Man's Best Friend

Here is a card I made using a digi image from CDAC #8 Challenge. This Challenge is so much fun and the digi are sent to you free as long as you take part in the challenges. If you miss a set they may be purchased for just $1.00. When you get your images, you have 2 weeks to get them posted on the CDAC site.

Christmas Bull

Here is the card I made using a Digi Image for the CDAC Progressive Freebie Challenge.

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SteamPunk Cards

Here are two cards that I made for a monthly swap I am in for CST. I used pictures from the collage sheet from Altered Pages #1732. I attached the printed paper to the cardstock and the run it thro the cuttlebut using a Tim Holz folder Cogs and Wheels. I layered the picture on plain cardstock and then attached it to the card. The cog is from swap that I received awhile ago.
The second card uses a picture from the same collage sheet. Again I ran the cardstock thro the cuttlebug after I had layered the printed paper on it. The picture of the wheels and cog that is on the bottom is from clipart.

Halloween ATC for Altered Pages

Here are two Halloween ATC's I designed for a swap on Altered Pages. I use pictures from a few different collage sheet. The first one uses Edgar Allen Poe, Quoth the Raven Nevermore and Tombstones. For the second one I used a picture from Stairway to Heaven.

Here are some cards that I made for a Just Cards swaps. I hope you enjoy looking at them. The first one is a card using the colours Orange and Black. The second one uses a picture from an Altered Page Collage Sheet #1858 designed by Gayle Page-Robak.




These cards are for a Card Swappers Swap. The first one is HotAir Balloons and the second one uses Altered pages Collage Sheet #1401 Glorious Green. The card with the silk leaves is an Autumn card for Card Swappers.

ATC Swap for Altered page plus Watch parts my son ordered for me from England

Here are two ATC's I made for the Flight of Fantasy swap for Altered Pages. I use Collage Sheets #219 Vintage Butterflies, #496 Take me to your Leader, #296 Crop Circles. I hope you like them.




This is a package of watch parts that my son ordered for me from England. I don't want to use them.

Cards for CDAC Challenge

Here is the second card for the "Back to School Challenge"

Here is the card for the second round of the Digi Challenge for CDAC. The theme this time was "Back to School".

Cards made at Stamping Up Class

Here is the Step Card Dresser that I made at a Stamping Up class yesterday. Here are the instructions.

Dresser Card Base: 5 1/2 " X 8 1/2 in

Cut from the bottom at 1ine up the centre (2 3/4") and stop at 5 1/4"
Score@1" and 2: from one edge to the center cut
Score @4 1/2" from the opposite edge to the centre cut
Fold the score line at 4 1/4"
Accordion fold the 2 score lines at 1" and 2" marks
Line up the card edges with the 41/4" fold at the top and gently fold the unscored side of the card above the accordian folds. Use your bone folder to make it crisp.

Drawers: Cut three 3/4 " by 2" pieces attache with brads.

Front Mat: Cut solid piece of card stock 3" X 2 1/2"

Inside Sentiment mat: 2 1/4" x 2 3/4"

Decorate as desired. It would look really nice done in pink or blue cardstock for a new baby.



My son Wolf bought these little piggies for me at a garage sale. They are made from cement. I plan on spray painting them with a pink stonelook spraypaint. They will then look like babe.

Newest trends in Cardmaking

Trends in Pattern
August 17th, 2011


* Doily – these are super huge right now and I think the trend is just starting, keep your eye out for a lot more doily prints, doily dresses, doily cakes, it goes on and on. I just need to have a daughter stat and paint a giant doily on her wall!

* Chevron/zigzag - chevrons have been trending for awhile now, and right now they are EVERYWHERE. I still see a lot of life in this trend though because they are so classic and clean. However I am trying to refrain from buying anything too expensive with chevrons because I’m sure in a year or two I’ll be sick of them. But if I could find a giant chevron fabric to reupholster my victorian sofa, I totally would, I’m sure it would be in style forever!

Bold Stripe – Cabana stripe, awning stripe whatever you want to call it, bold stripes are IN. Its like a chevron without the kitch. Loving it painted on furniture, floors, walls etc.

Hexagon – I have been obsessed with hexagons for quite some time now. When I attended Quilt Market a few months ago I saw lots of hexagon quilts and other hexagon inspired fabric projects. I especially love this appliqued pillow (shown below) This is fabulous and I’m going to have to make my own for the family room. It’s totally on my list.

Geometrics – Geometrics in general are trending. I love so many fabrics that are geometric, but it seams like they are all “designer” fabrics that cost $150/yard. Boo. But if you’re savvy you can find some affordable geometric fabrics from Dwell Studios and a few others. Just make sure they don’t look 70′s and you’re good to go.

Fois Bois / Wood Grain – It seems like wood grain is super popular but not in the same volume as chevrons. Probably because it’s harder to re-create. I still adore everything I see that has the wood grain pattern, and I hope it stays on trend for quite awhile longer.

Diamonds – I have seen a lot of diamond tile backsplashes latey, I think this is an upcoming trend, so keep your eye out for a lot of diamonds, and diamonds that kind of look like chevrons but aren’t chevrons.

Cane/Rattan/Weave/Bamboo – Although these types of patterns have always been big in professional interior design, they are now just starting to trend among normal folk (those of us who don’t pay $150/yard for fabric). I have seen ceilings and walls painted with the rattan pattern as well as lots of curtains. I think we will see a lot of pattern off-shoots inspired by this style

As far as trends that are waning, I’m sad to say that after a very long run, Paisley is declining in popularity. I have been a huge fan of paisley for the last 10 years and It just doesn’t interest me anymore. With the onset of a lot of these more clean, modern, and traditional prints, paisley will soon be retired until we decide we like it again.

AFTCM Challenge "Rock n Roll"

Here is the Challenge ATC for Art for the Creative Mind. The theme was Rock n Roll. I covered my 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 piece of chipboard with a piece of scrapbook paper with a musical motif. The picture of Elvis is from Altered Pages. I cut out a crown from silver paper and the words The King are sticker letters.


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Cards for CDAC Challenge

These cards were made by using complementary digi from Crafters Digital Art Center. The First one is Rub a Dub Dub. The colouring was done using prisma pencil crayons and smoothed out using gamasol. I added glitter to the silk flowers for bling.

The Tea Time card was also coloured with prisma pencil crayons The green circle embellishment came from the top of a contaier of Chinese Tea and the say was from a swap card that I received. It was so appropriate for this card.

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Gate Fold Card

Here is a Gate Fold card that I created for Art For the Creative Mind Swap. I used an image from Altered Pages collage sheet called To my Valentine created by Gayle Page-Robak. The lady was cut out and attached to a piece of music sheet which was then glued to a larger nestie shape. Then I embellished with sticklers and a few small stickers.
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Swap Cards

Here are two views of the Easel Card that I made for a Just Cards Swap. For the center of the flower I used my one of my favourite images, a piggly.
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Here is a dry embossed card using a piece of embossed cardstock that I received in another swap. I attached a prima flower to a larger silk flower and glued a button in the middle.
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Two Arches made for a swap on Altered Pages using the collage sheet Pretty in Purple.
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Bargello

Here are two cards that I created for swaps for Just Cards. It is a card using Pink, Yellow and Orange. I used a bargello design for the background. I cut out strips of paper in different width. I glued each piece down individually. You can also use a Xyrox machine and then arrange you pieces on the paper. The two shapes were cut from a Paper Flair template. I then attached one prima flower on top of another and used a brad to attach them to the cutouts. These were then attached to the card using two side foam tape to give dimension.
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Sketch Swap Card

Here is a picture of the Sketch Swap card that I made for Just Cards group. The background was made by applying green and gold metalic paint over punchinella. Then I use an antique brown to give it a distressed look. The three pictures are from a steampunk collage page from Altered Pages. I used a strip from a book to make the ribbon and distressed it with the antique brown. The buckle was covered with some of the same paper and was also distressed. The flower was just a strip of the same paper which I twisted as I glued it down to a paper circle which was then attached to the buckle. I hope this is clear enough.

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Picture of Wolf

Here is a picture of my son Wolf dressed wearing his explorer outfit. The pith hat is not a reproduction, but and original hat from from the Boer War and the scarf he is wearing is called a Shemagh. It can be worn in different ways. The shemagh is worn in desert countries wrapped around the head and face to keep out the sand and sun. It can also be worn around the neck.

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SteamPunk Spoon

Here is the Steampunk Spoon that I created for a swap on Art For The Creative Minds. I covered the bowl part of the spoon with a few small pictures from a collage sheet called SteamPunk from Altered pages. I used modgepodge to glue down the pictures. A watch that I had received from a friend was glued to the handle using E-6000. A portion of the bracelet was glued to the bowl. A few other pieces were added for interest.

Swap Cards

Here are two cards for a "Christmas in July" swap. One for Card Swappers and the other one for Just Cards.



The Unicorn is a card for a "Fantasy Swap" for Card Swappers


The "Dahlia Fold" card can be found on SplitCoast Stampers website. The card is for Just Cards.

Challenges and Swaps

Here is an art piece I created for Gingersnap Creations using packing material. The Background is corrigated cardboard. I used an empty plastic cover from a some buttons that I purchased. The inside is bubblewrap that I coloured with a shiny blue acrylic paint. The scuba girl is from a McDonald's fish sandwich. I braided packing twine and adhered it around the plastic shell. The dolphin and shells are from a plastic necklace.



Please visit the Gingersnap Creations website!

Here is "Magnificent Men ATC Swap" for Altered Pages. The images were from "The Magnificent Men collage sheet and from Valention Collage sheet. I added jewels to the princely man. The Valentino ATC was stamped with a collage of an eye and then sticker Romance Ticket was added.


These cards are for two different swaps. Anything Goes and Black/White and touch of colour.


These bookmarks are for a swap showing different countries. The one depicting Asia uses a collage sheet from Altered Pages and the one depicting France uses the collage sheet CanCan and French Lady


This is a 4 X 4 using a movie theme for a swap. I used a coaster and the pictures are from the Altered Pages Collage sheet Josephine Baker.

Robins Nest Project

This creation would make a lovely Anniversary gift for someone by using their wedding photo to produce a very personal gift. What could be more appreciated than knowing that someone had taken their time to make a very special gift for them.





I used a black and white vintage photo of a wedding couple. Colour was added to the bouquet, and the grooms boutonniere and the brides lips with a marvy marker. The bride's headpiece is highlighted with diamond sticklers. This picture was attached to a wooden frame which was cover with a piece of wallpaper. Lace with the same colour threads as the flower print on paper was added around the picture. I braided white ribbon and added this to the inside of the lace. Flowers were tipped with diamond sticklers and then attached to the corner of the photo. In the top two corners I added a little bow and then opalescent embellishments were added to each corner of the frame.

Is it Edible Tags from Art for the Creative Minds

Here are the tags that I made for this swap. The "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" was a tag cut from a wall paperbook that I attached to chipboard. The little white flowers were attached with yellow brads to make them look like daisies. For the "Passion Flakey" tag I tore a recipe from an old book and stained it with coffee. It was then attached to the tag and I used cutouts from a Flakey box to complete the tag. I hope my partner likes them.

Gothic Arch - Things with Wings

Here is my swap card for Art for the Creative Mind Gothic Arch Swap "Thing With Wings". I made it as a triptych . I made the brick design by hand. The two columns at the front were stamped, embossed and then cut out. The same was done for the Gargoyles. They were then attached with two sided foam tape to give dimension.






I continued with the brick design on the inside and then added a piece of black paper on this I attached the dragon (which was coloured in with prisma pencils) with two sided foam tape for dimension.

The edges all around the arch inside and out were sponged with black ink to give an old world look.

Cowboys and Cowgirl Chestnut challenge card for Gingersnap Creations

Here is my card for the Gingersnap Creations Chestnut Theme, Cowboys and Cowgirls Challenge. I used a picture of a chuck wagon with men gathering for their meal. First I swiped a chestnut brown ink over the picture and then I used a lighter to burn around the picture to give it an aged look. I also burnt my thumb and index finger putting out the little flames. Note to self don't touch fire. The picture was then layered on three different sheets of brown and chestnut coloured cardstock. Then I layered them onto a chestnut plaid and attached this to a piece of beige cardstock. The little metal galloping horse in the corner was attached with diamond glaze.



Visit the Gingersnaps Creations website here!

Altered Box and Sewing ATC's

This Altered Box was made for a swap for Art For The Creative Minds. I covered a small round cheese box with coordinating Victorian looking wallpaper. Then I added lace around the top edge and attached flowers to a piece of foam that I glued on the top. I also added three small hatpins which I made. I hope my partner likes it. There is also a little gift inside, but that is a surprise for my swap partner.



These are two ATC's created for Art For the Creative Minds using a Sewing Theme. The spool of thread was drawn freehand.. The needle is a toothpick painted silver and the thimble was cut from a piece of silver paper and then I use the end of a pin to indent it. The second ATC recycles a picture that I received on another card swap some time ago.

Boths ATC's have material as backgrounds from some discontinued fabric books that I have collected.