Time Flies

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge presents a new scripture and challenge every Sunday. A visit to their blog is a good way to start a new week. This week's scripture: Esther 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" and as a challenge: Make a card or project using a time piece or in some way denoting time or the passage of time. This timepiece reminds me of my grandmother's pocket watch which was given to her by her husband as a wedding gift. Throughout her life, she carried it with her always -- and she celebrated 50 years of marriage. As her namesake, I was given the honor to continue the tradition. I now have her treasured pocket watch and this year, I will celebrate 50 years of marriage! It's all about time. " We listen, we laugh, we sigh, time flies by . . ." -- and so we must cherish each day! I am a real promoter of recycling and/or repurposing, and Kelly's challenge this week was "Go Green" and so I would like to share this project there too! When you go visit, be sure to see the tutorial on paper quilting. Yet another way to use bits and pieces! Gotta go -- time is flying!

Details: The watch was made from a soda can which I hand embossed -- added to that are layers of cuttlebug embossed metallic cardstock. The winder on the watch is a craft punch shell, gears and flourish corner are Ellison and Sizzlets - stamp by Stampendous.

Alice Gets Glam

That's the the first challenge at "Oh, Alice!"

ALICE GETS GLAM: INSPIRATION CHALLENGE
In anticipation of the upcoming Tim Burton remake, let's GET GLAM with Alice! The inspiration for this challenge is the makeup palette below with a pop-up mushroom mirror by Urban Decay. The design team called "The Twisted Thirteen" is showing off their own Alice Glam -- go take a look. But before you do, please leave me a comment. My eldest son's comment? "Groovy."


Stuff I used: Sizzix, Art Institute Glitter, stamps: Rubber Stampede, Inkadkinado, watercolor pencils, embellies from stash, recycle materials.

Come Play with Me

I am delighted to make this week's challenge for the Rainbow Lady -- The Rainbow Lady and I, though we live oceans apart, are in a way related, you know, we each have Rainbow thoughts! My challenge is to stamp on unusual materials -- you have until next Thursday so -- come on over and play. My examples are stamping on paint chips and printed paper. Repurpose and recycle, or the new catch phrase: "Go Green." What are you going to stamp on?

Stuff I used: Stamps -- When the Rubber Hits the Road, Azadi Earles; craft punches, Crystal Lacquer

Sinatra

It's all about "Clean 'n Simple" that's what the Mo' challenge hostess, Dawn says -- Use white or cream cardstock, your image from Mo's Digital Pencil, and one ribbon.. it's that simple... and, no additional layers! Simple? So says she! The biggest trick for me was printing the image directly on the card! This darling Mo image is yet another wonderful freebie. This little guy is called "Sinatra" and is definitely having a "ball" with the yarn. The card face was scored both ways and pierced to add some dimension; Sinatra was colored with prismacolor markers and OMS. I left the yarn dangling off the page to take the picture. -- I think I'll continue it on inside just for fun. I loved this effect so much here's Sinatra's friend.
Mo's Digital Pencil has the most delightful images and be sure to visit the challenge to see some of them in creations by the DT. May your day be as delightful as Sinatra's.

A Clean & Simple Formula

and, since many of you know I work in my laundry room -- I like clean! I discovered this lovely blog offering clean and simple designs. Great fodder for quickies and having fun -- here's this week's sketch. Isn't it wonderful? Here's the blog.

Peppermint Tea

Go Green! That's what Kelly's challenge is this week. For some great examples go visit her blog to see what the DT has prepared for your enjoyment. In my house, the family is afraid to throw anything away without asking. Here's one of my simple favorites using a tea box and a little whisp of steam from a dryer sheet. Let's put the kettle on.

Additional things: Stampendous Stamp, Fiskars corrugator, Sizzix Die

Spring is Coming....

Spring is definitely coming and this DCWV paper worked perfectly for these little HM guys & gals to frolic on. Special details by Sizzix, Art Institute Glitter, and a Making Impression butterfly punch (souvenir of Puyallup, WA). Visit the House Mouse Challenge for more details on this week's project to make a multi-fold card and take a gander at the great ideas presented by the DT.

