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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Sunday, December 31, 2023

A Place to Start- Anything Goes Challenge with optional Twist/Gate Fold Card

 Time for our first challenge of 2024  over at A Place to Start. Hope everyone had a Happy New Year.  The theme this month is Anything Goes with an optional twist of a gate fold card. 

This the gate fold card I made for the challenge.


I used the flower to hold my gate closed.


The background paper with from the Ltd. Collection - called Ice Porcelain. It is a very pretty paper pack (www.itdcollection.com). The butterfly is from a group of Tim Holtz stamps that I have had for a very long time. I also used some gems on my card along with a gold leafing pen to edge the card. 

Thank you for stopping by and have a creative month.  Hope to see you back here again soon. 


Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Crafty Gals Corner -

 


The theme for this challenge is: 

~ 'Tis the Season ~

 Our sponsors for this challenge are: 
(listed in alphabetical order)

Prize ~ 2 Digital Images
* * * * * * * * * *

Prize ~ 3 Sets of Digis

* * * * * * * * * *

This is my card I made for the challenge 

Dr. Digi's House of Stamps

I used an easel style card for this project and coloured my image with Copics, gel pen, pencil crayon and Nuvo. I added some sights to stars and a die cut sentiment to complete the card. I will give this card to my son for Christmas. 

Remember to pop over to our sponsors' site all their great images and design ideas.  Also visit our challenge blog to be inspired by our fabulous design team's creativity. 

Thank you for stopping by and have a creative month.  Happy Holidays to you and your family and I hope to see you back here again in 2024. 



Sunday, December 3, 2023

A Place to Start - December Challenge - Anything Goes - Optional Something New


This is the last challenge at A Place to Start for this year. It is hard to believe 2024 is just around the corner. 

This challenge is an anything goes challenge as always with an optional  twist of Anything  New: for example of something new could be a new bay, new home, New years etc

I decided to make a Christmas rocker  Christmas card for a new baby in our family. 

The image is by Mo's Digital pencil. I just love her drawings. On her site she has a  great number of images that are retiring, they are so adorable. 


Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful Holiday Season and I hope to see you back here again in 2024. 

Saturday, December 2, 2023

613 Avenue Create DECEMBER 2023 - ANYTHING GOES w/Optional Twist: Any Winter Holiday

Time for another great challenge over at 613 Avenue Create this month. The challenge as always is Anything Goes with an optional twist: any winter holiday, such as Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzoo, Las Posadas, New Years or Diwalf.

I chose to use Christmas as my winter holiday.

The card I chose to make is a pop out gate fold card. I found the directions for the card at Stamping with Bella on the Thursday with Sandiebella page. You can find the directions here




The image I used to make my card is from The Paper Shelter Collection. The image is call Turkey is Ready. The Christmas paper I used for the card is from my staff.  The sentiment is from Stamping Up.

 



Thank you for stopping by and have a creative month.  Remember to pop over to our challenge blog to be inspired by our talented design team. Hope you will join in the fun.

Happy Holidays to you and your family and I hope you will join us again in 2024. 

Friday, December 1, 2023

Creative Artiste - December 2023 - Anything Goes Mixed Media - Optional Christmas


Time for another great challenge at Creative Artiste.  
Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes" with an optional twist of a Christmas Theme. 

Please make sure you use multiple mediums on your projects.


One of our members has donated a lovely gift for the winner of this month's challenge 

We are also celebrating reaching our hundredth challenge.

This is my project for this challenge. I have been a member for many years and really have enjoyed the group immensely and have learned lots from the group, they are all very  talented ladies. 



I created a little Christmas scene for my project this month using:

a wooden canvas frame in reverse
dollar store snow
small branches from the forest close by
the deer and trees are from the Tim Holtz's collection of cutting dies
acrylic paints
snow paste by Stamperia
winter snow houses paper is from a Christmas paper pack by Stamperia
Distress inks
Distress Mica Stains
Faber-Castell - Pitt artist pen

Thank you for stopping by and supporting our group. Happy Holidays to you and your family and all the best in 2024.  We are taking a month break in January and we will be back in February. Hope you will join us then. 

