A Little Faith

The Penmaker buys

our spring water from our local Giant Eagle grocery in gallon jugs that come three to a box. We generally get four boxes every few days this time of year... which means a lot of good cardboard going to waste. Our daughter Sarah takes some for her Ebay shop, but I pulled one off the stack and cut off a nice hunk to use for craft projects. I cut one piece about 5" high and 16.5" long. I scored it at 5.5" and 11" then folded it accordion style. Gave it a spray of Dylusions Black Marble ink, and created this...

Daughter Carrie (the 

one planning the kitchen remodel here) had also posted some darling photos of her youngest, Faith. I just had to make something with these and thought they would look good on an album, of sorts, sitting on her new black Ikea Hemnes bookcases.

Not a lot of embellishment

here, just fussy cut papers. I used Prima's Romance Novel collection, Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink, May Arts ivory burlap string and a tad bit of molding paste with my CW Confetti stencil. I did the title on my computer, cut it out and backed it onto black chipboard. Used lots of 3-D foam adhesive thru-out.

Although I wasn't real

happy with the way the pink of Faith's dress looked on this paper, when I tried a black and white photo, it just didn't have that same punch I wanted.

The dove is a

Sizzlit Bird #5 die from Sizzix. The "moving" text on the RN tab is an Authentique Diction sticker.

The Penmaker and I

are both down with dizziness and general aches. A result from the change in weather, no doubt. I'll be by for a visit as soon as I can. Am really missing sitting at my Mac and my Kindle is not cooperating with me.

Have a wonderful Sunday, my friends!

I'm linking up at:

Anything Goes - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Carrie's Dream Kitchen

My daughter and

her husband are planning a kitchen remodel in the future, and she has been posting some beautiful photos of possibilities on her Facebook page. She put one up this week I thought could be made into an encouragement layout to hang on her fridge. Although this is only the dining area, I still think it will give her plenty to spark her imagination and keep her dreams alive.

The overall size is

8"x8" and is on a chipboard base. The papers are from Pink Paislee's Hope Chest and Graphic 45's French County collections. The chipped paint woodgrain paper is from Kaisercraft and matches the table in the photo to a T. 

I layered on some

molding paste using the Crafter's Workshop Tile Texture stencil then misted on LSG Starburst in Tibetan Poppy Teal with their Confetti stencil. Walnut Stain Distress Ink went on the edges. The corner piece is a Prima Shabby Chic Treasure.

I saw a similar 

light fixture as the one in the photo at Ikea, so I made a copy, cut it out and added it to the top left corner with 3-D foam adhesive.

The flowers are all

from Petaloo. I applied a little gesso to them as well as the papers to tone things down and give it a cohesive look. Added a Spare Parts light bulb from Hobby Lobby and an Idea-ology Dream ticket.

Also put on a Graphic 45

Staples metal key and key hole... gave them both a quick coat of gesso too. I generally just use my finger for work like this... why dirty a paint brush when it's easier to just wash my hands.

I put a mini binder

clip at the top for hanging. These are really handy for layouts and Staples sells them quite reasonably.

I'm really looking forward

to seeing what Carrie and Matt do with their kitchen. I love this color scheme and hope they'll follow through with that. I guess time will tell.

I'm linking up at:

Anything Goes - Anything Goes

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Matchbook Box With Mini Album

I've been on a mini

album kick lately... just can't seem to want to make anything else. After watching this video by Arlene, I decided to try making one to fit into the Graphic 45 Matchbook Box that I had bought awhile back. She used the French Country collection by G45, and since it's one of my new favorites, I made mine with the same.

Other than the Graphic 45 

items, I used I AM Roses flowers, two buttons from my stash, two My Mind's Eye brads, crinkled seam binding, a Momenta metal key, an Idea-ology metal Label Pull. I also used a Spellbinder's Floral Motifs die.

Here are the individual

pages of the mini album. I cut them from medium weight black chipboard. I punched the holes with my Crop-A-Dile and added two We Are Memory Keepers wide eyelets on the cover, leaving the others plain for less bulk.

Not being sure what

I'm going to do with this project, I just inserted copy paper rectangles where the photos will go.

I left the label pull

empty as well, with the thought of adding a title or someone's name when the time comes to either use it in my home or give it away.

