Strength in 2020

It's time for a new challenge over at 

The Outlawz Twisted Thursday and the optional twist is to use an image from LeighSBDesigns.  

I have used a digital stamp from our sponsor called Heart Tree from LeighSBDesigns Art Studio.  This is such a versatile image and I have used it for 3 very different projects since I've received it!  You can find the earlier projects HERE and HERE to see some different ideas for this digi stamp! 

For this post, I'm working in my 2020 Art Journal.  It is a 6 X 6 inch journal to sort of create/share/reflect my way through the year.  You can check out some other entries HERE and HERE.  

I started in Design Space and added the verbiage to the digital image and cut it out in a square.  I Copic colored the image...this was great practice in fine lines for me!  I have to say, it was an exercise in mindfulness as Alyce over at Kit & Clowder would say!  

After coloring, I inked the edges and went to work with ink and stamps on the backgrounds.  I added wood veneer, lace, washi tape, and the gold heart.  

Material List

Image: Heart Tree
Copic Markers
Washi Tape
Adhesives 
CTMH Inks Retired
CTMH Stamps Retired
Gold Heart Puffy CTMH Retired
Wood Veneer from Stash (My grandpa did wood working, so I inherited lots of cool stuff!  This veneer was probably acquired in the 1970's/'80's.)
Lace
Cereal Box for dimension under digi
Cricut Access for verbiage
Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

Cricut Access

This page is off to the following challenges:  

International Art & Soul:  Recycling (wood veneer)
A Vintage Journey:  We're All Getting Older (Distress, Antique, Age, Weather)
Love to Scrap:  AG
Everybody Art:  AG
Creative Inspirations:  Something New or Something Old (Everything old for me!)

Be sure to visit

 The Outlawz Twisted Thursday for all the details about the challenge and to check out all fun inspiration from the DT and participants!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Get Well!

Get Well Soon is our Theme over at Cut It Up!  Show us your ideas on cards and other well wishes; don't forget your die cut!  

Now you might be wondering where my die cuts are....well, the bears are die cuts from outline drawings in the Cricut Access (Library).  It's sort of like having the stamps and die cuts!  Grab your favorite beverage and check out the video below to see how I did this!

Material List:  
Digital Delights by Louby Lou:  Feel Better Sentiment Set
Copic Markers
CTMH Retired papers from Stash
Adhesives:  3D foam Tape
Cricut Standard Mat
Cricut Blade

Cricut Access for bear images
Cricut Maker

Come over to Cut It Up and share your ideas!  

When you visit the Cut It Up blog, have fun viewing the DT projects and check out the rules and prize info.  Then be sure to share your project with us ~ don't forget the die cut to have a chance to win a prize from our amazing sponsors. 

These cards are off to the following challenges: 

Crafting Challenge:  Touch of White 

Try It On Tuesday:  White Space or Colorful Grunge

TTCRD:  AG

2 Crafty Critter Crazies:  AG with a Critter

Crafter's Cafe:  CAS

Die Cut Divas:  New Things (New idea in Cricut DS, new sentiments)

Mod Squad:  Animals

Unicorn:  CAS

Festive Friday:  AG

Aud Sentiments:  AG with a sentiment
Daring Cardmakers:  Cheer Someone Up
CAS on Friday:  Get Well

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Get Well Soon is our Theme over at Cut It Up!  Show us your ideas on cards and other well wishes; don't forget your die cut!

Tenacious!

"Tenacity is the ability to hang on when letting go appears most attractive."  unknown

Yes, sometimes you've gotta' just grab the big cup and finish the task at hand!  That's one thing about being tenacious, I usually finish the job no matter how problematic, daunting, or laborious!  If you missed my first post about this character trait, you can see it HERE!  

In addition to my being tenacious, I'm a committed coffee drinker and always...and I do mean always...have a mug in my hand!  So, adding this page to my journal is perfect for me!  I love this blank coffee cup from Scribbles!  You can find it HERE.  Since it has no verbiage on it, I could add exactly what I wanted to say!

