Color Pencils

Happy Thanksgiving

Erika L Hayes1 Comment

A day of thanksgiving. What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for my God, my family, my church and my friends. Today however on the eve of a traditional holiday for us in America I’d like to give thanks for something more.

The indigenous people of this land. Had it not been for them, there would be no celebration.

While the settlers came, the peoples that were already living in what we call the Americas were kind to help the new arrivals. They brought a peace that later would be exploited, but for a moment it was how it should be. It was kindness and thanksgiving, it was people living in harmony. It was how it should be.

This year along with a celebration of thanksgiving for all the blessings God has bestowed, I give thanks for the kindness, generosity, and blessings of that time. When we were harmonious, not seeking to tear each other apart with right and wrong. A moment in time when it was about people.

I am a first-generation offspring of an immigrant, I am thankful that my father was welcomed into this country. He was given the opportunity and was able to find and make it our home.

This year, as you sit and enjoy your family and some yummy food, remember that people that gave up so much so we could be a part of their land. Try to extend that thanksgiving the first settlers had toward those that aided them in an uncertain time. Extend your kindness to those living in uncertainty. Give more than you get and love each other.

May God bring you special blessings over the next year and try and live a life of ThanksLiving for all the people and seek harmony in all you do.

Have a good day of family and friends. IF you are local and don’t have someone to spend this time with or are just hungry and need a place to go, please consider our church, Desert Christian Fellowship. We have a Thanksgiving meal where all are welcome. If you need more information, please click here for location information.

Many blessings on you friends.

Erika Lee

100% Chance of fun

Erika L Hayes1 Comment

GOOD NEWS! I finally have my new computer! This is good news because I get to start playing with my videos. I am still learning the software and pray for your consideration while I learn and improve. Now onto our card for today!

I take a lot of classes. I love learning about my different mediums. One of the things about card making is I get these little canvases to try my newly aquired skills! This card is a combination of many of my classes and playing.

The background of this card has been built using several sets. I enjoy the masking and adding many different elements to create the one of a kind look. I loved this Whimsy Stamp set I ordered from Simon Says Stamps. Gnome Get Well (click image below to find it).

I also used Cathy Z Design for Simon Says Stamps and it was the actual inspiration. The 100% chance is what triggered my rainy day feel. Living in a state that sees very little rain, any chance to enjoy it (even if I am only creating it on a canvas) is a must!

I hope you like this card and get a little inspiration.

I really did enjoy making the rainy-day look. I hope to make a video with this technique for you very soon. Let me know if that is something you would be interested in seeing.

Have a wonderful day! I’ll be back soon!

MFT Superstar Contest!

Erika L Hayes3 Comments

This year I am entering the contest. They have three categories my first is the coloring category. In the past, I’ve gone overboard trying to guess what they are looking for and add my own art. This year I made a fun little scene and I didn’t think about it. I didn’t draw a ship or add anything but the stamps I put them center stage. So here is my color entry

Next up was the Out of the box challenge! I love the out of the box challenges. They are so fun to put together. I got the idea for my HoHoHo Santa is coming to town card while sitting in my studio sorting stamp sets! Here is my entry for the out of the box category

Finally, CAS (clean and simple). I’ve had this idea since last year. I struggled with which to make for the contest and went with my other idea last year. This little baby has been waiting 360+/- days to be created. I sketched it out but waited to make it. Now that I have made it I wish I would have made it last year. Here is my CAS entry

Now, I’m not expecting to win anything, but you never know. I really do this contest for the fun of it. I love MFT Stamps (just look through my blog, you’ll see lots of their product is my literal favorite things.

I hope you get joy or inspiration from these cards. Enjoy your night!

Blessings!

ErikaLee

Birthday with Lawn Fawn

Erika L Hayes2 Comments

One of the best things about new releases is the inspiration! I did an online event on Facebook with Jenn Shurkus {creative chick} and Lawn Fawn called #LFcreatewithus. It is using the spring 2022 line from Lawn Fawn. After the class, I was so full of ideas that I made this card. I really enjoyed making the flap surprise on the front. The opening is a fun surprise for the card’s receiver. (Even more for the maker.)

Lawn Fawn has many of these cute online classes that are not only FREE but have PDF printouts! The next class is on April 8th (2022). Click here for more info on the upcoming class.

ALSO Lawn Fawn has a regular challenge to inspire you and help you get the mojo going. The current challenge is here why don’t you give it a try. I hope to see your cards posted there.

CLICK PHOTO to go directly to the challenge.

I also am working on my written instructions for interactive dies. I have a few Lawn Fawn done, and will be posting them online once they are all prettied up. Enjoy your weekend.

Erika L Hayes

It’s been busy but NEVER too busy

Erika L Hayes1 Comment

Oh boy, I have had a week. Lots happening in the last few days, but even in all the stresses of life and the craziness of having a family and pets and work and laundry and … I could do this all day. However, I must have downtime. In my downtime I read or create. The My Favorite Things Summer Camp 2021 session was a hoot. I got a late start, but I did manage to finish them all. I almost gave up because of all the extra duties I had to finish but the surest way to get me to finish something is to put it on a list…. so I did this in my creative journal.

DAY TWO: Watercoloring

For watercolor, I wanted to try something different. I got some of my black watercolor paper and

Day Two: Watercolor

embossed the Pretty Peony stamp in cream embossing powder then used my gem and opal water colors and I love how it came out.

I also finally had a place to use my fun dark gems.

DAY THREE: Emboss Resist

Day Three: Emboss Resist

I have emboss resist many things in my crafty life, and I love the way it looks. I really like that MFT video had us focus on the “elements” not just a background emboss resist. It was fun making these pumpkins with this method.

I also did the clouds just cause I was on a roll. The thing is, I discovered add texture on the pumpkins was really fun and easy. I just smaller blending brushes and pounced over the base colors to make each pumpkin unique

DAY FOUR: Background Bonanza

Day Four: Background Bonanza

I admit it didn’t come out as I expected but I really like it. I wanted to put a fun little teacher scene on this card, (this is for my sister, she’s a teacher and she is going back to the classroom to teach this year.) but it just didn’t show the fun alphabet. I cut them out three times and put them on the front of this card to give it some dimension.

A word to the wise: lay the letters out on the front of the card before you begin sticking them down. This helps to avoid running out of room or squishing the last few letters up.

I added the black over the “hi” as the sentiment. It really turned out fun. THe background was able to pop forward a bit and give support to the image I colored to look lke my cute sister.

This one was FUN! I knew just what I wanted to make. The wreath is actually from the Spring release with

DAY FIVE: Delightful Die Cutting

DAY FIVE: delightful Die Cut

This was a hoot to make because I knew just which die I wanted to use. It was from a spring release and the wreat was perfect. I used some white, sparlke blue and holographic papers to die cut the snowflakes and placed them all around then using some winter birds was a nice addition. The sentiment was too good to pass up. I did cut it to make it a stackable sentiment, but I really enjoyed making this one.

Now that Summer Camp 2021 is over I am so happy I took the time to complete all the projects. It was a wonderful relaxing time for me to sit back and remember there is so very much more to life than the busy crazy stuff. Making cards to send out to friends and family really is fulfilling for me.

Keep Crafting Friends!

Erika