Party Cheers For The Color Hues Challenge

Today's card was made especially for Challenge #133 over at The Color Hues. Their theme is Lime Green and Violet. And neutrals are always welcome too.

Just yesterday I received a huge (for me) order from Pink & Main. They're having an amazing sale. I got eleven items for less than $100.00. One thing in my order was the Party Hats Die for just $5.00. I've been eyeing it and at that price I couldn't resist.

So naturally I wanted to play with it for this challenge. I opted for a lot of shine and glitz for this, and it worked out perfectly because a friend gifted me the Metallic Paper Pack below and it just so happened to have two perfect colors for this challenge in it. Sometimes I get things from people and think that I'll never use them, but I'm usually surprised at how handy they come in.

The green and violet in this seemed perfect for this project! I'm so glad I saved this pack.

Here's my complete supply list for this project:

• Pink & Main Party Hats Dies
• Stampin' Up! Parakeet Party Card Stock
• SU! Fresh Freesia Card Stock
• Co'ordinations Green Glitter Paper
• Rick Rack Die 
• Best Occasions Metallic Paper Pack
• Craft Smart Rhinestones
• White Glitter Paper (Joann's)

I really had fun making this card. The challenge was perfect to get my creativity going and I love this new die. I know I'll have a lot of fun with it in the future. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Vintage Hymnal Card

I think it's best to stamp the image then trim
the page as I learned here!

Today's card seemed to be timed perfectly. Time Out Challenges has a great theme called Playing Music. And just last Sunday I was asked to make eight cards for our pastors at church. Usually Pastor Appreciation Day is in November, but in the United  Methodist Church, our pastors get new assignments on July 1. Even though we're only losing one pastor and gaining a replacement, I guess the board wants to give each of them a card. That's where I, the church card lady comes in!

I love doing this, but there is always so pressure when creating a card for someone you know. When you mail a card out, you do your best and hope they like it. But when it's someone I know, I always feel a little nervous.

After picking up this old hymnal a while back, I knew it would make a great background for a card, and today seemed like the perfect time to do just that, especially since it goes well for both pastors and for Time Out Challenges.

Here's my complete supply list:

• Garage Sale Vintage Hymnal Page
• Stampin' Up! Old Olive Card Stock
• SU! Secret Sea Card Stock
• SU! Curmb Cake C/S
• Papertrey Hibiscus Burst Card Stock
• Versa Mark Ink
• Memento Black Ink
• Memento Pistachio Ink
• Stampin’ Up! Embossing Folder
• Spellbinders Scallop Die
• Concord and 9th Filled In Florals Stamp Set
• Stamp Simply Pastor Appreciation Stamp
• Gifted Rhinestones
• Michaels Twine

After finishing the card I realize some changes I'll make on the next two. First of all, I cut off the hymn number. I think that's a classic part of the page and wished I had thought about that beforehand. Second, I think I'll make the leaves a bit darker. It's funny how ink changes when it dries. And lastly, I think I'd like the scalloped edge to not stand out so much. Anyhow, all things considered it's pretty close to what I had in mind.

This is only my first of three cards that I plan to make using this old hymnal. I wanted to get one uploaded to this challenge just to start. It was a good inspiration to play along over at Time Out Challenges and I'm thankful to everyone over there for putting this together!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Fuzzy Ruffles Lap Warner

This is folded into quarters. It's the perfect size for a lap, especially if someone is in a wheelchair.

Today I finished this super easy. It's a simple corner-to-corner crochet stitch blanket that measures 22 squares by 24 squares. I used a skein of Caron Cotton Cakes that was 530 yards long and combined it with a skein of Caron Latte yarn which is a fuzzy yarn. 

Because I used two #4 yarns together, it took an "M" hook to create this. 

I had enough yarn leftover to make the next lap warmer in a 24 x 24 square size.

Lastly I finished it off with s simple double crochet round all around then a "two double crochets in one loop" making it ruffle. I used white Walmart Mainstays yarn for this.

It's a fun piece to make, however yarn is expensive. I'm thinking this ran around $30.00 not counting any discounts that Michaels was giving at the time. 

Here are a few other pictures of the details:

LEFT: The first round of double crochets created a bit of a ruffle. MIDDLE: I made a chain stitch around the edges for the ruffle to attach to. RIGHT: I put a homemade gift tag with the words "You Are Loved"  (an Altenew Die) on it along with a wooden cross from Amazon.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Word Art Wednesday Offering Envelope & Personal Story

Hi there crafty friends! Today there's a new challenge over at Word Art Wednesday, and we have a wonderful sponsor again. Pretty Pink Posh is giving away a $30.00 gift certificate towards anything in their store, and they have some really cute things. I was just over at their site and on May 14 they have some new releases coming out. You'll see the snail if you go there. Oh my, he is so cute! You'll definitely want to go over and check them out!

And as always, our challenge is "anything goes" with the option of using the Bible verse, which is what I did this round. However, instead of making a card I made an envelope-specifically an offering envelope. A while back I used to make all my offering envelopes, usually using scraps that I had on my craft table. I've gotten away from that, but after seeing this scripture, I thought it would be a perfect match.

I'm also playing along with NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) because I just got this Spellbinders Die Set for Mother's Day this past weekend. (I bought it for myself of course!) And I'm also playing along over at Triple B (Birds, Blooms or Butterflies) because of all the blooms on this.

Before I go any further, I'd love to share a personal experience about this scripture in my own life. It's a little hard to talk about, but I think it may help others who may be going through similar experiences.

Back in the 1990's and 2000's things were really good for me and my family. We were making a fairly good salary and things were cheaper. The home where we raised our kids costs twice our annual income. Today that would be impossible. We easily afforded moderate vacations every year. Mostly a drive to Florida to visit the grandparents, but a trip to Disney for several days was not out of the question. Life was really good.

