Stick it Down- June 2021

 This months single page sketch challenge

My take is using one of Virginia Nebel's designs for a Crop and Create event.

Hope you like this 8.5x11 single page!

Can't wait to see your take.

Love to Create

I participated in a virtual crop to celebrate National Scrapbook Day this year and with the left overs from one of the on line classes I created this single page layout. My inspiration came from pinterest called "layered works" I looked for the the sample that was closest to my take but I couldn't find one as I mostly use the samples to start the juices flowing to create something of my own.

I used lots of different textures of stamping, ink blots, sewing and loose thread. As well as created layers and popped up features for extra dimension. 

I hope this gets your creative juices flowing ♡♡

Every Picture Tells a Story- Stick it Down Challenge for May

For May's Stick it Down challenge these pictures came to me unexpectedly however I feel so blessed to have captured the moment this way. 

First I will share this months challenge sketch:

  

Every time I visit my mom she asks the same question, "what do you want me to cook" and my answer is always the same, "fried dough". 

For those that do not understand what this is, it is the most delicious carb you will EVER eat! It is homemade bread dough cut into pieces and fired on all edges. You then cut it open, slather it with butter and molasses that melts and runs off your fingers as you eat them. This is tradition, our heritage and the taste of a more simple, pure life.

What made this day a little different is my daughter called when I was visiting and she asked what we were having for lunch, telling her she asked for the recipe. That is when the magic happened and I got the idea to send her a photo of mom holding up a platter of the fried dough and she wrote out the recipe for Abby.

Paper line used: Photo Play- Family collection and Bo-Bunny Double Dot Paprika

Techniques include popping up the elements, using washi tape to adhere the two different patterns together, stitching from sewing machine. It took a few takes to get the right photo but in the end I used them all!

Here are a few secret things I do that you may find helpful

Tip #1: Whenever I'm using a piece of card stock to back my main page I often cut out the center of it before adhering the main page and then use that piece to tie in the color more on the main page. Here I used the Bo bunny piece but also used the piece I cut out to back the photos. You will see this in the photo below.

-Tip#2: If I have left over pictures that I don't want to toss I will often stick them to the back. Here I stuck down the 4x6 photo that I didn't use and also the original hand written recipe that I didn't use on the front because the color contrasted the paper line to much. This creates little secrets should the people who eventually inherits these albums takes the time to really poke around in them as they are not visible because it will be covered by another page in the album itself.

 

Tip 3: If you don't include the story behind the page on the front, do it on the back

Hope this post brings you joy and inspiration for how you can preserve wonderful memories 

Please leave me a comment here or over on facebook

Happiness Blooms from Within

This single page for Stick it Down's monthly challenge really makes me happy, for so many reasons.

First here is the sketch to work from, please play along. You can find Stick it Down Bog HERE

 First off the unbelievable perfect match of paper and photos. I asked my daughter for some photo's and what she sent me MATCHED perfectly to what I call a cast off sheet from mix media art. Cast off sheets are clean, usually thicker paper where you can clean off stencils, stamps after using them for a mix media page. We don't like to waste anything and you never know what you will get in the end. This was magic. Even the designs matched her clothes...this cast off page was done prior to me asking for photo's but as soon as I seen them I knew what paper I was starting with!

Anyone interested in learning more about mix media really needs to visit Vicki Boutin over on this facebook page and search her past video's - awesome human and artist!

Cast off Sheet:

End result:

My process included the following steps:

1. |Drew a heart on light pencil
2.  Using a flower stamp (this one is a Vicki Boutin)
3. Stamp out some leafs
4. Colour them in using whatever medium you want (I used Chameleon Pencils)
   
5. Sew around the heart 3x for extra texture and interest
6. Layer you photo's and ephemera (all from Vicki Boutin Collections)
   

A few Close ups:

 

Exciting news to share!!

Big News! Read fully as there is a lot of information here.

After exploring many options on how I can sell my wares, I decided to join the Mavenfair Team of sellers. 

 

The link to my store is https://mavenfair.ca/members/sherryj/

Why did I choose Mavenfair as my forum of choice?

-It is a site that is designated for Canadian Sellers only! You can sell all over the world however you can only be a store owner if Canadian. If the pandemic taught us anything it is how important it is to support people closest to home and in Canada.

- The founders of Mavenfair have been attentive, extremely responsive and have assisted me in setting up my shop with minimal effort. The absolute best customer service skills and follow through. They have actually adjusted how the shop works based on my individual products and needs!

- The expense to open a store with Mavenfair is minimal and just for the service received. Must less then any other options I explored.

- Regardless of the success of my personal store, I wanted to sing from the rooftops and share this marvellous venue for all the other crafters out there like me who has a passion for crafting and is looking to share their wares in this manner. This includes the ability to sell your digital and downloadable products. So my crafty friend who do digital design work....please have a look at what this has to offer (I am not affiliated with Mavenfair to gain any profits from this post, I just really grew to respect them for what they are doing for Canadian Crafers in the short time I've worked with them,)  

For all the local people who wish to shop from my store and arrange pick-up please use discount code #freeshipping and this will remove the shipping. When I see this, I will send you a message to arrange pick up. As well I still have cards at Granny's Antiques & Gifts in Antigonish.

As a gift to you, please use this discount code for your first order #introcoupon and this will give you 15% off your first order

If you are a fellow crafter and explore this option for yourself, I do have a discount code I can give you that will give you some incentives as a new seller on Mavenfair. Just send me a message and I will forward it to you.

Please explore and place this on your list of on line buyer options for gifts in the future.

Backyard Buddy- A Barred Owl (Stick it Down March Challenge)

 This beautiful creature blessed us with a visit or is he/she living in our backyard? With the massive amount of birch trees on the property it is hard to say if he/she has been here before but I do hope so. I consider the owl to be my spirit fowl in many ways and knowing it is here makes me very happy.

Single Page Sketch

 

My take

 

 

Products used:

Paper from Prima Marketing (Vintage Emporium- Florence) and Blue Fern (Tranquility-Contentment)

The first attempt was using Gesso and Black Paint- I hated it BUT what beautiful accent pieces it made! Backing the photos, the banner and bits and pieces tucked behind was from this initial attempt.

I also used; Distress ink and stencils, black gesso, Speckled Egg Distress and Heidi Swapp Gold sprays, Foiled hearts; Sewing with gold and black thread; Boarder punch.

 

 

 

Thinking of you

 Hello friends!

I've been using up some much needed vacation from work and staying close to my happy place doing what I love the most- crafting!

I have steered away from blogging and moving towards more Instagram and facebook posting of my creations. HOWEVER when I have more then one item to show, or need to really showcase a project this is still my go to forum.

These cards are perfect for sympathy, for someone who may be going to a general "rough" patch or just a simple- I'm thinking about you! The inside are blank so you can personalize it for the need.

Even though the messages are the same on all cards, they are completely unique in their art with tones and textures.

Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Starting with a watercolour inky play date- 

 And ended with these!

All but one has this 3D look with a stitched raised boarder

 

This is the only white card (all others are a cream color) and is not 3D. Reason being the art work was too narrow for the frame but too beautiful not to use and I live it just as much.

Thank you for taking the time to review this post and please let me know what you think!