Friday, January 29, 2016

"What Warms Your Heart?"

Good Friday to ALL (friends, followers, viewers and visitors)!

Guess what?  I have made it to the end of my posting for the month of January.  Today is Friday (my busy day) and those of you who have been with me know that the weekends are off limits to this blog.  I'm interested in other "things" and that is what I do when I'm away from you, the other "things".

What or who warms your heart and makes it flutter more than anything?  I'm going to just let you think about that question for a couple of weeks.  I'm going to say you will have an answer by Valentine's Day.

Some of you are so faithful in your views and comments.  I don't want you to ever think that I don't appreciate your love.  I have  you here, there and everywhere.   Your kindness warms my heart when I hear from you.  When I don't hear from you or see your posting, then I try to reach out to you to see what is going on.   You are never forgotten.

Here is the card that inspired the posting for today:
We have here:
  • beige Recollection cardstock with a medium beige for the mat and a piece of DP on top of that.
  • stamped images of coffee beans from Fiskars "Latte Love" as well as the cup and sentiment
  • Offray ribbon
  • medium burgundy cardstock for the leaves that was die cut from Tim Holtz's "Holiday Greens"
  • five faux rhinestones from Recollection
Thanks for taking a little time from your busy schedule to view here today.
As always...

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois



Thursday, January 28, 2016

"What Day Is It For You?"

Hello Friends, Visitors, Followers and Viewers.
Is it your birthday?  Is it your anniversary?  Is it your "pamper" day (get you hair and nails done with a massage on the side)?  Is it your "lazy" day (lie around and do nothing, absolutely nothing)?

Well, if none of the above suit your fancy, how about these from the National Day Calendar website:
 NATIONAL FUN AT WORK DAY;  NATIONAL KAZOO DAY;  and NATIONAL BLUEBERRY PANCAKE DAY.    I'm doing two out of the three with a twist on one of them.
Yes, I'm going to have fun at work today and for dinner this evening, I'm using blueberries in someway as a dessert.

The fun begins here (Sorry for the pictures.  I hit something on my ipad and could not get my images to look better...will work on that later).
Card for Wednesday sketch challenge over at the Outlawz


Here is what I used:
  • Neenah white cardstock; black Recollection cardstock; pattern paper from Craft Smith
  • strips of quilling paper from Quilled Creations Beginner Quilling Kit
  • ladybug stickers from EKsuccess
  • used Fiskars punch and Spellbinders lacy circles die
  • Offray white ribbon
  • followed the sketch  at the Outlawz : Wednesday Sketch Challenge January 27, 2016
**Please note that I'm using a Beginner Quilling Kit.  Therefore you know what level I'm on.  These are some teardrops and "Y" scroll shapes that I'm practicing....many more practice sessions are needed.

Card for Outlawz

Twisted Thursday Challenge For January 28 to February 3 2016...optional twist..."Anything Goes"


As you can see,  my fun at work day involves flowers...those on greeting cards that I made and now I shall go and take care of the ones I have all around my house.   They need some water and some need to be potted into larger pots.

Thanks for visiting today.  Have a fun work day, play your kazoo and eat your blueberries.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois



Wednesday, January 27, 2016

"MEMORIES"

Hello and Happy Wednesday to all my Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
What a wonderful  day we are having.  It is another day to do better than you did yesterday.

We all have memories don't we?  Some are happy and some are sad.  There are ones that we wish to forget but they keep lingering on almost never going away.  Some you thought you had suppressed until someone comes along and say, "remember when you..... or, remember when ".  I know the Christmas holiday of 2015 is  still fresh in your memory.  Storm Jonas .....

Whether your memories are good, bad, sad, or forgotten,  I have a card for that:

This "MEMORIES" card was made with the following:
  • light grey, white and black Recollection cardstock;  the white piece was embossed with a Tatter lace folder and lightly colored with abandoned coral and cracked pistachio Distress Inks.  
  • two pieces of homemade mulberry paper from Amazon 
  • Jolee's boutique dimensional sticker
  • five faux rhinestones from Recollection



Entry for Challenge #218 - Anything Goes at

This "Air Mail" card was made with the following:
  • purple Recollection cardstock for the base with a gold and purple piece of DP for the mat
  • white Recollection cardstock that was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder
  • a Darice die cut stencil was used to cut out the shape from the white cardstock, letting the gold and purple piece to peep through the opening
  • a Recollection bird cage was hung with a piece of purple hemp cord through one of the openings
  • four wooden birds were placed on the card
  • sentiment "Air Mail" from Tim Holtz's Ephemera pack was adhered to the top right corner
I hope whatever memory popped in your mind...it was a good one.

Thanks for viewing.  Thanks for commenting.  Thanks for your continued support.  Have a good day!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

"Get Sweet And Sassy"

Happy Tuesday Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.

