Manilla "YOU CAN FLY..." Tag

Hello to each of you that visit here!

With hopes of creating a project to share at least once a week I have this tag that I so enjoyed making. Using stamps from 4 different designers I created the final layout. Scroll down for supplies used.

Using a manilla tag I created a vintage feel with Distress Inks, Glossy accents and Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint

Hopefully in this photo you can see that I used the Crackle Paint on the clock face.  It gave a time-worn look.  Glossy Accents was used to high light the bird and leaves after I used red, green and yellow distress inks.  Glossy Accents also adds slight dimension to the areas.  After distressing the edges with my Ranger Distress Tool I used my Ink Blending Tool to add color.  

The following photo features the reverse side. Using my Ranger blending tool I stamped randomly to give a finished look to the tag. Fiber strands tied to the top added the finishing touches.  What I enjoyed most was that whatever happened  happened with my stamping.  There is no right or wrong ~ just lots of creativity happening and that thrills my heart!!

Stamps:  Stampin' Up!, Unity, Clear Art Stamps, and Tim Holtz
Inks:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Glossy Accents, and Ranger Distress Crackle Paint

A heart that is grateful.......

Hello, my friends!
Bonnie Gray at Faith Barista (http://www.faithbarista.com/) has such encouraging words for us at this time.  Remembering to give THANKS to God, our family, friends and even someone you don't know for their smile, listening ear or just a simple "hello" can make such a positive difference in our daily lives.  What fun it is to see when that person responds, yet that isn't necessary if we are willing to just give without expecting something in return!

How grateful I am that many of our family are getting together on Thanksgiving Day for our tasty meal and fun fellowship at my childhood home!  I am SO ready to share the time together with the grownups and children alike!
Blessings of joy and gratefulness fill my heart for each person that touches my life!
May your THANKSGIVING be filled with love and the gift grace overflowing.
Joyfully......~Sandie

These are two of my cards that I made awhile back, but I wanted to share how the choice of paper can make such a difference in the feel of the card. The floral stamp is from a Stampin' Up Set.

This card combines stamping and gold embossing on designer and ivory colored papers.

Inside the card is a simple sentiment from Stampin' Up with more gold embossing of small chipboard flourishes.

Thank you for your prayers! Wayne is recovering so well from his dreadful car accident. We are AMAZED and so grateful that he remained in such good shape! His vehicle did not make it! Many more people were not as fortunate due to the slippery roads and poor visiblity on Saturday! My prayers go out to them and their families.

For those of you that have a heart for prayer I would so appreciate your prayers for my husband, Wayne, this evening and the days to come. He was involved in a roll-over car accident on a highway 3 hours away from home this morning. How grateful I am that he is alive and whole in body and mind. Being quite shaken up due to his Bronco rolling 4 to 5 times off the road in icy conditions has left him with minor cuts and bruises. How grateful we both are that he had his seatbelt on!

With prayers of THANKSGIVING my heart is GRATEFUL that I still have my husband to be with me, and Lord willing, he'll return home tomorrow with the help of a very kind and generous friend. Wayne was driving to his son's home, so he is able to spend the night there. THANK YOU for your prayers! ~Sandie

My First Blog Calling Card

How fun it has to been to dream up a design for my very first BLOG CALLING CARD!  I wanted to be able to share these with family and friends when they request my blog address.  The card contains computer/printer generated lettering and stamped lettering and images.  I distressed the edges and then inked them using "fired brick" Tim Holtz distress ink.  Now I'm off to make a few more.  Who knows where this will lead me as I really enjoyed the process of creating!
This Saturday we have the Mayo Clinic Craft Show to enjoy and find inspiration.  So many delightful artisans display their work for sale.  A special time to share with my friend, Dawn! 

Anemone and Spiral Beaded Bracelets

A good morning to each of you!

Enclosed is a photo of two other bracelets that I have made and enjoy wearing often. The top one uses the anemone technique which creates seed bead fringes on a beaded base. You can find the instructions here: www.fusionbeads.com

Years ago I made the spiral bracelet and I no longer remember where I picked up the pattern for that one.

Irish Linen Beaded Bracelets(2) & Leather and Bead Ladder Bracelet

What fun I am having while creating these beaded bracelets using waxed Irish linen!  This first one has 8* beads on the outside of the burnt orange linen center.  It will have a length to encircle my wrist three times.  You can find an excellent tutorial by Andrea at Beadaholique here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVoFooYL5Lw

This blue Irish linen single strand tutorial is from Beadholique also.  It is awaiting my choice of a vintage button for the closure.  This bracelet twines three times around my wrist also.  I used the same size 8* beads.

The following Crystazzi gold glass pearl & brown leather ladder-style bracelet tutorial is from Kelly at Auntie's Beads.  I added a vintage button from my stash of collected lovelies!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lijTSeylc2k

Hopefully this inspires those of you who enjoy beading and want to try these techniques!
It's SO GOOD to be creating!!!!

My Cottage Style Home and My Sweet Hens

My husband and I enjoy our cozy cottage style home in a wonderfully friendly neighborhood. These are backyard photos with our pond in the center and chicken coop to  right of garden shed (from Summer 2011).  My gardens of flowers, aromatic herbs, and vegetables are small but ever so productive.  Along with our vibrant chocolate lab, Ladie, and our sweet cuddly feline, Fauna, I have my Buff Orpington hens that I so enjoy throughout my days.  Such sweet blessings!!

Our Home With Views From This Past Summer

Our new front porch, that my husband built, has become such an inviting place to entertain, especially on spur of the moment, when a friend is just passing by.  With our porch at the front of the house we are able to enjoy our neighborhood and its friendly people to the fullest.  I made the awning to shade the sitting area so it is an excellent place to relax.  Come sit a spell!!  

Be sure to check this out.....

A lovely GIVE AWAY at A GATHERING PLACE...

Rebecca features a train case that she is giving away to some lucky person just in time for decorating for Christmas!  OH HOW FUN!!!      Sign up on her blog listed here! 
  
http://rebecca-gatheryeroses.blogspot.com/2011/10/vintage-train-gathering-case-giveaway.html   

Napkin Holder Now A Guest Towel Holder

A fun little project for the morning!

 This is a wire napkin holder I found at Michaels Craft Store yesterday for $1.99.  With its open bottom  I found that my guest towels wouldn't stay flat in it.  So, I added a foam core piece that I covered with some designer craft paper.

Whahlah!  Now I'm ready for guests to feel free to wipe their hands on these lovely paper towels instead of a community hand towel.  Seems to make good sense with winter time colds and such going around!  How pleased I feel having created something "simply" useful once again.

Fujifilm FinePix F500 EXR Review

If anyone reads this and has a comment for me, please let me know if you have used this camera.  My husband wishes to get this for me for Christmas!  I do so need a new camera for better blog photos.   It is a compact "point and shoot" which I definitely want so I can readily have it in my pocket or handbag wherever I am.  It sounds like it takes great close-ups which I would be happy about as I want to add photo shots of lace and other detailed items, paper crafted projects,  nature and plant life, and some people shots.  With soooo many cameras available I want to make the best purchase in price and quality.
Feel free to comment!!!
Ready for some photo shoots!!   ~Sandie



Fujifilm FinePix F500 EXR Review

This is the "card" I created to wish my husband a happy birthday. It entitled him to a SURPRISE trip to Chicago! From the first detail of riding Amtrak to get there to our time to head homeward he was given a clue as to what was to come. My husband is a watchmaker turning 54 years of age which I made known in the details. FUN!!

Second Day On Blog!!

Finally I found it possible to upload a photo!  This is really going to take some effort until I go through each process at least one time.  

I am looking forward to sharing my style of paper crafting shortly.

Blessings to each of you that read this post, with hopes of a lovely Autumn day ahead for each of you!

Just beginning....

Welcome to my first day of blogging!  It's exciting, but a bit frightening, as I haven't given a direction for what I'm going to blog about!  OH FUN!!!  One of those moments when I stand empty handed!
Any helpful suggestions are welcome!  I do so enjoy many other blogs (that are listed here)  so please check them out.
Soon I will learn what to do next, so please return again and check out what I have to offer in the way of paper crafting and my love of life and food!