Nearer

I’ve decided to post a current work every Sunday. Art is my path to grounding and mindfulness. What’s yours?

I'm Back!!! Did you miss me?

Back in July 2011, I took a hiatus from scrapping, mixed media, design teams, CHA, blogs, blog hopping and art, in general. My plate was over full with running our small ranch, helping with my husband's business and running a small eBay store. I was BURNED OUT! I needed to refocus, find my center and rejuvenate my creative muse. I pulled out of numerous creative commitments, stopped teaching and blogging too. But....now I'm back and ready to go!

More Fourth of July Fun!!

Howdy y'all!! It has been super HOT this summer here in Central Texas, so, I've been spending much of my time indoors and actually getting a little creating done in the process!

I've got another Fourth of July Card to show you. I've used more Gecko Galz products!! And, it comes with a complete tutorial!! Just take a hop over to the Purple Cows Blog for Designer Friday with....me!

Purple Cows has come out with some fun, fun tools this year. So, take a look! Enjoy your Fourth of July (and your independence!!) and....Happy Creating!!

Happy Fourth of July!

I hope everyone (who celebrates) has a wonderful Fourth of July weekend. Here in Central Texas we're under a burn ban, so most local fireworks displays have been cancelled, so we'll celebrate with food and family!

Here's a card I made to commemorate the occasion. I used various patterned papers from Gecko Galz Liberty Papers collection. I also used a digital stamp from the Gecko Galz July Beautiful Background Stamps images. I printed the stamp image on vellum and then deco podged that over a patterned paper. I then added in a quote from the Gecko Galz July Patriotic Sentiments, mixed in some ribbon, stickles and a hand made mini banner.

Hope you enjoy your independence!!!

Happy Creating!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!!!

I created this card using Prima patterned papers from my stash, a Gecko Galz May "my Heart Belong to Daddy" Ephemera, and
Purple Cows Decorative Pins.

Happy Creating!!

Summertime Savings!

Howdy y'all! Getting VERY, VERY hot here in central Texas. I'm trying to get the same amount of heat generated for my eBay listings and my Etsy shop. From today through June 30, 2011, I'm offering 20% off your entire order in my Etsy shop! Just use the code: juneteen2011. I can custom make items too (and the sale WILL apply). Just click on my eBay and Etsy links in the sidebar to go to savings!!

PS this is one of MANY items on sale now!!

Happy Father's Day Project

I created this 8" x 10" wall hanging as a Father's Day gift. I used Gecko Galz Strawberry Fields papers and My Heart Belongs to Daddy Ephemera. I used a graphic drawing of Charles Lindberg's Spirit of St. Louis printed on Gacko Galz papers. I then paper pieced the plane for a three dimensional effect. Fun!

Hope you enjoy...and Happy Creating!

Artz de Scrap June Challenge!

Y'all head over to Artz de Scrap for the June challenge! It's a really fun one....a cupcake stand!

Here's what I did (it's a MUCH smaller version!).

Please join us for the challenge; we'd love to see what you come up with!!!

Happy creating!

Happy Mother's Day

to all my Moms out there. I'm so greatful for my Mom and all she taught me......love you and miss you Mom.

Happy Creating!

Spring!

Spring is my favorite time of year. And, here in Texas it can be quite fleeting too. To celebrate my favorite time of year, and to try and make it last longer, I created this shadowbox using Gecko Galz Tudor Rose papers, and Fairies Ephemera. I mixed in some acrylic paint, stickles, glitter, and liquid pearls for good measure.

Hope your Spring is wonderful! Happy Creating!

Whimsy Pocket Challenge

This month's challenge at Artz de Scrap is a whimsy pocket by our guest designer Amy Duff. Amy shows us a wonderfully creative way to recycle! Here's what I came up with for the challenge. I used Gecko Galz Strawberry Fields papers for this! Hope you join us for the challenge and Happy Creating!!

Thanks!

Howdy y'all! d Thimgs have been busy around the homestead this Spring and I haven't had a lot of time for new projects. Thought I'd share this card with you, though.

The tools used (check out the new ones from Purple Cows!!!) and how-to are at the Purple Cows Blog !

