Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Get Ready, Get Set, BOUTIQUE

Hello, friends.  Thanks for stopping by.  I feel like I've been neglecting my little blog.  I've been getting ready for my biggest crafting event of the year - my annual church boutique.  The Heart & Hand Crafter's Boutique is this weekend, Friday & Saturday, December 2-3, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Not that many of you will be able to attend, but I sure wish you all could.  That would explain my absence from my normal routine.  I've been incredibly busy making items to sell at the event.  I am very pleased with what I've accomplished, and am hoping for a very successful boutique this year - for myself as well as for the other ladies who put their hearts and hands into this special event.

I made SEVERAL of these little paper bag pockets to be used as gift card holders.  I am sharing just this one because I wanted to enter it in the challenge over at Stampin Sisters in Christ.  You can read all about this challege by clicking on the following link:
http://www.stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/ - #117 Bird


I'm also entering the challenges at Totally Paper Crafts and Stamping With the Dragon.  Here are the links for those awesome challenges:
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-94-christmas.html - #94 Christmas
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/2011/11/anything-goes-with-stamp-fairy.html - Anything Goes/Christmas

I don't know how much I will be able to post until after the boutique is over, but I will do my best to make another post before the weekend.  I hope you are all having a wonderful and productive week.  Please leave a comment, and I will head on over to your blog to see what you've been creating.

Blessings,

Karen

Friday, November 25, 2011

Christmas Tree Project

It's "Black Friday", and I was completely planning on staying home and saving money.  However, I just got the Michael's ad, and it's simply TOO GOOD to resist.  I will be heading over there later, and also hitting Kohl's and the Goodwill.  I hope that for those of you who did brave the crowds, that you found everything you were looking for, and then some.  Because of this Anti-Black Friday choice, I am entering the "Black Friday" Challenge at:
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/fbc-74.html - Black Friday Theme

I got this cute idea from Authentique Papers Blog, and remembered that I had two chipboard cones that I had picked up on clearance, so I followed their example, and made these.  They will make a wonderful addition at the boutique.
Close-up of bottom:
You can see the tutorial from Authentique Papers' Blog by clicking on this link:
http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/2011/11/happy-monday-authentique-paper-lovers.html

So, I decided to also enter this project in the following challenges:
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-108-christmas-theme.html - Christmas Theme
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-42-and-winner-of-41.html - Christmas Sentiment
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-25-vintage-christmas.html - Vintage Christmas
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/pile-it-on-47-anything-with-p-and-dt.html - Anything With a "P" - I used Paper mache cone, Paper mache box on bottom, Patterned Papers
http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/shellys-images-would-like-to-wish-you.html - Red & Green
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-67-holiday.html - Holiday

I also want to mention an awesome give-away going on over at my new blog friend, Stacy's, fun blog.  You can enter to win a Crafter's Companion Ultimate Tool.  Read all about it by clicking on this link to her blog/give-away:
http://scrapwithstacy.blogspot.com/2011/11/happy-thanksgiving-blog-candy.html

Thanks for stopping by to take a look.  I'd love to see what you've been making this week.  Just leave me a comment, and I will head on over to your blog to see what you've been busy creating.

Blessings,
Karen

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Simons Says, "Tag. . . . .You're It"

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to my little blog.  Today is Thanksgiving, and I know that I have SO much for which to be thankful.  I hope that today is a day when each of you, regardless of where you live, will take the time to thank God for the many blessings in your life.  I realize that everything I have is a blessing from God, and I really try not to ever take even the smallest detail for granted.  He has given us SO much, and we can never thank Him enough.  The greatest gift He ever gave us is not a material possession, but rather, the opportunity to receive eternal life in Heaven because of what He did for us when He became flesh, came to this earth, lived a perfect life, and suffered, died, and rose again, all to pay the debt for our sins.  Now, THAT'S something to be grateful for, and I am SO thankful for my salvation.  I am also thankful for my family, friends, church. . . . . . oh, the list never ends.  And, I am thankful for each of you.

As I do every week, I am entering the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Blog.  You can read all about their new "Tag, You're It" Challenge by clicking on this link:
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/simon-saystag-youre-it.html



I used a Melissa Frances envelope and tag.  I decorated it with Making Memories patterned paper, machine stitching, Prima lace, hand-made scrunched seam binding, a Crafty Secrets tag, MM holly and berries, and a few other little touches.  I am thinking that the tag can be tucked inside and used for a gift card.  This will also be sold at my upcoming boutique.

Here's a wish that each and every one of you has a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.  And don't forget to take that extra moment to thank God for all the wonderful blessings in your life.

