Monday, March 31, 2014

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 March

Hello Friends!

Happy last day of March.  Nothing like waiting until the last day to post my versions of the Tim Holtz tags, huh?  Hee hee hee.

I follow along each month and make my own version of Tim's tags.  Check out how Tim does smudge stamping here.

This month I actually had my two tags done early on.  My gal pal Michele and I have been meeting this year and doing the tags together.  So much fun to have a partner in Distress!  So why did I wait to post my tags?

Well, to be honest I wasn't happy with them and wanted to re-do them or fix them.  I never found the time to do that and so there they are just as I made them at the beginning of the month.

I'm going to share them anyway.  It's about enjoying the journey and finding joy in the creating.  Not about creating something perfect.  I caught myself falling into the comparison and perfection trap.  I don't want to go there and that's why I'm showing my tags.

 Here are my tags.  The original is on the right and the smudge stamp is on the left.


What's not to be happy about you ask?  I wish I had done a better job of inking up the feather stamp.  The original image is light and so the smudge is almost non existent.  Then when I spritzed through the stencil I got a little carried away and covered up most of the feather.

The original.


The smudge.


As I look at these photos I'm reminded how much fun I had playing with the stamps and the spritzer.  I absolutely love this stamp set with the birds, nest, feather, and eggs.  Just so many possibilities!  This is why I craft.  For the love and joy of it.





That egg just makes me happy!  Remember to create for yourself first.  If you do create something you are not happy with, learn from it and move on.  After all its only paper, right?  You can always make another.

Thank You so much for stopping by.  I hope you get to find some time to get inky and create something that brings you joy!

Happy creating!

Hugs,  Sharon







Monday, March 24, 2014

Spring - Birthday Card and Gardens

Hello!  Happy Spring to You!

I love Spring, don't you?.  One of the other things that I like to do besides crafting is gardening.  The past few years I have not been able to work too much out in my yard and my poor raised beds have been neglected.  On Saturday my hubbie and I were able to get outside and refresh one of the beds so I could plant some vegies and flowers.  Hope you don't mind if I share a bit about my garden.

Warning!  Photo heavy post.  Grab a cuppa, settle in and enjoy!

First, I'll show you a card I created for my sister's birthday.  What does this have to do with Spring you ask?  Well, Denise's birthday is March 21st so when I think Spring I always think of her.  Happy Birthday big sis!  Love ya!


I used the yummy Sweet Sentiments line from Graphic 45.  One of the great things about Graphic 45 is that their designs are so versatile.  Perfect for a Spring Birthday card, right?


The pocket on the front of this easel card holds a postcard stamped with the happy birthday sentiment.  I used some Tim Holtz stamps to create a postage stamp and cancellation.



Easel cards make for a more 3 dimensional display but fold down flat for mailing.

Here are some close up detail shots:





Ok, on to the gardening portion of our program, ha ha ha.  Just a few photos to share.  Felt so great to be out digging in the dirt.

Here is my sad and neglected raised beds before we got to work.



First thing was to take the drip irrigation out, add some more dirt and mix it in.  My hubbie, Chris is the best helper!  He did most of the hard part and left me the fun stuff.  Gotta love that man!


Check out that custom hat - ha, ha, ha!  It took years of being on the bottom of the garden shed to get that swagger and curve in it.


Ahhhhh, all fresh and new again.  Ready for some plants.






Instant garden!  Went with seedlings to get a jump start on the season.  I've got lettuce, spinach, chard, zucchini, snap peas, chives, and a little volunteer strawberry that came from a garden a few years ago.


And some chocolate mint that was threatening to take over the bed that got a new home in a pot to keep it contained.   Mmmmmm, smells so good!


We ended up not refreshing the other raised bed.  The bulbs have already come up and there are a couple of plants that need to be moved to other locations that aren't ready yet.  For now the daylily, sedum (Autumn Joy), and lambs ear, along with various bulbs will be joined by some annual flowers.




I'll add more flowers as the Spring and Summer progresses.  Be sure to check back to see how the vegies and flowers are doing.

Hope you enjoyed the Spring tour!  Feels good to get outside again and get my hands dirty.

Take care.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Happy Spring!  Happy gardening!  And happy creating!

Hugs,  Sharon















Monday, March 17, 2014

Happy St. Paddy's and More

Top O the Day to Ya! 

Hope you are having a wonderful Monday and St. Patricks Day.   While I'm at work our meal is cooking away in the crock pot. Not really in to the corned beef so I just got a brisket to go with the cabbage, red potatoes and carrots. Hope you have something festive planned to celebrate the day. 

Had a wonderful weekend at Chico Scrapbooks!  Saturday was an all day crop and Sunday I taught a mixed media canvas class.  Nothing better than hanging out with good friends and getting crafty. 


Here is my sample for the Spring Flight class.  Thank You to Debby, Michele, Pam and Rosemary. You did an excellent job and inspired me with your variations on my canvas. 

Where are the photos from class you ask?  Weeeeelllll, I really do have the best intentions to take photos of the class in action. I get so involved in teaching and walking around looking at the progress that I get totally lost in the moment and before I know it class is over.   I feel so blessed to be teaching something that I am very passionate about.  I do indeed think I'm  very lucky to have met so many people that share the same passion that I do. 

Wish I had some more photos to show you today. I've got several projects in the works that I will share when they are complete.  Terri, my teammate at Chico Scrapbooks, and I  have been collaborating on decorating a tree that is displayed in the store. We are currently working on an Easter themed tree for April. The reveal is usually the last week of each month and Jodie takes a video the following week. I'll show you the cute shadow boxes for the tree once they are complete. I'm also working on another simple but festive Spring/Easter multi panel wall hanging. 

Are there any projects or tutorials that you would like to see on the blog?  I've had some requests on the steps for tags. What else would be interesting or useful?  Would love to get your feedback!  Leave a comment on this post or send me an email (listed on the right side column). 

Hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy the rest of your week. So excited that Thursday is the first day of Spring. I know for some of you it's still very much Winter. May the winter give way to the warmth of Spring sooner than later. 

Thanks so much for your support and for taking the time to stop by. 

Happy Creating!

Hugs, Sharon


Sunday, March 2, 2014

Graphic 45 Design Team 2014 Audition

Hello,

its Graphic 45 Design Team Call time again.  Graphic 45 papers and products are one of my go to lines.  The vintage inspired designs and colors are so inspirational.  I only have to look at the papers to get tons of ideas for projects.

I've decided to try out for the Graphic 45 team!  Part of the first round is for artists to create a blog post with a minimum of 6 projects.

 Here are some of my favorite Graphic 45 projects to share. . . .




Tag with Olde Curiosity Shoppe.  One of my first projects with Graphic 45.  
A memorial tribute to my cousin Camille.

Olde Curiosity Shoppe 50 Things @ 50 mini books.  Look at the blog post here.


Just because I love Olde Curiosity Shoppe  so much, here is another . . . a wall hanging.  Look at the blog post here.


A Ladies Diary wall hanging.  You will find the blog post here.


Steampunk Spells box and mini.  What a perfect combination - Halloween and Steampunk!  The blog post is here.



Other favorite projects without Graphic 45 . . . 

Gratitude place cards.  More details on the blog post here.

A mixed media patchwork canvas.  The blog post is here.

Valentines tag, Tim Holtz style.  Check out my version here.

A hair raising experience stamped canvas.  The blog post is here.

An earth day landscape.  More details on the blog post here.


Happy Birthday easel cards.  The blog post is here.

Hope you like my favorites as much as I do.  Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week!  Happy Creating!

Hugs,  Sharon