Fuzzy Fall Squirrel Book

 Squirrels, squirrels everywhere and not a pecan to be seen on any of my trees... Fuzzy little buggers. Cute, even if they are pesky. I made this Fuzzy Fall Squirrel Book using Alpha Stamps products. 

 Feathers make a really good embellishment to put behind squirrel tails, because they're just so fuzzy and have great movement. 

The squirrel images I used are from these two lovely collage sheets: S for the Squirrel and More Squirrels.

Well, happy fall! I hope everyone is having a great time :) We've been busy out working in the yard and watching our chickens... waiting for the eminent egg-laying. 

Products Used, Available at Alphastamps.com:

Maple Leaf Die-Cut Chipboard

Oak Leaf Die-Cut Chipboard

Assorted Feathers

Falling Leaves CS

S for Squirrel CS

More Squirrels CS

Distress Stains in Picked Raspberry and Ripe Persimmon

Distress Paints in Antique Bronze and Ripe Persimmon

Bathing Beauties! Fun Sea Shapes

I can't BELIEVE I haven't posted in so long! Well...there has been plenty going on. Bobby and I bought a house and we have been moving in and doing the metric-buttloads of things that go along with getting into a new place. I am exhausted... But I love out new property :)

I should have shared this last week, but alas. It's still summer, so it's still good. I made these three wall hangings from some brand new sea-themed die cut shapes from Alpha Stamps. (Read more about the Seaside Sirens Kit and all the fantabulous products here)

I hope everybody had an awesome Fourth of July! Ours was suuuper rainy and filled with moving boxes :P

Product List! Search for these items on Alphastamps.com

Bathing Beauties CS

Fishtales CS

20mm White Spiral Shell Beads

Tiny Real Seashells in Tins

Seashell Sequin Mix

Art Deco Beach Rubber Stamp Set

Die-Cut Chipboard Scallop Shell

Die-Cut Chipboard Sand Castle

Die-Cut Chipboard Mermaid Tail

Fleur and Swirl Chipboard Set

Fresh 6x6 Paper Pad

On the Boardwalk Seam Binding Set

Tim Hotlz Distress Paints in Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Spun Sugar, Spiced Marmalade, Antiqued Bronze

On a puffier note, Bobby let me mail-order a variety of baby chicks :) We have 14 different kinds, I think... These three are my favorites. They are Yum Yum, Honey and Totoro. More pics soon.

Star Trek Crafts

I want to thank everybody for your comments and support on my post from the other day. Your words do a lot to lift me, and I really really do appreciate you. I'm feeling a bit better, probably because all the medicines are working their way out of my system. So I feel better physically at least, and that helps. I'm still pretty down in the dumps... but I won't give up. Bobby and I decided to take a break from trying for at least a few months. Gotta take a breather and focus my energy on something a little less emotionally draining! I decided to sign up for a craft show next weekend. I think the prep work will distract me.

Anyway, I made some Star Trek crafts for a swap the other week and I want to show you what I made.

 First is a journal made from the covers of a recycled old Reader's Digest Condensed Books. The pattern on the book looked retro and kinda perfect, even if I did paint/draw over most of it. I saw a t-shirt that said, "Trek yourself before you wreck yourself" that made me laugh. Took the same sentiment for this journal.

Mister Spock.

 I also drew a little watercolor monster in a Star Trek uniform giving the Vulcan salute.

 And finally a totebag... 

The lot. Live long and prosper.

Monster Lineup Watercolor and Notebook

Monsters, monsters, a family of monsters. I drew and watercolored these guys for this notebook in the IYP Swap on craftster. If you're a craftster, you've probably seen Onegroovyday around the boards, and she is awesome. That's who I swapped with, so you'll be seeing things I made for her for the next few posts :)

I used my Zutter Bind-it-all to put the book together and the inside pages are recycled kraft cardstock.

Here's a scan of the painting before I cut out the monsters and pasted them to the front cover. I hope you're all having a great week so far...

