Mountain Plains Crafters Nautical / Beach Challenge

My friend, Kathy Dunn Donovan made these cards for the challenge but does not not have a blog or a photo hosting site , so ........... I am posting them for her and linking them to my blog !! Enjoy !! All supplies are by Stampin' Up....

Cards by Kathy Dunn Donovan

Be With Those Who Help Your Being...

I'll admit that I am a bit of a loner. I love to read, have always been a "bookworm". I used to cross-stitch and aside from meeting with some friends once a month many years ago, I mainly cross-stitched all by my lonesome or with my BFF Sue. I am now an obsessed card maker and although I do spend alot of time alone in my Craft Room, I feel like I have a community of creativity surrounding me. From groups on Facebook like Unity Show & Tell and Art Supply Junkies, I feel surrounded by like-minded creative souls. I have a favorite stamp that stays on a shelf right next to my desk; it speaks volumes about how I feel about all of my creative friends, both near and far, those I see in person and those I "see" online. 

The founders of  Mountain Plains Crafters - Pam Stang, Sheryl Kemper & Terri Burson - chose me to be a member of their Design Team along with Marilyn, Paula, Christina & Jennifer. All of these amazing women "help my being". It's as if we have known each other for years !!  I also meet with a group of local women here in Virginia Beach once a month to make cards. We are very different but our creative sides bring us together. In 2005, I began corresponding with Benedicte, a fellow card-maker from France, whose address I had seen in a letter of hers that was published in Rubber Stamper magazine. We have been in touch ever since and were even fortunate to meet in person when she visited Virginia in 2007. All of these women encourage me, challenge me, support me in my creative journey. Whenever I see that stamp in my Craft Room, I smile. All of my artsy-craftsy friends help my being. It's important to surround yourself with people who support you, who understand you, who will challenge you to become better. It doesn't have to be a creative journey that you are on ; whatever your circumstances, your life will be enriched by people who help your being.

Be With Those Who Help Your Being.. 

Mine is also enriched by this little princess, Andromeda Cassini - we call her Anna...

Creating with Tim...

When the Mountain Plains Crafters' Design Team members were each tasked with coming up with a card for July 4, of course, my first thought was Red, White and Blue.. And then because I try to think outside of the box more often these days, I wondered what I could come up with that was a bit different. I knew that I didn't have many - if any -  July 4 themed stamps, so I had to put my thinking cap on. Thought of using some sort of flower petal stamp for fireworks or a flag to be patriotic. Maybe something along a military line with a yellow ribbon. Then I had one of those Oprah "aha moments" .. I remembered all of those Tim Holtz Blueprint stamps that I had bought and were too inTIMidated to use yet. You see, Tim Holtz has always been a creative inspiration to me. From his videos to his blog; from his paper to his Distress ink pads and markers; from his tissue tape to his embossing folders and stencils... Until recently, I have been mostly an admirer of his, a collector of all things Tim. Having seen some of the amazingly creative cards etc. made with his products, I have been very hesitant to use all of my goodies.. Not quite sure I could do his supplies justice, make something worthy, I guess you could say.. I own a Sizzix Vagabond machine but have not even used it yet !! I do use his embossing folders and Distress markers alot but really need to branch out and use much more of what I have..  So, a July 4 card was the perfect opportunity to ink up my Blueprint stamps and create something. I also used Ideology ribbon and some of Tim's Seasonal paper as well as coloring with Distress markers.. I decided that anything I made would be uniquely ME and I finally felt that Tim  ( and I ) would be happy with that... I would like to push myself and branch out, maybe use some embossing paste with  Tim's line of stencils.. Get out my Gelatos and make a background to use with some of the other Ideology stamp sets I own.. You Tube has some amazing videos so stay tuned for some mixed media projects from me also.Hope you like my July 4th creation and also some other Tim-inspired cards.. Who gets you into the creative spirit ?? Let me know who inspires you..

July 4

Blueprint stamps, ribbon & paper ( all by Tim )

Embossing folder, tissue tape & Wish ticket ( all Tim )

Embossing folder (yep, Tim's )

Film strip by Tim

( one of my favorite supplies )

Thank you for sharing in my creative process.

Until next post ....   dEb

i LOVE washi.....

Okay, I'll admit it. I am addicted to washi tape. All kinds, sizes,colors. Actual washi tape AND washi tape rubber stamps. Where did this obsession come from ?? I have no idea, can't explain it, but after buying my first roll ( Christmas washi actually ), I was hooked. I have never counted how many rolls I own; probably because knowing exactly how many I have would maybe prevent me from ever buying another roll again !! I probably used my first washi tape as a border on Christmas cards and now it is one of my go-to supplies.. Sometimes I need to tell myself to just STOP and leave well-enough alone.. " That card does NOT need another embellishment " is what I hear that voice in my head saying... My washi collection is large but I am hoping that someone will see this picture below and tell me that they have WAY more washi than I do and I don't have a problem at all !!

