Card Crafting Thursday

I am so excited  that you have found your way to my blog today.  Of all the places in the world you could be at this moment, you have chosen to be here, and I thank you , so very much!! I have realized how important it is to spend time pursuing our creative side, no matter what craft we like to do. Crafting is so therapeutic, I don't know what I would do without it!

Today I made an Easter card with the help of my Cricut machine.  I used my Lacy Labels cartridge and my Holiday Cakes cartridge to cut out the main part of the card. The rest of the card I just went a little wild with to make it look shabby chic.  I ripped the stripes, and also the backing of the sentiment.  I  added some pearl embellishments to make the card a little more elegant.  I used my new bakers twine both on the neck of the bunny, and around the entire card because I liked how it looked.  I was just having fun making this card which had no design to start with, it actually turned out quite beautifully.

 I am entering this card in the following challenges:

fantabulouscricut+

cutiepiechallenge:easter

craftspotbykimberly:strings and things

thedynamicduoschallenge-monochromatic-pinks

 Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Your kind comments are so appreciated and each one makes my day! Hugs, Cathryn

WOYWW

Another Wednesday, another work desk...well, actually I took two pictures of my work desk today. The first picture I took when I first came into my craft room. I had not tidied up after my last craft session, and decided oh well, who ever reads this blog will understand a messy desk!  This is earlier this morning.

I had been working on my cards for my card making class that I am taking at my creative classroom. So you can see a couple of the cards on the table with my course outline. 

Today I was working on making a spring/easter card with my cricut machine and so I took another picture of my messy desk in the process of making the card which I will be posting tomorrow on my blog.

I must say, I just love having a craft room and being able to spend time there. When I am in there time just seems to disappear. Although I may not have the best of the best, I do appreciate all that I have and I especially appreciate the time that I have each day to create!!!

Thank you for taking a little peek into my crafting world.  I appreciate all comments that are left for me, and I would be grateful if you would choose to become a follower!

Paper Crafting Fun!

Well it is the beginning of a new week and I hope all of you, my dear blog readers have had a wonderful weekend enjoying the great outdoors, or indoors, or what ever makes an enjoyable weekend for you!!  I have come to realize that it is important to enjoy each day as it comes, no matter the weather, to enjoy the people we are with, and to make the most of each day we have!

Today I was particularly blessed to have a visit with a dear friend, then I came home and spent some time mucking around in my craft room. Oh how I love to spend time in the craft room playing with my tools and being creative! Today I was playing with some of my roller stamps from stampin up  and was able to come up with a cute card from a sketch  from seizethebirthday . I just love the talented artists that provide us with sketches on so many of the challenge sites and am so thankful that they are willing to share their work in this generous way.  I have chosen to do my card with a very spring theme as well to enter the challenge at  addicted to cas .

I would just like to mention what CAS means for those of you who may not know. This is taken from the addictedtocas.blogspot

                                                           It means clean and simple. 

This means that you must create a project with very few embellishments (I know it's hard), clean lines and lots of 'white' space.

White space just means an area of your card with nothing on it at all. It doesn't have to be 'white'. It could be brown, pink or red. Any colour as long as there is lots of SPACE.

The card is very simple and self explanatory. I hope you love it as much as I do! 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

addictedtocas:spring

seizethebirthday:feminine-birthday

Thank you so much for coming to my blog today. I would love for you to leave me a comment, and please join me as a follower!

WOYWW

Welcome to my crafty little space in Kamloops Canada. This is my first time posting here at WOYWW.  Here on my workspace today I am getting ready to start an assignment for a class I am taking at mycreativeclassroom.com.   I may not get to this assignment today, because my granddaughter Madilyn is coming for a visit, YIPEE, this is what my desk is set up for. 

I am currently working in our guest room in a small area where , when I turn my chair around the bed is right there. So I have a lot of my materials stashed on the bed at the moment.  My hubby is making me a new craft room, which should be completed in about 6 weeks which I am really excited about.  I also took a close up of a few things on the desk just so you could take a peek. I have a couple of bins with my often used products in them, as well as some new flowers I have just learned how to make, and a card I was just experimenting with yesterday.

I look forward to peeking into your little craft spaces, thank you so much for dropping into mine. I would love for you to leave me a comment and join me as a follower!

Technique Tuesday

Welcome my dear friends and followers and those new to my blog today. I hope you will take a peek around. I am just coming up to my 2 month birthday here, so am still learning the ropes, one day at a time.  I enjoy being able to share my creative work and I appreciate that so many people have found their way to see what I am doing in my little space in cyberworld. 

