Guess who's Back?

Hello Everyone,

So it has been a while since my last post and so much has changed...

Well for one, I have officially gone pro as a figure skater. I loved every minute of competition and am so grateful for all the opportunities I received as a double gold medalist. However, I recently got married in 2015 and the distance from my hubby was grueling and I gave my Olympic one last shot but unfortunately due to financial collapse lost my sponsorship and was not able to compete as needed. Anyway .... If I can be completely honest I moved back to Florida with my husband and fell into a dark depression =( I couldn't wrap my head around everything that had happened and the feeling of deep loss I had realizing my intense 6 years of training away from family didn't have a happy ending in fact it had a tragic ending. I was angry at everything and everyone and I didn't want to be creative or share my talents any longer. Fortunately, I did find comfort in drawing a skill I never really explored but always had a love for as my grandpa was a local artist and brilliant. He passed away a few years ago but I discovered in my time of mourning that his gift lived in me as well. So for the past year I have been drawing a lot and it has really helped heal my soul and refresh my creative mojo... Here are some of my latest drawings and an updated selfie, If you like my art you can follow me at https://www.instagram.com/happylittleartspace/ 

Okay so yea this is my art ... now on to even bigger news! This November my husband and I learned that we are expecting our first little bundle of joy!!!!!! A little boy this July 2018!!!!! This news gave my life renewed purpose and and ever since then I have felt overwhelming joy. I have always wanted to be a mom and have my own little family and it is safe to say I am beyond ecstatic ! With that little bit of news I have found myself truly happy again and card making has been calling my name again! I am so excited to share my passion with you all once again and my journey into motherhood! Happy Crafting Everyone and so good to be back!

Hey Blog friends ,
Ashley here with another post! I have really been missing my posts these days. Skating has been going great and it seems the better it goes the less free time I have. Also, I got a new job this week so that keeps me busy too. Anyway I found a few extra hours for crafting because unfortunately I got a high ankle sprain while training off ice last week... at first I was devastated, but honestly I just had to give it all to God and have faith that it would all be okay and sure enough less than a week and a half later I am almost 70% healed and looking forward to jumping around on the ice next week. Okay well less about me more about crafting, after all thats what this blog is all about! But hey I figured I love reading about my fellow bloggers and whats new maybe some of you would all be curious as to why I disappeared yet again *eek* Okay well without further ado... This card was made for the Polka Doodles Ribbon and lace challenge! I don't know about you all but ribbon and lace are two of my favorite things ! Im pretty sure I use ribbons in 80% of my cards... I just love bows ! "I love big Bows and I can not lie" haha  Anyway Polka Doodles has some new fabulous Work and Play digi collections, and I am obsessed with the WP9. I am such a girly girl that looking at the adorable princess and carriage in the collection made me squeal with delight. So when making this card I just knew I would be making an extremely girly card, and let me say my mind went into hyperdrive! I have never felt so happy nor creative when making a card as I was making this little beauty. When I finished I was like WOW did I just make this? I think it may just be my absolute favorite card of all time that I have made. I wish I had a little girl in my family or someone as girly as I to give it to... Who am I kidding I'm keeping this for myself *hehe. Okay well I hope you all love it as much as I do. Hus*Ashley

Fun Challenges

Hi guys ! Okay so I am really excited for this card because its so bright and I truly love how it came out ! For starters I made it for 2 challenges the Runway Inspired Challenge(Colors and stripes)  and the Fusion Card Challenge (layout and stars)

 

At first when I saw the primary colors of the runway design I shrieked and not from happiness hahaha but lets be serious how many gorgeous cards have you seen using primary colors? But then I thought of how I have been wanting to try the water color technique and create my own paper and then my idea took flight! I must say when I added the sparkly black tape I was so surprised it really just made the colors POP even more than they did on their own! Okay well then I was looking for a good design and found the Fusion Card Challenges current challenge and those stars just spoke to me and I tried to stay true to the primary colors... I must say its my favorite card that I have made in a while ! I hope you guys like it too, and your not reading this thinking I am bonkers lol Well, I hope everyone is having a great Winter and finding lots of bargains for this Christmas Season! I actually just recently decorated the bedroom area of my Bedroom/Craftroom lol I'll share that below =)

~* Hugs Ashley *~

Its a Secret Santa Blog Hop !

It is official today the DT on Polka Doodles Challenges have all become a "Secret Santa" and we each received a secret message from Santa . Guess who Santa wanted me to make a project for .... whoops, can't tell you but see if you can guess from the clues ...

1]  She has the cutest Grandchildren

2] She has an adorable Pooch

3] She is on Team B

Please put your idea of whom you think my "secret Santa" is for in the comments section at the bottom of my post. One lucky winner will receive a digi image over and above the normal challenge prize. A random DT blog will be chosen and then a commentator from that blog will then be picked as the winner of a fab Polka Doodles digi image. So don't forget to visit all the DT and see if you can guess who has made for whom to be in with a chance to win. All the details you need are on the main Polka Doodles challenge blog. You have up to Thursday 18th December (midnight GMT) to enter and the winners will be announced on Friday 19th December (GMT).