Grade 1 here we come

Our little boy is so excited to be going into grade 1. Tonight when I was readin a bedtime story (which we do every night) he asked me what he would learn to do in grade one. My answer was

"You will learn how to read. Then you can read mommy a story and she'll read you a story and repeat repeat repeat"

His smile was so big I thought it might freeze there for a while. How sweet is that!!!???


Today I've got a couple of ATC's to share with you that I created for Gauche Alchemy. The first one is created using the emboss resist technique and a wonderful stamp from About Art Accents. I think they have some of my favorite stamps to date and I just love these silhouette stamps that About Art Accents carries. They are perfect for doing Josephs Coat techniques with. YUMMO!!!

I added a little Pink Parts and Blue Streak mixed media color kit pieces to this one.

Next a bit of a modge podge ATC. This one is full of paper pieces from the Wholey Sheet paper pack. A little

I love creating ATC's Think I'm going to do a ballerina inspired one this week to commemorate our 3 year old daughter starting Ballet. let's all say it together..... AWWWWWW!!!!

heheh

Toodles Everyone

simplicity

Hello Everyone and Happy Wednesday. We are half way through the week and the weather is absolutely beautiful today. Sun is shining, birds are chirping and the snow is definitely melting.
I'm sharing with you today a card I made using About Art Accents stamps. The image is colored in using pencil crayons and Shimmerz. I love coloring and I have since I was 2. There is something almost therapeutic about coloring don't ya think?!?
Here she is. I hope you enjoy.

What do you do to give you that therapeutic feeling?
Hope you have a fantastic day
Toodles

Charm Bracelet

Hi Everyone. How are you doing this weekend? It's been pretty low key around here this weekend and it is always nice to have a weekend where you just relax and let the day fan out like it may. 
I thought I would share a little project that I did a while ago using About Art Accents Stamps and shrink plastic. It is my first piece of jewelry that I've made and some of the charms turned out really neat.

I embossed on most of them, or used colored inks and markers to give them a little extra "KAPOW". I think my favorite is the charm that was cut out using the Spellbinders Fleur Pendent. I quite like it.

Next, I think I'm going to try my hand at clay. Any tips you can share?
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a fantastic Sunday evening

Toodles

Fairies make me smile!!!!

Hi Everyone, just wanted to share with you a new project that I've done for Really Reasonable Ribbon. You can find the project in its entirety at the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog. But for now, here is the image for you. Colored with Copic markers, this fairy is available at About Art Accents.
Ain't she purdy!!!

So hop on over to the Realy Reasonable Ribbon blog if you have a moment and take a look
Toodles

Happy Blogoversary to Me!!!

Hello Everyone
This post will stay at the top until January 31st, so please scroll down to see some new stuff!


It has been 1 year since i started my blog and what a year it has been. I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful group of followers both through the blog and through different readers. Every day I post, I think about your wonderful comments and I hope that I'm giving you a blog that is interesting to visit. Today is Blogoversary time and to celebrate, i have quite the Blogoversary candy up for grabs. But before we get to that I just have to share my newest creation. It took over a year to jump into this boat, but I'm so thankful that I did, and I hope that you will all enjoy this new creative venture....

A scrapbook page! Whodda thunk that was going to happen

What a fun thing to do, although the time to do a layout is much larger than that of a card lol. What do you all think? I do have to say thankyou to an online friend Tara Orr for pushing me a little to finally take the scrapbook plunge. So Thank you Tara.

Now onto the Blogoversary Candy. 
Here is how this will work. The Blog candy will be up for grabs until January 31st. There are 3 parts I'd like you to do.

#1- become a follower- Knowing who my audience is, is so important to me so thank you for this. You can become a follower by clicking the follow button or by subscribing to the newsletter of by whichever reader you use.
#2- Leave a post on YOUR blog letting people know about my blog and the blogoversary candy. If you don't have a blog, no worries. Tell a friend, mention it on Twitter or Facebook. 
#3- Leave a comment on this post answering this question- What would you like to see on my blog? What changes? Do you want to see more techniques, tutorials, pictures of my family and life, more writing about whats going on in Erika World. A different look? Setup? widgets? Maybe you have a suggestion, an idea, something that would make this blog even better. Your ideas and thought matter a WHOLE BUNCH and I want to make sure that my audience loves coming to visit.

Now are you wondering what is up for grabs? Are you ready for this crazy list of goodness? Well here it is