My card was inspired by a blogging friend, Michelle, who showed me how to create this tri-fold accordian card in a video tutorial -- that aspires to make an element of surprise at each unfolding. Her tutorial is here -- and if you want to see more of this style, here are my other creations. This is also posted for the Stamp Something Challenge for something "springlike" and where you can see some beautiful examples -- Don't let spring flutter by you... take time to smell the "flowers."

God is Love

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge verse: I John 4: 10 "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." Challenge: make a card or project for someone you love letting them know how much God loves them.
I was in the laundry room pondering this challenge and looking at my "stamp wall" -- yup, I have a wall of stamps (I'm so lucky)! The phrase "God is Love" from Posh Impressions called to me and as I was putting in a load of whites in the washing machine, I had the bleach out and it called to me. There is a reason to have your stamp studio in the laundry room! Brown cardstock touched with bleach, Sizzix die cuts, flower craft punches, unmounted rose stamp (unknown), charm from Impress (souvenir from Seattle), layers and tole on DP from stash. Go visit the SSCC to enjoy the beauty from the Design Team. God is Love!

P.S. Love to the Simmers for Easter

Lookin' for Clues

Mo's Digital Challenge: "It's all about colors...so make sure you use pink, white, red and include a heart. . . ." A Mo's freebie called "Lookin' for Clues" inspired me for this challenge. I made this charmingly serious little Sherlock dimensional -- both in layers and in tole work. He was following a trail made by a four footed creature and I covered the tracks with little hearts but you can still see one sneaky little paw print. All assembled on a side-step card. Be sure to stop by Mo's Digital Challenge to view the Design Team's beautiful work. Thanks for coming by, I'll be lookin' for clues of your visit -- in other words, please comment!
Stuff I used: Michael's $Stamp, Mo's Freebie (thanks so much),

craft punches - heart, flower, grass, Sizzix, Cuttlebug Embossing folders,
gems & DP from stash
coloring by prismacolor pencils & OMS

Hearts All Around

Here's a Martha quickie that offers a chance to use up those little scraps you can't bear to part with. Any little craft punch will do --- but since today is Valentine's Day, I chose hearts. Grid the focal panel by placing small dimensionals in rows and columns, add your feature punch, a bow, and send it in the mail to your favorite valentine.

Stuff I used: Marvy Heart Punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.

I hope you find hearts all around you.

Boxed in -- in the Laundry Room

Today while in the laundry room between loads, I decided to try a little box project from Andrea Walford. You can find it here -- thanks to my being directed there by Sue's Stamping Stuff. Four hours later, my laundry isn't done and my studio is a mess. But I have had so much fun putting these little boxes together. From Andrea's basic pattern, I've added a box lining and a little tab to help open the box for that one lucious piece of chocolate I'm putting inside for my friends. My idea is that I buy a big box of chocolates and give them out one at a time in these little boxes -- and maybe there will still be some chocolate left in the big box for ME! (Andrea's instructions use 5x7 cardstock so that the box will hold two truffles -- these are made with 4x7)

But the funniest part of this project is when I made a list of the supplies and tools I used.
Are you ready?
Michael's $1 stamp "Sent With Love", "Dream" (unknown), "Heart Flourish" - Hero Arts,
"Love" from Costco, Inkums Pocket Stamp sets, The path..." and "Friend" - Stampendous
Pantone Tria marker, Prismacolor Markers, DCWV cardstock, Tim Holtz Faded Jeans, Memories Crimson Red and Midnight Blue, Xyron sticker maker, carpet tape, Art Institute Glitter, McGill 1/1/6 deckle square punch, 1/8 ' hole punch, Emagination Fern punch, Sizzix butterfly, border strip, ribbon and ribbon rose from stash,
foam heart stickers - Michaels, foam mounts, ScorPal,
Stickles and Diamond Glaze.

Did you count? Ah, no wonder my studio is a mess with all these things pulled out on the worktable! Last load of wash in the machine and I'm back to my big box of chocolate. -- I'll clean my studio "later."

