{Take Care}

I made this card over Labor Day weekend and then the insanity hit hard---I made it for a publication call for Embellish Magazine that Ashley Newell is starting in December. It's an online magazine that is all about inspiration. It sounds very intriguing. The publication call was for cards/other items with these colors on them---now, can you imagine a whole magazine with every item in it in the same color scheme?

I had intended to do several more and get them all turned in the next week....well, you saw that it had been TWO WEEKS since I had posted until last Friday. I saw this card on my dresser Sunday afternoon, just sitting there gathering dust. I had hoped to submit at least this one---but, I waited too late and couldn't get it in on time----THIS IS WHY I DID IT OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!.....so I'd have plenty of time to get it submitted---oh well...cest la vie! Lesson learned---yeah, right! :) The procrastinating will continue---and, I'm OK with that---some things in life are just priorities over papercrafting---but, you didn't hear ME say that!

Anyway, the details of the card are below. As I was looking for the photos I thought of a sweet lady who could really use a "feel better soon" card---so, perhaps it was meant for her all along! She's a dear Saint who is battling cancer and is really struggling right now---I hope this will bring her some joy. Anyway, the details are below! I hope you are having a happy Tuesday!

Take Care:
Stamps:In Bloom, Autumn Abundance, Fancy Flourishes (Papertrey Ink)

Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy, Ocean Tides, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream cardstock, In Bloom patterned paper (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink), Antique Linen distress ink (Ranger)

Accessories/Tools: Rustic jute twine, Vintage Button in Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink), Dimensionals (SU!), Double ended tag (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Directions:
1. Cut Kraft cardstock into an A2 card.
2. Stamp the flourish on the cardstock. Trim patterned paper and adhere it to the bottom of the card. Sponge cardstock and paper with distress ink.
3. Stamp flowers and leaves three times on cardstock-set aside to dry. Stamp tag and emboss and cut using die cut machine. Trim layers of flowers and pop up using foam tape.
4. Wind twine around card and tie on. Place flowers and leaves on card appropriately and adhere.
5. Add button and tag to card.

{Blessing Journal}

When David was in Seminary, we had to really change the way we lived....he went from having a full time job while I was staying at home, to having a part time job AND school and learning to live with less. My girls were little and I still wanted to be at home full time--and he FULLY supported that, thank goodness. So, we moved from 2400 sq. feet to 1100 sq. feet and ate at home ALL THE TIME! :) Many other things changed as well--most families have some experience like this--whether someone has lost a job or gone back to school; we all go through times when we really have to tighten our belts. This may be where you are living now for one reason or another.

We still look back on that time as some of our sweetest. We laughed a lot and relied on each other for friendship---something that is easy to let go of when life gets crazy. One of the things I did during those years was keep a Blessing Journal---it was just ONE PLACE to keep all the little blessings that the LORD bestowed on us---there were so many, and I knew that if I didn't write them down, I'd forget them.

Well, I did "write" it all down....but it was on a computer that later crashed and wasn't fully backed up. I decided then that all future journals of mine would be handwritten. There were memories in there that would have been a sweet reminder to my children, AND David and me, of God's promised faithfulness. Over and over he proved himself faithful and has continued to do so. Fortunately, we do remember a lot of them, but I know there were little blessings in there that seem so "mundane" now that we don't even recall them.

I'm doing a little craft demonstration Monday night at the Seminary and I wanted to do some of these journals---what I had been asked to do changed at the last minute, so I've reworked quite a bit of it, but this is one project I'll be demonstrating.

These are so simple and fun to make. They really don't take very long and you can make it a journal for just about anything---not just blessings! I have one for my personal study notes, one for my church notes, I'm making one for my Christmas lists this year. I'll post it when I finish and take photos. I was inspired to make the Christmas journal from this post by Lisa Johnson. This little journal she made is ADORABLE----I couldn't find any mini composition books, though, so I decided to just make mine a big one---I never mind a big journal in my purse! (The composition notebooks are $0.50 right now at Target---but if you are going to the one on Lynn Rd. in Raleigh, you had better hurry---they are almost out....hmmmmm, I wonder how that happened?) I made this one for just over $2---I didn't include the cost of the stamps, of course---they don't count! :)

I went a little simple on this one because I will be demonstrating to people who may or may not have any craft supplies and I don't want it to seem overwhelming! I also used FOUR different colors of cardstock (inside covers) which wasn't necessary, so it added to the cost. These would be great teacher gifts---most teachers are "list makers" and this is a great place to make numerous lists. For the price, it's quite a deal for you and a personal gift for any teacher.

