About Me

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Okanagan, BC, Canada
Welcome to my crafting blog. After retirement, my husband and I moved to a beautiful location in the Okanagan area of British Columbia. I love all paper crafts including mixed media, journaling and cards. I also dabble in papermaking, photography, fibre art, and altered books. I am an active member of several card and mixed media groups and on the design team of several challenge blog. I love the world of blogging, it has opened many doors for me. My favourite quote is by Maya Angelou. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” I hope you join me in my search for my creative side. Thanks for stopping by!

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Friday, September 30, 2011

Cute Card Thursday (Challenge 184)


Animal Crackers are the theme of this week’s Cute Card Thursday’s challenge. I chose to use a digi stamp called “Cecil Wrapped Up” by Digi Doodles Shop. I think he is just so cute. I coloured him with markers and glitter pens to give the card holiday sparkle. I think he is ready for Christmas.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a creative day.

Judy

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sketch Frenzy Friday Challenge SFF092311


I just love sketch challenges and Sketch Frenzy Friday always has some great
templates. The digi I used for this card was by Whimsie Doodles and the image is called Dottie's Garden and the sentiment stamp is from my unknown makers of unmounted rubber stamp collection.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you stop buy again soon.

Judy

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Paper Shelter Challenge # 33, For the Girls


The theme of the challenge was “For the Girls” and tonight I had fun with my new EK flower punch and a digi from The Paper Shelter called “Spoiled”. The background paper I created with several colours of dye inks and a sponge. The colours of the background set the tone for the rest of the card. “Spoiled” looks like a girly girly girl to me.

Thanks for stopping by and do something creative for yourself today.

Judy

I'm So Happy


This colourful fun stamp is by Terry Medaris and is from his African series and is called “I’m So Happy”. Check out Terry’s art stamps and his art work at:

http://www.terrymedarisartstamps.net/

I made this card for an upcoming card sketch swap for one of my favourite rubber stamp groups called the Rubber Inkers. I hope my partner enjoys the card.

Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

It is Party Time Tuesday (PTT#35) Anything Goes


Paper Shelter one of the sponsors for this challenge is the creator of this cute digi called “Walk Like an Egyptian”. Anything goes is one of my favourite challenges. I used the Z fold technique for the card shape and added pink pearls and butterflies that complement the background papers to complete the card.

Have a great day everyone. Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

Monday, September 26, 2011

Come And Get It Challenges - Easel Card

This week’s Come and Get It Challenge was to make a easel card. I was pleased with the way this card turned out although I made several mistakes and make some modifications to my plan along the way.

I have wanted to try this technique using Michael Strong’s kimono die cut for awhile and today was my chance. I cut the plastic with the die cut, embossed it with the swirl embossing folder and add colour to the back with Future floor polish and die inks. I added some gold accent flakes while the floor polish was drying to add some interest.

The background paper was made to match the kimono by splashing the same dye inks on gloss card stock and smearing them around. I did not like the way they turned out so I grabbed my Simple Green cleaner that I use to clean my stamps and sprayed the paper. I liked that effect and decided to use the paper on my card. I then tried to add some gold rub on the outside swirls of the kimono but it would not set so I rubbed it off although some stayed in the crevices of the swirls and I liked the effect.

Well back to my craft room and see what else I come up with tonight.

Judy

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Patterns of Friendship


Do you remember this Stampin' Up stamp set? The stamp was in their catalogue in 2006. One of the Yahoo groups I belong to called the Rubber Inker's upcoming swap was to use a stamp, paper or tool etc that you had not used in over a year in making your card.

I went through my stash and found this stamp that had not seen any ink for a very long time. I like the simple card but it has not glitter or bling.

Well back to my stamp room. Time to clean up.

Judy

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Party Time Tuesdays' Challenge # 34 - I Love You More than Ice Cream


Pollycraft has this cute set of ice cream themed digi stamps. The kids eating ice cream are so sweet that I just had to use them for the Party Time Tuesday challenge this week. I choose ice cream coloured paper, added pearls, glitter and ribbon to add to this sweet image. I like the all over effect.

