Sunday, August 31, 2014

Tour of Blogs.......

Tour of Blogs: A Little Bit about Me and Paying it Forward

Hello my friends!  I have no card or project to share with you today.  Instead, I have the honor of introducing you to 3 of my favorite blog buddies in an ongoing Tour of Blogs.  I was nominated by the amazing Kathy Clement.  I have been a fan of Kathy's blog Kathy By Design ever since we served together on the Heartfelt Creations design team.   I loved her style then as well as now and she is an incredibly talented artist, and her eye for detail just makes my happy!    So the process is to answer a few questions about myself and then to nominate three of my blogging buddies who inspire me.  

A Little Bit About Me

1. What am I working on?  I don't have a large project going on at this time.  I've downsized my creating for the summer as I always have yard work and garden work during the warm months. Things are slowing down a bit and I can almost see daylight at the end of the tunnel.  Almost!  I'm so grateful for the bounty from my garden but this old lady is growing weary! Of course I'm  loving being on the design team for Craft Hoarders Anonymous!  It is a good fit for my lifestyle.  I only have to post twice a month and you just never know what the challenge is going to be. It's a lot of fun!
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? I don't think I'm very different from most card makers out there.  The one thing that makes me a bit different is the fact that I dearly love making flowers.  I watch all the ads from different companies trolling for new flower dies.  I check for what I can create as well as the ease of use.  I use a lot of Spellbinders dies and Heartfelt Creations dies; they just make me happy!  I love elegant, classic and feminine with lots of flowers and ribbons and bows! Turn me loose with some white card stock, a few flower dies and some distress inks and I am one happy girl. I love layers...lots of layers!   When my MoJo leaves....I make flowers!  My cards are very 3 dimensional with the flowers and leaves gracing the fronts of the cards.  I love displaying them on an easel and usually try to keep a couple out all of the time.  


3. Why do I create what I do?  I have done some sort of craft most of my adult life but it was late in my life when I stumbled onto a card making blog one morning before work. Well I was smitten and I never looked back...everything else fell to the wayside as I jumped head first into card making.  I still have the first pitiful card I made.  It was a flat piece of card stock with a little owl looking back at me. Now my cards are much more detailed and I try to use lots of layers.  When I sit down to make flowers I usually look at my plain white card stock and the colors of inks and the dies I want to use.  I take a deep breathe and try to visualize what the finished flower should look like.  Most of the time it takes on a life of it's own...no two are alike and I think each and every one is perfect.  (Just like in nature)  I burnish the card stock to break down the fibers and really allow the card stock to decide what it wants to be.  I usually make my flowers and then decide on the papers I will use as well as the ribbon.  I use a lot of seam binding dyed to match my flowers, using the same ink I used on the flower petals.  


4. How does your creating process work?  When I come into my craft room I usually realize that I need to make some sort of card or project for some specific reason.  I usually clear my head which isn't hard at all and just sit down and start gathering card stock and inks in colors I love.  Then I just begin. I usually don't have a clear image of what I want to do...the card stock guides me as I make flowers.  I usually work backwards to what most people do.  They will pick the papers first and then select elements that match. I have always started at the other end and then am frantically trying to match paper to my elements.  Sometimes it can be very frustrating but that's how I roll!  

 Paying it Forward

I follow a huge number of blogs with my reader and each morning spend time just cruising these blogs gathering tidbits as I go along. I am always just amazed at how much talent there is out there and the Internet has made it possible for all of us to share our creativity. What a wonderful world we live in. So now I am asked to decide on three blogs to showcase and share with you. It was hard to narrow it down to just 3 blogs, but these three ladies have really been an inspiration to me as I continue on my journey. In truth, I feel these ladies are dear friends even though we have never met in person. We live in different parts of the country but are united in the fact that we love what we do. So here are my three bloggers:

Sylvia Nelson (Sylvia's Stamping Corner)
You know how you have known someone for awhile and you don't even know how or when you became friends?  Well that is  how it has always been with Sylvia. We are kindred spirits and I would love to be her next door neighbor.  I would spend a lot of time with  her in her beautiful craft room watching her create.  I would soak up her stamping lessons like a sponge...her abilities are like none other I have ever seen.  She can make a plain piece of paper come to life with beautiful colors and images...I'm in awe of her gorgeous cards. Sylvia is on the design team at COLOURQ  and does such an amazing job with the challenges!  She uses only Stampin' Up products and oh my, the beauty she can create!  I never learned to stamp the way she does and her cards are all just little works of art!



