Pinewood Derby

Yesterday was pinewood derby day for my youngest son's cub scout pack. My son Kaleb is in the back row all the way to the right (showing his thumbs up sign!) You would have thought that it was the Daytona 500 for all the excitement in the room. Last night was bitter sweet. I realized that it was my last pinewood derby that my boys would be in. My oldest daughter and I were helping get the cars checked in and weighed. We had a can of washers and a hot glue gun to add weight to some of the cars. One boy was questioning why he needed weight, and his dad said, "She has been doing this a long time listen to her." It made me think back to when my son Joshua made his first car. Grandpa helped him shape the car, but it was up to me to help him get it to the right weight. We have a total of 10 pinewood derby cars from my boy's cub scout years. We have had a pick up truck, a big rig, a GTO,... and last night a ghetto car with graffiti. I just hope that the boys will have as good memories about their pinewood derbies as I have.

Early Spring from my MOM and DAD

I just got this wonderful suprise at my workplace. My mom and dad sent me these flowers, because they knew I was tired of seeing nothing but white. I have been longing for color. Now I have all this beautiful color to look at.

Dogwood Tutorial

These are the punches that I use to make the dogwood flower.

Out of pale pink paper, punch out 4-petals using the balloon punch.


Out of pale yellow paper, punch out a snowflake.


Use 1/8" circle punch to punch the edges
of the petals and the center of the snowflake.

Out of green paper, punch one flower. This will be the base.

To make the center, I use a quilling tool.

A quilling tool has a notch at the top to hold the paper.

They are not very expensive. I bought mine at the

craft store for less than $5.

Slide the quilling tool into the center of the snowflake.

Slowly wind the snowflake around the quilling tool.

Snowflake will look like this when it is all rolled up.

Slowly slide it up off of the quilling tool.

Here is the center, off of the quilling tool.

Add glue to the flower base.

Add one of the petals to the base.

Add a second petal on opposite side to make it even.

Add third petal.

Add fourth petal and while glue is still wet, scrunch up

the petals to make a bowl.

Add glue to center of flower.

Add quilled, rolled up snowflake to the center.

For this card I added gold glitter to the centers of my dogwood flowers.

Pieces of Spring

This card is for 2 challenges. The first was for the technique lover's challenge at SCS. Holly challenged us to use punches or die cuts to piece together a scene. I used a small flower punch to make the base of my flowers. I then used the balloon punch to make the petals. I punched the end of the petals with the small 1/8" circle punch. I finished each flower with stamen that were punched out of yellow using my snowflake punch.

The second challenge with this card was for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge. We were challenged to use time on our card. I stamped the clock using my Tim Holtz clock. I scanned it into my computer and enlarged it. I then added Ecclesiastes 3:1 over the clock and printed it onto the green paper. I used a layers of color butterfly and brads to finish it. Yesterday after church, it really snowed. Enough for a snowday today. My oldest son and I shoveled for over an hour just to make a small path on our driveway. I know I should enjoy each season, and not wish time to pass any faster than it already does, but there is a part of me that is longing for warmer weather and colors other than white.

Cards- longing for springtime

All my cards this week had a longing for springtime theme. At least that is how I was feeling. The snow outside and cold winter winds, made me long for the vibrant colors and warmth of spring.
This card was for the sketch challenge and for the ways to use it challenge to use orange on a card. I thought I would make a monarch butterfly, because they are orange. However, I decided to color my butterfly to look like an orange sulphur butterfly.
This is the card I made for the inspiration challenge. I loved the little moonbird. I especially loved the bird on the cactus, because it reminded me of springtime in the dessert. I love how green the dessert gets in the spring, especially after the rain.

I made this card for CHLOE, who was born a couple of weeks ago. It is also for the limited supply challenge to use ribbon and an edge punch. I also used the mojo126 layout.

This is for the Stampin' Sisters challenge to make a creation that lets someone we love, know that they are loved by us and by God. It was also for the technique challenge to make a match book candy holder.

Mothermark's teaparty was on FAT TUESDAY. Here is my mardi gras card. It is so different from what I would usually make, but I love the colors.

I made this for the stampin' bee's challenge to make a red white and blue card that wasn't patriotic.

Another orange ways to use it card. I had fun with this card.

Another limited supplies challenge card and a case of Jill's (quillister) card.

Another TWO card

This is another card for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge to make 2 into 1 creation. I used groupings of 2 brads in each corner, I had 2 butterflies, 2 iris with 2 layers. I was going to put 2 ribbons, but that didn't look right, so my bow has 2 loops and 2 tails making 1 bow.

TWO are better than ONE...

This card was made for 2 challenges. I made this for the technique lovers challenge at Splitcoast. The technique was called frosted windows. You stamp an image twice, once on cardstock and once on vellum. Then you layer the 2. I knew it would be a great technique to use on the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge that Randi gave us.

Mark 10: 7-9 "7. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8. and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (NASB)

Based on this scripture we were to make a card of TWOS.
I used 2 layers with this technique. I stamped 2 flowers, added 2 butterflies, punched out 2 pieces of cardstock with my word window punch and finished with 2 little pearls. I used the Ecclesasties 4:9-12 for my card.

I was going to give this card to my husband for Valentine's day, but when I was finished it looked to feminine. I really feel like this card should go to my friend at church. She is an elderly widow, who is alone. I want her to know that I am thinking of her.

BIG SISTER

I made this card for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to use a little child image on our card. I chose this little girl. I colored her with prisma colored pencils and added little buttons. I am giving this card to the Big Sister in the photo. She is the daughter of our Youth Pastor. He and his wife are expecting their 2nd child. Mom goes in for a C-section tomorrow. I am going to make mom and dad a card, but I especially wanted to make one for the big sister who is going to go through a life changing event.

