Creative Blog Hop

Aloha! 

 (If looking for the Coffee Lover Blog Hop click HERE)

I was tagged by the AWESOME Annette Allen of 

My Clever Creations

I remember coming across Annette's blog

 from one of her design team projects and 

fell in love with all of her work.  

Her work is always happy and full of color

and just makes you smile!

So on to getting to know me...

1. What am I working on?

I am currently working on some party favors for my daughter's musical The Little Mermaid.  They've worked so hard for 4 months and this coming weekend will be her first show.  Stay tuned for pics!

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I think my work differs in that I don't really follow a genre.  For me to place myself in a certain genre would mean I couldn't try other things and I'm one to try anything once!  
3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I started blogging after getting over my fear of sharing my work.  As a nurse I come across a lot of people that need cheering up and papercrafting can do that.  Crafting is my fuel needed to help others and I hope I can bring positivity to all those around me.
4. How does your writing/creative process work?

For some reason all my creative ideas comes about during the day (while I'm at work) so I have a notebook to write down ideas and color combinations or patterns I love.  Then when the kids are in bed I start to collaborate my notes and hope it comes out decent on a card or 3D project!

Any other questions feel free to email me!

I've tagged 

the sweet and talented Lizzy Morgan of

This Haus of Cards

 I'm a married mother of two cats and a dog living in Hawai'i.  My recipe for happiness is sun, surf, and stamps. 

I love Lizzy's work especially when she does Lawn Fawn videos!

Be sure to check out her blog on October 6 and get to know her a little more.

I guarantee you'll love her work!!

Mahalo for stopping by!

Coffee Blog Hop for National Coffee Day!

Happy National Coffee Day!!

I'm super excited to be joining this blog hop and hope you'll join in on the fun!

for my Creative Blog Hop post click HERE

And here's my coffee loving project!!

Lawn Fawn Argyle Backdrops, Lawn Fawn Love You A Latte, Lawn Fawn Love You S'more.
Lawn Fawn Tag You're It, Simon Says Stamp inks, Distress Inks, copics, Lawn Fawn Trimming

I used a Silhouette cut file to make this cute Keurig Cup holder perfect for gift giving!
I stamped the background before assembling and white heat embossed the tag.
Added some morning sunshine colors to the tag and adhered the sweet little squirrel
with a cup o' joe!

Here's a side view...

And in case you wanted to learn more about me and my addiction to coffee...

1. When did you start drinking coffee? 

My first sip was in preschool.  I remember my dad with his cup that smelled sooooo good, but when I took my first sip I couldn't believe it didn't taste like how it smelled! I was not a coffee lover until nursing school!  It was the only way to survive 12-16 hour shifts!!

2. What is favorite brand (you can name up to three). 

I don't have a favorite brand, as long as it isn't watery I'll drink it!  I do love a good k-cup and love my Keurig machine!!

3. What is the most amazing coffee that you had? Remember where and when?

I love french pressed coffee and there's a place here called Tangos that makes thee BEST!

4. If I don't drink my needed coffee, I will...
Usually not function well during the day.  I'm forgetful, more quiet and definitely more sluggish.  It just takes one filled mug for me to get me through the day!!

Did you hear there are prizes from these fabulous places....

 
I hope you'll join us!!

And that's a wrap!  Mahalo for stopping by!!

I LOVE to color!!!

I've learned so much from the Online Card Class: Copic Coloring for Card Makers and wanted to share some pics of my practice sheets.

Before I get into that....have you heard that 9/29 is National Coffee Day?  As a coffee lover myself I was excited to hear that Chaitali and Amy (the queen of coffee) are putting a blog hop together and you can join the fun!!  There are a ton of sponsors and prizes to be won!!  Just click below to get more details...

Ok so on to my coloring!  

I love that copic markers blend so well together when using the right kind of paper.  I've found some places can be pretty pricey for just a pack of 10, but found that Target carried Neenah Solar White 65lb cardstock for a good deal for a pack of 75 for under $8!  I know it's not the heavy weight cardstock, but I'm liking the results!  Check it out...

There were so many tips and tricks that I tried to feel out which ones I felt comfortable with.  I reeeeeeally love the idea of using grays as my shadowing because I don't have a ton of copics in varying shades.  This totally expanded my copic coloring!

Next I loved the idea of adding texture with feathering so I attempted that on the left.  Again using grays as my shadowing I practiced on the flowers on the right.

I'm quite proud of this ballerina!  Up until this point I had no idea you could shade in a face to show curves and more depth.  I was SUPER happy with the results and just want to color everything in site...haha

Lastly I liked coloring the face on the top right with teal highlights...just like my profile pic!

That's it for me today!  Mahalo for stopping by!!

I'll be back with more on Monday for the Coffee Blog Hop as well as the Creative Blog Hop.

Copic Play Round 2

Oh it's one of those weeks that work seems like it will never end...

