Changing of Seasons

   Last night, I actually sat down and scrapbooked. I haven't done any in over 2 months, that was when I ran out of design team assignments. Even though I stepped away for awhile I was still creating cards and doing some sewing. 

   When I saw this sketch from My Creative Scrapbook , I knew I wanted to use one of the fall photos that I took in the past week. 

   Here is my take on the sketch. 

 Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio and Bazzil Basics), pattern paper (American Crafts and Echo Park Paper Co.), stickers (American Crafts and Basic Grey), twine (May Arts), sequins (SpiegelMom Scraps), cork (SpiegelMom Scraps),chipboard (Crate Paper), wood veneer (American Crafts), pearl dots (Eyelet Outlet), journaling card (Project Life), stencil (Stencil Girl), texture paste (Shimmerz), doily (Doodlebug Designs), corner punch (Fiskars), electronic die cutter, cartridge and software (Cricut), paperclip (Pink Paislee) and pen (Project Life)

   This was the first time in about 5 months that I have used my Cricut. I think I need to change the blade in it. 

I am still loving the scatter of sequins and pearls. I hope in a few years I won't look back and think it is like the bad sticker sneeze that happened before I got into this hobby.

 I did two different journaling on this page. I want the left side of the card to be more private so I made sure when I was writing it that it would be hidden under the photo. The right side of the card the journaling is visible so I just wrote about why the photo was taken.  

Me Update

   I thought it has been long over do on a progress report of what I have been up to.

• I am still working hard on my Etsy shop. I just redid over 120 listings tags and titles. It looks like it is paying off since I am getting picked up in searches more often.
• I am officially done with the eye doctor for this year unless I have a problem. I am now in soft contact lenses. All I can say is I am in love with them and I am taking in all the views that I can. It feels like I am seeing for the first time. 
• I am finally learning to shoot in manual mode on my camera. I am enjoying walking around the town taking fall photos. 

This is a photo that I took Sunday at the historical village. 

• I am still freezing the last of the fall goodies I have been buying at the farmer's market.
• Last but not least, I am looking into doing my first craft show. It would be next year sometime in the summer. If you know me I am a big planner so I know I will have to plan for this months in advance to make sure I have enough products to last the 8 hours it runs. 

That is what my life has been this past couple of weeks. I am hoping to end the year on a high note since the year started on the lowest note possible. 

Super Cute Card Share

   Hi, everyone. I am still here. The only reason I haven't been blogging is that blogger seems super slow so I have lost interst in posting and moved onto other computer work. 

   I recently bought the cute hugs set from Concord and 9th. I have to say that bear is what sold me on this set. I ended up creating this card for a new challenge site called, Where Creativity Meets C9. 

Supplies: cardsock (The Paper Studio), stamps (Concord and 9th), stamping ink (Tsukineko), sequins (SpiegleMom Scraps), embossing pad (VersaMark), embossing powder (American Crafts), punches (EK Success), stampin tool (MISTI), and watercolor crayon (Faber-Castell)

   The cheelnge was watercolor theme so I broke out the gelatos. I love working with those. 

   The bear I heat emboss so the watercoloring didn't bleed. Also, when I was heat embossing the bear I took the heat gun and burned the edges of the white cardstock panel. 

   This is the inside of the card. 

Starting From the Same Place - Artist Collaboration Blog Hop

An InLinkz Link-up

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   Welcome to the the artist collaboration featuring Stenciling Girl Products, Amazing Casting Products and Beacon. This hop features over 30 artists that all started with the same items that are pictured above. We had  free range when it came on out type of projects we could do as long as we use all the products we were sent. 

   This is what I came up with. It is a 12" x 12 canvas with an inspiring quote from Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

   Here is a closer look of all the details. 

   This cluster is my favorite section of this canvas. I got a little messy with my paints.

   This bow started as a piece of fabric and was stiffened with textured paste. 

Sewing Tip

   As you can tell from my latest posts is that I have had the sewing bug. You would think for me sewing would be hard to since I don't have contact lenses at the moment so my double vision would cause wonky seams. This is true but I came up with a trick that I am sure others use. It is to take a stack of post-it notes and stick them at my seam allowance on the machine. 

Another Completed Sewing Project

   This week I tackled another sewing project. I have abandon my scrapbooking for over a month but that is only because I have gotten bitten by the sewing bug. This happens twice a year when the weather changes. 

   This time I made a trendy top that is made from a super soft flannel. Here are some photos of it. They are not the best looking photos since it is a rainy day here. I used simplicity pattern #1013

    Here is what it looks like on. It is a loose fitting top so it is great for layering. I should have looked in the mirror before the photos were taken since the plaid looks off in the images but it really isn't. 

Make a Wish Shaker Style

      Last month I made a card that I loved and didn't know if I should sell it but I decided to list it on my shop anyway. I figure if I like it so much I could always make another one even though it would be made from different items since most of my cards are one of a kind. Fast forward to the current challenge over at Cas-UAL Fridays challenge, shaker cards. I knew he was my chance to try to recreate that first card I was in love with. 

   Here is my shaker card. 

Supplies: cardstock (Canvas Home Basics and The Paper Studio), pattern paper (PhotoPlay, Simple Stories and Fancy Pants Designs), enamel dots (My Mind's Eye), chipboard (Crate Paper and Simple Stories), sequins (SpiegleMom Scraps), stamps (Stampabilities, Studio Calico, and Peachy Keen Stamps), mist (Heidi Swapp) ink (Tsukineko) and stamping tool (MISTI) 

   I ended up using a plastic sheet that came from a pack of cork stickers for the "glass" window. 

   Now, this card is one I love as much as that first one. 

Studio Update

   Today, I just did my first very quick video tour of my studio. Sorry it is so dark but today wasa very gloomy day. Later on, I will do a more in depth tour. 

Merging

   The holidays are fast approaching so I am preparing my Etsy shop with lots of handmade items. I have been listing Christmas cards and ornaments this month. I also have already have some cute dog toys listed because we all need to give a special toy out fur babies.

   With all the shop work on listings I am constantly working on marketing. I have been trying to incorporate my blog, shop and instagram account to give me a more cohesive look so when you see the name "MJs Kraze" it will be able to stick into ones mind of handmade items and a designer.

   So what do you think of the new blog look. I am loving the more clean and simple design on my sites it allows the items to pop.  On thing about the blog, I am still trying to find the happy medium of posting shop updates. I am sure no reader wants to just see items for sale.

   Speaking of items for sale I am working on a For Sale section on my blog to sell some stash items of supplies.  I had one up before but it was outdated so i am revamping it. Be on the lookout for this later this week.

Better Late Than Never

   I have a tendency to buy cute sewing patterns when there is a great sale like the $0.99 sale Hobby Lobby and let them go untouched for months or years. This pattern is one I bought last year. I had planned on making before summer but between my eye healing, finding time and looking for the right fabric it never came together.  Even though it is getting cool I still made this since I found the right fabric and had the time, aka the sewing bug hit. 

   Here is how the dress came out. I have to say it took a lot longer than I  planned. Three days worth of work and becoming friends with the seam ripper I am happy to say I love how it came out.. I had the feeling the whole time that it was going to be way too big since it was starting to look like a tent. I ended up trimming the length so it hit at the knee, which made it not so big at the bottom. I just love the vintage look of this. 

   The top fabric has a silver metallic star print.

    To make it wearable during the cooler weather I paired it up with the long cardigan. Plus the combination of this with leggings and tall boots is super cute.  It looks better on me instead of the hanger.

It is Alive

   As of last week my big project is finally done. I decided to make a life size Frankenstein out of terracotta pots. I had 6 large pots hanging around the garage from the container garden fail from three years ago. When I started to work on this I had to buy another pot since one of them broke. 

   This thing is over 5' which means it is taller than me. As soon as October 1st. comes this will be  standing on the front porch. 

Supplies: terracotta pots, ribbon, adhesive, glitter and fabric. 

   Here is some closer shots. 

   I am most proud of how his face came out. I did it 100% by myself.

   His bolts were glittered.

   I am not too crazy over how the hands came out but figured it gave him the look of being put together in pieces.

   So what do you think is he scary or not. I say no my mom says yes because of his size. 

Tag Time

  Today was a rainy fall day so after the farmer's market I headed downstairs with my homemade spice latter to create a cute tag. Last week,  I came across a tad challenge site which I happened to fall in love with. It is called Tag You're It. Each week there is a inspiration photo and this is this week's. 

Here is my take on it. 

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio), pattern paper (Crate Paper), chipboard (Studio Calico), ribbon (Love Bug Creations), doily (Doodlebug Designs), tag (?), manual die (Heidi Swapp), manual die cutter (Spellbinders), and staple. 

   I am now in love with tags so I am planning on making a bunch of them with scraps from my 6 x 6 paper pads. 

   I borrowed my dad's stapler to add the ribbon to this. While I was doing it my dad said staples on a card, which he didn't know it was a tag. I said of course.

A Halloween Card

   Today, I am sharing with you a Halloween card created with the CAS(E) #190 card sketch. 

Here is my take on the sketch. 

Supplies: cardstock (Canvas Home Basics), stamps (Karen Foster), ink (Close to My Heart), doily (Doodlebug Designs), markers (Spectrum Noir)  and stamping tool (MISTI)

  I stuck super close to the sketch but felt that it needed something extra so I added a doily.  I think my coloring is getting better. I think the shading on the Count is spot on.