Serger Desk - Mom's

During my visit with my sister we discussed my set up of the new to me serger recently.

She mentioned that she had brought Mom's serger desk to her house when they were cleaning out Mom's room after she passed.

She asked would I like to use it and I said for sure.

It is small so it fit in the card nicely and I was able to handle it by myself to get it to my place.

Here it is all set up next the Bernina sewing desk!

I have been collecting cones of thread. I did buy some serger thread as well.

My sister mentioned that the drawers took a bit of time to figure out which ones went where but I found a clue when I looked.

Mom had marked the drawers, top middle and bottom.

Mystery solved.

Thanks Mom!

I like that the desk are the same height so it extends my working surface when working with large projects.

I am very happy with this set up.

Special Project - Thank You Set 2

I made another set of cards this morning for the special project at Mom & Dad's.

I chose a piece of 12x12 designer paper in Soft Sky color with white polka dots and cut 9 circles with the Spellbinder smooth circle thinlets measruing 3.25 inches.  I again traced loosely the images of butterflies, garden and bird with a border with black marker.

Layered the white Cuttlebug Thanks Words embossed layer onto the card front. 

Used a brad to hold the ornament in place so it can be removed by the recipient.

Loving these! 

Thank You - Large Card

I created the card to put next to the treats at Mom and Dad's apartment.

The small cards will be addressed to individuals that Mom & Dad choose.

This is a general card to communicate with the other neighbours.

I have chosen nuts, chocolates and candies to share with these wonderful people.

I started with a Taken with Teal card base in the A7 (5x7) size.

I adhered a piece of alcohol ink paper in 4x6 size to the card front.

I then printed the words on vellum with the ink jet printer and embossed the words with silver powder.

I trimmed the vellum to allow the background to show.  Adhered the vellum with tiny white brads in the four corners.

Special Project - Thank You cards

 

I made some thank you cards for the friends and neighbours at Mom & Dad's apartment building.  They have been so good to them.  We planned some treats for them which I will deliver this week.

I started with the watercolor paper which I taped to glass then applied the color to the wet paper.   It was allowed to dry overnight which left it very flat.   I cut the circles with Spellbinder smooth circle thinlets - this one measures 3.25 inches.  I added a length of silver metallic embroidery thread.

I found a few simple images on line - birds, garden and butterflies.  I placed them on my light table and loosely traced them onto the watercolored circles with a black marker.  I added the border all the way around.

I cut pieces of white card stock which measured exactly what I needed then ran them in the BigShot with the Cuttlebug Thanks Words folder.  

I chose a card base that matched the colors in the ornament. I adhered the Thanks layer to the card base then used a black brad to attach the ornament to the card front.  This will allow the receiver to remove it and hanging it in a favorite place.

Thank You Cards

I made thank you cards for those who helped with the Wall Christmas Tree project.  

I started with a pea green textured card. 

I embossed a white layer with Cuttlebug Thanks Words folder.  I adhered it to the card front with double sided tape.

I cut a triangle tree from SU Gumball Green and embossed it with a Cuttlebug lines folder.

The tree and the star confetti were attached to the card front with 3D foam tape.

These are on their way!

Miniature Watercolors into Cards

I was inspired by a photography challenge to produce some art and I chose watercolor.  

I opened a pad of water color paper bought at a scrapbook store. There is no indication of the weight of the paper so I was not getting my hopes up.  

I cut down a sheet about letter sized into 4 smaller pieces.  Some square and others not.  I pulled out my Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons so I can match it will card stock later.

This one is a bit of a landscape with a tree, flowers, the sun and a few birds flying in the sky.  The paper worked really well in this small size.

I paired it with a piece of Bashful Blue leaving a tiny border and ripped the bottom edge.  I mounted that onto a piece of Passion Pink card base.  Stamped a greeting with Old Olive with a set of small clear stamps. I spattered the card once it was finished.

This next card features just a little watercolor using the wet in wet technique.  I sprayed the entire paper with clean water.  I then dropped spots of color - Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose, Marina Mist and Old Olive. You can see where the colors mixed in place to produce a purple.  

I was going to define the pinks as flowers but I was happy with the composition so chose to stop.  I dried it with my heat gun and signed the bottom.  It was spattered with a bit of green.

I cut a banner of Bashful Blue and mounted it across an Elegant Eggplant card base.  Stamped the greeting again in the Old Olive color.  The watercolor was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I started the composition with flowers in mind. I dropped the Regal Rose pink with a bit of Daffodil Yellow and the soft green of Old Olive in the background.  It was dried with the heat gun.

I then used a black Micron Permanent Black Marker and drew my flower petals and leaves.  I chose to add a bit more color to the leaves and petals.

I mounted it to a piece of Regal Rose and ripped the left hand edge.  I stamped a several butterflies on the left hand side.

This layer was adhered to a Garden Green card base.

Each card has a white quarter sheet insert on the inside.

Sunflowers are in full bloom around here these days.  I love them. 

This is my attempt on a sunflower against a pale blue sky.  I used some More Mustard and Daffodil Delight in the flower and Always Artichoke with Old Olive in the leaves. I mixed the brown for the center.

It was spattered with much watered down Old Olive once it has been dried with the heat gun.

Again layered on a piece of Bashful Blue ripped on the right hand side. Stamped the greeting in Old Olive. 

The thank you ones will be donated to Compassion House and the others will be added to my card box. 

It was a lot of fun!

Cards - 4x4 Photos - Thanks

A few more thank you cards.

This Don Juan Cricut "thanks" die cut is perfect for my 4x4 inch photo cards made with recycling my calendar images.

A wonderful Black Capped Chickadee perched on a branch on navy card stock.  The greeting was cut from white pearl card stock and adhered with double sided tape.

A rain soaked pink rose at the park for this card on a magenta card base.  The greeting is diecut with the Cricut in white pearl card stock.

 

 

 

This owl is one of my paper piecing creations.  I designed 12 owls for my calendar in 2016. 

I mounted it to a navy card base. 

A Don Juan Cricut die cut as the greeting.  Adhered with Quick Dry adhesive.

Really like these.

Cards - Acrylic Ink Backgrounds - Thanks

Another few cards with those acrylic ink backgrounds.  

This one is deep burgundy with yellow spots.

I printed the greeting from the Stampin Up You're Lovely Stamp set and cut with the Stampin up Sizzix Deco Labels Framelits Dies.  I colored with flowers with brush markers. 

This was mounted on a black card base with 3D foam tape behind the greeting.

 

 

A similar background with a flower accent.

I chose a magenta card base. 

I cut the greeting with the Cricut and the Don Juan cartridge from terracotta textured card stock.   

I punched a Stampin Up Five Petal flower from the same card stock.   I layered this with a salmon color handmade paper flower with an ivory silk flower.  It is held in place with a magenta brad layered with a flower sequin.

I chose a yellow card base for the green acrylic ink background. 

I punched 3 SU Five Petal flowers from pearl white card stock. I added pale yellow handmade paper flowers and small flower sequins.  The flowers are held in place with tiny green brads. 

The greeting is cut with the Don Juan Cricut cartridge at 1" Tall.  It is mounted with 3D foam tape.   All of these have a blank white insert.

Cards - Thanks - Cricut

I wanted to use the rest of the acrylic ink backgrounds I made for these cards so I did not have leftovers hanging about. 

I searched my Cricut cartridges to see which had "thank you" greetings.   I found this one in the Don Juan cartridge. The size of the letters were wide enough for me to put 3D foam tape behind them so I went for it. 

This was cut at 1.5" tall and 4.75" wide. I trimmed the background to fit leaving an even border all the way around on a true blue A2 card base.

Adhered the background and added a bling heart in the top left hand corner.

I chose a yellow A2 (4.25" x 5.5") card base for this card.   

I chose five small handmade paper flowers held in place with green tiny brads. 

I adhered the greeting with 3D foam tape.

It was spattered with the Chartreuse Leaf green ink.

Again, a medium blue card base in A2 size. 

Trimmed the acrylic ink background and adhered it to the card front.

I placed a small silver butterfly in the top left hand corner with a Bling Zot.

Spattered with Prussian Blue ink.

I will have to find a place to donate these. Maybe Compassion House.  Done!

Recent Photos

We had pretty snow fall on Saturday and Sunday.  It felt like a snow squall where the sun was shining but the snow was falling out of the sky.  Nice and fluffy and just coming down slow.  That is how I managed the snow bokeh in this shot.

About 1" of snow fell over the two days the sun is shining today and it is melting away fast.

I am loving sitting at the dining room table in the sun about 10:00am with my first cup of tea!  Great way to spend a half hour.

I made muffins today as well.

I have been running a cool mist humidifier for the last couple of days.   I helped my dry nose some. 

I have no way of knowing the level of humidity in my place so it is a bit of a shot in the dark.

I made this happy face for my window to let those out there who are working how much I appreciate their work. 

Thanks to health care workers, garbage collectors, those keeping the lights and heat on, first responders - fire dept, police officers, and EMTs.  Those who are keeping the grocery stores and pharmacies open.  Your work is vital and important to me.  Thank You So Much.

Check out the bit of fluffy snow on this thistle.  It is amazing that they just hang around all winter time.

The sun was really nice.













Plastic is the theme for Flickr Macro Monday.  These are plastic straws.
You can check out my entry in my photo stream.

