Cheers!

Happy Saturday! This is it!  The New Year is almost here.  This is the opportunity to hold on to all the good memories and look forward to making more; and creating more too!
One last ATC for 2011...

Carrot juice, shaken not stirred.  CHEERS!
DP by CoCoMiMiLuLu
Gem embellishments from my own stash
Scalloped corner punch from ek success
Happy Bunny and martini doodle by yours truly :)

Hop on over to Wicked Wednesdays and see what great stuff the rest of the DT has made and it's not too late to join in on the fun!
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Looking forward to the new year...

As 2011 concludes, I can hardly believe it's been 12 weeks since I started on this journey withWicked Wednesdays.  I can't express how happy I am that I came across this blog and absolutely have NO regrets in joining in on the fun.  Let's count down to the new year and look forward to more creative endeavors!
Peace and love
Mary xoxo

Out with the old, in with the New Year!

Hey there!
How was everybody's Christmas?  Mine was awesome for the simple fact that I got to spend it with my friends.  YOU GUYS ROCK!
Hopefully you can shake off the holiday food coma and come join us for another great challenge over at Wicked Wednesdays.  This week's theme is :HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'm so excited about this challenge because the awesome Megan, hostess of Dilly Beans Challenge Blog, is sponsoring this week's challenge and the DT got to use her lollipop party girl :)  Isn't she just the bee's knees?

ingredients:
Purple DP by CoCoMiMiLuLu
Scalloped corners punch by ek success
embellishments from my stash
pencil and ink

look at the sparkles!

Hop on over to Wicked Wednesdays and check out the rest of the awesome creations by the DT.
This sweet girl is also making her debut over at ATCs with attititude.
Here's to a happy and healthy new year!
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Care for a spot o' tea?

Hey everyone!
Did everyone enjoy their holiday? Mine was tranquil.  I worked 8 to 4, got to see my BFF Carol (she made awesome chicken fried rice for lunch!), then I hopped over to another BFF, Lisa's house after work. Mom and Gene are over and most important of all, I got to see Richie :)

I'm kind of glad that Christmas is almost done. Don't get me wrong, just got the red-green-white color scheme overload :)  So for this week's Dilly Beans challenge I went with a neutral palette.  The theme is using 3 images.

I have to say I was inspired by Sharon, a Wicked Wednesday DT colleague.  Her vintage paper doll is just so creative!  You can see it here.

So here's my chunky page, which I am also submitting to Fat Pages with Attitude:

Vintage tea cup and teapot courtesy of Graphics Fairy
Sentiment by birdscards
Happy Bunny doodle by none other than me :)
embellishments from my stash

Used foam dots to add dimension

Well, I hope that your holiday season was everything you hoped it to be and a wonderful new year to come!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Wicked Wednesday Reminder: Steampunk

Hey there, how's everyone doing?
Everyone "gearing up" for the holidays? Ha!
Friendly reminder about the steampunk challenge over at Wicked Wednesday.  Here's another mini creation that will hopefully inspire you to make one of your own.  As they say, you gotta be in it, to win it!
Merry Christmas everyone.
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

I knew it was too soon to take off those training wheels!
Clip art from in http://inspyretash-stock.deviantart.com
Happy Bunny doodle by yours truly :)

Steampunkin' it!

Hi everyone!
Christmas is upon us! Is everyone ready???
OK, so this is my debut over at  Wicked Wednesdays as a member of the DT!!!  This week's image is provided by Tiddly Inks; her name is Priscilla and the theme: STEAMPUNK!

Ingredients:
Digistamp courtesy of Tiddly Inks
Steampunk clock, bird, dress form and flower clipart
Digi sentiment by www.birdcards.com
pencil and ink

In the spirit of steampunk, I went technogeek on this one.  Priscilla's been cropped and merged with several other images using Microsoft Word and my steampunk bluebird is born.  I REALLY had fun with this one...creating outside my comfort zone :)

So, why don't you stop on by Wicked Wednesdays and check out all the creative awesomeness.  Heck, come join in on the fun.  You don't know what you're missing!

Thanks for stopping by!
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Santa Baby...

OK, is it just me or does anyone else feel like time is just flying right on by?  Well, it's time for another awesome challenge over at Dilly Beans! This week's theme is: Santa Baby.  I've been humming this song all day, trying to draw my source of inspiration from its lyrics...then my "aha" moment came.

"Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible too, light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight!"
Happy Bunny wants a light blue convertible this year, hee hee.

Ingredients:
My own Happy Bunny Santa Baby and Xmas list doodles
(ink and pencil)
Bazzill cardstock in Grenadine
Origami squares
Ribbon
Buttons, snowflakes and letters by Recollections
Presents by Sandylion

I'm also entering this chunky page at Fat pages with attitude.

Merry Christmas everyone and a happy and healthy new year!
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Great news and Christmas goodies

Hi everyone!
AWESOME NEWS...I have been invited to be part of the Design Team (DT) over at Wicked Wednesdays!!! This means that I get to create an awesome ATC with each week's sponsored digistamp, which will hopefully provide inspiration for our challenge participants.  Watch for my debut on the next challenge!

One last ATC for the road before I assume my DT post.  This week's theme is Christmas or Winter Holiday.
Meet Tiny.  He's determined to make it to the North Pole to meet Santa.  No need for a gift box, he already comes in one.  Shipping and handling is taken care of.  So handle this package with care and have a wonderful holiday season!

Pencil and ink

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Oh, the irony...

It's time for another challenge over at Dilly Beans and this week's theme is: Twisted Christmas.  TWISTED!!!  Welcome to the dark side of Happy Bunny...MWAHAHAHA.  Ahem, but I digress.

When most people think about Christmas, they envision gingerbread houses, candy canes and such.  For some odd reason, I thought about fruitcake when I saw this week's theme.  Don't ask.  So, where's the twist in that?

Well, in the world of Happy Bunny, bunnies LOVE carrot cake.  But what if Happy Bunny got sucked through a wormhole into an alternate universe?  Let the nightmare begin...

Welcome to the world of Cheerful Carrot!  Carrots rule and they LOVE bunny cupcakes!  No really, it's just cake...no bunnies were harmed in the making of this ATC.  What?  Too creepy?  Blame the SciFi channel. Meh.  Merry friggin' Christmas.  LOL.

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Unhappy Bunny ATC
Ink, pencil

I took the ATC and made a card out of it:

Ingredients:
My own ATC and sleeping bunny doodle
Cardstock scraps
Embossed photo corners
Buttons
Paper flower
Ribbon
Stamps

Seeing green...



Ingredients:
Bear cupcake digi from Stretch N Bubbles
Sharpies
Glitter glue
Cardstock scraps
Flower punch
Ribbon and adhesive gem

What's a girl to do with left over scraps?  Make a card for the green challenge over at MelJen's blog!  I layered all the scraps to make a wreath. I also have a thing for cupcakes.  So anything that's cupcake related, I'm there!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

Peace and love,

Mary xoxo

Who needs a sled when....

YOU HAVE A SHELL!!!

Ink, Recollections embellishments
Can you hear Tuttles screaming WEEEEEEE?!
You better slow down there buddy or you'll get a speeding ticket!

Another week, another Wicked Wednesday challenge!  This week's theme is Winter Fun.  Right away I thought about sledding.  My original idea with Happy Bunny got scrapped because no matter how many times I drew the sled, I wasn't feeling it.  So to heck with the sled and here's our turtle.
Just look at him!  He is so free spirited it should be illegal lol :)

Have a great week my friends!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

UPDATE

Results are in!  I made TOP 3 this week!!!

