Quick Tip: Marker Organization To Make Clean Up Easy + Video

Have you ever spent the day immersed in your creative projects only to realize that you had tools and papers everywhere? You know the feeling you get when you realize you’ve had a great day, but you really should tidy up before you call it quits. But WOW!  Cleaning up is going to take an hour. You know… Read More »

Quick Card Using Catherine Pooler’s Wings Of Joy

Catherine Pooler’s latest release, Flutters and Blooms, is simply beautiful.  It’s full of butterflies and florals with some of her prettiest colors used in the papers and embellishments. The card that I’m sharing today uses her Wings of Joy stamp set which is a giant butterfly and lots of little florals.  It’s just a stunner!  You can also… Read More »

Grace In Bloom With Alcohol Markers

Catherine Pooler just came out with a new release this week and it is FABULOUS! It was actually a challenge to select what to play with first.  I selected her Grace In Bloom stamp set. I wanted to color with my alcohol markers because it is just so relaxing.  Plus, I need a Mother’s Day gift for my… Read More »

Combining Traditional Scrapbooking With Pocket Pages And Journaling + Video

I started my papercrafting journey as a scrapbooker.  I have a stash full of scrapbooking tools and supplies.  I generally don’t allow myself to purchase scrapbooking supplies at all anymore. Eventually, I evolved into a stamper and started creating cards.  I dabbled with the pocket page memory keeping style for a while and lately I’ve been doing lots… Read More »

Creating A Zen Wall Hanging With My Craft Stash

Last February I purchased Joanna Gaines Magnolia Journal magazine at our local grocery store.  I was looking for something that I could cut up and use for the collage I was supposed to make for my One Little Word challenge for February.  I loved the magazine so much I couldn’t bring myself to cut it up.  When I… Read More »

Technique-a-Week Beyond The Basics: Inlaid Die Cutting + Video

  Are you looking to take your card making and scrapbooking to the next level?  One great way to do that is with die cutting.  Inlaid die cutting is one of my particular favorite techniques that really gives your cards a WOW factor. Welcome to Technique-a-Week Beyond the Basics Video 2! I have several different inlaid tips and… Read More »

Creating With Glazes and Stencils

A nice quick way to make a background for your card is to use some Prism Glace or embossing paste with a stencil. Vicki Boutin recently had a new release and I was over the moon with it. It’s intended for scrapbooking, but I created a card with several elements of the release. I might add that I… Read More »

Tomorrow I Clean, But Today It’s Mixed Media

Yes.  I’ll clean tomorrow.  Today, I’m playing with my new Vicki Boutin mixed media goodies and starting a new art journal. I started creating an art journal to practice techniques and experiment with different mediums.  It has quickly become something I love doing.  I generally don’t share it with anyone because it’s…well, an experiment process. The scientist in… Read More »

Using My Time To Learn New Skills

I was planning on retiring for a year before I actually did it.  I knew that I needed some time away from people.  I worked in a really crowded high school surrounded by 3000 people every single day.  I was sick constantly and I never had any time or space to myself. I wasn’t expecting that the rest… Read More »

Experimenting With Mixed Media

I’ve been watching a lot of Vicki Boutin Live lately.  I just love Vicki Boutin.  She’s a mixed media artist with a product line through American Crafts and she makes it seem perfectly normal to love experimenting with different mediums and materials. Plus, she’s all about getting messy in the process. She’s my hero!  I love to experiment… Read More »

3D Flower Dies and Wide Washi Tape

I’ve been working on my inlaid die cutting technique-a-week video for this week and just realized that it is Tuesday! Tuesday means that I have cards due for my design teams! You know that means that I need to make a quick card so I pulled out some of my fabulous Altenew Washi Tapes and the Peony 3D… Read More »

Stamping and Scrapbooking: Black and White Photo Challenge

The Challenge YOUrself Scrapbook Challenge for this month is Black and White Photo.  Remember this challenge requires that YOU are in the photo! Honestly, I have so few photos with me in them.  I’m sure that my husband and kids have some, but my camera is full of other people and things.  I find this a true challenge… Read More »

Die Cutting Techniques: Inlaid Die Cutting

This week’s Technique-a-Week video will be focused on some die cutting techniques.  Die cutting is one way to take your cards to the next level. I did no stamping on this card.  It is created with two dies, artist markers, and some heat embossing. I’ve noticed over the last year or so that the price of dies has… Read More »

Create 2 Quick and Colorful Cards to Brighten Someone’s Day

I have 2 cards to share with you today that go along with a couple of the latest stamping trends that I used in my Technique-a-Week video: Rainbows and black outline stamps with no color. The first card I created quickly using some rainbow patterned paper from MFT Stamps.  I love shopping at MFT Stamps.  They always have… Read More »

A New Normal With Time For Creativity

Life has a new normal since I retired.  There is a nice cadence to the days.  Now that I’ve moved and settled in, I have time to do the things I’ve been putting off for the last 30 odd years or so. You know the stuff you put off: walks, bike rides, painting, needlepoint, DIY projects, scrapbooking, reading,… Read More »