This piece of have to share today is a piece of art, not a card or a tag. It is a project I have done for a cardmaking class I am taking at My Creative Classroom.  My girlfriend Debra shared a wonderful saying with me the other day that goes like this:

"Your mind is like a parachute, it doesn't take you where you need to go unless it is open".

For this piece of work, I had to open my mind to adapt to new kind of work called a mood board. Although I didn't follow the directions exactly,  what I came up with I really love. We were instructed to  Start with one color, then  to find other colors that would flow with that color and place them in a creative way on our piece.  Then we were to find the opposite color on the color wheel as a contrasting color to add a pop to the page.  So as you can see from my piece, I started with a light orange and moved into the dark orange, than browns and rusty tones,  adding the blue which is the opposite color on the wheel. I also played with shapes and textures with the tearing, button, flower, and the glitz and really love the way this turned out.

I sure don't claim to be a good photographer, but this at least gives you an idea. The picture is about
7" x 7" . I am entering in to a few challenges because I like the exposure it gives me to some of the best designers out there.

paper-craftingjourney:anything-but-card

cutecardthursday:anything-goes

 onestopcraftchallenge:anything-goes

pinandtack:.spark-your-creatitivity-now-challenge

 Thank you so very much for stopping by my blog today. Special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment. I read each and every one and truly appreciate them.  Please consider joining me as a follower, it would be an honor to have you.

It's a New Week!

Hello my sweet blog readers, I hope you have had a wonderful weekend! I feel so privileged to know that my good friends, and folks I have never met, will find their way to my little piece of crafty heaven. This blog is so therapeutic for me. It gives me a place to share my creative pieces of work, and a reason to make them in the first place.  I am so thankful I found the courage to start this journey and I am ever so grateful for all the people I have met along the way who have supported me through kind words, technical support, and encouragement.  If you have found your way here today, give yourself a hug from me, if I could, I would give you one myself!!!

Today I am sharing a TAG. This is a first for me, a step somewhat out of my card comfort zone.  I think it is important every once in awhile to step out of my card comfort zone. It is important to stretch myself in ways that aren't always comfortable. In these times, I learn new things,mostly by making mistakes and starting over again-hey that's the fun of learning! It's an important part of the process.

The tag is from a sketch from jen  I pretty much followed the sketch using my favorite colors. For the circle I ripped the papers and added a star stamp from   Stampin Up  . It turned out looking like a sunset. I finished off with a sentiment that says 'sending hugs'. I used mostly scrap pieces of paper to make the tag, and inked the edges with Tim Holtz walnut ink. I love how it turned out and will look forward to making another tag in the future.

I hope you will have some time this week to engage our own creative spirit! For all of you on March Break...have a good one!!!!

I am entering this tag in the following challenges:

deconstructingjen:sketch

paper-craftingjourney:anything-but-card

pinandtack:spark-your-creatitivity-now:anything goes

sentimentalsundays:anything-goes+ a sentiment

Thank you so very much for coming to my blog today. Please consider becoming a follower. I do so appreciate any comments you may leave for me. Have a wonderful day, Hugs, Cathryn

Thoughtful Thursday

It is Thursday already, it seems as if the week has just flown by! I hope you have all been having a great week, learning something new each day! 

 I was inspired to make a card for the tuesday morning sketches challenge when I saw that this week they are being sponsored by My Creative Classroom . I have taken several classes at My Creative Classroom, and the teachers and courses are just awesome, so whoever is the winner of this challenge will be greatly blessed to receive a free class.  If you have never been to check out My Creative Classroom, they have many courses that are certainly worth checking out.

When I read the challenge for the week, I knew it would be a difficult one for me.  First off, I love to work from sketches, so this part was great, but this week they added a twist which is to do the card in monochromatic GREEN.  As much as I love green,  it is one color that I find very difficult to work with, especially solo.  So off to my craft space I went.  I pulled out all my greens, and stared. Yup, just stared for quite awhile...then I decided on the focal point of the card, which I just love...I made it with my Lacy Labels cricut cartridge.  So I placed it on the card and stared some more.  I found the background piece of paper to compliment the main piece, but I just could not figure out what to do next.

When I finally clicked in to what I needed to do is when I started tearing paper.  The rest of the card is very pristine, but it needed something totally different. The torn paper did that.  Like in life, it is often the things that suprise us most that seem to be just what we need. I then was able to play with embellishments adding the stars from my Don Juan cricut cartridge and the swirls from my Cindy Lou Cricut cartridge.  The pearls I added for a touch of elegance, beside the torn paper. I think the effect works very well together.

