Hello and welcome to my blog!
I am a freelance illustrator, artist and paper crafter. I hope you will set back, have a peek around my blog, check out my archives and enjoy!
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Some Of My Favorite Creations To Date

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Tomorrow is the big day! Memory Expo 2010!

Hello Everyone!
Tomorrow is the start of the big craft show in Topeka, Kansas!
The Midland Care ~ Memory Expo 2010.

I just about have everything packed...well...everything I remembered to pack anyhow.
I am a little nervous about my speech on Friday night but look so forward to meeting Nikki Sivils, Heidi Blankenship and Brook Smith. I already know the rest of the girls so I get to catch up with some cool and crazy crafty friends that I haven't seen for a year.
I am also excited about meeting Lori McCroskey of Clear Dollar Stamps! I have been on her design team for over a year and feel like I know her, but a face to face will be too cool!

If any of you are near by and would like to have a fun weekend of cropping and shopping, please head on down!
I would love to meet you. 
I will be teaching 3 classes of 24. Classes are @ 11:00, 12:00, and 1:00 on Saturday.
Tanya Fox and Brooke Smith of CardMaker magazine and DRG Publishing will be there helping with the class too. It would be a great time to ask them what publishers are looking for when submitting your projects for magazines and books! 
We have come up with some awesome goody bags for our class participants. The goody bags are worth the price of the class alone! ;) We have some amazing sponsors!
Visit my Memory Expo page to get all of the details and links.
Hugs,
True :D

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Another Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peek

Hi again!
This cute little guy and friends are from another one of my illustrations. 
The set is called "Snow Tweet" and will be available from Clear Dollar Stamps on Oct.1st


That pretty ribbon is Diamond Satin Red from Really Reasonable Ribbon.


Please visit Lori's blog to check out the other girls wonderful sneak peeks. You can see slide shows of these sets and if you click on the links that Lori has posted, you can visit their blogs too! I am sure you will be inspired!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Card Recipe:
CDS STAMPS USED: Snow Tweet
CS/PAPERS: Basic Grey - Jovial, Bazzill Dots, Paper Trey
INK: Staz-On, Color Box - Blue Lagoon and Aquamarine, VersaMark
ACCENTS/TOOLS: micron pen, Wizard and rectangle Nestabilities, Stickles - Frosted Lace, Martha Stewart - course crystal glitter, Flower Soft glue, CTMH - Fun Frock (white), Diamond Glaze, Crystal snowflake, holographic embossing powder, heat gun, sewing machine with green thread, Really Reasonable Ribbon - Diamond Satin Red ribbon
COLORING: watercolors

Thanks for dropping by!
Hugs,
True :D

Monday, September 27, 2010

Clear Dollar Stamps October Sneak Peeks.

Hello All!
I have 2 Clear Dollar Stamps sneaks to share with you today!
The first is done with my illustration "Autumn Blessings" It will be available for sale as a stamp set Oct. 1st.
It is also available as an instant download digital set now!



My second peek is from my "Something to Crow About" illustration.
He comes with sunflowers, a straw hat, and several sentiments!
Also available on Oct.1st.


I used the fun Yellow Gingham ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.




Please visit Lori's blog to check out the other girls wonderful sneak peeks. You can see slide shows of these sets and if you click on the links that Lori has posted, you can visit their blogs too! I am sure you will be inspired!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Card #1~Card Recipe:
CDS STAMPS USED: "Autumn Blessings"
CS/PAPERS: Paper Trey - Kraft, DCWV - Fall cardstock stack, K&Co - Fall Harvest stack
INK: Staz-On Jet Black, Colorbox - Cream Brown
ACCENTS/TOOLS: Glitter brads, sewing machine with orange thread, Rect. and frames Nestabilities, Wizard, Ranger Stickles - Stardust, Really Reasonable Ribbon's - Rust Organza ribbon
COLORING: watercolors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Card #2~ Card Recipe:
CDS STAMPS USED: Something to Crow About
CS/PAPERS: The Paper Temptress - Heavenly white, black crepe, black Basis, gold Stardream
INK: Staz-On, ColorBox _ Dark Moss and Olive Pastel
ACCENTS/TOOLS: sewing machine with green thread, Wizard, Square Nestabilities, green brads, Diamond Glaze, Ranger Stickles in Lime Green and Gold, Really Reasonable Ribbon's - Yellow Gingham
COLORING: watercolors, Prismacolor black pencil,

Thanks for dropping by!
Hugs,
True :D

Friday, September 24, 2010

I have been a busy girl!

