Crafty Cre8tions

Two more doggy canvases!

2013-05-25T04:00:00.000-04:00

I told you I've been bitten by the mixed media bug! But - I will get back to cardmaking soon! I've been taking two online courses from Christy Tomlinson and these are two canvases I made from the classes.

The first I gave to my neighbor Gretchen who is helping us sell some of our tag sale stuff on Ebay. Her dog Bonnie (a Labradoodle) and my dogs play a lot - so I wanted to 'thank her' for helping the Crazy Shelter Ladies:

Here are some progress shots:

The second one I gave to the Assistant Manager at the Humane Society after she presented me with the Volunteer of the Year Award.

I 'think' I'm getting better at this!?

Thanks for your visit!

Hug the Dog

2013-05-24T04:00:00.000-04:00

Here are some more Ikea mirrors and canvases I made for the craft fair:

This is the 'in progress' pictures of the Peace Love Dog canvases:

(Not the greatest pics because I took them at night on my phone!)

But......these were fun!

Thanks for your visit!

Coco Soleil Mirror

2013-05-23T04:00:00.000-04:00

If you remember back in February - we went to St. Thomas to visit my cousin. As part of our 'thank you' - I made this for them. The mirror is from Ikea and can either be hung on the wall OR placed on a table with a candle put in the middle. Their house is named "Coco Soleil"

My cousin had these beautiful flowers at his house (and right now I can't remember the name) but I tried to recreate them from a picture I took (see below). It was a fun 'canvas' to work on.......trying to get better!! LOL

Thanks for your visit!

What have I been up to craft-wise?

2013-05-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

Well, this is a looooooooooooooooong overdue post! The rest of the week I'm going to show a few of the projects that I've done over the past 2 months. The majority has been mixed-media projects and I'm having fun learning all about this art!

I 'think' I'm getting better, but it's still a slow process. :)

Here are two that I sold at the craft sale:

Lots of fun using a variety of products!

Thanks for your visit!

Yes..........I'm still here!!

2013-05-17T04:00:00.000-04:00

Almost back friends!!!!!!! Our huge fundraiser for the Allyson Rioux Memorial Foundation was a success last week! Despite a bit of rain on the golfers we had over 300 people at the dinner - which is our highest yet!

Ran another 10k last Sunday and did a 5k last night.

I've been taking two online courses in mix media from Christy Tomlinson so that's been eating away at a lotta my craft time. Been taking pictures, now I just have to get around to posting! Soon!

Will try over the weekend to get some posts going for next week! Until then - hope all is well with you and I'll be around to your blogs shortly :) (You've heard that before - huh?)

Thanks for your visit!

Woot Woot!

2013-04-29T04:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you for your beautiful comments on the Volunteer Award! You're too sweet!

I'm happy to say I completed the 10k in amazing time (for me!). It wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination and I'm still having a hard time wondering how I'm going to DOUBLE this run for the 1/2 marathon in July.......but baby steps will have to do!

Hope you had an amazing weekend!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

What an honor!!!!

2013-04-28T04:00:00.000-04:00

Well, this morning I'm off to run in my first 10k (6.2 mile) race in over 10 years. I 'should' be ready but last night we had a night out with friends, so I'm hoping I treated my body right! (lol) (and...I'm writing this up Saturday night BEFORE we got out!)

BUT............yesterday I was given an award that is such an honor:

My regular followers know that I've been involved with CT Humane Society for over 6 years. The assistant manager gave this to me yesterday because I will be missing next week's Volunteer Appreciation Day. I have to say I'm honored to receive this :)

I encourage my readers to go out there and volunteer with any organization that would benefit from your skill set! It's very rewarding :)

Have a great Sunday!

Thanks for your visit!

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!

2013-04-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Monday and it is a GREAT Monday!!!! The Craft & Tag Sale for Pups is over and we raised over $6,000.00 to help needy animals!!!! It was an exhausting weekend, but thankfully we were able to commit days before the sale to clean, prepare and tag the majority of the items. We were outside at 7:15am Saturday morning setting up (and even charged early birds $10 to shop before 9am!).

The weather turned out to be great and I think everyone was happy!!!!! Here are some pictures!

Craft Vendor Tent

Crafty Cre8tions table (graciously {wo}manned by my mom and aunt Vickie)

And.....we had some special guests come too!

Here's Tango....my former foster dog! He and his mommy Sarah came down to support the cause!

And Jimmy - who was adopted as a puppy from our shelter came to say HI too!

