Home Blessings - Wreath

The second project for Week two was to create a wreath.  I couldn't find the pieces that I wanted so decided to go with a polystyrene on to try a technique that I had seen for Christmas wreaths in a magazine and a  chance to try out a colour combo that I liked.   So I started with strips of paper and this.................

and after several hot glue gunned fingers ended with this.....   

some of the details

Through the process I realised that I could use each piece of paper as a reminder of the blessings that I have.  Would have been good to have written on each one before I stuck it down.  My kaiser word stickers have been really appropriate for these projects.

Home Blessings - Photo frame

With all the projects to choose from I have been doing them somewhat out of order.  The photo frame was for week one.  The task to add to a photo frame as a reminder of the blessings that are in your life.  I have had this photo and papers together from another challenge at Big Picture Classes that I didn't get to.  This was a great opportunity to use what I had put together.  I painted the frame and covered the front before adding the embellishments

Home blessings - Week Three

This week the projects are blessing verses as wall art using different techniques for the type.  I choose canvas blocks to do both and ended up with something very different to what I had started out with.
I began by selecting the verses that I wanted.  After listening to the sermon at church in the morning {a faith of leap}, the first is about taking risks and stepping out of my comfort zone.  The second is a reminder to give thanks as I mentioned with my blessings teapot
I realised with the amount of words that they needed to be smaller and I wouldn't be able to paint them so I used my typewriter alpha die by cuttlebug.  It still took a while to put them on!    After painting the canvas I didn't like the bright colour so much and decided to use my dictionary pages again. I love the end result.  I have been looking at art journals for sometime and can say that I have made a start with playing with the idea.  The original project was a simple design.  I will definitely keep it tucked away for future reference.  Sometimes the best things can start from a simple idea.

 

Colour:  tempting turquoise, blush blossom, tangerine tango, white
Stamps:  pleasant poppies (SU) , le chateau (kaiser) impressions (bella!)
Finishing touches: canvas blocks, paint, sponge, word stickers (kaiser), typewriter alpha die (cuttlebug), dictionary pages

Home Blessings - Week Two

I am really enjoying the chance to do something different with this class.  I would love to have got stuck in and done each of the projects.  But as we are in summer holidays and I have other classes that I am taking my goal has been to do at least one thing each day that takes me further in completing them.  I will get there in the end.  The main thing is to enjoy the journey. 
The project for this week was to use a mirror to display blessings.  We already have mirrors in our place, but the flower theme didn't suit the boys so much.  I did want to do something for myself however, that was a small reminder.  So I used a rub on and post it notes for bible verses to serve as a reminder in the mornings.

Home Blessings - Week One

The first project for the class was to make a blessing bird or something similar.  After looking about for something to use I came across a teapot. As I was putting my project together it became more and more clear that I had indeed chosen something that had special significance for me.  Last year my Nana passed away and I had asked my mother to choose a special tea cup and saucer set that I could have to remember her {you can see it below}.  Someone else in the class had used a piggy bank that they were going to write their blessing on and place inside throughout the year to look back on.   The teapot is perfect for keeping these in. My journey in reading 1000 gifts by Ann Voskamp has led me to be more aware of the blessings in my life and now I have somewhere to keep them.  While I don't drink tea one of the stickers is - relax daily.  For me the symbol of the teapot is to take time and sit,  often with a friend, which is something that I want to do more of.

It was necessary to use thin tissue like paper for covering your project and I found an old dictionary that I had put away for using at such a time as this.  I had chosen to use a sheet of word stickers by Kaiser for the finishing touches. I found the definitions for them {live, journey, laugh, enjoy, imagine} and used them for the outer layers.  As I layered the base I discovered other words that have had special meaning such as give.  So fitting as my word of the year 2012 was define.  This year I have chosen enough and thought it was fitting to include it on my project.  A passing from the old to the focus of the new.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole project, especially since it is something new for me.

Classes for the new year at Big Picture Classes

I was lucky enough to win a place in this class at Big Picture Classes after leaving a comment on their blog.  Something a little different for me.  So far I have found two of the pieces that I want to work on and gathered the supplies.  One step closer to putting them together.

I had already signed up for One Little Word and I Choose.  A great way to set your intentions for the year. I will be posting more over at my blog Sorted Life.  While it is exciting how it is coming together it is frustrating that I don't have the time at the moment to do more.  So my aim is just get one thing done when I do have the time.  It will come together in the end.

Amy Tangerine cards

It is proving difficult to get to my creative space with all the summer goings on at our place.  Found these cards that I had made while I was away.  I used Amy Tangerine goodies that I had put together with some of my other 6x6 papers and die cuts in the file box you can see below. All ready for scrapping on the go.  The next step is making some of my own die cuts, tags and the like.  So happy that I had my mini sewing machine ready to go as it was perfect for these cards.

Colours:  daffodil delight, black, garden green, old olive, always artichoke, crumb cake
Stamps:  draft (AT), wonderful words (PTI), sentiment circles (autumn leaves)
Finishing touches: sketchbook papers and daybook die cuts (AT), buttons, die cuts (echo park), ribbon (various unknown), bakers twine (the twinery), stitching, wonderful words die (PTI)

My Crafting Space

It is amazing how a bit of organising helps me get in the mood to scrap.  Before Christmas I  had a bit of a rearrange in my space from how I had it.  Turning my desk around and making changes to where I put things has meant I can get to things much easier.  It also meant that I was able to pack some supplies to take with me and I have made great progress on my youngest son's album.  It meant I was in a very sorting kind of mood so Mum was very pleased when I organised her space and supplies while I was visiting.  It may be a sign of getting back into my organising business.

Teachers Gifts - Post Its

Thank goodness for pinterest.  I found this post by Tracy at Paper Wings and was able to put together a little something as a thank you for my boys teachers.  It was nice to do something a little different from the Christmas decoration that I have done in the past. With all these ideas to draw I am looking forward to being even more creative next time. 

Colours: not quite navy, rich razzleberry, old olive
Stamps: words of wisdom (verve)
Finishing touches:  acrylic photo frames, post it notes, striped grosgrain ribbon (SU)

Christmas Cards - It's Christmas in the Heart

For the last few years I have been making my Christmas cards to send out. Once I have settled on a design I get all the bits made and put them together.  {Note to self:  It all takes time from the creating, to the making, to the writing of addresses and posting.  It worked really well in past years to do it mid year.}  So this time, as not so much time was a factor, I put together a few cards for the lovely ladies that I create with at stamp club and came up with my design.

 

Papertrey Ink had posted some lovely colour combos with non-traditional Christmas colours that I used for the inspiration.  I was so pleased to have put them together and got them sent.

Colours:  very vanilla, garden green, tempting turquoise, old olive

Stamps: chevron stripes (PTI), heart of christmas (SU)

Finishing touches: christmas stockings embossing folders set(sizzix), peapod bakers twine (the twinery), button