April ATCs are postal!

Well here was another slightly late month on the atcs. But we really wanted to wait for all the players. and it was worth it!
We had great cards this month. Theme was: ANYTHING GOES!
Here's the pic:Thanks to all who swapped. Next month: WINGS. 5 total and you get 5 back. Join in here! All swappers welcome! If there are more than 5 players, that's fine!

WE ARE NOW SIGNING UP FOR MAY, JUNE and JULY. July needs a theme! Please make your suggestions here!!!

Also... THANK YOU to FINRA for welcoming me in their CRAFT FAIR benefitting the HOUSE OF RUTH in DC. I met so many wonderful people. everyone was so kind and open. I really appreciated all the help and the ease of the whole process. I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it all again next year!
A special thank you to those who purchased for Building Dreams and donated. I will be updating soon. Of note: Courtney's Collage piece was sold as was a one of Stacie's necklaces. A generous donation by Heidi Kessler of Blossom Bug. I will take pics next week and post her info soon! (for now: her website is www.blossombug.com). THANK YOU!!!!

Well... I need some sleep... but I will be back in etsy very soon as well as updating all info!
Have a great night and see you soon!
-Allison

Graduations... already?!?!

I can't believe how fast time is flying! Everyday the hours disappear and before I know it I'm fixing dinners and putting kids to bed... and then I look at the calendar and see that months have actually vanished!
I was shocked when I was asked about Graduation cards... OMG! (really , that's the only term that works here!). So in addition to my last minute mom's day cards I started on Graduation!
Here's one I made this am. Usually i stick with really formal looking, clean line designs. Lots of blacks, and neutrals.
This card is a little bit out of my box. But I really like the layers and the color combo.
A little change in subject:
Thank you to Stacie for the generous donation to Building Dreams from her Spring Show. I was there and it was so relaxing and fun. And a special THANKS to her for partnering up with me on this charity venture. She really keeps me motivated when I get discouraged and feel like I am over committed... together I feel like we are a stronger force and I am so thankful to have a friend who wholeheartedly supports my ideas!
Also... I received, in person, Courtney P's Collage piece. WOW! I thought her photo was amazing, but in person, it is no match! I am in love with the textures, colors and detail. I will be displaying this piece at the FINRA show next week... but I am tempted to buy it myself!!!!

well. It's a scorching 95 degrees outside today and the girls have me committed to a fishing outing at the lake. So after lunch we may brave it... we'll have to find a shady spot!
I'll be crazy making cards until Tuesday! How's your week looking?!?

Tinting Applique and Faux Epoxy Buttons!

It's been a long time since I put up a mini tutorial or tip...
Today I have 2!
First: CUSTOM TINTING LIQUID APPLIQUE
If you have ever used Liquid Applique, you know it is a paste-like gel that you apply, dry and heat. Once heated, it puffs up like a cloud. Many people use it to make snow or something like that. Today I used it to make cake icing.

Just squeeze some applique out onto a scrap paper and tint with a drop of craft ink! Apply with a stick (i used a q-tip with the puff cut off), let dry overnight and heat with a heat tool. Beware not to burn!


2nd: Making FAUX EPOXY BUTTONS!

The first step is to stamp your image and make rings (to fit the image) out of craft wire. I used my old SU WIREWORKS, which is no longer sold. However you can find craft wire in any craft store and it comes in a lots of colors!
Once you place your ring on top of the images, fill it in with a glaze... like CRYSTAL EFFECTS or Ranger's Glossy Accents. Don't worry, it is thick enough that it will not seep out under the wire.
Let dry (can take up to several hours) to crystal clear and hard. and then cut out your circles! Voila!


I hope you enjoyed he tip and tute!
Hope you have a great day!

Gearing up!

Long time... huh?
I've been gearing up for the last slew of sales and shows for this spring!

This Friday Stacie is gracious enough to let me display my cards at her SPRING SHOW as well as donate 20% of all her profits to BUILDING DREAMS! WOW! Stacie and I are really working hard to get this home built for a woman in Haiti... any purchases or donations made towards this effort is so much appreciated!

I am also preparing hard for the FINRA show next week as well a a Strawberry Festival on May 16th in Potomac, VA!
I will list the address for the strawberry festival as it gets closer.

Here's what my work table looks like today:


On a side note: Last weekend we took a day trip to Calvert Cliffs here in MD. If you haven't been there... it's definitely a trip worth taking! It is the oldest fossil grounds on the east coast. People have been fossil hunting there since the 1600's. The cliffs are constantly being eroded away and you can still find sharks teeth among other treasures! This whole area used to be the ocean floor... so there's lots to discover!While Emily and I searched for fossils, Abby and daddy were busy collecting soft CLAY stones from the water. YES... they were soft clay! you could probably make things out of them! In the end we found no teeth, but several adult palm-sized scallop shells and other shells!
Can't wait to go back!

Happy Easter!

Wishing you a BLESSED Easter!

FIRST Building Dreams Sale!!! YEA!

I am so excited ~ I have sold my first item - BABY BOOTIES hand knit with lots of love - for the service project I am doing this year! Building Dreams is a store where everything sold thru it is donated 100% to the DOUBLE HARVEST Benevolent Housing Project - Building a house for a widow or single mother who desperately needs it in Haiti!
YEA!!!! Thank you and I will definitely update as more sales and info comes around!
and thank you Stacie Jewelry (www.staciejewelry.etsy.com) for the "shout out" & the 20% sales donation to building dreams from your upcoming Studio show!!!