Challenge #15 - Nice Day for a White Wedding - or Just Make Something Special in White

For last weeks Patriotism challenge we had two participants. Phinny made this collage as her entry to the challenge this week. Her interpretation is one of the great examples of how this country is fabulous. In plenty of other countries a collage like this would land one in jail or worse.


We truly are blessed to be Americans. And even more so to be women in Amercia.

We also got a contribution from Crafty Craftola - a recipe for Blueberry Sangria Lemonade (ah yum!!!) Patriotic? Sure, she's going to serve it on the Fourth of July! Sounds pretty good to me!

Remember it is never too late to participate in any of our challenges.

Now on to this weeks challenge:

Rosemary here:
I couldn't let June end without a nod to its reputation as the traditional wedding month (although October is becoming more and more popular all the time).

I love weddings. Weddings are so full of promise; of a lifetime of love as a couple goes forth into the great unknown of life with optimism and hope that they can weather it all together.


But not everyone wants to make a project with a wedding theme, sooooo.....how's about this for our theme this week:


Make something on either the theme of Wedding/Marriage or with White as the primary color of your project! That leaves you lots of room to interpret as you will! And we can't wait to see what you make!

And I'm going to have to post mine a little later to this - because, as you may well know, I have a seriously ill family member and I've been spending a lot of time taking care of her. But I will have something to inspire you with - but I didn't want to hold things up. So, onto Jana (who is conscientious and finished her project!)

Jana here: I don't have any weddings coming up, so I really didn't want to make a card. I didn't get married in white, so MY wedding pics are out. Hmmmm. What's a girl to do? Well, I'll tell you what I did. I made a gluebook page. Actually 2 of them. I kind of cheated on the second page, which is actually the first page you see in the book because I made the right page first and the left page was an after thought. But here it is.

I was going for

BRIDE GOT LOST IN THE PLANNING

as the theme for the first (right side of the layout) page.

Second (left side of the layout) page is just for fun.

No theme or message.

Here they are together.

NOW LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CREATE!

About our Patriotism theme...

I hope you know that we're asking you to tell us what makes you proud of where you are from - not just American patriotism. It just so happens it's where Jana and I are from.

But we know that we have people who read and participate in our challenges from not only the USA but also Canada, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, the UK, India, and Australia.

So, I hope you participate in this challenge - it will be great to see you and your national pride bursting out all over!

Challenge #14 - Patriotism

July 4 will be the 233rd birthday of the United States of America. I am proud to be an American. I realize that being a citizen of the United States is partly what makes me ME. What brings out the patriot in you? Regardless of your nationality, you belong to a country. It helps to make you who you are. Show off your National pride in this week’s creation.

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Jana here: My national pride started showing in Kindergarten. (Yup, way back then.) Our assignment was to make a Christmas ornament for our Mother for Christmas. Mine was, naturally, a United States Flag. Not a little one either. It was drawn on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper. I have to admit, it was the most unusual Christmas tree ornament in the whole class. I bet the whole school.

My patriotism has NEVER waivered. I am proud to call myself an AMERICAN. I have been lucky enough to have traveled to over 20 countries in my life, and not one of them has made me feel the urge to give up Citizenship to this country that I love. The rights, and responsibilities, that I am given here are amazing to me when I think of all of the places in the world where women are second rate citizens. Or even possessions. Places where I cannot imagine. I am so very blessed to be able to raise my girls in this FREE country.

My family had the priviledge of attending the United States Coast Guard boot camp graduation ceremony for my nephew. I love my nephew, but have NEVER been as proud of him as I was Friday. He made a conscious decision to assist in the defense of our great nation. It was a moving ceremony. A passage from boyhood to manhood. Defended to defender.

My creation this week is a very small token of salute of the members of our armed forces, past and present, and their family members. To recognize the efforts of the rebels who risked everything to found this great nation. To all citizens of the United States of America.

It isn't fancy. But I like it. I hope my sister does too. I have one for her too. She is the proud mama to one of the most recent Guardian of the seas.

(To get an enlarged view of the banner, go here, and click on the picture. For some reason, it won't do it on this blog?????)



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Rosemary here - I'm very proud of being an American. Like many (if not all of us in the USA) I have a varied ancestry that brings together British, Danish, German, Scottish, and Irish roots - but I am unequivocally an All-American woman. What I am most proud of as an American is freedom and abundant opportunity. This is truly a place where anyone can achieve as much as their desire and drive will take them.




I know, enough soapbox, show us your national pride in projects, Rosemary! Okey dokey!


My first two items are cross-stitch samplers that I actually did a while ago but I think they demonstrate that this blog is all about variety. So here are the two samplers - one traditional and one whimsical.

(Jana here: Rosemary, these are amazing. I am so impressed. )

My other project is also intended to showcase the variety of what constitutes an Opus-Gluei submittal. I always say you can make an inchie, twinchie, mini, or a moo, etc. right? Well, here is a 4x6 postcard celebrating the USA.




I used Wasau metallic cardstock, K&Company striped paper, Cats Q ink to vintage everything up, spare lace and ribbon scraps, a piece of vintage clipart (the flag was cut and given a little 3-D action with pop dots), and QuicKutz lettering.

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Last week we explored the idea of "How Does Your Garden Grow?" and we got (as usual) great projects that we'd like to share with you! Don't know if you noticed it, but both of your Poobahs used colors in their projects that are normally NOT their favorites - Jana chose pastels while Rosemary used earth tones. So, we're surprising ourselves going out of our comfort zones.

But onto your projects!


