Farewell to Make it Crafty Stamps - I love you

                    One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.       

            Sophocles             

Make it Crafty digi, Copic markers, pink/aqua Nuvo drops, red acrylic hearts
Cricut Maker step card svg, bokeh Valentine digi paper

Hey there,

I had the best time choosing images from my digi library for my Valentine cards this year.  I found some delicious hidden treasures, including this fabulous Make it Crafty glamour girl.  Sadly, Make it Crafty is no longer in business so I'm happy I have many of their darling stamps in my stash.  Look at those adorable  Chucks!!!   I've been wearing Converse for many years and will still be wearing them when someone has to lace them for me, senior style code be darned! The shelf where they live in my closet is a rainbow of snazzy goodness.  

My image takes center stage on this step card that I sized and cut out on my Cricut Maker. The finished card measures 6 x 6 1/2.   This fun image was a blast to color with my copics in  the colors of my bokeh Valentine digi paper. I repeated the red heart on her t-shirt throughout my card and "strung" the hearts on aqua and hot pink Nuvo drop beads.  

Another bright, happy way to say "I love you."  I know just who I'm going to send this to.  So many people to profess my undying love for...so little time.

Thanks for visiting,

Go forth and spread some Valentine love.

Nancy 

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #138

Crafting Happiness Challenge #81

613 Avenue Create Challenge #1

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #52

Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 3

Simply Create Too Challenge #166

Paper Funday Challenge #25

Digi Choosday Wk 4

  

You Make My Heart Smile - Vera Lane Digi

 There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.    Jane Austen

                 Vera Lane digi, Cricut Design Space frame, bokeh heart digital paper,                 
Copic markers, red enamel dots, gold leafing pen, white felt flower

                  

Hey there,

This little Vera Lane sweetie has been begging for some Copic attention for ages and I think Valentines Day is perfect for her card debut.   One of the things I like most about Vera Lane images is that I can fancy them up a bit while keeping their quirky cuteness. 

This is how my little lady looked before her Copics makeover, and while I think she's super adorable, I knew a touch of eye makeup and lipstick would bring out her lovely Betty Davis eyes.  Then, of course, her dress needed some style to go with her jazzy new look   How fun it is to customize these darling images to make them come alive!

I originally planned to add some doodle flowers and butterflies to the background, but when I saw this cute stylish frame in Cricut Design Space,  I decided on a simpler design.  I sized the frame layers to fit a 6 x 6 card.  My image is off-set to make room for my sentiment, which I printed with the Cricut writing feature. I finished with pretty digital bokeh heart paper in the background. 

Applying makeup to my stamps and digital images is a little more rewarding than applying my own makeup.  You know when you stamp on textured paper and your image doesn't come out clear?  Exactly! 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and customize your artwork to make it your own. 

Nancy 

Playing along with:

A Perfect Time to Craft

Createful Heart Design Challenge 28

Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #136

Die Cut Divas Frame it Challenge

The Sisterhood of Crafters Die Cuts Challenge

Ike's World Challenge #140

Always Fun Challenge #197

A Gem of a Challenge #2

Be Mine Love - Fairy Tangles Valentine

 "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint,
 and that voice will be silenced."   Vincent Van Gogh

Copic markers, Spellbinders frame, Norma Burnell digi, love word die, clear rhinestones,
White glitter card stock, Heartfelt Creations leaf stamp, die and mold, paper flower, heart stick pin

Hey  there,

Love is in the air and I'm wild about this fabulous time of year when we get to send heartfelt love notes to those we adore.  I found THIS absolutely gorgeous fairy digi by Norma Burnell, by far one of my favorite artists, and created a frilly valentine for my first card of the season of love.  While searching for the perfect frame, I came across this old standby and told myself I shouldn't use it yet another time.  But then I noticed the heart cut-outs and my decision was made.  It's from Spellbinders and it has a pretty lacy heart included in the set that I'll use on another card.  I die cut the frame four times to create dimension and used mounting tape on half of my image to lift her off the page.  

My usual choice for card dimensions is 5 x 7  but I see more square cards in my future because they accommodate my images so nicely...so much good real estate for embellishments.  This card measures 6 x 6.  

Thanks for visiting,

Go forth and be entranced by all the creative possibilities of the season of love. 

Nancy

Playing along with:

Colour Crazy Challenge Week 2

Creative Fingers Challenge #199

Pattie's Creations Challenge #178

Dies R Us Challenge #161

Love to Scrap Challenge #141

QKR Stampede Challenge #412

Creative Moments Challenge #206

Crafty Friends Challenge #148

Fairy of Spring in Prismacolors - Molly Harrison Digi

My heroes are the ones who survived doing it wrong, 

who made mistakes, but recovered from them. Bono

Molly Harrison digi, Prismacolor pencils, gold leafing pen, Spellbinders frames,
beaded swirls, assoirted flowers, yellow glitter card stock

Hey there,

I was thrilled when Santa brought me the whole gigantic set of 150 Primacolors and I couldn't wait try them on one of my girlie digis.  Although I am obviously obsessed with my Copics,  I was excited to try a new medium and learn some untried skills. Kit and Clowder classes are the way to go for me, because I can watch a step-by-step video and learn visually.  I chose  THIS gorgeously detailed Molly Harrison image for my first attempt because, well, she's so pretty. 

