I am still here :)

I am still here, but waiting on surgery for my left elbow, wrist and hand. Since I am left handed it will stop me from doing any creating for a while. I will be back though. :)

It finally got warm here!

It has rained a lot this last week, but there has been no snow. I finally changed my background. I figured as long as it was snowing here that I could have a snowy background. Now if it would only stay this cool.....

Spring Giveaway

Creating from the Heart is having a Spring Giveaway. You could win a Grand Calibur Machine by Spellbinders! This giveaway is grand, but while you are there take a second look around her blog. Melissa is a very talented lady. Do yourself a favor and subscribe to her blog for her inspiration. I am a long time subscriber myself. Then if you win something well, that's just icing on the cake.

Mother's Day Special Giveaway!

The Crafter's Reference is having a Mother's Day Special Giveaway!
All information can be found here on her blog.

Still Snowing Here

If you wonder why I still have a winter scene for my background, it is because we still keep having snow here. Just last week we had a snow storm that knocked out the power for 36+ hours. Luckily we have a wood stove and plenty a wood. Look out people, the storms are coming your way!

Feb's Tag for 12 Tags of 2012

I had to do some substitutions, and then I went my own way. It was fun to play.
Here is my Feb Tag:

I have new items in my mini store!

Check out the way Tim Holtz uses his Tattered Pinecone die to make great pinecones and even roses, then check out the deal I have on this die in my store: The Mad Shopper

Mega Mini Album For Christmas

Here is what I am calling a "mega mini album". I made it with a really fun digital scrapbooking kit called “The Big Guy - Kit ” by Connie Prince. It can hold 28+ photos in the combined 4 pocket pages, 4 lift up pages, 4 drop down pages and the 5 envelope pocket tags. Now that it is after Christmas and you have all of those wonderful photos you took, it's the perfect place to scrap them. You can download it for free on Connie's blog, "Designs by Connie Prince". Just scroll to the bottom of the post the link takes you to. While there check out the rest of Connie's blog for savings and more freebies.

The fun part is that you can put it together however you like since all of the pages and embellishments work together. The sad part is that this is my last hybrid project for Connie. It has been a lot of fun, and I am going to miss it, but my health now dictates when I am able to create. 

BTW I am sorry for the poor quality of the above photos, but it has rained, sleeted, hailed or snowed for over a week here in Oregon. I was forced to use artificial lighting to take my photos, and it wasn't the best.

As far as most of you in the rest of the United States.......look out, it's now coming your way! There will be more to follow as it is continuing to rain and snow here.

The 6th Annual Original Printables Holiday Countdown

The Christmas countdown has started. Check it out: http://countdown.tentwostudios.com

Halloween Project #13 - Halloween Shrine

This medium size Halloween Shrine started with an eco-shrine and copper German scrap, both from Artchix Studios. The images are cutouts from vintage Halloween postcards.

The front background paper is from Graphic 45, and the back background paper is from DCWV. Both were distressed with black soot distress ink.

Halloween Project #12 - Distressed Halloween Card

The original vintage postcard was very distressed from age, so I decided to distress the whole card. The front and back of the card has a background that was digitally distressed, and the edges were inked with black soot distress ink. I continued the look around the edges of the cut out image with a Tim Holtz paper distresser and coordinating distress ink. The small pumpkins were stickers I distressed with ink to match the large pumpkin. I finished the card with a bold orange piece of retro lace and a black epoxy "Happy Halloween" sticker.

Halloween Project #11 - Halloween Clown Card

I love making cards with images that are reproductions of vintage postcards, and Halloween is my favorite holiday to do so.

I also love stacking layers, some raised and some flush, on my cards. This one has six layers.
Halloween project #10 can be found on my other blog: The Other Side of Char-

Halloween Project #9

This small Halloween Shrine was so much fun to make using my own vintage images, copper German scrap and a small eco-shrine (both from Artchix Studios)

back of shrine

Project #8 - Vintage Witch Card

This image is a reproduction of a vintage Halloween postcard.

Halloween Projects # 5, 6, and 7

Halloween projects # 5, 6, and 7 are posted on my other blog: The Other Side of Char- .

Halloween Project #4

Hallween Project #4 can be found on my other blog: The Other Side of Char-.

Halloween Project #3

Another Halloween scene using more paper from the Eeeek! kit by Kristmess and characters from the move by Jolee. This one is titled, "I Am the Pumpkin King!"

Halloween Project #2

"A Nightmare Before Christmas" scene was created by using a digital paper, slightly tweaked, from Eeeek! by Kristmess and Jolee's characters from the movie.

Free Hybrid Schoolhouse Mini Album

Before we get into the Oct 31 rush, here is a hybrid project I made using the "Ready For School" kit by Connie Prince. This was such a fun kit to work with.

You can download this project free on Connie Prince's blog: Designs by Connie Prince

Halloween Project #1

I always stamp extras when I use a stamp and color them later. I cut them out once they are completed, and these Halloween ones needed a safe home. I hunted around my house and found an old cigar box that needed a lot of repair. I practically rebuilt the box before covering it in Halloween themed goodness. I thought it was fitting to make this my first Halloween Project for 2011.

Travel Journal prototype

This is the prototype travel journal that I made before figuring out how to make the smaller hybrid one. I used papers from the Transatlantique Collection by Graphic 45.

It is a lot like the Christmas planner I made last year.

I am not sure who originated the design (sorry). I have seen lots of versions on the internet.

Be on the lookout for this year's 13 Halloween Projects!

This year's 31 Halloween Projects will start soon. They will share posts between this blog and my other blog: The Other Side of Char, and there will be links on both blogs each day.

