Ok, I did it - finally!

 

 

 

10 Min Craft Dash #28

I entered the 10-Minute Craft Dash.... hosted by Pretty Pink Posh at her blog - it is my first time but I have wanted to do it for a very long time... I just love to see what people are creating in less than 10 minutes and thought I could NEVER do it, but sure enough......

9 minutes and 3 seconds!!!! But take a look at my table....

Yikes, what a mess!  I was scrambling at the end... those who know me, realize this is a very simple card for me.  I might go back and embellish more before sending it to a loved one, or I might just enjoy it for the simplicity is it!

For the card, I used my new Wplus9 stamp set Pretty Patches: Tree and the coordinating die (which I discarded after starting (pushing me back a little time-wise).  The paper pad 25th and Pine by Basic Grey along with my Hero Arts ink pads in Cup-o'-Joe, field greens and punch chalk.  For the embellishments I grabbed my stash of bling and also the Candy Dots from Stampin Up to use as the ornaments on the tree.  The focal panel was die cut from Lawn Fawn's Journaling Tag (my all time fav at this moment).

Hope you all get to try this craft dash - now that I have gotten over the initial shock, I will be doing more and more of them for sure!

happy Crafting
Dani

What's new?

So, today was another day of PT.... I am already riding the stationary bike.  Today I was able to add two more exercises that really wore me out.  But in a good way.... 

World Card Making Day was this past Saturday and I hope you all were doing some crafting and card making - I know I was.... 

 

 

Having a birthday recently, I have plenty of thank you cards that need to be made and sent!  For this one, I used my new Lawn Fawn set Our Friendship Grows, along with the matching die set that the recipients of this card got me as a present!

 

I had to add some sequins and the other dots are made with a Viva Décor Pen.  The sentiment is from my new Avery Alle set Oh Happy Day!

 

This fun, happy card is for a person who fits that same description!  She has been coming over to my house and enduring cat attacks to hang out and keep me company.... she has also gotten me hooked on Project Life (another post to come soon).....

The image is My Favorite Things, the name of it is Crafty Friends.. perfect for many of my uses.....  the die used to cut her out is from Stampin Up - Chalk Talk... think that will be a favorite of mine for sure!!!  Some twine and pattern paper tie it together with the painted wood heart the perfect accent!

 



Another friend is recovering from being in the hospital recently.... I knew I wanted to use this Paper Smooches set to make her a fun get well card so I went on the blog and found this one by Laura and CASED it almost exactly (funny thing, this is going to Laura, my friend)  LOL.... I made the clouds felt and added stamped clouds in the back along with textured paper for the grassy hill.....  Hope it cheers her up!

So, that is the creativity for now.... stay tuned for more to come!
Hope you all got inky for World Card Making Day and enjoy what I created!

Happy Crafting,
Dani

Latest Update! 9/17/13

Alrighty, the latest update..... since my surgery on Aug 27th (3 weeks ago today) I have been recovering nicely at home.  I started PT last week - at the evaluation, I could bend my knee 90 degrees by myself.... within 2 days, I was at 94 degrees and I am proud to say that today, I was up to 105 degrees = progressing awesomely!  I have this awesome (not really) clunky brace on my leg that seems to be on all the time and I hate it... even when sleeping I have to wear it, which is not a fun thing, but I must say I am sleeping just fine with it.

One week from today is my birthday and I am ready to celebrate!  year 38 will have to be the best one yet...... let's just hope.

Ok, so a couple things I have been working on..... but have yet to finish and have something to show.... OY, I need to get back on track - at least I "feel" creative!  And, school has started and I am in my capstone class which is the culmination of all my project management classes in one final class..... whew, this will be a long 12 weeks I think!

Things I am excited about are the holidays coming - Halloween cards to design and then Christmas..... wow, can you believe it is that close??????  Who has their cards designed yet?  Would love some ideas....

so, for now, with a dr appt at 8:00am and PT at 11, I am wiped out so I might be headed for a nap..... then creating????  one can only hope!

till then, Happy Crafting!
Dani

Lots to report

Since my last post, I went on a fabulous vacation with loving hubby and then came home and had knee surgery.... I am in a bit of pain I would say, but itching to get creating... Maybe that will bring my "calm" back.  I have been sitting in bed for the past week with a monster brace on my leg and a machine that manually moves my leg to a bent position.... Have to say, not the biggest of fans of this machine.... They say most love it, find it relaxing as it breaks up the scar tissue already forming... Um, who thinks that is nice?  Definitely not me... AT ALL....  But I do it because I have to... Unless someone else wants to sneak over to my house and do it for me????  Lol

So no crafting done this week, but I am looking forward to testing the water come Monday when Matt is at work.... I am really enjoying all the you tube time I have, but I think I may have gotten to the end of the Internet.  In just one week!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ok, so I am exaggerating.  But I am thankful to have friends with all different views give me people to look up and watch - there are so many creative people in the world.  Jeez!

So depending on when the Memory Box dies come in, I may get a jump start on designing Halloween or Christmas - suppose we will see how adventurous I am!  And how sleepy I get...

