Friday, December 30, 2011

Framed Florals

I did say I wasn't busy making cards, but I still was busy. A while back Emily was selling these little crewel embroidery kits and I thought I'd give it a try. I realized I can do a lot of crafty things but embroidery is not one of them and this little dismal looking piece of work in an adorable frame was sitting on my desk at work. Everyday I would look at it and think I really gotta repurpose that cute frame.

So out came one of Paula's framed florals which fit perfect in the opening. YES, that would be our Paula and Emily transformed some of her beautiful drawings into rubber for all of us to enjoy.  I coloured these pansies in a variety of purple and coral's and used primarily pencils here. I quickly picked a paper to used for the background and now I don't like this one so I'll probably change it up. There is a glass over this, but I took it off to get a better picture.


Now THIS is gonna make me happy at work.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Smashing Good Fun

Ya, I caved....I bought a smashbook. Emily has been carrying this line for a while now and told me I needed it. Well, I hedged, like I normally do but I ventured into Pickle a couple weeks ago and now Kim has them and I had a weak moment and caved. And I'm so glad I did. It is like scrapbooking for dummies. I have scrapbooked in the past but when I look at that blank page my mind goes as blank as the paper. This is different, it almost prompts you and that is what I think I needed. And of course, if I was gonna smash, I needed the little Fuji instax camera that Emily and Ebru went crazy for so I had a bit of Christmas day fun and created this page.


To explain "this is now", the opposite page says "that was then" so I'm gonna dig out some early xmas photo's to smash on that side. And what better way to compliment my mini instant pictures than to use Stamping Bella's grunge filmstrip die from the Journal your Art out set. I notice that she has called it set #1 and I'm hoping that means there will be more sets like it in the future.

As for the other things on the page, the trees are Tim Holtz, "this is now" are quickutz and christmas was stamped from a VERY old River City alphabet set that I've had for years. Like so long that alphabet dies were still just a dream in someone's mind.

While I haven't made any cards for the last couple weeks, I have kept crafty in other ways like decorating my house for the holidays

little Baby Jesus in his manger that was always one of my fav things as a kid and
 a few years ago my mom gave it to me. He used to go under our tree, but this year
I've got him on display on an end table
When I moved to Chatham, my mom thought I should have a little tree so she
bought me this one to put on a tabletop. I've had it for over 25 years and it has not
missed a Christmas yet. I do however have to get more ornaments for it though because
mice got to it this year. The quilt hanging on the wall was made by ME! Yup in my
quilting days I made this skinny santa quilted wall hanging. It hasn't surfaced for years
but I thought it  was time to bring it back out. I love skinny santa's.

I even decorated the light fixture hanging in our dining room. The glass
egg shaped ornaments I made a few years ago and this year I made the
round ones. They are decorated with a product called LuminArte which
is a thin glue like liquid you pour into the ornament and then add mica
like powders that stick to the glue. It is pretty cool and no matter what
you do, no two ornaments look the same.

This little tree is in my living room. Our other big tree is in the family room
and I don't really have room in here for a tree that large. And if you look to the
left, you'll see my little collection of Westie poo's! Love my puppy!

That's it for my decorating. I'm sure for some people, this is pretty slim but I don't like clutter so this is just enough to make it a little more festive around here.

Our regular Bellarific Friday's will start up again on Jan 13th and by popular demand we will be featuring a lot more sketches....like LOTS more. I hope Dana, our commander in chief, doesn't slap my wrist but I'm gonna give you a little Chrismas surprise and release our FIRST SKETCH OF THE YEAR! So no excuses, I'm sure you all got some new crafty stuff that you are dying to break into and I'm giving you two weeks to email your card to Emily! Go get inky!

I'll be back tomorrow with a little NON Christmas NON Winter project I completed over the holidays.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas

Seems like I have been away forever, but it has been a busy week here in the Heavens household. I worked Monday and Tuesday then spent the last three days getting in last minute decorating and shopping and cleaning for our family gathering here this afternoon.

Stuffing is made and the turkey is staring me in the face waiting to get dressed to go in the oven. Oh and my new Scentsy is burning bright with the scent of honey pear cider. Kim from Pickle gave it to me and can you say LOVE! I LOVE this thing!!!! It is the best gift I have ever received EVER! Seriously, I think I want one for every room in my house all with different scents in them. I was browsing the catalogue online this morning and I've got my next one already picked out!!!! OH I can't wait!

Now for my last Christmas card of the year (maybe!) I have another Stamping Bella's Mo's door with wreath. And I couldn't help but make another one of Kitty's wreath's either. The white one went to my mom and this one goes to my inlaw's. It has a more rustic look to it with a red door and wood background created with a Sizzix Tim Holtz embossing folder. I like the Sizzix folders so much better than the cuttlebug because they are just a bit larger and work better for my usual 5 1/2" square cards and they seem to have a deeper emboss as well. Gotta love everything Tim.


Well gals (and maybe even some guy's?) that's all I have time for now. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and I'm off to wrestle my turkey.

Fyi...we are on Bellarific Friday hiatus until the new year and poor Emily has been knocked out with the flu for two weeks so go leave her some love and tell her we've missed her!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Uptown girls are allowed to be late, aren't they?

I have only 3 more days at the 'gas' before I am off for two weeks  (less one day) of holidays! I lost that one day because I took a day off a couple weeks ago to get some Christmas cards done. Since I had to work Monday anyway, working Monday and Tuesday was not so much of a big deal.

I'm certainly looking forward to some time off though. It has been a crazy hectic year because my hubby has been travelling a LOT, which thankfully is ending, and this babe needs a break from everything. I'd like to say I plan to spend my days watching movies, cuddling with my pooch, drinking tea (or cappuccino) and just relaxing my days away. However, if you know me, you know that wouldn't last and I might do that for a day then get busy into some reorganizing project. Or maybe vaccuum every square inch of my house with my new Dyson Animal!  I know when I go back to work the first three months are gonna be hectic so I need some time to recharge however I decide to do that.

Work and life aside, we had an awesome sketch this week. One of my fav sketches by the way and I have used variations of it numerous times in the past but never with Stamping Bella's Quinn.


Isn't she just the cutest thing EVAH!!!!! I know this is a repeat, but I can't help myself. I have to join in with Paula's Uptown Girl support group. And I have a special person who will get this card from us along with her new black Uggs. Since purple is her fav colour, black uggs with a purple coat was the colour scheme I had to go with.

I stamped her on bella's BESTEST paper and used the following copics, along with some shading with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

E000, 00, 34, 44, 49
RV00, 10, 23, R21, 83, 85, 89
V01, 12, 15, 17, N1, 3, 5, C4, 6, 8, 9

Bellarific Friday will be on hiatus for the next couple weeks but we will be back in the new year with  new challenges incorporating many of your suggestions. And just because there is no challenge, I will still be here so pop in and take a peek.

till next time, Linda

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

White door with wreath

I've been obsessed with KittieKraft lately. I used to follow her blog years ago and she kinda dropped off my radar but something brought me back to her in the past week and I think the stars were with me when that happened. I had just coloured up Stamping Bella's Mo's door with Wreath and was pondering over the wreath when I came across this INCREDIBLE wreath that Kitty made with a Martha Stewart punch and the stars aligned! I got busy punching and glueing following her instructions and I ended up with a BE-U-TI-FUL wreath to adorn my door!


I wanted this door to be white with just a hint of green to pick up the colour of the trim so after stamping on bella's BESTEST paper these are the copics I used, but I will say, I did do quite a bit of tweaking and shading with pencils!

C00, 0, 1, 7, 9, N0, 1, 2, 3, 5
YG91, 93, 61, E81, 87

I'd better scoot cause hubs isn't home and the princess (that would be the DOG, Bessie) is needing some attention. But she will have to wait JUST A MINUTE MORE because did you know that Emily is having a TRIPLE BUCKS EVENT this week! I think it might be because of all the love she got last week that has made her weak! So if you play this week you have a chance at $30 bella bucks and if you leave a comment on this post you will be entered for another $30 bella bucks. LIKE SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! so comment on this post, and play this week and you could possibly win $60 bella bucks!

See ya Friday for the challenge! Off to make more xmas cards...WHEW....ALMOST DONE!

Monday, December 12, 2011

2011 - the year I found my muse

muse: verb, noun
Definition: (v.) to think about or ponder something deeply; (n.) the source of inspiration for an artist

Emily's AJ Monday this week was to use letters or numbers (or both) on your page. I pondered (mused!) over it for a few days and yesterday I settled on the 2011....the year I found my muse.


It might not be one of my most fav pages I have done, but I think it means the most to me. I spent an entire year pondering over this art journal thing, reading lots of blogs, experimenting and trying to find my comfort zone. This year I took a few online classes from some of my fav mixed media artists and I think I'm starting to find my groove. I've realized that I will never be a Kelly Kilmer, as much as I love her work, it is not my style. I don't know if I have a style yet, I'm still experimenting...and enjoying the journey.

Don't stray toooo far because I'll be back Wednesday with Mo's door with wreath and you are not gonna wanna miss this one because I did something a little different this year.

hehehehee! ....Later, Linda.

Friday, December 9, 2011

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

NOT!

For my family, Christmas together means 1 hour commutes for most of us, except for the one who is hosting. So I don't dream of a white Christmas, I dream of clear dry roads for everyone who has to drive an hour or more on the highway to spend the day with their families.

That is my wish, and this is my card, Stamping Bells's snowman and a cardinal by Mo Manning.


As always, I stamped this chilly guy on Bella's BESTEST paper in black memento ink and in addition to a combo of warm and cool grey's for the snowman these are the other copic colours I used:

G40, 82, YG67, 63, 99

All shading was done with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and I am pretty sure I used my cerulean blue around the snowman to celebrate prisma bringing back that colour. It is one of my fav's!

