Creative Jumpstart 2021

Creative Jumpstart 2021
Join me for the 10th Anniversary of CJS2021

Saturday, December 29

Check out this COOL Give-a-way!

My friend Vic is doing two fantastic give-a-ways on her blog, and you've got to check them out!! This is what she has to say:

It's my turn to do the Crafty Secrets give-a-way now! yay! I haven't finished my Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine give-a-way so.... How can you beat two give-a-ways at the same time???So here it is! Sandy the owner of Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage , has been so generous with letting all the girls on the team , letting each of us host our own giveaway. She has even given us choice of what we want to giveaway. This is my choice...

GIVEAWAY INCLUDES:

  • 1 French Mail stamp set
  • 1 Cherub stamp set
  • 1 Sweet Chips Chipboard house
  • 1 "Seasonal" booklet
  • 1 sheet of Valentine stickers

How is that for fun? ha! All you have to do , is comment in this post, and I'll put your name in for the drawing on January 2 ( next Wed) I thought I'd share with you , some Valentine cards I made using some of these stamps. All of these where done with these two stamp sets, with the exception of the one in the bottom right corner. It was done using the "Artsy Alphabet" stamp set.

I chose these stamps because I love how you can build with some of the elements in these sets. You can see how you can take the stamps and create so many different designs from by combining them in different ways.

The bonus about checking out Vic's blog is you'll see all of the beautiful things she creates....she's such an inspiration!

Good LUCK! Make sure to go over to Vic's blog and leave a comment on her post about the Give-away to have a chance at winning!!

Tuesday, December 25

Christmas Afternoon

Merry Christmas everyone!! I can't believe that my Little Valentine still believes in Santa....but he does. Last night the Santa Doppler came on the news and he was riveted to the news. It was so adorable to see. He wrote Santa a letter (and asked him if MOM was on the naughty list...he he he - naughty boy!) and asked for his address so they could be penpals. What a boy.
I also can't believe - after all the stress of shopping and deciding what to purchase, the gift wrapping with fancy papers, all the baking and extra cooking I've been up to - and then the money spent - it was over in a matter of 30 minutes. LV woke us up at 4:15 begging to get up. The answer wasa flat out NO, go back to sleep - and he did, until about 5:30... when he asked if he could go downstairs to see what Santa had left - by that time I was wide awake and decided it was time for all of us to get up. After the coffee was made and everyone settled in their favorite perch, it was over so fast. The wrapping paper that I so lovingly wrapped all his gifts in haphazardly discarded....and in the garbage heap right now...unbelievable.

You know, really - it was so worth it - to see the happiness on this boy - we weren't extravagant - but he got many of the things on his list. And our little Guinness iS HAPPY too - Santa brought her a new chipmunk to chew... this is her staring at the live grey squirrel on my Mom's bird feeder...the mere mention of the "s" word sends her screaming (quite literally) to the door begging to be left out!

My Santa brought me a new Epson 1400 or something like that ....yummy! Can't wait to start printing 13x19 pieces of fabric....look out people - this is gonna rock!

Ta Ta for now, the Crown Roast is calling my name...plus I need to prepare a salad and some other little things. I've got to melt the Jalapeno Jelly I made this fall and pour it over cream cheese for a quick before dinner snackie snack. I'm a little hungry right now! :-)

Monday, December 24

Merry Christmas !!

Just a quick note to wish you all a Happy and SAFE Christmas with your family and friends. Cherish every moment - and don't forget to take lots of pictures to use in all your projects after the holidays!

Saturday, December 22

My Christmas Valentine...

okokok. But what else am I supposed to call him...he's my little Valentine - so for these pictures he's my little Christmas Valentine...he he he. These are the pictures we sent out in our Christmas cards this year. I usually stress over the composition and try to come up with something totally unique and fun...but this year I've been so out of sorts that I didn't even take the picture until the 17th... I do love how they came out, don't you? My Mom and I went out grocery shopping today and to find a few last minute stocking stuffers, and I've just got to say - what makes people so DANG rude? I try so hard to say excuse me and smile at people and make jokes when I can - I usually take lots of deep breaths too - but jeez - come on people ! It seems to me that it would be so much easier to smile and say have a nice day than it is to be mean and rude? Needless to say, it was a frustrating time out and about today! People must have thought I was having a baby or something I was taking so many deep breaths...LOL. I opened up a good ol' Sammie Adams the minute I got home to help relieve the tension....might have to have another just for good measure! Well, TTFN and have a wonderful Saturday night!

Friday, December 21

L.L. Bean ROCKS!