 I am entering this card in the following challenges:

tuesdaymorningsketches:sketch and monochromatic green

thepinkelephantchallenge: the color green 

cupcakecraftchallenges: its only words 

 I would like to thank you so much for coming to my blog  today.  This blog has been a source of joy and inspiration for me as I hope it has been for others. I would be so honored if you would choose to become a follower of my blog. My goal is to have 100 followers before my birthday which is in August. You can help me reach that goal by joining me now.

 Each and every comment received is  read and appreciated more than you will ever know.

A Pretty Card For Spring

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful week so far.  Yesterday I posted a picture of some beautiful green, sprouting out of my garden which assures me that spring is just a heart beat away. Then this morning I awoke to a ground covered in fresh snow!  Wow, you just never know what is going to happen from one day to the next. This was  a simple reminder to enjoy every day, every moment because you just never know what is around the corner.  I remember reading a quote once that said 
'Life is not a dress rehearsal'.  How true, we must try to make the most out of each day we have.

The card I have for you today is a pretty spring card that I was inspired to make by the 100th birthday challenge at fridaymashup.   
They are having a special challenge this week where you can choose from any of their 100 challenges. This card I have made comes from challenge #21 which is to use the sketch, and use dry embossing.  Here is the sketch

Here is my card:

 

I never think the cards look quite as stunning in the pictures as they do in person, but I really love this card.  I have made it on a pink polka dot paper which is bought as a single from Michaels.  The embossed sheets are both linen papers done with a cuttlebug embossing folder and I added little white pearls to add a touch of elegance.  I made the flower with my Ultimate Creative Sampler Cartridge for my Cricut machine.   I decided not to add a sentiment because I have someone in mind to give it to and didn't have the right words to put on it.  

I think this little card though simple has a real spring like feel to it and a simple touch of class, I hope you like it too.

Besides entering it in the Friday Mashup I will also be entering this card in the following challenges:

.fridaymashup: #21- sketch and dry embossing

fussyandfancychallenge: flowers 

.creativetimeforme: spring related/ add a die cut 

cutecardthursday: spring fever 

I would like to thank you so much for coming to my blog  today.  This blog has been a source of joy and inspiration for me as I hope it has been for others. I would be so honored if you would choose to become a follower of my blog. My goal is to have 100 followers before my birthday which is in August. You can help me reach that goal by joining me now.

 Each and every comment received is  read and appreciated more than you will ever know.

Magic Monday!

Wow, today was just a little bit Magical!  After deciding on making a spring card, I thought I would take a little walk around my own yard to see if there were any signs of spring and lo and behold there before my very eyes, peaking out from under the old fallen leaves was this most beautiful magical spring sight...

 Now obviously this has been peaking through for a little while, but I had not noticed it because I wasn't looking!  Funny how that can happen in life.  There are wonderful things happening all around us all the time and unless we are actually looking for them we will not see them. We have all heard the saying 'Stop and Smell the Roses', so today, I invite you to take a moment  to notice something around you that is truly a wonderful blessing in your life. Stop, take a deep breathe, and ENJOY!

The card of have today is based on a sketch I found at fridaymashup: 100th celebration #43  The idea of this challenge is they offer two ideas and you can use one or the other or both.  For challenge 43, I chose to use the sketch, and the flower is a new idea that I learned at a scrap booking weekend last Saturday.  I have also chosen a spring theme as this is a favorite idea in several challenges this week. I love to mix up several challenges as I find this excites my creative process. And voila!

I love the look of the different dots, and the color blocking, as well as the different textures and layers.  The papers are all bought in singles from Michaels, and the stamp is from Studio 112. If you are interested in learning more about this beautiful flower, please contact janice and she would be happy to let you know how to make this lovely flower.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

fridaymashup:sketch #43 & something new from stash

ribboncarousel:-spring-is-in-air: add ribbon or twine

fussyandfancychallenge:flowers

cas-ualfridays: color blocks

dianamlarson: anything goes

creativetimeforme:spring time, use a die cut

cutecardthursday: spring fever

Thank you so very much for coming to my blog today. I would love for you to leave me a comment. I read all comments and appreciate them ever so much.  If you have not become a follower yet, I would be honored if you would become one now. Thank you.

Already Thursday!

 It has been a gorgeous day here in B.C. and I hope each one of you have had a wonderful day as well. Sometimes I find it is easy to take the little things in life for granted as I find myself rushing around in the busyness of life.  I would like to encourage you to take a moment to breathe... think about something, or someone who made a difference in your life this week, and celebrate that event or person just for a moment.