Hello All!
Just thought I would let you know why I have not been posting as many cards as usual the last week or so.
I have been putting together the card kits and goodie bags for the class that Tanya, Brooke, and I will be teaching next weekend at the Memory Expo 2010 in Topeka, KS.
You just don't think about how much time it takes to do 72 kits!
The work part is over and the fun part starts next weekend! I am excited!

Here is what is all in the card kits.
Stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps.


Here is a shot of all of the completed kits.



Here is what is in the goodie bags:

Book from DRG/Annie's Attic.
Even more ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.
Diamond Glaze from JudiKins

Thanks again to all of our awesome sponsors! MMMMwah!


Here are the completed goodie bags.
Whew!
;)


I will be able to make and post more cards really soon.
Actually, I will have one on tomorrow.
Thanks for hangin' in there with me!


Hugs,
True :D


Thursday, September 23, 2010

OK...I admit it...I have a problem! LOL!

When you store all of your crafty goodies here and there you just don't think about how many you have.
I think I am a hoarder!
I had my Tombows on top of my work table, my Prismacolor pencils and watercolor pencils on a shelf, my Copics in a drawer. I decided to organize my studio and one of the things I did was to create a "color corner" where I put the coloring mediums that I use the most all together for easy access.
 WoW...that's a lot of big kid colors!


Same thing with my brads. They were all kind of scattered between jars, and SU divider boxes, in baggies etc. I had a couple of organizers that I found in the hardware department that were being under utilized. I had no idea that I had that many brads! Before, I never could find the exact colors I needed, when I needed them so I would go buy more. Now they are assorted by type or color family and individual hues are in tiny baggies.
So much easier to find what I need!

Now, if I could only figure out what to do with the mountains of cardstock and designer papers that are quickly filling my space!
I have admitted I have a problem. That is step one of the program....right? LOL!

Have a great day!
Hugs your way!
True :D

Sunday, September 19, 2010

And the winner of my comment candy digis is.....

Congratulations Chrissie!
Thanks to everyone who left a sweet comment. They are the reason I keep on bloggin'!

Remember, you can still get them if you would like by purchasing them from Clear Dollar Stamps.
"Autumn Friends" is just $3.00 for instant download.


"Autumn Blessings" is just $2.50 for instant download.
Remember you get a freebie digi with any purchase and this month it is the adorable "Fall Floral Jug" designed by the very talented Laurie Wilson.
Don't forget to add it to your cart!
Hugs to ya all!
True :D

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Another Card With My "Autumn Friends" digi.

Happy Saturday!
Hope your weekend is off to a great start!
I need to order some more because I have already used it on several projects.  ;)

This time I paired it up with my "Autumn Friends" digi that is available for instant download now @ Clear Dollar Stamps.
It was a fun image to draw but it's even more fun to color!

You can download the image plus 2 sentiments for just $3.00!



Thanks so much for dropping in again!
I would love for you to leave me some love! ;)
Hugs,
True :D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Card Recipe:
CDS STAMPS USED: "Autumn Friends" digi
CS/PAPERS: Watercolor paper, The Paper Temptress, Lasting Impression's - "Grasshopper Pie"
INK: Staz-On Jet Black,
ACCENTS/TOOLS: RRR's -Orange and Black Swiss Dots grosgrain ribbon, brads, Diamond Glaze, Wizard and rect.
Nestabilities, Stickles in - Orange, Yellow, Stardust, Lavender
COLORING: watercolors

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

CDS Digi Stamp Release Day. I illustrated 2 of them! Plus Comment Candy!

Hello All!

Make sure to read to the bottom to see how to win my latest digis!

 It's digital release day over at Clear Dollar Stamps and I did 2 this month!
The first card was done with my "Autumn Friends" set.


That pretty ribbon is Moss Swirls from Really Reasonable Ribbon.
This is such a fun image to color and can be used for a general Fall card or for Halloween. It is just $3.00 and you can download it instantly HERE.



My second card is done with my other September digi. It's called  "Autumn Blessings".


 It colors up so quickly but yet you can use it for a down home country card up to a very elegant card depending on the cardstock and papers you choose. Very versatile! It is just $2.50.
Download it instantly HERE.




I hope you will head on over to Lori's blog, Clearly i Stamp where there are links to the other girls who used my images to make some beautiful projects. You can also check out the the rest of the digi releases for September. They are all sooo cute!

 ~~~~Comment Candy Alert!~~~~
CDS and I will be giving one lucky commenter BOTH sets of the digis seen here, so don't forget to give me some love!
The winner will be announced Sunday, September 19th.
(If you are the winner, and you've already bought them by the time I draw, I will simply refund your money!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am entering these cards in the following challenges:
Creative card Crew ~ Autumn of Fall
A Spoon Full of Sugar ~ Fall into Autumn
ABC ~ "D" is for Distressing
I used inks to distress my images
Paper Play ~ Autumn is Coming!
Delightful Challenges ~ Color Inspiration
All Sorts ~ Colors of Autumn


Thanks for dropping by!
Hugs,
True :D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Card #1 Recipe:
CDS STAMPS USED: "Autumn Friends"
CS/PAPERS: Watercolor paper, Bazzill, Debbie Mumm - "Harvest and Holiday" stack
INK: Staz-On Jet Black, ColorBox- Dark Moss, Cream Brown, Amber Clay, Alabaster
MARKERS: Tombow #'s - N55, 969, 947, 933, 126, N25, 062, 985, 098, 879, 905, 772, 850, 703, N65
ACCENTS/TOOLS: Sponge dauber, old toothbrush for spattering, brads, Moss Swirls Ribbon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Card #2 Recipe:
CDS STAMPS USED: "Autumn Blessings" digi
CS/PAPERS: watercolor paper, Bazzill, Debbie Mumm's "Harvest and Holiday" stack
INK: Inkjet, ColorBox - Moss Green, Walnut Brown
MARKERS: Tombow #'s- 126, N55, 947, 990, 098, 062, 933, 985
ACCENTS/TOOLS: Wizard and round Nestabilities, green satin trim ribbon, Sewing machine with green thread

Monday, September 13, 2010

WoW! More Stuff to Give Away @ Our Class!

Looking For The Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop?
Scroll down 1 Post.

Hello!
I got some more goodies in the mail today for the Memory Expo 2010 class that Tanya Fox, Brooke Smith and I will be teaching in Topeka, Kansas on October 1st and 2nd!
Tanya and Brooke worked some magic and got us 72 copies of the "Coloring Techniques for Card Making" book that I was a co-contributer on.

Everyone who attends our class will receive one and they have a $15.00 value. 
Such an AWESOME DONATION!
Thanks Annie's Attic / DRG Publishing!!!!

Tanya also contacted JudiKins and they sent us sample tubes of Diamond Glaze for all participants! ;)


The price of the class is $25.00 but the goody bags are almost worth that! :)
Clear Dollar Stamps is donating a stamp set for everyone Really Reasonable Ribbon is donating lots of ribbons,  and The Paper Temptress is donating all of the paper!
I work for some of the best companies in the market!!!! MMMMMwaaah!

If you have not already checked it out, you can click HERE to go to the page where I list the details about the class and links to where you can sign up.
If you plan on attending, I would so love to hear from you!
Hugs and Happy Crafting!
True :D

Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop! Come join in on the fun!

Hello All!
It is the 13th of the month which means that it is time for another fun Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings blog hop!
If you came from Kerri's beautiful blog, you are in the right place. If you just happened onto the hop here, you will want to start back at the beginning at RRR design team blog.

I created a fun gift box for this hop.
I made a simple box and lid from some white cardstock, decorated it with designer papers, then added an image and sentiment. 
To give it that punch of a finishing touch, I used  some pretty Lime Green Leaves and some of the new Orange Jute String (from Really Reasonable Ribbon) tied through a big flower button.


The image I used is from the "Love Tweet Love" digi set that I designed for Clear Dollar Stamps.
It's available for instant download and it's just $3.00 for 3 images and 4 sentiments.
(I made up a different sentiment in MS Word for my sample today)


The designer paper is from Basic Grey's "Sugar Rush" stack. The button came from the fabric department @ Wal-mart.  ;)

Your next stop on the hop is Cheryl's SWEET blog.

Remember to leave a comment on all of the hop blogs for your chance to win a "September Ribbon of the Month" package!

Thanks so much for dropping by!
Hugs your way!
True :D

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Transform a Halloween Trick Into a Real Treat With Ribbon!


Hello!
It is Saturday so it is my turn to post a project at Really Reasonable Ramblings. I have posted this same project there but you really should go and visit to check out all of the awesome projects the other girls have been working on lately.  :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was so excited when I opened up my latest package from Really Reasonable Ribbon and saw the adorable "Halloween" ribbon of the month collection!
Bonnie has such a knack for putting just the right ribbons together for her sets.


I know you all have "special" ghosts and goblins that come to visit on Halloween. Maybe a special teacher or friend you would like to treat. Well....here is a quick and easy way to make a nice sweet gift.
Wal-Mart (and most other stores) have their Halloween candy out already which is great for us crafters. I picked up some little plastic jars filled with different kinds of candy for just $3.00 each! They are a tad ugly but I knew how to make them "gift worthy"!


I made tags, stamped them with some Penny Black stamps, and decorated them with assorted pieces of the September Ribbon of the Month collection. They took me just a few minutes to do and will make some little pumpkin squeal with delight!

You could also use Halloween stickers if you didn't feel like stamping. There are some really cute ones in the craft stores right now.

Halloween is still a ways off so you have tons of time to do this too.
Head on over to Really Reasonable Ribbon and sign up for their ribbon of the month club.
You can also buy the individual ribbons if you would prefer.
Bonnie is going on vacation soon so this weekend only, she is offering 10% off to celebrate!
Visit the Really Reasonable Ramblings blog to get the coupon code!
She is also doing a DESIGN TEAM CALL. If you LOVE playing with ribbon, check it out!

Thanks so much for dropping by.
If I say "Trick Or Treat" will you leave me a comment?
TRICK OR TREAT!!!!  ;)
Hugs,
True :D

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Digital Delights Challenge Card

Hello All!
Really Reasonable Ribbon is sponsoring the challenge this week over @ Delightful Challenges by Looby Loo.
The challenge is to use ribbon and the color inspiration below my card.
I used Wendy's "Piggy Topper" image. Isn't he a cutie?
The ribbon is Moss Swirls, (my all time favorite) and Orange Swirls from Really Reasonable Ribbon.



The paper is from Debbie Mumm's Harvest and Holiday stack. The cardstock is Bazzill.

Thanks for dropping in!
Hope you will head on over and join us in this fun challenge!
Hugs,
True :D

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Penny Black Card


Hello!
I absolutely LOVE Penny Black stamps but don't get to play with them that often. Today I took a day off from my "need to do cards" and did this little guy.
I am joining the girls in the CS297 Sketch Challenge over @ Split Coast Stampers



I used Basic Grey's Sugar Rush stack.
The flower is from Wild Orchid Crafts.



I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Stamp Something.....Cute
A Spoon Full of Sugar ~ Animal
Pile It On ~ Layers
Simon Says Stamp and Show ~ Layers
Paper Romance ~ Furry Friend

Thanks again for dropping in.
Hugs,
True :D

Saturday, September 4, 2010

2 More "Christmas Mouse" Cards

Hello,
Here are 2 more cards that I made with the "Christmas Mouse" image, illustrated by me for Clear Dollar Stamps.
I used some beautiful Wine Velvet ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon on both.




Thanks so much for dropping by!
Hugs,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Card Recipe:
CDS STAMPS USED: Poinsettia Mouse
CS/PAPERS: BoBunny-A Gift of Love, Creative Impressions-Poinsettia, The Paper Temptress- Heavenly White + Sparkle Blanc
INK: Staz-On
ACCENTS/TOOLS: Burgundy velvet ribbon, sewing machine with burgundy and green thread, Wizard and rectangle Nestabiliteis, Ranger Stickles in Fruit Punch and Yellow, Diamond Glaze, Fabri-Tac glue
COLORING: Watercolors, Lt Grey Copic, grey colored pencil


Thursday, September 2, 2010

And the winner of the RRR blog hop candy is.....


Congratulations!
Thanks to everyone who visited my blog and left a comment!
I appreciate each and every one of you!
Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Hugs,
True :D

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

And The Winner Of The Coloring Techniques Book Is.....

My blog was chosen randomly as one that would have a winner and then the number they gave me was #97 which is Mary.
Thanks to all who participated in the hop and who left such lovely comments on my blog.
I appreciate you all!
If you would like to purchase the book, you can order it (or download it) HERE.


If you missed the blog hop and all of the commotion about the book, click HERE to go to that post.
Thanks for dropping in!
Hugs,
True :D