Getting my Mojo on!

I saw this Mojo Monday sketch and was inspired! While I didn't finish it in time to add it to the mojo collection, ultimately that's not what this is all about. I was inspired to create something lovely, and I would encourage you to go back through older challenges from whatever your favourite source is to gain new perspective and inspiration.

Using what I already have is the name of the game for me during this season in my life. I'm buying groceries day by day so I am motivated to be creative with what is already in my fridge, freezer and pantry to feed my family. I'm using fabric from my stash to create clothing to supplement my wardrobe. For paper crafting, I'm using some very old supplies (5-10+years old) and combining it with online challenges that inspire me in the moment.

The pattern paper I've used here is from 2014 (no so old) with a vellum (purchased in 2005) overlay, and spellbinders dies from 2011. Not bad! The sentiment stamp is the baby of the project, from last year.

Have a wonderful week, friends! And I hope you are inspired!

stamps: glass half empty (riley & co)

paper: the story of us (simple stories); white, raven (bazzill); vellum (paper accents)

ink: onyx black versafine (tsukineko)

accessories: baby buntings, persian motifs (spellbinders); black ribbon (offray); clear rhinestones (want 2 scrap); black brad (unknown)

Butterfly Mojo

When I can, I like to play along with the Mojo Monday sketch challenge. Today is my lucky day using mojo monday sketch 208!!

I love the pairing of this sentiment from 'Soar' by tlc Creations with the many layers of butterflies. I have such a wonderful weakness for butterflies and I love it - don't even think about rescuing me!

This is a wonderful sentiment and on the tlc Creations website, there are many gorgeous text as graphic sentiments that Paulette aptly calls 'Word Art'. They are definitely words and most definitely works of art. You'll see me using a lot of her sentiments from now on and I'm so happy I found her digital images!!!

The largest and mid-sized butterfly layers were cut using Spellbinders Dies from the Fanciful Flight Set. The smaller butterflies were all made using the Butterfly Trio punch by Martha Stewart. I stamped the butterfly base using Dream Text by Stampendous since the collage look of this stamp mirrors the sketch layout.

Well, the weekend is fast approaching and I trust you have wonderful plans that will be restorative for you!

stamps; soar (tlc creations), dream text (stampendous)
paper; gabrielle (bo bunny), lagoon, java, coconut swirl, white canvas (bazzill)
ink; antique linen, tea dye, vintage photo, walnut stain
accessories; waterfall dew drops (the robin's nest), fanciful flight shapeabilities, large long classic rectangles nestabilities (spellbinders), butterfly trio punch (martha stewart), blue rhinestones (mambi), satin ribbon (su!)

BLD - Boys R Us!

If you are able to, we would invite you to play along with our By Lori Designs colour challenge!!! Please use code BLDC11 when you upload so we can find your creations and leave you a comment. Here is this week's colour combination;

It is challenge team A's turn at the challenge this week, so head over to the By Lori Designs challenge blog for their gorgeous creations!

Since I have this week off, I decided to use the colours from this week's Splitcoaststampers and the Mojo Monday sketch for my project.

I coloured my Boys R Us image using my favourite copic markers. Such a sweet image, I think!!! Here's the colours I used;

older boy t-shirt and pants; W00, W1, W3
skin; E00, E01, E11, E13, R02
hair and shoes; E42, E44, E47
jeans and blue shirt; B41, B45, B97
green shirt and wheels; G20, G21, G85
skateboard; R24, R29, R59
background; B0000, B000, B00, B01
ground; T1, T3, T5

stamps; boys R us & sentiment (by lori designs)
paper; skate shop (basic grey), x-press it (copic), coconut swirl, blackberry swirl, green tea (bazzill)
accessories; bracket border punch (ek success), lg deckle rectangle (spellbinders), celery twill ribbon (SU!), buttons (basic grey)

mojo monday #184
SCS colour challenge CC316 - misty celery breeze
gingerloft #14 - dies and punches
Wee Memories #49 - anything goes
Happy Monday Challenge - kids need love too!

A Mojo Colour Challenge for today

I took a peek at the mojo sketch challenge this week and just couldn't resist!  It was perfect for a Christmas image I got by Stampavie from i {heart} papers called Jolly Holly.

I used Mitten Weather 6x6 paper pad by Cosmo Cricket, and then I went to check the Colour Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers; Poppy Tempting White, and it was almost identical to what I had already chosen.  I think my blue is a little washed out, but the turquoise parcels are perfect for the challenge!

