WOYWW 139

I can't believe how fast these weeks pass, much less alone, the months. I know we all ask the same question, "Where does the time go?" I wish I knew the answer to that, but I am glad that I have this hobby which helps me to preserve moments in time so that we can re-visit them when we want.

Here we are at yet another week of WOYWW. If you don't know what that is, head on over to the Stamping Ground and check it out. On my desk, a layout in progress, a few stacks of photos, and some glass heart ornaments for another project that I am working on. I know a lot of you comment on how clean it usually is, that is because I put everything on the table beside me or on the floor while I scrap. I need my desk to be clutter free, but the rest of the flat surfaces are fair game. Maybe one day I will post a photo of the whole room when I am working on something. Maybe.

And we are already at week four in my card challenge. I can't believe how quickly these come either. I added a strip of bling to the card, but when I put it in the envelope, it really stuck out a lot. I was worried it would get caught in the machines and tear. To protect the envelope, I cut a strip of magic sponge to put over the bling. This product is very thin, but soft, so it protects the card by providing the perfect amount of cushion without adding the bulk. Works great!

Card #4

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Dani

I Love You

I spent the weekend catching up on my stamp carving classes, printing pictures to scrap, and cleaning up the craft room. I haven't printed photos in quite a while, so that is why I have been making so many cards lately. Not that I don't enjoy making cards, because I do. I actually started out with card making way before I scrapbooked.

When I began working on my stamp classes, I told myself that not only would I learn to carve the stamps, but that I would actually use the ones that I did. This weekend, I used the tiny heart that I carved and combined it with an Ali Edwards sentiment.

The cards are a 3 x 3 square that I punched using the Martha Stewart punch around the page set. (I used two different punches.) The base of the card is a 2 x 2 card that is glued to the back of each piece. When opened, the card stands on the desk like a small picture frame. The sentiment in the card reads, "I love you so much!"

What did you create this weekend?

Dani

You & Me

Since I know that he won't look at my blog, I am posting the V-day card that I made for my hubby. I know that it is a bit early, but my package with lots of Valentine goodies came in and I couldn't wait to use it.

This card was put together in about 5 minutes, which is great, because then I had time to play with more goodies. I used a piece of black satin ribbon for my border and pop dotted the cardstock sticker on top; kind of like a belt buckle. I like when things come together quickly and you actually love the finished product. The colors are more vivid in person. We are still having really overcast skies here.

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

WOYWW 138

For a couple of years now, I have been wanting to learn how to carve my own rubber stamps. I bought the materials, but that was as far as I got. I didn't know where to begin, so I put it aside, until now.

I came across this class, taught by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, and I signed up as quick as I could. I dusted off my box and pulled out my supplies and started watching the first and second video's. Now, my goal is not to become an accomplished stamp carver/designer, but more wanting to carve simple/unique stamps for my own use. I just need the techniques to be able to do that and I think that this is what this class will give me.

Again this week, I joined Julia over at the Stamping Ground, along with others from around the world, to show you what is on our work desks. If you have the chance, go and visit some of their spaces. It just may inspire you. Okay, onto my desk. It is all of my carving tools, pens, and blocks that I need to carve the stamps. And a lot of little, rubber shavings.

The stamps below are from my first two lessons on carving. The heart was fairly easy and I was able to carve two sizes in about 45 minutes. Not bad for my first try.

The second lesson was a little more complicated. This is my second attempt and I still don't have it right. The lines are supposed to interlock for two tone stamping, but I can't get that to happen. I guess I need more practice, but it is a start, and I feel like now, this is a goal that I can accomplish.

And lastly, here is the card #3, from my 52 card challenge. The colors are a little more pastel than they are showing up, but it has been very cloudy here these last few days. The stamp is another Studio G from the $1.00 bin. It feels good to actually have a reason to use these things.

