I want to thank everyone for leaving such lovely comments on my Maja Design projects!  And before I announce my blog give-away winner….I would like to share an art journal page I created, “It’s Go Time.”

This is the first complete art journal page I created in my hand-made art journal.

I created this art journal from an 18 x 24 watercolor paper pad (I like to use watercolor paper because of it’s thickness, and because of all the wet media I like to use in my art journals) ….I tore out the pages….folded them in half… & punched holes in the center of each page, so I could sew them together.

In between the pages, I added “signatures” – various ephemera, such as a time card, a large envelop, a map page.

To create the front and back cover, I simply decoupaged some beautiful paper napkins (yes, I said napkins) onto the front and back sides of my sewn together journal.

I used my big bite to punch the holes into the centers of the folded paper.

I used some heavy-duty thread-like rope that I had to sew the pages together, creating the binding.

Above, is a photo of the center of the book, showing the stitching.

Above, you can see the frayed edges of the pages, since I tore them out of a watercolor paper pad.  If this bothers you, you could easily trim off the frayed edges.  Personally, I like the way it looks, so I didn’t mess with trimming the sides.

And above is the center pages….(I started in the center)…. showing a finished page on the left, and one just started on the right.

This was a very easy process.  So, if you have been thinking about giving a hand-made book a try, I highly encourage it.

And NOW, without further ado, my blog give-away winner, randomly drawn from a hat , is

February 23rd, 2013 at 6:42 pm e Sharon Says:

OK, you certainly don’t make it easy to pick one, because I can honestly say that they are all my favorite in their own special ways.  You have created masterpieces here, Nancy.  If I had to pick just one, I would go with that amazing sun canvas that tells that grey skies are gonna clear up!!!  Or the lamp shade. . . ok . . . I will pick the sun canvas!  Thanks so much, Nancy for having this giveaway, too.  It’s been much too long since I have visited your blog!!!!

Congratulations Sharon!!! Please let me know where you would like your gift certificate, so that I can get it sent to you pronto!!!

Have a great weekend everybody!!!! and thanks for looking!!!!

Do you want a $50 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com?  or would you rather have one to A Cherry On Top?   I am giving away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner (winner chooses which on-line store above.)  Here is how you enter to win….tell me which project is your favorite in the comments….from all the projects I created using the gorgeous Maja Design paper collections.  Then stay-tuned as I randomly select & announce the lucky winner next Saturday!  The winner will have 2 weeks from the announcement to claim his/her prize! That’s it…..that’s all you have to do….BUT, you have to “be in it to win it!”   Now, how about a re-cap of the projects I made, to make it a little easier!

Created using the Sommartider paper collection from Maja Design:

gray skies are gonna CLEAR Up

Seize the Moment

Our Sweetheart

Fancy Lamp Shade

Created with the Vintage Winter, Maja Design paper collection:

The Heart Project

My Little Snowman

Created with the Life by the Sea, Maja Design paper collection:

Sail Away, Sail Away, Sail Away

Content

And finally, created with the Ska Vi Ta En Fika? Maja Design paper collection:

Pretty Baby

Sweet Little Cupcake

Fancy Damasks

There you have it!  Which one is your favorite?  Good Luck!

Hello my friends!  Today is my very last posting for my Guest Creative Team spot at Maja Design.  I have had so much fun creating with Maja Design’s exquisite papers and would like to thank the lovely ladies over at Maja Design for their generosity and support!

Today, I am going to share the projects that I created with the gorgeous “Ska Vi Ta En Fika?” papers.

I created 2 mixed media pieces and (1) 12 x 12 layout.

Details on how the flower above was created, can be found on the Maja Design Blog.

Above are 3 deep-edged 4 x 4 canvases I created with this gorgeous collection.

Details and up-close photos, on how these little canvas pieces were created, can be found on the Maja Design blog.

And for my last project, here is another mixed media project I created.  These canvases are 5 x 5.

Thanks for looking, my friends!!! I have so enjoyed sharing all of my Maja Design projects with you over the last several weeks!

