To a Happy and Healthy 2012!

New Years Eve....wow....every time this year I wonder, "Where did the year go?"  Time goes by so quickly.  My Mother assures me that it continues to speed up as you age....great, something to look forward to in life.  Or better yet, something to plan for by taking the time now to slow down, enjoy life and engage in every moment. 

For me in 2012 this will mean taking time to craft more, for myself; to make all of those projects that Ive been wanting to make but just didn't have time time.  This year I'll make the time because making a project for my home gives me great joy, no other reason necessary really.  How will you make the time to do what brings you Joy?  Make it your resolution to make time for JOY in life because from joy very dream can come true. 

Before 2011 comes to a close I need to pick a winner from the 12 Artful Days of Christmas posts.  I loved reading the encouraging and always kind comments from the 12 daily posts. such good therapy! 

And the winner is........Deborah Makowski!   Thanks Deborah for your comments to each post, I loved reading them.  Deborah will receive a kit to make the 12 Tiny Tags!!  Hope she reads this post to know she's won!

Happy New Year to All! 

 

A 'dreamy" New Year

As card making goes it's that time of year to create a few Happy New Year cards.  I try not to make the front all about 'hapy new year" and all.  Maybe, just maybe, the recipient will love the card and want to keep it displayed a while (what every card maker hopes for anyway...); no need to limit that with a specific holiday phrase on the front.  Hence the "dream" stamp used on this card; more like "may your dreams come true in 2012". 

The image is a napkin with a page of book text behind it.  I love the faint way it shows through the napkin.  Decorative napkins and old book pages...who knew it could all make art?  I used the same technique on the Artful Tags kits that was for sale (they've since sold out, thanks to all who bought them)  As usual, texture and shape are added with the use of embossing plates and Spellbinders die cuts; could hardly craft without them anymore. 

When I need a couple cards in a hurry I try to design one card and make a few more assembly style; saves lots of time. 

Happy New Year!

Day 12: Tiny Tags

Day 12 of the 12 Artful Days of Christmas is here!  It's Tiny Tags!  I do love tags, large or small.  These tiny tags are especially fun to work with as they are little gems; each one a piece of art. 

I cannot believe how much fun this has been and how quickly the time has flown by.  I will continue to share the remaining projects I have after Christmas so stay tuned to the blog. 

The tiny tags were cut from the Tim Holtz die cut called "Tiny Tabs and Tags".  There are so many supplies used here, I could never list them all.  It was a fantastically fun project to use lots of my favorite stash supplies!

I may change up the background, but it'll have to wait until after the Holidays are behind us. I do like the tone on tone look of the ivory and white....but the white is a bit stark. What do you think?

Well, I'm excited and a bit sad that the 12 Artful days of Christmas are over. Ill do a drawing on New Years Eve for a special gift from the all of the posts days 1 through 12.

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday and New Year spent with people and activities that renew your spirit and bring you joy. To a happy and healthy 2012.

Day 11: "Believe" in Altered Art

Day 11 brings us a bit of "Believe" in Altered Art  home decor.  I love to shop the after holiday sales when items are slashed up to 90% off.  I love a good deal!  I picked up a couple things last year and have been meaning to alter them in some way.  From the Hallmark store I purchased a wooden 5 tea light holder and 5 red glass votive glasses for less than $10. 

It started out like this; you can see one of the red glass cups in the (very messy) background:

And after a covering of paper, metal trim from the 7 Gypsies, velvet ribbon and a Believe ornament ( bought this year at 70% off!) it looks like this:

And it matches this:

For me art really allows me an opportunity to enjoy the Holiday in a whole different way.  When I create a piece of art for my home it gives me joy each time I see it, pass by it or dust around it (ahhhh, the reality of house cleaning ;p)

I hope you are finding some time this season to create the art that brings you Joy!  Enjoy and Be Inspired!

Day 10: Make It Merry

Day 10 brings a "Make It Merry" card with a bit of country cozy home appeal.  It uses Wendy Vecchi's Studio 490 stamps and a fun twist on the red and green color combo. 

Only 2 more days left and I have more projects than that to share.  Next year I'll have to start earlier and post the 25 Artful Days of Christmas!  I hope you are having a much fun at this as I am.  Enjoy and Be Inspired!

Day 9: Doily Love

Day 9 brings us to another of my favorite craft items: the Doily.  From the craft store, party supply store or a die cut shape of which there are many.  They are lacy and old fashioned and add just a bit of vintage charm on a card. This card also has stitching, an old book page, embossed kraft paper, velvet punched holly leaves and red glittered pearls for berries; one of my all time favorite cards. 

May we proclaim Joy To The World this Holiday Season and Always.  Peace to you and yours. 

Day 8: Gift Cards Galore

Day 8 brings us to Gift Cards.   This is a gift card holder that has 2 pockets, one for the gift card and one for a personal note.  It's a fun way to package a simple gift card in a way that makes it more personalized.

These gift card holders are super easy to customize with the variety of rubber stamp images and papers available.  For example a Starbucks card could have coffee bean paper and themed rubber stamps images.  Enjoy and Be Inspired!

