falling behind...

Things have been a little busy lately. Well, really busy. And the next few weeks are only supposed to be busier. With fun stuff though, so I can't complain. So the first project I want to share with you was finished a few weeks ago, it's so darling. It's almost sad that I'm only using it to hold my keys. Pictures would probably be more appropriate.

The saying is an old Jewish greeting, or at least that's what I read, and it seemed a fitting reminder as I headed out the door to play taxi and run errands. All the fabulous green and blue buttons are from papertrey ink. Which is honestly the best button deal I've seen anywhere. So if you love buttons but hate paying a fortune for them, visit papertrey. If you know of a better one, I'd love to hear, but until then this is where I go for them.

The next card is for sketch challenge 274 at Splitcoaststampers. I got to use copics to color the balloon, it was so much fun. The downside, now I want more copics, lol! After coloring the balloon and cutting it out I then used Crystal effects from stampin' Up to give it a shiny and 3-d texture.
In this shot you can better see the dimesion added by the crystal effects (aka glassy glaze).

If you are wondering what that thing on the right is, it's a bookmark. Whoever came up with this is genius. I found the tutorial over at Splitcoast. And here's a shot of the bookmark:
Sorry that last one is a little blurry.

Lastly I'd like to share with you a card I made using a photo I'd taken years ago, rub-ons and some jolee's boutique stickers. Anyway, that's all for today, thanks for stopping by!!

Comfy Sweats and Crepe Paper Roses

You know things are bad when upon entering your closet you find that every single pair of comfy sweats (or lounge pants if you prefer) are dirty. I'll confess and share with you that I own 3 such pairs of pants. Maybe that's alot, maybe not. I don't usually make a habit of asking people how many they own.



Come to think of it, I've never asked anyone. So here's your chance to confess with me, how many do you own? But that's getting off subject.

So, what would cause me to get through all three pairs so quickly without even one pair making it through the clean laundry cycle? The answer is: a husband with bronchitis and a sinus infection, a 22-month old with the same cold and an ear infection, and an 8 yr. old with also the same cold and allergies to boot! iAy carumba!!! Is that bad or what? And just when everyone is starting to get better, I(aka mom) get sick. Life sucks, and then.... you get better, :) or mostly anyway.

So now you know why I needed more than 3 pairs of lounge pants to make it through comfortably. What you are probably wondering is what crepe paper roses have to do with anything. Well, not much truth be told. Except this project I made last Monday amidst the turmoil. It turned out so beautifully that it's hard to believe anyone was sick at my house.


I love the boldness of color combined with the softness of roses, ribbon, and lace. It is full of contradiction and yet belongs together, don't you think? And it's actually very easy to make once you get past the crepe paper roses. I'd been seeing them in quite a few places and was dieing to try it. I found two tutorials (try saying that 10 times fast ), both excellent. Thank you Danielle and Shelly; I love your blogs, so very inspiring. I wonder, how many comfy sweats do they own???

It's hard to believe that anyone you look up to could possibly own comfy sweats, but kuuumm on, they're still human right. Everyone should own at least one, right?

Thanks for stopping by peeps, I hope that even if you're not wearing your comfy pants you're still comfy and cozy.

Desiree

Paper Crafts Magazine...

...is one of my favorite magazines. And not just because I recently won a contest of theirs. Mostly it's because there magazine is full of fabulous projects with tons of variety. They also have a blog, well two blogs really, with more ideas and more chances to win. And not just contests but sweepstakes too, sometimes if you're extremely lucky, you can win something just by commenting on their blog. Actually that happens frequently...I haven't won any of those yet but how lucky can one person be right. So I'm uploading this card for their olympics of stamping contest.
I made this last Christmas but I wasn't ready to part with it just yet, that happens from time to time. Hope you like it too, and if you'd like to enter you have until tonight at midnight! Good luck!

Babies Galore

I love making baby projects, and for the next couple months there are enough babies being born (that I know anyway) to keep me very busy. This particular baby project is for a friend. She is having her first girl!!! And she loves the color purple...purple everything. So hopefully she'll like this.

The papers are from DCWV, the flower is a prima, the ribbon and floss are just something I found at the craft store, everything else is Stampin' Up! Even the saying is ("A baby is a gift from above- bringing joy down to earth, filling hearts full of love.") from Stampin' Up! only I generated it from my computer. The sentiment on the card is from PaperTrey Ink which says "baby is stirring." I think it goes perfectly with the butterflies, don't you? I've got at least 3 more baby projects to make, so if you've got any good ideas I'd love to hear them. Thanks for stopping by!

