A month of weddings

This summer was the summer of weddings and I made some canvases for the brides/grooms.  I usually charge $25-$35 per piece because of the extensiveness of the project. I spent many hours on each one of these, more than usual just because they were all special people to me.  Each canvas features many layers and a little bit of drying time.  Each canvas starts with stamping the canvas.  Some stamps will be done with archival ink, some embossing ink and some paint.  After those dry or after I have finished embossing them....then I start with the ink layers.  I will ink  the whole canvas with Distress inks and then throw water on the canvas. Once that dries I will do it again only instead of throwing water on I will spritz it.  Water will pool up and I will stand the canvas up and let the inks run together. I will use some of my misting sprays and let that ink run too.  I will then add stickles or crackle paint or both.  Once that dries I embellish.

Here is where each one gets it's own personality.  I will start with the black/blue one.

I really liked this one because the bride had a FANTASTIC invitation!  I HAD to cut it up and use it in the canvas. It was a black and white invite with blue accents and totally gorgeous.  I used her envelope as just a background paper.  On top of that I used a chipboard circle and covered with crepe paper and a white string.  I stamped a lovely couple with stazon and then I painted them with watercolor and sprinkled some salt on them for texture.  I used a portion of the wedding invitation behind a Tim Holtz fragment, for the tag, for a background behind the couple and for the card I made to give the couple.  I added many layers of STUFF, which is kind of my thing. 

The Blue one:  I used the whole invitation on this one.  A large flower folded in half, some giant letters and I strung beads onto a wire.  Since the bucket of beads are all colors I had to pick out the blue and white ones.  FOREVER!!! 

The last one was for my cousin. I spent even more time on this one rolling flowers myself and stringing green beads.  Brittany is sort of an old soul, so I made hers to reflect old Hollywood.  I tried to use items that you would have found then.  Tulle, movie posters, the couple, the gears, the beads, the design of the hearts and arrows, and the tag.  While they all make me happy, this one too reflects my style so it's my favorite. Sort of like Gene Kelly would have it hanging in his house. 

Cards created on 8 July 2012

Today was just a day to try out my new dies and new ink pads while using some paper scraps.  First up is the flower made using Tim Holtz's tattered flowers die.  I made many layers of the flowers and inked them using Fired Brick and Black Soot. I sprinkled them with water and dried them with a heat gun.  I then wet them again and curled the edges under then I started to layer them.  I really liked the way that this giant flower turned out. 

The next two cards were made using the Lost and Found paper pack by MME.  I LOVE this paper!!! LOVE love love.  The Bubble Gum solid paper is by Bazzil.  The chipboard is by House of Three.  The scallop oval is a spellbinder die.  The string is flower thread by DMC.  Camera is by K&Co. 

The Paris card is made using the same Lost and Found paper and the House of Three chipboard.  I added an Effiel Tower stamp from the $1 bin at Michael's, a prima flower and tulle from a wedding. 

So very sweet card uses K&Co patterned paper and Bazzil yellow cardstock.  The scallop is again a spellbinders die.  Chipboard by House of Three, the owl punch by Martha Stewart and the stickles are Distress.  The #8 is by 7 Gypsies. 
The last card is a manly card.  I used a Tim Holtz embossing folder, distress stickles, alcohol inks and fragment.  All the paper is the same paper from the other red/yellow cards.  The string was bought at CKC.  The punch was made by Stampin UP!  For the look on the fragment I took alcohol inks in cranberry, latte, and caramel and put a couple of drops of each on my felt pad.  I added a drop of blending solution then bounced the felt pad on the fragment.  It does not take long to dry at all!  Once it was dry I flipped it over and stamped "dream" using stazon!  I love the look!!!  I sanded the cardstock so the white core would show through.  I love that look too. 

What a difference a year makes

With all the baseball tournaments I have not been able to join in on CR84FN or Mojo Monday like I want to, but I am back baby!!!  Today's cards were made for a couple of people at work that have a birthday coming up.  Of course while I was making them I reflected on my almost year at the high school. It is hard to believe what a difference a year makes.  I am happy, and much healthier. I had always thought people were nuts to say that a job could age you like that.  Especially when it was a job that I loved. I loved working with the staff but most of all the children.  I am not going to bore you with the things I did not love.  Those would be the reasons that I left.  

A year later, I am happy, less stress... A LOT LESS STRESS!  I am doing something I love and something I am good at.  I am working with people that are Godly people that let me pray for them, that encourage me to pray for them and that have prayed for me.  

My cholesterol is down.  WAY DOWN!  God works things out in the neatest ways.  I love when He surprises me and takes care of me when I didn't realize I needed it, but I always do.

Now a year later, there are some people that I miss, and probably will never talk to again.  And to that I just have to say "oh well".  I am happy!  

These cards are made with a lot of leftovers so telling it all might be hard.

The top card:

Scallop oval die cut by Spellbinders

Flower die cut by Tim Holtz

Ribbon bought at CKC

Patterned paper by K&Co

Red paper by Recollections

All inks are Distress inks by Tim Holtz

Birthday stamp by Stampin UP!

Leaves made from the Magnolia line of paper and inked with Distress inks

 

Second card:

Embossing folder by Stampin UP! (thanks Cassie for selling it to me)

Yellow paper by Recollections

Birthday sentiment by Stampin UP!

all other supplies same as above

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.