I started out by

giving the box a few coats of Tattered Leather Glimmer Mist... brushing it on instead of spraying. I then heat set it, and at this point... my heat tool shot out sparks and died. Hummm... now what? I use this gun more than any other tool.

The only solution...

quick place an order with BlueMoon Scrapbooking for another. Might as well add on a few other things to make the over fifty dollars free shipping... right? (Can you believe, it came in four days!)

I put down the 

papers with Tombow Multi glue, inking the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink first, then added my embellishments.

Here it all is...

a VERY Happy Place!

I think I need to make some cards next, but after those, there are three other albums I want to try.

I'm linking up at:

Anything Goes - Heavy Metal

Crafting by Designs - Spring Flowers

Crafting For All Seasons - Floral Delight

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Men With Their Toys

I'm still working

on this Christmas mini album, and I just may finish it before spring is over. There are only a few more photos to add, which is a good thing as this book is getting awfully chunky.

These two pages are

about some of our men folk and their toys... some they received as gifts and others they just brought along with them. Any way, it's fun to watch the serious looks on their faces.

Two page spread.

I tucked a couple

journaling tags under the photos here. I'm planning on going back when this is all done and filling in the journal spots. I hope I'll still be able to remember everything.

The Penmaker with a

new squirrel-resistant bird feeder. Besides turning pens, he likes taking care of our feathered friends in the back yard. The other day he came running down the hallway yelling for me to come quickly. We had six wild turkey out there. I tried to get a picture, but they headed for the woods and blended right  into the trees. So fantastic! 

More journaling space

on the back of this tag which also contains my bit of heavy metal... a wide eyelet from Memory Keepers. I'm not much of a talker... hope I can find enough to write about to fill all the journaling tags I've put in this album.

I'm linking up at:

Anything Goes Challenge - Heavy Metal

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Ahhh Friday...

have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

You + Me

Here I am at my

desk working away on a new rubber band album and realized I forget to do my post last night. Yikes... how do I forget these things so easily!

This is another of 

the Valentine cards I did using up my last year's stash. They are so quick and easy to put together as the papers are already cut into and I don't have to fret about making that first slice (I like to hoard everything). I still love this floral from the Blush collection by My Mind's Eye... some patterns just never grow old.

The flowers and leaves

are all from I Am Roses and the doily is French Lace paper. There is a tinge of Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the paper edges.

I'm linking up at:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Monochrome

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Compliments Of The Season Tag

The tag I want to show

you today is a combination of old and new. I inked this #8 manila tag with Ranger's Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose and Vintage Photo then gave it a spray with Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold. Then I proceeded to cover it all up???...

What's the point?

Well, I changed the image that I was going to use to something a bit larger. When going through my box of last Christmas's odds and ends, I found this piece from Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium and knew I had to use it on this tag!

I love this collection!

I had saved every tiny piece I had left over from my cards and tags last year. 

My tag wasn't quite

sturdy enough for all the embellishments I had planned, so I pulled out a sheet of cardboard from an old Pixie Dust Paperie kit, cut a square and glued it to the G45 image. Edged it with some Vintage Photo DI and added it to the tag layered on top of a paper doily.

I glued a section of 

American Craft crocheted lace to the bottom, then added I Am Roses flowers and leaves that were misted with Lindy's Stamp Gang Scintillating Silver Glitz Spritz. The time piece is from Prima and is topped with a My Mind's Eye brad.

I cut three snowflakes

from a scrap of white cardstock with Alterations Mini Snowflakes die. Adhered on red rhinestones from a pack from TPC Studio that is nearly empty, and popped them up with 3-D foam squares, the last of that pack, too.

A sheer bow at the

top completes my odds and ends Christmas tag... and I have a sense of satisfaction knowing that these bits and bobs haven't gone to waste.

I'm entering my tag at:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Tags

Crafting for All Seasons - Use Flowers

Shopping Our Stash - Odds and Ends and/or Waiting to be Used

Tuesday Throwdown - Lots of Layers

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda

Donuts And Coffee

Every Tuesday morning

the Penmaker and I jump in the car and head to Walnut Creek to do our grocery shopping. It's about a twenty-five minute drive over to Amish country, and we pass several less expensive stores on our way there. So why do it??? Well, a couple reasons... delicious coffee and melt in your mouth fresh, glazed donuts (both free to shoppers), cozy tables on the balcony, over-looking the store where we can sit and discuss our plans for the day, and friendly, unhurried people!

