risk...

I am very happy to show off this wonderful Unity sentiment I won for my entry in the Limelight Papercrafts Blog Sketch Challenge #26. Thanks very much, Mandy for the great sketch and the chance to pick my prize. I've wanted to add this quote to my stamp collection for quite awhile.

It's one of those sayings that just gets down into your soul and wrestles with the part of you that whispers: 'you can't do that, or you're not good enough for this. Well, I'm here to say YOU CAN do whatever you set your heart to. But first you must name it. Second, you must have a vision ...and then and only then can you set out on the journey.

That's were I am right now...I've named it and I believe I've found what I need to encourage me to the next level. Hold that thought and I'll keep you posted along the way. This card will stay in my humongous red paper clip that lives on my Pottery Barn tray...I will need the reminder.

This card also fits with the 365Card Blog challenge to use lace on your work. I had some yummy pink cotton wide lace that I attached to the bottom edge of the oval. I used Basic Grey's Sugared papers (Precious and Charming). The bud is from a long retired PSX botantical, Hydrid Rose (part of my score from earlier in the week). I colored it with Copics and used the Stampin Up Scalloped punch to create my vertical panel. The Unity quote was inked with Memento Tuxedo Black onto a Spellbinder oval and dry embossed.

The sketch I used today is the Limelight Papercraft Sketch #27. Check it out

Hope you all have a wonderfully creative weekend and happy day~o's!

let's make a scene

...oh, I mean, let's create a scene, indoors. Making rooms might just be my favorite style of card. Guess it goes back to playing with dollhouses and paper dolls when I was a girl. This card is for 2 challenges, the Ways to Use it over on SCS...pleated ribbon and the 365 Card Blog: let's make a scene indoors.

This one came together quite quickly, as I knew just what stamps I wanted to use. B Line Designs fabulous 'Rendre Belle' and Tim Holtz's chandelier (hey, hey, Amy!!!). I used Memory Boxes Gingercake paper to frame in my wall, ceiling, and floor. Copics colored my belle's skin and shoes, I left the rest simple. I pleated a beautiful two toned ribbon and placed it at the top of my panel. It reminded me of a roman shade. At the very bottom I stamped Anna Griffin's Happy Birthday with Memento Tuxedo Black.

Thanks very kindly for stopping by my corner of the sphere today...hope yours is a happy one!

Signs

What a fun challenge today, Pam! Signs are springing up all over at 365 Card Blog. I couldn't resist using this cool image from Stampers Anonymous! I inked it with VersaFine black and lightly embossed. My words are assorted positive reinforcements. The 'oh, happy day' is a Wordsworth. The 'believe' a K&CO. Hope was taken from an Impression Obsession sentiment. The rest are unmarked. I used a My Mind's Eye discontinued paper for the double layers of grass. Think I'll use this a bookmark in the latest book I'm reading.

Thanks for your comments...have a OH, Happy Day~O!

motherload

No design work here today, either. But I just had to share my mother load score at a "by appointment only" art sale. My neighbor and thrifty gal partner had a blast going through a whole single car garage full of all kinds of art supplies, but can you image our hearts when we got to the back and saw drawers and drawers of stamps labeled by theme? I have wanted the PSX Queen Anne's Lace for a very long time! And the other, oh, I can't wait to play with them!!!

Check out that lefties stamp!!! I asked if I could have a volume discount...and wanna know how much all this goodness set me back??? $30. That's 22 stamps and an unopened Nick Bantock ink pad. Thanks neighbor...keep scouting out those Craigslist ads.

Hope ya all have found bliss in your day.

returning kindness

thanks are in order for three very special ladies for recently tagging me with awards. JennyS (uk), Teza and CarolynV , all of whom I met through the 365 Card Blog. From one side of the pond to the edge of the 'tuther! I am honored you thought of me with the Circle of Friends and the Kreativ Blogger.

When I was looking through some of my pictures yesterday, I came across this one of the most famous bridge in the world. I was struck with the thought as it connects Marin County to San Francisco proper, it also connects people, lovers, children, friends. And our blogs are all islands floating through cyberspace. They've come to be the modern day way stations of life. And we are drawn to them for beauty, pause, refreshment, instruction, encouragement and inspiration.

