Digging out my craft stuff again

 

Where has time gone, it looks like it has been 2 years since I blogged, and I have missed it.  The Covid era has continued, and the past couple of years have included golf, skiing, yoga, zumba, gardening, a new job, and travel.  So much to catch up on!

Right now my mother in law is sick in the hospital, so tonight I dug out my craft stuff again, set it up on the kitchen table, and put this together:

Bag of chips

Friday morning, the end of week 10 in self isolation.  It’s been a tough week.  Businesses are trying to open up and restart operations but logistics are challenging and many of us don’t want to risk it and leave out home.

At my workplace we had large layoffs this week, and due to that and other factors had to put a one year suspension on my golf membership.  Will find a more economical option for the next few months and look forward to next year.  I think a lot of people right now are dealing with similar challenges.

On a happier note, here is a card I made up last weekend, using a digi from StampAnniething.  I love this card, it makes me think of being at an actual birthday party where we mingle and laugh and eat chips.

Week 9 at home - stamp party fun

Well, this is the end of week 9 at home due to Covid.  The government will be lifting some restrictions next week but I don’t plan to return to the hair salon or a restaurant for a while, no matter what the rules are.
This weekend a stamp company, StampAnniething, did an online stamp weekend with online Facebook tutorials and a bunch of free digis.  I made this card:

I really liked the idea of a sunshine but I don’t have a sun die, but I do have a background with sun ray, so cut the corner off to become a sun.  Quite pleased with it.

Challenge FS692 Hello the cat

This morning I decided to play with a challenge at Splitcoast Stampers website.  I’ve been really sad to see diminished activity on the site as Facebook and Pinterest groups just aren’t as much of a community and it’s important to support the communities—even online ones—that you care about.

Today’s challenge is to take a card from the gallery of another specific card maker and copy it with a few modifications.  I enjoyed reviewing Lauries gallery as it looks like she’s been crafting about the same time frame as I and looks like we’ve both experimented with similar things over the years.  Interesting to see trends shift and morphed.

The card I chose to copy is Hello from the cat.   I do love cats.

I’m out of black card stock so substituted with dark grey, which paired well with some paw print patterned paper—though I wish I had that paw prints embossing folder Laurie used!  Substituted cat and ball of wool images by a couple from Lawn Fawn.  Didn’t have a small hello sentiment so used a die from Simon Says.  Instead of accenting with sequins used some clear gel dots.

Super fun to play along with this challenge!

Rebirth of golf during social distancing

The weekend is here!  The end of week 8 of social distancing for me.   Yesterday the weather got up to 29 degrees and was beautiful and sunny.  I went to play 9 holes in the evening and was shocked at how packed the golf course was at 6pm on a Friday night.  Fully filled tee sheet from opening to close.   It seems that golf is having a rebirth.  Given the challenges golf courses have had in recent years with attracting and retaining new golfers and the aging demographic of golfers I hope this helps  draw a whole set of future golfers to the game.  I think there is an opportunity here for golf courses to bring back the sport.

The card I’m sharing today is one I made a few months ago using the Lawn Fawn Happy Wedding set.  I love Lawn Fawn stamps and they have been one of my main go to brands this past year as they are cheery and also quick and easy to colour.

This card came out so elegant and yet was very simple to make.

A sunny Friday during social distancing

The week flew by, and Friday is here.  News from the government and health officials is that we are succeeding in flattening the curve so businesses will start to reopen on a staged basis over the next few weeks.

For me, I’ve been enjoying working from home, and I’m a super germ freak at the best of times. Cramming myself in the elevator and sharing tight office space with others is not something I’m keen on, so I’m hoping they don’t make us resume our commutes to the office too soon.

After weeks of waiting, the super hero card kit I’d been waiting on from StampAnniething arrived.  I wish I’d gotten extra of the paper it’s fabulous and with only 24 small sheets I’m afraid to cut in to it 🤦‍♀️.