Thank goodness for crafting stress relief!!
Just got through Day 2 of the 

Online Card Class: Copic Coloring for Card Makers

and I've been learning lots!

I decided to use some 

Kitty Bee Design images to practice coloring...

I used the tip to tip blending trick and I think it works like a charm!

I did a little feathering as well and that created my lighter

centers for a bit more dimension.

Off to play some more!

By the way if you're wondering about the background that was made using

Faber Castell Gelatos!  So fun to play with!!

I just swiped some on the card to create ground (using gold and a bit of black for shadowing)

 and smoothed and blended colors

with my finger!

MAHALO for stopping by.

More Practice with Copics

I cannot tell you how excited I am about the 

Online Card Class: Copic Markers for Card Makers!

Until this point I've just watched a ton of YouTube videos

picking up little tips here and there.

Here is another attempt at playing with copics...

Bugaboo digi Bubbles Birthday Balloons, Hero Arts Hey Day sentiment, copics

Fancy Pants Be Different pattern paper, Lawn Fawn Stitched Party Banners

I love using digis to practice coloring!

This digi is called Bubbles Birthday Balloons from 

Bugaboo 

Isn't this image just thee cutest?

I don't have many masculine cards so I decided to go with 

boyish colors.

 There's still time to enter the Kitty Bee Design Aloha Friday Challenge

Midinspiration Week with the theme of "in the sky."

Mahalo for stopping by!!

The Ugly Duckling

I had the concept of the Ugly Duckling in mind for the last

PC&S submission and thought I'd share it today since it was not picked up.

After staring at it as I'm writing my blog I realized it definitely appeared better in my head...lol!

My idea was to create a scene out of a book (hence the typed background paper)

and will enter this in the latest Lawnscaping Challenge: Critters Galore

Lawn Fawn Hello Baby and dies, Lawn Fawn Jessie's ABCs, Lawn Fawn Scalloped border die

copic markers, Hero Arts Shadow inks

The Ugly Duckling was a frequent bed time read as my brother and I

 were frequently teased growing up.

On those nights my mom would pull this book out.

My brother was born with a birth defect called Cleft Lip and Palate and

til this day my brother and I argue about who had the rougher childhood

I grew up "happily plump" and he with his surgery scars...

(silly conversations that really don't prove a  point...lol).

I love reminiscing and realizing that it's all pretty menial in the scheme of things.

This is pretty much how my parents raised us...

Mahalo for stopping by!

Kitty Bee Design Spotlight

Happy Wednesday Kitty Bee Design Fans!

I'm super excited to get to share my latest card using 

Kitty Bee Designs 

Kitty Bee Design, Hero Arts Hey Day Sentiment, Lawn Fawn Let's Roll

Lawn Fawn Pink Lemonade paper, Hero Arts Shadow inks, copics

I love that you can use the images 

with stamps you have lying around!

With just a bit of pattern paper 

these sweet images are brought to life.

*disclaimer this might be retired, but I hear if you ask

super nicely she may be able to get a digi for ya!

This is the reason to HURRY on over to the store 

to get these super sweet images while you can!!

Mahalo for stopping by!

Made My Own Background

I've not had much time lately to make things worthy of posting...boo...

But I thought I'd share a card that didn't make it into the publishing category.  Remember the call for Scandinavian Folk Art from Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking?  I'm not Scandinavian by any means, but I remember growing up with my mom's cupboards full of dishware that had these sweet little images and pretty patterns in avocado green and mustard yellows.  Those were the good ol' days with delicious home cooked meals in them!

On to my card...

Lawn Fawn Peace, Joy, Love, Lawn Fawn Harvest Season, Hero Arts Shadow Inks
Avery Elle Custom Panels Die

So I made my design super colorful...cause you know that's how I roll!

I thought why not enter this in Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Make Your Own Background.

All righty gang...have a great week and I hope to be back again soon!!

Mahalo for stopping by!!!

Happy Fall

Anybody over with summer?  It's been super hot and humid with barely a breeze the last week and I'm looking forward to cooler weather!  So y'all know how much I'm in love with Lawn Fawn and had to get in the mood for cooler weather by entering Foxy Foxes Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

Here's a closeup at some adorable die cutting!  I'm in love with the little die cuts Lawn Fawn has in their latest release.  The apples and leaves are just too cute and what do you think of that stitched die cut ground!  I used distress inks in scattered straw and mowed lawn  to create a fall-ish ground for that sweet fox!  Again practicing my copic coloring skills...practice makes perfect right. 

The entire card...

Lawn Fawn Joy to the Woods, Lawn Fawn Sweater Weather, Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders,

Distress inks in Scattered Straw, Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn,

QuicKutz nesting scallop squares, Lawn Fawn Sweater Weather pattern paper,

Hero Arts shadow inks in Cup o Joe, Pale Tomato, Red Royal, Field Green and Pumpkin Pie

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend and I'll be back with more!

Mahalo for stopping by!!