Begin Each Day With A Grateful Heart Decor Piece

This decor piece started out as a wall hanging, but after I caught sight of Linda's shabby chic project on her blog The Funkie Junkie, I switched gears. I haven't done a challenge for a long while, but she truly inspired me to go for this. I love what she created, so I incorporated some of her ideas into mine... the corrugate, the embossing and the Thinlits leaves.

My base is fabric from Tim's Textile Surfaces colored with Vintage Photo Distress Stain. The papers are Authentique Harvest and a free sheet from a Stampington magazine, with heavily distressed edges (scissors and VP Distress ink).

I colored the cheesecloth with more VP Distress Stain. The big bloom is an old Recollections from Michaels, the burlap leaves are by Prima, the smaller inky leaves were cut with Alterations Thinlits Fall Foliage, the natural burlap string is by May Arts.

In addition to distressing the Authentique sentiment ATC edges, I did some splatters using Tim's Speckles Layering Stencil and super heavy gesso by Liquitex. I also applied some with a pallet knife to give it more grunge.

The Stampington paper was embossed with Tim's Blueprint Texture Fade. I applied some Golden Light Molding Paste with the Speckles LS then sprinkled on Distress Vintage Photo embossing power and heat set. That gave it a rusty sort of look. 

The gem is a vintage Prima. The metal corner pieces are from Linda's shop, as are most of my supplies.

The keys epoxy sticker is another ancient item from my stash from a company called Bottle Cap Inc.

I'm entering my decor piece in the following challenges:

Frilly and Funkie - What a "Mesh"

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

I Love You in Inky Purples

Each year after CHA, I seem to get a renewed interest in using all my Ranger products, especially Distress inks. I have nearly every color, and am working on getting them all. I just ordered four of the newer ones... Carved Pumpkin, Lucky Clover, Blueprint Sketch, and Wilted Violet. I was really wishing I had Wilted Violet when did this card, but I'm still happy with the results of Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord, and Shaded Lilac.

The trim is one of Prima's older products that I've always loved. This is the last of what I had put away, except for about a tiny one inch piece.  The silver heart charm is from my stash.

The flowers and leaves are all by Petaloo. I applied some Twinklets Diamond Dust onto the purple Botanica bloom using Liquitex matte medium.

The rhinestones are from TPC Studio, the music paper scalloped heart is from my stash (bought online several years ago), my wood butterflies are from my favorite wood shop in Tennessee, some of the papers are Graphic 45, the ephemera pieces are by Idea-ology, and the lace heart is from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

The green pearl stems are by Petaloo.

I'm linking up my card at:
Allsorts Challenge - Girly and Sparkly
Crafting for All Seasons - Monochrome
Frilly and Funkie Challenge - Sing, Sing, Sing
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Have a fabulous weekend... we have some nasty weather heading our way. Hope yours will be better.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

You Are Loved Pocket Card

With the need to make that baby shower card I spoke of yesterday, I went ahead and created another Valentine card. I saw this lovely lady on a sheet of G45 Mon Amour paper and knew I had to use her image on a card. I am partial to black and white, so this collection was a must have for me. I made it into a pocket card so I would have that extra amount of space to work with, and I think I maxed it.

For the florals, I pulled out an older Prima flower and glued some ivory gathered tulle trim to the bottom. I teamed it up with an antique bronze leaf and some other flowers and leaves from I Am Roses. 

The "You Are Loved" and tiny heart pieces are from the MA Tags & Pockets and Decorative Chipboard packs. I bought the scalloped edged music paper hearts from an Etsy shop ages ago. It's funny how I can use up some things so fast, and others take me years to do so.

This antique bronze filigree is actually a row of tiny hearts. I topped it with a gold gem from Prima's Holiday Jubilee Say It In Crystals. With this close-up view, you can see that I edged my fussy-cut lady with Walnut Stain Distress ink. My tag is finished with an antique bronze wide eyelet and filigree heart with a seam binding bow that I'm sure Kirsty must have hand-dyed having come from one of her Pixie Dust Paperie kits.

I'm playing along at these challenges this week:

Allsorts Challenge - What's New?  (Mon Amour Collection)

Fab n Funky - Something New (Mon Amour Collection)

Frilly and Funkie - Holiday Hues (Valentines Day)

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by... I appreciate your visit!