Hope you enjoy! And... Happy Creating!

A Curio Box

Howdy y'all!

I have another altered project for you. I recently got my hands on a Tim Holtz Idea-ology Configurations Box. I'm kinda a pack rat, so this was a perfect way for me to use some of my "finds". I covered the box in vintage sewing patterns, then used digital stamps from Gecko Galz for the back face of each "box" and an acrylic insert under the front. Then I covered the outer shell with Gecko Galz Papers. I filled my box, distressed it a little with ink. Added some ephemera for decoration and .....came up with this.

Happy Creating! And......stay tuned for a chance to win some Gecko Galz Products....coming soon!

A Tutorial

Good Sunday Morning all! I thought I would share a tutorial and challenge with you today. It's a Vintage Bottle gift.

The full tutorial is here at the Artz de Scrap Challenge Blog. If you decide to give the tutorial a try please join our challenge at Artz de Scrap for a chance at a RAK. Challenge ends April 14th, so get started!

Happy Creating!

Going Digi

For those of you who know me, I am NOT a digital person. I love the feel of paper, the smell of adhesive, the look of glitter, the rattle of buttons.......

So, until now, my digi experimentation has been limited to printing out digi items and using them in projects. Well this month, I decided it was time to wander out of my comfort zone and play with my PhotoShop Elements some. Here's what I did:

1. I pulled out papers from Gecko Galz Wonderland Collection for this card.
2. I pasted Gecko Galz Whimsical Sentiments onto a Wonderland paper and printed out.
3. I then resized various Gecko Galz Wonderland Collection Ephemera . Some I printed on card stock, others I printed on transparency paper and underlaid with white card stock.
4. I printed and cut out two pocket watch bunnies and layered with dimensional tape for a 3-D effect.
5. All this I layered and attached to my printed card.

Fairly simple digi stuff for many (most) of you.....all new to me!

I hope you enjoy the card. Please hop over to Gecko Galz and browse the wonderful digi elements you can play with! And remember, Happy Creating!!

Wow!

If you've always wanted a Bind-It-All but didn't want to try and figure out what you needed to go with it......here's the deal for you!

Get a Bind-It-All starter kit from Tuesday Morning !

Happy Creating!

Wanted!

Wow! Been busy lately and forgot to post this earlier. So, I'll show y'all now!

You know me, I love to alter things. And....I love my
Gecko Galz Ephemera. I used the February Wild West Women and Gunslingers Collections and a lot of found objects to create this tin shadow box.

Happy Creating!!

I (Heart) You

I decided to make a Valentine's Day candy box for my lovies this year.

I used Gecko Galz papers and ephemera. Specifically, I used: hopelessromance; heartwired and psiloveyou papers. I also used the alphabet soup products: loveletters1 and loveletters2. To give my box strength I printed the papers on 130# card stock. I added frilly leaves and the edge to the inner heart with decorative edge scissors. Then a little ColorBox chalk and Ranger Stickles and liquid pearls and waaa laaa!

Note: I also added letters to the candies inside my box to spell
B E
M I N E !!

Enjoy and Happy Creating!!!

Designer Friday........But on Tuesday!!

Here's a Valentine's card I did for Purple Cows for Designer Friday. But....we're doing it on Tuesday instead!! Yay!!

My list of supplies is on the Purple Cows Blog !

Hope you enjoy! Happy Creating!

Our Newest Family Member

This is our DD with her little baby boy, T-Bone. He's a Tea Cup Chihuahua. We found him.....or rather he found her, yesterday at a local event we attended. He barked and yelped until we opened up his little cage. He climbed straight into her hands and went to sleep.

She had her Pit Bull, Ratchet, gunned down in cold blood December 9th last year. A lunatic neighbor who saw him out (he got out accidentally)....chased him down, cornered him and shot him point blank. Witnesses say the dog never indicated any menacing behavior, instead he ran from the man and was actually trying to wiggle back under the fence into the back yard when he was shot. The world is full of hatred and prejudice these days, it seems.

We think this little guy was sent to help her heal. I think he'll do a fine job, too. Don't you?