Joining challenges to challenge myself

As the weeks go by with each ATC challenge, I get to see other creative people's awesome creations.  I also learn from them.  For example, Pauline has a new challenge blog called Seems A Little Sketchy.  I wasn't sure what a sketch was...so I went ahead and emailed her.  (Thank you for the crash course!)  I also saw Jenn's awesome mermaid creation for A Day for Daisies; this week, it's a color challenge.  When I first laid eyes on that little mermaid, I knew I just had to have it!  So I decided to join both worlds and here's the end result:

Ingredients
Birthday Mermaid digi by ADFD
paper flowers
Sharpies
Orange dotted ribbon
Cardstock scraps
Pearl embellishments
Foam adhesive
turtle and shells clipart

Here's a different view so you can see the different layers!

By the way, I got all my craft stuff over at the clearance bins at Michaels.  The cool thing is that they come in little packets so in case this didn't turn out, I wouldn't waste too much.  But, I am happy how this piece turned out.  Thank you to both Jenn and Pauline for being my inspiration for this!

Peace and love,

Mary xoxo

Christmas creativity

I think that my muse drank too much Red Bull...I've been in creative overdrive since I took the leap and decided to challenge myself by participating in more than one challenge.  I find peace whenever I am playing my instruments, drawing, painting and now we add crafting.  I've learned so much from other very creative people's blogs.

So, before the first challenge was posted,  Dilly Beans decided to have a giveaway and Megan was cool enough to provide us with one of her images.  I made a chunky page, hope you like it!

I'm also submitting this to the Fat Pages with Attitude challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Ingredients:
Dilly Beans Snowman Family digistamp
Sharpies
Red buttons
Snowflake stickers
Vinyl lettering
Foam adhesive

I used foam adhesive to make things pop!

My Dilly Bean Debut!

Stella the Striped Turtle
Ink

I can't tell you how excited I was when I found out that there was a Dilly Beans challenge blog! So, for our first ever challenge: STRIPES!

With the weather turning chilly and daylight shrinking, I thought I'd go with something more "springy".

Well, ta ta for now!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

'Tis the season for cupcakes!

Hi there!

I have been having so much fun with challenges I decided to enter another one.  Jenn, who hosts Wicked Wednesday, is also part of the design team over at Just some lines.  This is going to be my first submission to this blog.  This week's challenge is tic tac toe.  They have this really cool 3 x 3 board and you have to match three in a row like you usually do for the game.  In each box is an "ingredient" you have to use for your creation.

I chose glitter, flowers and brads.  I made an ATC for it.  Check it out:

Ingredients:
ATC 2.5 x 3.5 card
Bazzil cardstock in Grenadine
Sharpies
Bear cupcake digi from Stretch and Bubbles
Flower brads
Glazing medium
glitter

This is also the first time I used a digistamp.  I won this adorable lil dude over at StretchNBubbles (thank you Pauline!)  I colored it with my Sharpies.  I cut a 2 x 3 piece of Bazzil cardstock and mounted it onto my blank ATC.  I drew the candy cane border and added dot accents with my trusty Sharpies.  I had these cook flower brads for way back when that I never used.  I brushed some glazing medium to them and sprinkled it with pixie dust.  Doesn't he look good enough to eat?

Thanks for stopping by!
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

There is beauty in simplicity



Musical Seahorse
Ink and pencil

It's time for another Wicked Wednesday challenge!  This week's theme: Black and White


My inspiration this week comes from music.  It is both spiritual and physical therapy for me.  My guitar instructor, Sal provides great support and motivation as I continue to maintain strength and agility.  Diana, my flute and piano instructor, is also a great source of motivation for me.  THANKS GUYS!!!!

For those who are not familiar with music theory, my seahorse is built with bass clefs and one treble clef for its body.  A whole note gives it sight. 
I hope you like this piece just as much as I enjoyed creating it.  Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

P.S. inserting shameless promotion here: check out Sal's music over at Mazzard Effect

'Tis the season for...books?

Hello there!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I spent mine with tranquil creativity.  I wrote some music, finished crocheting a scarf AND hat, and last but not least, I finished my atc for this week's Wicked Wednesday challenge.  The theme: Books!

