Christmas Thank Yous

I made my Thank You cards for the wonderful gifts I received this Christmas.

My tradition is to make my TY cards from the gift wrap on the gifts.  I had a few choices and I chose this one.  It is a double sided paper so again more choice.  I found the large snowmen not as inspiring but the strips of postage stamp images were just great.  There were several colors included as well so I could have a variety of card colors. 

I chose 5 colors - Red, Turquoise, Green, Purple and Pink for the cards, then I coordinated the greeting layer with that. I used a happy font for my greeting and I printed them on a quarter sheet of white card stock then trimmed the one side to make it 5.25 wide and ripped the bottom edge.  I cut the strips of images between the rows free hand.  Four across was perfect.  I just made sure I had one that matched the card stock.




This paper was on the gift from my niece and it worked wonderfully for this project.  Thanks so much!

I have been so blessed this year by friends and family.  A few gift cards, some tea related gifts, some yellow and navy for my kitchen, some nice scented shower gel, a couple handmade gifts and a turquoise scarf.

Art Gallery Invite - Oct 20th

I will be launching my 2018 photo calendars at this art show.  I would be delighted to see you there.
Friday, October 20th CAVA Gallery - 7pm - 9103 - 95 Avenue.

Click the photo to see the bigger version.

Check out my Calendar page and my Ready2Give Card page for photo cards.

Art Card Stack Class

I am holding my Art Card Stack Class tonight and these are the cards we are making.  This is a very different from the kind of cards I usually make.  I had hoped that by offering something different it would be more popular and I would be able to capitalize on the trend of adult coloring books. Did not turn out that way.  I have a few ladies registered.

I will be bringing a couple sets of pencil crayons, and water color pencils with brushes.

I have 2 ladies who purchased the Stampin Up Watercolor Crayons years ago and would like to learn how to use them with the Aqua Painter (water brush) which was sold at the same time. We will use a clear mount for our palette.  I am looking forward to helping these ladies make use of the supplies they have.  I also have these supplies which I have not used a lot so we will have fun together.

These line drawings are printed on heavy card stock.  The designs are by Joanne Fink. She is an Orlando based calligrapher/designer.

I chose to mount them onto black card bases so no matter what color the participants chose it would match the black outlines in the art.  I wanted to add greetings but without hiding the wonderful art so I chose vellum as a substrate.  Again, with black letters clear embossed on the vellum so it all matches and does not conflict with any colors selected.  All held in place with tiny black brads.

My 2 Cents:
As a person who has spent the better part of the last 20 years working on cards, teaching classes, and in many involved in this craft I am disppointed in the lack of appreciation for them in the younger crowd.  I know that when the postage increased in our area a few years ago that was the final straw for some who just abandoned the practice completely.

Cards are not popular among the younger crowd and the older crowd struggles with the motor dexterity to handle the materials and tools. I, one day will no longer have people who will participate.  I am sad about that but that is for a day way in the future I hope. 

I was speaking to a young lady yesterday and she was not interested as she does not send cards at all.  I guess it's all on line or not done at all.



Laurentien pencil crayons - the brand I used when I was in elementary school. Can be applied light or heavy. Soft or bold are options.

Artist's Loft - Watercolor Crayons which are applied like pencil crayons then lightly moistened with a paint brush to blend the color(s) and fill in the white spaces.

Stampin Up Watercolor Crayons. They are solid color pencils so there is enough color in this box for me to paint the rest of my life and likely beyond that.  These are available under other brands.


A spray bottle to provide a bit of moisture when needed.  The Aqua Painter brush from Stampin Up.

I am looking forward to the class and sharing my knowledge and giving these ladies the ability to leave my class and continue to make art and cards.

One Thousdand Gifts - Session 4 - Trust - The Bridge to Joy

This is week four in this bible study - One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratefulness. The video is very well done with wonderful images. There was good attendance.

Session 4 -Trust - The Bridge to Joy

This week, Ann mentions several fears that made it difficult for her to trust God in her life.  As she practiced Eucharisteo - giving Thanks she found that Joy came and Trust grew.

Fear keeps our lives small. Fear tells us the lie that God's goodness is finite, it will come to an end, that there will not be enough, our needs will not be met. Trust is hard work.

If we reach for life with open hands does our life become bigger, richer, more joy filled?  God has given the best and knows our needs so what would He withhold?

We build trust through millions of faithful moments where God was there to support, provide and encourage.

