Hope – Anxious Crafter

Hello, You’re Beautiful!

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.

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.

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. 💕

Did you ever have a day that just didn’t go well? No matter what you did, for whatever reason, it was crappy. For me, these kind of days are simple reminders. A reminder there is a bigger plan and your just a small part of it. My support system fell apart years ago with the death of my mother, my best friend.

Somehow, the thought of what used to be, came back. Maybe it was the smell of her perfume or cooking her favorite dinner. Perhaps it’s stopping to stare at her photo in my living room. The same photo that I walked past several times a day. My journey of healing has been a long one.

Enjoy my creation as I celebrate her memory. If she was still alive, this would have been made for her.

It took some time to create this card. I started by ink blending distress oxides over an embossed and stamped floral image. I used my favorite altenew white embossing powder for this. Once the first layer dried, I spritzed it with gold mica spray. Then I set it with a heat gun. Finally I dry de-bossed it with a 3D folder that matched.

The same image was stamped again but this time on watercolor paper. I embossed that image also but this time, I used my favorite rose gold powder. I then used a watercolor technique with the same distress ink stain, adding color for the flowers. The image was die cut and popped up onto a card front with foam tape.

This card was finished off with more gold mica spray and matching sequins.

What kind of struggles do you have with the death of someone you love? How do you cope?

Again, thanks for stopping by by. Leave me a comment to let me know that you were here. If you know someone special that is struggling right now, drop me a message and I will send this out to them.

Check out my affiliate links at the bottom for all the items used to make this card. I may be compensated if you use my links.

Just remember…. Be still, create something beautiful. Your not alone

Hang In There,

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.

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.

Make sure you leave a comment and sign up for notifications every time a new post is created.

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.

Remember, be still, create something beautiful!

I choose you.

ACEP 1 Seasonal Scene Building/ Anderson

It has happened to every one of us when we least expect it. Later, the timing was proven to be right. This happened to me years ago. I rescued a very large cat from a family that was ready to give him up to a shelter because they couldn’t care for him.

Recently we celebrated his birthday. He is now well over 10 years old. He is my best friend and he has been through so much. He chose me.

Continuing on with my papercrafting, I recently completed a class teaching me how to build scenes. This project portrays my kitty and his playful nature. I began by using the graffiti scribble stencil by Altenew for the background. Inked with distress ink in “salty ocean” color.

The images were cut and stamped from Altenew “modern cats” stamp and die set. I used honey drizzle and caramel toffee crisp dye inks layered on top of each other for the perfect color. Fine details were added with black fine liner pen. My favorite Nuvo drops were added to complete the scene.

Who is your best friend? Was it planned or just kind of happened?

Thanks to everyone that has emailed and left kind messages. I appreciate each and every one of you. Remember to drop me a comment and follow my blog for more stories and creative gems.

As always, all my creations are donated back to the IAFF Center of Excellence for firefighters recovering from PTSD or to someone that just needs to know they are important.

Remember, Be still and create something beautiful. 💘

Choose Kindness

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 🌹

What’s your passion?

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!

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.

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 💘

Its none of your business what other’s think.

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.

Drop any comments and suggestions in the box.

My unexpected Journey

My life has been very rocky this past 15 months. But, who’s life hasn’t? I spent most of it struggling to find me again.

I was analyzing the person I had become. Grumpy, overworked, unhappy, pissed off, moody and very difficult to deal with.

My life had taken a turn that I didn’t expect and it was moving fast.

I went from sleeping 6 or 7 hours a night to only 30 minutes. I became both physically and mentally tired with absolutely no interest in anything that used to make me happy.

Depression is not a dirty word. Its grabs hold of you when you least expect it. It controls you and your life. Its suffering that you cant see. It changes you and the people around you.

I experienced this and I will share my thoughts with the hope that someone sees it and reaches out. I suffered in silence and fear. Silence because I thought I was alone, unloved and no one would really care anyway. Fear of losing control and not knowing what was happening to me.

I spent years on the job as a firefighter saving others on their worst day. For some reason there was no one to save me. I reached out a few times but they didn’t understand and neither did I. I didn’t want to be called weak or judged unfairly.

Then the day came that I had lost all control. Its time, time to shit or get off the pot.

I had suspected that I was dealing with some sort of mental illness a week or so prior. Now, I had no choice but to make the call.

If your a firefighter and you are having issues. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t put it off til tomorrow. Don’t walk away. Pick up the phone and make the call.

IAFF Center of Excellence

Treatment for firefighters experiencing mental illness, PTSD and addiction.

301-358-0192

You cant change the past, only the future.

Love and Hope – To all the single girls. AECP

I like to title my class projects. This was named “Love and Hope”.

This amazing card was inspired by all the single girls I know. 💘

As we approach Valentine’s Day in a few weeks, most of us are planning and sneaking around for that perfect gift or moment.

Some of us aren’t going to have any of that pomp amd circumstance simply because we are single.

I have been single by choice for a long time so this day of reds, pinks, kisses and hearts well, its just another day.

My project was crafted using my favorite rose gold paper for both the heart and the sentement. I chose a classic shade of pink and black card stock from my stash. I used an A4 size black base for this one. I was aiming for a toned down classy expression of both love and hope here.

The gorgeous flower came from the HOPE flower stamp set. I chose Altenew inks in 3 shades of pink and 4 shades of muted Grays. This is where the layering comes in. I added a touch of “wink of Stella” clear pen to top the flower off. The flower was put together and popped up with foam tape.

The 3 hearts were cut from 3 papers using the “Illusion Heart” Die Set. The “love” sentiment was cut from my favorite rose gold.

Lastly, washi tape also from Altenew, was added to tone it down even more.

This card expresses my Hope that someday I will find a Valentine of my own. But, it also gives me some strength and love in return. This will be one of many being donated to The IAFF Center of Excellence for Firefighters experiencing mental illness.

Because, they will not be forgotten.

I certainly hope you enjoy this card.

Comment and follow my blog. 💙 Great things are about to happen. 💙

Grief is different for everyone

I think most of us can say that we have recently lost someone very important to us.

Did you stop and take the time to grieve or did you just push it away to be dealt with when the time was right?

The time will never be right. Avoidance is something we all do whether we realize it or not.

I lost my Mom a few years ago and it was unexpected. I wasn’t ready for it at all. The thought never crossed my mind that someday I will only have memories.

Suddenly all the little things she used to do that bugged me disappeared. The opportunity for the mother daughter chats we had disappeared too. The person that I had become so fond of was taken from me way too soon. I was devastated, hurt and lonely. The visions of seeing her take her last breath and cry out my name began to haunt me.

Its been several years now and I have finally stopped beating myself up with guilt and blame with false hope that I could have saved her. I have finally began sorting through some of her belongings that are tucked away in my attic.

As the years go by, the grief that we tucked away in avoidance gets heavier and heavier. Soon enough, it pokes its head out and begins to overwhelm you.

Perhaps its time. Time to move on. Time to smile at her memory instead of cry. Time to finally put her to rest.

Altenew Academy – Layering 1 lesson 3 project.

Inspired by the memory of my Mom and all those recently lost. 💘

This gorgeous project was created by me and without a plan. It sort of evolved into this beautiful heart. Made in the typical rose pink fashion that was my Mother’s favorite.

Comprised of the “ornate foliage” stamp set and layered inks from Altenew. Finished off with floral washing tape, heart shapes, foil paper and glue dots..

I want to also thank my readers for stopping by.

I am truly humbled by the support you have given me.

Until next time…. Stay safe my friends. 💘

Tag Archives: Hope