CCC #054: Christmas Color Switch Tags Challenge

Non traditional colour gift tags this week 
at Catherine and Cathy Create, 
and my last DT post for them.

I must admit, I love traditional Christmas colours.

This took me outside of my comfort zone, but it was a lot of fun playing with the ideas swirling in my head.

This tag was quick and fun, simply double emboss (first dry, then heat), and staple scraps of stuff, and add a message. 

To me, Orange at Christmas is incredibly out there and nontraditional.

Challenging myself doesn't mean I have to reinvent the wheel,

I could still add traditional elements, like gold and green.

Don't forget to stop by www.catherineandcathycreate.com to link up and win.

Enjoy!

2014 Creative Blog Hop

Hi Everyone!

Another two post day, wowza.

My talented friend Cathy Caines, from In The Cat Cave, 

asked me to continue on the Creative Blog Hop

 (her post from last Sunday is in the link above). 

I took that as an excellent reason to start work on my 2014 December album. 

I may only have to album itself refinished, but you've gotta start somewhere right?

Inspired by a few other projects I just completed,

I kept on spraying the gold paint.

The blank Stampin' Up! album, which was already pretty, 

just was not what I had in my head.
 I turned this:

into this:

Creative Blog Hop Questions:

Question 1: what are you working on?

Many things at once.
I have last years December daily on my desk, well coffee table in from the TV, this years December daily next to it, not started insides but the notes taken; I'm knitting a TARDIS cowl; more wool on other sticks for presents; I've  got some red flannel ready to be ironed for secret project; cards for a local store; a quilt to be put together at Granny's; and ideas swirling in my head for more.

Question 2: How does your work different from others in your genre?

 I just know what makes me happy.

I don't think I have a specific style, I like to try everything, mix it up. I could do a very simple card and follow it up with layers and layers on top of a canvas covered in ink and paint and whatever else I feel like putting on it. 
I like to make patterns instead of following them.

Question 3: why do you create what you do?

Because I have to.
 I feel the need to create in the middle of the night in the middle of the day wherever I am. I need to be making things. There are times I create things for special requests and for sale. My best work is when I create it for me, but I don't always keep what I create. 

Question 4: how does your creative process work.

I have notebooks and notes everywhere. I don't sleep like a normal person. A bit of a moody crafter, if I'm not feeling it, next in line please.  I like to think and edit in my head or on paper first . But sometimes I just need to get my hands into the project. I'm one of those people that go to the fabric store and has to touch every bolt. I don't always know what I'm going to create when I start, I just work and see what happens. 
I touch supplies and they simply become something. 

Thanks for stopping by, next week another crafty friend Kymberley from ScrapHappens will be posting a project and answering the creative blog hop questions. Please head over and check her out.

Enjoy!

Winner!!!!!!

Thanks ladies for your comments on the December fail post, a prize will be headed to Kymberley! 

 

Want to know about my 2014 December album? 

I've been using my iPhone to keep notes of each day's event, no app, just notes with talk and text. Simple. 

 

This is my Stampin' Up! 8" album I've started with for 2014, but it's gotten a complete makeover, and I'm not even finished the cover yet. Stay tuned!

Enjoy!

CCC #052 Home for Christmas December Challenge

Oh My Gosh!!!!!!!!!

It's December!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This month's challenge at Catherine and Cathy Create is Christmas Home Decor.

I gotta admit, I'm not ready. 

My mother's house was always decorated fabulously. Santa's and trees galore. I attempted, but her skills are more refined. Neither of us has started yet this year. 

I didn't know what I was going to do for this post, even as most of this post was typed. 

The tree is still in the bottom of the basement storage pile. Behind the construction of my office. Yay office!!!

Seriously, there can be plenty of stress during the holidays, but there doesn't have to be. 

 I grabbed my new candles, my scraps bag, and set to work. 

Little effort for beautiful results that set the mood to finish pulling out the decorations and start enjoying the Christmas season. 

Don't forget to create something for your holiday home decor and link up!

Enjoy!

December Daily Fail

So do any of you remember my December Daily from last year? 

