What A Small World

A couple of months ago I saw some very cute cards made from some very cute little girl stamps. They reminded me of drawings made by someone I knew, but had moved away. I saw the name of the artist of these stamps and knew it had to be more than a coincidence. Elizabeth Bell draws some of the most amazing and detailed images for a couple of stamping companies across the pond. I was so happy to find these! She is having a blog candy giveaway here for some of her artwork. The end is near so hurry over and participate!

Here is a card I made today using one of her stamps.


Stamps: Sugar Nellie-Reflective, CTMH Spot On Background, Weathered Background
Inks: CTMH Heavenly Blue, Crystal Blue, Twilight, Buttercup, Sunflower, Blush, Key Lime, Topiary
Papers: CTMH Black, Twilight, Sunflower
(I used Twilight just for you, Liz)

It is a bit intimidating creating something you know the artist will see, like cooking a meal for Emeril or wrapping a gift for Martha. So Liz, I hope you enjoy the card!

Things That Go Bump In The Night

This morning the boys finally got the Halloween calendar filled. Every window, every tombstone, every bag of candy is out. I made this a couple of years ago with much help from my mom. In a month I'll get to hang out the Christmas one.



I like Halloween, more now because the kids are old enough to enjoy it. But what I really love more than that it to watch scary movies and TV shows, because I can do that whenever. However, when these two things get together, it's a recipe for an overactive imagination.
The other night my Engineer went to Scouts. I like when he's gone because when the boys get to bed I have a quiet house to myself. I was watching a TV show that I always watch on Wednesdays (Criminal Mind), and right in the middle our doorbell rang. I absolutely did not want to answer it. Who visits people at 8:30 at night? After staring at the door for a while I finally talked myself into looking through the peephole, which was something I did not want to do, I could get my eye poked out or something! (that's the overactive imagination taking over) When I did peep, I saw something on the ground. Then my mind went to someone leaving it on the doorstep so I'd open the door, then they would reach out and push their way into the house. I decided since Engineer was on his way home, I'd let him get whatever it was out there. Then I started thinking, "What if he doesn't see it and steps on it?" And that quickly went to "What if someone is still out there and grabs him when he gets to the door?" (it is totally fine if you are snickering right now). Rest assured that he did get home and in the door safely...along with the plate of chocolate cupcakes someone "ghosted" at our door. I'm glad he wasn't eating one when I told him what I was doing the past 5 minutes, because I'm pretty sure he would have chocked with laughter.

Only Three More Days...

till Halloween! This is what I've heard all morning, and it's not even 9:00 yet. My boys really like Halloween, but believe it or not it's more for the dressing up than the candy. They start asking me in July how many days until Halloween. I had to make a Halloween advent calendar just to appease the masses. Maybe I'll post that on Friday, when it's full.

Right now I'll show you guys another card we did at the Wild Cards group this month, since it is still Halloween season.


Stamps: CTMH Creepy Cobwebs
Inks: CTMH Black, Buttercup, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Pansy Purple
Papers: CTMH Pansy Purple, Sunflower, Colonial White


After all this Halloween business is over I need to get cracking on Christmas stuff!

Weekend Recovery

I always get tired getting ready for workshops...but it's a good tired. I'm pretty sure everyone enjoyed themselves, even though we could have used another 6 hours or so! The ladies made Event Calendars. They'll use it to write any important dates that happen every year: birthdays, anniversaries. But the best part is after the year is over, they just flip it over and start again. After doing all the work on Saturday, plus 5 hours yesterday, some joked that they didn't think they'd be giving them away as gifts after all!

Here's a few pictures of the goodies they all got, filled with chocolate of course.



And here is the prize basket one lucky lady won, and I think by the ear shattering squeal she produced, she was pretty happy. Congratulations Stephanie!




And remember when I said I had inky fingers getting ready for this? These little babies are the reason why.


They are so fun and easy to make...OK, maybe not exactly fun, but I sure love sparkly things!
So that is what I've been up to the past couple of days. Now I have a couple of weeks to get ready for the next scrapbook meeting at my house! I think I might take a nap first though.

Inky Fingers

So I have a workshop this weekend and I've been getting things ready for that. Right now I'm just glad to sit down for a bit! I don't want to show anything I've been making for that, in case one of my guests wanders over here and sees the prize basket! I'll just say my fingers are very inky, and leave it at that.

Since I don't want to show anything I've been working on, I'll just show another card we made last weekend at our Wild Cards group.


Stamps: CTMH Little Spooks
Inks: CTMH Pansy Purple, Garden Green, Olive, Black, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Sunflower
Papers: CTMH Enchanted Reflections Kit

You Look Boo-tiful!

Once a month a group of ladies come to my house and we do cards and layouts. I love doing it because it's one of the few times I get to talk with grown women! This is one of the cards we did. I totally cased it from Michelle Zindorf's tutorial. She is so amazing with a brayer! And I am so thankful that she shares all her great work and know-how with everyone.

Stamps: CTMH Boo-tiful, Four Seasons
Inks: CTMH Buttercup, Sunflower, Crystal Blue, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim, Black

Papers: CTMH Black, Indian Corn Blue, Sunflower, White Daisy

And now that I have an actual craft item on my blog, I feel a bit more accomplished. I have way more cards and things to post, but I don't want to completely overwhelm (or underwhelm) you. Besides, I really need to get more stuff done for my upcoming workshop this Saturday. Lots of goodies to make!

Thanks for stopping by!

When Are You Going To Start A Blog!

Well, how about right now. I've spent way too many hours looking at other craft blogs out there and got tired of certain people (you know who you are) asking that very question. So I caved to the peer pressure of "every body's doing it".

Why The Craft Closet? Simply because it's my favorite place in my house. And because a majority of things will come from there. I know, the last thing the world needs in another paper crafter enabling other crafters, like we even need encouragement. But I like to make things and I live with my three boys and my husband. I know boys and men can be creative, I do. But my husband is an engineer and it has become apparent that my boys will follow down that same road. Their idea of creativity is to see how many toys it takes to cover the carpet in the play room, or to see how many computers and laptops you can use...at the same time. So when I finish a project, I'd like to hear more than a "That's pretty...when is dinner?" or "Nice, can I play a game?"

So I turn to you. And even if no one out there is looking at me and my stuff, I can at least imagine I have a group of friends that understand me and my craft closet.