2014 Crafty Goals

 Hi There! 

So this is a different Monday Post. 

This is my Design Team Project week. It's funny how all my teams fall one behind the other on the same alternate weeks so I'm going to let the challenge blogs and Sponsors shine.

However, I still want to get in a Monday post so I thought it would be fun to share with you my crafting goals for this year. I got this idea from one of my followers Sara S. @ Folded Paper & Printed Pixels. 

So here goes....

Last year my goal was to not buy any patterned paper since I had accumulated a lifetime supply in the first 2 years or so of my scrapbooking/cardmaking adventure. I did pretty well. I can only recall buying a few sheets from my Local Scrapbooking store. Their paper is so delicious (and no, I don't eat the paper lol)! Those of you who have the luxury of a LSS know what I'm talking about. Dangerous place to be for a crafter. lol

Since I did pretty good with my one goal for 2013 I think I'll jump in with a few more for 2014. 

 First, I want to add to my Copic collection. I have about 60 that I've accumulated one by one with Michaels coupons but I do not have enough to do good shading and I have only one skin tone-how boring. So I want to expand my collection.

Second, I want a set of those Perfect Paper Perfect Layer rulers sets. I like to do layers on my cards and so I think this tool set would be a good investment.

Third, I want to attend my first weekend crop away! I've been scrapbooking for about 3 1/2 years and have never been to one. I've always heard how much fun they are and there's one not to far away from me; about a 3 hour drive away to NH. It's a Faith Crafting Reteat at Singing Hills. 

Fourth, would be one to step out of myself and give to others a little more. 

I typically make cards for a wonderful organization Operation Write Home. I can usually get about 1 large flat rate box and maybe a smaller box or a large envelope more a year but this year I really want to do more. 

I average about 140 cards a year. My goal is to do 150+. I know my goal only surpasses by 10 cards but one new thing this year is my 5 design team commitments . Those cards are not typically Operation Write Home friendly. (meaning those chunky embellished cards that are so beautiful wouldn't meet the OWH criteria for easily mail-able cards) I may even put a tracker on my blog....what ya think?

Finally, my last crafting goal is to get the 2013 photos I have and get them all scrapbooked by May so I can keep current through 2014. (I just finished 2012 yesterday!)

Those are my goals for 2014 and thank you to Sara for the idea!

HAVE A FABULOUS 2014 AND NOW...IT'S TIME TO MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL!

613 Avenue Create - Cocoa

Happy Sunday visitors, and friends! Welcome to the newest card post for 613 Avenue Create Challenge blog!

 Today I'm very lucky to showcase a card using a Digi image by our sponsor Squigglefly called Cocoa.

For this challenge it's colors, sights and sounds of winter!

I chose this silver and white patterned paper and accented it with the blues and purples.

This is the sketch I used for inspiration. You can find more Deconstructing Jen sketches on my Sketch Blog tab at the top of the page.

 I used a snowflake brad and some gems to outline the sentiment circle. I also used white flocking powder to give the marshmallows some texture.

Products:

Admiral Blue Bazill cardstock

silver cardstock

blue ribbon

white gems

snowflake brad-oriental trading

patterned paper from my stash

white flocking powder

Copics E37, V20, V17

So...tell me what you think about this card. What's your fav?

 Thank you to my followers for always checking out my latest creation and if your visiting please consider following me. If you become a follower I'll send you a shout out on this weeks Feature Friday post and link your blog so others can visit you too.

( Unfortunately, there are some who have not posted in the comments or sent me the link to their blog in an email. I will not be hunting for your blog so if you don't post your blog address I won't be able to link it up)

Have a fabulous Sunday and find some time to make something beautiful for yourself today!

Challenges:
Card Making Mamas-AG
Cards Galore-AG
Scribble & Scrap -AG
Glitter & Sparkle- AG
Challenges 4 Everybody #37-AG

Open Minded Crafting Fun-Tiffany Playing Violin

Hello and Welcome! I'm so glad your visiting for my first post on the Design Team at Open Minded Crafting Fun. I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase a wonderful digi image by Milk Coffee. You can find the link to the image at the bottom if this post under the products heading. For this challenge we made a project using any new technique to us.

So...what's my new technique...I've never used my embossing folders for small circle embellishments on a layout before. I typically use an embossing folder for a background on a card or to emboss a full pieced Cricut cut out but here I used my circle punch and embossed the circles.

Here's a close up of the wonderful image and the embossed circle embellishments.

These are the Copic markers I used

I used this sketch for inspiration

Products:

Tiffany playing Violin Digi Image

Fiskers ribbon punch

Martha Stewart Border punch Eyelet Lace

Darice Sweet Music embossing folder

Bazill carstock

Recollections DP

DCWV The Green Stack

pink ribbon by JoAnn Fabrics

EK success 1 1/4 circle punch

embroidery thread

Swirl cut from Home Decor Cricut Cartridge

Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge-Something new
All Sorts- Free and easy
Crafting By Design- AG
As You Like It-Single color & Why- Brown because it's neutral and can go with anything
Totally Papercrafts-New Beginnings
Hiding In My Craftroom-Gray
2 Creative Chicks #10-AG
Crafty Calendar Challenge-Let's Celebrate
Just Inspirational-New Beginnings
Jellypark-New Beginnings

I hope you enjoyed viewing my project and take the time to browse some of my other postings and pages.  Thank you to my followers for always checking out my latest creation and if your visiting please consider following me. If you become a follower I'll send you a shout out on this weeks Feature Friday post and link your blog so others can visit you too.

