Try It Tuesday~stamp carving!

Hi guys!

I have some hand carved stamps to share with for Try It Tuesday.  I had every

 intention to post this before Valentine's Day but I didn't get them finished.

I started out with a 6" x 4" piece of Speedy-Carve and sectioned

 it off in to 2" x 2" squares.  I used a no.2 pencil to draw in my images. 

Easy to erase pencil lines not needed.

I had a couple of big pieces left over so I was able to carve a couple 

smaller hearts.   I kept all of the larger pieces cut from the carved hearts,

  triangles, arrow shapes and corner shapes.  

Great little shapes to add interest to art projects.

Supplies used:

Speedball: Speedy-Carve, Lino Cutter.

Glass mat

box cutter

No. 2 pencil

white tags

Divine Twine: solid red

Ranger: Archival ink/Jet Black, Red Geranium

Darkroom Door: All Occasions

A Jillian Vance Design: Sentimental Script

Fun project, just took longer than I thought!!

Thanks for stopping by~

Some thoughts~

Hi guys!!

Thank you for all of the kind comments regarding the published cards.  Appreciated your words of encouragement and praise.

 I started my journey in 2009 and got on my first design team in 2011. My goals were to get on with a manufacturing company and to get published.  That was it, two goals. (I added another goal when Jenni Bowlin Studios came along).  My first publishing was an idea book, of scrapbook pages, in 2011.  They allowed 10 submissions per person and accepted 9 of mine for publication.   My first team was Epiphany Crafts (I was so green Katrina Hunt told me I made the team).  Fun times!!

Around this same time frame, I tried out for a guest designer position with Darkroom Door. I have been affiliated with this awesome, red rubber stamp company, from Australia,  for many years.  It is one of the highlights of my career.  Little did  I know I would go on and meet other awesome and good people.

Next up was Helmar, Vintage Street Market,JBS, A Jillian Vance Design, S.e.i. and Whisker Graphics.  I was thrilled to create for these company's.

I'm currently with Clear Scraps (going on 4 years) and Quick Quotes (going on 3 years).  Fine people, both of these company's! Awesome opportunities have come my way being a part of these design teams. Good, good folks:) 

The people I have met along the way, I just have to name a few~ Crystal (Pinky) Hobbs, first person to welcome me on the Fisk-a-teers site.  Little did I know I would be on several teams with her. Julie Tucker-Woleck, she has helped in so many ways.  Debby Lewis helped me learn to ropes. Loved our power talks!

Gail, Dee, Emma, Becky, Leah (girls from AC Bailey) and Cheryl B. (Helmar) I consider them some of my forever "crafty" friends. 

In the early days I had to learn how to take a picture, how to manage a blog, re-size photos, organize,and meet deadlines but before I could do any of that I had to get lasik eye surgery (so I could see up close), buy a new computer and buy a new camera (not even talking about lens yet).

Sometimes it was overwhelming.  Sometimes it is still overwhelming but I keep creating year after year because it is in me to create.  

Thanks for listening and coming to my blog, you are a big part of why I do this :)  I don't usually write about my experiences or my thoughts, but I felt it was time.

Time to realize all the BLESSINGS and to pay it forward. 

 Let me know if I can help you ~

Take care :)

Thrilled to be published~

Hi guys!!

I have been holding on to this, some of you might have seen it, but I wanted to

 share the publications that published my work at the end of 2016.  Such a sweet way to end the year and welcome in 2017.

First up~

All the way from Australia/Creative Papercraft. What a thrill to be included is this beautiful magazine.

A special thank you to Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door for getting my cards to the right person.

My cards were shared on three pages of this gorgeous magazine.

These were created in 2013, so never give up on submissions!!

The next one is from Stampington & Co./Take Ten~

The cards in this issue were published in the Spotlights section~

I would have never known about this one if it hadn't been for a fellow card maker letting me know.

I got left off the list, so I never would have received the complimentary magazine if she hadn't alerted me.  Thanks Tenia Nelson!!! (she is all over the magazine) 

These cards are over a year old also, so don't ever give up on submitting your creations.

Thanks for allowing me to share~

Have a great weekend.

cm

Bitty bags by Whisker Graphics ~Gift Photo bags!

Hi, Connie here with photo bags using the Bitty Bags, large tags and Divine Twine by Whisker Graphics. The Bitty Bags are about 5x7 in size, so perfect to stuff photos in for storage or as a gift bag.

I started out with the Bitty Bags in red and black.  They come in all colors and designs.  I paired the Bitty Bags with the large tags and red and white Divine Twine.

These are my photos that I want to give in gift bags ~  cute kid photos and vintage photos.
First the vintage photos~

The Bitty Bag was stamped with a background stand and so was the tag.  Added Divine Twine to the tag and wrapped it around the bag.  Added embellishments and then the photographs.

Up next, the cute kid photos~

The Bitty Bag was decorated with pattern paper, added the large red tag and embellished.  Tie the Divine Twine on the tag and around the Bitty Bag.

Products used:
Bitty Bags ( red and black)
Large Tags ( red and white)
Divine Twine (red and white)
other:
Darkroom Door stamps
pattern paper
Tumble dye

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member

Candy Wrappers with Quick Quotes!

Hi, Connie here with a fun candy wrapper idea using Shades of Grey and Whistlin Dixie by Quick Quotes.  These are fun and quick!! You will have a Valentine made in no time at all.

The first thing you will need is candy bars. I used Hershey's Milk Chocolate but any candy bar will work, just adjust the size of the wrapper.  The flat ones, like this, will give you a larger area to decorate.  These would be great for other occasions too!

The size of the wrapper is 5 3/4" x 5 1/2" .  All you do is wrap the paper around the candy bar and secure the end with adhesive.

Shade the edges with Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk ink/Midnight Confession.
Decorate the front with red hearts and shade the hearts with Barn Board.

Supplies used:
Quick Quotes/Whistlin Dixie: 104
Quick Quotes/Shades of Grey: 102
Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk Ink: Midnight Confessions. Barn Board, Feather Gray and Seafoam.

other: heart punch, arrow punch, leaves, pearls and sentiment stamp.

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member

Heart Tart Tin Flowers~

Hi guys!

I have been creating with those heart tart tins again. I used felt this

 time instead of paper.  The background is paper and the rest, of the inside, is felt. 

I'm not going to hold my breath, but if I got some Roses these would look really pretty

 nestled among the them.

The shapes are steel dies and the leaves are hand cut.  The straws were an added touch.

  These would be darling tied to a homemade loaf of bread (any kind).  So romantic :) :):)

These were fun to make and I hope you have beautiful Valentine's Day!!

See ya soon~

Creating Made Easy February kit by Clear Scraps~ card time !

Hi, Connie here with a card that I created using the Creating Made Easy February kit by Clear Scraps!  The kit is full of crafty supplies for you to get creative with.


The chipboard bird houses, in the Creating Made Easy February kit, come attached in a 5 x 7 chipboard frame.  Along with bird houses, the frame can be used to create with as well. Look how it was used on this card~

Products used:
Creating Made Easy February kit by Clear Scraps
Bird Houses chipboard embellishments

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member