My Artsy Year in Review

WOW...where did 2010 go?!  I can't believe how fast this year went by!  I know how easy it is to focus on all of the things we didn't do in the past year...but it's more important to look forward to what is to come!  I am looking VERY forward to 2011...finishing up my schooling, getting started with the CPA Exam and hopefully the start of building a home!  What is fun though is to go back and look at what has been accomplished in the past year so I'm joining in the others in blogland who have been posting a review of my favorite creations from 2010! You will notice a few of the months have a couple creations as I couldn't choose just one favorite! LOL!  I hope you enjoy....

My Artsy Year in Review:

January:

Featuring the Krafting Kimmie Kutie....Francesca!

February:

Featuring Valentine Tilda from the 2008 Valentine collection.

March:

Featuring a cutie from the WOJ Summer 2009 Stamp Kit.

April:

Featuring Bubbles from the SCACD Sampler Edition #4 Collection.

 Featuring Susan from the SCACD Sampler Edition #1 collection.

May:

Featuring Day Dreaming from the SCACD Sampler Edition #4 collection.

June:

Featuring By the Sea from the SCACD Hearts and Hugs Summer Collection.

July:

Featuring this bathing beauty from the WOJ Life's a Beach 2010 Set.

August:

Featuring Binkie's Rule from the SCACD Animapeeps Collection.

Featuring Lady Tilda from the Fairytale Collection.

September:

Featuring Little Acorn from The SCACD Little Acorn Collection.

Featuring the Kraftin Kimmie Mermaid Arianna.

October:

Featuring Angel of Hope from the SCACD Fall Sampler Edition Collection.  Reminder: This stamp is helping the fight to find the cure for Breast Cancer. Susana is donating $1 every time the Angel of Hope Stamp is purchased. The money is donated to Breast Cancer Research!

Featuring Pearl Princess from the SCACD Reflection #1 Collection.

November:

Featuring First Snowball of Winter from the SCACD Winter Sampler Collection.

December:

Featuring Christmas Cardinal from Fred She Said.

Wishing you all a wonderful, successful, healthy, and happy 2011!!!

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

Wishing you all....

From my family to yours, I wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a wonderful, happy, healthy, and successful 2011!

This is the photo card that hubby and I mailed out this year, and I want to send it to all of my friends in blogland too!  Thank you to you all for making 2010 a blessed year for me.  I am so thankful for all of the friends that I have made through the couple years I have been blogging....you all are so special to me, thank you so much for following me and all of the lovely comments that you leave when you visit!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

Merry Christmas Eve

Hi Friends~
Sorry I've been non-existent this week...I was hoping to get a lot of craft time in....but things were super crazy!  It's so hard to get all of your Christmas preparations done in one week! LOL!  My hubby gave me my Christmas present a week early....he got me a Wii with the Wii Fit board.  I am enjoying every minute playing with that thing...hubby and I are spending lots of quality time together now bowling, playing tennis, and baseball....it's so much fun!  Hubby gave it to me early because he wanted me to get time to  play with it...seeing how Monday I start my internship and will be working full-time until classes begin the end of January.  What a great hubby I have!  I also spent one day this week Christmas shopping with my Dad...it was such a wonderful day to bond...we had soooo much fun!!! :)  Then I went to a Christmas play one night with my Mom and Sister...that was so much fun too...it was a Christmas Musical about the birth of Jesus....absolutely amazing! One of our friend's, who actually sang at our wedding was Joseph so that was neat!

Tonight we are going to my Grandpa and Grandma's (my Dad's parents) and tomorrow we go to my in-laws for lunch, and then we go to my other Grandpa and Grandma's (my mom's parents....my crafty Gram's house)!  My brother is gone for Christmas this year...he's an over the road truck driver so we will be celebrating my immediate family's Christmas next week when he gets back home!  I hope you all get time to spend with your family and friends during this blessed holiday season!

This is the card that I made for my Gram and Gramps that we are going to see tonight!  My Gram LOVES birds....and my crafty Gram (my mom's mom) had this beautiful cardinal that she told me to take home and make a card with for my Gram! Papers are from Kaisercraft Tis the Season collection...I love the vintage feel to these papers!