Holy CANNOLI!!!!
Here is the list everyone


Lizzie Anne Designs - Shore Thoughts
Lizzie Anne Designs- A Man's Sole
Craft Lounge- Granny's Support Team
Cornish Heritage Farms- Gates and Bridges
Acrylic halloween stamp set
Acrylic Rubber Boots stamp set
Large Flower Medallion- Outlines Rubber Stamps
Stampin' Up victorian Stamps-2
Hero Arts- Block Stamp Sentiment Set
Holly Berry House- 2 large stamps
Glitz Vintage Titles- Cardstock Stickers
Glitz Vintage Extras- Rub-ons
Prismatics- Teal Pack Cardstock
Prismatics-Teal Accent Pack
American Crafts- Guesthouse Patterned chipboard travel
Magenta- Peel Offs- Squares and Flowers Lime
Scarlet Lime- Large clips
Small package mixed flowers
small package mixed metal accents
The Angel Company- Frutti Fusion Paper pack
Stampin' Up metallic eyelets
Black Ink- Skeleton leaves
Glue Arts- Glue Rings
Anna Griffin- Darcey Collection 3D border stickers
Scarlet Lime- Stickers
Amaco-Metal Accents Sheets-Country borders
My Little Yellow Bicycle-Zinnia Clear Cuts Frames
Making Memories-Envelope templates set
Coluzzle Rounded Square
Glimmer Mist- Scarlet
Jenni Bowlin- Red Line Chipboard buttons
American Craft-Vacation adhesive badges


PLUS 4 of the companies that I am a design team member for have graciously donated some outstanding goodies

Hearts in Touch has donated my favorite stamps

Hearts in Touch- Christmas 2009 plate

Hearts in Touch- Backgrounds #2 plate

2 sheets EZ Mount

Paper Temptress has donated my favorite paper package

Silver Lustre paper pack

About Art Accents has donated

$10 gift certificate (excluding charms)

(they have the most amazing fairy and asian stamps)

Scrapbook Star has donated 

$10 gift certificate

This place has everything you need. From inks to tools, stamps to paper.

Now how is that for a HAUL!!!!

Remember to do all three requests please and your name will be entered for the Blog candy draw on the 31st of January. Good Luck and thank you all again for your continued support. I so appreciate your comments and your visits.

Queen Kat Contest

Hi Everyone and Happy Thursday to you all. a couple of things to share with all of you today. First of all, I made it to the Top 10 for the Queen Kat Stamping Contest and I've moved on to phase 2. How exciting is that??!!?? For this next phase, we have been asked to create a card and an altered piece and both of them are finished yeah!!! So I present to you my very first drum box. If you haven't seen these before I have a great place to get them called About Art Accents. (make sure you let Annette know I sent ya, and you will get a free little something in your order). This drum box is a little picture heavy (that's me giving you forewarning hehehe)

Here she is.

I had so much fun altering this box. For the lid, I used Glimmer Mist and grungeboard to mask. Then added some Spellbinder pendants and the image. Then covered chipboard with liquid pearls and distress stickles. Ain't she purdy???

Now I couldn't stop there, I had an entire inside to finish...

Each tier was stamped using a combination of Hearts in Touch Stamps, Technique Tuesday Stamps and 7 Gypsies rub-ons. The paper for the project is Fancy Pants Vintage Valentine. Here are a few close ups of tiers.

And finally a close up of an amazing fairy.

Now if you thought I stopped there, nope couldn't do. I have a card for the contest as well and I love love love how this butterfly turned out. It looks almost lifelike.

And the close up to see the coloring

So there you have it. My entries into the Queen Kat Stamping Contest round#2. I hope you all enjoyed them and please leave a comment of support. I'd really really really appreciate it.

One last thing for this post. I went to my first weigh in for weight watchers and I've lost 3lb 4oz. Now there is something to smile about.

Toodles

Flutterby Wednesday,ABC, Belli Challenge and Smeared and Smudged Challenges

A Flutterby Wednesday  ,Belli Challenge , ABC Challenge and Smeared and Smudged Very Sketchy Challenge combination for you today.

Many of you might know from checking out my blog, that I absolutely love fairies. So whenever I can do a challenge and showcase one, I'm a happy stamper. This card was made using a Fairy from About Art Accents and if you love fairies, this place has a bunch. (when you buy from Annette, mention my name and she'll throw in a gift with your purchase. How cool is that!)

I wanted to do a grunge inspired card, so really distressed the edges, used Glimmer Mist to paint splatter the papers and used a new rub-on I got from 7 Gypsies that I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE. Here she is. I hope you really like her.

The Green background paper is Olive Brown Bag, dark blue is Anthracite, card base is Poison Ivory Iridescent, Light Purple is Amethyst Mica Metallic, and the rich purple behind the image is Eggplant Felt Weave. All are available at Paper Temptress.

I also have some HUGE news. I've been chosen to be a part of the 2010 Simply Renee Design Team. I'll be doing some organization blog posts for them as well as a few other things. Isn't that so exciting!!!???

Mojo Create Order of the Opus

Now there is a mouthful and this card has about as many challenges wrapped into it. I used the sketch from Mojo Monday (one of my favorite sketch sites), added color from the Color Create challenge, and finished it off with Bling for the Order of the Opus Gluie Challenge ( a challenge site I've just found, and quite enjoy the humor there).
I haven't done a challenge card in so long, that it feels great just to create for the sake of creating. The stamp is an About Art Accent stamp, and if you love fairies, Annette has some beautiful ones. I so hope you like it.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Flowers: Prima
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Glitter Glue: Stickles
Spellbinders: Rectangle Classic and Scallop
Stamp: About Art Accents
Embossing Powder: Clear Tsukineko
Ink: Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Paint: Shimmerz in Pumpkin and Pink Poinsettia
Tools: Big Shot, Scor-Pal, edge distresser, paper trimmer
Other: Brads, Fibers

