New Challenge at gg designs

I designed a sketch challenge plus 2 samples for it for gg designs.

Wanna see?

Click HERE

and scroll way down (she saved the best for last!)

Update on "not buying new craft stuff in 2009"

I have been busy making art ;) I had to design samples for the February issue of SheetLoad and samples for my Craft Critique article which appeared yesterday. I am very proud to say that I used some polka dot paper that I loved and had been hoarding the last scraps of it. But I went for it and USED it! I don't know if I am allowed to show you a sneak peek but I'm doing it anyway!

On Sunday we drove to Rockville which is about an hour from my house and reasonably close to DC. There were signs on the Interstate about being prepared for traffic snarls during Inauguration. OK they didn't use the word snarls but I like the word. One of the places we went was Pearl which is a large art store. I looked a bit but didn't buy anything for myself. OK- the truth is if they had had the flesh-tone marker shade that I wanted I would have bought it... but they didn't... so I didn't!

Belinda loaded my 3rd project on Clear Artistic Stamps. It has been so exciting to be the By Invitation Only guest designer this month. My review of JFF faux postage templates appeared on Craft Critique yesterday- HERE.

Last Thursday we had a snow day, Friday was half day and the kids had off Monday and Tuesday. My poor child was wondering what to do with herself by Thursday afternoon! I have tried to keep her busy but we had 3 inches of snow yesterday and when she woke up this morning Daddy had bought her a new sled! We have a drainage pond behind out house that is the perfect sledding hill for the neighborhood kids. She had a blast.

This afternoon we went to the paint store to pick a color to paint our master bedroom and bathroom. I narrowed it down to 2 colors and of course they only had 1 of the shades available in a sample size. So I have a beigey-camel color for the walls. Our bed linens and blue and tan and camel and are HERE. Looks like Target has discontinued that style so I am glad we bought it and didn't dilly dally. We have a cathedral ceiling in our bedroom so we have a professional painter doing the work.

Sketch Throw Down on gg Designs

Jeanette Waters created a sketch for gg Designs HERE. I didn't follow it exactly (my computer time is really limited because 3 of us are sharing 1 computer) But I think sketches can be used to imspire- even if you don't follow them exactly.

I am on a mission to really use my stock of supplies in 2009. I have seriously curtailed my buying habits since 2005 (with a few fun exceptions), but since my Mom gave me a HUGE stash of supplies for Christmas, I'm not buying anything for at least 6 months! Instead I'm using the stuff I have hoarded for years. Bazzill will make more cardstock so I can use my stash! I love the distressed look of the Miss Elizabeth's paper- so I'm USING it!

gg throwdown #1 2009
Stamps: gg Designs
Ink: Versafine - Sepia; ColorBox Fluid Chalk- Alabaster
Paper: Miss Elizabeth
Cardstock: Bazzill
Other: Scraps of white cardstock sponged with Distress Ink- Tea Dye

January issue of SheetLoad is available!

The January issue of SheetLoad is now available HERE.
C.C. Designs sponsored the issue. Not only do they sell rubber stamps- they also sell digital stamps- so if you like to create digital art you should check them out!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Last night we returned from visiting my family back home in NY. I'm happy to say my Dad is on his way to a complete recovery from recent surgery. My daughter got to experience 10 inches of wonderful snow (and my hubby and I got to shovel the driveway!) My SUV got sick but is happier now with a new part and a visit to the local card dealership, which in a way was a blessing because we got to stay longer in NY. Today the hard drive on our laptop bid us a not so fond farewell- luckily we have a desktop computer so I can access the Internet.

My Mom bought me a huge mountain of new supplies for Christmas. I bought her a full spectrum light (like an Ott light). My husband bought me a new Fiskars paper cutter which I love because I can easily cut 1 inch wide pieces.

And last but not least... I am the guest designer at Clear Artistic Stamps for the month of January! I am so honored to have been invited by the owner, Belinda and Etha, her design team coordinator. The stamps are to die for and I had a ball making samples ;) Go take a look- HERE