Featured!

My friend Linda has a new website featuring darling accessories for your dog, called Mandy's Mudroom, named after her very own adorable pooch! Linda asked me to design a few items to sell on her website and when I opened my new issue of Romantic Homes Magazine today, I discovered this page. . . .

. . . with an ad for Mandy's Mudroom which features my Glitter and Glam Monogram Tag front and center!

In addition to the monogram tag, I designed a cupcake tag and set of birthday party invitations for you doggy. They all can be found right here! And be sure to check out Linda's line of sweet party "Poof-Poofs" for your dog's next party.

A Couple of Things. . . .

This limited edition collection of Spring Flower Tags is available on Rebecca Sower's Haiti By Hand Etsy shop. There are 15 of these wonderful tags in the set, each one created by a different artist, including me!

You still have a few hours to enter my giveaway over at Joli Paquet for the goodies pictured above. I'll be drawing the winning name at 5:00 pm CST tomorrow (Tuesday, 5/25) so click here and leave a comment for a chance to win.

UPDATE: GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Congratulations to Carol Mae!

Spring Giveaway!

I'm hosting a little giveaway over on Joli Paquet today. You can click here to enter.

Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments regarding my Art Saves story on Crescendoh. My Guest Curator piece runs all week and the photo links for each artist shown here change each day, so be sure to check back throughout the week for more inspiration.

Dress Tag

~ Photo courtesy of Cindy Gilstrap ~

Isn't this the cutest thing? My friend Cindy made this darling tag and she shows us how she did it right here.

Spring Flowers Tag Swap

I always think of spring as a time of renewal and rebirth. So far this spring has not been working out quite that way around here. We have four family members who are currently in various hospitals. I thoroughly believe in the power of prayer, so if you can find it in your heart to say a prayer for them today I would be ever so grateful.

I've sent out my Spring Flower tags to Rachel who is hosting this fun tag book swap. I can't believe that I actually completed a swap ahead of time and didn't need to rush around at the last minute. I think this has to be a first for me!

Valentine Tag Swap Reveal

My friend, Natalea hosted a fun little swap a while back and I finally got around to photographing all of the tags I received. I have looked at them over and over again and I discover something new each time. Some of the gals have strung the tags on ribbon and create a Valentine garland, which I think is a great idea. Some have attached them to a string of pink or white lights - I really like that idea. And some of us still have their tags in book-form, which is how we received them in the mail.

1. Kathy Lowry

2. Kimberly Laws 3. Diana Ptaszynki

4. Beth Holcombe 5. Robin Kesner

6. Rachel Velder 7. Vivian Neroni

8. Jane Palmer 9. Natalea Kanderfer

10. Alisa Noble 11. Grace Palazzolo

12. Wanda Clark 13. Connie Senyitko

14. Kana Conger 15. Geralyn Gray

16. Wendy Robrecht 17. Tammy Lucik

18. Linda Hanes 19. Marion Ballog 20. ME!

If you have time, you have to check out the cute little tutorial

that Brandy has posted on the Joli Paquet blog.

Been Busy Crafting. . .

A gift for a friend.

Valentine Tags for Natalea's swap.

Hope you're having a crafty day too!

Tuesday Tidbits

Tim Holtz is doing his 12 Tags of Christmas again this year. You really should check it out. His tutorials are so detailed, the photography is fabulous, and you learn how to use a lot of his great products. And he has a giveaway EVERYDAY!

Today and Wednesday we are giving you a preview of our kits over at Joli Paquet. Kits will go on sale Thursday bright and early! The photo above shows my Sweet Vintage Wreath which will be available in my Etsy Shop on Dec. 3rd.

Last Minute Thanksgiving Paper Crafting

I haven't noticed many blog posts on the subject of Thanksgiving crafts. It seems like everywhere we look, we go from Halloween straight into Christmas. That makes me a little bit sad. So I thought I would show you some simple Thanksgiving tags I've been working on. I made them all this morning, so they really are quick. I always have blank shipping tags in my supplies ready for this type of thing. The tag above is from a stash that I aged using Tim Holtz Distress Inks and water. The beaded ribbon is ChicBoutique Trim from Hobby Lobby's fall trim section.
This one is all set to add a personal message in the bottom section. The velvet leaf trim (and the aqua lace in the tag above) is in a set called Autumn Splendor by Making Memories. The glittery maple leaf in the bottom corner is from a brad set, also from Hobby Lobby.
While searching through Target for some Thanksgiving paper napkins earlier this week, I spotted these adorable little felt stickers. They were too cute to resist and I figured I would think of something to do with them. . . . .

And this is what I came up with. . . .

And this one too!

And while passing the greeting card section, I found this card. No, I didn't need it to send to anyone. I had already mailed my Thanksgiving cards. But the pumpkins, acorns and leaves reminded me of those Dresden die-cuts that we all covet. So I bought a couple of the cards. . . .

and make this tag!

Now I've really got to get crackin' and get some chores done around here. I have some errands to run and also want to make some chocolate dipped pretzels for tomorrow. If you're looking for a fast and easy dessert, be sure to check out the Joli Paquet blog. I posted a recipe there last night for Double Chocolate Chip cookies.....Mmmmmm!

Etsy Update - Part 2

I'm continuing to update my Etsy Shop this week. I've added some collages and tags from my "Summer At The Beach" series, inspired by a weekend trip to our cottage.  Also added is a series of tags I created called "The Caged Bird Sings." I have more Destash items coming too, as soon as I can get them photographed and listed. The fishing themed rubber stamp sets from the previous post have all sold out. I'm so pleased that they will be going to good homes where they can have a new lease on life. I have LOTS more themed rubber stamp sets to put together and list in the shop. 

52Q and A New Addition

There's a new addition to our home. It's a Mac! Thanks to all your great advice and input, I made the plunge and got a MacBook and I LOVE IT!  And I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I love the size and portability and all the amazing and fun things this baby can do. I'm still finding my way around it and the One-to-One classes are going to help with that (I already had my first class yesterday with Joe at the Apple Store). But, just like when I was thrown in front of a desktop PC at work many, many years ago and was told how to turn the machine on and nothing else, I kind of enjoy trying to blindly find my way around on my own.  

I can't thank those of you who left all the helpful comments, cheering me on and letting me know just exactly how much you love your Macs. (You all should work for Apple!) Those testimonials are what made me confident that I was spending my money very wisely! THANK YOU!!!

Excuses, Excuses

Ok, ok. . .I know I told you I was going to update my Etsy Shop this week. However it's taking a bit longer than I thought, so let's try for next week, ok? Have a great weekend!

52Q - Weeks 13 & 14

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. We had some lovely, sunny weather here for the Easter weekend. But easy come-easy go because it's cold, wet and dreary again. Will spring ever get here? I'm really beginning to wonder now.
Thought I would spend the icky weather playing catch-up with my 52Q tag journal. This is week 13.

Yikes! Don't look too closely at that awful hair-do pictured above.

And here is week 14. I used some Amy Butler paper on both of these tags. I like her designs as they have a fresh modern feel.

What is the last good book YOU have read?

52Q - Week 11

What keeps me awake at night? Usually it's worrying about one thing or another that keeps me from getting a good night's sleep. How about you?

Journaling Update

Journal Page from Art Journaling 102 class. Lots of layering - spray mists, acrylic paint, oil based pastels, masks, motifs, pen & ink, mono printing, collage, stenciling.

52Q - Week 10. Five movies which inspire me creatively. This was hard to narrow down to just five movies, but here's my list:

1. Marie Antoinette

2. Paris, Je t'aime

3. A River Runs Through It

4. Cold Mountain

5. The Da Vinci Code