So, now that I'm fortified

with sugar and caffeine, I'll show you another tag...

This is made with the

smaller #5 manilla tag that I covered with a scrap of "Chevron" paper from My Mind's Eye All Is Bright collection. The edges were sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

The vintage image is from

The Graphics Fairy. I get my seam binding for my bows from Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy. This one is topped with a button and a chipboard piece from MME's Follow Your Heart button pack. It's tied on with a piece of aqua Baker's twine from my stash.

The other two chipboard 

elements are from the MME All Is Bright 12x12 chipboard accessories sheet. I added a couple TPC Studio rhinestones for some sparkle.

I am lovin' this collection!

I'm entering my tag at:
Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Tags
Sugar Creek Hollow - Vintage Christmas

Now I want you to

think about joining the Penmaker and me for a donut and coffee next week!

Thanks for the lovely visit!

Hugs!

Linda

She Sings Because She Has A Song

A dear old friend

of mine lost her dad this week, so I made this card to send to her. I can remember years ago, how it seemed that my in-laws were always going to funerals. Well, now that I've grown older, I understand. I suppose when we're young, we don't fully comprehend the brevity of life. It truly is a vapor.

This is the card I created for her...

The papers are from

 Kaisercraft Timeless in the Vintage collection.

I used several dies...

Spellbinder's Foliage, Floral Doily Motifs, Large Deckled Rectangles and Sizzix Basic Grey Bird #5.

The flower is from Prima as is the chipboard Printery piece under it. The Heartfelt Sympathy sentiment is from the Kaisercraft Sympathy mini clear stamp set, 

and the bird sentiment is from the Artistic Outpost Serenity set. I sponged Black Soot Distress Ink on all the edges.

I'm link my card at:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Sugar Creek Hollow - Cream Plus Two

I'm so glad for our visit.

I truly appreciate you taking time to stop and see my work!

Hugs!

Linda

Rejoice... And A Pen

Do you ever struggle

while making a card? Sometimes I just can't seem to come up with the right combination of patterns or images/stamps. As was the case of this one. The Penmaker was working on one of his masterpieces to give to a friend, and he had asked me to make a Christmas card to go along with it. Naturally, I wanted it to be special... but had a total brain freeze. It took me two days of hard labor on this...LOL! Seriously... I did struggle, but I'm pleased with the results. I hope our friend will be also!

 I started with these 

patterns from the collection of Christmas papers from My Mind's Eye called All Is Bright.

The base is Kraft by 

Recollections and matted with a dark red from Core'dinations.

The cardinal is from

my new Artistic Outpost set called MidWinter.

I stamped it onto a

scrap of white cardstock and colored it using a Ranger Craft Nib and Festive Berries, Evergreen Bough, Iced Spruce and Vintage Photo Distress Inks plus Ink It Up's Cranberry. I fussy cut it, inked the edges with Vintage Photo and brushed on a coat of Distress Crackle Paint in Clear Rock Candy. When it was dry, I adhered it to two layers cut with My Favorite Things Die-namics Layered Labels die set that I stamped with Rejoice (from an old Sweet 'n Sassy set).

Here is the point that

everything went awry... but I digress.

The Alterations Distressed

Doily, Pine Tree and Mini Pine Tree were all cut out of paper from the Core'dinations Kraft-Core Nostalgic Collection pad, and the trees were embossed with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots. I wrapped the tree trunks with May Arts brown burlap string.

There's a bit of cheesecloth

tucked under the tree here to give a snowy effect. A ChitChat sticker was put into the Label Pull... both are from Idea-ology.

I added bronze metal

corners from Momenta... popped up the trees with 3-D foam adhesive... and my two day card was complete.

Oops... I forgot to do the inside!

I already had the papers

in for the message, but I thought a verse should go inside as well. So out came the Layered Labels again, and I stamped them with Luke 2:11... For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Here is our completed set.

The pen is Black Ash,

and the clip has a Swarovski crystal in the tip.

I'm linking my card up with:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Die Cuts/ Punches

Make It Monday - #114

The Crafty Pad - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda