Back to School Day1 - I made it!

Can you believe that I taught all day, and still have energy to finish a handful of cards and complete a post? I tell ya, I am determined to make time for my cardmaking!

I am going back to the basics. As I mentioned before, I lost my mojo, and I am trying to spark my creativity again. What a better way to do it then to go back to simple techniques, and old favorites? I keep telling myself "Cindy, clean and simple is OK.....It's ok!"  LOL.... Do you talk to yourself to when you want to OVER-DO a simple design?  It works, I tell ya!

Very simple, but elegant:

Wow, I forgot all my photo tricks and everything! I'll get there, I will. I promise, the next set will be better. Enjoy, and I will see you soon!

New Year, New ME!

Hey strangers,
I know, I know...it's been a VERY long time. I dusted off my craft room, and got my fingers inky today. I think I found my mojo! I think I can start creating again. I am not sure if I will be consistent, but it is NEW year's eve, and I would like to make a New Year's resolution to try!

I have been so focused on my teaching, that I was simply overwhelmed by the thought of being in my craft room. I decided to force myself out of my shell, and make complicated Christmas cards (and stupidly expensive too) They came out perfectly. I was very pleased. They were inspired by Jennifer McGuire's card: here.

 Here is my take:

THEN I decided to add more names and addresses to my yearly (2016 here I come) birthday spreadsheet. When I really looked at the list, I realized that many of the names are male, and OMG! I have no manly cards at all! So, I have to get busy! When in doubt, duplicate a card you have made previously!

That is exactly what I did! I duplicated two different designs all in one day. Take a look!

I even found a bit of inspiration to create one solo card:

Sorry, the pictures are blah......I couldn't get outside to shoot the images.

Masculine Card and Digital Sentiments

Hello There!
As I was trying my hardest to create a more masculine card, I took a hard look at all the sentiments I own.

Each stamp set usually comes with two or so sentiments mixed in with the images. When I am deciding on a sentiment, I always gravitate to my clear stamp sets first, THEN as a second resort I reach into my wood mounted stamps.
 
I came to the sad conclusion that I do not own a variety of sentiments and even further, no masculine type phrases!

So, as I do, I ran to my computer and researched digital (digi) sentiments sets on google, Etsy, blogs and anywhere else that popped up.  I did not find much at all. I was TOTALLY surprised by this! I thought for sure some stamper would have created pages and pages of downloadable themed (possibly) sentiments in a variety of fonts. I even searched Etsy for a store of sentiments.....nothing.

How hard would it be to put together an Etsy store and sell set of themed sentiments? **gears turning** As a frugal stamper, I would pay a few dollars for a good sized arrangement of handy sentiments that I do not have stamps of. Wouldn't you?

Anyway, I created my own sentiment for this card. I love it! See you tomorrow!

Masculine Cards

Hey Everyone,
     I spent time in my craft room today with only one real task in mind. I wanted to make masculine birthday cards, and I wanted to use alcohol inks. Sounds easy, right? Nope. I found that although I love the blending and randomness of the alcohol inks, I can never get a background image that I am TOTALLY happy with. I get so close, and never get it just right. So, I get frustrated. Today, I told myself that no matter what I create, I must suck it up and use it in a card. Here are the results. I would LOVE comments.

 I love this sentiment, but it was so large, I never knew what to do with it. Here is a use! My husband says it isn't masculine at all. humft.

 This one by far is my favorite. As you can see my background isn't perfect, but it works. The twine is a very masculine touch.

Ok, this one is a bit busy for me. but I am happy with the end result. What do you think?

I love this piggy! I found him as a digital stamp from: from the heart stamps. I tried cutting him out and placing him on my busy background. It works!