Image has been colored with Copics and then embossed with the SU embossing folder.  My Gram showed me how to do this...now I soooo NEED to get me this folder!  I love the faux cross stitch look that it gives!  Thanks so much Gram for the idea!!!  Then I took my TH Tea Dye ink pad and distressed the edges to make the image more vintage feeling.  Mr. Cardinal was then placed onto my Nellie Snellen die and spritzed with Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist.

 Flowers are from the fabulous Wild Orchid Crafts!  The first arrangement was made using 25mm roses, and 15mm rose leaves.  All flowers are glitzed up with Gold Stickles.

Flower arrangement two consists of a curly wild rose, 15mm roses, 10mm roses, 25mm rose leaf, and burgundy crystal stems.  

Hubby also got us snowshoes....so we've been out snow shoeing this week as well...we've gone a total of 3 times now....holy moly do you get a work out with those babies!!!  I am not outdoorsy at all....so this definitely is a new venture for me...I normally don't like the cold (with these though I am usually quit warm from all the work..lol)....having these makes winter and snow a little more enjoyable in Wisconsin...and I'm getting a good workout too!

Here's me bundled up in my snow shoe gear....probably should have smiled for the picture! LOL!

**Reminder** The SCACD store carts are closed through January 1st so that Susana may spend time with her family for the holidays!  Feel free to window shop while the carts are closed and come back on January 2nd for NEW goodies and to order what you have found while window shopping!!!!

Happy Holidays!

Recipe:
Stamps: Christmas Cardinal (Fred She Said), Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, TH Tea Dye Distress Ink
Copic Colors Used: Birdie: R27, R32, R46, R59, YR04, YR07, YR15, Shading: W3, Branch: E25, E29, E53, Holly Leaves & Berries: G28, YG03, YG67, R27, R32, R46, R59
Papers: Kaisercraft Tis the Season collection
Tools: SU Embossing Folder, Nellie Snellen Die, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Bow Easy, EK Success corner punch,
Embellishments: curly wild rose, 15mm roses, 10mm roses, 25mm rose leaf, burgundy crystal stems,  25mm roses, 15mm rose leaves, Gold Stickles, black embossing powder, and ribbon.

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

NEW STAMPS!!!

Hi Friends~ I hope you are all doing wonderfully and getting ready for Christmas!!!  I'm ALL DONE with my exams!  I'm hoping I did well on them....but am so glad that they are all done!  Only a few more months of school left...yippy!!!!  Now I can finally gear up for Christmas since that I don't have to think about school for a while...LOL!  I'm super excited for my internship too...which is only a little more than a week away!! Woo-Hoo!!!!

Have you heard the NEWS over at SCACD?!  Susansa has released THREE BRAND NEW images from 3 of her amazing artists! 

Aren't these absolutely adorable?  I am in love with all three of them!  Since I was stuck studying all week I didn't get time to ink them up yet....but watch for creations this week using all three of these beauties!!!  You can find each of them in the following links:

Winter Friends by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD

Guardian of Hearth and Home by Carmen Medlin for SCACD

The Yearling by Victoria Case for SCACD

Now go and order yours now! :)

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

WOJ #94 - My Sketch

Happy Wednesday Friends....as you are reading this I will be getting geared up for my advertising presentation that is today!  Oh how I dislike presentations!!  But after it's done that means only 2 more finals exams to go!  YIPPY!!!  I hear Friday...it must be almost here!  LOL!

It's another Whiff of Joy Challenge day today!  Yay!  Our challenge this week is to use my sketch!  I had so much fun designing this sketch and hope you all enjoy it!  However, I also have some sad news to share.  This is going to be my last challenge with the WOJ Challenge DT.  I have decided to step down from the DT as I will be starting a new chapter in my life with my internship.  I definitely have enjoyed my time being on this DT with such fabulous and talented ladies....you all are amazing!  I hope to still have time to be able to play along with the challenges now and again!  :)

Now onto my card:

I have used the Winter Love Birds stamp for my card today!  It's hard to believe this is the first time that I inked this poor stamp up!  These two are so adorable!!!  Papers are from the Bo Bunny Midnight Frost collection...oh my goodness is this pad absolutely stunning..it was hard for me to layer the papers because I didn't want to cover up any of the beauty on any of the pages! lol!  I've used some felt snowflake ribbon for my accent and then punched a blue snowflake strip with my MS punch that I got from my fabulous friend :0)

 And here is my sketch!  I hope you all like it and play along with us for this challenge! :)

These cute birdies were colored with Copics and then I airbrushed the sky around them.  The branch was decked out with liquid applique that I sprinkled with glamour dust before I heat set it....it gave my snow such a beautiful sparkle.  Then I applied little dots of glue around my image and used my Polar White Flower Soft (which is currently 15% off over at SCACD!) to make it look like the birdies are snuggling together in the snow!  Image has been cut out with my SB Oval Nesties and the blue layer was sparklized with Star Dust Stickles and then that layer was popped up onto my Marianne Die.

