Cold.

Hello!!  I hope you've had a lazy, Saturday morning :-) 

 

Personally, I'm snuggled in bed with my big blanket, window open listening to the rain outside.  It's lovely!!  We get so few of those here in the AZ, that I plan to take full advantage of every last drop.

 

Actually, this time of year in AZ is usually perfect, although a few weeks ago, it was downright chilly!  I've come to realize that when I say I'm a winter girl, what this actually means is that I like the weather to hover somewhere around the 70 degree mark.  Nice and cool---just enough to make it bearable to wear my long-sleeved shirts and cute little jackets.  So, when the weather dips down into the 30 degree mark or below?  BRRRRR!!! 

 

Props to those who live in the powdery cold!!  And Snuggies.  And extra sock---LOTS of extra socks!!



 

Buuut, I digress.  This latest cold snap got me thinkin' about some of my very own wintery photos, and after diggin' through the vault, I came up with Tahoe.

 

This particular trip was so very hard!  It was long and filled with scary stuff.  Stuff that I would rather bury, to be honest.  It left me feeling cold---and not just in the wintery sense of the word!  Which is kinda why I thought I should scrap 'em.  Scrap Therapy those big bad's away so that I can appreciate the beauty of the actual snapshots themselves...

 

Enter the shadow box.  This is the first phase of my plan to mold these photos into something that makes me smile :-)  It's totally nestled into the back of a nice thick book!  I'm seriously lovin' this little altered book so far.

 

 

This photo is probably my fave from that trip :-)  Notice my oldest son standing on the base of the bear's platform.  Yeah---totally about to climb it.  And then there's the look on my youngest son's face.  Apparently, this is the face you make when you've been eaten by the bear you're mom posed you in front of for a quick snapshot.  And finally, my baby girl is so bundled, that her arms are sticking straight out to the sides! 

 

Yep.  Phase one is complete and a total success :-)  If you wanna cut and paint up a book of your very own, check out the tutorial I've created for Gauche Alchemy HERE.

 

Catch ya on the flip side!

 

xx,

 

We're All Mad Here.

Hi Everyone!! 

 

 

A brand new challenge over on The Octopode Factory Friday challenge blog is under way!!  This time, TOFF crew is gettin' their party on---their tea party, that is.  And it's gonna be a MAD one!!

 

Ok, so in plain language, the theme this challenge is Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

 

Here's what I've come up with...

 

I've used Lily's March Hare digi and boy do I loooooove him!!  He's looks like I feel some mornings, hee-hee!

 



 

I'm totally diggin' the contrast between the bright Copic coloring and the stark black and white starburst!  And the lace pattern??  I thought it was appropriate for a tea party.



 

Here's the close-up...

 

Ok guys, that's it!!  Now, hop on over and join the party!!

 

Oh, and if you wanna see this card come together, check out the video HERE:-)

 

xx,

 

Baby, It's COLD Outside!

Hello!

If you're a fan of The Octopode Factory images, you may have already heard that I've been asked by Lily to join the FAB team over on her challenge blog---The Octopode Factory Friday!!

So, every two weeks, me and the rest of the Octopode crew, will be bringing the inspiration :-)

This weeks theme is 'Snowtime'.  Snowtime is perfectly fitting for a good portion of the globe right now, but here in good 'ol southern AZ??  We're lucky if we have to pull out our Snuggies and put away our flip flops for a week and a half every year!

Buuuuuut, we do have some amazing sunrises and sunsets---and those gorgeous light shows led me to think on light shows of a more polar locale.  Yep, the lovely lights of the aurora borealis!

Here's what I've come up with... 



  

For my card, I've colored up Lily's Whimsical Cute Snowman.  I'm lovin' that scarf!!  And how cute is his little birdie friend??  Adorable!!  And rockin' a few frozen tail feathers, I'm sure :-)

 Here's a close-up...



Okee Dokee!!  That's it for me!  If you want to play along, you have two weeks to link up your creation :-)  And remember, you don't have to use an Octopode image to play along---but if you do, your name gets put in the pot twice for a chance to win three digi's from Lily's shop.

I hope to see ya there!!

xx,

A Year In Review...2012.

The thing I love best about a new year, is looking back on the triumphs and trials of the year before---on everything I've learned and how I've grown.  I honestly believe this growth can be seen in everthing we create. 

Fads, trends, difficulties and celebrations.  Happiness.  Despair.  Life---all reflected in the work of our hands.

That being said, I've gathered a few of my favorite creations from the past year to share with you here today.  For ease of posting, I've named each project the title I used on the associated blog post.  If you want more details, just click on the title and have a peek  :-)

Now, let's hop on down memory lane, shall we?? 

One of my all time favorite projects was created in January.  I love this project!!  Follow The Yellow Brick Road was created as my Guest Design Team submission for Saturated Canary's first GDT call and kinda began my whole journey with said company... 

I Cross My Heart is a super sappy, sentimental SMASH* page created in May, and every time I see it, I smile.  And sigh.  And smile again :-)

How Sweet It Is was a 4 by 6 inch postcard created in July for a swap.  Nearly monochromatic??  Yes, please :-)

In August came Give Big.  I still have no words.

In September, Beauty Is Fleeting...

AND Because You Can.  I think this one may not only be a Top 10 but my favorite tut of the year!

In October was Our Story...

AND Wobble :-)  C'mon!!  A bobble head card.  Just sayin'.

November brought Point And Click...

And December closes the year with It's A Wrap!!

Of my Top 10 projects, FIVE have tutorial videos, SEVEN have colored images, and ALL of them have helped me work through frustrations, gift friends, chronicle family photos, grow creatively and share with a FAB community of crafty peeps like me!!  I wouldn't trade it for the world!

I say, BRING IT 2013!!  I'm gonna get my craft on, my art on, my SMASH* on and my scrap on :-)  Like a BOSS!!

xx,

He Loves Me...

Good Morning and Happy New Year!!!

I'm super excited to share my very first project as the newest member of the Oozak Challenge Blog's DT!  I'm such a fan of Oozak!!  It's where all the cool kids buy their Copics ;-)

Honestly, tho'---they do carry a smokin' selection of great product for crazy good prices.  'Mary SHOPPED' & 'Mary APPROVED'! 

Alrighty then...enough with the enabling and on with the goods.

January's Challenge over on the Oozak Challenge Blog is Anything Goes + Pink and Bling!!

Challenge accepted. 

Here's what I came up with...

                                                                               

I've colored up Saturated Canary's 'Valentine Petals'.  I totally dig this mostly monochromatic color palette!!  The pink really pops off the page!! 

And here's a close-up of Miss 'Valentine Petals' herself :-) 

Supply List:

Stamp-Valentine Petals by Saturated Canary

Copic Markers-C00, C1, C3, C5, C7, C9, RV00, R81, R83, R85

Patterned Paper-American Crafts, Sketchbook by Amy Tangerine

Glossy Accents

Ok, guys---there you have it!!  For details, prize info and to link up your project, hop on over to the Oozak Challeng Blog.

Good Luck and Happy Crafting!!!

xx,