Finding My Crafting Mojo

I Think I Found It!

Every crafting person goes through periods of time where they just don't have any mojo. No matter what you try, you think it looks like crap. Or you're not motivated. Or you just can't come up with a project.

The trick is knowing what to do to get yourself out of that crafting funk. What works for one won't necessarily work for another. But I know what works for me....Card Sketches!  

It just seems like if I pull out a challenge sketch and play along, things just come together. My mojo slowly creeps back. I find inspiration and excitement in crafting again. I'm lost without my therapy crafting sessions. And when I'm crafting...I find some peace and calm in the craziness called life.

So I decided to play along with Retro Sketches, #87 to be precise. Here is the sketch:

And here is my interpretation:

Retro Sketches #87

I used cardstock from the Bramble Rose collection from My Mind's Eye.  The paper "spoke" to me and I had to listen. I selected three pieces from the 6x6 paper pad and cut the pieces to fit my 4x6 white card base.

For each layer, I added some foam tape to the back to add some dimension. 

I also inked the edges of all pieces with some burgundy colored ink from Rubber Stampede. This helped to set off the edges. A few pearls added to the sentiment layer finished it off.

For the inside of the card, I used the same cardstock (actually, from the same pieces...no waste). The stamps used were from K Andrew Designs Art Stamps (Sympathic Sayings).

And my mojo?....well, let's just say it's working it's way back nicely.

Thanks for letting me share with you!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

FCCB #184: Signs of Fall

What Are The Signs of Fall?

Changing Leaves, Cooler Temperatures....Glittery Dogs????  

Ok, so that last one might not be a sign of fall, but it is a sign that I have been crafting glittery fall cards with a craft room full of dogs.  Seven of them.  What can I say, they love me.  
And if you have ever crafted with glitter, you know that it gets EVERYWHERE!  Nothing that a lint roller can't fix though.  

So here is what I created...

While the picture doesn't totally do it justice, IRL (in real life) it is so twinkly and colorful and, well, fall-y!!

I started by cutting my gold cardstock to 6"x8" and scored in half.  I then cut another piece of gold at 5.75"x7.75" and ran that through the Cuttlebug using a folder from the Fabric Swatches set.  This has to be on of my all time favorite folders. It's a basket weave and I just adore it.  

The gold cardstock that I used is fairly thick, but I still managed to get a beautiful impression.  Want to know the secret? Lightly mist both sides of your cardstock before placing it in your embossing folder. That will help it hold a beautifully detailed impression.

I then added foam tape to the back of that and adhered it to the front of the card for a little dimension.

For the glittery trees, I used a brass stencil (LG745) by Lynell Harlow (Dreamweaver) and a bunch of fine glitter in several colors.

I used a coconut soap to coat the back of the stencil to keep it sticking to the double sided mounting paper.  This paper is created especially for use with glitter and stencils by Dreamweaver.  With the stencil in place, I added the blue glitter and a little bit of green toward the bottom.  I then removed the stencil and added little bits of glitter in various colors to signify a variety of changing leaves.

Once I had the bits of leaves filled in, I added the trunks and remainder of leaves and borders.

I then removed the backing and placed that on the front of my card.

Once that was done, I used my Cricut Expression to cut out the word "Blessings" using the Gypsy Font cartridge which came in stalled on my Gypsy.  I cut the letters out of the same gold cardstock that I used on the card base and adhered them to the front of the card.

For the inside of the card, I found a verse on line and printed it on vellum.  I then cut that and glued the four corners to the inside of the card.  I used a Stampin' Up! punch to cut the corners out of the gold cardstock and embossed them using the basket weave folder.  They also act as an added way to make sure the vellum stays adhered without seeing the glue.

Glittering the scene took a little time, but the results were oh so worth it!

I hope you visit Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog and play along with this week's challenge: Signs of Fall.  I would love to see YOUR designs!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

Black & White at The Robin's Nest

It's a Masquerade Contest!

Hi, fellow crafters!  I'm here again with a couple of projects to share with you!  First up is my mask for the Masquerade Contest at The Robin's Nest.  

I chose to do a "Phantom" style mask.  Using the my Silhouette, I cut out two masks...the top layer and a black backing layer to add some sturdiness.

I selected some feathers, stickles and metallic pens to add some dazzle, along with my beloved TRN Dew Drops.

I added some strong adhesive tape to the front of the black mask and began sticking the feathers to it.  The strip tape is very strong and holds well.  I then added more of the tape all around the black mask and adhered the B&W top layer to it.