Here are three final pictures:

First - my mom being silly wearing a 'scarf' that could double as 'dreads'

Beth...one of the CSL's (Crazy Shelter Ladies) with her new duds from the sale

Matching Jacket and Shoes!

And finally......the rest of the CSL's

(Eileen, me, Patty, Cindy & Gretchen)...missing Beth H.

We have so many people to thank for our success this weekend! Too many to list here for sure,

but we couldn't of done it without all the 'spring cleaning' that was done and donated to the sale.

We had friends donate tables, tents, clothing racks, post flyers, share flyers on Facebook, bake items for sale, help set up, help work the sale, help breakdown the sale, etc. I could go on and on!

I'd also like to thank those crafty friends who I've made through Blogging and who were generous enough to send cards, stamps, other craft tools, one of a kind art pieces and monetary donations!!

I so appreciate your generosity to the CSL's and needy animals!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

THIS WEEKEND'S THE SALE!!!

2013-04-19T06:50:00.001-04:00

Hey friends!

The madness is almost over! Our Craft & Tag Sale for Pups has been extended to Sunday as well!

We've been so fortunate to receive GREAT donated items to put up for sale and we've got a few craft vendors coming as well!

Thank you so much to my fellow blog friends who sent cards, art pieces, stamps, other crafty tools and money. How generous you were and us Crazy Shelter Ladies SINCERELY appreciate it!!

Here's our updated flyer:

Weather-wise, we should be good! Forecast went from 70% chance of rain to 20%....so we're thrilled about that!!!!!

I will share some pictures and updates on the sale 'probably' Sunday!!!

Thanks for your visit!

TGIF!

2013-04-05T09:42:00.002-04:00

No......I'm not on vacation again..........just busy prepping for the Tag & Craft Sale for pups that's coming up in two weeks! And with my other charity.....The Allyson Rioux Memorial Foundation event which is coming up on May 9th.

My Google Reader is FULL and I apologize for not getting around to blog visits. Going to take a bit of a break from the blog. I'll try to make visits and comment when I can.

Happy Spring!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Hiya Friends!!!!!

2013-03-27T07:56:00.002-04:00

Just poppin' in quickly this morning! We got back from vacation on Monday night and we had a fantastic time!
We visited cousins in St Thomas USVI - the weather was great, accommodations perfect and great company!

Today some of my neighborhood girlfriends are headed to the outlets and then Mohegan Sun Casino for the P!NK Concert!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so psyched!!!!!!!!! We saw her two years ago and she was OUTSTANDING!!!

If you have the opportunity to see her in concert.........DO IT!!!!!!!!!

Here are some quick shots from vacation..........hopefully we'll have a quiet weekend and I'll get around to my blog visits AND craft a bit!

My parents floating the day away!

My cousin Donald and I

The beach and a key lime margarita - perfect!

Hubby and I :)

Happy Easter if I'm not back to bloggin' by then!

Thanks for your visit!

Feel Better Blend

2013-03-26T04:00:00.000-04:00

I'm playing along with the Moxie Fab Speech Bubble challenge and created this card using some PTI and Hero Arts stamps:

I had cut out this PTI tea kettle about two weeks ago trying to use it for another challenge.......but it just didn't work...........so it sat on my desk until this challenge. I used my Simon Say Stamp Memory Box speech bubble die cut and PTI sentiment that I cut apart.

I created my own background using two different Hero Arts stamps. I just love the shape of those hearts!

To jazz it up just a bit, I used my Glossy Accents on the hearts and the tea kettle polka dots.

You've got until April 1st if you want to join this challenge!

Thanks for your visit!

ABNH#22 - You are Original.......

2013-03-23T04:00:00.000-04:00

Remember a few weeks ago.....I mentioned a second generation card on THIS POST?........well, I'm finally posting it! LOL

This background happened after heavily spraying a Hero Arts large floral background stamp with water and then laying it down on a Dylusion sprayed background. (Sounds confusing huh?) On the original card I was using the water on the stamp to pull away color on the background.....so when I lift the stamp I had this beautiful array of color that I re-stamped for this background. Yummy!

I used a Simon Says Stamp embossed in white and added a few gems for the banner. I'm entering this card in the A Blog Called Hero Challenge#22 - Freestyle

Hope you're having a great Saturday!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

CFC94/DD44- HB2U

2013-03-21T04:00:00.000-04:00

Good Morning! I made today's card on Saturday and what I thought would be an 'easy' card.......was not!