Hugs,

Karen

Monday, November 21, 2011

Thankful, Busy and Blessed

Greetings to all of you who are stopping by to say hello.  I've been having so much fun keeping busy with my crafting for the upcoming annual boutique at my church.  There don't seem to be enough hours in the day.  I managed to get my Thanksgiving shopping done, run a few errands, and make these two cards (along with other crafts for the boutique).  Sometimes the word "busy" is a bit under-stated.  It's bordering on hectic, but I won't complain.  It's fun.

I had so much fun with the first card I made for the challenge over at Authentique Papers that I decided to make and enter a second card.  This card follows the cute sketch provided for the challenge.  I used vintage music, Prima and Bo Bunny patterned papers, a Prima flower, DMC floss for the Xs, a Kaiser Craft rub-on and machine stitching.


You can read about, and enter, this challenge by clicking on the following link:

I also stopped by Mojo Mondays to take a peek at their sketch today.  I was so impressed by the beautiful cards the Design Team has posted, and I knew right away that I wanted to enter this challenge as well.  You can learn all about the Mojo Monday Challenge, and see the sketch for this fun challenge by clicking on this link:

As always, I'm Piling it On over at:
I'm using lots of Pretty Patterned Papers - that's my P word.

I hope that each of you is having a wonderful week; whether you live in the United States and might be celebrating Thanksgiving, or if you live in the UK or elsewhere, it's all about being grateful and thanking God for the blessings in our lives, our country, our homes, etc.  I am grateful for each of you, and I want you all to know that I'm so glad that God has allowed our paths to cross.  I gain so much inspiration from your blogs, all the challenges, comments, and in just getting to know you all a bit through your blogs and comments.  You are each a special blessing to me; each in your own way.  Thanks for making me smile.  I am so thankful.

Blessings to you,

Karen

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Her Children Rise Up and Call Her Blessed

As this Lord's Day draws to a close, I wanted to make this post to share a story with my readers.  I was raised in a Christian home.  We were taught to love and respect our parents.  One way that we were able to show our respect to our Mother was to act out the words God gave us concerning her.  So, on holidays (like Thanksgiving, etc.), we would each stand at the dinner table and look at our Mom, and called her "blessed".   If you read Proverbs 31:28, it says, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed;  her husband also, and he praiseth her".  It was just a fun way of showing her our deep love and respect for her.  So, when I saw this verse for sale at Verve Stamps, I knew I had to buy it so that I could make my Mom a card to remind her of this.  When I read the devotional this morning over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ, I knew that I wanted to make this card for my Mom to enter in the challenge.


Close-Up of Verse - Proverbs 31:28

I used vintage sheet music, Girls' Paperie and Prima patterned papers, Martha Stewart border punch, hand-made scrunched seam binding, a My Mind's Eye button, some vintage lace, Verve stamp, a chipboard key painted and glittered, and machine stitching.

http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-116-job-1315.html - Praise

I  am so grateful that God gave me a Christian mother who has always been a Godly example and an encouragement to all of us to live a life that is pleasing in the sight of God.  I would like to encourage you, if you are having Thanksgiving with your Mom this week, and if she is a Godly woman, to rise up and call her blessed.  My kids have done this for me, and WOW, did I ever cry when I realized that God has allowed me to become that same kind of mother.  How humbling.

I also found a new friend, Abby, who is having her own challenge by asking each of us to enter a card or project that shows Biblical scripture on the face of the card.  So, I am also entering this card in her challenge.  You can read all about her challenge on her beautiful, Christ-honoring blog at:  www.littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by, and have a blessed Thanksgiving.  I am so grateful for all of you.

My Cup Runneth Over,

Karen

Friday, November 18, 2011

Keeping Busy

What a busy, busy time of year for me.  I still have company in town, which is lovely, but busy.  I'm also scurrying to make all the items for my church craft boutique.  Then, on Wednesday evening, our daughter will be home from college (with a friend) for Thanksgiving.  It's just a busy time.  I guess I wouldn't have it any other way though.  I love the craft boutique, I love having my mother-in-law visit, I love Thanksgiving (and all the cooking that goes with it), and most of all - I LOVE my kids.  So, I cannot WAIT to see Lily.  This will be her first visit home from Bible College since we dropped her off in late August.  We are so excited.


I'm entering this little Christmas card in three challenges.  First, it's being entered in the current challenge at Cute Card Thursday.  This one called for the colour combination of Green & Grey.  My base is light grey.  I added three tags from green Christmas papers and sewed them onto the grey base.  Then, I used a JilliBean journaling tag, and a K & Co. Christmas sticker.  I put some seam binding at the bottom with a vintage GREY button.  I was kind of pleased that I made Green & Grey work on a Christmas card.  Heaven knows I need LOTS of Christmas cards right now.

