TWO CHAIRS COMPLETED!

I'm so excited to show you my completed designs. If you've read my earlier blogs, you've seen the before pics. So without further introduction, here you go:

This one is made for as a gift for a friend.. I'll be sure to post pics after plants and flowers are added as well!

 My Patriotic design was put up for sale and it didn't take long for someone to snatch it up!

Thank you for viewing my blog. I hope you enjoyed my latest creations!

Chair design #2- Inspired by blue & white china accented with yellow.

Mini-Patio Makeover

My back patio was looking a bit sparse. Since I do most of my painting out there, I said "This patio needs an overhaul! My baker's rack had a wooden top that has sagged over time, and I couldn't put anything on it. I had some salvaged planks from a fence:

The old top was inset, but using three planks, I decided have an overhang. I just needed to find a way to attach them.I used some brackets that fit over pipes I found at Lowe's in the plumbing dept.

Now I just have to pretty it up!

I purchased some plants and flowers from the local greenhouse on the cheap! 50 cents to $1.00!!!

I rearranged my area a bit, moving the table to the side, so everything can be viewed easier.

I now have a chair and side table facing this view- I can enjoy my morning coffee, and best of all, I'll have pretty inspiration to paint!

Catching up is Hard to Do....

My apologies to my followers, I keep forgetting I have a blog. How irresponsible of me. It's been a whirlwhind of sorts. Shortly after launching my Facebook page and going "public" so to speak, my father had double aortic bypass surgery.  I spent quite a bit of time at my folks' house taking care of Mom, going back and forth to the hospital, and keeping up with card orders. In the midst of all that, I got a job offer. For those who don't know me personally, I've been unemployed for 18 months. After settling Dad back in at home, I started a new job. During all that, I've been busy filling orders for one of my latest products; Fancy Feet! It really started as a fluke; I wanted to make flowers for my cards, and for hair accessories, and someone suggested flip flops. Wow! Did they ever take off! To date, I've sold 32 pairs! I have many on my FB site, but it seems they were all special orders. That kept me busy, shopping for supplies and making them. I haven't been able to add to my FB page. The timing of everything has been a bit crazy, but I got it done, and I'm happy that all clients were pleased!

 
I also began a line of SunflowerShades (below) for little girls, these are sunglasses with removable and interchangable flowers. However, with how busy I've been, I have been unable to get them produced just yet.

Those who know me, know that I don't just dabble in cards- I get my hands dirty with some paint too.
I have recently purchased these chairs. I have two like this one on the left, and my dad and I built and attached a planter box to one:

Using Microsoft Paint, I have layed out the design for a couple of the chairs so far:

I'm not sure how I'm going to do the planter boxes on the two right ones, I'm looking for square baskets.  I had a thought of cutting out a circle in the two left seats and inserting clay pots. I'll be sure to post pics of the finished products!

Lastly, summer events and holidays had me busy with cardmaking as well. Cranking them out as fast as I could, I didn't take pics of a lot of them, but here are a few for you enjoy:

Baby shower

Wedding

Graduation for a male, decorated in his school colors

 My Mom's Mother's Day Card

A retirement card.

My dad's Father's Day card was a quickie; made the DAY OF..I played with some letter cuttlebug die cuts I bought at a garage sale. I know it's not the greatest, but after my dad's surgery,.It's not the outside that really counted with this one. It was the sentiment on the inside that really mattered.

Graduation cards embellished in the grad's school colors.

Thank you for taking the time to reading my blog... I'll try to update it more often!

Sincerely,

Joy

I have been busy busy busy! I've set up a Facebook page to sell my creations. It's just starting, so there's only a couple of things for sale at the moment, but there's plenty of pics of my work. I've been having much fun creating more fabric flowers, and have attached them as pins, hair clips, and now on flip flops! I've already sold my first pair. I'm so excited!

Bee-Happy
Cute material with busy little bees

Ebony and Ivory
Coordinating black/white fabric, with a matching hair clip

I'm still working on completing Mother's Day cards. I haven't photographed them all, but here's 3 I created with a vintage theme:

Vintage lace surrounds the tag, and a cute little boy holding roses

Mom is raised with foam squares



Embossed and punched out paper on the side is embellished with vintage lace.

Hand-made fabric roses

Hello everyone! Thanks to my friend Amanda,  I've recently learned a new craft I'd like to share with you along with some new cards I made to complete an order. I'm currently working on Mother's Day and Graduation, so more to come! Here are some adorable roses I have made:

This one is the perfect size for a card. I hot glued a flat backed pearl for the center.

This lavender one is large enough to use as a corsage. You could still use it on a card, or it would be a beautiful embellishment to a scrapbook page or other crafts.This was my first, and the edges burnt a bit. I took a darker ink pad and ran it around the edges and it covered it up quite nicely. I really think for an old/vintage feel, burnt edges might actually look quite cute with the right embellishments. I'm going to give it a try when I make more this week.  I hot glued a button and a gem for the center.

Here are some in use.

.This rose I cut a slit in each layer with a craft knife and attached with cute brad.

 The poly-satin is repurposed from clothing. (next I have a pair of pajammas that will be repurposed) I have also recently purchased some poly satin from my local craft store in a rainbow of colors, along with some colored tulle, feathers, and other embellishments.

Instructions:

1. Cut circles in increasing sizes. You can add as many layers as you'd like. The circles don't even have to be perfectly round. I cut all mine by hand, not using a template.

2. One circle at a time, very carefully use a lighter to melt the edges and they will curl. It took a couple practices to learn how quickly they curl, and how close to hold the lighter. With these smaller roses, I used long tweezers to hold the fabric. Don't want to burn my digits!

3. Assemble using hot glue, or you can cut a slit in each one and attach with a brad. Embellish as you wish.

4. For larger corsage/pin types, I suggest using a circle of felt, or cardstock to the back to hide all your work and give it a finished look.

I hope you enjoy this, and are inspired to make your own. I'd love your feedback and see your work!

I have also completed an order of sympathy cards for friend:

This one is a classic example that sometimes a mistake can be a beautiful thing-I had no intention of adding the flowers, however, when hot-gluing the chipboard swirls, I had a couple glue blobs. I tried to pull some of the glue away and tore a spot on the paper. Ugh! I didn't want to start over, so I found these flowers and added them to the swirls for cammoflage. I then added the larger flower on the left to give it a cohesive look.

I love my cuttlebug! I used a very pale yellow paper in my embossing folder. I then took a yellow stamp pad and lightly slid it across the embossing. Using Spellbinders Nestabilities dies, I cut out the sentiment. I love the color combo to this card, and think I will do something similiar for a Mother's Day card.

Easter Cards in a Jiffy.

I admit it.. I'm not much of a blogger. Mainly because I haven't really had much to share. But this weekend I made some quickie Easter cards and thought I'd share them with you.

I found some great 3d stickers at the Dollar Tree a while ago. Also, at least a year or so ago, I had purchased sheets of cross stickers from Oriental Trading Co. There are several colors and designs, and I like that they are clear as well. I embellished each cross with a matching colored gem to add a bit of bling. Framing out each cross with some Spellbinders die cuts really made them pop much better than just sticking them to the card. Add some of these 3d stickers- and voila! Beautiful cards in no time at all. I apologize that the pics aren't very clear. I took them with my cellphone since my digital camera's battery needed charged. I hope everyone had a Great Easter weekend. I will soon be making Mother's Day, Graduation, and Father's Day cards.

Valentine's Cards

Ahh.. Valentine's Day. Besides Christmas, it's my favorite time to make cards. And I can't stop buying supplies! Here are a few cards I've created, besides the ones I posted a few days ago.