Too bad I do not have ice cream in the freezer. I would like some right now.
Well back to my stamp room to clean up.
Judy

Paper Pretties Challenge - Happy Bird Day

Paper Pretties’ Challenge was to create a card with autumn colours and I chose their fun bird digi called “Frank” to be the centre of my card. The sentiment stamp “Happy Bird Day” is by A Muse Artstamps. To give Frank googly eyes I added diamond glaze to his over sized eyes. The card was coloured in autumn colours and I used chalk to create a sky background. An assortment of coordinating paper, Ric Rac and pearls finished the card.

My creative quote for the night is by John Cleese, “ Laughter is the best creative medicine.”

Make sure to take time to enjoy life and have lots of laughs.
Judy

Swirls and Pearls - Pollycraft Challenge #111


I have been busy in my craft room tonight. This card was created for the Pollycraft Swirls and Pearls challenge. I love this digi from the Sweet Dreams collection called “Aurelia Joy”. I coloured the image with my Copic Markers and Martha Stewart’s metallic markers. I embossed a piece of glossy copper paper with the swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder. I added pearls and gems in white, copper and amber to complete the card.

I love the colour scheme of the card. It contains some of my most favourite colours.

Have a great day. I am heading back to my craft room to finish the other cards I started tonight.

Judy

Sketch Frenzy Friday (SFF091611) - Bearing Gifts


Today’s card was created for Sketch Frenzy Friday. I used this cute Christmas digi by Pollycraft called Kiki Gifts as my inspiration. I layered pattern paper from my stash, embossed complimentary paper, coloured the image with my Copics, added Ric Rac and a sentiment stamp by A Muse ArtStamps. This is the first card I have made for this year's Christmas cards.

My creative quote for the day “Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.” Julia Cameron

Do something creative for yourself today.

Judy

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Come And Get It Challenge- Spiders and Witches


I just love card sketches and one of the best challenge sites is the Come And Get It Challenge. They present you the sketch and how you interpret the challenge is left up to you.

Since Halloween is not too far away I decided to do a witch and spider theme. My inspiration came from Martha Stewart spider punch and black glitter I got off the sales rack after Halloween last year. The cute witch stamp is from my stash of unmounted rubber stamps. Halloween is such a fun time of the year.

I think I will send this card to my youngest grandson who is almost three and should remember Halloween this year. I do not think the card is too spooky.

Have a creative day everyone.

Judy

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Digi Doodle Challenge #76 - Autumn Colours


The theme of Digi Doodle’s challenge this week is autumn colours. I choose to use their digi stamp called “The Day Off”. I thought the scarecrow and his surroundings suited the autumn colour scheme. I used the gate fold tutorial on Splitcoaststampers, my Copic Markers, and several layers of autumn colour paper to create the card. To complete the card butcher twine and an autumn button were added for interest.

Have a creative day. Stay positive.

Judy

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Paper Shelter Challenge


Paper Shelter is one of my favourite digi companies. I love their beautiful digis. They make me smile. I choose to use the “Fairy Emma” digi for this Fairy and Elves challenge from Paper Shelter along with the Tim Holtz die cut, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, EK punch, glitter and a sentiment stamp by A Muse Art Stamps.

I love it when I can go through my stash and use my scraps to create the embellishments for cards. I have a lot of scraps of paper I have saved over the years. You never know when you are going to need them.

I better head back to my craft room. Clean up is not my favourite thing to do.

Find sometime to express your creativity.
Judy

Baby Love Challenge by Pollycraft


“Baby Love” is the theme of this card I created for the Pollycraft challenge. The digi I used is by Pollycraft and it is called “Moon Lullaby” from their Little Star collection. I used my Copic markers to colour the image along with my silver Martha Stewart metallic marker. I gave the card more interest by adding some stars in different die cut patterns, glitter, ribbon, sweet baby sentiment and more patterned paper. The card is ready to give someone who is having a baby.

The creative quote for today is by Julia Cameron. “In a sense, as we are creative beings, our lives become our work of art.”