Schools and businesses in my area are still closed down today.  I guess when you live in a semi rural area and the Department of Transportation doesn't think enough of where you live to come and scrape the highway, what do you do?  I will not and I am not complaining.
There are a lot of things I can do inside my house.  Crafting would be the #1 but that will have to come after everything else is taken care of.  I told you yesterday, while the snow was falling on Friday and Saturday...I was crafting while watching it fall outside my den door.
Some sense of normalcy is going on now and this cannot be the priority for today.  So I'm showing you some of the cards that were made during the snowfall:

This card is my attempt at mixed media.  Burgundy Bazzill cardstock was used for the A2 base followed by a dark gray Recollection piece of cardstock cut 1/8 inch less than the base.  The next piece is a piece of cardboard with some of the pieces torn off.  This was colored using distress inks from Tim Holtz.  Another piece of Kraft cardstock was used in the Tim Holtz brick wall embossing folder.  This was also colored using the red barn door distress ink with a mustard colored pencil in between the bricks.  This piece has many layers:  a die cut heart out of music paper; two die cut floral stems from Spellbinder die; K&Company bird cage; two Recollections birds and a feather; two floral flowers. and last a sticker sentiment that reads, "Sweet and Sassy".
The next card (it is only one card photographed twice) is showing the horizontal as well as the vertical direction of this card.  When a sentiment is placed on it, then the direction will be determined.  I did a card using the  Wednesday sketch from the Outlawz and made this one along with the one I entered for their challenge.  This will probably go in the box for cards going to a particular cause.

 

This third card was done with having CAS in mind.  I was looking at Challenge # 4 - CASE This Card at http://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/ and decided to be teased into doing something from that challenged.

Challenge # 4 - CASE This Card
This last card was something that I worked on yesterday. This image has been sitting on my desk for weeks.  Mojo Monday always offer a sketch on Monday so I decided to use it.  I'm not entering it into the sketch challenge.  I only used it to get it off my desk.  It is included in the post as a way of keeping up with the cards I make.  This one will also be placed in the box for a cause.


If you're not already "sweet and sassy", you need to be working on it.  Valentine's Day is not that far away.  
Check out this page for more inspiration  http://paperpiecingcreations.blogspot.com/2016/01/valentines-day-1.html.  

As always...

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois



Monday, January 25, 2016

" The Snow Storm Is Over, Now What"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
It is still sitting there for me to look at with a glisten and sparkle that only it can have.  It was pretty, fluffy and white but due to the cats and dogs roaming the neighborhood you can imagine what it looks like now.  That which was on the sidewalk and shoveled  into a heap looks awful but it is out of the way so if I have to walk outside I can .  You knew I was talking about the snow and nothing else, didn't you?  That has been the topic every since last week.

We got mostly 4-8 inches compared to my brother-in-law in Washington, DC with 22+inches.  More is on the way again this weekend.  Will you be ready for it or you're tired of it now?

I crafted during this storm.  Mostly a half of a day Friday and the same on Saturday. I loved watching it fall.  On Friday the flakes were so big that I made a joke for my DH (somebody up there is having a snowball fight and wants you to come outside so you can get hit).  The deaths and accidents from storm Jonas were no laughing matter.  We were warned to stay off the road and that is exactly what we did.

This is just one of the cards I made for  MONDAY GREETINGS CHALLENGE - ANYTHING GOES - GC012516  for the Outlawz during the inclement weather:

Supplies:
black and white Recollection cardstock
DP from Bazzill Antique paper 
Tim Holtz's crazy birds and Distress inks (I tried coloring with the inks (tip from Julie)
faux Recollection gems
Basically everything was layered and or torn to achieve the effect you see in the card.

Thanks for viewing with me  today.  Please come again or pop on over to the Outlawz to see what everyone else submitted.
Those who are still in the snow...just let the sun do most of the melting.  If you don't have to get out in it, stay inside and craft.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Friday, January 22, 2016

"Another Valentine's Day Card"

Hello, hello, hello on this snowy Friday my Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
Yes, the storm is here and it came early this morning just like the weather channel people predicted it.
I've already seen cars slipping and sliding on the road in front of my house.  I'm staying in and hope nothing happens that will have me out in these conditions.

I love Valentine's Day!  I remember when I was younger (teen years), when that day came I received cards (yes, I put a "s" there) and boxes (plural) of candy.  I guess you could say it was nice to have a lot of people who showed their affection towards you.  After I got married, it was still a box (singular) of candy and a bouquet of flowers (plural).  Roses!!!  Those were good days and they still are.  I'm a diabetic so the candy intake is limited but I still love any kind of flower.  I just prefer the planted pot ones instead of the cut blooms.

My "Sunshine" (granddaughter) loves pink.  I think if she could color everything in her world, this would be its color.  I made a card with her color in my thoughts.  The card is not for her because she is only seven and this one is leaning more toward older individuals.  The one for her will come later.


