The "Book" Marker....

Happy Monday everyone!!!  I'd like to share with you a book marker I made for my pen pal, Beverly.  Now, the reason I made her the book mark, isn't because we READ books together and then discuss... like "NORMAL" book clubs do, but because we share a love of our planners.  That's right, you heard me... planners.  Not just ANY planner, but Filofax planners.  And she and I met through our Filofax "cult" (as my hubby calls it... LOL).  Beverly lives in the UK and we decided to become pen pals.  Beverly has a love for antiques and all things vintage.  I couldn't help but think of her whenI grabbed this adorable image from Tiddly Inks, "Aida - Gonna Miss you".  Aida comes with suit cases but I decided to perch her on top of the FREE digital  "Open Book" that is offered on Tiddly Inks web site.  ... YES I said FREE!!!

I used craft paper from Teresa Collins, "Memories" paper which I felt looked perfect as a vintage design.  My image was printed on Cryogen White and colored with Copic Sketch markers.  I cut the image and mounted them separately onto the book mark.

Before finishing up my card I made sure each edge was distressed with some Tim Holtz Distress ink pads in "Vintage Photo".  I found a piece of "aged" looking embellished sentiment plate. Here's a closer look....

Seems lots of gals in our planner group are receiving lots of flack lately about actually using a "written" scheduler instead of the tech savvy cell phones and such.  I decided this sentiment was perfect to let at least one person know, it's ok to step back and enjoy your personalized hand written notes and appointments.  I know I still keep a written journal and LOVE getting back down to paper and pen, probably more than most. LOL

I kept it a simple design because I want you to know.... not everything needs to be complicated, or flowery, or even full of die cuts or flourishes.  Sometimes... a little simple image and cute papers are enough to serve it's purpose.  Not ALL we design needs to be explosively eye catching.  Just from your heart and it's purpose is sometimes all we need.  :-)

I hope you have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by.  I always appreciate your support! *HUGS*

 Copics I used:

CMC & Alicia's Crafty Corner...

Today I'd like to share with you a card I colored and designed that really hit home with me because it reminded me sooo much of my dear friend, whom I recently met through Filofaxing, Ellenie.  This image came from Alicia's Crafty Corner and is entitled, "Thinking of You".  And truly, I was... thinking of Ellenie.

Ellenie was one of the very first persons I made a connection with when I first discovered Filofax. Needless to say, I discovered Filofax on Instagram.  Yes, probably not a HUGE amount of Filofax users can say this, but... I'm a crafter at heart and I get inspiration from MANY places.  And I'm not sure how I actually found the Filofax people on IG, but I did, and that... my friends... is the COOLEST!

But I must say.. it's not that I found the Filofax... though I TRULY LOVE mine AND that I found them, it's really that I found a new lovely group of friends.  A girl just NEVER EVER has to many friends.  For me.. that means people who have the same interests I do and who don't mind being "out there" and having fun.  Hee

I've always been a giver and I hate admitting that I rarely receive much from anyone.  NOT that I EVER EXPECT it... but every now and then it's really kind of nice!  So you can imagine my shock when VERY shortly after I met Ellenie, she sent me a RAK (random act of kindness) package!!!  Whoa Nelly!!!! WHO is this gal??? Easy... Ellenie is a very sweet, generous and fun person and I am so very lucky to have met her.  NOT because she sent me "gifts" for my Filofax... but because I REALLY REALLY like her!  We have shared nights when we sent one e-mail after another and my whole screen was filled with e-mails from just her! LOL  Sometimes, it's one sentence... sometimes, it ends up being a short novel. LOL  But in all this crazy Filofax world/talk and the LOL e-mails, we have met, gotten to know each other a bit and I feel very lucky to call her my friend.

My card today was created to resemble sweet, gorgeous Ellenie!  I had so much fun creating it and the card is actually being shown on a slide show for the Color Me Creative Challenge site for which I am the Design Team Coordinator.  The site is all about using our Copic markers and learning, sharing and designing with them.  My BFF, Suzanne Dean, is the site owner and we met about three years ago when I took one of her classes on Copic coloring.  My whole perception of these expensive, though amazing, markers changed and I cannot thank her enough for helping me to grow and learn to use them better.

I am thrilled Ellenie loved the card and even more happy that I have met such an exceptional and kind-hearted woman as she.  And not only have I met Ellenie, but there are many others whom I have learned about and become close to as well.

Filofax is bringing back my love for writing, sending HAND-written letters, and keeping my creative side active as well and I think when the world of art and penmanship come together, only good can grow from it.

I now have pen pals from all around the world and I truly feel like a very blessed and fortunate woman for having found Filofax.  I am organized AND crafty now and trust me... that is sometimes a rare thing in any crafter/artists' world.  Ha Ha

Have a fabulous Tuesday and remember... smile, you might find a new friend staring your way. Thanks for stopping by! *HUGS*


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Shhhhhrrrrrriiiiiinnkkkk It!

