A Blog Hop with a Difference

I was invited to this blog hop with a difference by Pat Martin at PATACAKE PAGES. When Pat tagged me, she gave me specific instructions as to what I needed to post. Her instructions were very simple, post whatever I wanted as long as I answered four questions about my own crafting. I am also to choose three bloggers adding their links in order to continue this blog hop with a difference. Well, being the procrastinator that I am, I neglected to contact three people for permission to tag them. I think that sort of takes the fun out of it. Soooo, further down in this post I will give three links to three blogs that I think you will enjoy visiting.

Now for the questions I was given to answer. And guess what, it’s all about ME.

1.   What am I working on?

I have several projects going. I enjoy doing needle work, paper crafting and reading. Currently, I am working on a set of cards with themes that I don’t usually do. It has been very difficult for me to come up with something I like. I thought this would be easy, but it has ended up being quite a challenge. 

My first card was supposed to be a masculine birthday card. I wasn’t thinking when I made my background paper and made a card for Daddy. That’s masculine isn’t it? I still need to add the sentiment.

This next card is to be a Father’s day card. As you can see, I haven’t gotten very far. My image is complete. I fussy cut his scarf and added black embellishment for the eyes. Both images are from From the Heart Digital Stamps. I love working with digital stamps.

I am also crocheting in my spare time. I have made a goal of completing one square a day. I usually work on these while watching TV at night.

This square, I found online and fell in love with it. I plan to make a lap robe.

2.  How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I don’t know that it does. I stay close to what I’m comfortable with and don’t go outside the box very often. While a lot of card and scrapbook crafters use a lot of bling, I tend to go easy with it. I do put bling on nearly every card or scrapbook page I make, but not as much as I could. Plain and simply is my style.

3.  Why do I do what I do?

Silly question, I do it because I enjoy working with my hands. I like to be productive, except when I’m reading. My one fear as I grow older is that I will lose enough of my eyesight that I won’t be able to do the stitching I so love to do. I’m not cross stitching as much as I would like, it’s getting harder to see those tiny holes in the cloth. But I can still crochet, knit and do paper crafting. I have been doing needle work since I was about eight years old starting off with embroidery.  Why do I do my crafting? It’s a part of me and has been for many years.

4.  How do I come up with stuff?

I look at what others have done. If I see something I like, I try it, work with it and usually end up with something totally different. I guess you could say I steal ideas to get me started. I can start a card with an idea in my head and when I have finally finished the card it is nowhere near what I envisioned when I started.

The card below is the third card of the set. It is to be very basic, no embellishments of any kind, no layering, no bling, no embossing, no using punches. dies, etc. A white card using only stamps and ink, I saw a card fitting the specks that I fell in love with and wanted to make one like it. My card is nothing like that one. The only thing on my card from the card I copied is the Everything Eleanor swirl. I added the butterflies using a masking technique that I learned at an SU event.  

Where did this different kind of blog hop come from? Lisa from Path of Positivity. She has the most interesting blog. There is one challenge a month and it can be… Go on over there and check it out. Challenge 17 for August is up.

Oh, I didn’t tag a blog did I? Here is one that is always upbeat. Kathy is a quilter and makes beautiful quilts. I met Kathy a couple of years ago via the internet. At the time we had the Cricut in common. She has gotten rid of her Cricut and doesn't do cards or scrapbooking now. Her creative juices are flowing in a different direction now. Design Originals by KC 

Check out Holley's Blog. I don't know Holley very well, we are on a yahoo group together. She is a DT member at Your Scrapbook Place, which has recently started offering challenges. 

 

Christmas in July, again?

Everyone seems to be doing Christmas in July. Even the Hallmark channel is doing a Christmas in July moviwa on the weekends this month. Yes, I like the Christmas movies they have, even the ones I have seen several times. And Your Scrapbook Place is no different. YSBP isn’t doing movies, but they are doing a Challenge. The challenge is to make a Christmas card using non-traditional colors. No red, white or green as dominate colors.

Faith at From theHeart Stamps free digi of the month challenge has the perfect image. It’s called Winter Friends. Last month I said that I might discontinue entering the free digi challenge. But, As you can see, I used FTHS free digi for my Christmas card using non-traditional colors (although I do have a lot of white). 

The colors I used are SU Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar and Bermuda Bay. Normally I wouldn’t put these colors together, however, I got them from the color coach. For the snowman, I flocked the earmuff, then cut the arms from brown card stock and used Stickles for his buttons. 

There it is, my entry for the free digi challenge at From the Heart Stamps and Christmas in July Again at Your Scrapbook Place challenge.

