Stars-ATC

Stars-ATC, originally uploaded by cuddle_buddie.

Here's my latest ATC... This was actually my first design idea for the Vintage ATC swap, until I saw that Marie Antoinette collage!!

I used a stamp from the Crafty Secrets Kewpies stamp set... You know... I don't really like dolls too much- but it's because they scare me!! But I just LOVE kewpies!! But I don't like trolls.... I must just be weird!
Anyway, I distressed the edges of the paper with Faded Jeans and Peeled Paint. The moon stamp is actually a tile stamp, but I just colored the moon part of it with a yellowish marker to only get the moon on there. There is perfect pearls swirled behind the stars that are raised with foam tape. The stars were punched out of paper I glittered with Stickles. The bunny has brown flocking on it and the palest pink glitter highlights Ms. Kewpie's flower band and dress. All other coloring was done with Copics.

It's funny, but I don't think any of the stuff I've made looks very good in the pictures!! The glitter doesn't catch the light the same... the colors aren't as bright, the stars don't pop out as much, and you really can't touch the flocked bunny on this in a photograph!! PS That's a moon in the upper left hand corner! :)

Shellys-Journal

Shellys-Journal, originally uploaded by cuddle_buddie.

This is the journal I made for the ARTHavenCreations journal swap! Definitely some different colors for me! My partner listed black, hot pink, and lime green as some of her favorite colors, so this is what I came up with :)

The journal is lined with black glittered paper. I think that's why the pic might have turned out not so great. The binding is covered with black velvet ribbon, and hot pink velvet ribbon surrounds the "Journal" stamp that I flocked in hot pink flocking. The little vintage cherub is colored with Copic markers and he sits raised above his journal, writing with a long pink feather pen! Rhinestone chain surrounds this image and millinery flowers accent corners throughout.

More candy!!

Wow- I have been finding a ton of blog candy lately! I usually feel bad entering for candy- because I don't want to just start following someone to get their wares- you know what I mean? I usually only follow those people who create things that have touched me in some way, or are similar to my own projects. Or are just SO AMAZING at what they do, I'm just compelled to follow! Well, lately, a lot of people whose blogs I follow have been giving away scrumptious candy! Jan, of The Polka Dot Barn, is no exception!!! Just look at this finely detailed gorgeous Spring banner she is offering up as blog candy!

Isn't it just Divine!?!?! Please, please go visit her blog and enter in the drawing for her candy! Happy blog candy-ing! :)

Would you like to receive a Special Gift?? Pay It Forward!!

Come take part in this special little game!

This game is called Pay It Forward and I found out about this through Koralee's blog, called Bluebird Notes! This is how we play:

I will send the first 5 people who comment on this post a little treasure!

I am willing to send my package overseas ( I am in the U.S.), but remember, you must commit on your blog to do the same for 5 others. I make no guarantees that you will like what I send you, but you may be pleasantly surprised.

What I send will be just for you, made with love, by my own hands.

I will complete all 5 gifts this year - 2009

I will not give you any clue what it is going to be, it will be something made in this world, something that you can touch and feel, and not something cyber.

In return all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 people that respond to your blog post. I will contact you to confirm and get your mailing address.

Everyone is welcome and it doesn't matter what you hand craft. I guarantee that you will receive something from me providing you do the same for 5 other people in your blog post.

If you would like to join in and 5 people have already agreed to participate on my blog, go stalk the blogs of the first 5 who responded until they post their Pay It Forward and get on their list!

I am so excited to see whom I will get to create something *special* for!! Please comment if you would like to join in the fun!!

Let's Play!!! :)

First-ATC

First-ATC, originally uploaded by cuddle_buddie.

Okie- this is my very first ATC! Well... let me rephrase that. This is my very first COMPLETED ATC ! Lol! :) My favorite color is blue, and I was lucky that the person who's going to receive this in the swap loves that color, too! This was a digital photo (you can find the credits for that in the post below) and I dressed her up with feathers, a rhinestone, german glass glitter, spica pen, fine glitter, and a pink millinery posy. Distress ink was used for the background and the stamped letter. Oh yes, I also used Perfect Pearls to highlight the light blue portions of her dress, but it doesn't show in the photo. That looks really cool, though, because it makes her gown all shimmery in the light! I'm glad that after a few tries, I finally came up with something I liked!! :)

Candy to Celebrate Shelly's 1 Year Blogversary!!

