Monkey Business ...

I often find inspiration in strange places.  This week I noticed that one of my favorite Animal Planet shows, Escape to Chimp Eden, was back on TV.  I love seeing the great work that they do at the Chimp Eden Sanctuary in South Africa.  They take abused chimps and rehabilitate them so that they can go back into the wild.  Great work by great people!  When you think about it, I mean what kid didn't want a monkey for a pet when they were little?  Well, this show makes us all realize that that is just a fantasy and that they really do belong in the wild.  So seeing this back on TV got me to thinking about monkeys and that I actually have a monkey image that I've never used.  Thus, the inspiration for today's card post ... 

As you can see, I'm still playing around with the Copic markers.  I figure that "practice makes perfect!"  I popped the die-cuts off of the page with some pop dots.  I think the tropical leaves add a little depth to the image. 

Challenges used for this card are as follows:

365 Cards:  Day 28 - A Certain Sentiment - "Hang in There" sentiment

Mojo Monday - Sketch challenge (round or square)

Supplies

Paper:  CTMH (Moon Doggie)

Stamp:  Great Impressions (Hang in There)

Copic markers:  E44/51/53/55; YG63/67; G82

Ink:  Momento (Tuxedo Black)

Spellbinders (Classic Scalloped Circles Large)

Quickutz (Tropical Leaves)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  If you haven't checked it out yet, go check out Escape to Chimp Eden on Animal Planet.  It's 30 minutes well spent.  Have a crafty day!

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Easter/Spring Challenges

Craft Night with the divas was a blast!  I have to admit that in the 7 hours we were together I only got one card made!   Not very productive you say?  I think I spent too much time talking (shock!) and I took great pleasure in knowing where things were in the craft room when someone asked to borrow something.  In the old days (pre-organization) I would have worn myself out in the search for an item. 

Anyway, without further ado ... on with the challenge(s)!  First ... the card:

I had great fun creating this 6" x 6" bunny card.  I actually ordered this Penny Black stamp by mistake more than a year ago and decided to keep it.  I'm so glad I did!  Coloring this image was fun for me as I am still get to know my Copic markers. 

Copic markers used for this card:

Challenges for this card:

Crafty Cardmakers #17:  Spring into Spring

Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge #7:   Easter card

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #35:  Easter or Spring

Lexi's Creations #10:  Easter card

Paper Play Challenges Wk 10:  Easter card

Town Scrapper:  Easter card

Supplies

Stamps:  Penny Black (Spring Joy!); CTMH (Eastertime)

Paper:  Basic Grey (Origins)

Ink:  Momento (Tuxedo Black); ColorBox Chalk (Chestnut)

Copic Markers, Felt Ribbon, Green Rickrack

Spellbinders (Labels 12)

EK Success Border Punch

Quickkutz (Nutmeg Alphabet)

Finally a big shout out goes to the crafty divas from Friday night.  A great time was had by all and I can't wait to get another crafty date on the calendar!

 Alicia, me and Beth

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Here's My Fuzzy Wuzzy ...

Ta-daaaaaaaah!  I've finished my first crafty project in my new craft space and let me tell you ... it was incredible to actually be able to find things when I needed them. I was even motivated to put things BACK where I found them.  Ahhh ... the crafty bliss ...

So here's the skinny ... the Sketch with a Spin (SSS48) challenge is to make a card using this sketch ...

... and to make something "fuzzy-wuzzy" on it.  So just for the record, my "fuzzy-wuzzy" element is the flowers.  I thought long and hard about making something on the actual butterfly fuzzy but I got inspired to go a different path ... 

Copic Creations is celebrating their one year blogversary with a challenge to use your favorite Copic technique (reference Copic Creations Challenge #24).  Mine is feather blending. 

Here's my take on these challenges:

As I mentioned, I had something special in mind for the butterfly so I also used this challenge as an opportunity to get-to-know my Copic markers a little more. It was hit and miss for me this time since I'm a beginner, a.k.a. Copic marker Diva-wanna-be.  I'd start filling in the image and then would decide I didn't like the direction I was headed and start over.  I must have done this about 15 times or so before I finally landed on something I could live with.  After the entire image was finished, I dotted the "0" marker all over the image.  Then I completed the entire image by covering it with Spica to giving it a sparkly appearance. 

                                                                Before                                             

After

Here are the Copic colors I used on this project in addition to the "0" or Kryptonite as our friend Sally Lynn MacDonald would say!

 

Supplies

Paper:  Bo Bunny (Shiitake Dot); Pink Paislee (Confidential & Ragged)

Stamps:  Autumn Leaves and Studio G

Ink:  Momento (Tuxedo Black)

Markers:  Copic; Spica (Black, Clear)

Other: 

Karen Foster (Round Biggie Brads);

Imaginisce Bazzill Collection (Bling Buds);

Daisy Ribbon Felt

Die-cuts:  Spellbinders

Next up ... Crafty Diva night at my house tomorrow!  Can't wait!

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A Crafty Space to Call Home

Can I get a "Woohoooooooo?" I finally (yes finally) got my craft room in order.  Like any great project, it's still a work in progress but I'm happy with it.  Hopefully this summer I'll get to paint and get some curtains up.  The hardest part for me was deciding on what kind of storage I wanted to get as well as a workspace.  After many hours of internet research, I ended up taking a road trip with my Mom to Minnesota on an adventure to the IKEA store.  Can I say that I love, love, LOVE that place?  I think I should start a petition to get our friends at IKEA to open a store here in Kansas City.  I know I would be a frequent shopper, as would many of my friends. 

Without further ado, it's time for the unveiling ... the 'real' Studio M:

This is the view looking into the craft area.  The desk is about 55" wide and the a-frame legs are also shelves.  The background storage cabinet is from Target and I found the spinner at a K&Company warehouse sale in KC. 

This view looks towards the door.  We made the stamp wall storage and the store/work area on the left is actually a kitchen island.  This is my favorite piece in the entire room! 

I just love the table top on this piece from IKEA.  I also have wooden stamps stored in the 12" x 12" drawers on the right. 

My wall storage consists of two small Expedit bookcases from IKEA. 

Here are examples of my ribbon storage as well as paint.  You'll also notice that I have a ribbon storage unit on the wall by the stamp wall storage. 

Unfortunately I didn't take any "Before" pictures.  Quite frankly it would just be too embarrassing.  Imagine it ... a couple of foldable tables and lots of plastic storage bins ... so what I have now is quite an improvement.   I hope you've enjoyed seeing my little piece of heaven.  Please post links to your spaces too.  I'd love to see your crafy havens! 

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Inspiration Friday!

I must admit that I THINK about crafting every day but just haven't gotten the inspiration to get in my craft room.  I think it is because my craft room is (yet again) a mess!  Also looking for a job has become a little bit mind-boggling and mind-consuming to me.  How can so many of us be without jobs and so few jobs be available?  I did interview for a position last weekend with a speed-dating type format.  It was interesting and I interviewed with 10 people for one company.  It was a great experience and I'd do it again!  I'm positive that the right job for me will present itself.  Until then I'll have fun with my blog and dream of a marketing position with a craft company!  Hee hee! 

So ... on with the inspiration!  Bella Blvd, Jillibean and Nikki Sivils have teamed up to host a HUGE blog crawl!  Here's the skinny:  3 companies, 45 designers & their blogs, 50 giveaways! 

I love that they've organized such a fun event.  It's great seeing what others are doing in the craft industry and I'm sure that this will give me that inspirational push I need to get back in my craft room!  I think my next post will include craft room photos so you can see my little creative haven.  Here's hoping that you find inspiration in your Friday to create something spectacular! 

On with the blog crawl!! 

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