Make your own Sunshine

Well it's a beautiful Sunday morning and I just finished a 12x12 layout, using some older Anna Griffin papers.  I have bought pounds and pounds of Anna Griffin papers and embellishments, mostly from HSN, and decided this past few weeks to break into them more often and get some layouts done.  

The little title tag I made, "Make your own Sunshine" is one of Anna's adhesive vellum stickers.  I just love the designs and colors.  But more...I love the sentiment....  Well I hope you enjoy and are having a wonderful day yourself.  

Thanks for stopping by!
have fun crafting
hugs,
Molly

Tag Making Frenzy

Darn that Pinterest!  
I was just minding my own business...browsing and wasting time on my new favorite site...when Wham!  I saw some of the most creative tags.

So of course I had to go into overdrive making tags.  Come to think of it it really started when I was so excited to begin learning how to watercolor from an gifted friend, Terri.  She was generous enough to meet me at our local Michaels and got me hooked on learning to play with watercoloring.  I spent the first "lesson" just learning how to mix colors and the different types of applications...and learned I really love "wet on wet" application of colors.

 So I had all these beautiful papers that I created, not that I made them beautiful...it was just the magic of watercolors...anywho...I decided to cut them into tag sizes and get busy using them as background papers.  So here's what came from that wonderful day!

Of course I used several great trims and ribbons and buttons and flowers and stickers and die cuts and embosssing powders,  even sea shells from my stash.  But that was half the fun... trying to make a dent in the way too much to use up in this lifetime stash ....lololol.

I know what you may be thinking ...these backgrounds look a lot like what you could do with Tim Holtz Distress pads.  Maybe so, but remember I was learning how to control and mix watercolors...  something I have been wanting to do my whole life.  The colors you can create ...omgosh golly, it is truly magical.  And learning something new, something that you only can try to control...knowing all the while that mother nature and the properties of water have just as much control as you do...well it was just so freeing...

Whew...may have gotta a little too absorbed there. But I love watercolors, the softness, how subtle it can be...the appearance of something so fluid and yet so commanding and yet calm.  Okay enough about that...

On one of the tags,  I used the Tim Holtz Globe die cut and Lindys Stamp Gang Sprays and and a Patina two toned embossing powder I have had in my stash for years.  Saw a tag on Pinterest, yep that's the one that started this whole mess. 

Well hope you enjoy.  Thank you for stopping by. I am going to pin these on Pinterest as well...so please head over there and share if you'd like...

Thanks again and have fun crafting! 

hugs,

 Molly

(there are more tags below..enjoy)

Prima's Stationers Desk Layouts

Hello there!  Hope you all are having a wonderful time crafting.  I have been playing and creating some 12 x 12 inch layouts.  So dark and rich in colors and design, I just love this Prima collection... Stationer's Desk.

 Here's a few layouts I did recently that I wanted to share.  Hope you enjoy!  The first one is titled Our Story...

This next one is Perfect...which I will use for a picture of my dad..or husband...or son...hmmmm.  How lucky am I to have  or had 3 such wonderful men in my life.

I bought the paper from mbtreasurista's
 and was even more happy
 with it when I saw it in person.  
It is just so rich with texture 
and the perfect blend of 
vintage and grunge! 
 Yumm...well anywho...
hope you are having 
a wonderful time creating!  
Thanks for stopping by...

P.S.
here's a link to my youtube if you want to see more...

Have fun today!
Molly

New happy happy beginnings

This was a post I found on Pinterest...and it sung to me.  I have made a big big change in my life and feel so free...free to explore, create, sing, dance, what ever sets my heart on fire!

After decades of working, long long hours, I have retired from working outside the home.  This is a big big step for me and it took a huge heartfelt push from my husband, but it is wonderful!  Now I have been home for over two weeks and have logged about 1000 hours on Pinterest and Youtube.  Soaking in the boundless inspiration...listening to my heart start to sing...  so this is happy!  So far, so good....lolololol.

But here's hoping I can "unplug" just long enough to create...to play...to paint...to just have fun, to create what sets my heart on fire!  Wish me luck and please share all your creative ideas...this is gonna be fun!

Big hugs to you all  
Molly

p.s. here's the link to the art above:
Heart on Fire

Vintage Lace Keepsake Mini Book

It was thrilling for me to play in my mother's century old stash of laces.  Yep, her stash included laces from her mother and grandmother and my favorite aunt.  All these incredibly talented crafters are in heaven now, but they passed on the love of fabrics and laces and ribbons and buttons to me.  And my sweet mom let me pick out some of my favorites from her incredible "stash" and take them home with me.

I couldn't wait to make a lace book like I had seen on other talented crafter's youtube channel.  But I couldn't help but think of how teaching and sharing crafting secrets has changed since my great grandmother and her daughters and sisters got together at quilting and embroidery  bees and shared there crafting talents with each other, passing on these gifts to future generations...   Now, I sit with my cup of coffee or glass of coke and just spend hours with talented crafters like:

Gladys at HeartofaGippsy on youtube

Lydia at Itripledogdareu on youtube

Chrissie at chrissiecrosser on youtube

Olga at madstamper64

Cheryl at delygirl1961 on youtube

Marlene at 4marlene1  ( the absolute queen of shabby chic in my opinion)

and so many many more

So here's a warm heartfelt thank you to all these wonderful crafters, past and present, who share their talents and warm family stories with us.  Salute!!!

hugs and have fun crafting,

Molly D

2014 Calendar I editied from Crafty Secrets...made Month names bigger

First, we need to all give a big shout out of thanks to Crafty Secrets for providing us these wonderful calendars every year.  I took the original one they created and modified it by making the month titles larger...and am posting this edited version....hope they don't mind...I  used this edited version in a project and had a few ladies ask where I got it so I thought I would share...

Making "Wildflowers" from paper roses...

     I love all the paper roses I have "stashed away" in the old hoard vault...but find I don't use them as much as I should.  Often, I find the are two "lumpy" for my scrapbook pages or the cards I want to send.  Hmmm....so I decided to tear them apart and use some of the wonderful stamen I have been hoarding as well...to make them look more like the expensive Prima flowers I love so much, and not so rose repetitious.....

Here are a few of the cards I made using this easy technique ( I put the video tutorial below the pictures if you want to know how I made them):

These three cuties are some extras  I will be using on upcoming projects!  Just love the soft effect the stamens give.



Here's the link to a video I did for this technique:


Hope you enjoy and share the projects you do, if you decide to use this technique.  Have fun crafty!

Molly D    

Last day to Vote for my entry at Creating the Crafty Life...

http://creatingthecraftylife.com/photo/radiant-orchid-2014acc


Please, take just a minute and vote for my entry, link is above,  in a contest I have entered on Creating the Crafty Life.  The final cutoff for voting is midnight Wednesday, February 26th.  You much be a member of the site to vote, but it is so easy to join!  And I promise, if you are a crafter, you will love the site... lots of great challenges and contests... so please please please scoot on over, join if you are not currently a member and vote for my entry!  And a big hug and thank you to all who do!


To join the site, just hit this link


http://creatingthecraftylife.com/  and hit the sign up link...I promise you will love this site.  Very wonderful group of crafters.  After you join, then just hit the link above to "like" my project, each like counts as a vote.  Whew.... Thanks again if you take the time to help me win this fun contest!


hugs and happy scrapping!

Love is in the Air Youtube Hop with Great Prize!

Come join in the fun starting TODAY, Feb. 2nd thru Feb 8th.

        MBTreasurista is hosting a youtube Hop featuring Misty's designers:

 Bona of LiveLoveScrap on yt

Deb or CraftyTexasWoman

Sara whose yt channel is JustCardsbySara

and me...iloveminialbums on yt! 

 

I think you will really enjoy and be inspired by these women's great Valentine projects...PLUS, if you subscribe to each channel and leave a comment on each you will be entered into our great contest.  Here's the prize...

 

so join the fun... here's the links, in order,  to each of the ladies video...so scoot, there's a great prize waiting to be won..

 

 Deb: http://www.youtube.com/user/craftytexaswoman

 Bona: http://www.youtube.com/user/LiveLoveScrap

 Molly: http://www.youtube.com/user/mdmdownin

 Sara: http://www.youtube.com/user/JustCardsBySara

 

 

Have fun crafting,

Hugs, Molly D

2014 Calendar Mini...

Above is the video to a mini album calendar I made recently.  I used Prima's Fairy Belle paperline for the base over envelope and cards from Michaels in an pearlized ivory.  I edited a free printable 2014 calendar from Crafty Secrets. ( I enlarged the months as you can see below).  Hope you enjoy this quick creation  and have fun crafting!

hugs, Molly D

Newest Valentine Mini Album with Anna Griffin Papers

Just wanted to share this little mini album I made, finally using some of my Anna Griffin papers and stickers.  Now I only have about 500 more pounds of Anna Griffin paper and stickers to go....teeheehee.  Hope you enjoy!

Have fun crafting everyone...and stay safe and sound in this winter weather we are having!
hugs, Molly D

Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays to all

Just wanted to take a moment and share my prayers of best wishes for you and your families today.  I hope that the upcoming year brings you all health and happiness and joy. 

Here are just a few pictures of the decorations I made and put up this year.  I was so inspired by the wonderfully talented ladies and gentlemen on youtube and all the art they share. 

Hope you enjoy and again...best wishes and all joy to you and your family!

 The picture above is of the hurricane candleholder that sits on our buffet..but I dressed it up for the holidays with lots of ribbons and "sugared" fruits.

This is the top of our tree.  I just love the addition of the turquoise color to our traditional Christmas colors. 

 Here are some candles that have greenery and blinged out buttons added to give them a more holiday spirit.

 These are the two reindeer we have on either side of our fireplace mantel.  The turquoise tree above ws made with a paper mache tree, sprayed with Lindy's Stamp Gang and then covered with filigrees, rhinestones, buttons and jewelry pieces.  I love how it came out.  I was inspired by the beautiful trees I saw on ArtfullyMusings blog.  She is so incredibly talented. 

The paper boxes below were on sale at Michaels and I couldn't resist.  I had so much fun adding ribbons and lots of nuts and berries, fruits and balls to them...just perfect for adding a dramatic touch to "fill in" an empty corner.

 I used some of my favorite beads and crystals and made sparkly drops for candles and lamp pulls.  So easy and such an elegant touch...

Below is a 12" by 12" mosaic I made last year, following a simple tutorial I saw on youtube.  It has turned into one of my favorite pieces.  Just imagine what you could do with your favorite bits and baubles.

I know, I know...it's probably so old fashioned, but I just love birds.  And this glittery pair look just too too sweet perched on my desk...and when the candles are lit...they glisten and sparkle...just love 'em...

Well, again...happy holidays to you and yours.  And may all your days be merry and bright.  Here's to a joyous new year for us all! 

Have fun creating!
Molly

The grand prize is hidden on one of the designers videos so please make sure to leave comments and to subscribe to all channels. Here is whats up for grabs for the grand prize:

http://mbtreasurista.com

Rules:
*Must be a subscriber to the MB'sTreasuristaDT youtube channel:  http://www.youtube.com/user/MBsTreasuristaDT/videos

*Must* subscribe to all channels and comment on all the designer's video for the hop

* Please comment before 11:59 PM PST on Sunday Dec 14th. Any entries after that will not count.

* Winner will be drawn by Dec 18th

The lineup is below:
Misty: http://www.youtube.com/user/ziggy13mity1
Deb: http://www.youtube.com/user/craftytexaswoman
Bona: http://www.youtube.com/user/LiveLoveScrap
Kelly: http://www.youtube.com/user/walkelmol
Molly: http://www.youtube.com/user/mdmdownin
Kim: http://www.youtube.com/user/berlykim37
Sara: http://www.youtube.com/user/JustCardsBySara
Santa's Grand Gift Package:
- 12 Days of Christmas 8x8 Paper Pad (Graphic 45)
- Vintage Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad (My Minds Eye)...
- Queen of Hearts Red Flat Fabio Spray (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
- Sandra Dee Sepia Flat Fabio Spray (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
- Danny Zuko's Denum Flat Fabio Spray (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
- Greased Lightnin' Green Flat Fabio Spray (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
 - Holiday Jubilee Resins (Prima)
- Shabby Chic Treasures Window Decor (Prima)
- Say it in Pearls & Roses White (Prima)
-
Velvet Hydrangeas Blue (Petaloo)
- Velvet Berry Picks Red/Green (Petaloo)
- Mixed Blooms Blue (Petaloo)
- Mixed Blooms Red (Petaloo)
- 3D Acrylic Flowers Red/Brown/Turquoise (MB's Treasurista)
- Seam Binding Green/Red/White/Brown/Black (MB's Treasurista)
- White Wide Scallop Lace (MB's Treasurista)
- Banner Lace Ivory (MB's Treasurista)
- Ivory Drip Venise Lace (MB's Treasurista)
- White Scalloped Venise Lace #03 (MB's Treasurista)
- Acrylic Candy Gem Spray Apple Green (MB's Treasurista)
- Pearl & Acrylic Spray Apple Green (MB's Treasurista)
- Satin Ruffled Trim Ivory/Old Willow/ Red/Turquoise (MB's Treasurista)


Here's my entry...enjoy!  I made it with a combination of Tim Holtz's Merriment and Teresa Collin's Santa's List collections from Misty's Shop.  Plus loads of perfect touches from http://mbtreasurista.com

Small flower trim                              Small Red Acrylic Flower                        Red Acrylic Drop
Pearlized disc trim                            Red Shabby Chic Flower Trim                 White Venice Lace
Red Rayon Seam Binding                 Teresa Collins Santa's List Chipboard      Baker's Twine in Red and Black
Red Chinese Braid                              

Be Sure to use the Discount Code MOLLY10  to receive an extra 10% off Misty's already great prices!