I then selected some Dew Drops and added them for eyebrows and around the eye (and one on the nose....it's a modern Phantom, lol).  I colored in some of the swirls with metallic markers and added some Stickles around the edge and on some of the other swirls.

I can't wait to see all the entries!  Come play along, won't you?

Supplies Used:

• The Robin's Nest:  B&W Glitter Border Swirl cardstock, Ace of Diamonds Dew Drops, Hot Pink Dew Drops
• Other supplies:  black cardstock, Stickles, metallic pens, adhesive tape, feathers, Silhouette Cameo.

My next project is a Thank You card done in an easel style.

I love this style of card.  It stands up and displays so nicely, yet folds nice and flat for easy mailing.

There is even room on the inside of the card to add your personalized sentiment.  The tag on the inside acts as a stopper to keep the card upright.










I started out with my supplies.  the card is a standard A2 card.  The trick is that you fold the top part of the card in half again to create your easel.

I adhered the B&W cardstock to the black cardstock and mounted that on the yellow layer.  

The bottom half of the top layer of the card base is then glued up (I use adhesive tape) and the mounted layers adhered.

I added some dimensional tape to the back of the tag for the inside.  This holds the card in place when it is in the easel position.  You could use anything for this....a button, a brad, a diecut, etc.

I then adhered two silk flowers together, added the dazzling black snowflake (who knew a snowflake could be so versatile!) and a cool button.

I hope you're inspired to give this style of card a try.  It's really very simple yet looks so striking.

Supplies Used:

• The Robin's Nest:  Damask Black and White Cardstock, Red/Black/Silver Snowflakes
• Other supplies:  yellow cardstock, black cardstock, white cardstock, printed sentiments, silk flowers, button.

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!!

TRN B&W

I am happy to share a little project using some great papers from The Robin's Nest.  I decided to not do a card this time.  Rather, I chose something a little different.  I used two different papers:  Black Fleur Glittered White and Black & White Clock cardstock, along with some amazing stamps from our co-sponsor this month...Sin City Stamps.

While you might be thinking these papers are pretty classical, I twisted them up a bit for a Halloween treat box.

I cut out the gable box using my Silhouette and the Black Fleur cardstock and tinted it with some Distress Ink.  I then cut out some of the clocks to add a little pop.  I then stamped the sentiments, witches and "cat whiskers" from the "Halloween Takes Flight" collection onto some gold and orange cardstock using Black Stayzon ink, and then trimmed the elements.

I adhered all the elements to the box along with some brick-brack ribbon along the bottom and some black Dew Drops on the moon and top.  A little gingham ribbon on the top adds another little pop.

Here are some close-ups!

I hope you enjoyed this little project.  Check out the amazing selection of TRN's cardstock and elements and see how wonderfully they blend together.  And be sure to head over to Sin City Stamps. They have an amazing collection of images from which to choose!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

Supplies Used:

The Robin's Nest:  Black Fleur and Black & White Clock cardstock, Black Dew Drops
Sin City Stamps:  Halloween Takes Flight stamps
Silhouette:  Gable Box
Miscellaneous:  Ink, Adhesive, Decorative Scissors, Black cardstock, Gold cardstock, Orange cardstock

FCCB #182: Black and Purple (Color Challenge!)

...and things that go BUMP in the night.

This weeks challenge over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog is to use the colors black and purple in your project.  Well, what else comes to mind with those colors and this time of year?  It has to be HALLOWEEN!  Right?  Purple-y dark nights with eyes that glow.....that's what came to me!

FCCB #182

I've showed you many times how I lay things out using the Cricut Design Studio, so I won't bore you with that this time.  This is how it came together.

I started out with a 5" x 6" (6" x 10" before folding) card base.  Onto that, I layered a black mat approximately 4.75" x 5.75".  I used my watercolors to paint the background onto watercolor paper and let it dry.  I then cut that down so that it fit on my mat with just a small frame showing.

I cut out the following shapes using my Cricut and Cricut cardstock:

• Trees were from the Bloom Cartridge
• Bats were from the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2 Cartridge
• One headstone was from Trick or Treat
• The other headstone was from Create A Critter 2

I added googly eyes and a hand-lettered sentiment (both inside and out).  

How do I do such straight lines you ask?  I have a cheater....It's called the "Easy Straight" tool by Local Legacies.  I've included a pic with the website so you can check it out.  I use it on cards, envelopes, pretty much anything I hand-letter.  I bought a set years ago at a scrapbook show and have never regretted it.

And there you have it!  Please leave me some blog love.  I really enjoy reading your comments!

Hopefully, you're inspired to play along with us for this week's challenge.  Head over to FCCB now and see what the designers have brewed up!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!