Flower are from the fabulous Wild Orchid Crafts and consist of a curly wild rose, 15mm roses that were layered on padded silver snowflakes and then white stamens were added for an accent.

From this view I am hoping to share all the lovely dimension of this card.  Thank you again to the WOJ DT for being such a wonderful group of ladies...I am going to miss you all!

Recipe:
Stamps: Winter Love Birds (WOJ)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics,
Copic Colors Used: Birds: B000, B00, B02, B04, B06, W00, W1, W3, W5, W7, YR00, YR02, YR07, Tree: G12, G29, YG45, E25, E53, E59
Papers: Bo Bunny Midnight Frost collection,
Tools: MS Snowflake punch, SB Oval Nesties, Marianne Die, EK Success corner punch,
Embellishments: curly wild rose, 15mm roses, padded silver snowflakes, white stamens, Star Dust Stickles, liquid applique, glamour dust, Polar White Flower Soft, Felt Snowflake Ribbon,

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

MAMM #6 - A Girl's Best Friend

**It's a 2 post day....If you are looking for my WOC challenge post, please scroll down.**

Welcome to SCACD Make A Mess Monday....the messy team has decided to bring you our fun on the 2nd Monday of the Month instead of the first!!!  Today we have some FUN FUN FUN for you!  Today we are showcasing JEWELRY!  Jewelry is every girl's best friend....isn't it?!  Well it is mine and I had a BLAST making these necklace pendants!  Susana carries ALL of the products to make these in her store...so if you get your order in quick you just might be able to make some jewelry to give as Christmas Gifts!

 My first pendant is made using the silver rectangle finding that you can find -->here<--!  I then took some Blue Flash particles and sprinkled them in the finding.  After that I took my Viva Decor Glitter Liner in Hologram and filled in the pendant....look at all the sparkle that the Viva pen gives once it is dry...and mixed with the Blue Flash it's stunning!

These next pendants were made using the round pendants that you can find -->here<--!  These were actually designed using Viva Decor Pearl Pens.  The one on the left is made using Black and Light Blue.  The one in the middle is made using Ice White and Violet, and the one on the right is made using Black and Ice White.  To make them I:
1.  First took my background color....in most cases the black and filled in the pendant so it was almost level
2.  Then I took my next color and put a drop onto the end of a tooth pick
3.  I placed the toothpick into the black that was already in the pendant finding and swirled the two colors together (but not too much or the two colors would totally mix and wouldn't show the swirls). 
4.  Then I repeated steps 2 and 3 until I liked the finish effect.
Then you have to let the Viva dry/cure, I let mine sit for a few days.  Make sure to have them lay flat to dry.
Then take a paint brush and lightly coat on a layer of diamond glaze to seal your pendant.  Again let the diamond glaze totally dry before placing the pendant onto a necklace.  

Here is another batch of the Viva Swirl Pendants!  These are made with the black pendant findings that you can find -->here<--.  I personally love these black findings the best, especially if you are using black as your background color.   These were made using the same technique above and colors are from left to right: Black and Cream; Black and Magenta; Black and Kiwi; and Black and Ice White.

Susana carries MANY DIFFERENT SIZE Pendants over at SCACD, click -->HERE<-- to go and see her amazing selection!  Don't be afraid to experiment because you never know what you can put together.  These were all made by experimenting and I have to tell you I absolutely LOVE them!!!  I will have some going up for sale in my store soon!!!

Now make sure you head over to the SCACD Blog to see what kind of jewelry Marti has created!!!

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

WOC #12 - Color Challenge

Welcome to the craziest week of the year for me!  This week is my final exams....5 exams to take and one presentation to do!  I'm ready to pull out my hair...LOL!!!  But by Friday afternoon I will be MUCH better!  This weekend I got away from studying for a little bit to go run some errands with my hubby...we pretty much got most of our Christmas Shopping done...which is good because I don't have time this week to fit that in, ha ha!  Last night we also got hit with a MAJOR snowstorm....we got over 14 inches of snow!  YUCK!!!  I really am much more of a tropical girl, than a midwest girl....the snow and cold don't do anything for me...especially when I have to drive in the icky weather...the roads are plated in ice and snow right now....should make for an interesting drive to school!

BUT...on a much better note....today is Wild Orchid Challenge Day!  Woo-hoo!!! This week we are challenging you to ONLY use PINK, WHITE and SILVER on your creations!  I absolutely had a ball with this challenge...if you follow my blog you know that PINK is my ultimate favorite color....my hubby is teasing me and telling everyone that when we build our house it will most likely have pink siding! ROFL!!!  Well maybe not that...but I can guarantee my craft room will be PINK!!!

 

I've used one of the newest stamps over at SCACD for my card today....this is Look Out Below by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD! She comes in the Winter Sampler Collection...and I have to tell you I absolutely LOVE this set!  The pink paper is from the Bo Bunny Doodles collection, which was matted with white cs and silver metallic cs.  The panel that this cutie is popped up on has been embossed with my Cuttlebug snowflake folder and then the panel was spritzed with Maya Road Iridescent Pearl Mist!  OMG do I LOVE the pearl-essence effect that this mist gives...it's definitely a must have!!!  The embossed panel is accented with 5mm Self Adhesive Pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts....love the range of colors they have available!  The bow was made with my fantastic Bow Easy...this seriously is an amazing product to have...I haven't made a bow without it since I bought mine almost 2 years ago!

Of course this cutie pie was colored with Copics and accented with a white gel pen.  The pom pom on her hat, bow on her hair, snowflakes on her mittens, boots, and scarf have been accented with Illuminate Smooch!  The tassels on the end of her scarf were made with some embroidery floss. Then to make it appear as if she is sledding down a hill I added some Liquid Applique to the bottom of her sled.

Flowers are from the fabulous Wild Orchid and consist of: a pink Gardenia which has been placed on top of a punched silver snowflake and then layered on to a NEW flat bloom (which WOC has just gotten into the store...you get a HUGE assortment in each collection), the 15mm roses have been layered onto of padded silver snowflakes (I totally am in love with these!!!!), and the arrangement was finished with 10mm roses and 5mm closed rosebuds.  Flowers have been accented with 3mm self adhesive pearls in pink.

I hope you've enjoyed this cutie!  Make sure you check back in a little bit because I will have my Make A Mess Monday post up for you....and you are NOT going to want to miss this one....we are talking a girl's best friend here!!! :)

Recipe:
Stamps: Look Out Below by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD from the Winter Sampler Collection, Tis the Season to be Jolly (Stamps and Smiles)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, White Gel Pen,
Copic Colors Used: Hair: E25, E49, E53, E59, Skin: E000, E00, E11, Shading: W3, Boots: W00, W1, W3, Hat & Sweater: RV00, RV13, RV14, RV21, RV25, Jeans: B91, B93, B95, B97, B99, Scarf & Mittens: RV00, RV13, RV21
Papers: Bo Bunny Doodles Collection, American Crafts Metallic Cardstock, White cardstock
Tools: MS snowflake punch, Bow Easy,
Embellishments: Maya Road Iridescent Pearl Mist, 5mm Self Adhesive Pearls, a pink Gardenia, NEW flat bloom, 15mm roses, padded silver snowflakes, 10mm roses, 5mm closed rosebuds, 3mm self adhesive pearls, Illuminate Smooch, Liquid Applique,

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

I Heart Ya Notepad Holder

Happy Friday!!!  I hope you all have some fun planned for this weekend!  I will be working on my advertising project for a presentation next week, and of course studying for my finals which also are next week....but after next week I only have ONE MORE SEMESTER left of school!  It is so exciting to know that graduation is getting closer....I never thought this time would come!! I'm looking forward to starting my internship as well!

Today I have a fun SCACD project to share with you!  At my last craft show I had a customer order a reuseable notepad holder for her 19 year old daughter for Christmas!  And this is what I came up with:

I thought it turned out absolutely beautiful....I so love when things turn out better then planned!  I hope my customer likes it as much as I do! :) I've used the cutie pie I Heart Ya by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD from the Sampler Edition #3.  Isn't she so sweet....perfect for any occasion....birthday, sympathy, thinking of you, or any holiday!  Papers are from K&Company Amy Butler Lotus collection!