Steps to making this card:
  1. I cut a base 4.25 by 5.5 from Neenah white cardstock, a burgundy piece of Recollection cardstock  1/8 inch less than the base and a piece 4  x 5 1/4 from Bazzill Antique aged papers.
  2. On the antique paper I used gesso for the area that I would be placing the cut out heart (Spellbinders Vines of Passion).  After adhering the heart (cut with pink Recollection cardstock), I used a Pitt pen to outline the heart and doodle around the outline.
  3. I cut a pink floral piece of cardstock 2  x  5 1/4, used gesso and the Pitt pen to mimic what I did with the antique paper.  I cut out the solid heart out of the pink Recollection paper and place that to flow with the cut out vine heart .  This piece was adhere to the antique paper using foam dots.
  4. I used the computer and printer for the "I Love You" sentiment that was cut out using a smaller Spellbinder's heart die.
  5. Offray ribbon in pink was used to make a bow which was adhered to the card along with white Spellbinders Romantic vines die cut in the center of the solid pink heart.
  6. Three more smaller hearts were cut out and used for embellishment and placed on the right toward the bottom of the card.
Enjoy your day and I hope you enjoyed your view.
Thanks for joining me today.  Please come back again.  To keep up with what I'm doing, join or follow this blog so you want miss out!!!

As always:

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois


Thursday, January 21, 2016

" I Simply Enjoy You"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
Did you know that today is GET TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS DAY?  One of my crafting friends started her e-mail with "Happy National Get to Know Your Art Tribe Day!"   How about me changing it still to "Happy National Get You to Know I Simply Enjoy You Day!"

There are some of you who I've met on the internet in various places and some of you are crafters while the others are visitors and viewers.  Along the way, I've picked up little bits and pieces about you.  With what I already know, there is one thing for sure...I  SIMPLY  ENJOY  YOU!

If you would like to tell me more about yourself in the crafting world, could you answer these questions...

  • What are the top 5 paper -crafting essentials you are never without?
  • What is your favorite kind of card to create?
  • Do you have a favorite paper-crafting technique?
  • Besides paper crafting, how do you enjoy spending your time?
  • Do you have a favorite paper-crafting tip to pass along to our other followers?
Today's card was made with the following:
  • Neenah white cardstock: burgundy Recollection cardstock; printed Recollection cardstock
  • Gesso;  Hampton Art black pigment ink to stamp;  red and green Akashiya Sai Watercolor Brush Pen 
  • Penny Black's blooming garden stamp; Tim Holtz's Visual Artistry Stampers Anonymous stamp; Hero Arts friendship stamp
  • red Offray ribbon 
Another entry for http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
Challenge #218 - Anything Goes


Let your customers know how you feel about them or better yet get to know your customers.
Thanks for viewing and spending a little time with me today.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois 


Wednesday, January 20, 2016

"ODD colors Are CHARMING"

Hello to Wednesday!
 I can't believe it is the middle of the week, can you?
My friends, followers, viewers and visitors, are you in any of the areas that the snow prediction is 2 feet for Friday through Saturday?  If my DH had his pilot license and a plane, I think we would fly to a warmer environment.  But since we can't, we are going to make our home  nice, warm and comfortable.
Don't get me wrong, I love snow.  I love to watch it falling.  I guess I love it more because once it starts I don't have to get out there in it not unless it is a case of emergency.
Our area is predicted to get snow and sleet.  If we are lucky according to the map we may just get some freezing rain.
If you haven't made preparation for the storm, go out today and make sure you have the necessities (batteries in case the electricity goes out; food that doesn't require the need for electricity to cook; lamps and candles and anything if you know you  are going to be stuck for a couple of days coupe up in your home).
On to a warmer topic...my share for today:
I just think all of you who read this blog, follow along with me, make comments, share the work I've done, are charming.  All of our oddities coming together makes us this way.
This card was made using the following:

  1. pink and blue Recollection cardstock
  2. Ranger watercolor paper and Bazzill antique aged papers
  3. Dies: Spellbinders foliage, Romantic Blooms Three, Romantic Vines and BoBunny  lattice frame
  4. Sticker from K & Company
  5. faux rhinestone from Recollection 
  6. Sizzix embossing folder
  7. Tim Holtz distress inks 
Entry: Wednesday, January 20, 2016



top corner

bottom corner

If no one ever mention that you're "charming", you heard it here.  Let me write it again
"You Are Charming"

Thanks for your view and your time with me today.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

"The Wind Chill Made Me Do A Shaker"

Hello Friends, Visitors, Followers and Viewers,
You know it's Tuesday.   Frozen snow from Sunday is still on my lawn.  When I was growing up and if the snow had not disappeared within a day,  the elderly people would say, "it's waiting around for some more".  Well, according to all the weather reports this morning, snow will fall tomorrow (Wednesday) but not as much as it did Sunday and it will be more on Friday.  Winter is in full force.  The temp for today will stay in the 20's with the wind chill making it feel like the lower teens.
Brrrrr!!!  I'm shaking from the thoughts of how cold it is outside.  I'm inside for the moment  and when I do venture out you better believe I'll be  wrapped up from head to toe (that's your laugh for today).