See posts below:

http://rheaski.blogspot.ca/2013/11/december-daily-official-sneak-1.html?m=1

http://rheaski.blogspot.ca/2013/11/december-daily-official-sneak-2.html?m=1

http://rheaski.blogspot.ca/2013/11/december-daily-official-sneak-3.html?m=1

I started really early, all prepped, I added the first 10 days worth of photos and that's where it's at still. Still. 

I have yet to start this years album, as I am not yet willing to admit it's almost December. 

So time to fess up, who has unfinished December Dailies in their collections? Who has started on for 2014?

Be sure to comment below this post by December 1st, 2014;and follow my blog on bloglovin. There may just be a commenter prize ;) 

Enjoy!

CCC #051: Christmas Round the Corner Tags Challenge

Hey Everyone, 

Time again for another Catherine and Cathy Create challenge post!

November's Tag Challenge is all about Christmas Round the Corner.

I think I am in good shape this year shopping wise, with the exception of losing my list OHHHHHH NOOOOOOOO! 

Which also means I may just lose my mind.

But the purchased ones are wrapped, or next on the to do list, so I'm not completely out of it yet.

I love to wrap with big bows and pretty papers, and an ornament if I have it.

Handmade tags are the perfect finishing touch to any present. 

OOOOR a December Daily book spine, pages, just about anywhere really.

Don't forget to whip something up for the other two challenges for this month,

 both due November 30th, 2014:

Monthly Challenge: Thankful for Fall

Cards Challenge: Delighted my DSP

Enjoy!

CCC#049: Thankful for Fall

There is always something to be thankful for. 

The Catherine and Cathy Create theme for November is "Thankful for Fall".  

My project this month is using the SU Paper Pumpkin October kit stamp set and yarn (have you signed up yet?) I'm thankful to see those boxes show up! 

Be sure to create along with the design team, me included, at www.catherineandcathycreate.com

Enjoy!

CCC# 048: "Tags for Treats"

I have to admit, I'm very impressed with the My Paper Pumpkin for September.

 I mean, I've used it twice for October Catherine and Cathy Create, that's big. 

Especially since I'm not much of a Halloween decorator and such. 

Last year I may have seen 10 kids. That's over estimating. 

But does that stop me from buying all kinds of treats?

 No way. 

I looooove chips. 

And Tootsie Rolls. 

 So not a big surprise as to what I hand out to the kids who do knock on my door. 

What about you?

 Upload your Halloween treat tags at www.catherineandcathycreate.com for a chance to win bragging rights and/or a prize!

Check out the other two challenges for this month, both due October 31st, 2014:

Monthly Challenge: Hallowe’en Fest!

Cards Challenge: Color Challenge

Enjoy!

CCC#046: Happy Halloween

The spooky season is upon us. 

It reminds me of childhood memories; cutting construction paper chains and Halloween decorations to tape on our front window. 

While no doubt I longed for fancy store bought, I don't remember those decorations. 

I do remember the homemade ones.

I guess happiness is homemade after all. 

This Month's Catherine and Cathy Create theme is Halloween related, 

I couldn't resist doing another dress form doll, 

The burlap bags from the My Paper Pumpkin kit were just the right piece to create her dress. 

Fly on over to www.catherineandcathycreate.com to link up your own creation.

Enjoy!

CCC#045: September Tag Hexa-gone Wild

I've got to admit, I don't use a lot of hexagons,

 simply because I don't have many. 

I really like how the challenges at

www.catherineandcathycreate.com

push my creativity.

I was glad that my Stampin' Up! PL accessory pack 

had cute wooden ones, and the diecuts. 

Super cute. 

Don't even get me started on the cork alphas, faaaaabulous.

This tag will be part of my 2014 family scrapbook album, in the process of starting a PL book hybrid with my traditional scrapbook pages. 

Printing all of my 2014 up to now has been a larger task than I envisioned, but only because I ran out of ink and have to wait for the rest to arrive. 

SO are you hexa-gone wild too? 

Don't forget to join in on the fun at www.catherineandcathycreate.com and link up your creations for the September challenges.