This week Ann describes a moment on her drive to somewhere. She had the epiphany when she drove over a bridge and realized that she had trusted the bridge builder to get her across safely.

Thanksgiving builds Trust.

We need to trust God who is our Bridge Builder to get us through and over the troubled waters in our lives.

'When we can't see His hand, we can always see His heart'.

One Thousand Gifts - Session 3 - All is Grace

This is week three in this bible study - One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratefulness. The video is very well done with wonderful images. There was good attendance.






Session Three - All is Grace

This week Ann talks about an experience with 2 of her boys.  One of the boys has been disrespectful to the other and she is angry at the behavior of the boy.   After practicing Eucharisteo for a while she chooses to practice it in the situation.  It feels unfamiliar, but she does it anyway. Give Thanks when you would rather lash out.  In a few minutes, heart rates slow, tempers cool, arms uncross, hearts soften and a tender moment is be shared between mother and son.  A blessing received by each.

We will have valley and mountain top experiences.  Can we see God's grace in all of them?

If we look deep enough in the hard places of our lives we will see God's hand on it. 

Ready 2 Fill Calendar - See your Memories Everyday

I've created a half sheet calendar (5.5x8.5") you can fill with your own photos.   A DIY project you can complete in an hour.

Do you want to make a calendar of the grand kids?
Create a memory calendar of your wedding or special event?
Did your baby just turn 1 and you want to remember the firsts?  Did you take a trip you want to remember all year long?
These are just a few of the many events you can put into your calendar.

It has a front cover and back page as well as 12 pages for each month.  It comes with a hole punched in the top center, a silver metal binder clip and an adhesive runner to adhere your photos. You have all you need to get started.


It will easily accommodate 3.5x5 inch photos leaving an even border or 4x4 centered over the calendar. These sizes can be ordered from your favorite photo center.  The 4x6 photos need to be trimmed to 4x5 or 4x5.5 inches.

 Options of hanging your new calendar

Simple Squares Calendar

Update:  I have decided to add a Zutter binding instead of a clip.  I'm thinking these will be popular with seniors so a clip may be difficult to handle and all the pages will come apart very easily.  I chose to put a card stock back to provide a bit of color. 

I have been asked at crafts sales in previous years whether I had a plain calendar with large squares so they could write information on the calendar so I decided to make one this year.  I printed the calendar pages on heavy bond paper and provided a chipboard backer to keep it stiff.  It is all held together with a silver clip that allows you to hang it on a nail or a magnet.

Tea Time Photo Calendar

 

This calendar features tea related tablescapes which I photographed.   I tried to vary the colors, the layout and tea pots.  I have collected tableware that I like and mostly they all coordinate so I can mix and match pieces quite easily.  

The calendar features heart shaped teacups and saucers by Steeped Tea, white bone china teapot and tea cup by Royal Worcester, a clear glass Sophe teapot by Primula, Cobalt 365 mugs from Ikea, yellow Infusion teapot by Maxwell and Williams, white teapot from Stokes, earthern ware mug in warm blues from a local potter, Johnston Brothers Regency white teacup and saucer, golden yellow cream and sugar set by Chantal, and finally a vintage Sadler lamp shape pink teapot with pink roses & periwinkle forget-me-nots with gold trim.  It was my aunt's and my research suggested it is 75 years old.  

I see that some of my other tableware did not make it to this calendar so there is tablescapes to create for another calendar. 

You can find my calendars on the calendar page.

Owl Art Photo Calendar

I've been working of my 4x6 photo calendars for the fall craft sale season.  A few years ago I had a cute Blue Bird calendar with art work designed by my sister.  This year I wanted a cute one so I designed and created this owl.  I drew all the pieces. I then printed the body on the back of the designer paper and cut it out by hand.  I then printed the wings on card stock or coordinating designer paper ensuring they were mirror images and cut those by hand.  I designed the branch digitally.  For each owl I colored the branch appropriately and printed it on the 6x6 inch background paper.  I cut the beak and feet from coordinating card stock. The eyes are .75 and .5 circle punches. I assembled the paper pieced owl and applied the googly eyes.  Once all 12 were assembled I photographed them to add them to my calendar template.  Only a few have nods to the celebration in the month.  January has a frosty type back ground, February is Valentine designer paper, October has pumpkin coloring and finally Christmas designer paper for December.
You can find it for sale on my Calendar page.