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-191-green-grey-colour-combo.html - Green & Grey Colour Combo

The second challenge I'm entering this card in is the current challenge over at Pile It On.  They always have something fun going on over there.  This week it is a Traditional Christmas Challenge.

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/pile-it-on-46-traditional-christmas.html - Traditional Christmas

The third, and final challenge I'm entering is over at Top Tip Tuesday, and I made tags on the card for this particular challenge.

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/2011/11/top-tip-60-tags-and-tipper-week.html - Tags & Tipper

Oh yes, I am keeping myself very busy.  By the time Lily heads back to college, I will have only a few short days left to prepare for the boutique.  I am busy, busy, BUSY.

Thanks for stopping by.  I would LOVE to hear what all of you are up to, and what you're doing to keep yourselves busy (besides Thanksgiving, of course).  I appreciate all your sweet comments, and look forward to visiting all your blogs as you stop by.  See you all soon.

Blessings,
Karen

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

So Very Thankful

I have SO much for which I need to be grateful and thankful.  My family is one of my greatest blessings, and I am truly thankful for family.  My dear Mother-in-Law is visiting right now, and we're making cards and memories.  I am thankful for her, and for my late Father-in-Law, because without them, I would not have the wonderful husband I have, or the children/family God has given me.  I am so thankful for my family.


I am entering this card in three challenges.
http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-sketch-challenge.html - Card Sketch
http://simonsaysstampblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/simon-says-thanksgiving-thanks.html - Simon Says Thanksgiving & Thanks
http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-115-i-thessalonians-518.html - Gratitude


http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-54-real-sweetie.html - A Real Sweetie
This second card is being entered in the challenge at Anything Goes - their challenges are always so much fun, and their Deisgn Team Members actually stop by to say hello (which I enjoy SO much).
Another thing I am truly grateful and thankful for - comments.

http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-32-embellishment-bingo.html - Embellishment Bingo (Baker's Twine, Die Cuts, Lace)

I am also very grateful and thankful for my blog friends and followers.  Thanks so much for being a part of my life, and for allowing me to have a peek inside your lives as you create and share your work.  You are all such a blessing and encouragement to me.  I am so thankful.

My Cup Runneth Over,

Karen

Monday, November 14, 2011

My Mind's Eye is AWESOME

I always like to enter the challenge at My Mind's Eye because they have such cute sketches, and because I love their products.   Most of what I have is older, other than a few things I picked up in St. George at Robert's Crafts.  So, my products are from older lines, but it's almost ALL My Mind's Eye.

You can read about the card sketch challenge here at:
http://mymindseye.typepad.com/blog/2011/11/blog-challenge-29-card.html - Card Sketch

The card needed to follow the sketch as well as using brown, so this is what I came up with.  I would love to hear what you think.  What a treat it would be to win one of their collections.  Boy, could I ever put that to good use.


Thanks for stopping by.

Karen

Sunday, November 13, 2011

All Kinds of Thanks

Although I make every effort to be thankful ALWAYS, this time of year is a perfect time to reflect on the things for which I am most grateful.  I made this card this morning, and I'm going to give it to a family for Thanksgiving that has been a tremendous blessing to us this year.  We are so grateful for all the wonderful friends God has sent into our lives over the years.  But the Spencer Family has really blessed our family this year, and I want to let them know how special they are.  God is SO good to bless us far beyond what we deserve.

Close-up of stamped image:

I used all older supplies that I had on hand, including a beautiful autumn colored vintage lace.  I hope the Spencers like it, and I really hope they know how much we thank God for them.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ as well as City Crafter.  You can read all about this awesome blog, and the challenge, by clicking on this link:
http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-115-i-thessalonians-518.html - Challenge #115 - Gratitude
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/2011/11/city-crafter-challenge-blog-week-82.html - Week #82

Thanks for stopping by my blog to take a look, and you  might want to consider entering these fun challenges.

Blessings to you all,

Karen

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Can You Hear the Music?

I've been so busy trying to make cute items to sell at my church's annual Craft Boutique.  I feel like I can never have enough, so I've been creating like CRAZY.  When I saw the challenge over at Southern Girls, I immediately felt like this hanging wall decoration I made last night would be perfect for the challenge.


I used a Melissa Frances backdrop, covered it in vintage sheet music, inked the edges, added Making Memories felt poinsiettas, vintage buttons, glitter, a tag for the year (or family name), a JOY sign from the dollar bin at Michaels, punched holes in it with my Crop-A-Dile, and added grosgrain ribbon to hang it.

http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-31-can-you-hear-music.html - Challenge #31 Can You Hear the Music?

It turned out pretty cute, and this is the kind of item people like to see at the boutique.  I will whip up a couple more of these, and then finish the other 1,000 or so projects I have planned.  LOL

Thanks for looking, and I truly appreciate your comments. I can't wait to see what all of you are creating this weekend as well.

