Just a Little Note

Welcome friends!  It's been a busy day.  It's nice to put my feet up and visit my on-line friends.  I hope you enjoy your visit here.

Today I have a card for the challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room.  The challenge is to use aqua, pink, cream and newsprint.  Aqua always stumps me but I think I found a piece in my stash that fits the bill!

 This sweet paper with the bird is from a stack by DCWV called Nature.  I inked and sewed all my edges and matted everything with pink.  I used the sketch from Mojo Monday I just rotated it.    The seam binding and lace are from my stash.  The sentiment is an old stamp from SU.

 Here's the inside.  I stamped all the edges with a small vine stamp also from SU before I inked and sewed.  I used a new die (well, new to me) from Sizzix to cut the branch from the newsprint.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

The Shabby Tea Room - aqua, pink, cream & newsprint

Mojo Monday - sketch (rotated)

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

Love this Train!

Hello blog friends!  Welcome to my little place again!  Pull up a chair and stay a while.

Today I have a card using a sweet image from Mo's called I Love It.  He is such a sweet baby and he was so much fun to color (not to mention the fact I haven't colored an image in over a week and I really missed it!).

 His hair had me a little puzzled.  It's not too bad if you don't look to close, just glance at it....it looks better that way!  I just wasn't quite sure where to put the highlights and shadows.  And I sort of hate looking at how other people color images...it feels like cheating.  So, next time maybe I'll do a little better.  (Oh, and I used my Prismacolor pencils for him.)

 I used my own sketch.  I have really been thinking about using up my scraps of paper lately.  I'm also a quilter and my favorite quilts to make happen to be scrap quilts.  I cut strips of paper and zig-zagged them to a paper foundation.  I made my little boy image into a tag that was double matted.  I stapled a small scrap of ribbon to the top.  I used another ribbon on the side.  I threaded some pearl cotton through the knot and added some beads from my stash.  The flat round ones have snowflakes on them.

 I made the sentiment on my computer.

 Here you can see the great DP from K&Co called Secret Santa.

On the back you can see how I pieced the paper.  I also stamped the edges of all the layers with a snowflake stamp and inked the edges with the same dark green.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's Digital Challenge Blog - Love is All Around

Cute Card Thursday - Tags

Digi Tuesday - Child's Play

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #64

Hello dear friends!  I have some really exciting news today!  (well, exciting for me anyway!)  I have been asked to be on the Design Team over at Shopping Our Stash.  I was and still am so excited that I was asked to join this great challenge blog!!  I have been following these fun ladies for a while now and am looking forward to working with them!

This is my first challenge on their team and it's a fun one.  This time we need to "Try Something New".  I was a little stumped at first because I love to try new things (that's how I got hooked on card making....me, the stitcher, sewer, quilter, knitter, crocheter....see?) and there's so much I have tried nothing popped into my head right away.  I had a gift to make my young cousin that was visiting for our family reunion from California.  She works in a zoo and LOVES animals.  While I was walking around the back-to-school section I found these adorable mini composition books for $.88 (I'll be going back for more!).  What a bargain!  Then at Michael's I found leopard (or cheetah or something) glitter paper that I knew would be perfect.  So here's what I came up with:

 Isn't this great??  (What kind of animal print is that anyway??)  Can you see the glitter on the animal print?  I tore my paper which I love to do and sewed the edges very, very crooked.  The new thing for me was stitching by hand on my paper.  I drew out a letter "M" on scrap paper.  I positioned it on my background and punched holes with a pin, in even intervals, the whole way around.  I used a yarn that has been in my stash for more than a few years.  I chose yarn because I wanted to to really stand out and I loved the texture.  Also, as I looked at this paper I remembered this yarn and knew the color would be a perfect match.  And I was right!!  I added a brad to each corner, 3 are a metallic bronze sort of color, the other one is black since its on the DP.

 The back isn't embellished but looks the same, just ripped in the opposite direction.

Here you can see it's a composition book by the depth of it.  I covered the spine with a thin strip of my black card stock almost like the big black and white composition books are.

Please be sure to stop by all the ladies' blogs to see what great projects every one has for you.  There are now 11 of us now so you will have lots of eye candy!!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

SSiC #152

Hello friends!  Welcome to my little corner of blog land.  I hope you enjoy your stay!