Have a creative day.

Judy

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Cute Card Thursday - Knit One Pearl One


Knit one pearl one is the theme of my card for Cute Card Thursday’s Anything Goes Challenge #182. I found this cute cow knitting at Pink Gems Designs. I gave the image some colour and made some co-ordinating flowers to add some brightness to the card. I layered several different papers and my card was ready to go.

Stay positive and have a good day

Judy

Sketch Frenzy Friday SFF090911


I loved the sketch this week. I had several ideas for a card but in the end decided to go with the African animal theme. From my stash I found a couple of different animal print papers, an elephant unmounted stamp and some co-ordinating paper for the circles, strip, and sentiment. Since animal prints are one of my favourite papers the card was fun to make.

I found another quote I like on creativity. “Mortals must do what they are here to do creatively or they will become cranky”. Jill Badonsky

Have a creative day.
Judy

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Party Time Tuesday's Challenge #33 - Ribbon Trim and Fiber OH My


For my card for Party Time Tuesday’s challenge this week I used a cute digi ice skater by Paper Make Up called Sashi. The Challenge was to use ribbon, trim and fibres on the card. I decided to use ribbon in a different way to embellish the card, I punched the paper with my ribbon punch and tied the ribbons in a pattern. Glitter was added to the trim of Sashi’s outfit to give the card some sparkle, Diamond Glaze was used to give the effect that she was skating on ice. A pair of figure skates was added to finish the card. I think Sashi looks sweet in her skating costume. This will make a great birthday card for one of my grand nieces.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Maya Angelou

Be creative
Judy

Floral Collage


I started this card tonight for a challenge that I did not get completed in time. The challenge was to use office supplies as embellishments. “Floral Collage” is the name of the stamp by Stamps Happen Inc., which I coloured with my Tombow markers. From my office supplies I used paper clips and staples and then added a sentiment by A Muse Art Stamps and some ribbon to complete the card.

Remember ... “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams”.

Have a creative day.
Judy

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Best Buddies


I love this Stampin Up stamp of a little boy fishing with his dog. I have had the stamp for many years and I have used it many times. The tent fold style card seemed to suit the subject and I added some colour with my Copic Markers. The fishing basket is from my stash of unmounted stamp and the “friends” definition is by Hero Arts.

Do something creative today.

Judy

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Grandparent's Day Challenge - Grandma Gardening - PPT#32


Today’s card was created for Party time Tuesday’s Grandparent Day Challenge. I made this card to honour all grandmothers who love to garden and share the experience with their grandchildren. This grandmother inspired image is from “Making it Crafty” an Australian company. The digi stamp is called Edna and Ali Gardening. Check the company out at:

http://www.makeitcrafty.com.au/

Do something creative and have a good day.

Judy

Friday, September 9, 2011

Cherry Bloosoms


I had to make a quick card for an upcoming birthday and I came across with pretty dainty cherry blossom paper in my stash. I then remembered that I had this unmounted cherry blossom stamp that went nicely with it. I coloured the stamped image with my markers and popped some of the flowers to give a 3D effect.
Well back to my craft room. I am trying to get ready to go away for a girls crafting weekend.
Hope I come back with some new ideas.

Have a creative day.

Judy

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Happy Birthday Matey


It is a card sketch challenge at Paper Pretties Wednesday challenge (PWC#170). I had fun making this simple card and I think it will make a great birthday card for one of my niece’s little boy who is going to be 3 next month.

The digi stamp is from the Paper Pretties collection and is called Pirate Hans. I gave him some colour using my Copic Markers. The background I stamped with an old sailing ship stamp from my collection of unmounted stamps. Hope Jacob likes his card.


Have fun creating everyone.

Judy

Monday, September 5, 2011

Come And Get It Challenges- Back to School


This back to school card was created for the Come and Get it Challenges. This vintage digi image is called "too many numbers". To make the card I also used the Cuttlebug star embossing folder, a book and a numbers die cuts. I think it makes a cute back to school theme card.