So here's to JennyS(uk) and Teza 5 things I like to do in no particular order of importance:

1). I love to watch my two sons operate in their passions; as I write this oldest DS is composing at the table with his 49 key computer keyboard and MAC and singing...oh, I love that. Youngest DS does hip hop to swing, to singing Jesus loves me to tiny children at Vacation Bible School to rapping.

2). I love to come up on my DH and catch that look of love in his eyes STILL after all these years. I suspect it something that could not be captured in a photograph. I just see it...

3). I adore sharing the wonder of God's creation everyday. I believe we must keep our eyes in focus to the beauty around us, no matter how small. ie: a group of garden spiders weaving their webs across my walk...spiders eek, webs majestic!

4). I move by my own clock, I must must have time for leisure.

5). Feeding my family and friends is a passion.

And to CarolynV 7 things people might find interesting:

1). I love mountain climbing, though I didn't begin until my 50's!

2). I am a disorganized person...but somehow it works for me.

3). I am shy.

4). I try not to follow trends...why can't we have retro releases, use what we have, stop the consumer merry-go-round! I like companies who keep their images year after year...ok so I know this one was a soapbox!!!

5).Almost anything makes me cry.

6). I am an avid but slow reader...I always find my books at the thrift shop.

7).I am a lark and a night owl.

Thanks again, JennyS(uk), Teza and CarolynV for connecting your way stations to mine...I'll be hopping on over for a spot of tea!

graceful...

Good day, all wherever you may be. I am up way too late, finishing my entry in Cornish Heritage Farms Summer Stamp Star Design Challenge. It's the final week and our instructions were to create a One Sheet Wonder. Which means to take one piece of paper, stamp on it and use all in your creation. I believe it originated as a way to make numerous card quickly. Well, I never do quickly!!! And so I decided to make a corset with this awesome template by Sarah Sandberg. And to use up the rest of my paper, I found this template from Stampington for a fan.

The basis for both pieces was My Mind's Eye new Breaking Free paper. This particular one is called Fruit Flavored 'Surfer Girl' and Betty's Boards Paper. It is double sided. I took an 8.5x11 piece out of it, leaving those boards for a later time. I used the net backgrounder on the facing left side, inked with versamark and embossed with Silver Pearl. On the right facing I used the flowers and lace backgrounder, inking it with Heritage Marvy in sea foam. It was embossed with clear ep. The upper corner was stamped with Aged Sheet Music in Memento Summer Sky ink. I added the word 'Graceful' from the Saturday Evening Post Vintage Butterfly set. I used Tim Holtz's distress ink in Frayed Burlap. The vintage lace was a gift from a friend, who generously shared her stash with me. I punched and threaded 25 eyelets and laced the cord. At the top, I finished it off with a brass bow.

The fan was created with CHF's January Stamp of the Month, Freesia. I inked it with several Chalkbox inks on each of the panels and also used two of the small butterflies and the word serenity . The back is inked with the sentiments from the SEP set. Vintage velvet ribbon ties it together.

It is difficult to photograph three dimensional items...I hope you see this at it's best advantage.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope your day is marvelous!

heavenly aprons

When Stef issued the Inspiration Challenge today and linked up the Heavenly Hostess site, I knew I would use this pic of my DH's grandmother, Josephine from the 40's. Something about the surroundings is very comforting. And while I never met her, I know her just the same. If you'd like the specifics of my card, please hop over to my gallery on SCS.

It always makes me happy to see this picture hanging in my kitchen for I am reminded of how much love IS stirred, chopped, whipped, and mashed into food that nourishes our bodies and souls. I think of my grandmother letting me lick the beaters when she made 7 minutes frosting, a tradition that my boys still enjoy today...only now with caramel frosting.

So to all the bakers and cooks out there, bring it on...reach out and teach a whole 'nother generation who needs to know what home cookin' really is!

Thanks for visiting me, I am honored you give me the gift of your time.