Gilli stamps challenge- Blue and glittery

Feels like forever and a day since I have posted on my blog sharing one of my crafty creations. I have been so busy enjoying family and friends during this holiday season- I hope you have been too!

I have to share that I did get one big prezzie from the hubby that I really wanted- a vagabond!!! That's right- the electric die cutting machine from Lord Tim of Holtz himself....ahhh bliss! Yep no more turning of the hand in a clockwise manner for me- now just a push of the button and zip my die cuts are done. One happy crafter right here!

On to my reason for posting today- it is time for a brand new challenge over at the House of Gilli blog and it is my turn to be the hostess with the mostest. We are challenging you to use the colour BLUE and to make your project SPARKLE! So get out those blue papers and embellishments and pour on the glitter. Everything is better with glitter ;). 

I made a tag for my project today to go onto one of the many wine bottles that get passed around during the holiday season. I rarely drink wine anymore due to acid reflux (ugh) but my friends are still winos so this gift is perfect as we hang out and enjoy each other's company. 

I used some of the new Echo Park paper for my tag and a die shape from Lord Tim of Holtz to get my tag shape. I added some ribbon and die cut out some snowflakes on glitter paper to add lots of bling. For my Gilli stamp I used her home- I love this cute and versatile house stamp! The opposite side of the tag reads 'From our house to yours- May this be a wonderous holiday season'. 

If you would like to win lots of Gilli stamp goodies come on and play with us over at H.O.G. and maybe you will be our next lucky winner!

Cheers! Andi

Nellie Snellen and I want to wish Suzanne Dean a Merry Christmas

*Please click on the picture for a much closer view- thanks*

Merry Christmas Suzanne!

I am so blessed to be part of Suzanne's CMC design team and apparently I am not the only one who feels this way as the whole lot of us are posting cards from last week up till Christmas so that she can have some virtual cards to look at each day- kinda like a card Advent calendar lol. 

I met Suzanne a few years ago on a design team we were both on then in person at CHA 2 years ago. I was intimidated until the first 3 seconds were over when we found we had teen girls the same age and could commiserate...I mean share the drama's that ensue while teen girls are in the house. In case they are reading this we love you girls hee hee! And her humour- bang on with mine. In fact we knew instantly we would need bail money if we ever hung out together as we both have the knack for having trouble find us where ever we go. You know when you meet someone and instantly just feel comfortable with them- that's me and Suzanne- I feel like I have known her for years and all we do is laugh. And guzzle cherry coke together. Now she can actually buy cherry coke whenever she wants and I can't here in Canada so that does create some tension in our friendship..... Plus she mentions drinking it a lot which sets my jealous teeth on edge lmbo!!! Suzanne is a very warm, big hearted and honest person and SO MUCH FUN! Truly- to know her is to love her. And I do xoxoxo

Now on to my card. I am in freakin' LOVE with the new Nellie Snellen stamps over at SGD. Seriously- I am a sucker for a cute stamp. I am using today Dawn Hokey Pokey and coloured her up using my copics, some Smooch Snickerdoodle and Moonlight colours, diamond stickles and twinkling clouds fluff which is made of white flocking and glitter. I also used a big flower which was a mistake when you are trying to mail a card!!! Suzanne- don't be shocked if it arrives with a different..flat flower..lmbo!!!

I hope you enjoyed my Suzanne card today. I just love that sassy girl!

Cheers, Andi

Cozy Gilli in Red and Gold

I would like to own a red Snuggi. Any colour Snuggi actually. I am frequently chilled and gave up on looking cool long ago in favour of fuzzy clothes and socks. And wearing pj pants and any time of the day if I don't have to go out. I bet some of you are reading this right now in your pj pants- go you! hee hee

The current challenge over at the House of Gilli blog is to add the colours Red and Gold to your card. Well I actually have been a red colouring phase so this was easy for me to be inspired by. I have to first say that when using red copics I ALWAYS use copic Express it paper. I am a heavy handed colourer and it doesn't bleed at all. None. If any colour is outside of the lines it is because I coloured outside of the lines- cause isn't that what makes life fun? ;) 

I used Cozy Gilli and some DCWV paper I had been hoarding but let's face it used both the challenge colours so it was time to let it go. Bye bye gorgeous paper- I will miss you.... Oh wait- it is not like I actually send any of my cards so it can go on my display board for me to look at even more often. Score! ;)

Click here to read the challenge details and to see all of the delicious eye candy the DT has been posting to inspire you. 

