Consider this a subtle reminder with a not so subtle creation.
You are beautiful just the way you are 💕
Sometimes, life gets in the way. We get lost in who we are. Lost, in everyone else’s expectations of who we should be.
Find yourself because you are worth it
This was created for all those who may be lost.
When different media come together as one.
This card began as a card base covered with a strip of peach washi tape. The tape has the illusion of stray alcohol inks. The tape was sprayed with gorgeous copper mica.
Watercolor paper was then stamped with this gorgeous magnolias and embossed with matching copper powder.
I used my favorite Derwent graphitint watercolors to shade the flowers. Once dried, they were die cut and added to the card with 3D foam tape.
Timeless Beauty
The card was finished with a strip of burlap ribbon that I picked up at the dollar store, more mica spray and shades of Nuvo dream drops.
Topped with the most appropriate “Hello, you’re beautiful” sentiment.
⭐Drop me a comment to let me know you stopped by. ⭐
Remember, Be Still and Create something Beautiful. 💕
Sometimes life hits us so hard and so fast that we feel helpless.
I have created a gorgeous reminder that you are not alone. The physical and emotional struggles we all go through, make us a better person.
One Day At a Time Using the “Sun and Moon Mandala” stamp set
I decided to work with this gorgeous stamp because it’s actually a set. Nested inside the sun is both a Moon and a sentiment. I choose to only use the sun stamp for this.
Distress Inks by Tim Holtz are versatile for gorgeous backgrounds and highlights.
Once the cardstock was stamped and embossed with fine black powder, the blending began to create the wonderful background. My choice of colors are linked below but you can use any color you choose.
After the ink blended background was complete, an apperture was cut in the center. I used a shaped circle die from my stash. it’s great to have several sizes and shapes already in your stash for this reason
Sweet color combinations with a shaker feature in the center.
Once the front was cut the acetate sheet was added and back with foam tape. I piled shiny star sequins in the center of the base and adhered the card front to the base.
I then cut both the sentiment and the shadow with my mini blossom die machine and glued them together. “Hang in There” sentiment was perfect and popped up with foam tape.
Hang in there and enjoy the ride.
The card was topped off with smooth satin gold sequins and left to dry.
It’s ready to go out to someone that needs a smile today.
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Links at products used are posted below. If you use my links, I may receive a small commission but it makes it so much easier to find supplies.
Usually I begin with a little story but this one doesn’t have one. Well, not really.
You see, we all lose loved ones and memories come sneaking back to us at times that leave us with a smile.
Inspired by the memory of my Mother. This would have been something I made her, had she been still with us. It’s her style through and through. A little sweet but not too obvious.
Enough mush, here is the nitty gritty of this card. I was inspired by the washi tape that I had purchased on sale at Altenew. I knew I wanted to do something with it because it really caught my eye. I decided to try and add a little watercolor to the tape to give it a sweet muted look. I used Altenew woodless watercolor pencils. I chose these because the color is very soft and I didn’t want to tear the washi. I applied the color after adhering to white cardstock.
I then ran the entire panel tucked into the wood planks 3D embossing folder through my platinum. This came out gorgeous!
The edges of the card base were dredged across the embossing ink pad. Then the antique rose embossing powder was poured on and heat set.
Lastly the panel was adhered with foam tape to the base. This is important because tape runner generally doesn’t stick to washi when it’s tucked around the back.
Sentiment taken from the vintage roses stamp set and also embossed to match.
Finished off with some sweet acrylic white pearl dots. Try using washi on your next project and tag me because I love inspiration! 💕
Remember…. Be Still and Create Something Beautiful ❤️🥰
When was the last time you took some time for yourself? You did something to feed your soul? Something that helped your grow as a person?
For me, being a first responder, that concept is considered selfish. As a firefighter, we go to work, save lives and go home to our families. Many times, we do not think about the stress we place on ourselves or our families. The sacrifices we make to save others are huge.
Since my diagnosis of work related PTSD was given to me, I have learned that I am important. Important enough to take time for me. I took time off to feed my soul and enjoy life again. Its been tough but so enriching.
This card is dedicated to those afraid to let go and enjoy life. Do what makes you happy.