Well back to my craft room. I still have a birthday card to make tonight.

Judy

Digi Doodle Shop - Challenge 74 - Fantasy/Fairyland


I found a great new digi site this week called “Digi Doodle Shop”. I just love their stamps and cute badge. You can check them out at:

http://digidoodleshop.com/store/

Their challenge this week was to create a card with a theme of “Fantasy/Fairyland”. I choose to use one of their digi stamps called “Louis, Butterflies and Buttercups.” I layered papers, used a few Martha Stewart punches, pearls, bling, and a sentiment stamp by A Muse Art Stamps to finish this fantasy card. Once I got the card put together I realized that the flowers were buttercups and I coloured them mauve instead of yellow, oh well I like the colour combination. They go well with my pink dinosaur.

Have a fantastic day.

Judy

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Here Fishes Fishes


When I hear "Here Fishes Fishes" I cannot help think about my dad and all of kids in the fishing boat with him and him getting us all to call the fish. My dad carried on the tradition with his grandchildren too. I do not think it helped the fishing but it was fun.

I made this card for an upcoming sketch card challenge for one of my Yahoo groups. I found the background paper in my stash and dug through my rubber stamps and found this fish stamp by A Muse Art Stamps that went with it perfectly. The sentiment stamp “Life is Good” is also by A Muse Art stamps. This is a different style of card for me but I kind of like it.

Have a creative day.

Judy


Saturday, September 3, 2011

Sketch Frenzy Friday - Lacy Butterfly


For Sketch Frenzy Friday challenge this week I created this simple card using Glimmer Screens – Fanciful Stencils. I sprayed the stencil with several colours of Glimmer Mist. The butterfly was so large that I decided to keep the card simple and just added a sentiment by Hero Arts, a couple pieces of bling and a pretty gold ribbon.

Have a creative day.

Judy

Enjoy Michael Strongs' Rubber Stamps - September Sketch


I just love card sketches and had fun creating this card for the September card sketch challenge for the yahoo group Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps. Check out Michael’s blog for great ideas.

http://www.strongstamps.com/

I embossed Michael’s Cloisonne’ pot and cut the design to create a wide mouth plant pot. I then added a dragon fly, flourishes and several flowers made using a selection of flower punches.

The pot, flourishes and dragonfly (by Hero Arts) were coloured with several different colours of Metallic Rub Ons. A button and brads were added to finish of the card.

Now back to crafting and of course clean up.

Be creative

Judy

Friday, September 2, 2011

Tent Card - Back to School


Tonight’s card was made for an upcoming technique swap. The technique chosen was the tent card using the tutorial from Splitcoaststampers’ web site.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tentcard/

To create with card I used a digi stamp from Stitchy Bear Stamps and a clip art pile of books courtesy of pamsclipart.com. To complete the back to school theme, for the frame of the card I used a set of alphabet stamps from my stash.

Have fun
Be creative

Judy

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 180



This card was created for Cute Card Thursdays’ challenge which you need to use at least one punch when making your card. I choose to create this chip board little girls dress card which I used an oval punch for the neckline and a heart punch for the pocket. This card was inspired by a card I saw awhile ago and I created a pattern for.

I covered the chip board with some pink antique style paper, stamped brown flowers with a small Stampin Up stamp, added ribbon, a pocket and some pearls. To finish the card I added a sentiment to the inside of the card “Thank heaven for little girls”.

Well back to my stamp room for some clean up.

Keep looking for your creative side.

Judy

Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes - PTT#31


I have just returned from my Disney World vacation with my hubby and oldest grandson. It was a wonderful trip but I am glad to be back in my craft room. Tonight’s creation was made for Party Time Tuesdays' anything goes challenge. I love this Stampabilities' stamp called "Winter Winds" from the Mouse House design collection. I added a couple of layers of leaves, leaf brads and a sentiment from my collection of unmounted rubber stamps. I think the sentiment goes particularly well with the stamp "Crunching, crinkling autumn leaves. Spiralling, swirling in the breeze".

Be creative - and have a great day.

Judy