Stay tuned for my next post.  I am having a blog give-away of a $50 gift certificate to the winner’s choice of either Scrapbook.com or A Cherry on Top!  All you have to do is vote for your favorite project that I created using the Maja Design paper collections!!!!

Well, today marks my 3rd contribution over  at Maja Design for February’s Guest Creative Team spot!  This week I am sharing the projects I created with the amazing Life by the Sea collection.

My first project is a 12 x 12 mixed-media canvas.  To see up-close photos of this project and the steps in it’s creation, please visit the post over at the Official Blog of Maja Design HERE.

My 2nd project is a 12 x 12 layout of my sweet baby boy:

These papers were perfect to scrap this photo!  To see these beautiful papers and other gorgeous paper collections from Maja Design, click HERE.

I have one more week as the Guest Creative Team member for February.  So, be sure and check back next Saturday, as I have 3 projects to share!!  And don’t forget, I am having a blog give-away right after my last posting for Maja Design.  I will be giving away a $50 gift certificate to either A Cherry on Top or Scrapbook.com  (winner’s choice)- all you  have to do is to vote for your favorite of all the projects I created using the beautiful Maja Design paper collections.   Then, you are automatically entered to win!  BUT, you have to be in it to win it!!!

TFL my friends! Until next week, I hope you have a wonderful weekend and have a chance to be crafty!!!!

Here is my 2nd Saturday sharing projects I have made from Maja Design’s Vintage Winter papers. Be sure and check out my blog spot over at Maja Design’s blog HERE.

Here is an (8) panel canvas, mixed media piece, that I created with the gorgeous Maja Design papers, Vintage Winter.

I was very inspired by the gorgeous blues and reds in this collection.  And being that it is Valentine’s season, I wanted to create a Valentine themed project.  Each mini-canvas is 5 x 5 – here they are up-close:

Be sure and stop by the Maja Design blog if you would like a behind the scenes look on how these were created.

And here is a layout I created with this gorgeous paper:

TFL my friends! Stay tuned, as I will be sharing my projects using a 3rd collection from Maja Design next Saturday!!!

Today marks my 1st post showing all of the creations I have made using the gorgeous papers from Maja Design’s Sommartider collection.  As February’s Guest Designer, I will be posting my projects for Maja Design papers each Saturday – and don’t forget, after I have posted all of my projects I will be having a blog give-away for either a $50 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com or A Cherry on Top (the winner picks.)  To enter, all you have to do is tell me what your favorite project is that I have created with Maja Design’s beautiful papers this month! that’s it!

My first project is a 12 x 12 mixed media canvas piece:  “gray skies are gonna CLEAR up”:

If you would like to see a photo tutorial on the process of how I created this mixed media piece, please visit the Maja Design blog HERE.

My next project is another 12 x 12 canvas mixed media piece called “Seize the Moment”:

again, I used the Sommartider paper collection from Maja Design for this piece…but I did use one beautiful piece of their Fika collection for my branches.

again if you would like to see detailed photos on how I created this piece, check out my post on the Maja Design blog HERE.

I also created a layout using this paper collection as well:

I just love this photo of my baby girl, not so much a baby anymore.

a photo tutorial on how I created this “quilted” flower can also be found on my post at Maja Design blog

I also tried out the amazing “Paper Ruffles” tutorial posted by the super talented, Gabrielle Pollacco, over at Maja Designs.

The final project I created with the Sommartider paper collection is my personal favorite:

I altered this paneled lamp shade.  I just LOVE the whimsical and girly feel to this! Every panel has a different piece of patterned paper from this collection.  And I framed each panel with some of the HUGE amount of ribbon I have been hoarding, oh, I mean collecting over the years!  I have also stepped this project out in photos on my Maja Design blog post if you would like a closer look.

Here are a few more photos of different angles of the shade:

Well, I hope that I have inspired you to create something today! and I sure appreciate you taking the time to stop by!!! TFL!

