Paper Pleasing Ideas

Winter Fun !!

I had to clean off the yard today and after I was done, they boys wanted to have some fun. The big snow pile in video is perfect for Dylan and Jayden to slide on! They love to be outside, when the windchill isn't -56.2F, AHHHH! Hope you enjoyed your Sunday, as much as we did!

Wine Bottle Cover

I put a bottle of apple juice from Costco in a bridal shower gift basket, but I wanted it to be a bit nicer than "straight from the store".

  This picture is a bit washed out, considering all the foil on the top of the bottle, but here is where you can see where I covered the main sticker. I used the Top Note die, and though it wasn't quite big enough, it still looks great.

 

  You can click on the pictures for a better view of what I did, but here is the short story.

I cut 2 pieces in the big shot, real red and white. I trimmed down the white on the faux stitching around the edge, and then ran the one side through an embossing folder. I covered the seam with the black satin ribbon, and made one of my Fun Flowers, using the Extra Large Flower punch. I stamped the sentiment from Word Play and added some extra ribbon under the flower instead of leaves. It was adhered to the bottle with sticky strip when it was all done. It is great that a little paper can transform a gift from drab to fab in minutes! Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

Four Months

Yesterday was 4 months since Russ has gone "home" as people tell me.

You know, as a person missing the love of my life, he is not home.  If he was home, he would be here. Do not take this as me being upset, I am hoestly not. I just want to share with you things that people just don't talk about, which is kinda sad. I think grief should be talked about more, and then people wouldn't feel so awkward.

Another thing they say, is that it is so much better that he is in heaven. In my "HEAD" I know this, but in my heart, I want him here on earth. If I had a choice (if anyone did), they would not CHOOSE for their loved one to be in heaven. I would rather he be WELL on earth.

Not that I don't understand that they are TRULY CARING for me in their statements, and REALLY ARE trying to comfort me. I also do appreciate their efforts, trust me, and this is not to get people to quit talking to me - FAR FROM IT !!  I already have enough of that. 

I read a statistic that a widow or widower loses 75-80% of their friends after a spouse dies.  I didn't think that that would be me, since so many people were around when he was sick. But, sadly I have found this to be very true. Even those who used to be my closest friends, whom I talked to every couple of days when Russ was alive, can go several weeks now without talking to me. I don't blame them though, since the dynamic of our relationaship has now changed drastically.

He is gone, and I am slowly, but surely coming to terms with my "new normal". I actually had a not bad day yesterday, considering the day I had before it! If you are my friend on Facebook, you already know what happened, and it was kinda intense. But I dealt with it and am no worse for wear *smiles*. On to more wonderful things.

 

This is the lovely Valentine's bouquet I received from Russ' side of the family. How wonderful that they thought of me in this way. My MIL also invited me for supper, but I already had supper plans. My worship team all got together to have a Valentine's meal before practice.

The one thing that I appreciate  more than anything, is a hug and just an "I'm praying for you". That is the best thing anyone can do for me, and I have no problem when someone brings me before the Lord! So thank you for all the prayers that you have said on my and my family's behalf in the last 7 months. I have really felt God's comforting and all-sustaining hand on us!

Belle's Dress

I made my Stampin' Splurge class deliveries the other day in the afternoon.  The next morning, I saw one of the ladies posted project she made - less than a day, people, AHHHH !

Melissa made 2 sundresses for her daughter, Belle, from the new Sweet Stiches (#121818) fabric in the Stampin' Up! spring mini. Isn't that dress ( and the little sweetheart in it) so adorable. Thanks to Melissa for letting me show this, because sewing is NOT my forte ... lol.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping (or sewing)!!

 

Jaxon's Robot

 

It is my nephew's birthday party this weekend, and I have not told Dylan about it. I love to surprise him like that ... hehehe.

