Top 13 for 2013 - Happy New Year - A Time for Reflection

Well, it has happened just as it does every year.  It is time to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new year.  Whether we like it or not - time goes by.  We cannot stop it.  So I thought I would take this time to go through my blog posts and find my favorite creations.

This is one of my all time favorite cards from this year.  My favorite color and googly eyes.  It does not get any better than that.

Love this little Unity Stamp.

I really got into my Copic coloring this year.  This little kitty is one of my faves.

 Inspired by Michelle Zindorf who does the most beautiful cards.

This digi image had a yorkie - so I had to color it.

 This is my attempt at landscapes.  I prefer cute - obviously!

This is a Penny Black stamp and I believe I cased this card from someone I stalk regularly - Darlenedesign.com.

I am sooooo bad at masculine cards, but I was very proud of this attempt.

This stamp is from Stampin Up and if I was on a desert island and had to choose - this is one of the stamps I would take.

I was so proud of this CAS card that I neglected to sign it when I sent it to my friend.  :-)

I made these minions for my daughter's birthday card.  I made the card, but neglected to get a picture.

I am all about the splats and paint swishes this year.  LOVE THEM!  And Hero Arts made several sets with them.  Of course I had to have them all.

Washi Tape and Paper Smooches stamps.  And sewing.  Three of my faves for 2013.

I hope that everyone has a Happy New Year and that 2014 is the best year evah!

To see a whole bunch of top 13's from fellow OWH'ers - go to The Stars and Stamps Blog.

And if you are interested in making cards for our Heroes who are deployed away from home - go to Operation Write Home Home Page to find our how.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

1 Samuel 7:12 - Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

WOYWW 239 - Happy New Year

Once again I have rearranged my craft room.  No big enhancements, just juggling a set of shelves from one side of a chest of drawers to the other.  I've also cleaned up my Christmas Card making mess.  I've deglittered - well I've tried to deglitter - that stuff is like glue.  If you want to see a great group of work desks from all around the world - check out Julia's Blog - Stamping Ground.  You don't want to miss it.

Here is my desk:

This is my card making/Project Life desk:

This is a picture of the two pieces of furniture that I switched.  If you look at the floor, the blur is Gracie being chased by the cat.  She torments the cat - so she deserves it.  LOL

This is a picture of my scrapbooking table.  I'm trying to create stations.  I'll let you know how it works.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

John 3:3  I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

WOYWW 238 - Merry Christmas

I am a day late, but I am still going to participate.  Drop by Julia's Stamping Ground to view other work desks during this great holiday.

My desk hasn't changed because I went on vacation last week.  When I got back on Saturday - I went straight from the airport to my husband's family Christmas celebration.  I then had to get up and be at work on Sunday by 10:00am.  Don't you feel sorry for me.  ;-)

I hope all who celebrate had a very Merry Christmas.  Now I have to get busy cleaning up this mess so I can do some crafting.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

1 Corinthians 3:6  I planted Apollos watered but God gave the increase.

Blog Stalking Purple Monkey Moments

One of the blogs I often go to for great design ideas is Purple Monkey Moments.  She makes the cutest cards and tags and all kinds of goodies.  She is a big Cricut fan - so if you want to get some ideas on what you can do with your Cricut - her blog is a place to visit. 

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Matthew 1: 18 - 21  This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Blog Stalking - bits & pieces

Another blog that I like to follow to get great ideas is bits & pieces.  There are some great tutorials on this blog as well.  Check it out sometime and prepare to be inspired.

As a matter of fact, one of my Christmas card designs was inspired by her blog.  Here it is.  Mine is not nearly as gorgeous as hers and it's a different take, but I did say mine was inspired by hers, not a copy.  ;-)

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Luke 2: 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about."

2013 - The Christmas Card

I've actually designed my own Christmas card this year!  Yay me!  I'm sure it has bits and pieces of other cards I've seen, but this one was of my own creation.  I am actually doing 3 different Christmas cards this year.  The other 2 are copies of other cards I've seen.  I can't be all original.  LOL

Here is the video I did on how I made my Christmas card if anyone is interested in making some of their own.  I think, too, this design can be adapted to non Christmas themes as well.  I have every intention of doing that, too.

Do note that you do not have to sew to make this card.  Any of the sewing can be replaced with score tape or the Reflections red tape that Michaels sells.

I am going to have to make another one and take a picture of it because I sent all those that I made out through the mail!  I'm too efficient for my own good.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Luke 2: 13 - 14  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

WOYWW 236 - A Big GLITTERY Mess

These Wednesdays are flying by like Santa with his reindeer.  If you would like to see a plethera of work areas from lots of talented people, stop by Julia's Stamping Ground where they are all posted for you.

Here is my desk in all its glittery glory.  I am working on Christmas cards - yep I finally brought myself to make some.

I'm very excited about one of my Christmas card designs - I came up with it on my own.  I don't think I've ever done anything original.  :-)

I'm off to go visit everyone's desks.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Luke 2:  10 - 12  But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;  he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Catching Up with Project Life

I spent a few days last week catching up on the last 3 weeks of Project Life.  And when I say catching up - I mean catching up since the second time that I started doing Project Life this year.  :-)  I still have catching up to do between March and August.

Thanksgiving week.  For this weeks spread I used Simple Stories Daily Grind collection.  I'm lovin the colors and the prints of this collection.  Speech bubbles, cameras, arrows and more:

The week before Thanksgiving.  For this week I used the Pink Paisley Hey Kid collection.  There were some coordinating ephemera and die cuts by Hey Lizzy.:

Two weeks before Thanksgiving.  This week was dressed up with Teresa Collins You are my happy collection.  This is going to be one of my faves.  Love the muted colors and all the coordinating enamel dots, die cuts and washi tape:

I hope you get some ideas for your own Project Life spread.  What ever you do - don't leave your photos behind with no names.  Share your legacy.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Luke 2: 8 - 9  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Prompt #5

The photo prompt for my Journal Your Christmas class is focus.  It's a little more complex than that, but I'll keep it easy.  I'm really enjoying this class.  There is a prompt for writing and a prompt for picture taking.  And along with the prompt is good information about what to write and how to use your camera whether it be the phone on your camera or your DSLR.

The purpose was to blur the background.  The background in this case was the quilt.  I don't think I accomplished the task, but I did learn how to change the f stop on my camera and here is a photo I ended up with.

Her hair is a little messy.  I have a couple other photos, but they were taking too long to upload so I will try again tomorrow.

Have a great day and be inpsired.

April

Luke 2:6 - 7  While they were there, the timne came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

WOYWW 235 - Rearranged - AGAIN!

First let me give you directions to the greatest place to be inspired whether you make cards, mixed media art or just plain art.  Go to The Stamping Ground on Wednesdays to find the largest group of crafty people you can find.  You will be inspired by all the eye candy.

I think I could spend my entire crafting time rearranging my craft room.  I just will not give up on finding the perfect layout that will inspire me because the flow of my room is so perfect.  As perfection never seems to be obtained - I keep rearranging.  I think I'm happy with the arrangement - for now.

I've been busily avoiding making Christmas cards and working on my Project Life.  I'm going to have to break down and do Christmas cards soon.  Good thing I work better under pressure.  ;-)

I hope to spend this evening visiting desks.  That is after I have my cavity filled.  :-(

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Luke 2: 4 - 5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Content

That is my word for next year.  I know it is a little early, but I'd seen a blog post earlier and when I read it  -  I decided that was next year's word.  However, I had already forgotten what the word was!  So I am going to post this so I can look back and remember.  Sad, but you do what you have to do.  The blog post that inspired me was here in case you were curious.

During this holiday season I've signed up for Journal Your Christmas.  I am given 2 daily prompts - one for journaling and one for photo taking.  I am going to be posting more about that over the month of December.

Here are a couple pictures inspired by the Journal Your Christmas class:
This prompt was first signs of Christmas.

This prompt was ornament.  I know - I'm really deep - right?

These pictures are for my Big Picture Class.
This prompt was leaves.

This prompt was ground level:

I signed up for the Journal Your Christmas class here:  http://www.shimelle.com/
I signed up for the Christmas photo prompts at The Big Picture Classes site:  http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/

I have been doing my Project Life, but real life has gotten in the way of me posting about it.  That is going to be one of my new year resolutions - stop letting real life get in the way of my fun!

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Luke 2:1-3  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And everyone went to his own town to register.