I’ll admit it.  Ever since I decided to temporarily “retire” from Design Teams (I was losing the “fun” out of creating with so many life stressors, my full-time job, raising small children that needed more attention – not to mention the insane amount of homework they pile onto kindergarteners and 2nd graders…and life just getting in the way) my posting and my creating has slowed WAY DOWN.  Not that I am not always creating in my mind…thinking of and planning new projects…..and now I run a ART CLASS at my work with my patients every week -( well actually I have been doing that for months now, but since I am always so laxed in posting new up-dates, how would any of my fellow peeps know that?)   So here is my latest up-date to all my latest creations:

Well…a blog post has been long over-due… I know.   But I have been sooooo busy.   I have been through almost EVERY DRAWER and EVERY CLOSET in my house…..talk about a big clean-sweep.  A few rooms to go….a final round on the garage before a “scaredy-hole” gets installed and then maybe, just maybe, I can relax for a moment and focus back on what grounds my soul…CREATING.  But in the midst of all the cleaning and organizing and general mayhem of a house with 2 small kiddos and a full-time working mommy and daddy…..I have managed to pull off a few projects……and since I am finding the rare moment to actually up-date my blog….I would like to share the projects I have completed since my last “up-date”   This is going to be a rather long post…so skim through if you don’t have the time…or sit back and relax.  AND anyone who leaves a comment, and is a current blog follower (see the subscribe 2 section on the right hand column if not already),  will be put into a drawing to win a box of paper crafting goodies…and if you have ever seen my give-aways, then you know you will not be disappointed……I’ll blog the prize just as soon as I gather it all together…I plan on stuffing a box FULL of goodness    Here we go…

So I have had a couple family birthdays over the last couple of months and here are projects I created for the special days:

Above is the creation I made for my oldest sister’s b-day….I created this on a 40 x 40 pieced together canvas …. I had to photograph my just turned 5 year old in the photo to demonstrate just how huge this piece actually is.  I used some amazing 8 x 8 papers from DCWV….some black yarn decoupaged onto the piece…some title stamps from CTMH stamped and individually cut-out.   LOVE this paper!

Above is a 16 x 20 mixed-media canvas piece I created for one of my nephews for his 10th birthday.  I used a lot of 7 Gypsies papers, some CTMH stamps….I did a ton of inking, painting, misting, masking, collaging….I just couldn’t keep up with all the supplies I used on this.

The above project is a 11 x 20 canvas project…framed by this amazing frame I purchased at Michaels (hand-painted) for my dear cousin.  I was going for a “search-a-word” type feel here… Can you see the saying?   I used an Oklahoma state map for the background (I am obsessed with maps) and used map paper to create the flowers.

The next 2 projects are art journal type pages, both 12 x 12, that I created with my kits from www.scrapsofdarkness.com – I used some stuff from both my Scraps of Darkness and Scraps of Elegance kits.

Next is a photo of the cover I created for one of my art journals (my new obsession.)

I stitched the flourished on this book cover with yarn instead of thread … and I love the added texture and dimension!

The next project I would like to share is another mixed media canvas – 16 x 20.

here are some of my Art Journal pages:

I am creating an Art Journal book for both my kids…..full of my “personal wisdom” per se lol!

whew! lol…and lastly…here is my very latest 12 x 12 art-journal style page I created with my ver August Scraps of Darkness kit:

and a few up-close shots:

Thank you for taking the time to peruse my latest creations! I appreciate each and every one of you!!! Don’t forget to leave a comment to win a great prize! Be in it to win it! God Bless!

Okay….so, yes, I have been on a creative hiatus….BUT….that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy! I have completed a major scrap room re-haul! Only now I fondly call it my ”studio.”  A place all my own….a place that makes me so happy I could almost cry! We ALL need such a place!  I want to give a great big THANK YOU to my dear husband for traveling over 190 miles away to the nearest IKEA store and getting me one of the greatest birthday gifts a girl could ask for EVER! You see…I don’t need diamonds…I just need stuff for my “studio” space. I love your sweetie!

So….before I unveil my studio heaven! here are a few before photos….I must say…it was actually worse than this…but I forgot to take photos before I started to clean out the space in preparation for my great re-do!   It was a bit like “Clean Sweep” – I just moved everything into our “Library” which is actually intended to be a formal dining room…but a formal dining room is just NOT a working room for this family…so we decided on creating a “Library” slash/Computer Area  for the kiddos!

Anyway…here are some BEFORE photos: (prepare yourself )

It is important to note here….this shot above is the actual wall that has been replaced with my new IKEA Expedite shelving! Woo HOO!

Above is a shot of my affectionately named “Leaning Tower of Paper” – so glad to be past this point!

AND drum-roll please….my newly remodeled and extremely inspiring (at least to me) studio space!

Remember that wall I mentioned above…well…this is the same wall….only now it holds 2 of my new “happy birthday” IKEA Expedite shelving units!!!!  SOOOOO worth the $….and a whole lot cheaper than buying the individual scrapbooking room storage shelves that are so popular….the best thing about these shelving units….each “cubicle” is 13 x 13 …the perfect size space for scrapbook paper!

and in case that first photo wasn’t enough…here is another…a photo taken just inside the door-way to my “studio.”

Here are some other shots of some organizing solutions I have come up with along the way:

above is a photo of the retro cassette tape holder that I have had FOREVER…..used for holding and organizing my ink pads.

the above photo is the section of my “studio” that I call Stamping Central…here I have  my stamps…acrylic and wood, separated by type (texture, etc.)….this is a shelf/peg board that I bought for $5 at an Estate Sale in my local area a while back…SCORE!

another great big PERK to these shelves is the space afforded by them at the top….above is a partial exhibit of my ribbon collection…..Yes, I am a ribbon junkie…..I used an over-the-door shoe rack (purchased from W for roughly $8) on it’s side, to store a lot of my ribbon spools…..my other solution for the smaller ribbon spools and smaller amounts of “loose” ribbon are as follows”

Above is a shot of my punch storage solution…I bought 2 very inexpensive, clear shoe holders that hang over-the-door to hold my punches…this one is behind the actual door to my studio…the next one is in the inside of one of the closet doors located inside my studio.

above is one of the Ikea Shelf cubicles close to my desk, that houses all my beloved Chalk Inks…..this is like CANDY to me!

above…some more “candy” to me….my glues, stickles, acrylic paints…a whole lot of joy!

above…another garage sale find…the white peg board..I hung this over the other closet door…on the outside…hung it from an over-the-door coat hanger (as to not leave any holes in the actual closet door ) ….

above…my mists

Here is a photo of my actual work desk…purchased from Target.com by my dear husband a couple of birthdays ago…and the black self-healing mat on top is Ingvild’s newest Prima self-healing mat…the other side is turquoise!!! I put it on the black side as to not mar the gorgeous turquoise side!

Thank you for sharing on my little photo tour of where I actually create! hopefully something I have shared here has inspired the organization of your own creative candy!  It sure inspires me to have a clean, organized space…..I actually completed a new mixed media piece….but now I am off to practice some spelling words with my 1st grader! Thank you for looking!

I have been taking a bit of a creative break….organizing….cleaning…getting my house in order so to speak!  BUT, in the midst of all the work I have accomplished, organizing ”My So-Called ”life” (loved that show btw) -  I cleaned and organized my creating space…well, after that,  I had to stop and create!  Nothing really inspires me more than organizing my crafty stuff! and with that said…here is a layout I created in the midst of all the work, using the exquisite February kit from www.scrapsofdarkness.com called,  ”Victoriana.” I was totally inspired by the Color Room’s Sketch/color palette #97  for the creation of this!

 This is my sweet nephew Lucas…back in 2005 when we went to Washington State for my grandpa’s funeral.   This photo was taken at the top of Mt. Rainier….in the parking lot of the resort hotel.  Lucas has always been the sweetest child….wise, way-beyond his age!

Here are some up-close detailed photos:

Thanks for looking!