Linda

The Sweetness of Friendship Pocket Card

Here's a card I created for my daughter. She wanted something special to give to her pastor's wife. I had one K & Company 3-D sticker left, so I built the card around it. This My Mind's Eye pattern seemed to fit the bill perfectly for the base. Some scraps on my desk worked for the tag and die cuts. I loved the mix. Can you tell I'm totally smitten with teal? It's my very favorite color at the present time. It works so beautifully with a neutral color like this beige or a gray.

I used my Alterations Distressed Doily again and Courtyard.

Two Petaloo Botanics blooms, I Am Roses yellow rose buds and bronze metal leaf from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. These leaves are sturdy, but I was able to shape it a bit with my needle nose pliers.

A Prima Pebble with a scrap of the MME paper.

I few I Am Roses leaves mixed in to fill in the gaps.

A bronze eyelet and yellow seam binding bow complete my tag. I used Walnut Stain Distress ink on all the paper edges.

I'm entering the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Share Your Favourite Colour

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Run Is The Word

This is a post with

a couple side stories beginning with my word for the year... "run". Yesterday while I was waiting for our first Creative Jump Start class to come live, I went to Julie Balzer's blog to see what she has been doing since she was to be our first Jump Starter of 2014. Her post here, was titled "One Little Word 2014", and I immediately thought... shoot, I forgot to pick mine. Well... moving on, our class came on and I was thrown into high gear with ideas for projects... (I LOVE CJS!!!) Making a list of what I wanted to create throughout January, I added my One Little Word project. I know Ali Edwards' concept is to do a journal that you work on through the year. (Last year I choose the word "Press" and made a journal for it here, here, and here, that I ended up giving away... which I felt was a better thing for me to do than to use it myself... and I still concentrated on my word and let it become a part of my thinking and doing. ) So I decided to make some thing I could hang above my desk, so that I could keep my thoughts on my word and let it do it's work in my life. Here it is...

I took my word from 

the Bible verse Hebrews 12: 1. I feel I've been slack in a lot of ways and need to get moving... run.

The base of my wall hanging

is canvas. I made the hanger from natural jute, the papers are from Prima's Engraver collection.

The flowers are from Prima

and Petaloo. The metals are by Idea-ology... time piece, game spinner, long fasteners and type charm. The ink is Vintage Photo Distress.

Second story...

Before I began work on

the One Little Word wall hanging, I thought I'd better tackle the thank you cards that were also on the list. Here's a sneak peek...

I have to thank Julie

and Ali for the inspiration and the six projects I was able to create yesterday. Even though I didn't actually use the techniques Julie taught or do a journal like Ali suggested, just watching them gave me motivation. More than all, I thank my God for the abilities He's given me to perform the tasks and to run the race. Now, to just do it with patience!

I'm linking up at:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

A Win at WAW

So thrilled to have won

at Word Art Wednesday with my rubber band mini album. Thank you so much Karen, WAW ladies and Pam Korte of Close to My Heart.

I'll be back this week after

a short break with some new projects to show.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Rubber Band Mini Revision

It's been a whole

week since I last posted. I seem to be in some sort of slump where I just can't get going. I have lots of projects in my head, but can't bring myself to the point of starting them. I best I've done this week was to revise the Timeless rubber band mini album I created the week before (here). It wasn't opening flat and was causing the pages to curl slightly. I cut the inside backing and added a strip of cloth tape along each side of the spine. Now it works like a charm. Since I was doing that I figured I may as well go ahead and embellish the pages and make a few photo tags. I also gave it a title...

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Be creative!

I'm linking up at:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

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

A Manly Romance Novel

... or a masculine card

made with Prima's Romance Novel collection. My stash of cards for men has once more dwindled down to nearly zero, so it's time to replenish. Although I normally wouldn't have thought this collection right for a man, I think it came out just fine. We know a lot of guys who like gardening and yard work, so I don't think the rose stamp is out of place. Besides, it adds just a splash of color and these papers are all so beautifully vintage looking.

My card has a base

of Recollections kraft cardstock... which seems to have been out of stock for some time now at our Michaels... along with black textured cardstock from Core'dinations.

