Lost Art Cards and Designs

 While perusing the Clearance section at Micheal's I found these soft planner/travel journal covers and could not resist the price ( $ 3.47!!!)  I purchased three,  knowing they would make a sweet little gift for someone I love.  Before beginning my project, the covers were plain- not the completed project you see here.

Yesterday on the way home from work ideas started grabbing me,  so I stopped at Hobby Lobby and gathered some Stickabilities stickers, Agenda's canvas floral pencil pouch ( hole punched and reinforced with grommets)   and that creative energy took over through the night--sleep?? who can possibly sleep with all these ideas floating around, right??



I thought these would turn into a perfectly personalized planner/travel journal for my daughters, and boy, did I ever have fun today making them- took about 3 hours for both books.  The neat thing about these covers is that they are completely re-makable.  If they want to change design styles, or don't like what I embellished with, it is easily changed.  But for now I think they are just so pretty.


 Inside cover!











So Many Possibilities to Personalize!


Next for the insides!

Never forsake the Clearance section.  My quick trip yesterday resulted in 2 sets of journal inserts that had been reduced to $1.49 for 2, though the monthly planner was full price, and some Washi Tape sets for $1.29 ( I put these in the pouch with some other extra special journal gifts)

 Two journals from the Clearance priced items!  So pretty!















The picture below shows the inside covers of the journals I purchased!  So easy to embellish and make it your own!
This is the beautiful Agenda Canvas Pencil Pouch!  I have searched far and wide for something similar, but could only find something this nice at Hobby Lobby.  So thankful!  I recently purchased 3 for myself to place into the soft pink journal to take along craft supplies when traveling.  I feel it will be perfect for my needs- whatever small project I am working on should fit into one of those cases.  I can't wait to embellish my own journal!

I added some Neon Le Pens, Tim Holtz mini shears with blade case, washi tape, brightly colored mechanical pencils, and Paper Mate Bright Ink Pens to complete this gift.

What do you think?  

Wait!  How did she attach those 3 ring pencil pouches with NO rings???  I will tell you my secret if you really want to know. Just leave a comment and I will reply as soon as possible.

Have a great day and don't let the summer run away from you yet!  This would be a fun mother -daughter-sister or friend project.  Everyone has left over stickers--put them on the cover!

My mother will celebrate her 80th birthday in just a few weeks!   Instead of scrapping personal photographs, I made a small chipboard scrapbook found at Michaels, of memories I had while growing up--things we did together, the places we went together, songs we sang in the car, or games we enjoyed playing-- using vintage images from the internet, Tim Holtz Ephemera, Tissue Collage Paper, Stamps and some scrapbook paper I had in my stash. A walk through the aisles of Hobby Lobby provided some great Stickabilities Stickers as well as some journaling graphics.

This was the perfect opportunity to try Ranger Collage , Vintage Collage , and Crazing Mediums as well as the Distress Collage Brush Set which I purchased from Simon Says Stamp.  I also discovered a new craft love-- Ranger Tissue Collage Paper!  Looking forward to using this beautiful paper more often.

Hello and Happy Summer to everyone!

The day was perfect.  The beautiful weather was calling me. Cooler summer temperatures with low humidity made it oh so tempting to begin this fun Online Card Class, Watercolor for Card Makers while sitting on my deck enjoying the hours before running off to work. Since reducing my hours to part time I have been able to enjoy creativity more often.

So far I have watched the Introductory lessons about supplies and tools ( learned a lot!) and Days 1 and 2 -Watercolor Background Techniques.  I love Online Card Classes, its like having wonderfully  talented friends sitting right at the table with you and their instructional style makes you feel like you can just jump in and successfully begin.

Here are some samples from Day One:

Wish.  This is the first stamping project I have made in many months.  I hope you like it. When I began "wish" I was unaware of the Simon Says Stamp contest for all crafters. It was nearly completed  except for adding a quote in the top right corner.  Searching through my stamp collection for inspiring quotes, this one seemed to express my thoughts when making this journal page.  Allowing my thoughts to escape defined space.....

Hi!

It has been months since I have posted anything.  The last 8 months have been spent learning a new job as the Financial Secretary of our Church-- and it has challenged me quite a bit.  Because of recovering from chemotherapy and getting over fatigue , I find it difficult to concentrate on the tasks of employment and being creative at the same time - its just  mentally tiring! and it often seems as if my mind has nothing left over when there is time to be creative .

Things that were left undone during a long year of treatment are calling out to me , and our family has changed a great deal.  Grandchild #4 is expected in the fall, and my oldest daughter is struggling with another high risk pregnancy.  Daughters #2 and 3 are walking into new phases of their lives, moving, more serious relationships, and our son graduated from high school this year , and is a championship volleyball player!  Right now he is competing in another state for the National Championship.

On a personal note, I have had some lingering medical issues with a crushed foot and frankly,  chronic pain gets to me at times-- enough said.  Internally I am fighting a mental battle but am determined to win.

Please check back from time to time.  I am hoping ( and planning ) to use any creative time to learn new techniques and review others that lack of practice shows a need for improvement.  I plan to keep my blog, but would like to come up with a new name that reflects the new me that is becoming.

These pretty little greetings were made using two sets from Rubber Stamp Tapestry, Piney Hollow Christmas and Deck the Halls and Papertrey Ink sentiment set , O Holy Night stamped in Archival Black Ink by Ranger.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I love Autumn.  Walking outside, shuffling though the leaves on the ground, the warmth of the sun and the anticipation of a hot beverage waiting at home are some of my favorite things about this season.

What began as a card front may end up mounted on a piece of distressed wood. Using a piece of Egyptian Papyrus that has been in my paper collection for some time and it adds a background texture that reminds me of fall.  I cut the Memory Box Square Links Die three times, once out of clear acetate , and glued them together to mimic a dimensional window.  Inside each window I added a variety of die cut leaves as well as some creme brulee sequins from The Ton for a bit of sparkle in some of the windows. Finally I stamped and embossed the tree and sentiment for a highlighted effect.  The cardfront edges were made by using the Distressed Windham Collage Die Set by Memory Box.  I like the open, kind of distressed effect to the cardfront.

I made this farm themed card for my husband's coworker to thank him for the freshly picked corn he brought in to work to share with us.  Yummy, delicious and definately a welcome addition at our dinner table!  The stamps from both Petite Places: Barnyard and On the Farm sets from Papertrey Ink were the perfect choice.

To make a unique envelope I used the Barn Die from PTI 's Shape Up Series from some double sided scrapbook paper. Folding back the doors on both the front and back of the envelope made it interesting.  I also used stamps from the Vegetable Garden and a Scripted stamp sets.

Ongoing home improvements have almost done me in , wiped me out of otherwise made me too tired or cranky to craft.  But I have finally reached a place of peace with the whole thing and was able to get back to working on projects and ideas in the last week or two.  It makes me feel so good to sit down at my table surrounded by ink, tools, markers, paper and stamps a short walk across the room.  I even like my new chair!

Shelves in the craft room.  Last night began, tonight hopefully will be completed.

While the Papertrey Ink Team is saying farewell, I am saying hello to the beautiful surroundings I am in.  I did not bring any samples with me, but I hope to bring some home.