Sunday, March 31, 2013

Crafters of Faith March Blog Hop!

Happy Easter, my friends! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

We are so blessed to have Easter land on the last day of the month...just in time for our Crafters of Faith Blog Hop!  Our hostess this month is dear, sweet Jeanette (a.k.a. ForestRanger)! Jeanette is a pastor's wife, and she lifts up our group of crafters in the most amazing ways. We love you, Jeanette! Her challenge for this Easter Sunday was to make an Easter card that avoids using the usual images of this holiday. No bunnies, no chocolates, no eggs or Peeps or marshmallows.

I wanted to make a clean and simple card that just carries the message of the cross. But clean and simple cards, though they look clean and simple, are actually much tougher to make than they appear!

Did you know that the hardest thing in the world to stamp evenly is a cross? No joke! You have to make it even both horizontally and vertically! You can practice stamping that cross a thousand times on scrap paper, and the minute you stamp it on your finished project, you undoubtedly stamp it crooked. Crooked! But that's okay. Jesus is perfect so that I don't have to be! Here's my card:


I decided to use my Distress Stains to make a watercolor background. For my first attempt, I used regular card stock. Not what I was hoping for. So I scrapped that and used the Adirondack paper that's made for these Ranger inks. SOOO much better. I love the effect of the sun rising over the hills.

I chose the stamps from Unity Stamp Company's Something Within stamp set. I loved this scripture verse with the cross. "He has made everything beautiful in its time." Imagine...a horrible symbol of a gruesome death by crucifixion has become a beautiful symbol of God's redeeming love.

I chose to mount this little watercolor scene on the purple card stock for one reason: it looked as if it was purple shirt day at my church this morning! I saw so many shades of purple shirts in the congregation! And guess what? I was wearing one, too! ha ha! It was like the church sent out a memo: Don't forget to wear your purple shirts for Easter!


Thanks for visiting the cafe today! Make sure to pop over to the other bloggers listed on the right (Crafters of Faith) and leave them some blog love this glorious day!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Main Thing

My pastor has a plaque in his office that says "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."

I've been losing sight of the main thing lately.

I have about fifty seven odd jobs that need to be done around the house before we put it on the market in ten days.

But that's not the main thing.

I'm trying to find a list of potential houses to tour when we visit Pittsburgh next week.

But that's not the main thing.

My husband and my college sons will return for the holiday weekend tomorrow.

But that's not the main thing.

The main thing is Jesus. Jesus is the main thing.


I sat down to craft today, and struggled with a card. Layers, papers, inks, nothing was coming together.

That's when I decided to scrap it and keep it simple. Less stuff, more Jesus. Less stress, more Jesus. Less me, more Jesus.

It's been a tug of war this week. Surrendering to God's plan, and then yanking back the reins and trying to control.

But for a few minutes at my craft table today, I let the main thing be the main thing.

Just in the nick of time.


{Today's Brew: Faith stamp set from Unity Stamp Co., soft stone card stock (PTI), baja breeze/perfect plum/rose red ink from SU, versafine onyx ink, Mister Huey mint julep, spiral punch, butterfly punch, papers from My Mind's Eye}

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Pennsylvania Dutch Inspired


I hit Pennsylvania Dutch pay dirt this week! A genuine hex sign! I found this beauty from one of my favorite local vendors, Midwest Modified, and knew I had to bring it home with me.  Now I just need to find a home in Pennsylvania that is worthy of this welcome sign.


I was inspired to pull out my stamps and have a little more folk art fun. This time, I used Waltzingmouse Stamps' Nordic Spring stamp set.


{Today's Brew: Nordic Spring stamp set (Walztingmouse Stamps), PTI kraft and naturals white card stock, SU inks and card stock, SU embossing folder, PTI felt and flower die, SU seam binding and button}


Thanks for visiting the cafe today! Happy Spring!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Folk Art for Spring

I've been obsessed with folk art lately. I think it may have something do with the fact that I'm moving to Pennsylvania this spring (see more on that at my other blog, This End Up!), and there are wonderful examples of folk art from that state.

I saw this photo at the Mollie Makes blog, and knew I'd have to give it a try:


And then just this morning, Dawn posted her Monday Mood Board at WPlus9 Design:


And that's when it all came together!