A little About Art Accents for you

Hi Everyone. and happy Tuesday to you. Today is a distress ink and About Art Accents combo card. I'm absolutely loving the Distress inks and all the possibilities. This card shows the distress technique for wrinkling the paper, distressing the raised edges and spraying with water. I absolutely love how this always turns out. The stamp is from About Art Accents, and let me tell you, Annette does some absolutely stunning Asian image stamps so go check About Art Accents out. Here it is...A Thank you to all my readers, subscribers and followers.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Paper Trey, Stampin Up
Patterned Paper: 7 Gypsies
Chipboard: Maya Road
Glitter Glue: Stickles
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Stamps: About Art Accents, Stampin Up
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress, Versamark,
Paint: Tim Holtz Distress Crackle (Antique Linen)
Pen: Souffle
Punch: Fiskars
Spellbinders: Nestabilities Rectangle
Tools: Big Shot, Scor-Pal, paper trimmer

Inspiration from the new blog

Hello Everyone. Today I am sharing with you a card that was inspired by my new blog design.This set of stamps is from About Art Accents, and the set is my absolute favorite in my stash. Can ya guess why? lol. I did some masking with chipboard for the background and sprayed with Glimmer Mist in Tattered Leather. If you don't have this color, you need to get it because it is so versatile. And a first for me with this card is the beads. Well here it is and look at that purdy new watermark too.
The post man was also super nice to me today. A bunch of new stamps and my first order of Distress inks. Man am I crazy excited to start trying things out with those. Thanks so much for stopping by and let me know what you think.

Don't give up on me.

Hello Everyone, I apologize firstly for not having as many blog entries as usual. There are some amazing things happening over at SNR and I'm working like a busy bee on things. Today i took a little break though, to share with you an amazing image that is from About Art Accents. If you like Asian inspired stamps, Annette has some of the prettiest I've seen out there. I decided to use muted tones for the card and some great Little Yellow Bicycle paper that I just got in a kit, was just the right thing. So here she is. Ain't she purdy!!!???



Supplies:
Accessories: Ribbon, Pez-a-Blings
Coloring agents: Onyx Black Versafine, perfect pearls , Smooch, copper embossing powder, glaze pens
Die cuts- scallop and regular rectangle (spellbinder)
Paper: Not quite Navy (SU), Kraft (PTI), patterned paper- Little Yellow Bicycle (.
stamps: Framed Woman (About Art Accents)
Tools: Scor-pal, Purple Cows 2-in-1 trimmer, Big Shot, heat gun,

Some sweetness to share

Hello Everyone. I hope you all had an absolutely wonderful weekend. Today I am going to share with you a card that I think is very different than any other that I've done. The image is not what I'd regularly do, but when I received this little sweetheart in the mail from About Art Accents, I had to stamp him. So here he is, Splish Splash Bath.



I glazed the entire cup with Glossy Accents. Then started all the coloring. For the image i used markers, color pencils and gamsol, and glaze pens. Super cute and this little guy is a part of a set. I hope you all enjoyed todays creation. He was a real treat to make.

Supplies:
Accessories: cream pearls (Kaiser Craft), green velvet ribbon, lace ribbon, orange jewel brad (Frightful:Little Yellow Bicycle)
Coloring agents: Versafine Black Onyx, glaze pens, le plume markers, color pencils, gamsol, glitter pens
Die cuts- Labels 1 (Spellbinders)
Paper: Card stock- Ocean Tides, Spring Rain (PTI), Bella Bleu (SU), sage scrap patterned paper
stamps: Splish Splash Bath- About Art Accents
Tools: Scor-pal, Purple Cows 2-in-1 trimmer, Big Shot, heat gun

Flutterby challenge

Hi Everyone. Hope you are having a really great day. Don't forget to enter my blog candy giveaway. You can find the link here Today I am going to share with you a bright and cheery card I created using a previous Card Patterns sketch. I'm really enjoying the coloring part of stamps. It is super therapeutic. The image is from the same About Art Accents plate I used in the emboss resist card and I just love it. Leave a comment and tell me what ya think.
Buttons are starting to be one of my favorite embellishments to use on a card. They really give dimension and I think they are quite playful. All of these buttons were found in my moms laundry room, the last time I was visiting, so thank you mom *hugs*. For the background paper where the image was stamped, I used Perfect Medium and then a few different colors of chalk. It really made that image come alive and chalk is pretty fun to play with. Next card you make, try some chalk techniques.


Supplies:
stamps: About Art Accents-Floral Arrangement:paper cut butterflies plate, Harmony Classic Circle II Stamp 2-5/16 with Times Roman Font,
Spellbinders: Scalloped and regular small rectangle, regular oval
Paper: Card stock- PTI white and Raspberry Fizz, SU Basic Black, Barely Banana, Old Olive, Basic Grey-Bittersweet Ganache
Accessories: I {Heart} Paper Olive Leafy Vine ribbon, Assorted buttons
Coloring agents: Versafine Onyx Black, Le Plume markers, assorted chalk
Tools: Big Shot, Scor-pal, Purple Cows 2-in-1 trimmer, postage stamp punch