This little darling was colored with Copics and accented with a white gel pen.  I've popped her up onto a SB Labels 14 which was matted with a nellie snellen die which was accented with 3mm pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts...they have a huge selection of colors available in the self adhesive pearls!!! 

Flowers are also from Wild Orchid Crafts and consist of one of the NEW SMALLER Flat Gardenias!  I've also used 20mm roses, and 8mm semi-open roses (which have been airbrushed to match the color theme of the notepad holder), and clear crystal stems.  The bottom edge of the notepad holder has been accented with 5mm pearls.

Finally I took some white fabric Thickers and airbrushed  them to match my color theme and then added lots of Diamond Stickles to add some sparkle to the project.

I hope you have enjoyed the project!  I forgot to take a picture of the inside before I packaged it up for shipping!  I am going to be making some more of these so I will make sure to remember to take a picture of the inside for you then! :)

***Don't forget to check out the AMAZING NEW PRODUCTS in over at the SCACD store!!!***  You can find New Flower Soft colors, New Dreamweaver Stencils, and New Inkadinkado Stamps!  Click -->HERE<-- to see them!!!  Happy Shopping!!!

Recipe:
Stamps: I Heart Ya by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD from the Sampler Edition #3 
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, White Gel Pen,
Copic Colors Used: Hair: YR24, Y18, Y32, E99, Shirt, Headband, & Socks: B0000, B000, B00, B52, Skirt, Shoes & Headband: E0000, E41, E42, Skin: E000, E00, E11, R02, Shading: W3, Heart: E25, E53, E57, B00, B52.
Papers: K&Company Amy Butler Lotus collection
Tools: SB Labels 14, Nellie Snellen die, MS border punch,
Embellishments: 3mm pearls, Small Flat Gardenias, 20mm roses, 8mm semi-open roses, clear crystal stems, 5mm pearls, Diamond Stickles

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

My Shophandmade Store is Updated!

Hello~

Sorry I've been gone for a bit!  I'm sure some of you have noticed that I didn't have a card up this past Wednesday for the WOJ Challenge.....unfortunately It's crunch time in the semester for me.  Last week had to finish up a HUGE accounting project.  Now this week is the last week of classes which also means finishing up a semester paper in my nutrition class as well as finishing up a group project in my advertising class!  Then finals are all week next week!  Finally after all of that I will get a week break before starting my internship on December 27th! 

I do want to let you know that I have updated my Shophandmade store, so if you are interested in purchasing any of my latest creations, click -->here<-- and then on the left hand side of the page above my picture is a box that says store.  Within that box click on Shop and you can have a looksie at my items for sale!  This weekend there will be some more items added as well! :)  Happy Shopping!

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

Shopping News...

Happy Belated Thanksgiving...I hope you all had a wonderful time with family and friends!  I got to spend my Thanksgiving with my family and enjoyed every minute of it!

Today my Mom and I are in our last craft show of the year, it's supposed to be one of the biggest in the city by us so I am so thankful to have gotten a booth in it....hopefully we are as successful as the last two shows! :)

Also today, SCACD is back open!  YIPPY!  Make sure you head over to the STORE Blog, I'm thinking Susana has some AMAZING FUN cooked up for you today!  If you haven't already gotten your Mini Winter Sampler Stamp Set and Mini Winter Hearts and Hugs Stamp Set head on over there now and pick yours up while you still can get a FREE stamp with the purchase of an Exclusive SCACD Stamp Set!

Stop back tomorrow to see a new creation using one of the New Victoria Case images from the Mini Winter Hearts and Hugs Set! :)

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥

SCACD Special

Make sure you head over to the SCACD Store Blog today!!!  Susana is having a NEW feature where she will be listing a Monday SCACD's Special every week. The special can be one item, or a whole category of items....you never know! 

Also a special rememinder...The SCACD Store will be closed as of noon on Nov. 24th thru Nov. 26th so Susana can spend time with her family for Thanksgiving.

Now for the SCACD special running thru Nov. 28th:

15% off all Petaloo products.
Quantities limited to stock on hand and sale runs through Sunday, November 28.
Click -->HERE<-- to check it out.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday week!!!  I'm hoping to get in some crafty time in between homework projects this week...hope to have something fun to share with you all real soon!

♥ Thanks for stopping by! ♥