Till then,
Happy Crafting!
D

TGIF

Hope everyone is having a Happy Friday!!!  I know I am busy getting ready for my class tomorrow!  I hope that if you are in the Mooresville area, you stop on over to Stamper's Alley and say hello, or sit down and make some cards!

And then, vacation is coming!  What to pack????  I have no idea but better get working on that fairly soon, or I will not be ready...... Pedicure scheduled for 4pm today!  Woo Hoo!!!  who can resist a pedicure.... I think I will get a nice tropical color to go with my destination!

 

 

 

 

This card really cheers me up when I look at it.... the MFT rainbow die works so well with any of the puffy clouds out there.... paired inside a homemade photo frame - cut a center out of your rectangle - and the thin Memory Box border cut multiple times and glued up from the bottom.  White on white is one of my favorite things to have on a card.

 

With the rain lately, this rainbow is what makes me smile.... even if it is a little cold and cloudy the sentiment rings true - Rainbows follow bad weather!

 

Happy Crafting!
D

Some new goals..... (masculine card samples are below,,, keep going)

This year has flown by so fast (it is well into August) that I don't feel like I have done anything... I mean, card making - yes, organizing craft studio - yes (well, always ongoing), work - of course, but not really PLAY....  don't you find that sometimes some introspection is worth while.... it is probably better when it is self instigated but I think when you are told to do it, maybe it is worth more....

So things I have learned -

Work is not my life, it does allow me to do the things I enjoy, but it is not what defines me.

School is important to me, but as everyone is telling me "B's get degrees" so why must I force additional stress on myself to get A's when it doesn't get me further than a B would.

Art is my personal escape.... I love working with the ink, paints, stamps, stencils and all the markers and pencils and gelatos (there is so much I love, huh? can you relate?) and I need to make it a priority in my daily activities - even if it is just an hour a day, or a specific time of the week - must come up with something that ensures my time is dedicated.

Must take time to enjoy life, family, friends.... down time is quite important and I need to embrace that.

More reading time!  I have missed my books... so many to read, so little time......

I would love to be on a design team again and enjoy some new things to play with and learn!
So, with all that said, I am going to start creating pieces that I can submit for DT calls... I know there is a spot for me somewhere!  I hope to see a lot of comments on the next couple of cards I post.... I have been taking time to play and it makes me so dang happy!

Happy Crafting,
Dani

Masculine Card Class samples....

Ok, I promised the pics of the class I am teaching August 17th at 1pm.... well, here they are!

 

 

 

My take on a card made by Julie Ebersole (I just love watching her videos)....

This is also a variation on one of Julie's fun cards!

And this is all me... used a sketch challenge and thought the new hexagons would work with some Kraft paper and dies!  I love Kraft paper these days and want to use it on almost every card.....

So, if you have nothing to do on Saturday the 17th, join me at Stampers Alley in Mooresville for this class that can be tailored to your liking.......

Happy Crafting!
Dani

I am back!

Ok I know it has been a very long time since my last post. I have been going through a lot of stuff - work, school, health, etc...

I have been struggling with the juggling!!  But I think things may start to get under control. I did find my mojo and have even made some new cards!  However, they are still stuck in the camera trying to escape. I hope to get at least one posted a day for the next however long. One caveat, vacation is coming. In 2 weeks I will be relaxing on a beach chair loving life. Heaven on Earth is where I will be. And the island does not appreciate any wireless technology so I will be disconnected the whole time. WooHoo!!!!

Couple other things, next Saturday at Stampers Alley, I will be teaching a masculine card class. 8/17 at 1pm. I will post those cards hopefully tonight. 

And last, AND least, I am having another surgery on 8/26.  It should be fine and I plan to be home later that day, so send prayers my way if you can spare some!

Chat soon and Happy Crafting!

Dani

Fun day ahead

So today I get to visit with a friend I haven't seen in ages.... we are going to put our creative minds together and get crafty!  Then maybe some shopping and nail polish action.... will take pictures to show where we end up.....

Also working on another canvas - this time much, much larger, and a little scary, but I can do it....

Then my brain will need to switch gears and get some homework out of the way - Yikes!  Lots to do........

Hope you get some craftyness in or at least get a little inky.....
D

way too much to do and not enough hours in the day

Here is a pic of my new piece... I was lucky enough to be able to take another class with Donna and just loved it so very much.... looking forward to the next - not sure when, but dang, I hope it is soon!

It is a larger canvas than before and the lotus flowers are stencils - what am I saying, most things on here (the background images) are from stencils.... the lotus flowers however were painted within the stencil image and made bolder with additional paint.... then the finger painting began - first the blue, then purple and alas... the green - just LOVE it and my fingers were uber messy.... had to take off my nail polish that night... who would have thought!  ha ha ha

Well, in that class I did get to meet a lovely group of ladies from Canada - my favorite country and people really.  Every trip there has made me feel so welcome so I am glad they were here and felt just as welcome.  They did stay for a 4-day class in a different medium that I am super jealous over, but I WILL be taking it later in the year... if only I had been introduced to Donna sooner.... I could have swung it!  I will upload some of their photos later in the week - this has been a crazy couple of weeks for sure!

Missing some down time, but since it is a long weekend, maybe I can catch up on some fun things and not work things.... which I did just finish some work homework, not school homework - that is later, and I need a break..... so President's day could not come at a better time!  Now, I hope to get these raggedy nails painted.. wish me luck!

D

PanPastel Canvas - Sept Canvas Create in steps....

So you saw the beginning of the canvas in the last post, but today I got to play with the coloring.... OMG, I cannot say this enough, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this medium.... and the layers of color are so flipping fun to play with.... I cannot wait to panpastel the whole house at this point....

So here are my steps.... the lightest color first.....

Then, more of the shade color, and darker shade.... oh the layers are awesome!!!!  And the stems come into play.... those were a little hard for me, but with the help of my handy eraser, I was able to make them exactly how I like them..... oh the shading... love this so much..... can you tell?????

Ok, and now the big reveal!!!!!!  All the shading is done and the corners were made darker and frame the canvas.... I love the way this came out, a little distressed at the edges, incorporates my love for distress on all my stuff.... and wow, what to do with this and all the others I must make!!!!

Well, I hope this has a little influence on your to try a new technique or take a new class to open that creativity that can get a little stiffled.... I know mine had been recently and now, I am ready to go!!!!!

Till next time, happy crafting!
D

Pictures!

Ok, so as promised, I have pictures of my fun-ness from yesterday - which I must add a note here:  I was up till 3am still so excited.....

So first up, the PanPastel board.... I absolutely love this....

 

 

 



And now, class #2 Mixed Media Canvas

 

 

 

 

And one last creation - this is a work in progress..... Donna has online classes and this is my attempt at the September Canvas Create... this is phase one - tomorrow is phase two - COLOR!!!!!

 

 

 

Well, hope you like and take a look into taking something from Donna - way, way too much fun!!!!

Happy Crafting...
D

PanPastel Board

card on my wall 004, a photo by dani.beckman on Flickr.

This is the board I made in Donna Downey's PanPastel class this weekend.... I absolutely love the way it turned out!

Ok, need to be updating with all my new funness!

So, I am always in search of new and exciting techniques and people really.... WELL, have I got some new fun-ness for sharing.... I hope to get some pics taken tomorrow of the crafty goodness I have been working on and learning - never can learn everything, but I am definitely trying.....  MIXED MEDIA - need I say more, well, yes, I must!

Just when I thought I had seen it all..... I come across the fabulous Donna Downey studio - and where is it you might ask..... 5 min from my home - right!!!!!!  Whoda thunk it..... and did I fall in love - YOU BETCHA.... and yes, they are all caps because I am so excited......  In 2 days, I think I purchased one of everything in that store.... no, okay, not everything - which is good because I want to go back tomorrow - sadly they are closed on Sundays, BUT I do work at a place that gives us Monday off on holiday, and the store is open..... for those of you who are local, head to Huntersville and partake in the creative amazement that is Donna Downey Studios.... http://www.donnadowney.com/  - there are so many things and the people there are like instant family - love them all...

So, what has me so excited you might ask???????  PanPastels - that is what!  I took the class this morning and was so in love with Donna's work and teaching method that I asked to stay for the afternoon class.... ok, that is not entirely true - they held me hostage.... LOL... and boy, was it worth it!  Well, what did I make you also might ask??????  Two awesome canvases (is that the multiple for canvas or does it have some odd terminology like geese instead of gooses??? - and back to the point) that are sitting in my craft room on display - again, pictures tomorrow as this is 10pm and no light to do them justice.  I also followed a handy video that Donna has in her store for a September Canvas Create Class.... AND I am almost done with that one - so in one weekend, I was able to start and finish (nearly, tomorrow will be the decider) THREE awesome pieces that I am super proud of.... and I am in love with a whole new media - and mixed media.....

Ok, must also admit that the painting and dripping and text paper and stamping and gesso and image transfers has my head spinning in so many directions and I feel like putting modeling paste on EVERYTHING just to see what would happen and what I can make.... I finally feel like I have some fresh ideas and they are all centered in the combination of card making and the mixed media pieces... stay tuned - what if I used the sticky backed canvas used on cards to make smaller pieces and put them on my cards...... hmmmmm..............  the mind is racing and it is the most excited I have been in a long time....

So after all that long winded-ness.... I really want to say THANKS to everyone who mentioned Donna Downey and to my dear hubby who was the one who offered to turn around once we passed the studio because it is only Huntersville, we CAN turn around... and Melissa for still being open to letting us in with 10 min before closing and then catching me hook line and sinker.... I am a goner!  I love it all and can't wait to take more and more and more classes....  I have to say that I feel Melissa is for sure my long lost twin and connected soul sister with our Libra selves and Donna who didn't kick me out and will allow me to be a fun stalker - definitely not the scary kind ;o)

So, everyone, get out there and ENJOY creating again!  Start with some piece of inspiration and let it take over... go with it.....

Happy Crafting,
D