To "MINE" Own Self Be True

I have been in a crafting slump....simply unable to create. I have decided that I am a crafting "nonconformist." I do not enjoy making things just like everyone else. I have lost myself in the internet world of weekly card challenges and "designer" products. I decided recently that I would stop blurring my mind with visiting so many sites and choose only a few that inspire me. That is my new goal...and guess what...today, I was able to create! My style has always been shabby country chic...lately I have strayed from that....now I AM BACK...doing things my way for the simple joy of crafting. Afterall, I was crafting long before the internet was a household word....just because I enjoyed it. I want that back and today I delcare....To "mine" own self be true.....



I bought these ornaments last year during the holiday clearance sales...I paid 10c each. I loved that they looked old and rusted. I made a couple of cards and a few ornament tags. Enjoyed every minute of it and can't wait to give them this Christmas.





Hope your crafting brings you great joy...and those you share it with! Until next time.....

ABC Challenge DT Call

The ABC Challenge is having a Design Team call and I thought that I would enter. Luckily, we were instructed to showcase 3 of our cards for consideration. These were 3 of my favorites. We were asked to describe our crafting style....mine would be contemporary, I think. I love clean lines and complimentary colors.

2S4Y #35 Weekly Challenge

I enjoyed playing along with 2 Sketches 4 You weekly challenge. Kazan's sketch is great and since I am in a "Fall" frame of mind, I created accordingly. Hope you enjoy.

A Brief Respite.....

Hello again....what a sweet Sunday this has been. Up early and off to Sunday School and church, out to lunch with our son and his fiancee....home to scrap! Yep, I am taking a brief respite from laundry, picking up the house and all things necessary. I am taking time today to make something! And what fun it has been.

Before I show you my cards, I thought that I would show everyone who has followed his survival a recent pic of Packer, my little rescue puppy, who is a jack russel/daschound mix. The vet told me that he would probably not make it past 2-3 months. He was the runt of the litter, very tiny, VERY weak (too weak to bark even, he made a struggling sound similar to a tiny donkey) and it seemed that the odds were stacked against him. Well, he has become the king of the house and he will turn 1 year old in 8 days! He still thinks that I am his Mama and he is my constant shadow. If I am in motion, he is as well. If I am sitting, as I am right now, he is sleeping on my lap, (even as I type :). Yep, the most time consuming pet I've her been "owned by," but definitely my favorite EVER! And for those of you who are local, don't you just love his little red Pirate football jersey? My hubby was #67 in high school, Packer is #62, that was as close as I could find. I love this little bundle of energy!



I made a couple of birthday cards today, and you know me, one sitting, two projects, so that explains the similarities in color. I made this card with my friend in mind who has a birthday this week. It is a cute envelope style card which could be used in so many ways. I saw it on CB challenge as a garden party favor with a seed packet included, mine is a b'day card with a personal note and pictures pertaining to the recipient. So easy and Soooo much fun to make.




I used Best Occasions pink textured paper, American Crafts Metropolitan Patterned Paper, Prima Flowers, Martha Stewart Ribbon and randome buttons. (Pink and brown are my new favorite color combination!)

This next card was made using the same products as above with the addition of the yummy cupcake, which, may I add is TOTALLY calorie free. (It's also inedible, but it sure looks real doesn't it?) It was made from Fast and Final LiteWeight Spackling found in your paint or hardware section of any hardware of discount department store. I shaded it pink by using an ice cream stick to shave off a plain colored piece of chalk and stirring it together. The possibilities are endless with this product. I cannot wait to make glittery snow for my winter time cards! I just added beads and Martha Stewart ultra fine white glitter for sparkle and fun on top.




My blogs seem to get longer and longer, but since I only post about once a week now, I hope you will forgive me for trying to get everything in! Hope you have a great day!

Lovin' This Long Weekend

It is amazing how much I enjoy my free time now that I am working full time again :) During my year off, I took "laid back, free and easy days" for granted. Man, oh man, not anymore!

Yesterday, sweet hubby and I, along with a couple of friends, took a 180 mile bike ride and barely left our local area. We crossed a couple of counties and found the most beautiful place, Pine Mountain. We followed a 14 mile narrow (and I mean NARROW), winding mountain road and found ourselves at an overlook that was breathtaking. We have taken vacations to see such views, and here we were, and hour and a half from home, in Cumberland Ky at Kingdom Come State Park. We ate at Pine Mountain Grill and WOW, the food and atmosphere was great! It was an awesome day, one of those that I NEVER want to forget.



I made a couple of cards this weekend. Fall is my favorite time of year and I love to make "fall cards." For this one, I used DCWV Once Upon A Time cardstock, Imagine That cardstock, Frances Mayer pumpkin patch paper covering a chipboard pumpkin that I freehanded and Baroque ribbon from Michael's. Oh, and a WM Harvest sticker. Loved making this one ;)



The next card is for my 'upcoming' great nephew, Brody. He should be making his appearance any day and I was certainly thinkging of him when I made this one. I used DCWV Oriental Stack cardstock, ribbon scraps and stickers from Miss Elizabeth.



Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend...see you scrapping, soon!

SG4 Challenge...better quality pic

I had posted earlier, but just wasn't satisfied with the lighting. So here's another shot...after the sun came out :)

SG4 Challenge

My sister is a member of the Sketch Girls Design Team and she has introduced me to their site. I love it! Each week they offer a great new sketch and showcase several awesome creations. This is my take on this week's sketch and since they looking for new DT members, my fingers are crossed.

I made this card with a dear friend in mind whose birthday is just around the corner. She loves some serious "bling", so this card should be right up her alley.