I attributed much of that prosperity to the fact that we gave regularly to our church. This scripture was part of that reasoning. Then troubles came. Nothing devastating. But my husband's company decided that they could make more money if they sent his job to India. He actually flew there for two weeks to train people to take over for him. He was laid off, but thankfully not for long.

A few years later layoffs happened again, only this time he wasn't rehired. He tried for months to find a job locally in Pennsylvania, but to no avail. He broadened his search to anywhere in the United States and continued to apply diligently. Again, nothing. Panic mode was setting in for me, who was homeschooling my kids at the time and didn't have an opportunity land a lucrative job.

We decided to move back to Florida, my home state. My parents were here and I had a job at their small business. I was even able to juggle homeschooling and full time work for a little while. Clark continued to look for work, but boy was it tough. He got a temporary job with a decent salary, but no healthcare for our family of four.

Finally it seemed that God had mercy on us and he landed the job that he has now. He's been with the same amazing company for 12 years, and indeed, we are blessed. Not with money so much. His salary is almost half of what we had up north. But God is faithful. 

So is this scripture true? Indeed I can say yes, but maybe not exactly in the way we think it should be. I created this picture that perfectly illustrates the way I feel about God's will and provision in our lives. I've seen the concept elsewhere but couldn't find it. Thankfully Canva helped me get the point across!

Feel free to share this!

I hope my personal story has been a blessing to you. I tried to keep it short. There are many more details. But the end is, God is indeed faithful. We may hit some bumps along the way, but if we trust Him, we'll make it to the top of that hill!

The supplies for my card are simple:

• Brown Dotted Kraft Scrapbook Paper
• Word Art Wednesday Bible Verse (below)
• Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms Dies
• Stampin' Up! Envelope Board
• Stampin' Up! Black Card Stock
• SU! Shy Shamrock Card Stock
• SU! Daffodil Delight Card Stock
• SU! Calypso Coral Card Stock
• SU! Mango Medley Card Stock
• SU! Soft Suede Card Stock

Please be sure to go on over to Word Art Wednesday. We'd love to have you play along with us! And if you'd like, here's our scripture for this round:

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing in a bit of my life!

Mother's Day Card For Two Challenges

The year certainly is flying by! Tomorrow is Mother's Day already and I finished this card in the nick of time. I had some inspiration from two challenges to help me get started. First, over at Retro Rubber #271 (#rrcb271) they have a lovely color palette to choose from. All you have to do in addition to that is to use a stamp that's older than a year. I'm often surprised when I go to look up the year my stamp was released and find that it's 5 years old. It seems like I just got that set a couple of years ago. 

Then over at Word Power Challenge you just have to make a word or sentiment the focal point of you card. Hopefully I was able to do that here, even with all the flowers around.

Here's my complete supply list: 

• Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Posies (2020)
• SU! Letters For You (2019)
• SU! Large Letters Dies (2019)
• SU! Highland Heather Card Stock & Ink
• SU! Bubble Bath Ink
• SU! Fresh Freesia Ink
• SU! Smoky Slate Ink
• SU! Basic Gray Ink
• Misc. Patterned Papers
• Jolee's Pearl Dots

I tried to keep the card as true to the Retro Rubber Challenge colors as possible, so I made the leaves from gray rather than green, as to not overpower the subtle colors.

Whatever your Mother's Day Weekend brings, I hope you have a wonderful time. And thanks so much for stopping by today!

 

Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

When you think of majestic waterfalls and sandstone canyons, a small state park in rural Illinois isn't usually the first place that comes to mind. Thankfully, my daughter was able to find this amazing place and visit there recently. 

Normally I just share quait places I've been to, but this place is so remote and spectacular, I have to include it here. Perhaps someone will stumble upon this gem as a result of this blog. And, it will be a great reminder of a wonderful place to go on my bucket list road trip!

You’re able to walk under the waterfall too!

My precious girls!

Of course it's the waterfall that's the most spectacular. When I saw pictures of it online and thought that may have been at its peak time of year. However, it was just as lovely the day my daughter visited.

The trails were magnificent too. Perfect for an easy to medium challenges. 

Best of all, the place is dog friendly. Maggie absolutely loved it! You can see her on her hike in the bottom picture.

Here is a screenshot from Google Maps showing how close it is to so many major places. And no doubt there is so much more to see and do there. And if you’re anywhere nearby, check out their website HERE too. In my book, it's worth a tank of gas for sure!

Lastly I have to share one of my favorite pics of Maggie on the hike. She had a great day for sure!

Big City for Two Challenges

Today I'm playing along with two challenges that really go hand in hand together. A few days ago I saw that The Little Red Wagon #856 is celebrating Billy Joel hits this year. How fun! And this round the theme is "New York State of Mind." I knew I had just the stamp for that. I bought this Times Square stamp a few years ago for a friend of my husband who loves New York City. 

The challenge had been floating around in my mind, and when I saw the newest challenge over at Colorful Options, I knew it was a perfect match. Black & White is their main theme this round, but they always have several different options to choose from. I chose Option 2, which is Black & White with a splash of color. It seems like I can't picture NYC without a splash of yellow from those taxis!

Here's my complete supply list:

• Deep Red's Times Square Stamp
• Michaels White Card Stock
• Memento Black Ink
• Yellow Flair Pen
• Stampin' Up! Black & White Paper
• SU! Crushed Curry Card Stock
• SU! Small Metal Dots
• My Favorite Things Oval Die
• Pink & Main Sentiment

This was a really fun card to make and I'm thankful to everyone over at The Little Red Wagon and Colorful Options who put all this together!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!