Here's a YouTube video on the page!  Grab your 'Big Cup' and join me!

*   *   *   

This page is another in my journal reflecting art, contemplation, study, etc.  I'm exploring our first optional theme of the year over over at Path of Positivity which is Character Traits.  (However, you may share any sort of artistic medium over at PoP:  writing, cards, journals, scrapbooking, painting, sewing, etc as long as it is Positive!  The theme is optional.)  

*   *   *

Scribbles Digi:  #917 Coffee

Copic Markers
Retired CTMH Stamps:  Cup of Cheer and Year>>>Noted
Retired CTMH Inks:  Cashmere, Champagne, Chocolate, Cocoa
Stencils: Latina Crafter Coffee
Bo Bunny Glitter Paste Copper
Canon Mixed Media Paper
Adhesives 
Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Access for fonts, verbiage
Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Brown Sugar:  AG
We Love2create:  AG Mixed Media
All sorts:  More than a single word sentiment
Sweet Stampin':  Journals/Albums/Frames/Keepsakes and use stamps
Simply Create Too:  Monochromatic
Tinker Dream bastel-traum:  Monochrome/Glitter
Modsquad:  Recipe~ Stencil (Retired Latina stencils for coffee beans, coffee title, and coffee rings on background, Stamping (Retired CTMH stamps for date, coffee beans, lines, and goals), Interactive (journaling) 
Simon Says Stamp:  Use a Stencil
Coffee Loving Papercrafters on FaceBook

Be sure to come on 

over to 

Path of Positivity 

and see 

what the team 

thinks about Peace!  

You can also find 

more information 

about entering 

the challenge!  

Thanks to our 

wonderful sponsors this month:

and

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

First Embellishment??

It's time for a new challenge over at 

The Outlawz Twisted Thursday and our optional twist is to show us the first embellishment you ever used on a card!  Wow, that's a tough one for those of us with poor memories!  hahaha

I have used a digital stamp from our sponsor called Cobblestone Cottage from LeithSBDesigns Art Studio.  I had such fun coloring this whimsical image!  I pulled out all the stops and followed no coloring rules!  I did a lot of mixing and glazing (if you follow Sandy Allnock, you'll know about this glazing stuff!) with my Copic markers.  Glazing is how I got the effect on the roof.  

The grass is a 'messy' technique I learned from Alyce over at Kit & Clowder.  She calls is something else, but I can't remember .....

Speaking of remembering, I need to tell you what my first embellishment to use on a card was!  I had to go back and look on my blog and it was.....a mocha gem from CTMH!  I love those gems in my favorite brown/beige colors!  Obviously, they are retired now (unless they've come back!), but I still have a few laying about!  

Now, as for the sky, I chose to sort of block that in with ink and cheesecloth.  I thought it would be fun for the playful scene! 

Material List:
Image: Cobblestone Cottage
Copic Markers
CTMH Mocha Gem Retired
Adhesives 
CTMH Sky Ink Retired
Cheesecloth
Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

This cottage is off to the following challenges:  
Colour Crazy:  AG colored
Crafty Cardmakers:  AG
Dragonfly Dreams:  AG
Fairy and the Unicorn:  AG Fantasy
LeighSBDesigns FaceBook:  Progressive Challenge

Be sure to visit

 The Outlawz Twisted Thursday for all the details about the challenge and to check out all fun inspiration from the DT and participants!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

3 of a Kind!

Today I am joining the talented Design Team over at Do-Al(l) Kreatives!  I'm very excited to be their guest for this fun 3 of a Kind Challenge!  



My 3 of a Kind are the balloons adding to this little lady's day!

This card is made from a card blank using cloud paper folded in half with the sentiment printed on it as well as the 3 balloons.  This sweet little Copic colored digital stamp is Perfectly Balanced from Polkadoodles.   I cut her in Cricut Design Space and adhered her to the front of the card.  I also cut my 3rd balloon on my Cricut cutting an oval in the middle for the window.  

I adhered acetate over the opening of the window and added 3-D tape to the back.  This left room for the little shaker bits!  All that was left was adding the string for the balloons and now she's floating on air!

Material List: 
Polkadoodles Digital Stamp Perfectly Balanced
Cloud Paper:  Polkadoodles Winnie Fruit Punch
Sentiment:  Polkadoodles Winnie Fruit Punch Bundle
Balloons:  Polkadoodles Winnie Special Moments Embellishments or Polkadoodles Winnie Fruit Punch Bundle
Copic Markers
Waxed Black Twine from Stash
Green Cardstock from Stash
Clear and Green Seed Beads from Bead Basics
Adhesives:  Fabric Tac, 3-D Foam Tape 
Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Access
Cricut Maker

My card is off to the following challenges:
Digi Choosday:  AG
Try it on Tuesday:  What a Cutie/Make someone smile
AAA Birthday:  Shaker Birthday Card
Use Your Stuff:  AG
Polkadoodles:  AG 
TTCRD:  AG
Just Us Girls:  Create Dimension
Double D Challenges:  Fun with Balloons

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Law Enforcement Appreciation

January 9th was Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and CCEE Stampers had a challenge to create a card for these dedicated professionals.  

I am so impressed with our county's K-9 Division!  We have several officers on the County and City Departments who have K-9 partners.  They go out on exhibitions for the public and I'm always amazed at what these officers can accomplish with their partners!  

So, thanks to these men and women and their dedication to their dogs and the community!  ...and of course, thanks to the dogs who work hard and put their lives on the line every time they go out, also!

Material List:  

GSD Stamp:  DragonFlyBuzz

Paper from stash

Kraft Cardstock

Copic Markers

Adhesives 

Deco Foil Gold Shattered Glass

Deco Foil Transfer Gel

CTMH Inks Retired

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade

Cricut Access for fonts, verbiage, star, shield

Cricut Maker

My card is off to the following Challenges:  

CCEE Stampers:  Law Enforcement Day

Stamping Sensations:  Favorite Stamps

The Library Challenge:  I was inspired by the dogs, stars, and colors from the book cover.

Sweet Stampin':  Attitude of Gratitude

2 Crafty Critter Crazies:  AG with a Critter

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Snow Much Fun!

Happy New Year!
  Snow...hmmm.  Love it or hate it, when you live in the Midwest US you're going to have it at some point! Snow Much Fun is our Theme over at Cut It Up!  Show us some snow, a snowman, snow angels, etc and don't forget your die cut!



This layout is full of snowy fun from The Cutting Cafe.  The snowflakes, round sentiment, and 'Let it Snow' sentiment are all from Fun with Snowflakes.  The snowman was added from Snowman Family Shaped Card Set.  

The digital snow flake paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  Snowflakes are cut from Cricut Holographic Sparkle Vinyl.  Let it Snow is cut from White Vinyl.  

Come over to Cut It Up and share your ideas!  

When you visit the Cut It Up blog, have fun viewing the DT projects and check out the rules and prize info.  Then be sure to share your project with us ~ don't forget the die cut to have a chance to win a prize from our amazing sponsors. 

This snowy layout is off to the following challenges:  

Dare 2B Artzy:  Winter

Lasting Memories:  New Technique, Tool, or Product (I used Holographic Vinyl for the first time!  I also tried stenciling snowflakes onto the actual picture using a homemade stencil and paint.)

Alphabet Challenge:  T is for Try Something New (I used Holographic Vinyl and added the image from one set to the round circle sentiment of another.)

If You Gave a Crafter a Cookie:  Photo 
Crafter's Cafe:  Something beginning with 'C' ~ Cutting Cafe Cuts, Cricut Holographic Vinyl, Cute Child (hee hee)
Daisy Chain:  Wintertime

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Tenacity or ?

