AFCI Creativation 2019 Recap #1 - The People

Whhhhhhhhhhhh!!! That's the sound of me blowing dust off of this blog! Sorry, it's been so long everyone. It's about time for me to recap the people, goings on, and sights of the AFCI Creativation a few weeks ago...finally.  I didn't even make the 100% decision to attend until about a week before the show, and I am so glad I did as it was an absolute fabulous week for me both professionally and personally. I took loads of photos, and still didn't get all the ones I wanted, but here are some of the peeps that fill my heart, and I hate that I didn't get pics of so many others...sorry.

Eileen Hull graciously invited me to stay with her and her minions at an AirBNB. All the ladies were wonderful, and we had quite a fun time when we were awake, and there wasn't much time for sleeping as we played and goofed off a bunch when not at the show. All together there were 10 of us staying at the house...it felt like college all over again!

Every night I attended some sort of dinner networking and visiting. This was the AFCI Designers Dinner, and there were a bunch of us. This was just one of four tables.

Several of us were leaving another dinner just for Bloggers...dinner number one, as there were two more after this. I'm telling you I ate so good in Phoenix, and the company and fun were sublime.

I demoed in the Photocentric Booth, showcasing my stamp line with WeCraft, everyday at the show. I forgot to get photos of my samples, but you can see parts of them behind me. Photocentric is the company that makes them, and Dom, the owner is so good to me.

I stole this photo from Esther...yikes. She was just a doll, and wanted to have her pic with me. Why I have my tongue hanging out of my mouth is beyond me. I talked to so many people while demoing, and have made more friends. My cup truly runneth over!

You may recognize the guy sitting down. This is James Burke, who was also demoing with me in the booth, and his Art Journals are the bomb! He has a fantastic line of stamps as well. He blew me away with his talent, and you all can expect some huge things coming from him! I am happy to have this new friend.

I am so proud to be an AFCI Designer. It has opened many doors for me. If you have the opportunity to join and grow your business and theirs, do so!

In the Designer Booth, the theme was Sharing the Creative Heart. We were asked to bring a piece of Art that contained a heart, told something about us, and was no bigger than 9x9. Remember her? I decided she fit the bill. She is old, but still hanging on.

This is me clowning around  (Go figure!) with the wings backdrop. I made everybody who walked by pose and really work it as I took their photo, even strangers! So FUN!!!

I believe I can fly!

There were four booths I was constantly stalking...not too hard to guess which ones...Ranger, Stamper's Anonymous, Sizzix, and Tim Holtz Idea-ology of course! This lady was probably sick of me as I stuck to her like glue it seems every chance I could. I just love me some Wendy Vecchi!

This is Simon Hurley, Ranger's newest Signature Designer. He is a doll people!

Oh you know I was never too far from these peeps! Each and every smile here warms my heart...aside from my own.

And here the girls (The ones left.) and I are on our last night together. I think I peed myself several times from all the laughter!

Along with Texas Trash and goodies for everyone I knew, I made these canvas ATC's for the roomies and a few Designer friends of mine. I came home with so many goodies as well...good thing I drove! I love my peeps!

I'll be back with one more Creativation post tomorrow... a long one. Thanks for stopping by! Until then...

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

"Wise Men Still Seek Him" - Day 12 Christmas Tag for The Crafty Scrapper

I'm back with my last project for Christmas and for the year, which happens to be Day 12 for The Crafty Scrapper's 12 Days of Christmas Tags. A big thank you for having me Guest Design for this special event Carolyn and Crew...I'm so honored to be asked again. Carolyn asked me to do a mini version of my Starry Night Wisemen canvas that I just taught, and I was happy to do it as the new Wisemen Thinlets Die from Tim Holtz and Sizzix is my favorite from the last release.

I cut a piece of navy colored cardstock to fit the 8 inch Tim Holtz Mini Etcetera tag from Stamper's Anonymous, that Carolyn requested we use, as a background tag.  I applied Peacock Feathers, Blueprint Sketch, and Faded Jeans Distress Oxides from Tim and Ranger, to a glass media mat and misted the inks with water, and then swiped the tag through, drying between layers while swiping through again. Once I liked the look I gave it a thorough drying.

I applied Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide and drops from a Picket Fence Distress Reinker to the glass mat and misted those with water, and swiped the cardstock tag through one more time, to mimic the Starry Night look, and dried that.

I flicked droplets of Fossilized Amber and Picket Fence onto the tag for more of a starry look.

I painted the edges of the Etcetera tag with Black Soot Distress Paint, and cut another tag a little bigger than the blue cardstock tag from silver Metallic Kraft Stock. Then I die cut the blue tag with stars from the Snowy Stars, Swirling Stars, and Wisemen Thinlets sets, trying to get the Starry Night look. I misted the tag with Wendy Vecchi's Mica Spray in Pearl for a more cosmic look. Then came more die cutting with the actual Wisemen using more silver Kraft Stock.

After I mounted the blue tag onto the silver and added the Wisemen, I decided the tag needed more bling. I stitched around the sides and upper edges of the tag with silver metallic thread. BUT, I thought it needed even more bling, so I die cut another Wisemen from black cardstock, and glittered them up, as well as the edges of the Etcetera Tag, with Tim's concoction for making colored glitter...a cup of Clear Rock Candy Distress Dry Glitter with Pitch Black Alcohol Ink mixed very well.

I loved all the sparkle from the glitter...it's just what the tag needed.  I added the glittered Wisemen slightly left of the silver Wisemen for a shadow look, and then mounted the tag onto the Etcetera Tag base. I painted the hole of the tag with my new favorite DecoColor Premium Silver Leafing Pen from Marvy, added that on, and then tied a bow with starry ribbon. I had manger and star charms in my stash so those went on with a jump ring. Then I pondered a sentiment, but one that wouldn't cover up much. I decided on computer generated words, appropriate I think, and mounted them on more silver Kraft Stock, and added them to the finished tag.

 

And with that I bid all of you a wonderful and happy Christmas! May you have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year as well, with a wealth of creativity!!! Thank you truly for a year of support and encouragement. Mwah!

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!