Junk Journaling!

Hi, friends!  I've joined my friend, Clare from Miscanthus Crafts, in a journey on junk journaling for 2014!  I've got my first page to share with you...I'll tell you the "junk" I used after you see the final product. :)

Here's the page~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards: New Beginnings

Totally Paper Crafts: New Beginnings

Your Next Stamp: Photo Inspiration

Junk used: cardboard from a dinner box, black and gold packaging from canvas strip, old gold tissue paper, scrap papers.

I LOVE the way this turned out!  Now to figure out what to do with it???  Hmmm...any suggestions?

I used this quote because it's part of my resolutions for this year.  I'm going to try to love more, talk unkindly less, and share the love that I feel from God with those around me!  I'm also doing an interesting money saving thing that I might share with you later...but that's a totally different post. ;)

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!  I hope you've been inspired to take a peek today and to try something NEW!  I also hope you'll consider joining in the fun of JUNK JOURNALING!  You can email Clare for more info. ;)

That's all for me tonight!  I'll be back sometime in the near future with another page for your viewing pleasure!  HUGS and happy stamping to you all! :)

Art journaling!!!

Okay, so those of you who know me know that I LOVE learning new things--especially about crafting.  And so I'm always super excited when the lovely Clare from Miscanthus Crafts does a new art journaling video!!! And this time she even let me know about it--THANK YOU, Clare! :)  Of course I watched it immediately and then made a page!  You can check out the fabulous video tutorial HERE.  I hope you do!

Here's my page~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

From Cardmaking to Art Journaling: Lesson 6

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Stamping All-Stars

Word Art Wednesday: Anything Inspirational Goes

So, I could tell you the process I went through to create this, but Clare has already done so in her video.  The only things different between her sample and mine are that I used a circle punch and that I used butterflies and a few more embellies on my page.  I like the shine. :)

Supplies I used: 1" circle, small butterfly and large butterfly punches (SU!), oil pastels, random dollar letter stamp sets (LOVE these for art journaling--thanks for the tip on those, Clare!), my absolute FAVORITE texture stamp set by Bo Bunny, sequins, liquid pearls by Ranger, glitter glue by Studio G, black Stazon ink, clear embossing powder & embossing gun.

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek at my creation!  I do believe that I will be giving this away as a present to a dear friend I've been thinking of lately.  What will you create?!  I hope you check out Clare's video and these other challenges and link up with me!  HUGS and happy stamping friends!

I cannot believe life sometimes...

I just can't believe life sometimes!  I've been feeling like I've got NO time and yet I was able to stamp today!!!  AND my house is 1/2 way to being completely organized!!!  Our recycle bin and trash bin are almost full and we could have a fabulous garage sale.  It's fabulous!

Also, I received a freebie stamp from Stamper's Best with an order I placed a while back and I didn't know what to do with it...it is a stamp of Abraham Lincoln.  Well, much to my surprise, as I was going through a bunch of old sets to see which to sell, I found one that had a Lincoln quote in it!!!  HOORAY!  PLUS, I just got an amazing texture stamp set today that I wanted to play with, too!  So I did. ;)

Here's what I made with my stamps~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Fashionable Stamping: Clean & Simple

The Male Room: Anything Goes

Live & Love Crafts: Warm OR Cool Colors

(I chose warm.)

I've used a stamped image by Stamper's Best, texture stamps by Bo Bunny, glitter by Studio G, rhinestones from my stash, and all other supplies used are by Stampin' Up!.

Thanks so much for stopping by to look at my creation!  This is going to be framed and given as a gift to my brother who just got his first "grown up" job and has moved out on his own!  I hope you join in the fun at these fabulous challenges!  HUGS and happy stamping!

Chocoholic

Hello, my name's Mynnette and I'm a chocoholic....this is where you all say, "Hi, Mynnette!" in very sympathetic tones. Because we've ALL been there! Which is why the color scheme over at Colour Create is so fabulous for this time of year! Who DOESN'T want chocolate for Valentine's Day?! Okay, if you're allergic, I understand and completely empathize. If you just don't like chocolate, I cannot be your friend. Okay, I'll be your friend. But I cannot agree with you.

BUT, I digress...as usual! Back to the challenge. Colour Create has given us the color scheme of light and dark browns with white and/or cream. FABULOUS!

And here's the inspiration photo~

I drooled when I saw it. And then I ate some chocolate. Hey! Don't judge--you just did the SAME thing! ;D

Anyway, I have a set from Stampin' Up! called Eat Chocolate that I have NEVER used! What is UP with that? Well, perfect time to get it out, don't you think?! And guess what I made with it!

THIS~

Details~

What are your thoughts? Now, that really is deep dark chocolate brown, not black. Despite the horrible photography, I was extremely pleased with how it turned out--I feel that it totally fits this challenge to a tee! I hope you come and play along--I can't wait to see everyone's choco-rific creations! Happy stamping! :)

Red Carpet CAS-ual

Hello! I'm cutting it REALLY close yet again tonight! I LOVED the challenge that CAS-ual Fridays had for us: On The Red Carpet! CAS cards inspired by movies!!! I'll let you guess what movie I was inspired by after you see my card. ;D

Here it is~

And a closer look~

Can you guess what movie I was inspired by? I'll give you three hints. This book by Jules Verne was made into a movie in 1956 and then REMADE in 2004. David Niven was the star in 1956, while Steve Coogan played the same role in 2004. LAST CLUE: The whole plot revolves around getting somewhere on time. Give up? Or already got it? Either way, it's "Around the World in 80 Days"!!!

I recently got a stamp set from Pink Paislee with the amazing images featured on my card, and since I haven't had the chance to use it quite yet, I totally saw the inspiration! :) I tried to shy away from bling because Phileas Fogg is no nonsense and quite practical. I went for vintage/Victorian prints for the patterned paper. I love it!!! What do you think? Did you get it right away? My DH did...but he's crazy smart. ;D

Come play along at CAS-ual Fridays...not last week as the time is out, but this upcoming Friday! Happy stamping! :)

Becoming At Peace With ME

***WARNING~PICTURE HEAVY & PERSONAL~PLEASE NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS OR JUDGING~THIS WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO WRITE***

***Don't forget~if I get 100 followers by January 1,2012,
I'm having a blog candy give-away!***

Hello! I have to tell you, this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge is so awesome for me! :) The challenge is to create a one layer card that speaks peace to you.

So, a little story about WHY this is the perfect challenge for ME this week. I've been having a really rough couple of months...okay YEARS...with a person in my life. They drive me crazy, they make me want to scream, I have tried to work things out, and they STILL do not listen/get it. (Remember--this is all MY side of the story, so don't judge this person, judge ME).

So, instead of taking the higher road, I have gradually become less happy, less helpful, less kind when I have to be around this person. It didn't happen overnight. I just took baby steps of unhappiness--no longer sending cards to certain people because they associate with this person, no longer smiling while around them, using a curt tone of voice when speaking to others when I have to be around them, not going to church to avoid them... That is NOT me. I usually LOVE to help people. I want to lift people UP, not tear them down. I've had someone ask me why I've become hostile towards them--HOSTILE! That is DEFINITELY not me.

I realized this past Sunday that if I want to be the person I was a few years ago and if I want to be happy and helpful again, I CANNOT let this person bug me anymore. Now remember, this has been a process of many years. It's been slowly happening, and each time I've asked my husband if I was mean, he's told me no. Because I'm really NOT a mean person. And so this has KILLED me. I have never in my life hated going somewhere because of someone. I have never even THOUGHT about hating anyone or anything! So, I made the decision to NOT be that way anymore!

You want to know the results? Oh my word, I feel so light! I wrote a card to the person who asked why I've been so hostile towards her to let her know I am thinking of her--I cried as I addressed it because I felt so incredibly bad for they way I've been acting! I hope she can forgive me and be willing to let me help her again. I'll call her later this week to see if she got the card. I'll be sending out many, many cards for the next few weeks...

I am sooooo HAPPY!!! I cannot tell you how much better I feel knowing that I am no longer going let this person bother me. It was ALWAYS MY choice, but taking my life back after a slow down hill slope has seriously made me feel lighter!

Yeah, I know. I should've done this earlier. I don't know why I couldn't. Well, I do. I and others I love have been continually hurt and I'd tell you how & why, but I feel like rehashing all the bad things that have happen to me and others would totally be wrong because then I'm not really forgiving. AND, I don't even want to think or talk about them anymore. It's my life, and I'm taking it back!!! Anything else this person does is also forgiven. Because I CAN do that!

So, without further ado, I'd like to share the set of six cards I've made for this challenge--three are true one layer cards, but three others I added a punched out sentiment because I stamped it wonky. Yes, wonky is a word. No red squiggles! ;) The two layer cards are STILL CAS style, though. :)

These cards are simple--I'm trying to simplify my life. They don't have BLING--I'm trying to love myself for who I am, not what I wear or have. They are beautiful--just like me and ALL of God's children and creations. The sentiment is my favorite quote of all time--and stamping it over and over today has reinforced the choice I've made. I'm so glad that I was able to participate in the challenge! SO HAPPY! :)

Card 1 & Detail~

Card 2 & Detail~

Card 3 & Detail~

Card 4 (NOT one layer) & Detail~

Card 5 (NOT one layer) & Detail~

Card 6 (NOT one layer) & Detail~

What do you think? I really love them! I'm thinking that I will use them as a gift for someone! :) I hope you've been inspired to make peace with something in your life today! Be it a work situation, a not so perfectly clean house, an unkind word said, or just anything that has bugged you! I KNOW it will help you feel so much better! And while you're at it--won't you come and join us over at One Layer Wednesday? Peaceful stamping! :)

Blog Candy and an Announcement!

So, I've been thinking lately...I really think that giving away blog candy is a great idea! Lots of people do it...

Like Tracey over at Bross Art Addiction~

Isn't that a fabulous, stunning pile of goodies?! They include some of the most gorgeous decorative stick pins from Tracey's Etsy Store!!! And you have to check out her cards--they are absolutely STUNNING!!!

Here are some of Tracey's fab cards (click to go to the link)~

SO....this has inspired me! I've gained quite a few followers lately--THANK YOU!!!!!! I was gonna wait until Dec. 1st to let you know, but I'm too excited about it!!!

Here's my announcement~

IF I get 100 followers
by January 1st, 2012
I will offer my
OWN BLOG CANDY!!!

I will go on a mini shopping spree at my local craft store here in town and buy some goodies to share with you all! :) So--tell your friends and family!!! BLOG CANDY MAY BE COMING SOON!!! Please help me make this possible! :)

I hope you take the time to pop on over and see more of Tracey's fabulous creations--go to her Etsy store for awesome bling! :) But most of all, I hope you join in my quest to give away goodies!!! Happy blogging!!! :)

Guy Fawkes Inspired Card

Well...I'm a few days late. ;D Guy Fawkes Day was Saturday, and this week at LIM, the challenge is to use red and orange--bonfire colors!!!

Here's what I came up with~

What do you think? When I first stamped the black onto the orange panel, I was afraid that the card would turn out too Halloweeny instead of autumnal. But I think it works with the berries!

Speaking of the berries--that's where the red it! I used blender pens to color in these lined images.

Close ups~

Yep, that's glitter--to add a bit of frost to the image! I don't know about you, but it's been a bit chilly here in Kansas for the past few days! :)

I hope that you like my Guy Fawkes card! I had a blast making it! Hope you can join us for this fun challenge! Happy stamping! :)

Gratitude Challenge...Expanded

For those of you who follow me, you know that I recently joined the Gratitude Challenge--basically that means that this holiday season we make thank you cards and send them out! Because gratitude is so incredibly important. I have a few thank you's I'd like to say here on my blog. I will share a card as well, but this post is mainly about my gratitude for the blogging community and some very special bloggers who have helped me...and they might not know it because I've never really told some of them!

But first, the card. :) I made this extremely quickly--it took a little less than 5 minutes. And I love the way it turned out!

Here it is~

This is why it was so easy--I used patterned paper for the main images! Yep. It's just patterned paper on top of a cardstock base! Then I stamped my sentiment, punched it out and backed it with more punches, colored it with a clear glitter pen and attached it to the card. Then I added a bit of bling.

Here's a close up of the sentiment~

And the bling~

And now onto the more important part of this post--the thanking! I was recently awarded the Butterfly Award and the Versatile Blogger award by Susan at Cricut & Grasshopper. Thank you, Susan! You made my October! :)

With the Butterfly Award there are no rules attached but with the Versatile Blogger award there are a few rules:

1.) Thank the person who awarded you.
2.) Tell 7 things about yourself that your readers may not know.
3.) Award 7 other bloggers this award.

Here are 7 things that you may not know about me (and may wish you never knew...DUN DUN DUN!):

1) I was born on Mother's Day. And I sang in Carnegie Hall in college. (Yeah, that's two...oh, well!)
2) I LOVE tomatoes and tomato based foods, but they do NOT love me--they give me horrible heartburn! And yet, I can't stop eating them...
3) I am an avid (understatement) reader. I own almost all of Agatha Christie's mysteries...yep. Almost all 80-something of them!
4) I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I feel blessed to be sealed to my dearest husband and best friend not just for this life, but for all eternity! :)
5) I am the November Guest Design Team Member for Make My Monday! (Please join us--it's so fun!)
6) I do not have any children due to infertility issues--we're working on it, but it is totally stressful! This issue makes me feel terribly alone sometimes...but I love that my blog friends lift me up!
7) I LOVE McRib sandwiches from McDonald's (just like Susan, who nominated me). Don't judge! ;D They rock!

Some of those things actually play a part in who I would like to honor with these awards. You'll see how in just a bit (if you don't stop reading...I know this is terribly long!) If you are honored, please feel free to take these buttons and add them to your blog (please follow the rules if you choose to take the Versatile Blogger award).


In alphabetical order, I would like to honor:

1) Aunt Peaches for always making me smile! She is totally hilarious and has some seriously unique craft projects!
2) Deborah's Gems for always leaving me comments--you make my day quite a bit! I consider you one of my best blogging friends! :)
3) Deezine's Art for honoring my with the November Guest Design Team Member spot at Make My Monday for November--you seriously helped me to continue blogging! I was about to quit...
4) Shoregirl's Creations for all her sweet comments when nobody else bothered with my little unknown blog...and for all of her FABULOUS craft ideas and delicious recipes!
5) Simplicity by Lateblossom for helping me discover CAS style, the Gratitude Challenge and her other wonderful blogs--Questioning my Intelligence and Questioning Autism.
6) Thoughts on Infertility for sharing her personal experiences to help lift me when I need it and for researching options for those of us struggling with infertility.
7) Two Shades of Pink for taking the time to post her WHOLE infertility struggle story--you will never know how much it helped me stay strong and keep my hope and faith for a baby.

Ladies, you all rock! You all make my day in different ways--you're versatile! THANK YOU for all you do! You make a difference in MY world!!! :)

I hope that you are inspired to say thank you to someone today--it's so important and it makes you feel happier! Happy thanksgiving! :)