I am entering this project in the following challenges:
The Paper PLayers - Christmas
Inspire Create Challenge - Christmas
We Love to Create - anything goes Mixed Media
Alphabet Challenge - R is for Reindeer
For Seasons Challenge - Winter
Mix it Up Challenge - Anything Goes


Wednesday, November 8, 2023

 Time for another great challenge over at Crafty Gals Corner

The theme of the challenge this month is

~ Dots and/or Stripes ~

 Our sponsors for this challenge are: 
(listed in alphabetical order)



Prize ~ $10 Gift Certifcate

* * * * * * * * * *



Prize:  2 digis, 1 pad of digital papers "mini"
and the possibility of being Special Guest DT

* * * * * * * * * *

I have used an image this month from our sponsor Jan's Digi Stamps.

The image I choose to use from Jan's Digis is called Peppermint Mice






The theme of the challenge is dots and/or stripes. Both dots and stripes can be found in the Stamperia paper I used  on the card along with the stripe candy cane. 

I used a fancy fold I found on Stamping with Amore blog.  She has directions for the fold which inspired me for the card although I changed the dimensions to go with my image. 

I used several  different markers to colour the image and I also added glitter stars, pencil crayon and gel inks. 

Thank you for stopping by and have a creative month. Remember to check out our generous sponsors and the work of our talented design team. 

Sunday, November 5, 2023

A Place to Start - Anything Goes - Optional Twist - Something for a Child


Time for our November challenge over at A Place to Start. The challenge is anything goes with an optional twist of Something for a Child. 

I am playing the twist this week, something for a child and decided to make a paper lantern which can be used with a small battery operated light or it can be a box to hold Christmas candies. 

The snowman image I made this lattern with is by Pink Gems Design and is called Chilly Snowman.






To make the box shape I cut a piece of red card stock 12.5 inches by 5 1/4 inches and scored the 12.5 peice at 3, 6, 9, 12. ( 1/2 inch scored line is for attaching the side together. I used a rectangular cutting die to cut out the windows and added the cross papers that I cut out of scrap paper. I added a piece of acetate paper to the window pieces. 


Originally when I made my first tealight holder I used a pattern from the Whiff of Joy blog. The pattern I used I could no  longer found on their site but it does show how I attached the top and bottom small boxes for the lids. 
 
I basically made 2 small boxes that fit into the top and bottom of the the box. I then decorated the the top of the box making the shape of the top and adding my embellishments.

Once I had my lantern together I decorated the sides with my Chill snowman, added a sentiment, and Stamperia snow paste. 

Other views


For the top of the box I decorated it with a wooden flower, bead and pom pom ribbon. 



 Thank you for stopping by and I hope you will join us this month. Remeber to pop over to our challenge blog at A Place to Start to be insired by our talented design team. Have a creative month. 







Saturday, November 4, 2023

613 Avenue Create -Anything Goes with Optional Twist - Wet or Dry Embossing

 Time for another great challenge at 613 Avenue Create.   The challenge is anything goes with an optional twist dry or wet embossing.

 Our sponsor for this challenge is SheepSki Designs.


Andrea Norris

 

I chose to make this card for the challenge using wet embossing technique. The Sheepski Design image I used for this easel card is called Cornflower


I embossed the sentiment for with card with Stamperia embossing Powder. The sentiment is from a collection of Just Rite Rubber Stamps. I just loved the cornflower image. I used an easel die cut for the cards base and copics, gel pen,  pencil crayon, Wink of Stella and distressed inks to colour the project. 

Thank you for stopping by and have a creative week. Remembers to pop over to our challenge blog to be inspired by our talented design team. 
Hope you will join in the fun this month. 


Friday, November 3, 2023

Creative Artiste November 2023 Challenge - Anything Goes Mixed Media

We have another great challenge happening over at Creative Artiste, as always the Challenge is anything goes mixed media. 

The term “mixed media art” is a broad definition that covers many forms of arts and crafts, including collage, assemblage, altered objects, handmade greeting cards, artist trading cards (ATCs) tags and art journaling  as long as you use different mediums.

The “mixed media” used includes paint, paper, pastes, sprays, powders, textural elements, clay, resins, fabrics, found objects, photos, metal, inks, pencils, markers and pastels to name just a few.

This is my November project, a page for my Art Journal. 


I used a few different products for my page including, distressed inks, rubber stamps, tea dyed lace, a stencil and scraps from my stash, rice papers and antique/vintage papers from my collection. 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a creative month. 

Pop over to our challenge blog to view the creations for our fabulous design team. 

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Craft Gals CornerChallenge #248 - Halloween Colours

Time for another great challenge at Crafty Gals Corner.