And if you missed it, go enter my Morehouse Farm Knitkit Giveaway! I pick a random winner tomorrow, so get on it.

Flower Journal

Snappppp, I have had a stressful couple of days (blame iTunes and rude people, separate incidents) and I'm feeling a little on edge. Darn anxiety... I'm over it, but I still feel physically sick. I hate how when something annoying or stressful happens, the feeling sticks with you. Anyhoo, I want to show you this notebook I made as a thank you gift for a good, kind girl. The quote says, "Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony you carry in your heart concerning things divine." --Gordon B Hinckley. Good advice. I think I need to heed that today...Think positive!

I used recycled kraft cardstock on the inside pages, so they're sturdy enough to use this as an album, not just a journal. Yeah, options. And I glued in assorted ribbons to serve as dividers, and I just like the way they look sticking out like that :) To keep the ribbons from shredding, I just coated the ends in a little clear nail polish.

"Flower" from FETC Clip Art

The flower has little diamond glaze dots on it to add a little fun texture and a little dimension.

So, have a fantastic day, everyone! I am going to try to do that, too... I'm going to Zumba tonight and I'll probably eat some ice cream. No, Bobby ate the last of it... Make that cheez-its and Cadbury Mini-Eggs.

Sharing Owls Journal

I can't stop making journals... The cover for this one is another old recycled cover from an RD condensed book. Before adding all the embellishments, I did a light wash of magenta india ink over a very green and white pattern... I wanted less contrast, so the ink was a good way to tone things down.

 The quote is from Elder Joseph B Wirthlin: "Kindness is the essence of greatness." This is one of my friend's favorite quotes! And it kiiiiinda fits with the owls sharing that mouse... The image is cut out of an old children's book.

 I used lots of various paints and embellishments to decorate. Mostly craft acrylics, acrylic inks, etc. Then antique stamps, gems, novelty yarns, etc. I really liked the way it turned out and its new owner was happy with it, too :) I hope everyone had a magnificent weekend!!!

Baby Girl Mini-Album

I made this mini-album to surprise a friend who had her first baby daughter after three boys :) I secretly took the pictures off of her Facebook page, I don't think she minded...

 I had a lot of fun doodling and embellishing in girly colors, and I was able to use my new eyelets and eyelet setter!

In other news, it's my birthday today! I had a bit of a lonesome day, since Bobby is working and our nearest family is a little under 1000 miles away... but I got to talk on the phone with them and then Skype with my BFFs back in Washington State. Plus, yesterday Bobby took me out to eat and I got to pet the cutest teeny tiny piglet at the pet shop. Overall, it has been a decent b-day :) Happy Tuesday, friends!

Bookmark Book for BOOKMARKS!

 I love reading, and I love bookmarks of all kinds! I like to use a bookmark that matches the particular book I'm reading, either by theme or color :) It's fun. Up until a few days ago I had just been keeping all my bookmarks in a big jar, but I figured I needed a better way to both store and display them! Thus, my bookmark book for bookmarks.... The cover is bound together with my Zutter Bind-it-all, but was taken off of an old Reader's Digest condensed book. If you've ever noticed, the ones from the 60's have absolutely gorgeous colors and patterns, plus you can find them wicked cheap at thrift stores, flea markets, the library, etc.

 For the insides, I took 5 sheets of colored cardstock and trimmed them down to 10x12". They're folded in half, then a I made one cut to make that slant in the pocket. I suppose that slant isn't really needed, but I thought it looked nicer!

The creased side is along the outside, and the raw edges are bound into the binding. So there's a pocket on the side of each page to stash bookmarks galore! Now this strangely makes me want more bookmarks.

