Thought for the day -

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." Helen Keller

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Hi All!  It has been ages since I posted here but I haven't been away from the craft world just concentrating on my Etsy site which has been a blast!!  I recently wrote an Op-Ed type piece just for my own satisfaction and thought I would post it here.  This is just my opinion, for what it is worth, and many may or may not agree with it but I'm posting anyway. LOL.



ANGRY BIRDS ATTACK HAND-MADE SELLERS

Rovio Entertainment, the creator of the Angry Bird game, went after the online sellers community this past week demanding the removal of items that violate their copy right laws.  In an e-mail notice from Paula Tuononen (piracy@rovio.com), Legal Counsel for Rovio Entertainment Ltd., stated the rights of Rovio Entertainment include “the right to restrict the use of copyrighted works and/or trademarks, or a confusingly similar works or trademarks, in association with confusingly similar products or services.”
No one can dispute the fact that Rovio is well within their right to enforce these copyright laws and that the unauthorized use of any licensed image is in fact piracy.  What does come in to question is the total lack of willingness of large corporations to work with the small business owner in granting commercial usage licenses for images of this sort.  Ms. Tuononen, when contacted regarding the availability of small commercial usage licensing responded “ Rovio Entertainment is  incapable of providing wholesale products, except in very large quantities (i.e. 10 000s of products).”  She went on to state that Rovio Entertainment “gives licenses only to large companies with the ability to make a large initial payment.”, thus excluding the small business owner.
There is an increased interest in the retail community, globally, to buy hand-made. This is evidenced by the numerous online sites that allow retailers to list their wares to a global marketplace.   The hand-made market place continues to see a steady increase in their revenues, month after month.  More and more people are turning to hand-crafted wares rather than the mass produced junk that these large corporations cater to in their chase for more money.  It makes one wonder if this decision was based on their reported 2012 IPO on a product that many are calling a “one trick pony.” 
The hand-made market place is being overlooked as a viable means of promoting licensed items.  These sellers should not be seen as detractors to corporations such as Rovio Entertainment, but as valuable resources for creating interest in their image line. Can these companies, publicly or privately held, not see the benefit of the free marketing that generates interest in their products by small business artisans? As quoted in an article by Trevor Dalley “There are many small businesses that design crafts that could never be purchased in a store. These crafts show human pride and quality that could never be mass produced.”



January 12, 2011

Good Morning~ This is a really quick post. I am running late for work so on to today's challenge.
First up we have a color challenge and what a challenge this was for me, hehe.  Not my normal go-to colors. I've also not used any dp which is definitely not me but I am very happy with the outcome.

The color challenge comes from Cath over at Moxie FabWorld.  This is in honor of PaperCrafts new cardmaker mag featuring Color Inspiration!

                                  






                   Today's color palette is:

Here is my take:
I just love the sentiment with this image!  My image comes from Lindsey's Stamp Stuff and the black frame is a digital from CupcakeCuties found on Etsy.  I love my etsy!!  I've recently become hooked on digital dp, though, it is starting to break the bank- uses a ton of ink.  My 3 rhinestone embellishments were clear until I put my Stampin Up markers to them- orange, black and pink.  All my cardstock is from Stampin Up.
My sentiment (love this sentiment) is from Waltzing Mouse stamps.

I am also entering this in Mojo Mondays sketch challenge.  I deviated just a little but I think you can still see the sketch here.

Ok I am off- running as usual!  Have a great day!!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Good Evening All and Happy New Year!!!  It has been ages since I've posted a thing but I can assure you I have not been idle.  I made lots of crafts, mostly for Christmas, but in my perpetual state of hurry, hurry, hurry I never took the time to take a picture of any of them :(

I am currently working on a 2nd blog- what was I thinking, when I can't keep up with my current blog, haha.  The new blog will coincide with my new etsy shop.  Enough about that- on to todays card.  My card is for 2 challenges.  The sketch has been provided by MOJO Monday and the inspiration is from this weeks Etsy Inspired Challenge.

This week the etsy store being featured is La Pomme.  They offer some very cool vintage articles with a French flair.  My card was inspired by several items-



The crocheted tablecloth is gorgeous!
Here is my take on both Mojo Monday's sketch and my inspiration pieces.
































All of the dp used is from Paris Nights by gcd Studios.  I just love all the papers in this pad. So very vintage and French.  My lace ribbon is from Wild Orchid Crafts.  My sentiment stamps are from Waltzing Mouse stamps and my pocket watch stamp is a digital from Lindseys Stamp Stuff.  It's a little difficult to see in the picture but the rosette was made from dp sheet music, also from the Paris Nights pad.
I seldom take pictures of the inside of my cards but the inside sentiment reads: Together, Always.

So there you have it, my take on vintage french.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Hi all! I have more Halloween stuff for ya today. I just love Halloween...so many possibilities.
First up is a card I've made for Jordan to send to Nana & Papa. It's a very simple design but I'm quite happy with the outcome. The inspiration comes from 2 challenges. Waltzing Mouse stamps provided the sketch and the theme/color inspiration is from the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World.  Here is the picture inspiration:
















And here is my take on the photo:


















The colors are much richer in person than in this photo.  If you click on the photo to enlarge I think you can get a better feel for the colors. I used black card stock for the base and my squares were done using olive green card stock that I blotted with paper towel soaked in bleach.  I then distressed it using Tim Holtz distress inks in walnut, cracked paint green and then black chalk ink.
































Stamps used are Waltzing Mouse stamps and 1 stampin up stamp- the little rip headstone on the tag.  I used the Tim Holtz green distress ink on the stamped pieces.  I used orange raffia just to give it a little splash of color.

Next up are a sample of some of the favors Jordan will be having at his halloween party.  I let him pick out 5 different favors from Oriental Traders.  Here is the 1st of 5 and of course I had to turn it into a craft project, lol. I've made 8 of these for our little ghouls.




















These were a breeze to make! I found the template at MyGrafico  from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff.  It comes as an svg file and I was able to use my cricut- makes life so much easier! My test tube dp is from Cloud 9 and is perfect for this project.  The stamps are from Waltzing Mouse.  These test tubes are a hoot!! And yes, that is a finger in the green tube- made of marshmallow.  The green liquid (corn syrup) is green apple flavored and just awful but Jordan thought it was awesome, lol!

Challenges:
Tuesday Trigger: photo inspiration
Waltzing Mouse: sketch challenge
A Spoon Full of Sugar:  Boo!
Cupcake Craft Challenge:  Boys & Their Toys (hope this counts, the test tubes-definitely a boy thing!)

Have a great Sunday!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Hello all! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.  The weather here is just gorgeous! Bright and sunny and and in the low 70's.  Perfect fall weather! I love being able to finally open the windows for some fresh air.

I started bright and early in my room today and I think I finally have my mojo back!  This was the first week in several where I finally was able to make a few cards.

My card for today is for the Etsy Inspired Challenge.  I love playing along with inspiration challenges and their challenge is fun because you get to see etsy shops that you may not otherwise come across.  I have found several treasures from visiting their challenge.  Todays challenge is sponsored by Stilettoheights and they specialize in art prints and collage sheets.  My card was inspired by this piece:

This card immediately reminded my of some cardstock I have had in my stash for ages...and I mean ages.  It came in a scrapbook kit that I used to subscribe to.  It is perfect for this inspiration piece- yes I tend to take
inspirations very literally.













Isn't this great card stock! I stamped my rose directly onto the card stock and colored with my prisma color pencils.  They're my favorite medium...even more than copics!  I stamped the left hand corner with the rectangular dotted stamp and then stamped my sentiment inside. Both stamps are from Waltzing Mouse stamps. I distressed the edges in 2 shades of distress ink- vintage photo and antique linen-both from Tim Holtz for a bit of a vintage look.














I am also entering this in the Charisma Cardz Challenge for this weeks theme of vintage.

I'll be back a little later with more projects made for our spooky halloween party.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Good Morning!! Well Jordan is back to school today and I'm off to work so just a quick post for you. Today, as I mentioned yesterday, I am featuring the Halloween Party invitations I've made for Jordan's party. The party is only a week away and I really need to step it up! Yesterday his package of goodies arrived from Oriental Traders. We got some really spooky loot, lol.

My favorite are the test tubes- some really icky looking liquid candy. They come in 3 colors and each have something grotesque floating in them- eyeballs, worms or a finger. Ok, so the fingers are my favorite- bloody stump and all!  I will be back tomorrow with picture of the test tubes.





















My card was really quite simple to make and I love how they've turned out.  My stamps, both the sentiment and the bats are from Waltzing Mouse Stamps.  I've had several sets on my wish list and picked up 3 of them.  Claire's stamps are wonderful!
The rod iron fence was made by my new favorite punch from Martha Stewart.  The skeleton was made on my cricut using the Paper Doll cartridge.  The skeleton dp is from The Paper Studio.
















I am entering this in several challenges- everyone is now in Halloween mode.  First up is the Etsy Inspired Challenge.  This week they are featuring Capturing Creativity and my card was inspired by the halloween kit.  I love card kits!

















Join me tomorrow for more halloween madness!

Challenges:
Etsy Inspired
Dutch Dare:  Halloween
Fab&Funky Challenge: things that go bump in the night

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Good morning all!  It has been ages since I've posted a thing but I assure you I have not been idle, lol!
I am home today with a sick child.  Jordan's allergies have gotten the best of him today but while he rests I am at work...in my craft room, yippee!!!

Today I'm sharing a little halloween project I've made.  I just love halloween!  Jordan is having a party so I am busy creating little trinkets for the party.  This will be the prize awarded for best costume.  Every little ghoul needs a trinket box- where else would they keep their glow-in-the-dark fangs, lol.


The top portion is a variation of the stair step card technique and the bottom 2 layers contain my drawers- there are 5 drawers in all. I've decorated my box using various halloween themed papers-some digital and some from Graphic 45's Alice in Wonderland line.


From this view you can see I've created a little grave yard scene. My tree was made using my cricut and the paper dolls cartridge. My headstones are wonderful little sticker embellishments from Jolee's and my rod iron fence was made with a Martha Stewart punch. This punch is fabulous!!
The drawer pulls were made using skeleton buttons and ribbon.  The front drawer pull on my large drawer is from 7Gypies and is a brass knob with a checkerboard pattern.


















My spider web ribbon is from a kit I bought at No Time To Stamp.  Sharon puts together the greatest kits! I just love her site.  My circle stamp is from The Cutting Cafe and I embellished the center with a spider button- it came with skeleton buttons purchased at Joann's.

No halloween would be complete without some scary characters. I've used the Munster image from Sunshine and Giggles, colored it with my copics and framed with my nestie frame set.

I'll be back tomorrow with the invitations I've created for our spooky halloween party!

Challenges:
Stamp Something:  Halloween theme
Stampin For the Weekend:  Halloween/Fall
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge:  Halloween