Burlap and Buttercups Challenge

Okay, I think I made it in time. I said that I would try to get to this sketch challenge this month and I did. I finished it late last night, which is probably why the colors are a little dark, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.

This challenge was not only a sketch one, but you also had to incorporate a cell phone photo or a pattern paper cutout. My daughter is always taking cell phone pictures of herself and it irritates me because I want to scrap some of them and don't know how to print them.

For this layout, I finally convinced her to help me out. And she did, reluctantly, but hey, again, beggars can't be choosers. Once it was on my computer, I printed it out, and cut it to resemble a polaroid photo. I had to reverse the sketch to fit the orientation of the photo. And of course, I had to add some stitching.

Thanks for looking!

Dani

WOYWW 147

Why would I possibly try to re-do the floor plan of my room, while taking Tim's online class, and trying to meet some deadlines? Oh, because I am crazy, that's why.

If you came over here from Julia's, well then, I hope this week's desk won't disappoint. I made a makeshift area allowing me to keep up with my tags and still play around with my room. I think I will keep it up until I finish the class. It is nice to have the supplies and messiness in one spot, leaving my other desk open for other crafty goodness, if I ever finish this room.

And on a quick note, I started working on my Easter cards for all of the kids in our family. This is the one I have done so far. I plan on making some shaped cards later this week. Maybe even some with glitter?

Card #12

Thanks for stopping by!

Dani

Spring has Sprung

After four days of miserable wind and rain, our weekend turned out to be the most gorgeous spring weekend that you could wish for. It was mild and sunny with just a hint of breeze throughout. We worked in the yard all day on Saturday, cutting trees and getting flower beds ready. Then we went to Lowes to pick out some new plants. I wanted to start a new herb garden here, but decided on a couple of herb boxes instead.

Inside the studio, I worked a bit on the Tim Holtz's CC101 class. I played around with alcohol inks and gloss paper. I also printed out a few photos for a new layout that I am starting, hopefully today. My daughter asked for a new photo printer, so I think I am going to order the Picturemate Charm for use to share. She has the Canon Pixma(?), but really wants true 4x6 photos.

I leave you with a card that I made on Sunday to celebrate this beautiful weather we are having.

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

Happy Easter Card

Wow! I am not quite sure what happened to this week. With all of the rain, the days just started blending into each other. Or maybe it was all the ink blending together from Tim Holtz's class that everyone seemed to talk me into. Seriously though, I am surprised how much I am enjoying this class, so thanks all of my fellow WOYWW's. I have been inking and stamping for about 17 years and I can't believe how much I am learning. Knowing how a technique is done rather than guessing, really does make a difference. I love the finished product more.

Anyway, below is another quick and easy card using up those We R Memory Keepers rub-ons. On the inside, the sentiment is also a rub-on that says, "Hoppy Easter".  I forgot to take a photo of it. Oops! I like having quick, relatively flat cards on hand to send to my godchildren, nieces, and nephew when I need.

Well, hope your week went well and your weekend goes even better! See you on Monday!

Dani

WOYWW 146

On the old desk today, okay technically it is still night for me and I plan on getting in some late night scrapping, is some bits and pieces leftover over from Sunday's crafting session. I hate to throw away scraps, but I know that if I put them away, they will never get used. I am a realist. I usually try to use them up by making cards or other small projects while I already have the supplies out.

With these scraps, I decided to get ahead start on making my Mother's Day cards. I know that it is still quite a bit aways, but I felt that this paper would lend itself well for that, and why not be done with it if I can? I love the simple design which was easy to duplicate.

Below is another card from my self-imposed challenge. I bought the We R Memory Keepers Easter 6x6 pad, the rub-ons, and the crocheted doilies a few weeks ago. I wanted to see how much I could make using these supplies. I am not that good at doing whimsical, but since I wanted to use as much as possible, I decided to give it a try. I like how this came out. I used the baby chick and lamb rub-ons on a 6x6 paper that I trimmed the frame off and used the center wood grain part. I added a few letter stickers for my sentiment and it was done. I am all for the quick and easy cards.

Card #11

Thanks for visiting!

And don't forget to hop on over to Julia's and visit other desks from around the world.

Dani

Winifred

I managed to get a few crafty things done this weekend, despite all of the traveling we did. We went to see the new baby. She is beautiful! Of course, I may be just a little bit bias. We went shopping for some new summer clothes. Only problem with shopping for new clothes is washing, drying, and ironing new clothes. YUCK!!

On Sunday, I cleaned my craft room and managed to mess it up again by Sunday night. I worked on the layout below using a Prima collection that I have had for quite some time. This photo was one of my favorites of my sweet Winnie. I did a focal point in the center and softened the edges of the rest.

Have a blessed week!

Dani

Inspired Sketch

If you remember earlier in the week, I had said that I was inspired by Mary Pat. Well today, I have one last layout made from a sketch she designed for Burlap and Buttercups. The sketch was included in the November kit (which by the way, is still available), and is also available for viewing here.

I followed the sketch pretty much as is and I love the results. The colors are not coming through as well as I would of hoped in the photo, but the background is Bazzill's French Vanilla, if that helps you any. Everything on this layout came in the Nov. kit, except for the stamps. I punched the heart and tab from the leftover scraps.

If you follow my blog, you know that as of recently, I have been fighting an illness. I received tests back yesterday that show no kidney or liver failure, no diabetes, but bacteria is showing up in my system. I am going to start a month long course of antibiotics and be kept a watchful eye on for fever or other symptoms that may pop up. Please keep me in your thoughts if you can.