Yikes- it's 7:50AM and we are up because Bella said "Daddy! Get up!! It's time for you to go to work so I can go for a ride in the car!!!" Bella does not understand the concept of Saturday. hehe :)

But we had to be up early anyway. There's a big craft show today in Tonawanda- yes, really!! This time won't be one of those 12 booth ones!!! LOL! I don't know how I always pick those tiny ones to go see... Hopefully we will find lots of inspiring art there!

In the meantime, I have a link for my friend's blog candy!! It's Shelly's 1 year blogversay so head on over and join the party!! She has tons of chances to win some of her goodies, including two gorgeous necklaces and an adorable lace trimmed cuff! Plus, you'll get to see all of her creations over the past year!!

Ok- I will be back later after the show and Matias' first birthday party!!

First Birthday Card

It's my first first birthday card! Lol :) And my second card ever...

And inside...

Um... yes, I realize the inside part is supposed to go on the outside....

And I realized tonight how badly I need a tape runner if I'm going to make cards!!! I Mod Podged this card together and realizes it doesn't dry totally clear on colored cardstock... However, I forgot about making a card until about 8pm tonight...

But I thought it looked cute enough to give :)

Not slow...But Slow

Ok- I really have been working on new things over here, but I'm becoming a perfectionist!! And I am waiting for supplies! I think today all my new Crafty Secrets stamps will be here along with my original Copic marker order!! Woohooooo! Fun for the weekend! Lol.

On the only Yahoo group I'm really active in, ARTHavenCreations_Friendships, I signed up for a few swaps. Not because I think my work is that great- but kind of for a selfish reason.... well, 2 selfish reasons, actually! 1 was it seemed like fun getting someone else's art work in the mail!! (Anything but bills, right?!?!) And 2 was for the challenge of teaching myself to try something new. It seems like I work much better with deadlines. Like, besides the things I put on Etsy, I usually start a piece close to a birthday or shower or some other kind of due date and then I'm focused on getting it done!! But it is harder for me to get a lot of things going for the store maybe because I don't have anyone specific in mind.

But anyway, I am getting off topic! Somehow I ended up in a Vintage ATC swap!! Lol! I think it was because I commented on someone's post about seeing Penny's ATC and signing up for the swap in hopes of getting it!! I commented that I had had thoughts about doing the same thing, but I didn't actually mean to sign up! However, fate had this in store for me, so I have been working on finishing that by the end of this month!

And I have gone through 2 different design ideas, and at least 5 ATCs. hahahhaha.

But it's not right yet, so I can't post pics!!

But yesterday, The Graphics Fairy blessed me with this gorgeous Marie Antoinette digital image sheet!!!!! Please click here if you are interested.

So last night, I almost made the perfect ATC! (Perfect for the theme of the swap, I mean!!)

Yeah....until I forgot to stamp the background before I laid the picture over it....

And before glitter somehow got ALL over the place.

LOL!

So, I have to print out another sheet at work today (shhhhhh- I don't have a laser printer.... But work does!!) and fix these two things. I think it looks ok... but honestly, I would feel bad, almost guilty, if I sent out something I didn't think was my 100% best effort! Do you do that too?

Oh, and another wacky thing about me.... The more things sit around, like jewelry boxes or other things I've made, the more I want to add things to them!! Like, I will look at that light blue jewelry box I just made and think, hmm, maybe I should outline the flower jewel with glitter! Does this happen to you, too??

Ok, I am off to get ready for work! Hopefully I will have some updates later tonight!! :)

Get Well

I don't know why, but I just love get well stamps!!! Like this one from House Mouse-




Or this one from Crafty Secrets-

Of course I would like this second set.... I am in LOVE with Crafty Secrets!!! All of their stamps, all of their scraps- EVERYTHING! Their designs are so whimsical and vintage-y. Matt bought me all the Crafty Secrets stamps sets on RitzCamera.com for my birthday on Tuesday! They're on their way to me and should be at my house tomorrow night. YEAY!

Slacking...

