Nontraditional Holiday Card

I made a MIMI card for you all today. Filled with all my favorite things...die cuts, MIMI from Penny Black, embossing, and patterned paper!  Doesn't it look like she is reaching our to catch a snowflake. Sometimes I lose patience with coloring. Anybody got any tips for treating this?

I am entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge...Anything Goes!

I have so much going on that I don't know what I want to talk about! Here are 2 ideas off the top of my head:

1. My kids started school (well 3 of them), it's kinda nice to spend time with one kid. Funny one kid seemed overwhelming when I only had one kid, but now it's really easy and so much of a joy!

2. Living with my mom has caused me to gain weight dude, the food is amazing and I can't turn it down and she doesn't take no for an answer. There is tea time and sweets with the tea and well, it's showing up in places I don't want! Here is a sample conversation:

Mom: "Are you hungry?"
Me: "No thanks."
Mom: Are you sure?"
Me: "Yes."
Mom: "Here, I made you a gyro."

Reaaallllyy HUGE News, like REALLY...

I think it's no surprise to anyone that I think I make "weird" cards. On a good day, I like to call myself edgy and fresh, thank you Susan Opel for those adjectives.  That conclusion came after a long blogging journey of trying to self identify.

Who am I and what message am I sending out?

 I figured instead of trying to be clean and simple or layered and luscious, for which I adore both styles, I would instead focus on creating with a style instead of a category, so I try to keep those adjectives in mind when I create.  Many times I wanted to bail either because of disappointment or because of feeling like my designs didn't measure up to that of my peers, but I hung in there because I love it and because I adore the community and the friendships that have come from doing it. Those of you who blog understand what I am saying.

Slowly, I accepted the fact that my designs are not for everyone, but one that I am proud of. I am not sure if my style is distinct or exceptional, but they are made with love and lots of thought. I have appreciated you letting me sneak in thoughts about kids, and fashion, and funny things I have found in my internet parusings.

All throughout this journey, Hero Arts has been with me. And so it gives me great pleasure to announce that I have been asked to join the team.

ME. Me?

Yes! One of the biggest things I struggled with is worth. Am I worth this offering? Especially when I can name so many who are extraordinary in their creativity. But instead I will be thankful in the gift I was given and I hope you will be encouraging of my next journey with Hero Arts.

You can see the blog post HERE. 

Henna Inspired Stenciling

I really love the look of Henna art. It's where they take a plant based dye that is in the form of a paste and tattoo the body with artwork that is temporary. The results can be stunning...look!

Image from HERE. 

I got this stencil from Penny Black called snow dance and thought instead if inking it or applying embossing paste, I would trace it with small strokes of a black pen. Then I took red and gold stickles and added drops around it to built it up like the henna tattoo.

I am going to enter this in Addicted to CAS challenge, geometric shapes!

The sentiment is from Beauty of the Season. The circle screen background is from a die called DOTS.

Thanks for stopping by!

CP Teacher Thanks

August is around the corner and it's time to start thinking about back to school. YIKES!! This year, I thought it might be nice to give the teacher a stack of simple THANK YOU cards that she can use throughout the year for whatever the occasion.

Come check out my TEACHER THANK YOU cards at the Crate Blog!

My Haircut Revealed!

First my card...Penny Black Petal Power and the sentiment from Sunny Hello. It's my version of edgy rustic. I am TOTALLY making that up!



Ok, and by POPULAR demand (LOL)  here is my haircut...

trying it without bangs and a SERIOUS pose...

and it didn't work, so here is the cut with bangs. Uhhh, my eyes look wonky! What's up with that? 

They are small on purpose. It's kinda short. And well that's all my husband kept saying.

Me: Do you like it?

Lance: It's short.

Me: Yeah, I know, but do you like it?

Lance: It's short.

And that's the end of the conversation. 

I think it looks professional and it's pretty easy to do. And it's just hair, it will grow. My aunt put this product in my hair that makes it poofy! It smells like Abercrombie & Fitch too :) Here it is :

Yes, I know it's for men. It's still fabulous. 

I am entering this in the Runway Inspired Challenge. Really gorgeous inspiration photo this week and very exciting cards by the design team!

The yellows, reds, and the stripes in the shirt reminded me of the grid paper. Her hair reminds me of the bow on top. There is a hint of green on the walkway. 

A TINY Card, CUFF Bracelets, and a hairCUT

I made a tiny tiny tiny card. Did you know lots of cool people make little cards? Debby Hughes, Pamela Ho to name a few. I was able to get 3 cards from a 8.5x11 sheet of paper! How's that for resourcefulness?!

The stamps and dies are from Penny Black. I love this set, called Petal Power. I stamped the background and then die cut a circle window. I used pop ups to adhere the stamped portion to the card base. then used pop ups to put the rose and leaves in the circle window. And I can't resist just a little patterned paper...it makes the card look more finished.



I am going to enter this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge. I met Kelly Latevola this weekend and she won one of those challenges so I felt inspired to give it a go! She is pretty cool. I have also met Katie Gehring so Ohio is shaping up quite nicely!

Oh on another note, I decided I need a cuff bracelet. Do you guys have one? I think they are pretty edgy and I am tired of looking at my pinterest board and dreaming!

Lastly, I am waiting for my aunt Nafisa to come over so she can give me this haircut! She is a fabulous hairdresser and I am excited to change it up some more. I just keep cutting away! I think that means that is the end of my ponytail days, but that's ok. Getting up early in the morning means less time for hair and more time to learn!