National Craft Month

Hi Everyone!

March is National Craft Month, so I hope you are having fun creating in whatever medium you like.  I'm all over the place as usual.  Sometimes, I wish I didn't like so many different types of media.  My vision is that someday all of these different media will come together in one spectacular project combining them all!  But, in the meantime, here's what I have been making...

a copper cuff

free motion embroidery

card making with beautiful Rinea papers and a Spellbinders die

In none of these am I an expert.  The above card, which I am happy with, was my second try.  The leaf is my first attempt doing free motion embroidery on my sewing machine.  I already broke one needle.  And, next time I make a cuff with a hole in it, I need to measure more accurately.

There are a couple of other items that I will show you later in the month on special blog hops, so check back for those!

But, I keep on making!  And, learning!  You should, too.  Don't be afraid to try something new.  Or, pick up one of those UFO's and continue on... Keep on making!

Need some free ideas?  Check out FaveCrafts and sign up for totally free ideas!  (This is an affiliate program and I get some $$ to buy more craft goodies if you sign up!  Thanks in advance.)

Birthday Card

Hi Everyone!

My oldest grandchild is turning nine this year, so I wanted to create a special card for her.  This showcases more of the wonderful samples that I received at Creativation.  I received some new dies from Spellbinders.  This one called Birthday Animals is by Sharon Sowell, and is just perfect for a birthday card.

I combined this die with some beautiful Rinea foil papers, some scrapbook papers and cardstock to create the card.

My tips for this card:

I cut all the animals from Rinea foil paper, but because these are detailed and delicate die cuts, I also cut a cardstock backing.  I glued the foil to the cardstock, then I glued the assembly to the card.  

I used a glue stick.  It was the easiest way for me to get the glue on the legs of these pieces.  It was the least messy to use for me.  You also have to be careful not to get glue on the foil front.  (I am a mess with glue and this was my second try at this card!)

The "Happy Birthday" is washi tape.  

I didn't have the ink color I wanted to edge the paper, so I used a pink Sharpie.

Have fun creating your own version and be sure to check out Sharon Sowell's dies at Spellbinders and Rinea foil paper.  Both are a joy  with which to work!

Happy Crafting!

Terry 

Happy Fall!

Happy Fall Y'all!

I love fall!  It adds a lot more color to the world - yellow and red leaves among the green, orange pumpkins, and ripe apples and tomatoes in shades of red.  The fragrances of fall add to the rich ambience - damp earth from an early shower, homemade jams and pies, and the rich odors of ripening grapes.

And, I love creating things to celebrate the season -

Here's a little sign for fall that I created for JOY Iron-on letters.

You can find all the details to make your own sign on the Creating with Joy blog.  Want to add a little more to this sign?  Add two more pumpkins - one with an "I" and one with a heart - to make "I heart fall".

These are small wood slices, so they will fit anywhere among the fall décor you already have on a windowsill or shelf.   And, the tiny leaves are die cuts made with a die from Spellbinders.

These leaves were part of the Wreath Elements in the Four Seasons set and were the perfect size for my pumpkins.  I love that die cuts work for so many crafts besides cardmaking!

Stop by the Creating with Joy blog for more fun fall and Halloween ideas.  Happy fall creating and decorating!

Creativation Inspiration!

Hi everyone!

I got back from the Creativation trade show last Tuesday, and I finally have a chance to unpack and sort through my experiences and new goodies.  As usual, the show always brings about some unexpected connections and opportunities.

I did not take very many photos, unfortunately.  So, if you are looking for an overview of the show, I highly recommend Julie McGuffee's posts.  They are on her website but are also posted on the Designer Crafts Connection site, where you can see posts of the show by other designers.

Some of the highlights of my show experience were:

I helped out in the etchall class taught by Joe Rotella and Barbee Bosler.  Joe has been on Make It Artsy demonstrating etchall®.  It was fun to see a whole class learning about etching.

I connected with a company new to me - Spellbinders - and got to see all their amazing new products up close at their Media and Blogger breakfast.  If you like scrapbooking and card making, stay tuned in the next few months for some new dies and new ways to use them.
Here's some of the new products I received:

Spellbinders

I worked for a new vendor in the craft industry:  Kit xChange.  I got to show the amazing new organizational pocketbooks and binders developed by Alicia Klein.  Everyone loved them at the show and they were easy to promote because they work so well for organizing on the go.  Try them for scrapbooking, beads, embroidery floss, or any small craft supplies.  Alicia is now off to Tuscon to show beaders and jewelry makers her wares.

Here is one of the travel organizer folders from kit xchange:

And, here it is open:

Now, I can fill baggies with my beads, attach them to the hook-and-loop surface, stick my tools in the bottom pouch, and I'm ready to go!

One of my new connections was an artist that I am sure will be a friend for many years:  Carol Foldvary-Anderson.  She was a contestant in the "Shark Tank"-style competition sponsored by Michaels.  She made it into the top ten!

I also had the chance to take another class from Seth Apter.  This one was "Radiant Rust" and we got to play with a lot of his new materials.  See his post on The Altered Page about his show experience and new products.  Here's what I produced in his class.  I had a lot of fun playing with new paint colors, stamps, sprays and ink.

In a quick tour of the show floor, I happened upon a new section by Tim Holtz.  He's got a new line of jewelry components that I love already.  They're in that vintage style that I love to add to my designs.  Here's a board with some of his new items:

Tim Holtz's new line of jewelry components

And, of course, I got to connect with all the designers from our section in AFCI (formerly CHA).  What a warm, sharing and talented group!  I am so blessed to be a part of them!

So there's a bit of what I saw at the show.  Come back for more inspiration!