Olga Jewell (Craftieodamae)
I first met Olga when we worked on the Heartfelt Creations design team together.  She was so friendly and right away I felt like I had known her all my life.  She has continued to be a part of the amazing design team for Heartfelt Creations and I love her creations.  Her flowers are always so beautiful and I love how she plays so well with color!  Even after I left the design team we have continued to keep in touch and we call each other now and then just to chit chat!  I always love hearing from her and catching up!  Olga and I have never met, but you would never know it if you could listen in on our conversations.  We are never at a loss for something to talk about!  Olga still works outside the home but finds time to create some beautiful cards!




Selma Stevenson (Selma's Stamping Corner)
I got to know Selma when I entered a weekly challenge and she visited my blog.  Well, you know how we are...we get a visit and we visit back.  Well when I went to Selma's blog, my heart skipped a few beats!  Her flowers were the most gorgeous, life-like, I had ever seen.  She is definitely the flower queen!  She was truly an inspiration to me and I have always tried to achieve the level of skill she has with flowers! Let me just say, it is an ongoing process, because Selma keeps raising the bar on me! Selma was on the Heartfelt Creations design team and was leaving to do other things and she mentioned to me that I might be interested in trying out for the team.  Well I decided to jump in and give it a try and was so pleased when I made the team!  Selma was a cheerleader for me and helped me get my bearings of being on a design team after so many years of not being linked to any company.  I am always anxious to see what Selma is going to do next and she never disappoints me Selma now designs for Susan Tierney-Cockburn using Susan's Garden Dies and still makes some of the most awesome flowers I have ever seen!  I would love to make a midnight raid on her craft room...I'd load up my pockets with all kinds of dies!

I’d like to thank Kathy again for giving me this opportunity to share a little more about myself with all of you. And my heart is full of gratitude for the three fabulous women I’ve featured here today.  Visit their blogs, and prepare to be inspired.  They inspire me every single day!

Friday, August 29, 2014

A Happy Halloween Card.....


Good morning everyone!  We are rushing head first into a long holiday weekend and I hope you have lots of fun things planned with family and friends.  The is typically the last holiday of the summer and most of us will be doing backyard picnics and family gatherings. I am looking forward just a bit and have been working on Halloween cards for my grandsons.  Yes that's right...not a girl in the bunch so I can't really adorn them with flowers but a bow here and there is tolerated.  My grandsons are all growing up: 17 - 16 - 11  but they all still expect a card made by me for their birthdays and the holidays.  I hope I never grow too old to make their cards.  I always write them a special note inside of encouragement and love and they really enjoy receiving them.  I have been sort of lax in my efforts over the summer as I have been so busy with yard and garden but now things are winding down and I'm playing more in my craftroom.

So I had this paper I printed from a digital kit I purchased and I loved the colors and the stripes so that is what I used.  Next I used some Crafty Secrets images and a couple of images from G45 and we are off and running.  I think it will be a big hit with the boys!

Well that is it for me this morning.  Hope you have a good one and that you do something today that brings you joy.  And be sure and come back on Sunday August 31 for a post about paying it forward as I feature three bloggers that have inspired me through the years! See you then!

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

WOYWW #273

Good morning everyone and welcome to the very middle of our week!  Since it is Wednesday it is the day I show a little bit of my world and take a moment and tell you what I have going on in my world. All this is brought to you by Julia  the creator and owner of this world wide blog hop.  Anyone can enter as long as you follow a few simple rules and regulations that she has listed on her blog; so if you are a little curious just head over and have a good look around and then become one of us.  I warn you now, it is very addictive and you will find it very hard not to participate!


I am working on a few Halloween cards right now and this is some of the papers I have been working with.  I've made orange and black flowers and used some special green card stock my mother used to call "poison green".  It's almost the same color as the green stripe in the paper there!  I also have a mold for a  frame and I will use some UTEE melted and colored to make a pretty frame to go on a project.  Also just  bits and pieces of some recent projects are lying about.  I just really need to do a quick pick up this morning and think about my next project.  I have had a hard time finding time to play recently as I have been finishing up some projects outdoors getting God's Little Acre ready for Fall. Lots of pulling up plants to put on the compost heap.  Also apples are coming in and they have to be dealt with and they are usually the last thing on my agenda before Fall arrives.  We are still in the Dog Days of Summer but you can definitely feel a change in the air.  Fall will be here before we know it!

