The most coolest markers ever.

I've just discovered what I want for Christmas. They are called Chameleon marker pens. They allow you to blend your color from light to dark with one pen. I didn't really understand how this could be possible until I watched the video on their website. Check them out at http://www.chameleonpens.com/?utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign

Website is back up

I have repurchased my website and am still in the process of getting it all set up.
www.craftylittledesigns.com
I'll let you know when it is working.
I'm excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The worry jar

Let me tell you a little about what is going on in life. My family of five has hit a little bit of financial hiccup and have moved in with the Mother-in-law and our 6 year old niece. So, in a three bedroom, two bath town home; we have three adults and four children living together.

Sure is busy busy.

It really isn't as bad and as tight as you would think. Grandma's bunking with the baby, because they both like to sleep in late. The 6,7 and 9 year old are sharing a room, three beds side by side fills the whole width of the room. Then My husband and I have the master, filled with as much stuff we couldn't put in storage and my computer desk.

To help with the hassle of "Why do I have to pick up if they aren't" between the kids, we started a worry and hey jar. 10 cents a worry and 5 cents a hey. I'm off to the store this morning to get some glue to whip up some homemade mod podge to create the jar. I'll post up the project soon.

My favorites

Let me tell you a little bit about my favorite things.
Besides my wonderful supportive husband and my three courageous proud and adorable children. My favorite people are Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Cray Grant and Doris Day. There just is something about them, how they are in movies, how they posed for a picture, how they lived. I just love it, and wish I grew up in those times too.
My favorite art period, is Baroque and Art Nouveau. I love the architecture, the events in history and those wonderful stained glass windows of the Baroque Period. In Art Nouveau, I love it all, especially the interior design of the time period where outside meets inside.
Oddly enough my favorite artist wasn't from any of these time periods. The Renaissance painter Titian is my favorite artist by far. I love how he painted as he saw it. Detailed up close and blurry far away. He took the risk to draw differently and used the boldest colors of the time. My two favorite are the Assumption of the Virgin and Sacred and Profane Love.
This why you might see my art being realistic, bold, Gothic, old fashioned, retro, classic and full of nature. I am a Graphic Designer, but I consider my self an Illustrator foremost and a crafter second.

Die Cutting Duck Tape

Of course I got this idea from my 9 year old daughter. She just had her birthday party and a duck tape jewelry kit. As I was helping her out and seeing how they suggest to stencil cut out hearts and stars, I thought, "Why not die cut a flower and put it on a barrette, headband or a pin for her backpack.

First I tried taking thin strips of duck tape, layering side by side on a piece of cloth. When die cutting this, I discovered that some are much harder to cut than others. The more fibers in the duck tape, the easier. Those that are thicker and more glossier and smoother didn't cut very well and I had to trim it with scissors.

It still came out fantastically impressive looking. Now if only I had a die that was thicker and could cut better, which I could design and order some. I am finding out that these thicker metal dies, known as deep dish dies, will cut most of the things I like to cut.

I used some regular Hello Kitty duck tape, put on some wax paper and cut my butterflies out. They cam out so adorable, that they will be on sale on my Crafty Little Designs Etsy store, right after this. https://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyLittleDesigns

I opened up my shop on Etsy!

What's New....I opened up my shop on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyLittleDesigns

In this shop, for now, I am only selling die cuts from dies made from recycled aluminum soda cans. Great for cards, scrapbooking, and crafts. If you like my die cuts and are interested in a die, please message me as I have lots of them for sell. Thanks for stopping by.

Rethinking......

Sorry everyone, but my website is down. I haven't done very well this past year and want to rethink the direction I am going. I need to think of something that is different. I have been exploring with different thoughts and have come down to a few different ideas. For starters, I need to find a new website host as my last one I was not pleased with it at all. I am going to start creating some templates and making some videos to share with everyone. I have lots of ideas of crafts up my sleeve. I just need to find some time to create them.
My husband has been building a tree house and play set for the kids in the back yard and I'll show you the cool things I have planned for decorating it. However when it is 110 to 120 degrees outside this summer, none of us want to be outside, unless we are in the pool.
As far as crafting and hobbies go, I like to do it all and dabble in all sorts of things. I like paper crafting, quilling, paper mauche, decoupage, sewing, needle point and drawing with every type of media.
I would like to take you on an adventure of what my family I like to decorate. I would love to offer you awesome detailed dies and stamps to add to your collection. So my journey is changing and I hope you follow me through my journey.