Day 7: JOY Banners

Day 7 brings us joyful banners proclaiming JOY!  Today was a joyous day filled with friends, crafting, food and theater.  That IS what Christmas Spirit is all about; being with people who fill your heart with joy! 

The JOY banners were so much fun to create.  Each of us chose papers unique to our style and it is amazing to see how beautiful they all turned out.  Simple construction with the help of Spellbinders die cuts, paper and some sparkle.  Have I mentioned that EVERYTHING is better with glitter?? 

3 friends + some paper and glue = hours of fun and good memories!  May your season be filled with JOY!  Be Inspired!

Day 6: 3 Sparkly Chicks

Day 6 brings us 3 Sparkly Chicks!  They are as cute as can be all glittered up and ready to party!  This is more of a 'clean and simple' design, not always my style but it worked for this fun card.  It's going to a friend who will laugh out loud at the hats, I'm sure.

 I'd have to say one of the most fun things about making handmade cards is to customize each one for the recipient.  Searching through my papers, stamps and embellishments to find the perfect combination is creative therapy at its best. 

What's your favorite part of paper crafting?   We are half way through the "12 Artful Days of Christmas".  I hope its been as much fun for you so far as it has for me.  Enjoy and Be Inspired!

Day 5: 3 Sisters

Day 5 and we're going on a trip down memory lane.  This card has a picture me with my 2 older sisters from sometime in the early 70's.  The coats crack me up...and the pants!!!; I imagine they were in style back then?  I'm on the far left in the red coat.  I imagine one sister will crack up over this and the other will roll her eyes and groan.  Some things never change......

It's a great example of being inspired by a photo.  I used papers that closely matched the coats; isn't it amazing that I HAD papers that closely matched the coats??  I know....crazy.....and proof that I need lots of papers cuz you never know what you'll need for a project ;p

Construction is simple, the papers were embossed with an embossing folder to add more texture. 

What old photos do you have in an album that can become an inspiration?

Enjoy and Be Inspired!

Day 4: Vintage Tag Card

Day 4 brings us to one of my favorite kinds of cards.  I LOVE-LOVE making TAG cards!  A regular ol' shipping tag is a fabulous little canvas for creating art. Tags will appear in an upcoming day as well in a home decor project that is almost finished.  This card is super simple to create and has lots of vintage appeal while still remaining flat, meaning it's easy to mail with no extra postage or packing.  The 'buttons' are paper from a Sizzix die tied with a bit of red/white bakers twine.  The snowflake is 2 punched shapes layered and coated with Martha Stewart's Crystal Fine Glitter; love the look!  Everything is better with glitter...or so I've heard ;p

Tag cards: "It' s a Good Thing"

  
I've got lots more to share, there are still 8 days remaining in the 12 Artful Days of Christmas.  I'm realizing I need to time the posts so that folks don't see their card on the blog before it arrives in the mail!  I hope you are inspired to create something fun.  Enjoy!

Day 3: Take your Penguin for a Spin!

It's Day 3 and I'm ready for a fun card; how about you?  This card is almost too cute to send.  I made 2 of them; one for my niece and nephew and one for my dear friend who loves the 'gwins".  It's a spinning penguin all frosty and cute.  I used a Tim Holtz Metal Game Spinner to allow the lil' guy to spin around.  Some white glitter makes him frosty white. 

I'm guessing it'll bring some fun to all the recipients.  I know I took him for a spin a time or two...check out the movie ;p

Day 2: A Banner year!

Day 2 brings a "Merry Christmas" Banner made for a dear colleague.  It was a special request, custom colors project.  It is truly art from the heart; made with love for a sweet person with a kind soul.  It uses the Tim Holtz "Artful Dwellings" die; how perfect!  Each 'house' is embellished with fancy trim, punched shapes and glittered letters.  There is even a clock tower house and Santa's key!  It was truly a fantastically fun project to make and once the Holidays settle down I may just make one for myself.   Sometimes it is AFTER Christmas is over that I can relax and enjoy some crafting time for 'christmas projects'; the best part is pulling them out the following year as something new!

Enjoy and Be Inspired!

The 12 Artful Days of Christmas!

Can you believe Christmas is right around the corner?!?  I can't!  I mean I'm almost ready, but nooottttt quite.  I thought in an effort to share some Crafty Goodness and Holiday Fun I'd share my current projects with you over the next 12 days...as I work on them right up until Christmas ;p
This first card is one made for my Mom and Dad.  Its rich velvety papers, gold German Scrap and glitter remind me of the lovely tree my Mom has all festooned with Victorian ornaments, lace and sparkle.  The photo does not do it justice, the texture and lushness are beautiful in person.  I must ask around the blog world to see how folks take such great pictures of artwork.

On a paper crafting note, you can make any punch/die cut shape 3D by using multiples of them.  Fold each one in half and attach them together end to end to create the 3D shape.

Stay tuned over the next 12 days for daily projects.  Feel free to post a comment and follow along.  I think it will be fun to have a drawing from all posted comments on Christmas Day for a special gift.