Spook-Tackular

Hi! Have you been out shopping lately? Candy corn fills the shelves, the craft stores are full of Halloween and fall decor and supplies to spook up your home, it's so exciting! I could honestly get amped about making Halloween all year long! Around here Halloween gets top billing in the Holiday dept.

I found this adorable stamp set complete with a die for the black cat at Michaels last week, and you can expect the set to make quite a few appearances by the end of October, it's just so cute!

I started watching Bates Motel on Netflix and colored my way through the first 2 episodes, I figured it's a good kickoff to scary movie and Tv season! (who am I kidding I love that stuff all year long!)

I'm off to another celtic festival work weekend, I do love the highland games, such fun people always! Have a great day!

Sunny Thoughts

Hi! I'm happy to share with you, that my struggle to remove diet coke from my daily routine is slowly but surely getting easier!   coming along! 

I'm keeping my thoughts sunny and upbeat and I try not to talk about or think about all the withdrawal symptoms... so happy I have not only super supportive people around me, but I have this creative outlet to help!!! Crafting has enhanced my life in so many ways, but I'm most grateful for the escape and happiness it has always given me!

I stamped this gorgeous sunflower from the Autumn Blessings stamp set  embossed it with white ink and set myself up to color for a while!  I layered in on a simple yellow patterned paper lined with a tiny strip of black and white stripes and a bow of charcoal and marigold bakers twine 

Calm satisfying fun! 

Acorns Fall

Hi!!! 

It's been over a month since my last post, so I thought maybe I should hop back on the saddle and..... well a horse riding metaphor sounded clever in my head, buts lets be honest here, I have never ridden a horse in my life- sooooooo let's just keep it real, I dusted off the stamp sets and spent a little time being crafty!

I'm still in New York and wish I could report fall like temperatures, but so far it's still summer in full effect, the nights are perfect and some trees are starting to change! I've never seen a full blown Northern fall in person, but I do enjoy my Florida autumns! 

I used the Autumn blessings stamp set and watercolored the acorns for this card along with a silhouette word cut.The background is embossed with a wood grain folder, and I enlisted the help of a SRM clear sticker for my greeting and a banner of burlap ribbon to tie it all together! 

I always get a little excited when the seasons change and the colors are so rich and "new" to decorate with! Fall foods, and boot season!!! Oh man I love boot season! :)

Golden Floral Birthday

I'm proud and excited to announce that I made the 2016-2017 SRM design team!!!! I make because I love to make, and I use SRM because I love SRM! Serving another term on this team is a gift to a person like me, but maybe not for all the obvious reasons that a reader might think...... a gift because this is how my day went:

   I wake up and oh joy a rare day off!!!  my plan: " have lunch, stamp, paint, and watercolor all day" write my post and done. but what actually happened....

lunch was altered into needing to do company accounting and payroll a day early since one of my managers had to leave town, a few minutes later discover that my cellar is flooded...3" of standing water!!! hustle to clean it up and rescue my belongings all drenched and muddy. a late dinner and family meeting of my daughters boyfriend for the first time!!!! (yikes under any circumstances)

My life is seemingly full of these types of days, in fact more often than I care to admit. :)

Finally time to work on my card and calm the day, I stamp, and paint, and watercolor these flowers and the stress of the day is wiped away. I'm happy, energised, and creative. This outlet, quite literally transforms me into a better version of myself, the self I like the most, a peaceful vibrant more alive person. So you see... a gift!!!

Thank you Susan for trusting me to represent you and the vision you have for your company, and more than anything thank you for allowing me to be part of this amazing team!  

Please join me in welcoming the entire team! 

Mr. and Mrs.

Weddings are often thought of in whites and pastels, but a bold sophisticated black is stunning paired with a doily and a few sequins!

This card was on the SRM blag a few days back and I just love seeing a card I enjoyed making on the blog and on Pinterest, it brings back the happiness of the making process for me...I know I'm so sentimental, but with life so out of control sometimes resparking a good feeling is just what the "Dr. ordered" :)

I Topped the doily  with a round take 2 stickers by the dozen wedding sticker in the center, and added a single row border from the same wedding sticker sheet. The simplest little twine bow is placed just above the border....because I love the softness of a little bit of twine!

To place the sequins I just dropped a small handful of metallic neutrals and glued them exactly where they fell, easy and random! 

I love that this wedding card could also double as an anniversary card, and is clean and simple enough to make in a hurry and still have time to wrap a gift before dashing out the door! :)

Those crabby days of summer

Hi again, Shantaie here with a crabby but cute summertime shaped card on the SRM blog today.

I cut this adorable crab with my Silhouette and added a bit of olive ink to his edges and used the bistro chalk marker to add a few crustacean-esque spots and highlights. He is way too adorable!!

Two hands in the air for lazy days of summer! This guy is pretty excited about his sign, made from a white banner and the August monthly memories sticker. How can you not smile when you see this crabby!!!

Have a fun and maybe even lazy summer day!

Peanuts on parade!

I'm featured on the SRM blog today with the following post:

Containers, are one of my favorite crafty products, clear containers that offer a colorful peek-a-boo inside are probably the most fun ever! Simple circus peanuts are elevated to gift worthy status all lined up in this clear box! 

A panel of patterned paper is embellished with a sweet baby elephant holding a balloon. The balloon is highlighted with a white bistro chalk marker  and a twisting twine bow in cantaloupe. 

I added a simple greeting of baby love from the we've got your border baby girl and a border from the baby sentiment sheet.

Making favors, gifts, or packages of any kind is just a little more fun and eye catching with a clear box!