Vintage Christmas

How fun to work on a Christmas Card today using this lovely vintage image from Lemon Shortbread!  This digi stamp is Winter Package Gift and I thought it would make the perfect Christmas Card.  I have included lots of die cuts, heat embossing, stamping, gems, layering, etc.  

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Material List

Digi: Winter Package Gift from Lemon Shortbread

Copic Markers

Kraft Cardstock

Embossing Ink and Powders Clear, Gold, Bronze

CTMH Inks

Bo Bunny Double Dot Gems

Polkadoodles Winnie Winterland paper and Love and Kisses Bow

Several Retired CTMH Stamp Sets

Cricut Access:  Print and Cut

Cricut Cuts:  Little tags hanging from bow #M359AF and #M37CD5 from Heritage; Border #M40ECB and Oval #M4052F from CTMHArt Philosophy; Holly Berry from Winter Woodland #M42F75; 

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Merry Litte Christmas:  AG

12 Months of Christmas:  AG Christmas Card

Christmas Crafts All Year:  K/L I used Kraft paper; Lemon Shortbread digi

Holly and Ivy Christmas:  AG Christmas

CRAFT:  Shabby Chic

Krafty Chicks:  Occasions

Lemon Shortbread:  AG

Aud Sentiments:  AG with a Sentiment

Crafting Challenge:  Add embellishments

Christmas Craft Creations:  Heat embossing

TTCRD:  AG

Colour Crazy:  AG Hand coloured

CD Sunday Plus:  AG using CD, USB or digital Download

International Art & Soul:  Holidays, here or abroad

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.

Bloom and Record those New Experiences!

 As we meander a Path of Positivity, we are challenging you to "Have a New Experience" in your life!  This can be anywhere in your life from the craft room to changing up daily routines!  

I decided to make an art/flower journal book for Cass to 'document' her new gardening experience!  Now, Cass is 5 1/2 and getting ready to start Kindergarten in the fall.  So, I thought this would be a fun project for her.  The idea is to put photos of her flowers in here as well as photos of her planting, watering, and such.  There are also pages of mixed media paper for her to draw, paint, collage, etc.  The little flip cards have elementary school style lines for her to write some words if she chooses.

Gardening is a new experience for Cass and me!  I've never been much to keep plants alive, but I'm willing to give it a go for her to learn about the beauty of the earth and caring for it!  

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So, are you inspired to try something a little different ... set off on a new adventure of some kind?  Let us know what you are doing!

   We'd like to hear your ideas at Path of Positivity!  Come share them with us!  

Remember, you may share any sort of artistic medium over at PoP:  writing, cards, journals, scrapbooking, painting, sewing, baking, needle crafts, etc as long as it is positive!  The theme is always optional.  

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Material List

Digi:   Three Birdhouses from PattiesCreations

Copics, Gel Pens

Cloud Paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Taste of Summer

Art Quote from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles

Cricut Access:  Title Font:  Cuttin' Up

Bo Bunny Double Dot Gems

Versa Mark Embossing Ink and Embossing Powders for layering pieces

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade

Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

A Place to Start:  Create Your Own Challenge

Colouring in Scrapland:  Free Time (Gardening and Art Journaling with my GrandGirl!)

Unicorn:  For a Baby/Child

A Bit More Time to Craft:  AG

Sognando:  Free Time (Gardening and Art Journaling with my GrandGirl!)

Dream Valley:  Summer Fun

Inspiration Station:  Be Kind ~ I'm inspired by the words.  I want to be kind and model kindness through teaching care for the earth, animals, and each other.  Watching this little 5 1/2 year old slow down and care about her flowers and document their growth is so wonderful!  It's so fun to watch her experience life outside of herself!

Be sure to come on 

over to 

Path of Positivity 

and see 

what the team 

thinks about our optional twist!  

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.

Curious Otter

This adorable image is from FabrikaFantasy.   I've grown to love Fantasy coloring; it's easy to become somewhat addicted to these whimsical images.  I find them challenging my skills and creativity and that is great fun for me!  It's also fun because there really are no rules in fantasy; I can just do what strikes me at the moment! 

I chose to make this coloring book page into a birthday card for my daughter who loves otters! 

 Material List 

Digi:  Curious Otter Page from Four Magics from FabrikaFantasy

Copic Markers

Layering Cardstock/papers from CTMH (retired)

Sparkle dots from CTMH (retired)

Lace colored with CTMH re-inker

Twine CTMH (retired)

Colored burlap

Metal Slide Pendant from old sandal!