Our friend Ivolina is back with a lovely card full of depth and color - you expect the butterfly's wings to move at any moment. (and yellow roses signify friendship, which is something Opus-Gluei is all about too)





In case you missed seeing some of her other contributions, our Opus-Gluei greenhorn Kristen has a wicked sense of humor and more evidence is here with her contribution to our challenge. Go over and see some of her work - you'll be laughing too! She's sharp and sassy!

Phinny made a card that is serene and elegant - another great take on a challenge. I hope I may be so bold as to say that we love when you put the techniques you used on your blogs! Gives us inspiration!

Elizabeth was Ms. Multi-tasker, creating a card that satisfies three challenges (yep that is 3 challenges in 1). And she did so beautifully didn't she? Such a pretty card, cool and classy.

From the looks of her projects, which are beautiful - you would never know that Chat Noir prefers black and white! Such a pretty card, love the garden-inspired/catalog motifs - here's hoping you do that project for your cousin and use this card to present it!

Bobbi took a page out of Elizabeth's book and multi-tasked her submittal as well. Wow!!! What a beautiful card with dimension and texture, color and a happy theme - the lucky recipient of this card is going to love it!

Thank you all for the wonderful projects you have shared with us.

Challenge #13 - How does your Garden grow?

There is something so magical about watching the seasons change - one minute the trees and grass are this faint springtime shade of green and then WHOOSH - everything turns lush and full with growth. Fields are just starting to see the efforts of plowing and planting with the first shoots of new crops growing. Farmers' markets full of delicious, healthy food to enjoy!

So this week's theme is all about the growing. Do you like to visit a farmers' market, grow herbs in containers, have raised flower beds, or just like to live vicariously through gardening magazines and catalogs? Whatever you enjoy, let's try to capture it in a crafty manner. Just make whatever sings to you on this challenge and link it to us here. Try to capture something representing GROWTH (leaves, flowers, trees, etc.)

Now, that shouldn't be too hard to do, right?

Remember your entry can be ANYTHING - photo, ATC, blog entry, journaling, layout, card, mini, moo, inchie, twinchie, postcard, etc. WE LOVE EVERYTHING CRAFTY!!!

Rosemary here (Jana - don't faint at my color choices) and I made a card for this week's challenge. It is using the quote "Friendship is a sheltering tree" from the Youth and Age poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I used colors that are outside my comfort zone but for the person it is intended for they are MOST appropriate. I used the QuicKutz Reuse kit (spring special edition kit) and a scrap of BG Lime Rickey and SEI Mimosa papers, the ribbon is from le extensive stash du Rosemarie (very exclusive too - smirk). I like the radiant quality of the leaves motif here like friendship radiating warmth, love, and acceptance.

Jana here - I have had this quilt block kit forever. I decided to break it out and get my garden going. Of course this will be a project that takes longer than a week. I still have to work and these kids say they are hungry like every day. Geesh. But here is the progress I have made so far. I am really liking these blocks. Not quite sure that I want to make a quilt though.

Maybe they should be placemats.

Or perhaps a wall hanging.

Or pillows. (Rosemary here - why Jana these are GORGEOUS and heck, why not make something lovely and send it to a friend - HINT HINT HINT)(smirkedy smirk again)

Now show us how your garden grows.

Last week we had several great contributions - love love love all the different takes on the theme! This is Rosemary here and I was supposed to upload an image for last week and would have done so (even on vacation, why not), but then a family emergency kind of skewed things and well, I've been a bad Rosemary for being crafty. I need to be, I want to be, and perhaps I'll simply post my entry for last week's great theme later.

Phinny made a beautiful card using a vintage image (I love anything with a vintage or retro theme!) - So cute and perfect for the challenge!

Kristen brought her sense of humor to this challenge with her card and its sentiment (that's SOME SPF there, Kristen)

Chat Noir made a wonderful card with a real sense of texture and mood - love the real shells and those flip flops on the sand - and for a moment you forgot it was cool in your hemisphere (hopefully)

Casii, the most patient Opus-Gluei follower in the world (;-D, sayeth the Rosemary), made a fun layout that absolutely captures the mood of fun and action!

All of these are wonderful. It's never too late to make a project for any of our challenges. Just let us know and we'll go check it out.

Challenge #12 - Sand and shells

Use sand and/or shells to inspire your creation this month. Here in the US it is hot and beach weather. Bring a bit of the outdoors inside. Into the air conditioned rooms. If you are in the southern hemisphere, bring some of the warmth of the hot beach inside with you. Use the real thing, or a picture. Use the sand and shells for inspiration. The patterns on the shells, the texture of the sand, the memories of a distant or not too distant trip...


The above album was made using some envelopes I got from the Dollar Store, Basic Grey papers, Quickutz dies, my bind it all and the covers (front and back) are up-cycled packing from a paper pack. Stamps are known, but not at the moment. I used Stazon ink.

This album was made using Quickutz dies, I don't remember the papers, 3/4 inch binder rings and assorted ribbons. I made some of the pictures the whole pages.

Rosemary is on vacation, but will post her project soon.

Have fun Rosemary.

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Now check out the projects from those who contributed to our Challenge #11 Theme - Sun/Sunshine

First up is Fia who made a beautiful and contemplative layout of a gorgeous sunset over the Pacific Ocean!

Our next beautiful project is a card from our new friend Fran, with such a cheerful sunny card that it can't help but put a smile on your face!

If it's an Opus-Gluei challenge you KNOW Kristen is going to have a witty take on it and this card is NO exception! Really makes me chuckle with that expression on her face! (I'm still chuckling because I often think that expression in the office!)

Ivolina brings us a bright and happy ATC with a burst of the sun!

Bobbi interpreted our theme with this wonderful Sunflower card. I just love that she took the theme and made it her own.


Now show us your creations using Sand and/or Shells for inspiration.