Today I have a card for the new challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  The lovely Traci is our hostess this week and she has chosen our verse and challenge this time.

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be  also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.  Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?'  Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

For those of us who have put our hope and trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior we have the blessed hope of a home in heaven someday.  Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us so we could be with Him.  What a comfort to know when we leave this life we have a home waiting on the other side.  How can you be sure of this blessed assurance?  Jesus tells us.  "No one comes to the Father except through Me."  We need to believe in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross.  He shed His blood to pay for our sins so that the Father would see us white as snow.  Our sins are forgiven.  Jesus paid the price. We can't do anything to earn our way to heaven.  It's only by accepting His free gift that we can gain entrance to heaven someday.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any one should boast. "  Ephesians 2:8

He has gone to prepare a place for us.  Our new home!  I can't wait for the day to see my Savior face to face, until then I will live each day for His glory.  I hope to see YOU in heaven too!

Traci has asked us to make a card with something that reminds us of home.  I had to think about that for a while but an idea finally started forming in my mind and I hope you like what I came up with.

 The top of my card is made of 5/8in. squares forming a copy of a quilt I have hanging in my foyer.  The bottom of the card is a beautiful hydrangea DP that has been in my stash for years!  I crocheted the flowers with some pearl cotton to represent the extensive flower beds in my front/side yard.  The lace is from my grandma's stash and is very old.  We live in a farm house that was built in 1850.  Someday I hope our grandchildren will come and explore the barn and the basement for treasures, then head to the kitchen to raid the cookie jar.  To me, that's home.  Family, safety, encouragement and love.  That's what I have for my children and guests and that's what the Lord has for us on an even grander scale!

This is the inside of my card and it is VERY plain for one of my cards.

Below are some pictures of my foyer to show where my inspiration came from.

I made this quilt over 10 years ago and I still love it.

My walls and my floor cloth are stenciled with the same hydrangea stencil.  It's been there for over 10 years.  Sometimes I think I should change it out, but I really do still love it.

I hope you will consider joining us this week.  Our sponsor is DRS Designs and they are offering our winner a $10 store voucher.  I hope you will play along!  Be sure to stop by all my Sister's blogs and see what beauty they have created for you this week.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

To Have and To Hold

Hello friends!  It seems like I only post on the weekends lately so I'm kind of excited that I have a card for you and its only Wednesday!!  Hooray for me!!

I had a friend ask me if I could make a wedding card for a special young couple.  I was thrilled to be able to help her out and loved making a card without my usual colored image.  This looks a little more elegant and I love it!

 The only splash of color is my flower which I made following Theresa's tutorial here.  My rose is a little flatter than hers but I think with some practice they will be just as lovely.  I made the sentiment on my computer and changed the color to 50% grey.  The ribbon is from my stash and I added a small charm from Michael's.

 I inked my petals with Orchid Opulence from SU.  I've had it for years so I have no idea if it is still available.  The leaves got Mellow Moss and Baroque Burgundy.  The beautiful embossed paper is also from Michael's.  It is deeply embossed and is so wonderful.

 I used the same sketch on the left side.  The top of the bottom section isn't taped down so the giver can slip her monetary gift in there.  If she decides to buy a gift you can't tell it's a pocket and it still looks nice.  The writing panel is punched with a MS corner punch and inked with the same color as the rose.

I put my stamp right on the back instead of matting it.  I thought it was a better fit with this card.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Tuesday Alchemy - Bingo (I used Dies, Free, Bling.  I also used ribbon and embossing but they don't line up  ;)  )

Totally Papercrafts - Monochromatic  (I hope my bit of green doesn't blow the only one color aspect of this)

Papertake - Anything

Creative Inspirations - Anything

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

SSiC #151

Hello dear friends.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoy your stay today.

