2022: Catching up in 2023 [card #whoknows 😆]

Hello, sweet friends! It's been a LONG time❤️

Some of you might know from my IG and FB posts that 2022 ended with my Granny passing... I went to her funeral... broke my wrist on Feb. 1, which started a long recovery including a reset at the ER, several casts, only to have the bones collapse three weeks later causing me to have surgery on Feb. 21...Trav's Gran passed on Feb. 17... and I've been on the couch for 66 days trying to recover. All of my aqua fitness classes, crafting, and life really STOPPED the first day of February. 

It's a long story... but here we are, 66 days later, and I'm trying to use my left hand to type (super hard since my wrist doesn't move or allow for typing). *sigh* I'm doing my best though. 

Enough of "Debbie Downer"... let me post a few creations that I made prior to the end of 2022 and my injury in 2023. *Because of my difficulty typing, I won't really share much with this post. Hopefully in the future I will be able to write more. 

Card #1: My anniversary card to Trav in November 2022. The sweet potato is a joke... I'll share one day about it. LOL

Card #2: A Christmas card using a foil plate as a letterpress. Not a great result (first time), but I liked it enough to make a card:) I also used some retired Paper Smooches goodies- I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE PS!!!

Cards #3-5: Sympathy Cards using the YourPaperInsider box #2. This company sends out a paper subscription box quarterly with the most amazing papers!! It's an assortment of papers from around the world, with different textures/colors/etc. It's so fun to figure out ways to use these papers. 

Unfortunately, I needed four sympathy cards immediately after unboxing. The good news is that these papers made each card EXTRA special. 

Click HERE to check out their subscription boxes---sign up today so you don't miss out on the next shipment❤️

Card #6: Another YourPaperInsider creation...I tried to watercolor a stamped image on the most beautiful blush pink paper from box2. I don't know if you can see it... but I like how it turned out:) 

Card #7: One of my favorites! **LOVE+LONG story** I made this the day before I was injured. I had other plans for it (sell it/etc)... but Trav saw it and said, "I love this!" That changed the plans... and then my injury helped change them too. You see... I have been trying to give Trav a note or card every day during Marriage Week [Feb. 7-14]. This year that didn't happen due to my injury... but I had this ONE card. And since he loved it so much, I decided to give it to him for Valentine's Day. PLUS--- he deserved a beautiful card since at that time he had been taking care of me 24/7 and working, cooking, cleaning, etc. I wanted to give him something extra special this year to celebrate our love. He has truly shown me how to love like Christ loves and has sacrificed so much to help me get better. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 

So long story short... Card #7 is my Valentine's Day card to Trav. 

That's it for me today...but I have at least 25 more cards to share from 2022!!! And tomorrow I will be sharing some creations made with a new release from Spellbinders!! 

THANKS so much for stopping by!    

Be blessed ❤️

Sav

2022: Catching Up [card #??]

Hello again, sweet friends! 

I hope you all are doing well:) While it’s been a a month or two since I’ve blogged… I’ve been in the craft room regularly and still creating! The last card I posted was 2022.063 and now I’m up to 2022.110!! I’ve got A LOT to share. 🙃

I started a self challenge a year or so ago where I would try to use up the supplies in my stash for each creation. I love this challenge because I tend to hoard the embellishments or patterned papers. I also forget why I buy certain stamps or dies if I don’t use them right away; my inspiration fades with time. I have embraced this challenge again (while still buying new stuff too! LOL!) and created a few cards since I blogged last. Enjoy them all! 

A Valentine’s Day card inspired by Kristina W.

 Custom card created for a friend’s uncle

A special birthday card to celebrate a neighbor

Custom anniversary card— wasn’t sure which color she wanted for the background so I made two:) 

A friend lost his 14 year old pup and that required a special sympathy card

Trav needed a special birthday card for a neighbor who loves to golf… of course I had to make a pun:) 

That's it for me today. I hope to share more on the blog soon! 

THANKS so much for stopping by!    

Be blessed ❤️

Sav

Creative Blog Hop

Hello, friends:)

I'm super excited to be a part of the Creative Blog Hop that has been going around blog-land for several months! My friend, Katie- Stamping Lightly, tagged me last week, and I'm honored that she would ask me to be a part of this hop! Be sure to stop by her hop post HERE.

For this CBH, I will answer 4 questions about my creative process, studio, and more. First, let me share my studio with you! I am a neat/clean freak, but this photo of my room doesn't show it! LOL! 

Let's play a game called, Where's Olsen!? LOL! He's in A LOT of my photos and videos, and he's always in my studio!

And here's a video! Nothing really has changed from when I posted this video last year--- I did change where I placed by stamps, finished cards, and silhouette, and NOW I record with an HD camcorder... but other than that... it's about the same;) ***Be sure to change your settings to HD before watching! THANKS:) **NOTE: sorry about the sound of my voice-- not sure why it's wonky!

1. What are you working on NOW? 
I think that I've got a little bit of everything on my desk right now... I will say that I've been working on a Virtual Smooches video for the past six days! LOL! I usually post on Thursdays but haven't had the chance to post yet. I'm also working on some special Imagine Crafts projects-- love love love my inks! I am also working on my calendar and trying to get everything scheduled so I don't forget anything when I'm on vacation next month. ANNNNNNNNNND....I'm also pulling out fabrics and sewing stuff to make a special gift for a friend. One of my goals in 2014 is to sew at least once a month. This special gift will be my September project:) The last project I'm working on is time consuming and kind of hard (due to my hoarding tendencies)- I'm going through my stash of crafty goodness and putting it out in the garage for a craft/garage sale. I've already had three or four different groups of women stop by for a sneak peek sale. But it looks like they didn't even make a dent in all of my stuff! LOL! 

I promise--- I really am a neat freak! This is a mess of a desk!

Overall--- I'm working on this and that, and all things crafty:)

2. How does your work differ from others in your genre? 

When interviewed as the Designer of the Month for the December 2013 CARDS magazine, I said that I think my style is fun/graphic/modern with layers and detail... but now I'm thinking it's a mix of these three with some CAKS (Clean and Kind of Simple). I'm not sure my work is really that much different from others in my group... maybe the difference is that their work is way better than mine! LOL! I'm in awe of so many crafters! I love love love gathering inspiration from different projects and places (i.e. layouts, Project Life pages, gift bags, Pinterest, blogs, etc). Here's two of my creations--- kind of simple, fun, modern, layered, and inspired by Pinterest or a layout: 

 

3.  Why do you create what you do? 
I've always been drawn to arts/crafts... but there are a couple of reasons I currently am found in my craft room 90% of the time: 

• Design Teams- LOL! I've got work that has to be done! 
• I love to share my creations with others! I am a hardcore cardmaker, and my goal is to bless someone with my creations. I love making others feel loved and cared for. Sometimes friends or family will buy my creations and send them out, and then they report back to me how much the recipient loved their gift. I'm not crafting to be "noticed" (although I will admit that I'm a "words of affirmation" kind of gal.... so comments, being pinned, and being noticed always make me smile).... but my goal is to be a blessing to others. I want to share my talents and brighten someone else's day with a handmade creation. I will also be honest and say that I've actually received some of my OWN cards in the mail--- it makes me cry that someone would buy a card from me and send it back to me! LOL! So I know how it feels to get something so special-- this feeling makes me want to share my cards (and all of my projects) with the WORLD! :) 

4. How does your creative process work? 
To be honest, I struggle when crafting! I just want to add more and more details or color... and sometimes I have an AWESOME idea that just turns out HORRIBLE! LOL! Here's the process (the best way I can explain it-- and if you watch my videos, you will KNOW what I'm talking about! LOL!): 

• I usually start out with an idea (that I had after surfing the net while at an appointment or in the car... or when I'm watching TV).
• Next I sit down to work--- pulling out my supplies/etc.
• Then I start working on my cardbase and design.... I usually have to scrap at least one or two things before I like what I have.
• I will clean my work area at this point-- just in case there was a mess on my desk! LOL! 
• While designing, I am not satisfied with my creations until I've moved something or stamped an extra sentiment at least once during the process! LOL! **NOTE: I've ruined several creations during this step! 
• Again, time to clean the desk. 
• My card is almost completed, and now I sit back and look at it. Does it have a flow to it? Do I need to add or take away? Should I round a corner or add splatters?
• Now at this point, I'm usually frustrated, but I continue and mess with my ribbon/bow.
• Finally, I say, "Enough is ENOUGH!" and that's when my card is done! ***NOTE: Or I ask Trav if there is anything else I can do/add/etc.... and his response is always, "It's fine. You are finished." :) 

And that's it--- I hope that you have enjoyed learning more about me:) I've had so much fun sharing some of my favorite projects/video of my studio/etc. and talking about crafting with you!!! THANKS so much for asking me to join in the fun, Katie!

THANKS so much for stopping by! Be blessed:) 


ps...I know I'm supposed to share three more designers and their blogs to continue this blog hop! I will announce these friends SOON! :) 

More FRIENDS:}

Hello, friends:}

I just love love love when my friends come over and play in my studio! About a month ago my friend's daughter stopped by to make a wedding card for her aunt. Maria has been crafting lots, so this card came together quickly!! Her aunt's wedding colors were bright yellow and navy blue (some Michigan sport's team colors???). So we looked through some old CARDS magazines, and found some cake shaped cards that she wanted to create {by Heather Pulvirenti Cards July 2010}. We ended up using the scroll from Ippity's Regal Greetings stamp set, along with some beautiful navy glitter and rolled flowers. And Maria even hand embroidered that S!! LOVE it! She did a fabulous job! 

 

Maria did this all on her own! 

And here is a fun pic of my friend Daria! She is the SWEETEST! Love when she visits--she is so crafty and smart and FUNNY! She does not like her pic being taken--LOL! She is doing my dishes here--THANKS, Daria! She made this beautiful quilt. LOVE the colors!!!

She also gave me this beautiful rose--which was almost dead by the time she made it to my house! That is a funny story! We have lots of funny stories--like when she was reading <3 (for the heart symbol), she says, "Less than 3"! ACK--I about died! LOVED that laugh! 

I "less than 3" you, Daria!!!

That's it for me today. Thanks for letting me share some of my friends' creations!! If you want to stop by Savannahland (my studio)...just let me know!! I love visiting and crafting with my friends:} Blessings!