At first, I was stumped.  My muse went on a mini vacation.  Did I want to create an ATC of my favorite character?  But, I have so many, which one to choose?  I was toying with the idea of actually making a mini book...then it hit me.  I am going to pay homage to my favorite genre!  Ever since I could remember, I absolutely adored POP UP books!!!  It's a rare find nowadays to find a really good one.

So now I have an idea...the execution is another thing.  Can we say I went through A LOT of templates until I got it right?  haha.  Well, here it is.  I hope you like it just as much as I enjoyed making it...kind of...sort of.  Nah, I did enjoy it :)

Front cover of Hoppy Holidays mini book
ink and pencil
Looks like Happy Bunny has a treat for you!

Back cover of mini book
my Happy Bunny logo !

And now the moment we have been waiting for.....drum roll please.....

Pop up Christmas tree
Ink and pencil

Here's another view to showcase the pop up effect

Lilly Bunny is going to decorate the tree...now if only Bobby Bunny can put that candy cane down and help!

I took two blank ATC cards and glued them to a red cardstock I cut to 3.5" by 5"; I drew the tree template on white cardstock with the same dimensions.  The front cover is a separate ATC.  Then it was just coloring and gluing.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Update!!!

I placed in the TOP 3 for this week's challenge! YAY!!!! Stay tuned for next week's creation.  The theme: Black and White.



It's Turkey Day!

Hey everyone!  I cannot believe how quickly time is passing, the year is almost over.  But we get to look forward to another year of making memories.  Have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving and be grateful for all that is good in your lives.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

10 Things I am Thankful For:

1. my health
2. Art and being able to afford to do it for fun
3. Music and being able to pursue it again.  I LOVE MY IBANEZ.  Just wish I could devote more time to it
4. my awesome friends
5. Dunkin Donuts french vanilla coffee
6. being able to help and heal others through my work
7. pumpkin pie....pumpkin anything actually
8. Cozymel's Cozy on the Beach - best drink I ever had
9. children's laughter
10. and last but not least...Hugh Laurie.  He is a renaissance man in my mind.  That man is so talented!

Results are in!!!!

Hey there!
Can you believe it's been six weeks already since the start of Wicked Wednesday challenges?!  It just seemed like yesterday.  It's been a grueling two weeks, altogether physically, emotionally and spiritually challenging.  But, I made it through!  I started off today in THE MOST positive way.  I found out I was top three this week.  I still can't thank everyone enough for all their positive input.  Then, I had a totally awesome guitar lesson tonight.  I have a really cool and supportive teacher.  This is just the absolute perfect boost I needed.  But all this could not be possible if not for the wonderful people in my life.  Thank you.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Flower power!

Happy Bunny flower fairy
pencil, ink

Hey there!
Firstly, thank you to everybody for the positive reinforcement.  It really feels nice to join such a fun challenge :)
Wow, I thought I wasn't going to have anything to submit for this week's Wicked Wednesday challenge!  Things have been so crazy this week I literally did not have a moment to myself.  So, this is a last minute submission.  I did this during my lunch break at work. 
This week's theme is flowers.  Oh, how I miss springtime.  The skies darken so early now and it has been nothing but dreary, rainy weather here on Long Island.

Well, here she is.  Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Alphabet soup: C

One of my favorite dishes to eat on a chilly day is carrot ginger soup infused with a little bit of cashew butter.  Couple that with a thick slice of italian bread: Perfection.

Eat your carrots, they're good for you!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Congratulations to Diana and Matt!

Hey there Diana!

Congratulations to you both.  I wish you love and happiness.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

New friends at work

Matilda

Gertrude

The gossiping turkeys

So, here they are.  Aren't they cute?  I spent Sunday afternoon creating this pair of gobblers.  I made my own pattern for the turkey.  They are constructed of Bazzil cardstock.  The embellishments are from K Company and the paper flowers are from my stash.  I used foam adhesive to give the birds some dimension.

These turkeys will be gracing my office door for now.  Let's see what I come up with for Christmas!  Until then, stay well.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

It's a beautiful Sunday....to make turkey?