Showers of Blessings Journal:
Stamps: Scattered Showers
Paper: Girl Friday-Tuesday & Thursday papers (Cosmo Cricket), Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Vintage Cream CS (PTI)
Ink: Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate (PTI), Antique Linen distress ink (Ranger)
Accessories/Tools: Upper Crest Border Punch (Fiskars), Rhinestones (Taylor's Tiny Twinkles-Taylored Expressions), Dimensionsals (SU!), Vintage Buttons, Rustic twine (PTI), Monomulti liquid glue (Tombow)

I made a cost list to show the ladies, so I thought I'd share it with you as well, along with step by step instructions...but don't get used to it! :)

composition book $0.50
patterned paper 2 pieces 12 x 12 $0.64
ribbon $0.10
rhinestones $0.10
cardstock for inside/spine $0.80
buttons $0.12
twine $0.03
TOTAL $2.29

1. Cut cardstock and patterned paper to fit composition journal (my measurements are: front: 6 5/8" square for top, 6 5/8 x 3 1/2" for bottom; back: 9 3/4 x 6 5/8"; inside 9 3/4 x 7 1/8" Measure your notebook to be sure.)
2. Adhere your patterned paper to the front and back of notebook. Sponge with distress ink and add ribbon.
3. Stamp your focal image, trim, embellish, distress and set aside.
4. Add the paper to the inside and spine of the notebook. Add pocket and embellish if desired.
5. Adhere your focal image using foam tape for dimension. Personalize if you want to.

MY, I'm chatty today! Thanks so much for stopping by---let me know if you have any questions! Have a lovely week!

{EEEEEK!!!! A spider}

We have had some of the GREATEST spider webs around our house lately (outside---thankfully!). Joshua is reading Charlotte's Web at school, so perhaps we are just more aware of them. I have tried DESPERATELY to get some good pictures of them, but I just can't seem to capture them. I KNOW it's user error!! I have a great camera and I KNOW it's capable of getting just the web and washing everything else out, but, alas, I don't know how set it to do that! Do you have any tips for the photographically impaired? If you do, please leave them below! I'd really like to get some pictures to capture Joshua's recent fascination--hey, as long as the spider stays in his web---I don't mind him!

This kind of spider is a little easier for me to handle. This little card was really fun to make--quite simple, too. I won't spend much time on the details--if you have any questions, please ask and I'll be happy to help you out! I need to go do homework---or, help my SON do his---I've decided it's the same thing---I'm learning more about Latin, Geography, grammar, even math than I EVER did when I was going through! My brain gets tired and he's only in the third grade--what will I do next year when Hannah goes to college and she's not here to tutor me? :)


Spider's Halloween:
Stamps: 2009 Halloween Tags
Paper: SS White cardstock, Bitty Box basics, Plum Pudding (PTI) Random polka dot paper--I don't remember the source
Ink: VersaMark (Tsukineko), Plum Pudding
Accessories: Circle Punches (SU!), Black detail embossing powder (Filigree), Rhinestones-Taylor's Tiny Twinkles (Taylored Expressions), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Ribbon tags (Spellbinders), Top Note die, dimensionsals (SU!), True Black gingham ribbon (PTI), DMC black floss

Thanks for visiting~happy Sunday!