I use utensil holders and desk organizers to store my washi...

Unity Stamp Company has the cutest washi staamps... 

The rolls of washi are by Hazel & Ruby...

Another favorite of mine is this "Yours Truly" stamp set by Glitz 

Now for a few examples....

I feel better now that I have opened up about my obsession with all things washi !! Funny thing is that I didn't even show you my entire collection... I am hoping that sharing this with you will inspire you to get out your rolls of washi or even to buy that first roll and CREATE !!

My Year of Creativity

On January 1 of this year, I began my Year of Creativity.  I would do something creative every day- make a card, look through a creative book, stamp something to color etc...  I kind of lost myself for a few years in a crazy world of work,school and home. Needless to say, my work / life balance was nil. So I decided to step down from my management position, put school on hold and try to get my life back. One way I hoped to do this was to have fun with my creative side again. Hence, this year of creativity !! Even on days when I work 12+ hours, I find that sitting in my Craft Room re-energizes me. I thought I might run out of ideas, but each stamp, piece of paper, ribbon or rub-on begins a new journey for me. I have tried designs out of my comfort zone and will be learning new techniques as well.. I used Gesso for the first time last week and felt just like that child in kindergarten when confronted with a new box of Crayolas !! Bliss..... Something new....

Follow me on my  journey as I show you some of my Creative Year so far. I will start with a card for my dad.. Although he is no longer with us, I miss him every day... The Design Team of Mountain Plains Crafters also has some Father's Day Inspiration for you on our blog..

For My Dad 

...we both loved books...
Hodge Podge of Happiness / Unity Stamp Company

January 1,2014

my first creation
Candles and Cake / Unity Stamp Company

February
Stampin' Up coffee stamps

March

Me & my mom

My View of You / Unity Stamp Company

April

Paula Best Stamp

May

 Things to Do List / Unity Stamp Company

June

Bee Happy Hexagons / Unity Stamp Compamy

Hope you enjoyed seeing these as much as I enjoyed creating them all !! Which one is your favorite ?? Take some time today to be creative. Make a card, look at that new crafty magazine you bought,  take a moment to think about that new project you want to get started on, write in your journal..... And hug your dad today if you can... Call him if you can...Wish him a Happy Father's Day and tell him how much he means to you...Whether here or in spirit,  it's your day, Dad.......

Where I Create....

My Craft Room is my sanctuary... Always has been.. From the early days when it was just the spare bedroom where I stored my craft supplies and created at a small wooden dining room table to now, with my table that fits 2 people facing each other, my closet as a "hidden" space for supplies and all of my favorite things surrounding me for inspiration.. I am sure you will all agree that having your own space is wonderful. I can still remember the days when I used the kitchen table and moved everything back and forth.. Some nights we did eat dinner surrounded by paper, ribbon, my Cuttlebug and other crafty necessities !! Now I have an antique white trestle table from Target - shown here in black http://www.target.com/p/madison-large-trestle-desk-antique-black/-/A-526614 - where I can be creative. It has shelves on each side and on top I placed a piece of Plexiglass  (for wear and tear) and also my most-used supplies. I love my space. After a crazy day at work, sitting for a few minutes in my Craft Room brings me peace.. A dear friend announced that it was "serene, zen-like" when she came over for tea one day several years ago. My Meticulosity mug is in there, along with Christmas ornaments, my red Buddha head, my dreaded sock monkey and several much loved clearance finds. Here are a few pics of my creative space.. I hope you enjoy the view !!

My Trestle Table

My Closet

Top Shelf

Clearance Pier 1 Shelf and Paper Shelf

  

Folk-art Stamp Shelf & Michael's Clearance Window Box

Anna curled up while I create

Thank you for visiting my creative space...

A Dream (Team) Come True.....

I have met some wonderful people through my card-making and recently have become involved with Mountain Plains Crafters .Three women (Pam, Sheryl and Terri) have created a community online - a place to share projects & ideas, participate in challenges & contests and embrace your creative side. They were looking for members for their Design Team and I shared my cards with them, crossed my fingers and waited. It was a wonderful surprise when I was chosen to join them. It has gotten me out of my comfort zone, helped me broaden my computer skills by creating this blog and brought me in touch with an awesomely talented group of women. I will admit that I have always thought about being on a Design Team, but it seemed a quite lofty goal... I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when the opportunity presented itself. Check out their blog @ http://mountainplainscrafters2.blogspot.com/ and meet all of my talented new friends. 

My first challenge with them was to create a project that had to do with a Lawn and/or a fawn. I was surprised how similar the cards were that the Design Team created !! The challenge continues until May 30 so put on your creative thinking caps and join us in the Lawn Fawn Challenge.