Hey there!
Hope everyone remembered to set their clocks back an hour.  What a beautiful Sunday!  There is  a chill in the air, but the sun is out and shining bright.  That totally gets my creativity flowing.  Today I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my little creative corner.

Everything has its place...I got mad organizational skills!

I am currently assembling turkeys.  Yes.  Turkeys.  I am revisiting my paper piecing skills.  We are looking for a dimensional door sign for my office door.  Nothing like a burst of color to lighten things up at work.

In this picture you can see my under the sea mural and pictures of my favorite places I've visited. (in order from left to right)
1.  Sunset in San Diego (awesome trip with Betty)
2.  Golden Gate Bridge (awesome trip with Carol)
3. Church in New Orleans (threw a dart on the map and it landed in Louisiana.  So I went to the  Big Easy.  Yup. My travel plans are very well planned out..... :)  I like the total randomness of it all!  This was my first trip there.  I subsequently returned back on a different occasion for a conference.  I was truly blessed to have been able to enjoy the city pre-Katrina.

I heart my Sharpies!

Making the turkeys

There will be minimal drawing on this project.  Almost everything will be pieced together and layered for a dimensional effect.  Well, that's it for now.  Gonna go and make some more coffee and get back to work.  Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

More bunnies in wonderland!

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum want to share their treats with you!
Ink, pencil, lollipop embellishment

Here's the second ATC for Wicked Wednesday!  I love Alice in Wonderland so much, I couldn't just create one ATC.

Enjoy!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Alice in Bunny Wonderland???

Hey everyone!
It's time for another ATC challenge over at Wicked Wednesdays!
This week's theme is out of this world!  Literally.  We are going to visit Alice in Wonderland.  I absolutely adore this theme because it is one of my favorite Disney films (it's up there with Finding Nemo).  However, I've never followed the conventional pathway.  Here's my twist on the theme: BUNNIES, BUNNIES, BUNNIES!!!!  I loved this challenge sooo much, I couldn't just make one.  I hope that you like them as much as I enjoyed creating them.
Peace and love,
Mary xoxo
P.S. Darnit, I want a cupcake now....

It's Madhatter Bunny Teatime!!!
Pencil, ink, teacup embellishment

Alphabet Soup: B

It's time for alphabet soup again!  I hope that little monkey plans on sharing that banana :)

Have a great weekend,

Peace and love,

Mary xoxo

Boo!

Have a safe and happy halloween!

Peace and love,

Mary xoxo

An ATC Trio...

Boo!

Hey everyone!

This is our third challenge at Wicked Wednesday.  Our theme this week is an ATC trio.  It can be anything you want, just as long as it has a common theme.  It's just like in fashion design, we are are looking for a cohesive look :)

So for my ATC trio, I chose to continue with a Halloween theme and display my love for pumpkins.  All are created with ink and pencil and embellished with paper flowers.

These bright colors are a complete contrast to what's happening outside: it's bitterly cold and sleeting.  Stay warm, drive safe!

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

Halloween is just around the corner!

I think she's up to something.....
Digital painting on Sumo Paint

Maryanne, this one's for you!
Excuse me, I think something's bubbling over in my cauldron....
TTFN, Mary xoxo

The alphabet soup collection



mini book cover

Hey everyone!

Look what just came in the mail!  It's my self published minibook featuring the Happy Bunny Alphabet Soup collection.  In the coming weeks, you will see each mini piece of art posted from A to Z.  This little morsel will be available at my Etsy Shop once I have it up and running.
I also plan to have them available as giclee prints on a per request basis.  I'm working on getting price quotes.

This personal project would not have been possible without the love and support of my awesome friends.

Peace and love,
Maryxoxo

P.S. a small peek at what's next:

What kinds of exotic animals will we find?!

Sweet Sunday Morsel: For the love of pumpkins!

Another reason why I love autumn: pumpkins.  I love picking them, carving them and eating them too!  My best friend, Carolyn, makes THE world's BEST pumpkin bread.  Seriously.

Peace and love,
Mary xoxo

P.S. Jenn, this one's for you :)