Christmas is coming so fast!!

Wow!  I just realized this morning that Christmas is a short 23 days away.  I haven't put up a decoration yet!!
We will be celebrating Christmas in our new place.  I am very excited, especially since we now have a fireplace and a mantel to hang stockings.  I wanted to post a few pictures of Christmas cards I made yesterday. 
Last year I got a lot of Christmas stamp sets, punches and diecuts.  I was overwhelmed when I got all
my new stuff out.  So I decided to take one stamp set at a time.  I'll come up with gift cards, tags, and other fun paper crafts.  I figure this will help me focus more!  I also wanted to post some pictures I took of my craft room.

I didn't have a background stamp I liked for this card..  So I used a small snowflake stamp

to create an embossed and unique background.  Small white pearls fit perfectly inside each flake.

For this card I pulled out some flowers I bought on clearance.  They remind me of poinsettias.  I embossed
a swirly background with an embossing folder.  Love to use these for quick backgrounds.  I then die cut a label and stamped a greeting.

I die cut a holly branch to start this card.  There were small spots for the berries where I added rhinestones.

On the tree card, I again embossed in white.  I then added small rhinestones.  I found some glitter printed paper which matched so well.  I just love when it all comes together!!

 My fiance built me shelves which I needed for all my boxes which hold stickers, embellishments, etc.

 I found a lot of fabric boxes at the dollar store.  They hold and a lot and are sturdy enough for my supplies.

 Anyone who scrapbooks or designs cards, knows paper is our biggest supply.  I found a cardboard paper holder at Staples and I also got a wooden cabinet from JoAnn's which holds my cricut and sissix machines.

 

 Trying to keep a clear work area is my biggest problem.  I start pulling out stamps, glitter, inks, and scissors and I have a real mess in no time.

My creative space is small, very small. 

New home and craft room

I haven't posted since July - the last few months have been extremely busy.  My third grandson, Jackson Frederick was born on September 17.  I spent 3 weeks in NC helping my daughter and the family.  I moved on October 15 to Moorestown NJ which was voted best town to live in the US!  My Mom was hospitalized, but she is doing much better and came home this past week.  I haven't attended my local farmer's market in nearly two months.  But I will be working the last day!!  My new craft space is small, so my challenge is to create a fun and creative place to design my cards, checkbook covers and frames. 

I never realized how much craft stuff I own until I had to pack up my old work space.  My goal this week is to discard or donate items I don't use.  What I hope to do is post some pictures of my progress.  Right now I cannot even move in the room.  There are lots of great storage ideas on YouTube.  Being a frugal stamper, I hope to find some innovative and economical ways to create a wonderful place for creativity.

Great book for crafters!!

I was celebrating today, along with a lot of Haddon Township.  Our little library has finally reopened after being closed for two months due to a water main break inside the building.  I was like a kid in the candy store, picking up lots and lots of books.  For someone like me who reads sixty books a year, I was suffering from withdrawal.  I found a real gem for crafters too!!  "The Handmade Marketplace" by Kari Chapin is a book on how to sell your crafts locally, globally, and online.  She has included lots of input from other crafters and also the VP of Etsy, who gives advice on selling online.  I sat down with a cup of tea and my 100 calorie cookie pack, and dove right in.  I love this book.  I've just started Chapter 2, but already I have picked up some great ideas and inspiration.  Something I read really resonated with me - working in a clean, tidy environment.  My craft area looks like a small tornado went thru.  So tonight I plan on clearing my space, so my creative juices will be able to flow better.  Clutter makes me feel overwhelmed. After a little break from the 112 heat indexes in NJ, I'm ready to get moving again.

Backgrounds

Sometimes I like to make a quick background when creating a card.  I love the cuttlebug embossing folders.  The one I use the most is the swiss dots.  I also love my bird stamps, so I decided to combine the two.  Sometimes, simple is just so much better.

I also love owls and in the last few years there has been a lot of great owl stamps out on the market.

I didn't have a polka dot stamp, so I found a pen with an eraser which made a perfect circle to create the polka dotted background on the owl card I made. 

Easy does it

Happy 4th of July.  I have a real day off!!  I decided to take it easy - going to a bbq pool party shortly.
I happened to log onto my Etsy account and was presently surprised to find a sale!!  Now more ideas are floating thru my brain, and I want to get into work mode.  Or as I like to call it - my creative mode, because I don't feel like I'm working when I make cards.  I find it a real struggle having a shop online verses a booth at a farmer's market.  I have contact with people and get all kinds of great feedback at the craft market.  While my online shop is sometimes so quiet, I swear I can hear crickets!  I get feedback from some customers, but not all the time.  I can rearrange my craft booth adding cute baskets filled with card packs, etc., but I find it a lot harder to revamp my online shop.  I am going to hire my son-in-law's brother to create a new banner for me.  Then I plan on adding lots more items. 

I just put things out on my tables at the craft market, but Etsy takes a whole lot longer with lots of pictures and good descriptions.  Then trying to let people know I exist out there is a huge challenge.  So my motto for today is Easy Does It.  I am tired from spending my few days off working on my online shop and market booth.  So today I am trying to do as little as possible.  For a workaholic like me that's not easy!!

Die cut cards

I decided to make some small gift cards with my Spellbinders nestabilities.  Now I cannot seem to stop coming up with more little treasures.  I have always liked minature sizes, and these tiny cards are just so adorable with animals and baby themed stamps.  Tomorrow I'll go searching for some smaller envelopes to fit these 2-3 inch cards.  I also had to use my Create a Critter cartridge from cricut. 

I think these would make great little gift cards, so I've ordered a new stamp A Gift for you.  I just love the little banana.  I also have a stamp that reads I'm bananas for you.  PERFECT!!  I love when stamps and greetings work together. 

Old stamps - new card

I pulled out a few old stamps that I haven't used in awhile.  When I attended the Allentown PA Stamp convention, I found some great background stamps from Impression Obsession.  I also purchased their Mega Mount which is great for large stamps.  I combined an old background stamp with a new one to give this card a vintage foreign look.  I then stamped the eiffel tower stamp and framed it with a dark chocolate paper.  Finally I stamped the label and found the perfect word to stamp inside - merci. 

I'm eating a cheesesteak and heading to work shortly - multitasking.  I have painted frames upstairs drying and small notebooks ready to be made.  The Burlington County Market is Saturday and I'm trying to make as much as I can.  The market is located on a working farm.  The vendors are inside a small barn structure, and some are outside in front of silos.  No one realizes how much farmland there is in South Jersey.  People picture New Jersey as the opening credits of The Sopranos - turnpike and industrial wasteland.  Ahhh....time to leave for work.  I'll have to post some pictures - I'll take some shots this weekend. 

Where did the month of May go?

I am in the midst of switching jobs, so for the last few weeks I have been working 2 part time jobs, as well as a weekly farmer's market in Moorestown, NJ.  I wake up and have to figure out where I need to be that day!  Fortunately, I will be down to one job soon and the market.  Then I can focus on my Etsy shop which has been depleted with lots of sales at the farmer's market.  I've got so much to make!  I wanted to share a card I made this past Friday.  I worked 10am - 10pm, and I'm still trying to recuperate!  I purchased a Personal Cricut Machine last year on sale with my employee discount.  My favorite cartridge is Create a Critter.  I love owls and just thought a blue owl would be a perfect color to coordinate with my background paper.  I found a company named The Pink Stamper which has stamps made specifically to go with the Critter images.  The stamps are great quality polymer stamps and I love the adorable sayings.

A few rhinestones and glitter add a wonderful look too.  I use my odds and ends of embellishments to add  extra pizazz.  Ever wonder what to do with left over alphabet stickers?  I mixed and matched 2 different sets for the hogs and kisses card.  I hate to waste anything!

I hope to post at least once a week, now that my crazy schedule is getting a little bit better.  I'd like to get out some of the supplies I've purchased and never used.  Another idea I have is to show one stamp used in  different cards or layouts.  The Scottish have a saying about "make do" - use what you have.  What supplies and materials do you have that can be used in a new and fresh way? 

I'm back!!

April was a busy month!  I took a long girls weekend to Chincoteague, Virginia and then I was gone over a week to Morehead City, NC and Wilmington, NC.  After a much needed vacation, I am excited to get back to creating and doing what I love - making cards.  I decided to make a few wedding cards.  I have a few decorative punches and I have always loved the look of mixing different trims. I also love finding speciality paper - on sale of course!!  So I combined punches and paper and came up with a beautiful Bride and Groom card.

Feeling Groovy

I wanted to make a card for a friend of ours who is turning sixty.  Since it is for a guy, I wanted to keep a more masculine theme.  I recently found some great stamps on clearance with a 1960's theme such as peace signs, smiley faces, etc. I thought these would great for baby boomer cards, especially older boomers.

I stamped the peace sign on chipboard, colored it with Ranger Peeled Paint distress ink.  Then I added some Ranger glossy accent.  My fiance suggested the brads for the tires of the beetle. 

An extra touch

I had a cute checkbook cover that I made for anyone who works in the dental field.  With embellishments of floss, a toothbrush and a few teeth the dental theme was there.  But I realized after taking a hard look, I needed to get a little more specific in my details.  So along my white strip of toothpaste, I added some tiny epoxy letters to spell out Dental Hygientist.  I can also add letters to create the word Dentist on another identical cover.  Sometimes all it takes is one small change to make a big difference!! 

Creating a design for a scrapbook

Life has been busy.  In between making cards, checkbook covers and picture frames - I somehow found time to do some scrapbooking.  My youngest grandson's 1st birthday had a sailboat theme, and I decided to design a sailboat since I did not own any boat type embellishments.  I went thru all my cricut cartridges to no avail.  So I drew out a design on paper and started with a large circle which I cut in half for the bottom of the sailboat.  Two triangles and a small flag completed my boat.  I like to think outside of the box, but time constraints don't always allow me the luxury of dreaming.  I realized lately, when I slow down and breathe, I can see what I create in all kinds of new ways.  I also found an old stencil which had a wave on the edge.  I used two different color inks to create the waves so my boat could sail!!