( Unfortunately, there are some who have not posted in the comments or sent me the link to their blog in an email. I will not be hunting for your blog so if you don't post your blog address I won't be able to link it up)

Have a great weekend and don't forget to check out all the projects made by the design team at Open Minded Crafting Fun.  Now it's your turn to make something beautiful!

 Our Sponsors:
     

   

Feature Friday-1/3/2014

Hello All! 

I can't believe how fast 2013 has flown by..I hope you all enjoyed your New Years Eve and are getting a good start on your new year resolutions!

Today is Friday so it's my lucky day to send a Shout Out to some new followers and....

showcase or (Feature) some of the work by my blog followers this week!

But first let's send a warm Thank you and Shout out to....new followers of all things beautiful!
Melissa @ M. Miranda's Creations
&

Sara S. @ Folded Paper & Printed Pixels

Now onto my Friday Feature Blogger Favs for this week...

Kathy @ Stamps at Play
I just love the colors and texture of this card!
Go on over and visit her blog to see her wonderful card creations and give her lots of love.


&

Susan @ Addicted to Rubber Stamping
I just love the silhouette on this card. It is so striking!
Visit her blog and send some kuddos her way.

That's it for today! Have a craft-filled Friday and hope to see you back tomorrow for Scrapbook Saturday!  Now it's your turn to make something beautiful!

 Thank you again to my followers and if  your a visitor and you'd like a chance to be my Featured Blogger and you want a "Shout Out" with a link to your blog. Just become a follower of 

all things beautiful and place your blog address in the comment box below.

( Unfortunately, there are some who have not posted in the comments or sent me the link to their blog in an email. I will not be hunting for your blog so if you don't post your blog address I won't be able to link it up)

BLOG CANDY!!!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's a new year and so new resolutions begin. 

I have a few resolutions for 2014, one being to drop those pounds I've added over 2013 and some crafting goals which I'll post next week in my Monday post on January 6th. But one resolution is to offer blog candy to my followers. It's been such a great year! I got off to a slow start with my blog but in 2013 I added over 60 followers to all things beautiful.

For 2014 I would like to reach 250 followers. A BIG goal but why dream small, right?! 

In honor of that reaching that goal I'm offering a little blog candy along the way. My first prize will go out at 100 followers and I'm almost there. once I hit 100 followers all those followers will have a chance to win.

Once I have 100 followers I'll choose a winner using random.org from one of my followers.

All you have to do is become a follower of my blog! That's it! 

(make sure you add your blog address in the comment section or shoot me an email using the contact box on the right so I can contact you should you be the winner)

Check out the prizes I'm offering by going here.

Have a wonderful, prosperous and happy crafting year! now...what ya waiting for...go make something beautiful!

Card Making Monday # 26 - New Years Cheers

Hello followers and friends!
Welcome back for another card creation. It's New Years Eve and 2014 is just around the corner. We are expecting a heavy snowfall for tomorrow so we may be snuggled up with a cup of cocoa tomorrow. Perfect crafting (or movie watching or reading) weather.
I hope you enjoy this card and find inspiration in it. Please take some time to browse my other posts while leaving comments on this or any other. I love to hear your comments and always try to reply to every one.

For this card I used My Minds Eye Fine & Dandy 6x6 patterned paper pad along with bazill cardstock. The cheers stamp is from JoAnns $ section. The card design is Mojo Monday sketch 11/5/2012.

I added some rhinestones for the bubbles, I used the Copic markers below to color in the champagne, added some glitter glue and then topped it with glossy accents to give it a life-like glass look. I also added glossy accents to the glitter ribbon to keep the glitter from flaking off.

Challenges:

Through the Craftroom Door-AG

 Thank you to my followers for always checking out my latest creation and if your visiting please consider following me. If you become a follower I'll send you a shout out on this weeks Feature Friday post and link your blog so others can visit you too.

( Unfortunately, there are some who have not posted in the comments or sent me the link to their blog in an email. I will not be hunting for your blog so if you don't post your blog address I won't be able to link it up)

Now it's your turn to go make something beautiful!

Crafting Cafe DT Challenge Card-Sketch

Hello and welcome friends! My name is Amy and I'm so thrilled to be posting my first Design Team card with The Crafting Cafe. I live in New England, Massachusetts specifically over here in the US. This month at The Crafting Cafe we've been working with sketches that Nikki has created. I chose sketch #3-see sketches below.

Even though it's already past Christmas I still have the Holiday spirit and wanted to create my last Christmas card.For this card i wanted to keep the stamp image simple so that it can shine. I felt just adding some color to his face and hos hat worked best. I did add some Glossy Accents to his glasses so when you touch that area it is smooth.

This is a close up of the paper flowers I cut using a SCAL file from SVGCuts.com Merry & Bright. I added some stamen centers from my cake decorating stash. i thought they gave the card a bit more texture.

Products:

Merry & Bright SVG

 Bazill cardstock

Hero Arts stamp

Copics E00 &E07

Gems from JoAnn Fabrics

May Arts Twine

Candy cane/santa hat brads from Oriental Trading

Glossy Accents

DP Blissful Blizzard by Fancypants

Challenges:

Melonheadz -AG

We would love to see all your creations with the sketches..... if you join in with the challenge make sure you leave your link in the challenge post so that we can pop on over and visit you.....

Thank you for viewing my card. I hope you are inspired to use some of the techniques here. Please leave a comment and consider following all things beautiful! If you do, please leave a comment below with the link to your blog in the comment box and I'll send you a "shout out" in this weeks Feature Friday post. I'll even link up your blog there so others can go see what your up to in the crafty world. :-)

Take care and thank you again for visiting...now go make something beautiful!