Card #3

Thanks for stopping by-

Dani

A Couple of Cards

We had a pretty low key weekend, which allowed for me to have some time to play. I wanted to work on a few online class lessons, but when I went to my room, of course, I became sidetracked with something else.

I started to clean and organize some kit clubs. I like to break mine up in packs matching two or three sheets from each kit that I think that I would use together. Kind of like individual page kits. I rarely ever keep my kits together, even if I think that I will use them for submissions. I have a pretty good memory for where things came from and who made them.

After spending Saturday cleaning, on Sunday, I actually got a few things together and scrapped. Well, technically, I made cards.

The first is made using all pattern papers that I cut and stitched together. I cut the flourishes from pp using the Silhouette and pop dotted the butterfly sticker on top. I finished it off with a simple stamped sentiment.

This second card went really quick. I decided that I wanted a solid background to stamp my sentiment on, so I found a strip of scrap paper to use for my border. I then covered the seam with ribbon. I stacked a handful of pink flowers and secured them together with a sparkly brad and glued it on top of the border. I then stamped my sentiment in bright pink ink to match the ribbon.

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

First Apps

And no, not the kind that you download. My daughter decided in the spring that she wanted to apply for a part-time job. She was both excited and nervous about the whole thing. I was also excited for her, but so sad to see that my baby was growing up so much.

I wanted to try and keep this page relatively flat because my albums are really getting thick. Every so often, I do one like this to help keep the balance in my books. To achieve this, I used a lot of stamps and sticker embellishments to accent my layout. I cut apart the doily to spread the color around the page. The tab was a border sticker that I cut apart so that I could use the one with her initial on it. I now have the others leftover to use on something else.

For those of you who want to know, she did get a job, and it was a great learning experience. Not a good one, but still a lesson learned. Now, she works at a job that she loves, and I am so proud of her.

Thanks for visiting-

Dani

WOYWW 137

Today, my desk is pretty clean. I am starting to work on a layout of my daughter from the spring. I have the general layout going, need to glue things down and start some embellishing. If you have some time, hop on over to the Stamping Ground and see what's on people's desk across the globe.

This card is part of my 52 weeks of cards challenge. So far, I am three for three. I am going to try and post these on Wednesdays if at all possible. I am also trying to keep these simple, but I can't help but be drawn to the sewing machine. I love the look of the tone on tone hearts sewn on the bottom.

Card #2

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

My Smash Journal

While I love the idea of the K&Co. Smash journals, they are just quite not my style. I wanted something along the same idea, so I purchased a journal from the bookstore. I liked the pages, but I wasn't crazy about the cover, so I recovered, the front and back, similar to how I did the composition book on yesterday. My hubby then took it to Office Depot and had them cut the spine off.

I used my Bind-It-All to punch the holes and secured it using two pieces of spiral binding material. This way, I can add bits and pieces from my daily life, and still have room for the book to grow. I can always buy bigger binding if I need it in the future.

I then stamped the word journal using a Versamark ink pad and embossed it with black powder.

Now I have my very own, customed made, Smash book that fits my style perfectly. And, I am now out of that paper. lol...

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

Repost of Yesterday

With all of the changes that Blogger is doing right now, my post from yesterday has magically disappeared. I can still read all of my comments, but the thread is gone. So, I will recap real quickly, since I reference it on today's post.

I created this card and a matching mini composition book to give as a gift. I will add the word "Notes" to the notebook and buy a really pretty ink pen to include in the gift bag. The sentiment was stamped and embossed in white. The inside reads, "to wish you a Happy Birthday!"

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

WOYWW 136

I have actually been back in my space and working this week. My desk is pretty clean this morning as I am just getting started with a card that I want to send to my 10 year old godchild. My dh bought me this beautiful yellow desk for Christmas and I love it!

This is the finished card that I was creating. Simple and clean with just a touch of a homespun feel with the stitching. Just how I like them. Is it sad to buy a sewing machine just to sew on paper? I hope not, because I actually bought a really good one just to sew on paper. lol...

Card #1

I used Love Story by Fancy Pants to make this card. I loved the fun colors and designs which work well for a child's card. The ladybug is a Studio G stamp. I love how I can get inexpensive stamps for every season without breaking the bank. The sentiment is from Purple Onion designs. The set is called All Occasions Greetings and I have been using it for years.

Thanks for visiting me today!

Hugs :)

Just a little Note

I just wanted to thank all of you who have left such heartfelt comments last week to my OLW post. Admitting depression was one of the hardest things I have had to do. The meds are making me really tired, but on the bright side, they are a great diet aid. ha ha... Sorry, I really need to keep my sense of humor.

I don't want to make this blog about depression, as creating is the thing that helps keep me focused, but from time to time, you may see a layout pop up related to my OLW journal. I do appreciate each and all of your comments. Your support has been so uplifting to me. I am astounded by the friendliness of the online crafting community. Again, thanks so very much for your kindness.

Tomorrow, back to business as usual.

Hugs :)

Drive

Let me start this post by wishing my wonderful husband of 24 years a Happy Anniversary today. I know it is not always easy, and sometimes we are a pain in each others ass, but, I love you always!!! You truly are my best friend. :)

Okay, enough of the sappy crap.

Today's layout is courtesy of an Allison Davis sketch. I don't use sketches often because I have a hard time deviating from the basic idea that is put in front of me. But, just wanting to get something done this weekend, I pulled out my sketchbook and went to work. Not much was changed from the original sketch, except a few shifts in paper and embellishments.

I distressed the edges of the embellishments and the journaling tag to give some much needed dimension, otherwise, the layout was really flat looking. While it is not my most favorite layout, it is a complete layout, which in turn jumped started my creativity and I was able to work on something else for later this week.

Play Date

Since I typically don't do Mardi Gras, I decided to keep my niece while our family went to the parades. I knew she loved to craft, so I had a list of projects that we could do.

While I knew that keeping her entertained was top priority, I didn't expect the entertainment that she would provide for me. Talking to her was a hoot! It is amazing how the mind of a ten year old works. Her logic and theories alone are enough to keep one thinking for days. Needless to say, it was a great day filled with crafting and brownies.

December Daily Part Two (again, photo heavy)

Here it is, the last pages of my DD. While I am happy that I decided to do one, I probably won"t be doing another one any time soon. Mini albums are something I always had trouble doing. For some reason, doing a lot of theme pages at one time, burns me out.

So without further ado, I give you the conclusion of DD 2011!!!

Again, any questions, feel free to ask. And thanks for looking if you made it this far into day two.

December Daily Part One (photo heavy)

Today, I thought that I would share some more pages from my December Daily. I finished it yesterday and I am proud of myself for getting it done so quickly after the holidays.

I tried to keep each page simple, with minimal embellishments. If you have any questions about a particular page, feel free to ask.

One Little Word

Are you playing along this year? I never thought that chosing one little word could make such a difference in my life, but it has.

Last year, the word I chose was home. I had just moved back to my hometown and I was really having difficulty adjusting to being back. After a year of reflecting, journaling, and embracing it, I can honestly say there is no where else that I would rather be at this time in my life.

This year, I am at it again. My OLW is "okay". I chose it because I have been fighting depression for about 1/2 a year, and the last couple of months, depression has been kicking my butt. With medication, I am learning that it is okay to say that I am not okay, that it is okay if everything is not perfect, it is okay to say NO, it is okay if I take a day off, it is okay to scrap a page and not have supper cooked, etc…. I know it is such a simple little word, but one that is more powerful than you can believe.

I want you to know that it is very hard for me to share this bit of information with you. That it is difficult to actually have to say the word depression out loud. I would like to tell you that I am okay with it, but I am not. I am hoping that by the end of 2012, I can say differently. We will see. But for now, I am okay with the word I have chosen, and I do believe that in time, I will be OKAY!