 It is easy to take our lives for granted, and yet it can be so uplifting to pause for short moments and celebrate.  This week I was able to visit a close friend I hadn't seen in a long time.  We gabbed, we shopped, we had a cup of tea together. It was a celebration. I also got to spend quality time with my 6 year old granddaughter Madilyn.  We played dolls, she read me stories and we watched a funny movie together.  Then yesterday I received a parcel in the mail from my sister who lives in Ontario Canada, and she had knit me this beautiful brown cowl for no special occasion!!!  So I wanted you all to see how beautiful it is. What a sweet sister I have, her name is Lori. So this is a picture of me wearing the cowl.

When I take a moment to reflect on all of the positive people and happenings in my life, I know that I am very blessed. When I started blogging, just 6 short weeks ago, I opened the door to meeting so many more wonderful people than I could ever have imagined.  I am so grateful to each and every person who comes to my blog.  I hope you might find a touch of inspiration, and maybe something that makes you smile..

My card today is a Celebration/Birthday card, I started by using the sketch from unscriptedsketches: 200th sketch and the color scheme from simplylessismoore If you have been following my blog, you will know that I am a button-a-holic!  And I just love how these buttons work so perfectly on this card.

I embossed the beige and light pink then added the smaller dark squares on top which are made of a linen type paper.  The buttons are attatched with embroidery thread and the word is stamped on with Tim Holtz walnut distress ink.  I added one pink pearl for a touch of pizazz.
 I love the way this card turned out!  I will be entering this card in the following challenges:
simply less is moore: white brown and pink

unscriptedsketches: 200th sketch

paperplaytime: anything goes

thatcraftplaceblog:anything goes

 conniecancrop: Happy Birthday

Thank you ever so much for stopping by today.  If you have enjoyed yourself, please consider becoming a follower.  I would love for you to leave a comment.  Your words make my heart soar!!

Technique Tuesday

Wow, its another day, and I had such a fun afternoon practicing new techniques I learned this weekend both at my scrap booking event and at a blog hop with kiwi lane designs . How fortunate I feel to be able to share this card with you today!

First off I am using a sketch I found at just us girls challenge blog.  I do so appreciate all the fabulous people who create sketches and offer them to us for inspiration. What a gift! I used a group of words and made my own stamp for the rectangle piece, which I ripped, and inked with Tim Holtz walnut distress ink.  I then used a rusty brown, and dark brown card stock piece which I also ripped and distressed with the same ink.  I then sewed all these pieces down with my sewing machine.  I have wanted to try this technique for a long time however I was so encouraged to do this when I hopped to Jenn Nicholes  blog and saw her amazing scrap book pages with machine stitching on them. I so love how this turned out and it was SEW much fun!!!  If you haven't tried this I would encourage you to pull out your sewing machine and do sew.  

The buttons I have used are antique bone buttons tied on with rust and brown embroidery thread, and the card itself is cut out with the design tool #2 from paper wishes , and inked with the Tim Holtz walnut ink.  Now the flower piece, which is my favorite part of the card is a vintage flower I learned to make at my scrap book event this weekend.  The flower is designed by Janice, and she can be reached at jkyp@telus.net . 

I am entering this card at the following challenges:

justusgirlschallenge: sketch

pinandtack:spark-your-creativity-now 

thatcraftplaceblog.anything-goes 

simonsaysstamps:anything-goes 

Thank you ever so much for stopping by. If you have enjoyed yourself, please consider becoming a follower.   I do so appreciate each and every comment that is left for me.

Make it on Monday

Hi everyone, I hope you have had a great day and that you are looking forward to a great week ahead. I have had such a fun afternoon playing in my craft room with my tools, and a bunch of fun new techniques.  What a gift it is to be able to just play. As all of you know, things don't always work out the first or second time like we might like them to, so it is so luxurious to have so much time to try and try again to find new ways to make things work out in a way that just feels right...not perfect, but right.

Today I have a card featuring 'Snowflakes!' Although this may seem like an odd choice, my sister has a passion for snowflakes, and this card is for her.  I love the bold rich color palette of royal blue and white.  I embossed the white with my snowflake embossing folder made by Darice.  I cut out my snowflakes from the  Cricut classroom cartridge When It's Cold Outside. I also used Lacy Labels to cut out the background pieces for each of the snowflakes. For added beauty I added a pearl to the middle of each of the snowflakes. I am showing the inside of the card because I just love the way it turned out as well. I hope you will like my card.

Today I am entering my card in the following challenges:

partytimetuesdays: anything goes

pinandtack: spark your creativity now , anything goes

festivefriday: snowflakes

I am so happy you stopped by my blog today.  I appreciate each and every comment that is left for me. I would love it if you would consider becoming one of my followers.