Happy Friday! Have a lovely weekend :)

Stamp on cover is Toby on Books by Alphastamps

Bee Yourself Notebook

 In the words of a wise and powerful genie, "Beeeeeee yourself!" I've got Disney on the brain. HEY! I made this bee-themed canvas board notebook for a fantastic lady a little while ago and have yet to share :)

 Bee-hold the bee-ling (bling). The cover is yet another painted/stamped/inked 5x7" canvas board cut in half! Painting them is pretty darn fun. On this one, I used a base of yellow craft acrylic. Once that was dry, I kind of dry-brushed on a darker shade to add texture. The next steps were stamping and flicking on pink alcohol inks.

The paper in the middle is recycled kraft-brown paper. I ordered it for something....But it was too thin. Now I have a whole box of it :) I have a feeling you'll be seeing it in other projects in the future...

The bee image is from this clip art site. You can't really see it, but I used clear glaze on the wings, so they are shiny.

Anyhoo, so many new and exciting things are happening and seemingly all at once! Some of them are still secrets, so I'll have to be cryptic and mysterious. But some good news I can share is that I am this month's CRAFTSTER CRUSH! I flippin' love c-ster and am so honored to be a featured artist for my birthday month. Such a good present :) Also, I'm going to DISNEYWORLD! Soon.... Unbelievable. Lots of more fun news to come. Happy Tuesday!

Pink Music Canvas Board Notebook

 I finished up yet another canvas board notebook last night using some of the supplies I bought on clearance at Michael's this weekend. They were having a ridiculous clearance! The black and white glitter tape ("Bling on a Roll") was like 79 cents, and the phonograph rub-ons were 9 cents. NINE. I went nuts.

 I used papers in different shades of pink for the inside pages on this one to match the outside cover. The fun crap on the side is eyelash yarn, fun fur and ribbon.

This is the back. I used my bind-it-all again for the binding and managed to avoid any pinching :)

Watch gears! It's like a steampunk old-timey song blasting out. Anyhoo, happy Tuesday!

Narwhal, Love Dog and Birdy Canvas Board Notebooks

 This weekend I've been getting busy making canvas board notebooks! I'm starting to grow a healthy relationship with my bind-it-all machine... We weren't friends before, friends don't pinch the heck out of me. But lately I've been learning to avoid serious injury while using it.

 For this notebook, I used multicolored paper for the pages inside and pom-pom yarn as an embellishment. I splurged and bought a whole skein of the pom-pom stuff. It was so soft and so colorful, I really couldn't help myself. I really need to not buy yarn... I love the novelty stuff for embellishing, but I don't really enjoy knitting and rarely work up the patience to crochet anymore. So keeping that in mind, my yarn stash is too big. I could go for more novelty yarn though, but maybe not in such quantity :)

 The narwhal is a watercolored drawing. I had a friend specially request a little bit more narwhal in her life, so I made this for her.

 All three of these notebooks are made from 5x7 canvas boards which I painted and stamped then cut in half width-wise to make the covers.

 I added a little beaded strand to this one in addition to the fun fur yarn. It needed a little extra sparkle...

 The stamp on the cover is one of the Toby set from Alphastamps. He's a fancy dog...

 The last one is pretty simple with a little birdy that was cut out of a nature encyclopedia.

I kinda screwed up on the back cover and punched holes in the wrong side. Oops. I think it still looks alright, don't you? :) Oh well, the ostrich makes up for it. 

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend! 

Nerd Cat Altered Journal Page

 I'm finally home and the new place is up and organized with a fully functional craft room :) I've been playing with my new Stampotique stamps and it's so much fun! Last night, I broke out the old altered art journal and did a nerd cat spread.

The triangles on the left are cut out from the phone book. I think it's crazy they still pass them out every year... Wasted paper!

 Some ephemera!

I used a lot of crayons in this spread... Behind the blue watercolors, on the borders, blue bubbles! Too fun.

Here's the old art journal... I started it in 2009 I think, but I'll fill it up EVENTUALLY.

And since I forgot to post my pumpkin before Halloween... Here's what the toothy jack-o-lantern looked like! Happy Moooooonday!

And I almost forgot!!! Jen over at the Simply Pretty blog did a kind and lovely feature on some of my projects :) Go Check it out!