This Card is off to  these challenges:  

Simon Says Stamp:  Animal Antics

Little Red Wagon:  Bits ~  Lots of Bits here:  the piece of twine was cut from prior, strip of cardstock is a header from a piece of CS I had cut and left about, the metal piece was cut off a broken sandal and laying on the table.  Basically everything here is retired.  

bastel-traum:  Animals

Everybody Art:  bingo

2 Crazy Craft Critters:  AG with Critter

Creatalicious:  AG optional at/in the water

Classic Design:  AG  sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy 

Alphabet:  F is for Furry Friends

Crafty Catz:  AG w/opt Animal Twist

As You Like It:  Fav Tip and Use It on Project ~ My tip is to shop your own house...not just your craft stash!  I'm constantly inspired by stuff around the house!  In this case, it was a broken sandal!  Warning:  This could turn your home into an episode of Hoarders!  

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.

Americana for the 4th

 Time to celebrate our the 4th of July at our Challenge over at Cut It Up!  

How do you celebrate?  Cook outs, parades, parties, cards?  All great ideas!  Come share your thoughts with us!

I was perusing Pinterest and found this great T shirt with a flag motif on a big flower and decided I wanted to replicate it.  So, I remember a lovely Conie Fong digi I could easily turn into a print and cut in Cricut Design Space!  

This little sunflower comes from Sunflower Pumpkin Bundle, but here's a secret for you!  If you want to try the sunflower alone, Conie has it on her FaceBook page free!  Come on over and join the page!  

I uploaded my flower digi into Cricut Design Space and did a Print and Cut using Arches Watercolor Paper.  It's easy to cut if you change your settings!  No problem making this into a die cut!

Now, I'll admit, I was going to watercolor this and changed my mind after printing.  This would easily work on cardstock!  I chose to use tape down stripes and use CTMH inks to color.  I did try some embossing and had a bit of a blip with that on the WC Paper.  I'll have to investigate that further, but if any of you have ideas on this, I'd love to hear them!  I continued with some stamping.  

On my background piece, I stamped the sentiment FIRST and then embossed placing my folder carefully around it!  

So, how are you inspired by this challenge?  Come share your ideas with us at Cut It Up!

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Material List:  

Flower Digi from Sunflower Pumpkin Bundle **

Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper

CTMH Inks

CTMH Stamp (retired)

CTMH Enamel Stars

Gear from Stash

Script Stamp Embossing Powders and Ink

Black and Brown Gel Pens

Cardstock

CTMH Embossing Folder (retired) Embroidery Floss

Up-cycled blue cardstock from old calendar

Adhesives

Cricut Maker:  Print and Cut

Cricut Standard Mat
Cricut Blade

 

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 project is off to the following challenges: 

Heart 2 Heart:  Get Inky (Include CTMH product)

Double D:  Signs of Summer

Aud Sentiment:  AG + Sentiment

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. 

Embossing Some Spots

 It's time for a new challenge over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday and the optional twist is:  Emboss It.

    Material List 

Digi:  Spring LadyBug from our sponsor StarStampz

 Copic Markers, Gel Pens

CTMH Inks

Embossing Folder

Embossing ink and powders

Studio G Glitter Glue Clear

Cricut Design Space Print and Cut

Ribbon for bow

Cricut Access:  Polka Dots Overlay #M45202 from CTMH Artbooking

Cricut Print and Cut

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

This card is off to these challenges:  

AllSorts:  Butterflies and Bugs

TTCRD:  AG

Crafter's Cafe:  Insects/Butterflies

StarStampz:  TicTacToe

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.

Horse Hatter Here!

 Today I'm pulling a newer Hetty Clare image for a fun decor piece with some vintage looking coloring techniques!  I always enjoy these images since they truly represent what goes on over here in our crazy horse world!  hee hee 

This guy is so fun; I love the sarcasm of the Mad Hatter from Alice and this horse seems to capture the character perfectly!  

My horse, Thunder, can exhibit this personality at times; he cracks me up!

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Material List

Digi: Mad Hatter Party Pony from Hetty Clare

Copic Markers

Kraft Cardstock

Clock Embossing Folder

Embossing Ink and Powder for background oval

CTMH Inks

Buttons

Movie camera die from LDRS Magical Slider (retired)

Polkadoodles Distressed Wood Cardstock

Cricut Access:  Print and Cut

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Daisy Chain Challenges:  Cute Animals

2 Crafty Critter Crazies:  AG with Critters

Let's Craft and Create:  Add Buttons

Your Scrapbook Place:  AG extra entry if use sponsor image!!