We went shopping at L.L. Bean in FreeKport yesterday and had a few extra minutes left over to check out the new addition to their Hunting and Fishing department. They created a huge addition with a log bridge, with a nice place to relax in front of a fire place on leather chairs watching a big screen TV....wow. They really know how to make ther customers feel comfortable..... ( I say Freekport because usually it's packed with rude people and cars and it just freaks me out.... but yesterday was nice because it was snowing heavely so most people stayed home! )

Anyway, the walkway on the first floor over to the addition has a lovely fish tank...with a bubble on the inside that you can get into and feel like you are really close to the fish. We had so much fun making faces in there....and while we were in the bubble my good friend Leslie walked by... I always run into her in the weirdest places....her daughter and my Little Valentine were fast friends in the bubble...and check out Leslie - she sure has that trout face down doesn't she?
That's us....yes - I've been wearing my glasses a lot lately.

Leslie making funny faces at the old cranky Brown Trout in the tank!

My little Valentine, face to face with Rainbow Trout, totally in heaven!

Well, TTFN...I've got a few people I need to make some special things for and hopefully get them in the mail tomorrow....maybe Monday....

Tuesday, December 18

ScrapMuse PRESS RELEASE

For More Information, Contact: Amanda Hensley, Amanda@scrapmuse.com
SCRAPMUSE ANNOUNCES NEW WEB SITE AND GIVEAWAYS

ScrapMuse, the online scrapbooking shop and mid-month kit club that provides “inspiration when you need it,” is pleased to announce its new Web site at http://www.scrapmuse.com/ The new site provides fresh graphics and easy access to the online store, kit club, gallery, forum and blog. A monthly, free newsletter is filled with scrapbooking designs, tips and articles from the ScrapMuse design team. A new For Boys Only section will offer scrapbooking supplies suitable for pages about boys and men. “I am really excited about the new Web site,” says Amanda Hensley, who just celebrated her first anniversary as owner of ScrapMuse. “The feedback from scrapbookers has been tremendous.” To commemorate the new Web site, she is offering a weekly giveaway of products:

Dec 11-18 – August 2007 Mega Muse kit (worth $32) Dec 18-25 –March 2007 Mega Muse kit (perfect for boys!) (worth $32) Dec 25-Jan 1 –Tinkering Ink Complete Collection (worth $30) Jan 1-8 – Three kits from 2005 (worth $30) Jan 8-15 – The January 2008 Mega Muse kit (worth $32)

To be eligible for the giveaway, visit www.scrapmuse.com/blog and leave a comment in the thread under that week’s giveaway. To receive the ScrapMuse monthly newsletter, sign up at http://www.scrapmuse.com/

Yesterday was QUITE a day!

but that's another story....to save until the end. First things first....EVERYTHING IN MY ETSY SHOP QUALIFIES FOR FREE SHIPPING AND I discounted many items. EVERYTHING MUST go to get ready for what's coming next. FREE shipping ....what more could you ask for?? Just click on the link to my shop in the right column of my blog.... ------>>> over there... :-) Tooks this picture to use for our Christmas cards...but after lots of manipulating in PS7 thought that his face was just too grainy and fuzzy looking. So, I went back to the drawing board and got two others that I am happier with. I'll share them once I get a chance to take the card out of my camera! We ended up with a lot of snow...but it's not me that I'm worried about. My husband is a survival instructor for the Navy in the Rangeley area - and they got 18" of snow and 17 degree temps....he's gonna be cold, sore and tired when he gets home tonight....and in no mood to go to the mall tomorrow. Gonna have to get my tazer out on him, he he. So, yesterday as I was merrily making my way down to Staples and the bank and a few other things, this little boy was tailgaiting me in his dirtbag 1994 Saturn don't care if it gets dented. Roads had melted then froze into a solid sheet of ice....and he rear ended me. YUP. That's my news for yesterday. Teaching at Scrapbooks & Beyond tomorrow....still room if you want to sign up. Come on - you know you want to :-)

Saturday, December 15

ETSY Shop!

Ok, so I was up late last night updating my Etsy shop with the Holiday Goodies that were left over from my two shows this month (boy am I tired this morning!!). I am happy to combine shipping, charge actual shipping or accomodate you by shipping overseas or to Canada. What that means is I'll package your stuff up, go to the post office and get the cost of the actual shipment (or try to do it on-line) and have you send the actual cost of shipping along with your payment via paypal. If you want to send a check I'll have to wait for the check to arrive and clear my bank before I ship.
I"ve been wanting to share this picture and keep forgetting...while it's storming and snowy down here - up above the clouds the sun is shining and the clouds are puffy and beautiful! I took this picture through the window of the plane on my way to Virginia!
Have a great day everyone, we've got shopping and Christmas preparations to get to today so there's no time to dilly dally!!

Thursday, December 13

Pay It Forward...and catch up!