If you don't have any Gilli stamps yet you don't need to use them to join us in our challenge but if you want to buy some you can find them at Stamping and Scrapbooking online store here.

Time for me to pour another cup of tea and try to get some relaxing in today. And maybe..just maybe...even get some more crafting done today. 

Cheers, Andrea

Copics used:

Hair- E25, 27, 29, 49

Skin- E000, 00, 11, R01, R20

Mug- Y23, 26, 28, glaze pen, glitter pen

Snuggi- R24, 27, 29 and C5 over the R29 to deepen the shading

Ground- W1, 3, 5

Outline- BG10

Magnolia- Yoga Tilda- challenge card and who wants to win a Cricut Mini, Kindle, gift cards and digi stamps??

I am actually posting a Magnolia card for the first time in years! My stamping Bff Sarah has got me into the same stamps I swore I never needed to own. I think I have 12 of them now in a very short period of time. I have to wonder why I ever bother deciding I am not getting into something when all it means is I fall head over heels at some point lol!

Here are the current CMC challenge deets- I would play along with this incredible challenge that Suzanne has put together to raise money for such a wonderful cause! See below:

NEW CHALLENGE #33 will run until January 5th!
SO THIS RUNS FOR 1 MONTH!

Your challenge this time is all about

** HOLIDAY JOY--in Golds. Creams & Whites**

Show your holiday joy with sparkling colors of GOLD, CREAM & WHITE!

(yes you can use some other colors like hair/skin/etc but the majority of colors should be Gold, Cream & Whites)

For this Challenge we have LOTS OF PRIZES!!

AND A WAY TO DONATE TO A WONDERFUL CHARITY!!

WHAT YOU CAN WIN:

-1 person will win a NEW Provocraft CRICUT MINI machine

-1 person will win a NEW KINDLE E-READER

-1 person will win a $50 Gift Cert. to SCACD

-1 person will win a $25 Gift Cert. to the Paper Temptress

-1 person will win 5 digis from Tiffany Doodles and a $15 Gift Cert to 7 Kids College Fund and a Gilli Gift Bag

HOW TO PLAY:

4 different ways to enter

-Enter up to (2) TWO projects into the link system below by Jan. 5th

-Enter (1) one project into the BookEndz Challenge

-Donate a $3-5 donation to the Charity below for 1 entry

-Donate anything over $10 to the Charity and get 2 entries

OUR CHARITY:

Reading is Fundamental is the charity I have chosen to sponsor this season. As you all know I am an avid reader and it amongst my very favorite things to do in my spare time. I truly believe that literacy and reading opens up many doors in life for everyone. Not only can you find joy in books but it opens your eyes to other cultures, places and people that is so worthwhile. And just the fact that a huge part of life involves being able to read--to get through school, get a great job and navigate through life. For me teaching children to read early on in life is a MUST yet so many children are not provided with the basic materials to learn to read. So this charity is a non-profit that provides books to children and opportunities to bring literacy into areas that need it!

Click here to be taken to the challenge site to read more about the month long initiative and also to donate if you choose. 

I am also entering my Tilda in the following challenges:

Magnolia Down Under- Lost and Found- my doily

The sketchy challenges- sketch

Cute Card Thursday- Anything goes

I am really happy with how my Tilda turned out. I have to admit I put off creating for this challenge for awhile as I had no idea how to pull it off and it turned out to be soooo much easier than I had thought! I used the following colours:

Skin- E0000, E000, E00, E11, R01, R20

Hair- YR20, YR21, YR23 and E35 over the YR23 area then more of the yellow over top of the brown just to deepen it up. Thank you Sarah for that suggestion!

Yoga Pants- E50, E51, E53

Shirt- E40, E41

Ground-W1, W3, W5

I hope you get a chance to play along with some of these challenges too!

Cheers, Andrea

Paper Smooches and Touch Twin markers- warm caffeine wishes

I had sooo much fun finally getting a chance to play with my beloved Paper Smooches stamps. I have been a huge Kim Hughes stamp fan for years and when she opened her own company I was crazy happy. Seriously- new stamps bring out rainbows on a sunny day for me hee hee. 

I was busy playing with our new puppy when I realized that it was literally hours away from the Touch Twin color challenge closing so I had to get to work and put the puppy down! Truthfully I am only usually inspired by tight deadlines so this worked great for me :)

I am working to do some nice clean and simple cards and I am really pleased with how this cutie came out. I used the Paper Smooches set 'Hot Concoctions'. I mean- who can resist a mug that smiles? 

I based my colour scheme on the Touch Twin challenge below:

Perfect colour combo for some warm liquid caffeiney goodness!

I hope you get a chance to sneak in some crafty time this weekend too!

Cheers! Andrea

CMC is challenging you to do funky coloured hair

*Please click on my card for a closer look at the detail*

Our fearless leader Suzanne Dean has really thought of a fun challenge for us over at the CMC copic challenge group. Simply Betty stamps is our challenge sponsor and let us on the DT pick a digi to play with and instantly I fell head over heels in love with Romance Annie. You still have Thursday and part of Friday to play along with us- it is so much fun!!!

I am also entering my card into the following challenges:

Diva's by design- Anything goes

I brake for challenges- vintage

To get Annie's 'sultry yet playful' pink hair I used the R80's spectrum. Love those colours. I carried them into her shawl and also used E50's in her skirt to get that vintage satin look. I have to say I am in love with my card! She will be a hard one to part with. I will have to make sure she goes to someone who crafts and will love her as much as I do hee hee. 

Cheers, Andi

Gilli stamps and flourishes- I took the easy way out with this challenge lol!

*Please click on the picture for a closer view*

Today I am sharing my card for our current Gilli stamps challenge hosted by Melanie- flourishes! Now I have to admit I feel like I cheated as I chose paper that had flourishes hee hee. You can see them in the bottom left of the card and also below my sweet flying bird. I am obviously in need of some flourish dies ;). 

I used the lovely Lady Gilli on my card tonight and gave her a satin evening dress to go with my elegant card. I coloured her dress using the following copic colours- BG70, 72, 75, 78. I then added some crystal lacquer I had on hand to give it that satin sheen I just love. I had a satin shirt in the early 90's..it was in style then to be fair...and I just loved the way it felt against my skin and I like to imagine she is also enjoying the smooth silkiness of her evening dress.

My card layout comes from one of my FAVE sketch sites- CPS blog. They are one of my absolute first sites I check whenever I need a sketch- love them! 

Well that's all for me today. I hope this helps to inspire you along with the other DT eye candy we have posted so that you play along with our current challenge over at the House of Gilli challenge blog. We would love for you to join us!!

Cheers, Andi 

Lady Gilli stamp from Gilli Stamps

Papers used- My Mind's Eye Lost and Found- Portabello Road 6x6

Kraft and black cardstock

doily shapes from my friend Anja xo

self adhesive pearls

Tim Holtz distress ink- Old paper

CC Designs Amy R collection- 'Live laugh love' from Love-ly sentiment set

Copics- E0000, 000, 00, 11, 23, 25, 27, 29, 40, 42, 43

BG70, 72, 75, 78

R01, 20

HHS is 'counting down' to the end of the year

Today I am sharing my last challenge card for High Hopes Stamps for 2011! We typically take the month of December off to spend more time in the spirit of the season and with our loved ones- love that High Hopes thinks of us and wants us to get the most out of this magical holiday season :). 

My stamping bff Sarah is the hostess with the mostest for this last challenge of the year and she wants us to count it down! She is asking that we add numbers to your card or make a card for a specific date.

If you don't have a number on your card, please state what "date" the card is for. You can find more of the challenge deets here at the challenge blog and also lots of inspiration from the DT on how to play along with this fun challenge. 


I decided to ink up the super cute 'Peeking Baby bunny' stamp along with a cute HHS Happy Birthday sentiment to make a 2nd birthday card. I used my copics and pencils to colour the images and some versatile baby paper from the Simple Stories 6x6. I added glaze on parts as well to help make it pop. To finish it off I used some of my beloved twine and a button. Is anyone else addicted to coloured baker's twine like I am? I seriously want huge spools of all colours at my finger tips as don't ever want to run out!


I hope you liked my simple card today. Have a crafty day!
Cheers, Andi

Birthday card using Sweet Stamp shop stamps!

One of my newest addictions are the stamps over at the Sweet Stamp Shop and their uber adorable owner Nicole. I fell in love with them at their very first release with their Gnome set- Had.To.Have! 

This set -Scootin' by- was one I kept looking at each time I was at their website but I wasn't sure how I would use it. Funny enough it is the very first set I have used out of the ones I now own hee hee. My sweet nephew had his 5th birthday the other day and since he keeps all the cards his Auntie gives him so I wanted to make him something special. Shaker card it is! 

I stamped this image multiple times on my white paper and my patterned papers. I cut out different parts of the scooter and paper pieced them. I used my grey copics for the wheels and the horn and then stamped the clouds in blue ink. I used a card template I had leftover from a past project and stamped part of the sentiment on the white tag and the 'happy birthday' right underneath it. Clean and simple! OhEmGee- was that ever hard for me to do! Look at all that space that is not covered by bling or stamped images. I made a pact to myself to try getting back to my stamping roots and mix it up and do some cards 'old school style' lol. I am happy with how it turned out and I am even happier with my Scooter stamp set purchase - craft spending justified!

Hope you have a great Monday!

Cheers, Andi 

Stamping Bella Christmas Card featuring circle Snowman

**Please click on the picture for a bigger view**

Sharing today the second card club members are making with their Nov card kit. It is using the Stamping Bella Snowman circle stamp. I paired this adorable stamp up with some Authentique Christmas paper and some kraft Maya road snowflakes. To add some shine and bling I used my new glitter by Twinklets and it is GORGEOUS. Sheila has in some stunning new pearls and gems from Prima that have different facets and honestly I think I bought a pack in almost every colour- they are so beautiful! I used the pearl ones on this card- love!!!

One more Christmas card made and a basquillion to go! How are you coming along with your Christmas card making?

Cheers, Andrea

Angel Gilli in Monochromatic style

Today I am sharing a card I made with Angel Gilli to play along with the current monochromatic challenge over at the House of Gilli blog. I have to admit I haven't done many cards in this style so to keep it simple I only used my copics from the E colour family. 

Her wings are 40, 41, 43

Hair is 29, 35, 37

Face 0000, 000, 00, 11 and 91 for the cheeks

Her dress was colored using E's I hadn't used before so I felt good finally being able to justify buying them tee hee! They were 70, 71, 74, 77. They look almost purple don't you think?

I outlined her in E 50 to give her an angelic glow

What co ours do you think you will use to play along with our monochromatic challenge?

Happy crafting, Andi

High Hopes stamps is playing with Snow...

Welcome back to another High Hopes stamps challenge and this time HHS is asking you to make a craft with snowflakes. It can be punched out shapes, snowflakes on your patterned paper, stamped..etc. Anyway you would like to incorporate it into your project. 

I used an older stamp called Cup of Cheer as I love hot drinks and quite frankly it begged me to use it. I couldn't resist ;). I paired it with the Cookies and Cocoa script and stamped it directly over my coloured image. In hindsight I would have moved it down more so that the sentiment was closer to the bottom of the mug but honestly I was so worried about having it be severely crooked or smeared that I didn't give much thought to placement at the time lol! I also used some of my new Kaiser Craft patterned paper in non-traditional Christmas colours. My paper has snowflakes, I used punched out shapes and a sweet charm. I think I am covered for this challenge hee hee. 

My card sketch today comes from Jen Del Muro's November sketch over at her blog- thanks Jen!

To see more snowy inspiration hop on over to the HHS challenge blog where you can also see the details on how you can play to win some new High Hopes stamps rubber. Good luck!

Cheers, Andrea

Color Me Creative Classroom are playing with Mermaids and a blog candy alert!

I love mermaids. Love. Did anyone else try to swim with their legs together to mimic a tail? I couldn't have been the only one ;). 

The CMC DT got to play with the lovely Michelle Perkett images this time around. She has beautifully drawn digi stamps which are actually on sale Today  (Saturday) at 50% off! I am just starting to build my collection of digis so these help me get more for my money...cause let's face it I won't spend less ....it allows me to buy more hee hee!

I coloured this beauty up with my copics and spent a very long time on her tail. I wanted to give a textured multi-coloured look to her and I am happy with the final results! I used only dots to colour it up and started out with it just blue then after looking at it and realizing it was missing something I went back and added some greens. Here are the colours I used on her tail:

BG11, 13, 15, 18

G20, 24

I also added some diamond dust stickles also just with dots to continue with the textured look. 

Hop on over to the CMC site to play along with our colouring challenge where you can win prizes and join us at a guest DT member! Also there are lots of classes available which a few of my friends have taken and said they highly recommend them. I am signing up for a few myself- specifically on how to colour magnolia stamps I think. 

My card is based on a sketch at Card Patterns. They have a new one up today to play along with. 

I am also entering my card into the following challenges:

Alphabet challenge blog- under the sea

Card Mad Fairy- add texture

2 sisters challenges- anything goes

Moving along with the times- Fairy Tale cards

Blog Candy alert!

My stamping BFF Sarah Kipling has wrote a hilarious tongue in cheek blog post about her drawer stuffed full of stamps. We seem to share the same buying obsession and I am so proud that she is trying to thin out this drawer...so that we can buy more obviously hee hee!

She is a fairly new blogger so she is looking to add more friends/followers. Click here to visit her post to see how you can win all these amazing stamps!

Well that's it for me today. It is the middle of the afternoon so it is about time to go get showered and look productive. 

Have a great weekend! Andrea

'lil Gilli Girly stamp is helping me reuse and recycle!

I really enjoy colouring my Gilli stamps and this uber cute 'lil Gilli girly stamp was the perfect size to help me out with the Recycle challenge we had. 

I had these leftover papers from a card I made that I was going to throw most of them away as they were too small for the card size I typically make. I then had the idea to make a mini card and so my sweet little Gilli stamp works perfectly for when you need a small stamp for a small card. 

I also used this button which I had saved from another project that I was getting rid of. Sometimes my ever present cup of tea spills on my craft area from my cats leaping around and if I have left my cards out...well sometimes tea stained is not the look I am going for so out they go. I have started to take off ribbon, buttons, brads etc to be reused even though it is not like I don't own tons..I just hate throwing out a perfectly good item that could be re-purposed. I am really happy with how my card from scraps turned out and the Fall colours are perfect for this time of year before the snow starts. Which could be any day now lol. 

Anytime you would like to play along with us Gilli girls we would love to have you over at our challenge blog. You could even win some sweet Gilli stamps of your own!

Cheers, Andi

SGD Stamping Bella Card kits and Unity decorated Grab bags

Andrea here on this sunny Saturday!

I wanted to share a picture of the November card kit contents and one of my completed cards. They are all packaged up and ready to go but we are awaiting  the stamps for the kit from our supplier- kind of an important part of the kit lol!!! I have been itching to share this card for a few weeks now and just can't wait anymore as I love this crazy reindeer from Stamping Bella!

I used some of my Bo bunny paper from the kit to make up this card so I matched my colouring to the colours in the paper. I will include what copics I think compliment it well in the card kit instructions to help make it easy for those of you who like to match like me :)

In this month's kit we also provide cricut cut sentiments for your cards- brilliant!!! It was Sheila's idea and the reason I am sharing that is because Lori and Kim had to cut them all out and I guess they were ready to wring my neck after hee hee!!!!! So again it was SHEILA'S great idea and we appreciate the hard work as they are amazing!!! Thanks ladies!!!

Keep an eye out for the second card from the kit and also for the kits to go on sale because once they sell out they can not be reordered. 

Thank you to Susan who sent me this picture so I could share it with you. It was taken by her cell phone and I think it did a pretty good job! 

This is a picture of the grab bag that attendees of the punch a bunch class this weekend will be receiving. I made these up for Sheila using the Unity stamps for the Simple Stories kit generations. I just love this set!!! I especially love the doilies and they are so hot right now in the crafting world. The set even came with the sentiment you see below the SGD. Now the SGD stamped on here was using monograms from Just rite Stampers. Look Anja- I used your fave stamps! hee hee. This bag is so packed full of good stuff I am insanely jealous I am not going to the class and getting one!

Well that's enough from me today. I hope you have a wonderful day ladies!

Cheers, Andrea

High Hopes Stamps challenge- Anything High Hopes!

This week's challenge over at the HHS challenge blog is an easy one- create anything using any High Hopes Stamps images. Sweet! I used this opportunity to stroll down memory lane and use Candi the Tooth Fairy which is an older image. 

Candi is coloured with Touch Twin markers as I had an opportunity to try them out while hanging out with my friend Vicki Garrett. I wanted to be able to try them and give opinions on them as I try to have knowledge on colouring mediums as best as I can as part of the CMC design team as we help others by giving colouring tips and inspiration. I have to report that there is a learning curve for me whenever I try to use a different type of marker. I always start out as if I just learned to colour for the first time lol!!! I found that the Touch Twin markers really flowed across the page and easily saturated my page to help me with blending. I love the result I got with them and hope that when I get some of my own that I am able to colour as well with them as I can with my copics. I used some of the new Webster's pages Christmas paper in the fun purple, pink and green colours to match the bright colours of my image. It's funny because purple is my fave colour yet I have a brutal time crafting with it!! I think it is because purple can have cold or warm undertones and I spend ages looking through my supplies to see what I have that matches my project as least close enough. I may have to sort all my stash by colours and then by the tone of the colour.....hmmm...we both know that is likely to never happen hee hee. I would like it done- I wonder if I can pay someone to do it for me lol!!!

Before popping over to the HHS Challenge blog to see what the rest of the DT has cooked up to get your inspiration stirring check out the High Hopes Stamps sale below on Fairy Tale images (I have linked it for you- just click on the name of the stamp)- gotta love a good sale!!!

November Monthly Special on now until Nov 7th.

R-093 Fearless Knight

R-092 Castle

F-149 For My Princess

D-097 Lilly Pads

F-148 Duck Family

R-091 Reflecting Pond

G-232 Frog Prince

G-231 Leapfrogs

G-237 Kissy Face Frog

C-047 Kiss Me

K-042 Sitting Princess

H-181 Crown/Wand 2 Pc. Set

M-039 Rock Wall

S-104 Unicorn

H-180  Mushroom One

H-182 Mushroom Two

Cheers! Andi

Color Me Creative Classroom is making cards for the boys

Happy Halloween!!!!!

I am not sharing a Halloween card today as I can't wait to share the card I made as part of the CMC design team sponsored by Mo's Digital Pencil images this week. 

For my card I used Video Boy with the long shaggy hair as he completely reminds me of my nephew Riley- before he shaved his head that is lol. 

I challenged myself to just colour the image the way I wanted without matching it to paper as I typically do. I found it hard to do without having a guide but also freeing at the same time. It was nice just sitting there colouring willy nilly without any rules hee hee. What I found to be the most beneficial to stretching my boundaries in this way is that I felt free to use as many copics and colours as I wanted. I had no idea how I was stifling myself by just using the copics I picked out in advance that matched my patterned paper. Try it yourself next time you colour and let me know how it goes. You may be as pleasantly surprised as I was!

Speaking of colouring- Suzanne just shared that there are new copic online classes available. Here are the descriptions:

COPIC CLASS 5:

For those that have been asking me for the PAST year to create a Copic Class 5 wellllll I am working on it currently! It will debut the first week of November and you can pre-register for a little bit of a deal now until Nov. 5th! I had hoped to be done with it by Halloween but I have to have some procedures done that may prevent me from having everything ready by then. Most of the Class Description is up at the site under the Class Info/Pricing Tab and the Supply List has yet to be determined. I am using 60% digi stamps and the rest will be rubber stamps for the class---but as always you use what you have on hand, I don't feel that anyone HAS to use the same image as me. But all the images will be listed and linked very soon along with the Copic Colors I use.

MAGNOLIA COPIC CLASS 2 by Mindy Baxter: Mindy has created another fantastic Copic Class using those cute Magnolia Stamps. This class will cover coloring images with different light sources at different times of day. If you didn't take Mindy's other class you are missing out---she's a fantastic instructor and has printable materials for you as well to follow along. Her class will DEBUT Friday, October 14th and you can register now. All invites to the class will go out on Friday! See her full class description at the CMC Classroom by hovering over the Class Info Tab at top of site! As always when you take any class at CMC you get 1 full year to access the class and its materials!

Visit Color Me Creative Classroom at: http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

In addition to this card being part of the CMC copic challenge I am also entering it into the following challenges:


Charisma Cards Challenge- Anything goes 
Crafty Purple Frog challenges- Sparkles (used glitter pen on the chip bag, pop can and game remote)
Make it Monday challenge- Anything goes
Simon Says Stamps Challenge- Anything goes
Mark's Finest Papers- use your scraps (card was made of leftover bits from a card kit)

I love Mineral Love organic and vegan makeup!!!

I typically only share my crafty ventures on my blog but I have found that many of my crafty friends also share a few of my other favourite things in life so I have decided to branch out once in awhile and also do some reviews on makeup and books and fave products that I have tried as I have found I have really enjoyed reading them on my friend's blogs as well. I hope you enjoy it too!

I stumbled onto Mineral Love's etsy store while looking for more loose eyeshadow powders. I had found a few different sellers but Mineral Love's product selection as well as their donation of sales to an animal shelter really pulled me in their direction over the others. I am so glad that happened! I have gotten to know Tricia Mack the owner and she is adorable and gives hands down some of the best customer service I have ever experienced!

First- her eyeshadows

I ordered the small size pots of a few different colours and they come in sweet clear pots with black lids. It doesn't look like a lot in the container when it arrives but don't let that fool you! You use sooo little to get a rich colour that my pots still look barely touched. I found this a great solution for me as I wanted to get lots of different colours to try for the best price. As I have found some favourites- like chocolate frosting- I will order them in the full size pots when I need to re-order. 

You get a strong colour just by using the powder straight out of the jar and onto your eyelid. I lightly touch my brush to the loose shadows then swirl it around the lid to cover my brush and apply. This gives a nice colour and you can make it soft or dark by adding more or less. 

To make your colour POP Tricia recommends putting some of the eyeshadow into the lid and adding a drop or two of the magic mixing medium she offers. It turns into a paste and you apply that to your eyes for a dramatic eye coverage and bold colours. I use this technique called 'Foiling' when I am going out at night and a more vibrant colour is what I am looking for. My eyes are my best feature and Tricia's eyeshadows never fail to get me compliments from men and women when I go out. Sweet!!!

Now- her customer service

I asked Tricia if she could recommend some colours for me and I sent her a picture of me so that she could see my colouring. She made some great recommendations and to my surprise she also included some small baggies with different colours than the ones I ordered to try that she thought would compliment me. And she was right of course! I have added the colour Jennifer to my fave list and wear it often. She puts your jars into this sweet black lace bag and also includes a wonderful handwritten note with your order. How amazing is that!!! As well she includes an instruction sheet to use with your Magic Mixing Medium so that you know right away how to get the best results. 

Additionally- Tricia is so personable!! I joined her Mineral Love facebook page and she frequently has fun giveaways and also lets her customers know if she will be setting up shop somewhere that local clients can come out to see her. I have also found out that we share the same birthday!! So of course we are basically twins separated at birth! She has also blown me away by asking me what my fave colour is so she can make an eyeshadow for me and call it Andi. Seriously- how can you compete with that service!

Overall- using loose shadows was new to me when I first started this new journey but I have quickly come to use them with the same ease that I use my compact ones. I have found a shop and seller that I know I will continue to use and support for years to come. 

If you decide to try Mineral Love for yourself please let Tricia know that I sent you! I won't be getting anything for it but I just want her to know how much I appreciate the fabulous personable customer service that she provides!