birdie mobile

Remember this? I used Ali's idea--but made my mobile with chipboard blue birds instead of butterflies, using papers from my March Scarlet Lime kit. I haven't decided yet where to put it. Maybe it'll come in handy for entertaining baby Eli this weekend! :)

signs of spring, new and colorful

These are the pin cushions that Becca and I made while relaxing in front of their fireplace at their lodge. We used wool felt and lots of different embroidery stitches. We both will be using our cushions in our crafting nooks and hope they brighten our spots and give us added inspiration. The top one is mine and the bottom one is Becca's.

orcas island memory box

I made my tin into a memory box of items that I collected at Orcas Island while Allen and I were visiting Sam and Becca. We took the ferry across Puget Sound to the island. We stayed at a b&b called Turtle Back Farm inn.
We all had a fantastic stay so I decided to use my Altoid tin to collect my memories. I am going to put the tin in an old book that I am altering. I will hide it as a drawer inside the book. Sam found a great old book for me to use in an antique store in Sultan. Becca tells me that I will post the finished book later... I say much later. I used lots of Becca's great art supplies such as gesso, paint modeling paste . I scraped away the outline of the box using a palette knife. I had fun making the inside of the lid because I tore paper from the packaging on some homemade soap we bought on the islands and also put logos from places we visited.

easter cards

Here are my cards at last. Becca is helping me learn how to post my projects. I do have to admit that Jenny made the card with the 3 lovely flowers made with the stamp we received. My favorite card is the one with the ribbon lattice. I cut the flower out of some cute paper that Jenny and I found at Michaels. I used Jenny's alphabet stamp to stamp the words onto the ribbon.

Finished altoid box

Here is my altoid tin project. I used it to store my cray pas that go inside my little travel art box kit. I sanded it, painted with gesso, used some acrylic paints, a stamp, some beads, glitter and some modeling paste. I put on stickers and painted over them. I used liquid applique over the ART letters. I also used pearl ex to get a shimmery look over some of it.

Signs of Spring

I am sorry to interrupt Amy's month of giving. I know this is late. But better late than never. And as of 3 days ago we had snow here again so I really wasn't feelin it, so I can really relate to how hard it is for the midwesterners to be posting because it will be another month or so till they get what we have out here. But I just have to share today because it's a glorious morning.

Resurrect: I believe I'm the only person who has posted this one. Come on peeps! I just had to do the sweater that I stole from my mom. I wish I had a picture to post from my mom wearing it in the 70's? is that how old it is? Well I wear it and love it 30 some years later!


Energy: Drinking coffee and stepping outside and breathing in the fresh mountain air and seeing the SUN oh yes that bright round thing that comes out each day-so happy to SEE it again!

New: I bought 2 new springs skirts from target, you saw the first one, here is the second

Hatch: I was really stumped on what I was going to post for hatch, since I was lame-o this year. I didn't even have any easter candy! I love dying, blowing, and painting eggs. Easter just came to0 quick this year, so sadly I didn't do any easter-y stuff around here. Then it came to me, everyone always is intrigued by this when they come here. I have no idea what it is made of or where it came from. This is the only appropriate time to share it, although it sits perched at our kitchen window all year round.

...taking off

Hey girlies! I'm just dropping in for one of my last posts this month. I can't believe it. It was great fun facilitating your creative inspiration this month. I hope you all received your pretty springy cards! Don't forget to finish taking your pictures. For an added ultimate bonus, print your favorite photo from the sping fling 7 and make a scrapbook l/o all about it! Also, I just added a brief little playlist to our blog. I'll definitely be adding more in the next few days...I just wanted to give it a whirl and see what you thought. I propose that each month the leader changes it up, along with the title header. That way instead of having to burn cds for the group (like good old-fashioned Bek!) we can just upload new lists of our latest creative juice audio cravings. What do you think? This website totally walks you through and even writes the html code for you. So easy, I could figure it out! :)

My {Amy} 5 signs of spring (I have to get the last 2 off my friend Ashley's camera)


{Fresh}

My morning bowl of oatmeal.

{Color}

A creative sign I saw in Denver, CO.

{New}

A tea mug I p/u after touring Celestial Seasonings

{Hatch}

Gifts from my friend Matt's baby shower...the baby will hatch at the end of April!

{Energy}

One of many windmills seen while driving through NE.

My Altoids Tin

Here is my finished product. I've had it done for a while but I haven't gotten around to posting it. I used some tissue paper, and normal paper, glitter, some paint, a button, a mag. lip gloss clipping, and some sequence, and ta da! I think I'll use it as a holder for chap stick/lip gloss, bobby pins, a compact, and all that kind of stuff. Well this will be my last post for a while, I have to go back to school. It's been a nice spring break but all good things must come to an end.

inspiration

Inspiration is everywhere. Sometimes we search for it, sometimes we stumble upon it. Sometimes we know exactly where to find it. I have been loving Ali's Weekend Creative series. These projects are seriously do-able and seriously adorable. I love her butterfly mobile so much that I couldn't resist sharing it here. What online crafters are striking your fancy!?

Amy's March Cards:

I got these done in a matter of an hour our so. My Grandma was over and said she needed me to make her 2 birthday cards for her sisters...pronto. I decided this would be a great way for me to use these cards. So I made 2 for her (one of the photos got lost in the computer abyss somewhere so I only have 3 to show) and 2 for me to send out with spring greetings.

A cute birthday quote I found is:

"Its better to wear out then rust out!"

And an adorable spring quote I found says:

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of snow." *Doug Larson

Signs of Spring ~Hatch~

I painted some eggs a couple of days ago, here they are for your enjoyment. I know I wasn't very creative but I kind of like that they all match (polka dots that is). Painting these made me really excited for easter.

