On a Roll...

Good Morning!

Last night after five days at camp with twelve kids I was able to sit down and make something fun. Then had to go move my daughter to her new home.

 I decided to check out the My Favorite Thing Challenge and saw the sketch and I will be honest I didn't like it.  In fact, I thought of skipping it. However, here at thinking*through*design, we don't give up on challenges.  I decided to further my challenge and pulled out my MFT bucket of stamps and closed my eyes and said I will use whatever I pull out.  Here is the result.....

Sometimes you just have to Roll with it
June 1, 2017
Colored with Chameleon Two Tone Pencils
Fun Stampers Journey - Journey Glaze
All other products - My Favorite Things 

I also wanted to share the actual sketch from MFT - (MTFWS335) is the challenge I used. 

I was surprised how quickly this card came together, but I guess when you have only been able to sketch for five days once you get home you are ready to rock and roll!  I finished this card in less than an hour!  So it would be a fast and simple card and you could easily change up the sentiment or even the stamp set.  I adjusted the design only because the floating banner was killing me. I had to ground it!  LOL and thus grounding it also grounded the focal point of the card.  It was a fun card and I really am happy with how it came out. 

Have a great day

Erika

Just one of those days

Ever have one of those days?  You know, seems like you are spinning your wheels and getting nowhere?  Yes?  Good, then you can relate to this post.

Yesterday was that day.  While I accomplished a lot of stuff I just struggled all day.  In fact, I was at practice and had to leave because my mind was just not in the right place.  I came home and went into my creative space.  I even was struggling there. I sometimes struggle to feel like I am doing enough.  Like I am just not good enough.  I suppose that is why ART is so valuable to me. I was in my own head, and then I remembered, you can just color.  That always makes you feel better. If nothing comes of it (production wise, ie, a card/decor item/whatever), it is okay. Just color. So I wrestled with what set to color and I was feeling a little prickly so I picked the "Stuck on You" Set from Fun Stamper's Journey.  I grabbed some pencils not Copics I know shocking, but I needed the layering process. I needed to shed the lie that I am not good enough that was rolling around in my head and I do that in layers. So with every layer, I added good feeling. I liked how my cacti were coming out and it reaffirmed in me that I am okay with being okay.  Here are the results of my efforts, not just ONE but three cards. They are similar, but not the same. So I hope you like them!

CH CH CH Changes....

If you have not yet heard, I am no longer a full-time employee at Fun Stampers Journey.  It was a dream job, I was very happy working there and then life happened.  I don't want to share too much but I lost my ability to work full-time.  This means new beginnings for me.  I am still very much in love with the company and all the people that keep the wheels turning.  I helped to finish the next catalog that will be released on October 1st, then I resigned my full-time position.  Sadly, I do not own many FSJ products so a lot of what you are going to see here will be other manufacturers.

I did have my first week of not working full-time and it was busy but I am never too busy to create.  I had ordered some My Favorite Things Stamps a few weeks ago and they just so happened to come in so I made a few things.  I also have a few other good things in the works.  I plan to get a studio set up for some live cast, and to provide some tutorials for color theory as well as some other fun stuff.  I am still writing and will share tidbits of the children's story I am working on as they develop!  I thank you all for understanding while I was full-time that I had neglected my poor blog.  Hang with me friends and we will make beautiful things together! Please share with your friends and family I would love to see this blog grow!

Magical Dragons (Click for Link)

Your Rawr-some (Click for Link)

Llama Love (Click for Link)

Stepped Up Chevron - Click for Link -
This was free for spending $60 or more! WHAT

Fun Day

Well the move is pretty much over. We still have sorting to do in the garage, but I am tired of boxes and all the junk in them.  Downsizing is good and bad.  You know you spend years collecting stuff only to get rid of it!  I have decided that I need to use the stuff I have,the MFT (My Favorite Things) comes out with the new card kit and BOOM I am pulling out my card.  I AM SO GLAD I DID.  I love the Warm and Fuzzy kit.  It is AHHH DOOR AHH BULL (haha)  It was totally worth every penny and MAN is is packed with goodness!  So here is the card I made quickie last night with it.

I just want to tell you the product in this kit-- I have never owned one sheet of the MFT cardstock because you all know there are really only three brands of cardstock that I will purchase in order of loving, Stampin'Up! and Fun Stampers Journey (tied really) and Bazzill -- and now I can say Bazzill has been knocked to fourth place!  I love the MFT paper.  It was a nice texture and easy to work with.  I also got my first 6x6 paper pad of MFT also a thumbs up.  Buying the kit really did help me get exposed to many of their products I normally would not have purchased.  The ink was a nice hybrid too. I think I need to get some of the color ink pads before I render a judgement on them.

Of course when I ordered the kit there was a set with Cactus stamps AND dies (but they were sadly out of stock on the dies)  but I had to have the stamps. I mean I do live in Arizona.  Well-- they are so dang cute I almost didn't know what to do with them.  THEN I went on Pintrest and was browsing some color combos I had saved and BOOM this here card was born. I actually used the watercolors in the kit to make the "fuchsia" color of the back strip.  I dropped a little salt on the wet paint and it puckered up some and made a nice pattern.  Then I covered it with the Mint cardstock  but still you get the idea. OH both of these are colored with Copic Markers.

HERE IS A LINK TO My Favorite Things so you too can get started collecting the amazing products they sell.

Finally, I started this card several days ago, but since my move I share a space with my son (when he is home from college) for my crafts.  It was spring break so making stuff was limited to after 11 a.m.  -- Which is fine.  I would rather have him around then making stuff earlier than 11a.m.  OK back on the subject.  This card took a few days only due to access. I sketched it and it for the most part came out just the way I planned it.  I had fun playing with the Coral and Aquamarine. I usually shy away from those because they are SOOOOO southwest and I don't really like those colors.. but I am super happy with how the card came out.  All these products are Stampin'Up!

Please feel free to leave comments!  I love reading them.

Blessings
Erika

Busy Weekend!

It is that time in the month that I have to work, work.  I love my job with my husband but there are days when I just long for a job again that affords me all the time I want to create.  Lucky for me my boss (AKA hubby) is very kind and I get plenty of creative time.  This weekend is the one that I usually need to focus on the business stuff, but I did get Saturday to play.  I had an opportunity to potentially work with a great company, (Fun Stampers Journey) but the timing wasn't right. They took a different route for now, I still love the product and encourage you to get on board with them!  Such cuteness!  However, during the week I thought I would be going to work for them I came up with some fun ideas.

One of the ideas I came up with  which would look AMAZING with some of the fun stamp sets they have was a game.  I sadly do not have those sets, but the idea was still fresh and fun.  I also have a dear friend that has an adorable toddler.  I heard this week she was having another baby.  I was thinking of making her a card, but this came out instead.  So in honor of big sister....I made this fun matching set.  Inspired by Fun Stampers Journey. (check out pages 71-77 of the catalog for the stamps I was thinking would be AMAZING with this idea). SUCH cuteness. One thing I really like about the stamps that FSJ is they are great red rubber and just so smooth to use.  I was thinking if you look on page 39 the aliens.. to make them different colors would be so cute!  Here is a peek of the Matching Game I made.  ANY FSJ Coaches out there.. this would be an amazing workshop. I hope it inspires you!

OH I was also thinking if you have the WE R Memory Keepers Fuse tool you can so encase these and make them sticky finger proof.  I plan on laminating these at my sisters school. (if anyone needs/wants instructions on how I made this just give me a hollar and I will send you some instructions!)

Oh and here is the card that did not make the "Congrats" for my friend expecting her second baby.   I had a better idea, it is in the process of being made and will post it later.  So this became a thinking of you.. cause I was -- thinking of little miss playing this game while mom takes care of new baby on the way.