Christmas in July challenge

Christmas in July; Yip, its that time of year again. Time to get started on those Christmas cards. You only have 164 days to mail in time for Christmas, 112 days (Oct. 31) to get your cards for troops sent to the shipper and only 169 shopping days till Christmas. 

Now that that’s taken care of, back to the challenge. Oh, I didn’t mention that the card I have made is for Christmas in July challenge at YourScrapbook Place and a drawing?  Well, it is and here is my card

The printed paper is from Decossa's Dynamite Doodles Holiday Hoopla digital kit.

The card base is Paper Adventures two tone Plum

Snowman and snowflakes are acrylic stamps

I colored his hat and the band and pom pom are flocked. I also gave him googly eyes. 

 Now for the drawing information

 we are so lucky to be sponsored by Decossa’s Dynamite Doodles 

Lisa has generously donated the following prizes to up to FOUR lucky people:

• One random participant will receive the full mini kit.
• One random person who leaves a comment will receive both paper sets (patterned and textured).
• One random follower of the blog who leaves a comment will receive the word art set.
• One random player who uses the following FREEBIE digital paper (Click here for the link) from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles will receive three embellishment sets (frames, ribbons/lace, brads)

So head on over to Your Scrapbook Place check out the rules. I hope to see your entry there.

Do You Have a Super Hero?

Do you have a super hero? If you do, From the Heart Inspiration has the perfect digital stamp set for you. Super Birdbrain is the free stamp of the month set.

Isn't that a cute set? Great for Father's day, birthday or just because day. 

I actually made my card weeks ago, like maybe two. It has been sitting because I'm not sure that I'm going to continue entering this challenge.

Here is my card

I made my background on the computer. When I cut it, I wasn't thinking of the direction of the print and it ended up being cut for a top fold card. When I was ready to put it together, I realized my bird hero and sentiment were made for a side fold card. So, turn the background paper or the sentiment. I cut out the bird and pop dotted him to add dimension to the card.

Back to my statement above. I have been doing this challenge for a year, maybe two. While I have enjoyed getting the freebees and making my cards, I feel bad that I don't buy any. I make my post and link it to From the Heart challenge blog. Sometimes at the very end of the month, like this one, and then, between the 1st and the 3rd of the next month, I find a free digi in my mail box. So, depending on what July's digi is, this may be my last post. If this is my last post for this challenge, I want to thank Faith for all the wonderful free digital stamps she has sent me. Even if it isn't my last entry... Thank you Faith.

Sketch with a twist

Would you like to win five digital images? Well, there's a new challenge over at Your Scrapbook Place. All you have to do is follow a sketch. That's easy, right, but... there is a twist.
Here is the sketch:

Here is the twist: add a tag. You can't use any of the sketch pieces, but it can be any size and shape that suits you. It must have a hole with ribbon/fiber and be on the front of the card. Removable or stationary, your choice.  Five pieces plus a tag. Have fun Ladies.

The guest sponsor for this challenge, Creative Bug Digital Stamps, is offering five digital images to the winner of a random drawing 
In order to qualify for the drawing, you must link your entry back to Your Scrapbook Place 

CBD Marcella

Here is the tag

I chose this little guy because he is cute and I don't do well with coloring. I sized him to fit a tag, printed him on brown paper. I made some prints on white so I could color his hat, mouth, hands and feet. I gave him googly eyes and put a pom pom on his hat. 
I made the tag using the SU tag topper punch. Love that punch.

I chose the print paper that is on the card because it matches the design on the sock monkey. I changed the color many times before deciding on the green best. 
Hope to see an entry from you at the Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. 
Take care

 

 

Anything Goes

IT'S A CRAFTING FREE-FOR-ALL, with a chance to win a set of Fiskars Embossing Plates and embossing tool to one lucky random winner at Your Scrapbook Place. To get to the challenge just click on Anything Goes . The challenge ends on June 14.

Here is my contribution

I don't normally do altered projects. But I entered a swap in May that was to make a Steno book cover. I've never done one but I did make an album cover once. Remember those padded album covers that were so popular many years back? Oh, I also altered a recipe box and a paint can, but I digress.

My reason for entering this swap is that I want to have something as prizes/gifts/awards for the TOPS group I belong to. We have contests among other things and I think that these steno books (most of us keep notes of one kind or another) would be nice as prizes. I will get six covers back plus my own. I can hardly wait.

Surely you have some craft item laying around that has never been posted that you could enter. Great time to let other bloggers know what you've been up to.  I hope to see your entry over at Your Scrapbook Place.

Thanks for stopping by. Take care and drive safe.