Card Number 001!

This is it! The beginning of my card making and paper crafting journey. I don't know how long this took me... probably 2 hours by the time I pulled everything out of my craft room onto the kitchen table, took a break to put my DD to bed and figured out how to get the scallops to turn out right with my Cricut Design Studio software. :-) Does everyone get this distracted when they're crafting?

I should include in these posts the status of my craft room. It's a DISASTER! It seriously looks like the aftermath of a natural disaster. Doing anything creative in there is impossible so anything I do until that room is picked up and organized has to be dragged into another room... adding a lot of time for setting up and breaking down to any crafting I want to do.

Anyway, I think it turned out quite nice. What do you think???!? :-)

Paper: Ebony Alabaster - Singing in the rain (both sides)
Stamps: PSX - Thank you
Embellishments: Offray black satin ribbon, Hero Arts 3mm adhesive crystals
Scallop border, scallop circle and circle cut with Cricut, Accent Essentials.

The goal: 500 Cards in 2009!

Hi all and welcome to my BLOG! Yes, I have joined the ranks of bloggers everywhere. I think noone is more surprised than I. :-)

The reason for this is my new years resolution! I have been playing around with crafting of all sorts for years. People tell me I should turn pro but I look around at others' designs and think there is no WAY I could do something that amazing.

Then a few weeks ago I was an audience member at a radio show recording. They interviewed a very successful singer/song writer. He said years ago he was given some good advice on how to become a great song writer... learn a million of other people's songs! Of course! I can apply that to crafting too... If I study a million designs from other artists, think of what I will learn.

So this year, I resolve to make... maybe not a million, but 500 cards. I consider this an artistic journey... or maybe an amateur athelete training to go pro. :-) Either way I figure I can't lose... I will learn a ton and by blogging my experience and attempts I will hopefully get much valuable feedback.

Here are my rules:

1. I can copy others' designs... this is actually encouraged! That way I can learn new techniques and try things I never would have thought of. Of course, I will follow any other designers rules for use of their art and I will give full credit where credit is due.

2. Each card does not have to be an original. If I make a set of 5 identical cards as a set, I get to count all 5 towards my 500!

And that's basically it! I am really excited. I hope at the end of this I will know for sure if I have the 'right stuff' to make this more than just a hobby. And I look forward to meeting some new people and learning SO MUCH!

Thanks for visiting and I hope to see a lot of you as you come back to see my latest cards in 2009!