Friday, January 29, 2016

How to Add Personality to Your Craft Bag!

Hello Wonderful World of Creative People! Lynne here today for my second design team post for January, where our theme for the month is Tags of Love, and I want to share with you these sweet little luggage tags I created for my crafting tool bag.  
I got the idea from these wonderful, self-laminating luggage tags I found in my LDS (Local Dollar Store) and I am going to use them on all my portable scrapping and crafting bags and totes.

I filled in the card provided with all my contact information and then stamped and colored a business card-sized piece of white cardstock for the front... that's it!  The sky is the limit... Anything Goes and what sweet little pops of color they create!
Here is my very favorite tool tote modeling my tags!  If you want to know more about this bag please do pop on over to my blog to get the in-depth review of this fabulous tote!
Cheers and have a Wonderful Day
For the Susan Weckesser Design Team
Products used on this Project:
Susan Weckesser/Unity Stamps:
"Create Your Day"
 
"Journal Doodles with a Heart"
 
Susan Weckesser at Studio 12/Polka Doodle Stamps:
"I Am More Intelligent"
 
Mini Ranger Distress Inks
Ranger Archival Ink - Black
Sakura Gelly Roll Gel Pens
Ribbon
desk-Tech Self-Laminating Luggage Tags

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

My Real Life Hero

I have a hero.

He doesn't wear a cape or fancy tights. He doesn't fly or leap tall buildings in a single jump. He can't even remember his kiddos birthdays too well on his own unless the calendar on his IPhone makes some ridiculous animal sound in order to remind him.However, he does a whole lot of amazing things. He is a fireman and he has been doing this for almost 25 years. This past weekend when Marcus had a couple long fire calls I posted this on Facebook:

"Marcus' phone just went off.

And he has just dropped everything, including his lunch & has run out the door.

You know, we have been a Fire Department/Emergency Services family for over 24 years and I don't think I will ever get 'used' to the feeling that I get when he zooms off to a fire. Yes, I miss my guy as he is gone & we wait & wait & wonder....But my heart always breaks for the people who are now facing such hardship and need help. A few years ago we went into a store in rural Alberta and an older farmer came up to Marcus with tears in his eyes. He grabbed Marcus' hand & thanked him for saving his life. I was speechless and so touched. Before that moment I really didn't know what Marcus 'did'. I knew....I just didn't 'know'. He told me about the trucks & the hoses & pumps, and I knew bits and pieces about calls. We had a pager in the house, so I knew. Trust me. Somethings I didn't want to know especially with my imagination. I also knew I had to look after my kiddos no matter what and there were a lot of disappointments when Marcus would get calls anytime:Christmas morning, birthdays, movies, etc. A lot of single momma moments. However, when this rough looking farmer said this to Marcus & Marcus just smiled, my heart melted. There was so much I wasn't seeing. And that is why when Marcus just drops everything, even food, & runs out the door when there is a fire call,I am SO grateful for him and what he does. I am grateful for all full-time, part-time , volunteer firemen/emergency services & all their amazing families that support them and go through the good & bad with them! "

I wrote that post because I was hoping to give people a little glimpse into our life and Marcus' character. Don't get me wrong, our life isn't perfect. We have our hard times, our arguements, especially with Marcus being German & me Ukrainian/British....well, we are both super, duper stubborn! Ha! Thank goodness for my art studio that I can escape too!! *grin* But, Marcus has done SO many good and wonderfully things for people over their years. He have loved every town that we have lived in and he has enjoyed every Fire Department that he has served with. And the department always cared for him. So have the people!

The last couple of weeks we made a choice. Twenty-four years ago we left Edmonton, the area where we both grew up around, as we headed out with our first baby, as new graduates from the University of Alberta. Marcus got a job up in Whitecourt and so we went. We are so super excited to be returning back to Edmonton after all these years because we have decided that it would be a wonderful opportunity if Marcus take a job as a Field Officer with the Office of the Fire Commissioner for the Government of Alberta. We truly are happy because next year all our kiddos will be up at the UofA. YES!!!! We are moving to Edmonton!

Now, I would like to say that the fire men in Medicine Hat have been truly wonderful. And you know I like to keep things positive but I feel that this needs to be written. Heaven only knows if that will even help. The last year we had a huge cloud hanging over our heads. When I got diagnosed with Cancer I noticed my husband becoming more and more stressed. If you know my Hubbie, you will know that not many things bug him. He handles stress well. Yes, he was worried about me...but this was different. A month and a half later I found out from Marcus that he was so stressed out because he didn't want his boss, the fire chief, here in Medicine Hat, to find out that I had Cancer. The way things were being run here Marcus was nervous that they would use my Cancer as a reason to fire him. I was shocked. No, I was ReALLY shocked! This was making him sick. My husband who has helped so many people throughout the years and has done so many countless acts of service without saying a word now worried about his job security because his wife had been diagnosed with Cancer! Good grief!!!

I wanted to go and put someone on a time out chair and ask them 'weren't they taught to love one another?' Or 'What would your mother think?'

The last year has been full of many tears and stress. Not just because we are going through this new journey or Cancer, but because we didn't know if Marcus had a job from day to day thanks to a Fire Chief that didn't see eye to eye with my husband. It has been quite the roller coaster. In the past I always liked visiting with the guys at the fire hall, so yes, it has been sad for us all. The year is behind us now...

We met so many wonderful people here in Medicine Hat and I am so grateful for that. And the firemen in general are super AWESOME! Wow, they can put together a pretty amazing calendar!! Have you seen it? I will miss the coulees and the chinooks. Plus, in this life you always have to be growing and changing. So, the Weckesser Family are off to bigger and better things and so many new adventures!!!

Edmonton.... Here we come!!!

*smile*

 

Love and Dream Tags by Shilpa

Hello Everyone,

Shilpa here, sharing my second set of tags this month.


these tags are quick and easy to make with Susan's lovely stamps.




To start with I applied Spiced marmalade distress stain on the water color paper. Dried the surface with heat tool. Next I used Stazon Pumpkin ink and Susan's flowers stamps for creating garden. Next, I applied wild honey distress ink through honeycomb stencil, randomly on the surface. 
Finally I stamped butterfly and sentiment.
I placed and adhered this whole panel on design paper.




I followed same steps for this tag, but have used peeled paint distress ink and Fly Away stamp set.

Hope you liked these tags and would love to try them.

Thanks so much for stopping by.


Products Used:











Monday, January 25, 2016

Love Boat

Hello crafty friends! It's Samantha here with my second Tag of Love for January.


 I began by cutting plain white card to my desired size and tag shape and another rectangular piece of card to fit on the front. For second piece of card I used a heart patterned embossing folder for the raised heart pattern. I die cut a cloud and stamped some hearts and text with random stamps that are in my studio.
I then stamped Susan's delightful Sail Away boat stamp on white card. I coloured using Derwent watercolour pencils and cut out. Finally I glued everything in position and added a few flat backed pearls and also so glitter for glistening waves. A hole was punched out and some blue ribbon finished my tag.


I used the Sail Away stamp set which is shown below and can be found right here.

I do hope you like my tag and that I have inspired you a little.
Wishing you a lovely day
Susan K. Weckesser Design Team Member


Friday, January 22, 2016

Tags of Love: Love ya whole bunches tag

Hi all 

Katie here, I am back with a mixed media tag to share. I am new at tag making but i like to learn new things so i gave it a go.


I used the Love Ya Whole Bunches stamp set for this project 





I used the Love Ya Whole Bunches set for this tag and started off by stamping the girl out and colouring her in. I set her to one side and began on the tag background by spritzing  Paris pink and vintage sepia inks onto a white tag.

              I then used texture stamps from the A Little bit washi set to make a pattern.


I then used the kite stamp from the Fly Away set and stamped the tail of the kite onto the tag. I then stamped the kite out onto card and cut it out and stuck it to the tag with 3d foam pads.


Isn't she adorable?

Thank you for visiting

For January

Thursday, January 21, 2016

#tagsoflove with Guest Designer Tamiko

 Hey hey good people!  My name is Tamiko and I am a guest designer for Susan K. Weckesser's {My Sweet Earth} today!  What an honor it is to work with stamps and papers that are complete must haves to any card maker, scrapbooker or mixed media artist's arsenal!  In a perfect life I would get Susan's stamps and papers with EVERY release of new product! ::chuckles but I'm not kidding!::  Here's my project!



As many of you know by now the month of January is the #tagsoflove where the all of the artist will get an opportunity to share the use of Susan's products on or in the form of tags.  For me tags are super fun and believe it or not, I always stick magnetic adhesive on the backs of mine.  One reason is because they are cute you just wanna save them.  Two to remind you/recipient that someone loved you enough to give a small piece of them and their artistry, in the form of a tag and now you can display it in your happy space. ::smiles::

I actually love stamping the little images of the girl, from the Love Ya Bunches stampset  with archival inks, maybe 10 or so at a time. (hey don't judge me ::laughs::) Who needs a coloring book, when you have images like these to play with and color!??! When creating each tag I laid down some color with Dylusions paints after applying  a little white gesso. With two of my tags: I then did a layer of clear gesso to take away some of the shine you get from the dry paint. My sparkle? That I stenciled with a Tim Holtz stencil is Snow Tek, by Deco Art!  I love that stuff! You can paint over it to color it or leave it as is.. and it creates the most beautiful sparkle, without the glittery residue! Did some fussy cutting and added papers and images to the tag with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Glue.  My third tag consisted of a plethora of colors and marks I made with the Grunge stamp set that totally got hidden away with the use of my dark blue gelatos by Design Memory Crafts. Once the blue gelatos were down, I used baby wipes through an Artist Cellar stencil to wipe away some of the blue, exposing the colors and markings underneath.  Totally fun and I have a new babywipe full of colorful blue loveliness for the next project, haha!  Here are a few more shots of my three tags..





Really hope you enjoyed seeing my tags as much as I enjoyed creating them for you!!  Don't forget if you make any tags this month with Susan's products, tag her and use #tagsoflove so your creations can be found!!  I know I'll be looking for them!!  Well I am off to play and it's truly been a pleasure!  Have a great week and don't forget to subscribe, to stay up to date with everything that's going on at {my sweet earth} .  Have a WONDERFUL rest of the week!!









Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Gotta have Faith

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"
-Audrey Hepburn
Life is so full of ups and downs. Lots of curves & bumps on this journey that we call life. I am sure finding that out!
Those 3 little little words.... I AM Human,
keep running through my head the last couple of months. It has been a year since I was diagnosed with Cancer. This year has been full of surgeries, biopsies, tests, and treatments. I honestly feel like a pin cushion or some weird lab experiment. I was talking with my husband a few weeks ago and I was trying to explain how the first few months I felt like I was in a boat caught up in the waves. I was zooming along just watching everything. However, slowly the boat slowed down and now I feel like the waves of my reality are splashing up over me. I am not just watching someone who has Cancer, I am that person who has Cancer! In the end of September that reality hit me hard. How could I, a 45 year old me, have this disease, and yes it's a disease, a disease that so many of my family members have gotten in the past and sadly passed away. Just a few years ago my family was SO shocked when my dad all of a sudden passed away of Cancer after not being sick a day in his life! Needless to say, the last few years have felt like a dream. Too be honest, it has been hard for me to blog the last few months because I don't want to sound sad. I want to be happy. I want to be cheerful and not fake. And don't get me wrong....I do have faith and for the most part, I am happy. But, there are days, when I really don't feel good. Living with chronic pain is hard as so many people know. I also find it hard now because I have a little word, 'Cancer', that has inhabited my head. No matter how hard that I shake my head, I can't rattle that word out of my head! It is like I am stuck with a little dark shadow... And it is with me wherever I go. And it is always there. SO I am SO grateful for my art. When things are bringing me down I escape to my studio and loose myself in beautiful colors, paints and inks. In an hour or two I can feel my heart and soul start to rejuvenate! It is so healing! I can be me. I am just me. Nothing else. And that is so freeing!
It doesn't matter if I am doodling, sketching, painting or working on a deadline...I can loose myself for a while. I can escape my body and not think about what is going on for a while.

Yesterday

Well, it was a very long day yesterday. I saw my doctor to go over all the results from Decembers surgeries and biopsies and treatments. It appears that they found a problem in another area when they did my surgery in December. So now they are ordering other more tests and procedures to make sure Cancer isnt spreading to my liver, throat, stomach, pancreas, thyroid ..... The next couple of months are going to be full of a lot of hospital trips it seems. So basically , I am starting to feel like a lab rat!! Haha!! Oh my goodness!!! My goodness our bodies sometimes!!! I am in good spirits. I am just a little tired of all the medical stuff. I am SO grateful for my career, art, faith , family ; friends . It keeps me going!! So, right now my journey is far from over.
So many times during that last year, when I have felt scared or sad, frustrated or in pain, He has touched my heart and given me HOPE! I am so grateful for faith and prayer! It protects and guides me. I am also grateful for all of you who have reached out to me and my family. Your kindness and love has meant more then I can tell you. Many times when I have wished with all my heart that I could talk to my mom or feel her comforting hug, I would feel so sad knowing I couldn't share this with her and then next thing I know is out of the blue I get a message, letter, or email with comforting words from me of you my beautiful friends! I can't tell you how much your love has meant to me! Thank-you!
Choose Joy
Take time to love every minute! Life is so precious. So, slow down and enjoy the simple things. Remember, you are human. Be kind to yourself! You so deserve it.
It will be a super exciting art year for me.... I can't wait to get this journey started. Color and art are so healing! Thank-you for you love and continued support! I can't tell you how much you love and support means to me!!

Hugs,
Susan xo


Christmas Love Campaign Winner Announcement

Winner Announcement!

Thank you to all who entered our Christmas Love Campaign all of the posts were fabulous and the winner was drawn at random.




Congratulations Michael Trent #8 entry on winning our prize package from sponsors including Fancy Pants & Clearsnap.


Michael Trent could you please send us your contact info and we will send out your winnings. 
Thank-you again to everyone who made this years Christmas Love Campaign simple AMAZING!!!
hugs
xoxo


Love your dreams

Hi everyone!!

Noe here to show you my second #tagsoflove of the month... I love to make tag and practice in them my favorite mix media techniques! It´s soooo funny!!

Have you already seen the fantastic #tagsoflove that my teamies have been published  in this month?

Well, here is my project:


Step by step:
  • In a cardstock tag I have glued a piece of aluminun foil with Tacky Glue (previously wrinkled and stretched), I covered it with a layer of gesso and I let it dry.
  • Once dry, I painted with my favorite stencil paints and, when drying them, I used the doodle stencil to add more texture with Sparkle Medium. 
  • I painted this adorable "Bunny" from new "Bunny Hugs" stamp set with my Spectrum Noir and I've stuck on a doily with 3D foam pads.
  • Some details to finish as feathers, pompoms, sentiments... and finally we got it!! 

Products used:
https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/bunny-hugs/

http://susankweckesser.com/product/doodle-stencil-tcwsusank-weckesser-inc/

Thanks for stopping by!

Noe I.G
Susan KWeckesser DT Member

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