In recent days my neighbours have installed super bright flood lights in their parking lot.  It lights up my place even when the curtains are closed.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday #74 hosted by Angie.

Through My Lens #235 hosted my Mersad

My Corner of the World - Hosted by Betty

Small Calendar - Quick & Handy

I ran out of coasters for my Coaster Calendars so I had to invent one to keep a calendar in my product line with a smaller price point.  With so many photos from this year, that is where I went as a starting point.  I found a calendar at 2018 printable calendars.

I selected my best 5 sayings from my coaster calendars and included them in the Fridge Calendar.  I selected photos which worked with the sayings.  The combo was printed on 4x6 photo paper which was layered onto coordinating card stock.  A magnet is then added to the back.  This allows it to be used on any metal surface - fridge, file cabinet, and/or toolbox.  A push pin will hold it onto a cork or bulletin board.

I selected the following sayings.

Sisters are Forever

Life is too short to be anything but happy

Everyday is a second chance

Give Thanks Always

Count your Blessings

Put it where you can see it for a quick reference.  It is easily mailed so it is a great gift for those far away.  Include it in your Christmas card.

The Sisters calendar is a cosmos from the Legislature, the Happy one is a bright polished stone background, the Everyday is a sunset at Pigeon Lke to remind one that the light will return tomorrow, the Thanks is our river valley in fall, and Blessings is a flower bed at Legislature.  You can find them for sale on my Calendar page.

Coffee Loving Cardmakers - Fall Blog Hop

I made this card for the last day of the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Fall Blog Hop.

I won a gift certificate from Paper Sweeties in the Summer Blog Hop.  I decided on the Tea for Two stamp and die set. 

I have stamped the tea pot onto double sided designer paper from a 12x12 pad from KC Company.  I chose the polka dot side for teapot and the floral on the back side for the background. 

I embossed my table top from white card stock with a Sizzix Textured Impressions Plus - Field of Diamonds Embossing Folder.  I ripped the top edge and made it the same width of the designer paper.

I chose the mauve color from the DP and used it in the card base.   I stamped the teapot in black and die cut it.  I added several silk flowers in the bottom right hand side of the tea pot. 

I added a greeting stamped in a warm green on a Stampin Up Modern Label punch.  It was adhered to card front with 3D foam tape.

Submitting to the challenge for the hop which is to make a tea, coffee or cocoa related card.

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. 

Tea Prize and Stuff

I won! This is a yellow and blue tea towel with a teapot on it!  It was part of the blog give away from Margie at Tea in the Valley for her 2 year blog anniversary.  She was so generous and I will include items over the next few weeks.  Blue and yellow are my kitchen colors so it will fit right in.


This is the first page of my Tea Time Photo Calendar.  The bright green cup is my sister's and she picked the peony while I did a photo shoot at her house. 






I bought myself a small crystal bowl to be filled with wonderful things.  My inspiration is a bowl I saw at my friend's house. 

I checked out the local craft store for small fake lemons but the price was ridiculous so for now I have blue and white balls.  I will keep an eye out for glass lemons.  Check out the small bird with a very long tail.  Christmas clearance is great!  The bowl is sitting on the platter from the Blue Nordic dishes I received a couple weeks ago.  It is in new condition which means it was not likely used a lot.  Mine is bound to be photographed more than serving food.  Who knows!


This orange is a gorgeous color and it was very delicious.  I cut it into sections and added a chocolate bran muffin for breakfast. 

 I continue to make tea cup coasters.  I have several made so I included one on my table this morning. 
The rock was a gift from a friend and is a good remind to live life grateful. 











Sharing with
Bernideen's Tea Time

Ruth at Antiques and Teacups

Gift Card Holders - Trifold

I made some Gift Card Holders for my sale tomorrow.  It's based on the design of this one.  It's a tri-fold made with 5.x5 x12 inch double sided card stock.  They are held closed with ribbon.  They have an envelope to hold the card or coupons or cash.

Note Card Refurbished

Here's a card I created with one of these note card on which I made a mistake when writing. Since it's only one layer I had to cut it down and layer it again.  The yellow matched perfectly.  To help incorporate the element into the card I placed it on my light table with the thanks facing down and traced around the edge with my embosser.  I did a lot of that in my early card making days.  I now have an extension cord set up in my craft space where I can plug in my tools rather than having to go to the kitchen.  Helps in actually making it happen.

Quick Thank You Notes

I needed some quick thank you cards to include with my blog give away calendars. I whipped these up using some of my original watercolor backgrounds with a frame from Clker. I found the frame in a few colors and a couple worked with the watercolors I had selected. I added the sentiment with a nice script font in a color to coordinate with the watercolor.  Another great one to add to my collection of note cards. Bonus.