Sincere thanks!

Dani

WOYWW 145

Happy Wednesday! Yes, it is that time once again, where we get to visit the blogosphere and peek into what is on crafters desks. Thanks to the wonderful Julia over at the Stamping Ground for hosting this weekly event. If you have some time, go and check it out. You could easily lose yourself for hours looking at people's spaces.

My desk this week is still holding the contents from this weekends activities. There is scraps from card making, candy for a care package, baby onsies ready for embroidery, and on the garbage can is my collection of letter stickers. This is usually where it sits when I scrap because it is the perfect height to flip through the colors. My desk usually becomes a catch all on the weekends. May have to take time today to clear it all away and get my care package together.

Happy a good one!

Dani

Inspired By

This week, I decided to try something new. There are so many lovely crafters out there who inspire me on a daily basis, so I thought I would take some time this week to showcase one blogger who does just that, inspires. Who knows, maybe this will become a regular blog feature.

Mary Pat Sielh's blog is filled almost daily with cards and scrapbook pages that she creates for her family. She is a busy wife and mother, worked on various design teams, and teaches classes at a lss. She recently posted a card that had a dog on it and it made me remember this one that I had. I took her design and turned it on its side. My trim is a rub-on and I added some colored pearls for a touch of bling.

Card #10

Where/how/from who do you get your inspiration?

Dani

Welcome Baby

Hopefully, as this is posting, I am welcoming in my newborn niece into this world. So, if I am absent a bit this week, you know why. Babies are always so much fun, of course, that is if you aren't the one getting up 3 times a night to feed them. lol...

Welcome, Sophia Jessi!

I hope you have a blessed week!

Dani

i love you card

Just a quick post of the card for the self-imposed 52 week challenge. I used just a few scraps and a clear stamp sentiment. Nothing fancy as I am feeling really tired and weak today. Will be seeing another doctor next week and anxiously awaiting the birth of my niece on (hopefully) Monday.

Card #9

And to those of you who have commented sending your well wishes, I thank you so much. Without getting into to much details on my health, until they find out what is going on, it has to do with kidney and liver functions. If you can keep me in your thoughts, I would dearly appreciate it.

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

WOYWW 144

Happy Wednesday to You! I can't believe how fast time seems to be passing lately. I can't seem to keep up with all that I have going on around me. I am still fighting an illness, I have a new little niece being born on Monday, and the projects I have planned seem to be piling up one on top of the other. The supplies are all in, and the ideas are sketched out, but the hours just do not seem to be enough in a day.

If you came here from Julia's, I hope you are not disappointed. My desk still has the remains of Monday's card on it. I didn't even clean it up. So not like me, but I really do feel YUCK, and I think know that is why the mess is still there. And yes, I did turn the desk around so that I could walk around it without hitting my hip.

On a brighter note, I was so thrilled to receive this lovely award by fellow blogger, May. When I started this blog, it was a way for me to share my creative ideas with the ladies who took my craft classes every month. When I stopped teaching, I also took a break from blogging, never realizing how much I would miss it. After I came back, the support from the blogging public was overwhelming. I can't believe how fast the followers started to add up and how many comments would start rolling in. I even get e-mails from some of you when I have been missing for a few days to check up on me. It is humbling, to say the least.

There are 5 rules:
1-show thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking them back to you.
2-reveal your 5 choices
3-post the award on your blog
4-Bask in the love from the most supportive on the blog-share (other bloggers)
5-Finally and the best have fun and spread the love by joining each others blogs

So, to pass on the love to 5 other bloggers around the world, in no particular order. Please visit these wonderful ladies if you have a chance.

1. Siehled With A Kiss
2. http://www.justjingle.blogspot.com/
3. Under Scarlet Birds Wing
4. Tracy's Treasures
5. Confessions of a twenty something artist

And lastly, if you are here for the 52 card challenge, I am running a little behind on it. I should have it up in the next day or two. Sorry for the delay.

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

Hello Friend

Good Monday morning to you all! We had a really busy family weekend, but I did manage to get some crafty time in last night. I had a couple of requests to see my card sketches, and while I am not sure how to make them look all fancy by designing them on the computer, I am more than willing to share the way I do mine.

I purchased a couple of hardcover, 4x5 inch spiral sketchbooks. I like this size because I can have one on my desk, one in my purse, and one on the coffee table. You can decorate the covers if you would like, but I left mine like I bought them. I told you, nothing fancy. Now, here is where the extremely technical part comes in. I made a 2x3 template and traced it on the front and back of each page. I did this while I was watching a movie with my family. I like having a perfect square or rectangle to work with. It makes the rest of the designing easier to do, at least for me. And that's it. I usually sketch while watching tv or waiting at appts. or other things like that. And I do sketch about 97% of what I create before I start a project. Sometimes the design works and sometimes it doesn't. Can't win them all!

So, below is a look at today's sketch.

And here is the card I made using it. Not quite the same, is it? I had the papers that I wanted to use out on my desk, I sketched what I thought would work, and when I started to put it together, the Polaroid squares were to big to include four, so I improvised. I like the finished card better than the sketch anyway. Funny how that happens.

Well, there you have it. I can share my sketches when I post my cards if you would like. Just leave me a comment letting me know if this is something you would be interested in.

Have a great week!

Dani