I was so excited yesterday in doing a CAS card.  Today, I did another one that goes with anyone outside in this cold weather (shaking, shaker, shimmering).

I used my computer to print out Emily Dickinson's  quote on Neenah white cardstock.  I then used the double stitched rectangles die from Our Daily Bread designs to cut out the quote.  Using Spellbinders feathers die, I cut out a feather from the white cardstock and placed a piece of clear plastic behind the cut out.  I adhered foam tape around the cut out, added sequins and another piece of clear plastic.  With the same feather die, I used some DP from my stash to cut out two more feathers.  I placed a piece of yellow Recollection cardstock behind the matted quote and then adhered this to the A2 base (purple Recollection cardstock).

Card is complete and here it is:

close up of feathers

 If the temperature where you are is in the teens or below, please dress accordingly.  Check on your neighbors to make sure they have heat and or blankets to keep warm.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois



Monday, January 18, 2016

"Sparkly CAS and Embossing Wet & Dry"

Good Monday to my Followers, Friends, Visitors and Viewers.
Some of you are off for MLK holiday!  That is really good.  I know you will be doing some volunteering today at a local shelter or somewhere else.
 Some of you will stay in bed because of the holiday and as you say, "catch up on your rest".
 Some of you have done what I've done..got up early...took care of some chores...and now you sit behind your computer screen or phone screen typing away or searching the "net".  You're on Google +, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

I'm sharing my entry for the Outlawz's Sunday   CAS challenge - January 17, 2016
  and Monday  Monday Greetings Challenge – Use an embossing technique (wet or dry)
  challenges:


CAS challenge - January 17, 2016
This card is made using white and blue cardstock from Recollection; a butterfly from Martha Stewart; sequins  from Darice.
The sentiment reads: "with love".


 Monday Greetings Challenge – Use an embossing technique (wet or dry) –
This card was made using white  and brown cardstock from Recollection; DP from Botanique GCD Studios; Ranger watercolor paper; Sizzix Tim Holtz's Mixed Media die, Celebration Words Script die; brick wall and jalopy embossing folder; various distress inks and white pigment ink.
The sentiment reads: "Congrats".  It is a card for someone whose journey has taken them far and there was progress made along the way.  You may have started in the "old" days but everyone is so proud of where you are now.

My granddaughter's (we call her "Sunshine") zentangle cat that she drew and colored in her 2nd grade Art class.  I forgot to post it last week after she left (my bad).  She hopes everyone who reads her grandma's blog will like her project.

Hope you enjoy your day whether you celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King or not.
Thanks for stopping by.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois




Friday, January 15, 2016

"Spin Off Challenge From Card Shapes"

TGIF Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
Welcome to Friday everyone.   We made it, didn't we?  We are thankful for whatever situation we are in or came through this week...it could have been worst.

Yesterday, after posting three cards that I called fancy fold cards, I received a lot of responses as well as two challenges.  Fancy fold cards takes time.  They are not done as the traditional A2 cards are done, with one fold.  You have to concentrate a little more,  measure twice before cutting and have some patience with what you are doing.  If you're watching a video and someone leaves out a step or fast forward the information, you may find yourself at a lost or you keep trying until you get it correct.

Two ladies, and they know who they are, gave me a challenge yesterday.  One of the cards I did was fairly easy to duplicate because I had just made it the night before.  The only thing that was difficult  was to think about how to decorate it.  Going through some things I had on hand  gave me somewhat of an idea on how I would go about completing that challenge.

The next challenge was to make the gatefold shutter card.  I had made a gatefold card and presented it on this blog yesterday but had never heard or seen a gatefold shutter card before.  So I went back and watched the video and carefully wrote down the steps so I could perform that challenge.

Here are the cards, "Spin Off Challenge From Card Shapes" posted on Thursday:

The first one may look like the one I posted yesterday and you would be correct.  The only thing that changed was the decoration and the color of paper and cardstock that I used.  This lady wanted to see a window because she thought the card from yesterday reminded her of a room.  Take a look at what I came up with:

Sentiment: Family Stories Make The Most Valuable Heirlooms

The card below is the Gatefold Shutter Card.  You will be able to get more information here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZA3O6kp9Js&feature=youtu.be
 After you watch the video, you will understand better why I posted my card this way (I tried to do my own video but something went wrong in getting it to play). 


Card closed with belly band (you really don't need one)

belly band removed and you only see a black circle

As the card opens...you can tell why it is called a "shutter card"

card is fully open to reveal the message
Sentiment: BELIEVE
Thanks for the challenge lovely ladies. 

 It was fun to do.

Have a nice enjoyable weekend.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Thursday, January 14, 2016

"What's Your Favorite Card Shape?"