Here’s the two images I coloured.  First was the blonde, as I am comfortable colouring blonde hair.  After colouring the rest of her though her face and hair were too muted to pair with the bright clothing so I dug our my ancient Spica pens.  I’ve stored them carefully and they still work!  There is a bright yellow sparkly one so I used that to add a bit of extra oomph and definition  to her hair.
The black haired was my first time attempting black hair in many years, and I used some new colouring techniques and super thrilled with it.

The set came with a stencil so I used that rather than cut into the patterned paper to create the background.  It didn’t go so well.  In the end I sprayed it all with Tattered Angels glimmer mist, let it dry, then layered everything on top and it came out ok.


Can’t wait to put a card together with the blonde one this weekend.

Fun wine cards

When they listed the businesses to stay open as essential services, liquor stores were included.   With stay at home orders it has seemed like there has been a lot of wine consumption in general.  Good or bad, it is what it is.  Myself, I enjoy a glass of wine on the deck with lunch after a round of golf, or at dinner with friends.

Here are a couple cards I made using a fun new sentiment set combined by wine relaxing Tilda.

I thought it was interesting how different they could turn out with different colour schemes.  Here’s the fun stamp set used:

All colouring is with Copics.  Tilda is stamped in Brown Adirondack ink

I think I like her better as a blonde... but hard to say.

As usual, lots of foam tape used for dimension 

New arrival cards

It was one of those mornings where I woke up at 5am.  Urg.   Had trouble finding inspiration for card making last night so read a fluff book on kindle ... a young witch, with a cat, investigating a murder...nice cheery escape :-)

A few months ago I got a new coordinating stamp/die set from Spellbinders—I wanted something simple without too much colouring and good for new baby congratulation cards.

Such an adorable image, and the layering dies are awesome.  Super quick and easy to dress up and put this together.

The background is a background die from lawn fawn.

Missing you cards

While they talk of restrictions easing it will be a while before things go back to normal.  Luckily with cats and hubby at home, being an introvert, and also being technologically savvy, I haven’t been too lonely.  Zoom and phone calls, texting and the online world all keep me connected.  However for a lot of folks, perhaps living alone and more extroverted and especially those not used to using technology to connect, it’s a tougher time.  

Last night I made a couple of missing you cards—not my normal style.  Colouring is with Copics, and stamp is a Simon Says set.

The miss you and heart were stamped by colouring on the stamp directly with SU markers, and the blue sentiment is using Tim Holtz distress oxide ink.

Another Monday at home

Week 8 for me of working from home begins.  This would be a lot more enjoyable if it weren’t for the constant uncertainty and fears about what comes next.  And Murphy’s law, after grey and rain on the weekend it sunny today lol!  Urg Monday!

Yesterday I worked on a paper cleanup project to sort old papers for shredding, as we have a mobile shredding service coming today.  There were phone bills going back to the 90’s!  This task was clearly overdue.

Did manage to find the time to reorganize my craft area that has taken over a corner of the living room, and made this fun card last night.

Cat image and sentiment  is from Snarky Cats set from Tim Holtz, and accenting is with Tim Holtz Spills and Splatters set.   Colouring is with Copics.

TV binging during social distancing

Well, yesterday I mentioned the rain, and despite great plans to clean my craft room I got sucked into watching 5 movies on Netflix back to back.  It seems in conversation with others that Netflix and Prime binging are the primary pass times of most households at this time.

I watched a movie called Darkest Hour set in the early days of WWII in England.  It is an excellent movie, very thought provoking during these out of the ordinary times.

Luckily, before I glued myself in front of the TV I did manage to make a card.  This one uses yet another digi from StampAnniething, which seems to be what I’m in the mood for creating with these days.  These girls are cheery and the style is a bit more Anime than most of the artwork I’ve coloured in the past, requiring someone bolder techniques in colouring.  I’m enjoying experimenting and learning this style.

All colouring is with Copics.

I used a brick embossing folder for the background, and then some ivy and sentiment dies to dress it up.

Weekends during Social distancing

Saturday morning is here, and I’m snuggled up in bed with my cat.  The sun is shinning outside.  Normally on a Saturday morning in May I’d be golfing but I didn’t make a tee time due to a rain forecast of torrential rain.

Golf is one of the few things we are able to do outside the home right now, and the golf course has been packed.  Getting a tee time is virtually impossible.  We will see if this ushers in the rebirth of golf.  Last night (Friday night) I had a 5:30 pm tee time.  Lots of young people there (20s and 30s).  Both courses where we golf were booked solid, and the parking lot was completely full.  I guess with the bars and restaurants closed the golf course seems more appealing.

This week I received in the mail some cute Tilda stamps by Magnolia from Sweden:  a golf girl, a golf green with flag, and two different wine drinking Tildas.  I expect to get a lot of use out of these.

They are all made of different rubber, and two are foam mounted while the others are not, very odd.  Also not deeply etched rubber and quite challenging to get a good impression when stamping.  Not impressed with the quality of these I have to say.  However I do love the artwork.

Here is the first card I made with them:

Tilda is coloured with Copics:

Background is embossed with a new clouds folder, kitty cat is Lawn Fawn, and the sentiment is SU.  Fence is a memory box die. Lots of foam tape used on this one as usual.

Friday-end of week 7 of self isolation

It’s Friday again.  The end of week 7 of working from home during the COVID times.  I must admit I do miss things like dinners with friends, skiing, going to plays and live theatre and craft classes and networking/social events, however I am loving working from home.  No commute, no makeup, no high heels.  No running around hunting for keys and drinking my coffee on the go.  It is a lot easier to get up at 7 than at 5:30 in the morning.

Another card I made last weekend using these super cute digi stamps from StampAnniething:

It’s printed on Neenah crest solar white 80lb paper, and coloured with copics.  The cat is from lawn fawn, and the window die cut is memory box brand. DP is SU.

The weekend will be here soon, looking forward to that too.

Life during COVID- setting up my office

The first couple weeks of social distancing I worked on my laptop on the couch, in bed, and on the kitchen table—my home office had become a craft storage area.  Miscellaneous stamps and half finished projects were heaped with old bills and stuff on the desk, on the office chair, and boxes were heaped around the desk.  After the second week, When we found out we’d be working from home longer than anticipated I went in there and cleaned up.  Moved all the boxes and clutter away, put away craft supplies.  I have an old monitor, key board and mouse and attached those to the laptop and now my home office is comfortable and the working day is so much better.  My craft area has now been set up in the living room on an old folding table.

During the week all I seem to have the energy for is my job and eating, and a daily walk, right now. Then a book or Netflix in the evening. My goal is to return to exercice and crafts and productive things in the evenings.  One day at a time!

Last weekend I made this cute card, using that same free digi from StampAnniething

Image was printed on my Canon printer and coloured with copics on Hammermill 110lb cardstock.  All other paper including DP is Stampin up.

Crafting during this social distancing time

It’s been seven weeks for me since I’ve been self isolating—working from home and not going out.  It’s been a time of fear and uncertainty, and with a lot of pressure to perform for work while adjusting to this new temporary reality.  I know everyone has been impacted in different ways.

My craft room has migrated in to the living room, and I was excited to play with this lovely free digi from StampAnniething.   Dusted off my memory box dies and copics and was really happy with how this turned out.

This card made it to my Facebook posting, and a friend sent me a note to ask me to send to her daughter for her.  It made me so happy to do so and that this card brought some connection and happiness to others.

Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog hop - May2019!

Today we have a super fun event with the Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop for May!

I has a lot of fun making this fancy fold bridge card

There are some other beautiful creations you can ogle posted by other talented members of the Heartfelt Creations Design Team Alumni, check them out.  

In my card I've used a fancy fold called a Bridge Card.  This paper pack worked awesome with sheets seemingly designed to perfectly fit the panels.  The card has been made almost exclusively with papers from the Sugarspun Paper Collection from Heartfelt Creations.  I've fussied it up with a bit of random ribbon and lace from my stash, and used a lot of foam tape for depth beneath the cherry(also from this paper pack).  On the cherry I used a glitter pen for added sparkle.