Enjoy!

CCC# 043: Primary Colours

I love September. 

My favourite month. 

This month's challenge at www.catherineandcathycreate.com is primary colours. 

Red. Yellow. Blue. 

To me that sounds back to school, but when you think about it, all the colours are created by the mixing of these three primary colours. 

Artist have mixed and created for many years, from red, yellow, and blue. 

If you search "primary colours" on Pinterest you are very likely to come across Dutch painter Piet Mondrian and his primary compositions. 

Long story short, I drew my inspiration from his work and created a canvas using my Stampin' Up cardstock, ink, embossing folder, and brand spankin' washi that showed up on my doorstep this week.

Foster Kitty loves it.

I also made this cute mini card while I had my scraps out.

Don't forget to stop by www.catherineandcathycreate.com and link to your own Primary masterpiece. 

Enjoy!

August 14th: CCC #042 Tags Challenge - Sweet Summer

Sweet Summer!

Yes, It has been.

I cannot believe that It is mid August, whoa.

What is Summer to me? 

One of my happy places is out in boat, 

I don't get out often, but I truly enjoy it. 

I love the water. 

This tag was super fast, and a fave.

 I don't always like what I make, but I like this!

Head on over to www.catherineandcathycreate.com to link up your August projects and a chance to win. 

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 4: Mixed Media

Tags!

Yay!!!!

Making tags is what I do when I'm stuck. 

They inspire my creativity. 

So tags for Camp Scrap, makes me happy. 

I don't own clear glossy gel or clear embossing paste. 

Great thing about May Flaum, you don't have to be exact. She gives different supply options for same technique/idea.

I used CTMH Liquid Glass,

and besides the tags, only scraps pieces on my desk.  

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 3: Mixed Media

I love playing with different textures and mediums. 

I love making cards. 

A mixed media card, well now. 

I didn't want to add too much buttons and bobs because I want to leave room for a sentiment ticket when I go to give the card. 

Different from May's, but I am happy with the results. 

But with a mixed media card, I had so much fun creating. 

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 5: Challenge

I know I am out of order. 

Not a big deal. 

What colour do I struggle most with? 

Hmmm. 

Yellow. 

I'm sure you will say I have posted yellow projects before. 

I even opted to buy a yellow spray, thinking I need to use it more. 

Sometimes a piece or theme can be so overwhelming, I tend to over focus. 

This card uses yellow, the goal, but it isn't all yellow. 

But it didn't have to be. 

Once I let that go, the creativity flows. 

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 2: Challenge

Alter an embellishment. 

Really?

I'm all over this assignment!

I like to make things fit my purpose, I find making do forces me to bust out the super creative juices. 

I needed black alphas. 

I had these. 

And this. Very well used Slick Writer.

I altered to this. 

On this. 

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap week 6: Art Journal

Another week 6 post.

Sniff, sniff. 

If you didn't join this year (& even if you did) you really need to join Camp Scrap next year. 

May will also be having classes and workshops before then. Be sure to follow her blog, and sign up for the Craft With May newsletter. 

This week's assignment was to be inspired by another designer. 

I started out with a Dina Wakley inspired face.

 When I was stenciling I had excess ink I did not want waste.

It became this page.

I plan to keep going with my journal, to keep me creating and inspired.

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 6: By Design

Oh no, Camp Scrap is almost over for 2014!

While I will still be showing creations from assignments, no new content. 

That's okay, I've still two sections to complete. I can be in denial for a bit yet. 

Here is my week 6 Page, again I went with a single page LO. 

I LOVE how this turned out!

I had this page in a made by me kit for a retreat last October, and it sat until last night because it needed something. 

A good design.

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 5: By Design

More from Camp Scrap By Design. 

Oh I adore this photo. 

She's learning. 

There's corresponding photos of her subject matter, 

but they were printed too dark.

 They'll be added to another page when re-printed.

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 5: Art Journal

This week for Camp Scrap Art Journal:

I didn't follow the directions. 

I just did my own thing from the inspiration pieces. 

