Art Girlz Scrapbook Nook

Health, Life & Other things

Been a LONG time since I've blogged. Been a long time since I've been on the computer. My almost 5-year old laptop has had some attitude problems. And it just isn't in the finances to get a new computer -- not with two kids in college.

I have been scrapbooking, card-making and crocheting. Lots. It helped keep me sane through my back surgery and very painful and long healing. It's been almost a year since I fell and herniated disc L5 and couldn't walk. Had to have emergency surgery so the paralysis was not permanent.

I am thankful that I am walking. Pain is still present, at times it is difficult to walk, but thankful that I can at least walk.

Will be back to posting again very soon ...

Let's Scrap Design Team -- January Projects!

Renee decided to shake things up a bit for January. Instead of scrapbook pages, we were to make a home decor / paper crafting project. I was thinking about what to do.

I have a HUGE stash. I keep thinking I'll need to be packing up all this stuff because I'll be moving in the next year (hopefully). So my theme for January was "re-use and re-cycle". I looked for items that were in my stash. Sadly stored away and not being used.

Then I saw it ... a mini clipboard. And I do mean MINI CLIPBOARD. It's like 5x5". And I had some old playing cards I was using for ATCs, and a copy of a mini calendar for 2009. Put them all together with some embellishments and you have a little calendar you had put on your desk, fridge, or wherever!

 

The cards start by using the Ace for January, 2 for February ... 5 for May and so on. When I ran out of numbers for 11 and 12, I used Jack & Queen (or Queen & King). It was a fun way to incorporate what "month" it is and some embellishments representing that month -- snowman for January, heart & heart ribbons for February, flowers for May (you know April shows bring May flowers ...).

Check out the Let's Scrap Design Team blog to see the rest of the projects and more!!

Have some fun this year by using stuff in your stash, and for a treat ... buy some scrapbooking or craft item you've been wanting to get after you've "saved" money!

Happy Crafty New year!! 

Dottie Dolls -- fun & easy

What are Dottie Dolls you ask? I didn't know until about a month ago. These are small handmade stuffed creations. How did they get their name? A woman named Dot started making them!

Basics about Dottie Dolls: usually about 3-4 inches long, stuffed, fabric (any type), has "tail" (looks like leg or legs), hair and a face which is usually a separate piece from the body.

Most of them have hangers so that they can decorate any space.

My FIRST Dottie Doll was made for a swap. She is a "snowgirl" Dottie doll:

 

I used white felt and tried to keep the snowgirl theme by using french knots for her eyes and mouth. I used tiny buttons on her body. And a length of chenile fiber for a scarf. Her "tail" (or legs) are made from a miniature snowflake garland!

Her hair is wild and crazy. It is made from gold metallic fun fur fiber.

 

Here is a close-up of her face, an orange brad for her nose. Some green holly leaves are put in her hair for decoration. I used pinking shears to cut out the body from white felt. I hand stitched it in a quick running stitch around the edges and took about 3 small cotton balls to stuff her!

My second Dottie Doll -- Dottie with a Heart / Valentine doll is also for a swap. She also uses white felt for the body, but this time her body is cut in the shape of a heart. It is difficult to see with the hair and bow in the way.

 

She was especially fun as I tried to use as much "heart"-shaped items as I could. The ends of her tail have large heart-shape beads, she has a red heart button for her heart, and the bow in her hair has red hearts on it. I used the same technique when sewing this dottie doll as the first one. If I was using fabric, I would have sewn inside out and then stuffed. I am having fun with the felt.

 

Here is the back of the Dottie with a Heart showing her long flowing hair! I had this very fun fiber with pinks & purple in it and thought I'd use it for her hair!

After you assemble all the supplies, these take about 1 hour to complete (maybe less).

Why don't you try a dottie doll today?

"Let's Scrap" Weekly Sketch Challenge

I have been in a little scrap funk lately. I just don't seem to be able to come up with creative pages. I made 3 pages for the TallyScrapper Design Team Search Contest and they all looked alike!

So I went over to Let's Scrap's Ning Social Site for some inspiration from the weekly sketch. I found it. This week's sketch is so fun. I think I'm going to do it AGAIN, but maybe rotate it!

Here's the sketch for this week (12/29 - 1/05):

    

And here's my page based on this sketch -- LUCKY 13

 

It's not EXACT, but pretty close to the sketch. Usually, I take the sketch and make it my own ... change sizes or even shapes of items. Remember, sketch is just to give you ideas to get you out of a scrapping funk!

I started with the papers: Cosmo Cricket "Hey Sugar" collection. I LOVE LOVE this paper. Love the colors and the prints. And although it was marketed as a "valentine" paper collection, it can be used anytime and anywhere. My younger DD especially likes pink, so this collection just fits her personality.

I cut the circle with some zig-zag shape scissors for added interest, added some felt scrolls (instead of stamping or rub-ons). I even added a few extras when I put on the flower, to make it stand out more. Someone sent me these cute tickets, and the "WISH" ticket seemed so appropriate for a birthday! I added a little brown ink to the edges of the flower and the ticket.

The title LUCKY is made from K&Co glittered chipboard alphas, the "13" was made using white poker chips (they are lucky?), cut a smaller circle from the paper and added felt self-stick alpha & letters from Prima. (see date on bottom right corner).

I added pink brads around the circle ... oops, didn't notice that although the brads were the same color, some were different size. Yes! I wasn't really happy with that and MAY change them out for some bling rhinestones or something.

More detail photos:

 

I just used the computer and some cardstock to print the journaling. Funny thing is I had the paper I used for journaling for a number of years and didn't really like it ... and this just worked (for me). I say, never give up on a paper!!

 

Here's a closeup of the flower and embellishments. Also, the circles that run across the page are added on top of some mesh, and alternate between print and solid brown (which is also the mat for the photo).

Supplies Used:

* "Hey Sugar" papers from Cosmo Cricket

* Prima Marketing -- felt scroll, paper flowers and felt self-stick alphabet (Whispers)

* K&Co -- glittered chipboard alpha

* Other embellishments: brads, poker chips, "wish" ticket, magic mesh, glitter mesh, circle punch. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!

AND

** Watch for the reveal of my home decor project on

the Let's Scrap Design Team Blogon /about Jan 15th.

We'll have all the details here on this blog **

HUGE Cosmo Cricket Giveaway!!

I LOVE LOVE Cosmo Cricket! And Leah has generously put a wonderful giveaway of some CC papers & stuff on her blog.

Check out her wonderful Christmas mini-album and J-O-Y banner, and the giveaway at Life as Lou!!