Something is missing...

I'm feeling it.

Just a little something is missing today.

It's a deadline. Yep, usually today (the 26th or so) is the Design Team's last day to get the kit projects done for the upcoming newsletter. No more IL2C Design Team deadlines, no more kits. It's actually hitting me today.

So, for all those kits, all those years, all those memories - goodbye and so long. It was a fabulous, creative and wonderful time that I shall never forget.

Now, in the theme of new beginnings - it's off to gather some 'year in review' photos for posting (stay tuned) and off to make some New Years Resolutions and Goals for the upcoming year.

December Preview

I know, it's not an early preview, more like on the eve of...



I had so much fun doing my first 2 page layout in, well probably, years! At least if you don't count mini books.

Question for you all:

Do you ever 'save' a particular batch of photos for the perfect paper, technique or idea to come along? I do! Well, except for a few LO's at the beginning of my 12x12 obsession that I did before I figured myself out.

Anyway, the whole reason the question came up is because I've been saving this particular batch of photos for a while now. The perfect sketch came across my screen (pagemaps.com), the perfect seasonal papers came in the IL2C December Kit and the perfect 'Mastercard' idea popped into my head. Tada, One 2 page LO that is an instant favorite!

Wool Scarf Project Kit

Talk about a FABULOUS Handmade Gift for Christmas!

I got this Felted Wool Scarf kit from IL2C, ~

Oh my oh my!!!! I did it and it was fast and fabulous and so easy!!!

Look at this scarf! The Merino wool (tho' it's WAY too soft an silky to be called wool) is a dream to look at and touch. Look at the shine I've got here!



I LOVE LOVE the crinkles I've got in it from wringing it out when I was done. I totally unwrapped the scarf and then just smooshed it all up and squeezed it dry.

You would not believe how easy this was to do too. But seriously, it was less than an hour from start to the end.

My mind is just bursting with altered versions of scarfs now (double-length, can I braid a design in it? Oh the ideas are just about endless! Oh and that doesn't even begin on the felted embellishments I can add!!! I WILL keep you posted with the ideas as soon as I create them!

I will be buying up all the extra roving I can get my hands on now. This is the ultimate best ever handmade gift!

THANK YOU MELYNDA for this AWESOME IDEA & KIT!!!

Getting the Mojo Going

Here are a few items from the November IL2C Kit
(I think I'm posting these so that they will make me feel guilty about not having something even newer to post)

First - the Sketch



Now the Interp


(details on the supplies and making of... HERE)

This was such a great day for Lexy - her first 5K fun run with dad! She was so ready to quit in the middle, but she kept going in spite of it all and she finished - way to go Lex!

Glitter Addict

HELLO!!!

Just dropping in to leave you a bit more on the November IL2C Velour Kit :) :)

I've shown you the image file, so here is the finished item to peek at for a sneak peek!



(I just wish glitter were easier to capture with the camera - where is a class by Karen Russell when I need it! LOL)

Free!!

Hi Everyone!!

Real quick, I'm off to a Halloween party with Lex!

I've been playing around with the November 'Printable Velour Accents' IL2C kit all week :)

Now, because this kit lends itself so well to blending the digital world with paper crafting, I've created a digital image for you to copy and use when you get your kits!

I've been trying to figure out the best way to get the file out. I'm sure I'll post it in the MB, but for all you who scope out the blogs, here you go, you get it early!


(right click, save as. I've made the file 4 1/2 inches long, which I found to be the perfect size for the cellophane envelope)

Oh, and I know this is a little late, but I finally have a photo of the Daisy D Stitch Rub-ons in action...



You need to press down fairly hard. Exert even pressure and pull back on the dispenser to roll out the stitches. If you make a mistake, no problem, it easily erases with a glue eraser.


Have fun - see ya later!

Challenge Winner!

The winner of the scrapalicious goodie bucket is Alica (Paperheart)!

I even woke Lexy up late last night so she could draw the name, it was kind of funny. All day today she kept asking me, who is Alicia? Is she in my class?

Actually.... to ALL of you participants...

YOU ARE ALL WINNERS IN MY BOOK, and since it's my challenge, I am adding to the prize pot and I have, if not the whole kit, at least some kaboodle to brighten your day!

Everyone who participated, please PM or email me your addresses and I'll make a day of it at the Post Office sending fun prize packages out - sound like a deal?

Thank you!

Ah, take a deep breath...

The week is over. The Storytelling Festival is behind us and now it's just clean up, take down and returning leftover merchandise to the tellers.

