Frog cards & folder

Some time ago, I needed to come up with a little something for the Awana leaders in our church. These wonderful people give their Wed evenings to about 30+ kids each week. Since it's men and women leading, I was trying to find something that the men could use to send a card to the kids and it not be "girly" - so I got out my frog from the Pocket Fun and set to figure out what to do. It is at this time I realize I need to find some stamps I can use for the men in my life - but no time to order now, I'll make this work. I had purchased some cranberry crisp paper - had plenty of night of navy, a roll of thyme ribbon, some wiggly eyes and off I went. While these are not anything to "write home" about, they were my first attempt to do both the card sleeve and some cards to go in it. I did more of a postcard effort - knowing that men, if they used it, wouldn't want to write much. Every folder had 4 cards in it so the leaders could drop their kids a quick note. I'm not excited about this design but it was quick and they have been used! Which was the point. I really like the idea of having more of these card folders. They make a great gift! So I'm still learning! and having fun while I learn!!

Graduation Announcement

I think I mentioned in a previous blog that we have 3 graduating this year! So what aunt Tami is doing is making the graduation announcement. I used my cuttlebug folder to do the Congratulations embossing and to cut the 07. I then printed the information on the inside of the card. Tied blue and white ribbon. And we have a picture of the 3 grads on the inside of the card. I'm very pleased with how it has come out - but I will say - tying all the ribbons is a bit more time consuming than I thought. But they are worth it!

"Lost Boy No More"

I just finished reading "Lost Boy No More" last night. It's the true story of a young man who when he was 9 or 10 became a "lost boy" in Sudan. The story tells of the thousands of boys who were "lost" when their villages were attached in southern Sudan. There are 2 missionaries that our family and church is supporting working in southern Sudan right now. My brother spent almost 4 months there helping them this last year. After finishing the book, I'm glad I didn't know then what I know now. The violence, the slavery, the darkness over the land is hard to get a grip on when you live in a free country. The book isn't real graphic but it's real and with my imagination, I could see these boys walking thousands of miles, fighting off lions, wild dogs, with their feet bloody, starving, eating whatever they could find, hiding in the night out of fear - oh, it is amazing how God delivered them. Then many come to America and are overwhelmed by our culture. I'd not one to keep up with world affairs - not one of my best traits - so this book was a good read for me.

Great News!

Great news came our way as our "lil John" received a full ride scholarship this last week to the college he really wanted to attend! Basketball has once more taken him to a good place!!! We are very excited for him since it was a childhood dream to play b'ball and eventually go to college!!! And in addition to that dream coming true ~ we will get to go to all the home games since he's staying close to home!! All very exciting!

Provencal Set

I love this set! I watercolored the castle with my Watercolor Crayons and Aqua Marker. These Crayons are going to last me a life time!!! I love that too!! I used the French Script as the background and finally broke down and used some of my antique brass pieces.

Cards in the Tin

Wedding Card

This card was CASED from Splitcoast - I had seen one like it and just added the ribbon and words to it. I've got to start paying attention to who does these wonderful cards now so I can give credit where credit is due!

The words are from the God's Blessings set. The pearl accessory came from Wal-mart. I stamped the words on vellum with stazon on black. It is MUCH nicer in real life. I chose the royal blue ribbon because we had a friend who was getting married and that was her color.

Cuttlebug Thank you

This little card went into the tin of cards I did for my sweet sister-in-law, who is more like a sister! It's a blessing to have family members who you enjoy being with - even when they are very different in personality from you. Before telling you about the card let me mention that our family is so "put together" by God. My brother and I did not grow up close at all. After he and I both came to the Lord at separate times in separate places - God began to grow us into family. He and his lovely bride of 20 years adopted 5 of their 6 children and I've had the honor of being a part of their lives. I think because I've nevered married, it's been especially good to be involved with their family! It keeps me from being too self involved!

Now on to the card - I did a one sheet wonder some time ago on glossy paper. This piece with the flowers was the last piece left. So I got to playing around laying things out on card stock and loved the yellow "thanks" from my cuttlebug with the flowers. It doesn't show really well but I matched the pinks - and sponged some on the thanks to make it "match" more.

Materials used: Papers - glossy white, black, barely banana Inks -yoyo yellow, pink passion, stazon black.

Singing Spring Card

This card is one of my favorites and I've only kept it because I want to copy it for some gifts! I bought the musical score background (retired) specifically to go with the words on this card and this was the first time I used them the way I wanted to. Natural Beauty is one of my favorite sets - of course I only have about 15 "favorite" sets thus far. But when I want to create without a CASE - this is one of the sets I go to. I used my Pretty in Pink ink to make leaves as the background - they don't show up really well in the picture - a new camera that I'm still learning to use! Did the musical score in Certainly Celery on Certainly Celery. Watercolored the bird using my Watercolor crayons. Then used my word punch to make a place to add ribbon.

I have to admit - I didn't know if I would enjoy this putting pictures on a blog and writing about them but it's actually rather fun!!!

My first Tin

This tin was done back in January or February in a class. My excellent and most awesome demonstrator showed us how to do the tin and now I have several others to make. This one was for my dear sister-in-law, who does not craft, but loves things done by others! I filled it with 33 cards and envelopes. Some were done in a birthday card class and the rest, I did myself with inspiration from Splitcoast. I'll start posting some of the cards as time permits this week.

I used Stampin' Up's Recollections paper - which I LOVE!! It's by far my favorite paper!!! I then used Certainly Celery ribbon on the outside of the box. And the ribbons on the handle and on the lid inside are from the In Color - Cranberry Crisp. I had a chipboard "M" I had bought sometime ago because my sister-in-law and all my nieces' names begin with an M. So I used Cranberry Crisp Ink and "dyed" the M. Attached to some Certainly Celery paper and cut out by hand the background of the M.

I used the matching paper to "make" the pen - bought her postage stamps to put in the tin. Filled it up and she seemed please. One of my favorite gifts to give is cards with envelopes - I never keep any of my own stuff!!!

Book Review

Just finished Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore. If you are serious about wanting to get out of an addiction or a habitual sin then this is a good resource to help with that process. I love that she talks about the 3 kinds of pits - those we get pushed into, those we slip into and those we run and jump in. Then she discusses how some people get a one-second miracle deliverance and then there are those who get the process. I tend to be a process person! Then the process has 3 phases and she goes over those. Once I got serious about reading it I finished it quickly and will probably be going back to it soon!!! A good read if you're ready!

Big project in the works

In about a month my nephew and 2 oldest nieces will graduate from high school. John (19), Maria (18) and Mel (17) have all been homeschooled and John is now at a private school. He did 5 years of high school because when he came to the family, he was behind in school from being in foster care and since he was homeschooled at the time ~ we were able to work with him and he will be graduating with honors now. Anyway, my big project is I'm doing a family heritage recipe book for each of them. Their mom, the most awesome Michelle, is not a craft person but is helping me. We are including family recipes, stories and pictures. I should have pictures of some of the pages up soon. I have a little less than 2 months now so that is what I've been working on continually! Yet I'm ready to get some things on this blog! Thanks Julie for suggesting that I take pictures of the "project" to post! Now I'm even more motivated to get more done.