A randomly chosen comment from a mystery blog will receive a $25 gift certificate to shop at Heartfelt Creations. To claim your prize please  email Heartfelt Creations at socialmedia@heartfeltcreations.us with "Winner of the June Alumni Hop" in the subject line.  

So with no further ado, here is the bloghop to follow!  Enjoy!!

Kathy Clement- http://www.kathybydesign.com

 Amarilys Doria - https://amadrian8.blogspot.com/search/label/Heartfelt%20Creations  

Vicki Dutcher - https://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/search/label/Heartfelt%20Creations

Gloria Stengel -   https://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/2019/05/heartfelt-creations-monthly-alumni-blog.html

Kristina Andersen -https://reflectionsofahappycrafter.blogspot.com  --> You are here!

Alissa Wells- https://willrunforstamps.blogspot.com/2019/05/thinking-of-you-today-heartfelt.html

Susan Smit -  https://sussipoppins.blogspot.com/2019/05/sending-you-hug-heartfelt-creations-may.html 

Sweet shop

The last couple months I've been experimenting with graphic45 and Hunkydory paper packs And have been really enjoying making cards with all the coordinating images and papers. Last weekend DH picked up three Heartfelt Creations paper packs for me, they are all beautiful! I've already whipped up a whole bunch of beautiful quick and easy cards with them—my stash is restocked and ready!!

This card uses images from the Sugarspun pack, with some basic cardstock, lace and ribbon from my stash. Nothing else! No die cuts, no stamps, no embossing folders. Perfect pack for someone starting out who doesn't have a ton of equipment and stuff, will definitely be buying some more papers to gift to some friends who are just starting their crafty adventures.

So details! The main image is a card front in the kit, simply matted it on some cardstock. I fussy cut the cupcake and stand and popped them up with foam tape. I also popped up and added a flower vase on the right and then used a double layer of foam tape for the sentiment. It looks great IRL and was super easy.

Just for you

Another easy and lovely card using the Hunkydory papers.  This style of using a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 base allows me to go off the edges and still fit in an A4 envelope, and it makes the image just pop.

I’ve used lots of foam tape here for layering and depth and nuovo shimmer pen on the butterfly.

It’s taking a bit of a mindset change to make cards without digging out my copics, lol!   I’ve been looking at online galleries and seeing quite a shift in styles, what are you focusing on with your style rught now?  Is it mixed media?  Layers and texture?   Die cuts and embellishments?  Clean and simple?  Having so many areas we can try out and focus on sure keeps things interesting.  

Finding a new love - Hunkydory!

After colouring my heart out card after card for several years, I felt a bit snobby about using precoloured images—“that’s cheating” I figured.   But I signed up for some classes at a local craft store to get my mojo back and I discovered the joy of planning a card without the time investment of colouring.

I’ve totally fallen in love with these Hunkydory papers in their Garden Treasures- floral moments line.  I’ve made 30 cards so far with it!!  I’ll share a few of them with you in the next couple weeks.

Bridge Card with Graphic45 - Round 2

Another bridge card with the same Graphic45 Blooming papers and stickers as my last post

My prior post includes a link to tutorial if you haven't made one of these bridge cards before. Try it out—super easy!! And mailable in a standard A4 envelope.

Sentiment is from SU, accessorized with some lace from the fabric store and some nail head stickers. All in all a super quick card to make, I'm quite happy with this one!

Blooming Bridge Card

I recently took a class on fun folds and remembered how easy and neat looking they can be, so today I dug out my new Graphic45 Bloom collection pad and whipped this bridge card together.

You can find an instruction tutorial for bridge cards on the Splitcoast site here:  https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/bridgefoldcard/

All papers are from the bloom collection 8x8 paper pack, plus the coordinating sticker pack.   I find the stickers challenging to use as is, for some of them I simply adhered to white card stock then fussy cut out.  

The swirl die cut is an old sizzix one, and i sponged it with Tim Holtz bundled sage Distress Oxide ink.

Faith - with G45

It was a brave day today as I cut into and decimated a gorgeous sheet of graphic45 paper to harvest a butterfly and some flowers, but the finished product is well worth it!

Paper used is Graphic45 Bloom, from the 6x6 pad. Sentiment is an ancient one from SU.
Embellished with gold foil paper, rhinestones, and some gorgeous crinkle ribbon.

Hard to see in the photo, but I've also used a Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen to add glitter to the two butterflies and the flowers.

I've had this new paper pad for weeks but couldn't bear to cut in to and "wreck" or "waste" any of the sheets (let's not discuss how MANY unused G45 pads of paper I have!). Today I finally took the scissors to it and I'm glad I did.

Cupcakes!

I've been dieting so of course this sweet image caught my attention!

Delightful image by mo manning, and better yet, found in my stash already precoloured and ready to go, lol! Likely coloured circa 2012 using copic markers and airbrush. Paper is all Su except for image which would be my standard Neenah solar crest 110.

I've used some rhinestones to embellish —expect to see a lot of these as i found them at the dollar store—the same brand and items as at the local craft store but less than half the price—bought about 10 large sheets. Then I did the math. I have enough rhinestones to last at least 10 years now!!!!! Have you done something like that recently?

I've been working on adding more latera amd dimension, so had fun playing with the banners, i really like how it turned out. A simple card but one That makes me smile.

Back again!

After a long hiatus I have found my mojo again and have been making cards for a couple of months. I'll be back to blogging later this week.

There have been so many changes in the past four years or so I took off from crafts—more stamps, more dies, more patterned paper, more layers..... digging through my stash I have had trouble remembering how to use some of my tools (like how to make bows with my bow-easy 🙄)

Lots of updates for you, keep posted.

For now, this post is a bit of an experiment as I am trying out a new app to edit images on my phone—i recall after spending 2 or 3 hours making cards I used to have to set up a spot to take a photo, then email photo to the computer, then edit it on the computer, then create a blogpost — easily an hour! Now i can take the photo on my phone, edit it in an app, and email it to the blog all in 15 minutes!!

Golf thank you cards

With the cool winds of autumn approaching, I think it will be time to get back in to card making!

Here are two thank you cards I made tonight for the gals who organize the ladies golf league I joined this summer.  I've really enjoyed meeting new people and hanging out for a girls night once per week, it has been a highlight of each week, and I was happy to get to make these.

They were a bit of a challenge as they  needed to be big enough to accommodate many notes from many people inside, so I made them 5 1/2 by 8 1/2--> double the size of my normal cards, AND I added an insert inside each one so it is more like a book with multiple pages. 

This first one (above) is with a house mouse stamp, coloured using Copic Markers on Neenah Solar white.

The second one, below, was stamped with Black Soot Tim Holz Distress Ink and heat embossed with some sparkly glittery embossing powder.  It looks great, and worked out way quicker than colouring these very detailed stamps.  The stamps below are from a Stampin up set called "the back nine" which has been in my stash for VERY many years now.

For both these cards I pulled out my handy dandy "Bow-easy" tool.  Since it had been so long since I used it, I had to go watch a tutorial on you-tube to refresh my memory, LOL!

It felt good and satisfying to make these, so I think you'll see more things popping up here soon.  The past few months I haven't been doing too much crafty stuff--each time I dig out my stamps I miss my mom, with whom I spent many crafty hours.  But time is passing, and it seems perhaps its time to find the joy of playing with ink and paper again.

New forest die

Hi all,

Well, in the last couple of weeks I finished all my current swap cards, and even gotten some done for the next five months, LOL!  I wasn't sure what to do next, but I have some new dies I haven't used yet, and decided to play with this Birch Trio one.

The image is stamped a bit crooked, but I think it's still ok.  The image is stamped in black versafine, the water is sponged and the sky airbrushed.  I used SU markers (the old type) to colour in the boat etc, as the Copics make versafine smear.  The background is embossed on coordinations paper, and then sanded, and the trees were also cut from coordinations paper and sanded.

I'm really happy with how this came out, and glad to have another masculine card to add to my stash.