I didn't fully journal, but put enough on paper. 

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap week4: By Design

Yowza. 

More from me. 

In one day. 

If you haven't heard of May Flaum, you need to. 

Here is the week 4 page from the by design series.

(something wonky is happening here with photo, sorry)

I had originally intended to do a mini book from these photos, but it wasn't getting done. I am really happy with how it came together. 

Isn't that house darling?

I grunged the alphas to give them a dirty look.

 Happy I did. 

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 3: By Design

Me again. 

I'm finding it easier to complete sections of Camp Scrap 

at a time vs. the week aired.

Only because I'm falling behind. 

Thank goodness for self paced. 

Here is my single page:

Can you tell what embellishment package I am working my way through? 

I love this page. 

Not sure how I feel about the double page that is still on my desk. I continued scrapping when I should have been sleeping, and cut the green paper instead of the blue. However, the page is  nearing complete and the documenting of the tree is almost done, so that is always a plus. 

I doubt I'll be sharing that one ;)

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week 2: By Design

Here I am again with more Camp Scrap postings.

 I'm enjoying the classes and videos, not entirely caught up, 

thankfully May Flaum is a go-with-the-flow teacher. 

This week's By Design was fun, I'm glad I finished my October retreat pictures. And the fabulous ladies allowed me to post their pictures. 

While the class shows three examples (& I did too for week 1, and future posts), the two pagers mean room for plenty photos. 

While I have plenty that would fit,

not all my friends and family feel comfortable being online on my blog, galleries, & Pinterest. 

I can certainly understand that. 

The cards, hmmm, maybe a post later with class inspired cards.

Enjoy!

CCC 040:#InstaLove

August's monthly challenge at www.catherineandcathycreate.com 

is: #Insta-Love, inspired by social media.

Oh boy, I have to admit, this is a tough one for me.

I have a Facebook account, and Pinterest, 

but not up on the other social media sites.

I rarely hash-tag. 

I love texting and fb messenger, does that count?

Don't forget to pop on over, be social, and enter your crafty #Insta-Love projects at www.catherineandcathycreate.com

Camp Scarp Week 1: By Design

By design starts with a basic sketch and then goes on in many forms, 

right up my alley!

I decided to go with prepacked pages kits I had made for myself last October when I went to a retreat, and didn't complete. 

Didn't even look at them for the retreat I went to in May.

So for May Flaum, I busted them out :)

I struggled with scrapping the too dark photos, possibly reprinted somewhere else in my scrap room and lost, no surprise. 

I will just reprint and replace later, but I really wanted to scrap them anyway.

For the two-pager, I didn't stray much from May's page. I don't normally do that, but I felt good by getting the pictures scrapped and out of my to do pile. 

How cute are they? 

Talk about quick card. The stitching took the longest.

This little boy's Christening card will go in my card stash for later.

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap Week4: Art Journal

It's funny, I haven't touched my Art Journal in two years,

 and now its the only section of  Camp Scrap that I am up to date with. 

The theme/inspiration was to draw. 

My journal is the perfect place to practice with mediums before starting a major project with them. 

My oil pastels are fun to play with, I just am still learning how to use them.

Enjoy!  

Camp Scrap Week 2: Mixed Media oooooooh

Well, I must say I enjoyed the week 2 mixed media project tremendously.

 I am glad I signed up for May Flaum's Camp Scrap 2014. 

It isn't the first time I have attempted the technique, but the way I used it on a box instead of canvas has given me more ideas for an upcoming Mermaid themed birthday party... stay tuned!

Enjoy!

Camp Scrap week 3: Art Journal

Hey All, 

Back again with my project from May Flaum's Camp Scrap. 

I've been catching up, doing the smaller scale Art Journaling classes first.

Art Journaling is not normally something I keep up with. 

I really enjoyed May's collage sample, but I couldn't seem to get that past my head and connect with my hands. 

Instead I followed her quick page approach. 

Happy with the final result.

I put on paper some of the thoughts and feelings about being stuck, even when surrounded by ideas and inspiration.

Enjoy!