Yikes! I have really been slacking on my blog :( Sorry!!! I think tonight I'll share a funny story with you... :)


A weekend or two ago, I finally cleaned up the upstairs bedroom and bought a 6' (haha I almost typed 6") table... So now I have a new crafting space! Yeay!! But you know, we should always remember where we came from, so I won't be changing the title of this blog! Anyway, soon enough, I set to work on some jewelry boxes I was trying to make for my Etsy store. I loved the idea of feathers and flowers, so I bought a mini glue gun- one of those $3 ones from Michaels. When I bought it, my first thought was "I wonder how many times I'm going to burn myself on this thing..." and my second thought was "Wow, only $3... Wonder if it will even work!!" But I plugged it in and squeezed the trigger and soon enough it was pumping out the sticky stuff! It worked well with my feathers and then the flowers so I was pretty happy with my $3 purchase. :)


Until the next day. When I went back into the room and Matt found out I had forgotten to unplug the darn thing!! And a hot puddle of glue was sitting on my brand new table.


Needless to say, we went to the craft store that day and Matt did not let me leave without purchasing a glue gun mat.

Lol. And wouldn't you know- I did it again!!!

So now I have to develop an OCD about checking to make sure it's unplugged. (It's not on right now. I SWEAR!)


While looking through my HUGE Google Reader list, I found June's blog candy! She is offering a ton of different goodies such as round inkable pendants, metal letters and frames, rub ons, ribbon, stamps... the list goes on!! Visit her blog, pick up her link to post on your blog, and leave a comment to enter! Plus, you'll get to see all the wonderful Artwork she creates, which is candy in itself!!


And while I was there, I found MORE blog candy! Such a cute necklace! I looked in Val's store, but there isn't another with the same colors. However, there are many other super cute pieces, so check it out!

Lastly, after my glue gun story, I bet you want to know how those jewelry boxes came out... Lol :) Here they are!

Ah... Flickr mosaics :) I love em!

Premo Meme Award from Penny Duncan!

Wow! My very first blog award!! This award was given to me from Penny Duncan from Penny Duncan Creations! I was totally FLOORED when I saw this award she had left for me on her blog!

Thank you so much, Penny! If you haven't already, you should visit Penny's blog- she creates the most wonderful, elegant and useful SCAL files (such as boxes and little bags) as well as Beautiful artwork!

So... 7 facts about me...

1. I was adopted from Seoul, South Korea when I was 13 months old. I was seriously left on a doorstep in a blanket, just like in the movies!!

2. I have had a serious love for Dachshunds for as long as I can remember :)

3. My favorite number is 9.

4. I am currently subscribed to 155 different things in Google Reader, so I am almost never without new blog posts to read! Lol- I am always trying to sneak on at work to catch up with everyone's blogs... :)

5. I'm engaged :) We're thinking about wedding plans in the next year or two, but no definite plans yet... But for now, talks are focused around getting married in Hawaii (how funny you should mention Hawaii on your post, too, Penny!) and spending 2 weeks there on our honeymoon. :)

6. Before crafting, I used to spend most of my free time playing Second Life. I found out about Second Life while watching CSI NY one night, but didn't actually sign up for it until months later! I always found myself stunned by other's creativity "in-world". You should take a look if you have a good graphics card- don't worry, it's free! But there is also an economy in SL, so you can spend and make money just like you would in Real life... Especially if you are good with photoshop and/or programming.

7. I am OBSESSED with pink and aqua vintage! Or anything Pastel-ey vintage. I love, love, love those cute whimsical animals! Hopefully I will be able to produce beautiful work like these things very soon...

1. Stunning Cloche with Birds 2. Sweet Eye Candy Creations 3. Rosanna's Custom Shadowbox, 4. Sugary Advent Calendar

And now to pass on this award :)

1. Teresa Atkinson of Maggie Grace Creates- Beautiful crafts and a wicked sense of humor! A definite must-read!

2. Rita of Rita's Creations- One of THE Sweetest souls I have met online!

3. June of Arty Retreat- Wonderful art and generous woman!

4. Christina of Christina's Creations- Some of the cutest cards, some with an elegant vintage touch!

5. Analise of Sugar*Sugar- Her blog inspired me to delve further into crafting because her art came out so wonderful (the last picture in my collage is of her work)!

Mail Anyone?

I just finished my mail holder project! I love how it turned out! (Very excited- can't you tell, hehe)





Wooden Distressed Crackle Paint Shimmery Velvet Wall Pocket Mail Holder

This was really fun to make. I love the shimmery paper- it's so elegant! And of course, I love the velvety ribbon :) I started out with the crackle paint- I knew I wanted it on the sides. Then I put the paper on the front, but it was a little bit difficult at the top because of the way the wood is cut. Then I cut out paper diamonds from the paper with the old letters on it and distressed the edges a bit more. I edged those with the velvet ribbon and did the accent pieces topped with a velvet bow. Stamped the sides and a coat of matte varnish to finish it off. I bet I could make this in 3 days now... It just takes longer the first time cuz you don't know what to do with everything!

Ok- so I know I've been promising sparkley things, but I have had such a hard time with the glitter!! It gets all over Everything!! Especially places I don't want it to be.... I've spent a couple hours picking all the glitters off one by one with my craft knife... What a painstaking job, but it really annoys me when there is a little fleck here and another one there and so forth. Funny- I would get them unstuck, but then I'd blow on them to make them go away, and they'd just fly onto a different piece where they shouldn't be! I need a bigger table! Or a bigger brain! :)

But anyway, I should be able to post pics of them tomorrow. I varnished over the glitter so it wouldn't rub off on everything it came in contact with, but I want to make sure it's completely dry before I put everything back together. Then they just need some finishing touches and voila! Pics for everyone :)

New-s

Today I went to Hobby Lobby for the first time. It was pretty cool! They were having a 50% off sale on ribbons and I found some pink and blue ribbons with snowflakes... Maybe it is just in July, or maybe it's because Christmas is such a busy time of the year, but I've read a lot in other blogs lately about beginning to start Christmas projects... So when I saw pink ribbons I had to get some since most of the Christmas stuff is red and green. Well, by the time I end up getting to it! I also got some charms and a gingerbread man. I Loooove gingerbread mens... or people.... or whatever the PC term for it would be lol.

I also went to City Hall for the first time today. What an interesting building. I must have been overcome with awe because I tripped up the stairs outside and almost went sprawling onto them!!

In crafty news, I got my new paper cutter yesterday. I bought it on ebay for like $25, but it normally goes for $40. So I was happy for the discount :) I am almost done with 5 projects. The other day, I made the same mistake twice!! I went to glue on the papers, but I wanted them in a particular order. But I get so excited to do the papering because I can't wait to see the end result--- and I glued two things upsidedown!! Argggh!! I must learn much more patience... Breathe in... Breathe out... Maybe this will help my giddy-ness :)

Ok. Hopefully tomorrow I will have pictures of new things for you. Sparkley new things :)

Finally... A Post!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I haven't completed anything new either!! Isn't that terrible? I think I may have had my pride hurt by a comment. Yes... me and my overly sensitive self... Someone found out how much my birdhouse sold for (not from me) and said something like "I can't believe someone paid that much for it" because it was just decorated by me with paper, glue, paint, stain, trim, etc. I know this person didn't mean to make me feel bad, but I guess I must because I hear the comment echo in my head and it's been almost 5 days. lol. Oh well. Everyone likes different things...

Anyway, today I thought I'd practice my picture taking. My friend, David, who advised me to create SplendidlySweet.com and helped me get the domain name and everything, told me I needed to take better pictures. So I read up a bit on the Etsy forums and played with my camera a bit. But so far, I've only been able to take pictures on a plain white background. Um, it's actually two plain sheets of computer paper- one flat on the table and the other propped up against "things in progress". We don't have any extra lights in the house, either, so these pictures are just in natural light. I put them in photoshop to touch them up a little bit and here's how they came out:

Oh yes- this is my latest order from Popalicious! To tell the truth, I was missing one thing that I had ordered- some blue silk roses- but I definitely got spoiled with free items! For instance, I received a ton of that pink fringy paper trim- like 5 yards or more!- and the pink lace trim, and the white trim from the same picture, and over 100 pink carnival tickets, the rhinestone ornament, and two of those dotted ribbons. I bought one grab bag and in it was the silver brooch. I can't tell you how much I LOVE this piece! It is so pretty! I couldn't believe they included it in a $5 grab bag!!

I also figured out how to use Google Reader this weekend. Actually, before this past weekend, I didn't know it even existed. But Analise from Sugar*Sugar posted instructions on how to use it on her site and I thought it would be awesome to get live feeds from my fav Etsy shops and the blogs that aren't thru Google. I'd be going to my fav. typepad.com blogs everyday instead of reading them through the Dashboard page since I couldn't add them on there. But with Google Reader, I have everything all in one place! And it shows who's updated right away, so I can follow my 70 blogs (so far) and tons of stores- lol!

Ok... hopefully I will have more pictures to post soon :) Almost time for bed, so nighty night!!