Our challenge next week is a sketch which will come in handy for those last minute holiday cards you need to get finished. I know I still have about 10 to make so I'll be sure to whip up a couple using this classic and timeless sketch! I LOVE a sketch challenge!

On a final note, today is Friday here in Southwestern Ontario and a Friday night in the Heavens household means that I am gonna get a break from cooking and we will either go out for pizza or get Thai take out and I'll spend the evening with my art supplies and my journal coming up with something creative for Emily's AJ Monday.

till next time, Linda

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Bizmark

Hiya! I planned on posting this a couple days ago but life got in the way. Christmas party, leakly roof blistering the paint on my kitchen ceiling, pizza at Mom's (Windsor pizza to boot!!!!), and a retirement party has kept me busy over the last few days. And if you are wondering why I am boasting about Windsor pizza it is because it THE BEST PIZZA this side of Old Forge, PA where I had the best pizza of my life on one of our Dave Matthews tour dates.

Gosh I missed Dave this year and I can only hope that the band will be announcing tour dates for next year real soon. He brings us to places we would never dream of going and I have great food experiences at 'almost' every place we have visited. Ya...I'm a big time foodie! And I have to throw the 'almost' in there because as we sat in one place having THE WORST hotdog of my life, our son texted me asking where the Thai take out menu was! YA....I was NOT happy, and to top it off hubs rubbed it in that I left them too much money for food! No worries...hubby has paid big time for that because now when we travel I use my trusty Urbanspoon iPone app to find us a great restaurant that does not serve hot dogs!

Alright...with that out of my system I can move on to Stamping Bella's Bismarck by Mo Manning. Isn't he just the cutest thing EVER!


I tried to get him to be a more 'blonde' colour but my copics got the best of me and he ended up a little more brown than I had hoped for. Then I had a tradegy and after he was all coloured up I was reinking my R22 copic and i dropped it getting a nice big blotch of red in the upper right corner. I was not going to let my time go to waste so I thought it was a good opportunity to add the metallic frame with the Verve sentiment. The hardest part was finding a sentiment in my stash that would fit into the frame because it had to be tiny! Thank goodness I have a LARGE stash of Christmas sentiments.

Mistakes aside, I stamped him with memento Rich Cocoa on bella's BESTEST paper and coloured him with the following copic markers:


R14, 22, 24, 29, 59, YR30, 20
YG45, 67, 99, W00, 0, 1, 2, 4
E30, 41, 42, 50, 51, 53, 23, 44, 47
C00, 1, 2, 5

That's it for today, I'll be back on Friday with my white challenge card.

Monday, December 5, 2011

AJ Monday - Create

It is AJ Monday, and it's raining here in Chatham, and I have the day off! YAY!!!! And I am totally okay with the gloomy rainy day because I plan on just hanging out here and putting a big dent in my Christmas card to do list.

While I have things that must get done, I did take a time out last night to just create for no particular reason. Well, maybe one reason and that is to play in Emily's AJ Monday.


I used my typical sprays, dies, gesso and molding paste. But what I really like about this page is that I made use of my 'inky paper'. That is a Roben-Marie term for the newsprint she puts under her page as she works on it. Sometimes she uses printed paper, like dictionary paper, or sometimes just plain newsprint like I did. It is great for absorbing excess spray, or blotting off and it gets all inky and messy and was great for cutting out my word. Speaking of that word, I pulled out one of my most fav alphabet dies of all time, Quickutz Washington Grand.

That's about it for today, lots to do here (#1 is to clean up my mess from last night) so I'd better get busy. Be sure to check out Emily's AJ post sometime today because there are always great ideas to be found.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Lulu's snowman 2011

Hope everyone is well today, we had torrential rainfall this past week and we have a wicked leak in our roof, over my kitchen table. Thankfully the ceiling has not come down but it is not pretty...we need a roofing guy here ASAP! What I am most mad about is that we will have to have the ceiling repaired and then I'm gonna have to paint. Me no wanna paint!

Enough whining...how 'bout a card. And surprise surprise! It's another Holiday card, but I have a good excuse because that was our challenge and I still need 20 more cards so this comes in handy. This week I used Stamping Bella's LULU'S SNOWMAN, and what a cutie she is.


Last year I 'dressed' her up in a pale green coat, this year I decided to keep her all white and pair it up with one of my new Cheery Lynn Design doily dies. These are THE MOST intricate dies I have ever seen and they cut like a dream in my Vagabond. I'm even thinking that I could cut one out of acetate and use it with sprays in my journal! LOVIN' THAT IDEA!!!!

I stamped LULU on bella's BESTEST paper and coloured her up with the following copic markers  using the cool greys on the snowman and the warm greys on lulu:

E000, 00, 11, 40, 41, 42, 44, 07, 09
C00, 0, 2, 3, W00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
C7, 9, B60, YR15, 18, R22, BG96

Next week our challenge is to keep it WHITE! I know that may scare some, but OMG, I LOVE a white card so I'm looking forward to this one. You might recall that we did this challenge last year and if you are looking for some ideas check out this post.

till next time, Linda





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