Well that does it for me this morning.  Hope your day is a good one and that you get to do something that brings you joy!  Now I'm off to visit as many desks as I can before I have to move along!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Heartfelt Creations August Alumni Design Team Blog Hop

Good morning everyone and welcome to the August Heartfelt Creations Alumni Design Team Blog Hop!  I love participating in these hops because I get to spend a little quality time with some wonderfully talented ladies as we strut our stuff a bit and remind you why we were design team members for Heartfelt Creations!  I love Heartfelt Creations products and always feel like I've come home when I play with their papers, stamps and dies!  They seem to be a perfect fit for my style.

If you arrived here from  Sarah Miller's' blog you are on target and your next stop after me will be Lisa Gregory


My card size is 6" X 6".  I used the new Arianna Blooms stamps and dies to create my card.  I love the flower die because it is so easy to line up over the stamped image.  Well done Heartfelt Creations!

Try to follow along the blog hop and leave a comment on as many blogs as you can.  You can never tell which blog will be the one they choose from.  If  your name is chosen you win a $25 gift certificate for products from Heartfelt Creations.  You have until 12 midnight ET on Friday August 29 to leave your comments.  The winner will be announced on Saturday, August 30th.  Good luck to you all

Glenda Brooks (You are here!)

Supply List:
HCDP1 229 Countryside Evening paper collection
HCPC 3608 Arianna Blooms PreCut Set
HCPC 3363 Inspire Me Sentiments PreCut Set
HCD 748 Arianna Blooms Die
HCD 747 Arianna Lace Die
Spellbinders Elegant Ovals Die
Pro-Marker (Denim Blue) for coloring pearls
Gold Gala Glitz
3D Stamp Paint (LIght Blue Metallic)
White Card Stock
Watercolor Paper
pearls
glue

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

WOYWW#272

Good morning everyone and welcome to Wednesday.  I've been MIA lately and I'm sorry but life has just gotten in the way for me!  Things are beginning to get back to normal and I hope to be around more often.  I missed posting here last week and I have to say I really missed getting time to visit with you guys.  I plan to make a run for it this morning and visit as many as I can!

If you are curious about WOYWW just head over to Julia's blog; she is the creator of this little weekly get together!  She has all the rules and regulations listed there and would love to  have you join us!


I'm working on a travel mini album and am using some of Tim Holtz stamps from long ago.  I just love the umbrella man!  The black card stock with the roll of tape on it is covering some flowers I can't show just yet.  They are for a card that will be featured on my blog next week. So stay tuned for that!  I know my desk looks busy but there is actually very little going on here.  I've just had so much other stuff taking over my life.

OK that's it for me...trying to keep it short and sweet.  I'm off to visit as many of you as I can. Go ahead and pour me a cup of coffee, I'll be right there!

Monday, August 18, 2014

Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge #14...Button it Up!


Good morning everyone and welcome to a brand new challenge for Craft Hoarders Anonymous!  It is Challenge # 14 - Button it Up!  We all have buttons hoarded back in boxes and jars; all different colors and sizes ... so lets use them and "Button it Up!" The sponsors for the month of August are Canvas Corp and Altered Pages.

I'm having to sit this one out because of issues with a tooth.  I have spent the last 5 days on antibiotics and pain pills and am just now beginning to feel human again.  So my MoJo took the time for a little vacation.  Be sure and go on over to the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Blog and see what the other design team members have created for this one!  I'm sure you will find something to inspire you.  So drag out those buttons and make something wonderful, then link it to the blog so we all can see what you did!

For this challenge we are doing a blog hop with the design team from Altered Pages and the prize for the winner of this challenge is a $15 gift certificate from Altered Pages! Also, leaving comments during the blog hop allows you to be entered into a random drawing for an Altered Pages Blog gift - a set of Japanese Oil Pastels and a huge Ephemera package.  So be sure to leave your comments all along the way.   Head over to the Craft Hoarders Anonymous blog and then follow the blog hop from there; you are sure to be inspired!

Altered Pages was started in 2003 for collages ephemera.  As of 2010, under new ownership, Altered Pages became a mixed media website with a remarkable design team and active blog.  The company also offers many art kits and has acquired the Mailbox Muse Kit Club. Our goal is to ALTER YOUR CREATIVITY.  Visit to see the always changing products at www.AlteredPages.com. 

OK, that's it for me this morning.  I'm off to follow along in the blog hop!  Come join us and let's have some fun!


Monday, August 11, 2014

A Little Red Box.......

Good morning everyone!  We are into a Monday again and beginning a brand new week.  I have high hopes for this week, that I can get caught up again.  I spent yesterday with my feet up most of the day vegging out a bit!  I did take a little time out to make a little box I need to hold a little gift for a friend. She loves red so red it is!


Well actually red and white.............