Be Wild and Free
I intended this card to have calm and muted shades of yellow, greens and blues. I accomplished this by ink blending my card stock with tumbled glass and shabby shutters Distress Oxide ink. The paper was embossed with a technique using Altenew’s Geo Cover Die B. The paper was misted with water to prevent cracking because of the intricate pattern.
The muted flowers were cut from Altenew’s Wild and Free stamp set. I used my favorite shade of Blue Lagoon Crisp ink with Mango Smoothie and evergreen. The special 3D butterfly was a stamp cut from vellum and embossed with nuvo navy metallic powder. Dimension was created with foam tape.
Finally the sentiment from the same stamp set was embossed with the same navy powder to match and handwritten “be” was added with fineliner pen. Topped off with yellow and blue nuvo drops.
Feed your soul!
Its a simple reminder to take time for yourself. Wake up just a little earlier each day and enjoy the calm.
Thank you to everyone for all the comments and support.
Tell me what you think.
As always, Be still and create something beautiful. 💘
I was at the store the other day, picking up a few groceries. As I was leaving, I noticed an elderly woman in the parking lot struggling with a case of drinking water that had fallen off the bottom rack of her cart. Without a second thought, I put my bags down and helped her bt picking up the case of water and throwing it in my shoulder. I asked her where her car was parked and she gladly accepted my help. As we walked to her car, she proceeded to tell me that she was shopping for the homeless veterans that lived in a nearby shelter. The case of water was for those veterans.
Its interesting how things come full circle. I wasn’t just helping an old lady. I was helping a generous elderly lady that regularly helps others. 💘
This brings me to my inspiration for my most recent class project. The class taught me different techniques on how to add a little “shine” to my paper crafting. Me being, an “outside the box” kind of gal, enjoyed this class.
This card began with a wavy grid stencil over white card stock. I used antique gold paste over the stencil to create a shimmering background. The panel was heat dried and then cut to fit. Next used Altenew’s Rose Spray stamp set on a second white card panel. The stamps were inked with moss and paper bag inks for the leaves. I used peach perfect, buttercream and warm sunshine for the flowers.
The problem I had is when I went to die cut these, the stems didnt line up with my dies. It worked out great because I turned this into a second panel trimmed into a rectangle. This was a perfect fit for this card. Not too flashy but focused. I finished this off with the sentiment taken from my favorite Altenew Eucalyptus Jar stamp set.
Finally, I heat embossed the sentiment with a metallic green powder and added a few pale yellow nuvo drops.
Always choose kindness because you never know someone’s struggles.
I hope you find a little light and inspiration in this card. Drop me a comment and a follow.
Until next time….. Be still and create something beautiful 🌹
Perhaps, you still don’t know what makes you happy. When was the last time you tried something new? Are you afraid of failure? Are you afraid of what people will think? Who cares,
because at the end of the day, only YOU can make YOU happy.
I recently tried watercoloring. I was attracted to the forgiving nature of the ink and the bright colors. Coping with PTSD can be very challenging from day to day.
As most of you that follow me know, I have been exploring art as a coping mechanism. I have been searching for ways to learn and reach out to others in recovery.
Welp, here is latest project and very first watercolor design. I love this!
Stencil Techniques /Anderson
I started this with a teal layered card stock background on a 4×4 square card. I was looking for something a bit outside the box so I used shades of blue and green watercolor pens from Altenew. I sprayed adhesive onto the Altenew flowing hearts stencil and attached it to white watercolor paper. I wet the paper and filled the stencil with shades of blue and green watercolor.
Then, I let the paper dry before die cutting it with a scalloped heart die from my stash. I adhered it to blue card stock and cut a second heart base. Lastly, I taped the entire heart to my base card using 3D foam tape. I topped it off with matching sentiment from Altenew “A crafty life” stamp set.
A work of 💙 heart
Drop a comment below and follow me for more inspiration. Interested in art therapy? Reach out because your not alone.
Remember, Be still and create something beautiful 💘
I have been single by choice for a long time. Perhaps it was fear of something new. Low self esteem, thinking that I just wasnt good enough.
Either way, I have had many influencial men in my life. My adopted father who earned the title “Dad” through his actions. My maternal grandfather whom I recently lost. My bestie whom I also recently lost. My always helpful neighbor. My many firefighter and medic co-workers. Many of these men gained my respect and trust.
For that, I say thank you. This recent creation is dedicated to all of the men in my life.