Spring is nearly here!

I'm sitting here enjoying a cup of chai tea after beginning my spring cleaning.  I have a glassed in front porch that I love to sit in on nice days and rainy days.  This is my quiet spot for contemplation, meditation and naps.

As busy women, we are need of "a room of one's own."  I have a few spiritual books currently "Eat, Pray, Love" and a Simplify Journal.  I sometimes get so busy with my business and work, I forget to breathe.  My special place gives me a space to recharge and reflect in.  I have a few candles, a couple blankets and my fiance's Mother's rocking chair.  My collection of angels sits near a table my sister hand-painted.  The wicker chairs were a dumpster dive from a friend's apartment complex.  She died of cancer in 2006, and I think of Lori every time I sit in one of our rescued chairs.  All the items in this room are very special - the stained glass picture is from my daughter and son-in-law.  The small collection of minature vases were my Mom's.  So my room is filled with thoughts of friends and family, those here and those who have passed on.  Do you have a special place in your home to dream?

Keep it simple

I am not good at doing anything with moderation.  I've always been a "more is better" kind of girl.  That kind of thinking can get you into lots of trouble!!  So today I strive to keep some balance in my life.  I try not to let my life get cluttered with "stuff", either the physical or the mental.  I love the message on this card and I wanted it to be the main focus.  Shadow inks are great for creating a soft background.  I stamped the scroll in a soft wheat colored ink.  The Serenity Prayer was stamped in black ink.  In order to cut down on all the white space, I took a small dauber brush and lightly tapped some linen ink into the background.  For a final touch, I punched the corners and added some white pearls.  This card says serenity to me - which I haven't had  lately.

We are all connected

I wanted to send my thoughts and prayers to the people of Japan.  This horrible disaster is a reminder of how fragile life is and how little we can actually control things.  I thought this morning about how a simple note sent to a friend or family member can impact their day.  Whether someone is celebrating a special occassion or going thru the dark night of the soul, a card can let someone know they are not alone.  We all need each other on this planet.  We are all connected - members of this thing called the human race.  I think when someone receives a card in their mailbox or finds one on their desk at work, they are reminded that someone cares.  In a very personal way - because someone took the time to write a word of encouragement or sent words of congratulations.  So today, I will try to be aware of those around me who need a kind word or a reminder that their life is important to me.  Love and blessings.....Sharon

My little blessings

Just wanted to post a few pictures of my precious little grandsons and my incredible future husband.  While I get frustrated trying to figure out this new world of blogging, facebook and etsy, I hope it will all make sense someday!!  If anyone saw the TV show Detroit last night - I could totally relate to the one older detective who was totally baffled by tweeting, friending and blogging!!  But I love a good challenge - so I decided to start this blog.  You're never to old to learn!!

Create an embellishment

There are times when I just don't have the right embellishment to add to one  of my cards.  I was making a card today with an Asian theme.  I got out my box of Asian doo-dads, and found some covered wire I bought.  Then I went thru my floss boxes (this is where I keep most of my brads, buttons, jewels, etc.) and found some little buttons I got on sale.  I cut off the back of the button and attached it to the silver strand which I tied into a bow.  A few mini glue dots to secure it all, and I had the perfect embellishment for my Good Luck card!!

Bits and pieces

Ever wonder what to do with the leftover punches and diecuts you have?  I pulled a few things out of my jar of leftover scraps.  The butterfly was colored with distress ink  to the color I needed.  I added a little gel pen dots to the scallop.  A few more scraps out of my paper boxes and voila!!  So check out those punch outs laying around.  Can you add some color or glitter? 

First time shoppers

I am offering a 15% off coupon in my Etsy shop for all first time shoppers.  Just use the code lilaccards to receive your first time buyers discount!!

Tip for Today - check out the clearance shelves and racks

I work in retail and our store like others has clearance items.  Check with your favorite stores, and find out when they mark down items.  Being friendly with sales people helps - I always chat with sales staff and thank them for their help.   I bought 3  packages of clear stamps orginally priced $9.99 for $.97 each!!  These stamps had been marked down a few times, but I waited until I knew the price would be at it's lowest.

From scraps to cards

I wanted to share a card I created for Valentine's Day using some scraps of paper I had.  I gathered a few pieces of printed black paper and started trying out different combinations of patterns and prints.  I liked how the polka dots and music and flowers combined together without overpowering each design.  I cut out a red heart from leftover card stock using my cricut cartride George and Basic Shapes.  I then embossed the heart using a cuttlebug embossing folder and my Big Kick Sizzix machine.  I added a red satin ribbon and punched a white scallop.
One of my favorite embellishments are pearls available at most craft stores. I used two small red metallic pearls on this card.  The base of the card is white.