My sentiment is from a terrific Christmas sentiment only set from Hero Arts called, Holiday Sayings.  It is cut out using Labels Trio spellbinders dies, then I used a black marker to outline it.  I used Red Twill Stripe ribbon for a little more holiday sweetness!

The image is coloured with copic markers and I used far more than is appropriate to share!!!  I think my count was 38-ish.  My desk was a mess, completely covered with copic colour groupings.  Good grief!  When all was said and done though, it really was a happy place - almost as therapeutic as a bubble bath.

Happy hump day, people and thank-you for popping by today!

stamps; jolly holly (stampavie), holiday sayings (hero arts)
ink; black soot distress ink (ranger)
paper; mitten weather (cosmo cricket), pomegranate, coconut swirl, raven (bazzill)
accessories; labels trio (spellbinders), red twill strip ribbon (may arts), crystal stickles (ranger), large clear dew drops (the robin's nest), copic markers

OCCC - Break out the Buttons

We have a new month, and that means a new hostess. Let's welcome our April hostess, Dana Grothaus. This week Dana is challenging all of us to use buttons on our cards or projects. Anyone can play and we can't wait to see your creations.

Please remember there is no time limit on our challenges - participate whenever you are able. To play along, upload your creation to your blog or gallery, then leave us a comment linking to your card/project so we can check it out. If you upload to SCS, remember to use keyword:OCCC.

I do love buttons. I have an entire stash of them. Any style that doesn't have enough buttons to sew on a shirt gets relegated to my stamping stash. I have spare buttons that have come attached new garments that I don't even own the garment anymore, and there are some fabulous buttons which have no home, so they appear on cards on occasion. Love buttons!!!

Here's my card for this challenge;



I fished deep for this image! I have a Crafty Secrets cotton scrap that I started cutting into last year and didn't get back to. There are some incredible images available. The best part is if I am in a rush, they are already beautifully coloured and I didn't have to lift a finger!!!

I have to admit that while I chose to use this week's mojo monday sketch challenge because I really like it, I really struggled with it. *Dagnabbit!* I thought I was making it easy for myself with the image already done for me, fabulous sketch already chosen, and buttons on my embellishment list. It sounded like a perfect card recipe and completely easy peasy. Nope. Not even close! I'm still not completely happy with it, but I've got to say, 'Quits!' and go to bed at some point.

There are gorgeous samples being offered up by the rest of the OCC design team AND there are 2 new members to feast on their eye candy!!! Go ahead and peek at the OCC blog and it would be wonderful if you could grab some time and play along with us!!!

paper; on the boardwalk, a proper gentleman (graphic 45), ivy, brown, walnut creme swirl (bazzill)
accessories; dew drops (the robin's nest), button (basic grey), border punch (ek success), feathered friends cotton scraps (crafty secrets), ribbon (SU!)

Mojo 131

I can't fight the viruses my kids bring home because I have a compromised immune system. May I take this opportunity to say that it sucks!!! I had the stomach flu 2 weeks ago. Now I have a head cold ...again. *sigh* It makes stamping a little challenging when I bend over my work and the dripping starts. {Eeeewwww!!} However, may I say that God is good. I don't absolutely have to work outside my house so that financial ends meet. I would rarely be at work if this was the case. God has provided for me, and I need to learn to rest more in His abundant provision for me!

I don't feel well enough to do much else, so I decided to make another card for the weekend. I feel like I can't really think for myself today, so I decided to use Julee Tilman's mojo sketch for this week. My sugar creek hollow fellow dt member Sarah Bigelow came up with this week's mojo beauty!!! I don't usually play along, but since I'm not working, I'm going to really try to get to more challenges during the week. They are FUN!


Here's what I did with the Mojo 131 sketch;


I ordered a couple of stamp sets from Just Rite when they had their sale a few weeks ago. They arrived a couple of days ago - YAY! Today, I decided to use one of the sets. D'Oh! I don't have the handle for the size stamp I used here. Coulda sworn I did! I laid the stamp on my desk, inked it, and laid the paper on top very gently. Then, I used my mini brayer to apply pressure to the paper and stamp...very gently. It's a technique that works in a pinch like today, but I need to get that handle.

I used nesties to cut everything out, layered it up, and 'Bob's yer Uncle!'

Have a sweet weekend, y'all!

stamps; joyful hearts set (just rite)
paper; blossomwood (K&Co), brown, walnut creme, coconut swirl (bazzill)
ink; espresso, pool, aqua, pebble adirondack (ranger)
accessories; fancy tags, oval, scallop oval nesties (spellbinders), rhinestones (heidi swapp), ribbon (offray)