The theme for this challenge is: 

~ Halloween Colours~

 Our wonderful sponsors for this challenge are: 
(listed in alphabetical order)

Colour of Love
Prize ~ 3 Digital Images

* * * * * * * * * *

Prize ~ 3 Sets of Digis

* * * * * * * * *



Prize ~ 3 Digital Images

* * * * * * * * * *

This is my project I created for this challenge

Using: Cassandra
LeAnn's World 101



I think this cute little witch is so cute and just perfect for a Halloween card for my young nieces. To create my card I used my Copic Markers, Panpastels several glitter paints and inks from my stash. 

Thank you for stopping by and have a creatve week. Remember to pop over to our challenge blog to be inspired by our talented design team. 

Friday, October 6, 2023

Creative Artiste - Anything Goes Mixed Media Challenge

We have another great challenge happening over at Creative Artiste, as always the Challenge is anything goes mixed media. 

The term “mixed media art” is a broad definition that covers many forms of arts and crafts, including collage, assemblage, altered objects, handmade greeting cards, artist trading cards (ATCs) tags and art journaling  as long as you use different mediums.
The “mixed media” used includes paint, paper, pastes, sprays, powders, textural elements, clay, resins, fabrics, found objects, photos, metal, inks, pencils, markers and pastels to name just a few.

This is my project for October - Steampunk man, an altered metal trivet plate.



 This is the metal trivet plate I found at a the thirft store that was the inspiration for my altered picture.


I have been trying to use my stash of art supplies in my projects lately so when I added my rust effects to the metal I used a couple of different brands of paints.



After this pic was taken I added more copper and texture to the frame. 
To create the scene I used a rubber stamp called Steampunkman by Sheene Douglas.  I used wooden gears, clocks etc from my stash and some gear die cuts to create the pattern. I also add so metal findings such as a keys and small clock. The wording was from some designer paper by Stamperia. 

I added a sheet of dark gray paper behind the picture so that the pieces stood out more.

Closer look






Thank you for stopping by and have a creative week. Hope you will join us this month at Creative Artiste and remember to stop over to our blog to be inspired by our talented design team. 

Sunday, October 1, 2023

A Place to Start - October 2023 - Anything Goes

 Time for another great challege this month at A Place to Start. The theme this month is Anything Goes. 

Our sponsor for this challenge is: 


Prize ~ 3 Single Digis

Conie Fong is a self-taught artist residing in California, USA with her husband, daughter, pet hamster and fishes.  In her early childhood years, she was inspired by every kind of art and crafts.  She loved watching demonstrations by artists on the streets and at festivals and spent most of her free time perusing arts and crafts books in the library, drawing, crafting and experimenting with her art supplies at home.  Conie first started sharing her art with the world by selling ACEO reprints of her ACEO paintings of fairies, mermaids, and kitty art on Ebay in 2010.  She was a full time account manager for a University before becoming a full time mom and part time artist.  She currently enjoys spending time with her family traveling, exploring the outdoors, and designing beautiful, cute, and magical art for craft and coloring lovers. 

You can find this cute image in Conie's shop.



Folded card




I made with cute little witch for a Halloween card for my 4 year old grandaughter. I think she will love it.  The background of the card was coloured with Pan Pastel and the image with Copic Markers. I added some gems, Nova in gold on the shoe buckle. The small spider print was a digital image from the stash was was black and white and I printed on matching mauve paper. 

It was a fun card to make.  Hope you will join us this month, just create a card and enter it here.



Saturday, September 30, 2023

613 Avenue Create - October's Challenge - ANYTHING GOES w/Optional Twist: Autumn Colours




 Time for another great challenge at 613 Avenue Create this month.  The challenge is anything goes and the optional twist is Autumn Colours

This is my card for this challenge

The rubber stamp I used for my card is from my stash and I believe I purchased it from Ali Express. I have had the stamp in my stash for a long time and had forgotten I had even purchase it.

The image was stamped on some paper I had in my stash that was in the multi yellow colours. I also stamped the image on acetate paper  and cut out different elements. Some of the elements I cut out of the acetate and coloured the back of the acetate then added them to the collage. 

I added the sentiment "hello", a die cut then coloured it with Sheena Douglas' glitter pens. 

Thank you for stopping by and have a creative week. Remember to pop by our challenge blog to be inspired by our talented design team. Hope you will join in the challenge. 

