Introducing Samra

Hello Everyone!

Today I am here to introduce you the next member of the Anything But Cute design team. Samra was one of my very first followers and I knew the minute I visited her blog that we would be great friends! We have much in common with our crafting styles and yet her work is completely unique. She is a wonderful woman and a talented lady, stick around and learn more about this fabulous artist!

Samra of Paper Talk with Samra

Hello, my name is Samra Leshinski and I live in fabulous Las Vegas, NV USA with my loving husband Don, son Tarik, 3 dogs, 31 turtles and 9 mini dart frogs. 

 I work at Customer Care department of Water Company in Las Vegas. I have been making my own party invitations for several years now, (love to throw parties) but I consider card making my hobby for about over a year now. I ventured into actual blogging and participating in challenges since April of last year.

If I had to pick my favorite style that would definitely be Shabby Chic, but I try to have variety in my work. I also base my creation on a person that will be receiving my card; what are their interests, style and favorite colors. It makes me so happy to see big smile on someone’s face when they receive my handmade card. I make my own flowers for card embellishing, from daisies to roses and am still learning a lot about all the different ways to create textures and details on a project.

 I know that my card making is not going to change the world, but spreading a little joy here and there is one small step that I can make. 

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Samra has picked out a few of her favourite mixed media projects to share with us today. She has no limits with her creativity and seems to master every style she tries with the ease of an expert!

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I love this Valentine's card, my favorite color and lots of handmade flowers and different textures.

This is my Steampunk Spring card created using tons of embellishments and distress paints in green tones. I am still trying to learn this fun style of crafting.... 

This card is one of my favorite :) All the flowers are handmade, resin bicycle is hand died and there is a vellum banner, my go to material for sentiment placement.

This is one of my most elaborate projects. I created this book/shadow box from scratch out of cardboard! I have it displayed at my home as a decoration piece. :)

This is my attempt to glamorise ( I just made up a word) grunge. I had fun creating this set, lots of texture and playing with paint. 

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Well, I think you will agree that Samra's work is raising the bar high! I for one can't wait to see what she comes up with for our challenges!

Please come and visit us again on Thursday, April 30 when we introduce our next Design Team member, and don't forget to hit that Follow button while you're here!

8 DAYS UNTIL OUR FIRST CHALLENGE GOES LIVE - MAY 5 - DON"T MISS IT!

Happy Crafting!
Pamellia :)

Introducing Cec

Hello Everyone!

Today I am here to introduce you the next member of the Anything But Cute design team. She is a super talented artist and also a sweet dear friend, whom I have had the amazing pleasure of getting to know face to face. I have been an admirer of Cec's since before I started blogging, so it's a real treat for me to work and play along side this talented gal. Please hang around and learn a little bit more about this fabulous lady and see some of her spectacular mixed media work!

 Cec of CW Card Creations

I am a retired Director of Finance and live with my wonderful husband of 39 years just outside Toronto, Canada.  He is still working to support my crafting habit and I am not encouraging him to retire any time soon.  We have one daughter who is married and has blessed us with two fabulous grandchildren.  Both my daughter and my granddaughter are very creative so I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

I have been crafting for as long as I can remember and came by it naturally since my mother was a very creative person.  I have done counted cross stitch and dried flower arranging in the past - heck, I even did macrame at one time :)  I started card making around 2006 but really just dabbled at it until I lost my job in 2009 and then had lots of time to play.  A couple of years ago I started to make more vintage and shabby chic cards and was hooked.  In the past year I have started adding more mixed media to my repertoire.

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Cec has picked out a few of her favourite mixed media projects to share with us today. She has such a wonderful range of styles and her techniques are definitely on my MUST-LEARN-LIST!

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This little sewing tin started as a holder for a gift card and shows how mixed media can transform all sorts of items.  I love that the eclectic bits and pieces that I added to the top are all tied together with paint and wax paste.

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This masculine card is a favourite because I got to play in the sand and make paper that looks like rust.  I also played with metal foil tape from the hardware store - so much fun.

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I love this project because I was able to turn something that would have been in the garbage once empty into something pretty and useful when it is filled with something like bath beads.

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This project is a favourite because I made my own stencil for the pebbles, molded some of the elements from crafter’s clay and played with more metal foil tape.  I also love the colours and despite my inability to draw, I think my mermaid is just so fabulous, even if she is having a bad hair day.

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I love this art journal page because it has a nice vintage vibe and it allowed me to pretend I am a very frilly and feminine gal, which I am not really.  Getting to Paris is on my bucket list but right now with the exchange rate as it is, all I can do is look at this page and dream.

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Well, I think you will agree that Cec is such a talented lady and I for one, can't wait to see what she comes up with for our challenges!

Please come and visit us again on Monday, April 27 when we introduce our next Design Team member, and don't forget to hit that Follow button while you're here!

12 DAYS UNTIL OUR FIRST CHALLENGE GOES LIVE - MAY 5 - DON"T MISS IT!

Happy Crafting!
Pamellia :)

Introducing Sara Emily

Hello Everyone!

Today I am here to introduce you the next member of the Anything But Cute design team. I have been following Sara Emily's work for some time now and not only is she a dear friend but she is talented beyond all get out! Please hang around and learn a little bit more about this wonderful artist and see some of her one-of-kind mixed media creations!

Sara Emily Barker - sarascloset

My name is Sara Emily Barker, and I live about 7 miles from the most beautiful beach on the Eastern Coast of USA, in Wilmington, NC.  I am married and have 16 year old boy/girl twins, and two identical cats.

I am a "retired" Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, but am now self employed as a gardener, Organizer and Personal Assistant. I have been blogging since March 2014,  but have been crafty as long as I can remember. I've enjoyed  painting, sculpting, stained glass, scrap booking, up-cycling furniture and other found goodies, and most recently paper crafting and card making.  I started card making as a way to help a relative get through a long illness--making and sending a card every day for 18 months!  Having gotten a little burnt out on that, I've found my true passion--mixed media/altering found objects. Oh, I do an occasional card, but can't help but layer it on, even with a card! Here are a few of my favorite's since I've started blogging.

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Sara Emily has picked out a few of her favourite mixed media projects to share with us today. Her creativity knows no bounds and her projects are truly unique and beautiful!

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Time Flies August 2014

This was my first canvas, and it's a favorite because I really had to think outside the box to depict how time flies.  I also love the Dr. Seuss poem I used.

12 Tags of 2014 March 2015

I created this in just four days, and accomplished my goal to complete Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014, although a little late to the party! So many great techniques to try on this sampler.

Plan B September 2014

I'm a collector of vintage sewing gear, so I had a blast making a box to stash it all--well, not ALL!  I made decorated folders to keep things organized inside. It was great fun to include some of my collection in the design, too!  This is one of those things you have to visit my blog to see it all.

Dream On October 2014

This is a favorite, because I  LOVE  Halloween, and this was my most meaningful example of my Halloween projects.  I had the best time creating this out of an old bird house. Another piece you need to visit my blog to see it all.

 Tim's  12 Tags of 2015 January 2015

My absolute favorite!  I made this Valentine out of a cigar box lid for my lovely daughter and giggled the entire time I was working on it, knowing how much she was going to love it! Every single thing on it has special meaning to her. This is why I create!  

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Well, I think you will agree that Sara Emily is a mixed media artist that can pull a rabbit out of a hat, I am just so excited to see what she comes up with for our challenges!

Please come and visit us again on Thursday, April 23rd when we introduce our next Design Team member, and don't forget to hit that Follow button while you're here!

15 DAYS UNTIL OUR FIRST CHALLENGE GOES LIVE - MAY 5 - DON"T MISS IT!

Happy Crafting!

Pamellia :)

Introducing Georgie

Hello Everyone!

Today I am here to introduce you the next member of the Anything But Cute design team. I found Georgie out there in blog land, when it seemed like every time I clicked on a thumbnail that looked interesting, it took me to her blog. I fell in love with her work instantly! Please hang around and learn a little bit more about this talented artist and see some of her gorgeous mixed media creations!

Georgie - Little Blue Craft Box

Helloooo!! My name is Georgie from the Little Blue Craft Box blog, I’m based in the quiet county of Dorset on the south coast of the UK. Artistically, I am a lover of altered art, shabby chic, vintage grunge, art journalling, paper crafting… anything arty/crafty really, I love it all!!! My biggest love is mixed media within any of these forms.

Colours really entice me!!! From light and airy, to dark and gothic (and everything in between). I believe the way hues ebb and flow together is what really makes a project, and gives it that ‘wow factor’. I adore how colours are enhanced by mediums used beneath, around, or over them. The possibilities are beautifully endless…

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Georgie has picked out a few of her favourite mixed media projects to share with us today. No matter what type of project she makes, the beauty and skill of her creations shine like the North Star!

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Treasures of the Sea

A mixed media altered chest, using dry wall tape, texture paste with stencils and fibres. Then some gorgeous Lindy's were used give it a worn, yet magical shimmery feel.

 I Dream In Colour - Scrapbook Page. 

I love to create layouts, in various styles. I find they give me some great creative freedom. I see a photo and a light bulb nearly always hits me and I just know it has to be 'scrapped'!!

Prima Wedding Card

This is wedding card I made using Prima products, I love creating layers and dimension, adding paint, and where possible including some stitching! :)

Ten Tiny Toes - Scrapbook Page

Lots of goodies and dimension! I love taking a sketch and just running with what feels like the right direction, bringing elements and colour together.

By The Sea - Scrapbook Page

One of my biggest achievements was accomplished with this page, winning the November 2014 BAP (Build A Page) at Prima!! This was made using nearly Prima products, I love how you can create colourful yet delicate projects with their product lines. This one was using Seashore.

Scrap-Tag - Time for a Vacation

I love exploring new ideas and concepts. This version of scrapping was one of them, and far easier to store :) 

The Keeper

LOVED making this!! I wanted to create something for someone who keeps and love bees and when I thought of the phrase The Keeper, the mental image of an old book cover kept springing to my mind and then this came to life.

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Well, I think you will agree that Georgie is a mixed media artist like no other, I am on the edge of seat, waiting to see what she comes up with for our challenges!

Please come and visit us again on Monday, April 20th when we introduce our next Design Team member, and don't forget to hit that Follow button while you're here!

19 DAYS UNTIL OUR FIRST CHALLENGE GOES LIVE - MAY 5 - DON"T MISS IT!

Happy Crafting!

Pamellia :)