This card was made slimline style. I started with a circular pattern Altenew washi tape that I placed on 80 lb white card stock and cut out the circles.
Then, 2 layers of card stock was cut for the front. One was heavy kraft paper and the other was navy classic card stock. The kraft panel was decorated with nuvo glitter paste through the altenew wavy grid stencil. The kraft panel was heat set and then placed on the navy panel using flat adhesive strips to smooth the paper.
Finally, holes were punched in the circles and craft thread was added joining all three circles together. Foam tapes was added to the backs and adhered to the panel. The sentiment was stamped in jet black and taken from the eucalyptus stamp set. This completes this card for today. 💘
As always, I thank everyone for all the support, comments and emails that I have recieved. I am excited for those of you discovery crafting and art as healthy path to recovery.
Remember, its not you, its what has happened to you. Be still, in the moment and create something beautiful.
I couldn’t pass up sharing this pretty little piece of art with everyone. A simple reminder to continue to explore healthy ways to release stress. Grow where you are planted. Learn to play again. Dance in the rain. Love relentlessly.
The weekend is nearly here. Get out and go hiking, explore your backyard. Sunshine truly keeps the clouds away.
Aa always, that you for the tons of support I have recieved. If just one person benefits, my time is worth it.
Until next time, be still, create something beautiful 💘
Altenew All About Layering 2 / Anderson – Create your own happy
Some of us just need to break the mold that we are expected to fit into. Its ok to do your own thing. Its none of your business what others think about you.
At the end of the day, all you have is you. Create your own happiness because your worth every bit of it.
This cool looking card broke the mold. I used Kraft card stock for the card base on this one with a double layer of cardstock on top. Most cards are made with a white card base.
Here is what I used to make this:
Kraft card base, sunflower card stock and rose color puffy heart cotton paper.
The flowers were stamped with Altenew “Airbrushed Flowers” which is one of the newest stamp sets.
The inks were Altenew Crisp Dye mini cubes of Permanent black, frayed leaf, fresh leaf, canyon clay, peach perfect, pastel sunrise, mango smoothie, warm sunshine and buttercream for a sweet muted look.
The card was put together by first stamping multiple layers of the image onto white 80lb card stock and then cutting them out. The leaf image was then stamped to cover the Kraft base. Next, the double layer background was carefully cut and added to the base. The airbrushed images were attached with foam tape and the sentiment was stamped and added from the same set.
I hope that this card brings you a smile and encouragement to create your own happiness.
As always, I can’t thank you enough for the support that I have received. If you haven t subscribed, go ahead so that you will get a heads up on all my new posts.
Its just 3 words. But, it has Proven difficult for some people to say.
I know because I grew up in a home like that. I never heard those words growing up.
I know, its just words. Sometimes you need to hear it, for a little reassurance that you are indeed, loved by someone.
My mothers last words before she passed away was, ‘I love you”. I had never heard them from her so, as you can imagine, it was a bit shocking.
As a result, I also find those words difficult to say. It is just something I never learned or practiced.
It was a major milestone, in recovery to learn to express myself better. I cant change the past. I can only move forward and shape my future.
Anderson/ Easy blending techniques
There it is, the inspiration for my next project. This is pretty much “Me”. Straight forward, not too mushy but flexible.
A simple reminder that we all need to tell our loved ones how we feel and express our true selves every damn day!
This project showcases the ink blending technique which is typically a background. I added a fun twist by blending ink onto a doily and using that as my focal point.
A Big Hello There!
This project started with card stock from my stash. Two layers were cut and the second one was covered in beautiful Altenew washi tape to create the background. A paper doily was then ink blended with oxide ink in hues of red. While that was drying, I fussy cut flower bouquets from the washi tape. It is time consuming but worth it.
I cut 3 layers of “hello” from the Altenew “Waterbrush Hello Die” from red card stock. I glued each one together to add dimension and stability to the “Hello” word phrase. The word was layered on top of the paper inked doily. The washi flowers that I carefully cut earlier were added around the center. The sentiment strip was added at the bottom from the “All the Hearts” Altenew stamp set to finish this project.
We all should say “I love you” a little more and remain silent a little less. Drop a comment and share this with someone who needs this today.
Remember, be still and create something beautiful. 💘
Anxious Crafter 