Chasin' the Blues Away

When I'm down in the dumps, the best thing I can do to improve my mood is to craft something.

I've been this way forever.

Years ago, I used to be a tole painter - I would head for the basement any time I was angry, upset, or just feeling blue, and paint the night away.

I used to romanticize this by comparing myself to an oyster - taking all the little irritants in life, and creating something beautiful out of them.
(Pollyanna syndrome.)

Anyway, it's been a cold gloomy week, and all kinds of things have gone wrong, so yesterday I put up the craft table, popped the Gilmore Girls in the DVD player, and indulged myself in some crafty therapy.

Good for what ails you.

Before I knew it, the whole family was right there with me.



Here's the result...

This card has been lurking in the back of my mind for a week or more.
Geraniums always make me think of my mom.
She often had them growing in the window sills at home. They are such bright cheery colors - I can still smell them...


This one gave me a really hard time.
I had something completely different in mind when I started it, but it had a ideas of it's own.
We battled it out for a while, but it won...


Lastly, this little puppy came together almost all by itself.
Effortless.



I've been busy scrapbooking lately too - documenting that Disney trip.
I'll post pictures of that project when I finish, (and when I get a better grip on using my new camera indoors.) :-)

Thanks for the visit!
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Me Again

Hi - remember me? It's been a while...

This place is becoming like a vacation home, I own it, but I'm never here!

Been busy, busy, busy working the toy department this winter, and most of my crafting has been on the sewing machine. But I recently made these two cards - just because I desperately needed the down time.

I was shopping online for some Christmas papers, when I ran across this little set by Basic Grey called "Little Black Dress."
I don't know how this one got by me - I am on all their mailing lists, and their Facebook page, But somehow this one got released without my knowing!

I snatched it up in a heartbeat (you know how I feel about Black & White!) ...And created this little girlie card - just for fun.


While I was working on this one, the thought crept into my mind... I wonder what a Christmas card would look like in this color scheme...
Hence, this second one was born:



Sorry for the poor photo quality, finding good light at this time of year is tricky business.

That's probably all the creating I will get to do before the Holidays are here,
So, wishing you all the best for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Crafty New Year!

*P.S. I used sketches from Mojo Monday for both of these - a link is in my sidebar.
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Happy Halloween!

I started a new job this month and have been much too busy to play - although I am looking very Halloweenie today - bloodshot eyes, hunched back, bed head hair sticking out everywhere... I even have a bloody slash on my hand (box cutting accident - I'm such a klutz!)

I found some really fun Videos on YouTube today though - I'll share those instead of my own work.

Enjoy!

Playing Catch Up

The thing about posting challenges is, you pretty much have to
do them yourself!
Here it is Thursday, and I'm just getting around to this.
(See previous post.)

I didn't have any definite ideas to start with, just a list of possible materials I could use, (which I didn't use any of) - but once I got started it was fun manipulating this theme.

What I like about this room is that it is definitely a country feel, but it also has a sense of sophistication about it. I love the distressed surfaces, the textures, the color scheme - AND the simplicity.

I planned to throw in some burlap - and I even have some stickers that echo those letters on the wall hanging, but the ideas went in another direction...
(I was even toying with using that funky chicken!)

As you can see, I like this one - I'm thinking I'll file this idea in the back of my brain and use it again sometime.

If I do this again, (which, I might) I need to add a sidebar to the challenge (for myself) that I have to use what I have and not go buy anything else! LOL!

...Anyway, here are mine - where is yours? :-)
(I did a couple just because it's hard to stop!)


Card # 1

Card # 2

Want to Play With Me?

I need some motivation!

How's about a little challenge?

I've been looking at some of my favorite blogs lately, just enjoying all the beautiful eye candy, and have found so many pictures that I love!

I'll post one here, and we'll do some kind of project based on the photo.
You can draw anything from the photo you choose - color scheme, theme, pick any of the elements to incorporate in your project, etc.

Sound good?

I'll share mine too - say, any time between now and next Friday?
No prizes or anything, just an opportunity to shake things up and have some fun sharing, neighbor to neighbor.

Here's the photo:


(picture via another passenger)

Okay, are you with me?

Let's GO!
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Sweet September

September is here and the long HOT Summer comes to a close.

My youngest and I have a tradition each Fall where we pick the date when we think the leaves will start turning in the valley.

The loser treats the winner to ice cream!

It's been so miserably warm this year that I was going to guess the first of October, but someone flipped the Autumn switch last night - the breeze coming in my window was downright chilly!

...So I'm thinking I'll have to adjust my projection.

I've had a few days off this week, so I wanted to start some projects.
I ran up to my little LSS just to find a flower die I've been needing, and got lost in a sea of great new stuff!

I've been loving My Mind's Eye's Lost & Found series, and there have been some new lines added.

This "Sunshine" one had me drooling! I love that they have added the 6x6 paper pads to this line. (Perfect for cards!)
It practically dove into my hot little hands - it's all the things I'm loving right now. Warm golden colors, vintage patterns, gentle sentiments - yum!

Spent a happy day playing with it...


This card had me a little frustrated.
I tried three times to get that Post Card stamp to work, but for some reason it remained unreadable - so I plopped a scrolly sticker on top of it.
Hopefully, no one will be the wiser. :-)



I've got today off too - what will I do?
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Child's Play

Yesterday, I had just gone down to my craft room, determined to make something fun for a change, when my daughter in law peeked around the door with her little girl in tow.

The little one had a pout on her that Paul Bunyan could trip over.

With her sisters back in school, she is adjusting to long lonely days with just her and her mom, so she had asked to come for a visit.

It took a while to get her talking - I had to ask a lot of questions to find out what she wanted to do.
Running out of ideas, I asked her if she would like to come and make a card with me. She finally perked up and started talking.

We returned to the craft room, where she started to respond to things like; "What color would you like it?" etc.

She helped me pick out materials, and I let her choose where to place them.
Soon she was happy and babbling and ready to go on with the day.

She took her card with her, but she had wanted to do some for her sisters when we ran out of time and she had to go.

She had picked out colors and papers for them, so I promised I would finish them and deliver them on Sunday when they come for dinner.

This is not at all what I intended to spend my day on, and not exactly my taste, but crafting isn't always about me...

This one is for the middle sister - she is all girly and loves color
(and sparklies and bows!)

The colors look blue here, but they are actually a deep purple...



This one is for the oldest sis. She (like her grandma) loves aqua blues.
She's not quite as girly, but she likes interesting patterns and shapes...



I don't have to worry if they'll like them - they are always excited and happy just to be thought of (I love that!)

So, until Sunday...
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