Pencils are literally a whole new ball of wax for me.  They take much more time and patience than Copics but I love all the amazing detail I can achieve.  I was in the "zone" for hours trying to smooth out the tooth in my paper after lightly applying endless layers of color.  I didn't think I needed to brush the flakes off my work periodically, and I was sorry I didn't heed Alyce's warning.  Who would think pencils could get messy and out of control!  But, in the end, I'm happy with the results of my first venture and I'm ready to give it another go.  

It's exhilarating adding  a new tool to my artistic arsenal and I feel energized now to push my boundaries.  I'm determined to practice with my pencils until they become second nature to me...however long that takes! 😊

Thanks for visiting,

Go forth and expand your horizons with a new skill.

Nancy

Playing along with:

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #1

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #83

Classic Design Challenge #1

Die Cut Divas January Challenge

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #1

Addiected To Stamps and More Challenge #396

ttcrd Challenge - January 5

Make My Monday Challenge #139

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Pears and/or Gems

A Place To Start Challenge #1

Sassy Lass Birthday Card - Jeremiah Ketner Digi

Imagine the best version of yourself and show up everyday as her. 

Jeremiah Ketner digi, Spellbinders frame dies, Copic markers, clear gems, 
Heartfelt Creations Oakberry stamps, dies and mold;  silver leafing pen, vellum 

 Hey there,

January starts  birthday "season" for my sweet, ultra feminine girlfriend who, fortunately for me,  lives very nearby.  She is a gorgeous redhead and is always impeccably dolled up.  I'm sure, with her affinity for animals, she would love  to wear a cute bunny in her luscious locks if it were at all practical.  She's just that sassy! 

She is a very talented artist, so I wanted to give her card an artistic flair while keeping with my girlie theme.  This Jeremiah Ketner digi was just what I needed.  His Asian art is full of charming, whimsical elements that are so delightful to color for those of us who like all things feminine.   A lacy frame surrounds my silver lined focal panel and a vellum flower created with my Heartfelt Creations Oakberry stamp, die and mold adds an ethereal touch.  Clear gems added to the stars in the bow and bunny create some twinkle.  My sentiment stamp says it all.

Sometimes the more fussy and girlie, the better.  It's a girl thing.

Thanks for visiting me.

Go forth and be indomitable like a girl.

Nancy

Playing along with:

Allsorts Challenge #605

Crafters Castle Challenge #37

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #131

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #667

Krafty Chicks Challenge #540

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #136

Crafty Calendar January Challenge

The Creative Crafters Challenge #35

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #1 

Classic Design Challenge #1

Janna Prosvirina "Fireworks" - Kit and Clowder December Class

We are each gifted in a unique and important way.  It is our privilege and our 

adventure to discover our own special light.     Evelyn Mary Dunbar

Janna Prosvirina digi, Copic markers, corner dies, gold leafing pen, pearl gems,
tiny flower die, white, lavender, blue, green and yellow colored pencils., white gel pen

Hey there,

What fun it was to switch gears from my frantic holiday schedule to take on this challenging and rewarding Kit and Clowder Copic Coloring Class.  The image for our December class is by Janna Prosvirina, one of my favorite digi artists, so I couldn't wait to gather my markers and follow along with Alyce's video instruction.  As always, there were many hits and misses with my coloring,  but I've learned that practice is the only way to improve and there are many enticing  opportunities to experiment along the way.  The thing I like the most about Alyce's classes is that she pushes us to try new techniques.  Some things that look impossible to me at first come together surprisingly simple if I have patience and do them step by step.  

Fantasy images always fascinate and beguile me because they offer such a delightful escape from reality.  I'm forever grateful that God gave us the gifts of art, literature, drama and music to allow us to visit tranquil, exquisite places where our worries can evaporate and our spirits can soar.      

Thanks for visiting,

Go forth and take some time to enjoy your favorite escape. 

Nancy 

Playing along with:

Creative Moments Challenge #205

Morgan's Artworld Challenge #12

The Creative Crafters Challenge #35

613 Avenue Create December Challenge

Classic Design Challenge #12

Colour Crazy Challenge Wk 50

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #82

Snowman Greetings From Our House to Yours - Lori Whitlock Shutter Card

Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things,

but look at what they can do when they stick together. 

Lori Whitlock svg, designer paper, swirl punch, assorted gens, silver leafing pen,
copics for shading, Cricut Maker, Cricut design space writing feature

Hey there,

Creating cards for my multi-talented card group has always been both a delight and a challenge.  It's so enjoyable making something special for them because I know they'll appreciate my efforts, no matter what I come up with.  But it's also a little daunting designing something special for friends I know are going to fashion their own masterpieces.  This year I have already received Christmas cards from some of my besties and they are nothing less than INCREDIBLE. It seems extra time in the craft room has resulted in some very intricate and elaborate designs.  

While this fairly simple card may not win awards for my most fancy and complex,  I loved creating this Lori Whitlock shutter card because the fold is new to me and it was so easy and fun to create on my Cricut Maker.  I can imagine using this fold for all types of cards and I hope my friends will see the possibilities, also. The sentiment comes from my heart because I'm missing them so much after my recent move.  Although I can't meet with the group as I used to (and they haven't met for months because of covid restrictions) we can still use snail mail to communicate our love and exchange ideas.  I would be lost without my cardmaking buddies and all the blessings they bring! 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something special for a friend to express your love.

Nancy

Playing along with:

Creative Moments Challenge #204

The Sisterhood of Crafters Winter Challenge

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge #257

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #82

Die Cut Divas Challenge

Do-Al (1) Creatives Challenge #8

QKR Stampede Challenge #410

The Creative Crafters Challenge #35