Create

I absolutely love this video. I don't know how many people I've heard say they aren't the creative type, and I wondered was that possible? I grew up thinking I wasn't creative, or good at that kind of thing. But I liked doing it and just always kept it very simple. And a few years later I realized, "wow, I'm kinda good at this." Truthfully I believe that anyone can be creative, especially once they find a medium they enjoy. And start simple. Then keep adding to that. Following that pattern I believe there is nothing you can't accomplish. So the next time someone says, "I'm not any good at that creative stuff," just tell them to keep trying, and keep it simple. As long as they enjoy it, the rest will follow.

Create

morphic bugs

Sounds gross doesn't it. Bugs is a difficult word to work with. Whenever I hear the word "bug" I think of my least favorite bug, a cockroach. Makes me squeamish just thinking about it. But hopefully this card will not have that affect on you.

The stamp set for the butterfly is from inkadinkadoo called morphic bugs. And the background behind the butterflies is done with post-it notes to make the rectangle. Then using a sponge I brushed summer sun on first, then cameo coral, and finally real red. When sponging it's always best to start with your lightest colors first and progressively get darker. Finally I removed the post-it notes and stamped the butterflies stamp. I even went as far as to decorate the inside, something I rarely do, but the scraps were just sitting there waiting to be used.
Sorry the pic is a little blurry. Anyway it was a fun card to make and thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

A journal...

It all started for a friend. I love making a gift with someone in mind. Unfortunately I lost my nerve to give this to her. You know how you can stare at a project for too long and the longer you stare the more you hate it. So I didn't give it to her. And now weeks later...it's actually kinda cute. Moral of the story, don't stare at your work too long, but if you do remember you are your worst critic. Same thing happened again today, I was really antsy to give it, and sure enough I had nothing to worry about, she loved it.

Here is the journal:

Here is the gift I gave today:

The paper of the box I did myself, you can learn how using this fun technique. It's called the shaving cream technique and it is so fun! Thanks for stopping by!

Desiree, the Secret Keeper

I have been keeping a secret for way too long. And it wasn't an easy secret to keep. I was allowed to share it with a very few people, or I would have gone crazy, but now....



I can tell the world.



Are you ready?????












I won!!!!!
It was the best news I've ever received in an email. If you get a chance pick up the latest Papercrafts mag. You'll be floored by the many talented ladies out there. I was stunned to see my work (pg 87) among them. I've had this goal for a while to be published, and this wasn't the first time I've tried. I thought after doing it once I wouldn't feel the need or desire to do it again. But I have to say, it was way too much fun not to try again and again and again....

But enough of that I 'd like to share a card I did yesterday. For those of you who craft on a regular basis every once in a while there is a magical crafting experience. Where everything just comes together, with very little thought or effort, it just flows. I love it when that happens. Yesterday was like that. Unfortunately, I've really built up this card now, it's actually very simple. Almost plain in it's simplicity, but it works. It would be a great way to encourage a friend through a difficult time in her life.


So thanks for stopping by and sharing in my exciting news! Have a fabulous day!

Oldie but goodie

I made this card, sometime last year an never took the time to upload it so I'm sharing it with you today. The sketch, I got from somewhere, I wish I could remember. Sketches are not my thing so often I go to Splitcoast stampers sketch challenges or mojo monday challenges or magazines I have. All great places to look for one you like. The designer paper is from SU, called night and day, a great collection to have works for everything from holidays to thank-you notes. Anyway, I hope it inspires you to make one yourself, thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

2 quick ones

I'm in shock, I completed two cards in one evening! For some that's not a big deal, but for me, wow. The reason is because I kept it very simple, and also used a sketch for my inspiration.
This sketch came from my last issue of PaperCrafts. And the cake sticker is a jolee's boutique, I believe. It's sorta nice when your focal image is already done for you, certainly saves time.
This one I just really wanted to make that little flower. So fun and easy, here's a great tutorial on how to make these. Anyway, two fun little cards, thanks for stopping by!

a little behind but here they are

I've really gotten out of the habit of posting my creations, but I'm trying to get back on track. Here are a few I've done recently.


I used rub-ons for the sentiment on this one. It would have been a nightmare with stamps. On this one my favorite part is the sentiment as well. I was able to sort of curve around the letters so that they look almost like clouds themselves.
And this is my first mojo monday sketch. It was fun though more difficult than I first anticipated. I tied my bow just as Dawn McVey does, with one end going up and the other down, I really like how it turned out. For a recipe on these cards please see my splitcoast gallery. Thanks for stopping by!

A birthday bookmark

This card is a variation of the detachable bookmark card found on splitcoast. Here's the link: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/bookmarkcard/
A great idea for a birthday card especially if you want to include a bookstore gift card. I haven't colored in a long time so this was lots of fun.