Wednesday, June 30, 2010

In a funk

Everyone's been there.  I've been in a serious one of late.  I have excuses.  I've been sick, I've had loads of company and I just don't have any ideas!  I've created a dozen things and none of them were "right."  I didn't like any of them enough to share or to use for my DT.   My DH kept telling me to be patient with myself, take a nap, etc., etc.  Well none of that helped.  I'm still in a funk.  Maybe it will pass soon, I hope and pray.  Here are the things I created trying to be creative..... it just doesn't work when it's forced.

Okay, I know a lot of people wouldn't show you their mistakes, but we all make them.  The flower center didn't exactly end up in the center.  The leaves didn't blend.  My giant centipede was just a giant mistake, my fan, just wasn't pretty and it was lopsided.   I make a lot of mistakes.  Thank goodness I like to make my own paper and can often mulch these into something else.  UGH.

All of this ended up being a God lesson for me.  I sure do make a lot of mistakes!  He never gives up on me as his craft though.  He wants me to be better and better and so, I keep trying, allowing him to mulch me up into other things available for something else that He wants me to be or do.

I'm still in a funk, but I'll let Him move me along.  Until then........... I'll keep trying.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Freedom to Choose

Challenge #16 at Fantabulous Cricut is to use a Star in a July 4th theme.



I never thought of myself as much of a politico, but since living in Italy, I have realized how GREAT America is..... !!   No matter what side we choose, it's our right and privilege to pay attention and hold our own government accountable.  Some countries don't have that luxury.  I appreciate it now more than ever. 

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO OUR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO MAKE DAILY SACRIFICES FOR THAT FREEDOM!!!  

Entered in Challenges:
PaperCutz Challenge - #47

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Journal Swap

Recently, I participated in my first journal swap.  I've never altered a journal before and I was willing to try.  After I saw some of the ones that other people did, I was overwhelmed with how beautiful their work was.  I feel like mine didn't measure up, but it was my first time and now I will have more knowledge on how to do one.  I just love learning to do new things.  Here is a picture of the one I did and I will put of pictures of the one I get when I receive it. 

 
She wanted to use her journal to record birthdays.  Thus the calendars on the front from young to old.  I included the months inside and pockets to put other notes.

And because my partner was an Army Wife, I made a second one for her to use in her purse or her car, it was much smaller and included a pen.  I got this stamp from 2 red bananas and the sentiment is "I Salute You."  I also had some "Army" silver tags and used them on the elastic closure.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Friends

I saw this sentiment on a quote site somewhere.  I love the saying because it says a lot about how we choose our friends.

Our friends tell us a lot about who we are.....
and who we aren't!
  
Paper Pups
Paper Doll Dress Up - Cat
George -Squares, Circles, Flowers
Ribbon

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Apron Strings

Before my sister moved, she had been sewing some of the most beautiful aprons you have ever seen. She was making a little extra money on the side, but she was using it up in creativity and fun (don't we all.... barely pay for our habit. ha ha ha). She is also an avid gardener, leaving beautiful plants behind every time the military moves them.   I made this card for her to be the first piece of mail she got in her new home. She loved it.  Now, I'm sharing it.

A2 Card
Apron  - From My Kitchen
Sunflower - Walk in My Garden
Jolee Stickers
George and Basic Shapes  for rectangles

Monday, June 21, 2010

Fun at the Beach

Challenge #15 at Fantabulous Cricut is Summer time at the beach.


Penguins have fun on the beach.   In fact, they are always at the beach, it's just colder where they are.  Doesn't cooler sound good about now?

All the features on this card were cut from Create A Critter.  I just stretched and shrunk the penguins in DS to give them the different sizes and appearances.  The "fun" on the inside is a rub-on. 

Have a happy sunny day!

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE - Summer

Sunday, June 20, 2010

In Sympathy

Created this card and after I did, decided it was perfect for a sympathy card.  As the person trapped in the heavenly body is released from his bondage.  I could only think of the song, His Eye is on the Sparrow.  So, as sad as these cards are to make, I have one ready for the next time I, sadly, have to send one.

The inside is the negative in vellum from the outside cage.
CTMH Stamp for sentiment
Cage and stand from Serenade.

Stylish Blogger award - Follower Take One

Another Award:  THANKS!!!!

5 Random Facts about me:
1.  I'm just learning to stamp but I don't like the fat faced freckled kids with no mouths.  There seem to be more of them popping up everywhere.
2.  I'm fascinated by some of the words I see in word verification.  Noprom, Iceit, puyuck,and failedit.  Kind of a madgab for my head to chuckle at.
3.  I think it is weird how challenge  blogs ask us to turn off our word verification so they can comment on our blogs but you go to theirs and word verification is on.  Just funny.
4.  LOVE creating cards and seeing others inspiration.  Big or small it brings up new ideas with which to wonder.  God has really blessed people with some incredible talent.  And this particular talent blesses other people!
5.  I have the world's greatest husband who watches out for me, treats me like a queen and makes my world seem open to all possibilities.  I adore him!

So, for my followers, take on this award and give it to at least 5 people after you have given 5 facts about yourself.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

A friendly bag

Everything old is new again.  I was going through an OLD stampin' up catalog from 2000 that my sister sent me and this idea was in there.  I used create a critter for all of the enclosed items. 
This purse contains 8 cards
The external purse is 6x12
Stampin' UP Papers -one scrapbook sheet folded in half and cut to make the long part of the purse.  The bottom part of the purse (where it will stand) is 3 inches and an additional panel is added to give it strength.
The pockets are two 6x6 sheets folded on the edges 
and the bottom to make the pockets
The cards included are: 
Sympathy
Hello Friend
Friends see eye to eye not matter their differences
See you later alligator -you'll be missed
Thanks for your support
Friends to the End
Happy Birthday Friend 
Get Well soon
and a little journal for notes
The purse handles are 2 x 10 strips (they were scraps)
Some ribbon, paper strips, brads and punches for decor and this fun little gift is all done!  A Bow and a Tag is all it needs to made it a perfect gift for a friend.

I think if I did this project again, I would put the pockets closer to the bottom of the purse than I did.  I really had to work to get the card weights evened out on both sides to get the purse to stand up.  It would have been easier if I didn't work so hard to get the weights right. My husband was quite proud of it though.  I was proud of the cards that went in it!  You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Envelope Wedding Gift

Happy Wednesday all.  Today I have designed a wedding gift card holder out of an envelope that was in my kitchen junk drawer.  Practical Scrappers June challenge is to use something you found in your kitchen to repurpose. I have these envelopes in my kitchen to hold coupons.   Let me know what you think.
This started as an envelope measuring 6 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches.  This is a standard size envelope in Italy.  You can make yours any size you want.
I folded the envelope into a gate fold, meeting the two sides in the middle.
  
Then I cut the envelope flap where the folds were marked.  Sealing the two side flaps and leaving the center flap open to make the pocket.
 

Decorate as you want.  I made two panels for the inside flaps to cover where I had sealed the envelope flap and to give me a place to stamp my sentiments.
The Big Day and Congrats are on the cartridge Beyond Birthdays.  Stampalicious stamps.
Home Decor Swirl. Stampin' Up Papers.  Flower Quicklet from Eyelet Outlet

Challenge
Practical Scrappers June Challenge~ Kitchen Re-purpose
Craftalicious Challenge - New

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Gift for my followers - Giveaway!!

I had planned to do this when I got to 100 followers and then time flew by.  Now I have 128.  So, I'm going to give away a $28 gift certificate to Custom Crops.  If I get to 150 before the drawing, I will make it a $50 gift certificate.  If I make it to 200, I will make it a $100 gift certificate. 

I'm so grateful for the people who come here and leave sweet comments and encourage me in my art. 

T H A N K   Y O U  all of my followers! 

If you are not a follower then follow along.  it's the only requirement.  If you are already a follower you get an automatic entry, you don't have to do anything else, it is just my thank you. If you advertise this post and leave me a comment with the link to find it, I will enter you twice.

This drawing will take place on July 4th at 9:00 am (Italy time).  My celebration of our homeland's Independence.  Oh how I miss the good ole' USA!

What?!!


Sending this to a friend who appreciates sarcasm.  I got the digi clip from Iclips.  But, my printer broke, so I ended up drawing him freehand by looking at the computer screen.  I got pretty close I think.  I made the scrub-brush freehand too.  I just cut out what I thought the shape would be and colored it with copics.


Bathtub and Duckies from New Arrival
Font is Pooh Font
Copic Colors
Digi image from Iclips (freehanded)
Towel is a cut piece of fleece material for my flocking
Sparkle from stickles
Sarcasm is free.

Challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - Cards for Men
Practical Scrappers - Glitter and flocking
Pile It On - #23 Summer Showers
A Crafty Little Place - Cards for Him 
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #54 - For Him/Men

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Celebrating Dad

The challenge at Fantabulous Cricut this week is to celebrate Dad. That was easy!


You've always pointed me in the right direction.  But, I still don't know which way is North or South or those two other ones.

.............


The girl is from My Community cut at 2.5 inches.  She is actually Jack climbing the bean stalk, but I used the hair from the teacher on the same cartridge cut at 2.5.  I snipped the little bit of Jack's hair off that would have shown.  The clothes for Jack are on the layer button and I just cut them twice out of two separate papers and layered them for a more girly look.  I made the walking stick with a scrap piece of paper. I tied little bows in her hair, doodled and done. 

The Compass is cut at 3" twice and shadowed.  The papers are from a book of Travel Papers my children bought me at Tuesday Morning last year.  It was perfect for this card. The DAD is from Beyond Birthdays.

I am spatially challenged  and can never remember where I've been or how to find it again, but my Dad can remember nearly everywhere we've been and what side of the street it's on.  I didn't get that talent  :0/   This card will make him laugh and it will also be poignant since he gave me a good moral upbringing as well.  

Happy Father's day to all those good father's out there. 

Challenges:

Lijit Search Wijit