Do you remember these???? Shrinky Dinks?? Ha!  OMGosh I hadn't thought of these in YEARS!! (Ok wait... not THAT many years!!! ;-)  )  But seriously... have you tried stamping on them???  Talk about FUN!!!  Even my daughter had to get in on the act.  And of course, it's not even so much about the coloring or stamping for her.. it was more about WATCHING it shrink!!!  I could color blocks all day just to sit and watch them go down in size.  My project today serve two areas... 1) I had been dying to mess with these since I found them... and 2) I REALLY wanted something special and handmade I could give to my fellow planner friends as a RAK (random act of kindness).  Ta Dah!!!  Enter  the Shrinky Dinks!!!

THIS is where my Shrinky Dink ended up!!  I took this adorable Sherri Baldy image, "Princess Sparkle" and made her into a cute page marker that I could send off to my friends.  Soooo fun!!!  I can't wait to hear how they like them!!!  Here's how this fun Shrinky Dinks work....

The come in a pretty thick sheet and my pack came with some creme color sheets, brown and black sheets.  I took a clear which when you pick it up you realize, one side is rough and frosted.  Basically, sanded for you ahead of time so your colors, stamped image, etc. adhere to it well.

I stamped my image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and let it sit for about  five minutes before beginning to color it in.

Now don't worry so much about how light it appears when you color it.  I used my Copic Sketch markers to fill in my image.  As you can see below.. I added some pretty bright colors but because of the frosted rough side, it doesn't look so bright.  Wait for it...  Next I cut the image out pretty close to the lines.

And THIS is how she comes out of the oven.  WAY brighter than you expected, right?   As you can see, it's possible to do some shading but honestly, it's a bit tough to do, as you can see in my hair.  I definitely highlighted it but since things "scrunch" up so much in the shrinking process, it's kind of hard to keep the colors separated.

Here you can see the difference in size (my daughter stamped one to color and it's not perfect, but she didn't care. Ha!)

I glued the large style paper clip to the back and it's done!  Ready for your pages, or your planner.  I've already done an adorable frog for myself and I can't wait to make more personal paper clips for all my friends.  You can make earrings, necklaces and brooches as well with these fun sheets. Give it a try.  I bet you'll become addicted.

Thanks for stopping by today and remember to stop back tomorrow for even more inspiration from the Design Team!  Have a fabulous Saturday!  *HUGS*

 Copics I used:

Dot to Dot....

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!  It was a very long time ago that I did this cute little image from Sherry Baldy Besties which I was lucky enough to name... "Dot to Dot".  :-)

I printed her off on Cryogen White from the Paper Temptress and colored her with two of my favorite colors using my Copic markers.  I distressed the edges of my image and added some ink around the edges to highlight her a bit more.

I added a "friend" definition stamp under one of Tim Holtz Fragments as my sentiment.  I'm sorry I don't remember where it came from... I know I won it but for the life of me can't remember from where.  Ugh!

A little lace, some pearl flourish bling and a nice bundle of flowers for my sweet ladybug friend to rest on finish off my card.

I hope you are having a fabulous summer and that the ladybugs are flying free around your neighborhood.  It is always good to have a "few" bugs that are fun to see, right?  :-)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!! *HUGS*




 Copics I used:

A Little Nesting...

Today I'd like to share a 3D  project I created for The Paper Nest.  Christine was nice enough to share some of her drawings with me and take suggestions I made on a few of them before she finalized them in ink so I wanted to do a little in return for her to thank her for even considering my opinion.  :-)

I used her "Fairy with an Umbrella" on the "P" and "Ladybug Emma" on the "N".  I created these for her to (hopefully) display in her store as a more personal display rather than just cards.  ;-)

The letters were cut using my Silhouette Cameo and some paper I had in my stash.  I printed the images on Cryogen White paper from the Paper Temptress and cut them out after I colored them with my Copic markers.  A few flowers added and a little bling flourishes and my project was finished.

Quick and easy.  I might add that if you decide to do something like the 3D "P" using your Silhouette Cameo, I DID have to add a little weight to the bottom of the "P" to keep it from tipping over to the right.  I think the only thing that frustrates me with the Cameo is that a lot of the cuts don't come with instructions and sometimes those "folds" and "bends" are hard to sit and figure out exactly what goes with what. LOL  In the end, I really enjoyed how they came out.

As always, I appreciate your stopping by and hope you have a fabulous Monday!!!




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Banana Dance Time....

Have you stopped on over to the Color Me Creative Challenge site yet?  The new challenge is up and it's all about animals!!  "A Zoo Review"... color up an animal anyway you like, is the latest challenge.  I chose "Mickey the Monkey" from Digital Delights by Louby Loo.  Isn't he cute as can be all dressed in purple??!! Hee

I decided to color my adorable monkey up in purples after I printed him off on Cryogen White paper from the Paper Temptress.  I colored him in with my Copic markers.  I cut him out and hooked him to the Heart Banner from La La Land Crafts.  LOVE this die with its cute little heart cut outs and the imitation stitching around it.  I also added the Palm Tree die from La La Land and used my Copics to do a bit of shading on it before adhering it to my card.  A few brown self adhesive rhinestones to imitate coconuts finished it off.  ;-)

I found the little banana stamp and palm leaves in my stash and I am afraid I'm not sure who's they are.  The sentiment came from the same set.  My apologies to the stamp company.

Join in on the fun HERE at CMC and add your link for a chance at a $15 GC from Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

Have a great Sunday and thanks for stopping by.  I love that you visit and leave comments!!! *HUGS*




 Copics I used: