Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Spring Hop

Yes, you read that right...Spring! I know, I know, I have 3 feet of snow, but it is coming, and hopefully this hop will have you thinking spring. The hop runs for a week, so be sure to check back for more posts, and there are some amazing super sponsors and flash sponsors for the hop!! Thanks to all of the sponsors and Amy Tsurata and Chaitali Narla for organizing and setting up our new home!

Ok, here is my first card for the hop. Love these crazy bird stamps by Tim Holtz, and combined with my new Prima Coffee Break stamps, we are ready to rock and roll!

#44

Looks like this little fella may have had a few too many cups of coffee! Oh, wait, can you have too many?

So, to heat things up, I am also having a giveaway for the hop. To enter, just leave a comment (make sure it links to an email or add it in) on this post, or any of the upcoming ones I'll share for the hop. All comments will go into the "hat" and I will draw one name to win this cute stamp set from Prima - Coffee Break. Good luck!

Come back and visit often! Head over to the hop to link up a coffee project of your own, or to see what everyone is creating.

Hey, it's a No Rules challenge at Simon Says Stamp, might as well let this little crazy bird fly over there for a visit.

 

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Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Read all about it!! I have been waiting to share my exciting news with you until today. I have been on cloud nine these past few weeks and looking forward to today when I can finally share this. I am so honored to be chosen for the Design Team!! at SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenges which you can read about here and welcome the new team members.

Yes, that is really me..I have to keep pinching myself! My first project will debut in March, and I would love for you to come on over and check it out, along with the always very cool and inspiring steampunk projects. It would be great to have you join the challenges too! If you've been following me, then you know how much I love steampunk. It really gets my imagination going full speed.

So, funny thing is, I have never had a problem coming up with an idea for a steampunk challenge, but wouldn't you know, I kind of ran into a block, and had a mini panic for my first one. Maybe it was because I was now on the other end, I don't know, but luckily my brain was working behind the scenes, suddenly full steam ahead, and I had an idea I deemed worthy of my very first project as part of this awesome DT.

 

 

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Happy Birthday Sheila!

It's in the mail, but I know it won't get to you on time, so enjoy it here! Happy Birthday, crafting sister!!

 

 

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Fantasy Doll Swap

Of course, I had to create some steampunk fantasy dolls...

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I had fun creating the top hat, leather vest and boots on top, and getting my lady ready for the steampunk ball. She will arrive in style in the hot air balloon.

Next, my I,agitation took me to the lad of the Fae, or fairy.

Love the butterfly wings on these ladies.

I kept the fairy princess for my collection and swapped the top three. I can't wait to see what I get in the swap! Anyone else out there hooked on these paper dolls? It's like being a kid again.

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Inspiration Brings Growth

Art Journal time...it keeps snowing and snowing out there today, so I really needed some brightness. I just finished going through a prompt in my class with May Flaum, Finding the Art in My Journal which inspired me to play.

I used black gesso on my page , then layered on some lime green acrylic, keeping it thick enough to lay a stencil in it for texture. With the extra paint on the stencil, I just laid it down on the top section. I could stop here, but...

...over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, it's "Red and Pink", and with Valentines Day approaching, I was thinking hearts. I do not often reach for red and pink, so this was a good challenge for me. I started by turning my page upside down and painting the hearts. Then I dabbed on some pink, outlined the red with pink, and mixed in some more. I decided I didn't like the heart as is, so added the "cap" to the flowers.

 

Next, I painted in the stems, leaves and grasses, then splattered with white, one of my go to techniques when I feel I need a bit more.

Final steps...writing my words in white marker, then outlining them in black to make them more visible. Pulled out my trusty white pen to outline the heart flowers and doodle the dotty flowers.

I am always looking for inspiration, whether on Pinterest, my favorite bloggers, artists I admire, classes or my everyday world. I am inspired by all of these ideas I gather, but what I always need to remember is to practice, to try them out in order to grow. I thank the many artists and crafters out there who inspire all of us!

 

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Light and Dark

In my class with May Flaum, Find the Art in Your Journal, she challenged us to think about our "light and dark" sides. I started by painting one page black and one white, then using a Balzer Deaigns stencil, I painted the woman in the opposing color.

Next i journaled about myself, what I see as my positives and negatives. Deciding these thoughts were ones I did not necessarily want public, I painted over them. I carried a bit of the color over to the opposite page. Not sure if I like it, but hey, an art journal is a place to experiment.

 

A bit of detail...and a reminder that I am made up of all these things.

I went for the bright colors, but wonder if somehow I could have stuck with the black and white? Trying something new.

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Dreaming of Spring

We now have about two feet of snow, and looks like maybe another foot over the weekend. The groundhog says six more weeks of winter. Stuck in the dead of winter, what's a gal to do? Think spring and make a flower card to exchange at Stamp Camp! Use bright colors, play with watercolors, and dream of spring.

 

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