Turtle Page

   Last week, I did something I kept putting off because I didn't want to spend the entire day cleaning. That dreaded task was moving my studio down into the cool 70 degrees basement for the summer. I was finding myself dreading to go in my studio to create since it was 90 degrees in there at night and a fan was not an option unless I wanted to play chase that paper.

this is where I am calling my studio home for the next few months. 

   Since the move I have finding my creative side again so I wanted to play along with Let's Get Sketchy week 4 sketch. 

   Here is my take on it. The pics aren't up to my usual standards. I am trying some new settings on my camera. 

Supplies: cardstock ( The Paper Studio and American Crafts), pattern paper (Crate Paper, My Mind's Eye and Fancy Pants Designs), stickers: Lilly Bee Designs, Studio Calico, and American Crafts), journaling pocket card (pebbles Inc.) and frame (Simple Stories). 

   Here are a few close-ups. I love this embossed paper from American crafts I found at Tuesday Morning. I spent $6.99 on a stack of 50 sheets. 

   A little back story on this turtle. My family saw her in our yard one Sunday morning and I knew I had to get some pics because I love animals. I knew there had to be some turtle eggs around since that is the only time we see turtles around here, so with my zoom on my camera I was able to get a pic of the neighbors back porch with an egg laying on it. She stayed in out yard for a few hours in the same spot until the sun came out and then she moved and kept going in circles. Sad to say I don't think the eggs made it because of the fox that lives backyard.

Identinty Crisis

   While you might say I am having an identity crisis if you head over to my Etsy store "MJ's Kraze". I have over 50 listings but I am sure you won't expect to see dog apparel and toys in the same shop as paper crafts except at my crazy shop. I think the "Kraze" in my branding is a perfect description of my shop and my creative brain since I am always doing something different each day. Plus,I didn't want to run multiple online shops.I did that a few years ago and one of them always got neglected.

So far my shop has been steadily growing and I am at the most listings I ever had. My most recent category added were the planner clips.

• Cards37
• Memory Keeping2
• Notebooks2
• Wall Art3
• Pet Toys1
• Pet Apparel5
• Planner Accessories7

   This post my confirm your suspicions of my craziness but being normal is very boring. I am totally embracing the wandering brain that finds me creating totally out of my comfort zone crafts.

P.S. I might be going on a metal stamping jewelry binge soon. I just ordered some supplies.  

Annual Scrapbooking Event - SBC #488

   It is Monday and that means it is time to share my take on this week's #488 sketch from Scrapbook Challenges.

   Here is my take on it. I ended up documenting May 7th, 2016 which happened to be National Scrapbook Day and other things. However, this page is just showing me playing along with challenges. 

Supplies: cardstock (Bazzill Basics and The Paper Studio), pattern paper (Crate Paper and My mind's Eye), journaling cards (American Crafts and Project Life), die cuts (American Crafts), stickers (We R Memory Keepers, American Crafts and My Mind's Eye), paperclip (The Paper Studio),mirror (The Paper Studio)electronic die cutter, cartridge and software (Cricut), and pen (Project Life)

   Here is a closer look. Have you seen those mirror embellishments from Hobby Lobby? I am loving them and I have my eye on another package since I already used most of the gold triangle package. 

 Don't forget to link up your creations on the Mr. Linky at Scrapbook Challenges to have a chance at winning this month's prize.

Stamped Hello Card

   Today, I am going to share a quick card I created with a card sketch #177 from CAS(E). 

 This is sketch inspired me at first when but a few days later when it was time to create I was scratching my head like what am I going to do with this since there is so much "white" space and my style is all about the layers. To remedy that problem I just added a large focal image to the blank corner.

Here is my take with the added me to it. I also created a matching envelope seal.

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio), pattern paper (Fancy Pants Designs), inks (Close to  my Heart, Umbrella Crafts and Tsukineko Memento) stamps (Studio Calico and Stampabilities), liquid glue (Ranger), stamping tool (MISTI)  

   First, I have to say is I am in love with the MISTI and my mom (who only crafts once a year) actually tried it and loved it. It is so making me want to use my stamps more. Anyways, I loved how this card came out and I actually used quite a large variety of stamps on this. To add a little more flair to this milk bottle I applied glossy accents to the stamped bow. 

A Time to Visit - SBC #487

   Sketch #487 from Scrapbook Challenges is one that is great for that one photo that is special and you want to showcase it. 

   Here is my take on it. I ended up scrapping a Christmas photo from the 71 of my mom and her aunts. Because it didn't look like a very Christmasy looking I decided to treat it as a everyday moment.

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio) pattern paper (Crate Paper, Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye), stickers (We R Memory Keepers, My Mind's Eye, American Crafts, Studio Calico and Elle's Studio), rosette (Crate Paper), canvas embellishment (Studio Calico) sequins (SEI), mist (tattered Angels)tag (American Crafts), journaling card (Project Life), pen (Project Life).

   Here are a few close-ups. 

 Don't forget to link up your creations on the Mr. Linky at Scrapbook Challenges to have a chance at winning this month's prize.

1 Week Transformation - SBC #486

   This month over at Scrapbook Challenges we are doing something different. We will be only doing the Monday sketch reveals. This week's sketch was #485. 

Here is my take on it.

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio), pattern paper (american Crafts, Crate Paper and Simple Stories), stickers American Crafts, Studio Calico and Crate Paper), journaling card (Simple Stories), rubber embellishment (Studio Calico), wood veneer (?), diecut (American Crafts), electronic die cutter, cartridge and software (Cricut), manual diecutter and die (Spellbinders) washi tape (Scotch Brand) and pen (Project Life) 

   Here is a closer look. I didn't have any "E's" in this font so I cut an "8" in half. 

 Don't forget to link up your creations on the Mr. Linky at Scrapbook Challenges to have a chance at winning this month's prize.

Explosion Box Card

   I have been seeing these pop-up box cards all over online for the over a year now. I always wanted to try to make but but I always forgot to get the directions before I wanted to play with my paper items so it took me over a year to actually, remember to find a how to. 

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/popupboxcard/

   I ended up making one for my mom's nirthday and found that I loved the outcome even more so I made another one as a giftcard holder birthday card for my shop.

I

Last month, I finally ordered a rubber stamp for the back of my cards. I love the font. I ended up getting it from Stampin' Place. I found that their prices were great and their selections.

I ended up using a SRM Sticker bag on the back panel of the card so it could hold a gift card.

Father's Day Cards

  I use to think making cards for guys was super hard but lately i have been enjoying making them. I think I finally found the the right ratio of pattern to embellishment for them. 

Take a look at these new Father's day cards I made this year that are listed on Etsy. 

 #1 Dad 

   This one I kept it super simple because of the bold embossing background.

Banner Embossed 

World's Greatest Dad

   This one I made because I wanted to play with two new items I got from Scrapbook Steals and Scrapbook.com last week. The paper was from Scrapbook Steals and I actually bite the bullet on the Misti from Scrapbook.com. I stamped the inside of the card with it. It came out perfect unlike the first tries with the acrylic block method on the previous tries.

son's first HERO daughter's first LOVE