{Today's Brew: all stamps from WPlus9 Design (Folk Art Florals and Easter Egg), PTI naturals white card stock, SU lucky limeade ink/card stock, SU wisteria wonder ink/card stock, groovy guava card stock and ribbon, pool party ink, so saffron ink, calypso coral ink, SU scallop edge punch}

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Blessings on your day, friends! Hope it's filled with wonderful green surprises!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Go Boldly!


Okay, we admit it. We're a geeky family. We let our geek flag fly boldly! We happen to love sci-fi movies, science-based television programs, and all things that put us squarely on the nerd spectrum. (Did I mention we  celebrate Pi Day?)

Today, it's my oldest son, Luke's birthday! Luke, who just posted on Facebook this morning that we should all be celebrating St. Patrick Stewart's Day instead of boring old St. Paddy's Day. Yes, Patrick Stewart, as in Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise.

I know he'll appreciate this card!

I made the "planet" by cutting a circle and dabbing it with Tim Holtz Distress stains to give it a "cratered" look.

{Today's Brew: stamps from Paper Smooches, PTI card stock, October Afternoon paper, pin from My Mind's Eye, Tim Holtz Distress Stain, sizzix circle die}


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Happy Pi Day!

Today at the cafe, we're serving coffee and pie. It is pi day, after all!

Yes, that magical day is here....3.14, or March 14th for the non-mathematical types.

What, you don't celebrate pi day?  I guess my family is a little geeky that way. :)

My son, John, goes to a college that makes a BIG deal of Pi Day. As a matter of fact, last year someone wrote out the numbers in pi to the thousandths in chalk on the sidewalk for all to see on 3.14! You can see it on a clip here, but I warn you...all those decimal points take over eight minutes to view! LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoKBZUanD6k\



I made a card today for the Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge blog. This is a sketch challenge week...perfect! I used the sketch to make this card:


{Today's Brew: all stamps from Paper Smooches (FOLKal Points, alphadot, Simply Said), PTI Kraft card base, Simple Stories Summer Fresh papers, wplus9 pinking squares die, MFT flower die, burlap, button twine, corduory button (SU)}


Hope your day is filled with good things!


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Fun With Burlap

Have you noticed? Burlap is all the rage. You'll find it everywhere in paper crafting and home decorating. Burlap is fun for the texture it gives a project. I have some burlap covered lamp shades that I like very much.

But a little burlap goes a long way.

For example, I wouldn't want burlap-covered pillows. Sure, the texture and color may be nice, but burlap is scratchy, and sometimes it has a smell that is not entirely pleasant.

I'm reminded of the Halloween costume my mom made me when I was a girl. I was a Native American that year (those were the Laura Ingalls Wilder days!), with two long braids, a feathered hair band, and the scratchiest burlap dress you could imagine. I looked like Pocahontas with a case of chicken pox! Not a happy trick-or-treat memory!

I made another card this week using some of my new burlap from Michael's ($2.99 for a roll, which is just about as much as I want to spend on a trendy item!). I decided to try to diecut some burlap. It works just fine! I did have to run it through the Big Shot twice, and it can be a little fragile, but I secured it all with a big Glubber from Cosmo Cricket, and it came out beautifully!


{Today's Brew: Lace Bouquet stamp (PTI), sentiment from Unity, MME Be Happy Papers, MFT flower die, PTI button and twine, rick rack}

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

The Need for Flowers


My husband is so good to me. When the last days of winter begin to wane, he seems to sense my need for spring flowers. These lovely tulips came just in the nick of time. The cheery yellow and white tulips have certainly brought the sunshine to my otherwise grey days.


I was inspired to do a little spring crafting today. The snow may be accumulating outside, but my calendar promises me that Easter is right around the corner!


{Today's Brew: Friendship Jar and Friendship Jar Spring Fillers (PTI), Tiny Tags stamp set and die (PTI) , cardstock (PTI), Crate Paper Pretty Party Collection papers, scallop edge punch (SU), baja breeze and daffodil delight inks (SU), button twine, green twine and burlap}


I found this super cute burlap and matching twine at Michael's this week. It comes in fun colors, too...pink, blue, green, brown and ivory.

Blessings, cafe friends!