I will wring you up by your neck

Today I made scarves! I had leftover fabric that needed to be purged from my craft closest and decided that scarves would be the best way to clean out that closet.  I first took two large rectangles of fabric, one in brown chiffon like and one a floral rayon blend.  I stitched them together to make one long rectangle.  Then I fold them in half right sides together and stitched up the long side.  I turned it right side out and stitched closed the bottom and bam an infinity scarf.  FAST and easy!

The next one took some more work.  First I started with 2 7 inch wide rectangles and strips of pink.  I stitched the pink up to make two long ruffles. I pinned those ruffles to the long sides of one of the black rectangles.  I then placed the other rectangle on top of this rectangle and pinned the ruffles in the inside.   I was making a tube full of ruffles.  I stitched closed the tube on the long sides.  Next, I turned it right side out.

And it looked like this. Each end had a selvage so I did not have to hem up the ends, but I did decide to use some black thread and stitch the ends closed.  I am very pleased with this one. 

Lastly, I was running out of fabric and just made two long black rectangles again. I took some leftover striped material and made ruffles from it.  I wanted a sloppy look so I did not serge the edges.  I layered two rolls of ruffles on each end of one rectangle and stitched in place with a zig-zag.  Then I made another tube using the last black rectangle and stitched that baby closed in all but a small area so I could turn it right sides out.  I slip stitched it closed. I like it!!!!

Little Suzi Homemaker????

Really?  I surely can't be talking about ME?  Nope, I am not, what I am talking about is the item that I made today.  Here is the story:

A few months ago I made vests for Trevor's drama club.  I kept the scraps.  They were not really big enough to do anything but I kept them anyway.  The remnants used today were 4 strips of red flowery fabric.  To this I added some white fabric that I got from my mother in law and I have literally had it for about 15 years.  To that I added some pieces cut from a red carpet party that we held for Hannah for a birthday party about 6 years ago.  As you can see from the main photo I made an apron.  I had wanted a nice one to wear when I have folks over for dinner, or when I just wanted to feel like Donna Reed.

This apron was made without a pattern, but I will try my best to walk you through it.  I have no measurements so I have measured the finished items.  I just sewed this up by sight.

All sizes are finished sizes:
Bib-12x13 (I just fashioned this to my size. I actually cut the fabric a couple of times before I started stitching. I cut 2 bibs.

Ruffles, since they were all from remnants, I just had to use what I had.  The bottom red ruffle is about 1.5 inches,  the bib ruffle is about .5 inches. The neck ties are actually made from the bib ruffle.  There was enough to use for the ties, then I took the rest and gathered it to use on the bib.

The skirt is about 24"x 40".  I gathered the top of it by using a very loose running stitch and hand gathering it.

First thing I did was take the gathered small ruffle (I gathered it first) and the ties and  sandwich them between the two bibs.  I stitched right sides together on 3 sides (the open side was the side that touches the waist).

Then I put the ruffle on the bottom of the skirt (it was gathered in the first steps.  I finished the edges by using a zig zag stitch.  I also stitched a small piece of the skirt material on top the (inside) to make the white thread not show up as much.

  The sides of the skirt were cut on the selvage so no need to hem that. 





The next step was to take the last piece of remnant and I fashioned a waistband from this.  There were 2 pieces and I stitched them together on the short side making a very long strip that was approx 2 inches wide and 59" long.  I folded it in half longways creating a 1"x59" strip.  Then I went in and folded 1/4 over on each edge just to finish the waistband.  Then I made a sandwich, waistband, skirt, bib, waistband.  I stitched it all together and bam I have an apron!

Recycled "ART"

I am all about leaving a smaller footprint on this world.  The mark I leave on Earth is not one that trashed the place.  I want to leave a mark that says "wow she made a difference".  Today my difference is in TRASH!

I have started collecting what some would call TRASH.  I am making things from this garbage.  Some things are going to be serviceable and some just a dust collector (so essentially I am leaving a dust bunny trail).

Today I challenged myself with a box of junk and a sundrop can.


Let's start with the can....

I first decided to clean the can and cut it apart.  The aluminum is much thinner than I thought it would be no wonder I have punctured many a sundrop can. Next I decided to use punches and punch out shapes.  I wasn't sure what I could do with that.

Then a vision came to me. The punched pieces would make a great base. I decided to color the pieces with alcohol inks using an inking tip that I got from Tim Holtz. I still needed something else. I needed to make flowers!

I cut a spiral from the can. Let me tell you this was not that easy, you have to be very careful not to slice your finger. Once cut, I inked it with alcohol ink I began to roll it. I started from the wide part of the spiral. This can he tricky as the edges are very sharp. It seems to be worth the trouble. Finish it by adding a dan of hot glue to hold it together. I will probably add these to some canvas art.