Love is in the Air

On Sunday, a Stamping' Sisters in Christ Challenge design team member Randi (go visit her blog -- she is such an inspiration) wrote in her challenge this week: "We are just a week away from Valentine's Day and I have been busy making cards for friends and family, as I know you are, too. Thinking about all the love that is in the air I was drawn to the scripture that shows us how God views the earthly love between a man and a woman." Her Scripture choice: Mark 10: 7-9 "7. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8. and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (NASB) Her challenge: one creation incorporating two kinds of the same items - such as 2 different colors of cardstock, 2 different pieces of patterned paper, etc. A major task but here is my "Love is in the Air" as a 5x7 step ladder card -- template from Penny Wessenauer.Two different poodles, flowers, hearts, cardstocks, cuttlebug embossing folders, ink pads, and two different "Eiffel's" -- if you count the shadow -- all to become "one" love.


I am also sharing this with the Rainbow Lady's Challenge for "Seasons" -- I choose Spring!
Now you have the whole kit and "poodle". LOL Thanks for visiting -- gotta go make another one of these for my DGD which will say "I love you an Eiffel lot!"

Stuff I used: Sizzix dies, Memories Ink pads, Art Institute Glitter, Black Sharpie, Cuttlebug Embossing folders, dimensional dots, gems from stash, Emagination edgers, Michael's $1 stamp (my souvenire from Nashville).

You & Me

What a great prize to be had at Mo's Digital Challenge blog. One lucky person will receive a Mo's Digital image for participating in this week's challenge. Go on over and take a look at the beautiful DT creations and join in. The challenge is "wood" or "would you?" Would you guess which I have portrayed? There is a wooden sign hanging atop the wreathe in testament of love -- so there is wood and "would you be mine." I appreciate so much having this Mo freebie to layer and tole. The wreathe has been "roughed" up a bit by slicing it with a craft knife and adding bits of raffia which also binds the wreathe together.

The "love birds" have been colored my favorite color (blue) with prismacolor pencils and OMS. You & Me? -- Your comments mean a lot to me!

Other stuff: You & Me (unknown), MS Border Punch (brand new!!) Prismacolor markers,
Ink pads: Tim Holz faded jeans, Memories Port Red, Brilliance pearlescent orange
Ribbon frm stash, Diamond Glaze, dimensionals, and a brad

Here is My Heart

Here is my Heart to express my Love in a Valentine to my DH. I have always been especially in love with vintage greeting cards -- so it was easy for me to take on the challenge over at Peggy Loves Vintage blog spot. Peggy offers this delightful vintage heart image for her challenge. Another challenge blogspot where I like to play is C.R.A.F.T. -- and this week's challenge is Love/Valentine. For my heart, I used the image to frame a Hampton Arts stamp by resizing the image and printing four copies. From these, I created four layers by removing more of the details with each layer --the last layer is just the gold frame. The layers were embossed and joined together with glue/ dimensionals.

Other Stuff I used: Hampton Arts Stamp; Marvy heart punch, Fiskars border punch, Diamond Glaze, Art Institute Glitter,
machine stitching (with and without thread) and a ribbon rose for detailing.

And there you have "my heart".

Cookies!

Got your attention? Stamping Sister's in Christ offer this week's scripture for contemplation: Matthew 18:4 "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." And, for the challenge: make a card or project with an image of a child or childlike things on it (such as toys or a saying about children), but not a baby card. This week's prize is three ever so darling images from Mo's Digitals -- so how could I not join in the fun? The image I used for my shopping pad was a Mo's freebie to show how adorable these images are (colored with prismacolor pencils and OMS)! I didn't fancy this project up with a lot of embellies because Louis and Bronte are all about eating cookies and not frills. The notepad holder is a great creation by Nichole Heady at www.papertreyink.com -- you can find it here. I changed the dimensions and used 12X12 DCWV card stock to accommodate the size of my notepad. Visit Stampin' Sisters in Christ Blogspot for inspiration and not just in card making!

I gotta go finish my grocery list -- but as you can see "cookies" are at the top of my list!