Butterflies

I made these 2 cards for the Stampin' B design Team Challenge to use a butterfly, die cut and flower. I had so much fun making these. I hadn't used this little butterfly in a long time, because I really like my Layers of Color butterfly. I saw this one when I was cleaning up last night and knew I had to use it today.

Got Butterflies????

I made this butterfly milk carton for the Limited Supplies challenge, although I have to admit it wasn't very limited, and for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge. I know the purpose of the limited supplies is to show what you can do as a beginner. I only used white cardstock for this project. I brayered one piece with dark green and lime green ink. I then stamped greenery with dark green and lime green. I played with my new cuttlebug to make the windows. They could have been just as well cut out with scissors. I taped acetate to the inside of the windows. I made two porcelain butterflies using my LAYERS OF COLOR stamps and tied the milk box with a ribbon. I filled it with kisses.

1 Peter 1:23 (NIV) "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."

That is the scripture for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge. We were reminded that seeds send out little shoots of green. We have the hope of eternal life, because of Christ. We were planted in Him, and as the Holy Spirit works on our lives we begin to grow. Little green shoots that give us a glimpse of what we will be like after this world. We were to use green in a project to remind us of our eternal hope. It didn't have to be all green just a touch. I couldn't help myself and there is not just a touch of green, but a whole lot. I guess I just got carried away because I'm tired of white, outside my window.

HOGS and KISSES

This is for the ways to use it challenge at Splitcoast. We were challenged to use textiles on our card or projects. I have had material with these little hogs for about 8 years. I thought that it would be cute to use on a card. I glued the material to cardstock using Aleene's tacky glue, I then cut out around the hogs image. I made an origami box and lid and added two large hearts to the edges. I added a button with twine and ribbon and fibers. Of course I had to fill it with kisses.

Derek the Dragon

This is the card I made for Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday challenge. I drew these little dragons, colored them with prisma colored pencils and cut them out. I love this old sketch.

I added green to Derek the dragon for the Stampin' Sisters is Christ Challenge to add green to our cards this week.

Blessed are they that mourn

FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED. Matthew 5:4

I made this card for the TLC at splitcoast. I love these side step cards. I used one of my porcelain paper butterflies and a scrunched flower. I used cardstock that had touches of green for the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge to add a touch of green to our cards. This card was made for a special lady. She lost her mother last week. Her mother was in her 90's and was a godly woman. We know where she is, and we are happy for her, but my friend is sad at the loss. I hope that this card lets her know that I am thinking and praying for her and that it brings a little comfort.

My house

I know it has been a long time since I added anything to my blog. I have been trying to get my priorities in line. This week's challenge for the Stampin Sisters in Christ made me focus even more on my priorities. I really want to make sure that I am helping my family serve the Lord. I made this bookmark for the challenge, and also for a friend of mine at Church. She is a single mom trying to raise 5 kids. I hope that this is an encouragement to her.

Time is a companion

"Time is a companion that goes with us on the journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived."

I made this card for my co-worker, Keith. He has a birthday tomorrow. I also made it for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #19 and the Ways to use it challenge to do something with time.

The quote is from my Tim Holtz set that I used for this calendar. I thought it went really well with Psalm 118:24. I have used this set several times, but today was the first time that I really looked at the words, and I was blessed by what it says. My goal or resolution for this New Year is to live in the moment. Not worrying about the past or the future. Happy New Year.

Gearing up for a New Year

I can't believe that 2009 is almost over. 2010 here we come. I made these two calendars for the Stampin Sisters is Christ Challenge. This last month went by so fast. There were so many things that kept me too busy to create or update my blog. Both of my daughters had birthdays in December. I had so many Christmas programs, parties, activities, year end projects at work... I just hope that things slow down just a little this next month. For the bottom calendar, I used a scripture from the book of Psalm 118: 24. It wanted to remind myself to rejoice and treasure each day. I find myself worrying about tomorrow and fretting about yesterday when today is all I can do anything about.

Christmas Caroling

Kristina

(in her long wool coat getting her

bottles of lotion to give away to the residents)

Joshua

(in his brown carhart jacket, studying the

words to the old Christmas carols)

Kaleb

(decked out in his Christmas sweater,

and singing JOY TO THE WORLD)

Johanna

(with her arms filled with bottles

of lotion to give to the residents,)

I am so blessed to have a great family. Not just my close family, but my church family. Christmas is a time to give, and the church family that I have is one of the most giving. Last night 40 people from our congregation went to the local nursing homes to carol. We have been told by nursing care workers that the gift that would mean the most to the residents is hand lotion, so our church family came prepared with lots of bottles of lotion to give away. It was an amazing time. What touched my heart the most was in the Alzheimers unit. There were residents that I know had lost a lot of memories, but when we started singing the old Christmas carols, they could still sing along. Music is such a powerful gift.

One of the reasons

This is one of the reasons I haven't uploaded anything to my blog this past week or so:

MY SON'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Triple challenge card

This card is for 3 challenges in one. I got behind on doing challenges by making the pins for my daughter's color guard group. This is for today's Ways to use it challenge to use a tag. It is also for the teaparty to show our most favorite gift. What better gift than the gift of God's Son? It is also for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to put a gift on our card. I used porcelain paper technique to do the tag.

Color Guard Pins

My daughter is going to compete at the State Competition for Color Guard. The tradition of our school is that each girl gives the other girls little gifts. We decided that I would make them little butterfly pins. Their outfits are yellow dresses with rust colored flowers on the shoulders. We thought that these butterflies would go with that. I used my new Layers of Color butterfly stamp to make these porcelain paper butterfly pins.