Happy Day to my Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
One more work day for this week.  Remember last week  I told you it wouldn't be long before you would be back to your old routine.  Just think...tomorrow you make it in, do your job, get off from work and you will have a three day weekend...yes three days to do whatever you want to do.  Monday is another holiday.

I didn't win the lottery because I didn't play.  The ticket my DH bought didn't score anything in the money range.   Were you one of the lucky ones who got something from your ticket?  Four dollars...a thousand dollars....a million dollars...or nothing at all like my DH?

I've been making cards for a long time.  You have been looking at the cards I make for a long time.
Have you ever thought or wondered what was my favorite card shape to make?
You have seen a lot of the traditional A2 folded in half  or folded down (a traditional rectangular shape).  Do you think that is my favorite shape?

Well, when I have the time, I like the fancy fold card shapes.  In that range, I just can't pick one.  I like to get away from the traditional every once in a while and do something different.  Today, is one of those days that I did something different (to be honest it was last night while my DH was at a meeting).

Here are three fancy fold cards and the website where you can follow along the same way that I did:

This card will be entered in:

Twisted Thursday Challenge For January 14-20, 2016...optional twist..."Favorite Card Shape


The sentiment is: Love, Joy, Peace and Courage
This is a side view of this card.

This card doesn't really have a fancy name but it does have a fancy fold.  I found the direction to make it on:

I used grey Recollection  and white Recollection cardstock;  Designer Paper from DCWV Cutting Machine paper pad; Martha Stewart butterfly and the stickers from K & Company.
If you follow the steps from the above website, your card will look like the one I made.


The Second Fancy Fold Card

Front View
The Sentiment is:  Wishing you joy

Side View

This is my second card.   It is called a One Flap Easel Card.  The directions for making this one can be found on 

I used a coral colored paper cardstock from Bazzill; Neenah white cardstock for my image and a piece of light brownish cardstock for the mat behind the image.  The image was colored and glossy accent was added on top of the image.  The sentiment came from Hampton Art jillibean soup handwritten sentiments and stamped with Hampton Art black pigment ink.  Three Martha Stewart die cut butterflies were added for embellishment.  Again, if you follow the direction from this website, your card will look almost or similar to the one I made.


My Third Fancy Fold Card

Front View
The Sentiment is :  You're so special to me
This will be entered at
http://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2016/01/challenge-2-create-gatefold-card.html

Challenge #2 - Create A Gatefold Card (Use One Die)

Open View
This last card is called a gate fold card.  The directions for how to make one can be found at 

I used Neenah white cardstock; black Recollection cardstock and designer paper from DCWV.  The heart shape is a die cut.  The sentiment was stamped with black Hampton Art pigment ink and the stamp is from Hero Arts Operation Write Home clear stamps.  I used a Heidi Swapp heart stencil with barn door red Distress ink around the sentiment.
Your card will look almost the same if you follow the same directions as I did.

Can you pick just one?  I couldn't!  I like to make them all.
Thanks for viewing.  See you soon.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois











Wednesday, January 13, 2016

"The Journey Awakens The Soul"

Good Day to my Followers, Viewers, Friends and Visitors.
What was the last trip that you took either by yourself or with family or friends?
Did you enjoy the moment (s) or were you constantly thinking of being at home?
If your trip was a vacation, did you collect a souvenir to bring back with you?
Okay, you did or you didn't.

My last trip was with my DH  and we traveled by car to Florida (twelve hours to get from our house to Tampa) for the Christmas holiday.
It was a time I used to reflect on the closing of the year and the beginning of another life journey for 2016.  I kept a prayer in the front of my thoughts and asked God for guidance, peace and protection to help me see the close and the opening. He did!

This journey really did awaken my soul!  Thoughts of what I had not accomplished and what I  wanted to accomplish for myself  invoked a need for a vision board (actually a list) and to start a journal to write down thoughts, action, delays or what  will occur  on this venture for me.  I want to be able to share with you along the way some of the life lessons I will learn from the experiences that I know I will have.  I want to be able to step out of my comfort zone to do some things I've never thought of doing (we'll see how this one pans out).

So, here is a card I made to include in my journal and to enter it at http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com...Challenge #217 - Anything Goes


Enabler's List

  • brown Recollection cardstock for the A2 base
  • brown designer paper from Paper Studio (two layers)
  • Martha Stewart butterfly
  • hemp cord for ribbon
  • use of Tim Holtz's mix media die 
  • piece of burlap
Challenge #217 - Anything Goes
THE  JOURNEY
AWAKENS  THE  SOUL



Entry for Wednesday sketch challenge January 13  at
http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/wednesday-sketch
Love black and white pictures and I decided to make this the primary focus for this card.
Background: Neenah white cardstock; red Recollection cardstock; black & white polka dot DP
Image of an old water mill behind a window
Four die cuts from Spellbinders Corners & Accents One
Sketch provide by Outlawz challenge for Wednesday Jan. 13

Have you had anything that has awaken your soul?  You don't have to travel 12 hours to find out.  Just sit back, close your eyes and look within and around yourself.  Are you where you want to be, doing what you want to be doing and enjoying the bumps along the way?

