Brrrrrrrr, Just trying to keep warm!!

Now that I have started a new blog, I forget I have it.  Got out of the mode after my last blog-- need to get back into the regular groove of writing on it.  It's been crazy cold here like forever!  Maybe I'm in a brain freeze!
      Been working on several different things--new techniques--new projects--kids projects.

 The snow has given me many "snow days" to just hibernate in my craft room,   My favorite thing to do!

 While the furbabies enjoyed the snow for a few minutes outdoors, or from their favorite chair inside, I worked on several projects.

 This is how Dakota watches his sisters every time they go outside--he runs to his window chair and watches.  I don't have to because as soon as they come up on the deck, he gets down and runs to the door, meowing to let me know they are ready to come in .

 Back to my "projects:"   Below is the valentine card I made for my husband.  I embossed silver cardstock for the front.  The love is a IO die.

 But my most favorite new technique is used on the cards below.  It is Bokeh--or "blurring" in Japanese.  It originated in photography and now is a card making technique.

 These are my first three attempts and I love the results!  I used some of my butterflys on them and decorated them with sequins.

 The technique is easy--Ink your background in 2-3 co-ordinating colors.  Make a stencil using punches, dies, your cricut of different size circles.  Using this stencil, ink WHITE circles over the top of your inked base, overlapping different size circles, making some brighter (whiter) than others until your top is covered.  Love this look!

 There are many ways to use Bokeh, and many ways to do it.  That is my challenge this week.

 Have also been making little flowers for cards.  The tiny roses on top are a sizzix die and the pink and yellow ones are Heartfelt Creation roses.   Some are made of vellum, some of white cardstock and inked.  I will be doing a Heartfelt Creation Card Class in a month or so at the store.

 I've also been working on a friend's daughters graduation card box.  Not finished yet, but geting there.

And last, my kids class for March!  A mixed media canvas, kid style!  Kids love the die-cuts and layering and lots of color.  Should be a fun project for them.

 So that's been  my life in a nutshell the past few weeks.   Have many projects on the table in various degrees of completion or design.
              Here's to a crafty weekend.  Yes, we have MORE  snow coming Sunday and next Tuesday and-------------------  I see several more "snow days" in my immediate future.  Stay warm and Craft on!

So Far, So good--Maybe I'll continue.

Okay, the first post worked, but then things don't usually go bad until we are down the road some.  Today I will share the Other half of my passions--Crafting--actually anything using any sort of Scrapbook "stuff".  From making cards to stamping and embossing (a real love of mine) to using Mixed medium supplies to create to --yes--actual scrapbooking a scrapbook--I love it all.  And since I'm Retired from my day job (three years, now from Nursing), I have a chance to do it all full time.  Oh, did I say I work at a Scrapbook store--one that constantly, daily supplies us with all the newest, greatest supplies ever!!!  I also teach classes there--all the kids classes, a new stamping 101 class, the cricut Expression and Expression 2 classes and occasionally a card class. Retirement isn't what it use to be back in our parents time!  But it's a lot more Fun!

Above are some of the recent cards I have made.  Almost didn't get these on here--the computer (my main one) apparently has a virus and wouldn't let me download pictures to the blog--Ugggg!  It is the computer with the big anti virus program on it!  This is my back-up computer which was so slow, I quit using it 2-3 years ago.  Have a new internet system now and it seems to be working okay right now.  We'll see.  This is my favorite computer, so I hope it is "fixed".  Maybe just needed a 3 year rest!
      At any rate these are recent cards.  I have published them on several card sites I follow, so if you've seen them, I'm sorry.

The snowmen were some of my "winter" projects.  The top is a wooden board done up as a snowman and the three snowmen are on a canvas, and was a class I took.  We have the most amazing instructors at our scrapbook store--no wonder we have so much fun!  And the bottom one is a bit of spring time!  This is the canvas we will make in our March kids class at the store.  It is 3-D and involves modge podge and diecuts! 

Going to try this again!

Have not had the best of luck with previous blogs,  but decided to give it one more try and with the help of my able assistants who are never far from my feet,  I  will once again be able to share not only their antics but some craftiness as well!  Wish me luck.    Here's to introducing Ella ( yellow lab),  Lily ( black lab mix), and Dakota, their cat brother who really rules this household.