Sunday, September 3, 2023

A Place to Start - September 2023 - All that Glitters

 Time for another great challenge over at A Place to Start.  The theme this month is "All that Glitters". 

This is my project for the challenge, an altered eye glass case.


This is what I started with.

To create my project I painted my eye glass case with white gesso then sprayed the box with Kilz (primer/sealer) to seal the gesso. I dribbled a few different colours of alcohol inks over the box to create the colour effect I wanted.  I also used a small amount of white acrylic paint on the box in some areas.  When the ink was dried I sprayed the box with acrylic paint to give it some more shine.

 I added some sparkly gems and a butterfly. I used Nuvo sliver glitter to give the butterfly some sparkle. I glued the butterfly partly on to the top section on the opening so you could use the butterfly as a clasp.


Open box

back and side of box


Thank you for stopping by and have a creative week. Pop over to our challenge blog to be inspired by our talented design team. Hope you will join us this month. 


Saturday, September 2, 2023

September Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create

Time for another great challenge  at 613 Avenue Create.  The challenge this month is "Anything Goes"

 This is my card I made for the  challenge.

The digital stamp I used was one from my stash called Banjo Picking Bear by a company called Stamp on It. I was unable to find the company and I have had this image for a few years. 

I found some cute musical die cuts that that I added to the cards along with stamp a few 6s on the card.  I added the 6s because I was giving this card to a little boy n mu neighbourhood that was special to me.

Thank you for stopping by and have a creative week. Remember to pop  over to our challenge blog to be inspired by our talented design team.  Hope you will join us this month. 


Friday, September 1, 2023

Creative Artiste - September - Altered Pasta Bottles

 Time for another challenge at Creative Artiste for September.  

This is our 97th Challenge!

Our theme is as always"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

Please make sure you use multiple mediums on your projects. Please respect that we do not currently accept Instagram or Facebook entries. Only correctly linked blog entries please.

This is my project for this month, altered pasta jars.






I was looking for an idea for a vase to hold my beautiful  pottery flowers that  a very special friend brought back from Polland for me. 

This is what I started with. It came to me even with pasta in the jars. I do  remember a lot of years ago they would be displayed on the counter in the kitchens.  I sprayed the frame with a high gloss black paint so give the holder some life.


I decided to use these paste bottle because of the 2 different heights and their triangle shape. The pottery flowers I was given were in a selection of colours and their stems were not of the same consistance of metal or wood. 

 I decided to paint the bottles with white gesso and sprayed the bottles with Kilz primer so that my alcohol inks would have something to stick too and just not aborb into the gesso.

I played with many different colours of Alochol Ink trying to see what colours would go with my pottery flowers. 

Here are a few pictures of the vases of the sides of the vases.














I did add some butterflies and a title to the project when I was finished. I used a glaze over the vases to also protect the vases and give them some shine.

Thank you for stopping by and have a creative week. I hope you will join us this month over at Creative Artiste. Remember to pop over to our challenge blog to be inspired by our creative design tea. 





Saturday, August 5, 2023

613 Avenue Create - August - Anything Goes/Optional Twist Clean and Simple


Another great challenge over at 613 Avenue Create this month. The challenge 

as usual is anything goes and our optional twist is clean and simple. 

Our sponsor this month is Conie Fong Art.




Conie Fong is a self-taught artist residing in California, USA with her husband, daughter, pet hamster and fishes.  In her early childhood years, she was inspired by every kind of art and crafts.  She loved watching demonstrations by artists on the streets and at festivals and spent most of her free time perusing arts and crafts books in the library, drawing, crafting and experimenting with her art supplies at home.  Conie first started sharing her art with the world by selling ACEO reprints of her ACEO paintings of fairies, mermaids, and kitty art on Ebay in 2010.  She was a full time account manager for a University before becoming a full time mom and part time artist.  She currently enjoys spending time with her family traveling, exploring the outdoors, and designing beautiful, cute, and magical art for craft and coloring lovers. 

This is my card I made for this challenge using 
Conie Fong's image called  Bella with Rose


 

I kept the card simple by colouring Bella with copics, pencil crayon and a white gel pen. I fussy cut her out and added her to a die cut background. She is so cute. 
I did not add a sentiment because this image can be used for many different occasions. Great card to have on hand.

Thank you for stopping by and have a creative week. Remember to pop over to our challenge blog to be inspired by our talented design team.

I am entering this card in the following challenges: