LEFT OF CENTRE CHALLENGES - VINTAGE HALLOWEEN

Theme:  VINTAGE HALLOWEEN
Digi:  Cranium Flapper
Sponsors:  SMEARED INK


EWWWIE this was fun!
Flappers are a great symbol of freedom, beauty, significance of an era.
and to find a flapper - DEAD - EEK!

Do here is what I did with her.

Make sure to hop over to LEFT OF CENTRE CHALLENGES for inspiration from some great designers and to enter your own EEEEK Halloween image into our Challenge.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Hugginz
Samara

















FITZTOWN CHALLENGE BLOG - DISTRESS

FITZTOWN CHALLENGE 
Theme:  DISTRESS






It's a powerful moment when you realize you have just completed the most favourite piece of work of your artiste life.  Well, this is it.

I asked myself why?  People always tell me not to do that - not to "analyze" everything - but I don't think I would have had much of a career in Psychiatry for 30 years if I didn't analyze everything "to death!!!!"

And you know what I came up with as an answer to my "why?"

I have absolutely no idea.  Hmmm.  That is NOT a Samara answer.  What is happening to me...am I moving on?  Am I really retired?  Have I begun to move into the stage where "what is - just is?"

Kinda Like:  Samara Navi Loves her Fitztown Creation

Oy Gavalt!!!

Fitztown.com has changed me forever

Having revealed my Epiphany (every Minister/Psychiatric Chaplain does these things) I want to move on to FITZTOWN CHALLENGE.  There is an amazing artiste for you to choose from at http://www.fitztown.com just as it says on their wonderful logo above.  So hop over and check out the images (especially the Cameo and Fae's - hee hee - personal favs.)

Then shuffle over to our CHALLENGE and find your own way to DISTRESS and enter our challenge.  We'd love to see your art, your entry.  I'd love to see whatcha got going in your art life! Also, don't forget to just go on over to the CHALLENGE to check out the Designer's work.  It is gorgeous, each taking a different road to the THEME:  DISTRESS.

And don't forget our FACEBOOK PAGE - CRAFTING WITH FITZTOWN.  We'd love to see you pop in while you are pm-ing or Newsfeeding or just browsing around!

Until then - I think I will just sit and admire my "I don't know why" fav. creation.

Big Hugginz Today!
Samara
















READ ONLY IF YOU WANT TO READ SOMETHING PERSONAL TO ME


I distressed a wood frame with a mirror in the middle with my beloved Dad's DYNAMIC (the company) Metallic Leaf Finish Paint in Pale Gold 601 and Antique 606
These were antiquing paints my (Stockbroker) dad used on things like cement Venus or Napolean or Chariots of Fire or Busts of Historical Characters or wood or Architectural Items.
He was a Licensed Lifetime Prospector as well as a discoverer of Mineral Mines so drafting, drafting equipment, in the OLD way of drafting was part of his M.O. and along with that came boxes of drafting equipment, inks, rulers, paints, lettering, stencils, calligraphy pens and paper, canvases, rulers of every type and angle, knives, carving sets, etc. You know - the Noor inks that we now covet years later!

My mom gifted me with these a month ago.
Two years after his stroke that made him unable to recognize me
and two years after he entered the Nursing Home that cares for his confused, unable to speak, walk or do other daily activities, other than gobligook - but a loving, tender, soft, gentle person is he today, though he knows not who he is!

I feel like the luckiest girl alive to have my dad's beloved and cherished items from his life's passion - not being a Stockbroker, with his Company Office on the 18th Floor of The Royal York Hotel, ( p.s. my dad had Grade 8 ONLY and quite school to support his mom after he found his dad dead) but being one who trecked through the woods, with his team of jr. Prospectors behind him, living in tents, not bathing for days, eating the meanest of meals, with his own prepared Geological Maps that I'd find him creating at 4 in the morning at the kitchen table - for days on end - in search of Minerals that would lead to the Discovery of World  Producing Mineral Mines and a complete compilation of dozens of covetted Minerals that my mom has bestowed upon my 17 year old son Taylor (as a surprise when he gets back from Sweden) that are in a Curio Cabinet in his bedroom.  Taylor has had Papa's Pictures of all the Minerals (30 maybe) around his room on the walls for 5 years, after Papa gave them to him, because Papa and Taylor used to talk Minerals and Gems often because of Taylor's steep interest in what Papa did and the Minerals and Gems that Papa had in the Curio cabinet.  And Papa was able to tell Taylor the wildest of stories of how he came to retrieve each and every mineral and gem that sat on every shelf of that cabinet!!!

These were wonderful moments between a Grandfather and Grandchild - stories that will never die.

