A Tropical Card for Two Challenges

I was inspired by two challenges today. First, over at Retro Rubber #278 (#rrcb278) their theme is to make a tropical card. And today is a perfect day for that. Right now it's 92 degrees out with a "feels like" temp of 95. Thankfully it's cool in my craft room. I was also inspired by the sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps #392 (ssc392) they have a sketch challenge featuring a frame. Perfect combo!

When I saw the word "tropical" I immediately thought of the old stamp set called Tropical Chic from 2018. It's such a fun set and I have the dies and matching paper too. It was fun to pull it all out. The ounly disappointing thing is that I didn't have any Blushing Bride ink. And after die cutting the center and mounting it on Blushing Bride DSP, I feel like the flowers don't match like I had hoped. Oh well. It's still a fun and festive card.

Here's my complete supply list:

• Michaels White Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Tropical Chic Stamp Set (2018)
• SU! Tropical Thinlit Dies
• SU! Tropical Escape Paper
• SU! Pineapple Punch Ink
• Memento Orange Ink
• SU! Calypso Coral Ink
• SU! Polished Pink Ink'
• SU! Shaded Spruce Ink & Card Stock
• SU! Parakeet Party Card Stock & Ink

It was great to use this set again, as it's really been too long. Thanks to everyone for putting these great challenges together. And thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Vintage West Rindge Pie Basket

One thing it seems that I can't have too many of is vintage baskets. So when I was browsing around the Salvation Army this morning, this one definitely caught my eye. And after snagging it for just $5.99 and doing some digging online, it turns out it was a fantastic buy. 

The company that made this was called West Rindge Baskets, Inc. in Rindge, New Hampshire. They were in business from 1925 to 2005. In 1976 the company produced about 30,000 baskets a year. Despite the large number, they're still somewhat valuable today. After looking on eBay and Etsy they run around 40.00 plus shipping. I don't buy them for resale, but it's still nice to know that I got a good deal!

Once home, I simply used a slightly damp washcloth and some Murphy's Oil Soap Spray. It cleaned up the wood slats beautifully, especially on the top where dust had settled over so many years.

This is just one of several basket companies in the New England area that have since closed down. Basketville in Putney, Vermont was one of my favorites.  It's wonderful to think of the contribution that these weavers brought to our lives. In fact, this basket was much cherished by what was probably its original owner, L. Frakes, as she or he carved their name prominently on the top of the basket. In the past, I've tried to sand down the name of the original owner, especially if it was written in pen, but this carving seem to make this piece more special.

My bonus basket is the round one. It was only $3.99, not a steal, but I liked it enough to pick it up too. There is something about the small vines or branches that it's woven with that fascinates me. I like picking up baskets like this even if I don't have an immediate use for them. They often come in handy for gift baskets or for giving a dozen muffins to someone. A basket and a homemade card just seem to make it so much more special.

I really love this bonus basket too. In fact, it would probably be perfect to hold a pie plate
after it has cooled down from the oven. It was definitely pie day for me!

Inside the basket.

The West Rindge basket is a pie carrier because there is a stand inside so that you can take 2 pies along with you. I would be doing an amazing job if I took one homemade pie to a potluck, but perhaps times were different back then.

I'm not going to be using it for pies, for I'd much rather bring cookies or cake to an event, but it's a perfect addition to my greeting card shelf. In fact, I've been wanting to redo my card storage area, and this was a perfect reason to get busy with the. In the picture below it's on the bottom shelf on the left. Inside are a bunch of Christmas cards that all too soon I'll be pulling out to send. Until then, I love knowing that this little bit of Americana is now at home with me!

Here's the basket on my shelf. I keep my cards organized in them and since
it's right next to my computer and Rolodex (yes, I still love and use that) it's 
really easy to reach for a card when I need one!

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

{PIN}spirational Challenge #340

This challenge over at {PIN}spirational Challenges was so perfect for me right now. First of all, instead of only accepting cards and paper crafts, Deanne and her team open the challenge to all kinds of creations, including crochet! 

When I saw the challenge pin with the wavy peach and jade stripes, I knew exactly what I wanted to make, even though I've never done this crochet stitch before. I've seen it around and have always wanted to try it, so this was my perfect opportunity. It's called the Rolling Waves pattern and I followed the YouTube Video by Bella Crochet. 

The really cool thing is that I had all the yarn in my stash so I didn't need to buy anything for this project.

I have to say, while looking at the picture, it looks like I did a good job, but the truth is, I didn't. It was so difficult getting the rows to line up and any times I was really off. Then oddly enough, other times I felt like I was off, but wasn't. I really need a lot more practice here!

The Inspiration from Pinterest.

After finishing the project, I looked at the Pinterest Inspiration Picture and decided it needed a bit more sparkle. I didn't have any sparkly yarn, so I added some white Caron Latte Cake Yarn that has a bit of fuzziness to it. Then I decided to add a ruffle around the edges and I used a skein of Caron Simply Soft that I picked up at the thrift store.

I got the Red Heart yarn at the
Dollar Tree for just $5.00. The blue
was a leftover that I never thought
I'd use. 

