Amazing Mail Day - Thank you, Lucy!

Just checkin' in to say what an amazing mail day I had.  Today I received my first ever suprprise RAK (Random Act of Kindness).  What fun it was to find something special just for me as I dug through the pile of junk mail.  A friend of mine, Lucy T.,  from ARTHaven Creations and Friendship (Yahoo Group) knew that I was having a hard time facing the 2 year anniversary of "the fall", and she sent a beautiful handmade photo card to cheer me up.   And cheer me up she did.  I wanted to acknowledge the amazing gift that Lucy bestowed upon me as soon as I could (which is why there is no photo of the card included).  When I send out the thank you card for this kindness, I will also be "paying it forward" and sending a RAK out to someone that I think could use a reason to smile.  If you receive the RAK from me, will you pay it forward?
Thank you, again, Lucy!

Journals

Yesterday I shared with you some Christmas cards that I made.  Today I want to share with you the journals 11that I made for my family.  With the wonderful assistance of my friends over at ARThaven I put together a journal for each of my immediate family members; my mom, husband, and two youngest kids; Andrew and Sheridan.

To make the journals I used plain composition books that I purchased from the local WalMart at the beginning of the school year for about $0.50 each.  For my mom's notebook I used DP from JoAnns and ProvoCraft CS.  The die cut images and letters were created using my Cricut Expression and Pooh and Friends cartridge.  So that I could get the exact colors that I wanted I cut the layers out of white CS and colored each piece with my Copic markers.  The inside covers and back were covered with bright red CS purchased a while back from Office Depot.  On various pages I placed small foil stickers of Pooh Bear and his friends, to that the entire journal was personalized for my mom who is a true fan of Winnie the Pooh.  Made to accompany each journal was a matching sticky note holder.  Again, this was not an original idea but one that I scraplifted from other creative sources on the web.

The sticky note holder were made using two chipboard coasters from Outback.  To hold the covered coasters together I used the Zutter Bind It All and wires.  Again the die cuts were cut using the Cricut and coordinating cartridge and the paper from PC and Office Depot.  Inside I adhered a stack of sticky notes for my mom to use.

For Doug's notebook and note holder I used Stampin' Up! CS, Cricut, Pooh and Friends cartridge, Provo Craft CS, Copic markers, and the Zutter Bind It All and wires, and coordinating stickers.

Sheridan's journal and note pad holder were made using: DP from JoAnn's (front and back outside covers), light pink Stampin' Up! CS (front and back inside covers), ProvoCraft CS, Cricut, and Dreams Come True cartridge for the die cut image and letters, Copic markers, Offray ribbon, ProvoCraft Terrifically Tacky Tape, Beauty and the Beast stickers from two different  Disney Princess coloring and sticker book, Outback coasters, Zutter Bind It All and wires.

Finally, Andrew's set was created using: black CS from Office Depot (all four covers on both the journal and the note pad holder), graphics found on the web, and a silver Sharpie Paint Pen, Outback coasters, Zutter Bind It All and wires. 

Sorry about the long post, I just wanted to get all of the journals and note pad holders posted together.  I appreciate your sticking it out to the end with me.   Thank you for visiting with me.  I pray that I was able to inspire you in some way.  I love to hear from you, so please take a minute and leave a comment.  Here's hoping to see you again soon!
{{Hugs}}

A Few Cards

I wanted to share a few cards that I was able to make and get sent before Christmas.  The first one has a graphic from Christy Croll at http://tiddlyinks.com/ .  She has some amazing art, my favorites of which are the fae.  You will be seeing more cards and other ART featuring her graphics.

 
The fairy is all decked out for Christmas.  All of the coloring was done with my Copic markers.  I am by no means skilled at their use, but I love the rich colors that produce.  Stickles were used on the main portion of her wings, with flocking as the final trim on the edges.  I also applied white flocking to the white layer of her dress.  After fussy cutting around the edges, I layered the fairy onto white  glittered cardstock, then offset it onto red cardstock which has been run through the Cuttlebug using the snowflake embossing folder, then onto the white card.  The last detail that I added was the word love set onto a scrap of the glittered CS, then tied onto very thin ribbon laces through two slips cut into the fold of the card.  My oldest daughter, Malachia, was the recipient of this card.  It was made especially for her.

The second card is one that was much simpler to make, but still made with love.  My oldest daughter lives with my cousin and his family, and I wanted to make sure to reach out to them, especially during this time of the year.

For this card I stepped away from the traditional colors for the focal image, even though I could not resist returning to them for the ornament! I am not certain where I acquired the wonderful graphic for this card, but when I am able to pinpoint theARTist whose work it is, I will be certain to give them their due.   For now, let me say that it is NOT my ARTwork, and that I will make every effort to find out whose it is.  Once again, all of the coloring was done with Copics.  I popped the eyes and the ornament with Atyou Spica pens which are produced by the same company as the Copics.  Once colored and trimmed, I adhered the snowman to turquoise glitter paper, then onto a standard white card.  As the finishing touch, I cut a block from a sheet of glittery word paper, stuck the word Believe on both the front, and then again on the inside bottom edge of the card.
Thank you for stopping by to visit.  I hope that you have enjoyed the cards that I had to share, will leave me a comment, and come back again real soon!
{{Hugs}}
Andrea

New Year, New Hopes and Plans

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy New Year!  I have many hopes and dreams for the year ahead.  First and foremost I plan to be as agressive as possible in regaining my life as I knew it before my fall 2 years ago.  Secondly, and of more interest to anyone who may stop by, I am planning to actively work on my ART and my blog.
Currently, I have a few completed projects to share with you, and then I will be pursuing new ART on a daily basis.
First, I am off to celebrate my birthday with my family, and then I will be back to share those last prjects from 2010.  And then on to the new in 2011.
Once again, Happy New Year all!