Thanks for taking a little time to view with me today.  Come back to enjoy the journey!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois


Tuesday, January 12, 2016

"Adding To My Valentine's Day Stash"

Good Day to all my Friends, Visitors, Followers and Viewers,
I'm a little sluggish with getting it up and running this morning.  I'm not hurting.  I'm not sick.  I'm just slow at the moment.  I feel like the looks of a slow turtle or snail trying to make it across the sidewalk (lol).  Guess what...I'm going to blame it on the cold weather because everything else is lovely.  I guess I want to pull up a portable table and chair near my den glass door and watch for the snow ( thank you very much Darvi in Chicago).  According to the weather report, I may or may not see a flake or two but not two inches (our joke).  Not enough for a school closure or a day off from work in out part of the world.

I did what most crafters, especially card makers are doing...create a Valentine's Day card.  It will be added to the box until it is close to that time for it to go postal or when someone request it.

Here is what I used to make the card:

  • Neenah white cardstock cut for a A2 card base...4,25 x 5.50
  • black Recollection cardstock for the mat cut 1/8 inch less than base
  • designer paper from Ki Berry Blast paper pad and My Mind's Eye
  • die cut script word from Sizzix thinlits Tim Holtz's celebration words
  • double stitched rectangles die from Our Daily Bread designs
  • followed the sketch found on http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/2016/01/mojo-monday-430.html

Mojo Monday 430


I'm going to fix me an energy drink to see if I can perk up to complete another card for tomorrow.
See you back here again.  Go forth and do something to make someone else happy or "loved" today.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois



Monday, January 11, 2016

"Two Or More Inches"

Greetings to you on this Monday!
My weekend was very enjoyable.   What about the one that you had?  Some shopped!  Some slept in!
Some had birthdays (it's another day Roni, smile and enjoy it)!  Some people went to or watched football games!  Some people made sure their little "Sunshine" (she came and stayed Friday and Saturday night) had a lot of grandma's attention!  All in all it was a really enjoyable weekend.

We had not seen our granddaughter in person since Thanksgiving.  We face time every week but it is not the same.  Looking at her even back in November it appears as if she is growing by leaps and bounds.  I remember teasing her back in November telling her she was trying to get as tall as I am.  Of course, wanting to be grown she said, "yes, grandma, I am".   Well, when she came on Friday evening, I could tell that more inches had been added to her frame.  We again joked about it.  I didn't exactly get out the yard stick to see the actual height of her but she has grown two or more inches since the last time we saw her in person.  My daughter even said she thinks "Sunshine" is having growth pains because she complains about her legs hurting.  As a concerned grandmother, I told her to get a medical opinion.

Speaking of "two or more inches", this is the challenge over at the Outlawz today:

Monday Greetings Challenge – Use two or more “inches” on your card – GCC011116

This is my entry:

love you bunches
Enabler's List:
Neenah white cardstock for A2 base; brown paper from the Paper Studio for the mat cut 1/8 inch smaller than the base; two squares  and two rectangles cut from paper out of my paper stash;  I added a Martha Stewart butterfly for an embellishment over one of the squares and I printed and colored the crocus (flower).


Still working with the Outlawz, my next entry is for the CAS challenge: "Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend ...http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/sunday-clean-and-simple...CAS challenge - January 10, 2016.

"When HE gives you a Rainy Day play in the puddles"
Enabler's List
Neenah white cardstock and blue Recollection cardstock
printed and colored image using water colored pencils and glossy accent for the puddle

Are you growing two or more inches in height, weight, paper accumulation, or crafting supplies? 
My stash needs to be cleaned out again.  I'm going to get it boxed up for the Art Teacher again.  I really need to loose this paper weight (lol).

Thanks for viewing..come back and enjoy the view again!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois 


Friday, January 8, 2016

"Birthday Dedication to Veronica, "Roni", "Vee"!

HOORAY, it's Friday and you know what that means....
Weekend relaxation or more fun shopping (that's for me).
We made it to the end of this work week .  We are still just as beautiful, kind, love-able and tired.  Yes, tired!  After having two weeks off from work, sleeping late, playing and having fun and then trying to get back into the swing of working eight hours...it became a little too much.  I promise, we are going to do better next week (lol).

My oldest daughter, her sister, niece, brother-in-law, father and I will be celebrating her birthday, which is Sunday, but I am starting early.
I've made the cards and I'm going to share them with you and her on this site today.

This daughter is one of the joys of my life.  We can laugh and joke in a mother daughter relationship.  We can shop together and make fun of each other.  She calls every day to make sure I'm okay.  She is such a kind and generous person.  I could go on about her qualities but then you would think I'm selfish and over- bearing expressing things that could also belong to other people.

I'm sorry I can't post her age here.  There are some things a woman will not tell and that is their age.
I'm wishing her one of the most happiest birthdays anyone could have and to also let her know tomorrow is a new day:

She will answer to any  of the following: Veronica (her birth name), Roni (her nickname that I use and also other family members) and Vee (her job peers because they cannot pronounce her birth name correctly).

I tried to incorporate the feeling of winter and snow on this card.  I remember the night I went into labor and it was snowing like crazy while we were trying to get to the hospital.  The day I brought her home from the hospital...there were birds perched on the pine trees where the snow had fallen off.  They almost appeared to be singing "happy birth day" to us.

Getting older and living on your own (in Florida) can sometimes present problems that mommy and daddy can't be there to take care of.   So this card was made to let her know that although things, situation and problems will come your way, remember "tomorrow is a new day" and it can get better.

Sending you a birthday hug and LOVE,
Your Mom
Lois








Thursday, January 7, 2016

"Adult Coloring...The Rave"

Happy Thursday to my Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers!
I know you color because I have seen your post.  I know you have used your pencils, pens, chalks and etc. to color your stamping images.  But, I want to talk about the trend that is going on now.
Books at Michaels, Jo Ann, Amazon, Pinterest, and pages on Google promoting adult coloring.

My daughter thought it was a joke when one of her friends came home during the Thanksgiving holiday and when she visited her home, her friend and mom were coloring.  She called me to tell me the story.  So I said to her, "get a good laugh at your mom also because I have one of those books."
Well, we just vacationed down in Florida with her for about two weeks and guess what she thought would be a delight for a Christmas present...you guessed it...adult coloring book (s) for  me to  enjoy.

I've had stamps for a long time that came to me free when I ordered from Close To My Heart.  I would stick them in the file cabinet and never played with them.  I bought some stamps with flowers thinking I would get into the "coloring" habit.  That didn't happen.   Now that I have adult coloring books, I have to admit, I've colored parts of pages but haven't completed the full 8 1/2 by 11 inches as of today.

So what do you do when one of your favorite sites wants a picture of a pet or animals for their challenge on Thursday, January 7, 2016?  You challenge yourself to enter.

 I recently purchased a die from Our Daily Bread site, again, thinking I would get into coloring.  This image is an animal that I like a lot.  I've always admired horses and so I chose to get this image.  Another animal that I've admired since childhood has been the parrot. This came from one of those free coloring pages for adults off of Google.

I've colored both images (with several going in the trash) to a point where I thought they were ready to be included on a card.

Here, you can see for yourself:
This was a free adult coloring image from Google.  I've used Neenah white cardstock, gold foil and cardstock from the Paper Studio.  I matted my image and the sentiment with a piece of brown Recollection cardstock.  Five faux pearls were added for an addition effect. 

Entry for the Outlawz

TWISTED THURSDAY CHALLENGE JANUARY 7-13, 2016 OPTIONAL TWIST PETS/ANIMALS

This image came from Our Daily Bread (Saddle Up).  I've used Neenah white cardstock and DP from the Paper Studio (Against the Grain).  I die cut a fence from Darice picket fence border die.  Three sequins were added for special effects.

Thanks for viewing.  Go out or download an adult coloring page or book...relax and color.  It is so enjoyable.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

"Fearfully And Wonderfully Made"

Hello,
Question for discussion...
When you got out of your bed this morning and looked in the mirror did you question your reflection by saying, "mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?  I think I remember this from a childhood story about the wicked witch and the stories  that were read to my students during my teaching days.
This life we are living is not a fairy tale.  It is real and and there is no "make believe" about it.  When you woke up and took a good look in the mirror, you should have told  yourself, “No doubt about it—I’m fearfully and wonderfully made!”
Yes, you should be seeing yourself as a result of God's divine creation. When we discover the truth that we are God’s unique design, it is overwhelming.  God has fearfully and wonderfully made us, setting us apart as the brightest, clearest mirror of God’s creativity.  You  should be very happy about this.
I saw Psalm 139:14 over at http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com for today's challenge: Wednesday, January 6, 2016    Challenge #217 - Anything Goes .  Their explanation is beautifully written and explained.  You may want to check it out.
I'm entering the following card on their site to go along with this verse:
Challenge #217 - Anything Goes . 
Supplies Used:
Neenah white cardstock for the base A2 size
gray Recollection cardstock for the 1st mat
Designer paper from The Paper Studio Be Bold be bright pad for the 2nd  and third mat: the third mat was die cut using Spellbinders A2 Tranquil Moments die.
The sentiment was copied from WordArtWednesday's page
Flowers came from K & Company

Thanks for viewing.  Come back again.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

P.S.  Here are two more cards for your viewing.  



 



Tuesday, January 5, 2016

"One Sketch...Two Ways"

Happy Tuesday morning to my Followers, Friends, Visitors and Viewers.

