back to my roots - mixed media

I love the grunge look of vintage rust and patina. I get away from things...falling down rabbit holes of crafty adventure. When I finally climb out of the rabbit hole and dust myself off, I go back to my roots and my first love...grunge!

I am all about Anna Griffin and Heartfelt Creations and the over-the-top cards with never-ending foo-foo and frill. And there lies the problem- I love it all!  I cannot pick just one style and stick with it. I love trying new things and techniques. I am the same way with fine art, going from watercolor to oils to journal sketching...again, loving it all.

This card was made using Distress Oxide inks. The tag was made using several embossing powders and Prima Pastes. I made these for my 18 year old granddaughter. She loves the vintage look as well.

Happy Crafting!

5x7 card

Anna Griffin makes card making very easy. I used an embossing folder on a mat gold cardstock for the backgroud. Then I used various diecuts from her collections to complete. Very easy with great results!   When I need a card in a hurry, this is the way to go!

happy crafting!

Halloween card - a little creepy

Although this is 'pretty' with the flowers and the somewhat traditional layout, it is creepy to me. I added three bugs- a big black spider, a moth and a beetle. And the tombstone adds creepiness. I love the overall effect of this. And the orange and black theme helps to suggest Halloween.  The bugs and the tombstone are from Stampin' Up.   The spider I cut using my cricut machine, The other 2 bugs are the stamps. I added a bit of shimmer to the two stamped images.

Sadly, the bugs have been discontinued by SU. I was surprised when SU came out with them, not their usual stamps. I love them. I wish they had dies to go with. Tim Holtz just released a whole bug set with dies this month. hmmm.....

happy crafting!

Summer coming to an end

It was a busy summer here! I had back-to-back company most of the summer so I didn't get much crafting done. This week was my first week I was able to do any kind of crafting and I jumped into Halloween cards. I love sending cards to my family on Halloween. I remember with joy those nights of taking my kids around for Trick-or-Treat adventures. Such happy memories. Now my children have their own families and they are making their memories. And so it goes...

This card is a compilation of different companies. The black cat, gold label and moon are Anna Griffin. I bought the witch die cut  a few years ago. I added words from Graphic 45.

This card is from Anna Griffin. I love this little witch as it reminds me of my granddaughter. I will send this card to her. She is 6 and Halloween is a big event at six!  Here is a link to Anna Griffin's die set.  The paper background is flocked. It's an old piece I've had forever. The 'beware' banner I bought from Michael's last season.
Happy Crafting!

baby card

I am all about Anna Griffin these days. I love her style, opulence, layers and classic look to her cards. I made this in her style. I used her background die, the rattle and the saying stamps and dies.
The roses I made using Altenew 'Vintage Rose' stamp collection. I fussy cut the roses and added a touch of glitter. I really love how it turned out.  It is 5x7 in size, which I currently enjoy making.

I was invited to a 'sip and greet' to meet a new baby. This is the card I made for that event. The mom is an English gal who lives in Connecticut and I think she will like the traditional feel of this card.

summertime = family time = no crafting time

I live near the ocean. That means I get a lot of summer visitors. I love it, but I don't get much crafting done in the summer because of the company. And that makes me all the more grateful for summers end and more time to craft. There is a season for all things. Summer, for me, is visits from family and friends. I wouldn't want it any other way.

This card is an older one I made for my granddaughter. She loves mermaids, (who doesn't love mermaids?)  The stamp set is from My Favorite Things and is called Mermazing. I think it is adorable. It always astounds me how my 'cute factor' rose dramatically when I had grandkids. I would never buy cute stamps before they came along. Now, I seem to gravitate to them. 

The background was made using distress oxide inks and a stencil. I was experimenting with different water backgrounds. First I used a sponge and added the base colors and then used the stencil to add the greens. One of many ways to make a water background.

Happy Crafting!

Summertime is family time!

I live near the beach in Delaware. It's where I took my children as they grew up so they feel the same connection to this area as I do so I get a lot of family visits over the summer. I retired here and love living here. That means I don't craft as much in the summer months.

Yesterday was a rainy day (flooding!) and my granddaughter is here with me for the week. So we did some paper crafting together. She is 6 and very eager to learn anything. I showed her how to use a die cut machine and cut out her own flowers. She stamped them, shaped them and then glued them all together. In the photo she is adding glitter to her flowers, as one can never have too much glitter. The next generation of crafters! We did water coloring the day before and she painted a card. This little flower piece will be added to her watercolor card. She is excited to give it to her mommy.

Next week her parents are coming, then my niece and her family. Then my daughter and her sister in law and all of the kids. Then a friend, and another friend. So that brings me to September before I will get back to crafting. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Happy Crafting!