The sentiment is from

Verve's Joy for the Journey stamp set. I love this set, and I really need one similar in an anniversary theme. Any ideas?

Chevron brad - My Mind's Eye 

Junkyard Findings - Prima

Mini paper clip - Idea-ology

Brushed Corduroy - Distress Ink

Jet Black - Archival Ink

I'm linking up at:

 Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Have a great Monday, friends!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Birthday Celebration

Hi, sweet blogging friends!

I'm popping back in today to show you that birthday card I made for our dear daughter-in-law.

I followed the

tutorial on the Scrapadabadoo blog here. It was quite simple, but took some time cutting all those different size mats. I'm always on the lookout for a new pattern, and this is one that I'm sure I'll make again.

The papers are

from the Pink Paislee Hope Chest collection. The base is Recollections kraft cardstock along with some in ivory for the mats.

The flowers are from

I Am Roses and Recollection. The resin window and bird are Prima Vintage Trinkets. The Distress Ink is Vintage Photo and the Happy Birthday text is Authentique Diction stickers.

Hope you all have a

great day. I need to run... I have a wedding to attend!

I'm linking up at:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Happy Anniversary Forever

Our daughter Sarah
and her husband celebrated their anniversary this past week, and I did a special card for them.

This is that beautiful
KraiserCraft 75 Cents collection again. I'm loving the 6.5 pad so much, I've now ordered the 12x12's.

I did some double
stamping on one of the die-cut pieces from the Collectables package and popped it up on top of another of the die-cuts. This package is just loaded with goodies, and I want to use them all. The butterflies and scalloped border are also from that group.

The white flowers and
leaves are from I Am Roses. The gold ones are from my stash... I believe originally from an Etsy shop. The heart locket is a Prima Vintage Trinket. The French Lace doily is from my stash.

The metal corner piece
is by Momenta. I also used Jet Black Archival and Vintage Photo Distress inks.

I'm linking up at:
Crafting For All Seasons - Floral Delight
Little Scrap Pieces - May Flowers
Simon Says Stamp - April Showers and/or Spring Flowers
Sugar Creek Hollow - Stamp It
The Cupcake Craftroom - Summer Blooms
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Have a wonderful Sunday, friends.

Thanks for stopping by!
Linda

Sweetness Journal

Last evening we had 

a terrific thunder storm. Dark clouds rolled and boiled, buckets of rain fell... and we lost power (a bloggers nightmare). 

I didn't get any photos 

taken yesterday due to the overcast skies, but I do have photos of a journal I haven't shown you yet. I made this with a couple of sheets of the Pink Paislee Sweetness collection from one of the old Pixie Dust Paperie kits I've been holding on to. I was keeping it back, not because I love this paper... but the reverse. One side of the sheets are the most beautiful florals, and the backsides I don't like at all. So here's what I did to kind of hide some those parts I'm not fond of...

I used this print for

my cover. I thought it was so pretty, I didn't want to cover it with embellishments.

Now when you open

it the trouble starts. See that bright yellow print on the warm brown background?... that's what I could do without. It's just not me... not my style, that's all. So I covered it up with a pocket, tags, and a Prima flower.

This page had another

backside print I didn't like, so I covered it with a full page pocket and tucked in a tag. I used the Alterations Mini Butterflies dies to make some adornments, added another Prima flower, and a Crate Paper sentiment (also from an old PDP kit - Kirsty, have you any idea how much I loved those!)

Now this backside

I could live with, so I didn't cover much of it. Actually I really like it... probably because it's blue, which is my favorite color. I just put on a square of the gorgeous floral image, tucked in tag, and again, Prima flowers.

Here you can see

the pink backside that I covered with another pocket, tags, Prima flowers, Authentique Diction sentiments, and American Crafts lace. The large rose at the bottom right was fussy cut and forms another pocket with tags inside.

Last page with a

fold-out journaling tag, Crate Paper sentiment, Prima flowers and Say It in Crystals, more AC lace. I also used a Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch, Walnut Stain Distress Ink, wrinkled pink seam binding, and wide eyelets from Memory Keepers.

I'm linking up at:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - April Showers and/or Spring Flowers

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

I hope your week

is going well for you. You've all been a blessing to me in leaving such kind comments... thank you so very much! Love you guys!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda