Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...

Once again I found myself stumped on cards for boys. This seems to be a common problem for my card-making colleagues everywhere.


Well, yet again the craft store bargain bin comes to the rescue. How cute is this little guy?


I've also been hoarding these cool little mosaic tiles.  They're rubber and shimmery.

All I had to add was some Rock Star paper and chip board.  And a little pastel gel pen.  Bam!  There you go.

I might even try the same theme for a rocker girrl card too.

Well, it's a long weekend, and as the lizard says "let's party!"  Have a great time with friends and family, or just chillin' with your own self :)

Simple Things

Every once in awhile, I feel inclined to try and make art that is simpler and cleaner.  Most times  I can't resist adding a bit more.  I envy people who can be minimalist in their designs.  Guess it's just the collage in me trying to get out!

These new stamps from Michelle's store made me want to try again to dial things back.

Aren't these stems great?  The flowers and leaves are different stamps so you can combine them however you like. 

The giant rick rack is hand-dyed.  I picked it up at a craft show last month and really love how the color is very subtly varied.

 I used the same colors on the next card.  The turquoise and brown look so nice.  It's one of my favorite combinations.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set, the image is StampinUp! dry embossing, and the trim I got from SCRAP.

This is about as minimalist as I'm comfortable with :)  I tried not putting the trim on, really I did!

Oh well, what girl can resist a little sparkle, right?

Hope you all have a "simply" wonderful evening.

Treasures from SCRAP

I'm so excited to have finally discovered a local treasure trove just a few blocks from our house.  I've long been meaning to check out a place called Scrap where people and business donate all sorts of odds and ends.  You and I can buy them for pennies!  And the inventory changes all the time, so you get to discover things every time you visit.  If you're an artist this place is heaven!

Check out what I got for $10:
Drapery fabric sample books for a buck each;
An entire Coke promo movie reel for 75 cents;
Beaded trim, photo slide frames; seed packets and a pair of pinking sheers for $5!

 If you live in Portland, you should definitely stop by Scrap if you get a chance.  You can find some really inspiring items and support a non-profit at the same time.

I'll be back with some things created with my new treasures.
Have a great Sunday!

Guys are Tough

And not necessarily in the macho sense of the word.  May and June bring an overabundance of occasions for guys in our family:  father's day, birthdays, etc.

It's so easy to make things for girls, you know?  All that ribbon, and those flowers.  Glittery things and pretty paper.

When it's time to make something for a guy, it eliminates about 90% of my supply stock, and severely tests my creativity.


But, Tim Holtz has become my hero once again.  Not only is he inspiring on a daily basis, but he's a guy - duh!  And he designs the most perfect things!  Currently, his Lost and Found paper pad and Salvage Stickers have come to my rescue.

 All three of these cards use some of his great materials.  And I just couldn't resist the Pop card - it was too obvious, wasn't it?

I'll be back tomorrow with a couple more things for the males in our midst.

Take care and enjoy the sunshine!

A Glorious Mother's Day

I hope all of you mothers out there had a wonderful day yesterday.  Mine couldn't have been sweeter.

My boys cooked me breakfast - cinnamon swirl french toast and bacon.  Then we had a laid-back morning.

Mid-day we went to Crystal Springs Garden along with several hundred other mothers and their families.  We ate lunch outside at Otto's Sausage Kitchen.  Then I finished off my day with a 2 hour massage - heavenly!

The day was gorgeous.  We broke out the grill for it's first outing of the season.  Here are a few pictures from Crystal Springs:

I love the bridge and willow trees.

My boys.

Duck, duck, goose!

Bottoms up!

Hope your Monday has been a good start for your week. 
Thanks for stopping by...