A Plan

A plan indeed! This morning, I was delighted to follow one of Gina K's links to bring me to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog challenge. Also very exciting, is to learn of Gina K's sponsorship of this particular challenge by offering up two gorgeous to die-for stamp sets. The challenge is based on a sketch and a scripture:

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

The blog says: "What better challenge for this scripture than a sketch challenge... plans! The Lord lays the foundation and we have lots of options about how to build on that foundation,..." The sketch below is the foundation. I enjoyed playing along and look forward to your comments.

Stamps: "Believe" by PSX, Covered Bridge by Embossing Arts --Other Stuff: Paper - DCWV, coloring by Prismamarkers, leaf punch, gems, and ribbons from stash

Heart's Desire

From the Penny Black challenge comes a request to make a creation inspired by "Heart's Desire." This Penny Black image called "Chicky Night" is a good representation of a "heart's desire" -- spending time with friends -- and would make a good birthday greeting for one of my chicky friends. There is a heart's desire missing from this image, though, -- there should be a stamping chick! The image was "colored" cutting certain elements out of five stampings on various cardstock and printed papers, and then overlayed on the original stamping on the cream colored cardstock. A little extra color was added with watercolor pencils and glitter, etc.

Stuff I used in this project: Watercolor pencils, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Fiskars Border Scallop Punch, G Orange glitter, Art Institute Glitter, Baby stick on earring, Sizzix (gold frame), fern punch.

Stamps: Penny Black, Hearts Phrase Hero Arts, "Desire" - from a set of self-inkers from Costco, flowers, Stampendous,

I hope you get your heart's desire and thanks so much for stopping by. Please take a moment longer to write me a comment -- I'd love to know what you think.

Surprise!

This week the House Mouse challenge is to create a design to present a gift card. House Mouse challengers and the lovely work of the DT can be found here. I fashioned this card to look like a gift box featuring these three little HM guys/gals who have donned their caps of ribbon -- raised with additional stampings, and brightened with liquid laminate and Art Institute glitter.

I love the papers that I “inherited” but unfortunately, do not know what company to credit. The mice are colored with prismacolors and gamsol – my new latest fav technique and I created the message on the computer which says: “pretty little be-ribboned mice here to bring you something nice” – printed on cardstock, liquid laminate and glitter, and layered. And, what’s a surprise without a pop up?

The pop up inside is where the frolicking begins –

whether these three mice have had their quota of caffeine is anyone’s guess but they are certainly happy to be giving this Starbucks gift card. Aunty Amy’s coffee cup has been stamped twice and glued only on the edges to create a pocket for the card and inserted in the middle of the pop up mechanism. If you look closely, you’ll see that there are mouse tracks all over this platform – so it may be that they really have been into the coffee.

Stuff I used: Prismacolor markers, Gamsol, Liquid Applique, Art Institute Glitter, Marvy Scallop punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Sizzix (heart, cup, coffee word, beans, and swirl), DeNami blue ice glitter

Stamps: House Mouse, Inside cup (folder for gift card), Aunty Amy, Decoration for cup: Inkadinkado, “Sending you a Cup of Love” – Darcie

There really is a “need” for all this stuff, I keep telling my DH. He will be surprised on the day that I have inked, cut, punched, glittered, and tied everying into a bow all that I have in my studio.

Queen for a Day

Here is another card trick (No. 5) using a recycled playing card. I love the face cards so this time, I just cut out the queen’s image, painted it with liquid laminate and lightly sprinkled it with Art Institute Glitter. The Queen is foam mounted on an off-set to the gray panel with three purple jewels to mark her regal character. A silver ribbon binds the background. Do you recognize this patterned design?It is a panel cut from a Kleenex box to which I have added just a hint of Art Institute Glitter and foam mounted to the steel blue panel. I haven’t decided yet who the Queen is for the Day, and while any one of my birthday ladies might become “it” , all of you who visit me here are Queens when it comes to crafting.

See other card tricks under titles: King for a Day, Drama Queen, Gogh have great Birthday, and A Perfect Pair.

Gifts from and for my Blogging Friends

I am so jazzed to have very recently received some very beautiful awards. All of these awards have journeyed from afar - and I am excited to receive each one and thank my "awarders" and supporters as I happily send them on -- if your blog isn't listed -- grab them anyway -- because I appreciate all of you!

This gorgeous lavender rose (my favorite color) was presented to me by Gisela -- "Mueppi". I have the added pleasure to pass this award on according to the rules as I understand them to be: Send to just three persons decided as follows: two supporters of my blog, and one person newly visiting my blog and who lives in another part of the earth. The recipients of this award should, then, in turn send on in like manner and in a post, link back to your blog. Thanks Gisela -- I hope I got it right.

This one is given to:
1. Julia
2. Carolyn
3. As the farthest away that I can think of:
Lorraine

These two beautiful roses are given to me by Sandra who felt that these two awards should stay together. Sandra, thanks so very much for these.

there is a more complex attachment to these awards. The persons receiving these are asked to tell a few things about themselves.

For the photographic pink rose you are asked to list 5 things you like -- this is more about "love" for me:
1. I love all the creativeness I have discovered through the blogging world -- I used to have to figure all this stuff out on my own.
2. I love the friends I have made through blogging.
3. I love to craft - day and night -- for real or in my head.
4. I love taking pictures of everything -- including food.
5. I love the rain (because after the rain comes a rainbow and loves' promises)

For the Vintage Kreativ Blogger, list 7 things about yourself:
Here they are, interesting or not:
1. I am happily retired (50 years next year).
2. I don't sleep (very much anyway) because I am always thinking about my next project.
3. I am a jill of all trades but a master of none.
4. I've lost 40 pounds since I quit working.
5. Mr. Lucky, a weineramer, is a "special friend" and shares my bed along with my dh.
6. I am a saver of all kinds of "stuff" (thank goodness we have a big house).
7. I am happily retired (oh, did I say that already? -- well, that says it all)

These two awards sent in tandem to the following lovely ladies:
1. Susan
2. Riet
3. Chris
4. Mama Monkey
5. Jane

Heather sent me this adorable award. Thanks so very much Heather!

This one goes to:
1. Marijke
2. Sue
3. Sue (stamping adventures)
4. Linda
5. Saskia

A Stitch in Time....

Be sure to visit Penny Black's challenge to see what the DT has done for this week's challenge requiring stitching -- faux, by hand, or machine. I love playing with words and this was a perfect opportunity when I couldn't help but think about the old adage "A Stitch in Time Saves Nine." Enqueries seem to indicate that this old English Proverb was first recorded in Thomas Fuller's Gnomologia, Adagies and Proverbs, Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British, 1732. You can understand why I was unable to include the title on the book that this wise frog is holding. Here Penny Black's frog is reading from Gnomologia.... and you are guided to his thought bubble (Stampendous) by gems as he quotes that very proverb written by my hand. The clock is striking nine and is bound by black cord to match the hand (faux) stitched edges. Other features are: Sizzix for the clock and frame, computer "Old English Proverb" and Cuttlebug embossed background. Thanks for your time.

Everybody needs a Teddy Bear

Do we ever outgrow the need for a Teddy Bear? I got this Sizzix die to make children's birthday cards but when I used it for Sherry's get well card (post below) I realized this is too adorable not to share with all my "grown up" family and friends. My first honoree is Ann. Ann is a very special lady who has retired from the ministry but still remains very active in the church and devotes a great deal of time to concerns for her fellow church members and their families. Ann has "adopted" me as her sister and I feel very privileged for this new designation though I have known Ann for a very long time as my cousin's wife. I am using this to send all that Teddy Bear love on to my sister, Ann, with this writing.

The phrase and teddy bear stamp are from Stampin' Up.

Sherry's Bear

"Sherry Berry" is what I call my son's girlfriend. And today, she needs a Teddy Bear -- so this is Sherry's Beary. The inside refrain is from Stampin' Up "There is a Rip and a Tear in my Teddy Bear and love pours from him everywhere!" My husband and I are sharing that love with heartfelt good wishes for Sherry's speedy recovery from a very serious car accident. Sherry, this Teddy Bear loves you and so do we.

Things I needed to make this card: from Sizzix, oval frame, Teddy Bear (paper pieced), and hearts; Marvy craft punch for tiny heart, Cuttlebug embossing folder, soft wire, and foam mounts.

Happy Birthday

I couldn't think of a special title for this birthday card but it is going to a very special young girl named Zoe Stella. I was in a pinch for a birthday card for Zoe so I began a hurried search in my studio. When I found this card, it was truly a plain Jane -- one of my earlier "works" -- the front only had the stamped clouds, the balloons and strings. With a little help from a Sizzlet die "Brooke and Timber" (pieced hair and clothing), foam mounts and a small phrase stamp (unknown), I am happy with the final result. The balloons were part of an exercise to use a circle punch in as many ways as possible. I conducted a workshop wherein we made a reference book containing lots of things you can make from a circle punch. I'll share some of these ideas in future posts. Thanks for stopping by, I do so appreciate the encouragement you leave in your comments. I wish Zoe well and I wish you well too.

A little Birdie

I've been thinking about this card all week and nearly thought past the Saturday deadline without putting it together. This Penny Black challenge was to use a great sketch by Beth to showcase a delightful Penny Black image.


The design team for these challenges always presents awesome works of art -- please go see for yourself. I inherited these papers as scraps from an unknown source and they made the making of this card so easy with an addition of a little lacy edging by Fiskars. Our little hedgehog is layered a la Tole to really make him fat and happy and so is his little birdie friend. The little birdie sparkles with Art Institute Glitter and liquid laminate. The Poinsettia (also painted with liquid laminate) is a Sizzlet, embossed on the backside for dimension with a small flower punch and gem for center impact. "Friend" is from Stampendous. My son likes this card but, as always, gave me a severe critique. Ahh, but we are still "friends."

Potted Iris

Potted Iris? – well not exactly – this is an Iris fold project that looks like a pot – I used a southwestern theme with the papers and added the stamped images — the lizard and rock formations are from an unknown company. There is an incredible amount of patterns available for iris folding – and it is also fun to design your own. This one was designed by Hetty as a purse -- I turned it upside down to create the pot and I sent a picture to her so she could see how her design could be something entirely different when made by someone from Arizona. I've lost track of her or I would give you a link. Iris folding is a wonderful project and can be portable. I did a lot of these when I was working out of town and needed something crafty to do in my hotel room in the evenings. I sometimes even resorted to making strips of paper from a hotel magazine!

A Perfect Pair

Celebrate! Karen and Gabe are doing just that. Today will mark 44 years of marriage and this is the card that I made for them. Another playing card recycling project -- this will be No. 4. If I play my cards right, perhaps I can conjure up some more card tricks. See post below for No. 3 - Gogh have a Great Birthday that contains links for No. 2 Drama Queen, and No. 1 King for a Day. The red heart is a Sizzix die cut, cuttlebug embossed. The background paper is stamped with an All Night Media "tapestry" and gold embossed; the King and Queen of Hearts are inserted into the printed paper pocket with foam mounts. The paper fasteners were added -- because they were, after all, "paper fasteners." LOL . I hope my friends Karen and Gabe receive the royal treatment today.