IDEAS for this week's challenge!

Remember those Altoids? This week's project involves wiping out the minty powder inside your tin and transforming your box into something spectacular!! Get out your decoupage, flip through some old mags, consult your scissors, and snip, snip, snip. Actually, you can take artistic liberty and decorate your cover any which way you choose...This is merely my method. :) Right now I'm lovin' aqua + red. Aren't they a smart couple? The possibilities are infinite.

Make your mini box your own.
Fill it with tiny keepsakes.
Turn it into a thoughtful gift.
Stash away your eyelets, fibers and more in it and tuck it in your creative space.
Store a needle + thread + buttons in it and deem it your emergency sewing kit.
Keep sweet little love notes inside.
Mix & match some fun, crafty notions and send it to another fun, crafty girl.
Fill it with delish candies for a birthday surprise.
Decorate it with extra girly flair to create a home for your niece's Barbie accessories.
Plaster it with your 2nd grade stamp collection and store postage + return address labels inside...No more rooting through a desk drawer hunting for tiny necessities.
Stash office supplies (paper clips, erasers, extra staples, etc.)

Whatever you do...Be creative & enjoy & as always, share!

edit.

Alright girls...Just a few reminders, details, etc.
In my flighty little world, I somehow neglected to include an important link in the card exchange chain: Karen-->Becca. Apologies!!! Also, aim to get your cards dropped in the mail this week. Easter eggs will be so out of style next week.

{7} signs of spring: 7. resurrect

res·ur·rect / Pronunciation[rez-uh-rekt] Pronunciation Key–verb (used with object)

1. to raise from the dead; bring to life again.

Yes, the most miraculous, important take-home message of the Easter season is that Jesus rose again on the 3rd day because He is true God and has conquered sin & death and won eternal life for us. :)

But today's challenge is all about the word's second definition:

2. to bring back into use, practice, etc.: to resurrect an ancient custom.

What have/will you resurrect this month? For me, it's all about living for the next rainy day so that I can bust out my navy & pink polka-dotted rainboots. We've only been together for 3 months, but already, they've become my treasures, my good old friends, my most prized and practical accessory. I wouldn't think of walking through puddles without them.

Ta Da!

As promised my Feb. page. A little late I know but here it is. I made felt flowers and used the clothespins as leaves. The rest is kind of self explanatory.

{7} signs of spring: 6. energy

Diagnosis: Spring fever. What's putting pep in your step? Leaving you restless? Getting you going? Is it a new passion, new pair of running shoes, new music? Or is it that little bit of extra sunshine + fabulous weather? A cute new 'do? Share it.

{7} signs of spring: 5. hatch

Hatch. That's right. Easter is right around the corner. Did you decorate eggs? Make eggs for breakfast? Lay an egg? Or just plain buy some delicious candy eggs? Show 'em. And Easter cards don't count! ;)

Cards all ready to go!

The St. Patty's card is painted in a couple shades of green. I used my fave. UTEE and some glitter- painted my own little shamrock I made of chipboard.

I had a lot of fun with the cards. Glitter seems to be messy, but lots of fun!

I dry embossed this card. It was the first time I used the stencil. Note to self: Never do that again! It took FOREVER! And it would be easier with a light box. For the eggs: punched holes and put pink behind, flowers drawn with white gel pen, rub-ons, crochet stash, valentine stamp and half embossed

Well, I've really been into embroidery lately. I decided to learn the lazy daisy. It's really crappily done, sorry! I think it would be better to take a circle and prick the holes for the ends of the daisy. It was really hard for me to eyeball it and make them even. This is my least favorite card!

Color

I've been wearing my "hangin with my peeps" socks, that I got from the sock exchange!

Signs of Spring ~Something New~

Ironically my 'something new' is also yellow (like Jess') I bought this shirt at American Eagle and I love it. The two colors that I'm loving lately are bright yellow and coral and lucky for me there are tons of things in these colors in the stores right now. I love my new shirt, it's lightweight, comfy, and cute. And sometimes I wear a coral colored tank underneath it. And the best part is, I found it on the clearance rack. Love it!

Signs of Spring ~Color~

One thing that I really miss when I'm at school is my bed at home, so when I'm home I enjoy every minute that I'm in it. One of my favorite things about it is the duvet that my mom made for me out of two white bed sheets and some colorful ribbon. I was doing some spring cleaning today in my room and thinking about what I could take a picture of for this challenge (color) and I just had to take a picture of my duvet, it's screaming spring to me lately. I love it and my crafty mom for making it for me.

Photo Challenge ~Something in Bloom~

My picture for this challenge may look a bit different from Becca's (in which there is green grass and blooming flowers) but like I said there is still snow on the ground, which doesn't leave much room for anything to be in bloom. However this year the spring line of clothes is certainly in bloom. Florals are back, from floral dresses, shirts, and yes even shorts (I know that one is a little weird). So I thought I would share this picture of my first floral purchase of the season, this blue flowery tank from American Eagle.

Photo Challenge- ~Something Fresh~

Here is my first pic for the spring photo challenge. If I remember right I think the first pic is suppose to be of something fresh that starts your day (before 9am) Well as I was doing my laundry this morning I was taking some jeans out of the washer and I was going to lay them out to dry inside, but then I thought that I could let them air dry on our deck. It's in the fifties today here, which is pretty good and I got so excited that I could let my jeans dry outside because it's a sign that spring is on it's way. Even though you'll notice that there is still some snow on the ground, it's slowly melting, hey it's a start.