I have had a dream video I’ve wanted to make for a while…and hopefully I can pull it off for my 100k celebration on YouTube:

To do that I need YOUR help! I need you to 1) write your artistic milestone on a couple pieces of cardstock, and 2) hold them up in a video clip or a couple stills, then 3) send them to me! Watch the video below or click HERE for a bit more info.

What kind of milestone am I talking about? It can be small or large. It might really just mean something to you – an “Aha!” moment that opened up your thinking as a creative person. Any medium. Any point in the creative process. You don’t have to show the creation, but you can if you wish! And your milestonoe needn’t be something you learned from me…I just want to celebrate your growth!

Here are a few ideas:

• can color a turtle so it looks like it’s round!
• finished watercolor class and framed one of my paintings!
• can now tell the difference between warm and cool colors!
• can paint clouds!
• joined a design team!
• wrote a guest blog for a company!
• sold enough cards to pay for my daughter’s ballet lessons!

What is YOUR milestone? Are you willing to share it so others can celebrate with you – and be encouraged by you?

If so, fill out the form at the end of this post so your submission ends up in the right part of my inbox, and upload your video file or up to three still pics. Be sure to wait for it to upload (you’ll see a confirmation message.) If your file is too big, you’ll get a message about that. And if you can’t get it to work, then just send the form with a message to that effect and we’ll deal with it by email. If your file came through fine, you won’t hear back – but if something goofed up, I’ll email you.

What’s in it for you?

In the final video, I’ll link to the site-of-choice for each artist (it can sort of be a hop!) —your blog, Instagram, etsy, YouTube, or whatever site your art is on. (I reserve the right to not link to non-family-friendly sites.) You don’t have to be linked if you don’t wish.

You’ll also be entered into a drawing for stamps, dies, and art supplies! I have a growing prize box that I’ll divvy into flat rate envelopes and announce winners in the big video. Good luck!

Bonus video this week

If it takes a minute to upload your files, click HERE to be entertained while it does – and go see my Snowman card over on Ellen Hutson’s site. (It’ll open up a new window for you, so come back here to be sure your submission went in!

Send in your milestone:

In last month’s Ellen Hutson release, one of the cards that got the most comments (I was surprised!) was my porthole card with the octopi (see it later in this post) – so I decided to show you how to make one like it, along with a couple other designs too. Three cards in one video!

Note: Supplies are linked in the supply list at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used  – that means if you make a purchase using my links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my work on this blog!  Read more.

Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.

First – the older cards. Sometimes I forget that I post a lot more on social media and those cards don’t make it to my blog or YouTube so here are two! The card on the left is the inspiration for today’s post. The one on the right with the flying sub – too many people were shocked I hadn’t made a yellow submarine in THIS card, so…..well I had to do one! ha! Gotta love the sentiment from the Pure magic set too 🙂

In this first card in the video, I used a Gerda Steiner stamp set (yes it has SHARKS! I told you I have a thing for sharks!) since I had already made the one with the octopi from the Subbing In stamp set;

Secondly, the porthole set has little dies in it for starfish, corals, bubbles, etc, so I nested them together. A bit of a pain to reassemble when nesting them after intertwining, but the nice flat effect on the card is sure nice! Sentiment is from Subbing In .

Last but not least, the Subbing In octopus decided to peek his little head above water – because he NEEDED to stand out! ha! (Another from Pure Magic!)

FYI the lid is showing this well-loved inpad’s age. LOL. How long til the printing rubs off? Anyone have one in worse shape? Post yours on social media, I’d love to see if anyone loves on their ink pads more!

PS that bloghop…

Go see the bloghop HERE from last month, there are a few porthole cards in that too!

• Porthole & Waves Die Combo, Essentials By Ellen Designer Dies
• Porthole, Essentials By Ellen Dies
• Waves die, Essentials By Ellen Dies
• Big Bite, Gerda Steiner Designs Stamps
• Big Bite, Gerda Steiner Designs Dies
• Subbing In, Essentials By Ellen Clear Stamps
• Pure Magic, Essentials By Ellen Clear Stamps
• Connect Glue, Gina K Designs
• Tim Holtz Tonic Retractable Craft Pick
• QuickStik, We R Memory Keepers
• Craft Knife, Fingertip, Fiskars
• Scotch Foam Mounting Tape
• Solar White 110 lb – 25 pk, Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock
• Solar White – 25 pk, Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock
• Jet Black, Lawn Fawn Ink Pad
• Jet Black, Lawn Fawn Reinker
• Uni-ball Impact Gel Pen, White
• Copic Markers
• Neenah Cardstock
• Ocean Sparkle, Lawn Fawn Hemp Cord