New Graphics Program

As if I'm not busy enough with the Farmers Market and designing for CUP I had to go and buy a new graphics program (ok, an upgrade really).  I have used Photoshop Elements 5.0 since it came out but there were some things I wanted to do that can not be done in Elements (no matter which version you have) so I upgraded to Photoshop CS5.  Wow!  What a difference!  I purchased 3 books to help me learn the program.  Realllly impressed with one, not quite as impressed (so far) with the other 2.  The one that is helping me the most is 100% Photoshop by Steve Caplin.  I have started from the beginning of the book and designed a few things but this is the one I'm most proud of (so far...lol)

Detective Scene-Designer Resource

This is a Designer Resource and is available on CUP.  Click on the link under the image if you are interested in purchasing this.

I had a LOT of fun making this so watch my page...I will be making more similar...and other things too as I learn the program.

Has it been a BUSY Summer?

Has it been a BUSY Summer for you?  Boy it has been for me!  I started selling my cards, tatting and home baked cookies at the local Farmers Market in early June (or was it late May?).  The Market is open every Saturday from 10am to 2pm and I've been selling loads of my tatting...which means I don't really have much time to design new cards, let alone even make any!  I sell lots of cookies too...I mean who doesn't love home baked cookies? ;-)  So I spend 1 day each week baking like a fool...lol  I finally HAD to make cards because my card display was getting a bit thin so here are pics of what I have made recently.

These first two cards were actually made for an order for that special lady who gives all of her clients BD cards.

I have FINALLY figured out how to link my images to the sheets, so if you are interested in any of the cards ( mine or FSS) you can click the name under the card and you will be taken right to the sheets.

FSS-Emma & Rosey COL SET

FSS-Nolan & The BullFrog COL DIGI

Don't you just love Fred She Said's newest designs?  I do!


Now these next cards are some of my designs found on Craftsuprint.  

Beautiful Rose with Scalloped Accents

Blue Layered Card Front & Tea Bag Tiles

Elegant Vase of Roses Card Front

Get Well Soon Step by Step Card

Innocent Love's Torn Card Topper

Mermaid Card Front and Pyramid

Rose Bouquet Card Front ATC Gift Card

Scalloped Front Tri-Fold Glory Rose Card

Torn Elegance Card Topper

Yellow Roses Round Swivel Card

 Sorry this is so many cards, but would you beleive that I really did make all these cards in just 2 days?  I had an assembly line going!  I cut them all out one day then the next day put them all together.  I didn't get much else done those two days, let me tell you!

I'm still among the living....

Did you all think I had fallen off the Earth?  Wrong...I'm still here...lol  I've been very busy with my tatting (can be found on Custom Creations from Carolivy).  I've been working out local Farmers Market, taking my cards, tatting and bags.  I've also been baking like a fool and taking cookies, muffins and popcorn to sell there as well.  Not had much time to do much designing or card making but I have gotten some done.

The first two cards were made for a standing order.  I have a lady who gives Birthday cards to all of her clients.  She is one terrific lady.

Bouquet of Roses Oval Pyramid Card

Owl Card Front and 3D

These next cards are to replenish my stock of cards that I am taking to the Farmers Market.

Solitude 2 Thinking of You Peek-a-boo Card

Blue Layered Card Front & Tea Bag Tiles

Clematis Card Front & Accesories & Clematis Pyramid

Clematis Card Front & Tea Bag Tile Card wbookmark

Wedding Bouquet Pyramid & Tea Bag Tile Set

If you are interested in any of these cards you can find all of them available HERE.

Latest Cards

Yeup, as the posts suggests I've actually made a few cards lately...lol

The first card is FSS-Hummingbird & Columbine with Penny Wesenauer's Unfolding Flower.  I just LOVED this set when Tracey posted it in her store.  I mixed up the colors of the flower and the bird a bit as my mother has blue columbine that her hummingbirds just love.  I used my Photoshop Styles to make the glittery boarder around the hummingbird and the little panel on the side is embossed with a CB Edge Embossing Folder.

FSS-Hummingbird & Columbine with Penny Wesenauer's Unfolding Flower

The next card is one I made for a blind gentleman.  For this card I used LOTS of different CB Embossing folders and made a shaped cascade card.  I put on a tea bag medallion done with Lucy's Funky Flower #2 with a gem brad in the middle.  LOTS of texture for someone who can't see, but still pleasing to the eye for those who can see it.

The next card I have for you today is one of my new designs.  This is a Shelf Card.  Yes, I know it is Christmas...what can I say.  I work on Christmas all year long...lol  This is Christmas Elf & Gifts Shelf Card and is a very fun card to make.

Christmas Elf & Gifts Shelf Card

And the very last card I have for you today is another of my new designs.  I actually have several of these designs great for various occasions, but this is the one I have made up...yeup, another Christmas card....lol  This one is Christmas Spring Easel Card - Red.  These cards are a combination of a Spring Card and an Easel Card for a really unique style.  A tutorial for making the cards can be found here.   For those of you that keep up with my Blog Store, Custom Creations from Carolivy, you may recognise the bow as the Crinkled Bows.  This just shows how wonderful they would look in your designs or even in your scrapbooking.

Christmas Spring Easel Card - Red

Guess What....

I actually made some cards today.  My card making mojo has been on hiatus for so long, I was beginning to worry that it wasn't going to come back, but I had an order for some cards, so just sat down and got to it and am really pleased with the results.
This first card is my Blank Card Front 2-a with Rosey from Fred She Said and a Tea Bag Medallion with some tiles I made a long time ago.  The fold is Jeannie Pelletreau's Maggie's Fold

This next card is my Glory Roses on Green Card Front and Tea Bag Tiles and the fold on this card is Jeannie Pelletreau's B - Next Fold, Variation 18

Great Craft Show! Wow!

Oh wow!  I had, I think, the BEST Craft Show I've had in YEARS just this past Saturday.
Here are pictures of my display.

I sold several of the larger bags, some of the jewelry and almost HALF of my cards! :-O

This is the show that I do at the local Country Club.  They hold a Winter Fest the day of the show and the weather was perfect that day!  I heard the fishing was great and the snowmobile races were good too.  I wouldn't know anything about any of that though.  I don't get out of the Club House where the show is held...lol

Some more good news, I've been asked by the local Art Guild to be the Guest Speaker at their April meeting.  They want to know more about my cards and they want a card making demontstration.  Gonna be some fun times there!

Spreading my wings a bit...

Well, I have decided to spread my wings a bit.  I'm in the process of putting a Blog Store together that will feature my handmade cards and other handmade crafts as well as my Designer Resource Graphics.  I don't have a cart up and running yet, but the prices are listed, so if you see something you like, drop me an email (found in the Contact Me) and let me know what you are interested in.  There are NO minimum purchases and special requests are welcome as well.
http://www.customcreationsfromcarolivy.blogspot.com/  Come on over and check me out, bookmark me, follow me and keep checking back.  I have loads to put up, but have to sleep some time...lol