Incy Wincy:  For the Men &/or Kraft card/paper

Creative Knockouts:  AG

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers:  T is for Texture

Paper Funday:  AG with opt twist~ Sparkle and /or shine

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.

Happiness colors!

 Conie Fong has adorable digi bundles for animal lovers and Maisy with her beautiful flowers is just perfect for your summer time crafting!  Wouldn't she be so lovely on a shower card or summer bouquet?    

Be sure to visit the the Conie Fong FB Page for challenges and images:  Conie Fong FaceBook Challenge.  There are different challenges: one for coloring and one for completed projects! 

Material List:

Digi Image/stamp: Maisy and Cory Mice Bundle from Conie Fong

Copic Markers

Raffia Paper Bow

CTMH Gems colored with Copic Markers

CTMH Pattern Paper (retired)

Cricut Access

Tag Die Cut from CTMH Art Philosophy #M406F9

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

I'm sending this off to the following challenges:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies:  AG with a critter

Classic Design Challenge:  AG

CCC Digi Creations:  AG

Crafty Animals:  AG w/an Animal!

Dream Valley:  Die Cuts &/or Punches

Beyond the Blue:  Use Pattern Paper

Crafty Catz:  AG

Time Out:  Inspired by words~ flowers, child, bright colors

Daisy Chain:  Cute Animals

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.

Have a New Experience!!

As we meander a Path of Positivity, we are challenging you to "Have a New Experience" in your life!  This can be anywhere in your life from the craft room to changing up daily routines!  

Nothing quite shakes up your day like doing something new and there are so many benefits to getting out of your routine a bit!  

Increases Confidence 

Time Becomes More Memorable and Valuable

Fear Takes a Backseat and Your Sense of Adventure Grows

Teaches Patience and Humility

You Get to Know Yourself Better

Creativity and Brainpower are Stimulated

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About my piece

This is a cover for a new art journal!  I have really gotten "into" making journals lately...will I ever fill them all?  Hmmm.....  Maybe I need to give some away!  

I really got out of my comfort zone and took apart this wonderful digital stamp, KOKOPELLI Southwestern Tile,  from pattiescreations.  I have a real fascination with Kokopelli and Native American folklore, so this image was perfect for me.  Pattie has a couple of Kokopelli images and several wonderful nature images I considered, but I landed on this one!  

I imported this digital stamp into my Cricut Design Space and started playing/experimenting.  I ended up cutting the border from Acetate Alternative so I would have a stencil.  Then I printed the center on Arches Cold Press Watercolor.  

Now, I'm not a watercolorist!  This is very new for me, so I grabbed my neglected Derwent Inktense Water Color Pencils I purchased from Dick Blick while we were in Cleveland three years ago.  I picked up about 10 or so to try and never really did much with them.  I have to say, I love the color and texture it gave this piece!  I colored the sun with some CTMH ink and a sponge.

The cover itself is made from a scrap of art frame board...the kind one uses for photos and such.  I cut my size and left room for the binding which I'll do with my Cinch machine once I decide what papers I want in it!  (Sometimes when I make them for myself, I add finished pages and then Cinch it when I have all the pages done.)  I covered the board in Distress Oxide Inks:  Peacock and Vintage Photo.  I then used my stencil and applied Bo Bunny Glitter Paste to the suns and a paint mixture to the arrow pattern.  

My paint mixture recipe: 

Blick Paint Pearl White

Folk Art Metallic Pure Gold Paint

CTMH Blush and Honey Re-inker

Bo Bunny Glitter Paste 

Bo Bunny Bronze Shimmer Spray

I matted a piece of cardstock and layered my colored center on top at an angle.  Some CTMH Gems and old jewelry pieces finish it off!

*   *   *  

 

So, are you inspired to try something a little different ... set off on a new adventure of some kind?  Let us know what you are doing!

   We'd like to hear your ideas at Path of Positivity!  Come share them with us!  

Remember, you may share any sort of artistic medium over at PoP:  writing, cards, journals, scrapbooking, painting, sewing, baking, needle crafts, etc as long as it is positive!  The theme is always optional.  