I was rummaging through a drawer and found this little bird and it looks so cute nestled in among the pretty flowers so I just had to leave it there!  My flowers are made using the Arianna Blooms stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations.  I bought the leaves and the diecut pieces under the flowers is part of a Sue Wilson Die (Striplet - Lattice Heart). I just love this die and you will be seeing it in all kinds of places in the days to come!

I know this is short and sweet, but I'm on a roll this morning and am off to continue working on more flowers.  Do you love making flowers?  I certainly do!


Friday, August 8, 2014

A Fall Card.......

Good morning everyone!  I'm here this morning to share a Fall themed card I made to enter in the Crafty Secrets Linky Party: Fall/Back to School Theme.  All you have to do to join the fun is create a card using a Crafty Secret image and then blog about it and link it up at the Crafty Secrets blog.  And if you don't have any Crafty Secret products you can find some free images on their blog so go check it out!




























The papers and the other images are all from Crafty Secrets.  The flowers and leaves are handmade with some pretty brown bling in the center.  A little orange ribbon and my card is all set to be sent to a dear friend proclaiming the upcoming season!

That's it for me this morning.  I'm off to link up my project and begin my day.  More green beans from my garden await me!  Also tomatoes are calling my name this morning.  Rain is in our forecast so I need to get to moving soon!



Wednesday, August 6, 2014

WOYWW #270.....

Good morning and welcome to What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday #270!  If you would like to know bit about this just head over to Julia's blog; the creator of this little bit of magic! She has all the details and rules listed on her blog.  Come join us; it's great fun sharing our work space with you.  We get a look into your world and see what you have going on.


Not too much going on in my world this morning.  I'm still reeling from all the produce coming out of my garden this past couple of weeks.  This time of year I always feel a little overwhelmed by it all!  As you can see, I have started a little bit of the "push back" method so I can have a bit of space to work.  I have been playing with my new stamp set and die from Heartfelt Creations.  The stamp set is out of the picture, but there just the same.  Oh my word, I just noticed the rawhide piece behind the dies.  That belongs to Bella.  I have it on my desk because she was taunting Maggie with it and there was a lot of barking going on from both of them so I confiscated it.  I really need to give that back!  When I start a project, I keep notes about it in this spiral notebook.  Then when I blog about it I have all the products I used written down and ready to go.  It really helps an old brain get it right.

Well that does it for me this morning.  I'm off to link with Julia and then to visit as many of you as I can. Have a great Wednesday and my wish for you today is that you have joy in your life!

Monday, August 4, 2014

Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge #13 - Let's Cycle.....Up-Cycle That Is!

Good morning everyone and welcome to Challenge #13 at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!  Challenge #13 is to Up-Cycle something and make it useful!  We all tend to have a bottom shelf somewhere that has boxes, tins, pieces of packing material etc. that we just couldn't part with; thinking we would make it into something wonderful!  So go pull it out and let's Up-Cycle!


My canvas was stretched and sagging and I wanted to use it some way so I found a piece of corrugated board that was packing material and I pulled off the sheet of paper over the ridges and then painted some black acrylic paint here and there.  Our sponsors for the month of August are:  Canvas Corp and Altered Pages.   I used bits and pieces from each company to Up-Cycle the canvas.  I think it turned out pretty well and I love the craft and black colors!

 Below is a photo of the wonderful prize package from Canvas Corp for Challenge #13!


This would make a wonderful addition to your hoard, so get busy and Up-Cycle and come join us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous for the challenge!

You can visit the design team members blogs by clicking on their names below.  Go and visit and leave a little love!  We all love  hearing from you.  Then join in and play along with us in this challenge!  I can't wait to see what you do!

Design Team Members:

Supplies:
Image from Altered Pages (AP-649)
Sentiments and Chevron Tag from Canvas Corp
8 X 8 Canvas from Canvas Corp
Corrugated Board
Black Acrylic Paint
Hot Glue
Black and White Ribbon 
Black Alcohol Marker



Saturday, August 2, 2014

Winner of the Heartfelt Creations July Blog Hop

Good morning everyone and Happy Saturday!  I'm just doing a very quick post to announce the winner of the Heartfelt Creations July Blog Hop!  The winner was chosen from Lisa Allen's blog. Congratulations to Anita Braddock!  You are the winner of the $25 dollar gift certificate from Heartfelt Creations.  Just contact Emma Lou at: emmalou@heartfeltcreations.us and be sure to put "Winner of July Alumni Blog Hop" in the subject line.  Emma Lou will take it from there and see that you receive your gift certificate.

Again, congratulations to Anita Braddock!  Hope you all enjoy your weekend!