Peanut Butter Pie

Please note I am NOT a good sharer of recipes.  The only reason I share this is because well.....I did not invent it, I just changed it to suit ME!   This started as the recipe from Cracker Barrel's own lady that made the pies, but I have changed it to suit me. Also, keep in mind I measure NOTHING!!!  So this is just a guess.

Peanut Butter Pie

Crust:

1 ¼ chocolate cookie crumbs (20 cookies)

¼ c sugar

¼ c butter, melted

Filling:

1 package 8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 c creamy peanut butter

1 c sugar

1 T butter softened

1 t vanilla

1 c heavy cream, whipped

Chocolate chips

Combine crust ingredients; press into a 9 in pie plate.  Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.  Cool.

Beat cream cheese, sugar, peanut butter, butter, and vanilla until smooth.  Add choc chips into the mixture.  Fold in whipped cream.  Gently spoon into crust.  Refrigerate. Top with whipped cream and chocolate chips...yummy.

Love of my life

19 years ago today, I was blessed to marry Mr. John Champion.  A quiet dude, that takes care of us, takes us places and mows our yard.  Oh, he does lots more too, but we don't want to give him a big head.  I love him more today than 19 years ago.  I am blessed.

Coke it is

I have been a coke user all my life...haha got your attention didn't I?

I am talking about coca cola. I have loved to drink coke since I was a small child. I think it started with those lovely Gibson girls in the ads and then came about the taste. I don't really drink anything else.  Actually, I can't remember the last time I did.

My husband shares this love and we were just talking about how cokes taste different.  Like in Mexico, the syrup is thicker and has a sweeter taste.  In the USA the plastic bottles taste terrible, the can tastes "normal", but the glass bottles are SUPER!!!!!  We have decided we are going to stock up on the bottles you can get at Dollar General, the syrup to water ratio is pretty perfect and we need to buy it before they change it.

That lead the conversation to places NOT putting enough syrup in their fountain drinks.  We have a list of worst and best places to get a coke (or a cherry coke). These are Paducah locations by the way.

Best
1. Steak and Shake
2.  Sonic
3. Hardees
4. Dairy Queen




Worst
1. Pizza by the Pound
2.  Cracker Barrel
3. McDonald's


I would love to know what you think....speak your mind below.

Random Cards and thoughts

I haven't much to say this weekend. I guess I did it all this week.  I have worked very hard in getting our home together during my time off school.  I have hired the painting of the eaves, check.  Fixed the grout in the bathroom, check.  Fixed the hole in the deck, check.  Had my dad build the bookcase, check.  Had the plumber fix the pipes, check.  Repaired all knicks in the living room wall, check.  Talked to someone about replacing my windows, check.  Repainted the bathroom cabinet, check.

I still need to fix that stupid laminate floor in the kitchen, considering ripping it all up.  Still need to refinish the kitchen cabinets, I do believe that I will work on that next.

We refinanced our house.  Got a great rate and will own it in just a few short years.

You can imagine with all this work I have not had much free time to make things. I have not made cards.  I have made three wedding gifts and these cards and that is it.  I hope you like my cards.  There were quick and fun. 

JUN12VSNA-Stone in love

Stone in love is about being utterly and madly in love with someone.  Now Journey meant it to be a passionate soul mate kind of love, but I am interpreting it to mean a parental love.  A love that is unconditional.  Like the one I have for my kids.

The challenge was to take a Journey song and make it into a scrapbook layout. I chose a 2-page double layout because I had photos that needed to be scrapped.  I chose the song Stone in Love because it was my favorite Journey song (my first is Touchin, Lovin, Squeeze).  


Trevor:  I used the CTMH scrip stamp and stamped it onto vellum.  I used a gears stamp from Hampton Arts.  I was trying to be unique in my stamp choices.  The font is Denmark.  The ink used is Ranger Black Archival and Distress ink in Crushed Olive. The background paper is Creative Memories, the tan and striped paper are K&Co.  Layout took 36 minutes.

Hannah:    Background and green circle paper Creative Memories, pink paper Recollections.  Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink, Ranger Archival black ink.  Music stamp and the flower stamp are from CTMH.  Font is Bleeding Cowboy.  Hannah layout took 38 minutes.

Expanding world brings more losses

As you age and you expand your world...you meet new people, form new friendships and get close to people.  That world will lose people that are dear to you here on Earth.  This planet lost a good one yesterday.

Laverne Brown.

I did not know her professionally, I have heard of the wonderful things she did there and thank her for her service, but no she and I shared a friend, Sherry.  Sherry is a dear soul to me, as a matter of a fact I always say when I grow up I wanna be just like her, rats there I go getting off topic.

Sherry and I met 11 years ago and had much in common, one thing was BOOKS!  Laverne would read them, pass them to Sherry and then she would to me.  I would pass them to Sherrie Caylor and so it continued.

One day after a garden was built at Olivet, Sherry brought Laverne to the Prayer Garden and I took their photo. I wish I could find it, but I think it was PRE digital photos. :)

Anyway, Heaven has gained another angel today. A very sweet, kind angel.  She will be missed here, but her suffering is over. 

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."  Psalms 116:15


Today's cards were made while thinking of Laverne.  Have a great day.

Memorial Day: a day of accomplishments

I had high ambitions for this Memorial Day.  I got up at my usual time and since John was at work and the kids were asleep I got started.  My objective?  I could use however much paper I wanted I just could not have an scraps (I have too many all ready).  Okay, I can do this.

I took one pack of paper by Basic Grey (Kioshi) and used that as my starter paper.  I added some plain cardstock, but most of todays paper came from that pad. 

The first scrapbook layout and two cards were made for the MOJO Monday and the CR84FN scrapbook challenges. 

In addition to the Basic Grey paper I used Black archival ink by Ranger, Walnut Stain ink by Tim Holtz, plain papers by Recollection and Bazzil, stickers by Basic Grey, and clear transparencies from a kit that I got at CKC. 

Celebrate card...tag by Graphic 45, ribbon by Technique Tuesday, buckle from JoAnn's, Celebrate from a CKC kit, paper by Basic Grey

pattern paper by Basic Grey, green paper by Bazzil, transparency from a CKC kit, ribbon from my stash, eyelet by Making Memories, black paper by Bazzil

Purple paper by Recollection, green paper by Bazzil, Good Luck tag by K&Co, all pattern paper by Basic Grey, ribbon from my stash

Tag by K&Co, pattern paper by Basic Grey, green paper by Bazzil, Purple paper by Basic Grey, ribbon from a set of sheet I bought

All pattern paper by Basic Grey, green paper by Bazzil

I LOVE this one!!!  Butterfly by K&Co, fresh air from a kit purchased at CKC, card base by Recollections, patterned paper by Basic Grey

All patterned paper by Basic Grey, quote from a CKC kit, eyelet from Making Memories

Book page from Song of the Siren by Philippa Carr, chipboard by Die cuts with a View, all pattern paper by Basic Grey, lady by Graphic 45, quote from a CKC kit, lace by Recollections...I love this one too!!!

made for a friend of mine, picture is of her grandmother, patterned paper by Basic Grey, butterfly and gear stamp by Hampton Arts.  I made this card in memory of her grandmother who just passed away.  She had been her grandmother's caregiver. 

Most of the collage materials by K&Co, all patterned paper by Basic Grey, Ribbon from Michael's, frame by Making Memories, stickers by Basic Grey

A Mirror Makeover

My father-in-law used to buy things from Publisher's Clearing House so that my mother-in-law could keep her hopes alive of winning 10 million dollars.  Today's refit craft is one of those "GRAND" gifts that he ordered from PCH and then gave to me.  It was a granddaughter frame and I was supposed to give it to Hannah, but she did not want it.  What I did was scrape off the granddaughter poem and took off the flower that was glued on there.  Then I redid the whole thing. 

I first added a wire of seed beads in purple and green (using this week CR84FN colors).  Then I made flowers from paper (a gray and a purple).  I used a prima flower at the top of the mirror along with a Tim Holtz metal charm, some rhinestones and then on the bottom a rub on that said "someone to watch over me" along with some Prima leaves.

I thought it turned out cute....especially since my "canvas" was so tiny.  The mirror is about 7x2.

Very simple, but I promise you it is 100% better than the PCH mirror that I started with. 

Owl be seeing you in the fall

 Here it is, the moment everyone has waited for SUMMER BREAK!  The never-ending task of finding things for your kids to do has begun.  Trevor is just about living at his buddy's house and will go camping next week.  Hannah, on the other hand, is discovering she needs a hobby.  She applied for a job today, and personally, I hope she gets it.  She is kind of obsessed with money so earning her own money would be good for her.  Good for her to earn her own cash and have to budget it on her own.  Praying that happens....hopefully, she is too.  We will see what God has in store for this little baby girl. 


Today I made a card based on a sketch that my buddy, Shand Stamper made for her baby (affectionately called My Stamper Baby).  Shand was making onesies for her little baby girl and said I could have a copy of what she was using.  Here is the copy, I used some watercolors to make it look like ME!  And then I went digging in the scrap bin for papers to match.

I decided to use this week's Retro Sketches challenge as my inspiration for the card base.  What a cute sketch.  If you are into card making, this is a great place to get inspired for your designs.  http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!