Blogging and Life

What's the deal with this lag between post?  An 8 month gap between my posts was not in the plan.

What can I say.  Life has been CraZy!  Things pop up, family requires your attention, so you make adjustments.  Family first.  Fun later.

I could sit here and write 3 page (longer actually) blog post of all that has happened, but as we all know, time is valuable.

What ignited this post? It's simple.  I MISS creating and sharing.  I miss my blog, the comments and the reader comments.  

Actually, "miss" is an understatement.  Creating is a part of who I am.  When I'm not creating, depression sets in.

My absence was due to the everyday tasks.  They were suffocating really, and some still are.  That's why I can't put it off anymore.  It's my release.  A getaway from the trials and hurdles of everyday.

To many times I put off creating until the cleaning was done, the homework completed, and dinner was prepared.  There was always a catch though.  Just when I thought I had caught up, something else would need attention and then I was simply to tired for my mind to think creatively.

We (women) need to take time for ourselves.  You hear others say it, you read about it, but yet we simply don't.  

Well, it's time.  Time for me.  Time to create.  Art WILL be incorporated into my everyday life.  It has to be.

I need to create for sanity.

I need to create for happiness.

Creating = Joy

Time to get back on route to my creative journey.

Live Creatively my friends.

Paper Crafters Sampler 2016 Early Bird Special

Thanks for your patience while we make some updates to the Paper Crafters Sampler.  

Can you believe it's been SIX years the Sampler has been published?  Over 500 projects!  It just blows my mind looking back at all the amazing art and projects we've featured in our issues.

Changes are complete, and it's time to announce the release of the

2016 PAPER CRAFTERS SAMPLER

Early Bird Special

We've taken into account that we're starting two months into the year so we've adjusted the price accordingly.  Sign up by March 10th to take advantage of this special savings.  We're kicking off the year with the March issue "Easter Lov'n".

$75.00

PCS May ~ Wodden It Be Lovely

Panels, planks, pallets.  What do they all have in common?  They're all made of wood.

 

Wood, be it recycled pallets, old fences or barnyards, has evolved into home décor and arts and crafts.  It's the later of the two in which the design team was given a challenge to create projects with a wood theme.

 

The May issue, "Wooden It Be Lovely" offers project ideas using stamps and textures resembling wood.  They've really come through with an array of ideas, each unique.

 

Keeping in theme with the wooden theme, the template of the month is a Garden Bench with a sweet Hardwood background stamp.

 

$12.99

 

 

 

Here's a few sneak peeks of what you can find inside this issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCS April ~ The Potting Shed

Springtime and the flowering season is upon us.  It's time for getting down in the dirt to weed the gardens and plant fresh petaled pretties.  What a great time to beautify your home indoors and out.

This month the Paper Crafters Sampler celebrates the flowering season with 'The Potting Shed".   In this issue you'll find beautiful paper floral creations.

The template of the month is a Garden Trowel, with a triptych design.  Embellish the inside and outside, securing the closure of the flaps with the trowel handle. 

$12.99

Here's a few sneak peeks:

PCS March ~ Sweet Silhouettes

 

 

It's intriguing how a simple solid shape can offer so much to the imagination.  Varying in design, from strong, bold shapes like trees, to the more delicate an airy design of flora and fauna.

 

This month the Paper Crafters Sampler features Sweet Silhouettes.  The design team members offers her personal interpretation of silhouettes. 

 

The template this month is the Trio Cross Silhouette.

 

 

 

Sweet Silhouettes

 

$12.99

 

 

 

 

Creative Cleanup 3

Creative Cleanup Page 3

 

 

 

 

Creative Cleanup 3 list mostly non-stamp product.  Many Bigz dies, embossing folders, punches and more.  You can view them all at the Creative Cleanup 3 link.  29 Items listed.

 

 

This is a Tag Punch Bundle.  Only ONE available for $35.00.  The punches were sold separately at $16.95 each.  Best deal!

 

 

 

Milk Carton Bigz    $12.00 

 

 

 

Creative Cleanup 2

Page 2 of Creative Cleanup

Additional stamp sets, which include 4 of my all-time favorites.  You can find prices at the Creative Cleanup 2.  Each of these are available for $8.00 each. 

 

38 Items listed in all.

 

 

 

 

Creative Cleanup 1

Clearing out some of my art supplies to prepare for the upcoming move.

 

What typically comes with a move is the purging of items to eliminate having to pack up any extras.  I'm starting with my art room.  My goal is to clear enough so it doesn't take up half the moving truck.

 

Most of the items for sale are no longer available.  The first batch for sale is mostly Stampin' Up!.  Contraband items to follow.

 

Stamp sets run from $5 - $8.  The $5 stamp sets are listed first followed by $8 sets.  They are grouped by Floral/Garden, Flourish/Ornate, Holiday/Seasonal and lastly miscellaneous.
 

There is only ONE of each item so it is on a first serve bases.

 

All items are listed under the page "Creative Cleanup" beneath the head of the blog or select the link below.

 

http://goo.gl/thdETO

 

 

 

PCS February ` Chalk It Up

Nothing quite hot today as Chalkboard art and that's exactly what the February issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler is all about!

 

Once again the design team of PCS has come through with amazing projects for the February issue.  Inside you'll find some oh so clever ideas for using faux chalkboard in your artwork.

 

To coincide with this months theme, our exclusive template of the month is a Chalkboard Washboard. 

 

To purchase your instant download of the February issue, simply select the Buy Now button below.

 

 

 

$12.99

 

 

 

Here's a few sneak peeks for you.

 

 

 

 

Eiffel Tower Love Blog Hop

Welcome to the first 2015 Paper Crafters Sampler blog hop. We're starting off the year by using the Eiffel Tower template featured in the January 2015 issue, "Lovable You" of the Paper Crafters Sampler.

 

I started off by printing my template using the NEW "SVG" file included with each template of the month.  Wanting to give the projects a springtime feeling, I stuck with soft colors.  The cardstock color choice here was Crisp Cantaloupe.  It was stamped with the "I Like You" stamp set using a Cameo Coral dyepad. Once I stamped the flowers on the flat surface of the cardstock, I used my white signo-gel pen to highlight parts of the flower giving it that spring-like effect.

 

For the glitzy part, I added a little Gold and Dazzeling Diamonds Glimmer paper. The Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch gives a bit more feminine quality. To finish off the tower I created some coffee filter flowers dipped in Cameo Coral reink and wrapped some gold wasabi tape around the small flickering tea light. Take a look at the final project.

 

 

 

Now to view what the other design team members have come up with.  You're going to be so surprised with their creativity.

 

Select the hop 'button' below to view the next blog, Kerry Bunting

 

If you'd like to go back to the previous stop, visit Avery Murphy.

 

 

 

January ~ Lovable You

 

 

The first 2015 issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler has been released.  Our first issue, "Lovable You" celebrates the season of love, filled with projects for you upcoming Valentine events.

 

 

 

$12.99