Interpretation of a Sketch: Card Pattern & 2 Red Bananas

Today I made one card that fits to different challenges, Card Patterns sketch #30 and 2 Red Bananas request to include a rub on.  Once again this card also incorporates the use of a photograph I took last year.  Can you tell how much this little one enjoys the pumpkin from Grandma's garden? 

Peeping at an Artist

I just watched this attached video on Etsy and found it just amazing!  How fun it is to see into another artists world.  Watching how they express their crafty side and turn it into beautiful creations.  I love how Mimi said she felt she was totally distracted for 20 years when she first started with clay.   Definately shows that finding a nitche can be a time consuming process and it's ok to explore. 

Thanks Mimi for sharing your world with us!

Oh Happy Day!

Today was a typical Monday, busy day at work and about half way through the day I was dreaming of the weekend that was still so many days away. When I finally arrived home I sat down to work on my Etsy shop and brainstorm a few new promotional ideas...then all of the sudden....an email arrives stating I have made a sale (a small smile forms on my face). But wait, next came a second email and then a third. I am now grinning from ear to ear and curious where all these sales are coming from. After much thought and investigation and sales still popping in I still can't figure it out. Thankfully all the questions are soon answered as a Convo arrives from a fellow Etsy seller Es Things informing me my shop was selected for a sneak attack. New smiles come to my face...someone picked me and it resulted in some great sales. Of course next came a new investigation. What exactly was this "sneak attack" anyway? I followed the forum thread provided in my convo and also checked out this website www.handmademovement.com and soon had my answer. It was just another sign that Etsy community is very supportative.

Thanks to all of those who made purchases from me today and I plan to pay it forward so someone else can be as delighted as I was.

Interpretation of a Sketch

My creation for today drew inspiration from several different places:

• Halloween. Although it may be a few months away as a handmade card maker I start thinking ahead so that the cards are ready by the holiday season.
• Old photos. I took some time to look back at photos from last year when the my mom was harvesting pumpkins from her own garden.
• Card Patterns sketch #29. With pumpkins and Halloween on my mind the hearts and flowers on this sketch took a very different twist.

Combine all these and here is what I came up with:

Photographic Moment: True Love

A dozen red roses given to me by someone truly special.

Hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed them all.

Interpretation of a Sketch: CP #28 and Banana Split Sunday

This week I found 2 sketches which inspired me to create cards.

#1 Card Patterns sketch #28

#2 A sketch from 2 Red Bananas -Banana Split Sunday

The end of a crafty weekend

Seems like just a few short hours ago that this weekend started and I began a whirlwind crafting session. It is now Sunday evening and I am cleaning up the bits and pieces that always arrive after hard work crafting. Thought I would take a quick break to share with you some of the results. In all I completed 20 cards, 18 bookmarks and brainstormed many new ideas for future crafting moments.

And now a question or two for you.

• What type of cards would you be interested in seeing?
• What is the next occassion you will be purchasing a card for?
  

It's gonna be a crafty weekend

I have had a crafting bug all week so this weekend I plan to lock myself in my home and have a whirlwind session of card making. Lets see just how many cards I can create? So far themes I will try to work into this batch of cards are fall, christmas, masculine, back to school. Do you have any other suggestions?

Who knows where this weekend could end up, but I guarantee it will result in lots of scraps of paper, glitter on my face, and a stack of fresh creations.

Interpretation of a Sketch: Card Patterns 27

This weeks Card Patterns sketch gave me another opportunity to use one of my personal photographs. Summertime provides an abundance of opportunities for me to take in the beauty of the outdoors and I carry my camera with me every where so that I never miss a moment. In turn card making allows me to take those snapshots and share the moment with others. I hope you enjoy my latest creation.

Photographic Moment: Tip toe through the flowers

Interpretation of a sketch: Card Patterns sketch 26

Time again to expand my creativity by interpreting this sketch 26 from Card Patterns. Here is what I have come up with:

Bring recycling to your handmade cards

If you enjoy making your own handmade cards keep in mind that there are many items around you everyday that you can incorporate into your creative pieces. Below is a list of items you can use to get you started:


When the Party is over
-gift wrap
-fancy or colorful napkins
-confetti
-streamers
-ribbons
-tissue paper (click for an example)

Around the house
-magazine pages
-Candy wrappers- hidden shiny insides
-old unused spare buttons
-flowers & leaves: pressed and dried
-old greeting cards & envelopes
-make serendipity paper out of old scraps

After a shopping trip
-gumball trinkets
-paper bags (the pink background paper in the pictured card is a recycled bag received from a craft store)
-tissue paper
-merchandise tags