I have a card for our challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  Our lovely hostess this week is Sandie.  She chose this verse for our inspiration this week:

"as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious."  1 Peter 2:2-3

Have you ever fed a baby?  When they are hungry they are so focused on eating.   They can get so worked up waiting for their meal that nothing else will satisfy.  A thumb, a pacifier, a toy just won't do it.  But once they taste that milk they calm right down.  They know what they need and they won't allow a substitute.  We should be the same way.  I know there are times my spirit is crying out for the Lord.  I need some quiet time with Him in His word and prayer.  Sometimes I don't listen to that still small voice calling me and I try to satisfy that longing with other things (usually either chocolate or crafting).  When I continue to feel upset and cranky I know I need to set everything aside and seek His face.  My spirit needs that nourishment from my Lord and nothing else will do.  I have indeed tasted that the Lord is gracious and I know the only way to grow in my relationship with Him is to spend time with Him.  When I respond to someone I want my words and actions to be gracious and loving.  The only way that will happen is if I am filling up with Jesus.  Won't you give Him a try today?  Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Sandie has asked us to make a card that is all pastel or for a baby (or both *wink,wink*) and the lovely people over at Denami Design are our very generous sponsor this week.  They are offering our winner a $30 gift card to their store.  If you haven't been over there you are in for a treat!  Hop over and see what goodies they have!

I chose an image from Janet over at By Digital Paper.  She has great digital art.  This sweet baby was one from a set and the its the third I have used.  It is just so sweet.

 Most everything on this card is from my stash.  I really wanted to use a doily but I didn't have one.  As I was pawing through my box of lace I found this eyelet.  To me, eyelet screams baby!  I cut a circle of card stock and glued the eyelet to the edge.  Then I glued my die cut on top of that.  The blue panel is embossed with my Swiss Dot folder.  Again, that's all baby for me.  I found the baby buttons in my stash and sewed them to the corners.  I'm not sure if you can see it too well, but my sewing is all crazy again.  And that is SO hard for me!  I spend a couple hours in the morning sewing for the quilt shop where a 1/4" seam allowance needs to be perfect!  Then I try to sew crazy on my paper and it is a challenge!

 This paper has been in my stash for so long!  It feels good to make a sweet card with it.  I used a MS punch for the corners of the wiring panel.

And here's the back.

I think that's about it.  Be sure to stop by my Sister's blogs and see the lovely things they have for you this week.  Then consider joining us for this fun challenge.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

The Cutest Little Fairy!

Hello lovely friends!  I know I've been missing all week.  I had so much sewing to do for my friend's quilt shop and the week got away from me.  I started missing my blog yesterday so I sat down with my pencils and a great new image from Mo and had some fun!

I made a tag using Fall Fairy Jensen.  I fell in love with him immediately and purchased him before I could barely take a breath!  He is so adorable!!

 Isn't he sweet??  I had so much fun coloring him while listening to my Yankees win a game  ;)  I love anything autumnal.  This tag will be on display in my studio so I can look at him. 

 The lace on the side was a great find at the flea market last Sunday.  There are several yards of this vintage lace and it was only $1!!  I snatched that and a couple others I plan to use very soon!  The flowers are actually straw flowers I grew and dried years ago.  They have been waiting to be used!  The cream colored trim is a sheer ribbon I cut 3 times wider than my tag then gathered it down the middle to the correct size.  Love how that looks!  The little sprig things?  They came off the quill of a peacock feather.  I was going to use the top of the feather but it was too big.  These were just right.  And when I put the feather back in my vase with the rest you can't even tell the bottom of one is naked!

 A picture from the side.  Not so many pictures with a tag  ;)  No inside for me to decorate  :)  Under my image I added some cheesecloth (I am really loving the look of that stuff!) and some paper twist (I think that's what it was called).  The challenge over at Shopping Our Stash is "What Was I Thinking?"  Do you remember paper twist?  It was big in the 90's.  Everyone at craft shows was using it.  I used plenty of it!  And I don't know what I think about it anymore.  To me it is kind of dated.  I had one piece left, about 15 inches.  Why did I keep it? Because I don't like to throw things away!  And its been hanging out in my studio for a very long time.  Last night this small piece made it on my tag.  And with cheesecloth and a cutie image on top it looks ok!  ;)

I am entering my tag in the following challenges:

Mo's Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

 Divas - Flowers

Creative Inspirations - In the Garden

Top Tip Tuesday - Ribbon

City Crafter - Solid as a Rock (no patterned paper)

Cupcake Challenge Blog - The Great Outdoors

Shopping Our Stash - What Was I Thinking?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle