went with a card inspired by the arrival of our new neighbors in the pond.  :)  They have been with us for a couple weeks so a housewarming card seemed in order. LOL!

I raided an old scrapbooking kit for this nest.  Don't be afraid to make a card that uses "scrapping" embellishments. *gasp* They can make for a quick card and if you are really itching to stamp you can always stamp the sentiment.

For this card I used a PTI "congratulations" stamp.  Really this could be for "getting a new nest" or a congrats on some "new little chicks" card.  Right now I have a dual purpose card on hand for just when I need it- of course as I type this my DH is looking for 2 wedding cards.  Do I have any of these pre-made you ask?  Of course not!  LOL!  Well off to the drawing board.  Wish me luck finishing those wedding cards and surviving the 4 day week at school.  Oh and check out pics of Cad at water therapy here.  Don't forget to enter the challenge at Top Tip Tuesday- with so many prizes odds are great that you could win!!!!

Red Tagsday

Well between Irene and the start of school the past several days really got away from me!  Teacher Day was yesterday and it was great to see folks and get the ball rolling for the year, but Irene really walloped the town I work in so they decided to call off school for today. :(   I thought I'd share a few more tags I made from this set of goodies like the tags I made here.

These tags were made using dies from PTI and Sizzix.  You can't tell much from the photo, but the red base is stamped in red with BG clear Christmas stamps.  Then I had fun with a few embellies. :)

The tag base on this little fellas was from ready-made office supply tags.  The scallop shapes were made using a punch and the image/sentiment is PTI.  The tags looked a little plain so I Stickled the hat and wing on each bird- but still they needed somethin'!  DH thought I should add some buttons like the other birdie tags.  He's so good!  The buttons are clear and the flowers 'n twine give them even more umph don'cha think?

So are you getting ready for Christmas yet?  No?  How 'bout when I tell you that there are 116 days 'til the big day?  Are you itchin' yet?  :)

Don't forget since it's Tuesday to head over to Top Tip Tuesday and join in the Shabby Chic challenge fun!  Maybe you could make a few shabby chic paper crafts to use as gifts, cards, or tags and get a head start this year! :)

Cheep Cheep and Daisy Do's!

I've got lot's of fun opportunities and eye candy for you on this post!  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun. :)

Remember this set from last week?  Well, guess what!?!  I won Follow-the-Recipe honors over at Catered Crop!!!  So now I have 2 challenges for you this week.  The first is to follow the recipe based on my card at Catered Crop.  Keep scrolling to find out the other challenge...

It's Tuesday ya know!  So it's time for the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge!

This week is we're giving you the uber fun theme of OPEN CHALLENGE!!!!!!!  Remember to read the rules- no back links and only 3 post offerings please, but if you play over at Catered Crop you can enter Top Tip Tuesday with the same creation!

This card uses kraft cardstock, olive Bazzill paper, Memory Box pattern paper, wicked old seam binding, and Magenta cork stickers.  Yup you read right.  Cork stickers.  Soooo cool and sooo fun to play with on this card.  Wow, now that I look at it, this card can be entered over at Catered Crop too!

C'mon come join in all the fun!

It's no robin, it's a turkey!

I'm finally done with my jury duty obligations.  What an inspiring, exhausting, anxiety inducing, and wonderful bonding experience. 

Since that experience was so intense and exhausting, I haven't created much this past week.  I snapped this pick on Monday morning as I headed out to court.  It seemed a little fallish so I was inspired to share the Thanksgiving card I made for the "Old School Tweet" basket my cousin is putting together for her high school auction.  I know, I know.  A little early to be thinking of fall holidays when we haven't even hit the spring ones yet. LOL!

Fun little card & envie pair.  Hope the combo of all the feathered friends cards brings in the dough at auction. :)

I'd give more deets, but all I know is the image and base are Amuse.  The chrysanthemum paper is PTI and I colored with Copics.  The rest was in the scrap pile!

I hope to share some jewelry I made last weekend in tomorrow's post!  

Hugs to all of you,

Things that Niggle!

My friend Amisha (Gorgeous and Fun) is hosting week four of her "Being Creative" blog party.  This week she wanted to know what are the things that niggle.  Translation- what keeps you from being creative?

That's a mutlipart answer for me.  Sometimes it's simply that sleep overrules creativity.  For me sleep overrules pretty much everything. LOL!  You can only imagine the dread in my house when Spring Ahead rears it's ugly head.  Daylight, schmaylight.  I need sleep!!!  Of course if I spent time outside in the daylight I might have more energy...  ;) 

Most often my niggle is getting crippled with indecision.  Maybe I spent so much time with my "I survived the Depression" grandmother that it rubbed off on me, but I hate to use anything without a plan.  The idea of "wasting" the supplies weighs heavy on me.  I mean you have seen the number of creations that came about from my scrap pile!!  Many of the scraps are ones most of my friends would toss without a second thought.  Can you imagine what I go through thinking that I am about to use something, it may not work, AND I'll have to kiss those materials goodbye 'cause it turned out so yucky my DMIL(who really adores all my creations) wouldn't even like it (Hi Barb!).

Then every once in a while my "I'm turning into a hoarder" complex emerges.  I give myself the creative kick in the pants I need and get to town making something- anything- 'cause what's the point in having these cool toys if I never use them?!?  Speaking of using toys- What's your favorite toy?  What keeps you from using it more?

PS- For those of you wondering how my reduced TV for Lent experiment is going- so far, so good!