{A birthday card---for a MAN!}

Caitlin's boyfriend had a birthday last weekend, so I needed a "man-card"----I don't DO "man-cards"! So, of course, I didn't have one in my stash, so.....off to the craft room (ok, the corner of my bedroom---but it sounds so amazing to say "craft room"---I digress) to make a card for him. I like this color combo for a man, but I must say I have a hard time finding "manly" images---even in my VAST COLLECTION of images. I chose the wheat from First Fruits from Papertrey Ink. It's a great Thanksgiving set that I have really enjoyed and I was happy to be able to use an image from it for some NON-Thanksgiving thing~ Details are below!

So, where have I been? Ahhhhh, life is crazier than ever---I have a Senior in High School, so I'm trying to help her with some of the application process by filling out the "name, rank, serial number" portions of her applications---there's just too much for her to do along with school---so, WHY don't colleges put these out in June so students have the whole summer to fill them out? Who knows---I also have a boy who is struggling in school this year, which means we are spending HOURS at night just to get things done---it's a sad thing---and those of you who are praying people, I'd love for you to pray for my Joshua---I know that this is not a surprise to the LORD, but it is taking so much of my time and he is living a very frustrated life right now. We are pursuing some avenues to help him, but nothing happens fast, so he's pretty frustrated. My oldest---the boyfriends' girl, is a Senior in college with many changes in her future---although I'm not actively involved in those changes at the moment, a mama is always occupied with her childrens' lives. Oh, and I have a precious husband who is swamped and hmmmmm, oh yeah, a job of my own!! Blogging is something I really enjoy, but in the insanity of life, it's one of the first things to go. SOOOO, that's where I've been---I'm really fine, I'm just too busy to spend a lot of time on the computer except for my work---I have several things I want to post in the next few days, so hopefully I can get that done.

Like I said, the details of the card are below---I think you can figure it out from that! If not, you can certainly write me and ask me what something is! I hope to be able to create some more things this weekend. So, are you joining in on World Card Making Day on Saturday, October 3rd? It's another "holiday" created by an industry to encourage spending money!!!! But, I'll never argue with an excuse to get together with some friends and make cards. We are going to make our Christmas cards---it should be a blast. My hope is to get them ALL done on that day---what a blessing that would be! I hope you are having a lovely week and that fall is moving in on you~this is one of my favorite times of year and I never knew it until I moved to a place where Fall actually HAPPENS!! I hope to get some bulbs and pansies in the ground this weekend~LOVE THAT---oh, and I need to reseed my lawn, too---don't love that as much!

Have a good one~



Carson's Birthday (all things PTI, unless noted)
Stamps: First Fruits
Paper: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, 2008 Bitty Box Basics in Summer Sunrise
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Classic Oval & Scallop Oval Nestabilities dies, Double Ended tags (Spellbinders), Rustic Jute Twine, Rustic Wood Vintage Button, Edger punch (ek success), dimensionals (SU!)

{Celebrate the Season}

I know, I know---it's only September 6th, but it's never too early to start Christmas cards, is it? I made this card for the Stretch Your Holiday Style Stamping Challenge on Paper Crafts' Moxie Fab World. I thought I was making this for a different challenge, but it really is best for this one. There's still time for you to make a card and upload it. Read the directions and join in!

I started with a white card base and stamped the image from the 2008 Holiday Tags Collection. I stamped it and the sentiment in Scarlet Jewel, then I stamped the tag again in New Leaf. I cut out the tree and popped it up on top of the focal image. I scored the area around the sentiment to highlight it and then added Scarlet Jewel twill and a New Leaf button that I tied on with some Rustic cream twine. I added the button to the top of the tree for a fun accent and then added a few rhinestones to the tree for some bling! This was a sweet and simple card to make. It could easily be reproduced....mailing it, however, may be a problem! ;) I'm still a little bitter about the post office and my button-laden cards....but I won't go there today!

Enjoy your Sunday! And I hope you sleep in tomorrow.....oh, that's MY wish! Hugs and stuff~
Kathleen


Stamps: 2008 Holiday Tags (PTI)
Paper: SS White cardstock (PTI)
Ink: New Leaf, Scarlet Jewel (PTI)
Accessories/Tools: Scor-pal, Dimensionals (SU!), Foof-a-la button, New Leaf vintage button, Scarlet Jewel twill, Rustic Cream Button Twine (PTI), Taylor's Tiny Twinkles (Taylored Expressions) Monomulti Liquid glue (Tombow)

{With Thanks}

Good morning! YEA! for a long weekend!! I'm so excited to have nothing to do today---yes, I should mow my lawn, and do some laundry and all sorts of other household duties, but right now, I'm not! I'm just enjoying a leisurely morning of stamping and Law & Order repeats---gotta love it!

I wanted to play in Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. The colors this time are screaming "FALL!!" I have other things to work on, so I'll keep this short! This simple card starts with a Kraft cardstock base that I stamped with Polka Dot Basics II in dark chocolate. I also stamped the image from 2009 Autumn Tags in dark chocolate on rustic cream and layered it with a scallop punch of the dark chocolate cardstock! I added some Bitty Box paper in Summer Sunrise, punched it with a scallop punch and tied jute around it. I added a Rustic Wood button to the bow.

I'm working on some things for a demonstration I have later this month (my first and it makes me want to throw up---that's lovely on a Saturday morning, isn't it?) ---we'll see how much I get done.

Have a good one~
Kathleen

Stamps: 2009 Autumn Tags, Polka Dot Basics II (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise Bitty Box (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate
Accessories/Tools: 1 3/4" circle punch, dimensionals (SU!), rustic jute twine, Rustic Wood Vintage button (PTI), Threading Water punch (Fiskars), scallop circle punch (Marvy)

{Halloween Ruffles}

I love Halloween---I know, I know, a lot of people don't "DO" Halloween---they "do FALL FESTIVAL"---I've just always LOVED dressing up and going "trick or treating"--I just think it is a fun American tradition. Of course, I also love Harry Potter---so, I'm most likely a witch, I guess! Don't judge me---it's who I am.

SOOOOOO--I decided I wanted the 2009 Halloween Tags from Papertrey Ink. I didn't own a Halloween set---I didn't NEED a Halloween set, but, I LOVED it--and I'll make cute Halloween things and give them to my friends, so I bought it. Now, this is not a card you want to mass produce---it wasn't really hard, but it was a bit time consuming with the ruffles and rhinestones! That would be a cute blog name, wouldn't it? :) (I have an illness, I know!)

Anyway, the card.....the ruffle idea was shamelessly stolen from Dawn McVey---a stamping idol, for sure! She used the paper ruffle on this post. As I look back at her card, I actually shamelessly CASED the whole card with different stamps and colors---OK, I admit it! Hey, when you see a fabulous card, you should make one yourself! I'm not trying to publish it---just LOVING it in the greatest sort of way---by copying it! OK---so, I used PTI white cardstock and the new Hocus Pocus patterned paper---perfect for all things Halloween!

I cut a 1-1/2" x 8" strip of three patterns of paper. I folded and "pleated" them and used sticky tape to glue them directly to the card. Then I ran some black saddle stitch ribbon around the card and used a Summer Sunrise button (they have an orangey tint...look, I made up a new word!) on the bow. I stamped one of the tag images in Palette Noir ink on Only Orange cardstock and punched it out with a 1 3/4" circle punch. I embossed and cut some patterned paper using a Labels Three die. Then I put that on the card with some foam tape. I put the sentiment just above the ribbon and then added rhinestones all around the jack-o-lantern alternating black and orange. I love it! So, those of you who are praying for my soul, you have NO idea how much I appreciate it---I SO need it right now! I hope you'll still come back and visit me---and know that I'm kidding about most of this---except the prayer thing---I'll never kid about asking someone to pray for me!

Hugs to you! Labor Day is coming! :) A long weekend ahead!



Stamps: 2009 Halloween Tags (PTI)
Paper: SS White, Hocus Pocus (PTI) Only Orange (SU!)
Ink: Noir Palette
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Labels Three die (Spellbinders), Taylor's Tiny Twinkles (Taylored Expressions), Summer Sunrise Vintage Button, True Black Saddle Stitch ribbon, Rustic Twine (PTI), 1 3/4" circle punch, Dimensionals, Sticky Tape (SU!)