This is the card I made for the birthday boy, and it is perfectly suited for him, color wise. All of the colors in the card were in his bedroom except the red! I used the Celebrations DSP (#117164) with pacific point, real red, and white CS.  The robot from Lots of Bots (#115293 wood ; #120009 clear) was stamped on watercolor paper and colored with my markers. I used real red with the modern label punch a coupl times to make a mat for the image, putting brads in each point. This layer was attached with dimensionals.

Well, I hope you all have a good day.  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Oldies But Goodies Blog Hop

I was asked to play along  with the Design D.I.V.A.S blog hop, and the requirement is to use something in your stash that is at least 6 months old. Well, the stamp I chose has not been used for a couple years, I think, so I should be good ... lol. You may have come here from Karen's Blog,  or you may have started here.  The start of the blog hop is HERE, but let's get to looking at my card.

 

Classic Pick-Ups is a retired set that I will NEVER give up!! It makes the PERFECT guy cards and the coloring doesn't have to be exact because of the antique feel of the images. To color the truck, I used real red, tangerine tango and daffodil delight for the flames and crumb cake for the rest, using my FREE  TUTORIAL HERE to blend the colors.

The image is stamped on watercolor paper with black stazon, the matted on red and black. It was attached with dimensionals to the crumb cake layer after I added the twill tape (again, years since I have used it), and the copper hodepodge (retired). The sentiment on the bottom is flanked on either side by some paper piercing. Then all of this was again added to the black base using dimensionals. It was nice to be challenged to use an older set, and even better that I made a "guy" card!!

Now you are off to Chrissy to see what wonderful creation she has posted for you. Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

So Quiet Here

My counselor advised me to have a weekend to myself. I have not been truly on my own since Russ died, he wanted me to get some time away to grieve in solitude. I was supposed to go away, but could not find anyone to watch my dog (too last minute). The boys went to my parents for the weekend, though and I will be left here to make a plan for our new lives.

Living my life has been so overwhelming. I start one thing, then move on to something else, forget where I was at and start another, only to realize that I have accomplished nothing. I only took down my Christmas tree yesterday!

He said that I need to schedule out a few goals to work towards and the rest can wait. And to really cry out, place all my emotions out there. I am human, and am allowed to ask the hard questions, as long as I trust God through it, even when the answer is not what I wanted. 

Please pray for me, as I have a feeling this is going to be an exhausting weekend mentally. Here is a song that will be on repeat for the weekend ...

 

 

Kinda Cute

I got a Stampin' Up! order yesterday and as I unpacked, I found a little something.

  They put a hand stamped note inside, and it was signed on the back. Nothing over the top, but it is nice to know that someone took the time.

You know, to make a person's day, you don't have to do something spectacular, just DO SOMETHING !!

Obsessed Or Innovative ?

I had a light bulb moment, but I need to see if I am crazy or if it truly was a good idea.

 

Beautiful, hey? Keep going down ...

 

Sometimes when I get a leaf from someone, I put it in a cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc. container. I was sick of that screaming at me ever time I walked by, so I covered it up! It is amazing what a little DSP(patterned paper), CS and ribbon can do to something that should have gone in the garbage. It is amazing to me, how the most normal everyday things can be altered with a little paper. I don't think I ever stop thinking about paper crafting ... hehehe. So what so you think - obsessed or innovative?

Never Ending Card - Decorated

So, here is the finished card, all ready for you to CASE  :) I went with a masculine /vintage theme, and I totally think it worked.

 

  So, that map DSP is actually black and vanilla, but I decided to spruce it up a bit. I just rubbed the colors on to where I thought they would go on a real map, and because I used pastels, it is really subdued, which is what you need for a vintage feel.

Then I added the side panels and the sentiment on the bottom.

 

This is more of the same pack of DSP (Newsprint #117166). I used one of the spinner brads on the map, kinda like a spin and follow where it goes.

 

 

This is the last "card" and I purposely put the lined paper there, so I could write a birthday message. Those are all sides, and the next turn would be back the front. I hope you got a few ideas on how to finish yours off. Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!