I used My Mind's Eye black/yellow paper to fit the Dynamic Duo's Challenge#44. The idea in my head was easy - but cutting the papers to fit was not.......I'm going to have to check out some tutorials on this technique.

Anyways...the second challenge is the CAS-ual Friday's #94 - to use chipboard. So I used some Sizzix die cuts on cereal boxes. I do like the end result of the card.......but for a CAS card......it took too long! LOL

Challenges:

Hope you have a great day!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

CAS(E)#19 - Happy Birthday

2013-03-19T04:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning all! Today's card is for the CAS(E) this Sketch#19 and I was in need of a masculine birthday card - so it was a good match:

I grabbed my Skipping Stones wine glass stamp and used my new Lawn Fawn banner die cut! (So happy those came out!)

I added a few score lines and called it a day!

Here's the sketch:

Keepin' it short! See ya!

Thanks for your visit!

STB#10 - Masculine

2013-03-18T04:00:00.000-04:00

Quick post here for the Seize The Birthday Challenge#10 - masculine week card:

I used my DCWV paper for the base and a Friskars stamp set. I'll be honest - I don't like how Friskars stamp's stamp! Glad I only have one set of them. But....I am happy how the card turned out! I cut the 'cork' from the bottle and wanted it popping off the bottle. I used my gold acrylic accents for the 'foil' on the bottle and some Stickles for the 'explosion'.

Hope you come play along with the challenge. Here's the sketch:

Here's a quick picture of some of our Napa to Sonoma 1/2 Marathon runners after participating in a Shamrock 5k yesterday:

Sharon, Carol, Pat, me and Kathy!

Thanks for your visit!

Tuesday Trigger - Happy Birthday

2013-03-16T04:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Saturday to you! Hope you have something fun planned. I was inspired to play along with the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Challenge. I haven't played in a while, but I thought the inspiration photo was awesome and an idea immediately popped into my head:

(Scroll down a bit to see the inspiration picture first............I'll wait..............) OK - so the card is a bit 'brighter' than the inspiration but I really like it!

So for the background.........I cut down my watercolor paper to size and then heavily spritzed it with green and teal Dylusion inks. I dried it a bit and then spritzed more and then to get a bit of floral on it, I took my Hero Arts Large Floral Background stamp (below) and heavily sprayed it with water. (The Dylusions react with water). Then I stamped it down and held it there for a bit. I was able to get subtle outlines of the flowers.

I stamped a There She Goes butterfly and colored it in with Distress Markers, added some gold acrylic accents (her belt) for the butterfly's flight leading to a PTI sentiment. I added the wonky ribbon to reflect the layers on the dresses neck.

Here's the Tuesday Trigger:

And....stay tuned because I was able to get a second generation impression of that large floral background....and it's cool!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

RS54 - Happy Birthday

2013-03-14T04:00:00.000-04:00

Well, Hello! Here with a card for the Retro Sketches Challenge#54. This is a TALL card! About 11"
My friend gave me a thank you card that was in a beautiful (untouched) envelope - so I figured I'd recycle the envelope by making a card to fit!

When I saw the sketch - I knew this tall card would work perfectly! I used my DCWV glitter flower paper and a PTI diecut and sentiment. I jazzed it up with two glitter brads and then for fun I added some flicks of Dylusion sprays.

Hope you have a great day!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Bad blogger friend.........

2013-03-13T04:00:00.000-04:00

I'm way behind on my comments! Please forgive me blogging friends!!!! I'll try to make my rounds today.....or tomorrow.......but definitely by Friday!!!!!! Eek!!!

Thanks for your visit!

CAS(E)#18 - Happy Birthday

2013-03-12T04:00:00.000-04:00

I'm back with another birthday card today. This time for the CAS(E) This Sketch! #18 Challenge:

I was going for a more masculine card - and I think it works - even with the little bit of bling! It's a birthday right - so ya gotta jazz it up a little!

I stamped a bunch of Lawn Fawn banners on My Mind's Eye paper, then cut them out and lined them on the rectangular panel. Added a PTI sentiment and the bling! Can you see the PTI woodgrain impression on the card base? It's so hard for me to capture these in my photos!

Here's the sketch but you've only got til noon to join:

Thanks for your visit!

CASE#131 - Hope your day is fabulous

2013-03-11T04:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday to you! I was able to get in a little crafty time on Friday and wanted to play along with the CASE Study Challenge#131. This month's muse is Julie Ebersole - who I just adore as a cardmaker! Her videos just crack me up too because she's having such a great time!