To me, though one of the meanest Dad's I could imagine, until his stroke, where he became his true self - a gentle, loving, wonderful, sweet, heartfelt, huggable man -

he was ALWAYS my HERO!
ALWAYS
And someone who deep down I loved to death!

So Thanks Dad.

I cherish everything of your work that Mom just gave to me and will use it at every chance I get in my own interpretation of passion - my art.

And thanks Mom
For knowing how much this would mean to me
When you had 2 other children and Grandchildren you could have bestowed this upon.

You gave us magic.

And gave us Dad back again!

Ah!  I just got the reason why THIS is my favourite art piece

Epiphany 

If you read this far, I truly thank you for sharing likely the most personal aspect of my lifestory.
But one I am intensely proud to share!
My hope is you can see why.


CHALLENGES ENTERED


Bunny Zoe's Crafts - M, 2nd Monday, 1E - (October) Animals
Craft-Dee BowZ - M, E3, project must have bow - (OctoberAnything Goes with a Handmade Bow 
Crafting from the Heart - W, E3 - Always Anything Goe
Imagination Crafts - M, 3E, 7C, SIR to win prize - (October) Always Anything Goes
My Craft Creations - 2W, Challenge links on top - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes
My Craft Spot - W, 1E, 5C - Blog Hop
Not Just Cards - 2W - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes
Path of Positivity - M, any positive/inspirational project or idea welcome - (deadline Nov 2)Courage
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge Blog 2W, 3E - (Week 1) Anything goes + Option: Halloween
The Paper Girls - 1st & 3rd Mondays, layouts, cards - (Week 2) Anything Goes
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - 2W, E2SIO - (Week 1Always Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant Monday Card Challenge - W, cards - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - W - #95 Anything Goes w/Bags, Tags, Boxes & More
Pile It On - W #43 Create a Scene
Crafting At the Weekend -M,  E3,  Anything Goes 
Gruffies & Guests -  M, SIR #8 Anything goes with the option of Halloween
Kit and ClowderM (First Saturday of the month) Anything Goes
So Artful Challenge - M   leaves!
 A Creative Romance - 2W, 3E - (W1 of 2) - Pink
Alphabet Challenge - 2W, 1E, JFF - (W1 of 2) - S for Stitching
Daring Cardmakers - W, C5 – Sentimental
 Peachy Keen Stamps Let's Face it Fridays - W, SIO - Inspiration Image + Thankful Theme - see image below - challenge runs till Nov.1
Sister Act Card Challenge - WCards. - No. 80 - Anything Goes
Sweet Pea Stampers - 2W, SIO, E3 - (W1 of 2) - Think Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness
Tag You're It Challenge - 2W, C3 (Must include a tag and be CAS) - (W1 of 2) - Inspiration Tag - see below 
Turtle Soup Forum - D until 3rd Friday of the month - 1E per day -  Inspiration Image  - see below
Add a Little Dazzle - W, SIO - #48 Inspiration Photo /Anything Goes
Crafting with Dragonflies - 2W, 1E, F - #37 Pink cards for BCA (week 2)
Crafty Creations - 2W - #274 Thinking of you (week 2)
Creative Bug on the Loose - M, E3, freebie provided - Goose Bumps (ends Nov04)
Creative Moments - 2W, 3E - #54 Anything goes/ Halloween / Spellbound / Fairytale ( week 1)
Decorate to Celebrate - 2W, F, must be party decoration -  #86 Anything Goes 3-D (week 2)
Digistamps 4 Joy - 2W, SIO  - #102 Animals (week 2)
Inspiration Destination -W, F- #4 Anything goe
Midweek Magnolias - 2W, C5, SIR - #100 Special celebration (week 2)
Miriam's Crafting Blog Monthly Challenge - M, 1st Wed., E4 - Pink
Mod Squad Challenge - W, C5 - Create Your Favorite Kind Of Card
Stampin' Royalty - W, C3 - #251 Anything Goes
Take Heart Ideas -M, SIR, E3, C10 -  Anything goes
Whimsy Inspiration -M3E, SIO - #76 Anything Goes
Wonderful Wednesdays - W, SIO -  Always Anything Goes
WordArt Wednesdays - 5E , scriptural word art freebie offered each week - #155 -  Anything goes

SLSLINES - OCTOBER NEW RELEASES

NEW RELEASES
SLSLINES
My Choice:  Christmas Goth and Christmas Elf 2


Wow this was difficult - but fun!
How to make Christmas Gothie when Goth is my love work but I have made this transfer to 2 cute DT!
So - doing my best with SLS amazing art, I chose 2 images that I could goth up. I hope you like them - they are super crazy.

Oh P.S.  In case you wonder about the hair - In ALL seriousness, a womyn in my sewing group has hair EXACTLY these colors and it totally rocks in person - but she also has an amazing funky junky hair cut, which helps these colors look amazing!!!

Have a great day - get yourself over to SLS LINES CHALLENGE BLOG and also to SLS STORE.

Hugginz
Samara



IKE'S WORLD CHALLENGE - THINK PINK

Theme:  THINK PINK

CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

This is the challenge over at Ike's World Challenge for 2 weeks.  This is the second week.  Hop on over, use one of Ike's most generous freebies, or one of Ike's images you might already have.  If neither, take a visit to Ike's great store.
Ike has a brand new release of images that are sure to knock your socks off!
You will need one of her images to quality for the sur-PRIZE!!!

You know, it always hits me that cancer is most often talked about in terms of womyn, and is now coming to light about men - particularly breast cancer.

What rarely gets put in the fold in our "Cancer Awareness Month" (breast cancer awareness month) is cancer of our furbabies and cancer of all the other living animals out there.

I know plenty of us have had to part with our furry loved ones (myself way too recently) because of tumors, cancers and the like.

So for my post, I want to highlight this.

Awareness of "The Other"

Let's say a prayer or have awareness of mindfulness for all of them this month as well.

Hugginz
Samara








http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.ca/
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - M, 2nd Monday, 1E - (October) Animals
Craft-Dee BowZ - M, E3, project must have bow - (OctoberAnything Goes with a Handmade Bow 
Crafting from the Heart - W, E3 - Always Anything Goe
Imagination Crafts - M, 3E, 7C, SIR to win prize - (October) Always Anything Goes
My Craft Creations - 2W, Challenge links on top - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes
My Craft Spot - W, 1E, 5C - Blog Hop
Not Just Cards - 2W - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes
Path of Positivity - M, any positive/inspirational project or idea welcome - (deadline Nov 2)Courage
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge Blog 2W, 3E - (Week 1) Anything goes + Option: Halloween
The Paper Girls - 1st & 3rd Mondays, layouts, cards - (Week 2) Anything Goes
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - 2W, E2SIO - (Week 1Always Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant Monday Card Challenge - W, cards - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - W - #95 Anything Goes w/Bags, Tags, Boxes & More
Pile It On - W #43 Create a Scene
Crafting At the Weekend -M,  E3,  Anything Goes 
Gruffies & Guests -  M, SIR #8 Anything goes with the option of Halloween
Kit and ClowderM (First Saturday of the month) Anything Goes
So Artful Challenge - M   leaves!
 A Creative Romance - 2W, 3E - (W1 of 2) - Pink
Alphabet Challenge - 2W, 1E, JFF - (W1 of 2) - S for Stitching
Daring Cardmakers - W, C5 – Sentimental
 Peachy Keen Stamps Let's Face it Fridays - W, SIO - Inspiration Image + Thankful Theme - see image below - challenge runs till Nov.1
Sister Act Card Challenge - WCards. - No. 80 - Anything Goes
Sweet Pea Stampers - 2W, SIO, E3 - (W1 of 2) - Think Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness
Tag You're It Challenge - 2W, C3 (Must include a tag and be CAS) - (W1 of 2) - Inspiration Tag - see below 
Turtle Soup Forum - D until 3rd Friday of the month - 1E per day -  Inspiration Image  - see below
Add a Little Dazzle - W, SIO - #48 Inspiration Photo /Anything Goes
Crafting with Dragonflies - 2W, 1E, F - #37 Pink cards for BCA (week 2)
Crafty Creations - 2W - #274 Thinking of you (week 2)
Creative Bug on the Loose - M, E3, freebie provided - Goose Bumps (ends Nov04)
Creative Moments - 2W, 3E - #54 Anything goes/ Halloween / Spellbound / Fairytale ( week 1)
Decorate to Celebrate - 2W, F, must be party decoration -  #86 Anything Goes 3-D (week 2)
Digistamps 4 Joy - 2W, SIO  - #102 Animals (week 2)
Inspiration Destination -W, F- #4 Anything goe
Midweek Magnolias - 2W, C5, SIR - #100 Special celebration (week 2)
Miriam's Crafting Blog Monthly Challenge - M, 1st Wed., E4 - Pink
Mod Squad Challenge - W, C5 - Create Your Favorite Kind Of Card
Stampin' Royalty - W, C3 - #251 Anything Goes
Take Heart Ideas -M, SIR, E3, C10 -  Anything goes
Whimsy Inspiration -M3E, SIO - #76 Anything Goes
Wonderful Wednesdays - W, SIO -  Always Anything Goes
WordArt Wednesdays - 5E , scriptural word art freebie offered each week - #155 -  Anything goes

FITZTOWN CHALLENGE - VELLUM

Theme:  VELLUM
Digi:  FAE SERIES





What a joy it was to work with this image; I love all the Fae series from the Fitztown Collection. This particular image is printed on Vellum, then heat embossed with black embossing powder.  This technique works really nicely if you are quick - quick being the key!

I then turned the image over and colored with a combo of ProMarkers and Copics.  I find to color on the front does not give as dreamy an effect, something I prefer.  I then reached into my Asian supplies for homemade paper and velvet paper and used some of each, with torn burlap and colored clips as accents.

For the inside of the card, I continued the theme of the Asian Paper.

Now hop over to the Fitztown Challenge Blog - find yourself some vellum - and if you don't have any vellum, wax paper of tissue paper will suffice.  The nice thing about crafting is that there is always something that will substitute for what is called for.  Butcher's paper is a really nice product to use as vellum, as are sandwich bags from Deli's - just to give you a few ideas.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!  Enjoy the Challenge at FITZTOWN!

Hugginz
Samara




















ONE STITCH AT A TIME - BUTTERFLY

THEME:  FLUTTERBYES


Ohhhh Isn't this the cutest scene?  Do you remember sitting on a bench in front of a full moon with your love?  I remember walking along a beach with mine.  And there is something so magical about a full moon; it brings forward all the feelings of the heart (no Vampire stories) just the good and loving feelings - especially of Young Love.

When the Theme was Flutterbyes - I chose this because I associate Flutterbyes with Transformation, Life to Death - and what more is there to say about Love?  So though Flutterbyes (other than night flies) don't tend to fly around at night, it just spoke to me.

I hope you find your way to express our Theme.  I really look forward to seeing what you come up with!  Profound, simple, straightforward or out of the box...take a go at it.  Flutterbyes are so gorgeous...it is bound to be a rewarding challenge to create.

Hugz
Samara










LEFT OF CENTRE CHALLENGE

Digi: FLOWER MONKEY
Theme:  A SKETCH


First, let me apologize, my "good" computer is not working and I can not search bar any companies on this computer, so if I don't have a tab/bookmark, I can not "google" anything, therefore my links are not as they should be to honor everything/everyone.  Please excuse this tardiness - it is unusual for me and I am sorry.

I was thrilled to get this digi though there was no way to make it "LEFT OF CENTRE" or out of the box.  It was just toooooo precious.  So, you have cute for today.  Pop over to LOC, enter our SKETCH and let's see whatcha got.  See you over there!

In the meantime, I hope you like the minimalistic creation of Flower Monkey.  Thank you A Day for Daisies for such a cute digi.

Hugginz
Samara














SLSLINES - INSPIRATION POST

SLSLINES - INSPIRATION POST
Digital Image:  GEISHA UMBRELLA

Hi there!  You will see my "inspiration post" on the 15th of each month on the SLSLINES BLOG.  It is quite wonderful, posting 3 times a month because I get to use Sls's sketches.  She has the neatest Mixed Media Blog, which of course just melted my artistic {heart}.  You have to take a looksie!

In the meantime, my "inspiration post" for SLSLines is HERE.  But you can stay right here if you like or jog over to HERE to see the other Designers Daily Inspiration Posts.  It is a pretty neat concept - one I've not been part of before.  I hope you have the time to check it out; you will see more of Sls's work.  Also, be sure to check out her Mixed Media work HERE.  If you want to access Sls Digital Images, you can do so HERE.  Here are some other ways to get to Sls work:


Please visit Sal here:


Have a happy day and I hope you enjoy my Geisha. Oh my gosh...what a life!  I've never seen such beautiful daily costumes.  Check out Google Images!

Hugginz
Samara

the digital image is put on kits i got from dollarama.
the image is first bordered with gold mirror paper (can you believe this huge kit is from dollarama for $1.00?
then bordered with a blood red kit
then it is bordered in the same type of kit with burgendy that is rippled (corrugated is the correct word)
then back on the gold mirror paper

i am a total cheapie when it comes to fleurs (yet i want to covet every card i see loaded with gorgeous prima flowers) so this fleur is from a kit from michael's where there were about 10 flowers in the wedding section (i never shop in the scrap section other than for paper) and i believe they were 4.99 with a 40% coupon on top of that.
i am soooooo cheap i will buy one item, walk out and walk back in and buy my other item with another coupon received from doing the same thing then use my phone coupon for a 3rd item.
and THAT is cheap
or
or called creative affordability!



the inside of the card one can write on (or put the company logo lol) 
plus a very flat fleur
and more of the gold mirror paper from the dollarama


these are the pens i used.  
the ones on the right are a gold glitter and a white pen
 and the one on the left bottom is a black  le pen 
and the pink sparkle is a spica pen