Hoping all of you are experiencing the newness and renewed diligence for the beginning of this year.  It is day 5.  Have you stopped those resolutions you made on New Years Eve?  Are you still going forward no matter what comes your way?  Did you bring into this year all the excessive baggage  that was holding you down last year?  Only you can be responsible for you!  Your answer will only be shared by you and you alone.

For today's share, I am continuing with making cards and sharing them with you here and other places on the web.

MojoMonday:  http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/2016/01/mojo-monday-429-contest.html
has a sketch.  Quite frankly, this site puts out a sketch every Monday except for when they go on vacation.    I gave the sketch a try and liked it so much that I made another card and altered it just a little.
Here are the two cards and the sketch.
Entry for http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/2016/01/mojo-monday-429-contest.html

Paper:  Grey and yellow Recollection cardstock for A2 base and small square...DCWV Cutting Machine Cardstock for the layer on top of the base...The Paper Studio Be Bold be bright cardstock for the strip behind the circle; DCWV cardstock for circle;
Die: Spellbinders Pierced Circles and Our Daily Bread Double Stitched Rectangles
Stamp: Hampton Art jillibean soup handwritten sentiments
Ink: Hampton Art Studio g black pigment ink
Embellishment: Martha Stewart butterfly

Entry for:  http://www.cropstop.com/blog/uncategorized/linky-party-11-anything-goes/

Paper used:  white Neenah cardstock for the base; black Recollection cardstock fro backing; Recollection Christmas Noel paper for all the other elements ( square, strip, circle and heart)
Sentiment:  done with eksuccess sweetheart script gold foil
Embossing Folder: the Paper Studio dots
Used white Chalk marker for dots around the heart
The same sketch was taken from mojomonday.blogspot.com but the square was slightly shifted to the right to form an angle instead of being straight.

The next time you  use a sketch, try alternating a piece or some of the pieces to give you a second or maybe a third card.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day in whatever your heart desire.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois


Monday, January 4, 2016

"New Beginnings"

Hello to all my Friends, Followers, Visitors, and Viewers!
Happy New Year to All
To all my friends and followers from 2015, welcome back to my blog.  If it is your first time here, then, it is a special welcome to you!  I'm glad you took the time to press that button to see what this site is all about.

I am going to be JAMMING in 2016.
I am sharing my excitement for the JAM2016 brought to you from: http://tiaresmith.com/2015/12/getting-started-with-embrace-your-art-2016-journal-about-mejam/.
 I am telling you, my friends, because the more the merrier.  Tiare Smith and the rest of the gang would like for you  to PUMP UP THE JAM!!!  It is just a great way to get you involved and to have a bit of fun.

This is my first submission to JAM2016
January 1 Prompt: Your Name –  Challenge: Use a baby wipe.
How did I use a baby wipe?
I applied Gelatos on my round shape and used the baby wipe to smooth out the colors.
After looking up the meaning of my name, I used some of the information on my shape (who am I and what has others determined "Lois" is all about)
I used  Martha Stewart stamps for the butterflies and half flowers .


The next "new beginnings" is entering  challenges :
  •  http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/sunday-clean-and-simple/forum/topics/cas-challenge-january-3-2016   and 
  • http://greatimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenge
  • http://avenue613.blogspot.com/
Each entry requirement is to use CAS card with the twist of having or using a bird for the Outlawz challenge and to use valentine or bird for the greatimpression challenge.
Here are two examples of cards I made. 


     This will be seen again at avenue613.blogspot.com





    • what if I fall?  oh, my darling, what if you fly?  starts out with the A2 size base using Recollection cream cardstock  topped with a brown sheet of Paper House paper.  On top of the brown is a piece of Ranger water color paper...here is where I printed out the sentiment and used a die-cut (Spellbinders) to cut it out (this was also backed with the brown paper).  I cut out the branch and adhered it to the sentiment and let it over flow onto the card front.  Lastly, two wooden birds were attached to the branch with glue dots.
    • I will sing and make music with all my soul.  Psalm 108:1 starts with all the same elements as the first card.  After applying the music and sentiment strips, I used the double stitched rectangles die on the water colored paper and attached it to the brown paper. 



    This last card will be entered in today's http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/monday-greetings/forum/topics/monday-greetings-challenge-add-a-tree-to-your-card

    White Recollection cardstock was used for the A2 base with black Recollection cardstock for the next layer followed by a piece of  blue cardstock .
    I found a tree  from Google image and printed it five times at the same size.  One tree was used for the base while the other four were cut and used in a decoupage fashion to make the tree look 3D.  Hampton Art glitter glue was used on various parts of the tree for special effects.
    The sentiment was typed and printed from my computer and printer.  It expresses the way I would like to start my new beginnings for 2016.


    Thank you for joining me here today and come back again for more.  For the new friends and visitors, there is more to be shared with you this year...stick around!

    Sending you a hug and LOVE.
    Lois