Happy New Year

My list just gets bigger and bigger every year!  There are so many talented paper crafters out there that stimulate, inspire, and encourage the rest of us to continue cutting, embossing, stippling, and curling paper that it could be a full time activity just visiting their beautiful blogs and websites.  But, of course, we all have the "need" and desire to make our own stuff so hence, my BIG list.  Paper arts notwithstanding, I still enjoy crochet, and am immersed in sewing as well as many other art-related activities.  Despite the fact that I live in a warm climate, this time of year provokes an attitude or sense of cold weather so I have launched into a crochet project to make afghans for my two grandchildren.  Just to let you know what I am up to and to promise that new cards and card challenges are also on their way to this blog.

Happy New Year and Happy Crafting!

Rock Star

Rowlf  -- the Muppet pianist (Inkadinkadoo) was perfect for a musician and song writer friend of mine.  Rowlf is a three layer dimensional and lifted with foam mounts on top of the piano keys.  Accents are a red gem for a cufflink Sizzix die cut stars from sparkly fun foam (a new discovery from visiting my blogging stamping friend Sue Drees), a Sizzlet guitar and DP from stash.  The background for Rowlf was direct to paper - die cut panels from Nestabilities, "Rock Star" by Hampton Arts (Michael's Dollar stamp). 

Joy

Joy to the World!  When I began this card for Stampin' Sisters in Christ's last challenge to make a Christmas Card the word "Joy" kept resounding in my mind and all week long, fussed in the laundry room with how to put Joy in my card. I wanted to make a very special card in honor of the Stampin' Sisters in Christ closing so I went with "sparkly" because this challenge blog has been full of joy and sparkly and an inspiration to all of us.  Thanks Stampin' Sisters for a great run.  And, thanks to Spellbinders, Sizzix, Bernina, and Martha Stewart for giving me the tools to make some Joy.

Coco Chanel

"Ink it Up Finally..." Challenge 44:  Use It Tuesday challenges us to find and use an uninked stamp -- Ho Ho -- that's an easy one for me!!  I have shelves and drawers full and could create endless projects if I didn't have to do the laundry once in awhile.

I adore this Paula Best Coco Chanel image/quote that was obtained at a stamp convention about four years ago.  "Nature gives you the face you have a twenty it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty."  The backdrop is stitched with my DGD's Bernette sewing machine from scraps on my workbench, the medallion issues from the same scraps.  More "Use it" Stuff -- surely five years ago, I made a flock or swarm (?) of these dragonflies with a PSX stamp, embossing powder, and aluminum from a soda can.  They were just "refound" and provided a perfect accent for this card. Wishing for you a face that you merit at 50 (ala Coco Chanel).

It's Your Day....

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge this week is to create a card for a child.  I've had this little fisherman for quite a few years just sitting in the drawer waiting for an opportunity to ink up -- and he was just right for the job.  This diorama has three layers of different lengths -- the longest layer is the back with a mountain range, the middle layer (second longest) is water and a trout jumping up and the first layer (shortest) is the focal point and message.  When fastened together, it creates arcs so that the card is free standing.  I purposely used large paper fasteners instead of small brads for assembly as it will be mailed flat and little hands will be putting it together.

Inspiration from Sandy Genovese's book "Pop-Up Cards and other greetings that Slide, Dangle &  Move".- page 76

.Stuff I used:  Azadi Earles All Night Media, and Darcie's, Martha Stewart border punch, Sizzix, Cuttlebug embossing folder, prismacolors, and glitter.

A Purrrfect Thank You

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, thank you cards are a favorite challenge theme this month. I am meeting the challenge with this card by posting at Pause, Dream, Enjoy -- Simon Says Stamp Challenge -- Papercraft Star Challenge 121

A Sizzix die cut embellishment attaches the Delafield cat image (one of my very first stamps!!) and still a favorite.  The image was stamped and  colored on the reverse side of vellum and mounted on cardstock, before matting with another layer and then silk leaves and a ribbon from stash for the finish.  The Hero Arts "Thank You" was punched out with an Emagination tag punch.  And speaking of Thank yous -- I wish to thank you for stopping by - please let me know what you think. 

Turkey Feathers

Use It Tuesday Challenge #43:  "Be Thankful."  Yes indeed I am thankful for so many things.  Top on the list, of course, is family so I created "Turkey Feathers" for my DGD.  This card sprang from a Splitcoaststampers Holiday Blitz Tutorial wherein I learned how to make a telescope card and a center step card rolled into one --a clever invention of Cindy for Splitcoaststampers.  You can see my original card here and Cindy's tutorial here.  