I am finally home from Virginia, and happy to be creating and catching up in my own little home. Managed to get a work out in today - along with my ScrapMuse Newsletter responsibilities and some other fun things.....phew. I am happy to be home, now I need to get ready for the Holidays. I haven't done a lick of shopping or cleaning or even cards....I am so behind....if I could just get away from the computer! Looks like I have the three participants in the PIF game.....Shawn, Kacy and Trace...send me your addresses and I'll send you a little something... Shawn...I already have your address so you don't have to ;-) THANKS ladies for playing along. Well, I think we, for the first time in YEARS...I mean A LOT of years...we're going to have a white Christmas. We already have about 10 inches on the ground, with more coming tonight and a major snow event coming on Sunday night. I'm good with it, that means that we get to stay home all day on Monday and have a pajama day....gotta love those pajama days!

I'm happy to report that Art from the Heart is shipping from Amazon. As soon as I get my copies I plan on a fun little give-away so stay tuned for that. Not sure what the hold up is but I know they'll be coming along soon. I have heard a ton of great feed back from people that have purchased it...so get yours while they last! If you have a special some one that wants one you still have time to order and insure delivery before Christmas.

Many Hands Art Fair Leftovers

The cards below are left overs from the various shows, I've got a bunch more things to list but thought I'd start here. These are all hand made, watercolor painted stamped images with vintage papers, ribbons, gold sewing machine stitching and other things. If you are interested you can send the money via paypal and I will ship to you ASAP! These cards are so beautiful that they could be framed and used as a decoration next year.

Vintage Santa, set of 5 cards with Vellum envelopes: $28.00

We Three Kings Card, with Navy envelopes, recycled materials, reproduced music sheet and machine stitching. Set of 2: $14.00

4" x 6" Post Cards on Watercolor paper with vintage buttons, gold stitching, watercolor stamped image with a clear envelope. Set of 3: $15.00

Set of 4 Shell Cards: Stamped, stitched with ribbon and recycled materials. $24.00

ps. the kraft colored ribbon around the belly of the three cards is to hold my business card on the back with the price. It is not part of the design.

If you need closeup pictures email me at luvlife@gwi[dot]com

I'll post some more items tomorrow or late today!

Thursday, December 6

Pay it Forward!

I took a minute to read my good friend Vic's blog and saw her lovely little gifts for today for the Pay it Forward challenge and thought I'd join in. Just remember, I won't get my packages mailed until I return home from Virginia, but they'll get there. So, the 3rd, 6th and 9th person to comment on my blog will get a lovely little handmade prize from me. (I chose those numbers because the 6th is today and 3 and 9 are divisible by 3 like 9 is...) I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF (Pay it forward) exchange.I'm not sure what that gift will be. It will be a surprise! The only thing you have to do in return is to pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. So basically, if you’re one of the firsIt 3 comments, I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make! Once you sign up, I'll email you to let you know that you are one of the three. Then copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work. Pay it Forward! I'm having issues with uploading images to my blog and other places, so sorry I don't have any pictures to share with you, but it snowed here in VA yesterday. Chris' kids have been so excited over seeing the snow it was adorable. They've been over-seas for the last 3 winters and have not had many opportunities to see snow! Anyway, ttfn. Gotta get some things done for Chris today!

Tuesday, December 4

December ScrapMuse

You have just got to sign up to get the ScrapMuse kits, and make December your first one if you don't get them yet!! This kit is so unbelievable and yummy!! You're gonna love it - though I am not sure what you're going to love more, the Hambly, the KI or the papers....you've just got to try it...you'll be happy, I promise!! BTW, I'm in Virginia in case you forgot. I'll try to post pictures but I forgot my card reader...so that may not happen!!

Saturday, December 1

Artist and Crafts{wo}man Show

Thought I'd share some images of my wares I had at a local Artist Show. I certainly had a wonderful time - great food - great company - but not as many sales as I had anticipated. I have some things still available and will be putting them up for sale either here or on my etsy...we'll see how hard it is to figure out a PayPal link or sidebar or link to my Etsy shop....something so you can purchase these lovelies. If you see anything in particular you want - please email me and I'll get things going. This is a 6 x 8 Canvas with a collaged image attached to the top. The image has been stamped, painted, beaded and machine stitched with a strip of vintage tape measure added. I totally love it....I have three of these.

There are quite a few hanging decorations - 2 banner style and the other a standard rectangle. All decorated nicely for the Holidays (with some just friendship, love or inspirational messages).

I also have some watercolor card sets - all collaged, with an image that has been stamped, painted, machine stitched and some have a strip of vintage tape measure added. I have post cards in a clear envelope,

I am going to Virginia to see my friend Chris on Monday - so I won't be able to send anything until I return on the 11th....but first come first serve. :-) We can get a dialog started and figure out pricing and shipping, send an invoice and go from there.....no stress.... :-)