I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this challenge, especially this month. If you've never played over at {PIN}spirational Challenges, you're in for a treat, especially if you like to make a variety of things. Be sure to them them out!

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

I added a little sparkle by crocheting right on top of the blanket after it was made by using a technique
called Surface Crocheting. It was the first time I tried it and it's pretty easy. The link I followed on YouTube is HERE.

Turn Junk Mail Into Snail Mail

When I reached in the mailbox this morning and grabbed this lone piece of mail (pictured below), my first thought was "trashcan." But after looking at the picture, I couldn't let that happen. It's a great photo from some rural place, although now you never know if it was AI generated or nor. Either way, I was holding in my hand a really nice photo that someone else would love to get in their mailbox. So off to my craft room I went.

After trimming the words away, I mounted the picture on Stampin' Up!'s Cherry Cobbler card stock. Using a Sizzix die, I cut out two borders and glued them on the back. Then I glued the piece down on SU!'s Night of Navy card stock. I made sure to leave room for the sentiment, which I stamped using a Tim Holtz stamp and SU! Night of Navy ink.

If you don't have any fancy supplies, not worries. You can pick up a couple of sheets of paper from your local craft store and hand write your sentiments in. Making a handmade card is more about the love and time that goes into it than perfection. 

I really think that a Veteran would love getting this on his or her birthday. I'm waiting for just the right person to send it to.

From now on, I'm going to think twice before I step on the lever to open the trash can. Perhaps there's a card just waiting to be made.

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

Sunflower Season For Word Art Wednesday

It's Wednesday again, and over at Word Art Wednesday for weeks 764 and 765 we have another great challenge going on. This time our sponsor is Stamp Simply and they're giving away a $25.00 gift to their shop! But you don't have to use their products to play along with us for this challenge. It's always "anything goes," so grab your stamps and join in the fun!

For my card this round I used the Stamp Simply Sunflower Season Stamps and colored them with Copic Markers. Fussy cutting them out was fun for me! Then I mounted them on Papertrey's Spring Rain card stock. The sentiment is from the same set, and the bird is from Stampin' Up!'s Everything Eleanor stamp set. The burlap was in my miscellaneous stash box. It's fairly wide, so I folded and ironed it flat. It just seemed fitting for sunflowers!

We'd love to have you join us over at Word Art Wednesday, and maybe you'll even win some free stuff!

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

Big Butterfly for Two Challenges

Today's card was made for two challenges. First, over at Tic Tac Toe Challenge #298, Felicita has a lot of great choices on the board. I chose the diagonal column from right to left, which includes a butterfly, free space and a border. Then over at Triple B's August Challenge, Darlene and Diane have a mood board that you can follow, or you can just make a card with a bird, bloom or butterfly. Those are always good choices for sure!

Here's my supply list:

• Michaels Black Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Delightful Dijon Card Stock
• SU! Swallowtail Butterfly Stamp
• Bo Bunny Patterned Paper
• SU! Square Scalloped Die
• Simon Says Stamp Preprinted Sentiment
• Copics Y11, Y13, Y21, YR15, YR23

I was going to make this a sympathy card, but hubby said he really liked it so I changed the sentiment and it's going to be hanging in his office. That always makes me feel good! Plus, this is a 5 x 7 card and the butterfly is still hanging over the edges, so not having to mail it is a plus.

Thanks so much for stopping buy today, and be sure to check out these great challenges! Happy crafting! 

Cross Stitch Quilt Blocks for Independence Day

I created this project because I wanted a larger cross stitch  piece for the Fourth of July to hang on the wall. I love stitching quilt blocks, and when I found THIS ONE ON ETSY, I knew it was perfect. What I really like about it is that it only has four colors.

I had high hopes of finishing this by the 4th of July, but here we are on August 2nd. That's not too bad! 

The frame and matting is from Michaels. The mats were a set that were on clearance for just $4.00, and they matched the size and colors perfectly. The frame was just $14.00. I would love to have my stuff professionally framed, but right now that seems like too great of an expense. Perhaps someday!

I'll have one more 4th of July cross stitch finish to share before the end of the summer. 

I hope you're doing well and that you have a wonderful day. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Guest Designing at Poppy Stamps

Hi there card making friends! I'm excited today to be guest designing over at the Poppy Stamps Challenge Blog. I'm new to their products, but am so excited to share with you the cute things I've recently discovered.

The theme this time is "Let's Go. Travel," and that's just what my little penguin is doing. He's on his way to his brother's house to deliver some really fun balloons!

Here are the items I've used to create this fun scene:

Poppy Stamps Joyride Car Die

Poppy Stamps Fancy Party Penguin Die

Poppy Stamps Brilliant Birthday Balloons Die

Poppy Stamps Happy Birthday Tender Script Die

For my papers, I've used Michaels and Stampin' Up! brand card stock. The chrome paper is from Joann's. The balloons are embossed with a Darice folder.

I have to say that I really thing this is the cutest card that I've ever made. The penguins (I have another that isn't on the front here) and other products are so versatile. I'm planning on using them not only for birthdays but for Christmas too. 

If you're not familiar with Poppy Stamps, you'll love seeing all of the wonderful things that they offer. So much cuteness in one place! Be sure to check them out!

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