Stuff I used: a few "pristine" dies and punches I have coveted and collected:  turkey Sissix die for the main feature, two circle die cuts, Sissix pumpkins, Sizzlet pilgrim hat -- with only the wings, beak and waddle hand cut.  Ribbon from stash. Extras:  cuttlebug texture, All Night Media grass punch, Marvy punch oak leaves, Family treasure larger oak leaf.

I am also very thankful to have so many great tools and supplies in my laundry room (aka, "studio) to play and create with.

Turkey Feathers is in the mail to my DGD for Happy Thanksgiving wishes. And here I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks Be

Splitcoaststampers inspires me with another lovely tutorial included in the Holiday Blitz.  This one is from Theresa and you can find it here for a little basket made from a circle.  This is a second submission for Use It Tuesday "to be thankful".  I didn't have the fabulous Spellbinder Grand Nestabilities die (on my Santa list) that Theresa used in the tutorial so I had a bit of fussing to make one with a circle cutter that has been stowed in the cupboard for several years -- new in package.  LOL -- I used it "Tuesday."  I made my project in a Thanksgiving theme and embellished it with silk flowers and leaves.  The sentiment stamped on Spellbinder nestabilities die cuts is from Stampin' up.   The basket is lined with green tissue to nestle a plastic bag filled with chocolate covered almonds.  I've delivered it to my favorite brother-in-law.  Thanks be for "he".

Snow Much Fun

Splitcoaststampers is having a Holiday Blitz featuring a tutorial a day -- and I am delighted to have discovered Cindy's tutorial at Splitcoaststampers for this snowman telescope card.  It was so concise, I was able to easily duplicate her project  -- it was so great I couldn't see how to improve upon it.

I had never made a telescope card or a center step card and this included both! I am still smiling at the result.  I hope you do too. Check out Cindy's tutorial here.  There's snow doubt you'll have fun making your own.

Different from the tutorial are holly leaves from a Marvy Holly leaf corner punch, stick arms hand cut, "buttons" made by tapping standard paper fasteners on a black ink pad and double dipping embossing powder -- heat set, bottom border - Martha Stewart snowflake border punch and the "Home for the Holidays" is ribbon from stash

Turkey for Dinner

Challenge #164 - Colossians 1:3-5.

Reading the Stampin' Sisters in Christ new inspirational Sunday challenge to create a card of thanks, and admiring the design team's amazing cards, I was brought to Lois Bak's tutorial to learn how to make a tri-shutter card.  Marilynn DeGroot, aka Marilynn McGyver,  a Stampin' Sisters in Christ design team member used this card style for her contribution and I admit to being a copy-cat by going to Lois' tutorial and commencing to create this card.  Thanks Marilynn and Lois!

I also have to admit that cutting the "T" layers for the tri-shutter card just about did me in -- but I am glad to have completed the card in just one day -- LOL.

Design paper - DCWV The Old World  -- Stamps: Turkey - PSX, "Thank You Lord" - Precious Moments - Stampendous, "Thanks be for thee!" Stampin up, Happy Thanksgiving, unknown, GIve Thanks (Costco self inking)

 Silk leaves, Cornucopia, fruit, leaves, Black scroll corners created from Cuttlebug, Sissix, and Marvy punches.  I have so very much to give thanks for.

Off to see the Wizard

... the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Since my blogspot and creative alter-ego is a spin-off from the movie "The Wizard of Oz" and beautiful and enduring theme song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" it seemed only appropriate and just for me to visit the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas.

It was a wonderful journey down the yellow brick road to enter into a world of Oz memorabilia.  This museum was a great surprise nestled as a modest and deceivingly small  "store front" on the main street of Wamego exhibiting very professional, tasteful, and delightful displays of objects from ruby slippers to Munchins' handprints in cement floor tiles.  It was a wonderful stroll down that yellow brick memorabilia "road."

Also seemingly appropriate, the day we visited, it was stormy and cold with a tornado watch in place.  We made like the Cowardly Lion and needless to say, we are not in Kansas anymore!



now newly inspired, I will pull out my "virgin" Wizard of Oz" stamps and ink them up.

Ben Loves Shayna

My darling granddaughter loves her horse Ben and, of course, Ben loves Shayna!

This little zip bag was fashioned for Shayna to contain "Birthday Dollars" after taking a class from my sewing instructor and friend, Judy Dantz, at Sew From the Heart.  

The design is machine embroidered with my Bernina on white felt and quilted with free motion quilting (also taught by Judy).  (I designed the horse to look like Ben who is an appaloosa.) I realized, of course, that white would not endure much handling by a 9 year old girl so I assembled it encased in vinyl.

Shayna loves Ben and she loved her "Ben Loves Shayna" purse -- and, I don't think she minded what was inside the zipper.

Another fun project with a very happy ending.