For the Bird Lovers

We live in a world where we busy ourselves with all kinds of things yet there is reason to do a little something for others. This little home decor birdhouse was created for a friend and was mailed out to greet here- a gift for a bird lover.

Materials used: wooden birdhouse; acrylic paints; SU Elegant Label punch; Sizzix Boho Blossoms Die, Big Shot; SU 5 petal flower; Leave Sizzix; miniature scrabble tiles; chipboard

Fear Not for I am with you;

Challenged by my Splitcoast Stamper friend msdixon I created a 5 x 7 canvas using Isaiah 41:10.
Here it is:

Starting with a blank canvas I used acrylic paint and painted a background of navy.  After it was dry I used Versamark and black embossing powder to create a silhouette of trees (Inkadinkado) along the bottom edge.   I used the verse from WORDart by Karen printed it on flecked cardstock
Here's Karen's beautiful blog: Papercraft Memories
This was cut it out using a Spellbinder die and sage cardstock for a base layer both were adhered using some adhesive discs I was sent as a sample.
My embellishments include a wide satin ribbon, and a special curly paperclip, a piece of baby blue organza ribbon and a short piece of eyelash yarn.  A cross charm dangles off the clip using a jump ring and star studs dazzle up the night sky.

Thanks for taking a look.

Inch in Time

Recently receiving the returns of an inchie swap I decided to assemble the pieces which have been collecting in my craft room.  This was my third swap for inchies.  Themes including movies and snacks, tabloid headlines, animal attraction, fun with food, sewing basket, sassy women, junk drawer and more. 

Look awhile and know that sometimes what we love to do is even better in miniature.

A Fan of Handmade

My favorite part of making a card is sending it to someone I care about.  There are six ladies who I worked with for several years who are enjoying their fall in a new way.  They are not returning to their classrooms.  I made this tribute card to celebrate how I'm a fan of theirs.

The main image is a fan created by priscillastyles.     It is one from CDAC Progressive Freebie Challenges.  It's been colored with colored pencils.  Behind the image you can see I made my own background paper too featuring a piece of Cherry Cobbler  paper stamped with a rose image from Unity's June set using Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink and the Sizzix Flourish Texture plate, it's subtle but a handmade touch.  The top gingham paper is DCWV from the Kitchen collection. 

I've started collecting and using digi images and have a new challenge, how to store them. Any ideas?


Thanks for looking.

Gratitude Journals

This post begins as I finished reading a great book called One Simple Act, written by Debbie Macomber which was uplifting and inspirational. Here's a link to her webpage about the book. 


One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity

One of the thoughts she shared was the idea of a gratitude journal.  I thought this was a perfect idea and decided to use it as the theme of altered journals.  I created a set of four which were packaged and mailed to be exchanged today.  Hope you enjoy taking a closer look.




Gratitude Journal Sets

Included with each of the altered notebooks is a bookmark and baggie with some coordinating tabs and embellishments.

The pages in the book were a great place to stamp some of my overlooked sets and ink colors.

Thanks for looking and please leave a comment if you would.

More Images:

The Altered Journal Sets

Inside the Front Cover

Inside the Back Cover- A Pocket

Stampers Details:
Stamps: Spring Song; Close to Nature; Cats Pajama letter set
Paper: DCVW Flower Shop and coordinates
Accessories: Ribbons from my stash :); Nestablities Labels, Eyelet

Do you take a Double Dog Dare? I did.

Many of you may know that I'm a dedicated wife and mother. In fact husband and I celebrated 18 years of marriage in June this year.  It was that week that motivated me to make the card I'm posting about today.

So you may be thinking did her husband dare her to tie the knot.  No- that' s not it. 
Instead the double dog dare came from a online card making challenge group.

The ABC challenge. 

For week one, letter A- I made the an Adventure Card.  A for Adventure and Anchor.  Later I modified it to make a Father's Day card. 

Week Two... The Letter B and I heard my dear daughter say, "Mom, I watched your wedding video today and you really had a Big Butt Bow."  She was right I did.  So I made a card I titled... Bride with a Big Butt Bow.  It was a hit. 

Spirit Of Celebration

What does the 4th of July bring?  Fireworks, family, parades, and plenty of celebration.  It's an amazing blessing to be in our nation.  For all those liberties were protected and won by men and women whom dreamed of these future foundation- I am thankful. 

       

When my children were small I took them to the parades in a red flyer wagon.  I love those days and the memories of when it was a marvel to see the big fire engines, floats and bands.  If I don't make it to the parade now I'm not sure they would even care.   This year I may not see the parade but I do have a resounding spirit of celebration.

Today I'm showing you cards I made to exchange but inspired by the 4th of July. 

To learn how to make this card I used the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers for a Pop-up Card.  I found using a craft knife challenging and aligning the scallop punch to make the double sided strip of white was a challenge as well.  I do like the results.  Thanks for looking and Have a blessed 4th of July.

Here are a few more views of the cards:

Paper: Paper Studio Red, White and Blue
Stamps: Friendship Grows and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: SU White Craft and Versamark
Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Red Button and Cotton Twine; Red, White and Blue fibers; Large Eyelet
Punches: Word Window, Modern Label; Eyelet Border Punch; Creative Memories Scallop Corner Punch; Fiskars Flower, EK Success Flower Outline
Other: Nestabilities  Scallop Square

The Independence we have in the United States was deliberate and defended by those who have lived here before us.  May you find a spirit of celebration this year like no other.