Hybrid Travel Journal

Recently I had the pleasure of working with another fun digital kit by Connie Prince.
Here is a link to part 1 of a free Hybrid Travel Journal I made using the Globe Trotters Digital Kit .

Here is the link to part 2 which includes journal tags decoration.

Raven and Scaredy Cat BigZ Dies for Sale

I just placed (2) Raven and Scaredy Cat BigZ dies for sale in my brand new Zibbert Store:
http://www.zibbet.com/themadshopper
These are brand new, never used, never opened steel dies of the raven and the cat:

Description

Tim Holtz Alterations BigZ "Raven and Scaredy Cat" steel die by Sizzix.
Brand new, never used, never opened! Retails @ $20.00

I am selling them for $12.99 plus shipping. Check it out, and bookmark my store. I will be adding more items soon.

Pearls and Lace

Here is a tag I made for a challenge on OWSE. It will go on a much bigger piece/collection I am working on about Paris.

Bazzil and other cardstock at best price I could find:

For my own personal use, I found that these two buys were the cheapest. I have been looking to restock my cardstock and have searched for the lowest price on the web. This is with free shipping when you buy both new from Amazon, so it might be the cheapest price for you too. Just thought I would pass this bargain to my readers:

Simon Says Stamps Challenge

This week Simon Says ANYTHING GOES. Here is a quick card for when you forget about needing one. I almost forgot someone's birthday tomorrow. She likes simple cards thankfully. I made this for Simon Says challenge this week.

Life's a Beach

Here is my latest hybrid project using Connie Prince's "Fun In The Sun" kit. It is my version of a Matchbook Mini Album. I had a lot of fun making it and you can too. You can download the complete project for FREE on Designs by Connie Prince.

First blog challenge/giveaway on the Paper Wishes blog

This tag was made for the first blog challenge/giveaway on the Paper Wishes blog. The following items were used in creating the tag:
stamp is from the Vintage Ladies Stamps set
Taffy and Moonlight Smooch to color the flowers
Pebbles Inc Pearlescent Chalks – Jewel Tones for the green leaves, Shimmers for the pink blend on face
Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Bundled Sage, Crushed Olive and Peeled Paint
ribbon is from the Sheer Ribbon Collection
brads are from the Halloween Finished in a Flash! scrapbook kit
adhesive pearls are by K and Company
Copics: BG18 Teal Blue, V09 Violet, and E74 Cocoa Brown

Dell came through!

I had a Dell notebook that overheated and burned my leg. I also had insurance on that same Dell notebook. Dell replaced my notebook with a newer/better notebook without any hesitations. Now, I know you are probably saying that Dell should have done this, but don't you just love it when a company steps up and corrects/does what it should do without a fight. Thanks Dell! You are back on my good side again.

Father's Day card

If you forgot to make your Father's Day card this year, don't worry. Here is a free download for this card made with Connie Prince' digi kit ""Do It Yourself Project" .  It is located on her blog and is easy to make. Be sure to leave a Thank-you to her.

Tags for Father's Day Photo Book

Here are the tag mats, journal blocks and embellishments to go along with Father's Day Photo book like I promised. I am not sure why they were never posted on Connie's blog. (sorry)

Father's Day is coming! Here is a cute project to make for Dad:

I had the pleasure of working with one of Connie Prince' new collections called "Dear Dad". Here is a cute hybrid project for Dad that I made that you can pick up for free on her blog: Designs by Connie Prince. While you are there, look around, you might find some more freebies.

Be watching for two more Father's Day items before the end of the week.

Inspiration Emporium's Monthly Challenge - Packaging

I found a fun challenge over on Inspiration Emporium this month. You were to use packaging that is normally thrown away, and make something with it. This is right up my alley as I save anything interesting that can be recycled. I thought I would take you through the transformation with photos so that you could see how easy it is too recycle your scrapbook packaging.

Here is a photo of some backing/packaging to some items I recently bought.

I used some punches, brads and jewels to transform it into these cute flowers. Then I save them in a container until I  need them for a project.

Here is the card I made for this challenge using the flowers I had just made. Pretty cool, right? Now it's your turn to recycle some of your beautiful trash.

Let's Do Lunch

Love this stamp! Here's a tag I made for a recent challenge.

Blogger is messing with my posts again.

I added a few labels to some past posts, and half of them stayed in order and the other half reposted to today's date. Sorry for the confusion.

I like the Steam Punk look.

Here is a  4" x 4" I made for a challenge last month. I really like playing with the steam punk look.

Mother's Day

In between being sick and having computer problems I managed to make a 3D hybrid card for Mother's Day. It's a gate card made with the adorable Being a Mom digital kit by Connie Prince.

You can download the card for next year here on Connie's blog. It is a great example of what you can do with digi kits.

Two challenges from April

This was for a challenge to cover a light switch plate.

I made it for my studio, so it had to say Art on it. I uses some tag art from Hot Off the Press.

This tag was created for an Earth Day challenge. I used recycled hardware (found and rusted) along with a Tim Holtz gear.

I first embossed my tag with a gear embossing folder, using my Vagabond. Notice how deep the embossing is. I don't get this results in my Cuttlebug. Then I used three shades of distress ink. I also used distress ink to dye my ribbon. Some of the art work used here is from Graphic 45 and some is from public domain.

Playing around with embossing folders.

Here are a couple of tags I made with the gear embossing folder. I just can't get over the difference in how deep the Vagabond embosses using my Cuttlebug folders.

I am having a lot of fun with Graphic 45's papers too. I used these two tags for a couple of entries into a challenge involving embossing. Three shades of distress ink were used for the background.