Here's my card:

I started with white embossing this Hero Arts flower and then colored pencil over pencil with a few different pinks. At the end I lightly went over the flower with gamsol being careful because it can break down the embossed areas. I used a PTI sentiment and also a PTI impression plate, but you can't see that on my brown layer (which actually looks black in the picture).

Added a few buttons and bakery twine to finish off the card.

Here's Julie's 'muse' card:

Stay tuned because I have another card for tomorrow.......but then the rest of the week is up in the air!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Helllooooooooooooooooooo!

2013-03-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

Hiya! Did you forget about me? I've kinda been enjoying this little unintended blog break! I've been a bit busy since coming back from Miami. I haven't crafted much either. I made a quick card for a friend yesterday but didn't click a picture.

I thought I'd pop in show you a bit of what I've been up to! (this is gonna be a bit long)

First up are some gorgeous shots I took on the flight back from Miami. I thought the sky was so beautiful!

Those were all taken just before we hit a terrible turbulent and I honestly thought the plane was going down! Yikes!

Then on Monday - I 'Stepped (& wobbled) Out Of My Comfort Zone" BIG TIME!!!!!!! Friends of ours were hosting a hair show. So........I offered up my head of hair if they wanted/needed more people to get their hair cut on stage. Boy - I did NOT know what I was in for! They are a pretty LARGE company - but I didn't realize how top notch these hair shows are!

When I got to the hotel where it was being hosted - my friend led me into the styling/dressing/makeup area. WHAT? (I'll try to keep this brief).........but Holy Crap!

First up was to find an 'outfit' - who knew? The first dress was TOO short (can you say cellulite city?). Then next one didn't get over my hips (I'm not 'model' size). Finally - the third one was a jumpsuit that had a lotta 'give'. I shimmied into that but it didn't quite cover the 'girls' - so I left my bra on and hoped the guy liked the look enough. (otherwise there was going to me more than just hair being shown on stage!).

He decided he liked it...........then to shoes. Not shoes........"F-me Pumps"! LOL. One size too small and about 3" too tall!

LOOK:

From there I hobbled over to make up and they told me after my cut on stage - I'd walk the runway. WHAT????? Walk in THOSE? Down a runway? With over 200 people watching?? GULP! I got myself all worked up because I assumed the runway ran the length of the room so all the attendees could see the 'hair'. I was frantically texting Frank and Cindy asking them how I was ever going to do this!

Finally - it was showtime. I didn't realize I was in the 'rapid fire' portion of the show. Me and two other gals marched out on stage and my guy, Jose, using a clipper only - cut my hair in under 5 minutes. Then the walk.............THANKFULLY the 'runway' was a whopping 5' long! Frank took a video! (It's quick - look close)

(to watch video - you have to go to my blog by clicking on title at top of post)

Funny huh?? After that walk...........my time was done. I kicked outta those shoes and got back in my regular clothes!

Here are two shots of my 'outfit'. Notice that I made a fantastic bra choice that morning!!

What an experience!!!

Not sure if you stuck with this whole blog post or not! If so - thanks!!! I might be able to post again on Sunday......and I'm still trying to get to some of your blog posts!!!

Have a great day!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

M.I.A. in MIA

2013-02-27T15:44:00.001-05:00

Hi friends!! I'm sitting in Ft. Lauderdale airport waiting for our delayed flight to board. We had a great little trip to Miami. LOTS of laugh and some innocent but naughty behavior!! Lol

I've got a busy day tomorrow and will get to all my blog visits by the weekend! Thanks for all the recent comments!

Have a great night!

Thanks for your visit!

STB#7 - Happy Birthday

2013-02-26T04:00:00.000-05:00

I'll admit - I'm not sure how I feel about this card. I don't really love how my butterfly goes with the patterned paper -but I'm posting it anyways!

This layout & challenge is for the Seize The Birthday#7. Here's the sketch:

Ho-hum............

Thanks for your visit!

CASE129 - Scale from 1-10

2013-02-25T04:00:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again! Hope you're ready for the week. Here's a card I made last week for the CASE Study Challenge#129:

Pretty easy card. I used a Hero Arts flower stamp in different colors and then cut and embossed a Simon Says Stamp for the sentiment.

Here's the card we had to use as the 'inspiration'

Enjoy the day!

Thanks for your visit!