I want to say THANK YOU for bearing with my pre-occupation and lack of posting over the last bit. Needless to say, I was running on empty, Lexy's school schedule and the Festival were taking all I had.

But now... TODAY... I am drawing a WINNER, some lucky person will shortly have shipped to them a bucket of scrapping goodies!

Now, remember, there are still a few hours to post a finished project. I will close it at midnight EST today.

While I wait, I'll leave you with a view of the IL2C September Kit, Daisy D -







p.s. I have to apologize a bit, see, my Post Office is having difficulty locating my September kit! I KNEW I should have kept my PO box! ;) I was reduced to only being able to use the papers; as those Earth Elements, the fabulous new ribbon and IL2C exclusive flowers are delayed in a 'forward to new address' and are somewhere in the postal system.

Winner Announced!

Natasha! Lexy pulled your name out of the hat!
(just email me, I've PM'd you )

For everyone else, this is just the start, this is not the end! You have until Sunday, the day before Labor Day to upload your once neglected projects. Anyone can join in!

And i tell ya, it feels GOOD to get those done and off your mind!

Drawing... Mid-month drawing coming soon...

Get ready, if you've got a challenge project done - post it.

I'm going to be doing a mini drawing for all participants in the next few days, so get busy everyone!

Amy's August Old Project Challenge Rules and Info

While I'm here...

Have you seen the new book by Carol Wingert and Tena Sprenger?

Lifelines
WOW, I'm just soaking it all in! Awesome stuff there.

AUGUST CHALLENGE!

I'm having an August Challenge Contest!

Interested in some prizes?? I've got them! Read on...

CHALLENGE:

I want YOU to FINISH an old project (Layout, mini book, altered something etc.) and POST it here (IL2C Gallery).

For every project you finish I will enter your name in a drawing. The more projects you finish, the more entries.

Rules:

It has to be something you've neglected for at least the last month, preferrably longer.
Post a photo or a scan here (IL2C Gallery). Make sure you give me a link in a comment -


On Sept. 3 - that's LABOR DAY, I will draw names for prizes


I do believe I have enough stuff to also do some random drawings throughout the month too.

So, the sooner you get working and posting - the better your chances are!

p.s. if you are not a registered member at www.IL2C.com - NO PROBLEM! It's easy to register and if you have problems posting, just post a message on the board! There are many of us that love to help out and we can get you started easy!

p.p.s. Blame all these wild ideas on my mini muse - see, here she is, watching me, egging me on!

Another teaser for the August kit...

Oh just LOOK at what I was able to do with the Luminarte Shimmering Mists!



And look at this SHINE!



Is the anticipation just about killing you? I know I am getting antsy waiting to see what everyone does with this kit!

August Sneak - Rusty Pickle!

Rusty Pickle, oh, Rusty Pickle. Not only is it one of my most favorite of paper companies, but this Mayflower line is the perfect paper for a LO that's been in my heart for a while now, I was just waiting for the perfect paper, and here it is!

Hope you enjoy...



Liberty

(using sandpaper on embossed paper strips, the words are...)

This is it
This is why
Liberty

Rouge de Garance -Trip to India

What FUN!!!

I have been having a ball playing with the I Love 2 Create July kit! I LOVE rich, deep, bright colors. It's totally yummy!

I can't upload this photo to the gallery (and I'm too tired to figure out what I'm doing wrong) so I'm posting it as a teaser!



Oh, and FINALLY a PEEK AT MY STUDIO! This is looking in from the door, across my new desk and you can see my borrowed angel in her place too.


Tomorrow I HAVE to finish the last shelves in my closet, so I'll take photos of it and post soon.

Lastly (can you tell I've been saving up??) I LOVE organization! Here, thanks to Ikea, I have a beautiful closet! Take a look.


Empty, I know, I really don't have that many clothes that I need this big of a closet, but oh, well, it's kind of fun to have the space!

Well, TTFN! It's been a LONG day.

More Pop-up Card fun...

Here are 2 more pop-ups I made this week. I can't believe how easy and how much fun they are!

This one is a heart, it's so fluffy with flowers it's a bit hard to tell ;) I've long wanted to experiment with white on white, here is my first try. More details on the making of them will be contained in the gallery posting at IL2C.


Here is another flower one:


p.s. all my patterns have come from http://www.robertsabuda.com/

More June Kit...

Hi everyone!

Are you peeking??? Well, here is another one to look at ;)



This has the CUTEST little story with it:

I've always known that people do not choose cats, cats choose their people.
I've just never had one so young set it's sites on someone with such
determination.

Late last night Brian found a kitten lost in the haystack. He brought it in.
We tried to get it to bond with our current brood of kittens, but no luck.
We tried to get it to bond with the Barn cat and her kittens. No luck.
This kitten only wants Lexy. It meows pitifully whenever she is not in
sight. It will play with the other kittens, but if Lexy is near, it will have
nothing to do with anyone else, cat or human. It is climbing all over her saying
please, please, please, please love me and care for me, I belong to you. Hi.
(insert cheesy kitten version of a grin)

Sneak Peek at the June kit!

Guess what I have been up to... (no, don't say 'no good'! LOL!!!)

Let me start at the beginning:



Amy saw a magazine ad for a Waxed Tote.
Amy really wanted it.
Amy is buying a house and is now broke.
Amy can't afford 95.00 for a tote bag, no matter how cool it is.
Amy was a good girl and found out a way to create it for pennies!



Now you can too!

All you need is some cotton fabric, some beeswax, a few embellishments to give it just the right touch, and the June IL2C Newsletter for instructions! Oh, and a heat gun and a melting pot really helps make it easier. They aren't required, you can use a double boiler instead and I think a blow dryer might get hot enough...

Now Amy wants to go make more totes of all sizes and colors!

Oh, yeh, I've been making more than just totes...

I've been making POP UPS! As in Robert Sabuda-style Pop Ups for the inside of my cards! - Okay, I admit it, I could not resist making it more "me" - so I amend that statement: ...Robert Sabuda if he were a member of IL2C ;)

Take a peek:



this is it upside down, so you can see inside...


Instructions are in the June www.ILove2Create.com gallery (opens no later than June 1)

p.s. tomorrow, look for more...

Lip Balms and Glosses!

It's up, it's UP!!!

Another reason I have been rather quiet lately, I have been preparing something new. Something so cool and so much fun! It's a Creative Workshop* on making your own Lip Balms and Glosses!



I've been so excited since the May IL2C kit came out with Beeswax that I've had a hard time controlling myself. I've been teaching classes on making your own balms for years now. But, I work so much that it's difficult to schedule any classes. How can I share with more people all the things I have learned? Well, Melynda has come up with an awesome way to do that with her introduction of IL2C's Creative Workshops!

So, I've been fine-tuning and writing up a 16 page booklet on making your own balms and glosses that includes 9 exclusive recipes. You get all my tips too. And believe me, have you looked online? Have you seen all the balm recipes with Shea Butter? Did you know that Shea butter will turn gritty if you melt it improperly? Yes, it's great stuff, but not if it ruins a whole batch of balm you just made!

Also, you can always reach me to ask questions! It's not like I am some far off author whom you will never be able to talk to! Leave a comment here or even better, come in to the IL2C message board and post your questions -easy as pie, well easier than pie, balms are much much easier than pie!

Come on and catch the balm fever, believe me, it's just the first step, there is so much more where this came from!

hint: I'm working on Body Butters, Hair Masks and Lotions...

And remember, I'm here to help!

*Link is no longer valid. If anyone wants the mini book, just comment here and we can make email arrangements for recipes. 

Why am I online right now?

I seriously should be in bed already, but no, here I am. After midnight, and still just typing away.

While I'm here, let's post a few pictures...

the newest photo of my house



This is what I've been doing today - cooking up some crafting ideas... Make sure you check out the May IL2C kit for details ;)


Oh, and just wait for tomorrow - oh, that's today, it is after midnight (I forgot already!) Anyway... IT's A CYBERCRAFTING WEEKEND!!! I've been peeking at the challenges (DT priveleges and all) and I have to say, it's the best cyber weekend I've seen! Different than in the past, more open for everyone. Not so kit oriented, more craft, gift and having fun oriented! I tell ya, it's enough to make one giddy with excitement. So giddy they stay up all hours of the night, not getting their beauty sleep, not resting so they can participate... boy, do I get a bit silly this late!?!

one more thing... (I hope you don't mind Melynda... it is only a tiny peek, and it is mostly photo...)

And an I Love 2 Create teaser peek

The Kit is coming...

I can't wait - the I Love to Create kit is coming!!! I've loaded up on sketches ( thanks to Little Book of Sketches) and ideas and I'm just waiting, hands itching, to get my hands on it. It's one of those kits that I believe will be right up my alley!

Lucky for me too - I don't have to take Lexy to Music or Dance classes tomorrow, I won't have the kit yet... so guess what, I plan on playing with my stash! I'll post what I get done :)