There's no place like home

Gosh, it's hard to come back after all that's been happening recently, but I'm glad to be here and look forward to a better new year. 

First, let me say thanks for the many prayers that have been directed our way recently. My dear mother-in-law passed away just before Christmas as some of you know, and we've been in a bit of a fog ever since. Then I had a flare up of an old health issue and ended up in the hospital for a couple of days. To add insult to injury (so to speak) we also lost one of our furry friends during this period--a sweet kitty named Biesmeyer who'd been with us for 17 years.  Not the best way to start a new year, but I figure it can only go up from here, right? Anyway, we're starting to turn the corner and life is slowly beginning to come back into focus.

I had a chance to get back to my craft room and actually do something today.  It felt good--real good. I look forward to spending more time there. I'm convinced it's good for the soul.

Anyway, here's the end result of my efforts today. 



This stamp is an old one by Stampendous. It always reminded me of Italy, and that's where Mom was born. Anyway, I was thinking of her when I made this and it's comforting to me to know she really is home now. 

After stamping the image, I colored it with colored pencils, and adhered it to a piece of paper I'd stamped with test and inked.  I then matted it with black and adhered it to a terracotta panel I'd embossed with a distressed lines folder.  The sentiment was stamped on a double ended banner die cut, and that too was inked and matted in black. A bit of knotted black checked ribbon and a few black pearls finished the panel, and the whole lot was adhered to a black card base.

It's starting to snow and the lighting is really horrible, so it was difficult trying to get a decent photo. But in real life it's a rather handsome piece, and I think Mom would have approved. 

Hope to be back more regularly very soon. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and don't wait until later to tell someone you love them. The only moment you can be sure of is right now. 

Family Update

Just a quick note to say I probably won't be posting for a bit. The situation with my mother-in-law is deteriorating quickly.  My sweet Mr. Wonderful and I are trying to be strong and help the rest of the family cope, but I must admit there are moments when we both feel overwhelmed.  Your prayers are so appreciated as we walk this path. It helps more than you can know. Thank you all for your kind thoughts and comforting words.

Love You Tulips

One more card for Operation Write Home.

This card is probably fairly self-explanatory. The tulips were colored with colored pencils and blended with a Dove marker. The sketchy look is kind of an interesting change from the usual well-blended coloring achieved with Copics--a bit more "painterly".

I did highlight the tulips with a bit of Sakura Stardust pen in clear to add just a bit of sparkle. I just can't help myself, LOL. 

Not much time today for more explanation, got to get these in the mail to OWH and then head over to Mom's. But if you have any questions, please leave a comment and I'll try to get back to you soon.

 

Dandelion Background

I find making my own backgrounds is strangely satisfying. I can use whatever colors, patterns or images I desire and the end result is uniquely mine.  I think that's kind of fun. 

Anyway, here's a simple card that illustrates how easy it is to make your own patterned paper. I must add that this card is a CASE from the very talented Suzanne Russell at Beauty and Blessings.  Go check out her blog. She's amazing!

The background image was stamped with Desert Sand by Memento, using the dandelion-like image from Botanical Silhouettes. The stems and flowers in the foreground are from the same set, and were stamped using Ocean Tides (PaperTrey) and Bamboo Leaves (Memento).  A little yellow glitter in the flower centers, adhered using Glossy Accents so there's no rub off, completes the first layer. 

A smaller dandelion image was stamped on a scrap of white as before, then the sentiment was stamped using more Ocean Tides, then die cut with PaperTrey's Half and Half die. A mat of Ocean Tides cardstock was trimmed to match, and the two were adhered to the first layer. I decided not to use dimensionals here to avoid too much bulk.

Everything was matted with a piece of Ocean Tides, and then mounted to a white card base, after rounding the corners for a bit of softness.  I'm thinking rounding only the lower, or perhaps opposing, corners might have been more interesting, but it is what it is. 

Go try making your own background paper, but be warned--it's addictive! (Yeah, like everything about this crazy hobby isn't, right?)

Whimsical Birthday

Happy Birthday! Well, OK, maybe it's not your birthday, but it is a birthday card! So let's take a look...

This card was inspired by one by Suzanne Russell at Beauty and Blessings.  Oh heck, let's be honest, it's darn near an exact copy--why mess with perfection, right?  Anyway, you really should check out her blog.  She's so inspiring! You can hardly tell from this picture, but the actual colors "we" used are pale aqua, avocado green and kraft. How is it that colors can turn SO weird at times?  Oh well, on to the card. 

I cut two rectangles each from the aqua and green, stamped the leaves (green on the aqua, white embossed on the avocado). The flowers were die cut from aqua and white, then stamped and popped on dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped then white embossed. I just love the crisp white that you get with white embossing.  A bit of pearl from a Viva pen on the flower centers finishes them off.

I scored the kraft layer to fit the rectangles, then adhered the retangles. A white pigment pen from Ranger was used to doodle stitching around each rectangle.  Kind of adds to the whimsical feel, don't you think?  Anyway, the whole panel was then adhered to a white card base and another birthday card can be added to the stash! I don't know about you, but birthdays have a way of slipping up on me unprepared, so it's nice to have at least a couple I can use when life gets in the way of creative time. Know what I mean?

Hope you have a great day and get some time to get inky.

Toile Love You

Hi everyone! 

I had a few minutes today to get a little crafty. I really wanted to get some done for Operation Write Home.  They are having a couple of drives for valentines and general "love" themes that will help provide shipping and cookies to the troops.  I've been wanting to participate, but just wasn't sure I'd be able to, but today I got at least one done for the cause. Makes me feel better.

I had a couple of small rubber stamps that reminded me of the motifs you see in toile prints and I thought I'd try to use them to make a background paper.  I stamped the images repeatedly in a fairly consistent pattern, then ran the finished background through the Big Shot using a textile embossing folder. The end result reminds me of a quilted bed cover. To highlight the embossing a bit, I lightly swiped it with Chai ink (PaperTrey), then adhered it to a bit of red cardstock.  

The sentiment was stamped on a circle cut with basic circle nesties, then mounted on red that had been cut with an eyelet nestie.  Another touch of red card stock, edged with Apron Strings (I think that's what it's called) border punch, and embellished with white satin ribbon, plus a little tag and sentiment tied on with a bit of twine finished this quick card.   

So if you want to help Operation Write Home meet their goals, go check out their site and get crafty.  The deadline, I think, is December 10, so time's awastin'!  You'll feel great too, knowing you helped a worthy cause.

A Homespun Christmas

Just checking in first to say thanks for your prayers for my mother-in-law and the family. Although Mom is currently holding her own--she's an amazing lady--the prognosis isn't good. We are providing hospice care and just taking things day-by-day. We are thankful for each day we have with her and try to remind ourselves that God never promised it would be easy. He did, however, promise to be with us and we're leaning on that promise.

Second, I had a few minutes today to actually try to make something and wanted to share it before too much more time slipped away. 

This is just a simple, homespun Christmas card. Most of the supplies are PaperTrey, except the patterned paper, which was from my stash. The cute doubled ended flag is a die from PaperTrey, too. I think it adds a fun touch for the sentiment, and when popped up on dimensionals, it adds a bit of texture. A few buttons and baker's twine, and another card is ready for the stash.