Blessings,

Karen

Friday, November 11, 2011

Simon Says

I've been entering the challenge (along with most of you) every week in the hopes of winning one of these:

When I saw this week's challenge, the Poppy Fields photo, I was really stumped.  Nothing was coming to mind.  So, since I have my Christmas boutique coming up soon, I just decided to use the red and green in a mini paper bag album.  And, this is the cover of the book that I am entering in the challenge this week.

It's actually one paper bag, and has two pages on the inside, along with an insert in the pocket for extra photos.  These seem to sell well at the boutique.  And quite frankly, I was drawing a blank on the Poppy Fields as I said. 

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/simon-says-photo-inspiration.html - Photo Inspiration "Poppy Fields"

Thanks for stopping by, and for your comments.  I look forward to seeing what all of you are up to this weekend as well, and will be visiting your blogs.  Enjoy yourself - whatever you're doing.

Blessings,

Karen

Monday, November 7, 2011

Having Fun Creating

I've been so busy lately trying to get ready for my boutiques this time of year, that I sometimes feel like I'm neglecting my blog.  So, I thought I would whip up a couple of little cards, and enter them in a few challenges just to let the world know I'm still here.

This first card was made for a challenge at abc-challenge which you can read all about here:
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/abc-challenge-c-for-crochet-flowers.html - C is for Crocheted Flowers

This second card is based on a sketch at Frosted Designs, but is also being entered in the following challenges:
http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/sketch-along-tuesdays-sketch-27.html - Sketch
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-53-stitches-real-or-faux-you.html - Stitches Real or Faux (mine are real)
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-91-stitch-it.html - Stitch It (both cards could be considered for this entry)
http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-23-anything-goes.html - #23 Anything Goes

This is a close-up of the bottom right:

I always try to just have fun with my entries.  I really enjoy making cards, and always hope that each one will be a blessing to the person who receies it.  Thanks so much for stopping by, and for taking a look at these two cards.  I appreciate your visit, and all your sweet comments.

I would be thrilled to have you as a new follower (if you're not already following), and will always follow YOU in return.  Have a great week.

Blessings to you all,

Karen

Friday, November 4, 2011

Hello Buttons - Hello Glitter

It's a rainy, over-cast day here in Las Vegas.  But that didn't stop me from creating.  I've been working on all kinds of goodies - vintage houses, Christmas treats and mini books - all because I have one Craft Boutique tomorrow, and my big church boutique in early December.  I have to keep BUSY to keep up with all that I have going on, but I wouldn't want it any other way.  I have a very blessed life, and I am so grateful.

So, I wanted to enter my favorite weekly challenge (in the hopes of some day winning a $50 gift certificate) at Simon Says Stamp http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/.  This week, they are calling for "Buttons", so I did this little card using Basic Grey products (as their DT did), a PTI die-cut and stamp set, vintage buttons, ribbon, machine stitching, and LOTS of glitter.


I absolutely LOVE PTI stamps and die-cuts, and this little button set is just TOO cute.  I've gotten a lot of use out of it, and hope everyone gets to know and love Papertrey Ink.  They are awesome.

I'm entering this Buttons and Glitter card in the following challenges:

Before I forget, I wanted to announce the winner of the drawing for my Winnie the Pooh card.  The winner is Savannah O'Gwynn.  If you will please contact me by Friday, November 11, Savannah, I will get your card in the mail to you right away.  Thanks to all those who left a comment and entered to win.  There is still time to enter my stamp set give-away (check post below).

I hope this is my lucky week (don't I say that EVERY week?  LOL).  Anyway, thanks for taking a peek.

Blessings,

Karen

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Christmas Girls

Sorry I haven't been posting much, but my best friend of 42 years, Patti Lyn, has been visiting me since Saturday night.  We've been scrapping, card-making, and creating like crazy.  We both adore October Afternoon, and have been making a lot of cute albums and cards with the supplies we picked up at October Afternoon's Warehouse Sale, as well as the new Sidewalks line.  You just can't go wrong when the papers and embellishments are that cute.

I wanted to post this little Christmas card.  I feel like I haven't been participating in challenges much lately, so I wanted to make a new post anyway.  I just love these little vintage girls from Cosmo Cricket.  I used one on this little Christmas card.  It's just so sweet.



This stamp is from Papertrey Ink's new Christmas set.  After I saw it on Mellisa Phillips' blog, I just had to buy that set, along with the matching die-cuts.  I've been super busy making all kinds of cuteness with those awesome new PTI products - love them.

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:
http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-christmas-girls.html - Christmas Girls

Thanks for stopping by.

Karen