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I really don't blog anymore - but if you wanted to follow my cards and projects - you can find me at
Facebook: Crafty Cre8tions 
or
on Instagram: Crafty Cre8tions

:)

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ANOTHER Craft & Tag Sale!!!!!!!!!

Hello! Anybody out there??????

I know I don't post much to my blog anymore (for the time being) - but if I have any followers still there - I'd like you to take a second to read about our Crazy Shelter Ladies Craft and Tag Sale!

For the 3rd year - our small little group of ladies will be raising money to help needy animals.  Last year - some of my AWESOME FABULOUS WONDERFUL bloggy friends donated cards and crafty 'stuff' to be sold at our Sale.  You can't believe how well we did with your donated creations!

So - I'm posting today to once again - see if anyone would like to donate their finished cards or other crafty items to be sold.  EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR WE COLLECT GOES TO ANIMALS!

Here's our first flyer:

Last year with all the donated cards I received - I created card packs of 20 cards each that were a HUGE hit! So - I'm hoping to repeat that again this year.  If you have cards & envelopes (I don't need the card sleeves) - send me an email at dog_gone_crafts @ yahoo. com and I'll send you the full address.  Any other 'sellable' craft items you'd like to donate are so very much welcome too!!!

Feel free to share this information with your other crafty friends too!  Are you local to CT?  Do you want to have a craft table at our sale?  Let me know that too!

If you LIKE my Facebook page - you can get info there too:  www.facebook.com/craftycre8tions


Thank you SO MUCH for your consideration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maria!!!!!!!!!!

Donna Downey Class Review!!

Hi Friends!  I've been enjoying my blog break, but I wanted to pop in and post about my 4 day art class at the Donna Downey Studios in Huntersville, NC, that Cindy and I went to this past weekend!   We took the "Inspired Artist" class, which is a TERRIFIC choice if you want to learn about A LOT of techniques and mediums.  We learned about and used acrylic paints, oil pastels, pan pastels, gelatos, stencils, watercolors, image transfer and a wide array of mediums like tar gel, molding paste, glass beads, etc. and even stamp carving!

I'll jump right into the journal pages we created with some showing beginning to end.  Others are 'work in progress' pages. (This will be VERY PICTURE HEAVY!)

Donna allows you to just play with everything in the studio.  It gives you great freedom to experiment without worrying about how 'much' you are using. The first night at the studio we just created some backgrounds.

This is modeling paste over stencil:

Acrylic wash with pressed plates:

Modeling paste and Pumice gel medium over stencils

The next day we learned about acrylic paints and continued to work on our backgrounds and keep building layers:

  

  

One goal of mine for the class was to learn how to make 'her' poppies and she was so accommodating!

Here's the transition from my background to my finished piece:

She taught us that the art will talk to us and we'll be able to 'see' our backgrounds come to life. 

This definitely worked as I transitioned THIS:

to THIS:

I was able to 'see' the flowing lines of hair in the black squiggles of my background 

and turned it into a she-art girl. (This is one of my favorite journal pages)

I did love the oil pastels too!

(And Gesso is your friend).......because this mess of a background:

turned into THIS:

Now - I didn't fall in love with every technique (and my hubby and wallet were happy about that!)

Pan Pastels are not for me.  It IS amazing what can be done with them, but I didn't connect 

with this, but here is my 'before' and 'after' using an inspiration picture:

 Here's another oil pastel over a modeling paste stencil:

And more acrylic paint work:

The final day we put together our journal using the personalized canvas cover she gives every student (along with a bunch of tools in another canvas holder.  The paintbrush picture was an image transfer she taught us about and then we each decorated the front.  This could be one of my favorites from the class too!

Here we are with Donna :)

Aside from the class itself - this was a very well-run experience. Bill, Donna's husband, was great via email before getting down to NC.  Checking on our flight times, hotel info and any dietary restrictions.

Bill picked us up at the airport and brought us to our hotel. No need to rent a car - which was great!  The hotel is even walking distance (1.2 miles) from the studio - so Cindy and I walked two mornings to class, but Bill comes and gets you everyday if you don't want to walk!

Donna's mom cooks lunch and dinner for us two out of the 4 days and even brunch on Sunday.  The class all goes out together on Saturday night to a local restaurant (via huge limo) - lol

There is no need to leave the studio either.  There's coffee, tea, sodas, beer/wine, candy, etc.  And if there IS something you need - they are happy to go get it!  The gals in class were great too and from all over! Even Camila from Brazil!!!!!!


I do truly recommend this experience. She has a wide array of classes and guest teachers too!  Now, I just have to decide which one to take!

Thanks Donna & Bill :)

Don't forget to 'Like" my Crafty Cre8tions Facebook page, where I am posting my work to now :)

Thanks for your visit!

Blog Break

I'm on a bit of a blog break...........but I am posting some creations on Facebook - so if you want to "LIKE" my page there - feel free!!

Crafty Cre8tions Facebook Page

Thanks for your visit!

Sunflower Shower Finale!

I attended a bridal shower last week and since the invitation was so pretty - I thought I'd make a card to match.  I was pleased to see that there were a TON of sunflowers at the shower - so my card definitely matched the theme!

I used a Rubber Stampede image a few times around the edges and a PTI sentiment on vellum:

Here's the invite and my card:

And since this is the final day of the blog for a bit........here's an extra card I made and wanted to post using my favorite Hero Arts stamp and Inktense pencils.  I used some acetate for the sentiment so it didn't take away form the image:

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to those of you who have followed my blog and been kind enough to comment on my postings!  And a bigger Thank You for those of you who have ordered from me!

I will continue to make custom cards and/or projects for anyone who needs something - so feel free to email me at  maclovello @ yahoo .com



Thanks for your visit!

Happy Birthday!

Here's a birthday card I made for a bloggy friend using a Stamping Bella image and Inktense pencils:

Have a great Saturday!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

A is for Amanda!

A few weeks ago I made this mixed media wooden "A" for my bloggy friend Amanda.  There are a whole bunch of details on it - so I posted a bunch of pictures!  This was fun to make!

Have a great Friday!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

New Nest.........

We had new neighbors move in behind our house - so I created this card for them using some My Mind's Eye paper, a Darcie's sentiment and a wood house embellie.

Now we're really not too happy about the placement of their hammock and screaming kids in relation to our pool area.......but what can you do?!

Thanks for your visit!