Happy New Year!
This year I have decided to make a journal reflecting art, contemplation, study, etc.  It will have a bit of many life aspects; so hang on, this could become a somewhat 'twisty~turny' journey in journaling!  If you want to join me in this journey, we will be having lots of fun ideas/prompts over at the  Path of Positivity!  (However, you may share any sort of artistic medium over at PoP:  writing, cards, journals, scrapbooking, painting, sewing, etc as long as it is Positive!  The theme is optional.)  

*   *   *

Speaking of PoP......

Our first optional theme of the year over there is Character Traits.  I'm going down a path of self reflection into one of my best....or is it my worst?

When it comes to character traits, it seems what one person perceives as positive, another might see as a negative characteristic!  I always thought the trait of tenacity was a positive one, however....

As I consult the thesaurus and find synonyms for tenacity, I find tenacity is only positive in the eye of the beholder.  Hmm.... I see words like grit, bullheaded, nerve, willfulness, rigid, obstinance, *obduracy (now that's a fun word!), etc.  *Oh, don't bother looking up obduracy if you're not familiar with it; it means STUBBORNNESS!  I had to check that one out, so I'll save you the trouble!  

Ok, that's who I am!  I'll admit it!  I have said it before on my blog, and I'll say it again.... I never know when to give up.  I love the quote from Hannibal, "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam."  

Translated to English, "I shall either find a way or make one."  

I'll research a topic until my eyes blur.  I'll argue a point I believe in until I'm hoarse.  I'll say the same thing to a student a million different ways until I get the point across.  The more I fail, the more I yearn to succeed!  Oh, and if someone tells me it's impossible........  

Now, do I suffer pain from this trait?  Yes, sometimes!  Do I come across as a pain?  Probably!  Do I accomplish what I set out to achieve?  I definitely try!  Will I change?  Probably not! 

*   *   * 

About my journal
I'm just beginning this journal and the pages will be put together with a Cinch machine later as I see how it progresses.  The journal pages are 6 X 6 inches and will consist of different kinds of paper to meet the needs of the projects.  (That's the fun of making my own!)  

About this layout
The right hand page of this layout is the picture to writing on the left hand page.  I have some "reflective thoughts" I will add under the quote as well as some other quotes.  I used fonts from the Cricut Design Space for the background.  I added the books from the Cricut Access.  I actually added the verbiage/background, books, and digi using the flatten feature in Design Space.  
Then I cut a 2nd digi to Copic color and add to the top of the layout.  I added a bit of washi tape and some paper under the layout.  A few little gems and the definition of tenacity finished it off! 

This digi, Kidz - Sitter Girl Book
Copic Markers
Adhesives 
Gems from Stash
Washi Tape from Stash
Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Access for fonts, verbiage, books
Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Brown Sugar:  AG
Creative Knockouts:  AG
Bugaboo:  AG
Dragonfly Dreams:  AG

Be sure to come on 

over to 

Path of Positivity 

and see 

what the team 

thinks about Peace!  

You can also find 

more information 

about entering 

the challenge!  

Thanks to our 

wonderful sponsors this month:

and

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.

Follow the Recipe

Happy New Year!
It's time for a new challenge over at 

The Outlawz Twisted Thursday and our optional twist is Recipe; and the recipe is:  use 1ribbon, 2 word sentiment, 3 layers

I have used a digital stamp from our sponsor called Windflower Cottage from LeighSBDesigns Art Studio.  

Material List:
Image: Windflower Cottage
Copic Markers
Adhesives 
Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Access for sentiment
Cricut Maker

This cottage is off to the following challenges:  

Crafty Creations:  AG

little red wagon:  Use your NBUS (this is a new digi for me!)

Watercooler Wednesday:  AG

Papercraft:  AG

Be sure to visit
 The Outlawz Twisted Thursday for all the details about the challenge and to check out all fun inspiration from the DT and participants!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make yourself at home and feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave a comment, and/or check out my Pinterest and YouTube Channel.