*   *   * 

Material List

Digi:  KOKOPELLI Southwestern Tile from PattiesCreations

Derwent Inktense Pencils

Arches Cold Press WaterColor Paper

Acetate Alternative for homemade stencil

CTMH Ink for Sun

Ranger Distressed Vintage Photo Ink and Peacock Feather

Paint Mixture: Recipe above

CTMH Mocha Gems and old jewelry from Stash

Bo Bunny Glitter Paste

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade

Cricut Maker

The Cinch Book Binding Machine will be used to bind this journal

 Sharing with these challenges:  

Krafty Chicks:  Stamp Act

Paper Funday:  Sparkle &/or Shine
Colour Crazy Challenge:  AG Hand Colored

Allsorts:  Magical Worlds

Fairy and the Unicorn:  AG Fantasy

CD Sunday Plus:  AG using a CD, USB or Digi download on a physical piece

WWODT:  AG

Creative Artiste:  AG Mixed Media

Simon Says:  Mixed Media

Addicted to Stamps:  Make Your Mark

Be sure to come on 

over to 

Path of Positivity 

and see 

what the team 

thinks about our optional twist!  

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.

Gnome-thing Fun!

 Shaped Card or Fun Fold is the new Challenge over at Cut It Up!  I've decided to make a shaped card with our sponsor's Fun with Gnomes Templates and cutting Files.   Lots to choose from here and I decided to make him into a Christmas Card although he could easily double as a tag!  I brought in the Ho, Ho, Ho sentiment from Cutting Cafe Christmas Colored Basic Images Black and White Mini.

So, how are you inspired by this challenge?  Come share your ideas with us at Cut It Up!

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Material List:  

Cutting Cafe Fun with Gnomes Templates and cutting Files

Sentiment from Christmas Colored Basic Images Black and White Mini

Ho, Ho, Ho paper from Polkadoodles

Solid Cardstock from CTMH

Embossing Powder and Ink

Copic Markers

Ranger Distress Ink Vintage Photo

CTMH Cardstock

Ribbon

Gem

Adhesives

Cricut Maker

Cricut Standard Mat
Cricut Blade

 

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 project is off to the following challenges: 

12 Months of Christmas:  Christmas/December Holiday Cards

Merry Little Christmas:  AG

ABC Christmas:  L is for Letters; M is for Mistletoe - I chose L

Fezziwigs Festive Frolics:  Red and Green

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. 

For Him....well, hmm!

 It's time for a new challenge over at The Outlawz Twisted Thursday and the optional twist is:  For Him  

I went with more of a "thinking of him" sort of idea since this is my Dad's birthday!  Now, I think back to when I was a kid, and I so would have said something like Alice said and my dad must have been thinking these very words!  I did twice as much talking as thinking and I know this drove Dad and Grandpa crazy as I would hang around the Funeral Home with them!

Funny, how these memories come back as I'm crafting!  So, this piece is for me thinking of Dad, his dad, and now my own husband -- as he listens to our daughter and grandgirls doing the same thing!

  Material List 

Digi:  MadHatter from our sponsor StarStampz

 Copic Markers, Gel Pens

Digital Cardstock designs from Imagine That Digi Stamp (Retired)

Photo Frame Board (Scrap)

CTMH Inks

Cheese Cloth

Stencils

CTMH Gold Glitter Glue (retired)

Paints various from stash

Embossing ink and powders

Gear, Threads, Buttons from Stash

CTMH Mocha Gems (retired)

CTMH Gold Puffy Stickers (retired)

CTMH Hat Pen (retired)

Blue Hat Pen is corsage pen colored with Copic Marker

Flowers from Stash

Cricut Design Space Print and Cut

Cricut Access:  Sentiment text font A Child's Year and Cricut Sans

Books:  #M143D70E3 from Teacher Gifts

Top Hat:  #M44A6C Gingerbread

Top Hat:  #M8A11C85 Winter Woodland

Steaming Tea Cup (with modification): #M876B564 from London's Calling  

Cricut Standard Mat

Cricut Blade
Cricut Maker

This piece is off to these challenges:  

WWODT:  AG

Double Trouble:  Something, Anything, Everything and Optional YoYo Fun

Thing 1~ Use the stuff you have in stash

Thing 2~ Link with Crafter's Cafe AG

Twisted Sister~ Yoyo Trick Names:  Gravity Pull and Time Warp!

Creative Knockouts:  For the Boys

We Love 2 Create:  AG Mixed Media

Scrapping 4 Fun:  Male/Father's Day/Masculine

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.